IAM829- CEO Leads Strategic Change For Industries

Intro 0:02
Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place, Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I am CEO podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:29
Hello, hello, hello, this is Gresh from the I am CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show on the show today, as Mark sneiderman of spider man Law Group mark, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Marc Snyderman 0:40
Hey, it's great to be here. Excited.

Gresham Harkless 0:43
No, I'm super excited to have you on I'm excited as well, because of all the awesome things that you're doing. And before we jumped in, I want to read a little bit more about mark so I can hear about some of those awesome things that he's doing. And Mark is the CEO of sniderman Law Group and a serial entrepreneur, a former C suite executive who led an international engineering and informational technology firm through significant growth. Mark recognizes industries that are ripe for disruption and lead strategic change for these in those industries. Mark is currently an angel investor and a board member for companies ranging from a health Health Care Health Care payment technology solution, using blockchain to a caravana like platform for semi trucks. He's a lifelong learner and an avid management theory. reader mark, are you ready to speak to the imcl? community?

Marc Snyderman 1:30
I am awesome. Let's

Gresham Harkless 1:31
do it. So to kick everything off, I wanted to rewind the clock a little bit to hear how you got started. Could you take us through what I call your CEO story, and we'll let you get started with all the awesome things you're working on.

Marc Snyderman 1:42
Sure, so I would say that, you know, my CEO story really started. I mean, I started my firm about four years ago, I would say the story started probably when I was a kid when I was you know, always hustling and always doing something entrepreneurial. I had my first I used to work for my dad's auto auto auto parts store when I was probably eight or nine years old, I would literally stand on this is way before any of that most of your time and was problem calling was the audience's time, and so on about five books, because we didn't have computers back then. And it's really high counters. And I'd have to go through the big book to try to find the, you know, an auto part for somebody that was coming in for, you know, off the street. So before the days of Pep Boys and Mr. Otto, ran that all the way through from, you know, multiple entrepreneurial ventures from auto detailing stores to a hamburger stand on the boardwalk and down the Jersey Shore. And, you know, became a lawyer. And then I guess I about four years ago, I started my firm with the concept that really there's a there's a big hole in the market for small and mid sized businesses to get Affordable, Effective legal advice and strategic advice for their companies. And it's mainly because of the structure of firms and the structure of the industry, which is you know, very old school billable hours, large overheads and large pays. And thought, Well, what if there was a way to run on law firm more like startup and make it subscription based almost as if was a SaaS model, but it's actual people, not just to be software? And for years in and you know, happy to say it's been pretty effective.

Gresham Harkless 3:22
Yeah, absolutely. And I think definitely a lot of people, one of the best things about the subscription model, especially to is just, you know, knowing exactly, or having a better idea of exactly what you're going to pay. And I imagine that a lot of clients probably are sometimes afraid to go into that. But I love that you've been able to kind of create that solution. Jain, true entrepreneurial for me sounds like you've been doing it for a very, very long time.

Marc Snyderman 3:46
Yeah, I think that was a that was sort of the the impetus for it. Right was you know, as a growing up, it's sort of in house and companies do realize that using outside counsel sometimes becomes rather costly and save yourself, Well, if I'm a small business, how am I ever going to do this? So you know, you turned to Google, you turned to LegalZoom, and nothing against any of any of the Legal Zoom products or any of those because I think there's a lot of value in them. But there is also a piece of the business where you need to understand what are the real risks, and having somebody at your side that can actually help you analyze and understand, you know, what's going on in your business and how to help you, you know, go through that growth phase and mitigate risks along the way, and make sure your documents match up with that is something really important that

Gresham Harkless 4:34
Yeah, absolutely, almost feel, you know, more like you have a partner that actually is looking for your best interest and sometimes you may not get that with other alternatives.

Marc Snyderman 4:44
Right. And I think that's that's sort of the the, the, you know, he called like maybe our secret sauce, our unique selling proposition is really that, you know, I happen to have been an Operations Executive, I, you know, spent 10 years growing up company from 75 employees to 300 employees. We did that growth in five years. And then I spent another five years trying to build the infrastructure to support what I just grown. So you learn a lot about what is a, you know, when you're when you're in your fate, your you know, the hacker phases, the growth phases of your business, what do you do? How do you manage that risk? And, you know, that's sort of the differential between, you know, my firm, and a lot of firms that are out there, which is we actually haven't just been lawyers, we've been business people. And, you know, and I started up my own companies all the time. And I'm always learning and I'm always willing to share what I'm learning with, you know, my audience and my clients. Yeah, absolutely.

Gresham Harkless 5:41
And like you said, even, you know, working and then in the auto shop, you know, I feel like you start to probably get, you know, more, you know, data and information to be able to make those decisions. But I think to definitely correct me if I'm wrong, it seems like you're able to also put yourselves in your clients shoes, where you're able to kind of understand from that vantage point and be able to provide that advice and information.

Marc Snyderman 6:02
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think the the piece that makes it different is, you know, most, most businesses used to be that you didn't go to a business meeting without your lawyer. Now you go to business meetings, you never see whoever's in the meetings. And it's interesting to think about why that is. And really, the reason is pretty simple, which is really expensive. So they've sort of priced themselves out of being that strategic advisor, and that's seated at the table, unless you're talking about, you know, fortune 500 company. And, you know, most of us don't talk to those kind of those kind of companies all day long when you talk to small business and medium sized business, that really need help, and really need somebody that can, you know, help Shepherd them along the way. So when my clients call them say, Hey, I'm on my way to a meeting, I need an NDA reviewed, I understand where they're going what they're doing, because I already have been talking to them, you know, daily, right, my clients call text email all weekends, they never have to think about in some crazy bill the next week, because they texted me on a Friday, and I spent a whole weekend doing a research project that they never asked me to do.

Gresham Harkless 7:09
Right, yeah, and having that kind of, you know, understanding probably helps out a tremendous amount for clients. But also tap, it probably helps out too, because it sounds like and I never even thought about that, you know, having the meeting and not having a lawyer present, it probably saves you and can save organizations from potential pitfalls and things that can happen down the line by not being able to kind of make those decisions.

Marc Snyderman  7:34
Right. Right. I think that's all that's all part of the sort of the offering and what we're trying to change within the industry. So you know, I use the term, you know, hashtag, hashtag disruptive loitering, you know, and I call myself sort of this disruptive entrepreneur, and try to figure out any places where I can find some white space. In a market where it looks like there's a hole of some sort, or some process that really needs to change. And take a look at it and see if there's a way to work within it and find something find a solution to provide.

Gresham Harkless  8:10
Absolutely. And that's in true entrepreneurial form, definitely, from my vantage point. And so, I wanted to switch gears a little bit. And I want to ask you for what I call a SEO hack. So this could be like an app or book or a habit that you have, or what's something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Marc Snyderman  8:27
I get a lot of I have a lot of things that I call hacks for myself, to say, one that I think I probably would go to the to a book and I'd probably say, Simon synnex walk, why, on my why the Golden Circle of why I think, you know, once you can find, you know, your inherent purpose, you know, what drives you. And you can, you can state that and you can put it on paper and you can explain it properly to your team, as the CEO, it drives the whole organization forward. So if I had to pick one, I would say no, your why. And if you haven't read any of Simon cynics books or listen to him, I really suggest I highly suggest you do so he's, you know, sort of the ultimate optimist. And especially in these times, you know, hearing from an optimist is a great thing. Because it helps, you know, we all need that right now. And he's, he's just sort of, you know, I think he's just really strong at it. And he's been doing a ton of stuff online these days with his books and doing book reviews of his own books, and having groups sort of read through them together. So it's been a lot of fun.

Gresham Harkless 9:42
I truly love that hack. And so now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. And this could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something you would tell a client or if you have to do a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

Marc Snyderman 9:56
Okay, I mean, I'll probably borrow a little bit of Gary Vee here. I'll try not to not to use the vulgarities.

Gresham Harkless 10:03
We have the expressive

Marc Snyderman 10:08
You know, I think that he has a lot of really good. I mean, you get to take everybody with a grain of salt. I think, you know, it's why read and study and listen to a whole lot of different people. Because there's, there's great advice from across the board game, take pieces of all of it. So like you said, there's some nuggets, and I think the one nugget that I would always that I would love to, you know, it's the hardest thing when you're younger is to understand that, you know, what other people think doesn't really matter. You know, it's what you want, and what you and you have to drive for yourself, and you have to drive, and people aren't gonna do it for you. The hard work is is hard work, and that I learned from a really early stage because like I said, I was working on was he never really stopped, I can say, I can tell you say that. Specifically, I literally started when I was eight years old and never stopped working. So you know, I think that's a that's a piece that I make sure that that I always talk to young entrepreneurs about, you know, you can you can want to do it all you want, and you can talk about it, if you're not going to actually do the work, and don't do it. You know, and, you know, and I guess the other pieces as you know, he everybody's gonna criticize you everybody's gonna have their own opinions. You know, yeah, it's important to understand what the market is. But it's not important to listen to every single person around you telling you you can't do it. Because if you think you can, you probably can.

Gresham Harkless 11:27
Yeah, absolutely. And so now I'm gonna ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different, quote unquote, CEOs on this show. So Mark, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Marc Snyderman 11:40
To me, it's, it's being you know, the leader, the one that understands and can, you know, identify and show and demonstrate what the organization is about and for, and, you know, really rally around that, why that purpose, and build the right strategy to get there. And then understands how to delegate and, you know, utilize and attract talent around you, that will help you make your mission come true, because you can't do everything yourself. And that's, you know, as you know, yes. For you know, nuggets, I'll give you another one, which is, you know, go back and teach yourself, you know how to delegate, that's a skill that takes a long time to learn, and still learn it. I learned that every day. So I would say, you know, to me, the CEO really has to be that transparent, you know, effective leader, is really what it means what works best for me.

Gresham Harkless 12:43
Yeah, absolutely love that. And I feel like definitely a lot of people probably not an agreement about learning the delegation piece, because I feel like understanding that, you know, it is a process and it's like a marathon, so to speak in business and entrepreneurship in organizations that we start is so huge, but I love that, you know, that that vision that she spoke to the being able to kind of empower those people that are in those seats, so to speak, in order to to be successful in order to be able to thrive within them. Because I think so many times we forget, and we think, you know, individually about ourselves being successful, but success is a team sport. And in order to be successful, you have to often have your team be successful, and then it starts to flow from there.

Marc Snyderman 13:24
No, absolutely. You need to energize and, and build that team from the ground up. And make sure that you know, everybody's uncle on brand on culture, and of the same ilk, right? And you'll you'll win when you do that.

Gresham Harkless 13:42
Yeah, you have to make sure all the all the, everybody's rowing in the same direction. So yeah, go in a circle, so to speak. But I truly appreciate that definition. And I appreciate your time, even more, what I wanted to do was fashion, that mic so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional, you can let our readers and listeners know, and of course, how best they can get a hold view and find out about all the awesome things you are working on.

Marc Snyderman 14:06
Sure, I mean, you know, I'd love to help small business and you know, I'm kind of an open book, and very reachable. LinkedIn is probably the best place to get me it's just Mark's not you know, there's a mark sneiderman on LinkedIn, it's me, you'll find me pretty easily. And you know, it's thunderman Law Group comm and all of our social media channels, my socials all slash Mark Slenderman on Instagram, on Twitter, and Facebook and you can find me wherever you need to. I love to help out and you know, I provide a lot of content online, so hopefully it's helpful to people. So feel free to subscribe to our newsletter. You know, check us out, see if you know, hit me up if you have any questions. I have lots of different things going on. So always fun to talk about. And appreciate the opportunity to, you know, share a little bit of my story today with you guys and girls. interview and really appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Yeah, no

Gresham Harkless 15:03
problem. Definitely, you know, thank you. And we will have the links and information in the show notes as well too. And I've always felt and maybe I'm a little biased, but I feel like the best entrepreneurs and CEOs are definitely lifelong learners. So I appreciate you for for I know some of that wisdom today. And definitely looking forward to collaborating and working together in the future and I hope you have a great rest day.

Outro 15:23
Thank you for listening to the IMC o podcast powered by Blue 16 Media Tune in next time and visit us at I am ceo.co I am CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, subscribe and leave us a five star rating grab CEO gear@www.sceeto.co This has been the mF CEO podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.