The Friday Habit

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steven Puri—film executive turned tech founder, productivity expert, and remote work evangelist. Steven’s career path has taken him from producing blockbuster hits like Die Hard and The Wolverine to raising millions in venture capital and building tools that help people focus better, work smarter, and reclaim their time.Steven shares fascinating behind-the-scenes lessons from Hollywood—how storytelling principles apply to business—and the practical strategies he’s developed for managing dopamine, achieving flow states, and structuring your day for maximum productivity. Whether you’re a leader managing a remote team or an entrepreneur trying to get more done without burning out, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.🧠 Takeaways:Great storytelling—on screen or in business—comes from understanding what’s really driving your characters (or customers).Your environment matters: create a dedicated space that triggers focus and productivity.Flow states require meaningful, challenging work matched to your skills, plus the right conditions (think music, timing, and feedback).Time boxing and knowing your chronotype help you tackle the right work at the right time of day.Limit distractions—just two hours of protected focus time can change your team’s output dramatically.Sometimes the key to momentum is starting small, not tackling the biggest task first.Decide if you’re serious—commitment comes before any productivity hack can work.You can find Steven at:Website: https://thesukha.coEmail: steven@thesukha.co📥 Download The Friday Habit Guide at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to set aside one full day each week to work on your business instead of in it.

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Leslie Venetz—founder of the Sales Led GTM Agency, LinkedIn Top Voice, and 2024 Sales Innovator of the Year—to talk about building a profit-generating pipeline without burning out.Leslie shares her journey from the high-pressure world of corporate sales to designing a four-day workweek, practicing “deep work,” and creating a business rooted in integrity. She unpacks practical strategies for small business owners and solopreneurs to target the right customers, fix a messy pipeline, and scale sales without losing control—or sanity.From niching down your outreach to replacing yourself in the sales process, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you grow intentionally and sustainably.🧠 Takeaways:More activity isn’t a strategy—relevance wins over volume in sales outreach.Use firmographic filters and buying signals to target the right accounts.A healthy pipeline has mutually agreed next steps and active movement.Treat your go-to-market approach as a deliberate strategy, even if you’re small.Start replacing yourself in sales one part at a time—don’t disappear overnight.Protect time to work on your business, not just in it.📕 Order Leslie’s new book Profit Generating Pipeline: https://salesledgtm.com/book👉 Check her out on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslievenetz👉Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit System at https://www.thefridayhabit.com

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Patrick Thean—international speaker, serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Patrick shares his journey from building a supply chain software company that landed on the Inc. 500 list to coaching CEOs on how to focus, execute, and scale with intention.From his “7 Key Practices for CEO Success” to practical tips on narrowing your niche, Patrick breaks down the habits, mindset shifts, and leadership skills that separate thriving companies from the ones that stall. He reveals why the best leaders are always learning, how to build a culture that becomes your competitive edge, and why knowing your “core customer” changes everything.🧠 Takeaways:Surround yourself with greatness early in your career to learn what “great” looks like.Be humble enough to seek mentors—and willing to “eat crow” to accelerate learning.Focus means saying “yes” to a few things and “no” to most.Keep growing yourself so your company never outgrows you.Build an early warning system to avoid being blindsided.Align your team not just on what to do, but how to do it.Treat culture as a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.Be intentional about your “people ecosystem” (employees, advisors, customers, partners).Build your strategy around your core customer and resist chasing every opportunity.👋 Connect with Patrick:Website: https://rhythmsystems.comBook: The Journey to CEO Success — Available on Amazon👉 Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit System at https://www.thefridayhabit.com

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark chats with Ryan Wimpey, founder of Tip Top K9 Dog Training—a nationwide franchise with over 20 locations and counting. Ryan shares his incredible journey from training dogs behind a Chick-fil-A in a beat-up van to running one of the top-ranked dog training brands in the U.S.From scrappy beginnings to building a tightly run operation with a full call center, franchise model, and national reputation, Ryan breaks down the real lessons behind building a scalable service business. He also shares why sales training was one of his first investments, how he trains non-salesy people to sell, and what most business owners get wrong when trying to grow.🧠 Takeaways:Start with the problem you love solving, then scale it with systems.Your sales style should reflect your personality—authenticity wins.The key to raising prices isn’t just packaging—it’s professionalism.Rapid follow-up is a huge differentiator—answer leads fast.Don’t bottom-feed: sell to people who value their time more than money.Obsess over product quality, then make the buying process frictionless.Hire a coach to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.👋 Connect with Ryan:Website: https://www.tiptopk9.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwimpey👉 Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit system at https://www.thefridayhabit.com

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Emmy-nominated content creator, strategist, and international table tennis competitor Justin Bookey. As the author of Ping Pong Leadership: 18 Principles to Succeed at Any Table in Business, Sports, and Life, Justin shares how his lifelong passion for ping pong evolved into a leadership framework that blends sport, strategy, and self-awareness.From practicing with Olympians to advising Fortune 100 CEOs, Justin distills decades of insights into memorable “Pong Principles” that can help anyone become a more agile, authentic, and aware leader. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or just trying to level up personally, this conversation is full of practical wisdom, unexpected metaphors, and even a few laughs.🧠 Takeaways:Leadership is like ping pong: fast, strategic, and deeply personal.“Embrace your quirks” is more than a feel-good mantra—it’s a path to authentic influence.Don’t try to solve internal problems with external solutions.“What’s your ready position?” means more than being prepared—it’s about knowing your natural strengths and tendencies.Elegant learners stay curious and open, even when it’s hard to hear feedback.Rhythm is everything—understand your own and know when to break it.👋 Connect with Justin:pingpongleadership.comJustin Bookey on LinkedIn👉 Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit system at thefridayhabit.com.

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Ellen Wood—CEO and co-founder of vcfo—to talk about the power of financial strategy, planning for exit, and how to build a more valuable business from day one. As a pioneer in the fractional CFO space, Ellen has helped hundreds of businesses scale, prepare for investment, and exit successfully. She shares practical advice for founders at every stage, from what entity structure to choose to how (and when) to think about your exit strategy.This episode is packed with down-to-earth insights on cash flow, culture, and planning for the long game—even if you’re just getting started.🧠 Takeaways:Every founder has a culture, whether they know it or not—it starts with you.Reverse vesting can protect equity early on in partnerships.A 13-week cash flow forecast is one of the most important tools for small businesses.Retainers and recurring revenue boost both predictability and business valuation.Customer concentration is a real risk—don't become hostage to one client.Even if you're small, you can benefit from planning—and Ellen’s free tools can help.🔧 Resources Mentioned:V360 Strategic Roadmap: vcfo’s signature planning frameworkFree Tools: Finance Pulse and HR PulseBook mention: Traction (EOS framework)🎯 For more insights like these, visit TheFridayHabit.com to download our free guide on how to spend one day a week working on your business instead of in it.

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark chats with Benjamin Johnson, serial tech co-founder and founder of Particle 41. With over two decades in software development, DevOps, and startup building, Ben shares hard-earned lessons on what it really takes to lead successful tech initiatives—from bootstrapping SaaS platforms to advising CEOs on digital strategy.They dig into the evolution of AI, the risk of overengineering, and how founders can use time-tested principles like quarterly planning, intentionality, and simplicity to build smarter—not harder. Plus, Ben explains how he turned 1,000+ unread LinkedIn messages into 10 real leads in 30 minutes using AI.If you're an entrepreneur, CTO, or creative leader navigating the tech landscape, this episode will challenge you to rethink complexity, lead with clarity, and focus on what truly matters.💡 Takeaways:You don’t need all the answers—you need a clear intention and a small next step.“Stage-appropriate decisions” help you avoid overbuilding and stay lean.AI is powerful, but not all tech is good tech—discernment is key.Quarterly planning (vs. annual) creates focus and drives momentum.Founders should demystify the tech—not hide behind it.Artificial relationships and overreliance on digital environments pose risks to younger generations.Building niche products (like Brevo vs. HubSpot) shows there’s still room for thoughtful innovation.Use “future language” with your team to unlock possibility and performance.Vector embeddings and AI search can turn customer data into real insights.Great leadership focuses on intention and empowers teams to figure out the how.🔗 Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjohnson/https://particle41.com📚 Learn More:Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the free guide on working on your business—not just in it.📩 Stay Connected:Subscribe to The Friday Habit for real-world business stories, practical strategies, and weekly inspiration for entrepreneurs and creators.

In this follow-up to Episode 200: How to Build a Sellable Business, Mark sits down with Ben Manley to unpack the next phase—what happens after you sell.Ben opens up about the emotional rollercoaster, the lessons he learned from structuring the deal, and the surprising challenges that come with handing over your business. From choosing the right buyer to creating SOPs, setting expectations, and navigating post-sale training, this episode gives a full behind-the-scenes look at what selling a business really looks like.Whether you're deep in the sales process or just dreaming about an exit someday, this is essential listening for any founder who wants to sell smart—and stay sane.🧠 Takeaways:Decide what matters most: profit, legacy, team continuity?Track your trailing 12 months—timing impacts valuationKeep buyers engaged with regular updates (and maybe weekly calls)Document everything—SOPs increase your value and reduce post-sale dependencyDon’t rely on earnouts. Get what you need upfrontPlan for the emotional impact of letting go—and what’s nextRecurring revenue increases your multiple. Build it earlySelling your business is like sending your kid to college. Be ready📘 Action Step: Ben’s top recommendation: Read Built to Sell by John Warrillow.📌 Learn More Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the guide on working on your business instead of in it. 📣 Stay Connected Subscribe to The Friday Habit for real-world business lessons, candid conversations, and actionable strategies to help you build a business (and life) you love.

In this special 200th episode of The Friday Habit, Mark and Ben reunite to celebrate a huge milestone—and to share some big news. After nearly six years as co-hosts, Ben is officially stepping away from the mic (don’t worry, he’ll still pop in from time to time). But before he goes, he’s opening up about what it really took to build, systemize, and sell his business, Knapsack.From Bro Mountain retreats and podcast dreams to building a business that runs without you, Ben walks through his journey of creating a sellable company—from first hire to final handoff. Whether you’re dreaming of an exit or just want more freedom in your business, this episode is packed with practical lessons, honest reflections, and the kind of wisdom only 200 episodes can deliver.🧠 Takeaways:You don’t need an MBA to sell your business—just solid systems and repeatable processesSOPs aren’t helpful if no one uses them—checklists and Loom videos are a better way to trainHaving steady leads and a great reputation increases your business’s valueA strong niche and recurring revenue model can dramatically increase your valuationFinancials matter: clean books and clear reports will save you headaches when it’s time to sellThink about your exit before you need it—everyone leaves their business eventuallyProcesses aren’t about control—they’re about freedom and scalabilityBuyers want turnkey, low-risk operations, not personality-driven businessesYou can start small: document one process, one checklist at a timeReflecting on what’s next can help you build a business with purpose—not just momentum📌 Learn More Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the guide on working on your business instead of in it.📣 Stay Connected Subscribe to The Friday Habit for real-world business lessons, candid conversations, and actionable strategies to help you build a business (and life) you love.👋 And yes—Ben will be back now and then. You can’t get rid of him that easily.