How can a dog save a life? In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, Jacob Hicks sits down with Laura Ward, co-founder of Canine Miracles for Heroes, to uncover how service dogs are transforming the lives of military veterans and first responders battling PTSD. Laura shares her deeply personal journey—from a heartbreaking loss to building a nonprofit that pairs life-saving dogs with heroes in need.

What you’ll learn:

• How service dogs prevent veteran suicide and reduce PTSD symptoms.
• The rigorous two-year training process behind every service dog.
• The surprising ways dogs detect anxiety, interrupt panic attacks, and provide support.
• Laura’s advice for starting a nonprofit—even when fear feels like a mountain.
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Whether you’re passionate about mental health, curious about service dogs, or seeking leadership wisdom, this episode is packed with insight and hope.

To Connect With Laura

Canine Miracles for Heros

Canine Miracles for Heros Calendar

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In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, Jacob Hicks sits down with Bryan Elsesser, a seasoned sales leader with over 15 years of experience driving high-performance teams and scaling revenue to $15M+. Bryan shares his journey from cutting his teeth at Yellow Pages to leading teams in tech and enterprise sales. He reveals the secrets to building sustainable sales success, motivating teams, and leading with purpose.

Tune in to learn:
– How to lead and scale high-performing sales teams
– The mindset shift from top sales rep to impactful leader
– Proven strategies to hit revenue goals and sustain growth
– Key lessons from growing a market in NYC and beyond

To Connect With Bryan

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In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, we explore the transformative power of focusing on the journey rather than just chasing the finish line. Inspired by marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, we dive into strategies for reframing goals, celebrating small wins, and finding joy in the daily process.

Discover how embracing progress over perfection and aligning your actions with your values can lead to meaningful growth. Whether you’re pursuing personal or professional milestones, this episode offers actionable insights to help you thrive along the way. Tune in and learn how to love the process, not just the prize.

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On this episode of Purpose-Driven Progress, Jacob Hicks sits down with Mara Smith, founder of Inspiro Tequila. Mara shares her journey from practicing law in Chicago to creating a premium, additive-free tequila brand designed with women in mind. Discover how she identified a gap in the market, built a powerhouse all-women team, and navigated the competitive spirits industry—all while balancing entrepreneurship and family life. This conversation is packed with insights on product development, branding, leadership, and building a purpose-driven business.

Topics Covered:

• How Mara transitioned from corporate law to entrepreneurship
• Why she built Inspiro Tequila for thoughtful female consumers
• Lessons on hiring, leadership, and building a resilient team
• The power of networking and personal branding on LinkedIn

Inspiro Tequila

Mara Smith

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What do you get when you mix high-quality beef jerky, a mission-driven business, and a whole lot of entrepreneurial grit? Meet Joli Phillips, founder of Best Buckin’ Jerky, who turned a passion for bold flavors and community impact into a thriving brand.

In this episode, Joli shares her journey from culinary world date nights to crafting an environmentally conscious jerky empire that supports women’s education, STEM, and community initiatives. We’ll dive into the realities of launching a CPG brand, the challenges of scaling, and why jerky lovers everywhere are obsessed with her unique marinade-only process.

Whether you're a foodie, an entrepreneur, or just love a good story of resilience, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and maybe even a little snack envy.

Connect With Joli Phillips

Best Buckin' Jerky

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In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, I’m tackling the common struggle of perfectionism and sharing how we can embrace progress instead. As a recovering perfectionist, I dive into personal stories, powerful strategies, and actionable tips to help you let go of the impossible goal of perfection.

I’ll show you how failure can be your greatest teacher, why "good enough" is often more than enough, and how self-compassion can transform your mindset. I’ll also share insights into creating systems that support your growth and how experimenting without attachment can lead to meaningful breakthroughs.

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Startups are a wild ride—fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of lessons. In this episode of Purpose-Driven Progress, I sit down with Surya Veeravalli, a creative thinker who’s navigated the highs and lows of the startup world. From working at companies with just 10 employees to scaling with teams of 200+, Surya has seen it all.

We dive into what it takes to thrive in high-growth, high-pressure environments, why mindset matters more than job titles, and how to stand out in the startup hiring process (hint: skip the job board and go straight to the CEO). Plus, Surya shares how storytelling, adaptability, and a no-ego approach helped him carve out a career that aligns with his passions.

If you’re looking to break into startups, pivot in your career, or just get inspired by someone who’s making bold moves, this episode is for you.

To Connect With Surya Veeravallil

Mellomanic

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In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, Jacob Hicks dives into one of his favorite strategies for thriving under pressure: experimentation. Learn how embracing the "Always Be Experimenting" mindset can help you refine your approach, tweak your processes, and succeed in both sales and life.

Jacob shares real-life stories from his time in retail sales, breaking down how small adjustments in systems and processes can lead to massive improvements. Whether you're a manager, a salesperson, or simply looking to achieve your personal goals, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you experiment your way to success.

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Barbara Fox was on track for medical school—until a surprising opportunity in cannabis packaging changed her path. Now the CEO of Cannabis Supply, she’s revolutionizing branding and compliance in the industry.

In this episode of Purpose-Driven Progress, we discuss:
🌱 Her bold pivot from medicine to entrepreneurship
📦 The power of packaging in a competitive market
⚖️ Navigating legal and compliance challenges
💡 Lessons for entrepreneurs in emerging industries

Barbara’s journey is all about trusting your instincts, spotting opportunities, and taking strategic risks. Whether you're in cannabis, branding, or just considering a career shift, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss!

To Connect With Barbara

Cannabiz Supply

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Imagine a world where surfaces can cool themselves—no electricity, no extra energy, just pure innovation. That’s exactly what Jordan Fourcher, the founder of Cryo X, is bringing to the table with his groundbreaking radiative cooling product.

In this episode of Purpose-Driven Progress, Jordan shares:
🔥 The science behind his "magic cooling paint" that drops temperatures 15 degrees below air temp
🔥 How this technology could revolutionize industries—from roofs and RVs to school buses and hard hats
🔥 The entrepreneurial journey of taking a game-changing product from concept to market
🔥 His vision for integrating Cryo X into everyday life

If you're an entrepreneur, innovator, or just someone who loves groundbreaking products, this conversation is a must-listen.

Cryo X

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