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Forge Business Solutions is a veteran-owned business founded upon the principle of service above self. President and CEO, Frank Vitale started Forge to help companies thrive in any aspect. From developing new markets, identifying potential customers, human resources training, investor relations and beyond.
Show Notes:
- OPEN-2:26: Jim introduces today’s guest of the show, Frank Vitale, founder of a Forge Business Solutions. Jim fills the listeners in on some background of Vitale and asks him to fill in some of the gaps…
- 2:27-3:48: Vitale talks about how Forge is a relatively new company. He speaks about his “why” being his wife and three kids. Vitale also comments about his military career with the Army National Guard and Army Reserves.
- 3:49-4:04: How did you get started with your company?
- 4:05-4:58: Vitale worked with many businesses and business owners while working in the banking industry. He talks about how he took his. Experience both good and bad to start Forge.
- 4:59-5:03: Elevator Pitch
- 5:04-5:36: “I believe more than ever companies need to have a true north.” Frank wants to help companies find their true north and return to the reason they started their business in the first place.
- 5:37-6:12: Jim asks Frank to talk about his typecast business plans which are generally two pages.
- 6:13-7:28: Frank believes that business owners are to busy to look through a mass of pages for a business strategy. Vitale has companies focus to focus only only two to three goals they want to work on and be able to articulate to all members of the company.
- 7:29-7:34: What are you most excited about?
- 7:35-10:09: Frank is most excited about the change in culture in the world especially in West Virginia. He is excited about the diversifying of business in West Virginia
- 10:10-10:45:What was your worst business experience?
- 10:45-12:28: Frank recounts a time when he became very excited about a particular client and “put all his eggs in one basket” which inevitably backfired when he finished working with that client.
- 12:29-12:47: What’s the best thing about being in business in West Virginia?
- 12:48-14:16: “What I thinks the best thing is that we’re turning the corner.” Frank believes that we’re really beginning to become more empowered to develop new businesses and become more a part of the global economy.
- 14:17-15:08: What’s your best business moment?
- 15:09-16:22: Frank says his best moment is being able represent West Virginia in areas like Pittsburg and DC outside of West Virginia.
- 16:23-16:53: Commercial. What’s the long-term vision for your company?
- 16:54-18:16: Have growth and remain aligned with his purpose. Create regional based markets with a strategy team built around them.
- 18:17-18:25: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young business owners?
- 18:26-20:13: Frank reiterates to not put all your eggs in one basket and to collaborate and ready out to other businesses including your competition to grow the market.
- 20:14-20:31: What’s one thing you do everyday that contributes to your success?
- 20:32-21:33: Frank says his devotion to his faith he taps into everyday and thinks back to his days in the military and says the one thing he does everyday that helps him is to make his bed and how it helps him accomplish something everyday.
- 21:34-21:40: What’s one resource in your business you can’t live without?
- 21:41-22:47: Vitale says he uses Linked-In and it allows him to learn a lot and share his story with others and uses it to develop industry based information.
- 22:48-23:12: What is one book you would recommend?
- 23:13-25:02: Frank recommends “Turn the Ship Around” by former Navy Captain David Marquet. Which talks about the importance of asking questions and changing the culture and become leaders.
- 25:03-25:59: if you could meet anyone in West Virginia to help your business, who would it be?
- 26:00-27:16: Frank says that he says the beauty of West Virginia is you can meet most people. He’d like to meet Catherine Johnson a mathematician who worked with NASA. He’d like to ask her about how she faced adversity.
- 27:18-28:06: What do you think the future holds for West Virginia?
- 28:07-30:01: He thinks that the fact we have to diversify that West Virginia should start to write a different story and one that is more positive and more involvement.
- 30:02-30:14: How can people contact you and learn more about you and Forge?
- 30:15-31:00: Visit their website and watch their video at forgebz.com and visiting on social media or reading out to him personally.
- 31:01-Close: Jim thanks Frank Vitale for joining him on another episode of Positively West Virginia and recognizes the amazing sponsors of the show that allow great business stories like this one to be told.