TJ Fairchild started Commonplace in 2003 with his wife in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Today, Commonplace has nine locations and TJ is consistently hired to consult with other coffee shops to help get their business established.
In addition to operating coffee shops, Commonplace also roasts their own beans which they sell directly to consumers and wholesale to other coffee companies. TJ did not have a business background before starting his company, he majored in philosophy and avoided a career in academia to start his firm. In this episode, TJ and Aaron discuss the equipment needed for a coffee shop, how to develop a soulful environment, and the shortcomings of ‘free trade’ coffee sourcing. Sign up for a Weekly Email that will Expand Your Mind. TJ Fairchild’s Challenge; Be Grateful. Connect with TJ Fairchild
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Commonplace Coffee Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 455 with Michael Mayer where we discuss his smart scales that automatically ship customers fresh coffee whenever they start running low.
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Howie Choset is a robotics professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a serial entrepreneur. With his students, Howie has formed several companies including Medrobotics, for surgical systems, Hebi Robotics, for modular robots, and Bito Robotics for autonomous guided vehicles.
Further, Choset co-lead the formation of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute, which is $250m national institute advancing both technology development and education for robotics in manufacturing. He is aksi a founding Editor of the journal ‘Science Robotics. In this conversation, Howie and Aaron discuss the series of startups he has founded, how to delegate & develop teams, and the patience required to see technological innovation turn from idea to reality. Sign up for a Weekly Email that will Expand Your Mind. Howie Choset’s Challenge; Have good students actively teach students that are further behind. Go into fields that seem too difficult. Find applications for snake robots. Connect with Howie Choset
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Biorobotics Lab Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 306 with Bryan Salesky where we discuss raising billions of dollars to develop self-driving cars. 
Charles McIlvaine is an effective operator and financier who is in the midst of a significant rebrand for Coen Oil.
After acquiring the company in the 2000s, Charlie and his brother Andy have built and spun off the company’s Energy and Transport businesses, in order to focus on their convenience store and gas station business. In this conversation, Charlie and Aaron discuss business strategy, company culture, and how to differentiate a company’s brand. Sign up for a Weekly Email that will Expand Your Mind. Charles McIlvaine’s Challenge; Evaluate your business through people, process, and technology. Also, remember you are not alone. Nobody succeeds alone. Connect with Charles McIlvaine
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Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 415 with Bill Sarris where we discuss building a family business and candy empire. Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680
Will Weiner is the CEO of Xpogo, the association focused on the growth of extreme pogo sticking.
After taking over in 2018, Will has focused on expanded the sports media reach and developing a more robust event strategy. In this episode, Aaron and Will discuss media, business models, and the athletes that make it possible. Connect with Will Weiner
Eli Harris is the cofounder and President of R-Zero Systems. R-Zero has raised $60 million to re-design hospital-grade disinfection solutions for day-to-day life.
In just fifteen months, R-Zero has raced to over $20 million worth of revenue and finds itself at the right place, at the right time, to take advantage of the cultural changes taking place post-pandemic. Eli has been named a Forbes 30 under 30 and previously founded the portable energy company EcoFlow. EcoFlow has raised $100 million and has been valued over $1 billion in private markets. In this episode, Eli talks about disrupting the disinfectant industry, his past failures as an entrepreneur, and the discipline requires to build something great. Sign up for a Weekly Email that will Expand Your Mind. Eli Harris’s Challenge; Ask for help. Connect with Eli Harris
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R-Zero Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 453 with Brock Blake where we discuss PPP loans, equity vs debt financing, and how to build a company in Utah. Text Me What You Think of This Episode 412-278-7680 |
Show NotesFind links and information referenced in each episode. 
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