Abstract Essay, in its fifth season, welcomes Tom Malesic, a trusted expert who has been helping small business owners grow and thrive through practical, results-driven strategies. In this episode, Tom discusses the importance of clarity, consistency, and smart decision-making in building sustainable businesses. He shares real-world insights on overcoming growth challenges while maintaining focus and purpose. The conversation blends thoughtful reflection with actionable guidance, offering listeners meaningful lessons they can apply immediately. This episode is especially valuable for entrepreneurs committed to long-term success.

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Genevieve Skory 

Transformational Speaker and Business Systems Coach

Thanks to the advances in technology, social media, new marketing platforms, and the broad acceptance of the side hustle culture, thousands of frustrated people look to entrepreneurship and personal development as a source of hope to improve their finances and stability. And while it is true that what one person can do, so can another, tales of success and wealth very often do not include a proper set-up for long-term success.

I believe in the immense value of having more control over your career, finances, and work, and I additionally believe it’s worth learning. There are, indeed, best practices to be shared through Resilience Mapping as a foundation for long-term and emotionally rewarding work.

Many entrepreneurs start with a spark of excitement and inspiration, but the journey is often fraught with challenges. Sleepless nights, endless tasks, and the fear of failure can overshadow the initial hope and lead to frustration. The underlying problem here is not just the external pressures but the lack of understanding of the mental game that must be mastered along the way.

This is where I come in. As a resilience coach, I specialize in helping entrepreneurs navigate the highs and lows of their journeys by mapping out personalized strategies for emotional and mental resilience. Resilience Mapping is a structured yet flexible approach that helps you identify your triggers, strengths, and growth areas. It provides the tools and mindset shifts necessary to not just survive but thrive in the face of challenges.

I understand the struggle because I’ve been there. I’ve faced the frustration of unmet goals and the temptation to give up. But I’ve also experienced the transformative power of resilience. It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about using it as a stepping stone. By equipping yourself with the right mental tools and strategies, you can stay aligned with your vision and build a business that not only succeeds but also fulfills you on a deeper level.

Entrepreneurship is a journey, and every journey needs a guide. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building a foundation for long-term success, Resilience Mapping can be your roadmap. You can get help turning your frustration into focus, setbacks into stepping stones, and hope into lasting achievement.

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Tim Barry

Growing Top Performing Sales People One Step at a Time!

Starting a business can be scary, but greed and survival prompted me to get out there and start making money at a very young age.

Growing up in a lower middle class family can be challenging, but when my family's resources were split in half because my parents got divorced, it was even tougher.

But I had dreams of buying a Lamborghini Countach 5000 and traveling the whole world.....

So I went to the local grocery store (Butera Finer Foods in Downers Grove, Illinois) and applied for a job in the produce section. The hiring manager asked me, "Can I ask how old you are?" and I replied "I'm 14."

She apologized and informed me that she couldn't hire me until I was 16 under workplace laws. So instead of complaining, I figured out a way to start a business cleaning houses in the 'rich' part of town.

I printed out a bunch of flyers at the local library that had a dot matrix printer and I rode my bike then hung the offer to clean their gigantic house for $50. It worked and soon I was off to the races.

I've achieved incredible success AND failed miserably. The funny part is that all the most important lessons I learned in building businesses came from the miserable failure!

I've built and scaled 5 of my own businesses and today, I work closely with small business owners helping them achieve their dreams through sales training, leadership training and executive coaching.

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Eric Webster

Eric Webster ~ Lifestyle Engineer/Hypnotherapist

Eric Webster is a Grand Rapids, MI based Lifestyle Engineer/Hypnotherapist. His international certifications allow him to work with clients to help them to achieve greater outcomes in their lives. Some of his areas of specialization are weight loss, past life regression, smoking cessation, academic performance, pain management and many, many more.

He is also an Askashic Record Channel. His consultations can shine a light on the why and wherefore of your current life, and perhaps the deep roots of the way you are, that might come from prior lives.

Readings and Lifestyle Engineering/Hypnosis work can be done in person or online from wherever you are.

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Alex Gore

From Blueprints to Business Breakthroughs: Architect, Author, and Entrepreneur Redefining Design

Alex Gore is a visionary architect and entrepreneur whose career blends construction experience with innovative design. From sketching pirate ships and homes as a child to serving as a heavy equipment operator in the National Guard, Alex has built a perspective that fuses hands-on grit with architectural creativity.

At North Dakota State University (NDSU), he earned a B.S. in Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture and Construction Management. Mentored by Daniel Libeskind in New York, Alex honed a design approach balancing creativity and practicality.

As co-founder of F9 Productions in Longmont, Colorado, since 2009, he’s helped the firm earn Best of Mile High Awards for Best Architecture Firm in 2023 and 2024, plus a 2025 finalist nod. His portfolio includes the Atlas Tiny House, a 196-square-foot HGTV-featured design that won the 2016 Architizer A+ Award, and Kenwood Drive, a steel-and-glass masterpiece in Boulder. Gore co-hosts Inside the Firm, a top-five global architecture podcast with over a million listens, sharing insights on business and design. Our sister company F14 Productions, takes our designs from paper to reality as our Construction arm.

A lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder for over 11 years, he mentored the next generation, blending construction savvy with visionary thinking. His book, The Creativity Code, offers innovation strategies, while his role as a charter school and community college board member shows his community commitment.

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Julie Clark

From Social Work to Sold Signs — Real Talk About Home, Change & Belonging

I’m Julie Clark, a Realtor based in the Yukon with a 15-year background in social work. I help people navigate major life transitions, from buying their first home to downsizing after loss, with honesty, empathy, and practical guidance.

As a guest, I bring real insight into what it’s like behind the scenes of a home purchase. Not just the paperwork, but the emotions, family decisions, and confusion that come with making a move. I’m especially tuned in to first-time buyers—many don’t know what to do after they get the keys. I offer the kind of support most people don’t think to ask for, like how to find a good contractor, what basic maintenance matters most, and what early warning signs to look for in a home.

My husband is a home builder, so I’ve picked up a lot of practical know-how over the years. That, combined with my social work background, helps me show up for clients with both emotional and logistical support. I speak to the moments most people skip—fear, burnout, budgeting, upkeep—and I do it with warmth, clarity, and a bit of dry humor.

I’m calm but direct, kind but clear, and always focused on helping people move forward with confidence.

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Abstract Essay, now in its fifth season, features Danielle Perkins as my guest, offering a profound and engaging conversation filled with insight and reflection. Danielle brings a unique blend of wisdom, creativity, and lived experience that invites listeners to think deeply about personal growth, purpose, and the power of resilience. Her perspectives open doors to new ways of understanding our journeys—how we navigate challenges, cultivate meaning, and embrace transformation along the way. This episode is a thoughtful exploration of ideas that inspire, encourage, and resonate long after the conversation ends.

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Reid Jones

Ex-Marine, Type 1 Diabetic, Personal Trainer

I grew up in a dark home. My dad was a raging addict who ended up taking his life to suicide when i was 21 years old. I joined the marine corps at 18 years old. I got kicked out at 21 for a pattern of misconduct (drinking, drugging & voilence). Shortly after service my dad killed himself and i was left with the pain. This left me on a journey to grow or i would end up the same way. i went on a relentless journey of personal development and turned myself into a fitness coach. I am also a type 1 diabetic, my life is dependent on insulin injections. My whole goal is to share my stories and show people what they're capable of achieving regardless of their past or their situations in life.

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Doug Ell

Author Douglas Ell, a former atheist, says “I’ve spent more than 30 years reconciling science and God, because I needed scientific evidence to believe in God.”

In our time, the pursuit of scientific and philosophical knowledge has largely been the domain of narrowly focused professionals and academics. Ell’s work represents a return to the more open-minded, broad thinking of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution, when intelligent people of diverse backgrounds exchanged information not to further professional careers, but as part of a collective effort to advance science and reason.

Douglas Ell grew up in Connecticut, and graduated early from MIT, where he double majored in math and physics. He then obtained a masters in theoretical mathematics from the University of Maryland. After graduating from law school, magna cum laude, he became a prominent attorney. Ell drafted the first 401(k) plan in professional sports and has represented a number of nationally recognized corporations, unions and pension plans. He has litigated nationally with great success and persuaded Congress to make important changes in employee benefits laws.

As a lawyer Ell learned how to sift through competing arguments and the importance of carefully considering different points of view, skills which he has now used to untangle the confused and often emotional relationship between science and religion.

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Clint Rusch

Leader, Innovator, Team Builder, Problem Solver

grew up in Minnesota, where I learned the value of hard work, the importance of socially responsible community service, and the meaning of the word 'winter.'

The events of 9/11 changed my life forever, as I left the University of Wisconsin and joined the Army, where I had the distinct honor to serve alongside some of the finest men I've ever known.

Following my time in uniform, I entered the private sector, spending time in operations, finance, consulting, business development, and executive leadership, working in industries as diverse as supply chain, aviation, healthcare, mining, hospitality, government, nonprofit, retail, technology, and utilities, where I consistently delivered growth-oriented, culturally-rooted, and process-driven outcomes for employees, stakeholders, and clients alike.

After spending over a decade in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I now reside outside Kansas City with my wonderful wife and two amazing children, where I lead a custom woodworking business and enjoy golfing, watching sports, barbecuing, reading about history, and supporting my kids as they learn and grow in this incredible world of ours.

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