What if burnout, people-pleasing, and hyper-independence were not badges of honor—but signs it’s time for a reset?

In this powerful Founder Series episode, I sit down with Jasmine Spink, coach and founder of Empowered Living, to talk about:

Leaving a toxic work environment and finding purpose again

Healing the “performance-based” identity so many of us carry

The emotional highs and lows of building something soul-led

Systems that supported her early growth (including pen + paper!)

Navigating imposter syndrome with grace and grit

✨ Jasmine’s story is a reminder that you can build a business rooted in purpose without burning out.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite platform:

💥 Special Listener Gift from Jasmine

🗓 Launches July 1st

📬 Let’s connect!

In this Founder Series episode of Let’s Start a Business, business strategist and systems expert Megan McDonell interviews Shivam Maurya — the developer and entrepreneur behind PWM (Programming With Maurya), explainGitHub, RepoFlicks, and The Production Gurus.

Shivam shares his journey from running free Python classes on Google Meet during the pandemic to launching multiple tech platforms that support developers and AI enthusiasts around the world. His story is a masterclass in bootstrapping, building in public, and launching before you feel ready.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

We also dive into:

How mentoring students led to real business opportunities

His strategy for launching 12 platforms in 12 months

Product development challenges, client partnerships, and navigating burnout

The power of learning in public as a solo founder and product builder

Whether you're an indie hacker, developer, tech founder, or aspiring entrepreneur — this episode is filled with practical insights on product-market fit, systems thinking, and scaling without burnout.

💬 Connect with Shivam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivam--maurya/

Subscribe to Let’s Start a Business for honest founder stories, startup strategy, and tactical advice for growing your business with intention.

In this kickoff episode of the Founder Series, Megan sits down with Michael Gold to talk about how a spontaneous leap into freelancing became the foundation for building The Fractional Hub — a platform designed to help others redefine their careers through fractional work.

🎧 In this episode:

Michael’s path from project manager to fractional founder

The messy middle of building something real

Posting through discomfort and growing in public

How The Fractional Hub evolved from a course into a full-blown community

Honest lessons about fear, momentum, and making work feel meaningful

💡 Want to start your own fractional career?

📍 Listen & Subscribe:

#FounderSeries #FractionalWork #PodcastLaunch #LetsStartABusiness #Entrepreneurship

Running your own business means wearing all the hats—from client work and relationship-building to handling admin, taxes, and social media. In this episode, I walk you through what a typical week looks like for me as a solo entrepreneur.

You’ll hear how I plan my week on Sunday nights, how I stay consistent with outreach and social media content, and why networking is non-negotiable for me—especially while working remotely. Plus, you’ll get real talk on how I manage my time, keep my creativity up, and navigate the chaos (including my very active dogs!).

In this episode, I cover:

How I structure my week (Sunday planning through Friday wrap-ups)

My Monday morning outreach and relationship-building process

Social media habits I’m developing for consistency

Staying connected as a remote solo entrepreneur

Balancing strategy, systems, and the realities of running a business solo

Whether you're a freelancer, coach, content creator, or small business owner, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look into the mindset and systems that keep things moving.

🔁 New episodes drop every Friday

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If this episode resonates, don’t forget to rate, review, and share with another entrepreneur.

#SoloEntrepreneur #ProductivityTips #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurWorkflow #SmallBusinessOwner #TimeManagement #FreelancerLife #WorkFromHome #NetworkingTips

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of four unforgettable small businesses I visited in New Orleans — each one built on passion, purpose, and serious creativity. From handcrafted jewelry to eco-conscious shoes and retro fashion, these founders are shaping culture in the French Quarter.

🎧 Listen in if you’re building something of your own — or just love discovering unique, soulful spots run by bold entrepreneurs.

✨ Featured Businesses

💍 Beatrixbell Handcrafted – Sustainable jewelry & artist workshops

👠 ShoeBeDo – Eco-conscious high fashion footwear

👗 Trashy Diva – Retro-inspired clothing, modern twist

🔗 Episode link in comments!

#LetsStartABusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #ShopLocal #WomenInBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneurs #FrenchQuarterNOLA #SoloEntrepreneurLife #SustainableStyle #MegEfficiencyEdge

Just got back from New Orleans—and let me tell you, that trip lit a fire in me. 🔥🎶✨

The music, the food, the art, the energy… it made me reflect on how much pressure we put on ourselves as solo entrepreneurs to do everything perfectly. But perfection isn’t the goal—authenticity and creativity are. 💡

In Episode 6 of Let’s Start a Business, I dive into:

🎯 Why I'm setting a scary-but-exciting new goal: my first public speaking engagement

📅 The importance of defining both short-term AND long-term goals

🛠️ What I’m building toward with my May 14th workshop

💬 How real conversations and travel can help clarify your direction

If you’re building a business from scratch, feeling overwhelmed, or just trying to do it your way—this episode is for you.

And if something resonates, I’d love to hear what goals you’re working toward this season.

#LetsStartABusiness #SoloEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #AuthenticBranding #CreativeLeadership #BusinessStrategy #SmallBusinessTips #ApplePodcasts

Are you a solo entrepreneur trying to do it all yourself? In this episode of Let’s Start a Business, I break down some of the best free tools and resources that will help you organize your business, streamline your workflow, and find expert mentorship — even if you're on a tight budget.

Whether you're a content creator, coach, freelancer, or small business owner, this guide will give you the practical tools to start and grow your business with clarity and confidence.

SCORE.org – Free business mentoring & templates

SBDC – Local small business consulting

WBC – Support for women entrepreneurs

VBOC – Veteran-focused business resources

MicroMentor.org – Find a free business mentor

SBA Learning Platform – Free online courses

CO by U.S. Chamber – Templates, articles & guides

Google Drive – File organization & collaboration

Otter.ai – AI transcription for meetings

ChatGPT – Research, brainstorming, and writing help

Canva – Graphic design for social & branding

Figma – UI/UX and collaborative planning

ClickUp – Project and task management

All of these tools either have completely free tiers or free versions to help you get started without the overwhelm.

💼 Let’s Work Together:

🗓️ New episodes every Friday.

In this episode, I’m sharing something a little more personal with you. As a business strategist and project management expert, I help businesses optimize their processes and implement systems for growth. But building systems for my own business? That’s been a journey!

I talk about:

If you're also on the journey of getting your own systems in place, this episode is for you!

Join me as I reflect on where I’m at and the lessons I’m learning along the way.

Follow Me:

🚀 Ever felt like you’re not good enough? Like you don’t belong in the space you’re trying to grow in? That’s imposter syndrome, and in this episode of Let’s Start a Business, I’m getting real about how it hit me hard this week.

I’ll share how I pushed through self-doubt, what I’ve learned from collaborating with others, and the systems I use to stay organized while networking and building meaningful connections.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🎯 If you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode is for you!

👉 Let’s Connect!

📩 Find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megefficiencyedge/

🔔 Don’t forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you never miss an episode!

#ImposterSyndrome #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #CollaborationTips #SmallBusinessSuccess #NetworkingTips #Freelancer #LetsStartABusiness

Let’s Start a Business is your go-to podcast for real, unfiltered insights into building a business from the ground up. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, small business owner, or just thinking about taking the leap, this podcast is packed with actionable strategies, honest lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories.

🚀 What You’ll Get in Each Episode:

Starting a business can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. New episodes drop every Friday morning!

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Let’s build something amazing—together!