

The Freedom Formula Podcast: Achieving Financial, Location and Time Freedom
Neel Parekh
Achieving the type of “freedom” you're seeking probably has already been done by someone else. So, why not just reverse-engineer the formula instead of re-inventing the wheel? Neel Parekh, CEO of MaidThis Franchise, interviews people who have already achieved Time, Location, or Financial Freedom and dive into their stories. The common thread: how to live life on your own terms.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 3, 2024 • 25min
141. Quitting Silicon Valley to Spend 5 Years Spearfishing, an interview with Jon Stenstrom
In this episode, Neel reunites with his old friend Jon to discuss Jon's unique lifestyle and career transitions. Jon shares his journey from being a residential advisor to working in startups and spearfishing. They delve into the challenges of making career pivots and the importance of unlearning limiting beliefs. Jon also talks about his experience as a stay-at-home dad and the impact it had on his business. They explore the balance between career goals and prioritizing experiences, and the value of simplicity and time freedom. The episode concludes with John sharing where listeners can find him.
Takeaways
Making career pivots can be challenging, but it's important to listen to your gut and know when it's time to move on.
Unlearning limiting beliefs and societal expectations is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Balancing work and family life requires making tough decisions and prioritizing what truly matters.
Building a lifestyle that prioritizes experiences and time freedom can be more fulfilling than chasing financial success.

6 snips
Mar 27, 2024 • 31min
140. Quitting the 9-5 Cold Turkey and Starting a Local Town Newsletter, with Ryan Sneddon
Ryan Sneddon, a successful local email newsletter business founder, discusses starting and monetizing a newsletter, targeting advertisers, and plans for expanding to different cities. He emphasizes community engagement, sharing knowledge, and forming partnerships to grow the business.

Mar 20, 2024 • 26min
139. How to Test New Biz Ideas and Then Go All In, with Jon Matzner from Sagan Passport
Jon Matzner, founder of Sagan Passport, shares his entrepreneurial journey and innovative methods for testing business ideas. He emphasizes the power of iterative experimentation and adapting to market feedback, urging entrepreneurs to align their passions with market needs. Matzner's platform revolutionizes remote recruitment by offering customizable benefits for hiring global talent, akin to a 'Costco for remote talent.' The conversation highlights the importance of flexibility and the financial advantages of leveraging global resources in today’s business landscape.

Mar 13, 2024 • 32min
138. Quitting a $1M/Yr Salary To Go Surfing Every Day, with Khe Hy, host of the Examined Life Podcast
In this episode, Neel chats with Khe, a former finance professional who quit his high-paying job to pursue a more fulfilling life.
They discuss Khe's background, his career journey, and the midlife crisis that led him to reevaluate his priorities. They also explore the concept of lifestyle creep and how Khe managed his spending habits.
The conversation delves into the psychological hurdles and money beliefs that often hold people back from making significant life changes.
They touch on generational trauma and the fear of losing money, as well as the concept of golden handcuffs and the optimal lifestyle.
Finally, they discuss the decision to quit and the importance of owning one's time and pursuing activities that bring joy and fulfillment.
Neel and Khe Hy discuss:
It's important to consider the trade-off between money and security when making decisions about work and lifestyle.
Financial planning can help provide for future goals and expenses, such as college tuition for children.
Flexibility and simplicity can be valuable aspects of a lifestyle, allowing for freedom and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Generational wealth and inheritance may not always be the best approach, as it may not align with the values and goals of the next generation.
Optimizing for lifestyle can involve creating a daily routine that prioritizes personal well-being and enjoyment.
Achieving lifestyle before wealth can be a mindset shift that focuses on living a fulfilling life rather than accumulating material possessions.
Diversifying income streams can contribute to financial independence and provide stability.
The pressure to grind and stay focused on financial success can be challenging to overcome, especially when surrounded by others who prioritize wealth.
Personalized journeys to freedom involve defining and pursuing one's own version of a fulfilling and meaningful life.
To learn more about lifestyle optimization and financial independence, visit radreads.co and listen to the Examine Life podcast.
Follow Khe Hy on X: @khemaridh or check out his Examined Life podcast. If you can't get enough, you can also find his newsletter here.
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to https://maidthisfranchise.com

Mar 6, 2024 • 26min
137. Going Big And Launching 100+ Locations in 11 Months, with Aaron Harper CEO of Rolling Suds Franchise
In this episode, Neel chats with Aaron Harper, CEO of Rolling Suds, about his journey in the franchise industry.
Aaron shares his background in the film industry and his transition to entrepreneurship.
He explains his approach to acquiring Rolling Suds and turning it into a franchise.
Aaron discusses the importance of building a strong franchise system and the support provided to franchisees.
He also emphasizes the need for commitment and effort from franchisees and the challenges of part-time franchise ownership.
Neel and Aaron discuss:
Transitioning from a traditional job to entrepreneurship requires the necessary skills and experience.
When acquiring a business to franchise, it is important to partner with owners who have the intellectual capital and successful systems in place.
Building a franchise system involves condensing years of knowledge into training programs and ongoing support.
Marketing and lead generation are crucial for franchise success, and a combination of inbound and outbound strategies can be effective.
Franchisees should be committed to building a multimillion-dollar enterprise and be willing to invest the necessary time and effort.
Follow Aaron on X: @AaronHarperCEO LinkedIn: Aaron Harper
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to http://www.maidthisfranchise.com

Mar 1, 2024 • 26min
136. Quitting the 9-5 and Launching a 7-Figure Fencing Business, with Connor Loftus
In this episode, Neel sits down with Connor Loftus from Mike's Fences and dive into his entrepreneurial journey, exploring the fusion of passion, family influence, and market opportunity that led to the creation of his company.
Takeaways:
Entrepreneurship often involves seizing opportunities where one's passion aligns with market demand.
The journey to building a successful business may involve trial and error, but perseverance and adaptability are essential.
Embracing uncertainty and taking calculated risks can lead to unexpected growth and fulfillment.
Way back in Episode 41 Neel interviewed Mike Loftus whose business is unsurprisingly called, Connor's Landscaping.
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to www.maidthisfranchise.com

Feb 21, 2024 • 25min
135. Launching a Roofing Business to 8-Figures in Year 1, with Cole Simpson
In this episode, Neel Parekh interviews Cole Simpson, owner of a roofing company, about his journey in entrepreneurship.
Cole shares his background and how he got into the roofing business. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned along the way, including his experience with franchising and acquisitions.
Cole shares his motivations and goals, and how he approaches business as a game.
Takeaways:
Entrepreneurship requires risk mitigation and the ability to make asymmetrical bets.
Experience in entrepreneurship is gained by making decisions and learning from them.
Focus on growth and revenue in the early stages of a business, and then shift to profitability.
Consider franchising as a way to speed up scaling and gain credibility in a specific industry.
Approach business as a game and enjoy the process, while also being a good steward of the opportunities and resources.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:36 Getting into Entrepreneurship
03:27 Franchising and Acquisitions
05:02 Current Business Performance
08:23 Risk Mitigation and Decision Making
10:33 Focus on Growth and Profitability
12:07 Full-Time Commitment
15:10 Franchising vs. DIY
18:01 Motivations and Goals
21:30 Approaching Business as a Game
23:49 Where to Find Cole Simpson: @jcolesimpson

Feb 15, 2024 • 27min
134. Do You Need $10K/Mo to be "Free"? An Interview with Stephen Heiner
In this episode Neel sits down for the second time with Stephen Heiner, who previously appeared on episode 108, when he had just newly moved into a Catholic seminary after having been location independent for a decade. This was Neel's "6 month checkup" on Stephen.
Neel and Stephen discuss:
- Stephen's frame for freedom, i.e. discipline = freedom, and how stability has given him productivity, but also another way to do what it is he wants to do
- how much the Four Hour Work Week influenced Stephen's trajectory since he first read it in 2008, and why it's still the number one book he recommends to this day
- the relative recent appearance of "retirement" as a concept and how if you're doing what you love and you know why you are doing it, retirement will not be something that preoccupies you
If you enjoyed hearing Stephen's views, you might enjoy his YouTube channel, where he does book reviews.
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to www.maidthisfranchise.com

Feb 7, 2024 • 16min
133. Putting In Two Weeks to Go Full-time on his Own Cleaning Business, with Logan Robison
In this episode Neel sits down with Logan Robison who just quit his job in the last few weeks to go full-time on his business.
Neel and Logan discuss:
- a side hustle he started in February 2020: a photo booth which he made 5X on upon exit despite starting the month before Covid hit
- how a big project at his full-time job forced a crisis and a niche move in his then rapidly-growing cleaning business...and just how hard it was to turn down jobs as a result
- how a text message autoresponder helped him still serve leads even while he was at his 9-5
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to www.maidthisfranchise.com

Jan 24, 2024 • 24min
132. Traveling the World with your Family, Total Location Freedom w/ Martijn Reintjes
In this episode Neel sits down with Martijn Reintjes, who is currently three months into a 7-month trip with his wife and three kids. And this isn't the first time he's done this, either.
Neel and Martijn discuss:
- how they had to fiscally exit the Netherlands, their home base, so that they wouldn't be fined for homeschooling their kids on the road
- how much richer the education is for his kids on the road, not just for experiences and food, but for languages too
- how Martijn used geoarbitrage to get a nanny to help with the kids and other details at a fraction of what it would normally cost
If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & skip years of trial-and-error, go to www.maidthisfranchise.com