The Conscious Entrepreneur

Do you feel you are on a tightrope walk between ambition and anxiety? Jeff Benton and Brett Weinroth, the dynamic duo behind Paragon Performance Evolution, share the message we all need to hear: stress isn't dictated by what's happening around us but by our body's internal reactions. For entrepreneurs who may feel overwhelmed and dysregulated, it’s a welcome message. By mastering the art of shifting our body's chemicals and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, we can foster clarity, enhance communication, and deepen empathy. The pair also spotlight the transformative power of self-awareness. By disrupting detrimental thought cycles and embracing techniques like deep breathing and heart-focused meditation, we can ignite positive emotions and foster internal harmony. Sharing wisdom taken from ancient texts, meditation, breath work and tools and insight from HeartMath Institute, Jeff & Brett explain the concept of Coherence and even lead Alex and our listeners on a quick coherence exercise!   Key Takeaways: Stress is not caused by external circumstances, but rather by our body's physiological reaction to those circumstances. Being in a constant state of stress impairs key brain functions, such as problem-solving, communication, and empathy. We have the ability to shift our body's response to stress through tools and techniques that promote coherence and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. By slowing down our breath and focusing on the area of the heart, we can send signals to the brain that everything is okay and reduce the stress response. Developing awareness of our thoughts and emotions is crucial for making positive changes and breaking free from negative thought patterns. Quotes: "When we feel stressed, we limit key parts of the brain. In particular, our frontal cortex, which is the smart thinking part of the brain. So we're limited in our problem solving, in our communication, a number of other things, and also our ability to have empathy and see somebody else's point of view." (7:49 | Jeff Benton) "If we don't teach people how to get out of a stress response, they're going to be limited in how they can show up. And this is just science. And the beautiful thing is we've seen it with thousands and thousands and thousands of executives. As we teach them these tools and techniques, and they go from a stressed response to a more optimal state, which we call coherence, it literally enables them to think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and have deeper empathy." (8:27 | Jeff Benton) "I think a conscious entrepreneur is heart centered. They operate from a high level of emotional intelligence and awareness. And I would say a conscious entrepreneur is less concerned with maybe what others are thinking of them. And they're more focused on prioritizing how they're showing up in the moment. So their own state of being is important to them. I also think a conscious entrepreneur thinks of others in a more empathetic or compassionate way. And as a leader, they're seeking to empower others rather than dictate. (59:40 | Brett Weinroth)    Links Connect with Jeff and Brett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bweinroth/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-robert-benton-51240a4/ https://www.performanceparagon.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Hustle culture is bullshit," says Dave Mayer. And he knows a thing or two about suffering through hustle culture.    Alex Raymond sits down with Dave, the CEO and founder of Technical Integrity, to discuss his journey from burnout and exhaustion to building a successful business with a focus on cultural fit. Dave shares his personal struggle with burnout and how he overcame it by embracing a service-led, give-first approach. He emphasizes the power of slowing down, practicing breathwork, and giving yourself space to breathe and reflect so you can create the life and business you want.   Key Takeaways: Prioritize self-care and well-being as an entrepreneur. Taking care of your mental and physical health is crucial for long-term success. Giving without expecting anything in return can lead to meaningful connections and opportunities. Take time to breathe, reflect, and avoid the pressure to solve all problems immediately. Foster a culture of curiosity and safe spaces for asking questions. Embrace co-elevation, where everyone holds each other accountable towards a common goal. Ensure you are well-rested to do your best work.   Quotes: “Give everything space. Nothing needs to be solved right now. The immediacy of all of these problems in your head actually can afford space and can afford breath. And the more time you give them, the better. Slow replies to emails are actually a good thing. You don't need to solve all these problems on your own, right? You're a member of a team, you're a member of a community.” (08:11 | Dave Mayer)  "The older you get, you know, the more you just, you slow down, you sort of appreciate and savor more." (08:50 | Dave Mayer) "Asking questions in a safe space means growth for you and growth for us." (32:30 | Dave Mayer) "Rest is a core component of becoming and really accessing your creativity, accessing your productivity, accessing your profitability." - Dave Mayer (35:19) "A conscious entrepreneur is somebody who shows up as their best selves to the best of their ability on an ongoing basis." (37:07 | Dave Mayer)   Links Connect with Dave Mayer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveincolorado/ Website: https://technicalintegrity.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Entrepreneurship is a personal growth journey," says Lizelle van Vuuren.   Lizelle is a force in the Denver Startup Community, she’s founded her own companies, is an advisor and an investor, and now she’s exploring her passion for soccer and her mission to bring professional women's soccer to Denver.  On this episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur, Alex Raymond  is in conversation with Lizelle about her journey as an entrepreneur and the resilience and inspiration needed to build a successful business. Through her own experiences and reflections, she shares valuable insights on the importance of self-discovery, community engineering, and mental health for entrepreneurs.   Key Takeaways: Being an entrepreneur is a long journey that requires resilience and self-awareness. Belonging is a fundamental human need, and creating communities that foster belonging is essential. The entrepreneur's journey is a path of self-discovery, where personal growth and self-awareness are key. Work can be a coping mechanism and an escape, but it's important to find a balance and not tie our self-worth solely to our work. A conscious entrepreneur is someone who has a heightened sense of self-awareness and connection to others, and strives to create impact while also being profitable.   Quotes: “What wonderful things have you created, because you have not felt like you belong? And there's millions of people who feel the same. In fact, I think that is really quintessentially a part of the human experience and people want to belong in places and spaces. And I believe that when you belong, when you feel like you belong and you are welcomed into belonging somewhere. It untaps your full human potential. So now people who feel like they belong, whether it's in a tiny startup or a big community or in their school or adversity or in a club or whatever, now they can relax. Our nervous systems kind of take a breath and we can fully show up.” (23:06 | Lizelle van Vuuren)  "Now I look at the entrepreneur's journey as an athlete's journey, which is to say, you cannot possibly think that you're going to be an exceptional athlete without training and stretching and eating well and doing the movement, doing the motion, doing the work, doing the exercise, whatever that might be. And it's true for an entrepreneur. You can't possibly imagine that you're going to be your best as an entrepreneur without quite literally sleeping well, eating well, exercising, training, walking, having friends, having a community, maybe going to therapy, unpacking some trauma, like all those kinds of things." (28:58 | Lizelle van Vuuren) "Entrepreneurship is a personal growth journey." (49:58 | Lizelle van Vuuren) "Being an entrepreneur is not a job title. It's not something you do. It's how you are. It's how you behave in the world, how you act in the world. And we need to broaden that conversation so that we're talking about all these things that really add up and that really matter." (55:45 | Alex Raymond)  "A conscious entrepreneur is someone who with every fiber in them creates impact for people while attempting to be profitable." (57:21 | Lizelle van Vuuren)    Links Connect with  Lizelle van Vuuren: Website: https://lizellevanvuuren.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. 

"How does mindfulness impact business?" In this episode, Beck Sydow delves into the heart of conscious entrepreneurship, discussing burnout, the role of emotions in business,  shadow work's transformative potential and the inverse relationship between consumption and creativity. Sharing personal experiences with burnout, Alex and Beck highlight the critical need for self-awareness and timely self-care. They advocate for more than just resilience, emphasizing the importance of overall well-being.   Beck presents a refreshing take on emotions in business, making a case for their vital role in successful leadership. They speak about the significance of creating environments that encourage genuine interactions and mutual respect, fostering a culture of psychological safety.   Shadow work emerges as a crucial topic, with Beck illuminating the growth stemming from understanding our deeper selves. They point out the valuable lessons our inner complexities offer, suggesting that embracing them leads to a holistic sense of authenticity.   Addressing self-care, Beck aspires to achieve more of a flow state mindset rather than adopting a rigid, disciplined routine.  Time outdoors, walking & journaling are part of a regular morning.  Reading and learning are daily priorities; however, Beck warns that overconsumption of content kills creativity and masks a lack of confidence to create and be seen.   Key Takeaways: Burnout can affect anyone, regardless of privilege or access to resources. It's important to recognize the signs of burnout and take action before it becomes overwhelming. Building a conscious business requires integrating business acumen with leadership skills and a focus on understanding and serving customers. Creating intimate spaces for leaders to be vulnerable and authentic is crucial for personal and organizational growth. Taking radical care of ourselves involves not only physical self-care but also caring for our minds by cultivating awareness, embracing our shadows, and practicing self-acceptance.   Quotes: "I knew I was burning out and I did what most of us do. I kept trying to convince myself that there would be, you know, just ‘in one more month’ or ‘in a couple weeks’ or ‘when we get this part of the business to a completion’ or just all of those ways that there's some someplace out in the future." (08:16 | Beck Sydow) “The reality is when we think we're going to be okay out there somewhere sometime in the future, we're missing the ways that we can be okay in the moment.” (10:09 | Beck Sydow)  “I wish I could remember where I heard this, I heard someone say that consumption is the enemy of creativity. so and and it is the um expression of a lack of confidence so as you continue to consume you're consuming because you don't think that you could put something out and boy is that a big part of my story i mean you you follow me a little bit i'm starting to be more active on LinkedIn, I'm writing more. The journey to get to that was huge.” (49:20 | Beck Sydow)    Links Connect with Beck Sydow: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/    Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Super fans of “The Big Leap” will love this week’s episode - it’s the conversation with Gay Hendricks you’ve dreamed of having.  We are a lucky fly on the wall as our host, Alex Raymond, asks Gay Hendricks, the brilliant author behind "The Big Leap", the questions you’ve probably had after reading the book.   Gay elaborates on key concepts, discussing how to navigate limiting beliefs, address the upper limit problem, and transition from working in your Zone of Excellence to your Zone of Genius. For enthusiasts seeking more, Gay also provides a glimpse into his exclusive, in-person half-day workshop that is coming up in November in Boulder.  It’s a hands-on experience to further tap into one's unique potential, and tickets are available here.   Listeners can anticipate a blend of actionable tools and perspectives from Gay, crafted to foster both personal and business growth. He shares insights on mastering time, urging listeners to harness it proactively. Additionally, Gay sheds light on recognizing personal barriers, integrating spirituality into entrepreneurship, and shares his own grounding practices, like meditation, which anchor him in his genius.   Key Takeaways: The Zone of Genius is about spending more time on the things you love and are uniquely talented at, rather than getting stuck in the zones of competence or excellence. Upper limit problems, such as limiting beliefs and fears, can hold entrepreneurs back from reaching their full potential. It's important to cultivate emotional intelligence and be aware of how our emotions can impact our success and relationships. The fear of outshining others or feeling burdened by success can hinder entrepreneurs from fully embracing their genius. Time management is crucial for entrepreneurs, and adopting an Einstein time mindset can help shift from feeling like a victim of time to being the source of time.   Quotes: "An upper limit problem is caused by limiting beliefs in ourselves, and one of the most common ones is that I have an old unconscious belief that I'm not worthwhile, that because of things that happened to me in my life, I don't deserve the good things of life." (03:20 | Gay Hendricks) "In Einstein time, you don't find time, you make time. You're where time comes from. I'm where time comes from, so I can make up exactly enough time, plenty of time to do everything I love to do." (23:47 | Gay Hendricks) "From working with a whole bunch of executives over the years, we found that the happiest ones are the ones that make that transition out of the excellence zone and spend some time every day in their genius zone." (26:47 | Gay Hendricks) "A conscious entrepreneur is one who goes about the execution of his or her vision also with a complete openness to learning." (45:16 | Gay Hendricks)  "Your body is where your mind lives. It's not the other way around." (50:42 | Gay Hendricks) "We need to get ourselves in harmony with our spirit, our body, and our minds in order to make best use of ourselves." (51:03 | Gay Hendricks) Links Connect with Gay Hendricks Website: https://hendricks.com/ Workshop: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/zone-of-genius-workshop-with-gay-hendricks/ Learn More About The Workshop From Gay Hendricks: What can people expect from the Zone of Genius workshop with Gay Hendricks?   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm  

Are you tired of the adversarial relationship between entrepreneurs and investors? Matt McCall, a seasoned VC with 28 years of experience, offers a refreshing perspective on the traditional relationship dynamics we’ve come to expect. In this episode, Matt shares his unique approach to investing, where he not only provides funding but also coaching to help entrepreneurs thrive. He believes that the key to success lies in focusing on the human aspect of business, elevating entrepreneurs to be their best selves. By investing in personal growth and fostering authentic relationships, Matt has seen firsthand how this approach leads to greater resilience and success. Discover how Matt challenges the traditional VC model and why he believes that investing in the well-being of entrepreneurs is a competitive advantage.   Key Takeaways: The relationship between entrepreneurs and investors doesn't have to be adversarial; it can be a partnership where both parties work together for success. Investing in personal growth and well-being supports the achievement of results in business. VCs can act as guides and safe harbors for entrepreneurs, providing support and resources to help them thrive. The concept of the Aristotelian ethic, focusing on curiosity, discipline, courage, and love, can lead to a more fulfilling and successful entrepreneurial journey. Taking care of one's well-being and addressing internal issues, such as unsaid conversations and energy drains, is crucial for long-term success and avoiding burnout.   Quotes: "Everything that I would do as a traditional coach, I do as a VC, but I do it from the perspective of making them the highest version of themselves so we can have the best success with the company." (13:58 | Matt)  "What launched this whole thing is we interviewed,10 years ago, a hundred entrepreneurs and said, 'How do you want your VC to show up to be most helpful?" And number one, by far, they said, I don't trust any of you guys. But if I could trust you, it was who can be there on a Sunday night when the demons are running through my head." (31:56 | Matt)  "The way that I'm thinking about it is, you know, we're putting all these demands on an entrepreneur and he or she's got 30%, they're at 30% of their capacity because 70% of it is blocked by something else. And so the work of becoming more aware, doing personal work, becoming more mindful, learning to meditate, learning tools and frameworks for communication, and so on. Those are about increasing the amount of available energy that I have to do the things that I love. And if I'm not focused on it, then I'm just burning myself down, and that's what leads to burnout, collapse, companies going poof." (35:03 | Alex) Links Connect with Matt McCall: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmccall/ Website: https://somethingventured.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

"Shame is this place that gets us into burnout and keeps us in burnout because we don't want to let people in on what's actually going on," says Jim Young. If you’ve ever felt burned out, embarrassed, and alone, this episode of The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast is a must-listen. Host Alex Raymond interviews Jim Young, a men's burnout coach and author of the book "Expansive Intimacy." In this powerful conversation, Jim shares his personal journey of burnout and the moment he realized he wasn't okay. He delves into the one-two punch of burnout and shame, discussing the societal expectations placed on men and the impact it has on their well-being. Jim offers a fresh perspective on burnout recovery, debunking common fallacies and emphasizing the importance of social support and intimacy. Through his concept of "expansive intimacy," Jim encourages entrepreneurs to cultivate deep connections, both personally and professionally, to combat burnout. This episode will provide you with valuable tools and resources to navigate burnout, redefine success, and create a more fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.    Key Takeaways: Burnout is a chronic condition that requires a comprehensive approach to recovery, including addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Shame plays a significant role in burnout, as men often feel the need to hide their struggles and weaknesses, leading to increased stress and exhaustion. Expansive intimacy, which involves building deep and authentic connections with others, is a powerful tool for combating burnout and creating a support system. Burnout recovery fallacies, such as taking a vacation or implementing productivity hacks, are not effective solutions and do not address the underlying causes of burnout. Seeking support from trusted individuals, whether they are friends, colleagues, or professionals, is crucial in navigating burnout and finding the necessary resources for recovery.   Quotes: “I think that the socialization that we get as men in Western culture has a set of rules, and they're pretty clear to any guy who's grown up in this culture, and that's we need to be strong, we need to be successful, we can't show our emotions, we can't ask for help. And when you put all that together, it's kind of an impossible puzzle. that it's going to lead to, well, I just got to be alone. I have to suffer in silence if anything is up for me because I can't share emotions. I can't ask for help. Well, that's not human. That's not a reasonable expectation.” (14:47 | Jim Young)  "If you're having problems sleeping, if you're having more bouts of whether you want to call it moodiness, or depression, if you're feeling anxious, oftentimes anxiety and lack of sleep are going together." (21:19 | Jim Young) "Anything that you might find under an article that talks about life or productivity hacks is not going to be an effective strategy for burnout recovery." (29:12 | Jim Young)    Links Connect with Jim Young: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecenteredcoach/ Website: https://www.thecenteredcoach.com/ Expansive Intimacy Podcast: https://www.thecenteredcoach.com/podcast   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm