Most entrepreneurs think success comes from having the perfect idea. Sam Eitzen believes it comes from something far less glamorous: learning to adapt before you have to.

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Sam Eitzen, Co-Founder and CEO of Snapbar, to discuss how a simple photo booth business evolved into an AI-powered experiential marketing platform serving more than 10,000 brands, including Microsoft, Google, and Toyota.

Sam shares the unfiltered story of building a bootstrapped company for more than a decade, surviving the collapse of the live events industry during COVID-19, making difficult pivots that nearly cost the company everything, and ultimately betting on artificial intelligence to build the next chapter of Snapbar.

Along the way, Mark and Sam explore why trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in business, how curiosity creates better leaders, what founders consistently get wrong about AI, and why the companies that embrace change will outperform those trying to preserve the past.

If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, founder, or leader navigating uncertainty, this conversation offers practical lessons on resilience, innovation, leadership, and building a company that's prepared for whatever comes next.

In this episode:

• Why Snapbar pivoted from photo booths to AI-powered experiences

• The brutal leadership lessons learned during COVID

• Why trust is your greatest competitive advantage

• How curiosity leads to better entrepreneurs

• The biggest misconceptions about artificial intelligence

• How to build a company culture that embraces change

• Why adaptability beats certainty in today's business landscape

• What non-tech companies need to understand about AI

• Leadership lessons from fourteen years of entrepreneurship

• Why playing the long game almost always wins

👍 Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, and innovators who share the real stories behind building successful businesses.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Sam Eitzen & Snapbar:
www.snapbar.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-eitzen/

Most people think successful investors spend their time chasing the next big opportunity. Jacob Vanderslice believes the best investors do the exact opposite; they spend more time thinking about what could go wrong.

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Jacob Vanderslice, Principal and Co-Founder of VanWest Partners, to discuss the mindset, discipline, and decision-making behind successful real estate investing and long-term wealth creation.

Jacob shares how his career evolved from residential fix-and-flips to commercial real estate investing, why profitability always matters more than growth, and the framework his team uses to evaluate risk before investing millions of dollars.

The conversation explores everything from downside protection and responsible leverage to raising capital, market cycles, commercial real estate, AI-powered deal analysis, and the questions every investor should ask before writing a check.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, real estate investor, or someone looking to build wealth over time, this episode offers practical lessons on protecting capital, evaluating opportunities, and making smarter financial decisions.

In this episode:

• Why profitability beats growth every time

• The biggest mistakes investors make during good markets

• How professional investors evaluate risk before returns

• The transition from fix-and-flips to commercial real estate

• Why storage facilities became an attractive investment class

• Responsible leverage and debt management

• Cash flow versus IRR, and which matters more

• How AI is changing commercial real estate underwriting

• Why market cycles create opportunity for disciplined investors

• Building long-term wealth through conservative investing

If you're serious about entrepreneurship, investing, financial freedom, and building lasting wealth, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

👍 Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, and innovators who share the real stories behind building successful businesses.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Jacob Vanderslice & VanWest Partners:
https://www.vanwestpartners.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-vanderslice-02905b16b/

Albert Lukonga arrived in the United States as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo with little more than ambition, resilience, and a willingness to learn. Today, he is the founder of ALBERT COUTURE, Kentucky's first luxury fashion house, creating bespoke garments and handcrafted footwear for executives, professional athletes, entertainers, and public officials across the country.

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Albert sits down with Mark Perkins to share the mindset that transformed his life and business. He explains why fear and self-doubt rob entrepreneurs of opportunity, how learning to understand his own value changed everything, and why luxury has far more to do with trust and experience than expensive products.

Albert pulls back the curtain on what it takes to serve elite clients, from researching every detail before a fitting to creating highly personalized wardrobe experiences that build lifelong relationships. He also shares lessons on premium pricing, branding, confidence, preparation, and the importance of treating every client like they're your only client.

Whether you're building a luxury brand, growing a service business, or simply looking for inspiration to pursue bigger goals, Albert's entrepreneurial journey offers powerful lessons on resilience, value creation, and betting on yourself.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Albert built Kentucky's first luxury fashion house
• Why understanding your value changes the trajectory of your business
• The difference between luxury and simply being expensive
• How to build trust with high-end clients and create unforgettable experiences
• Why preparation is one of the greatest competitive advantages in business
• The mindset shifts that helped Albert overcome fear and pursue extraordinary opportunities
• What entrepreneurs can learn from serving the world's most discerning clients
• Why resilience remains one of the most valuable entrepreneurial skills

Albert's story is a reminder that where you start doesn't determine where you'll finish.

👍 Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, and innovators who share the real stories behind building successful businesses.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Albert Lukonga & Albert Couture:
https://albertcouture.com/
https://www.instagram.com/albert_couture/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-lukonga-1609b1bb/
https://www.instagram.com/albert_lukonga/