Tim McConnehey

Tim McConnehey has developed Izzard Ink from a spark of an idea into one of the fastest growing media companies in the U.S., selling over one million books and developing tech solutions that are set to reshape the industry. Recognized as an international publishing expert, Tim has been featured in Forbes, Inc., MarketWatch, Parade, Fox News Radio, Dow Jones, Medium, and other national and international publications.

McConnehey draws on a deep background in business, including extensive experience in fintech, business management, and business development, as well as the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and the Owners/Presidents Management Program at Harvard Business School. McConnehey lives in Salt Lake City, Utah area with his wife Wendy and their four children.

Where did the idea for Izzard Ink come from?

It came from reading a Wall Street Journal article about eBooks, and things just expanded as I learned more about publishing and what works and what doesn’t.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Hit the “Do Not Disturb” option to minimize interruptions. We really cannot do five things well at once.

How do you bring ideas to life?

We would test and figure out if the hypotheses are correct. If the idea cannot work on a small scale, it will likely not work when scaled.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The technology revolutions that are happening and will continue to happen in publishing. I love seeing how artificial intelligence can help editors.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Four days a week, I spend 35 minutes doing cardio. It helps clear my head and think through ideas.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Think and act like a scientist and not a perfectionist.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

That small business should be looking at building their technology and automation out.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Talk to and get to know your client. Every entrepreneur should talk directly with clients and sales leads. I am not the best salesperson, but it helps me understand what clients need and are trying to ask for

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Start small. Know your operations and map them. Make sure processing mapping has continued, feedback included. It makes it a living process document.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

We lost a significant client as they had internal management disputes. They say the next big thing is the best way to overcome a loss. So, we focused on building out the technology side of the business.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Write a book and tell your story. Who knows, it could turn into passive income.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Apple Watch. It was time to monitor steps for overall health.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

We use Monday.com. We took our process mapping and used Monday to bring them to life.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Best Good Horse by J. Reeder Archuleta. It is one of the best short story books available.

What is your favorite quote?

Success is Mastering Failure – Tim McConnehey

Key Learnings:

• Operations and process mapping need continuous feedback in all directions to create living processes.
• Think and act like a scientist and not a perfectionist.
• Success is Mastering Failure