Ever wonder if you could start a business in a sector that you know nothing about? Well, truth is, it doesn’t take long to learn. Colin went from knowing nothing to being an expert in less than 3 years.

How can I tell he’s an expert? He’s now got his own business and he’s saved probably at least 100 families huge amounts on their travel expenses. He does that through healing them leverage their credit card points wisely.

But that’s not what we’re here to talk about.

We’re here to see what it’s like to look back on your initial journey after having set out on your own. Many of you want to start a business, but are not sure when to really go and not sure what it will look like.

Thankfully, we have a great example today. Colin is super open with us. And in today’s discussion, he takes a moment to reflect on where he is now. He gives all the credit to God.

But more than this reflection session, we get to learn what it’s like for Colin’s wife to also be running her own business. Is there a bit of spousal rivalry? Does it stress them out? These and much more we get into during today’s episode.

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Timestamps from today’s conversation:

* 00:00 Introduction and Background

* 04:50 Early Life and Influences

* 08:46 Struggles with Purpose and Career

* 12:18 Finding Passion in Triathlons

* 12:50 Concept of Success in Youth

* 16:39 First Entrepreneurial Ventures

* 22:15 Starting the Travel Points Business

* 30:35 Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship

* 37:35 From Side Hustle to Full-Time Success

* 40:20 Navigating Business Growth and Challenges

* 44:23 Balancing Family Life and Entrepreneurship

* 44:55 The Spousal Dynamic in Entrepreneurship

* 50:24 Managing Work and Family Responsibilities

* 55:08 Reflections on Faith and Provision

* 01:02:16 Reconciling Ambition with Faith

* 01:05:37 Finding Community as a Catholic Entrepreneur

* 01:09:17 Travel Tips and Business Insights

* 01:13:16 Introduction and Call to Action

Core Lesson:

Entrepreneurship offers us a way to understand our identity further.

As you heard in the opening clip, Colin found his sense of identity through his entrepreneurial journey. Not in the sense that his business IS his identity, but that he started to feel he came into himself through the experience.

In many ways running a business just heightens the senses. Everything is more exaggerated, and most things feel existential. This helps us find out more about ourselves and who we really are.

Yes—our faults will be more visible, but so will our virtues. Having this clear feedback allows us to focus our efforts so we can improve.

Until next time—God bless and happy building!

Silas Mähner

PS: Need help in your business? Is it time to hire a virtual assistant?

Consider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (silas@erthtechtalent.com or karen@erthtechtalent.com).

You pay $500 when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.

This is a pilot we are running to help Catholic VAs in the Philipines find employment with more ethical companies. Help change a life today.

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