Tag: Work/Life

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/) 

Jesse Mecham, former accountant and creator of You Need A Budget, argues that your real money problem is worry, not math. He shares how a tiny spreadsheet he built to fix one household cash crunch became a calm, profitable business, and what he learned from building his software and methodology: YNAB (You Need A Budget) at night while working full time, botched early hires, and the moment he stopped playing small. We unpack the myths around raising money, co founders, and five year plans, how to grow slowly on purpose without feeling behind, and practical ways to feel in control of your money again. Along the way, Jesse shows how changing your relationship with money can reshape how you think about risk, work, and the life you are building. --- Episode Resources You Need A Budget (YNAB) - Jesse’s budgeting software and methodology that he created. (https://www.ynab.com) True Alignment: Linking Company Culture with Customer Needs for Extraordinary Results, by Edgar Papke. (https://www.truealignment.com/true-alignment/) “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. This book speaks about how systems and people can benefit from volatility and stress.(https://a.co/d/hWw7TJW) “Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.” by Ron Chernow. (https://a.co/d/gUs7qXn)  “Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow.  (https://a.co/d/bzkS3F0)  “Goals! ” by Brian Tracy. This book is a classic goal-setting and personal development book. (https://a.co/d/9wnWUi4)  “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. A Personal finance book. (https://a.co/d/aSFlfOq)

Reuben Levinsohn, professional investor and founder coach behind Exit Quotient Ventures and Flying with Founders, argues that clarity and discipline win. He shares how starting from an “exit first” mindset sharpens founder focus, the early signals he listens for like EQ, leadership quotient, paid pilots, and a clean path to $1M ARR, and when to graduate beyond founder-led sales. We unpack the red flags that kill momentum, practical ways to earn a second meeting, and the founder-wellness routines that keep you in the game. Along the way, Reuben breaks down what he saw in Pavewise and Protein Pints, and how to turn traction into a real go-to-market engine. --- Episode Resources Flying with Founders: Founder Coaching, Meetups, Retreats. (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/) Flying with Founders Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@FlyingWithFounders/videos) Reuben’s Venture Capital: Exit Quotient Ventures (https://www.exitquotient.com/) Webinar event series: “Inside the Mind of a VC / Investor” (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/fwfevents/inside-the-mind-of-a-vc-customer-satisfcation) Pavewise: AI-assisted planning for paving in relation to weather. (https://www.pavewisepro.com/) Protein Pints: High-protein ice cream startup that Reuben angel-backed. (https://proteinpints.com/) Catalina Crunch: Exec talent the Protein Pints founders recruited from. (https://us.catalinacrunch.com/) “Lift Others as You Climb” by Scott D. Idle (https://scottidle.com/ , https://a.co/d/hvRFPYv) “The Founder’s Survival Guide” by Rachel E. Turner. (https://www.thefounderssurvivalguide.com/ , https://a.co/d/8BkG46M)

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)

Doug Polster was deep into clinical work when a conversation with a former classmate sparked something bigger. What started as a way to keep his private practice afloat during COVID slowly turned into a cross-state mental health network rooted in accessibility and real care. In this episode, Doug unpacks the lessons behind Thriving Center of Psychology’s growth, from sunsetting a failed tech platform to rethinking how founders define their roles. He reflects on the quiet wins, the tough calls, and what it really means to build with intention. --- Episode Resources “The Confidence Gap” by Russ Harris (https://a.co/d/jbAY54D) 

When Chris Girbés left a steady job to start his own wealth practice, he wasn’t chasing scale. He was chasing meaning. In this episode, he shares what he’s learned from working with startup founders: the myth of the perfect exit, the danger of unclear goals, and the burnout that comes from tying your identity too closely to your business. Whether you're scaling or still scrappy, this conversation is packed with grounded insight on building a business while you build the life you actually want to live. --- Episode Resources Registered Life Planner (RLP) -  A certification focused on life-first financial planning. (https://www.kinderinstitute.com/rlp-designation/) 

At just 25, Tom Williams launched his first lending business with $5,000, a dream, and a San Francisco office he secretly lived in. In this episode, Tom walks us through his unorthodox journey from boat-washing teenager to fintech founder, revealing the pivotal moments, early sacrifices, and bets that shaped his entrepreneurial path. He opens up about navigating failure, weathering the dot-com bust from inside Silicon Valley, and rebuilding from scratch to ultimately create a sustainable, values-driven business that’s thrived for over two decades. This is a story about resilience, conviction, and what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. --- Episode Resources “The Man in the Glass” by Anonymous (https://allpoetry.com/The-Man-in-the-Glass) “The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt (https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Culture-and-Society/Man-in-the-Arena.aspx)

Neil Cameron’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t start in a boardroom—it started on a beach in Australia after a career in athletics came to an unexpected end. In this episode, Neil reflects on the leap from solo founder to seasoned leader, revealing the struggles of bootstrapping, the power of listening to your customers, and the hard-earned wisdom behind building the right team. With honesty and humility, he shares what it really takes to grow a business—and yourself—along the way. --- Episode Resources The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber (https://a.co/d/2ARcl6J)

When Tiffany Bailey stepped into her family’s sod farming business, she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur, just someone grinding to get the work done. But nearly two decades later, she’s redefined the company, the culture, and herself as a leader. In this episode, Tiffany shares the raw truth about running and growing a business with family: the trust, the tension, and the tough calls. Hear how she navigated succession, scaled the business, embraced B2C, and built a culture rooted in clarity and care. This is a masterclass in leadership, learning, and legacy. --- Episode Resources Check out what Tiffany is building at Bayside Sod (https://baysidesod.com) Read more about the Full Focus Planner (https://fullfocusstore.com) Learn more about the Culture Index (https://www.cultureindex.com)

What happens when someone who loves being the #2 decides to take the lead? Bryan Barletta, founder of Sounds Profitable, joins the show to talk about his unlikely journey to building one of the most influential organizations in podcasting. From calling out broken systems to creating real solutions, Bryan shares how he’s challenging industry norms, creating momentum without investors, and building a business that lifts the entire space. This is a masterclass in clarity, conviction, and community-driven growth. --- Episode Resources Superhuman Email App (https://superhuman.com)