

The Friday Habit
Mark Labriola II & Benjamin Manley
Grow your business. Lead with purpose. Love your life.
The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 31, 2023 • 14min
Not Your Average Family Business with Rani Puranik pt. 1
Rani Puranik is a multidimensional executive leader, founder, CFO, and author making a global impact in a myriad of industries and societal spheres. She is currently overseeing several passion projects such as the Puranik Foundation, a multigenerational organization focused on providing transformational experiences through education, sustainability, and mindfulness. Throughout her journey of living in both the US and India, raising a family, and participating in the family business, Rani has built success by asking one simple question in a variety of environments: “What do you need?”As a young mother raising daughters in India, Rani recognized the need for more opportunities where girls could freely express themselves and use their voice. This led her to develop an expressive movement program for girls which eventually expanded to her own dance school. She was able to use the systems and facilitation techniques involved for team building in other applications as well, which continued to expand her reach into additional industries. She continues to use those systems to help her run Worldwide Oilfield Machine, a global powerhouse that employs a diverse workforce in 10 different countries. Main TopicsRani’s gifts and interests in business even as a child (03:08)Arranged marriages in Indian culture (06:58)Building leadership through dance and artistic expression (08:36)Rani develops a dance school for girls in India (09:22) Episode Linkshttps://ranipuranik.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

Mar 24, 2023 • 26min
Serial Entrepreneurship with Yong-Soo Chung part 2
In part 2 of the discussion with founder and CEO Yong-Soo Chung, he shares the wisdom he’s gained from years of taking risks, making mistakes and learning from every experience. For Yong-Soo, he thrives under pressure as many successful entrepreneurs do. So instead of building his businesses as side projects, he went all in. His return on such high-risk investments continues to pay off as he pushes himself and his team each day to be better than the day before. Part of succeeding in business is being willing to make mistakes. Yong-Soo admits he’s made many along the way and has also been able to turn those lessons into opportunities for growth. With all this experience, his latest passion project is a podcast in which he teaches and encourages other entrepreneurs how to avoid pitfalls and scale their businesses for maximum growth. Main TopicsDiscomfort allows us to realize our full potential (02:35)Using data as feedback for improvement (06:03)How to know when it’s time to expand (07:08)Utilizing the “I, You, We” system for scaling a business (09:35)Hiring the right people for the job (10:55)How Yong-Soo builds his life around change (16:13)First Class Founders podcast (20:00) Episode Linkshttps://urbanedcsupply.comhttps://www.firstclassfounders.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

Mar 17, 2023 • 30min
Serial Entrepreneurship with Yong-Soo Chung part 1
Serial entrepreneur and startup coach Yong-Soo Chung isn’t afraid to take risks. Through a series of different startup experiences, failed job interviews, and the decision to move across the country despite his family’s misgivings, Yong-Soo is proud of the ecommerce and logistics companies he’s founded. He is a man with a mission, and now he enjoys helping other entrepreneurs scale their businesses for optimum growth. Yong-Soo is constantly looking for new ways to challenge himself and grow as a person of influence in his social and professional spheres. He operates from a place of no regrets, choosing to seize each opportunity that comes his way. After gaining experience at a well-known cryptocurrency company, Yong-Soo set out on his own and founded a company selling products that appeal to his personal niche interests. He encourages founders to evaluate their interests based on where they spend their time and money. By discovering the intersection of a specific skill set and a market need or interest, business owners can easily make a profit. One of the best ways to test a great idea is by building an audience through a test market. That way entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls that lead small businesses to fail within the first few years. Main TopicsYong-Soo’s formative years that planted the seeds for his dreams (03:55)Pivoting in the face of challenges (07:16)Yong-Soo’s experiences with startups (09:17)Regret minimization exercise (12:20)Yong-Soo takes a leap of faith and moves to Bay Area (15:10)Starting his own business (18:40)How Yong-Soo came up with his idea of Urban EDC (20:35)Building an audience before launching (24:15) Episode Linkshttps://urbanedcsupply.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

Mar 10, 2023 • 26min
Sales is All About Telling the Truth with Anthony Butler pt. 2
In part 2 of the conversation, branding expert Anthony Butler defines primal storytelling and explains how he uses basic human psychology to create marketing content. Humans tend to make decisions based on emotions and justify their actions after the fact with logic. Anthony’s approach to marketing goes beyond Search Engine Optimization. He dives deep into why people make the choices they do and identifies what basic needs must be met. When companies are able to use their unique skill set to provide a service or product people need, that’s where the magic happens. Primal storytelling in marketing uses a message that is easy to understand for the specific tribe an organization is trying to reach. These messages are typically tied to human emotions and commonly held experiences within the group. Instead of appealing to the masses, Anthony encourages startups to target a niche group that could benefit from what is being offered. Taking a more human approach to sales significantly increases the likelihood that people will want to do business with you. Being your authentic self in business may seem risky, and it can be depending on the situation. But usually clients prefer more personal interactions and online content. The power of storytelling pervades many aspects of the human experience. By harnessing poignant stories as a tool for sales, business owners tap into an ancient art that speaks directly to the heart. Main TopicsAnthony’s content marketing agency (01:05)Evolutionary psychology in relation to sales (04:00)How Anthony made the leap into his own marketing content company (06:30)What is primal storytelling? (10:19)Monetizing niche interests (15:30)Appealing to the consumer’s humanity (18:06)Polarity as a tool to expand business (20:45)The snowflake test (23:05) Episode Linkshttps://www.primalstorytelling.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

Mar 3, 2023 • 21min
Sales is All About Telling the Truth with Anthony Butler pt. 1
Anthony Butler is the founder of digital marketing agency Can Do Ideas and the creator of the Primal Storytelling Content System. As an expert in brand storytelling, he uses his education from West Point Military Academy and Ranger School as well as his experiences in army combat and multiple startup businesses to help companies create powerful marketing content. When Anthony first began his career in sales, he was largely self-taught. He also sought the mentorship of an experienced leader who imparted valuable wisdom about being honest. This may seem counterintuitive in an industry many believe is built on manipulation and stretching the truth. High volume sellers figure out what a person needs and strategizes how to get it for them. Some of the best advice he received was about the necessity of building strong relationships within his personal network. A strong, supportive network of like-minded individuals can be the difference between failure and success for a startup, especially within the first few years. Main TopicsAnthony honors his family legacy by attending West Point and serving in the military (02:15)The experimental phase of starting his own businesses (06:00)Anthony learns business principles from self-study and mentorship (10:10)Big sellers approach sales with seemingly counterintuitive principles (12:20)The power of networking to build and scale a business (16:00)Anthony joins an international CEO networking club (18:20) Episode Linkshttps://www.primalstorytelling.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

Feb 24, 2023 • 23min
Values-Based Leadership with Tom Epperson pt. 2
Leadership extends beyond the workplace, focusing on communication and relationships. Feedback, mindset, and navigating change are key for effective leadership. Personality styles don't determine great leaders. Tom Epperson emphasizes transparency and community in managing change.

Feb 17, 2023 • 25min
Values-Based Leadership with Tom Epperson pt. 1
Discover the power of values-based leadership with Dr. Tom Epperson, who emphasizes aligning personal values with organizational values for transformative leadership. Learn how to build awareness, realize potential, develop relationships, take action, and reflect on choices to become impactful leaders in both business and personal life.

Feb 10, 2023 • 30min
Pivoting My Agency to a Niche Productized Service with Hunter Davis pt. 2
In the second half of this interview with marketing entrepreneur and creative problem solver Hunter Davis, he shares how his struggle with burn out ended up leading his business in a niche direction. As many leaders know firsthand, it’s easy to be overworked when carrying the responsibility of a company’s success. Beyond a stressful work schedule, doing repetitive work without a personal connection to the “why” behind it can also lead to disillusionment with the industry at large. When Hunter realized he no longer felt a passionate connection with the marketing he was creating, he knew he needed to make a shift. Successful organizations tend to focus either on who their target client is or what specialty products or services will produce the highest rates of profitability. Hunter chose to zero in on both. By redirecting his marketing business to benefit a service he deeply believes in, he is able to bring more balance to his work and personal life. Instead of trying to do something new within an old system, he created a whole new approach when working with clients. Now his company works closely with the client using a step by step process that provides clarity and focus for marketing outreach. By observing a specific need, Hunter ventured outside the box to create a service that goes above and beyond typical marketing agencies. Now his company is thriving by providing clients with a whole experience for developing their business strategy rather than simply offering advertising servicesEpisode Linkshttps://thrilledtherapist.com. Main TopicsFeeling disconnected from the “why” can lead to burnout (02:11)Using gut checks to reevaluate the direction of your business (06:30)The beauty of autonomy when you become your own boss (08:20)Systematizing leads to growth (13:06)Focusing by deciding on the “who” and/or the “what” (18:16)Effects of making a large shift in an organization (20:11)Hunter’s process to create focus for clients (22:00)Hunter’s next steps for scaling his business (25:17) 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

Feb 3, 2023 • 26min
Pivoting My Agency to a Niche Productized Service with Hunter Davis (part 1)
Hunter Davis began his entrepreneurial career in eighth grade making films for little league baseball teams. Now with over a decade of experience running his own marketing agency, Hunter continues to scale as his business expands. Early in his career, he felt dissatisfied with the response he received from clients. His video marketing products were meeting clients’ needs, but his goal was to play a more important role in helping them increase visibility and production for their businesses. He expanded his offering by helping companies gain clarity on their marketing message. By writing meaningful scripts that highlighted his clients’ targeted vision, he carved a niche approach for his brand that led to explosive growth.Main TopicsA fun exercise for entrepreneurs- fantasizing about a simple dream job (02:43)Hunter starts his agency fresh out of college and faced challenges early on (06:40)His first entrepreneur experience in middle school filming little league games (09:37)Added value by helping companies gain clarity in their marketing messages (11:50)The risks and rewards of partnership in business (13:40)Hunter scales his business (18:07)Find your niche offering and let it do your marketing for you (21:13)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.Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Jan 27, 2023 • 20min
Interview With Joseph Fung pt 2
Joseph is the CEO of Uvaro, the Career Success platform. An award-winning, five-time technology founder & CEO with multiple successful exits, Joseph is also an expert on HR technology and is a compelling presenter who speaks frequently on the topics of career success, future of work, high-performing cultures, and corporate social responsibility. As a purpose-driven leader, who is recognized for challenging the status-quo, Joseph is driven to help the world’s professionals lead more fulfilling careers. Recap / TakeawaysHow to validate business ideasWhat are the long-term trends?Talk to people with the problems you're trying to solveDo I understand the problem right?Here's how I would solve it. Do I understand the solution right?If I could give it to you right now, what would you pay be more it?The starting point for your culture is your personalityDEFINE - Definition of the values you want your culture to haveMake the names short and memorablePotentially create icons or visuals that represent eachSHARE - How to you share cultureShare stories of people exhibiting your valuesBuild weekly habits around the values (like giving kudos related to your values)SCALE - How do you scale culture?Think about how you could hire for a good culture fit without even being in the interviewDevelop interview questions around your company valuesGo 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.


