From selling beer to launching SourceUp, Christina Martin's journey is anything but ordinary.

On this episode, Christina joins Mark to share how she turned corporate lessons (and mistakes!) into entrepreneurial gold, balanced family life, and why flexibility is the secret sauce to success.

Tune in for an inspiring, people-first story that'll leave you ready to ignite your own inner CEO! 🎧✨

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• Mistakes Are Opportunities: Embrace failure as a stepping stone to finding the best solutions.
• Flexibility as Compensation: Redefine traditional work norms by focusing on results, not hours.
• The Power of Mentorship: Supportive leaders can transform career trajectories by opening doors.
• Balancing Work and Family: Achieving harmony is about prioritizing, adapting, and accepting imperfection.

Rick McGlinchey's journey from writing code to co-founding Pure Insights is nothing short of epic.

In this episode, Rick joins Mark to share how he bootstrapped a global SaaS company with just $400, juggled side hustles, and built a people-first culture that drives success.

Tune in for inspiration, actionable insights, and a fresh take on what it means to lead in today's world!

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• A niche focus is crucial for success—stay true to your expertise and market needs.
• Treating people like good humans leads to exceptional results in business and beyond.
• Side hustles provide a testing ground for ideas and can grow into full-time ventures with persistence.
• Success often stems from authentic relationships and a commitment to problem-solving for your customers.

What's your "why"? For Krissi Edgington, it's all about making it worth it.

In this episode, Krissi shares how she turned her passion for purposeful work into MIWI Marketing, a bold agency helping brands do work that matters. From sports marketing to starting her own business, Krissi's story is packed with aha moments, challenges, and actionable insights.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation on aligning with your purpose, building authentic brands, and why throwing the flag when something feels off can change everything!

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• The Power of "Why": Aligning your business and leadership approach with your core purpose can create work that is both meaningful and impactful.
• Throw the Flag: Encouraging open dialogue and critical thinking within teams ensures that opportunities and issues are addressed effectively.
• Unapologetic Authenticity: Branding is about staying true to your values while ensuring it resonates with your audience.

🎙️ Mark is back for another episode, this time welcoming Matt Hupp, a leader with a bold journey from corporate to startup success. Growing up around shopping malls, Matt got an early taste of entrepreneurship that later inspired him to take risks, from pioneering a national recycling program to co-founding his own company.

Tune in for Matt's insights on navigating change, building trust, and why every leader needs a strong community.

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• Leading Through Change Requires Clear Communication: Building trust through transparency and addressing "how this affects me" are essential to leading teams through challenging times.
• Building a Supportive Community: A robust network can provide crucial support and fresh perspectives, especially during transitions and entrepreneurial ventures.
• Vulnerability as a Strength: Admitting mistakes, sharing challenges, and working together with teams allows leaders to build a resilient culture.
• Frequent and Structured Communication: Consistent updates foster unity, empower teams, and align everyone toward shared goals.

In this episode, Mark chats with BJ Lippert, the soon-to-be Managing Partner of Donovan CPAs.

BJ's path from almost-engineer to CPA leader is filled with surprising twists, a little rebellion against the typical career grind, and a whole lot of heart. They dive into why BJ believes in serving others, how he stays curious, and why Donovan's people-first approach is shaking up the industry.

Tune in for leadership lessons, laughs, and the story of how BJ's empathy is driving real change.

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• Leadership through Observation: BJ highlights how being an observer and learner shaped his unique leadership style.
• The Power of Trust: BJ credits his growth to the trust and belief of mentors like Jeff Donovan, and aims to instill similar confidence in those he leads.
• Continuous Improvement: BJ values incremental growth over instant wins, believing that progress built over time is the most fulfilling.
• Redefining Firm Culture: Donovan CPAs' shift to prioritizing people first, firm second, and clients third is an innovative move aimed at long-term success.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Hunter Kasten, Facility Solutions Group VP and powerhouse leader expanding their operations from Indiana into Ohio.

Hunter's journey is packed with early-life challenges, career pivots, and a passion for building a team-first culture. From learning leadership through life's curveballs to empowering his team to take charge, Hunter's story is a reminder that growth comes when you embrace the unexpected.

Tune in for a mix of laughs, wisdom, and actionable insights on leading with heart and grit!

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• Responsibility Fuels Growth: Personal responsibility from a young age can shape resilience and build a foundation for strong leadership.
• Empowering Teams with Autonomy: Hunter believes in giving team members the freedom to make decisions and learn from mistakes, creating a self-sustaining and motivated team.
• Organic Recruitment and Growth: FSG's promote-from-within model encourages long-term growth and a strong sense of community within the team.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Sarah Reuter, founder of Elevate Travel Co., to chat about her journey from her grandmother's flower shop to creating unforgettable experiences for clients worldwide.

Sarah opens up about how empathy drives her leadership style, why self-care is essential in high-stress industries, and how she keeps grounded with her daily meditation practice.

This conversation is packed with insights on blending passion, purpose, and people-first leadership to elevate both business and life.

Don't miss Sarah's inspiring energy and Mark's fun banter—tune in!

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• Empathy as a Strategic Leadership Tool: Empathy is essential for navigating challenges, building trust, and enabling productive, collaborative relationships.
• Mindfulness as a Leadership Skill: Sarah emphasizes the benefits of meditation for self-regulation, improving listening skills, and being present, especially in high-pressure scenarios.
• Importance of Self-Care in High-Stakes Industries: Through Revive & Thrive, Sarah aims to support event professionals by helping them prioritize mental and emotional well-being.

Mark sits down with the powerhouse that is Julie Phillips, Owner and CEO of aFit, a WBE certified staffing company. Julie's path from electrical engineering grad to corporate leader to entrepreneur was anything but predictable.

She candidly talks about navigating male-dominated industries, balancing a high-demand career with family life, and how calculated risks often pave the way to something bigger.

If you've ever wondered whether it's time to take the leap into entrepreneurship—or how to stay true to yourself while climbing the corporate ladder—this episode is for you.

Additional Resources:

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Key Takeaways:

• Calculated Risks Are Key: Julie emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone to grow, whether in networking, career moves, or starting a business.
• Work-Life Integration: Julie shares how she managed to balance family life with a demanding corporate role and later as an entrepreneur, offering a refreshing perspective on work-life integration.
• Women in Leadership: As a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, Julie discusses the roadblocks she faced and the importance of diverse leadership.

Mark chats with Mark McCabe, the Founder of Flipturn and a storyteller with a camera, to unpack the power of mentorship in shaping not only careers but also lives. Mentorship isn't always formal or obvious. Sometimes it's a quiet, unspoken influence—like the people who unknowingly guided McCabe from kid entrepreneur (think: selling drinks by the concession stand) to a thriving video production company owner. This episode is for anyone who believes that success is built from small moments, tough lessons, and the people who help you along the way.

Addtional Resources:

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Key Takeaways:

• Mentorship is everywhere – Mentorship doesn't always come from formal relationships. Often, mentors don't even realize the impact they're having.
• Entrepreneurial grit starts early – McCabe's early entrepreneurial ventures, from selling drinks to mowing lawns, laid the foundation for his future as a business owner.
• Embrace the ebbs and flows – Staying consistent, regardless of income or leads, is critical for long-term success.

In this episode, Kevin Yurs of Earth Images gets real about leading through a financial crisis that nearly destroyed his business in 2008.

He shares the raw truth about a tough merger, culture clashes, and cash flow struggles—but also how he and his wife, Laura, fought through it with brutal honesty, expert advice, and relentless grit.

Now, Earth Images is thriving, and Kevin's story is packed with practical takeaways on resilience, leadership, and why the hardest challenges often lead to the biggest growth.

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Key Takeaways:

• Honesty as a Foundation – Both with yourself and your team, being brutally honest about your strengths, weaknesses, and the reality of the situation is essential in overcoming crises.
• Seek Expertise When Needed – Bringing in outside consultants and advisors during tough times helped Earth Images realign and implement necessary changes.
• Continuous Evolution – Even after the initial crisis, the company continued to evolve and innovate, pushing themselves to constantly improve their operations and differentiation.