{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"#073 - Mike Kelly: Knowing When to Pivot & Embracing the Right Opportunities","description":"Mike Kelly is the creator of Papa Bear\u2019s Nut Butter (and the titular Papa Bear). He started the business for a simple reason: he loves nut butter! It\u2019s something for the healthy people out there who appreciate life\u2019s indulgences.   But here\u2019s a funny little thing about this conversation \u2013 just days after our interview, some big changes happened in Mike\u2019s life and business: Papa Bear\u2019s is actually dissolving! Mike is partnering with up with two other people to start a new food brand focusing on a more diverse (but similarly healthy) product line.   \u201cI wasn\u2019t afraid of losing money... I was more afraid of saying I never tried\u201d \u2013Mike Kelly   While we do talk a lot about Papa Bear\u2019s products in this conversation, the main focus is really product development, entrepreneurship, and online sales \u2013 and, critically, knowing when to pivot. So you can think of this episode as a time capsule of the moment right before a Mike\u2019s big pivot, containing all of the insight and information he\u2019ll take from years of Papa Bear\u2019s and apply to his new endeavor.   One last thing \u2013 I first met Mike a few weeks ago at a General Assembly Food & Technology event in Santa Monica. These awesome adult education centers are scattered around the country and if you have an opportunity, I highly suggest checking out their incredible events. You never know who you\u2019ll meet!   \u201cTo not taking ourselves so fucking serious all the time.\u201d \u2013Mike Kelly   We also discuss: Transitioning from farmer\u2019s markets to Amazon Meeting at General Assembly Testing products + flavors Why they changed from Papa Bear\u2019s Kinda Healthy Nut Butters to Papa Bear\u2019s Nut Roasters The secret trick to getting all of the butter out of a jar Creating Churro Butter (and getting emotionally attached to it) Scaling up a food product business when you make the food by hand Your food is only as good as your ingredients Personifying Papa Bear Demolition Man, Taco Bell, and Amazon Marketing a product on Amazon Mike\u2019s nuts being organic How Mike chose the name Papa Bear Advice from an entrepreneur who\u2019s made a lot of mistakes Mike has touched every single jar of Papa Bear\u2019s, in one way or another \u2013 Wow!   Mike\u2019s Game-Changing PB&J Recipe: Ingredients: Dave\u2019s Killer Bread Your favorite flavor of Papa Bear\u2019s Your favorite Jelly Banana   Directions: Put 2 slices of Dave\u2019s Killer Bread in the broiler until they are toasted to your preference Put peanut butter on the toasted side of one slice & jelly on the toasted side of the other slice Put banana on the the side with peanut butter Combine the slices into a sandwich and you have a sandwich that\u2019s soft on the outside and crunchy on the inside!   Resources: Check out Papa Bear\u2019s Nut Butter Connect with Mike: Instagram | LinkedIn Read: "3 Pieces of Advice From an Entrepreneur Who's Made A Lot of Mistakes" Check out General Assembly   Mike Kelly\u2019s Bio: Mike \u2018Papa Bear\u2019 Kelly grew up in a small Jersey Shore town. As a College Football Player at the University at Albany, Mike consistently turned to various nut butters for a quick, healthy, protein packed snack. Post college, Mike moved to California where he started producing nut butters out of his home kitchen in Santa Monica using different nut combinations and a unique roasting process. Rather than adding additional sweeteners and sugars Mike chose to change the method in which nut butter is traditionally produced to create a unique product packed with flavor that doesn\u2019t kill you nutritionally. Check out the full line at iLovePapaBear.com or on Amazon! Just Forking Around is produced by Podcast Masters ","author_name":"Just Forking Around","author_url":"https:\/\/www.justforkingaround.net","html":"