Tony Shipley, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Queen City Angels, joins Jeff Bloomfield to share his journey from a Tennessee farm to building one of America’s fastest-growing tech companies and mentoring over 125 startups. Tony reveals the timeless lessons from his upbringing, the importance of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking in entrepreneurship, and why being coachable is the most underrated trait for founders. This episode is a roadmap for anyone seeking to build a meaningful business while leaving a lasting legacy.

This isn’t just a conversation about startups—it’s a masterclass on building something that matters. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or aspiring leader, Tony’s wisdom will challenge how you think about success, decision-making, and leadership. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn ideas into impact—or how to avoid the mistakes that sink early-stage companies—this episode is a must-hear.

Entrepreneurship is simple, not easy: Businesses succeed when they focus on customer problems, not just clever ideas.

Coachability trumps confidence: Founders who “know it all” rarely get funded or scale successfully.

Fail fast, learn faster: Quick iteration saves time, money, and credibility.

Every founder is first selling themselves, not just their product.

Networking is a superpower: Mentors and advisors are everywhere if you’re willing to ask.

Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking are the twin engines of progress.

Predictive programming drives unconscious decision-making—be aware of yours.

Fractional expertise beats lone hero syndrome—hire where you lack skills.

Legacy is built on people and memories, not exits or net worth.

Ideas aren’t fragile—if you’re afraid to share them, they’re not strong enough.

00:00 – Opening & Tony’s $1B startup impact

03:45 – Growing up on a Tennessee farm: lessons for life and business

12:30 – The stages of entrepreneurship (idea → MVP → scale)

20:30 – Networking and the power of asking the right questions

23:30 – Fear, pride, and the failure coin in entrepreneurship

28:40 – Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking as superpowers

31:00 – Predictive programming and founder patterns

35:30 – Building a lasting personal and professional legacy

Why You Should Listen Top 10 Takeaways Chapter Markings

39:35 – Resources and how to get started in entrepreneurship