Settle down for story #2 with Ira Goldfarb. Ira’s experience as a child of Holocaust survivors who built a meaningful, warm life and watching his father grow a successful business inspired him to become an entrepreneur with both drive and compassion, creating opportunities for employees who made better lives for themselves and became family. To Ira, Sow Good is a chance to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and continue the entrepreneurial spirit passed down from his father.
Story Bites:
- Growing Up: Life in New York, middle school side hustles, and how Ira’s aptitude for math influenced his trajectory as an entrepreneur. (00:46)
- Life Influences: How being raised in a community of Holocaust survivors and immigrants shaped Ira’s work ethic, empathy, story-telling, and family values. (5:55)
- A Manufacturer’s Guide to Success: Efficiency, Excellence, and Redefining Excellence. (20:00)
- Flying the Coop: Leaving the family business to build his own businesses. (24:50)
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Spotting talent, giving opportunities, and passing down lessons to the next generation of entrepreneurs. (30:06)
- Success: What does it look like to Ira now? How ideas of success change, but values stay steadfast. (34:56)
- Building a Team: Going public and how Claudia and Ira established their positions and balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses. (38:23)
- Staying Relevant: Pivoting, leaning into change, and including the newer generations. (41.52)
- Advice For Your 20s: Balancing family, friends, work goals, and giving to others. (43:17)
- Toast to the Moral of Ira’s Story: If you’re going to do something, do your absolute best. Then success, however you define it, will come because you’ve become the best version of yourself. (45:52)
Do you or some you know have a good story to share on the show? Contact us at goodstories@sowginc.com! Thisissowgood.com