Catholic Founders

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsAs AI eats the world, it’s more important than ever for Catholics to shape and lead the discussion and practices of this technology. Thankfully, we have just the person to discuss it. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋In Today’s Podcast: * How we are called to be the leaven of society, especially as entrepreneurs * Our unique path to God through our entrepreneurial journey* Trusting in God’s will in entrepreneurship, not just ministry * Core Takeaway: To fulfill our unique calling in life, we must lean into our entrepreneurial tendencies and fully trust in GodFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Busy? We have the main topic time stamps below for you to skip around as needed. (We’ve got you)About Today’s Guest: Our guest today is Andreas Widmer. If you don’t know him already, I’m very pleased to introduce you to him. Originating from Switzerland, he ended up getting into the Swiss Guard for aesthetic purposes. He could never have imagined what this would lead to. Throughout his time in this role, he came to know Pope Saint John Paul II and had a profound deepening of faith. He would go on to work in many types of businesses and is now one of the most influential Catholic business personalities in the US. Not only does he teach at the Catholic University of America (founded by Pope Leo XIII), but he also co-founded the Bush School of Business there with Andrew Abela. He’s the author of The Pope and the CEO, and most recently, The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship. He’s also an advisor to Magisterium AI and SENT Ventures. On top of all this, he’s involved in social impact entrepreneurship in parts of East Africa, which is especially close to my heart, given that my wife is from there. So when I call him ‘The King of Catholic Entrepreneurship,” I mean it. * Andreas Widmer* The Catholic University of America | The Art Ciocca Center* The CEDE summer program for high school students* Book: The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship* Book: The Pope & The CEO* Book: The Economics of the Parables* Book: Recapturing the Spirit of Enterprise* Engage Andreas for coaching (post-revenue companies)Key Moments:* 2:45 What Andreas Does Now* 4:30 Becoming a Swiss Guard | How God used his natural interests to lead him deeper into the Faith* 8:30 Discerning our journey | How leaning into our interests and non-evil desires is the way God guides us* 14:05 Understanding that our journey with God is the only thing that matters. Everything else is an illusion. Yes, including financial success and public recognition. * 18:45 How to know if we should change our business to align our business with the Faith. * 21:05 Why most Catholics don’t start a business * 23:00 The cycle of trusting in God over and over * 25:50 How to be the leaven of society | Applying Catholic Social Teaching * 31:05 What it means to bring the faith to work * 35:35 Doing business in a way that is sanctifying. | Enterprise solutions for impact investing. * 39:40 Starting a call center inside a jail* 41:10 What America would look like if business owners acted like Christ | An economy that celebrates the human person * 46:30 Working is how we imitate God * 47:00 Where to reach AndreasCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: Be the leaven of society. | Lean into your entrepreneurial tendencies to come closer to God.This discussion had two things that hit me in the face. First of all, the importance of us being the leaven in society. Something I knew already, but that is reinforced in this current moment in time with Leo XIV ascending to the chair. Andreas further drove this point home to me that this journey is not a straight line of ‘being the leaven’ we are constantly having to trust fall into God’s arms, and do it again. This leads to the second point. That the way we come into a deeper relationship with God is through this constant loop, if you will. Hopefully, we grow each time. Through constantly embracing God and turning to Him, we can start to understand our unique calling in life. This requires patience (something I’m pretty bad at). God has charted out the entire journey. Even when we make a mistake, God instantly corrects the symphony to continue to create something beautiful. This was a really powerful validation our desire to build, to create, to achieve is not in conflict with our journey closer to God. This is something I’ve often felt — that there is a certain dissonance. But after this conversation, I no longer feel that way. I know it’s okay to lean into my interests, into my skillset… through this I will learn who God wants me to become. Even though I don’t know the full picture yet, I put one foot in front of the other, knowing that God will lead me. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildIf you’d like to join our next Catholic Founders Guild discussion where we will probably discuss this exact topic (journey closer to God as an entrepreneur) upgrade today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Upgrading also gets you access to all of our paywalled content. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Join the Catholic Founders Guild (Peer Group): $10/month or $100/year Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIf you’re Catholic and often wonder if it’s okay to desire to make big money, this is a good episode for you. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Quick note, this weekend, we’ll be hosting a hangout call for the paid members of Catholic founders (the Catholic Founders Guild) — if you’d like to join, become a paid supporter today! In Today’s Podcast: * As Catholics, is it okay for us to want to be billionaires? * Will O’Brien* Core Takeaway: Money enables you to do a lot of things — and if you pursue it for the right reasons, you can be a massive force for good. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: * Will O’Brien is a proud Irishman, the Co-Founder of Ulysses, and a recent revert to the Faith. He’s based in SF. * Ulysses builds autonomous robots for the ocean. They will enable the maintenance of the $3 trillion ocean economy. * Will on My First MillionKey Moments:* 08:49 His Faith Journey: From Nepal to SF to Catholicism * 21:20 Catholicism & ClimateTech | Human Flourishing* 24:50 Stewardship Technology * 33:50 San Francisco is Turning… Christian? (80 Baptisms at Easter Vigil)* 39:45 Catholics Should Be Leading Technologists — We Are Called to Create Heaven On Earth (This is a really interesting take on the case for Catholicism being a ‘pro-tech’ organization.) * 45:15 Beyond Consciousness — Spiritual Gifts* 49:10 Ambition — Becoming a Billionaire — Impact * 55:00 We Are All Called to Create In Some WayCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: God created us to lead. Therefore, we ought to enter willingly into leadership positions knowing that He is by our side. While many Catholics are trying to hide from the world, that’s not what we are called to do. We are called to go where God is sending us, and be a witness in those places, wherever they may be. God also gave us ambition that we can steer (with God’s help) with our reason and will. Therefore, we ought to enter leadership roles without being afraid. Knowing that God will guide us if we constantly give glory to Him. This even includes becoming wildly successful, financially speaking. The money is not evil. In fact, money enables us to do many things. In short, we must answer the call to leadership. God didn’t create us with ambition so we could hide in the closet. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsJoin the Catholic Founders Guild Today - $10/month or $100/year Habemus Papam! What an exciting week for us as Catholics. Especially Americans, and especially us good ole Midwesterners. Long Live Pope Leo XIV! Hey everyone! Silas here 👋In case you missed it, check out this week’s issue of The Saintly CEO discussing how to manage your calendar with the Holy Spirit in mind. In Today’s Podcast: * Why a lot of Church media is not great * The importance of leaning into your role as a leader * What to do when you face the darkest moments of your entrepreneurship journey First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: * Rob Kaczmark: Born and raised in Chicago, Rob never intended to start a business, but ended up hosting a radio show called Spirit Juice. Eventually would go on to build an incredible media production business. * Spirit Juice: To date, they have worked with people like Bishop Baron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Hallow, Knights of Columbus, Jonathan Roumie, Mark Wahlberg, and many others. They have also won a couple of Emmys. Key Moments:* 2:30 Why Most Catholic Media Sucks — Because They Don’t Usually Value Non Physical Things* 8:45 From Ministry to Radio Show to Winning Some Emmys * 11:30 Training People to Care As Much As He Did — Learning to Relinquish Control — Learning to Let People Fail* 16:15 Learning to Reflect On Your Day-to-Day So That You Can Further Integrate Your Faith Into Your Business* 18:10 Hiring for Existing Skills or for Future Potential * 23:45 Just Because You’re Catholic Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Face Challenges — Recognize the Consolation Your Faith Brings* 26:00 The Darkest Moments Of His Career — “Is There Anything Else You’d Rather Do?” * 29:50 How They Integrate The Faith Into The Business* 32:30 Does Your Ambition Come From God or Is It Selfish Desire For Recognition* 37:00 Leaning Into Your Leadership Role* 40:30 Finding A Community of Catholic Entrepreneurs Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: God Put You In a Leadership Position, Own It. Rob, like many of us, felt a sense of guilt for having people call him the CEO at one point. He didn’t want to have the fancy title. He wanted to do good work. Eventually, his team told him he ought to lean into it. Now he’s come to accept the situation he’s in. God put him in this role, so it’s okay for him to lean into it. When he does, it helps him stay more accountable to his Faith because he recognizes he’s got more responsibility. He needs to live by example. All of us can do the same. Whatever leadership role we find ourselves in, lean into it. Take the reins and lead. Lead with Jesus at your side and our Blessed Mother in your heart. Lead with patience, humility, and courage. Use the gifts God gave you and use them well. No burying your talent in the sand. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHappy Easter! He is Risen!Super glad to be back with another incredible discussion full of wisdom. If you have not already, check out our free Monday newsletter, The Saintly CEO.Also, quick housekeeping, as you may have noticed, we’re shifting our publishing schedule of the podcast to Thursdays — posting it the day after the newsletter felt a little punchy.And, if you have not already, please fill out the listeners’ survey to help us learn how to better serve you.In Today’s Podcast:* How Monika set aside her career to raise her children* Tenets of entrepreneurship as a Catholic mother* How she helped a brand go from inception to a $200m exit in 5 yearsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.About Today’s Guest:We’re speaking with Monika Elling. Someone I met in the Catholic Entrepreneurship scene in NYC during the time I lived there. She has accomplished a lot in her career, including helping a brand sell for $200m. But most importantly, she didn’t sacrifice family to do so. She stepped away from her career to raise her children.For these reasons, I think she’s a great guest to discuss how a Catholic woman should think about entrepreneurship.* Monika Elling* Foundations Marketing GroupKey Moments:* 15:19 Balancing Family and CareerShe was never willing to put work above her family duties.* 18:27 Navigating Challenges as a Catholic EntrepreneurWe have the trust to keep going because God calls us, and He walks with us. So we just put one foot in front of the other.* 32:49 Family Influence on EntrepreneurshipConsider that your work as an entrepreneur is likely to inspire your children towards this life as well.* 34:21 The Evolution of Entrepreneurial CultureRemember that entrepreneurship is not about hustle-porn and making money for money’s sake — it’s what we do to provide for our families, and the families of those we employ.* 42:59 Connecting with Decision MakersWhen you need to reach someone, have a compelling value proposition.* 55:27 Building a Supportive Catholic Entrepreneur EcosystemThere is a huge need for a community around Catholic Entrepreneurship — especially investors, mentors, and advisors who will help the next generation reach new heights.________Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA.Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission.If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you.How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA.________Core Lesson:Putting Our Spiritual Vocation First Doesn’t Mean Neglecting Our Earthly VocationThroughout hearing Monika’s story, it is clear that we must put our vocation first. In the case of many Catholic women, this is to marriage and motherhood. This is a spiritual vocation that God calls us to. However, as we see through her story, that doesn’t mean doing nothing with our Earthly Vocation. The things we are called to use our God-given skills for during this life.This goes for men as well. We cannot use our state as husband and father as an excuse to not use our God-given earthly skills. And for those tempted the other way, we cannot neglect our Spiritual Vocation.Over the next few days, let’s reflect on how well we are giving due time to each of these callings in our lives.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner________Don’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild.A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God.If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you.To sign up, upgrade to paid today.For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year.This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today.Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like).*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsOur world used to be covered in art that lifted us up to God. Now it’s not. Today’s guest is trying to help solve this. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Before you dive in, ICYMI, we launched a newsletter!It goes out Mondays. It’s called The Saintly CEO. Each issue offers (1) a tactical tip to insert Faith into your business (in under 5 min) and (2) serves a curated list of other Catholic entrepreneurs to discover and connect with. Check it out today: The Saintly CEOIn Today’s Podcast:* Advice for artists who want to turn their art into a business* How Chris deals with the anxiety of running a business* The role of artists in bringing the culture back to GodFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.About Today’s Guest:* Chris Lewis | Catholic Convert | Illustrator | Family Man* Baritus Catholic* Pope Saint John Paul II’s Letter to ArtistsKey Moments:* 12:45 Taking the Leap: Going Full-Time* 15:48 Building a Family Business* 21:23 Core Principles for Aspiring Artists* 25:50 Balancing Ambition and Spiritual Guidance* 30:24 The Importance of Creativity and Spiritual Recharge* 33:42 Integrating Prayer into Business Practices* 37:13 Reclaiming Beauty in a Degraded Culture* 39:10 The Role of Art in Cultural Restoration* 44:50 Gratitude and Purpose in EntrepreneurshipCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA.Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission.If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you.How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA.Core Lesson:When we’re at our best as entrepreneurs, we become God’s paintbrush.Chris says he wants to keep the business a family business. When he and I spoke in preparation for this episode, he shared that he’s not trying to make it some big, huge business. In the episode, he explained this is in part because, as an artist, people want to work with you.However, the business is already bigger than he originally thought it would be. He also admitted that he’s constantly reevaluating how big this is meant to be. He frequently asks God what He wants of him.Resigning to the possibility that it might be bigger than he originally imagined is part of accepting God’s will. God gave us these skills, and if we’re seeking unity with Him, we’ll go as far as He asks us. Even to the ends of the earth.It’s even more moving to consider this from the perspective of an artist. God clearly gave you some basic skills and interest in the craft, so you really are His paintbrush.It’s not as romantic for business owners generally, but it’s the same principle.At our best—at our closest unity to God, we become a conduit of what He wants us to do in the world for Him.This is the ideal we ought to strive for.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through entrepreneurship. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild.A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God.If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you.To sign up, upgrade to paid today.For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year.This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today.Support us further by becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year.*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back to Catholic Founders. Our mission is to help you learn how to run your business like a saint. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋News:* ICYMI, read our latest blog post (free for all) Stop Trying to Leave Your Faith at the Door. * If you’re in Central Wisconsin, we’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup on April 22nd. Reach out for more details. * We’re launching a weekly newsletter! Stay tuned for that (don’t worry, you’ll be automatically included b/c you sub here). In Today’s Podcast: * How Taylor went from Anti-Catholic Baptist to building a Dating Coaching Business to help Catholic Men find their wives. * Taylor Ross | His Biz: Trad Chad Dating* Take Initiative First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: Today we’re speaking with Taylor Ross. He grew up initially as a non-denom Christian. But later on they joined an anti-Catholic Baptist church that really turned him against Catholicism. It wasn’t until later that some inter-protestant arguments started to make him wonder what was true. But he was still committed to the idea that Catholics were headed to Hell. Eventually, all his core beliefs were shattered, so he figured he’d give Catholicism a try. About a year later, he was accepted into the Church. This led to his family, friends, and girlfriend all dumping him. He had to find new friends and start a new life. Shortly after this, he got back on the dating track because he knew he wanted to be a father. This led him to a dating coach. He’d end up working for that coach. He helped that business get to over $100k in monthly revenue. Then he decided to start Trad Chad Dating, his own dating coaching business, but for Catholics. Now he’s well on his way to making this his full-time business. And he’s helping Catholic men find their wives and get many steps closer to marriage. * Trad Chad DatingKey Moments:* 04:17 The moment he realized he was not meant for the 9-to-5. * 12:38 The moment he was creating far more value than he was capturing. * 17:30 The importance of avoiding debt.* 19:19 The basic thing you need to start a business. * 31:00 Perils to avoid when you start to see success. * 34:14 How his business taught him to appreciate prayer. Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: To be an Entrepreneur, Learn to Take InitiativeIn explaining how someone could get started in their entrepreneurial journey, he brought a lot of examples. Things that to he and I, would be obvious/likely actions. The reason they are obvious to us is that we take initiative. The good news is, you can learn initiative, so there’s no excuse if you were not born with it. And here’s the truth. Even the saints took initiative. They acted on their faith. They went out to the poor. They started religious orders. They wrote books. If they lacked a particular virtue, they took the initiative to study how they could develop that virtue. They were anything but stagnant. How could they not take initiative? After all, they had divine motivation. So this is your call! Practice taking initiative. Start small. Look back at your day. What is one way you could have taken initiative? After you start to see what the opportunities look like retroactively, you’ll begin (slowly) to notice them in real time. Once you develop the habit of noticing, start acting. Make it a habit. Over time it will be natural to you. Then, finally, you can refine. This is where you figure out what God is calling you to, and you can focus your initiative on that area. Chances are you’ll already be going in the right direction because He puts certain interests on our hearts so we eventually find our way to Him. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Hope your Lent is going well! If not, now’s the time to recommit to your practice. If you’re not already, subscribe to our YouTube channel to help us get closer to who wants to play it who wants to play it 1,000. This will allow us to participate in monetization. Thanks for taking 10 seconds out of your day.In Today’s Podcast: * Topic: How to live an undivided life.* Our Guest: Jeff Schiefelbein* Core TakeawayFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: Jeff is an absolute legend. He is someone whom I genuinely look up to as an example of Catholic entrepreneurship. He is the managing partner of Undivided Life, a consulting firm helping business leaders live… you guessed it… an undivided life. He co-hosts the BeatiDUDES podcast. He and his partners also run a few other businesses with about 60 people on payroll. Jeff is a gem. As you’ll see, he’s also full of amazing stories. * Jeff on LinkedIn* Undivided Life Website* The BeatiDUDESKey Moments:* 16:12 Traveling the country asking for free food and what that taught him* 29:30 Work is made FOR man and not man for work* 32:50 Is entrepreneurship the closest we come to acting ‘Imago Dei’? * 36:30 Becoming a conduit for God* 46:20 Building a culture of coaching* 49:50 How he manages so muchCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: Run your business so that when you face God at the end of your life, you’ll be proud of what you built and how you did it. Instead of trying to live a life separated into the various ‘compartments’ we often create. Live a life fully in alignment with the fact that you’ll one day face your creator. This is especially important for entrepreneurs because to whom much is given, much is expected. In other words, don’t settle for the standard level of expectations. Ask yourself genuinely, in the silence of adoration or on a walk… “What more could I do to be a builder for God while I’m here on earth, using the skills that He gave me?” Please spend some time on this in the coming week and figure out what you’re going to commit to. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.catholicfounders.comHey everyone! And we’re back — this time with a CF Mini Episode for the paid subscribers. So, if you’re not a paid subscriber, this is where we’ll have to drop you off. If you’d like to become part of our paid member community, all you have to do is upgrade to paid by clicking on the top right corner of your screen. It’s $10 a month or $100 a year and you get access to all this extra content AND you can join our amazing peer group of other Catholic entrepreneurs. We hope to see you on the other side… of the paywall.

Complete the listener survey to help us understand how to better serve you. All of us want our project to make an impact. How do we make an impact? There are many things that can help in this pursuit. One of them is certainly eyeballs. Another is a strong endorsement. So, it naturally follows that we might, as Catholic Founders, pursue the approval of our local bishop for our project. This would give us some street cred AND eyeballs when promoted from their pulpit. But how does one go about engaging their bishop? We discuss this and much much more with our esteemed guest today. Cristofer Pereyra is the CEO of Tepeyac Leadership Initiative. A fellowship to form Catholic Leaders among the lay people. I’m currently going through this fellowship and this topic of engaging our bishops is one that came up for me during one of our sessions. Cristofer has a lot of wisdom to share and I think we can all take note from his founding journey with TLI. Topics: * When to engage your bishop* How to get started * What the bishop cares about * Discerning and answering the call to start a project * The importance of personal transformation And much more. Get the Takeways Episode (Paid Subscriber Perk)As an FYI, for all paid subscribers, we will have a 15-minute takeaways episode coming out tomorrow. So if you’re strapped for time, keep an eye out for that. If you’d like to check it out, become a paid subscriber today. You’ll get access to that special episode, as well as all other special podcast content AND full access to all of our written content (we usually only share ~50% of each article). It’s $10 a month or $100 a year. Just select upgrade to paid in the top right corner and go from there.IN ADDITION to the paid content, you also get access to our paid community of Catholic Founders. A place for you to seek advice from your peers.Timestamps / Chapters:* 00:00 Cold Open* 02:45 Engaging Bishops for Effective Projects* 05:49 The Journey to Founding TLI* 09:05 Ambition and the Call to Leadership* 12:03 The Role of Faith in Personal Development* 15:00 The Genesis of Tepeyac Leadership Initiative* 18:00 Navigating Relationships with Bishops* 20:46 Building Support at the Parish Level* 23:46 Transforming Ideas into Action* 27:03 The Importance of KPIs in Church Leadership* 30:03 Understanding Canonical Blessings and Their Importance* 35:04 Crisis Management in the Diocese* 39:47 The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Catholic Initiatives* 45:08 Discernment and Risk in Pursuing Ideas* 50:08 Investing in Our Interior Life for Effective MissionCore Lesson:Nothing is more important to our mission as Catholic entrepreneurs than seeking FIRST to allow Jesus to transform our own hearts. Without this, we can never truly touch those around us. Because we need to be a conduit for Jesus to reach through us and touch the hearts of the men around us. So, delay no longer! Begin today. Ask God for the grace to desire Him above all things. Ask Him for the grace to have a transformed heart that is wholly and fully His. 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.Become a Member of Catholic FoundersI humbly ask you to consider joining our paid members community. It costs $10/month OR $100/year. This gets you access to all our paid content and our peer group of top-notch, highly-vetted Catholic Entrepreneuers. Having a peer group of serious Catholics who are also builders has been refreshing for many of our participants. We’re no longer — we have a home. If you’d like to do more and believe in our mission, consider joining The Magis Club* for $360 a year.Upgrade to any of these by selecting ‘upgrade to paid’ in the top right corner and select the option that works best for you.*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

* There are ~2.3m small businesses owned by boomers who want to retire soon* Over 60% of small businesses have NO formal succession plan* Of businesses offered for sale, 80% never find a buyerThese stats give you an idea of what we are discussing today. My guest today is a former colleague from my days working as a Field Agent (Insurance Agent) with the Knights of Columbus, Zach Scardino. Together, he and his brother Cody are running Scardino Strategic Partners. They help business owners with a variety of financial planning needs. However, a core item they spend their time on is succession planning and transition planning. Zach has a wealth of knowledge in this space given how many situations they see on a weekly basis. So, I wanted to bring him on the pod to discuss some of the following topics: * How to hand down your business to a family member (and the typical pitfalls that occur)* What key actions you can take to increase the value of your small business if you’er prepping for sale* If you’d like to buy a small business, what to keep in mind* What you should do if you’re expecting to inherit a family business in the futureWe discuss these items and a LOT more. Before we get started, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. You’ll get access to all content and will get to join our growing peer group of Catholic Founders.It’s $10 a month or $100 a year. Just select upgrade to paid in the top right corner and go from there.If you haven’t paid already? What are you doing here? It can’t be super valuable if you’re not willing to put those digits in, so what is it?Timestamps / Chapters:* 00:00 Cold Open, Intro to Guest, Disclaimer* 06:04 The Importance of Succession Planning* 06:40 Types of Business Valuations* 09:49 Building Intrinsic Value in a Business* 12:51 How to Prepare for a Business Transition* 15:37 Navigating Family Business Succession* 18:47 Common Pitfalls in Business Transition* 21:38 Using Advisors in Business Succession* 25:48 Avoid Tax Surprises and Financial Burdens* 26:37 The Art of Buying Businesses* 29:42 Don’t Tie Yourself to ONE Deal* 31:08 Balancing Fairness and Legacy in Business Acquisitions* 35:43 Charitable Considerations in Business Sales* 38:49 Creative Ways to Honor Faith in Business Transitions* 39:14 When to Seek Professional Planning Help* 44:51 What Nukes a Deal* 48:39 Opportunities for Catholic Entrepreneurs* 53:57 Join Our Paid CommunitySSP Website: https://www.scardinostrategic.com/Core Lesson:To grow in your business, seek external support and advice.There are many things I could note as takeaways from this episode, but I think this is the most important thing. Why? Because if you heard the stories Zach shared, soo many of the mistakes come down to not seeking counsel. Accidentally being out of compliance. Not having generally acceptable practices. Failure to disclose certain things. Lack of knowledge in how to structure a deal. It goes on. If you run a small business, seek guidance from others who have gone further than you. They will have so much value to share. Learn from the mistakes of others. As you can hear in today’s episode, failure to ask for help could mean trying to sell an unsellable business. That’s especially dire if that was your retirement plan. Do the right thing - set aside your pride - and ask for help. 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.Join the Movement!I humbly ask you to consider being a paid supporter of this project.$10/month OR $100/year is our standard membership which gets you access to all our paid content and our peer group of top-notch, highly-vetted Catholic Entrepreneuers.If you’d like to do more and believe in our mission, consider joining The Magis Club* for $360 a year.Upgrade to any of these by selecting upgrade to paid in the top right corner and select the option that works best for you.*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe