Welcome to the latest episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project! In this special edition, we're taking a different approach as we delve into the fascinating realm of the entrepreneurial mindset through the lens of psychology.

Our guest today is Dr. Jennifer Hall, co-author of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile—a groundbreaking psychometric tool that assesses the entrepreneurial strengths of individuals across various domains, from students to organizational leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Dr. Hall and her team have identified 14 key traits and skills that set entrepreneurs apart from the rest. But here's the burning question: Is the entrepreneurial mindset the driving force behind entrepreneurial behavior, or is it a consequence thereof?

Join us as we explore this intriguing inquiry and uncover the intricate connections between psychology and entrepreneurship. Get ready for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jennifer Hall, where we unlock the secrets behind the entrepreneurial mindset. Let's dive in!

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project.

Today, I’m speaking with a special guest, Steve Orlando, who is not only an incredible entrepreneur, but was one of my very first students when I was experimenting with teaching entrepreneurship at a local high school back in 2006-2007.

Trust me when I tell you Steve has an incredible story to tell.

As a mediocre student from a working-class family, Steve wasn’t sure where he was going in life. Watching his father struggle to get ahead left a profound impression on him from an early age.

Yet a light-bulb moment shifted his awareness in ways that had a profound impact on his life.

What started as a simple idea for an office cleaning business soon morphed into an adjacent opportunity that enabled him to earn $40,000 in his spare time - all while a senior in high school!

From there, Steve has since created a number of successful businesses, none of which required more than a few hundred dollars to start.

In this episode, we cover a lot of ground, yet the one thing that really stood out for me was something that we never really discussed: the original idea doesn’t matter. What really matters is that we get out of the building and start knocking on doors, looking for problems to solve, and talking to people who might have the problem we are trying to solve.

Sooner or later, an opportunity will emerge—an opportunity that you could never have foreseen when you began.

So, without any further ado, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Steve Orlando.

Today, we sit down with Stephanie Riel, founder of RielDeal & Co., a brand strategy consulting firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, we explore the origins of an entrepreneur's passion and drive.

Stephanie was inspired by her father's journey as an immigrant entrepreneur and always knew she wanted to start something on her own. However, finding her true calling was a challenge. She persevered and ultimately found success, starting with nothing and using Craigslist to find her first clients.

During our conversation, Stephanie shares her insights on the value of side hustles, learning by doing, and the importance of having mentors. Her story serves as a reminder that when we combine our interests and abilities in ways that benefit others, we tap into a powerful force that ignites our passion and fuels our drive.

Listen to this episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project podcast to learn more about Stephanie's journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project. Today I’m speaking with my friend, collaborator, and co-author, Clifton Taulbert.

Clifton has an amazing story to tell–from his childhood in the Mississippi Delta during the height of legal segregation to becoming a Pulitzer-nominated author and successful entrepreneur.

I first met Clifton in 2008 while doing a research project for CISCO. It was his story that became the inspiration for the book Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur.

In this episode, we discuss the life-changing influence of his Uncle Cleve Morman and how it shifted his thinking in ways that would ultimately transform his life.

So without any further ado, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Clifton Taulbert.

Today I’m speaking with Dave Yeany, the founder of Yeany’s Maple, a small but thriving maple syrup business located in Marienville, PA.

This is really an amazing underdog story that you won’t want to miss.

I met Dave a few months back when giving a talk in Marienville, which is a small town of approximately 3,500 people located smack dab in the poorest county in Pennsylvania. Little did I know there was an unlikely entrepreneur in our midst.

As a high school dropout, he spent the bulk of his career as a custodian at the local high school. Yet he was always looking for ways to make extra money in his spare time.

One day, he decided he would try to make maple syrup from scratch.

With only a few borrowed taps, he figured out how to make his first batch, which he then gave away to family and friends. They soon came back asking for more.

At that moment, he realized there might be an opportunity at hand. Yet rather than quitting his job and going all in, he started small, selling maple syrup at the end of his driveway on the honor system.

By the time he sold $70,000 worth of maple syrup in his spare time, he decided it was time to make the leap. Today, he not only has a thriving business, but he is also making a huge impact in his community.

This is such a great story, one that not only demonstrates the power of the entrepreneurial mindset to improve our own lives but also the impact it can have on the communities we inhabit.

A full mindset shift is needed to get through the most challenging moments of your life. Without this life-changing process, you cannot unlock a more positive version of yourself. Our guest today is Trent Wallace, an up-and-coming entrepreneur from the streets of North Omaha, Nebraska. In this episode, we discuss his struggle to overcome the challenges of his past, the lessons he learned at Boys Town, and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset to become a force for good. Meanwhile, host Gary Schoeniger discusses the power of optimism and the concept of future positive orientation to access problem-solving abilities in the brain that are not otherwise available to you.

What is the value of learning, and do we ever stop? In this episode, guest Tremain Davis of Davis and Davis Investments and Management joins us to talk about shifting his mindset through constant learning. He joins Gary Schoeniger to share how he did not have an easy start in life. Raised by a single mom in an underserved community, the only entrepreneurs he knew were illegal ones. Yet, from an early age, he knew he wanted more. Tremain shares how building an underground candy operation as a kid inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship on a higher level, constantly refining his strategies and building on his knowledge. They also discuss transforming yourself into a powerful optimist, maximizing current technology for nonstop learning, and managing security risks when aiming for bigger life goals.

What makes a goal compelling? What do we gain from comparing ourselves to others? In this conversation with entrepreneur Cameron Tolbert, Founder of Native Ingredients, we dissect topics around honing a strong entrepreneurial mindset. We explore how circumstances and beliefs push people down the path of entrepreneurship, the dangers of comparing oneself to others, and human's innate tendency toward self-actualization. Cameron also opens up about the lessons he learned in his own career journey. From seeing how an internship shaped his mindset to learning from his failures, this is an episode you will not want to miss. 

Who are you when no one is watching? That’s what Bernardo Martinez will help you uncover with host Gary Schoeniger in this episode. Bernardo is the founder of Grow-Farms, a Mexico City-based startup designed to enable small and medium-sized farmers throughout Latin America to access global markets. Throughout the conversation, Bernardo makes it clear that mindset is essential to having your venture impact the world. From early childhood experiences to the value of finding your purpose, this is a fantastic conversation for anyone wanting to learn about the power of entrepreneurial thinking.

In the episode, Bernardo and Gary reference a few impactful books and documents. You can find those at the links below:

Bernardo's Mantra—www.fastleader.net/wp-content/uploads/self-confidence-formula-napoleon-hill.pdf 

Ego is the Enemy—https://amzn.to/3RitqaR 

Start With Why—https://amzn.to/3AnYIGd 

The Road Less Traveled—https://amzn.to/3PMJvEs 

Starting up a business is hard. Doing it while in an active warzone is even harder. Ukrainian Entrepreneur Bogdan Romaniuk joins Gary Schoeniger for this podcast episode to share insights into his mindset as a co-founder of xTiles—a tool for visual thinking that helps people organize projects and ideas. Bogdan also lets us in on his thinking about solving problems and how being open to new experiences makes you more susceptible to "getting lucky" and finding new opportunities. Join this episode as they take us deep into this web-based organizational note-taking system for creative minds whose easy yet stylish user interface dramatically improves project organization. What is more, you can try and check xTiles’ free demo here.