Ep. 164: 7 Rules for Couples in Business (and Life)

As founders of the iconic Barefoot Wine brand (eventually acquired by E&J Gallo), Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey are two of the most highly sought-after workshop leaders, keynote speakers, and interview guests on business and executive topics. The two routinely appear on radio, podcasts and television outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and Bloomberg; and are frequently quoted and interviewed on professional and national publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Huffington Post, AMEX Open Forum, and Costco Connection. Their bi-monthly business articles are published by The Business Journals in 43 cities, and are Advisors & Contributing Editors to the C-Suite Network . Michael & Bonnie speak internationally for corporations, conferences, universities and symposiums including SOCAP (Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business), The World Conference on Entrepreneurship (ICSB) in Dublin, Ireland, The Conference Board’s Consumer Experience Symposium in NYC, The C-Suite Conferences, Persistent Systems, Liberty Tax, Retail Packaging Association, Renaissance Executive Forums, and over 60 universities that teach entrepreneurship.

Audiences worldwide attend Michael and Bonnie’s speeches to hear about their incredible journey as entrepreneurs and to learn about their unique “Barefoot Spirit” sales-driven culture and approach, which helped to establish the Barefoot brand as one of the most recognizable wine brands globally. Most recently, Michael and Bonnie have further adapted their teachings and launched the “Barefoot Startup” (#barefootstartup) movement, which encourages lean, early stage startups to adopt key bootstrapping tenets and sales-driven principles and tactics. Today, their timeless Barefoot business principles and proven strategies are utilized by both startups and large enterprises. Michael & Bonnie are highly recommended by business leaders and professors of entrepreneurship as inspirational speakers and entrepreneurial thought leaders.

Michael & Bonnie previously co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built Americas #1 Wine Brand, which is recommended reading for the CEO Library in CEO Forum, chronicles their humble beginnings in a laundry room in 1986 to their creation of an international bestselling wine brand. With virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas and strategic alliances to overcome obstacles and create new markets. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation, and took a comprehensive view of customer service. Their latest book, The Entrepreneurial Culture, 23 Ways to Engage and Empower Your People, was featured in Jeff Hayzlett’s C-Suite TV Network launch and The C-Suite Book Club.

JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcast shows including Fit 2 Love and Spirit, Purpose & Energy. She is the Director of Invisible Fitness, an Amazon best-selling author of Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life, and author of Knack Absolute Abs: Routines for a Fit and Firm Core. She was named Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles for 2007 by Elite Traveler Magazine. JJ has been featured in many national magazines, including Shape, Fitness, Elegant Bride, and Women’s Health as well as appeared on NBC, CBS, Fox 11, the CW and KTLA. Her newest book, The Invisible Fitness Formula: 5 Secrets to Release Weight and End Body Shame debuted at #2 on the Amazon Best Seller List for Women’s Health – get your free copy at jjflizanes.com/book

Doug Sandler is an entrepreneur and industry leader. His book, Nice Guys Finish First is a #1 ranked Amazon Best Seller.  As a podcast host of The Nice Guys, Doug has interviewed, Gary Vaynerchuk, Arianna Huffington and dozens of celebs. Doug is a nationally recognized speaker, writer, and founder of TurnKey Podcast Company, providing podcast production, editing and launch services. His Nice Guys podcast, with over 800 episodes has been downloaded 2.5 million times, in more than 175 countries.