In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Jores Minasvand (longtime independent consultant, co-host of the podcast, and co-founder of Leficomp) to unpack what it really means to build a business as an independent contractor.

With over 30 years of experience across technology, finance, energy, healthcare, education, and manufacturing, Jores shares how he transitioned from a traditional tech career into contracting early on and why he believes independence, adaptability, and marketability offer more security than a traditional full-time job ever could.

In this honest and practical conversation, you’ll hear about:

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a freelancer considering your next step, or a seasoned professional thinking about independence, this episode offers real-world lessons on building a sustainable consulting business with intention, grit, and grace.

Because building a business isn’t always about scaling a team. Sometimes it’s about building yourself.

If you’re exploring independent work or want to build a business that gives you more control, flexibility, and alignment, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

And if you want to connect with Jores, LinkedIn is the best place: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jores-minasvand/

Looking for more inspiration and help to build your business? Join our free community here: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this first episode of 2026, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand kick off the year with a grounded, honest conversation about goal setting and why most goals fail long before February.

This isn’t about ambitious resolutions or pressure-filled plans. It’s about setting goals that actually support the business and life you want to live and knowing how to adjust them as the year unfolds.

In this episode, Anna and Jores break down:

Why setting goals is easy, but sticking to them is the real work

How to set one meaningful business goal that matches your stage of growth

Why every business owner needs a personal well-being goal, not as a “nice to have,” but as a foundation

How to approach growth differently if you’re just starting vs. already generating revenue

The difference between dreams and realistic, achievable goals

Why belief, emotions, and intuition matter just as much as logic when setting goals

How to review and recalibrate your goals regularly instead of setting and forgetting them

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a solopreneur, or running a small or mid-sized business, this episode will help you start 2026 with clarity, intention, and momentum without burning out by March.

Because the goal isn’t to set more goals. It’s to set the right ones and build the habits to support them.

If you’d like to join these conversations live and work through your goals alongside other founders, check out the Visionary Founders Club, our free community for entrepreneurs building businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this solo episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova breaks down one of the most important, yet often ignored, foundations of every successful business: your customer journey.

Drawing from her work with founders inside Launch360 and the Visionary Founders Club, Anna explains that when people don’t know what to do next, they do nothing. And that’s why mapping your customer journey is essential from day one.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Anna also shares practical examples across product and service businesses, explains what customers expect at every touch point, and shows you how to build the know–like–trust factor that leads to long-term success.

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or already running a small or mid-sized business, this episode will help you simplify your processes, make smarter decisions, and create a customer experience that actually works.

Want to join these trainings live?

In this uplifting episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Cathy Nesbitt, a serial entrepreneur, laughter yoga teacher, and the founder of Cathy’s Club, Cathy’s Crawly Composters, and Cathy’s Sprouters. Three ventures that prove purpose, joy, and sustainability can all grow together.

Cathy’s journey began with worms and waste, literally. What started as a mission to reduce landfill waste turned into a lifelong calling to help people heal the planet and themselves. Today, she leads with laughter, running free weekly sessions that help people everywhere relieve stress, boost energy, and reconnect with joy.

In this conversation, Cathy shares how laughter yoga transformed her life, what it’s taught her about business resilience, and why joy is the ultimate productivity tool. She also reveals the lessons behind running three purpose-driven businesses, staying healthy, and planning to live vibrantly to 111 years old.

Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a solopreneur, or a business owner looking to reconnect with your “why,” this episode will remind you that success is built not just with grit, but also with grace, laughter, and a little bit of fun.

Connect with Cathy:

https://www.cathyscomposters.com/

https://www.cathyssprouters.com/

Want to join a community of vibrant business owners?

Our Visionary Founders Club is your space: 

https://leficomp.com/vfc

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand dive into one of the most overlooked topics in entrepreneurship: self-care as a business strategy.

As coaches and business owners themselves, Anna and Jores know firsthand that your business will never outgrow you. That’s why this conversation is all about how to protect your most valuable asset: you.

From starting your day with intention to building habits that strengthen your mind, body, and spirit, they share 12 powerful practices that help entrepreneurs refuel, stay grounded, and lead with clarity. You’ll learn why laughter, rest, community, and boundaries are leadership tools that make your business stronger.

Whether you’re an aspiring founder or already running a small or mid-sized company, this episode will remind you that success starts with sustainability and that self-care is part of your business strategy.

Tune in to discover simple, actionable ways to care for yourself while building a business that lasts.

And if you’d like to join live conversations like this, become part of our Visionary Founders Club, where real entrepreneurs come together to grow with grit, grace, and support: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova talks with Daniel Krikorian, founder of B.Remembered Studio, a platform transforming how wedding vendors manage, scale, and serve their clients.

Daniel shares how one unexpected photography gig during the pandemic sparked a business that grew from a handful of weddings to over 1,200 events a year. And how that journey revealed the need for something bigger: a solution to simplify the entire wedding industry.

From managing a 146-person team to building technology that bridges creativity and operations, Daniel’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, problem-solving, and innovation.

He also opens up about the personal side of entrepreneurship. The long hours, the support that keeps him grounded, and the clarity that comes from knowing your “why.”

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, you’ll leave this episode inspired to see challenges as opportunities and to build solutions that truly make an impact.

Connect with Daniel:

https://bremembered.io/

https://www.brememberedstudio.com/

[email protected]

Join our community of visionary founders for more conversations like this with real entrepreneurs building real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Don Elliott, a creative entrepreneur whose journey bridges two very different worlds: digital marketing and craft beer.

Don is the owner of Gravitate, a leading digital marketing and web design agency that’s been helping brands grow since the dawn of the internet, and Pour Choices, a community-centered pub in Vancouver, Washington. With nearly 30 years in the creative industry, he shares the real lessons from starting, selling, and buying back businesses and why, sometimes, the best way to grow is to step back.

From navigating the evolution of marketing in the age of AI to building a company culture rooted in trust, Don offers insights every entrepreneur needs to hear. He also reveals what running a neighborhood pub taught him about experience-driven business, leadership, and the power of community.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when creativity meets strategy or how to build success across completely different industries, this conversation is one you won’t forget.

Connect with Don:

https://pourchoices.pub/

Listen to the full episode and join our community of founders who are building meaningful businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

P.S. Although we didn’t dive into it on the podcast, Don is also the author of a fantasy novel series. You can learn more about his books and grab a copy at https://donelliott.us/.

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Mandy Wong, a mom of two, corporate leader, and certified coach who’s building her coaching practice while thriving in her full-time leadership role as a Director at a Canadian corporation.

Mandy shares how she balanced ambition and family over the past eight years. From pausing her coaching dreams after certification, to intentionally returning when the timing felt right. She opens up about overcoming guilt, redefining success, and building a sustainable business one intentional step at a time.

You’ll hear how she found her niche coaching quiet leaders, the unconventional ways she attracted clients without social media, and the lessons she’s learned about consistency, energy, and purpose. Her story is a masterclass in building with clarity and honoring every season of life.

To connect with Mandy, visit her website: https://www.mandywong.coach/

or check her coaching profile: https://www.noomii.com/users/mandy-wong

And if you enjoyed this conversation, join our community of visionary founders for more stories like this, where real entrepreneurs build real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

This episode is a special one. A crossover between More Than Just Task Management and Building a Business: Grit & Grace.

After months of hosting two separate shows, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand sit down together to share an exciting update: the two podcasts are merging!

In this heartfelt and energizing conversation, Anna and Jores reflect on:

It’s a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at how two creators evolve, adapt, and align around one mission: to help people everywhere build businesses that matter with clarity, courage, and community.

Tune in to hear the full story, the vision for the future, and how you can be part of it.

And if you’ve been following More Than Just Task Management, make sure to subscribe to Building a Business: Grit & Grace. Your new home for inspiration, strategy, and real conversations about entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova talks with Brian and Sally Krichbaum, owners of Gilbert Chocolates, one of Michigan’s oldest and most beloved chocolate makers, now celebrating 125 years in business.

Brian and Sally share their inspiring journey from corporate careers and community work to taking over a century-old brand and tripling its size. They discuss the challenges of buying an existing business, navigating the first difficult year, balancing innovation with tradition, and learning how to lead together as a husband-and-wife team.

From rebuilding a historic company to introducing new products like the Dubai chocolate trend, this episode is filled with lessons on resilience, quality, and staying grounded in community values, all while keeping things deliciously sweet.

To explore Gilbert Chocolates or order their handcrafted treats, visit https://www.gilbertchocolates.com/ .

And if you enjoyed this conversation, join our Visionary Founders community for more stories like this. Real entrepreneurs building real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc