The Friday Habit

In this episode of the Friday Habit, Mark interviews Nick Courtright, founder of Atmosphere Press, a literary hybrid publisher. They discuss Nick's journey from academia to entrepreneurship, his philosophy on writing and author rights, and the impact of the pandemic on the publishing industry. Nick shares insights on building a remote team, setting goals, and maintaining company culture while emphasizing the importance of transparency and author autonomy. He also offers practical advice for aspiring authors, including the use of voice notes to overcome writer's block.

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley discuss the journey of balancing family life while traveling and running a business remotely. They welcome James Hylvowski, an expert in franchising, who shares his extensive experience in the industry. The conversation covers the opportunities and challenges within franchising, key elements for success, and common mistakes to avoid when building a franchise. The episode emphasizes the importance of support systems, understanding market dynamics, and the strategic decisions involved in franchising versus corporate ownership. In this conversation, Mark Labriola II discusses the essential traits of successful franchisees, the challenges they face, and the current trends in the franchising industry. He highlights the booming pet industry, the realities of car wash franchises, and shares success stories from the dog grooming sector. The discussion also touches on various food concepts, the gym franchise landscape, and lesser-known franchise giants. Mark emphasizes the importance of understanding profitability and the complexities of vending and laundromat businesses, concluding with advice for aspiring franchise owners.Takeaways:Traveling with family requires flexibility and adaptability.Remote work can be challenging due to time zone differences.Franchising offers a way to impact lives positively.Food franchises often have razor-thin profit margins.Support and systems are crucial for franchise success.Franchising can be a quicker way to build a brand.It's important to vet potential franchisees carefully.Franchising allows for growth without heavy capital investment.Common mistakes include expanding too quickly and poor franchisee selection.Understanding market dynamics is key to successful franchising. If you don't like to follow systems or rules, franchising is probably not for you.Franchising allows you to build your brand quicker and at a lower cost.Find a franchise that has decent margins, great support, and great systems.The pet industry is booming with opportunities for franchisees.Dog grooming franchises are seeing significant success.Car wash franchises can be challenging due to high maintenance costs.Food concepts can be hit or miss; some trends fade quickly.The gym franchise model can benefit from a subscription approach.Many successful franchises are not well-known to the public.Vending machines require more effort than expected.Connect with Us:For more episodes and resources to help grow your business, visit thefridayhabit.com. Have questions or feedback? Email us at hello@thefridayhabit.com.

SummaryKaren Gordon, CEO of SimpliFive, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and business owner. She discusses her background in telecommunications and technical training, as well as the growth and success of her first business. Karen also talks about working with her husband and the challenges they faced in understanding each other's work styles. She highlights the importance of understanding individual strengths and creating a supportive work environment. Karen Gordon shares her journey of starting and growing her own businesses, including the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility and virtual work, as well as understanding and leveraging the strengths of team members. Karen also introduces the Five Dynamics methodology, which helps individuals and teams understand their energy and work preferences. She discusses the impact of remote work on team dynamics and the need for effective communication and collaboration. Karen shares her plans for the future, including partnerships and the development of AI capabilities.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Virtual Background03:08 Getting to Know Karen Gordon and SimpliFive07:53 Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit13:04 Working with a Spouse and Understanding Work Styles16:59 Growth and Success of the First Business19:58 Taking Risks and Believing in Yourself20:57 Starting a Business and Selling a Course21:48 Balancing Work and Personal Life22:18 Flexibility and Virtual Work24:27 Focus on Outcomes27:05 Reflecting on Failure and Success28:13 Introduction to Five Dynamics30:11 Clients and Applications of Five Dynamics32:23 Importance of Deeper Connections in Remote Work36:09 Finding the Right Fit for Team Members39:32 Evolution of Simplify and Future PlansTakeawaysEntrepreneurship is a journey that involves learning from mistakes and taking risks.Understanding individual work styles and strengths is crucial for effective collaboration.Creating a supportive work environment can lead to growth and success.Communication and trust are key in working with a spouse or partner. Flexibility and virtual work are key to balancing work and personal life.Understanding and leveraging the strengths of team members is crucial for success.The Five Dynamics methodology helps individuals and teams understand their energy and work preferences.Remote work requires effective communication and collaboration.Partnerships and AI capabilities are part of the future plans for Simplify.

In this conversation, Jeremy Lessaris shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and the founder of multiple successful companies. He discusses his early experiences in building an online furniture retail business and the challenges he faced. Jeremy also talks about his involvement in the marine industry and the development of a GPS speed control system. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences and surrounding oneself with talented individuals. In this conversation, Jeremy Lessaris shares his journey as an entrepreneur and offers valuable insights. He discusses the importance of going through the full cycle of pain and the need for balance in life. Jeremy emphasizes the value of building something when customers are ready and the benefits of being profitable before seeking capital. He cautions against seeking a magic pill or shortcut to success and encourages entrepreneurs to seek mentorship instead. Jeremy also highlights the significance of understanding one's lifestyle and aligning business ventures with personal values.Takeaways,•Consider your lifestyle and align your business ventures with your personal values•Avoid seeking a magic pill or shortcut to success and instead seek mentorship and guidance•Build something when customers are ready to increase the chances of success•Go through the full cycle of pain as an entrepreneur to gain valuable experience and understanding 

Damon Burton, an SEO expert, shares his journey from working a day job to building a successful SEO agency. He emphasizes the importance of finding the right mentors and masterminds to accelerate growth. Damon discusses the different approaches to success, whether it's being a fast mover or taking a slower, more sustainable path. He also highlights the value of providing value for free to build experience and a portfolio. Damon has built a remote team of 50 members and emphasizes the importance of finding the right people to support growth. Damon Burton shares his experience of growing his business and scaling his team. He started by hiring his first virtual assistant (VA) to help with overflow work. As his team grew, he focused on developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation to maintain quality control and delegate effectively. He emphasized the importance of trust and autonomy in managing a remote team. Damon also discussed the evolution of SEO and the introduction of AI. He highlighted the value of unique stories and personal experiences in creating relatable and high-quality content.Takeaways,• Finding the right mentors and masterminds can accelerate growth and provide valuable insights with dedication•Success can be achieved through different approaches, whether it's being a fast mover or taking a slower, more sustainable path.•Unique stories and personal experiences are essential in creating relatable and high-quality content.

Casey Stubbs, an entrepreneur and business owner, shares his journey of building multiple streams of income and achieving success. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, learning from failure, and following through on opportunities. Casey started his online business in 2009 and found success by creating content, implementing SEO strategies, and launching products. He highlights the significance of having a growth mindset and not settling for a mediocre life. Casey's wife supports his endeavors and as long as he's in his office, she believes he's working. Despite failures and mistakes, Casey continues to grow and adapt in his entrepreneurial journey. Casey shares his experience of a major product launch failure and how he recovered from it. He emphasizes the importance of humility and taking responsibility for mistakes. Casey also discusses how he got into stock trading and why he decided to sell his knowledge instead of just trading for himself. He talks about the importance of time management and surrounding yourself with talented people. Casey also touches on the role of AI in business and the significance of human connection. He shares his perspective on faith and business and the balance between trusting God and taking action.

In this conversation, Mark and Ben are joined by Scott Albrecjt to discuss the hierarchy of team needs. They explore the importance of trust, honest feedback, vision, accountability, and autonomy in building a healthy and successful team. Scott shares insights from his upcoming book, emphasizing the need to start at the foundation and work up to autonomy. The conversation highlights the role of transparency, communication, and continuous improvement in creating a thriving team. In this conversation, Scott Albrect discusses the hierarchy of team needs, which includes trust, honest feedback, vision, accountability, and autonomy. He emphasizes the importance of clear vision statements and the role of applied pressure in productivity. Scott also shares insights from his experience in ice fishing and highlights the teamwork and communication involved in the sport. The conversation concludes with action items for listeners, including being transparent when asked about their day and dedicating one full day each week to working on their business.Take Aways,•The foundation is trust, and he got honest feedback, vision, accountability, and autonomy•If your vision statement isn't clear, ask yourself why five times•Applied pressure is essential for productivity•If you have a clear vision, your team is empowered to take ownership and come up with incredible ideasTo FIND OUT MORE about Scott or BUY HIS BOOK go here:https://www.amazon.com/Hierarchy-Team-Needs-Scott-Albrecht/dp/B0CVG9K78QAlso you can LEARN MORE about AUTONOMY: https://youtu.be/r-nusRpPMlQ 

In this conversation, Mark and Ernesto discuss various topics including podcasting, rebranding, building systems, and baking challah bread. Ernesto shares his experience with podcasting and the benefits it has brought him in terms of learning how to speak, hold space, and listen. He also talks about his recent rebranding of his business to 'The Million Dollar Machine' and how it has resulted in increased revenue, clients, and collaborations. Ernesto emphasizes the importance of focusing on the fundamentals and using systems and processes to achieve success. He also mentions his love for baking challah bread and his plans to incorporate it into his business. Ernesto shares his experience of transitioning from working in the restaurant industry to starting his own business. He emphasizes the importance of taking action and not waiting for the perfect moment to start. Mark and Ernesto discuss the challenges and rewards of being entrepreneurs, the value of community and support, and the significance of setting achievable goals. They also touch on their personal backgrounds and the role of passion in their lives. Ernesto offers consulting services and encourages listeners to take action by visiting his website.Takeaways,•Podcasting can provide valuable learning experiences in speaking, holding space, and listening•Focusing on the fundamentals and using systems and processes is key to achieving success•Rebranding can lead to increased revenue, clients, and collaborations•Don't wait for the perfect moment to start your own business; take action and adjust along the way

Barbara Richter, founder of DIY Books and Ink Ghostwriting, shares her journey as an entrepreneur in the book writing industry. She discusses the services her companies provide, including tools and resources for individuals to craft their own stories and a premier ghostwriting firm serving a global audience. Barbara also talks about the challenges of starting a second company, DIY Books, and how she aims to democratize the ghostwriting process. She emphasizes the value of writing a book for entrepreneurs, as it increases networking opportunities, establishes authority, and provides a physical representation of expertise. In this conversation, Mark and Barbara discuss the fears and challenges of starting a ghostwriting business, the importance of finding your own voice as a writer, and the role of AI in the writing process. They also touch on the benefits of reading widely and the value of physical books. Barbara shares advice for aspiring writers, including joining a writing group and setting realistic goals. Listeners can connect with Barbara through her websites and social media channels.Takeaways,•AI can be a useful tool for writers, providing prompts and assistance, but it cannot replace the human experience and original thought.•Writing a book can establish credibility and authority for entrepreneurs, making them stand out in their industry.•To become a better writer, start writing regularly, join a writing group, and set realistic goals.

Kevin Killen, CEO of Aavos, discusses the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on society. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human emotions and using AI to serve and benefit humanity. Killen also addresses the hype surrounding AI and the need to differentiate between useful applications and potential pitfalls. He shares his journey to becoming a CEO and offers advice on handling the pressures of entrepreneurship. Additionally, Killen highlights the mission and capabilities of Aavos, which aims to provide contextually responsive intelligence to a wide range of industries. Avos is focused on solving customer problems and providing contextually relevant intelligence. They prioritize understanding the customer's real needs and using their technology to solve the true problem. Avos uses sentiment analysis to analyze text and has developed an atomic network that can provide accurate answers while also expressing uncertainty. Unlike neural networks, Avos' network has the ability to say 'I don't know' and provide a confidence level for its answers. They also prioritize energy efficiency and can run their engine on a Raspberry Pi. Avos is committed to ethical and responsible AI and plans to have a diverse panel to discuss and influence the decision-making of their AI systems.Take Aways•Handling pressure is essential for success as an entrepreneur•AI is on the uptake and Responsibility is key•AI can be a useful tool and can implement good help in business.•To be successful you need to put in the hours.