Tag: Community Impact

Jim Ryun went from getting cut from nearly every team to becoming the first high schooler in history to break four minutes in the mile. He credits much of that breakthrough to a coach who convinced him to adopt a dream he did not yet believe was possible, and to a moment when he decided to take ownership of it himself. That shift carried him beyond track into small business, public service in Congress, and eventually the Jim Ryun Running Camps, where he and his wife Anne blend elite training with character formation and faith. We unpack what ownership really means, how sacrifice becomes leverage instead of loss, what sports teach about leadership under pressure, and how to build something mission driven that outlasts you. --- Episode Resources • Jim Ryun Running Camps (https://ryunrunning.com/) • Philippians 4:13 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=NIV) • Roger Bannister and the first sub four minute mile (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/roger-bannister-first-sub-four-minute-mile)  • Jim Ryun Running YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@JimRyunRunning) 

Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, is building a nonprofit that teaches kids ages 6 to 17 entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership by making it real. Kids launch actual businesses, sell at children’s business fairs, and then workshop what worked and what didn’t so they can iterate and grow. She traces her own entrepreneurial streak from selling five-dollar MySpace layouts in high school to running an in-home daycare, until black mold, a deployment, and the March 17, 2020 stay-at-home order forced a pivot that sparked her daughter’s first business and, by accident, the organization she runs today. We unpack what makes her program different, how she funds and scales a mission-driven nonprofit, and why “nothing about us without us” includes a junior board of directors so kids help shape the curriculum. --- Episode Resources • Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE) - Leah’s nonprofit teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership to kids ages 6–17. (https://bit.ly/m/SoCEHub) • SoCE Circle - SoCE’s online community and lesson-plan platform for families, homeschool groups, and programs. (https://bit.ly/m/SoCEHub • Acton Children’s Business Fair - The platform Leah uses to host children’s business fairs; also lets anyone apply to host a fair. (https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/)  • Host an Acton Children’s Business Fair - The “start a fair” page Leah referenced for applying to host anywhere. (https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/start)  • “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz - Money management framework Leah uses to run the nonprofit with tight budgeting and ROI thinking. (https://mikemichalowicz.com/profit-first/)  • Profit First Professionals - The organization Leah worked with (training accountants/bookkeepers/coaches on implementing Profit First). (https://profitfirstprofessionals.com/) • “All In” by Mike Michalowicz - Team/ownership framework Leah referenced for giving board/staff ownership over projects. (https://mikemichalowicz.com/all-in/) • “Sparks to Stars: The Story of Astra & Zeke” by Leah Ellis - Leah’s published children’s book she wrote. (https://a.co/d/i34QqFg)  • Bookshop.org - The retailer Leah recommended because it supports local independent bookstores. (https://bookshop.org/)  • Search Institute: Developmental Assets Framework (40 assets) - The “top 40 skills/assets” Leah referenced as part of the standards/research base. (https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/developmental-assets-framework)  • Junior Achievement (JA) - One of the other organizations Leah mentioned that teaches entrepreneurship/financial literacy to kids. (https://jausa.ja.org/)  • Lemonade Day / My Lemonade Day App  - The lemonade-stand entrepreneurship program/app Leah references (https://lemonadeday.org/mylemonadeday)  • YIPPEE Exchange - Entrepreneurship education marketplace/platform Leah mentioned. (https://yippee.exchange/) • The Young CEO Club - Another entrepreneurship-for-kids organization Leah mentioned. (https://www.theyoungceoclub.com/) 

Dawn Haynes is the CEO of Stardust Studio, a nonprofit accelerator for early-stage tech startups. In this episode, Dawn shares her journey from pioneering transatlantic leisure travel to leading a team focused on helping founders build scalable, sustainable businesses. She discusses the importance of problem-solving, resilience, and embracing feedback, along with the challenges of finding the right co-founders and navigating the world of venture capital. If you're looking for practical advice on building a business and leading with purpose, this episode offers valuable insights from a seasoned entrepreneur. --- Episode Resources University of Toronto Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment (ESA) (https://www.studocu.com/en-ca/u/26265481?sid=01761601462) “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” - Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (https://a.co/d/0O5KQLW)  “The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership” by James C. Hunter (https://a.co/d/e2S0RB4)

Marc and Gina Kalaunin built Healing Hands from a love story into eight thriving clinics. They reveal the scrappy moves that sparked their first surge, the “four clinic wall” that almost broke them, and the systems that protected quality while they scaled across borders. Expect hard-won playbooks on hiring for heart, SOPs that actually stick, and the mindset that kept their marriage strong while the business leveled up. If you are scaling a service brand, this is your blueprint. --- Episode Resources Healing Hands Chiropractic (https://healinghands.com.sg/) “Serenity Prayer” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer) “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho (https://a.co/d/3cbwOH5)

When Erik Stanley left the comfort of a steady paycheck and the familiarity of a running store, he didn’t just launch a business, he built a movement. In this episode, Erik shares how Trail Roots was born from a desire to coach differently, build genuine community, and carve out space on Austin’s untamed trails. He opens up about the emotional hurdles of breaking ties, the real cost of hiring wrong, the power of purpose, and why having a clear mission is the cornerstone of long-term success. Whether you’re a founder, a runner, or somewhere in between, this is one you don’t want to miss. --- Episode Resources “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek (https://a.co/d/548A9oO)  “Slicing Pie” by Mike Moyer (https://slicingpie.com/) (https://a.co/d/ceQJmgs)  The Dave Ramsey Show by Dave Ramsey / Ramsey Solutions Financial advice podcast covering entrepreneurship, debt, budgeting, and leadership. (https://open.spotify.com/show/5exfRPDNCBHmntEkJrlLmX?si=0e9911336ac64f3f)