"If you get rid of the fear, the shame, and the anxiety, there’s space for joy."

I think the single greatest service entrepreneurs can do for each other is to talk about their emotional experience building businesses -- because we all deal with fear, inadequacy, and the feeling that we should be happier than we are. It’s never straight up and to the right for anyone.

Brooks Bell knows this better than most.

After stepping away from her company following a cancer diagnosis, Brooks thought she had everything she needed to be happy -- health, purpose, financial security. But something still wasn’t right -- she had a lot of anxiety, fear, and shame.

This episode is about the hard, intentional work that she undertook to rewire her brain for joy. 

I'm grateful that Brooks was so open and transparent about her journey.

PSA -- don't wait a minute past your 45th birthday to get a colonoscopy and visit worldclassclothing.com/ to get the finest in colonoscopy themed fashion. :)

"The mountain gets a say."

OTH #4 features my friend Erik Severinghaus -- call this the official meeting of the tall guys named Eric/k that work in tech and went to Carolina club.

Erik is best known for his book "Scale Your Everest", a guidebook for entrepreneurs about mental resilience and endurance.  In his book -- and on this episode -- he shares his struggles as a founder and how it created significant problems in his physical and mental health.

His comment that "the mountain gets a say" whether or not you make it to the top of Everest is a perfect metaphor for the impact of markets in the entrepreneurial journey.  You can work hard, check all the boxes, and do all the right things -- but the market still gets a say.

I've known Erik for a long time but never understood the depth of his struggles.  I'm grateful that he shared them with me and in a format that others can hear.

Thanks for listening.

Disclaimer:
This episode discusses topics related to mental health and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available. You can reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (U.S.), or find resources specific to your country at befrienders.org. You are not alone, and support is just a call away.

“The sausage wagon was my trial by fire.”

Tina Levy is our guest on OTH #3.

She's the co-founder at First Hand Foods -- a marketplace that connects local farmers with chefs, restaurants, retailers, and caterers that want to offer top quality beef, pork, lamb, and poultry to their customers.

The business started as a food truck -- a sausage wagon to be exact -- and has grown into a strong brand and a great business with a network of growers, restaurants, and customers throughout the southeast.

In this episode, Tina discusses how she has has had to navigate complicated supply chain issues, food safety regulations, and changes in customer preference over her 10 years running the business.

One might say that this one is a -- ahem -- meaty episode.

Eric

“I sh*t you not, there was a stuffed bison and a polar bear in this office.”

In this episode, we interview Lindsay Groepper, EVP at PanBlast and former president of Blast Media. 

We discuss Lindsay's journey from working at a global PR agency to becoming the first full-time employee at Blast Media. 

She reflects on her personal growth over 20 years in the industry and offers advice to her younger self about embracing uncertainty and pursuing happiness.

"Well. This is what I have to do today."

It's episode #1 of the OneTenHundred show -- the show about founders, how they got started, what they've learned, and how they've changed.

Tristan Handy is my first guest -- he's the co-fouder and CEO at dbt Labs, an open source tool that helps analysts and engineers transform data  in their warehouse more effectively.

We talk about humble beginnings, what it takes to get started, and how the road changes the more progress you make.

My favorite part of the episode is Tristan's acknowledgement that luck has played a significant role in his and dbt Labs' success.

Thanks for listening.

~Eric