The Friday Habit

Teaching and storytelling is in Mark Carpenter’s DNA. With decades of experience in corporate communications, marketing, writing, and consulting, Mark now helps people master the art of storytelling to communicate information with purpose. In his work with clients, he often hears objections to storytelling because people don’t believe they have any stories worth telling. As outlined in his book and through his insightful training techniques, Mark guides leaders in crafting extraordinarily powerful stories from seemingly ordinary experiences. One of the most important factors in achieving masterful storytelling is clearly defining the purpose of the story. Any experience that evokes an emotional reaction holds within it a lesson. Inspired by Joseph Campbell’s archetypal Hero’s Journey, Mark breaks down story development into three sections: the current state, the conflict, and the change. When leaders use storytelling to relay information, they are transferring the wisdom of experience so that the listener doesn’t need to go through it themselves. As with any professional development skill, storytelling is like a muscle that builds strength through practice and repetition. Most people learn best through stories as they are more engaged and likely to retain the information.  Main TopicsTeaching is in Mark’s DNA (04:10)Emotional reactions lead to great stories (07:00)Storytelling as a leadership skill (10:00)Developing storytelling through practice (10:46)How Mark strengthened his storytelling skills (14:05)Storytelling vs. relaying information (15:15)Using stories to teach, lead, sell and inspire (17:45)  Episode Linkshttps://master-storytelling.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

When podcaster, author, and lifelong entrepreneur Justin Jackson co-founded Transistor, a podcast publishing platform, he already had years of experience building a business. As a child and young adult, Justin experimented with writing code and starting businesses in industries that interested him. When he and his wife started their family, the pressure to achieve financial security increased. Though some of his ventures failed, all these experiences were setting him up for his next big achievement. Because of his time being saturated in the market, he was able to catch the right wave at the right time; he’s riding that wave all the way to success. Justin’s advice to those looking to start a business is to build something for which people are already searching. Around 2016 when podcasting was just beginning to gain popularity, he noticed that it was still very much a DIY industry. Thus the idea to streamline podcast publication was born. Now Transistor makes creating podcasts accessible for the average person, regardless of their experience with coding and technology. In this way, clients find him instead of having to seek out those who are interested in his product. He’s also invested a lot of intentional time building relationships with his partner and team members. The purpose of owning his own company is to build a beautiful life for himself and those he works with. Every decision is made from this personal stance, and his company continues to grow at the pace that best serves that value. Main TopicsGrowing a podcast audience (06:00)Justin’s early love for entrepreneurship (10:45)Understanding the dynamics of your industry (16:00)Inner drive to forge your own path (17:30)Balancing work and family life (22:10)Justin’s introduction to coding (25:30)Inspiration for Transistor (30:15)Slow growth of the business (36:00)Protecting your partnership (43:30)Researching the market (51:12)Expanding the reach for your business (56:00)Ben’s top 5 takeaways (103:00)  Episode Linkshttps://transistor.fm/ Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

CFO, author, and entrepreneurial expert Susanne Mariga builds her work around the Profit First system. Profit First allows businesses to scale in ways that increase revenue and keep the cash flowing. This system uses a series of individual bank accounts that are created for specific purposes, such as profit, salary, taxes, and operating expenses. The first bank account to receive funds is the profit account while the last is the operating expenses. Many business owners make the mistake of doing the opposite by prioritizing the expenses for running the company. When there is less money to work with, owners adjust and make decisions using the resources available to them. In Susanne’s book Profit First for Minority Business Enterprises, she helps business owners implement systems that free them from money-related stressors and earn them the salary they deserve. One of the most impactful sections of her book discusses ways to approach taxes strategically so that companies use legal entities to their benefit and subsequently build their wealth. Having financial experts like Susanne and the Mariga Group in your corner can make all the difference in the success and sustainability of your business. Main TopicsKey aspects of the Profit First system (02:30)Financially preparing for tax season (04:30)Using systems that work for you (09:10)How to get started using Profit First (12:05)Seeking professional help with accounting (17:20)Susanne’s book serves minority demographics (19:00)  Episode Linkshttps://marigagroup.comprofitmap.cohttps://susannemariga.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

When Susanne Mariga began helping out at her father’s accounting firm at age 14, she never could have imagined she would end up here. Now, Susanne is a CFO specializing in high net worth strategies for entrepreneurs and is the first millionaire in her family. Her passion is providing business owners with strategies for restructuring their companies with strategies, automations and systems so that profit flows easily. In collaboration with author Mike Michalowicz, Susanne specialized her financial mastery in her book Profit First for Minority Business Enterprises. Having built her own accounting firm, which grew to a highly successful and profitable asset, selling it has allowed her to pursue what she is most passionate about. Working one on one with clients allows her to offer insight and practical expertise so that other businesses can flourish, particularly those that are minority owned and operated. Susanne’s success only adds to her credibility as an entrepreneurial giant in her field. Main TopicsSusanne’s journey into finance (04:45)Daughter’s birth changed her professional trajectory (8:00)The early days of Susanne’s new business (11:35)Building an asset that can create revenue (13:55)Transitioning to a profit first strategy system (15:15)  Episode Linkshttps://susannemariga.com/https://mikemichalowicz.com/profit-first/ Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Brandishing his youth as one of his greatest assets, social entrepreneur, inventor, and author Milan Kordestani can’t be contained to a single industry. A business visionary from a young age, Milan began his first financial endeavor in middle school by breeding and selling rare species of turtles. From there he continued following his natural interests which extended into writing and creating space for people to talk about challenging topics. He founded a series of startups including a freelancing site, a publishing company, and a record label. Through these experiences, he gained business knowledge and clarity about his role pertaining to startups— Milan is a small business incubator. One of Milan’s favorite parts of building a company is getting it off the ground. He enjoys being the boots on the ground, identifying problems he might be able to solve for a specific demographic, and finding the right people to build a dream. As soon as it’s time to talk about scaling the business, he’s usually onto another project. Instead of succumbing to imposter syndrome, Milan chooses to see his youth as a strength. Through his publications, he is passionate about using his voice and unique perspective to make big changes in the world. By combining his love for entrepreneurship and his heart for bringing people together, he stands out as a leader in his generation seeking to make the world a better place.Main TopicsMilan’s early entrepreneurial experience as a reptile breeder (02:55)The roots of an entrepreneurial spirit (05:30)Youth perspective in the agriculture industry (08:45)Milan’s love of sharing his perspective through writing (11:45)Overcoming imposter syndrome (13:15)Milan’s first real company (14:55)I’m Just Saying shares tools for active listening and sharing (20:50)The process of starting multiple companies (25:10)Vetting new ideas (30:00)  Episode Linkshttps://www.milankordestani.comhttps://audo.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

CEO and culture creator Meredith Monday Schwartz is passionate about investing in her employees and building a work environment that feels like family. At her wedding venue company, Here Comes the Guide, she works tirelessly to not only hire the best people for her teams but to create a sense of equality amongst them. According to Meredith, the value of an employee is not measured by how much time they spend working. Through clearly communicated key performance indicators, the leadership team at Here Comes the Guide can easily track an individual’s growth and productivity. With a combination of trust and verification, leadership empowers employees to function at their highest capacity. Other core values Meredith has built at her female-owned and operated company include investing in the sisterhood, putting relationships before sales, prioritizing work/life balance, and practicing fearless authenticity, especially during conflict. In order to keep drama at bay, she encourages open and honest communication directly with those involved. Through culture-building activities such as company retreats, book clubs, and small group goal setting, she is able to foster a sense of connectivity even though everyone works remotely. By implementing a more human-centered approach, Meredith is building a company that she hopes will be around long after she is gone. Main TopicsThe shift to running a fully remote company (03:12)Operating from core values (04:45)Hiring the right people (08:45)Creating powerful key performance indicators (12:30)Profit splitting between employees (16:30)Sisterhood first at Here Comes the Guide (18:00)Creating culture through core values (22:40)Building relationships through conflict resolution (26:35)Onboarding processes (31:05)  Episode Linkshttps://www.herecomestheguide.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Meredith Monday Schwartz began her career at the women-powered wedding venue company Here Comes the Guide in 1997 as their first employee; now she’s the CEO. Before onboarding with the company, she was working in a highly stressful environment at a Top 10 legal firm as a paralegal. Seeking more life/work balance, she joined the fledgling team where she put her problem solving skills to work. In the early days, she played every role and learned how to do all the jobs she would eventually hire people to do. Those years of experience helped her develop the empathy and business savvy required to be the strong leader she is today. Here Comes the Guide helps couples all across the country find the perfect wedding venue for them. Its business structure is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which provides employees with a certain percentage of shareholdings after they’ve worked with the company for one year. This structure creates a sense of buy-in for employees to help the company grow and increase in value. During the global shut down in 2020, possibly one of the greatest challenges for the wedding industry to date, Here Comes the Guide actually flourished. They focused on helping clients navigate the crisis, moved to a four-day work week, and adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of their clientele. Meredith attributes much of the company’s success to their slow growth, grassroots approach that values the culture of the company over any quick profit plan. Main TopicsHow Meredith came to be a CEO (01:48)From paralegal work to a wedding venue start-up (04:15)The evolution of her role at Here Comes the Guide (08:35)Benefits of knowing how to do every job at the company (12:40)Systems and processing as a superpower (14:35)Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) (17:00)How the company grew through the pandemic (19:50)Transitioning from print to virtual (24:20)The value of slow growth (28:40)Adopting a four-day work week (30:00)  Episode Linkshttps://www.herecomestheguide.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

In part two of the discussion with independent filmmaker Stimson Snead, he shares what it takes to succeed in the film industry. His advice to younger generations seeking to pursue creative endeavors is to leverage your unique gifts and resources. Don’t trust anyone who tries to sell you a one-size-fits-all formula for success because everyone walks a different path using their own tools and networks. Stimson’s wisdom, gleaned from years of failed attempts that eventually led to profitable achievements, applies to business as well as artistic pursuits. Even though people often discuss business and art as separate entities, Stimson believes they can work together. Now directing his first feature film, Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox, he’s leaning into both his mastery of logistics and his trademark sarcastic humor to bring this dream to fruition. It takes great skill to marry both the right and left hemispheres of the brain in one project. For those seeking creative expression through their business, take the lead from Snead and learn the necessary people skills required to lead your team well.      Main TopicsStimson’s advice to aspiring filmmakers (01:40)Necessary skills for making art your business (05:00)First feature film (07:50)Developing the script for Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox (12:12)Building the film with score, color and effects (16:15)Process of distributing the film (21:20)  Episode Linkshttps://stimsonsnead.comhttps://www.instagram.com/stimsonsnead Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Stimson Snead is an award-winning film director and writer who brings his unique artistic perspective to various creative endeavors. In an industry notorious for its cutthroat culture, Snead has experienced many failures on his path to success as an independent filmmaker. But none of the creative or financial obstacles prevented him from stubbornly refusing to give up on his dream. As a visionary in his field, Snead’s snarky persona and sardonic humor delight coworkers and audiences alike.Surrounded by talented creatives from childhood on, Snead’s radio DJ father and singer/songwriter mother instilled in him a passion for production. Even though he knew storytelling was his dream, he spent several years after film school struggling with failed projects and a lack of financial stability. Finally he began interfacing with wealthy individuals who were interested in investing in his projects, which has made all the difference. Now with a blossoming career and his sights set on big screen Hollywood films, Snead’s tenacity and determination continue to open doors into promising opportunities.  Main TopicsStimson’s lifelong journey into creative expression and film (02:10)Dead ends at film school (07:05)Pulling the whole story together with directing (09:40)Support for the current writer’s strike (13:15)Independent film vs. corporate Hollywood (15:20)Using failure as an impetus for growth (18:20)Financial successes and challenges (20:10)Choosing persistence in the face of obstacles (22:20)  Episode Linkshttps://stimsonsnead.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

In part two, leadership coach and vulnerability advocate Chris Meroff shares his four pillars for creating powerful teams through service-minded leadership. Many leaders want to begin by making swift decisions for the company as a whole. Chris believes that should be the last step and instead begins with casting visions of the future. The goal is to help others take ownership of their vision and to invest in people so that they invite your influence. This works both in business and in personal relationships. Paired with vision casting, the second pillar is consistently demonstrating empathy. Different from sympathy, empathy requires a slower, more intentionally present pace. Investing in people with compassion and understanding builds the necessary foundation for creating values-based teams.The third pillar of empowerment only works if leadership provides a clear road map developed through collaboration. Successful leaders encourage team members’ soft skills that lead to stronger interpersonal connections in the workplace. The final pillar is judgment, meaning those in leadership take responsibility for making critical decisions for the team because they’ve earned their respect. Rather than taking an authoritarian approach, leaders with the most influence commit to consistent principles at both home and work, and wait for the invitation to offer their expertise. Each individual creates their own glass ceiling; the best way to break through is with openness, transparency, and the full integration of personal and professional values. Main TopicsChoosing vulnerability in leadership (01:22)Vulnerability changes personal relationships (04:30)Vision casting to create ownership (07:40)Creating vision with a team (13:35)Slowing down with empathy vs. sympathy (16:30)Empowerment through soft skills (21:15)Executing judgment after earning authority (24:25)Balancing faith and hustle culture (26:45)Chris’ current projects (29:30)  Episode Linkshttps://chrismeroff.comhttps://the1thing.com/bookhttps://www.jordanraynor.com/redeeming-your-time-retreat Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to working on your business instead of in your business.If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review in the Apple podcasts app.If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to cover don’t forget to record us a quick voice memo and send it to hello@thefridayhabit.comThanks for listening to The Friday Habit.Until next time. Live every day like it’s Friday.Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts