Episode 499: Kim Perell: Building a $235M Company from the Kitchen Table + Why Perfectionism Kills Success

Nov 4, 2025

Kim Perell, a nine-time serial entrepreneur and bestselling author, shares her insights on overcoming perfectionism and embracing the journey of entrepreneurship. She reveals the pitfalls of waiting to feel ready and the importance of the 70% solution. Kim discusses launching her beverage brand, Junie, alongside Jay Shetty, and emphasizes how authentic storytelling can cut through market noise. She also offers advice on balancing her busy life with four kids, her morning routine, and why exercise is vital for productivity.

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ADVICE

Launch At 70% Ready

If you're 70% ready, launch and iterate instead of waiting for perfection.
Use market feedback to improve because a product is never fully "ready."

INSIGHT

Iteration Beats Reinventing The Wheel

You don't have to invent a new category to win; iterate and do an existing product better.
Differentiation can come from better execution, branding, or targeted positioning.

INSIGHT

Authentic Story Drives Brand Resilience

Authentic founder stories power brands because passion sustains through hard times.
Investors often back people more than raw ideas when passion is evident.

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What if perfectionism is actually killing your success? In this Habits and Hustle episode, Kim Perell, a nine-time serial entrepreneur, joins me to share why waiting to feel ready is the biggest mistake aspiring business owners make.

We dive into Kim's morning routine, her partnership with Jay Shetty on Junie, and why exercise is her number one productivity tool. We also discuss why iteration beats innovation, and how she balances building multiple companies while raising four kids.

Kim Perell is a 9X founder, 2X bestselling author, and investor in 100+ companies. Kim is a dynamic TV personality on Entrepreneur Magazine's Elevator Pitch and regularly appears on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNBC, Fox, and in Forbes, Inc., and The New York Times. Her book "Mistakes That Made Me A Millionaire" shares the unfiltered truth about the journey to success, proving that every mistake holds the potential for million-dollar lessons.

What We Discuss:

04:20 - The number one mistake: waiting to feel 100% ready before starting

05:09 - The Marine Corps 70% solution and how to apply it

06:56 - Why iteration beats innovation (and saves time)

07:21 - Co-founding Junie with Jay Shetty in a crowded beverage market

58:10 - Daily routine: waking at 6 AM, red light therapy, and meditation

59:28 - Running a household with four kids like a company

01:00:29 - Workout routine: HIIT, Peloton, and personal training at home

01:01:08 - Supplement stack: Momentous protein and creatine

01:03:00 - Why exercise is about mental health and focus, not competition

01:03:27 - Exercise as the number one longevity hack above all supplements

…and more!

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Amp fits is the perfect balance of tech and training, designed for people who do it all and still want to feel strong doing it. Check it out at joinamp.com/jen

Find more from Jen:

Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/

Instagram: @therealjencohen

Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books

Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement

Find more from Kim Perell:

Instagram: @kimperell

Website: https://kimperell.com/