Meet Eric
He’s the CEO and founder of Myaderm, a manufacturer of skincare and pain relief products that use CBD as a key ingredient. Modern products are sold nationwide and retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods GNC and Rite Aid. He has worked in the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries with companies that included; Teva, Edwards, Lifesciences, and Dean Foods. From 2009 to 2010 Eric owned a professional us continental cycling team that received international recognition. He has been featured on network and cable television podcasts and has written articles for national publications. He’s earned a BA from the Citadel and Charleston, South Carolina, and an MBA from the University of California.
How do we innovate?
Well, I would expand on that to say most businesses do not innovate. It’s more of a rarity than it is a rake regularity. And that’s not surprising, because it’s difficult. So and just understanding what innovation is largely misunderstood. It’s not just a novel thing. So people conflate innovation with novelty, certainly, innovation has novelty in it. But what it is, is there’s either an invention of something new with utility, or there’s a new combination of things that create way more value than the independent parts. And that’s a difficult thing to do. But it’s a great thing to strive for. And certainly, if you want to have a great company, a great organization, if you want to do great things, you’re going to have to be innovative. There’s just no choice around that. The other option is to find a monopoly, that’s a great way to do it too. Or, yeah, just have more money than anybody else. Those are your only other options.
What should entrepreneurs not do?
My favorite topic, because I’ve, I’ve made all the mistakes. So I feel people’s pain out there. Well, I mean, the first one is right in line with innovation. So do not do more of the same. I’m sure you as a marketer, the last thing you want to do is go out and spend all your time and energy promoting and building brands that are just copies of something else. That fair? Oh, yeah, 100% of yours. That sucks. That’s no fun, and interesting. So and low probability of success. So if you’re doing the same thing, you’re just a different color or a different something, but is the same thing. Don’t do that, do not do that. So what you want to strive for is innovating to create something that has new utility, or is significantly different than what’s in the market that customers will want. So that’s the first thing you don’t do is more of the same. And the second thing is just as important, maybe the most important in all of the business. Don’t be the very first and don’t be the very last Don’t be either the early adobe the very first I’ll be very low. So timing, and the academic literature. unlimited amount of experience across the business world for the past 200 years will tell you, nothing’s more important than timing, because you have the best ideas and even be able to execute but the timings are not right. It ain’t gonna win.
Can you share your most successful or favorite networking experience that you’ve had?
Well, I do have networking stories. And I want to start by saying, like, I don’t like networking, introvert. I like making things I enjoy the process of building things. But I’ll tell you this much, you’re not gonna get anywhere in life. If you don’t know, folks, if you don’t spend time networking. So this is my recommendation for folks who are like me who don’t naturally want to do that. Take what you’re doing. So especially if you’re doing something innovative, especially if you’ve got a lot of energy about it, and realize that that’s the mechanism for energizing your ability to go out and meet people because naturally, you don’t want to talk about that. And in business, if you have something interesting to share what you’re doing what your work is, and you’re energized by it. And you’re back to the passion part. If you’re passionate about the things you’re doing within the industry, or whatever you’re working in whatever market then that creates the ability to overcome the challenges a lot of people have with networking, because you have to gin up energy. And if you’re an introvert, you don’t get energy from being around people that suck the energy out of you. So that’s where extroverts have tremendous advantages because they just get more energized, being around people. So my stories are, you know, amalgamated into, I always tend to go into networking situations where I’m excited about what I’m doing. And when the opportunity is appropriate, talking about and sharing with people and trying to engage them not just blathering, but like really asking them questions, giving them perspective. And you never know what you learn. Like, sometimes people have good insights, you meet some new friends, and ultimately, that is probably the most, the tightest corollary between success and life is with in general, just things you can do is your relationships and your network.
So how do you stay in front of and nurture these relationships you’ve created?
Generally, for me, it’s been a requirement as one when you raise capital for companies that are necessities. And outside of that, I look for opportunities within my industry to take leadership positions, I’ll give keynote speeches. So anytime you can put yourself in a position where you have to talk about what you’re doing in a formalized way post that you’re going to meet a lot of people, because there isn’t come up to talk to you about it, right? So that’s a very efficient way, if you can get that kind of opportunity, I recommend taking it because you’re gonna be talking about what you want to talk about anyways. And then that attracts people who are interested in what you’re doing.
If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, Bruce, what would you tell yourself to do more or less of or differently concerning your professional career?
I would finish the second two and the second two are way easier to digest. And I think people respond well to them. And so the fourth on the five don’ts for entrepreneurs is Don’t burn yourself out. I don’t care what you hear from whomever the star you know entrepreneur, executive, whatever about working endless hours, that is crap. They do not. They work a lot of hours. But what they do is they replace intensity, especially high output over short duration intensity with high frequency, if you want to win, do it every day. And consistently. That’s how you win. Yeah, don’t sit there for a week, working 80 hours that week, because you can burn stuff out. Yeah, but show up and get it done 5060 hours a week, sometimes you got to do that. And don’t stop that pace. Keep that pace, because, in the end, the math works in your favor, you’re going to the end of the year, and your total work output is going to be significantly more than anyone who gets in there. And they do crazy hours one week, and they’re cooked after that after recovery.
What advice would you offer that business professional who’s looking to grow their network?
You have to find active ways to interact with people, at least in your industry. And, you know, just do it and make it a priority. As I said, for me, it’s not a natural thing. It’s not something I natively want to do. But you will reap rewards from that. It’s just like said, the empirical evidence is clear. You can, you can go to any university, and they do track a lot of the data points around success around their graduates, and networking, the ability to have large groups of friends to an extent, the ability to build relationships, these are, these are the key components to any most success factors in life.
Connect with Eric
Transcript
We've all heard it before it gets cool, you know, welcome to social capital, a weekly podcast that dives into social relationships and
Lori Highby:Hey everybody, Lori Highby here, welcome to the social capital podcast our show notes are found at social capital podcast.com. To you the
Lori Highby:daily information about marketing strategy tips, all podcast episodes and any upcoming events. If you'd like to connect, make sure to send a note
Lori Highby:I've got Eric smart with me. He's the CEO and founder of Myaderm, a manufacturer of skincare and pain relief products that use CBD as a key
Lori Highby:received international recognition. He has been featured on network and cable television podcasts, and written articles for national publications.
Lori Highby:little topic to go on a tangent on at some point.
Unknown:All right. I got stories. I've got stories.
Lori Highby:This year. I wrote my first century. It was exciting revelation. Yeah, thank you. It was it was a big milestone for me. And I
Unknown:It most of us just peddling more. Yeah. Primary?
Lori Highby:Well, it's it's, you know, the health side of things like what I'm eating and just, you know, the long term physical mental prep, I think
Unknown:Well, I would expand on that to say most businesses do not innovate. It's actually more of a rarity than it is a rake regularity. And
Unknown:more value than the independent parts. And that's a difficult thing to do. But it's a great thing to strive for. And certainly if you want to have a
Lori Highby:I do agree with you that a lot of businesses aren't innovating at the level they should be. I mean, people are always looking for the
Unknown:That's a good point. I would recommend maybe update thanking for your listeners. And maybe if you're thinking about too often tell people
Unknown:different than what most people think there's a lot of inflation on it. You have to, you have to invent something new, or have new combination things,
Unknown:But we actually put it with pharmaceutical technologies, where it's in a water base, there are no other CBD products you can buy in the world that
Unknown:that goes into your dermal layers, that's water base, absorb and moisturize, and hydrate. So that's, that's what we produce. And that's what
Lori Highby:Let's talk about what entrepreneurs should not do what comes
Unknown:to know their favorite topic, because I've, I've made all the mistakes. So I feel people's pain out there. Well, I mean, the first one is
Unknown:the same thing, you're just a different color or a different something, but is basically the same thing. Don't do that, do not do that. So what you
Unknown:either the early adobe the very first I'll be very low. So timing, and the academic literature. unlimited amount of experience across the business
Lori Highby:That makes sense. 100% I like the Don't be the first Don't be the last thinking. You know, I just in in marketing in general, like, you
Unknown:First go through the gate gets all the heroes. You know, it's just so yeah, yeah, that's, that's a big one. It's right up there with the
Lori Highby:So definitely does a great job. Sorry. Go on. No, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Oh, no, I hear what you got to say.
Unknown:The third one I have the third don't is very controversial. It is going to create some some tension. I'm going to explain it so I think folks
Unknown:great things. Those are great ways to get creative energy to do things. But the real way to succeed if you want to be successful in life is to learn
Unknown:but kind of surprised basis. That is very addictive, and in a positive way. So I'm not saying that everyone's passions are bad. But I am saying most
Lori Highby:Yeah, I'm kind of connecting all the dots here. Yeah. So it because it sounds very much like a mindset positioning, thinking thing
Unknown:You can you can gravitate towards fields that you like, sure what a great example is, you know, the the most common would be the artistic
Unknown:my passion this I can find the economics that makes sense and whatever part of that industry, so you can break it out. You don't have to be myopic. I
Lori Highby:oh, for sure. Yes. All right. So now is this a good time to pause? I definitely agree with you. But I will circle back or this quick
Unknown:Social capital is sponsored by Keystone click OK did in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Keystone click is a strategic digital marketing agency focused
Lori Highby:when people hear this word, networking, sometimes it evokes fear, some sort of reservations and certainty. And I'm, I'm really hoping
Unknown:Well, I do have networking stories. And I want to start with saying, like, I don't like networking, introvert. I like making things I
Unknown:lot of energy about it, and realize that that's the the mechanism for energizing your ability to go out and meet people because naturally, you
Unknown:challenges a lot of people have with networking, because you have to gin up energy. And if you're an introvert, you don't get energy from being around
Unknown:sharing with people and trying to engage them not just blathering, but like really asking them questions, giving them perspective. And you never know
Lori Highby:I like that you commented on making new friends, because I think if especially introverted individuals, go in with the mindset of you
Unknown:You can, and you can also meet folks who can be very helpful and interested in what you're doing, which is always nice.
Lori Highby:So how do you stay in front of them best nurture this network and this community that you create them?
Unknown:Generally, for me, it's been a requirement as one when you raise capital for companies that's in necessity. And outside of that, I look for
Unknown:of opportunity, I recommend taking it because you're gonna be talking about what you want to talk about anyways. And then that attracts people who are
Lori Highby:Totally, totally agree with that. So what advice, Eric, would you offer that business professional who's really looking to grow their
Unknown:you have to find active ways to basically interact with people, at least in your industry. And, you know, just do it just and make it a
Unknown:groups of friends to an extent, the ability to build relationships, these are, these are the key components to any most success factors in life.
Lori Highby:Yeah, well, and as you commented earlier, you know, someone that you meet might be able to help you out. So it's just as simple as
Unknown:A fun thing to do sometimes is to go in there with the mindset, hey, I'm going to help someone, I'm interested in finding someone I can
Unknown:in with what can I get somebody to be like, What can I give folks? Or they're just have something to offer him? Yeah.
Lori Highby:I used to go to networking events, kind of preloaded with two things. I'm looking for two things I can give. So that you know, if someone
Unknown:That's a great one, just, you know, have both sides of the coin. You never know. You never know, sometimes you're just the person that
Lori Highby:Yeah, exactly. Here's a fun one. So if you could go back to your 20 year old self, what would you tell yourself to do more of less of
Unknown:Well, I've already told you three of the don'ts. I would finish the second two and the second two are way more easy to digest. And I think
Unknown:duration intensity with high frequency, if you want to win, do it every day. And consistently. That's how you win. Yeah, don't sit there and for a
Unknown:they do crazy hours one week, and they're cooked after that after recover.
Lori Highby:So the balance for sure.
Unknown:So don't burn yourself out. And the last one is, is pretty simple. everyone hears don't quit. Like I have met so many people in business, who
Lori Highby:And I did I mean there's so much, so much truth to that. I've experienced
Unknown:pain. When Yeah, yeah, there's nothing special about that person. Oh, yeah. They stuck around when everyone else quit. That's how they want.
Unknown:see the timings, right. You're trying to push through some barriers, but timing is good. You got energy with it. Just keep going.
Lori Highby:That energy is so important. But that's to the point you said earlier about kind of balancing your time and don't burn, you know, burn
Unknown:You can work 50 Even 60 hours a week consistently. Like you can't do 80 hours a week consistently, you will fall into pieces. And Elon Musk
Lori Highby:I'm curious to know why Elon
Unknown:is lying. Because he can't say the truth. Ilan, why are you so successful? He says, because I work constantly more than anyone else. He
Unknown:days a week. Even when he's relaxing. Even though he's watching a movie, there's still something is head turning on problems he's trying to solve?
Unknown:week. But he's also way smarter than he's in the 99th percentile, like the brain power that he can generate. Yeah, it's been every one. So that's why
Lori Highby:Yeah. All right. I'm gonna give you the opportunity to interview me. Eric, what's something you'd like to ask me?
Unknown:Tell me one of your favorite products or services that you've marketed before. Sometimes like Well, I'm excited to do this. No, boy.
Lori Highby:There's so many.
Unknown:Actually,
Lori Highby:we had a client for a while that has a CBD pain lotion that I I tried it out and I loved it was great on my knees, especially after going
Unknown:Okay, so you liked it because you personally experienced it? Yeah.
Lori Highby:Yep, yep. And I believed in it. Okay, I definitely do my best to try to experience or understand the ins and outs of whatever it is that
Unknown:But that's my philosophy. Well, those are evil marketers. So thank you for being here. Thank you for being on the site
Lori Highby:have a fun question. Any final word or advice to an offer listeners with regards to growing and supporting your network?
Unknown:Yeah, I think the comment that you made, and certainly I also reiterate, is, walk in with the concept of be prepared to ask good
Lori Highby:Eric, if anyone was interested in getting in contact with you, what's the best way that they can reach you?
Unknown:Well, they can go through our website at Maya Derm, Mia drm.com. And if they want to try our product, we have a promo code, Lori, because
Lori Highby:Cool. All right. We will include all that information in the show notes. I might have to go give it a little test run myself there.
Unknown:Thanks for having me. I really enjoyed it. Absolutely. This
Lori Highby:wraps up our episode of social capital. Thank you so much, Eric, for taking the time to connect with us. As mentioned before, let's
Unknown:That's all for this episode of the social capital podcast. Visit social capital podcast.com For shownotes more episodes, and to see who will