January 08, 2026

From Broke to a Million Dollar Company

51 minutes

In this episode, I sit down with Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of LoveSac, to share the real behind the scenes story of how LoveSac nearly failed and ultimately survived. Shawn walks through the moment quitting felt reasonable, the million dollar order that forced him to bet everything, and the grit required to build a business with no factory, no money, and no margin for error. We also dive into leadership lessons around ego, scaling through humility, staying present, and the daily practices that ground him as a founder and human.

Key takeaways:

Pressure can sharpen focus or break you depending on how you respond

Bold action often comes before certainty Ego may start a business but humility scales it

Hiring great people only works if you let them own their role

Presence is built through daily habits, not personality

Staying close to customers renews belief and clarity

This episode is for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are pushing through uncertainty, scaling a team, or questioning their next move. You will walk away with practical leadership insights, mindset shifts, and reminders that staying present, letting go of control, and committing to small daily habits can turn near failure into lasting success.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

...more