If you’ve ever wondered how writers go from part-time gigs to running a creative business, this one’s for you. Teri M. Brown, an author and podcast host, shares her path from writing for small businesses to building a multi-book career. You’ll pick up practical lessons on monetizing writing, the long game of marketing, and how to realistically support yourself as an author. We also get into taking business risks, juggling fulfillment with bills, and the nuts and bolts of growing an audience. Plus, hear why consistency trumps overnight success. Tune in for honest, actionable insights about making a living with words.

Connect With Teri M. Brown
Website: https://terimbrown.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TeriMBrown

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
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Chapters
00:00 The First Paid Writing Gig
00:15 Welcome—The Realities of Building
00:43 Teri's Writing Journey—Genres and Pivots
01:21 Monetization and Becoming a Full-Time Author
02:14 Nonfiction Versus Fiction: The Fear Factor
03:08 The True Timeline for Author Income
04:17 Authorship: Persistence and Putting Yourself Out There
05:08 Transitioning From Client Work to Real Money
06:09 How Nonfiction Writing Opened Doors
07:25 Saying Yes to Unexpected Opportunities
08:23 Starting Over With Fiction
08:43 Taking the Leap—From Safe Work to Novelist
09:14 Power of Belief and Big Goals
09:56 Why Writing a Book Isn’t Enough
10:51 Building the Daily Marketing Machine
11:25 What Consistency Actually Looks Like
12:20 Playing the Long Game—Appearing Everywhere
13:17 The Hidden Work Behind Every 'Success'
13:48 The Relentlessness of Self-Promotion
14:26 Breaking Down the Author Business Model
15:08 How Everything Works Together
16:47 Book Sales, Podcasting, and Revenue Streams
17:12 Is Six-Figure Authorship Possible?
18:09 Case Study—A Friend’s Author Income
18:44 What Makes the Difference: Effort Over Time
19:20 Honest Breakdown: What Pays Versus What Fulfills
21:12 Getting Traction With Marketing
22:27 The Power of a Newsletter List
23:26 Building From Scratch: Where to Begin
24:20 Finding Your Best Marketing Channel
25:25 How to Connect With Teri M. Brown

If you've ever wondered how personal struggles and questions can shape a business, this episode is for you. Len May, CEO and co-founder of Endodna, opens up about turning his ADHD diagnosis and lifelong curiosity into a successful precision medicine company. You'll pick up practical ways to reframe what makes you different, hear about the messy path from music to genetics, and learn how leaning into discomfort can spark innovation. We also get into the realities of building through confusion and why giving up control may be the real secret to progress. Plus, Len shares actionable insights about personalization in both health and life decisions. Tune in for a conversation about finding your edge by understanding yourself.

Connect With Len May
Website: https://endodna.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenmay
YouTube: [Len May’s podcast “Everything is Personal” found on YouTube, as mentioned]
Instagram: [Len May or Len May DNA, as mentioned in the episode]

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.

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Chapters
00:00 Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
00:21 From ADHD to Business Builder
00:49 Early Lessons in Self-Understanding
01:31 Turning Struggle Into a Thesis
02:12 Young Len’s Search for Answers
02:46 Living With an ADD Label
03:12 Medication’s Double-Edged Sword
03:55 Discovering Cannabis as Medicine
05:33 System-Building and Self-Discovery
05:47 Experimenting With Career Paths
06:29 From Music to Internet Startups
07:00 Learning Through Real Estate
07:27 Cannabis, Dispensaries, and Genetics
07:57 Personalizing Plant and Human DNA
08:28 Curiosity Becomes Conviction
09:17 Embracing the Polymath Mindset
10:28 Hyperfocus and Structure With ADHD
12:11 Building a Product People Need
12:43 From Test Results to Action
13:58 How Doctors Shaped the Platform
14:52 Building Around Curiosity and Trust
15:27 Making Genetics Actionable
16:22 Personalization as a Life Principle
17:17 The Ongoing Journey of Self-Knowledge
18:56 Purpose, Perspective, and Business
19:59 Why Knowing Yourself Matters
20:38 Helping Others as Self-Work
21:16 Rethinking Focus and Success
22:19 Pattern Recognition as Superpower
23:08 Letting Go of Control
24:08 Best Lesson for Builders
24:33 "This Too Shall Pass"
25:25 Where to Find Len May
26:39 Closing Thoughts for Listeners

If you’ve ever wondered why you get stuck making decisions—even when you “should” know what to do—this conversation is for you. Leadership and sales coach Debra Bowers of Exagon Media joins to share her firsthand experience with functional freeze, that sneaky state where your clarity goes offline. You’ll pick up signs and solutions for when you’re operating in survival mode, ways to rebuild trust in your own judgment, plus honest talk on how real business growth starts with small, personal steps—not just strategy. We also get into team dynamics, practical grounding exercises, and why you don’t have to abandon yourself to see progress. Tune in for a truly human take on moving forward.

Connect With Debra Bowers
Website: https://thegrowthvanguard.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.

Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Procrastination or Something Else?
01:12 What Really Happens to Leaders
02:27 The Invisible State—Functional Freeze
03:16 How Functional Freeze Feels
04:49 Stuck Versus Confused
05:07 Burnout, Indecision, and Freeze
06:27 Survival Mode in Business
07:57 Why Connection Suffers
08:32 Recognizing When You’re Frozen
09:37 The Counseling Breakthrough
10:22 Grounding for Decision Making
11:23 Replacing Guilt With Clarity
12:13 Everyday Stuck—Business Edition
13:31 The No-Sell Sales Problem
14:47 Leaders and Fear of Action
15:44 Why Emotion Beats Strategy
16:09 Clarity Before Strategy
17:00 Sales Is Transfer of Enthusiasm
17:40 The First Non-Obvious Step
18:48 Clearing Out the Noise
19:49 Sitting With Your Own Thoughts
20:35 Humanity and Grounding
21:46 Growth Without Self-Abandonment
22:22 Your Voice, Your Purpose
22:59 Clarity Offline—Now What?
23:14 Subconscious Is in the Driver’s Seat
24:17 How to Connect With Debra
25:33 Try One Idea—Next Steps

If you’ve ever wondered how to reclaim your time as a founder without slowing business growth, this episode is for you. Buyback Time strategist George Rivera shares how a family regret became his business mission, and the specific frameworks he uses to help 7, 8, and 9 figure founders step out of daily chaos. You’ll pick up the 10k/hour filter for prioritizing what matters, learn the dangers of key person dependency, and hear how the two-week vacation test can reset your definition of success. We also get into what truly moves the needle (and what doesn’t), and some simple ways to use automation and AI for instant relief. Tune in for frameworks you can act on this week.

Connect With George Rivera
Website: https://buybacktimeformula.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-rivera-53b3296

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.

Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Only Do What Moves the Needle
00:27 Real Lessons From Basketball Games Missed
01:01 George Rivera’s Turning Point
02:22 Chasing Paper Success—What’s Missing?
03:41 The Lie Founders Tell Themselves
04:43 Delegating to Grow—Letting Go Is Hard
05:26 The 10k/Hour Time Audit
06:07 Buying Back 40 Hours a Week
06:48 What Most Founders Refuse to Delegate
07:24 Delegating Outcomes, Not Just Tasks
08:11 How to Transfer Real Ownership
08:36 Outcome vs. Task—Examples
09:46 Why Founders Keep Taking Work Back
10:27 Personal Boundaries and Non-Negotiables
11:05 The Founder’s Real Job—Revenue and Relationships
12:25 Where Key Person Dependency Hides
13:40 Infrastructure for Growth—Chaos or Freedom?
14:07 The Freedom Audit—First Steps
14:38 Eliminate, Automate, and Delegate
15:16 The Two-Week Vacation Test
16:03 Practice Runs—Fixing Weak Points
17:06 The Second-in-Command
17:20 Automating With AI—Simple Wins
18:42 AI for Customer Support and Meetings
19:49 Deciding What to Eliminate, Automate, Delegate
21:29 The Real Cost of Founder Dependency
22:18 Mindset Shift for Cash-Rich, Time-Poor Founders
23:19 How to Connect With George Rivera
24:35 Take Action—Apply One Idea Today

If you’ve ever wondered how to escape the endless hustle of running your business and find real freedom, this episode is for you. Jeremy B. Shapiro, serial entrepreneur and author of Your Business Growth Playbook, shares the difference between being self-employed and truly owning your business. You’ll pick up practical ways to spot and break through business plateaus, real stories of going from burnout to scaling with systems, and how to buy back your own time—step by step. We also get into actionable ways to document and delegate the repeatable parts of your work, no matter your industry or budget. Plus, why systemizing even creative businesses like podcasting is not just possible, but liberating. Listen in to start building a business that serves you—not the other way around.

Connect With Jeremy B. Shapiro
Website: https://yourbusinessgrowthplaybook.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyshapiro/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.

Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Working In vs. On the Business
00:26 Meet Jeremy B. Shapiro
01:24 The Self-Employed Trap
02:12 Can Your Business Run Without You?
03:05 Burnout vs. True Business Freedom
03:43 What Freedom in Business Looks Like
04:06 Spotting a True Plateau
04:50 Business Growth Isn’t Linear
05:51 The Trap of Diminishing Returns
06:16 When Doubling Down Backfires
07:28 Recognizing When a System Stops Working
08:08 In vs. On—How It Affects Plateaus
09:03 The Power of Strategic Time
09:18 Buying Back Your Time
10:12 The Mountain Biker’s Story
10:39 You Don’t Need to Do It All
11:37 Is “Working On” Just for Big Businesses?
12:18 One Accident Changes Everything
13:34 Creating Systems from Crisis
14:23 Calculating Your Real ROI
15:33 Building to Owner—Not Operator
16:11 The Perfectionism Trap
17:02 Finding What’s Repeatable
18:02 Systemizing Creative and Lifestyle Businesses
18:39 SOPs for Consistency
20:02 Fixing and Updating Systems
21:20 Affording to Hire—Start Small
22:18 Growing Toward a Business Network
23:09 Spend Your Time Where It Pays
24:09 Your Action Plan—Start with a Time Diary
26:10 Document and Refine
27:01 Take Action—Every Chapter Matters
27:20 Where to Find Jeremy
28:10 One More Reason to Take Action
28:19 Where to Get the Book
29:02 Take One Step This Week

If you’ve ever wondered what really changes after decades in business, this episode will hit home. Chris Shurian, founder of Bootstraps and Battle Scars, opens up about nearly forty years of entrepreneurship—including leading a $15 million construction company, surviving cancer, and finishing two Ironmans. You’ll pick up what "bootstrapping" means at a gut level, how Chris actually uses hard-won lessons ("battle scars"), and what truly makes a business sustainable in a world that keeps changing. We also get into why founders struggle to drop their armor, building teams that can step up when you need to step away, and how setbacks can be blessings in disguise. Tune in for the wisdom you earn the hard way, delivered with honesty and perspective.

Connect With Chris Shurian
Website: https://bootstrapsandbattlescars.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshurian/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.

Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Lessons in Battle Scars
00:26 Meet Chris Shurian—Entrepreneur and Survivor
01:15 The Meaning Behind Bootstraps and Battle Scars
02:45 Why “Bootstrapping” Resonates With Founders
03:50 Business Lessons and Battle Scars
04:34 Old Chris vs. New Chris—A Founder’s Evolution
05:37 How Wisdom, Not Just Youth, Shapes Entrepreneurs
06:34 Deliberately Facing Fear and Past Mistakes
07:00 Dropping the Armor—The Leader’s Dilemma
08:09 Why It’s So Hard to Be Vulnerable at the Top
09:14 Loneliness and Isolation in Entrepreneurship
10:00 Creating Safe Spaces for Honest Founder Conversations
11:58 What Makes Businesses Truly Sustainable
12:43 Lessons From Adapting to Technology and Disruption
14:05 Staying Ahead of Change—Ignore AI at Your Peril
14:57 Surviving Cancer—How It Changed Chris’s Business Approach
16:13 Building Teams That Can Run Without You
17:27 Don’t Wait to Enjoy Life Along the Way
18:18 How Ironman Training Helped During Tough Times
19:36 Seeing Setbacks as Blessings
21:00 E + R = O—Choosing Your Response
22:22 The Ups & Downs—An Uncomfortable Truth for Entrepreneurs
23:09 Where to Find Chris and Connect
23:39 Endnotes and How to Stay Connected

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to turn a trade skill into a thriving business, this episode is for you. Chris McManus shares his journey from mowing lawns fresh out of high school to running a multi-seven-figure landscaping, pools, and real estate business by age 26. You'll pick up candid advice on hiring, discipline, using AI for systems, and managing cash flow as you grow. We also get into when to delegate, stacking related businesses, and building long-term wealth with real estate. Plus, Chris opens up about the tough lessons learned along the way. Tune in for an honest window into scaling a service company from scratch.

Connect With Chris McManus
Website: https://gclandscapinginc.com/
TikTok: GC Landscaping Inc
Instagram: GC Landscaping Inc / ChrisMcManus151
Facebook: GC Landscaping Inc

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Chris McManus: From High School Hustle to Scale
00:40 Why Landscaping Right After Graduation
01:15 No Plan B—Making It Work
01:36 Early Projects and Mistakes
02:14 Learning Customer Service the Hard Way
03:14 Grind, Discipline, and Building a Name
04:13 Breaking the Seven-Figure Barrier
05:23 Delegation vs. Micromanagement
05:34 Systems, SOPs, and Avoiding Overwhelm
06:13 Using AI for Quick SOPs
06:48 Real-World Systems: Morning Dispatch
07:24 Addressing Service Quality with SOPs
07:57 Start Small, Let It Snowball
08:32 Evolving Systems as You Grow
09:23 Implementation, Repetition, Creating Habit
10:22 Focus on 1% Progress, Not Perfection
11:03 Team Ownership and Upgrading SOPs
12:06 Training Management to Think for Themselves
13:27 Fostering a Culture Where It’s OK to Fail
14:06 Cash Flow Pain as Revenue Grows
15:17 Projecting Cash Flow and Payment Timelines
17:22 Why You Need Access to Capital
18:12 Expanding into Pools and Real Estate
19:25 Real Estate for Long-Term Wealth
20:58 Deciding When to Add Services
22:01 Pools and Landscaping—Perfect Integration
23:25 Vertical Integration and Owning the Pipeline
23:31 Key Lessons and Your Next Steps
24:48 Where to Follow Chris McManus
25:46 Episode Wrap and Newsletter Invite

If you've ever wondered how top podcasters make the leap from content creation to real business growth, this episode is for you. CEO Alan Lazaros of Next Level University sits down to unpack the frameworks and lessons that've shaped his seven-figure education business and global podcast. You'll pick up tactical approaches like the “delete, delegate, double down” productivity method, learn how your client relationships shape your company culture, and hear what really turns visibility into revenue. We also get into fulfilling work, the balance between achievement and meaning, and how Alan thinks about building a community around actionable improvement. Tune in for insights you can apply in your own journey.

Connect With Alan Lazaros
Website: https://nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelUniversity
Podcast: Next Level University (available on all major platforms)

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Meet Alan Lazaros—Scaling Education and Coaching
00:30 What You Pay Attention to Shapes Your Future
00:50 The First Business Lesson Alan Learned
01:08 Who Are Your “Absolutely” People?
01:30 High Humility, Work Ethic, Improvement Orientation
01:59 The "Unmedzai" Framework for Fit
02:41 Productivity Without Founder Burnout
02:47 Alan’s Time Audit and Whiteboard Exercise
03:29 The Scaling Formula—112 Waking Hours
03:54 Invest in Your Primary Skill
04:23 Delegate, Buy Back Time, and ROI
05:05 When Delegation Doesn't Move the Company Forward
05:49 Delete, Delegate, Double Down in Practice
06:34 Making Sacrifices for Business Success
07:03 From Labor to Leadership to Ownership
07:16 What’s Your Venn Diagram for Meaningful Work?
08:03 Are You Actually Good at It?
08:30 Alan’s Content Business Model Breakdown
09:13 Visibility vs. Revenue—Systems That Work
09:32 Why Next Level University Isn’t Chasing Trends
10:25 Facing Hard Truths, Not Just Affirmation
11:02 The Three “4K TVs” for Growth
12:04 Education and Outgrowing Old Patterns
12:18 The Chessboard of Life—Awareness as Power
13:03 Tying Together Story and Self-Discovery
13:15 Honest Breakdown of the Podcast Business Model
14:24 The Five-Layer Funnel to Revenue
15:12 Book Club, Meetups, and Community Building
16:11 From Free Value to Paid Clients
17:53 The Importance of Mastery and Repetition
18:47 Achievement vs. Fulfillment in Business
19:21 The Mastery–Impact–Profitability Sequence
20:21 Why Profit Comes Last
20:53 Finding Your Passion, Purpose, and Profit
21:05 Where to Find Alan and Next Level University
21:40 Daily Improvement and Consistency
22:33 Everyday Habits—Get Better, Not Just Affirmed
23:05 Wrap Up—Take Action and Stay Connected

If you've ever wondered how to hand over your small business without worrying it'll fall apart, this episode is for you. Serial entrepreneur and author Rich Ashton shares his journey of developing leadership talent inside his companies—including the struggles and lessons that shaped his approach. You'll pick up practical ways to create a values-driven culture, why promoting employees too soon can backfire, and how to truly train people for leadership roles. We also get into the nuts and bolts of accountability, employee empowerment, and the real differences between running a small business versus a big one. Plus, Rich walks through his process for writing and teaching the principles in his book. Don’t miss it if you want real-world insight on building teams that last.

Connect With Rich Ashton
Website: https://growingyourown.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-ashton-397a2b10/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Meet Rich Ashton—Entrepreneurial Beginnings
00:42 Early Inspiration and Father’s Influence
01:01 Lessons in Integrity and Customer Service
01:33 Leaving to Start a Business
01:58 Turning Around a Company on the Brink
02:47 The Heart of Healthy Business Culture
03:27 Empowering Employees for Retention
04:34 Solving the Leadership Dilemma in Small Business
05:11 Why Promoting Too Soon Fails
06:14 Second Generation Business Challenges
06:37 The Origin of “Breaking Through” Leadership Training
07:08 Building Confidence in Blue Collar Leaders
07:41 Accelerating Growth with Leadership Blogs
08:44 Company Culture Takes Off—and a Book Is Born
09:38 Turning Blogs into a Legacy Book
10:37 Core Principles—Accountability and Extreme Ownership
11:23 Proactivity and Intellectual Curiosity
12:24 Leading Different People, Different Ways
13:13 The Dangers of Promoting Unready Leaders
13:47 Universal Leadership Lessons for Small Business
14:47 How Owners Can Work on Their Leadership
15:16 Making Culture Intentional and Actionable
16:06 Connecting With Every Employee—Why It Matters
17:58 Small vs. Big Business Leadership—What’s Different
18:31 Managing Culture Drift in Larger Teams
19:45 Small Business Means Wearing Many Hats
20:33 Embracing Delegation and Letting Go
21:05 The Realities of Delegating Projects
22:53 “You Can’t Expect What You Don’t Inspect”
23:45 Final Thoughts and Where to Connect
24:27 Thanks for Listening and Next Steps

This episode breaks down exactly what Class of Business is, why it was created, and why it might be the most useful (and funniest) business podcast you’ve ever added to your playlist.
No fluff. No guru energy. No unrealistic “wake up at 4 a.m.” expectations.
Just clear, relatable explanations of how business actually works and why so many people feel lost when trying to build something.
You’ll learn who the podcast is for, how it’s different from every other business show out there, and what to expect from every episode moving forward.
If you’ve ever wished someone would just tell you the truth about entrepreneurship — plainly, honestly, and with a little humor — this is the episode that welcomes you home.

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