In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Wagner, a college dropout who built an eight-figure business by doing the opposite of what most founders do. From risking everything at 20 years old to helping nearly 5,000 authors turn their ideas into influence, Tyler shares the raw truth behind failure, focus, partnerships, and the real value of writing a book in the AI age.

Tyler opens up about the mindset shift that changed his life, why he ran toward failure instead of avoiding it, and how he turned one book into a multi-million-dollar company. He talks about ego, legacy, freedom, and the lonely part of reaching “success” that no one prepares you for. 

He also breaks down why partnerships beat ads, why most entrepreneurs quit too early, and why many founders still fear writing their first book.

Tune in to learn the shifts that helped Tyler turn one book into an empire—and how you can shift your journey too.

Key Topics:

-The mindset shift that turns failure into a pathway to success

-How writing a book becomes a real tool for influence and credibility

-Why partnerships outperform ads for long-term business growth

-The hidden challenges of reaching time freedom as an entrepreneur

-The ego, legacy, and emotional drivers behind why founders publish books

Quote  From The Episode:

“I actually like failure, because the more I fail, the closer I know I am to succeeding.”

- Tyler Wagner

Timestamp:

[00:20] The Mindset Shift That Turns Dropouts Into Industry Leaders

[12:15] How a 20-Year-Old Bestseller Exposed the Secret Value of Publishing

[23:13] How Entrepreneurs Turn a $50K Book Into a Seven-Figure Funnel

[34:40] How a College Dropout Scaled to Eight Figures by Doing the Opposite of Everyone Else

[45:59] Conferences vs. Digital: The Surprising Truth About Where Real Relationships Are Built Today

[56:38] How AI Is Quietly Killing Ghostwriting as We Know It

[1:08:34] Why Partnerships Beat Ads, Content, and Virality—Every. Single. Time.

[1:14:30] Outro

Connect with - Tyler Wagner:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/tylerbwagner

Website - authorsunite.com/

partnerprofits.io

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, we go inside the real mind of a founder with Jason Johnson — the builder behind August smart locks and now CEO of DOMA. Jason shares what most people never hear: why founders burn out, why teams break, why distribution kills more startups than bad ideas, and why you must protect your time like your life depends on it.

He talks openly about losing a company at 29, rebuilding himself at Dolby, firing fast, trusting his gut, and giving his team radical responsibility. Jason also explains why small teams win, why outsourcing is the future, and why believing in yourself is not a motivational quote — it’s survival.

Tune in to hear the truth about failure, hunger, and why your toughest years might be your edge.

Key Topics:

-Radical ownership and fast decision making

-The real cost of mis-hiring and early firing

-Why small teams outperform large organizations

-Outsourcing as a strategic edge for modern founders

-The mindset required to survive repeated failure

Quote  From The Episode:

“You have to radically believe in yourself.”

- Jason Johnson

Timestamp:

[00:19] The One Skill Every Founder Needs—but Almost No One Talks About

[11:07] Why the Best Founders Win Before They Even Build the Product

[21:11] The Practice Habit That Separates Average Founders from Icons

[31:11] The Brutal Truth About Why Founders Quit—and Why Jason Johnson Never Did

[41:19] The Outsourcing Rule Founders Ignore—and It’s Wasting Their Time

[50:31] The New Blueprint: Why the Future Belongs to Tiny Teams

[1:00:25] The Hardest Decision Founders Avoid—And Why It Destroys Their Companies

[1:06:32] Outro

Connect with - Jason Johnson:

LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/jcjohnson

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, Adam sits down with Mitch Joel — one of the sharpest minds in business, storytelling, and the future of work — for a conversation that exposes the real truths about entrepreneurship.

Mitch shares powerful insights from decades of interviewing top thinkers, building companies, and staying ahead in a world that never stops shifting. He breaks down why success is the anomaly, why most founders fail long before their idea does, and how “the market is brutal” in ways people rarely talk about. 

We go deep into the things most leaders avoid:

why fear can become a superpower, how timing shapes outcomes more than talent, why your network is your net worth, and what it really takes to stay curious when everyone else gets comfortable. Mitch also reveals how AI changes the game, why many people will get left behind, and how to protect your edge when the world moves faster than your habits.

🎧Tune in — this conversation might be the unlock you didn’t know you needed.

Key Topics:

- Mindset shift from speed to direction and momentum

- Real value of storytelling and why most founders overlook it

- Power of nuance when finding product fit and evolving a message

- Truth about delegation and knowing when you’re the bottleneck

- Rise of AI and how curiosity becomes a competitive advantage

Quote From The Episode: 

“Most people won’t do it. And that’s the opportunity.”

- Mitch Joel

Timestamp:

[00:16] Why Only a Few People Actually Win in Business

[18:20] Timing Will Make or Break You—And You Can’t Control It

[29:13] The Hidden Reason Your Brand Gets Ignored

[40:17] The Tiny Discipline That Builds Million-Dollar Networks

[54:13] The Silent Trap That Destroys Early-Stage Startups

[1:07:51] Most Founders Fail Because They Can’t Let Go

[1:19:23] Your Network Is Your Net Worth (But Almost No One Acts Like It)

[1:34:18] Outro

Connect with - Mitch Joel:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/mitchjoel

Website - mitchjoel.com

sixpixels.com

thinkersone.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

What if everything you believe about “great customer service” is actually wrong?

In this episode, we sit down with Rick DeLisi — a 20-year expert on customer experience, bestselling author of The Effortless Experience, and lead researcher behind a landmark study on how over 1,000 business leaders are using AI in customer service.

Rick breaks down why real customer loyalty has nothing to do with delight, fancy gestures, or “wow moments.” It comes from something far simpler — making people feel smart for choosing you and giving them an experience that feels way easier than expected. 

We also dive into how the next generation of AI will reshape support, why replacing humans is the wrong move, and how the best companies create a balance between automation and human connection. 

Tune in to learn the hidden psychology behind effortless experiences and why it’s the real edge every founder needs right now.

Key Topics:

-How effortless experiences build real customer loyalty

-Why thinking like your customers changes everything

-The new empathy that creates faster and better solutions

-How AI and humans should work together in customer service

-The leadership mindset that keeps companies truly customer centric

Quote  From The Episode:

“Entrepreneurial excellence is thinking like your customers, not about them”

- Rick DeLisi

Timestamp:

[00:20] Why Most Leaders Are Flying Blind — And Don’t Even Know It

[11:16] The Hidden Habit That Destroys Customer Loyalty Overnight

[22:30] The Psychology Trick That Turns Angry Customers Into Lifelong Fans

[33:54] The Fatal Mistake Companies Make When ‘Fixing’ Customer Problems

[45:28] AI Won’t Save You—But This One Shift Will Transform Your Customer Experience

[55:54] The New Empathy: Why ‘I’m Sorry’ Is Killing Your Customer Experience

[1:07:02] Why Employee Effort Is the Hidden Metric That Predicts Customer Loyalty

[1:27:30] Outro

Connect with - Rick DeLisi:

LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/rick-delisi-1122257

Website - glia.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, investor and ecosystem builder David Fogel reveals what he’s learned from working with over a thousand founders across the globe — the wins, the failures, and the tough lessons that define true entrepreneurial excellence.

David shares why most startups fail long before they run out of money, how founders can learn to adapt fast, and why falling in love with your problem matters more than falling in love with your product. He opens up about the mission behind Alma Angels, a $1 trillion movement backing women founders, and the hidden biases still shaping the world of venture capital.

If you’re a founder, investor, or leader searching for what it really takes to build something that lasts, this conversation will change the way you see success.

🎧 Tune in to discover how great founders turn pain into progress, why self-awareness beats perfection, and what it truly means to play the infinite game in business and life.

Key Topics:

-Why problem obsession matters more than product obsession

-How bias and warm intros shape who actually gets funded

-Building companies not just products as you scale

-Choosing and stress testing the right co founder

-Leading with empathy while making hard decisions

Quote From The Episode: 

“Pain is learning — the difference between a good entrepreneur and an excellent one is their willingness to feel it.”

-David Fogel

Timestamp:

[00:19] The Hidden Truth Behind Why Startups Fail — And How Great Founders Turn It Around

[12:13] The Unspoken Truth About Bias, Power, and the $1 Trillion Mission to Back Women Founders

[24:41] Inside the $1 Trillion Network Powering the Next Generation of Women Founders

[33:48] The One Trait That Separates Great Founders From Everyone Else

[44:43] Warm Intros, Cold Truths: How Great Founders Turn “No” Into Momentum—and Guard Their Time

[53:50] How to Choose the Right Co-Founder—Before It’s Too Late

[1:04:46] Why the Best Leaders Make Tough Calls—with Heart

[1:18:36] Outro

Connect with - David Fogel:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/fogeldavid

Website - alma-angels.com/

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, Kasim Aslam reveals the 7 Steps to true entrepreneurial greatness. From running 17 companies to hiring rockstars instead of babysitters, Kasim exposes the uncomfortable truth behind why most leaders will never scale — they don’t trust anyone but themselves. This isn’t another “delegate better” talk. It’s a full mindset teardown. 

Kasim walks us through The Black Box of Delegation — a system that turns chaos into clarity, builds ownership instead of oversight, and frees you to work on what actually compounds. He explains why paying 10% more gets you 100x results, how the wrong kind of “management” kills top talent, and why mediocrity is the default setting for most modern businesses.

🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to stop working in your business and start architecting the people, systems, and leverage that make it unstoppable.

Key Topics:

-The Black Box of Delegation

-Why Overpaying Attracts 100x Talent

-Building Leverage Through People, Not Processes

-Escaping the Trap of Mediocre Leadership

-The Founder’s Shift from Control to Clarity

Quote  From The Episode: 

“I believe every human is a miracle.”

-Kasim Aslam

Timestamp:

[00:20] Why Most “Entrepreneurs” Aren’t Actually Entrepreneurs

[14:17] The Only Skill That Matters in a Post-AI World

[23:04] The 7 Secrets to Hiring Talent That Changes Everything

[32:52] The Real Reason Your Team Isn’t World-Class Yet

[42:21] The Black Box of Delegation: How to Let Go Without Losing Control

[51:50] Traffic First. Talent Next. Scale.

[1:04:51] Build Authority Or Be Invisible

[1:25:17] Outro

Connect with - Kasim Aslam:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kasimaslam

Website - ParetoTalent.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

What if success wasn’t the finish line — but the launchpad for who you’re meant to become?

In this episode, Joshua Litwack shares how he went from a lower-middle-class kid in Canada to building and selling a company — only to realize the real work began after the exit.

Josh breaks down how true entrepreneurs think differently: they see patterns no one else does, they reinvent instead of retire, and they measure success by how much meaning and community they create. 

🎧 Tune in to discover what the post-exit journey really looks like — and why the secret to lasting success is learning to trust yourself, redefine greatness, and stay endlessly curious.

Key Topics:

-Reinventing success after selling a company

-Building resilience and trust in yourself

-The power of community and connection

-Goal setting as a foundation for growth

-The mindset of optimism and purpose-driven leadership

Quote From The Episode: 

“The exit is perceived as this like ending point. But it's really just the beginning point of the next part of your life.”

- Joshua Litwack

Timestamp:

[01:39] Willpower, Innovation, and the Future of Work: How Visionaries Create Opportunity in a Changing World

[14:37] From Lower-Middle-Class Kid to Global Leader: The Hidden Compounding Power Behind Reinvention

[25:14] The Goal-Setting Blueprint That Changed My Life: How One Bold Decision Sparked a Lifetime of Reinvention

[35:22] The Obsession with Greatness: How One Founder Turned Risk, Reinvention, and Exit Lessons into His Life’s Best Work

[46:15] Beyond the Exit: The Real Lessons on Deals, Success, and Redefining Greatness in the Age of AI

[58:25] The Art of Storytelling: How the Most Positive Founder Turns Life Experience Into Magnetic Leadership

[1:09:47] Why the Best Founders Are Outcasts: The Goal System and Community That Fuel Relentless Success

[1:21:57] The One Trait That Separates Great Founders From the Rest

[1:27:04] Outro

Connect with - Joshua Litwack:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/joshualitwack

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, we go deep into what separates founders who grow from those who stall. It’s not a lack of skill — it’s ego, control, and the fear of letting go. You’ll hear insights on why real leaders stop trying to do everything, trust the people they hire, and focus on what truly moves the company forward.

We talk about why massive goals force you to evolve, how to spot when your ego is quietly slowing you down, and why entrepreneurship will always feel uncertain — because it’s supposed to.

Tune in if you’re ready to face the truth every founder must learn: you can’t scale your business until you learn to get out of your own way.

Key Topics:

-Breaking free from your own limits

-Ego the silent business killer

-How real leaders let go to grow

-The mindset shift that scales companies

-Why thinking bigger changes everything

Quote  From The Episode: 

“If you don't evolve and change, your business will disappear, no matter what it is.”

-Shawn Freeman

Timestamp:

[00:00] The Hard Truth About Why Most Founders Fail (And How to Finally Get Out of Your Own Way)

[09:22] Why Playing It Safe Kills Growth (And the One Mindset Shift Every Founder Needs)

[18:55] The Real Reason Your Business Plateaus (And Why It’s Always the Founder’s Fault)

[37:15] The Hidden Cost of Outdated Tech (And How Smart Founders Future-Proof Their Teams with AI)

[46:39] Stop Hiring “Good Enough” People — The Real Secret to Building an Unstoppable Team

[49:41] Outro

Connect with - Shawn Freeman:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shawnfreeman-

Website - https://shawnfreeman.com/

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast, we sit down with a founder who has done what most dream of — building and selling multiple startups in just three years each.

Shreesha Ramdas shares how he keeps winning by staying optimistic when others quit, how he codified culture into a system that breeds excellence, and why delegation, not control, is the real key to scaling a company.

From his early days leaving India for Silicon Valley to leading a fast-growing SaaS company today, Shreesha reveals the startup fitness framework that helps founders survive chaos and build companies that endure.

Tune in to learn how to build a culture that refuses mediocrity, lead with optimism, and turn every challenge into momentum.

Key Topics:

-The secret behind the 

-Building a culture that rejects mediocrity

-The startup fitness mindset for lasting success

-Turning optimism into a leadership advantage

-Scaling through delegation and trust

-Creating products customers help design

Quote  From The Episode: 

“Tough situations won’t last, but tough founders will.”

-Shreesha Ramdas

Timestamp:

[00:02] The Mindset That Turns Tough Founders Into Industry Builders

[14:06] Inside the Startup Culture That Refuses to Settle for Average

[26:30] From Delhi Dreams to Silicon Valley Success: How One Founder Beat the Odds

[38:17] The 56-Hour Flight That Changed Everything: From Cold Calls to Category Creation

[49:14] The $0-to-Acquisition Blueprint: How One Founder Outsold Giants Like Marketo and Won Big

[1:02:11] Why This CEO Builds Companies Investors Can’t Stop Buying

[1:25:29] Outro

Connect with - Shreesha Ramdas:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shreesharamdas

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, you’ll hear the story of what it takes to turn instability, sacrifice, and irrational bets into lasting success.

From living on $50,000 for years and building through sheer persistence, to catching the iPad wave before anyone else, this conversation dives into the mindset, discipline, and daily habits that create real momentum. 

We dig into how to survive the early days, why scaling requires a whole new way of leading, and how today’s AI wave mirrors the mobile revolution. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to build something enduring, this episode will change how you think about entrepreneurship.

Tune in to learn why relentless focus, small daily improvements, and the willingness to bet on yourself are the real game-changers in building companies that last.

Key Topics:

-The power of irrational persistence in building companies

-The sacrifices and tradeoffs founders make in the early years

-How timing and bold bets can create breakthrough moments

-The fragile reality of co founder dynamics and trust

-The discipline of daily improvement as a path to excellence

Quote  From The Episode: 

“You have a million problems running a startup, until you have one health problem — then you only have one.”

- Daniel Kivatinos

Timestamp:

[00:18] Why Most Founders Quit Too Soon (And How Daniel Kivatinos Beat the Odds)

[13:53] The Irrational Persistence That Builds Billion-Dollar Startups

[24:29] The Hidden Reason Most Startups Fail (And How to Avoid It)

[37:54] The Brutal Tradeoffs That Separate Startup Survivors from Quitters

[48:45] From Ramen to Relevance: The Startup Gamble That Actually Paid Off

[1:02:18] The Unseen Discipline That Turns Struggling Startups Into Industry Leaders

[1:13:39] The Relentless Mindset That Transforms Struggle Into Startup Success

[1:23:54] Outro

Connect with - Daniel Kivatinos:

LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/kivatinos

Website - https://linktr.ee/kivatinos

https://www.justpaid.ai/

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence