Building a 'Bayit' by accident with Yaron Sivan

Failing our way to success

What does it take to build a thriving business from scratch, especially when the journey starts somewhere entirely unexpected?

In this episode of Failing Our Way to Success, Helena Baker sits down with Yaron Sivan, a former Hebrew teacher turned accidental entrepreneur, who founded Ulpan Bayit. The children of Olim, he had little experience and no support as he slowly, but surely started to redefine himself amidst financial setbacks and daring personal growth experiences, Yaron’s story is a testament to resilience and reinvention.

Discussion Points:

• Yaron's background and journey into entrepreneurship
• The cultural influences of being a child of Iranian and Norwegian immigrants
• Challenges faced growing up in immigrant families
• The birth of Café Bayot and its significance
• The importance of delegation in business growth
• Yaron’s experiences with financial struggles and managing cash flow
• The stress of having employees and the lessons learned from firing them
• The impact of psychedelic use on personal and professional growth

Summary:

Yaron Sivan shares his multifaceted journey from a Hebrew teacher to the founder of Ulpan Bayit, reflecting on the cultural and personal challenges he faced along the way. He discusses the contrast between the idealized image of Israel's entrepreneurial scene and the reality, offering practical insights into financial management, delegation, and pricing strategies. Additionally, Yaron delves into how personal experiences, including the use of psychedelics, have shaped his leadership style and mental health, providing valuable lessons on resilience and cultural understanding.

About The Guest:

Yaron Sivan is the founder of Ulpan Bayit, a language school in Tel Aviv, and has a rich background as a Hebrew teacher. His journey as an accidental entrepreneur is marked by cultural influences, personal growth experiences, and a commitment to overcoming challenges in the business landscape.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Cultural Influences and Family Dynamics
• 03:34 Challenges of Being a Child of Olim
• 09:03 The Birth of Café Bayit
• 12:33 Delegating and Business Growth
• 15:10 Realizations and Reflections
• 18:55 The Accidental Entrepreneur
• 24:53 Starting Ulpan Bayit
• 35:18 Starting from Scratch: The Kitchen Job
• 36:15 Building the First Website
• 37:04 The Big Break: Paris Center for Peace Project
• 41:41 Financial Struggles and Learning Cashflow
• 47:28 Raising Prices and Managing Demand
• 51:08 The Stress of Having Employees
• 55:11 A Psychedelic Perspective Shift
• 01:02:30 Managing People and Personal Growth
• 01:07:39 Firing Employees: A Hard Lesson

Links for the Guest:

Connect with Yaron Sivan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaron-sivan-8949b32a/

Visit Yaron Sivan's website: https://ulpan.co.il/

Call to Action:

Ready to gain insights into the world of accidental entrepreneurship? Tune in to the full episode for valuable lessons and inspiring stories!