Episode #235: Shawn Shewchuk
Shawn Shewchuk, Change Your Results — Turning Fear Into Fuel Shawn Shewchuk is “THE Productivity Speaker” and a results-driven advisor to high achievers. With 28+ years in the trenches, 43 companies launched, and two bestselling books, he helps leaders trade busywork for outcomes and build businesses that run on systems—not stress. If you’ve ever felt stuck firefighting instead of scaling, Shawn’s mindset-first, results-always approach will hit home. Why he matters: Shawn’s philosophy is simple and surgical: fear lives only in your head, and progress starts the moment you make an irrevocable decision. From breaking audacious goals into hourly actions to designing teams for peak productivity, he shows entrepreneurs how to create their own economy—on purpose. Key Takeaways: Fear is mental, not material. Move from your head to your heart, make one decisive first step, and walk through the “paper-mâché” terror barrier. Results over titles. “Coach” is meaningless without measurable outcomes. Everything—business, career, relationships—goes on the table to remove hidden anchors. Decisions drive destiny. Success is the compounding effect of conscious choices; default mode equals drift. Know where you’re going, then reverse-engineer yearly → monthly → daily → hourly actions. Productivity is precision. It’s any action that moves you toward your goal. One extra hour of high-productivity per person, per day, can transform the bottom line. Lead people, design systems. Put players in roles where they win, cross-train for context, and build a company that functions if you step away for 90 days. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZnpXiY0U0E Memorable Quote: “Fear exists nowhere except in your head—make an irrevocable decision to move forward.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Shawn Linkedin Globe Globe
Episode #234: Colton McKey – Five Freedoms
Colton McKey – Five Freedoms Colton McKey is on a bold mission: to acquire and grow a cash-flowing business while building his entrepreneurial freedom. After a decade in manufacturing operations and two successful e-commerce exits, Colton left corporate America to fully commit to business ownership. Based in Prosper, Texas, and operating under his company Five Freedoms, Colton is charting his own path toward building a legacy. Key Takeaways: The leap of faith: Colton left a stable corporate career to pursue full-time entrepreneurship, giving himself a year-long runway to acquire a business. Focus on profitable stability: His acquisition strategy targets businesses with at least $1M in revenue and a 15–20-year track record, minimizing risk while maximizing potential. Leveraging SBA loans: Colton highlights how Small Business Administration financing can help aspiring owners secure deals without needing massive upfront capital. Systems for success: From creating a professional buyer profile to networking with over 50 brokers, Colton shares the importance of presenting yourself seriously to gain access to quality opportunities. Balancing family and ambition: With a supportive wife and three young kids, Colton’s story is also about managing personal stakes while chasing entrepreneurial dreams. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM4ycx4JkUs Memorable Quote: “I don’t regret what I did… I wanted to own and operate my own business, and I decided to put my whole heart and soul into making it happen.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Colton Globe
Episode #233: Reginald Benjamin – VAST Wellness Solutions
Reginald Benjamin, VAST Wellness Solutions — W-2 Sales Pro Turned Compliant CBD Entrepreneur Reginald Benjamin is a dynamic sales leader who splits his time between a high-performing W-2 role and building VAST Wellness Solutions, his compliant hemp/CBD brand. Based in Texas, he also serves clients as a licensed real estate agent in Dallas, bringing an operator’s mindset to luxury leasing and sales. Reginald matters because he shows entrepreneurs how to validate demand, stay compliant, and scale—without abandoning the day job that funds the dream. Key Takeaways: Do the homework first. Before you buy inventory or “throw all your eggs in,” research demand, define your audience, and build a marketing plan and social presence you can actually activate. Compliance is the moat. VAST sells CBD/CBG products (topicals, tinctures, flower, vapes) and avoids psychoactive deltas/HHC. He urges buyers to check COAs and cannabinoid profiles and to skip sketchy sources without lab reports. Payments matter. Get compliant merchant processing before you scale. Square’s CBD program and hemp-friendly bank departments exist—but they’ll audit you, so keep your house in order. Real-world outcomes (his experience). After ACL reconstruction and chronic hamstring issues, Reginald says CBD/CBG—especially via vape—brings relief within minutes without the “cloudiness.” He’s also seen a client family report calmer days and improved vocabulary for their child using CBD/CBG. Play the long game. The 2018 Farm Bill opened the door for hemp; clarity is improving as universities (e.g., Texas programs) study genetics and dosing. Meanwhile, Reginald’s mantra: crush your day job, use 5–10 pm to build, and scale responsibly. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUn4owwjME8 Memorable Quote: “Do your research before you start… Is there a demand for it?” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Reginald Linkedin
Episode #227: Ben Nizri – Congruent Clarity
Ben Nizri, Congruent Clarity — Turning Small Business Plateaus into Scalable Systems Ben Nizri is a Business Breakthrough Strategist and Exit Planning Advisor behind Congruent Clarity. Born in Azerbaijan, raised in Israel (including eight years in the Air Force), and now based in Winnipeg, Canada, Ben brings a systems-first lens—quality assurance, operations, and certified lead auditing—to help small businesses break through growth ceilings. He matters because he shows founders how to shift from “more of the same” growth to true scalability, with pricing, process, and mindset working in sync. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHYqSaJAug 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Growth ≠ Scale: Growth adds resources linearly; scalability breaks the link between resources and results by building repeatable systems. Fix the offer before the ads: Doubling leads without capacity or clean processes just multiplies unhappy customers and margin mistakes. Price for profit: Small increases flow straight to the bottom line; discounting comes directly off it. Compete on value—not price. Delegate to scale: Founders stall when they try to run everything themselves. Effective delegation and structure beat heroics. Mindset + discipline beat talent: Skills can be learned. Discipline, clear “why,” and consistent action outpace natural talent over time. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHYqSaJAug Memorable Quote: “I’m coming in and reading the label on the jar you’re sitting in.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ben Linkedin Globe
Episode #225: Mike Bacile – The Daily Java
Mike Bacile, The Daily Java & King’s Coffee Company — How “Failing Fast” Built a Coffee Empire Mike Bacile is a Texas-born serial entrepreneur and the CEO behind The Daily Java (wholesale café solutions) and King’s Coffee Company (in-house specialty roasting). Since 1995, he’s helped churches and independent cafés launch and scale with a practical “franchise-like” system—without the franchise fees. From early missteps to landing national equipment deals, Mike’s story is a masterclass in choosing the right opportunities and executing with consistency. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRzvC8PIYM 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Failure ≠ Final: Mike treats failure as feedback—“the wrong bus” to step off—so you can board the one that gets you where you want to go. Differentiate or disappear: His coupon-book venture won by becoming the biggest at SMU, UNT, TCU, and UT Arlington—proof that a clear differentiator beats “me too” every time. Quality over callbacks: Early on, cheap espresso machines created costly service headaches; switching to top-tier equipment led to a 13-year run supplying Maggiano’s, Macaroni Grill, and Corner Bakery nationwide. A franchise feel—without the franchise: The Daily Java pairs equipment packages with a “25 Steps to Success” program, install, and training—especially powerful for church cafés and high-throughput layouts. Build tribe, know your numbers: After crossing seven figures, joining Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) gave Mike accountability, global peers, and the push to price correctly—crucial in shifting markets. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRzvC8PIYM Memorable Quote: “Failure is just a frame of mind—an opportunity.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Mike Globe
Episode #224: Lane – Marion Relationship Marketing
Lane — Marion Relationship Marketing Lane is the co-founder of Marion Relationship Marketing, a digital marketing agency serving small businesses from Austin, Texas and beyond. A third-generation product of small business grit, he pairs over a decade in the industry with a no-nonsense, client-first approach—built on transparency, measurable results, and authority-driven marketing. Growing up in a family-run preschool and daycare, Lane learned early how owners survive downturns, stretch budgets, and keep the lights on. That perspective drives his agency’s “client bill of rights,” month-to-month partnerships, and relentless focus on proving ROI—so business owners can stop chasing clients and get back to serving them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3TjddL9q0 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Niche to win: speak to one ideal client at a time—specific pain points beat generic messages every day. Build authority, not hype: stack reviews (including video), case studies, and clear promises (access/ownership, month-to-month, real-time reporting). Prove value fast: early touchpoints matter—show live ad screenshots, call recordings, and tracked conversions to connect spend to results. Content is your compounding asset: list your 10 most-asked questions, Google them, then publish better answers—repeat. Treat ad spend like a scalpel, not a sledgehammer: segment campaigns by service, protect brand terms, and avoid broad-match budget leaks. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3TjddL9q0 Memorable Quote: “We do not sell diamonds—we sell an experience of the private jeweler.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Lane Linkedin
Episode #223: Henri Nyakarundi – ARED
Henri Nyakarundi, ARED — Building Solar-Powered Edge Infrastructure for Africa Henri Nyakarundi is the founder behind ARED’s mission to close the digital divide across Africa with solar-powered, peer-to-peer edge infrastructure. Born in Burundi with Rwandan roots, Henri spent 17 years in the U.S., studied computer science, built businesses, and returned to Africa to tackle one of the continent’s toughest problems: affordable, reliable digital infrastructure for low-income communities. In this episode, Henri breaks down how his team is fusing solar kiosks with mini-servers to deliver storage, computing, and connectivity at the edge—bringing content, payments, and apps closer to the people who need them most. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Edge over cloud: ARED deploys mini-servers with Wi-Fi in high-traffic areas (restaurants, hotels, buses) to cache video, run apps, process payments, and enable gaming where bandwidth is limited. Distributed, not blockchain: The network is “between centralized and decentralized”—a distributed model with centralized management (lighter than blockchain for the communities served). Real traction, big vision: 548 devices are live across 4 countries; the goal is 500k–1M devices across at least 10 countries in the next 5–10 years, with GPU-enabled edge boxes and a rebuilt OS to support broader applications. Model built for SMEs: Partners get the mini-server free and pay for the resources it provides; kiosks (for power + phone charging) are purchased at cost. Teleco partnerships and mobility use cases (like buses) are next. Grit + capital: Self-funded early, then 10+ international competition wins and grants (including Microsoft and the German government). Now seeking patient, technically savvy investors who understand long-term infrastructure plays. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJ5JunCmRI Memorable Quote: “Decentralization is the future.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Henri Linkedin Globe Envelope
Episode #220: Joel Klein – Fizyx Investment Group
Joel Klein, Fizyx Investment Group — Finding Exponential Winners & Leveling Up Mindset Joel Klein is the award-winning portfolio manager behind Fizyx Investment Group, known for spotting market leaders early and compounding results over decades. Mentored by William O’Neil and forged by real-world adversity, Joel blends deep market research with battle-tested mindset practices. If you care about building wealth and resilience, this episode is your playbook. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBPnk1YKtg Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Study the roots, not just the fruit. Don’t chase “the next Tesla”; understand why markets move, build rules from the data, and act with discipline. Exponential focus. Fizyx hunts for stocks compounding ~40%+ over sustained periods—aiming to build portfolios exclusively from true leaders (think Apple, Google, Tesla). Asymmetric risk. Define outcomes before you act: Joel targets ~3:1 reward-to-risk (e.g., +20% upside vs. −7% stop) so he doesn’t need a 50% win rate to win big. Timing matters. In tough, choppy markets, he prefers stalking and patience; for most investors, dollar-cost averaging into indexes remains a smart long-game. Mindset is a multiplier. Leveling up your business (or investing) demands leveling up your mindset—embrace discomfort, learn from setbacks, and build a diverse team aligned to one clear goal. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBPnk1YKtg Memorable Quote: “Failure is an illusion—you only fail if you don’t get back up.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Joel Linkedin Globe Envelope
Episode #210: Asad Ahmad, FitBiz CPA — From Big Four to “All-In” Partner for Small Businesses
Asad Ahmad, FitBiz CPA — From Big Four to “All-In” Partner for Small Businesses Asad Ahmad is a CPA and former Deloitte/PwC accountant who left the corporate ladder in 2020 to launch FitBiz CPA—a relationship-driven firm helping owners stay compliant, keep more profit, and scale with confidence. He matters because he translates complex tax and accounting programs (ERC, R&D credits, PPP/EIDL fallout) into real cash relief and month-to-month clarity for entrepreneurs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_vhR5J-oI Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Compliance = survival. “If you don’t take care of the compliance side…you don’t have a business.” Sales and taxes are the two pillars you can’t ignore. Origin story with purpose. “FitBiz” started serving gyms during lockdowns (PPP/EIDL help), then expanded to Florida’s hot real-estate market—growing from a solo practice to a five-person team. ERC made simple. If you had W-2 employees, you may recover up to ~70–75% of eligible payroll per quarter (from March 2020–2021) by filing amended 941-X returns; typical IRS timelines range from ~8–16 weeks, sometimes longer. Virtual CFO value. Bundled service starts around $800/month and includes tax planning & prep (business + personal), monthly financials by the 15th, QuickBooks support, payroll/941/940, sales tax, and IRS resolution—one accountable point of contact. Hire, systemize, and lead. Asad scaled via Upwork and a social media intern, runs a quarterly five-star performance model, and lets people play to their strengths—while keeping standards high. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_vhR5J-oI Memorable Quote: “You don’t pay your taxes, you don’t have a business.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Asad Linkedin Globe Phone-alt Youtube
Episode #208: Tim Kerin, Casa Dare To Dream — From DC Cleaning Boss to Costa Rica Luxury Villa Builder
Tim Kerin, Casa Dare To Dream — From DC Cleaning Boss to Costa Rica Luxury Villa Builder Tim Kerin is a multi-business entrepreneur who built and ran large commercial cleaning and construction companies before launching a high-touch luxury villa brand in Costa Rica. He’s also the author of 10 Lessons Learned… How to Build a Successful Business, and his story is packed with real-world tactics on cash flow, networking, and scaling the smart way. If you want a playbook for moving from “in the trenches” to owner/operator—and knowing when to pivot—this episode delivers. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Niche and proximity win. Tim and his wife started in residential cleaning by hosting a rooftop mixer at a high-income DC building, then stacked clients in the same tower to cut travel time and boost margins. Work in the business before you work on it. Early on, they cleaned themselves—then hired, documented, and backed away as they grew into commercial accounts. Learn via franchise, then graduate. He used a commercial cleaning franchise to grasp operations, later negotiated to take over vulnerable accounts and phase out royalties as his team out-performed. Scale adjacently. After reaching 4M+ sq ft/night and 135 employees, Tim added commercial construction for the same customers—“if we’re in the building mopping, we can be in the building painting.” Costa Rica play: concierge, pre-sell, debt-free. They bought/finished a villa, ran it like a full-service experience (manager, chef, driver, tours), exited profitably, and are building a larger, wedding-ready property—pre-booked and funded in cash to keep cash flow strong. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7klVS_aQqR0 Memorable Quote: “Cash flow is king.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tim Kerin Linkedin Globe Envelope