Feeling “successful” on paper but quietly miserable inside?
In this episode, I sit down with no BS success coach Lauren Hannon to talk about what happens when you blow up the life everyone else envies — the big house, the big paycheck, the in-ground pool — because you’re disgusted with how misaligned it feels.
Lauren and I get into the real inner work behind change: listening to your gut, noticing disgust instead of numbing it, re-writing brutal self-talk, and taking the very first small step when you don’t know “what’s next” yet.
If you’ve ever stayed in a high-paying role because you’re the breadwinner, afraid to start over, or unsure what else you’d even do, this one’s for you.
00:00 – Introductions
01:20 – Blowing up a “perfect” life: money, house, pool, status 02:05 – What a “no BS success coach” really does
05:28 – Rapid Fire intros
05:50 – Quit vs. push through: listening to your gut and your body
10:29 – The 9-option whiteboard for big decisions
15:25 – How Lauren talks to herself when things go badly 21:14 – Books that rewired her view of success, money & greatness
24:54 – Morning routines, auto-drip coffee, and protecting your energy
31:36 – The slow build to disgust: 2020, remote work & misalignment
38:19 – Why high earners stay stuck in jobs they’ve outgrown 42:45 – Breaking the doom-scroll cycle & why paying for help matters
47:18 – Step one if you’re quietly miserable in a “good” life 49:31 – How to connect with Lauren + closing thoughts
👋 Say hi to Lauren:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannonlauren/
👋 Say hi to your host, Brian
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
In this episode, Jeremie Kubicek returns for his third appearance to talk about his new book The Voice-Driven Leader and what it actually takes to develop people, not just manage them. We get into personality-driven onboarding, how to hire your first few team members, why equity is so often misallocated, and when to prune a business that isn’t working. Jeremie also shares humbling stories from the dot-com era, his favorite interview question, and why Elon Musk is the perfect example of intent plus relentless action.
If you’re an early-stage founder trying to build a real team (not just a product), this one’s for you.
Key Discussion Points:
- Why “hyper-personalized” development beats one-size-fits-all training
- The four stages of development: onboarding, immersion, empowerment, and multiplication
- Speaking your team’s “voice language” so you can actually influence themJeremie's decision filter for saying “yes”
- Why starting is way more mental than most founders expect
- Why he admires Elon Musk’s mix of intent, action, and empowerment
- How to find your early “Persons of Peace” instead of just filling roles
- Jeremie's favorite hiring question: “Who are you?” (being vs doing)
- Using pruning (not sunk costs) as a framework for tough founder decisions
00:00 – Introduction
02:32 – Building a roadmap for developing people by personality type
03:25 – Speaking your team’s language: the five-voices metaphor & café-in-France example
05:03 – Five Voices AI: tone checks, onboarding prompts, and “no excuses” leadership
06:07 – Rapid Fire Q1: Jeremie's decision filter – True North, DNA / skeleton / skin test
08:53 – Rapid Fire Q2: What people misunderstand about starting – belief, mindset & self-doubt
10:31 – Rapid Fire Q3: When Jeremie wanted to give up – pruning portfolio companies
13:01 – How Jeremie thinks about equity: hired guns vs co-founders, earn-ins, sweat equity & phantom stock
18:12 – Rapid Fire Q4: Humbling dot-com failure in African-American haircare & not knowing your customer
20:00 – Apprenticeship, African-American haircare, and why startup fundamentals travel across industries
21:38 – Rapid Fire Q5: Why Elon Musk embodies intent + action and empowered leadership
24:21 – Past vs present vs future: feeling responsible for what you built vs pruning for what’s next
27:40 – Listening like a founder: best-idea-wins, MVP thinking & the pressure of early hires
31:26 – “Persons of Peace,” culture-first hiring, and why your first teammates can’t just want a J-O-B
34:25 – Jeremie's favorite interview question: “Who are you?” (being vs doing)
37:33 – Do founders need leadership coaching? Org clarity, financial plans & Sherpa team leaders
41:22 – Resilience vs sunk cost: using pruning instead of “I have to see this through”
44:45 – Jeremie's next chapter: future of work, AI, forced diversification & entrepreneurship under pressure
46:32 – Wrapping up and where to find Jeremie online
Connect with Jeremie
Website: https://www.jeremiekubicek.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiekubicek/
Book: The Voice-Driven Leader - https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Driven-Leader-Playbook-Personalized-Development/dp/1394150660
Connect with Brian
👋 It’s your host, Brian!
Come say hi:
Website: https://brianondrako.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
PS - If you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time: https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
AI used to feel like a “someday” technology. Now it’s a power tool founders can use this weekend to build real products, validate ideas, and even qualify leads while they sleep. In this episode, I’m joined by Cooper Simson of Martell Ventures to talk about the real front lines of AI: shutting down a profitable AI startup, spotting bad ideas in a hype cycle, and using AI to build, sell, and iterate faster—without getting lost in the noise.
Topics we cover:
When AI actually “caught fire” and why development is becoming commoditized
How Cooper turned grant writing into an AI startup (and why he shut it down even though it was working)
Practical signals it might be time to wind down your product or pivot
The difference between product validation and true product–market fit
What Martell Ventures looks for in founders (domain expertise + speed of action)
Common AI founder mistakes: copycat products, no defensibility, and one-and-done tools
Why so many founders struggle with sales (and how to sell problems, not features)
How to use AI to 10x your output: system prompts, voice-to-text tools, and AI lead qualifiers
A simple 2-step playbook to go from idea → customer conversations → weekend MVP
Cooper’s own “just get started” moment building a Shopify sales-tax tool for his fiancée’s business
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
1:30 – Cooper’s first AI startup: grant-writing software in the “GPT 1.0” days
5:30 – Knowing when to shut down a ‘working’ business (government risk, sunk cost, AI catching up)
10:10 – Rapid Fire Q1: The Post-It note he’d give the next generation (“Just go sell”)
11:35 – Rapid Fire Q2: Mantra when things get hard (glass-half-full & keep the sail up)
12:30 – Rapid Fire Q3: Priorities when everything feels urgent (Eisenhower Matrix in real life)
14:15 – Rapid Fire Q4: Staying motivated when the wins are slow to come
16:10 – Rapid Fire Q5: Cooper’s next Just Get Started moment (Shopify sales-tax tool for his fiancée)
20:45 – What makes an AI idea worth building vs “because we can build it”
24:00 – Common founder mistakes: copycat AI, no defensibility, one-time-use tools & ignoring churn
29:15 – Why founders struggle with sales (and how to sell the problem, not the product)
33:30 – Practical AI for founders: voice tools, system prompts, AI callers & weekend MVPs
39:07 – Two concrete steps to go from idea → conversations → AI-built product
Find Cooper Online:
Website: https://www.danmartell.com/ventures/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooper.simson/
Find your host, Brian, online:
If you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time:
📨 Sales Skills For Founders newsletter https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
In this conversation, Chris LaFay (Founder, Classic City Consulting) shares a decade of hard-won lessons on staying profitable, avoiding bloat, and building an agency that lasts. We dig into “one-glass focus,” why not niching can still be strategic, when to pass on work, partnerships without finders fees, pricing and retainers, and the KPI that quietly compounds new business: intentional outreach.
In this episode, you’ll learn
Why “one glass” focus beats scattered growth
Project variety vs. “niching down” (and how to niche by systems, not industry)
The comparison trap: learning from peers without copy-pasting their playbook
When referral partnerships work without commissions—and when they don’t
The 4 R’s growth engine: Retain → Reactivate → Referral → Recruit (new)
Don’t hire on a hope: catching operational bloat before it sinks marginsPricing, retainers, and the “help agencies look great” strategy
The single KPI Chris tracks in good seasons: weekly intentional check-ins
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
09:04 One-Glass Focus: creator energy, momentum, and why projects stay interesting
11:29 Project Variety > Burnout: why new client problems keep the work fresh
14:15 Do You Need a Niche? Niching by WordPress/Shopify & repeatable frameworks
15:32 Peer Comparison Without Copy-Paste: learning from others, keeping identity
18:44 Outreach > Everything: how early agencies stall without consistent relationship-building
25:24 Partnerships Sans Finder Fees: when passing leads is the value (and exceptions)
31:10 Adding Value to Your Agency Network: beyond referrals; community & support
32:17 Risk You’re Glad You Took: the hiring lesson that reshaped the business
37:51 Silencing the Inner Critic: external processing & mentor mirrors
41:22 Most Valuable KPI: weekly intentional reach-outs (and why they compound)
46:55 Action Taker You Admire: David Feldman & decisive leadership
51:49 Sunk Costs & When to Quit: “fans-first” filter + staying lean on OPEX
Connect with Chris:
Founder – Classic City Consulting
Website: https://classiccity.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lafay/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aHdpQXccPOE9YTcDJe4gZ
Connect with Brian:
Web: https://brianondrako.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
If you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
In this engaging conversation, professional cyclist Alison Tetrick shares her journey from a competitive tennis player to a successful cyclist, discussing the importance of mental health, the joy of sports, and the need for community support. She emphasizes the significance of encouraging youth, especially girls, to stay in sports and find joy in their pursuits rather than focusing solely on competition. Alison also opens up about her personal challenges, including overcoming fear and anxiety after traumatic experiences, and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. The discussion highlights the value of enjoying the process and finding personal inspiration in one's goals.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:50 Current Projects and Initiatives
05:43 The Journey of a Cyclist
11:42 Overcoming Challenges and Mental Health
14:38 Rapid Fire Questions
23:10 The Importance of Enjoying the Process
28:55 Navigating Fear and Anxiety
36:44 The Role of Sports in Personal Development
43:40 Encouraging Youth in Sports
51:33 Final Thoughts and Advice
Find Alison Online:
Website: www.alisontetrick.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amtetrick/
Twitter: https://www.x.com/AMTetrick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AMTetrick
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AMTetrick
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@AMTetrick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMTetrick
Shop: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com/
👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Episode 472 features Dr. Sheila Gujrathi, a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for under represented leaders. Her new book, "The Mirror Effect: A Transformative Approach To Growth For The Next Generation Of Female Leaders" is out now.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Book Announcement
02:15 The Unmet Need: Writing for My Younger Self
05:30 Overcoming Challenges: A Personal Journey
09:45 The Power of Mentorship and Sponsorship
14:00 Spiritual Growth and Finding Purpose
18:20 Building a Personal Board of Directors
23:10 The Inner Critic and Self-Compassion
28:45 The Importance of Storytelling in Leadership
33:00 Navigating Negative Work Environments
37:15 Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability and Connection
Find Sheila Online:
Website: https://sheilagujrathimd.com/
TEDxTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DpDx6T3-X4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-gujrathi-md/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilagujrathimd/
Book: https://sheilagujrathimd.com/book/
About Sheila:
Sheila is a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for under represented leaders. Over the past 25 years, she’s had the privilege of developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies—including some exciting exits. Today she’s a founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds.
Dr. Gujrathi was the co-founder and former CEO of Gossamer Bio and former Chief Medical Officer of Receptos. Her journey started at Northwestern University, where she earned both her M.D. and biomedical engineering degree, and took her from the halls of Harvard, UCSF, and Stanford to the corporate offices of Fortune 500 companies like McKinsey, Genentech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Dr. Gujrathi has earned multiple leadership awards, including AIMBE Fellow, BLOC100 Luminary, Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology, Corporate Directors Forum Director of the Year, and Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. But what really lights her up is creating the inclusive environments she wished she’d had throughout her career. That’s why she co-founded the Biotech CEO Sisterhood, a group of trailblazing female CEOs—because we’re all better when we support each other.
Episode 471 features Alyona Mysko, Founder & CEO of Fuel Finance.
Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction
01:23 — How Alyona Met Alina Vandenberghe (Eastern Europe Bond)
03:59 — From Math Geek to Finance: Teachers, Simpsons, Degrees
07:02 — Big Four to Fractional CFO ➜ Founding Fuel Finance
08:44 — Opportunity Cost & Learning to Say No
12:28 — Biggest Risks—Startup, Product, Move to the U.S.
16:48 — What Founders Miss at the Start: Talk Money on Day One
23:42 — Profit 101: Your First Financial Plan & Realistic Forecasting
40:06 — Product-Market Fit Signals & Narrowing Your ICP
44:25 — Action Challenge: Set Your “Life Number” + Monthly P&L Hour
Find Alyona Online:
Website: https://fuelfinance.me/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyona-mysko/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyona_mysko/
About Alyona:
Alyona Mysko is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fuelfinance, an AI-powered financial planning and analysis platform built for SMBs. Before starting Fuel, she spent 10+ years as a CFO helping founders handle messy spreadsheets and build forecasts. Now she’s scaling that superpower with AI, giving founders real-time visibility into their numbers and faster decisions without hiring a full finance team.
Episode 470 features Amanda Goetz, a 2x Founder, CEO and 4x CMO and author of the book, "Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have."
Find Amanda Online:
Website: https://www.amandagoetz.com/
Book: https://www.toxicgrit.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoetz/
Twitter: https://x.com/AmandaMGoetz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/
About Amanda:
Amanda Goetz is a 2x Founder, CEO and 4x CMO. She is an inspirational writer and content creator captivating millions of people every month through her social insights and newsletter “Life’s a Game”. Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to lead marketing teams at Ernst & Young, The Knot and still advises as Fractional CMO to multiple startups. She started her last company, House of Wise, during the pandemic in her garage, raised two rounds of venture capital and sold it in 2022 all while homeschooling three young children as a single mom. She found love again and lives with her partner and 3 kiddos in Miami, FL after a decade dodging hustle culture in NYC.
Episode 469 features Timothy Springer, Founder of Level Access and 1 to 100.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:50 Traveling and Balancing Work
03:57 Current Projects and AI Innovations
07:44 Partnerships and Entrepreneurial Support
11:51 Coaching and Operational Guidance
15:52 Goal Setting and Planning
19:52 Persistence and Overcoming Challenges
23:45 Market Timing and Business Viability
27:35 Finding Product-Market Fit
28:24 The Reality of Startup Timelines
30:36 Sales Strategies and Market Focus
35:11 Avoiding Common Startup Mistakes
40:11 Mindset Shifts Across Revenue Stages
47:29 Founder-Led Sales: When to Transition
53:14 Actionable Insights for Founders
Find Tim Online:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/1-to-100/
About Tim:
Tim Springer built a B2B technology company from his Stanford dorm room to $100M+ in annual recurring revenue—a path traveled by only 1 in 2,500 tech startups.
His story isn't about overnight success. It's about consistent execution over 25 years, navigating economic downturns, solving complex scaling challenges, and building sustainable growth. Tim's unique advantage? A rare combination of technical depth and operational expertise that bridges the gap between product innovation and organizational mechanics.
Throughout his career, Tim has maintained a commitment to both technical excellence and ethical business practices. His experience spans multiple economic cycles, from navigating the dot-com bust to the 2008 financial crisis, bolstering his leadership approach with resilience and adaptability.
Now, through peer benchmarking and battle-tested scaling methodologies, Tim helps CEOs cut through the noise to make better decisions faster and implement growth strategies that actually work.
Episode 468 features Desiree-Jessica Pely, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Alfa (Top 50 GTM Startup).
Find Jessica Online:
Website: https://www.getalfa.ai
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pely/
About Jessica:
Desiree-Jessica Pely, PhD, is pioneering a finance-led approach to B2B sales, go-to-market strategy, and revenue growth. As Co-Founder and CEO of Alfa (Top 50 GTM Startup), she leads the development of an AI-driven platform that transforms complex market signals into precise, actionable insights for sales, marketing, and finance teams.
Jessica brings together a PhD in Financial Economics, a background in Computer Science, and hands-on entrepreneurial execution. She has collaborated with Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler, exploring the intersection of behavioral economics and decision-making, and began her career in quantitative finance and predictive modeling.
Her passion for redefining GTM strategy grew from a common challenge: sales teams drowning in data yet struggling to identify the accounts that matter most. Alfa was created to solve this, deploying AI research agents that identify high-value accounts, map markets, and adapt continuously to real-time changes, enabling companies to penetrate markets with precision and scale revenue smarter.
Recognized as the “Queen of Leads,” Jessica has been named among the Top 100 People in SaaS, and awarded Salesperson of the Year. Beyond her company, she is an active mentor, investor, and coach, championing the next generation of innovators in SaaS, FinTech, and AI.
In episode 467, I'm joined by Pete Kazanjy, author of Founding Sales, and one of the earliest voices behind the “founder-led sales” movement. Pete shares lessons from building and scaling startups, the critical mindset shifts founders must make when selling, and why focusing on your ideal customer profile (ICP) is key to growth. From when to hire your first sales rep to the biggest blind spots founders face, this conversation is packed with practical insights for any early-stage entrepreneur navigating sales for the first time.
Find Pete Online:
Website: https://www.foundingsales.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kazanjy/
Twitter: https://x.com/Kazanjy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderLedSalesStories
Substack: https://founderledsalesstories.substack.com
Founder-Led Sales Stories Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GktosGS97HbPoVr8jq5T1
On this week's episode, I welcome in Andy Milligan to explore the art of entrepreneurship and personal growth. Discover how to balance ambition with authenticity and transform challenges into opportunities. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives eager to elevate their game and mindset.
Find Andy Online:
Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mmgdesign
Link To Podcast You Host (if applicable): https://www.mmgdesign.net/podcast
About Andy:
I’m Andy Milligan, and I run a design and marketing consultancy called MMG Design. I help startups and small marketing teams improve the design and strategy of their website through redesign sprints, audits, and strategy sessions.
My story isn't super glamorous, but the theme is consistent in that I always show up and learn the next step along the way.
After playing college golf at Methodist University and transferring, I joined a small marketing team at the University of Findlay, where I started taking on freelance projects, unpaid, for small businesses locally. That experience introduced me to design, branding, doing it on the job and I quickly became obsessed with this concept of how design could drive real business results and seeing it firsthand. After graduation, I landed a job as a marketing designer near Columbus, Ohio, but after a layoff, I went all in on building my own business. That was coming up two years ago and I haven’t looked back or had another job since.
I got started like most people do, saying yes to freelance gigs I probably wasn’t ready for. But with each project, I got sharper: better strategy, better systems, and a much clearer sense of what I actually bring to the table from a design standpoint, and it led me to slowly niche down into websites and design strategy.
Along the way, I also launched Marketing by Design, my podcast where I talk with marketers, founders, and creatives about how to do this work in a way that actually feels sustainable and effective. It’s been a way to connect with people I admire, sharpen my thinking, and build trust with others in the space. I started posting on Linkedin every day since the layoff, and it's been a huge reason as to why I'm able to make the business work and meet my goals.
Right now, I’m based in Springfield, Ohio, working from a quiet apartment studio that gives me time to focus, reflect, and get better at what I do. I’m currently the VP of membership for the AMA Columbus chapter and involved with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. I spend at least 2 days per week doing in-person meetings with clients or other marketers in Columbus, and my time is spent between fulfillment of client projects and content.
This week's episode welcomes in Gabe Marusca, a business development strategist and host of the Authority in the Wild Podcast.
Find Gabe Online:
Website: https://www.gabemarusca.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/
Twitter: https://x.com/GabeMarusca
Instagram: https://instagram.com/GabeMarusca
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorityInTheWild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maruscagabe/
Authority In The Wild Podcast: https://authorityinthewild.com
About Gabe:
Gabe's focus is on helping established coaches and consultants serve clients better and longer, doing what they love and know best. Gabe's being driven by the mission to help 10,000 individuals achieve freedom through entrepreneurship.
Having lived through earning a mere $200 paycheck, experiencing burnout, and repeatedly rebuilding from scratch, Gabe deeply understands resilience and adaptation.
Over six years ago, he sold everything, bought a one-way ticket to Asia, and began traveling across continents. He's now visited 27 countries and lived in more than 10, proving his belief that anyone can design a fulfilling life without compromising their health or personal relationships.
When he's not developing new business strategies or engaging with industry leaders on podcasts, you'll likely find Gabe exploring tropical jungles, hiking active volcanoes, or swimming in the ocean.
Hey everyone! I haven't done a solo episode in a while but I wanted to share why I'm taking a summer break and how taking a step back might help you refocus and come back stronger.
Thanks again for listening in and we'll see you in September!
just get started,
Brian
++++++++
👋 Come say hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brianondrako
📧 Join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter
https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
🎧 Listen to the Just Get Started Podcast
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-get-started-with-brian-ondrako/id1315477238
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FjLPVWfahX1rT0MMFhxvD?si=e61ad283b3de4ace
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-just-get-started-podcast-61217509/
📺 Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@brianondrako
Epside #463 features Bryan Yates, Performance Coach and Experience Producer
00:00 – Intro01:10 – Burnout at Disney and leaving the grind08:15 – Tying identity to job title13:00 – Cycling, addiction, and obsessive patterns21:10 – Traits of people who successfully change24:05 – Change happens at the speed of pain28:50 – Status, motive, and marketability31:50 – Hunter vs. gardener mindset36:15 – Stripping away vs. transformation44:10 – Tactical daily mindset reset49:50 – Start with a clear why
Find Bryan Online:
Website: https://locomotivcoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanyates/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachbryanyates
About Bryan:
Bryan Yates helps high-functioning creative leaders stuck in cycles of grinding. He trains them to shift perspectives and access their unused gears when they've hit inflection points.
After documenting 4000 hours of holocaust testimonies at Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, Bryan experienced the soul-crushing grind at Disney, where "don't bother coming in Sunday if you weren't here Saturday" was the unspoken rule. That taught him how patterns that create success become chains that prevent growth.
His journey through corporate burnout, two costly partnership dissolutions, and recovery from workaholism and alcoholism revealed that most high achievers operate in patterns that once served them but now trap them. He channeled these insights into building businesses including The Bovine Classic, "America's 4th-Hardest, Cow-Themed, Gravel Cycling Ride."
His coaching methodology draws from competitive cycling (where "always be shifting" preserves energy), performance coaching principles, and recovery wisdom. This unique blend creates his "Shift your..." framework—a systematic approach to accessing unused potential.
👋 Say hi to Brian!
Episode #462 features Angela Hollowell, the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina.
Find Angela Online:
Personal Website: heyangela.co
Rootful Media Website: rootfulmedia.com
Honey & Hustle Podcast Website: honeyandhustle.co
Personal YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/AngelaHollowell
Rootful Media YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@rootfultv
Creative Architects: https://castos.com/series/creative-architects
Twitter: www.twitter.com/anghollowell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahollowell/
About Angela:
Angela Hollowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina. She is also the host of the video podcasts Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects by Castos. She creates documentary films about the outdoors, health equity, social impact, and environmental justice centering Southern voices. Her video interviews feature themes about creative entrepreneurship in North Carolina and beyond. In addition to her professional creative projects, she works to help visual storytellers and creative entrepreneurs build their audience and make an impact.
When she’s not working, she can be found in nature or enjoying a fruity beer or margaritas with friends.
Episode 461 features Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper.
Find Alina Online:
Website: https://www.chilipiper.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/
About Alina
Alina Vandenberghe is Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Chili Piper. She’s passionate about building fun SaaS products to solve hard problems and a company where employees thrive.
Today, the Romania native and her husband are on their way to IPO — all while giving back to the community through our Citizens Of Our Planet foundation.
Alina earned a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the Polytechnic University in Bucharest, Romania. She currently resides in New York City. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn.
Episode 460 features Michael Bryant, whose sole focus has been to help people get unstuck.
Find Michael Online:
Website: https://www.unstucker.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unstucker/
About Michael:
For over forty years, Michael Bryant's focus has been helping people get unstuck. He uses his background as an endurance athlete and seven-time Ironman finisher to help people overcome obstacles and stay focused. Individuals and industry leaders come to Michael to help them gain clarity in their professional and personal lives.
He was a proponent of creating effective lives long before the term "work/live balance" was used. Helping people do work that gives their lives meaning and communicating and connecting with others are what gets Michael excited to get out of bed. (That and training for his next triathlon)
++++++++
👋 Come say hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brianondrako
📧 Join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter
https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe
🎧 Listen to the Just Get Started Podcast
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-get-started-with-brian-ondrako/id1315477238
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FjLPVWfahX1rT0MMFhxvD?si=e61ad283b3de4ace
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-just-get-started-podcast-61217509/
📺 Watch on YouTube
Episode 459 features Alli Rizacos, a Linkedin Business Coach.
She runs a 3 day Bootcamp to help you jumpstart your coaching business on Linkedin:
https://www.allirizacos.com/bootcamp
Find Alli Online: www.allirizacos.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allirizacos/
About Alli:
Alli Rizacos is a LinkedIn Business Coach, turning corporate leaders into successful coaches on Linkedin. She comes from a long background in sales, working at Salesforce for 8 years. She quit in 2021 to start her coaching business and has successfully launched 2 coaching business with over $1.2M in revenue all from her LinkedIn brand. She’s also a Virgo, Enneagram 3 and Projector…she means business but can see the imposter syndrome behind every business owner.
Episode 458 features Melissa Cohen, Founder of MBC Consulting Solutions, LLC and known affectionately as The "Good Witch of Linkedin"
Website: https://www.melissabethcohen.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-beth-cohen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissabethcohen/
Newsletter: https://mail.melissabethcohen.com/
Melissa Cohen is a personal branding and LinkedIn strategist. After decades in the fashion industry where she led teams at top American brands such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Nautica, Melissa found her calling in helping others to love LinkedIn as much as she does. She works with private clients to build their brand, find their voice, and build their business. Melissa was recognized by the LinkedIn editorial team in January 2024 as a LinkedIn Top Voice.
She is also the Chief Engagement Officer of DIY Influence (www.DIYInfluence.com), a collaborative membership community designed to build your visibility, find your audience, and develop your thought leadership.
Melissa lives in New York City and is passionate about supporting girls and women in their educational and career journeys. She is a board member of Her Move Next, a 501(C)3 charity dedicated to empowering girls and young women through chess, community and competition, and was a founding member of Chief.
She is the co-author of the Amazon Bestselling book, Your Career Resilience Blueprint: A Tactical Guide to Navigate Change, Overcome Obstacles, and Design Your Future.