IAM2578 – Entrepreneur Builds Relationships Through Mobile Dating App

I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

Transcription:

The full transcription is only available to CBNation Library Members. Sign up today!

Lori Cheek Teaser 00:00

Cheekd actually helps make real-life connections for dating. So real-time, real life. And it started out with a deck of cards that you could slip to strangers. They were dating cards that had a funny pickup line and a code that led to an online profile.

And we've since pivoted in an eco-friendly way, which we got rid of the cards. And now we have a Bluetooth app that sort of does the same thing.

So, if you walk into a bar or a cafe, it connects to you like your phone's become a beacon, so it tells you who's single in the same space and you have a chance to interact in person.

Intro 00:32

Are you ready to hear business stories and learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and level up your business from awesome CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresh values your time and is ready to share with you the valuable info you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 00:59

Hello, hello, hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO Podcast. And I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Lori Cheek of Cheekd. Lori, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Lori Cheek 01:07

Thank you for having me.

Gresham Harkless 01:09

No problem. Super excited to have you on. And what I want to do is just read a little bit more about Lori so we can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing.

An architect-turned-entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Cheekd, a mobile dating app that makes misconnections obsolete.

Lori is a Shark Tank veteran, was recently listed as “The Digital Dating Disruptor” in one of the Top 10 CEOs to Watch.

A University of Kentucky architectural graduate, Lori is no longer building structures; she's now building relationships. Lori, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

Lori Cheek 01:39

I'm ready.

[restrict paid=”true”]

Gresham Harkless 01:40

Awesome. Let's do it. So, to kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story and what led you to start your business.

Lori Cheek 01:46

Well, I've always been coming up with ideas my whole life, but there was one day that this light bulb moment would not go off in my head.

I couldn't stop thinking about this idea, and I told hundreds of people about it over a year period, and everybody was like, this is genius. You've got to bring it to life.

And I even had people calling me weeks after, saying, I needed your products in the subway the other day. So, I heard it enough that I decided to make it happen.

So that was 11 years ago. And I launched the company over nine years ago. And it's, it's been quite the journey, I have to say.

Gresham Harkless 02:20

Nice. It always is an entrepreneurial journey is always an interesting journey, or a roller coaster, whatever you want to call it.

So, it's great to kind of hear that not just hearing those people say you should create this, you actually went through it and created in true entrepreneurial fashion.

So, I wanted to drill down a little bit deeper here a little bit more about cheat. Can you tell us exactly what it is, what it does, and how it serves the client you work with?

Lori Cheek 02:41

Well, the whole idea started out with me living in a city of 8 million people, coming from a town of 2000 people.

And I realized how difficult it was to even meet someone where there's this many people. I mean, New Yorkers are just really strangers to one another until you get in a close proximity.

But I also thought it was very hard to find a date after living here for 16 years.

So, Cheekd actually helps make real-life connections for dating. So real-time, real life. And it started out with a deck of cards that you could slip to strangers.

They were dating cards that had a funny pickup line and a code that led to an online profile.

And we've since pivoted. in an eco-friendly way, which we got rid of the cards and now we have a Bluetooth app that sort of does the same thing.

So, if you walk into a bar or a cafe, it connects to you, like your phone's become a beacon.

So, it tells you who's single in the same space, and you have a chance to interact in person before starting this virtual nonsense that usually leads to nothing.

Gresham Harkless 03:41

There you go. Yeah, you can actually see, maybe I should go in that bar or I shouldn't based off of whatever connection you don't see.

Lori Cheek 03:46

Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

Gresham Harkless 03:49

So, what would you consider to be what I call your secret sauce? And actually, it could be for your organization or it could be for yourself, but what do you feel kind of sets you apart and makes you unique?

Lori Cheek 03:59

Well, I think that our secret sauce for the app is actually pretty much what I just said.

The fact that you have an opportunity to strike up real-life conversations face-to-face before this, the swiping stuff that you can do in the comfort of your own home, that really doesn't lead to a lot.

I mean, I've tried all the dating apps, and the number of times you make a match, it is really slim chances to actually make a connection and find someone back in the real world.

And my secret sauce is that I have been completely stubborn since I was a kid.

And I think to be a successful entrepreneur, that's one of those bad characteristics that actually comes in very handy and not taking no for an answer, and just bulldozing forward no matter what.

Gresham Harkless 04:44

Exactly. You have to be relentless, especially when you have a vision and a goal, and especially when it's something that's a unique or trend-setting or something that hasn't been created before.

But I like the fact that you mentioned that, too, because I think a lot of times the apps, they're either real-world or they're not real-world.

So, the fact that it kind of sounds like you kind of merge those two together, where you have that kind of app feel, but at the same time, you have to have that Bluetooth connection.

So, you have to be somewhere in the vicinity of the person. Would that be accurate?

Lori Cheek 05:14

Exactly.

Gresham Harkless 05:15

Exactly. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And I wanted to switch gears a little bit and ask you for what I call a CEO hack.

And this could be an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but it's something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Lori Cheek 05:28

I would have to say fitness has really been a crutch for me over the past decade, building this business.

I mean, I've been more stressed doing this than anything. Although it's been a magical experience, I have been more stressed in this than anything else in my life.

And I find my release at the gym. I go there religiously every single day, unless I feel like I'm on my deathbed or traveling in an airplane for 24 hours. And I still find a way to work out.

Gresham Harkless 05:58

Absolutely. That makes perfect sense. And I even find like at the end of the day, I usually have to go to the gym.

That's what I try to put into my plan because it does get all that stress relief out.

And if you don't do that, then it can start to build up and become a lot more. But when you're able to do that on a regular basis, it definitely helps.

Lori Cheek 06:15

Yes, it does. Exactly.

Gresham Harkless 06:17

Nice. And now I want to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. And this is a word of wisdom or piece of advice. Or if you can hop into a time machine, what would you tell your younger business self?

Lori Cheek 06:29

Well, I think it's important, first of all, to surround yourself with the people that you want to become.

That's probably the best advice I've heard. I mean, if you're surrounded by naysayers or negative people or people that, I mean, I even remember some of my best friends early on when I was hitting some serious brick walls in this journey.

They're like, when do you decide to pull the plug on this thing? And I'm like, do you know who you're talking to? How long have you known me?

Like, I don't know. I just think there takes a lot of self-belief and determination. And I was born with both of those things, but also just to make sure that you're around people that you admire and that are super supportive.

Gresham Harkless 07:10

Absolutely. And yeah, your environment can definitely determine your altitude, as they say, depending on who you're around and who you're not around.

That could definitely make or break you a lot of times. For people that may not have been born with that gene and that ability to do that, what would you recommend to those people to kind of, I guess, if it can be developed.

Lori Cheek 07:30

I mean, I think it's important to find mentors, and that's something that I actually didn't do, didn't know to do, but that's sort of surrounding yourself with the right people.

So, I think, yeah, finding people that you admire that have been down that road before.

I mean, I've gotten tons of calls from entrepreneurs before that have watched my journey and want my advice.

So, I'm happy to take those calls. You'd be surprised at the number of people that have been down that road.

They've been there before starting out. So, I think that's probably some good advice for people that aren't born with the kind of stubbornness that I was.

Gresham Harkless 08:07

Exactly. Exactly. No, it's great to be able to kind of tap into that expertise and tap in those people because we're always trying to.

A lot of times, when you start something, you have a vision, you have a goal, and a lot of people give up on it.

So, I definitely appreciate you for going and continuing to build your business and build your vision that you have, because so many people don't do that. So, I appreciate that.

Lori Cheek 08:25

Well, thank you.

Gresham Harkless 08:26

You're welcome. And now I wanted to 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, Lori, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Lori Cheek 08:39

I mean, I consider being a CEO as having invented something and built this dream of mine. And being a CEO to me means living a lifestyle and not a job.

So, I gave up a 16-year career in architecture and design to build this dream, and now I'm not getting paid to build someone else's dream, working 40 to 50 hours a week.

I've got a life dedicated to building my own, and it's been the most magical road of my life.

Gresham Harkless 09:08

Nice, and I definitely think that's what everybody can definitely aspire to do if you have that vision to go on and do that.

And definitely, it can be difficult sometimes when you are leaving, what is the norm or what is the comfort zone, especially, but I appreciate you for doing that and also helping out others as well do that.

So, Lori, I appreciate your time. And what I want to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know.

And then of course, how best they can download Cheekd and find out about all the awesome things that you're doing.

Lori Cheek 09:39

Yeah, so our app is free. If you're single, it works well in an urban environment because it does work within a 30-foot radius.

So, if you're out in the boonies, like where I grew up in Kentucky, it might not work so well.

But if you are in a city, you can download our app at Cheekd on the iTunes store. We also have a spinoff of Cheekd called Networked.

It's the same sort of app for networking, and that's in the Google Play and iTunes store. Both are free.

You've got nothing to lose except a little space on your phones. And on social media, we're pretty much cheeked on everything.

Gresham Harkless 10:11

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Well, thank you so much again, and we'll make sure to have those links in the show notes as well so that anybody can follow up with you.

But I appreciate your time, and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

Lori Cheek 10:21

Thank you so much. Nice to speak with you.

Outro 10:23

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by CB Nation and Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. I AM CEO is not just a phrase; it's a community.

Check out the latest and greatest apps, books, and habits to level up your business at CEOhacks.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless Jr. Thank you for listening.

[/restrict]