908: Brad Pedersen – 10 Business Lessons Learned from Timeless Toys

  What could be more fun than being in the toy business, right? But, as we'll discover in this episode, this line of work isn't all fun and games. Today I'm joined by Brad Pedersen, who shares his remarkable journey from an expected career path in chiropractic care to an unexpected adventure in the world of toy making. Brad's story is one of resilience and reinvention, as he navigates the challenges of scaling a business too quickly, emphasizing the significance of strategic planning and timing. Self-employed business owners will find valuable insights in Brad's reflections on his journey and the importance of play.   Brad Pedersen is a serial entrepreneur with a remarkable journey that spans decades. A husband to Kelly for 27 years and a proud father of two, his entrepreneurial spirit ignited during his teens when he launched his first business venture. Brad initially pursued a career in healthcare but was captivated by a story about a young entrepreneur who successfully built a toy business, inspiring him to venture into the toy industry. He bootstraped his first toy company from a basement condo, propelling it to become one of Canada's largest toy companies in the early 2000s, earning accolades like the CYBF growth award, consecutive rankings among the Profit 100 companies, and an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year nomination. Brad's career includes founding Tech 4 Kids, which grew profitably, merging with The Bridge Direct to create Basic Fun with consolidated revenues of $150M. In 2017, he co-founded Pela, a socially responsible company striving to create a waste-free future by designing products that reduce waste's impact. Pela has gained recognition as a certified B-corp with an impressive record, including Jay-Z as an investor, ranking in Deloitte's Fast 50 for cleantech businesses in Canada, and crowdfunded campaigns like Lomi, which raised over $9M and became the most successful cleantech crowdfunded campaign ever. Brad's entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by both triumphs and adversities, and he continues to seek personal mastery and growth, driven by his faith, commitment to values, and passion for fitness and adventure.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   Brad Pedersen, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – BradPedersen.com Startup Santa: A Toymaker's Tale of 10 Business Lessons Learned from Timeless Toys by Brad Pedersen Brad Pedersen on LinkedIn (@in/brad-pedersen-77075012) Brad Pedersen on Twitter/X (@brad_pedersen) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.