Podcasts about first business

Starting your own podiatry business is exciting, rewarding... and at times, overwhelming. In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I welcome back Dr Jackson Tisdell, who first appeared on the show as a new graduate in Episode 22. Fast forward a few years, and Jackson has now spent his first 12 months building Spring Podiatry in Melton, Victoria.Because everything is still fresh, Jackson shares the real lessons he's learned along the way. There's no sugar-coating, just honest insights into what worked, what surprised him, and what he'd do again.Together we discuss:Why delegating sooner creates more freedomWhen it's worth paying for quality instead of buying cheapHow to take calculated risks without gambling your futureWhy difficult conversations rarely get easier by delaying themThe importance of focusing on one marketing strategy at a timeHow mentors and coaches can help you make better decisionsSimple ways to understand and manage cash flowWhy positioning yourself as a premium provider mattersHow niching your services attracts the right patientsWhy planning holidays before you think you need them is essentialWhether you're dreaming of opening your own clinic, have recently taken the leap, or have been in business for years, you'll find practical advice throughout this conversation.One of Jackson's simplest messages may also be his most powerful: "Back yourself".If you've been waiting for the perfect time to make your next move, this episode might be exactly the encouragement you need.Additional Show Notes are available on the Podiatry Legends Podcast website. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share it with another podiatrist.DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY?If you want to make more money from your podiatry business and have more time off with your family, please visit my website at tysonfranklin.com to learn how I can help you make this a reality. Otherwise, feel free to email me any questions you may have about your business at  tf@tysonfranklin.com.

Have you ever thought... "I'm not qualified enough." "I need another certification." "Who am I to teach this?" If so, you're not alone. One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is that you need more credentials before you can start a business. The truth? Your greatest business asset isn't another certification—it's your experience. In Day 4 of Summer Business School, you'll discover how to turn your own story into a business idea using my Experience → Expertise → Offer Framework™. In today's episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why your experience is more valuable than you think ✨ How to uncover what people already ask you for help with ✨ The Experience → Expertise → Offer Framework™ ✨ How to turn your knowledge into your first offer ✨ Why you don't have to be an expert—you just need to be a few steps ahead Today's Homework: Grab a notebook and answer these four questions: • What challenge have I overcome? • What do people already ask me for help with? • What could I teach someone in one hour? • If I could help one person solve one problem this month, what would it be? Then finish this sentence: My first offer helps __________ achieve __________. Tomorrow, we'll make sure you're creating something people actually want to buy by learning how to validate your business idea before you spend time building it. If you're enjoying Summer Business School, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next lesson!

https://youtu.be/uePyn0u75sY Staff Sheehan, CEO of Project Omega, is driven by a mission to strengthen America’s energy independence and national security by rebuilding the nation’s nuclear fuel cycle and scaling a culture-first business rooted in exceptional leadership and execution. With a career spanning energy, sustainable fuels, hydrogen, and chemical physics, Staff is leading the development of technologies that transform spent nuclear fuel into long-lasting power sources while helping usher in a new era of reliable, abundant nuclear energy. We explore Staff Sheehan’s Scaling Framework — Build the Best C-Suite, Due Diligence Your Investors, Build Things, and Execute, Execute, Execute. Staff explains why exceptional leadership is the foundation of every successful company, why founders should carefully vet their investors, and why hardware startups must prioritize building real products over ambitious concepts. He also discusses how AI-driven energy demand is fueling a nuclear renaissance, why restoring the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle is essential to energy independence, and what it takes to scale both advanced nuclear technologies and a high-growth company. — Scale a Culture-First Business with Staff Sheehan  Hi, everyone. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast. My guest today is Staff Sheehan, the CEO of Project Omega, an advanced nuclear recycling company with a mission to rebuild America’s nuclear fuel cycle end-to-end and unlock a new era of energy abundance for the United States. Wow. What a mission. Welcome to the show, Staff.  Thanks so much for having me, Steve. Great to be here.  Wow. You really are not playing small. Rebuilding America’s nuclear fuel cycle and unlocking a new era of energy abundance. Tell me about your personal “Why.” How are you manifesting it through the business? Well, I’ve been working in the energy industry, or adjacent to the energy industry, for a long time. This is the fourth business that I’ve started. Prior to this, I was in sustainable fuels. Prior to that, I was in metals and hydrogen. Before that, I did a Ph.D. in chemical physics. And before that, I was in software, but it was in something that was energy-intensive. So I've always been focused on how we can improve the energy industry in the United States. More recently, especially, that has become more and more intertwined with national security.Share on X  So I would say that for the last 10 years, I’ve spent a lot of time focused not just on energy, but also on national security. Right at the intersection of energy and national security is the nuclear industry. Over the last year, especially since four executive orders on nuclear power were signed, I’ve been focused on the nuclear industry. This has really been the resurgence of nuclear power in the United States over the last year or so. Yeah, it’s super fascinating. So, I mean, stupid question: why is this important?  Well, now I think we’re learning—and we’re having an acute learning experience, especially in the United States—that energy is a key bottleneck. And I think the thing that woke us up to that, in a lot of ways, is AI and the need for compute. But it’s not been only AI. We’ve been exporting manufacturing. We’ve been exporting a lot of things from the United States that rely on electricity or rely on energy in one way or another. Our exporting of that has caught up to us, and we now have to reshore a lot of things that maybe in the ’80s and the ’90s we decided to export out to China, for example. Now that we’ve realized that was not the greatest idea, we now are realizing that we need the energy to power it.  And so energy has become a key talking point, and the infrastructure behind energy has become a key talking point, especially in the United States. People’s electricity prices have gone up, so it’s not just industry and not just the folks who are building AI and data centers. It’s really everybody who’s now feeling the pain of our energy crunch. It’s crunched a little bit now, and I think people see that also because of what’s going on in the Middle East and the high price of gas. But the crunch is continuing because we know we have a high energy demand for all of the AI build-out that we’ve been doing for the last handful of years. Yeah, that is so interesting. And I remember in the 1990s, there was this phenomenon that actually the energy demand was falling, at least in Europe, where I come from, and there was overcapacity, and there was approval of overbuilding capacity. And the discussion was, “Okay, why do we need this? How do we slow this down?” And now the opposite thing is happening, which is pretty fascinating.  There’s a big question as to how idle assets are used, right? Because a lot of people don’t understand how electrical grids work. Everywhere in the world, energy is pretty much generated as you use it. So the energy that we’re using to talk on this podcast is being generated, depending on where you are located in the United States. From my location, it’s probably being generated by a natural gas power plant because it’s 2:10 in the afternoon, and this is around the time when a lot of natural gas peaker plants start to get going.  Depending on where you’re calling in from, those electrons are being generated live as we’re speaking. There’s not much storage on the grid. We do have some storage on the grid. California uses pumped hydro. They’re building battery infrastructure in places like Texas, but they’re not quite there yet. Grids don’t operate by just making the energy and then using it later. No. Grids operate by putting energy into the grid as demand is increasing. So the energy that you use is being generated live. You have to think about it that way.  Historically, back in the ’80s and the ’90s, there were not a lot of sinks for that live energy that was being generated, and people were also really bad at predicting demand. Another thing that happened in the ’80s and the ’90s, as I said right before, is that we were outsourcing a lot of our manufacturing to China. So China was building energy capacity because they saw all this manufacturing demand coming in. Their cost of labor was cheaper than what you guys had in Europe and what we had in the United States.  Robotics was not a thing, so everything was pretty manual. And the energy wasn’t needed here. It was needed, but Europe and the US were outsourcing, so we didn’t have the need for the energy here because we were sending all the jobs over to the Far East. They needed the energy there, so they built a bunch of coal-fired power plants. They built a lot of energy capacity while those conversations were happening in Europe. And now I think we’ve realized that it was a mistake to outsource so many things—and, in a sense, outsource your energy generation as well.  We need to find ways of either storing energy or converting that energy and using it productively. So rather than storing it, you could convert it into chemical products. You could convert it into a variety of different things. I think we've learned a lot since the '80s and the '90s, and I think that ties into the original learning experience: don't outsource everything. You need to learn how to be self-sufficient.Share on X Yeah. Yeah, don’t outsource your key competencies and your key resources. And energy is clearly one of those. Just a quick side question: How much energy is being wasted because it’s not able to be stored?  It depends on where you are. A lot of energy gets wasted in places where you have high hydroelectric utilization. But the cost to produce it is very cheap because hydro is indirect solar. The water evaporates, comes down, and it’s very dependent on the landscape where you can deploy hydroelectric power. In other places where you have power plants that follow load, like natural gas, for example, then you’re probably not wasting quite as many electrons as you are in places where you could potentially overproduce.  But I think we’re generally pretty efficient. We don’t waste too much, and a lot of that is because of the way grids work, where we predict how much electricity is needed, and we ramp production up and down as required.  Okay. Let’s talk about frameworks that you may have in your business. This podcast is about frameworks—the processes that are maybe unique to your business or that you discovered as you were building your business. Anything come to mind that can be explained in three to five steps, or as approaches or perspectives?  Yeah, I mean, I guess the learnings that I've had over all of my businesses. I think the first learning is: hire the right people.Share on X As a CEO, you have to spend an inordinate amount of your time on hiring, recruiting, and finding the right people. It’s super important to make sure that you have the best team. So that was my number one job when I started Project Omega: to hire the best possible team that I could hire.  And that was really, like, I told my investors that your first KPI is: build the best C-suite that you can. And I think I did that. I have a really incredible team of folks at Project Omega who are subject area experts in the parts of the business that they lead, and so I’m really happy with how I did it in this business. I’ve had stumbling blocks in prior businesses, and that’s how you learn. You call them learning experiences for a reason. My biggest stumbling block in my prior company was investors.  I didn’t do proper due diligence on investors. There’s ongoing litigation that I’m a part of that has to do with investors where you may not know where their money comes from. I think the number two thing is: make sure that you do a lot of diligence on who’s backing you. Typically, investors do diligence on founders, but founders don’t do quite as much diligence on the investors. And we need to flip that narrative. It’s especially true in national security. In national security, you have to be very sensitive to foreign actors. And this, again, was the issue that I ran into in my last business.  You can’t accept money from people who have significant backing from groups that are adversarial to the United States. A lot of those groups are U.S.-based funds. They’re not foreign funds, but they just get their money from foreign sources, and you have to be very careful about that when you’re in the national security world. It may not be as important if you’re making, like, a consumer app.  But if you’re doing things in energy and you’re doing things in national security, those are places where those people could seriously cause problems for your business down the line. And it comes out years after they invest in you. It’s not like they invest in you and then middle around two days later. All of these groups, including adversaries to the United States, are playing the long game. It’s not a next-week thing. It’s a several-years-from-now thing.  Interesting. Interesting. Okay. So that’s good advice. So build the best C-suite you can, and make sure you do your due diligence on your investors. What’s the next important lesson that you learned about building a business?  Focus on execution. Execution is the challenge. I think there are a lot of businesses out there that exist on paper, and when you’re a hardware company, that’s not the way to do things. I think there are a lot of on-paper businesses that, for better or for worse, have been very successful. Some of them have had IPOs and SPACs and things like that. There are businesses that exist on paper—at least in the nuclear industry, the energy industry, and the fuels industry—that have gone very far for on-paper businesses. But I think a very large portion of those—and I haven’t done all the statistics, but I’m sure Claude or Grok or GPT could—a lot of those businesses don’t do very well because they don’t have any actual experience building things in the real world.  So I think it's extremely important to execute, to get steel in the ground, and to focus on actually building things when you're in the hardware space.Share on X Now, of course, in software, that’s a little bit different. So it depends on whether you’re running a hardware or software business. In software, you may be able to keep going for a lot longer without a product or without having things in market because you’re building something that you know is going to have a huge splash when it comes out. But that’s not necessarily the way hardware businesses are able to be put together.  So give me an example of a business that’s on paper and not in the real world. Give me a hypothetical example.  A hypothetical example would be a business that has put together a number of contracts and a number of marketing materials about what they’re going to do, but they’ve never actually gone out and done it. Whether that’s at a small scale, like the lab scale, or at a larger scale, the point is they haven’t actually built it. My business—we’re very public about this. There are photographs and things like that of our lab out there. My business is at the lab scale. We’re working on going up to the pilot scale right now.  So that’s grams and kilograms of material. We’re not recycling metric tons of nuclear material. No business is doing that in the Western world except the one in France. So no business is doing that in the United States currently. But we’re public about where we are and what scale we’re at. A lot of businesses out there say they’re going to go out and operate XYZ widget, let’s say, and get a lot of traction around that before they’ve actually operated any sort of widget. And I think hardware is different than software.  Some venture markets have learned that, and some are probably going to learn that. But it’s been my experience over the last 12 years of running hardware businesses. My prior two businesses—Catalytic Innovations and Air Company—were both hardware businesses. And before I went to college and graduate school, I was in the software world, so I’ve kind of seen it from both sides.  Yeah. That’s interesting. So I saw your LinkedIn post about these underwater unmanned vehicles—UUVs, I think you call them. Is this like an underwater drone? Yeah. So, a UUV is an unmanned underwater vehicle. If you're trying to do something underwater, like do reconnaissance or try to find out what's going on under there with your adversaryShare on X or even a neutral party using a UUV is a way to do that without putting service members in harm’s way and a way to do that in a low-cost environment. So that’s one of the major applications for UUVs. But one of the big challenges for them is: how do you power them? You could use fuel to power them, but then they could run out of fuel, and then you have a stranded asset.  You could use electricity to power them with a battery, but the battery also runs out, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s very hard to recover these. You’re not going to go down to the bottom of the sea to recover your UUV. The other option is to use—and we already do this, right, with our manned underwater vehicles, or our nuclear submarines in the United States—we already use nuclear power to power those submarines. And so that’s been the way that we've historically been able to operate underwater for long periods of time, and that's the way that I think we're probably going to go for these unmanned vehicles as well.Share on X  And that’s what my business focuses on. So we not only do this for UUVs but for space applications as well as terrestrial applications by building power sources. Those power sources are made using material that we recycle from spent nuclear fuel. Those power sources are called radiovoltaics, and you could imagine them as like an AA battery that lasts 30 years. And that’s really, I would say, the next step for operational energy. So we’re focused on using those as replacements for batteries in these small applications. You could think of it as a much broader application in the future—not just operational energy for the military, but beyond that. We actually use these sorts of materials in our everyday lives.  You’re sitting in a room, I’m sitting in a room, and I’m looking up at the smoke detector in my room. You’re sitting in a room with a smoke detector in it as well, and that smoke detector has a little piece of americium-241. Americium-241 is an isotope recovered from nuclear waste. We don’t recover it in the United States because we haven’t recycled nuclear waste in probably a little north of 50 years. But you can get these isotopes from places like France, where they recycle nuclear waste today. So all of us are sitting in a room with a radioisotope-powered device. Americium-241 specifically powers the detector in your smoke detector. Americium spits out alpha particles.  Those alpha particles are little helium nuclei. They hit a detector continuously, and that generates a current. Now, if smoke goes up into your smoke detector, those alpha particles hit the smoke instead of hitting the detector, and you won’t get that same current generation in your smoke detector. So that’s how we detect smoke, and right now, nuclear waste is sitting in all of our houses, keeping us safe. But that’s not really a mainstream part of the narrative yet.  Yeah. And what about the radiation? Is it not dangerous?  No. So for americium, there are different types of radiation. Well, not all radiation is created equal. There’s alpha radiation, which is what americium-241 emits predominantly, and those are little helium nuclei. Those can’t go through a piece of paper. Alpha radiation stops very easily. Like, your skin will very easily stop alpha radiation. Beta radiation, which is different from alpha radiation, is an electron that is flung out of a nucleus. So beta radiation is also stopped relatively easily.  Like, if you ingest it, then it could cause problems, but again, your skin can stop it. Gamma radiation is the one that we’re concerned about from a health perspective. Now, gamma radiation can be used for medical treatments and is very effective when it’s used in medical treatments, like to treat cancer, but gamma radiation is generally pretty bad because it goes straight through you. Gamma rays are little photons, and they’re very high-energy photons, so they can fly through you and they can cause damage to your DNA.  A lot of the, I would say, like, negative effects of any nuclear incident are really caused by gamma radiation more than anything else. Like Chernobyl, which is the famous one, had cesium-137 polluting a lot of the countryside around Chernobyl, and cesium-137 is a very strong gamma emitter. So gamma is what we try to avoid. At Project Omega, we don’t use gamma emitters for our power sources, and so all of our power sources use the safer types of radiation. That’s fascinating. So, Staff, I’d like to switch gears here a little bit and go back to business. So what drives growth in a business like yours—or specifically, your business?  A lot of things drive growth. Our business right now works together with a lot of groups in national security.Share on X We’re driven by the growth of the United States, and we’re driven by the growth of our economy. But beyond that, the demand for nuclear electricity has been very high, and that’s driven a lot of growth for us as well. How do you generate enough electricity to power data centers and power compute? That’s a huge problem in the world right now.  A lot of people who initially invested in AI are pivoting to invest in energy, actually, because they’re realizing the bottleneck for AI is not the chips. It’s the energy that’s needed to power the chips. As people are building these new assets that require all this energy, they’re quickly realizing that nuclear is one of the best ways to fulfill all of these energy requirements. As the nuclear industry grows, we’re seeing the need to reshore and bring the nuclear fuel cycle back to the United States.  We stopped doing commercial enrichment, for example, a long time ago, and there are a lot of great companies working on commercial enrichment. We stopped doing recycling and reprocessing back in the 1970s, and we’re bringing that back. We’re one of the groups working on bringing recycling and reprocessing back to the United States in a more responsible way than we did back then because technology is undoubtedly and unarguably better today than it was in the 1960s and 1970s.  That’s fascinating. So you’re helping all these old economies, which are obviously in a new skin, recover here—manufacturing and energy. So what’s one thing that you’re trying to figure out in your business right now?  So one of the challenges that everybody in the nuclear industry faces right now is scale. There’s a whole new group of reactors called small modular reactors, and another colloquial term for those is advanced reactors. Figuring out how to scale those is one of the challenges. So we’re working right now on scale. We're focused very heavily on scaling up our process so that we're able to build these true infrastructure projects that will ensure that the United States has a domestic nuclear fuel cycle going into the future. So that's really the main focus…Share on X  Being able to not only scale our technology but also execute at the current scale that we operate. On the execution side, we work together with two really great national labs: Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Execution in the nuclear industry is historically challenging, and working together with the government and the national labs is a big value-add because those national labs have the institutional memory, and they have the experience of working with radioactive materials and nuclear materials that we’re able to piggyback off of. They also have a lot of infrastructure that we’re able to work with.  Yeah. And when you say scale, is it about scaling energy generation, energy transmission, or the manufacturing of equipment that utilizes the recovered nuclear fuel? Or is it also about scaling the organization in terms of managing the organization? All of the above. All of the above. This time last year, we were pretty much one person. Or, this time last year, we were still a concept, and we started the business in July last year. So this time last year, we were pretty much one person, and now we’re close to 20. We’ve already scaled by a lot in just the last year. But we probably need to scale by another order of magnitude by the time we get to next year. So a big part of it is managing the growth of a high-growth and rapidly moving organization.  But a big piece of it is also scaling energy in the United States—scaling transmission, scaling generation, and scaling the production of nuclear fuel. Right now, we get a lot of our nuclear fuel from overseas. Twenty percent of the United States electrical grid is nuclear. So today, we use a lot of nuclear electrons to power, as I mentioned, based on our locations, we’re probably not using too many nuclear electrons right now. Or, Steve, I don’t know where you’re calling in from.  I’m in Virginia, the capital of data centers.  I take it back. You’re actually probably using nuclear electrons as we speak. So we need to scale that generation, but we also need to scale the fuel for those reactors. The nuclear electrons that you’re using to talk with me right now are most likely coming from Russian uranium that we buy from Russia.  I think your home country and many folks in Europe have learned that relying on Russia for your energy resources is not the greatest idea. We still, to this day, rely on Russia for a lot of our commercial uranium for our commercial reactors, and that’s something that we need to change. So scaling our nuclear fuel cycle in the United States is a key aspect of what we’re doing.  So what’s really fascinating is we were on vacation in Moab, Utah, just a few weeks ago, and we noticed that there was a lot of mining of nuclear materials there. Is this something that happened in the past and essentially the industry wound down in the U.S., or is there still mining of nuclear materials here?  So there’s very little actual mining of uranium in the United States. I think something like 99% of our uranium comes from foreign sources. So there’s not a lot of uranium mining. The management of nuclear resources in the United States… There is a good amount of nuclear work that’s being done in Utah, but there are a handful of states that actually do the majority of the nuclear-material legwork. Utah is one of them, I think. Idaho is the birthplace of nuclear energy, and so Idaho is doing a lot of work on the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear materials management.  Idaho is where all of the spent fuel from our naval fleet goes at the end of the life of aircraft carriers and submarines. That’s public knowledge. You can look it up. There’s a lot of work that’s been done to make sure all of that material is managed completely safely and very effectively. So Idaho is the birthplace of nuclear energy, and it’s also where a lot of work on the nuclear fuel cycle is happening. That’s actually the other state where we operate at Project Omega. So Idaho is, I would say, one of the leaders in the nuclear renaissance that’s happening right now.  Okay. So that’s a really good point. So you’re in Idaho. Where else are you in the United States, and what would you like our listeners to do when they hear about you? Who are the people that you would like to get in touch with you?  Well, I’m calling in from Newport, Rhode Island, right now. So Newport, Rhode Island, is our headquarters. We have a laboratory that we operate that’s down the street from here. So we have some operations in Rhode Island, and that’s our headquarters. We also have operations in Idaho, and that’s where we’re building some of our infrastructure. We have a small contingent in the DC area as well. We have other facilities as well, but we keep those confidential. Publicly, we’re headquartered in Rhode Island, and we do a lot of work in Idaho and in the DC area. That’s fascinating. So if people get interested in what you’re doing and would like to get in touch with you or learn more about Project Omega, where should they go, and where can they learn more? They would go to projectomega.com. info@projectomega.com is our main inbox. We do a pretty good job of staying up to date with it. That’s also what we use for careers and hiring. As I mentioned, hiring is one of my top jobs. So we’re always interested in finding the best candidates out there who want to revolutionize the nuclear fuel cycle in the United States. That’s fantastic. So if you’re interested in the nuclear industry, recycling nuclear fuel, and driving the UUVs of the next generation, then definitely check out the Project Omega website and reach out to Staff. And if you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you follow us and subscribe on YouTube. Stay tuned, because every week there’s an exciting entrepreneur coming on the show. Staff, thanks for coming and sharing your wisdom and unique knowledge. And thanks for listening.  Awesome. Thank you so much for having me, Steve. This was great. Important Links: Staff's LinkedIn Staff's Website Staff's email: info@projectomega.com

Today's encore is at the heart of the Quiet Builder philosophy. The question is, “How do we design a business that supports our lives, not swallows it?” This becomes increasingly important as the world grows more uncertain and our responsibilities grow daily. This episode is for anyone building a business that fits into real life, and not the other way around.You'll Learn:My story of stepping back and reassessing my business3 anchors for building a life-first business in an uncertain world:Design for margin, not maximum.Clarity comes from creating margin, not hustling.Designing for margin is how we stay well enough to serve others.Build products that don't require your constant presence.Design for asymmetry, where value isn't tied to one-to-one time.A life-first business scales impact, not just hours.Plan around what you can't plan for.Your business should be designed to absorb disruption, not collapse under it.Strategies that work for me are “Walden months,” a hard growth ceiling on STC, and allowing maximum flexibility to travel when loved ones need extra help. To sum up today's topic: “A resilient business doesn't break when life happens; it bends with grace.”---Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.Our next Accelerator, Building Authoritative Guides That Stand Out In The Age of AI, begins soon.Learn more here: https://melvinvarghese.kartra.com/page/july2026

This podcast explains how to structure your first. Specializing in Neurodivergent Empaths with high level creativity.The structure provides a framework for people with adhd to focus on one task. Moving their first business or already created business forward with no stop in flow. No resistance. This will allow a new business owner to start scaling without paying high premiums.This podcast explains the importance of SOP's and strategy documents for businesses. Without SOP's and strategy your business will fail.Join us on IG : musa_bashirrTransform CoachSpiritual Awakening Email us : support@sofbld.com

In this episode of Let's Not Sugarcoat It, Bella sits down with Amy Nicole Cohen, founder of The Chic Experience, to talk about The Summit, a two day Business and Leadership Festival happening June 4 and 5, 2026 at Sandhill Wines in Kelowna, BC.Use code FRIENDS15 for 15 percent off your ticket.Event details:The Summit by The Chic ExperienceJune 4 and 5, 2026Sandhill Wines, Kelowna, BCTickets and details: The Chic Experience websiteAmy shares the vision behind The Summit, why she created an immersive business festival instead of a traditional conference, and why community, collaboration, leadership, and intentional connection are still some of the most powerful drivers of business growth.The Summit is designed for entrepreneurs, executives, founders, small business owners, professionals, and leaders who want to think bigger, lead stronger, build meaningful relationships, and grow with intention. The event includes two stages, keynote sessions, expert panels, breakout sessions, curated networking, hot seat coaching, professional headshots, a marketplace, business activations, outdoor happy hour, live music, and more. Bella and Amy also discuss why showing up in the right room matters, how relationships become real business opportunities, why networking should go deeper than exchanging business cards, and how local business communities can create momentum when people are willing to connect with heart, purpose, and strategy.The Chic Experience was founded by Amy Nicole to create elevated events and immersive experiences that bring ambitious people together to connect, grow, and up level personally and professionally.

Most business schools are still forming committees to figure out what to do about AI. Kogod School of Business at American University formed a committee, but far from the typical higher ed standards. Leadership gave it six weeks and a five-page limit, and used the recommendation to integrate AI into every department, major, and minor. Three years later, undergraduate enrollment is up 40%, applications are up 50%, and more than 90% of faculty are using AI in the classroom. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with returning guests David Marchick, Dean of the Kogod School of Business at American University, and Angela Virtu, Professor of IT and Analytics and Associate Director of Kogod's AI Institute, about how the school moved from a dean's instinct that AI would be big to a fully embedded, faculty-driven transformation that has redefined how business education is taught, assessed, and experienced by students. Marchick and Virtu walk through how they navigated shared governance at speed, leaned into 14 core course coordinators to spread adoption like wildfire, and built a culture where faculty are making stuff up, trying things, and pivoting when something doesn't work. Virtu explains how courses are being rebuilt from the ground up, with professors shifting from lecturers to coaches and students building real software for real clients. Marchick shares the enrollment and media results, including being named the first AI-first business school by Bloomberg Businessweek. This conversation is especially relevant for institutional leaders trying to figure out how to move on AI without blowing up their governance structures or losing faculty trust. Kogod's playbook worked within existing academic processes, and the results are measurable. Topics Covered: •       How a conversation with a Google executive sparked the AI initiative before ChatGPT went mainstream •       Why Marchick gave the faculty committee six weeks and a five-page limit instead of a two-year study •       The top-down and bottom-up strategy that moved faculty adoption from a handful of volunteers to over 90% •       How 14 core course coordinators became the tactical lever for culture change across the school •       The shift from professors as lecturers to professors as coaches •       How non-quantitative students are programming and building functioning apps using AI •       Kogod's scaffolded four-year curriculum: AI literacy in year one, domain-specific applications in year two, deep dives in years three and four, and a capstone that combines all three pillars •       Why the school teaches what's wrong with AI before teaching what's right •       The AI assessment problem no institution has solved yet •       What's next: domain-specific AI apps, student portfolios, and an AI minor for non-business students Real-World Examples Discussed: •       Tommy White's course with no readings and no textbook, where students use AI prompts to find their own materials and come to class with different sources on the same topic •       Kelly Frias's advertising class where students built a social media content tool and owner dashboard for a real college-apparel business with brand ambassadors at 75 campuses •       Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, telling Marchick that the specific AI tool matters less than teaching students to feel comfortable experimenting and trying new things •       A distinguished Kogod scholar describing AI as like having a PhD student for research productivity Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: 1.    Culture first, training second, technology third. Faculty adoption spreads when leadership creates permission to experiment and fail, not when it purchases a platform. 2.    Teach what's wrong with AI before teaching what's right. A human has to be in the loop at the beginning and at the end. AI can be a collaborator, a partner, an assistant, but it cannot be a substitute. 3.    Don't wait for the technology to stabilize. AI capabilities are changing in weeks. If you tried it two years ago and weren't impressed, try it again. The updates in just the last few weeks represent really big strides. This episode offers a practical, replicable look at what happens when a business school treats AI integration as a culture change initiative and moves fast enough to stay ahead of the technology. Kogod's transformation is relevant to any institution trying to figure out how to act on AI without waiting for a perfect plan. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/kogod-ai-first-business-school-enrollment-growth/ #AIinHigherEd #BusinessEducation #HigherEducation #HigherEducationPodcast #ChangingHigherEdPodcast

These past few weeks, I've been talking about the pros and cons of different business models that are common for expert-based businesses. I've tried lots of different models, so I know firsthand the challenges of trying to make a business work with a model that may or may not fit with your business goals.We've gone over running a business with a team and a business selling low-ticket digital products. Today, I'm digging into the final model for expert-based business owners, which I'm obviously a big fan of, the No BS Model.This is for experts who want to sell their services at a premium rate and who are more interested in having freedom and flexibility in their lives than scaling up as much as you possibly can. If you want a business that's built for freedom, flexibility, and puts you on solid ground to grow in new directions, let's get into it.Tune into this episode to hear:The core constraints that are the basis of the No BS ModelThe formula that lets you calculate exactly what to charge for your services How the No BS sales process positions you as an expert advisor Why dedicated time and strategies for marketing is a core piece of the No BS ModelWhat's amazing about being a solo expert using the No BS Model, and the drawbacks of being soloHow the No BS Model lays the foundation for moving to other business modelsResources:Grab the first chapter of my new book Scale Solo: scalesolobook.comGrab a copy of my book: Badass Your Brand - https://www.badassyourbrand.com/Program: No BS Mastery: https://nobsmastery.com/programProgram: No BS Agency Mastery: https://join.nobsmastery.com/agency-masteryNo BS Clients Lab: https://nobsclientslab.com/The Price to Freedom Calculator™ - http://nobsmastery.com/price

Most solopreneurs think their biggest problem is getting more clients. But what if the real issue is that you built the wrong business in the first place?In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, hosts Carly Ries and Joe Rando break down the #1 pattern they see after working with thousands of solopreneurs: people chase clients without first designing a business around the life they actually want to live. The result? Burnout, frustration, and a business that feels like a job you can't quit.Carly and Joe walk through the essential questions every solopreneur should answer before asking, "How do I get my next client?":→ What do I want my days to actually look like? → How much do I really need to earn to fund the life I want? → What kind of work energizes me vs. drains me? → Who do I want to work with, and who are my "energy vampires"?They also tackle pricing strategy head-on. Joe shares a real example of someone who charged $500 for work that saved a company $400,000, and how value-based pricing can transform your income without adding hours. The conversation covers when to raise prices, when to outsource, and why charging by the hour might be keeping you stuck.Whether you're just starting your solopreneur journey or you're deep in the hustle wondering why it doesn't feel right, this episode gives you a practical framework for building a business that supports your life, not the other way around.Key topics covered:Designing your business model around your ideal lifestyleValue-based pricing vs. hourly billingHow to determine how many clients you actually needWhen to consider outsourcing, automation, and AISetting realistic income goals as a solopreneurWhy niching down matters more than you thinkThe difference between making a living and making "too much"Life first. Then business.

Episode Summary In this episode, I sit down with Steve Brown, AI futurist and former Google DeepMind executive, to unpack what AI really means for leaders and businesses right now. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, frozen, or stuck in “analysis paralysis” about AI—this conversation is for you. We explore why so many executives are struggling to act, and what it actually takes to move from uncertainty to confident AI-driven leadership. Steve breaks down a powerful three-step framework for integrating AI into your organization—from simply enabling teams with tools, to re-engineering workflows, all the way to becoming truly AI-first. We also dive into real-world examples from companies like Starbucks and Nvidia, and discuss why the future of AI isn't about replacing humans—it's about amplifying talent, creativity, and strategic thinking. If you're serious about leading in the AI era, you won't want to miss this one.     Links & Resources Steve Brown's book: The AI Ultimatum https://SteveBrown.ai If this episode helped you rethink your AI strategy or inspired you to lead more boldly in the AI era, make sure to follow, rate, and leave a review. And don't forget to share this episode with another leader who needs to hear it.

Stacie Staub built a life-first business model that prioritizes balance, culture, and long-term success while scaling to hundreds of agents without burnout or sacrificing personal fulfillment.See article: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/burnout-created-breakthrough-building-a-life-first-business-with-stacie-staub/(00:00) - Introduction to The REI Agent Podcast and Guest Overview(01:45) - Meet Stacie Staub and Her Journey Into Real Estate(03:30) - Transition From Tech Career to Real Estate Sales(05:15) - Early Deals, Family Involvement, and Finding Passion(07:00) - Navigating Market Cycles and Building Experience(08:45) - Building a Team and Delegating for Growth(10:30) - Moving Into Leadership and Brokerage Ownership(12:15) - Leveraging Technology and Building a Smart Tech Stack(14:00) - Using Slack to Drive Culture and Communication(15:45) - Why an Independent Brokerage Model Still Wins(17:30) - Scaling to 400 Agents While Maintaining Culture(19:15) - Creating Strong Agent Relationships and Loyalty(21:00) - Mentorship Programs and Developing New Agents(22:45) - Growth Benefits for Mentors and Team Collaboration(24:30) - Redefining Success Through Work Life Balance(26:15) - The Phone Nanny Concept and Avoiding Burnout(28:00) - Creating Systems for Coverage and Agent Support(29:45) - Personal Growth Through New Challenges and Learning(31:30) - Writing a Book and Expanding Beyond Business(33:15) - Recognizing Burnout and Knowing When to Delegate(34:45) - Career Evolution and Staying Engaged Long Term(36:00) - Golden Nuggets Done Is Better Than Perfect(37:00) - Agents Are the Clients Mindset Shift(38:08) - Book Recommendations and Closing ThoughtsContact Stacie Staubhttps://westandmainhomes.com/agent/stacie-staubhttps://www.facebook.com/staciestaubrealtor/https://www.instagram.com/staciestaub/https://www.linkedin.com/in/staciestaub/https://www.youtube.com/@StacieStaub Success is not about doing more, it is about becoming more intentional with how you build your life and your business, and if this message hit home for you, visit https://reiagent.comIs success destroying your peace? Most pros grind until they break. Download The Investor's Life Balance Sheet: A Holistic Wealth Audit to see if you are building a legacy or heading for burnout. Presented by The REI Agent Podcast & United States Real Estate Investor® https://sendfox.com/lp/m4jrl

On this solo episode, Travis breaks down the real first steps of starting a business without getting lost in legal paperwork, logos, and websites that do not actually bring in revenue. Drawing from his own journey and his clients' experiences, Travis shows you how to validate an offer fast, get your first paying customers, and only then worry about formal structures like LLCs and bank accounts. On this episode we talk about: Why obsessing over LLCs, websites, logos, and merch keeps you from making your first dollar. The only two things you truly need to start a business: something to sell and someone to sell it to. How to pick a specific customer avatar, identify their real problems, and build a simple offer that solves them. Why service-based offers are the fastest way to get started, even if you do not see yourself as “the best” in your niche. How to price your first deals, raise your rates over your first 5–20 clients, and discover your true price ceiling. Top 3 Takeaways: Stop overcomplicating your first business. You do not need a perfect brand, LLC, or website to get started; you need a clear problem you can solve, a simple offer, and a few people willing to pay you for it. Start with a scrappy sales-first approach. Use basic tools (even a personal PayPal account) to collect money, validate that people will pay for your solution, and then reinvest that cash into formalizing your business structure. Earn your way into higher prices. For your first handful of clients, prioritize proof and results over profit, then gradually raise prices with each new customer until the market tells you where the ceiling is. Notable Quotes: “All you really need to get started is something to sell and people to sell it to. That is it.” “You are putting all this extra work into an unproven concept, and it is literally preventing you from taking the first step.” “The first money I ever made online was the most important money, because it proved to me that it was actually possible.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Website: https://www.travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the all-in-one sales and marketing platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm sharing with you my Joy-First Business Model and how I to help my clients enjoy their businesses without burnout. Here's what I'm covering:How to design your dream days NOWMaking your daily operations work for youTask management/energy management even on low capacity days Finding your way to do marketing that you enjoy! Get my Dream Day Exercise HEREBecome my 1:1 Client!Message me on Instagram @christijohnsoncreative!00:43 Joy First Business Model02:21 Vision Dream Day Exercise05:36 Future You and Money Goals06:58 Designing Work Around Strengths09:54 Operations Make Dreams Real13:34 Boundaries and Enough Plan16:32 Marketing That Feels Good19:29 Sales Confidence and Coaching Style21:22 Work With Me on Slack

Thinking about hosting your first business retreat? Before you book the Airbnb and plan the agenda, listen to this.In this episode, we are breaking down a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to host a meaningful, impactful retreat—based on a live conversation with the founders of a powerful writing retreat experience.We are joined by Amy Uptgraft and Audra Edwards from the Veteran Spouse Project, who share what worked, what didn't, and what they would do differently next time.In this episode, you will learn:• Why structure matters—but flexibility matters more• The biggest mistake small teams make when planning retreats• How to create an experience people will talk about long after it endsIf you have ever thought about hosting a retreat, workshop, or in-person experience, this episode will help you do it smarter—and with less overwhelm.

Our guest today is Marcos Moura, who shares his journey from working as a kid at a Blimpie franchise to now being the Chief Development Officer with Amada Senior Care with more than 300 franchise locations. TODAY'S WIN-WIN:“Just because you buy a franchise, doesn't mean that you are going to do it for the rest of your life.”LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:Schedule your free franchise consultation with Big Sky Franchise Team: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. You can visit our guest's website at: www.amadaseniorcare.com Attend our Franchise Sales Training Workshop:  https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/franchisesalestraining/Connect with our guests on social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcospmoura/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/amadaseniorcare/Facebook: facebook.com/AmadaseniorcarefranchiseInstagram: instagram.com/amadafranchise/YouTube: youtube.com/@AmadaSeniorCareABOUT OUR GUEST:As Chief Development Officer, he has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start senior care businesses that allow them to live life on their terms and do work that is meaningful - to them, to their families, and to their communities. Amada Senior Care provides compassionate, non-medical, in-home senior care and guides families through the many senior housing options available for assisted living and memory care.  We provide franchising opportunities to driven, passionate, and entrepreneurially minded individuals across the U.S. Amada began operations in 2007, and has grown into a nationally trusted brand with reputation for providing quality in-home care, Long Term Care insurance expertise, Veteran policy advocacy, medical staffing services, and senior living placements. Amada Senior Care has ~300 locations across the U.S. as of 2026This episode is powered by Big Sky Franchise Team. Big Sky Franchise Team is consistently recognized as one of the best franchise consulting firms in the United States, helping business owners franchise their businesses through a proven 3-Step franchise process rooted in ethical principles, hands-on guidance, and customized deliverables.  If you are ready to talk about franchising your business you can schedule your free, no-obligation, franchise consultation online at: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any business decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Big Sky Franchise Team, or our affiliates. Additionally, this podcast may feature sponsors or advertisers, but any mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement. Please do your own research before making any purchasing or business decisions.

Send us Fan MailIf your business can't run without you in the middle of it, the problem isn't your team; it's the seat that's still empty.In this episode, I sit down with Alec Broadfoot, founder and CEO of VisionSpark, a premium executive search firm in Worthington, Ohio, with a 99% placement rate and a spot on the 2023 Inc 5000. Alec has spent 14 years helping entrepreneurial companies make the one hire that changes everything: the right number-two leader.We break down why gut-based hiring keeps brilliant founders stuck, how one assessment tool flipped Alec's own team from 70% turnover to 70% retention, and the eight indispensable traits every second-in-command must have. This is the conversation that makes you realize you don't have a growth problem; you have a people-in-seats problem.⏱ Chapter Breakdown00:00 — Welcome & Intro: Meet Alec Broadfoot and VisionSpark01:27 — From Banking to Entrepreneur: Alec's First Business at 2503:01 — The Hiring Crisis: Firing 7 Out of 10 Employees04:00 — How One Assessment Changed Everything (Talent Impact Profile)05:52 — The Origin of VisionSpark: Solving the #2 Hire for Entrepreneurs07:01 — Why 78% of Resumes Have Lies (And What to Use Instead)08:52 — The Book: Hiring the Right Number Two Leader10:17 — The 8 Indispensable Traits of a Great Number Two12:40 — Culture Fit: The Harvard-Backed Ingredient Most Founders Ignore14:08 — Success Story: The Couple Traveling the World After Hiring Their #215:31 — How Alec Stays Sharp: Strategic Coach, AI, and Pulse Meetings18:03 — Books, Resources & What Alec Would Tell His 25-Year-Old Self

In this inspiring interview, James Tebelman shares his journey from starting a wholesaling business in 2020 to leveraging faith and community in real estate. Discover how prayer, stewardship, and relationship-building have shaped his success and vision for growth.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Scott Bursey sits down with AI futurist and former Google DeepMind executive Steve Brown to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses operate. Steve shares insights from his decades of experience in technology, including his time at Intel and Google DeepMind, and explains why AI is the most impactful technology shaping the future of business.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

This week on the podcast, we're joined by wedding photographer Sarah Bradshaw. We talk about building a value-led brand, resisting the pull of constant attention, and creating a business that supports a full life instead of slowly draining it. Sarah unpacks her “fireplaces vs. fireworks” metaphor, shares how faith and intentionality guide her decisions, and explains why defining “enough” may be the most strategic move a creative entrepreneur can make. We also explore burnout, ambition, motherhood, relationships, and the long-term vision that helps you stay grounded when comparison and anxiety creep in.What We Cover:Why meaning and daily reward — not workload alone — prevent burnout“Fireplaces vs. fireworks” and marketing depth in a fast-content worldFaith, identity, and mindset in building resilienceSimple ways to create a generous, people-first brandThe trap of comparison — and the reminder: don't want what you don't wantConnect with Us:Join Purpose & Profit - A Roadmap to 10k WeddingsInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bradandjeneducation @bradandjenFix Your Pricing Guide:Pricing Guide Template - Built to ConvertFree Download: 5 Mistakes Costing You BookingsConnect with SarahSarah's Website: https://sarahbradshaw.com/Sarah's Substack: https://bysarahbradshaw.substack.com/Books Referenced:Living Forward by Michael HyattThe Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David MannThe Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel EarlyEffortless by Greg McEeownChapters:(00:00) Introduction and Sarah's story(04:30) Photography as storytelling and legacy(10:00) Values-led marketing(18:00) Fireplaces vs. fireworks(24:00) Defining “enough”(30:00) Faith, identity, comparison(37:00) Ambition vs. presence(44:00) Long-term vision and intentionality(50:00) Relationships vs. profitability(56:00) Generosity and networking(60:00) Final reflections on burnout and holistic successKeywords:creativity, burnout, intentionality, mindset, faith and business, wedding photography, entrepreneurship, work-life balance, holistic success, marketing philosophy, personal values, ambition and motherhood, defining enough, relationship-based business

In this conversation, Rob Anderson shares his insights on the importance of company culture, customer service, and effective recruitment strategies in the home services industry. He emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on making customers happy and creating a positive work environment for employees. Rob discusses the significance of data-driven decisions, the impact of partnerships, and the challenges posed by private equity. He also highlights the importance of leadership development, emotional intelligence, and the art of storytelling in building relationships with clients and partners. Ultimately, Rob encourages a forward-looking mindset and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional growth. 00:00 The Importance of Culture in Business  05:52 Recruitment and Retention Strategies 08:55 Defining and Measuring Company Culture 15:01 Navigating the Challenges of Home Services 18:04 The Role of Partnerships in Business Growth 20:57 Giving Back to the Community 23:50 The Impact of Private Equity on Business 26:58 Leadership Development and Emotional Intelligence 30:07 The Art of Storytelling in Business 33:00 Building Relationships with Clients and Partners 35:57 The Future of Business and Personal Growth

How do you scale a company without losing your soul or passion?Mitch Bach talks this week with Paul Whitten, founder of Nashville Adventures, about how a former combat veteran, Peace Corps volunteer, UK Parliamentary Fellow, and Amazon project manager translated the learnings from his winding life path into a fast-growing tour company built at the intersection of passion, profitability, and public history.Paul identified a “Paul-shaped hole” in Nashville's bachelorette-heavy market by blending deep historical knowledge with an approachable, beer-in-hand delivery style. We discuss why he rejects over-scripted tours in favor of hiring obsessively passionate subject-matter nerds (bourbon, ghosts, coffee, Civil War) and giving them ownership; how early growth came from soft-launching, the power of relentless relationship-building with distilleries, chambers of commerce, concierges, and DMCs (and the power of simply responding to emails!). And why enthusiasm, not hacks or ad tricks, is the true differentiator.The conversation dives into scaling without losing soul, balancing founder-led guiding with team development, leveraging community partnerships and veteran identity, experimenting with new formats like coffee crawls and XR-enhanced tours, and using books and potential city expansion as strategic next steps. We also tackle the harder edge of the job: the tour guide's role as a public historian in polarized times, handling contentious Civil War and civil rights narratives responsibly, creating space for civil discourse on tour, and embracing risk, naivety, and “pirate” rule-breaking as essential traits for entrepreneurial success in the tours and activities industry.Connect with Paul on LinkedInNashville Adventures Home PageSee Reality XR tours mentionedMore show notes and takeaways on tourpreneur.com

Buying a franchise is often marketed as the "safe" way to start a business, but most people don't really understand what they're buying, what skills it requires, or whether it's even the right fit. In this episode of the New Jersey Business Podcast, Paul and Vanessa sit down with Risa Giacoppo, franchise owner of the Linden Creek Morristown and Princeton locations, to give you a real-world breakdown of franchising as a first business, the benefits, the limitations, and the mindset you need to actually make it work. Risa shares how she went from 25 years in banking, to short-term rentals, to buying into a franchise, and why it appealed to her as an execution-focused operator who wanted a proven playbook and speed to market. She also explains what you're really buying in a franchise (and what you're not), plus how her staging and interior design business helps homeowners, real estate professionals, investors, and short-term rental operators sell faster and increase perceived value.

There is a category of entrepreneur who cannot succeed through self-abandonment.If brute force, strategy stacking, and pushing harder were going to work for you — they would have by now.This episode is a deep dive into how Energetic Business Collective is structured and why it's built the way it is.Not as another formula.Not as another marketing playbook.Not as a step-by-step execution container.But as an identity-first, nervous-system-safe, energetically aligned business architecture.Inside this episode, I walk you through:Why awareness alone isn't enough (and why Human Design without subconscious integration eventually hits a wall)The real reason “just give me a plan” doesn't actually solve the problemThe five-part arc of EBC (vision, energetic blueprint, lived experimentation, subconscious recalibration, sustainable integration)What Subconscious RX actually is and why it changes everythingHow the Alignment Dashboard becomes your long-term operating systemWhy this container is intentionally spacious and cappedWho this is for — and who it isn'tYou don't leave EBC with a funnel.You leave with a compass.You don't leave dependent on another strategy.You leave with discernment.And if you've been feeling like you and your business are in a fight… this episode will likely make something click.If this resonates, early bird enrollment with a $222 discount for Energetic Business Collective is open through March 4th (payment plan available)This is a high-touch, three-month container capped at eight entrepreneurs.You can learn more about Energetic Business Collective here.You can check out the Alignment Dashboard here. If you're unsure whether this is the right fit, start with this episode.Any questions, you can email me at nicole@nicoleguenaconsulting.com

Madeleine Niebauer is a seasoned executive with two decades of experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Madeleine spent five years as a Chief of Staff at Teach For America. She loved the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the work and the ability to truly leverage a leader's time so they could be more productive and successful. She knew many leaders could benefit from this service on a part-time basis, which inspired her to launch VChief.Prior to joining TFA, Madeleine was a strategy consultant for foundations and nonprofit organizations at The Bridgespan Group. Earlier in her career, Madeleine managed a tutoring center with SCORE! Educational Centers and served in the Peace Corps in Ivory Coast.Madeleine earned a BA with honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her three children, who all share her love of globetrotting, camping, and family fun.In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a scalable service business that doesn't depend on you doing all the work.Madeleine and I discuss:Madeleine's career journey and what prompted her to start VChief [02:28]How she experienced product market fit in real time [03:57]The decision to not take on more clients herself [05:01]Shifting from technician to CEO [06:41]When she decided to build a company instead of being a solopreneur [09:02]How long it took to reach financial sustainability [10:23]Her approach to marketing beyond her network [11:27]The support she brought on along the way [13:29]Hiring fractional and part-time help strategically [14:25]The trigger for rapid growth after COVID [18:46]Her experience with community and peer groups [20:19]How to stop being the bottleneck in your business [23:32]Learn more about Madeleine at https://www.vchiefs.com______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who've left corporate life to build something of their own.Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of community.Join a live guest session and connect with peers who understand the journey:

Join me as I dive back into the pioneer era of pro wrestling. This episode is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. We are now up to 1886 in the book and pro wrestling is in its first business slump. William Muldoon claims that wrestlers are now making less than six percent of the money they made just a few years ago. Meanwhile, Evan 'Strangler' Lewis looks to turn things around as he continues to dominate and Jack Carkeek continues to rise as well! Plus, the World Catch champion is getting tired of being ignored! YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 120.

Burnout isn't always about working too hard—it's often about building a business that doesn't fit your real life. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Yusuf explores how to create alignment between ambition, family, and sustainable success. Yusuf is joined by Angelica Bryant, a system strategist, to break down why hustle culture fails so many women—and what to do instead. You'll learn how values-driven systems reduce chaos, protect your energy, and help you grow without sacrificing your relationships or peace. About the Guest: Angelica Bryant is a system strategist who helps women build life-first businesses that work with real-life responsibilities. She shares how early loss reshaped her priorities and why systems should be designed to adapt as life changes. Key Takeaways: Define your mission, vision, and values—and decide what they look like in action Stop saying yes to misaligned projects that create guilt and exhaustion Replace “hustle” with systems that simplify decisions and reduce daily chaos Design your workflows for change, because life and priorities will shift Treat setbacks as learning seasons, not personal failure Build a business model that supports family, energy, and long-term consistency How to Connect With the Guest: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbusinesslean     Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate. With over 6000+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.

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What if your greatest strength is the very thing you've been taught to hide? In today's powerful conversation, George sits down with Dr. Brent Ridge to explore what it really means to be visible, not just in business, but in life. This episode isn't about playing a role. It's about owning your identity, amplifying your impact, and letting authenticity lead the way.Dr. Brent Ridge, physician, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Beekman 1802, joins George for a vulnerable and energizing conversation about showing up with your full self. From boardrooms to barnyards, Brent shares the lessons he's learned about leadership, identity, partnerships, and purpose. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to lead with integrity, embrace your story, and build something lasting from the inside out.This episode is a masterclass in courage, creativity, and conscious entrepreneurship.What You'll Learn In This Episode:Why visibility is a form of serviceHow to integrate identity into your business without losing yourselfThe real cost of not telling your truthHow to honor both structure and soul in leadershipWhy longevity requires a deeper foundation than just success Key Takeaways:✔️Visibility without vulnerability leads to burnout.✔️Storytelling builds connection but only if it's authentic.✔️Your brand is your mirror. Lead with alignment, not performance.✔️Great partnerships are rooted in clarity, not compromise.✔️Seasons of reinvention are necessary for sustained relevance. Timestamps & Highlights:[00:00] – Opening thoughts & the invitation to be fully seen[06:30] – Brent's path from medicine to Beekman 1802[12:45] – Leading a brand rooted in kindness[17:20] – Navigating identity, visibility & leadership[25:50] – When partnership becomes the business superpower[33:15] – Reinvention as a path to longevity[40:05] – The hidden cost of suppressing your truth[47:10] – Being present vs. being productive[53:50] – Words of wisdom for anyone afraid to be seen Connect with Dr. Brent RidgeCo-founder of Beekman 1802Follow Brent on Instagram:@joshandbrentFacebook: Beekman 1802TikTok: @beekman1802YouTube: @joshandbrentbeekmanYour Challenge This Week:If this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs permission to be seen for who they really are.Tag  @itsgeorgebryant and @joshandbrent to continue the conversation.The Alliance – Join our community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs scaling with connection over chaos.1:1 Coaching – Ready to build a business rooted in who you are, not just what you do? Apply now.Live Retreats – Get in the room where transformation happens. Find upcoming events: mindofgeorge.com/retreat 

After three years away, I'm back with the podcast that started it all and this episode is JUICY!In this comeback episode, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about building a Lifestyle First Business a business model designed to support the life you actually want to live, not one that consumes every waking moment.If you've been grinding away, feeling like you need to work harder to deserve success, or you're caught in cycles of over-delivering, under-pricing, and random launches... this episode is for you.Becoming Chillpreneur 1:1 Mentorship: https://chillpreneur.co/becomingchillpreneurOther Links mentionedThe Art of Aesthetics Notion Template https://chillpreneur.co/the-art-of-aesthetics Inawe breathwork app: https://app.inawemanifestation.com/Here's what we're covering:Why I'm reviving this podcast (and why I didn't start a new one)What a Lifestyle First Business actually is and why it mattersThe money mindset shifts you MUST make to build sustainable successHow to reverse engineer your business model using profit planningWhy your marketing needs to feel effortless (and how to make it happen with Creator Archetypes)Creating offers that flow naturally and feel fun to deliverWhen and how to automate or delegate to scale without burning outThis is your permission slip to simplify, amplify, and build a business that evolves as your life adjusts. Welcome back let's do this!✨ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Special Guest: Dylan Bost   Welcome to Podcast Profits Unleashed, the show that helps coaches and consultants grow their business through the power of podcasting—both as standout guests and magnetic hosts. I'm your host, Karen Roberts, and today's episode is all about breaking the cycle of burnout and building a business that aligns with who you are—human first. I'm joined by Dylan Bost, a coach and entrepreneur who helps purpose-driven service-based business owners simplify their systems, reconnect with their core mission, and build aligned, scalable businesses that actually last. If you've ever felt pulled between burnout and growth, this conversation will help you reset your vision, realign your systems, and reclaim your energy.

Links & ResourcesFollow us on social media for updates: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠Check out our recommended tool: ⁠⁠⁠Prop Stream⁠⁠⁠Thank you for listening!

In this episode of The Jason Cavness Experience, Jason sits down with Scott Strong, founder of Strong Fiber Systems, to talk about building a service-first business in the telecom industry and why sales discipline and customer service still matter in a world obsessed with automation. Scott shares his journey into entrepreneurship, how he built Strong Fiber Systems by focusing on relationships and trust, and why doing the unscalable work, personal outreach, follow-ups, and real conversations creates a lasting competitive advantage. He explains the difference between motivation and discipline in sales, how strong habits outperform hype, and why customer service is becoming a lost art.  The conversation also covers leadership, networking without forcing outcomes, using AI without losing the human element, and what it really takes to build a business you can stand behind long term. This episode is packed with practical insight for founders, operators, and sales leaders building service-based companies. Topics Discussed • Scott's path into telecom and entrepreneurship • Building Strong Fiber Systems from the ground up • Sales discipline vs motivation • Why doing the unscalable work still wins • Customer service as a true differentiator • Picking up the phone instead of hiding behind email • Using AI to support sales without removing humanity • Networking with authenticity • Leadership, habits, and long-term thinking Support CavnessHR CavnessHR is building an AI-native HR system for small businesses with 49 or fewer employees  combining automation with a dedicated HR Business Partner.  Invest on Wefunder https://wefunder.com/cavnesshr Download 7 free eBooks https://www.buildcavnesshr.com/ebooks Join the Builders Club https://www.buildcavnesshr.com/ Connect with Scott Strong LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-strong-entrepreneurship/ Company: https://strongfibersystems.com/ Phone: (888) 601-0123 Connect with Jason Cavness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com  

Joining me is Shay Brown, co‑founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, freedom‑lover and business strategist extraordinaire. We dig into how she's built a purpose‑driven, multi‑6‑figure business without burning out; how she works roughly 25–30 hours a week; and how you can choose the right business model for your season too.Whether you're curious about whether to do a course, a membership or high‑ticket ‘done‑with‑you', this chat is for you.What you'll learn:Why your business model should start with “What does your niche want?” The trap of low‑ticket courses vs the power of high‑ticket offersThe “trash - trim - transfer” framework: how to reclaim time and scale your businessHow to map your energetics + lifestyle to your business modelBoundary setting, rhythms and the beautiful reality of working 25 hours a week on purposeTimestampsIntro 0:00Interview 2:05Wrap-up 41:27ABOUT SHAY:Shay is the Co-Founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, a purpose-driven business coaching company that empowers women to build successful service-based online businesses – specifically in graphic design, branding & website design, digital & content marketing, social media management, public relations, and business operations. Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Shay's holistic business coaching style blends her expertise in sales, operations, and financial management with a compassionate focus on mindset development. Over the past 10 years, she has helped grow Bucketlist Bombshells to generate over $6 million in revenue and serve over 10,000 women worldwide, achieving recognition in Forbes, BBC and CNBC. When she's not coaching women inside their business programs Bucketlist Bombshells Launch Camp™, She's Fully Booked® and Scale With Purpose Mastermind™, you can find her co-hosting their top-charting podcast, The Freedom Filled Life™ Podcast, inspiring entrepreneurial women. Shay now enjoys a balanced life with a part-time 4-day workweek, allowing her to travel, pursue her hobbies, and focus on her personal wellness!CONNECT WITH SHAY:Your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/seriouslyinbusinessGet booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/shesfullybookedHit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/mastermindTune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/podcast/Connect with Shay directly in the DMs here: https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistbombshells/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DxQeWzmH_nQRead on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep242/WORK WITH JACQUI:// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub// Design Studio: If you're after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

In this powerful episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik sits down with Dylan Bost, founder of SunnyHQ and a former creative agency owner who hit rock bottom after years of burnout and addiction. Dylan openly shares how an existential crisis (“What is this all for?”) led to the collapse of his multimillion-dollar agency, years of deep healing, and the birth of a radically aligned, human-first WordPress hosting company. This is a raw conversation about turning breakdown into breakthrough and building a business that honors life instead of sacrificing it. Key Takeaways: Burnout rarely announces itself — it's the slow erosion of joy, identity, and meaning while everything looks “successful” on the outside. The most dangerous question an entrepreneur can ignore: “What is this all for?” If left unanswered, it leads to emptiness even at the peak of achievement. Rock bottom can become the foundation: Dylan's collapse forced years of stillness, embodiment work, plant medicine journeys, and nervous-system repair — the true rebuilding started there. You are not your story, you are the storyteller. Letting go of past achievements and identities is scary but essential for real transformation. Simple daily embodiment starts with 5-minute meditation — not to empty the mind, but to become aware of thoughts and let them pass. Awareness is the most powerful “drug”: once you see a destructive habit (endless scrolling, overworking, numbing), it becomes nearly impossible to keep doing it unconsciously. Alignment in business means designing the company around your desired life, not the other way around. SunnyHQ was built on clarity, simplicity, and genuine human support — no bots, no ticket queues, no chaos. True customer service is human connection: fast fixes + warm empathy = customers who feel genuinely cared for (and team members who love their work). Ask for help early. Vulnerability is strength, not weakness. You are not the first entrepreneur to struggle — and you don't have to solve it alone. Rebuilding yourself is the ultimate business strategy. Connect with Guest Dylan Bost SunnyHQ: https://sunnyhq.io Special podcast page: https://sunnyhq.io/podcast Upcoming book: The Seven Mirrors (on memory, leadership, and transformation) Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik DisclaimerThis video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. About Healthy Mind By AvikHealthy Mind By Avik is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it has become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, this channel brings you powerful podcasts and grounded conversations across mental health, emotional well-being, mindfulness, holistic healing, trauma recovery, and self-empowerment. With over 4,400 episodes and 168.4K global listeners, we are committed to amplifying stories and breaking stigma worldwide.Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. ContactBrand: Healthy Mind By AvikEmail: join@healthymindbyavik.com | podcast@healthymindbyavik.comWebsite: www.healthymindbyavik.comBased in: India and USAOpen to collaborations, guest appearances, coaching, and strategic partnerships. CHECK PODCAST SHOWS & BE A GUESTPodcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/healthymindbyavikBe a guest: https://www.healthymindbyavik.com/beaguestVideo Testimonial: https://www.healthymindbyavik.com/testimonialsCommunity: https://nas.io/healthymindNewsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/ OUR SERVICESBusiness Podcast Management: https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/corporatepodcasting/Individual Podcast Management: https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/Podcasting/Share Your Story: https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/shareyourstory STAY CONNECTEDMedium: https://medium.com/@contentbyavikYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healthymindbyavikInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyminds.pod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.healthymindLinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthymindbyavikLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avikchakrabortypodcaster/Twitter: https://twitter.com/podhealthclubPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Avikpodhealth/ SHARE YOUR REVIEWGoogle Review: https://www.podpage.com/bizblend/reviews/new/Video Testimonial: https://famewall.healthymindbyavik.com/ Because every story matters and yours could be the one that lights the way. #podmatch #healthymind #healthymindbyavik #wellness #HealthyMindByAvik #MentalHealthAwareness #podcastformentalhealth #wellnesspodcast #mentalhealthpodcast #selfcare #mindfulness #growthmindset #burnoutrecovery #entrepreneurmentalhealth #healingjourney #humanfirst #podcastlife #bestpodcast #podcasthost #newpodcastalert  

What if the real measure of success isn't how high you fly but how deeply you connect?Jim Carpenter has spent decades helping families and business owners build wealth and preserve their legacies — yet what sets him apart isn't his financial expertise, it's his heart for people. A lifelong pilot and advisor, Jim built his business not from spreadsheets, but from relationships — flying thousands of miles to meet clients in person and sending simple, meaningful gestures that made them feel seen and remembered.In our conversation, Jim shares how aviation became a metaphor for life and leadership — one built on preparation, balance, and care. His upcoming book, Beyond the Runway, reveals how small, consistent acts of attention keep us grounded even while we're reaching for more. From faith and family to business and service, Jim reminds us that connection is what keeps everything aloft.This episode is a warm reminder that real legacy isn't written in numbers, but in the lives you touch along the way.Highlights:1. The Flight Path of a Relationship-Driven Career - How Jim's journey from family insurance to aviation taught him that the best business is built on trust, not transactions.2. What “GUMPS” Can Teach Us About Life - Discover how a pilot's pre-landing checklist — gas, undercarriage, mixture, prop, seatbelt — became a life philosophy for staying grounded in purpose.3. Turning Service into Legacy - Learn how charitable estate planning and simple acts of generosity created deeper meaning in Jim's career — and lasting impact for his clients.4. Why Connection Always Outperforms Automation - Jim shares how a handwritten card or a thoughtful gesture outshines any corporate campaign when it comes to building loyalty.5. Living Beyond the Runway - Find out how Jim applies his “quiet maintenance” mindset to relationships, encouraging us all to slow down, check in, and stay true to what matters most.Connect with Jim:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimlcarpenter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jim.Carpenter0417 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcarpenter_0417/ In appreciation for being here, I have some gifts for you:A LinkedIn Checklist for setting up your fully optimized Profile:An opportunity to test drive the Follow Up system I recommend by checking this presentation page - you won't regret it. AND … Don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and be eligible for my complimentary LinkedIn profile audit – I do one each month for a lucky listener!Connect with me:http://JanicePorter.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceporter/https://www.facebook.com/janiceporter1

Darren Spicer, co-founder and CEO of Clutch Coffee Bar, built his company on the belief that great branding wins loyalty. Every part of the Clutch experience, from the drive-thru to the community events, is designed to make people feel connected. Listen now to learn about scaling without franchising, creating unforgettable brand experiences, and the mindset that turned risk into reward. Sponsored by: • TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entrepreneurs spend years hustling to grow their businesses, but too many leave life-changing wealth on the table simply because they don't know the rules of the exit game. In this episode of BizNinja Entrepreneur Radio, Tyler sits down with private equity expert and author Nick Bradley, who has helped lead more than $5 billion in successful exits, to break down how founders can scale smarter, negotiate better, and prepare themselves emotionally and financially for the biggest moment of their entrepreneurial journey.What You'll Learn• Why founders fail at exits they should win• The real difference between startup founders vs. scale-up builders• How private equity actually works behind closed doors• The two sets of rules in every deal: price vs terms• Why culture and transferable value matter more than you think• How roll-ups and acquisitions multiply valuations quickly• What it means to operate off the buyer's math• How founders can prepare emotionally for losing the CEO hat• Where the biggest growth opportunities are in the next decade Chapters00:00 Welcome to BizNinja & Meet Nick Bradley01:00 Nick's First Business and Early Entrepreneurial Spark03:30 Transition to Corporate and Discovering Private Equity06:00 Why Founders Fear PE and What They Get Wrong09:00 The Emotional Rollercoaster After Selling Your Business11:30 Prize vs Prey: How Buyers Judge Founders14:00 Price vs Terms: The Rules Most Founders Miss17:30 Preparing 12–36 Months Before an Exit19:30 Roll Ups, Arbitrage & Scaling Through Acquisitions23:00 Culture, Vision & Transferable Value in PE Deals26:00 Big Industry Opportunities on the Horizon27:30 Nick's Move to Dubai & Personal Growth28:30 Where to Connect with Nick & Final Takeaways

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What if the key to growing your business wasn't doing more but slowing down enough to actually listen to yourself?In this powerful and honest episode of the Dam Good Marketing Podcast, host Shelby Clement sits down with Jillian Clothier, a life-first business coach for mama entrepreneurs, to unpack what it really means to build a business that aligns with your life instead of consuming it.Jillian opens up about her journey from 15 years in corporate restaurant franchising to running multiple businesses, motherhood, burnout, and eventually awakening to a truth she could no longer ignore. Together, Shelby and Jillian dig into the deep, unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship as mothers, wives, and ambitious women trying to do it all.They explore how easy it is to chase external validation, overwork ourselves into the ground, and confuse busyness with purpose. But they also talk about what happens when you finally pause, peel back the layers, and start making decisions from the inside out.This conversation isn't about finding the “perfect balance.” It's about learning to honor the season you're in, trust your timeline, and redefine what success truly looks like when your life, not your hustle, leads the way.What You will Learn:Why doing the inner work matters more than any strategy when you're trying to scale your businessThe real difference between balance and alignment and how to know when you've found itHow to silence comparison, stop chasing someone else's timeline, and start trusting your ownPractical ways to reconnect with yourself daily especially when life feels chaoticThe mindset shift that turns overwhelm into grounded confidenceAbout the guest: Jillian Clothier is a coach and mentor for high-achieving women who want it all: the business, the marriage, the motherhood, and the legacy all working together in alignment. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillian.clothier.coaching/Connect with Shelby Clement:Website: https://shelbyclement.comFollow on Socials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbydclementLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelby-dimiceli-clement-a9497049TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsshelbyclementInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsshelbyclement/If this episode inspired you, share it with a friend and leave a review, it means the world to me :)

Stop making million-dollar decisions alone. Hampton gives you a personal board of eight vetted founders in your city who meet monthly to tackle your hardest problems. Find your group: joinhampton.comAlex Smereczniak built a $100M laundry business and sold 118 franchise locations in just 14 months. But just as the business took off, life hit hard. After a series of personal and professional crises, he stepped down as CEO. Now he's back – not for another big exit, but to fix a franchise industry riddled with bad incentives and hidden fees.Here's what we talk about:Building a $100M brand from a college dorm laundry hustleThe personal crises that forced him to walk awayWhy he thinks franchising is totally broken – and how brokers quietly take 60% commissionsWhat he's doing differently at Franzy: flat fees, transparency, no bullshitWhy he's not taking a salary, even with an $11M net worthWhat it actually costs – financially and emotionally – to scale fastThe moment he knew he wasn't the right CEO anymoreWhy he believes franchising could be the path for millions displaced by AIHow he defines success today: not exits, but impactCool Links:Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/Franzy https://franzy.comAlex Smereczniak https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-%F0%9F%A6%81-40310329 Sponsors:Get US caliber talent at offshore prices with https://www.oceanstalent.com/Achieve your dream body with https://www.dailybodycoach.com/moneywiseProtect your upside and get your time back at https://www.cressetcapital.com/moneywiseChapters:(0:41) Early Entrepreneurship: College Laundry Business(1:31) Selling the First Business & Lessons Learned(2:47) The Moment Alex Reconsidered Corporate Life at Ernst & Young (3:37) Returning to Laundry: The Startup Vision(6:07) Raising Capital & Startup Growth(10:40) Team Building, Hiring Challenges, and Culture(13:15) COVID-19, Franchising, and Business Model Shift(18:21) The Franchise Broker Problem & Franzy's Solution(20:45) Franchising as a Path to Wealth(24:03) AI, Job Displacement, and the Future of Work(28:30) Alex's Personal Wealth, Fulfillment, and Impact(31:00) Reflections on Net Worth, Liquidity, and Success(34:40) Community, Support, and Peer Groups(40:02) The Sweet Spot: Wealth, Happiness & Freedom for FoundersThis podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances. Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.Your Host: Harry MortonFounder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.Co-parents a cow named Eliza.

Jess was the first person Jason Ackerman ever mentored in business, and her leap of faith turned a 700-square-foot “house studio” into six thriving hot yoga locations. In this episode, they revisit the advice, mindset shifts, and wild moments that shaped both of their entrepreneurial journeys.--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Azgari Lipshy, an entrepreneur who shares her journey from starting her first business at 16 to navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship. Azgari discusses the influence of her family, the lessons learned from early failures, and her passion for helping others launch their own businesses. The conversation explores themes of freedom, success, mentorship, and the importance of taking risks in life.Today, she's built and sold multiple companies — and teaches others how to turn ideas into income. But behind the spreadsheets and systems is a deeper story: one of self-belief, burnout, failure, and the quiet strength it takes to start again.In this episode of Stories from Real Life, Azgari opens up about the moments that shaped her, the lessons that nearly broke her, and the truth about building not just a business — but a life of purpose.Azgari Lipshy Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe

How did a family business with zero commissioned sales explode into a $70M regional powerhouse? The culture secret that's changing mattress retail…What if everything you thought about retail sales was wrong? In this episode, Mark Kinsley sits down with Michael Fiacco, the second-generation owner who transformed Old Brick Furniture from a local legacy into a 2023 Retailer of the Year, now with 11 stores across upstate New York and New England. Discover why Michael refuses to pay commission, never runs “sales” (except for his secret 6-hour event), and bets big on a team-first culture—even when industry veterans said it would never work.If you've ever wondered how to get employees truly invested, why “lowest price, always” builds fierce customer loyalty, or how to launch into new markets without losing your core values, this episode is for you. Michael reveals how his unique approach to service, culture, and real estate (plus a few laundromats and a recruiting firm!) drives both rapid growth and work-life balance—for his team and his family.Industry pros and sleep enthusiasts alike will hear actionable strategies about:- Driving word-of-mouth through legendary service (not expensive ads)- Creating a team culture that eliminates high-pressure tactics- Why real estate is the “unfair advantage” fueling expansion- The hidden power of in-stock mattresses for immediate sales- How to survive market downturns without discounting your brandStay tuned for insights that challenge conventional wisdom and could change how you think about selling sleep.Timestamps:- 00:56 – The “No Commission, Team Culture” Advantage Revealed- 03:39 – Why Service Trumps Advertising (and Pays Off More)- 07:16 – Real Talk: How Team Bonuses Actually Work- 09:33 – The Work-Life Revolution for Salespeople- 12:42 – From Mom's Consignment Shop to $70M Retailer- 15:07 – How Real Estate Became Michael's Secret Weapon- 19:20 – The Mattress Business: 23% of Sales, 100% Strategy- 22:22 – Why Inventory Speed Wins Mattress Customers- 24:43 – Old Brick's No-Sale, No-Gimmick Marketing Playbook- 26:41 – The Rochester Experiment: Opening Store #11- 33:24 – The Little “Warehouse” Detail That Changed EverythingConnect with The FAM Podcast:

"Service isn't a necessary evil—it's your most valuable relationship builder." This week, Tim welcomes Bart Ogden, owner of Home Safe Hearth & Chimney in Wichita, Kansas, to discuss how service work can be the foundation of a thriving hearth business. Starting as a chimney sweep in 1979 in a town of 600 people, Bart built his company on a simple principle: if someone calls needing help, we're going to help them—regardless of brand, age, or who installed it. In this episode, Tim and Bart discuss: Why servicing everything—not just what you sell—builds long-term customer relationships that outlast and outperform the initial sale. The lifetime value of a service customer: How annual or bi-annual maintenance over decades generates more revenue than the original installation, and creates trust when replacement is finally needed. Profitability through knowing your numbers: Why specialty service businesses need 60% margins to thrive, and how to build a supply chain that supports servicing all brands. Building a systematic training program: How Bart created a 100-day curriculum using certification paths (CSIA, NFI) that trains every technician to the same standard, regardless of their background. The power of great inspections: Why every successful service job starts with ensuring customers know the exact condition of their system, then letting them choose what happens next. Don't miss this episode that reframes service from an afterthought into the strategic foundation of a sustainable hearth business. ------ Become a supporter of The Fire Time Network and get access to awesome rewards: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://itsfiretime.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more audio articles from our magazine, subscribe to the Fire Time Magazine Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get a copy of the 2025 Fire Time Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.itsfiretime.com/journal⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magazine.itsfiretime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week's throwback episode of The 20% Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nikita Zhitkevich, VP of Sales at PartnerStack. Nikita's journey into entrepreneurship started with online reselling and side hustles before pursuing biomedical sciences. But instead of following the traditional path into medicine, he took a leap into startups, building a marketplace for retired professionals before becoming the first business hire at PartnerStack.Key topics include:Growing up in an immigrant family and how it shaped his mindsetEarly entrepreneurial lessons from selling online and ski instructingPivoting from biomedical sciences to tech startupsLessons from building a marketplace and why he left itHow a random LinkedIn connection led him to PartnerStackBeing willing to grow and change with a company as it scalesThis conversation is packed with lessons on career transitions, business acumen, and the power of being open to unexpected opportunities.Please enjoy this week's episode with Nikita Zhitkevich. ____________________________________________________________________________I am now in the early stages of writing my first book! In this book, I will be telling my story of getting into sales and the lessons I have learned so far, and intertwine stories, tips, and advice from the Top Sales Professionals In The World! As a first time author, I want to share these interviews with you all, and take you on this book writing journey with me!Like the show? Subscribe to the email: https://mailchi.mp/a71e58dacffb/welcome-to-the-20-podcast-communityI want your feedback!Reach out to 20percentpodcastquestions@gmail.com, or find me on LinkedIn.If you know anyone who would benefit from this show, share it along! If you know of anyone who would be great to interview, please drop me a line!Enjoy the show!

James shows how a 3-day work week can achieve both revenue and work-life balance.

Rapid growth excites, but without systems it leads to burnout. James shows how a 3-day work week can achieve both revenue and work-life balance.

The most important part of the business acquisition search....what are you looking for (specific) and why!?   SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.   Get expert M&A guidance, valuations, and fractional executive support from Amplēo.Learn more at www.ampleo.com/lets-buy-a-business-podcast/.   Buying or selling? Business Valuation help? - Lean on Peak Business Valuation and their expertise now.   https://hubs.li/Q03zlvqH0     Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Sept 2025?https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/   Questions to Ask Around Narrowing Down Your Criteria: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXYFgAVquG3vwhDiDo4tEHnIx0xI_Hok1o_Mc_ru23Y/edit?usp=sharing

Today's episode is one of my absolute favorites because it's all about YOU. We're diving into another Ask Me Anything—your real, unfiltered questions, straight from the Goal Digger community. You left me the best voicemails—honest, thoughtful, and full of the kinds of questions we don't talk about enough. In this episode, I'm answering some juicy ones: how to navigate major pivots, get out of content creation burnout, and yep… I'm even opening up about one of my biggest career flops and what it taught me! These AMA episodes feel like a coffee chat with a side of business therapy, and I have a feeling something in here is going to hit right where you're at—whether you're just starting out or scaling up. If you want to be part of a future episode, I'd love to hear from you! Simply call 218-203-9660, leave your name, where you're calling from, and your question and YOU may be featured on a future episode of the Goal Digger Podcast! Goal Digger Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Show Notes: https://www.jennakutcherblog.com/ask-me-anything-jenna-kutcher-april-2025  Thanks to our Goal Digger Sponsors: Run your first payroll with Gusto and get three months free at http://Gusto.com/goaldigger!  Make B2B marketing everything it can be and get a $100 credit on your next campaign. Go to https://www.linkedin.com/goal to claim your credit! Sign up for your $1/month Shopify trial period at http://shopify.com/goaldigger.  Find a co-host today at http://airbnb.com/host.  Head on over to http://shippo.com/GOALDIGGER and claim your "spend $25, get $25" offer today! Get all the Goal Digger goodness you love COMPLETELY ad-free. Visit jennakutcher.com/adfree to subscribe today!