The Friday Habit

Though Patrick Thean’s list of accomplishments as a CEO, international speaker and best selling author is impressive, his humble attitude is what really draws clients to him. Growing up in Singapore, Patrick experimented early on with small business ideas, selling tape recordings of the World Cup to his friends in grade school. He later came to the United States and graduated from Cornell with an engineering degree, met his wife and founded his first company. Patrick’s business philosophy is both strategic and personal. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and is more interested in executing what he’s promised to his clients. Now he passionately and purposefully coaches business owners to identify a problem that needs solving as the foundation for a successful business plan. His three keys to success are focus, alignment within the team, and accountability to commitments. By consistently reflecting on what can be learned in each interaction with someone, Patrick continues to build a legacy focused on “people to people” relationships.Main TopicsPatrick’s early entrepreneurial spark (01:30)Solve a problem with your business plan (05:25)3 keys to success (08:47)Patrick’s first company (11:00)Repeat the sales pitch (15:15)Learning from every interaction (18:00)Main concepts of his book Rhythm (20:40)  Episode Linkshttps://www.patrickthean.com/new-home 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 storyteller, author, and keynote speaker Mark Carpenter, he shares some of the strategies he employs in telling great stories people will remember. Before utilizing storytelling to teach, lead, sell or inspire, it is important to know the purpose behind telling that story. When the storyteller is clear on why they are sharing a story, they can choose important details to share or discard, and the pacing falls into place. They can also begin to look for experiences to turn into stories that would serve their purpose. Mark encourages authenticity in delivering a story. Citing recent groundbreaking research, the neuroscience behind the power of storytelling is compelling. Brain wave activity increases during a story versus simply receiving information. When listeners engage with a story, they access their personal memories in order to find relatability, which solidifies the likelihood they will remember the message. Stories also trigger the brain to release oxytocin, which is the chemical that leads to trust and connectivity. When a storyteller shares authentically with honorable intention, people respond with deeper levels of engagement and buy-in. Not to be used in a manipulative way, the power of storytelling as a leadership skill is growing at the corporate level thanks to pioneers like Mark. Humans have communicated through storytelling for millenia; it only makes sense that forward-thinking leaders would apply the approach to professional development. Main TopicsUsing storytelling in sales (01:20)Common roadblocks in developing stories (04:25)Pacing in storytelling (06:50)Impact of stories on the brain (10:00)Increasing relatability chemicals in the brain (15:25)Mark’s current consulting projects (18:30)Workshops for use storytelling as a leadership skill (21:30)  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

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