Podcast Summary: "Lean & Green: How LiveGood is Disrupting Supplements w/ Ben Glinsky"

Right About Now with Ryan Alford
Episode: Lean & Green: How LiveGood is Disrupting Supplements w/ Ben Glinsky
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host: Ryan Alford
Guest: Ben Glinsky, CEO and Founder of LiveGood
Duration: 38 minutes

Introduction

In this episode of Right About Now with Ryan Alford, host Ryan Alford welcomes Ben Glinsky, the CEO and founder of LiveGood, to discuss how his company is revolutionizing the $200 billion supplement industry. The conversation delves into the importance of running a lean business, maintaining high-quality standards, and leveraging innovative marketing strategies to disrupt traditional markets.

Guest Background and LiveGood Overview

Ben Glinsky introduces himself as an entrepreneur with nine years of experience in the ad agency business. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a lean operation, having learned this lesson after expanding his agency to 10-12 employees and subsequently facing increased costs without proportional revenue growth. This foundational experience informs his approach at LiveGood.

Ben Glinsky: “I’ve never been on payroll, so I didn’t fall for that trap. Daddy eats when the company eats.”
[00:34]

LiveGood is positioned as a disruptor in the supplement industry, focusing on providing the highest quality supplements at the lowest prices. Ryan highlights that the industry has remained stagnant for decades, with companies marking up products exorbitantly without corresponding value.

Building a Lean Company

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the advantages of operating a lean business. Ryan shares LiveGood’s success in generating over $100 million annually without the typical corporate overhead. He attributes this to minimal staffing, where only essential roles like warehouse management and customer support are filled.

Ryan Alford: “Our highest paid employee is our warehouse manager, Lee, who makes sure all of our products are shipped out on time every day.”
[02:43]

Ben corroborates this by sharing his past mistakes in overstaffing and unnecessary expenses, which hindered his agency's profitability. Both agree that keeping overhead low not only boosts profit margins but also creates a competitive edge, making it difficult for larger companies to sustain similar models.

Transparency and Quality in Supplements

Ryan emphasizes LiveGood's commitment to transparency, contrasting it with the industry norm of proprietary blends that obscure ingredient details. He cites a study where 17 out of 30 Amazon supplements lacked accurate ingredient listings, underscoring the need for honesty in product formulation.

Ryan Alford: “We show every single one of our ingredients on every single one of our products. We show the full testing, certificates, analysis...”
[08:54]

Ben echoes this sentiment, criticizing the deceptive marketing tactics often employed in the supplement space, such as misleading packaging and unverified claims.

Ben Glinsky: “They’re like, why isn't this selling? I was like, well, it ain't the marketing.”
[10:23]

Affiliate Marketing as a Growth Strategy

The conversation shifts to LiveGood's innovative use of affiliate marketing to drive sales. Ryan explains that affiliates, passionate about the products, effectively spread the word without the unpredictability of traditional advertising.

Ryan Alford: “With affiliates, it's guaranteed. If they make a sale, they get paid. If they don't, they don't get paid.”
[26:39]

Ben shares his initial skepticism about affiliate marketing but acknowledges its success, noting that LiveGood hosts thousands of affiliates, some earning substantial monthly commissions.

Ben Glinsky: “We’ve got some affiliates making 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand a month.”
[27:39]

Personal Insights on Entrepreneurship and Success

Both Ryan and Ben delve into the personal attributes necessary for entrepreneurial success. They emphasize grit—the relentless drive to overcome obstacles—as a critical factor distinguishing average from exceptional business owners.

Ben Glinsky: “You either have grit or you don't. It’s the difference between average and non-average.”
[13:52]

Ryan adds that while outsourcing and delegation become vital as companies grow, the initial phase demands entrepreneurs to wear multiple hats and remain deeply involved in all aspects of the business.

Ryan Alford: “You gotta be the guy, you gotta be the girl, you gotta go out there and make stuff happen...”
[12:30]

LiveGood’s Product Line and Market Positioning

Ryan provides an overview of LiveGood's diverse product range, highlighting their commitment to USDA-certified organic ingredients and affordability. He discusses flagship products like Super Reds, an anti-inflammatory supplement, and Ultra Magnesium Complex, addressing common deficiencies and health issues.

Ryan Alford: “Our Super Reds is our best cardiovascular health product ever created. ... And this is our anti-inflammatory, most powerful anti-inflammatory ever created. Just $18.50.”
[28:10]

He underscores that LiveGood offers substantial value by combining multiple benefits into single products, significantly undercutting competitors' prices.

Customer Acquisition and Growth Metrics

Discussing growth strategies, Ryan highlights the reliance on affiliate marketing and word-of-mouth referrals rather than traditional advertising. With 1.8 million members worldwide and $100 million in sales, LiveGood demonstrates the effectiveness of its model.

Ryan Alford: “We’ve got 1.8 million members around the world.”
[25:26]

Ben questions the sustainability and scalability of such a model, but Ryan reassures by explaining the generational payout structure that incentivizes affiliates to continuously promote LiveGood products.

Maintaining Work-Life Balance and Personal Fulfillment

Towards the end, Ryan shares personal anecdotes about balancing business success with personal life. Despite achieving significant financial milestones, he remains passionate and engaged, driven by a competitive spirit and the desire to continuously improve.

Ryan Alford: “I love the grind of business. I love the grind in sports.”
[18:50]

Ben expresses curiosity about Ryan's motivations, noting the apparent contradiction between running a lean operation and personal fulfillment. Ryan explains that money enables him to enjoy life, spending quality time with family and investing in hobbies without compromising his business ethos.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

The episode wraps up with actionable advice for entrepreneurs aiming to build lean and impactful businesses:

1. Maintain Low Overhead: Keep operations lean to maximize profit margins and stay competitive.
2. Commit to Transparency: Build trust with consumers by being upfront about product ingredients and quality.
3. Leverage Affiliate Marketing: Utilize passionate affiliates to drive sales without the unpredictability of traditional ads.
4. Emphasize Grit: Cultivate relentless determination to overcome challenges and sustain long-term success.
5. Focus on the Mission: Stay aligned with solving real problems rather than getting overly attached to products.

Ryan Alford: “Focus on the mission. Don’t fall in love with the product; stay in love with the problem you’re solving.”
[35:40]

Ben and Ryan encourage listeners to visit LiveGood’s website and explore their product offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to quality and affordability.

Ryan Alford: “Livegood.com. Check them all out if you want to be a member. Awesome.”
[36:11]

Final Thoughts

This episode provides valuable insights into building and scaling a successful business within a competitive industry. Through the lens of LiveGood’s experience, listeners learn the importance of operational efficiency, authentic marketing, and unwavering dedication to quality and transparency. Ben Glinsky’s expertise, combined with Ryan Alford’s entrepreneurial wisdom, offers a comprehensive guide for aspiring entrepreneurs aiming to make a significant impact without unnecessary overhead.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Alford [00:25]: “We are the number one business show on the planet with over 1 million downloads a month, taking the BS out of business for over 6 years and over 400 episodes.”

• Ben Glinsky [02:43]: “It's headed towards. It couldn't be better.”

• Ryan Alford [12:30]: “You gotta be the guy, you gotta be the girl, you gotta go out there and make stuff happen.”

• Ben Glinsky [13:52]: “You either have grit or you don't. It’s the difference between average and non-average.”

• Ryan Alford [18:50]: “I love the grind of business. I love the grind in sports.”

• Ryan Alford [35:40]: “Focus on the mission. Don’t fall in love with the product; stay in love with the problem you’re solving.”

For more insights and full episodes, visit www.RyanIsRight.com or follow @rightaboutnowshow and @ryanalford on Instagram.