Founder Talk with Alex Sheridan

Ryan Quinn acquired a 30-year-old construction company after the owner said he was either closing the doors or selling. Ryan and his wife Nancy survived year one, and are now rebuilding the business into something new.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:11:55

Q: Have construction prices come down since COVID?

A: Ryan Quinn says prices have not dropped in six years and owners who waited are still waiting because costs have stabilized at the higher level.

00:16:27

Q: Why do business owners hide their budget from contractors?

A: Ryan Quinn says hiding your budget is an old school tactic that hurts your own project because it prevents realistic guidance.

00:27:10

Q: What does building a new commercial building actually look like?

A: Ryan Quinn describes the journey from a cocktail napkin sketch to a 200-page document to a finished building.

00:29:35

Q: What is the future of the skilled trades?

A: Ryan Quinn says not every kid needs college and the trades are seeing a resurgence as stigma fades and the retiring workforce creates opportunity.

00:37:33

Q: What is it like to acquire a business someone else built over 30 years?

A: Ryan Quinn shares how it happened organically through trust and why an existing foundation made more sense than starting from scratch.

00:41:11

Q: What is the one piece of advice for new business owners?

A: Ryan Quinn says listen more because he and Nancy missed signals early on that could have helped them navigate faster.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

Connect with Ryan Quinn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-quinn-a44517106/

Website: https://qdbi.net/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests—all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #FounderPodcast

A dentist who stopped drilling and started building. How a clinician turned CEO quadrupled revenue, scaled to multi-location, and built a team that runs without him.

Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj walked into a 4-year-old broken dental practice and quadrupled the revenue in 12 months. He shares how listening to customers, scaling without scaling chaos, hiring with personality tests, and choosing between being the engineer or the orchestrator changed everything.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:55

Q: What is the biggest bottleneck stopping most businesses from growing?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj explains that founders are often the bottleneck, making assumptions about what customers want instead of listening to them.

00:13:16

Q: What is the easiest way to stand out from competitors?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj says the bar is shockingly low. Run on time, answer the phones, and walk customers through the process.

00:22:55

Q: What happens when you scale a business with broken systems?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj warns that you can scale your mistakes and chaos just as easily as you scale your success.

00:29:35

Q: What is the best interview strategy for hiring great people?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj uses the 80/20 rule: ask 20% of the questions and shut up 80% of the time so candidates reveal who they really are.

00:34:40

Q: How does tolerating underperformance destroy company culture?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj says when you tolerate missed goals, you allow it. The second time, it becomes a habit your A players notice.

00:52:36

Q: Should founders stay in their craft or step back to lead?

A: Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj says you must decide: be the engineer or the orchestrator of engineers. Trying both keeps you stuck.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

Connect with Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-abhishek-nagaraj-10a4a88b/

Website: https://www.areodental.com/

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You'll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests—all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

A 45-year tech veteran who watched mainframes become iPhones shares what founders have forgotten about leadership and scaling.

Jody Jankovsky has built and run Blackline IT for 30+ years. He breaks down why clarity is the most underrated leadership skill, what "irresponsible delegation" costs you, and how the Moonshot framework can transform a founder-dependent company into a self-scaling organization.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:07

Q: What does a founder's childhood reveal about their future business?

A: Jody Jankovsky's dad started a software company during a recession. It became the greatest opportunity of his life—giving a 12-year-old access to the dawn of computing.

00:27:13

Q: What does good leadership actually look like?

A: It's not command-and-control. It's finding the pathway for each person to fit into your vision.

00:31:55

Q: What's the biggest leadership shift a founder can make?

A: Clarity is the leader's job. If the team is confused, that's the leader's failure, not theirs.

00:56:25

Q: Why does delegation without domain knowledge fail?

A: "Irresponsible delegation"—outsourcing before you understand the domain enough to evaluate the work.

01:12:40

Q: Why do founders buy tools they don't need?

A: They let tool vendors tell them what to buy instead of starting with the outcome they need.

01:14:52

Q: Is AI replacing jobs or tasks?

A: Technology has always automated tasks, not jobs. The human becomes the creative judgment engine.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You'll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests—all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse and trauma.

Bestselling author Jill Monaco reveals why your biggest business bottleneck isn’t strategy, it’s what’s happening beneath the surface. Most founders blame hiring, systems, or tactics. In reality, deeper currents of fear, control, and outsourced identity are blocking growth.

Jill Monaco is an ICF-certified life coach, founder of Freedom Coaching, and bestselling author who works with high-performing founders. She and Alex Sheridan explore burnout warning signs, the superpower/self-destruction paradox, and the Freedom Framework that rewires beliefs for lasting change.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:13

Q: What are the early warning signs of founder burnout?

A: Jill Monaco identifies grinding without boundaries, imbalanced life buckets, and relational strain as key signals before burnout hits.

00:09:00

Q: How can founders stay productive without feeling scattered?

A: Jill Monaco advocates creating weekly containers, dedicating specific days to specific work to keep promises to yourself.

00:14:00

Q: How do you stop comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs?

A: Jill Monaco shares how the comparison trap made her feel like she was failing. Alex adds that most ultra-successful entrepreneurs wish they cared about the simple things.

00:20:47

Q: What is the Freedom Framework for founders?

A: Jill Monaco presents her model: event, thought, emotion, belief, action. Every action comes from what you truly believe about yourself.

00:26:45

Q: Can you actually rewire your brain to break limiting beliefs?

A: Jill Monaco uses the cornfield analogy. The old neural pathway is worn smooth, but carving a new path through consistency lets the old one grow over. Neuroplasticity is measurable.

00:30:41

Q: Why is listening more powerful than giving advice?

A: Jill Monaco explains that people remember how you made them feel, not what you said. Alex tested this with clients and found deeper results.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Founder Talk.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Jill

Website: https://www.jillmonaco.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillmonacoministries/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jillmonaco

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillmonaco/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillmonaco/

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company looking to build your own in-house content team rather than outsourcing to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is the result of a scrappy, nimble internal content team, along with an AI-powered content system and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

Turn your expertise into clients with a podcast that positions you as the go-to brand. We help founder-led B2B companies in Chicagoland launch and grow shows that build trust, deepen relationships, and drive real revenue—without the production headache. Record in our St. Charles studio or set up your own space while we handle strategy, production, editing, and publishing so every episode turns conversations into business. Visit https://podcastbuilders.com/ to start building yours today!

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #FounderLessons

Most founders think they're covered legally. They're not. Ana Casanueva, Founder of Casanueva Law PLLC, reveals the legal mistakes that will cost you money, deals, and peace of mind.

Whether you're relying on handshake deals, using AI to draft contracts, or thinking about selling your business someday, this conversation breaks down what every founder needs to know to protect themselves and grow smarter.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:52

Q: Why do most founders skip contracts and rely on handshakes?

A: Ana Casanueva explains that the friendly handshake doesn't survive growth. AI-generated contracts from ChatGPT look like term sheets but lack the legal clauses that protect you.

00:06:30

Q: What documents should you send to every new client?

A: Ana Casanueva recommends a Master Services Agreement plus supporting documents like statements of work under that umbrella agreement.

00:13:53

Q: What will a buyer look for when purchasing your business?

A: Ana Casanueva explains that buyers do due diligence on corporate governance, client agreements, vendor agreements, and accounting to determine how much to offer.

00:25:35

Q: Should you convert your LLC to a corporation before selling?

A: Ana Casanueva shares that converting makes M&A deals easier because buyers prefer shares, which offer more flexibility in deal structure and equity.

00:27:32

Q: Can you have an LLC taxed as a C corp?

A: Ana Casanueva explains that business structure and tax treatment are two different things. You can be an LLC and be taxed as a C corp.

00:36:18

Q: Can AI replace lawyers?

A: Ana Casanueva says no. Lawyers are sometimes like therapists. Founders need human trust and accountability that AI cannot provide.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Ana Casanueva

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casanueva-law-pllc-fractional-general-counsel/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casanueva-law-pllc/

Website: https://www.casanuevalaw.com/

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You'll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

In this episode, Alex Sheridan sits down with Andy Sharma, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Flowtogen, a company that builds and deploys AI agents for businesses. With 20 years at Accenture, Andy breaks down the difference between efficiency AI and opportunity AI, a framework every founder needs before making their next AI investment.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:14:55

Q: Is a computer science degree still worth it in the age of AI?

A: Andy Sharma reveals that 40% of CS grads are currently unemployed, including graduates from top programs like the University of Illinois.

00:18:42

Q: What is the difference between efficiency AI and opportunity AI?

A: Andy Sharma breaks AI into two categories. Efficiency AI automates the mundane. Opportunity AI creates new revenue streams. Founders should focus on operating at the top of their license.

00:34:01

Q: How should founders evaluate AI consulting companies?

A: Andy Sharma explains Flowtogen's model of advisory, research, and engineering. Not every problem is an AI problem, and a good partner will walk away if it doesn't deliver ROI.

00:43:42

Q: Why is there so much fear around AI right now?

A: Andy Sharma compares AI companies to pharmaceutical commercials run in reverse. They lead with fear instead of benefits.

00:50:00

Q: What careers will still matter as AI advances?

A: Andy Sharma and Alex Sheridan identify three buckets: working in AI, deep human connections, or working with your hands. There is no "next level up" this time.

01:01:06

Q: What advice should parents give their kids about AI?

A: Andy Sharma tells his own kids to learn the tools and stay relevant. "If you don't like change, you're gonna like irrelevance even less."

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Andy Sharma

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowtogen

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-sharma-aa315a2/

Website: https://www.flowtogen.com

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Sheridan sits down with Adam Hodge, founder of Farr and Swit, to unpack how a microbrand watch company grew in a saturated market by competing on identity, nostalgia, and meaning instead of pure utility.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:06:30 Why do people still buy watches when phones and smartwatches already tell time?

Answer: Adam argues the best watches are not about utility alone; they signal identity, create conversation, and become “magnets for memory.”

00:09:15 Can a premium brand launch cheaper products without damaging its positioning?

Answer: Adam says it can work when the lower-priced line has a clear role, distinct design language, and still reinforces the broader brand mission.

00:17:55 What makes an affordable product feel differentiated instead of generic?

Answer: Design originality, emotional resonance, and a strong story can make even a low-cost product feel memorable rather than commoditized.

00:24:30 How can founders use scarcity without faking demand?

Answer: Limited runs, waitlists, and real stock constraints can validate interest, increase urgency, and reveal whether the market truly wants the offer.

00:31:25 What do founders misunderstand about brand?

Answer: Many treat brand like decoration instead of building it around a real differentiator, customer outcome, and consistent experience.

00:41:45 Does brand story actually matter for conversion?

Answer: Yes, when the story connects to the customer’s mission, it gives the brand a point of view and makes the buyer feel part of something bigger.

00:49:30 How does a founder build a business that runs without becoming the bottleneck?

Answer: Adam shares that better inventory systems, support operators, and stronger financial oversight are the next steps to free him up for design, sales, and brand building.

Watch the full episode and subscribe for more authentic founder interviews, and go watch Joe Barron’s guesting on the Founder Talk here! https://youtu.be/ebMGuJaesns

🔗 CONNECT WITH Adam

Website: https://www.farrandswit.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AFHodge/

https://www.facebook.com/FarrSwit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfhodge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farrandswit/reels/

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company looking to build your own in-house content team rather than outsourcing to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is the result of a scrappy, nimble internal content team, along with an AI-powered content system and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

Turn your expertise into clients with a podcast that positions you as the go-to brand. We help founder-led B2B companies in Chicagoland launch and grow shows that build trust, deepen relationships, and drive real revenue—without the production headache. Record in our St. Charles studio or set up your own space while we handle strategy, production, editing, and publishing so every episode turns conversations into business. Visit https://podcastbuilders.com/ to start building yours today!

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #FounderLessons

What if the real reason a business still depends on the founder is not strategy, but culture?

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Sheridan sits down with Eric Himes, founder of The Inspired Culture, to break down a different model of leadership: one that is measurable, repeatable, and designed to build stronger teams without making the founder the center of every decision.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:16 What does world-class leadership culture actually look like inside a company?

Answer: Eric says it starts with vulnerability, trust, collaboration, and leaders who intentionally invest in people as whole humans, not just workers.

00:06:14 How can founders lead well at work without coming home empty?

Answer: He argues leaders cannot give what they do not have, so protecting energy, routines, and alignment at home is part of leading well.

00:15:15 How do leaders build real ownership instead of constant dependence?

Answer: Eric explains that empowered teams grow when leaders stop controlling every move and give people space to own outcomes inside their role.

00:16:27 Why are annual reviews too slow for real team growth?

Answer: He says weekly 20-minute one-on-ones create better coaching, faster feedback, stronger accountability, and more consistent development.

00:24:42 What does a stronger culture actually do for business performance?

Answer: Eric ties intentional culture to lower turnover, more innovation, stronger engagement, and better financial results over time.

00:34:18 How can founders delegate without losing trust in the outcome?

Answer: He says trust is built through hiring well, developing leaders early, and deciding in advance what the founder must eventually let go of.

00:56:10 Where should a founder start if they are the bottleneck in the business?

Answer: Eric would first assess the leadership team, identify capability and vulnerability gaps, and use that data to move the founder out of daily operations.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Eric Himes

Website: https://www.yourpathinspired.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-himes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.himes.534949/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericehimes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinspiredculture

To connect with Eric Himes and learn more about The Inspired Culture, you may reach out directly at [email protected].

The Founders Brief

A weekly email where we break down the best Founder Talk conversations into tactics you can use immediately to grow your business and improve your life. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access, a chance to submit questions for upcoming guests, and access to the insights that don't make the final cut! https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company looking to build your own in-house content team rather than outsourcing to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is the result of a scrappy, nimble internal content team, along with an AI-powered content system and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

Turn your expertise into clients with a podcast that positions you as the go-to brand. We help founder-led B2B companies in Chicagoland launch and grow shows that build trust, deepen relationships, and drive real revenue—without the production headache. Record in our St. Charles studio or set up your own space while we handle strategy, production, editing, and publishing so every episode turns conversations into business. Visit https://podcastbuilders.com/ to start building yours today!

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

When a founder refuses to let go, the business eventually hits a ceiling.

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Sheridan sits down with Amanda Horan, Co-Founder + CEO of Line + Cleat, luxury USCG-approved life jackets, to unpack what it takes to build in a crowded category, challenge legacy assumptions, and create a brand that can grow beyond the founder.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:40 Why would customers pay more for a premium product in a crowded market?

Answer: Amanda explains that premium products win when they solve a neglected problem better through quality, trust, and design, not just price.

00:07:47 What does USCG-approved actually mean, and why should founders care about consumer trust?

Answer: It means the product passed formal testing for safety and performance, which becomes a major trust differentiator in a category full of confusion.

00:12:05 How fast should founders move from idea to action?

Answer: Amanda says her first real action happened within an hour, then research and outreach kept the idea moving instead of dying in planning mode.

00:14:05 How can founders validate demand before building the full product?

Answer: She looked at customer behaviour, workarounds, Etsy cover sales, and tagged brand photos to find proof that buyers wanted a safer, better-designed option.

00:21:55 What is the most underrated marketing strategy for early-stage brands?

Answer: Amanda argues that word of mouth, in-person events, and direct customer connection often beat overreliance on polished social media.

00:31:20 What are founders really selling beyond the product or service?

Answer: She says customers are buying the experience, identity, and emotional outcome they want to step into, not just the item itself.

00:36:05 How do founders stop being the bottleneck as the business grows?

Answer: Amanda points to mindset shifts, outsourcing, trusting strong partners, and deciding what truly needs founder oversight versus what should be released.

00:58:20 How long should founders give a new business before giving up?

Answer: Her view is at least 18 months of committed effort, because most founders quit before the business has enough time to take shape.

For anyone thinking about scaling a business, building a team, or eventually selling your company, this entrepreneur podcast offers real founder lessons without hype. Watch the full episode for the full conversation.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Amanda

Website: https://www.lineandcleat.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-horan-85703326/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/line-cleat/

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

Founders lose great people in the day-to-day moments where pressure overrides self-awareness, feedback gets ignored, and defensiveness replaces trust.

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Sheridan sits down with Farah Harris to unpack why emotional intelligence is one of the most underrated skills in business and why it matters more as teams grow.

Farah Harris is an emotional intelligence expert, licensed therapist, founder of WorkingWellDaily, and the bestselling author of The Color of Emotional Intelligence. Together, they break down what EQ actually means and explore a core founder challenge: how do you lead well under pressure when your reactions, habits, and blind spots are shaping the culture around you?

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:24 What does emotional intelligence actually mean for founders?

Answer: EQ is not being calm all the time; it is understanding emotions in yourself and others and staying regulated under pressure.

00:02:45 How can founders become more self-aware?

Answer: Farah says self-awareness grows through repeated check-ins by noticing what you feel, where it shows up in your body, and what that data may be telling you.

00:07:13 Why do high-performing founders fall into numbing habits after work?

Answer: Habits like drinking, scrolling, or overworking can become avoidance patterns when leaders use them to escape emotions instead of processing them.

00:18:39 How can a founder know whether they are actually self-aware?

Answer: Farah argues that self-awareness without feedback is incomplete, so leaders need honest input from others to know how they are really landing.

00:20:17 How do you get honest feedback from a team when you are the boss?

Answer: It starts with psychological safety, consistent feedback culture, and a calm response when people say something uncomfortable.

00:28:39 What should founders do when they disagree with feedback?

Answer: Focus on impact over intent, add context where needed, and use better communication to close the gap between what was meant and what was felt.

00:46:00 Why do employees resist change, new systems, or AI tools at work?

Answer: Resistance is often a fear response, and leaders reduce it by explaining the why, lowering uncertainty, and helping people feel supported through change.

00:58:10 What is one practical way founders can improve EQ today?

Answer: Start by asking, “How am I feeling right now?” a few times each day and make feedback a normal part of team culture.

Watch the full episode for a no-fluff conversation on emotional intelligence, founder lessons, leadership blind spots, and building a healthier team culture.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Farah

Website: https://workingwelldaily.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/farahharrislcpc

Check out The Color of Emotional Intelligence here: https://workingwelldaily.com/books/

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