Podcasts about serial entrepreneurs

In this episode, Alex Quin sits down with Alicia Grande, founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics—a beauty powerhouse known for its iconic GrandeLASH-MD serum. Alicia shares how she turned a single product into a $100 million+ brand without outside investors. From grassroots trade shows to landing shelf space at retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and beyond, she breaks down the branding, grit, and customer obsession that fueled her success. Alicia also opens up about the challenges of scaling while staying authentic in a competitive industry.Episode Outline[00:00:03] Introduction and welcome by Alex Quin[00:01:45] Alicia's media background and shift to beauty[00:04:12] The creation of GrandeLASH-MD[00:07:00] Leveraging trade shows for grassroots marketing[00:09:30] The power of before-and-after images[00:12:20] Early business struggles and breakthroughs[00:15:05] Building credibility in the beauty industry[00:17:40] Scaling with Sephora and e-commerce growth[00:21:10] Staying innovative and customer-focused[00:24:30] Key challenges and advice for entrepreneurs[00:27:45] Alex Quin's final thoughts and wrap-upWisdom NuggetsStart Where You Are: Alicia leveraged her radio background to connect authentically with potential customers at trade shows. Your current skills can translate into unexpected successes.Proof Sells Products: Real customer results, showcased through authentic before-and-after photos, helped build trust and credibility. Visual evidence trumps flashy ads.Bootstrapping Builds Grit: Without outside investment, Alicia learned to be scrappy and disciplined. She emphasizes the strength that comes from doing more with less.Evolve With Feedback: Customer feedback directly informed product development at Grande Cosmetics. Listening isn't just polite—it's profitable.Growth Requires Risk: Alicia took major steps by expanding into Sephora and doubling down on e-commerce. Calculated risks are often the bridge to the next level.Power Quotes:“I started with one product and a passion for helping women feel beautiful.” - Alicia Grande“Don't rush into partnerships. Vet them like your brand depends on it—because it does.” - Alicia GrandeConnect With Alicia :Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/ceoaliciagrande)Grande Cosmetics Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/grandecosmetics/)Website (https://grandecosmetics.com/)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cliff Nonnenmacher has owned and operated various franchise businesses, including Cartridge World, Personal Training Institute, PuroClean, and Maid Right, as well as non-franchise companies. He has also developed well-known domestic and international brands like Four Seasons Sunrooms, Contours Express, Island Fin Poke, and Krak Boba.[00:00-05:09] Started at 8 Years Old[05:10-06:15] Insights into the Franchise World[06:16-12:09] Reality of the Food Industry[12:10-19:01] The Future of Jobs[19:02-24:58] Invest in Practical Skills[24:59-30:08] The man ahead of his timeSpecial Mention: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Elon MuskReach out to Cliff at: https://franocity.com/Any questions?*** Grab my 10k/month passive income strategy and weekly newsletters at https://tinyurl.com/iwg-strategy BOOK IS OUT! Grab Your Copy and learn how to get your feet wet in real estate investing

I have mentioned before a program I attend entitled Podapalooza. This quarterly event brings together podcasters, would-be podcasters and people interested in being interviewed by podcasters. This all-day program is quite fun. Each time I go I request interview opportunities to bring people onto Unstoppable Mindset. I never really have a great idea of who I will meet, but everyone I have encountered has proven interesting and intriguing.   This episode we get to meet Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett who I met at Podapalooza 12. I began our episode by asking Laura to tell me a bit about her growing up. We hadn't talked about this before the episode. The first thing she told me was that she was kind of an afterthought child born some 12.5 years after her nearest sibling. Laura grew up curious about many things. She went to University in Calgary. After obtaining her Master's degree she worked for some corporations for a time, but then went back to get her Doctorate in Organization Psychology.   After discussing her life a bit, Dr. Laura and I discussed many subjects including fear, toxic bosses and even something she worked on since around 2005, working remotely. What a visionary Laura was. I like the insights and thoughts Dr. Lovett discusses and I think you will find her thoughts worth hearing.   On top of everything else, Laura is a podcaster. She began her podcast career in 2020. I get to be a guest on her podcast, _Where Work Meets Life_TM, in May of 2025. Be sure to check out her podcast and listen in May to see what we discuss.   Laura is also an author as you will learn. She is working on a book about toxic bosses. This book will be published in January of 2026. She also has written two fiction books that will soon be featured in a television series. She tells us about what is coming.       About the Guest:   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an Organizational Psychologist, Keynote Speaker, Business Leader, Author, and Podcast Host. She is a sought-after thought leader on workplace psychology and career development internationally, with 25 years of experience. Dr. Laura is a thought leader on the future of work and understands the intersection of business and people.     Dr. Laura's areas of expertise include leadership, team, and culture development in organizations, remote/hybrid workplace success, toxic leadership, career development, and mental health/burnout. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Calgary, where she is currently an Adjunct Professor.     As a passionate entrepreneur, Dr. Laura has founded several psychology practices in Canada since 2009, including Canada Career Counselling, Synthesis Psychology, and Work EvOHlution™ which was acquired in 2021.  She runs the widely followed podcast _Where Work Meets Life_TM, which began in 2020.  She speaks with global experts on a variety of topics around thriving humans and organizations, and career fulfillment.     In addition to her businesses, she has published two psychological thrillers, Losing Cadence and Finding Sophie. She hopes to both captivate readers and raise awareness on important topics around mental health and domestic violence.  These books are currently being adapted for a television series.  Dr. Laura received a Canadian Women of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018. Ways to connect with Dr. Laura:   Email: Connect@drlaura.live   Website: https://drlaura.live/    LinkedIn: @drlaurahambley/    Keynotes: Keynotes & Speaking Engagements   Podcast: Where Work Meets Life™ Podcast   Author: Books   Newsletter: Subscribe to Newsletter   Youtube: @dr.laurawhereworkmeetslife   Facebook: @Dr.Laura.whereworkmeetslife   Instagram: @dr.laura__   Tik Tok: @drlaura__   X: @DrLaura_   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:     Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.     Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi everyone, wherever you happen to be, I want to welcome you to another episode of unstoppable mindset. I am your host, Mike hingson, and we have, I think, an interesting guest today. She's an organizational psychologist. She is a keynote speaker, and she even does a podcast I met Dr Laura through a function that we've talked about before on this podcast, Pata palooza. We met at pollooza 12. So that goes back to January. I think Dr Laura is an organizational psychologist. As I said, she's a keynote speaker. She runs a podcast. She's written books, and I think you've, if I'm not mistaken, have written two fiction books, among other things, but we'll get to all that. But Laura, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And thank you very much for being here.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 02:12 Well, thank you for having me, Michael. I really think the world of you and admire your spirit, and I'm just honored to be here speaking with you today. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:22 as I tell people when they come on the podcast, we do have one hard and fast rule, and that is, you're supposed to have fun. So if you can't have fun, forget about   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 02:30 it. Okay, alright, I'm willing to There   Michael Hingson ** 02:34 you go see you gotta have a little bit of fun. Well, why don't we start as I love to do with a lot of folks tell us kind of about the early Laura, growing up and all that, and kind of how you got where you are, if you will. Oh, my goodness, I know that opens up a lot of options.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 02:52 I was an afterthought child. I was the sixth child of a Catholic mother who had five children in a row, and had me 12 years later, unplanned, same parents, but all my siblings are 12 to 19 years older than me, so I was caught between generations. I always wanted to be older than I was, and I felt, you know, I was almost missing out on the things that were going on before me. But then I had all these nieces and nephews that came into the world where I was the leader of the pack. So my niece, who's next in line to me, is only three years younger, so it just it makes for an interesting dynamic growing up where you're the baby but you're also the leader. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 03:39 lot of advantages there, though I would think,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 03:42 Oh yeah, it taught me a lot about leadership. It taught me about followership. It taught me about life and learning the lessons from my older siblings of what you know, they were going through and what I wanted to be like when I grew up.   Michael Hingson ** 03:58 So, so what kind of things did you learn from all of that? And you know, what did, what did they teach you, and what did they think of you, all of your older siblings? Oh, they loved me. I was, I bet they were. Yeah, you were the baby sister.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 04:13 But I should add my mom was mentally ill, so her mental illness got worse after having me, I think, and I know this about postpartum, as you get older and postpartum hits, it can get worse later on and and she suffered with a lot of mental health challenges, and I would say that that was the most challenging part of growing up for me.   Michael Hingson ** 04:42 Did she ever get over that? Or?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 04:45 No, we just, I mean, it had its ups and downs. So when times were good, she was great, she was generous, she was loving. She was a provider, a caretaker. She had stayed at home her whole life, so she was the stay at home mom, where you'd come home from school. And there'd be hot, baked cookies and stuff, you know, she would really nurture that way. But then when she had her lows, because it was almost a bipolar situation, I would, I would say it was undiagnosed. I mean, we never got a formal diagnosis, but she had more than one psychotic break that ended her in the hospital. But I would say when she was down, she would, you know, run away for a few days and stay in another city, or have a complete meltdown and become really angry and aggressive. And, I mean, it was really unpredictable. And my father was just like a rock, just really stable and a loving influence and an entrepreneur like I am, so that, you know, he really helped balance things out, but it was hard on him as well,   Michael Hingson ** 05:48 I'll bet. Yeah, that's never easy. Is she still with us, or is she passed?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 05:53 No, she got dementia and she passed. The dementia was about 12 years of, you know, turning into a baby. It's so sad that over 12 years, we just she lost her mind completely, and she died in 2021 and it was hard. I mean, I felt like, oh, man, you know, that was hard. I you know, as much as it was difficult with her and the dementia was difficult. I mean, she was my mother, and, yeah, it was a big loss for me. And I lost my father at age 21 and that was really hard. It was a very sudden with an aneurysm. And so that was in 1997 so I've been a long time without parents in my life.   Michael Hingson ** 06:30 Wow. Well, I know what you mean. My father, in this is his opinion, contracted some sort of a spore in Africa during World War Two, and it manifested itself by him losing, I think it was white blood cells later in his life, and had to have regular transfusions. And eventually he passed in 1984 and my belief is, although they classified it as congestive heart failure, he had enough other diseases or things that happened to him in the couple of years before he passed. I think it was actually HIV that he died from, because at that time, they still didn't understand about tainted blood, right? And so he got transfusions that probably were blood that that was a problem, although, you know, I can't prove that, and don't know it, but that's just kind of my opinion.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 07:34 Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Michael, that is so, so sad.   Michael Hingson ** 07:38 Yeah. And then my mom was a smoker most of her life, and she fell in 1987 and broke her hip, and they discovered that she also had some some cancer. But anyway, while she was in the hospital recovering from the broken hip, they were going to do some surgery to deal with the cancer, but she ended up having a stroke and a heart attack, and she passed away. So Oh, my God. I lost my mom in 1987   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 08:04 and you know, you were young. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 08:08 I was, I was 37 when she died. So still, I missed them both, even today, but I I had them for a while, and then my brother, I had until 2015 and then he passed from cancer. So it happens, and I got married in 1982 to my wife, Karen, who was in a wheelchair her whole life, and she passed in 2022 so we were married 40 years. So lots of memories. And as I love to tell people all the time, I got to continue to be a good kid, because I'm being monitored from somewhere, and if I misbehave, I know I'm going to hear about it. So,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 08:49 you know, well, that's a beautiful, long marriage that the two of you had   Michael Hingson ** 08:55 was and lots of memories, which is the important things. And I was blessed that with September 11 and so on, and having written thunder dog, the original book that I wrote about the World Trade Center and my life, it was published in 2011 and I was even reading part of it again today, because I spoke at a book club this morning, it just brings back lots of wonderful memories with Karen, and I just can't in any way argue with the fact that we did have a great 40 years. So no regrets.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 09:26 Wow, 40 years.   Michael Hingson ** 09:30 Yeah. So, you know, it worked out well and so very happy. And I know that, as I said, I'm being monitored, so I I don't even chase the girls. I'm a good kid. Chris, I would point out none of them have chased me either. So, you know,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 09:49 I love your humor. It's so awesome. So we gotta laugh, Mark, because the world's really tricky right now. Oh gosh, isn't it? It's very tricky. And I'd love to talk. About that today a bit, because I'm just having a lot of thoughts about it and a lot of messages I want to get across being well, you are well psychologist and a thought leader and very spiritual and just trying to make a difference, because it's very tricky.   Michael Hingson ** 10:16 So how did you get into psychology and all that. So you grew up, obviously, you went to college and tell me about that and how you ended up getting into the whole issue of psychology and the things that you do. Well,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 10:30 I think being the youngest, I was always curious about human dynamics in my family and the siblings and all the dynamics that were going on, and I was an observer of all of that. And then with my mother and just trying to understand the human psyche and the human condition. And I was a natural born helper. I always wanted to help people, empathetic, very sensitive kid, highly sensitive person. So then when I went into psycho to university. We University. We call it up here for an undergrad degree, I actually didn't know what I wanted to do. I was a musician as well. I was teaching music throughout high school, flute and piano. I had a studio and a lot of students. And thought, well, maybe do I want to do a music degree? Or, Oh, maybe I should go into the family business of water treatment and water filtration that my father started for cities, and go in and do that and get a chemical engineering degree. Not really interested in that, though, no. And then just kind of stumbled my way through first year. And then I was really lost. And then I came across career counseling. And I thought, Okay, this is going to help me. And it did. And psychology lit up like a light bulb. I had taken the intro to psych course, which is more of a hodgepodge mix of topics. I'm like, yeah, and then, but when I looked at the second year courses in the third year and personality and abnormal psych and clinical psych and all of that. I thought, Oh, I found my place. This is juicy. This is interesting. And I want to help people. Is   Michael Hingson ** 12:09 this to say you fit right in when you were studying Abnormal Psychology? Just checking,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 12:14 yeah, probably okay. I actually didn't go down the clinical psych route, which is where it's the clinical psych and the psychiatrists that tackle more of the personality disorders. So I went into counseling psych, which is the worried well. We call it the worried well. So people like you and I who are going through life, experiencing the various curve balls that life has to offer, and I know you've been through more than your fair share, but it's helping people get through the curve balls. And I specialized in career, I ended up saying people spend most of their waking lives, you know, working or thinking about work as part of their identity. So I specialized in career development psychology in my master's degree.   Michael Hingson ** 13:01 Yeah, well, that's, that's certainly, probably was easier than flute and piano. You couldn't do both of those at the same time.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 13:07 I ended up having to, yeah, it became too much. I tried to for a while.   Michael Hingson ** 13:13 Yeah, you can play the flute or the piano, but kind of hard to do both at the same time. Oh,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 13:18 at the same time, yeah, unless you play with your toes, which I've seen people actually people do that, yeah, do Yeah. There's this one speaker in our national speakers group, and he he does a lot with his toes, like I remember him playing the drums with his toes at his last keynote. So I was just amazed. So horn with no arms and does everything with his feet. So I bet he could do some piano too. There you go.   Michael Hingson ** 13:49 But then, of course, having no arms and he would also have a problem doing piano at the same time. But, you know, that's okay, but still, so you went into to psychology, which I find is a is a fascinating subject. Anyway, my interest was always in the physical sciences, so I got my master's degree in physics, although I did take a couple of psychology courses, and I enjoyed it. I remember the basic intro to psych, which was a lot of fun, and she's had a real hodgepodge, but still it was fascinating. Because I always was interested in why people behave the way they do, and how people behave the way they do, which is probably why I didn't go into theoretical physics, in a sense. But still it was and is very interesting to see how people behave, but you went off and got your masters, and then you also got a PhD along the line, huh?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 14:47 Yeah, that was interesting. I did the Masters, and then I always did things a little differently. Michael, so all of my peers went on to become registered psychologists, which, which means you have. To go through a registration process, and instead, I got pulled into a.com company. We called them dot coms at the time, because in 1999 when I started with a.com It was a big thing. I mean, it was exciting, right? It was and it was a career development related.com that had a head office in New York City, and I ended up leading a team here in Calgary, and we were creating these technologies around helping people assess their passions, their interests, their skills, and then link to careers. We had about 900 careers in our database, and then linking people to educational programs to get them towards those careers. So I remember coming up a lot of times to Rutgers University and places like that, and going to New York City and dealing with that whole arena. So I was, you know, from a young age, I'd say I was too young to rent a car when I flew there, but I had a team of about 15 people that I oversaw, and it was great experience for me at an early age of, okay, you know, there's a lot I'm learning a lot here, because I really wasn't trained in Business and Management at that time, right?   Michael Hingson ** 16:17 But you But you did it.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 16:20 I did it, yeah, I did it. And then I ended up working for another consulting firm that brought me into a whole bunch of organizations working on their competency models. So I did a lot of time in the Silicon Valley, working in different companies like Cisco, and I was just in this whole elaborate web of Okay. Organizations are quite interesting. They're almost like families, because they have a lot of dynamics there. It's interesting. And you can make a difference, and you can help the organization, the people in the workplace, you know, grow and thrive and develop. And I'm okay, you know, this is interesting, too. I like this. And then at that time, I knew I wanted to do a doctorate, and I discovered that organizational Psych was what I wanted to do, because it's the perfect blend of business and psychology. Because I'm a serial entrepreneur, by the way, so entrepreneurship, psychology, business, kind of the best of both worlds. Okay, I'm going to do that, so that's what I did.   Michael Hingson ** 17:24 That certainly is kind of cool. So when did you end up getting your doctorate?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 17:28 I finished that in 2005   Michael Hingson ** 17:31 okay, were you working while you were doing that? Or did you just go back to school full   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 17:36 time? I had to go back to school because the program was very heavy. It was a program where you could not work full time during it. I still worked part time during it. I was working hard because I was registering as a psychologist at the same time, I knew I wanted to register and become a psychologist, and I knew I wanted to get that doctorate, and there were times when I almost stepped away, especially at the beginning of it, because when you're out in the real world, and then you go back into academia, it's just such a narrow How do I explain this? How does this, how is this relevant? You know, all these journal articles and this really esoteric, granular research on some little itty, itty bitty thing. And I just really struggled. But then I said, So I met with someone I remember, and she she said, Laura, it's like a car. When you buy a car, you can choose your own car seats and color, and you know, the bells and whistles of your car, and you can do that for the doctorate. And I said, Okay, I'm going to make the doctorate mine, and I'm going to specialize in a topic that I can see being a topic that the world of work will face in the future. So I specialized in remote leadership, and how you lead a team when they're not working in the same office, and how you lead and inspire people who are working from home. And that whole notion of distributed work, which ended up becoming a hot topic in the pandemic. I was, I was 20 years, 15 years ahead of the game. Yeah. Well, that,   Michael Hingson ** 19:09 of course, brings up the question of the whole issue of remote work and stuff during the pandemic and afterward. What do you what do you think has been the benefit of the whole concept of remote work. What did people learn because of the pandemic, and are they forgetting it, or are they still remembering it and allowing people to to work at home? And I ask that because I know in this country, our illustrious president is demanding that everybody go back to work, and a lot of companies are buying into that as well. And my thought has always been, why should we worry about where a person works, whether it's remote or in an actual office, so long as they get the work? Done, but that seems to, politically not be the way what people want to think of it today.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 20:06 Yeah, it's, I mean, I have a lot to say on it, and I have years and years of data and research that supports the notion that it's not a one size fits all, and a blend tends to be the best answer. So if you want to preserve the culture and the collaboration, but yet you want to have people have the flexibility and autonomy and such, which is the best of both worlds. Because you're running a workplace, you're not running a daycare where you need to babysit people, and if you need to babysit people, you're hiring the wrong people. So I would say I'm a biggest fan of hybrid. I think remote works in some context, I think bringing everyone back full time to an office is very, very old school command and control, leadership, old school command and control will not work. You know, when you're trying to retain talent, when it's an employer's market, yes, you'll get away with it. But when it goes back to an employee's market. Watch out, because your generation Z's are going to be leaving in droves to the companies that offer flexibility and autonomy, same with some of your millennials, for sure, and even my generation X. I mean, we really value, you know, a lot of us want to have hybrids and want to be trusted and not be in a car for 10 to 20 hours a week commuting? Yeah? So,   Michael Hingson ** 21:27 yeah, I know I hear you, and from the baby boomer era, you know, I I think there's value in being in an office that is, I think that having time to interact and know colleagues and so on is important. But that doesn't mean that you have to do it every day, all day. I know many times well. I worked for a company for eight years. The last year was in New York because they wanted me to go to New York City and open an office for them, but I went to the office every day, and I was actually the first person in the office, because I was selling to the east coast from the west coast. So I opened the office and was on the phone by 6am in the morning, Pacific Time, and I know that I got so much more done in the first two to three hours, while everyone else was slowly filtering in, and then we got diverted by one thing or another, and people would gossip and so on. Although I still tried to do a lot of work, nevertheless, it got to be a little bit more of a challenge to get as much done, because now everybody was in and they wanted to visit, or whatever the case happens to be, and I think there's value in visiting, but I think from a working standpoint, if I'd been able to do that at home, at least part of the time, probably even more would have been accomplished. But I think there's value also in spending some time in the office, because people do need to learn to interact and know and trust each other, and you're not going to learn to trust if you don't get to know the other people.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 23:08 Yeah, totally. I agree with you 100% and I know from it. I on my own podcast I had the founder of four day work week global, the four day work movement. I did four episodes on that topic, and yeah, people are not productive eight hours a day. I'll tell you that. Yeah, yeah. So just because you're bringing them into an office and forcing them to come in, you're not gonna it doesn't necessarily mean more productivity. There's so much that goes into productivity, apart from presenteeism, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 23:45 yeah, I hear what you're saying, and I think there's, there's merit in that. I think that even when you're working at home, there are rules, and there you're still expected to do work, but there's, I think, room for both. And I think that the pandemic taught us that, but I'm wondering if we're forgetting it.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 24:06 Oh yeah, that's the human condition. We forget, right? We, we forget. We it's almost I envision an icy ski slope. I'm a skier, you know, being up here in Canada and the Rocky Mountains, but it's a ski slope, and you walk up a few steps, and then you slide back so easily, because it's icy, right? Like you gotta just be aware that we slide back easily. We need to be intentional and stay on top of the why behind certain decisions, because the pendulum swings back so far so easily. And I mean, women's issues are one of those things we can slide back so quickly. After like, 100 years of women fighting for their rights, we can end up losing that very, very quickly in society. That's just one of many examples I know all the D, E and I stuff that's going on, and I. I mean, it's just heartbreaking, the extent of that pendulum slapping back the other way, so hard when we need to have a balance, and you know, the right balance, because the answer is never black and white, black or white, the answer is always some shade of gray.   Michael Hingson ** 25:20 How do we get people to not backslide? And I know that's a really tough question, and maybe there's no there, there very well may not really be an easy answer to that, but I'm just curious what your thoughts are.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 25:37 That's a great question. Michael, I would envision almost ski poles or hiking poles. It's being grounded into the earth. It's being grounded into what are the roots of my values? What are my the values that we hold dear as human beings and as society, and sticking to those values, and, you know, pushing in to the earth to hold those values and stand up for those values, which I know is easier said than done in certain climates and certain contexts. And I mean, but I think it's really important to stand strong for what our values   Michael Hingson ** 26:20 are, yeah, I think that's really it. It comes down to values and principles. I know the late president, Jimmy Carter once said that we must adjust to changing times while holding to unwavering principles. And it seems to me you were talking about this being a tricky world. I thought that was an interesting way to express it. But I'm wondering if we're seeing all too many people not even holding to the unwavering principles, the sacrificing principles for political expediency and other things, yeah,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 26:53 yes, exactly. And we know about values that sometimes values clash, right? So you might have a value that you want to have a lot of money and be financially, you know, successful, yet you have the value of work life balance and you want a lot of time off and and sometimes those values can clash, and sometimes we need to make decisions in our lives about what value takes precedence at this time in our life. But I think what you're right is that there's a lot of fear out there right now, and when the fear happens, you can lose sight of why those values are important to you for more of a shorter term, quick gain to get rid of the fear, because fear is uncertain and painful for humans.   Michael Hingson ** 27:44 Well, I wrote live like a guide dog, which is the latest book that was, that was published in August of last year, and it's all about learning to control fear, really. And the reality is, and what I say in the book, essentially is, look, fear is with us. I'm not going to say you shouldn't be afraid and that you can live without fear, but what you can do is learn to control fear, and you have the choice of learning how you deal with fear and what you allow fear to do to you. And so, for example, in my case, on September 11, that fear was a very powerful tool to help keep me focused going down the stairs and dealing with the whole day. And I think that's really the the issue is that fear is is something that that all too many people just have, and they let it overwhelm them, or, as I put it, blind them, and the result of that is that they can't make decisions, they can't move on. And so many things are happening in our world today that are fomenting that fear, and we're not learning how to deal with it, which is so unfortunate.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 29:02 Yeah, you're right. And I back to your World Trade Center. So you were on, was it 778? 78 oh, my god, yeah. So to me, that must have been the scariest moment of your life.   Michael Hingson ** 29:17 I'm missing in a in a sense, no only until later, because none of us knew what was happening when the plane hit the building, which it did on the other side of the building from me and 1000s of others, and it hit above where we were. So going down the stairs, none of us knew what happened, because nobody saw it. And as I point out, Superman and X ray vision are fiction. So the reality is, it had nothing to do with blindness. The fact is, none of us knew going down the stairs. We figured out a plane hit the building because we smelled something that I eventually identified as burning jet fuel fumes, because I smell it every time I went to an airport. But we didn't know what happened. And. And and in a sense, that probably was a good thing for most people. Frankly, I would rather have known, and I can, I can say this, thinking about it a lot as I do, I would rather have known what happened, because it would have affected perhaps some of the decisions that I made later. If I had known that the buildings had been struck and there was a likelihood that they would collapse. I also know that I wouldn't have panicked, but I like information, and it's something that I use as a tool. But the fact is that we didn't know that. And so in a sense, although we were certainly worried about what was going on, and we knew that there was fire above us, we didn't know what it was all about.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 30:41 Wow. And I would say, so glad you got out of there. I Yeah, what a horrific experience. I was up there the year before it happened. And I think being up there, you can just sense the the height of it and the extent of it, and then seeing ground zero after and then going there with my son last June and seeing the new world trade, it was just really, I really resonate with your or not resonate, but admire your experience that you got out of there the way you did, and thank goodness you're still in this world. Michael,   Michael Hingson ** 31:17 it's a weird experience having been back, also now, going through the museum and being up in the new tower, trying to equate where I was on September 11 and where things were with what it became when it was all rebuilt. There's no easy reference point, although I did some of the traveling around the area with someone who knew what the World Trade Center was like before September 11. And so they were able to say, Okay, you're standing in such and such a place, so you're standing right below where Tower One was. And then I could kind of put some reference points to it, but it was totally different. Needless to say,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 32:05 Yeah, no kidding, but I think the fear that you go through during a disaster, right, is immediate like so the fight flight response is activated immediately, and you're, you're put into this almost state of flow. I call it a state where you time just is irrelevant. You're just putting one foot ahead of the other, right, right, right? Whereas the fear that society is going through right now, I think, is a projecting out into the future fear. It's not surviving this moment. It's more about I want to make sure I have enough money in the future, and I want to make sure I have safety in the future, or whatever it is, and you're projecting out, and you're living in the future, and you're worrying about the future, you're not living in the present, and it makes people kind of go crazy in the end, with anxiety, because we're not meant to be constantly worried about the Future. The only thing we can control is today and what we put into place for a better tomorrow, but fearing tomorrow and living in anxiety is so unhealthy for the human spirit,   Michael Hingson ** 33:13 and yet that's what people do, and it's one of the things we talk about and live like a guide dog. Worry about what you can control and don't worry about the rest. And you know, we spend so much time dealing with what if, what if this happens? What if that happens? And all that does, really is create fear in us, rather than us learning, okay, I don't really have control over that. I can be worried about the amount of money I have, but the real question is, what am I going to do about it today? And I know one of the lessons I really learned from my wife, Karen, we had some times when when we had significant debt for a variety of reasons, but like over the last few years of her life, we had enough of an income from speaking and the other things that I was doing that she worked really hard to pay down credit card bills that we had. And when she passed, most all of that was accomplished, and I was, I don't know whether she thought about it. She probably did, although she never got to the point of being able to deal with it, but one of the things that I quickly did was set up with every credit card company that we use paying off each bill each month, so we don't accrue credit, and so every credit card gets paid off, because now the expenses are pretty predictable, and so we won't be in that situation as long as I continue to allow things to get paid off every month and things like that. But she was the one that that put all that in motion, and it was something she took very, very seriously, trying to make sure. It. She brought everything down. She didn't really worry so much about the future. Is, what can I do today? And what is it that my goal is? Well, my goal is to get the cards paid off. I can do this much today and the next month. I can do this much today, which, which I thought was a great way and a very positive way to look at it. She was very methodical, but she wasn't panicky.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 35:24 Mm, hmm. No, I like that, because panic gets us nowhere. It just It ruins today and it doesn't help tomorrow, right? Same with regret, regret you can't undo yesterday, and living in regret, guilt, living in the past is just an unhealthy place to be as well, unless we're just taking the learnings and the nuggets from the past. That's the only reason we need the past is to learn from it. You   Michael Hingson ** 35:52 have to learn from it and then let it go, because it's not going to do any good to continue to dwell on it.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 35:57 Yeah, exactly.   Michael Hingson ** 36:00 Well, so you, you, you see so many things happening in this world. How do we deal with all of it, with all the trickiness and things that you're talking about?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 36:10 Do you like that word, tricky? I like it. That's a weird word.   Michael Hingson ** 36:14 Well, I think it's, it's a different word, but I like it, it, it's a word that I think, personally, becomes non confrontive, but accurate in its descriptions. It is tricky, but, you know, we can, we can describe things in so many ways, but it's better to do it in a way that isn't judgmental, because that evokes attitudes that we don't need to have.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 36:38 Yeah, if I use the word scary or terrible, or, I think those words are, yeah, just more anxiety provoking. Tricky can be tricky. Can be bad, tricky can be a challenge,   Michael Hingson ** 36:52 right? Like a puppy, unpredictable, or, you know, so many things, but it isn't, it isn't such a bad thing. I like that.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 37:03 How do we navigate a tricky world? Well, we we need to focus on today. We need to focus on the things that we can control today, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually, the five different arenas of our life and on any given day, we need to be paying attention to those arenas of our life and how are they doing. Are we healthy physically? Are we getting around and moving our bodies? Are we listening to our bodies and our bodies needs? Are we putting food into our bodies, and are we watching what we drink and consume that could be harming our bodies, and how does it make us feel? And are we getting enough sleep? I think sleep is a huge issue for a lot of people in these anxiety provoking times.   Michael Hingson ** 37:56 Well, I think, I think that's very accurate. The question is, how do we learn to do that? How do we teach ourselves?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 38:07 How do we learn to do all that   Michael Hingson ** 38:09 stuff? How do we how do we learn to deal with the things that come up, rather than letting them all threaten us and scare us?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 38:20 Oh, that's a big question. I think that well, the whole the five spheres, right? So if you're taking care of your physical health and you're making that a priority, and some people really struggle with that, and they need a buddy system, or they need professional helpers, right, like a coach or a trainer or a psychologist like me, or whatever it is that they need the extra supports in place, but the physical super important, the making sure that we are socially healthy and connectedness is more important than ever. Feeling connected to our tribe, whatever that is, our close friends. You know, whether we have family that we would consider friends, right? Who in our team is helpful to us and trusted allies, and if we can have the fingers of one hand with close people that we trust in our lives, that's that's great, right? It doesn't have to be 100 people, right? It can be a handful, over your lifetime of true allies to walk through this world together.   Michael Hingson ** 39:26 One of the things that I've talked about it a bit on this podcast, but I I love the the concept that I think I've come up with is I used to always say I'm my own worst critic, and I said that because I love to record, and I learned the value of recording speeches, even going back to when I worked at campus radio station at kuci in Irvine campus radio station, I would listen to my show, and I kind of forced all the On Air personalities. 90s to listen to their own shows by arranging for their shows to be recorded, because they wouldn't do it themselves. And then I sent recordings home with them and said, You've got to listen to this. You will be better for it. And they resisted it and resisted it, but when they did it, it was amazing how much they improved. But I as I recorded my talks, becoming a public speaker, and working through it, I kept saying, I record them because I'm my own worst critic. I'm going to pick on me harder than anyone else can. And it was only in the last couple of years because I heard a comment in something that I that I read actually, that said the only person who can really teach you anything is you. Other people can present information, they can give you data, but you are really the only one who can truly teach you. And I realized that it was better to say I'm my own best teacher than my own worst critic, because it changes the whole direction of my thought, but it also drops a lot of the fear of listening or doing the thing that I was my own worst critic   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 41:10 about. I love that, Michael. I think that's genius. I'm my own best teacher, not my own worst critic,   Michael Hingson ** 41:19 right? It's it's positive, it's also true, and it puts a whole different spin on it, because one of the things that we talk about and live like a guide dog a lot is that ultimately, and all the things that you say are very true, but ultimately, each of us has to take the time to synthesize and think about the challenges that we face, the problems that we faced. What happened today that didn't work well, and I don't use the word fail, because I think that also doesn't help the process. But rather, we expected something to happen. It didn't. It didn't go well. What do we do about it? And that ultimately, taking time at the end of every day, for example, to do self analysis helps a lot, and the result of that is that we learn, and we learn to listen to our own inner mind to help us with that   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 42:17 exactly, I think that self insight is missing in a lot of us, we're not taking the time to be still and to listen to the voice within and to listen to what we are thinking and feeling internally, because we're go, go, go, go, go, and then when we're sitting still, you know what we're doing, we're on our phones,   Michael Hingson ** 42:41 and That's why I say at the end of the day, when you're getting ready, you're in bed, you're falling asleep. Take the time. It doesn't take a long time to get your mind going down that road. And then, of course, a lot happens when you're asleep, because you think about it   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 43:01 exactly. And you know, I've got to say, however spirituality is defined, I think that that is a key element in conquering this level of anxiety in society. The anxiety in society needs to be conquered by a feeling of greater meaning and purpose and connectedness in the human race, because we're all one race, the human race, in the end of the day, and all these divisions and silos and what's happening with our great you know, next door neighbors to each other, the US and Canada. It's the way that Canada is being treated is not not good. It's not the way you would treat a neighbor and a beloved neighbor that's there for you. In the end of the day, there's fires in California. We're sending our best fire crews over. You know, World War One, where my grandpa thought and Vimy Ridge, Americans were struggling. British could not take Vimy. It was the Canadians that came and, you know, got Vimy and conquered the horrific situation there. But in the end, we're all allies, and we're all in it together. And it's a tricky, tricky world,   Michael Hingson ** 44:11 yeah, and it goes both ways. I mean, there's so many ways the United States has also helped. So you're not, yeah, you're not really in favor of Canada being the 51st state, huh?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 44:26 You know, no, yeah, I love America. I mean, I have a lot of great friends in America and people I adore, but I think Canada is its own unique entity, and the US has been a great ally in a lot of ways, and we're in it together, right, right? I mean, really in it together, and we need to stay as allies. And as soon as you start putting up a fence and throwing rocks over the fence to each other, it just creates such a feud and an unnecessary feud, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 44:55 Well, very much so. And it is so unfortunate to see. It happening. And as you said, I think you put it very well. It's all about we're friends and friends. Don't treat friends in this way. But that is, that is, unfortunately, what we're seeing. I know I've been looking, and I constantly look for speaking opportunities, home, and I've sent emails to some places in Canada, and a few people have been honest enough to say, you know, we love what you do. We love your story. But right now, with what's going on between the United States and Canada, we wouldn't dare bring you to Canada, and while perhaps I could help by speaking and easing some of that a little bit. I also appreciate what they're saying, and I've said that to them and say, I understand, but this too shall pass. And so please, let's stay in touch, but I understand. And you know, that's all one can do.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 46:01 Yeah, and it, it too shall pass. I mean, it's just all and then anxiety takes over and it gets in the way of logic. Michael Hingston would, hingson would be our best speaker for this option, but the optics of it might get us into trouble, and they just get all wound up about it. And I you know, in the end of the day this, this will pass, but it's very difficult time, and we need to say, Okay, we can't control what's going to happen with tariffs or next month or whatever, but we can control today. And, yeah, I just went on a walk by the river. It was beautiful, and it was just so fulfilling to my soul to be outside. And that's what I could control the day   Michael Hingson ** 46:41 that's right? And that walk by the river and that being outside and having a little bit of time to reflect has to help reduce fear and stress.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 46:54 It does it very much, does   Michael Hingson ** 46:58 and and isn't that something that that more people should do, even if you're working in the office all day, it would seem like it would be helpful for people to take at least some time to step away mentally and relax, which would help drop some of the fear and the stress that they face. Anyway,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 47:20 100% and I am at my office downtown today, and I can see the river right now from my window. And there's research evidence that when you can see water flowing and you can see trees, it really makes a difference to your mental health. So this office is very intentional for me, having the windows having the bright light very intentional.   Michael Hingson ** 47:44 I have a recording that I listen to every day for about 15 minutes, and it includes ocean sounds, and that is so soothing and just helps put so many things in perspective. Now it's not quite the same as sitting at the ocean and hearing the ocean sounds, but it's close enough that it works.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 48:06 That's beautiful. And you're going to come on to my podcast and we're going to talk a lot more about your story, and that'll be really great.   Michael Hingson ** 48:14 We're doing that in May.   48:16 Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 48:17 absolutely, and I'm looking forward to it. Well, how did you get involved in doing a podcast? What got you started down that road? Oh, your tricky podcast. Yeah.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 48:32 So I was running my company. So I have a company of psychologists in Canada, and we operate across the country, and we do two things really, really well. One is helping people navigate their careers at all ages and stages and make find fulfilling career directions. And then our other thing we do well is helping organizations, helping be healthier places to work, so building better leaders, helping create better cultures in organizations. So that's what we do, and we have. I've been running that for 16 years so my own firm, and at the same time, I always wanted a podcast, and it was 2020, and I said, Okay, I'm turning 45 years old. For my birthday gift to myself, I'm going to start a podcast. And I said, Does anyone else on the team want to co host, and we'll share the responsibilities of it, and we could even alternate hosting. No, no, no, no, no, no one else was interested, which is fine, I was interested. So I said, this is going to be, Dr Laura, then this podcast, I'm going to call it. Dr Laura, where work meets life. So the podcast is where work meets life, and then I'm Dr Laura, Canada's. Dr Laura,   Michael Hingson ** 49:41 yeah, I was gonna say there we've got lots of dr, Laura's at least two not to be   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 49:44 mixed up with your radio. One not to be mixed up completely different, right, in approach and style and values. And so I took on that started the podcast as the labor of love, and said, I'm going to talk about three. Three things, helping people thrive in their careers, helping people thrive in their lives, and helping organizations to thrive. And then, oh yeah, I'll throw in some episodes around advocating for a better world. And then the feedback I got was that's a lot of lanes to be in, Laura, right? That is a lot of lanes. And I said, Yeah, but the commonality is the intersection of work and life, and I want to have enough variety that it's stuff that I'm genuinely curious to learn, and it's guests that I'm curious to learn from, as well as my own musings on certain topics. And so that's what's happened. So it's it's 111 episodes in I just recorded 111 that's cool, yeah. So it's every two weeks, so it's not as often as some podcasts, but every episode is full of golden nuggets and wisdom, and it's been a journey and a labor of love. And I do it for the joy of it. I don't do it as a, you know, it's not really a business thing. It's led to great connections. But I don't do it to make money, and, in fact, it costs me money, but I do it to make a difference in the tricky world,   Michael Hingson ** 51:11 right? Well, but at the same time, you get to learn a lot. You get to meet people, and that's really what it's all about anyway.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 51:21 Oh, I've met some incredible people like you through doing it, Michael and like my mentor, Sy Wakeman, who wrote the book no ego that's behind me in my office, and who's just a prolific speaker and researcher on drama and ego in the workplace. And you know, I've, I've met gurus from around the world on different topics. It's been fabulous,   Michael Hingson ** 51:47 and that is so cool. Well, and you, you've written some books. Tell us about your books, and by the way, by the way, I would appreciate it if you would email me photos of book covers, because I want to put those in the show notes.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 52:03 Oh, okay, I'm going to start with my current book that it actually, I just submitted my manuscript the other day, and it's, it's about toxic bosses, and how we can navigate and exit and recover from a toxic boss. And I saw this as a huge problem in the last couple of years, across different workplaces, across different people, almost everyone I met either had experienced it or had a loved one experience a toxic boss. And so I said, What is a toxic boss? First of all, how is this defined, and what does the research say? Because I'm always looking at, well, what the research says? And wait a minute, there's not a lot of research in North America. I'm an adjunct professor of psychology. I have a team of students. I can do research on this. I'm going to get to the bottom of toxic bosses post pandemic. What? What are toxic bosses? What are the damage they're inflicting on people, how do they come across, and what do we do about it? And then, how do we heal and recover? Because it's a form of trauma. So that's what I've been heavily immersed in, heavily immersed in. And the book is going to really help a lot of humans. It really is. So that's my passion right now is that book and getting it out into the world in January 2026, it's going to be   Michael Hingson ** 53:27 published. What's it called? Do you have a title   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 53:30 yet? I do, but I'm not really okay title officially yet, because it's just being with my publisher and editor, and I just don't want to say it until actually, Michael, I have the cover so it's going through cover design. I have a US publisher, and it's going through cover design, and that's so important to me, the visual of this, and then I'll share the I'll do a cover reveal. Good for you, yeah, and this is important to me, and I think it's timely, and I really differentiate what's a difficult boss versus a toxic boss, because there's a lot of difficult bosses, but I don't want to mix up difficult from toxic, because I think we need to understand the difference, and we need to help difficult bosses become better. We need to help toxic bosses not to do their damage and organizations to deal with them. And it's just there's so many different legs to this project. I'll be doing it for years.   Michael Hingson ** 54:24 So what's the difference between difficult and toxic? Or can you talk about that?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 54:29 Yeah, I can talk about, I mean, some of the differences difficult bosses are frustrating, annoying. They can be poor communicators, bad delegators. They can even micromanage sometimes, and micromanagement is a common thing in new leaders, common issue. But the difference is that they the difficult boss doesn't cause psychological harm to you. They don't cause psychological and physical harm to you. They're not. Malicious in their intent. They're just kind of bumbling, right? They're just bumbling unintentionally. It's unintentional. The toxic boss is manipulative, dishonest, narcissistic. They can gaslight, they can abuse, they can harass, all these things that are intentional. Negative energy that inflicts psychological and or physical harm.   Michael Hingson ** 55:27 And I suspect you would say their actions are deliberate for the most part, for the most part, at   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 55:35 least, yeah. And that's a whole Yeah, yeah. I would say whether they're deliberate or not, it's the impact that matters. And the impact is deep psychological hurt and pain, which is, and we know the Psych and the body are related, and it often turns into physical. So my research participants, you know, lots of issues. There's there's research. Cardiovascular is impacted by toxic bosses. Your mental health is your your heart rate, your your digestion, your gut. I mean, all of it's connected. When you have a toxic Boss,   Michael Hingson ** 56:09 what usually creates a toxic boss? It has to come from somewhere   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 56:18 that stems back to childhood. Typically got it. And we get into a whole you know about childhood trauma, right? Big T trauma and little T trauma. Little T trauma are almost death by 1000 paper cuts. It's all the little traumas that you know you you went through, if they're unaddressed, if they're unaddressed, big T trauma is you were sexually assaulted, or you were physically abused, or you went through a war and you had to escape the war torn country, or those sorts of things I call big T and I've learned this from other researchers. Little Ts are like this. You know, maybe microaggressions, maybe being teased, maybe being you know, these things that add up over time and affect your self confidence. And if you don't deal with the little Ts, they can cause harm in adulthood as well. And so that's what, depending on what went on earlier, whether you dealt with that or not, can make you come across into adulthood as a narcissist, for example,   Michael Hingson ** 57:21 right? Well, you've written some other books also, haven't   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 57:25 you? Oh, yeah, so let's cheer this conversation up. I wrote two psychological thrillers. I am mad. I have an active imagination. I thought, what if someone got kidnapped by a billionaire, multi billionaire ex boyfriend who was your high school sweetheart, but it was 10 years later, and they created a perfect life for you, a perfect life for you, in a perfect world for you. What would that be like? So it's all about navigating that situation. So I have a strong female protagonist, so it's called losing cadence. And then I wrote a sequel, because my readers loved it so much, and it ended on a Hollywood cliffhanger. So then I wrote the sequel that takes place 12 years later, and I have a producing partner in in Hollywood, and we're pitching it for a TV series filmed as a three season, three seasons of episodes, and potentially more, because it's a really interesting story that has you at the edge of your seat at every episode.   Michael Hingson ** 58:28 Have those books been converted to audio? Also?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 58:33 No, no, I never converted them to audio. But I should. I should.   Michael Hingson ** 58:37 You should, you should. Did you publish them? Or did you have a publisher? I   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 58:41 published these ones. Yeah, a decade ago, a decade ago,   Michael Hingson ** 58:45 it has gotten easier, apparently, to make books available on Audible, whether you read them or you get somebody else to do it, the process isn't what it used to be. So might be something to look at. That'd be kind of fun.   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 59:00 I think so. And I'll be doing that for my toxic boss book. Anyway, Michael, so I'm going to learn the ropes, and then I could do it for losing cadence and finding Sophie,   Michael Hingson ** 59:09 you'd find probably a lot of interested people who would love to have them in audio, because people running around, jogging and all that, love to listen to things, and they listen to podcasts, yours and mine. But I think also audio books are one way that people get entertained when they're doing other things. So yeah, I advocate for it. And of course, all of us who are blind would love it as well. Of   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 59:34 course, of course, I just it's on my mind. It's and I'm going to manifest doing that at some point.   Michael Hingson ** 59:41 Well, I want to thank you for being here. This has been absolutely a heck of a lot of fun, and we'll have to do it again. We'll do it in May, and we may just have to have a second episode going forward. We'll see how it goes. But I'm looking forward to being on the your podcast in May, and definitely send me a. The book covers for the the two books that you have out, because I'd like to make sure that we put those in the show notes for the podcast. But if people want to reach out to you, learn more about you, maybe learn what you do and see how you can work with them. How do they do that?   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 1:00:14 Sure, that's a great question. So triple w.dr, Laura all is one word, D R, L, A, u, r, a, dot live. So Dr, Laura dot live is my website, and then you'll find where work meets life on all the podcast platforms. You'll find me a lot on LinkedIn as Dr Laura Hambley, love it, so I love LinkedIn, but I'm also on all the platforms, and I just love connecting with people. I share a lot of videos and audio and articles, and I'm always producing things that I think will help people and help organizations.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:52 Well, cool. Well, I hope people will reach out. And speaking of reaching out, I'd love to hear what you all think of our episode today. So please feel free to email me at Michael H I M, I C H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S i b, e.com, or go to our podcast page, which is w, w, w, dot Michael hingson.com/podcast and Michael hingson is m, I C H, A, E, L, H i N, G, s o n.com/podcast, wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We value that. If you don't give us a five star rating, I won't tell Alamo, my guy dog, and so you'll be safe. But we really do appreciate you giving us great ratings. We'd love to hear your thoughts. If any of you know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on our podcast, or if you want to be a guest, and of course, Laura, if you know some folks, we are always looking for more people to come on unstoppable mindset. So please feel free to let me know about that. Introduce us. We're always looking for more people and more interesting stories to tell. So we hope that that you'll do that. But I want to thank but I want to thank you again for coming on today. This has been fun,   Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett ** 1:02:07 definitely, and I really admire you, Michael, and I can't wait to have you on where work meets life.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:02:18 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi's impact in the field of glycosylation has been profound, enabling on our current understanding of disease and inflammation presentation and potential vehicles for treatment. Dr. Bertozzi was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2024 for the development of biorthogonal chemistry, and she explains how this understanding can impact disease treatment. 

In this episode, Chef Adrianne Calvo joins Alex Quin to discuss her rise from an accidental high school cooking class to becoming a celebrated chef, restaurateur, author of seven cookbooks, and culinary ambassador for St. Jude. Chef Adrianne shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path, including her appearance on Montel Williams, her early passion for journalism, and her sharp business acumen that's helped sustain her independent restaurant for over 18 years. Tune in for a conversation full of insight on branding, resilience, and using your craft with purpose.Episode Outline[00:00:03] Alex welcomes Chef Adrianne and highlights her achievements.[00:03:45] A class mistake led her to culinary arts.[00:06:20] Her first book at 19 and national TV debut.[00:13:30] Competitions, flavor focus, and early hustle.[00:21:10] 18 years in business and leading with a team.[00:34:10] Work with St. Jude, kindness, and long-term impact.Wisdom NuggetsAccidents Can Be Opportunities: What seemed like a class schedule error in high school introduced Chef Adrianne to culinary arts. Embrace unexpected changes—they might lead to your true calling.Build With Purpose, Not Just Hype: Chef Adrianne emphasizes that her brand is rooted in authenticity and service, not trends. She built her empire by staying grounded, creative, and consistent.Storytelling is Strategic: From social content to books, Chef Adrianne shows how chefs can transform their stories into strong personal brands. Passion plus storytelling equals connection.Invest in People, Not Just Processes: Chef Adrianne's success is also a product of training and retaining loyal staff. One skilled person is more valuable than three under-trained ones.Patience Pays Off: Success didn't come overnight—seven books, 18 years of restaurant growth, and national recognition came from years of consistency, learning, and community service.Power Quotes:"I do think that God has really held me in the palm of his hand.” - Chef Adrianne Calvo“Nothing replaces word-of-mouth. That's still king." - Chef Adrianne CalvoConnect With Chef Adrianne :Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/chefadrianne)Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefadrianne/)Restaurant (https://chefadriannes.com/)Personal Site (https://adriannecalvo.com/)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Founder Mindset vs. Entrepreneur Mindset: "If you have that founder mindset that you could make that step from entrepreneur to founder, you are. You are now taking that mindset that you're betting on yourself and you have the ability to do it."- Steve GellyWe sit down with Steve Gelley—entrepreneur, CEO of Blueprint Ventures, managing partner of multiple ventures, and host of the Next Exit podcast. Steve shares his journey from a rebellious student on Long Island to a business leader known for building, scaling, and successfully exiting companies.Listen in as Steve opens up about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, including the lessons learned from getting fired and even being kicked out of school, the importance of embracing risk, and the value of building the right team. He offers a candid look at the challenges founders face as they transition from doers to leaders and reveals what it really takes to scale a business in today's market. Steve's passion for empowering other entrepreneurs comes through as he discusses his approach to investing in startups, fostering resourcefulness, and building a culture that helps both businesses and people thrive.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an established founder looking to take your business to the next level, you'll find plenty of wisdom and actionable insights in this conversation with Steve Gelley.Key Moments00:00 Serial Entrepreneur and Growth Strategist05:40 Unfair School Enrollment Practices07:49 College Choice with Average GPA09:42 First Job Lessons at Hardee's15:23 Momentum's Critical Role in Business16:33 Learning from Business Mistakes21:02 "Turning Founders into CEOs"23:04 "Assessing Risk-Taking in Business"26:25 "Ensuring Cultural Fit in Hiring"29:52 Funding and Resource Allocation Model35:13 Effective Team Building for Entrepreneurs38:41 Age vs. Experience in Leadership40:55 Branding's Role in Successful Hiring45:11 Unmasking Startup Myths48:27 Team-Building as Superpower51:02 Elevating Others Through OpportunityThis episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.Here are 3 key takeaways for fellow entrepreneurs:1. Embrace calculated risk and take decisive action.Steve stressed that making decisions—fast and fearlessly—is what separates the successful founders from those who stay stuck. "We'd rather you make five wrong decisions than not make any at all!”2. Build a team that balances your weaknesses.The magic happens when you stop hiring people just because you “like” them and start hiring for complementary strengths—especially detail-orientation and operational excellence if you're a high-vision founder.3. Fractional resources can accelerate growth (without breaking the bank).You don't need to hire every expert full-time. Steve's model leverages fractionalizing high-level talent, which gives startups access to top-tier strategy and execution while maintaining lean operations.Running a business doesn't have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it's easy to be so busy ‘doing' business that you don't have the right strategy to grow your...

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin talks with Chris Mirabile, founder of Novos, a company using science from Harvard and MIT to help people live longer and healthier lives. After surviving a brain tumor at 16, Chris committed to mastering health and aging, eventually becoming biologically 13.6 years younger than his chronological age. He shares low-cost lifestyle strategies like fasting, clean eating, consistent sleep, and moderate exercise, as well as advanced tools like Novos supplements and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Chris also cautions against trendy, untested biohacks and stresses the importance of prioritizing fundamentals. His goal: to add over a billion years of healthy life to humanity.Episode Outline[00:00:00] Introduction of Chris Mirabile and Novos [00:03:00] Chris's brain tumor diagnosis and recovery journey [00:08:00] Impact of health struggles on self-esteem and mindset [00:12:00] Realizing aging is modifiable through lifestyle [00:15:30] Creating Novos and the science behind it [00:20:00] How lifestyle affects 70–90% of lifespan [00:24:30] Low-cost health tips: fasting, diet, activity, sleep [00:34:00] Higher-cost biohacks: Eight Sleep, supplements, hyperbaric chambers [00:40:00] Novos Core, Boost, and Vital explained [00:48:30] Risks of trendy health fads: grounding and peptide injections [00:55:00] Chris's vision: a billion years of healthy life for humanity [00:58:00] Final thoughts and where to follow Chris and NovosWisdom NuggetsLifestyle Over Genetics: You Have More Control Than You Think : Up to 90% of your lifespan is influenced by how you live—not your DNA. Chris emphasizes that the power to extend your healthspan is mostly in your hands.Build the Foundation First: Health Before Hacks : Chris stresses mastering sleep, diet, movement, and mindset before jumping into expensive tools or supplements. The basics drive the biggest results.Don't Fear Aging—Understand It : Aging is not a random process. It's driven by 12 known biological mechanisms, which you can slow with proper interventions backed by real science.Intentional Living: Reframe Hardship Into Purpose : Chris turned a brain tumor and his mother's cancer into fuel for building a health-driven company with a mission to help others live better, longer lives.Be Cautious with Health Trends : Not everything hyped in the wellness world is safe. Chris breaks down the importance of risk vs. benefit and why skepticism is healthy when it comes to biohacks.Power Quotes:""People have normalized feeling like shit.” - Alex Quin"Your body is the most advanced computer ever made." - Chris MirabileConnect With Chris :Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/slowmyage/)Novos Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/novoslabs)Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iandeloney/)Website (slowmyage.com)Company: (novoslabs.com)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From cutting hair in his basement to building barbershops, colleges, and launching a credit union, Larry E. Roberts Jr. shares how grit, vision, and community-first leadership transformed his career—and how barbers and stylists can build sustainable wealth and impact too.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Every now and then you meet someone and you're blown away by their energy... introducing serial entrepreneur Bridget Long.From Paris to India, with a gripping story of personal and business challenges and success, Bridget takes us through her story and ambitions for future growth.Going forward, Stories of Success will continue to look at personal development, but also explore the back stories of respected visionaries, entrepreneurs and leading lights in the business, music, arts and entertainment industries.Want to join us and tell your story? Find me on LinkedIn... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if every detour in your life was actually a divine redirection toward your greatest purpose? In this bold and beautiful conversation, I sit down with the multitalented Filipina powerhouse Chezka Gonzales—pilot, nurse, military sergeant, blockchain entrepreneur, and co-founder of Michael Cinco Auto Artistry. Her story reads like a Netflix series: teen mom at 16, nurse by 21, pilot by 25, and serial entrepreneur by 30—she's done it all and then some.Chezka's journey is a living masterclass in reinvention, feminine leadership, and divine trust. We talk about navigating loss, leaning into intuition, embracing your “multi-passionate” identity, and how to boldly enter rooms you don't feel ready for. Whether you're pivoting careers, recovering from a life quake, or feeling stuck in one identity—this episode is your permission slip to start messy, dream big, and move anyway.What you'll get out of this episode… How Chezka transformed teen motherhood into a launchpad for epic impact.What happens when you follow divine breadcrumbs instead of fixed life plans?Why your next chapter might live inside your biggest breakdown or career detour.How to stop letting labels define you—and start embracing your multifaceted self.What Chezka learned about intuition, feminine energy, and taking bold action—even when you're scared.Connect with ChezkaIG / @filipinapilotchezkaYT/ @FilipinaPilotChezka Want more?

Welcome to today's episode of WTR, where we explore the depths of conscious living and what it truly means to live an expanded life. Join us to be inspired, encouraged, transformed and to experience a deep sense of joy and possibility. Today is something different. Higher education may be one of the last holdouts to embrace the explosion of change that has impacted, well, almost everything.  If you are a visionary, and especially a divergent thinker, my guest today has brought a brilliant new idea into being that will impact how you think about education, and more importantly, your future.Sam Tarell is a Serial Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker and the Founder of Divergent U. Divergent U is a revolutionary one-year alternative to college in Orlando, Florida for creative thinkers and entrepreneurs. Sam has personally helped hundreds of purpose driven entrepreneurs build 6-7 figure businesses and has served over 10,000 clients across all his businesses. Find Sam Tarell at www.divergent-u.com  ww.instagram.com/divergent_universityFind Laurie Seymour at https://thebacainstitute.com/ .Follow Wisdom Talk Radio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisdomtalkradio Subscribe on Apple.Want to reach out to me? You can email me directly at laurie@thebacainstitute.com If you are enjoying our show and you'd like to spread the love, please subscribe, download, comment, and tell your friends and family about us. We want to thank you for your continued support. We really appreciate it! Find more episodes of Wisdom Talk Radio HERE Discover your Quantum Connection Style! (QUIZ)The first step to mastering your Quantum Connection is to know your natural style of being in the world.We are each designed to connect with Source differently. Knowing your style, with both your superpowers and your learning edge, is the first step of aligning with your inner guidance at a deeper level than you ever thought you could. It's the doorway to creating what you truly want in your life.Click here to take the quiz now: Quantum Connection QuizSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wisdom-talk-radio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin sits down with freelance graphic designer Ian Deloney to talk about his shift from working at Iconic to building his own design business. They explore the importance of combining creativity with solid business practices, the challenges of freelancing, and the power of long-term relationship building. Ian shares insights on client management, staying organized, and what it really takes to work with top-tier brands like Jägermeister and Target. This conversation offers valuable lessons for creatives who want to move beyond talent and build a sustainable, professional business.Episode Outline [00:00:00] Intro by Alex Quin – Introducing Ian Deloney [00:01:30] Catching up: Last meeting, shoutouts, mutual connections [00:03:45] Ian's exit from Iconic, launching his freelance design business [00:06:10] Ian's background in photography and creative roots [00:10:30] Transitioning from hobby to career: Finding the right major [00:13:00] The role of business knowledge in Ian's creative work [00:16:00] Alex's experience with content creation and its value in advertising [00:19:30] Ian's proudest recent projects: Jägermeister, SEEK, Kids Super [00:25:00] The impact of seeing work in real-life spaces like Target and billboards [00:28:00] The challenge of freelancing and staying flexible [00:31:45] The importance of relationship building over time [00:35:15] Client needs vs. creative vision: Putting ego aside [00:38:20] Key lessons from running your own business [00:42:00] Building infrastructure before going solo [00:47:00] Post-payment process: Staying organized and professional [00:51:10] Being dependable, not just talented [00:55:30] Common pitfalls among creatives [01:00:20] Final advice and mindset shift for freelancers [01:03:15] Ian's social handles and closing thoughtsWisdom NuggetsTalent Isn't Enough: Business Skills Matter : Many creatives over-focus on their art and neglect the importance of being organized and professional. Running a freelance business successfully requires business sense, clear communication, and client understanding—more than just good design.Don't Wait—Plant Seeds Early : Ian emphasizes that most of his current success comes from relationships and efforts made years ago. Creatives should build connections before they need them, not when they're desperate for work.Systems Before Sales: Prep for What Happens After 'Yes' : Freelancers often focus on winning projects but overlook what comes next. Having onboarding systems, case studies, and pitch materials ready improves credibility and client trust.Ego Kills Collaboration : Letting go of creative ego is key. Just because it's your favorite design doesn't mean it's right for the client. The best creatives learn to listen, adapt, and prioritize results over personal preference.Be a Joy to Work With : Reliability, speed, and professionalism can set you apart more than creativity alone. Clients want someone who respects their time, delivers on promises, and makes the process smooth.Power Quotes:"Case studies—even the small ones—are gold.” - Alex Quin"You have to be able to put your ego aside and do what's best for the client.” - Ian DeloneyConnect With Ian :Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/iandeloney/)Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iandeloney/)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Tout le monde peut être fondateur"Vidéo disponibleJe reçois Marc Laurent, cofondateur de Kerala Ventures, et actuel cofondateur et CEO de Carbonfact : une startup qui permet d'évaluer l'empreinte carbone des produits de l'industrie textile.Ancien investisseur en startup et aujourd'hui (serial) entrepreneurial, Marc me raconte son quotidien d'entrepreneur : naviguer entre ambition, incertitude et quête de sens en transformant l'industrie de la mode.On parle du métier de CEO et le rôle de fondateur, ses débuts à 25 ans en capital-risque chez Kerala Ventures (fonds cofondé avec son ancien boss Antoine Freysz, alors qu'il n'avait que 25 ans), cette frontière floue entre fondateur et dirigeant, son passage au célèbre incubateur Y Combinator, et surtout le saut dans le vide émotionnel qui accompagne l'entrepreneuriat.On parle de confiance, d'itération, d'entourage, et de ce fameux équilibre vie pro/perso si souvent idéalisé.Il nous montre aussi comment Carbonfact va bien au-delà du greenwashing pour aider concrètement les entreprises à mesurer et réduire leur impact environnemental.Bonne écoute !

Are you building wealth... or just playing the hustle game on hard mode?Let's get real—between inflation, AI, and market mayhem, it's easy to feel like you're hustling just to stay afloat.But what if you could thrive in this chaos—and future-proof your biz in the process?That's what we unpack in this exclusive guest guru training inside The Happy Hustle Club—my private mastermind community for purpose-driven entrepreneurs. This one was so packed with gold that I had to share it publicly on The Happy Hustle Podcast.I sat down with my buddy Rob Luna—wealth strategist to the ultra-successful, media financial expert, and real-deal entrepreneur. We broke down how to grow your money, your business, and your freedom in this wild economy.Rob's insights are next level—and he doesn't just talk the talk. He's helped countless entrepreneurs go from financial chaos to clarity. In this convo, he spills the tea on everything from tariffs and investing, to AI's impact on the game, to building sustainable portfolios and planning your ideal exit.Rob talked about how AI is changing the way we do business—and why adaptability is non-negotiable if you want to thrive in the future. He laid it out clearly: AI won't replace you, but someone using AI better than you definitely could. But here's the kicker—while everyone's out here automating everything, the people who lead with empathy, creativity, and human connection are gonna be the ones who win big.Rob also dropped serious gems on how to build a sustainable portfolio. Not the kind of shiny stuff you see influencers posting about—but a real plan that aligns with your goals, values, and lifestyle. Because let's be real, if your financial strategy isn't supporting your happiness, what's the point?One of my favorite moments? When Rob broke down the difference between growing a business and building wealth. Most entrepreneurs are great at the first one—but never learn the second. And without a clear exit strategy, you're just building yourself a job. We also touched on financial literacy—something too many entrepreneurs ignore until it's too late. If you don't know your numbers, your business owns you. Plain and simple. Rob explained how understanding your cash flow, risk tolerance, and freedom number can change your life. Because the goal isn't just to work less—it's to live more.This convo was filled with truth bombs, mindset shifts, and practical steps you can take right now to level up. Whether you're just starting out or already crushing it, Rob's wisdom will challenge you to think bigger, act smarter, and stay aligned with your mission.So if you're ready to stop playing small, take control of your financial future, and adapt to the changes coming fast—hit play on this episode now. You'll learn how to invest wisely, protect your energy, prep for a smart exit, and most importantly, build wealth without burning out.Connect with Robhttps://www.instagram.com/thelunarobhttps://www.youtube.com/lunarobhttps://twitter.com/thelunarobFind Rob on these websites: https://robluna.com/ closeyourwealthgap.comConnect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featured Get a free copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Coursehttps://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventurehttps://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsors:If you're feeling stressed, not sleeping great, or your energy's been kinda meh lately—let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer for me: Magnesium Breakthrough by BiOptimizers. This ain't your average magnesium—it's got all 7 essential forms that your body actually needs to chill out, sleep deeper, and feel more balanced. I take it every night and legit notice the difference the next day. No more waking up groggy or tossing and turning all nightIf you're ready to sleep like a baby, calm your nervous system, and optimize your recovery, go grab yours now at bioptimizers.com/happy and use code HAPPY10 for 10% OFF.99 Designs- Need a killer logo, stunning website, or next-level brand design?Stop DIY-ing and start delegating like a boss with 99designs by Vista! Neurable- If you're looking to level up your focus, productivity, and mental wellbeing all at once, do yourself a favor and check out Neurable. You get a special hookup—just use the code HAPPY at checkout and get $100 off.

A DTB Re-Release! Business Coach and Serial Entrepreneur - Lynn Gibson on DTB Podcast! Find out more: www.beyondoneman.com ===== THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Vascular Institute of Chattanooga: https://www.vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com/ The Barn Nursery: https://www.barnnursery.com/ Optimize U Chattanooga: https://optimizeunow.com/chattanooga/ Guardian Investment Advisors: https://giaplantoday.com/ Alchemy Medspa and Wellness Center: http://www.alchemychattanooga.com/ Our House Studio: https://ourhousestudiosinc.com/ ALL THINGS JEFF STYLES: www.thejeffstyles.com PART OF THE NOOGA PODCAST NETWORK: www.noogapodcasts.com Please consider leaving us a review on Apple and giving us a share to your friends! This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

In this episode of Two Black Guys with Good Credit, Shaun goes one-on-one with longtime friend and serial entrepreneur Javil Nickle. Javil shares insights about his printing business, his Jamaican resort initiative, and his amazing sea moss juice.POD up, people—you don't want to miss this episode!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/2bg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin unpacks the fast-growing cultural trend of alcohol-free events and wellness-based social experiences. From Miami's "Coffee and Chill" to Charlotte's "Chile Coffee Club," Alex highlights how intentional communities are forming around wellness, connection, and authentic living. He also covers brands like Breeze that are innovating in the beverage space, creating products for those who seek balance and clarity without sacrificing their social life.Episode Outline[00:00:00] Alex Quin introduces the podcast and today's topic: alcohol-free events and wellness-based experiences.[00:00:25] Miami's "Coffee and Chill" event: cold plunges, adaptogenic drinks, and exclusive waitlist access.[00:01:10] Charlotte's "Chile Coffee Club": house music, coffee, and wellness without the hangover.[00:01:50] Breeze and other functional beverage brands offering non-alcoholic, mushroom-infused drinks.[00:02:30] The real insight: people want energy, clarity, and meaningful community—not just parties.[00:03:00] Brands building tribes through curated experiences and functional products.[00:03:40] Closing thoughts: encouragement to align with healthy habits and an invitation to share the podcast.Wisdom NuggetsExclusivity Drives Demand: Creating a waitlist or invite-only event builds excitement and loyalty. It's not just about throwing an event—it's about offering a rare opportunity to connect.Energy Over Escape: More people want to feel energized and focused after a social gathering, not drained or foggy. Designing experiences that prioritize wellness meets this rising demand.Product as Lifestyle: Brands like Breeze aren't just selling a drink—they're selling a way of life. Building a product around a community's core values makes it stick.Community Beats Crowds: Smart brands focus on building tight-knit tribes rather than chasing mass followings. A strong community creates deeper loyalty and organic growth.Authenticity Wins: In today's wellness-focused world, fake doesn't fly. Brands and events that are true to their mission are the ones earning trust—and business.Power Quotes:"Functional beverages are creating a whole new category of social experience." - Alex Quin"Wellness-focused events are changing the way we think about socializing." - Alex Quin"The hangover-free lifestyle is becoming the new normal. - Alex QuinConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of HR Like a Boss, John Bernatovicz chats with Mike Stafiej, founder of Erin, an employee referral platform. Mike dives into the evolving world of talent acquisition, highlighting the power of employee referrals and the growing impact of automation in HR.From the shifting pace of hiring decisions to the importance of maintaining human connection in an increasingly tech-driven landscape, Mike offers a grounded perspective on where HR is heading. Whether you're rethinking your hiring strategy or exploring new HR tech, this episode is packed with insights for HR pros looking to innovate without losing what matters most—people.ABOUT MIKEMike Stafiej is the founder and CEO of ERIN, a Pittsburgh-based SaaS startup that streamlines employee referrals for enterprise businesses around the world. ERIN is a strategic recruiting tool for hundreds of businesses with over 3 million employees, in over 100 countries, and has automated over half a billion dollars in referral bonuses. . Mike is a Serial Entrepreneur with a Master's degree in I.T. Project Management from Robert Morris University and has over 15 years of experience in successful SaaS startups.

In this episode, Alex Quin highlights a massive shift impacting digital marketing and business strategy: the global rollout of Google's AI Overviews. Initially tested as the Search Generative Experience, this AI feature now delivers summarized search results, drastically altering consumer behavior and brand visibility online. Alex explains how traditional SEO and SEM rules are rapidly changing, why businesses must adapt their content strategies, and how AI-driven search is shaping purchasing decisions. If your brand isn't optimizing for AI, it risks losing market share to competitors who are.Episode Outline[00:00] Introduction to AI Overviews and the future of search[01:00] How AI summaries are changing SEO and user behavior[02:00] The impact on organic traffic and traditional ranking goals[03:00] Adapting your content and paid strategies for AI search[04:00] Final thoughts: embrace AI or risk fading out of searchWisdom NuggetsAdapt or Fade: AI summaries are transforming search behavior. Brands that don't adjust their content and advertising strategies will quickly lose relevance.Structure is Power: Content needs clear structure and authority for AI to easily summarize it. Success online will depend on how easily AI can pull from your material.Immediate Value Wins: Consumers expect fast, trusted insights. If your brand doesn't deliver immediate value, you'll lose them before they ever click through.New Metrics, New Game: Success isn't just about ranking #1 anymore. It's about being featured or referenced by AI Overviews.Future-Proof Marketing: Optimizing for AI now builds a long-term advantage. Waiting means playing catch-up while competitors solidify their presence.Power Quotes:"People are making decisions straight from AI summaries." - Alex Quin"Content needs to be something an AI can easily parse and summarize." - Alex Quin"Are you building with AI in mind?" - Alex QuinConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serial entrepreneur Neena Pandey reveals transformative strategies for breaking free from corporate constraints to build multiple successful ventures. From Silicon Valley marketing executive to 3x founder with businesses generating seven-figure revenues, this Forbes author shares her authentic journey of pivoting between industries. Discover how Neena leveraged mindset shifts to scale both B2B and B2C businesses while managing burnout. You'll learn: tactical approaches for creating self-running systems, the unexpected truth about "work-life balance," and powerful journaling techniques that drive business growth. Neena candidly discusses her String Code and Indie Roots ventures, offering invaluable entrepreneurship advice on when to persevere through challenges versus when to pivot.  Perfect for aspiring business owners seeking actionable marketing and business growth strategies. Listen now for real-world guidance from a female serial entrepreneur who transformed setbacks into multi-venture success.

Today we sat down with serial entrepreneur Janakan to discuss work life balance, raising kids in a tech obsessed world and what his advice is for families going forward!

Ken Gavranovic, the Serial Entrepreneur and Board Member of Product Genius, joins the show to share his journey from growing up poor to leading several exits. Hear the 80's movie that rocked his world, how to lead your company toward IPO, how to best spend your time as an entrepreneur, how to start a business in the AI space, and how improv helps you as a business owner. Connect with Ken at KenGavranovic.com, ProductGenius.Guru, and on LinkedIn

In today's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by Nicky Goulimis and Nico Barawid, the Founders of early-stage FinTech Tunic Pay, the only fraud vendor designed specifically for scams. Prior to building Tunic Pay, Nicky scaled Nova Credit, the credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly by harnessing alternative credit data. And Nico built Casai, which was Latin America's largest short-term rental operator.  With so much experience in building successful FinTech ventures, this episode is a great listen for anyone thinking about starting a FinTech, or for anyone currently in the thick of scaling. 

Ever wondered why the idea of working for someone else just never quite fit, or why chaos seems to call your name (and you answer with gusto)? If you're an entrepreneur who's found yourself drawn to the thrill of building your own path—and maybe even stumbled more than a few times along the way—you are going to love this week's guest interview. I recently sat down with Dr. Michael A. Freeman, an acclaimed psychiatrist, professor, and serial entrepreneur whose groundbreaking research uncovers the fascinating relationship between ADHD, bipolar spectrum conditions, and the entrepreneurial drive. In this lively conversation, we get real about what makes entrepreneurs with ADHD different—and what it takes to turn those differences into undeniable strengths instead of exhausting liabilities. Here's what you'll hear in this episode:Why do so many entrepreneurs have ADHD tendenciesDr. Freeman breaks down fascinating research on why we're more likely to go solo in our careers—and why we struggle in traditional workplaces.The double-edged sword of the ADHD entrepreneurial brainWe chat about superpowers and vulnerabilities, with a big emphasis on how to recognize your “zone of genius” (and when to call in backup!).Building your own ADHD-friendly toolkit for sustainable successFrom teams and routines, to handling sleep and “offloading the boring stuff,” we talk actionable strategies (yes, including coaching and medication).The myth vs. reality of the entrepreneurial lifeSpoiler: it isn't all glamor and “get rich quick”—and Dr. Freeman shares why radical self-awareness and resilience are must-haves.Why fun is non-negotiable for the entrepreneur with ADHDTurns out, fun isn't just a bonus—it's the main event for the ADHD brain, and Dr. Freeman explains how to keep your business (and life) playfully sustainable.Make it actionable: Take three minutes to reflect: what feels fun, energizing, or “flow-y” in your own work? What support do you need more of?Feeling inspired to start, pivot, or quit? Get a “personal board of directors” before you make big decisions or take big risks.Get to know Michael Freeman, MD Michael A. Freeman, MD, is a clinical professor at UCSF School of Medicine, a researcher and mentor at the UCSF Entrepreneurship Center, a psychiatrist and executive coach for entrepreneurs, and an integrated behavioral healthcare systems consultant. His current research focuses on the identification of emotional overwhelm with early intervention and support. Dr. Freeman's thought leadership on entrepreneurship and mental health has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall St. Journal, Fortune Magazine, Inc., Entrepreneur, CNN Money, Financial Times, and Bloomberg News.Mentioned in this episode:UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, the Gallup Organization Connect with Michael A Freeman, MDWebsite - LinkedIn

If you had to choose today, would you shrink to fit or rise to lead?In this empowering episode, Jackie sits down with tech powerhouse Nikki Barua to explore the game-changing impact of AI, the immigrant hustle, and the power of representation. Nikkie is a Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Keynote Speaker, and the interim CEO of Latinas in Tech. From growing up in India with a collage of powerful women (with her face at the center!) to becoming a Tech and Innovation Global Leader, Nikki shares how belief, vision, and relentless drive helped her break glass ceilings—and how she's now helping others do the same.Tune in to Episode 230 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, and learn why Latinas must have a seat at the table in AI's revolution. Nikki demystifies AI, offers a blueprint for getting started, and explains why now is the time to lead, not to retreat.Episode Takeaways:How a homemade collage of powerful women shaped Nikki's belief in herself (3:10)Making elephants run. What does that mean in business and innovation (8:50)How AI is transforming every industry, and why Latinas must get involved now (9:40)The #1 mindset shift to stop fearing AI and start using it to magnify your brilliance (12:00)Why dreaming bigger is the first radical act of empowerment (21:00)What AI can never replace—and how to tap into your superpowers (23:20)The ultimate key to handling your shit: Live life on your terms (25:40)You don't need to be an engineer to thrive in tech (28:00)Connect with Nikki Barua:XInstagramLinkedInLatinas in Tech Summit 2025: InstagramXLinkedInFacebookYoutubeTikTokClick here to get 50% off using the code: AHYS-AA-10** Click the link. Select “All access tickets.” And enter the codeLet's Connect!WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInJackie Tapia Arbonne websiteBuy The Amiga Way's Book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered why the idea of working for someone else just never quite fit, or why chaos seems to call your name (and you answer with gusto)? If you're an entrepreneur who's found yourself drawn to the thrill of building your own path—and maybe even stumbled more than a few times along the way—you are going to love this week's guest interview. I recently sat down with Dr. Michael A. Freeman, an acclaimed psychiatrist, professor, and serial entrepreneur whose groundbreaking research uncovers the fascinating relationship between ADHD, bipolar spectrum conditions, and the entrepreneurial drive. In this lively conversation, we get real about what makes entrepreneurs with ADHD different—and what it takes to turn those differences into undeniable strengths instead of exhausting liabilities. Here's what you'll hear in this episode:Why do so many entrepreneurs have ADHD tendenciesDr. Freeman breaks down fascinating research on why we're more likely to go solo in our careers—and why we struggle in traditional workplaces.The double-edged sword of the ADHD entrepreneurial brainWe chat about superpowers and vulnerabilities, with a big emphasis on how to recognize your “zone of genius” (and when to call in backup!).Building your own ADHD-friendly toolkit for sustainable successFrom teams and routines, to handling sleep and “offloading the boring stuff,” we talk actionable strategies (yes, including coaching and medication).The myth vs. reality of the entrepreneurial lifeSpoiler: it isn't all glamor and “get rich quick”—and Dr. Freeman shares why radical self-awareness and resilience are must-haves.Why fun is non-negotiable for the entrepreneur with ADHDTurns out, fun isn't just a bonus—it's the main event for the ADHD brain, and Dr. Freeman explains how to keep your business (and life) playfully sustainable.Make it actionable: Take three minutes to reflect: what feels fun, energizing, or “flow-y” in your own work? What support do you need more of?Feeling inspired to start, pivot, or quit? Get a “personal board of directors” before you make big decisions or take big risks.Get to know Michael Freeman, MD Michael A. Freeman, MD, is a clinical professor at UCSF School of Medicine, a researcher and mentor at the UCSF Entrepreneurship Center, a psychiatrist and executive coach for entrepreneurs, and an integrated behavioral healthcare systems consultant. His current research focuses on the identification of emotional overwhelm with early intervention and support. Dr. Freeman's thought leadership on entrepreneurship and mental health has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall St. Journal, Fortune Magazine, Inc., Entrepreneur, CNN Money, Financial Times, and Bloomberg News.Mentioned in this episode:UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, the Gallup Organization Connect with Michael A Freeman, MDWebsite - LinkedIn

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstorySimon Squibb is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose book What's Your Dream? distills over 30 years of business experience into a concise 2 hour 26 minute guide for aspiring entrepreneurs. As founder of HelpBnk.com, he launched his first venture at age 15 while homeless and later sold his digital agency, Fluid, to PwC in a multimillion-pound transaction. Renowned for his viral London “staircase doorbell” stunt, he's on a mission to empower 10 million people to kickstart their own businesses through his #GiveWithoutTake street interviews. His message reaches over 14 million followers across social platforms—including 6.8 million TikTok fans with 179 million total likes—making him one of the most influential voices in modern entrepreneurship.➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/simonsquibb/ https://x.com/simonsquibb/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsquibb/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/ Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scott Federated Computer - https://www.federated.computer Lingoda - https://try.lingoda.com/success_sprintCornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/ Quince - https://quince.com/success Northwest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/success Prolon - https://prolonlife.com/clary Stash - https://get.stash.com/successstory NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary➡️ Talking Points00:00 – Intro01:37 – Simon's Ultimate Dream02:56 – Life-Changing Turning Point08:24 – Give Without Expecting16:44 – Can Education Cure Selfishness?20:38 – Work Hard Without Losing Yourself25:18 – Sponsor Break29:10 – Ready to Quit? Start Here32:57 – Don't Know Your Dream? Start Here36:13 – Is It the Right Dream?45:03 – Watch Who You Listen To47:20 – Traits of Dream Achievers50:38 – How to Feel the Struggle (Without Struggling)52:48 – Purpose Over People Management55:23 – Get People to Believe in You1:00:12 – Sponsor Break1:04:17 – Is Property Still Worth It?1:20:44 – Investing 101: Where to Start1:26:48 – Simon's Final Advice1:27:47 – Risk That Paid Off Big1:30:13 – Hard Lesson You Don't Want1:31:01 – Hack Your Luck1:35:05 – One Lesson for His KidsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Immad Akhund is the CEO of Mercury. Launched in 2019, Mercury has raised $500M in funding from Sequoia, Coatue, CRV, Andreessen Horowitz and others. He is a former part-time partner at Y Combinator and is an active angel investor, with more than 350 investments in startups including Rippling, AirTable, Rappi, Applied Intuition, and Substack. In Today's Episode We Discuss: 04:38 Exclusive News: New Fund Announcement 05:15 Lessons from 350 Angel Investments 12:27 Why Founders Should Always Push for the Highest Price 14:40 Biggest Wins and Misses in Angel Investing 22:56 How Sequoia Came to Lead the Series C for Mercury 31:32 Why Move From Angel to VC 33:41 Is It Wrong For Founders to Also Have Funds with LP Capital? 36:28 AI Investments: Overhyped or Worthwhile? 41:14 Raising a First Time Fund: Challenges & Surprises 49:47 The Future of Venture Capital 54:36 Quickfire Questions and Reflections  

On this Brand Spotlight episode, Alex Quin covers the unexpected resurgence of Saratoga Spring Water, a premium bottled water brand dating back to 1872. Originally celebrated for its distinct cobalt blue bottle and sourced from Saratoga Springs, NY, the brand recently skyrocketed in popularity after fitness influencer Ashton Hall featured it in a viral TikTok video. Alex explains how organic influence, visual branding, and quick social media engagement turned Saratoga into the internet's favorite wellness water almost overnight. He also explores the competition Saratoga faces in the saturated premium water market and how this viral moment opens new opportunities—and new challenges.Episode Outline[00:00] Introduction and setting the stage for Saratoga experience[00:00] Behind the scenes: key moments and memorable interviews[00:01] Reflections on growth, connections, and opportunities[00:01] Big lessons learned from covering events like Saratoga[00:02] Final takeaways and advice for future event creatorsWisdom NuggetsTrust the Power of Visual Identity: Saratoga's distinct cobalt blue bottle made it instantly recognizable and memorable—proving the importance of a strong visual signature.Organic Influence is Gold: The best marketing moments often aren't paid. Authenticity from influencers can spark movements money can't buy.Stay Ready for Virality: When opportunity knocks, speed matters. Saratoga's social media team embraced the attention immediately, maximizing their momentum.Heritage Adds Value: A 150-year history isn't just nostalgia—it's brand trust. Legacy can be a strong competitive advantage if positioned correctly.Adaptation Is Key: Markets evolve, and even century-old brands must innovate and interact with new audiences through modern channels like TikTok.Power Quotes:"When virality knocks, you've got to open the door and fast." - Alex Quin"Competing with giants means every edge counts." - Alex Quin"Your brand's look and quality always matters." - Alex QuinConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grace Duong chats with the radiant Vanessa Somuayina—YouTuber, spiritual entrepreneur, and creator of multiple beloved tarot and oracle decks. We explore Vanessa's path to success, how she built her business from the ground up, the role of intuition in decision-making, and how to stay authentic in a constantly evolving world. This is an inspiring deep-dive into trusting yourself, embracing change, and becoming the CEO of your own life. If you liked this episode, check out the previous GRACED podcast episode with Robert Ryan: https://youtu.be/njEU5jUpUBo ✨__________ What We Talk About:00:00 Episode Preview00:29 Opening01:04 Introduction01:47 Interview Begins with Vanessa Somuayina02:09 Vanessa's Journey into Tarot & YouTube03:11 How Crystals and Coincidence Led to Tarot04:58 How I Found Confidence Through My Creator Persona06:41 Focus on the Present, Not the Past07:41 Starting a Second Channel to Teach What I've Learned09:42 Why Intuition Alone Isn't Enough in Business11:34 Easy Intuition Exercises for Beginners12:43 Why Every Tower Moment Leads to a Star Moment15:08 How to Become the CEO of Your Own Life16:56 Tools to Overcome Self-Doubt and Build Confidence19:31 How to Use Affirmations to Transform Your Mindset22:10 How to Overcome Doubt and Become Your Best Self23:38 Using Meditation & Yoga to Calm Your Mind25:31 AD - Join our Tarot for Alchemy Course https://learntarot.mysticmondays.com/27:37 Creating Tarot Decks with Meaning30:52 How Intuition Guides the Creation of Tarot Decks & Art Direction32:09 How to Pursue Multiple Passions Without Losing Focus33:46 How to Stay Positive on Social Media & Avoid Negative Energy36:03 How Consistency Drives Success in Building a Social Media Following38:20 Vanessa's Vision for Music and Community39:42 The Evolving Meaning of Authenticity with Vanessa42:49 Manifestation and Surrender45:45 Fast Five Questions: Breaking Free from Astrological Labels47:55 Collective Reading from The Pastel Journey Tarot Deck by Vanessa Somuayina50:19 Closing Statements51:39 End of Episode – Make Sure to Leave a Podcast Review!52:26 End Card ✨__________ Check out the Mystic Mondays App:https://www.mysticmondays.com/pages/app/  Check out the Create Your Deck Club:https://cydc.mysticmondays.com/create-your-deck-club  ✨__________ Read the full show notes and transcript on the Grace Duong Blog:http://www.graceduong.com/podcast ✨__________ Episode Resources: Vanessa Somuayina's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_somuayina Vanessa Somuayina's Website:http://www.beau-life.com Work with Grace:http://www.graceduong.com ✨__________ 

Send us a textJose Berlanga has mastered the art of reinvention, building multi-million dollar businesses across four industries. - Learn his secrets to sustained success.- What does it take to rebuild after massive setbacks?Jose Berlanga shares the raw truths of entrepreneurship and the power of starting over. 

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory In this “Lessons” episode, Ryan Pineda reveals how building multiple 8-figure businesses rooted in spiritual alignment starts with surrendering personal ambition, stewarding time and money with discipline, and sustaining long-term growth through obedience. Learn how favor and longevity follow those who bootstrap with boundaries, why true success comes from dying to self and aligning fully with God's will, and how shifting your focus from temporary goals to eternal impact redefines leadership, fulfillment, and legacy.➡️ Show Linkshttps://successstorypodcast.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/NA2559iYObE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ryan-pineda-entrepreneur-real-estate-investor-dont/id1484783544 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ENBapr4mp6t5s2QiQeabi ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin chats with Sydney Miller, founder of HOUSEWORK, about how she turned her at-home workouts into a nationally recognized fitness brand. From streaming Zoom classes during lockdown to opening her first brick-and-mortar studio in New York City, Sydney shares the pivotal moves, mindset shifts, and branding choices that helped her grow while staying true to her vision.Episode Outline[00:00:03] Welcome to Hustle Inspires Hustle feat. Sydney Miller[00:02:15] Sydney's start in fitness and SoulCycle background[00:04:42] Birth of HOUSEWORK and early brand decisions[00:08:03] Going digital during the pandemic[00:11:12] Launching the flagship NYC studio[00:14:35] Balancing tech with in-person experience[00:17:56] Building community: real talk and practical strategies[00:21:45] Why branding early mattered[00:26:22] Niche focus and why it works[00:30:11] The real cost of entrepreneurship[00:34:20] Marketing, visibility, and staying consistent online[00:39:48] Future of HOUSEWORK and possible Miami studio[00:43:00] Final thoughts on legacy and empowermentWisdom NuggetsBrand Early, Brand Smart: Sydney made the decision to name her brand HOUSEWORK instead of using her personal name. This set the foundation for building something scalable and community-driven.Follow the Gut, Not the Crowd: Whether it was choosing to stick with house music or launching during a global crisis, Sydney followed her instincts—and that made all the difference.Digital is Essential, But Not Everything: The app and livestreams elevated HOUSEWORK, but the brick-and-mortar studio brought a sense of place and physical community that tech alone can't replace.True Community Exists Without You: Sydney focuses on helping members build connections with each other, creating a space that lives beyond the founder's presence.Be Your Brand's Loudest Advocate: From daily TikToks to jumping on podcasts, Sydney knows that building visibility requires consistent, personal effort from the founder themselves.Power Quotes:"Even if you're not tech-savvy, you can still execute with the right team." - Alex Quin"You have to just listen to your gut and make moves." - Sydney MillerConnect With the Podcast Host Sidney Miller:APP: (https://houseworkapp.com/)Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/sydmiller)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From negotiating with Kevin O'Leary to helping founders avoid costly mistakes, this episode is packed with raw insights on when to sell, how to spot real traction, and why retirement is overrated when you're addicted to solving problems.

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin sits down with personal branding strategist and business coach Maya Elious to talk about building a purpose-driven, profitable business rooted in clarity and confidence. Maya shares how she helps female entrepreneurs, especially women of faith and color, identify their value, articulate their message, and charge what they're worth without guilt or confusion. The conversation covers the shift toward faith-based entrepreneurship, overcoming underpricing, the true meaning of humility in business, and the power of storytelling for positioning. With actionable advice on packaging offers, launching effectively, and aligning with meaningful values, Maya offers insight for anyone looking to grow their brand with intention and impact.Episode Outline[00:00] Introduction and welcome [02:00] Who is Maya Elious? Her mission with Build to Impact [04:50] Blogging origins and the faith-based business connection [09:20] Cultural shifts: Talking money, faith, and taboo topics [14:30] The misconception of humility in business [20:00] The power of personal branding without oversharing [26:15] Discipline, resilience, and the youth mindset shift [33:40] Why building community values is critical in today's world [39:20] Finding clarity through passion and frustration [43:00] Common pricing mistakes and how to overcome them [50:30] How to move past hourly rates and offer high-ticket packages [55:45] What truly makes an offer valuable? [01:02:00] Why value-based clients matter [01:08:10] The power of storytelling in positioning [01:13:00] Final thoughts: legacy and ripple effectWisdom NuggetsKnow What You Hate: Clarity doesn't always come from what you love—it can start with what frustrates you. Maya explains how the things that make your blood boil can help shape your message and mission.Don't Shrink to Be Humble: True humility doesn't mean undervaluing yourself. If being "humble" leads you to hide your skills, you're doing a disservice to those who need your gifts.Announcements Aren't Launches: Saying your offer exists is not the same as launching it. A successful launch involves consistent marketing, campaigns, and multiple touchpoints—just like major celebrities still do.Your First Testimonial is Your Own: Even without paid clients, your own results matter. Maya teaches how to build credibility by sharing personal transformation stories to attract aligned clients.Positioning Beats Pricing: Stop comparing prices—focus on creating value. Clients who see the value in your offer will care less about the price tag and more about the transformation they can achieve.Power Quotes:"People don't know how much to charge because they're always thinking from a place of lack." - Alex Quin "If being humble causes you to shrink, then you need to be something else." - Maya EliousConnect With the Podcast Host Maya Elious:Website: (https://www.mayaelious.com/)Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/mayaelious/)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're grinding 80 hours a week and still wondering why it's not working, it might be time for a reset. Not on your dream—but on your approach. Because let's be real: Hustle without health, strategy, and purpose? That's a one-way ticket to burnout.In this powerful episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I sit down with Forrest Smith, co-founder and CEO of Kineon, to talk real talk on entrepreneurship, building businesses for exit, and staying healthy while doing it. This convo is packed with golden nuggets for every entrepreneur out there—whether you're scaling your startup or dreaming of your first product launch.We're diving into strategic partnerships, red light therapy, building impact-driven businesses, and the hard truth about what it takes to grow and feel good doing it. Forrest isn't just a startup guy—he's an exit guy. After successfully building and exiting multiple businesses, he took a big step back and asked: What really matters?That led him to co-found Kineon, a company using red light therapy to give people safer, smarter solutions for managing pain. No pills. No surgeries. Just science-backed, preventative wellness tech that works. But what's wild is how Forrest connects the dots between entrepreneurial strategy and personal health. We also get into how Forrest evaluates whether a company is built to scale or just spinning its wheels. Some of the gems:Are you in the right part of the supply chain?Are you investing in IP that drives value?Are your systems supporting scale or just surviving chaos?And the biggie: Are you building a business that serves your life or one that drains it?Because at the end of the day, if your business isn't aligned with your mission and wellbeing, it's just another job. This episode isn't just about business. It's about building something meaningful, without losing yourself in the process.If you're ready to:Work smarter, not just harderBuild a business that can scaleLearn about red light therapy and game-changing wellnessHear how exits happen behind the scenesThen this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to this powerful convo on The Happy Hustle Podcast now and start optimizing your hustle for impact and health. Because you don't have to sacrifice your well-being for your dreams. You just have to Happy Hustle it right.In this episode, we cover: 03:05 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Key Lessons05:55 Exits and Mistakes in Entrepreneurship08:58 Navigating Corporate Structures and Strategic Partnerships11:52 Balancing Ambition and Well-being15:04 The Genesis of Kinion and Its Mission17:57 Understanding Pain Management and Alternatives21:11 The Impact of Kinion on Health and Wellness26:20 The Shift Towards Comprehensive Medical Approaches28:07 Understanding Photobiomodulation and Its Benefits30:01 Integrating Health Practices for Optimal Living31:55 The Importance of Environment in Health34:01 Addressing Modern Environmental Challenges36:51 Exploring Red Light Therapy and Its Applications39:05 Rapid Fire Round: Insights and Personal Reflections44:00 Final Thoughts on Health and HappinessWhat does happy Hustlin mean to you? Forrest says Happy Hustlin means helping people. We're here to help people move a needle on quality of life. And so that's what we do every day. And we try to measure ourselves as critically as we can in every aspect of that. And we want to deliver on our promise to help people change their quality of life, whether it's improving sleep, reducing pain, getting out of osteoarthritis, or healing from surgery.Connect with Forresthttps://www.facebook.com/Kineonlabshttps://www.instagram.com/kineon_labs/https://www.tiktok.com/@kineon_labshttps://www.youtube.com/@Kineon_LabsFind Forrest on this website: https://kineon.io/Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featuredGet a free copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Course https://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure https://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsors: Magnesium Breakthrough from BiOptimizers - For an exclusive offer, head to bioptimizers.com/happy and use the promo code 'happy10' at checkout to save 10%. And if you subscribe, you'll snag amazing discounts, free gifts, and a guaranteed monthly supply.99 Designs- Need a killer logo, stunning website, or next-level brand design?Stop DIY-ing and start delegating like a boss with 99designs by Vista!

Dorine Rivers the Founder and CEO (Chief EduTainment Officer) of Savantz AI. Dr. Rivers has a PhD in Business Management and Human & Organizational Systems, a Project Management Professional Certification, and Investment Banking licenses.She has three decades of expertise in launching and managing businesses, educational leadership, video production, and is an award-winning published author.As a serial entrepreneur, her expertise is in creative vision and execution, strategic planning, and identifying growth opportunities that will transform how we generate visual materials and bring content to life.Her passion for creating Savantz came from a desire to convert her own work into videos. She soon realized that the system she was building could benefit millions of businesses, educators, and learners.If you ask her about the inherent challenges, she will say that building a business is just like climbing a mountain. You get up every day and put one foot in front of the other, and nothing stops you until you reach the summit.Her everyday motto is: Grit Knows No Limits. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Dorine Rivers: Website: https://dorinerivers.com/ Savantz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavantzaiSavantz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savantz.ai/Savantz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/savantzai/ X: https://twitter.com/savantz_ai Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorine.rivers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorinerivers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorine.rivers.3

In episode 179 of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin takes us behind the scenes of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Returning for a second year, Alex and his expanded team captured the energy and creativity of the festival like never before. This episode explores how strategic content creation, meaningful industry partnerships, and a firsthand appreciation of the filmmaking process played a crucial role in amplifying emerging projects. Alex shares his insights as an executive producer and marketing professional, shedding light on what it takes to launch and promote a film on an international stage.Episode Outline[00:00:00] Welcome back: Josh Troy returns to the podcast[00:02:30] Growth and milestones since the 2021 episode[00:06:15] WFS Group's edge in outsourced sales[00:09:40] Ideal client profile and red flags to avoid[00:15:10] What makes an offer scale-ready[00:20:00] Founder-led sales and product-market fit[00:27:00] Choosing between one call and two call models[00:36:45] How to create urgency without sleazy tactics[00:42:30] Team structure, metrics, and scaling strategies[00:48:00] Follow-ups, no-show protocol, and nurturing leads[00:53:00] Using application questions to pre-qualify prospects[01:02:00] Flipping the “we tried this before” objection[01:07:30] Josh's 10-step sales call framework[01:12:00] What Josh wants to be known for in the industry[00:48:40] Where to watch Taking the Fight and follow StuartWisdom NuggetsStrategic Content = Amplified Stories : Smart, collaborative content can shine a spotlight on independent projects and get them industry-wide attention. Alex's team used social media strategy to elevate visibility for indie films.Think Bigger with the Right Team : An expanded team means more hands, more talent, and a bigger impact. With more people involved this year, Alex's crew was able to produce better content and deeper coverage.Celebrate the Process: : Seeing how films are marketed, pitched, and received helped Alex understand the film industry's real backbone—marketing, storytelling, and grit.Collaborate to Elevate: From doing collab posts with Rotten Tomatoes event to collaborating with actors, Alex emphasizes that powerful partnerships can make creative projects go further and reach wider.Stay Rooted in Purpose : No matter the spotlight, staying grounded in your mission—to inspire, connect, and educate—will always lead to the most impactful results.Power Quotes:“We came back to Sundance with a bigger vision and a stronger team.” - Alex Quin“Seeing our content amplify indie films was the biggest win.” - Alex Quin“It's not just about showing up—it's about showing up with a purpose.” - Alex QuinConnect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Our CommunityInstagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this engaging conversation, Brett McCollum and Dominique Pereira explore the journey of becoming a serial entrepreneur, focusing on overcoming challenges, transitioning from technology to real estate, and the importance of relationships in business. Dominique shares his personal story of resilience, the strategies he employed to scale his real estate portfolio, and his ventures into agriculture and glamping. The discussion emphasizes the lessons learned from failure and the necessity of taking the first step in entrepreneurship.   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   —--------------------

Your brand is what Google and AI say it is!Are you prepared to leave your most valuable asset in the hands of the machines?Meet Jason Barnard!Jason is a World Authority on Digital Brand Intelligence, Serial Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author, Acclaimed Keynote Speaker, Award-winning Innovator and CEO at Kalicube.Kalicube is a groundbreaking digital marketing agency that helps the world's most dynamic business leaders move from being one amongst many to become The Reference in their industry so they can drive business for their company and be serene about their future careers.Connect with Jason:Website: https://kalicube.com/about/contact/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmbarnard/Additional Resources:FREE Guides: https://kalicube.com/solutions/free-downloadable-guides/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-a-google-whisperer-how-to-grow-your-online/id1614151066?i=1000704299018 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fb9wRhJV5u721MdG4YGsA?si=muRR28bYSzCxc4JTxl_TFAYouTube: https://youtu.be/Ktc98LDbGv0

In this episode of the Unapologetically Me Podcast, Heather chats with Kacia Ghetmiri, mom, podcast host, and entrepreneur. Kacia shares her journey from corporate life at Google to building a 4,000-person MLM team, launching her own podcast (Empower Her), and navigating motherhood while traveling the world with her toddler. She opens up about rebuilding after a devastating miscarriage, pivoting from MLM success to entrepreneurship, and balancing marriage with a business partnership after her husband left dentistry. If you're curious about turning setbacks into strength, traveling with kids, or keeping relationships strong while chasing big dreams, this one's for you! Chapters: [00:00] Sneak Peek [01:57] Leaving the Perfect Job to Follow a Different Calling [06:37] What They Don't Tell You About Creating a Community [08:58] Raw Talk: Miscarriage & Motherhood [15:11] Traveling with Kids & Family Dynamics [17:07] Entrepreneurship & Marriage [21:13] Closing Inspiration Join Our Women's Mastermind: https://woman.heatherblankenship.com/ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherblankenshipx3 Heather's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.blankenship.182/ Heather's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heatherblankenshipx3 Heather's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-blankenship-271908140/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-me/id1713972310 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EtqDw41QW193bH3TKnCiI Listen, rate and subscribe!

Blake Squires began his journey in the mid-90s in Los Angeles, capitalizing early on the convergence of technology and media. He soon returned to his hometown of Cleveland to co-found Everstream with Steve McHale (episode 196) and Charlie Lougheed (episode 42, and also my co-founder at Axuall). Blake served as COO until Everstream's acquisition by Concurrent Computer Corp in 2005.Next, he co-founded Findaway, a global leader in digital audiobook distribution and creators of PLAYAWAY, a line of preloaded audiobook devices and products. Findaway was acquired by Spotify in 2022—a story shared by co-founder Mitch Kroll (episode 128) and early team member Mike Belsito (episode 52).In 2011, Blake launched Movable, a software and wearable platform built to "inspire movement." He also founded DoctorsOrders, an e-scripting tool for medical suppliers, which was acquired by Cardinal Health in 2018.Blake later partnered with inventor John Osher (of SpinBrush fame) to develop the Stubl/Shadow manual razor, acquired by Edgewell for its Schick brand. The duo also created a unique toothbrush licensed to Waken in the UK.In 2022, Blake co-founded Bloomfilter, an AI-powered process intelligence platform optimizing the product and software development lifecycle. We've heard Bloomfilter's story from his co-founder Andrew Wolfe on episode 134.By 2024, Blake had become a board partner at Greycroft and a “Fellow” at global design firm IDEO, recognized for his work supporting VCs and early-stage startups. Blake also serves as a founding advisor to the Ohio Angel Collective.As I mentioned up top, Blake's story truly is a Lay of The Land of Lay of The Land. He's deeply connected with Northeast Ohio's startup ecosystem—through this episode alone, we'll hear links to Lee Zapis (episode 7), John Knific (episode 199), David Levine (episode 132), AC Evans (episode 39), Ray Leach (episode 69), and many more.More than just well-connected, Blake is a visionary builder, inspiring leader, and accomplished serial entrepreneur with a rare ability to scale products, teams, and brands.00:00:00 - The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins  00:12:17 - Passion and the Intersection of Art and Business  00:15:09 - Defining Core Values in Entrepreneurship  00:18:27 - The Evolution of Big Mama Music  00:21:09 - Navigating Course Corrections in Business  00:23:23 - Finding the Next Problem to Solve  00:26:25 - Building a Values-Driven Company  00:28:09 - The Shift to Audiobooks and Market Insights  00:33:35 - The Role of Storytelling in Business  00:41:23 - Learning from Failure and Pivoting Strategies  00:43:22 - Scaling and Growth in Libraries  00:48:47 - Building a Strong Company Culture  00:49:08 - Lessons from Movable and the Importance of Partnerships  00:54:55 - Navigating the Healthcare Market  00:55:42 - Universal Truths in Entrepreneurship  01:01:07 - Transitioning to Advisory Roles and New Ventures  01:04:20 - Hidden Gem -----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakesquires/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company's passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

What if your greatest strength is also your biggest blind spot?That's the question we're unpacking in this fire episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast. I sat down with Craig Ballantyne—a serial entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal best-selling author, and dubbed “The World's Most Disciplined Man.” This convo isn't just about grinding harder or waking up at 4 AM. Nope. We went deep on why discipline alone can actually wreck your relationships and happiness if you're not careful.This one's for every entrepreneur out there who's chasing greatness—but wondering why it still doesn't feel like enough.Craig drops a truth bomb straight out the gate: Discipline, when left unchecked, can turn into your biggest enemy.In his book “The Dark Side of Discipline,” Craig peels back the curtain on what happens when high achievers go too hard. You're so focused on systems, habits, and routines… that you forget to be human.He knows this firsthand. Back in the day, he was killing it as a fitness expert, but behind the scenes, he was binge drinking on the weekends and battling serious anxiety. He ended up in the ER at 29, thinking he was having a heart attack. That was his wake-up call.So he started eliminating the bad habits, toxic people, and energy-draining environments—and building systems that supported true well-being.One of the most powerful moments in this episode is when Craig talks about the illusion of success. So many of us hustle hard for goals we didn't even choose. Maybe you saw a dude on Instagram with a Lambo and thought, “That's what winning looks like.” But if it costs you your peace, your relationships, or your health—is it really worth it?Craig isn't all talk—he breaks it down with tangible tactics that help you show up as your best self:✅ Elimination: Cut out what's draining you (yes, even that toxic “friend” who's always dragging you to the bar).✅ Preparation: Structure your environment for success—your willpower's not supposed to do all the work.✅ Connection: Accountability is your secret weapon. Tell someone you don't want to disappoint what you're gonna do—and when.Whether it's quitting drinking, launching your biz, or leveling up your health, public accountability can flip the switch from “I'll try” to “I did it.Look, I know how tempting it is to grind 24/7. We've been sold the idea that success means sacrificing everything now to maybe enjoy life someday. But that ain't it.You don't have to choose between success and happiness. You can Happy Hustle.And that's what this episode is all about—finding the balance between ambition and well-being.So if you're ready to stop running someone else's race and start building your own version of success (the joyful, human, connected kind)... hit play on this episode. It's a game-changer.In this episode, we cover: 00:00 The Power of Networking12:59 The Dark Side of Discipline28:21 The Illusion of Success31:07 Tactics for Personal Excellence39:44 Accountability and Connection40:32 The Dark Side of Discipline48:44 Future Pacing for a Fulfilling LifeWhat does happy Hustlin mean to you? Craig says Happy Hustling means that you are setting up yourself for a life where you can be happy. You can be happy and hustle at the same time. And most people think that they're, they're not one in the same, you can, you can have everything that you want and really live a truly great life. And one thing that you said, the, the third freedom that I've never really articulated very well is this creative freedom.Connect with Craighttps://www.facebook.com/ttfatlosshttps://www.instagram.com/realcraigballantyne/https://twitter.com/craigballantynehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UClBQyeL63OdkONi5PBDY8CgFind Craig on this website: https://www.craigballantyne.com/ I DarkSideofDiscipline.com Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featuredGet a free copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Course https://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure https://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsor: Magnesium Breakthrough from BiOptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/happyIf you've been on a restricted diet lately or maybe even taken some meds to shed those pounds for the summer, I gotta warn ya—be careful! You might have unknowingly created a nutrient deficiency that could not only mess with your health but also jeopardize those weight loss goals.Did you know that over 75% of Americans are already deficient in magnesium? Yeah, it's wild! Magnesium is this powerhouse mineral that's involved in over 600 biological reactions in your body. It helps with everything from sleep to stress management to hormone balance—all key players in keeping your weight on track.And if you're still on those meds, you might be dealing with some side effects like sleepless nights, digestive issues, or irritability, which can totally throw off your commitment to your goals. Whether you're taking meds or not, setting up healthy habits is crucial to maintaining your weight over time. One of the best things you can do? Make sure you're getting all the magnesium your body needs.Don't let a magnesium deficiency derail your progress! Give Magnesium Breakthrough by BIOptimizers a shot. Unlike other supplements, this one's got all 7 forms of magnesium that your body can actually absorb, so you get the full spectrum of benefits.This approach will help you crush your goals and maintain a healthy weight while keeping your overall health in check. For an exclusive offer, head to bioptimizers.com/happy and use the promo code 'happy10' at checkout to save 10%. And if you subscribe, you'll snag amazing discounts, free gifts, and a guaranteed monthly supply.

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstoryMichael S. Liebowitz is a veteran entrepreneur and executive with over 25 years of experience across insurance, finance, and real estate. He is Chairman and CEO of Douglas Elliman Inc., one of the largest U.S. residential brokerages with over $30 billion in annual sales. Liebowitz has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies, including Harbor Group Consulting (acquired by NFP Corp.), Innova Risk Management (PE acquisition), and High Street Valuations (sold in 2020). He also led the turnaround of publicly traded Nocopi Technologies as CEO. In 2018, he founded M2A Family Office to oversee his investment portfolio and philanthropic initiatives.➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/michaelsliebowitz/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-liebowitz-84946b42/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/ Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scott Federated Computer - https://www.federated.computer Cornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)Create Like The Greats Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/create-like-the-greats/id1653650073 FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/ Bank On Yourself - https://www.bankonyourself.com/scott Stash - https://get.stash.com/successstory NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary➡️ Talking Points00:00 - Intro03:16 - Why Michael Joined Douglas Elliman07:36 - Michael's First Steps in Business12:33 - Keys to Entrepreneurial Success16:33 - Buying Back & Selling His Own Company31:43 - Sponsor34:29 - Biggest Lessons from the Journey38:04 - What Makes a Great Operator41:01 - Signs of a Winning Entrepreneur45:52 - Hiring the Right People48:49 - Ivy League vs Entrepreneur CEOs53:00 - Why the Board Chose Michael58:03 - What Keeps People at a Brokerage59:49 - Outdated Brokerage Mindsets1:02:22 - Why Some Brokerages Will Fail1:03:52 - Sponsor1:07:32 - How Brokerages Actually Grow1:15:02 - Tips for Real Estate Agents1:22:40 - Why Michael Stays Hands-On1:23:48 - Words for Shareholders1:30:53 - Final Advice1:32:29 - Habits Behind the Success1:37:26 - One Lesson for His KidsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don't miss Eliances Heroes Show with David Cogan as he interviews Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy and CEO of YAM Worldwide. The billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist shares his journey from revolutionizing domain registration to his latest ventures. Tune in for an inspiring conversation! eliances.com bobparsons.com

The amazing Sunny Bates calls in from New York to learn how to say “smart” in Chinese. A hugely successful individual, she is the CEO of Sunny Bates Associates and is on the board of some of the world's most exciting companies, including Kickstarter and Creative Capital Foundation. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

In This Episode Killing It is back! Jason Henrichs' series on banking and fintech entrepreneurs returns with Cokie Hasiotis In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with Cokie, serial entrepreneur and exited founder of Twali and drippi. Cokie candidly shares her entrepreneurial journey, providing insights into the emotional challenges and tolls inherent in entrepreneurship, and the stress of pivoting business. She also reflects on how these experiences have shaped her, underscoring the significance of community, the importance of self-awareness and filtering advice from others. Tune in to hear more about identity as a founder, navigating loss, soft landings, and transitioning to new opportunities.

Discover how marketing visionary Michael Mota turned a million-dollar brand into a billion-dollar empire, built global fan experiences like SopranosCon, and is now revolutionizing digital engagement with Virtual 365—learn his secrets to success in this must-hear interview! In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Michael Mota, Serial Entrepreneur and Marketing Guru, about how Michael transformed Alex and Ani from a million-dollar jewelry company into a billion-dollar global brand, pioneered fan-driven experiences like SopranosCon, and launched Virtual 365, an innovative platform merging content, cryptocurrency, and community.  Key Takeaways: → Why networking is the key to business success and financial growth. → How cryptocurrency plays a role in digital media and event monetization. → How AI is revolutionizing marketing, branding, and content creation. → Why the future of business is about convenience, instant transactions, and global connectivity.  → How to create exclusive content that builds brand loyalty and drives revenue. Michael Mota is the founder and CEO of Atom Media and CEO of VirtualCons, building innovative ventures on a foundation of diverse experience as an educator, videographer, entrepreneur, published author, and sales executive. Holding a B.A. in Education from Rhode Island College and an M.A. in Administration from Providence College, Michael made his mark early on by securing major clients like Alex and Ani at Mediapeel, and later helping grow Seven Swords Media from $500K to over $22 million in annual sales. Through Atom Media, he continues to deliver top-tier PR, media buying, digital strategy, and creative services. As CEO of VirtualCons, Michael launched the wildly successful SopranosCon, drawing over 15,000 fans to a historic convention, and then evolved the brand into a cutting-edge platform for live and virtual events. VirtualCons combines unforgettable experiences with a powerful social ecosystem—offering everything users want in a single app, where every click feels like a VIP experience. Connect With Michael: Michael Mota Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory In this “Lessons” episode, Colin C. Campbell, serial entrepreneur and author of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat., shares the powerful principles behind building and exiting multiple 8-figure companies. Learn how two simple frameworks—Start, Scale, Exit, Repeat and Story, People, Money, Systems—can guide entrepreneurs through every phase of growth, why deep focus and long-term effort create an unmatched competitive edge, and how structuring your business from day one can set you up for a successful exit.➡️ Show Linkshttps://successstorypodcast.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/gC-rFtPlPMI Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colin-c-campbell-serial-entrepreneur-bestselling-author/id1484783544 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tQGX6jV4EZ6Wc4JuWTxVB ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.