Meet Zach Winters | Telemonial Co-Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Winters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
During the COVID pandemic, there was a great sense of isolation that was felt by all. In the midst of this, one of the most powerful ways of drawing people together was through shared appreciation of art. I found myself constantly giving out media recommendations to friends and asking them for their own.

With this in mind, I began a small website that was supposed to just be between myself and my friends so that we could stay connected by recommending and reviewing books and movies. Since then, Telemonial has experienced encouraging growth and expanded to include podcasts and music albums as well. Between myself and Trevor Mitchell, our technical lead and co-owner, we have invested hundreds of hours in the site and doing everything in our power to help it grow. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At this time, Telemonial is managed and iteratively built out as a second job. I have a full-time role in Technical Support for a Saas company in Colorado, so Telemonial is truly a labor of love outside of my full-time job.

The demands that come about as a result of balancing a professional career and a small business are many. In order to be successful, there has to be an fierce belief in oneself and the product that you are selling to the public. This does not mean that there are not days of discouragement or doubt, but the best strides are made forward after learning to pick yourself up from the doldrums.

I believe what sets Telemonial apart is not only the product itself, but the individuals behind it. We believe that we are in the process of building a world-class media recommendation experience for fans of film, books, music, and podcasts. Along with this, I believe that Telemonial succeeds because Trevor and myself both enjoy using the product ourselves. This desire to grow our business is also an opportunity to share a product that we genuinely like, which makes selling it to the public easier. While growth can fluctuate, we believe that we have the grit for the long haul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is an amazing place to have friends visit. If you are staying for a week, then we will absolutely spend a couple of days camping in the Rocky Mountains. Getting the opportunity to get lost in nature while only being an hour or two from your home is an amazing experience. Colorado Springs also has excellent local coffee shops–Switchback Roasters and Loyal Coffee are my two top favorites. We will alternate between eating good food, drinking excellent coffee, and taking in breathtaking views all week!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story, and Telemonial’s as well, would not be possible without the dedication and expertise of Trevor Mitchell. Trevor joined the Telemonial team five months before its official launch, and he has been an invaluable team member since day one. His ability to jump into the difficult problems we face and come out with a creative answer has helped sustain us through the many valleys and peaks that come along with starting your own business.

Trevor has also done all of this despite being a full-time college student through the majority of Telemonial’s existence. Telemonial would not be anywhere near where it is today without his efforts.

Website: telemonial.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/telemonial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/telemonial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/telemonial

Other: You can reach us at media@telemonial.com

Image Credits
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