<p>Join us as we sit down with Mike Beckham, the co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, a company that has gone from challenger to incumbent in the drinkware industry with a unique blend of style, quality, and philanthropy. Mike shares his journey from the nonprofit world to building a $250M+ profitable business, emphasizing the importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Discover how Simple Modern's commitment to giving away 10% of their profits has not only shaped their company culture but also fueled their remarkable success. This episode is packed with insights on scaling, maintaining a strong organizational ethos, and the real meaning behind business excellence. Don’t miss out on this inspiring conversation that goes beyond business to explore deeper questions of purpose and impact.</p><p><strong>Sponsors:</strong></p><p><a href="https://ramp.com/250-signup-bonus?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=paid-podcast&amp;utm_campaign=podcast-250bonus&amp;utm_content=glass">Ramp</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/A053EA40-A6E4-4960-B3AC-61A8CF7473FD/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;store_ref=SB_A01431842CJT1XJBK6ZBD-A04855701OLUZ0LZKIRHT&amp;pd_rd_plhdr=t&amp;aaxitk=2c58b58e8366a8744f331567b3e52a1a&amp;hsa_cr_id=0&amp;lp_asins=B086XMKYWZ%2CB07Y7H3FHB%2CB086XHCYDL&amp;lp_query=iqbar%20protein%20bars&amp;lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&amp;ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_sccd_ls&amp;pd_rd_w=MLdYK&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942%3Aamzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&amp;pf_rd_p=8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&amp;pf_rd_r=F2MXG3VMCTQCX17PN14R&amp;pd_rd_wg=jaYFa&amp;pd_rd_r=cd8b06e6-1433-4713-ab46-f101aaef0c06">IQBar - Amazon</a></p><p><strong>Chapters:</strong></p><p>00:00:00 - Scaling and Overstimulation  <br>00:00:25 - Welcome to Eating Glass  <br>00:02:45 - Introduction to Mike Beckham  <br>00:03:45 - Nonprofit World Insights  <br>00:05:45 - Business with Dual Purposes  <br>00:07:45 - Impact of Previous Experiences  <br>00:09:00 - Quality of Life Insights  <br>00:11:00 - Money and Contentment  <br>00:12:00 - Responsibility and Trade-offs  <br>00:13:45 - Rapid Company Growth  <br>00:16:00 - Working with Family  <br>00:17:45 - Business Partnerships  <br>00:19:00 - Product Longevity Surprises  <br>00:21:15 - Breaking Growth Barriers  <br>00:22:30 - Sales Channels Expansion  <br>00:23:00 - Drinkware Market Fragmentation  <br>00:24:45 - Fashion and Trends  <br>00:25:45 - Domestic Manufacturing  <br>00:26:15 - Oreo Principle  <br>00:27:45 - Challenges of Growth  <br>00:29:45 - Entrepreneurship Motivations  <br>00:31:00 - Market Opportunities  <br>00:33:45 - Customer Satisfaction  <br>00:34:45 - Amazon Strategy  <br>00:36:15 - Product Excellence  <br>00:38:00 - Digital Tools Advantage  <br>00:40:00 - Brand Evolution  <br>00:42:00 - Pricing Strategy  <br>00:43:00 - Operational Excellence  <br>00:45:15 - Competitive Advantages  <br>00:47:00 - Challenger Brand Strategies  <br>00:49:00 - Value and Quality  <br>00:51:00 - Growth and Inventory  <br>00:53:00 - Product Trends  <br>00:55:00 - Licensing and Customization  <br>00:57:15 - Focus vs. Variety  <br>00:58:45 - Scaling and Distribution  <br>01:00:15 - Strategic Insights  <br>01:02:15 - Direct Response Marketing  <br>01:04:00 - Business Model and Philanthropy  <br>01:07:00 - Motivating the Team  <br>01:10:00 - Building Organizational Values  <br>01:12:45 - Financial Discipline  <br>01:15:00 - Banking Relationships  <br>01:18:00 - Forecasting and Growth  <br>01:20:00 - Collateral and Credit  <br>01:22:45 - Rapid Fire Questions  <br>01:24:15 - Entrepreneurial Truths  <br>01:25:45 - Startup Myths  <br>01:27:15 - Personal Value Proposition  <br>01:28:45 - Biggest Mistakes  <br>01:30:00 - Personal Life Impact  <br>01:32:45 - Long-Term Impact  <br>01:35:00 - External Validation  <br>01:36:15 - Hiring Strategy  <br>01:37:30 - Cultural and Character Moats  <br>01:39:00 - Wrapping Up</p><p><strong>ABOUT THE HOSTS:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Will Nitze is the Founder &amp; CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.</p><p><br></p><p>Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Mike:</strong></p><p><br>Website: https://www.mikebeckhamblog.com/<br>X: https://x.com/mikebeckhamsm</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebeckham/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebeckhamsm/</p>

Eating Glass

Will Nitze (IQBAR) + Joe Lemay (Rocketbook)

Mike Beckham (Simple Modern) | Missionary turned $225M drink-ware mogul

JUL 24, 202499 MIN
Eating Glass

Mike Beckham (Simple Modern) | Missionary turned $225M drink-ware mogul

JUL 24, 202499 MIN

Description

Join us as we sit down with Mike Beckham, the co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, a company that has gone from challenger to incumbent in the drinkware industry with a unique blend of style, quality, and philanthropy. Mike shares his journey from the nonprofit world to building a $250M+ profitable business, emphasizing the importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Discover how Simple Modern's commitment to giving away 10% of their profits has not only shaped their company culture but also fueled their remarkable success. This episode is packed with insights on scaling, maintaining a strong organizational ethos, and the real meaning behind business excellence. Don’t miss out on this inspiring conversation that goes beyond business to explore deeper questions of purpose and impact.Sponsors:RampIQBar - AmazonChapters:00:00:00 - Scaling and Overstimulation  00:00:25 - Welcome to Eating Glass  00:02:45 - Introduction to Mike Beckham  00:03:45 - Nonprofit World Insights  00:05:45 - Business with Dual Purposes  00:07:45 - Impact of Previous Experiences  00:09:00 - Quality of Life Insights  00:11:00 - Money and Contentment  00:12:00 - Responsibility and Trade-offs  00:13:45 - Rapid Company Growth  00:16:00 - Working with Family  00:17:45 - Business Partnerships  00:19:00 - Product Longevity Surprises  00:21:15 - Breaking Growth Barriers  00:22:30 - Sales Channels Expansion  00:23:00 - Drinkware Market Fragmentation  00:24:45 - Fashion and Trends  00:25:45 - Domestic Manufacturing  00:26:15 - Oreo Principle  00:27:45 - Challenges of Growth  00:29:45 - Entrepreneurship Motivations  00:31:00 - Market Opportunities  00:33:45 - Customer Satisfaction  00:34:45 - Amazon Strategy  00:36:15 - Product Excellence  00:38:00 - Digital Tools Advantage  00:40:00 - Brand Evolution  00:42:00 - Pricing Strategy  00:43:00 - Operational Excellence  00:45:15 - Competitive Advantages  00:47:00 - Challenger Brand Strategies  00:49:00 - Value and Quality  00:51:00 - Growth and Inventory  00:53:00 - Product Trends  00:55:00 - Licensing and Customization  00:57:15 - Focus vs. Variety  00:58:45 - Scaling and Distribution  01:00:15 - Strategic Insights  01:02:15 - Direct Response Marketing  01:04:00 - Business Model and Philanthropy  01:07:00 - Motivating the Team  01:10:00 - Building Organizational Values  01:12:45 - Financial Discipline  01:15:00 - Banking Relationships  01:18:00 - Forecasting and Growth  01:20:00 - Collateral and Credit  01:22:45 - Rapid Fire Questions  01:24:15 - Entrepreneurial Truths  01:25:45 - Startup Myths  01:27:15 - Personal Value Proposition  01:28:45 - Biggest Mistakes  01:30:00 - Personal Life Impact  01:32:45 - Long-Term Impact  01:35:00 - External Validation  01:36:15 - Hiring Strategy  01:37:30 - Cultural and Character Moats  01:39:00 - Wrapping UpABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Mike:Website: https://www.mikebeckhamblog.com/X: https://x.com/mikebeckhamsmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebeckham/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebeckhamsm/