The Pursuit of Badasserie: The Podcast

What if the anxiety, the hustle, the relentless chasing — wasn't making you more successful, but was actually the thing holding you back?

We sat down with Aaron Hendon — entrepreneur, mindfulness instructor, and author of the upcoming How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fcked-Up World — and he brought the kind of clear, grounded wisdom that is equal parts science and soul. After 30 years of building businesses while quietly drowning in anxiety, Aaron had a moment at a retreat that changed everything. And what followed wasn't soft — it was strategic.

In this episode, we explore what it actually means to train your brain — not escape it. We dig into why the world's most elite performers meditate, what the Buddhist "two arrows" teach us about suffering and choice, and how a simple 10-minute practice took Aaron's real estate sales team from stuck to a 160% sales increase.

If you think mindfulness is soft — this episode is going to change your mind. We dare you to listen and not walk away with something that shifts everything.
What We Cover in This Episode

• Aaron's journey: from New York anxiety and IRS debt to 30 years building businesses — and the retreat that broke everything open
• The "Get Enough" game — why entrepreneurs keep moving the goalpost and can never feel satisfied
• The Buddhist Two Arrows: pain is inevitable, suffering is optional — and what that means for your business and life
• Why your brain is wired to survive, not thrive — and how that shows up as call reluctance, perfectionism, and fear
• The 4-2-6 breathing technique: 4 seconds in, 2 seconds hold, 6 seconds out — a proven way to shift from fight/flight to clarity
• The puppy in the box: the most relatable metaphor for taming your own mind
• 80% of elite performers surveyed by Tim Ferriss have a mindfulness practice — and why that's not a coincidence
• Why 'soft' skills aren't weak — they're the hardest, most disciplined work you'll ever do
• 10 minutes a day: meditation is not a mountaintop ritual — it's brain hygiene, like brushing your teeth
• Enjoying your morning coffee as a full meditation practice
• How Aaron's real estate team increased sales 160%, improved retention 85%, and boosted referrals — by meditating
• Aligned action vs. reactive action: what top performers see that others don't
• Why self-evaluation is the enemy of meditation — and how to find a teacher instead of relying on an app
• Aaron's upcoming book and 9-week mindfulness cohort (pay-what-you-want)

About Our Guest: Aaron Hendon
Aaron Hendon spent 30 years building businesses across multiple industries — from a beloved bakery (yes, the tattoo says "Toast to Live, Live to Toast") to leading ontological leadership programs to a 13-year career as a six-figure real estate broker and managing broker. But it was a moment at a personal retreat that changed the trajectory of everything.
Now a certified mindfulness instructor and NLP-trained coach, Aaron trains high performers, salespeople, and entrepreneurs to stop reacting and start responding — using proven brain training techniques that create real, measurable results. His 9-week mindfulness cohort has helped sales teams increase production by 160%, and his upcoming book, How to Live a Grateful Life in a Fcked-Up World, is the tool that started it all.

Connect with Aaron + Free Resources
• Website: www.AaronHendon.com
• Book: How to Live a Grateful Life in a F*cked-Up World — available on Amazon and his website
• Free 9-week mindfulness cohort on Zoom: pay-what-you-want / sliding scale — details at his website
• Social: Aaron Hendon on all platforms

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!
Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join the Badass Amplifier!

Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]

We didn’t expect to find inspiration for our own businesses while walking the showroom floor of

Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

Let’s get one thing straight:

Your business isn’t just built on strategy. It’s built on your capacity to execute that strategy consistently.

And your nervous system? It’s at the center of all of it.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the real conversation behind hustle culture, burnout, and the rise of “rest more” messaging—and what actually matters if you want a sustainable, profitable business.

Because this isn’t about choosing between grinding yourself into the ground or stepping away completely.

It’s about building a business that works with you, not against you.

We’re diving into:

• The truth about hustle culture (and why it’s been misunderstood)

• How a dysregulated nervous system shows up in your business (and your revenue)

• The hidden patterns behind avoidance, overworking, and inconsistency

• Why your income often mirrors your internal state

• What high performance actually looks like (hint: it’s not constant intensity)

• How to build systems that support you—even when your energy is low

• The difference between rest and avoidance (and why that matters more than you think)

We also share real client examples of what happens when you shift from chaos and reactivity into structure and support—and how that alone can transform your results.

Because here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:

If your business only works when you feel good, you don’t have a business—you have a dependency.

And if your business collapses the moment life gets hard? That’s not a capacity issue. That’s a systems issue.

We’re not here for soft businesses with no structure. And we’re definitely not here for burnout as a badge of honor.

We’re here for sustainable power.

Your challenge: When was the last time you actually rested—and did your business support you while you did?

If you’re ready to build a business that actually supports you (not drains you):

Join us inside the Badass Amplifier. We’ll help you create the systems, structure, and strategy your business needs so it can run, grow, and generate revenue—without relying on your mood, your energy, or your capacity on any given day.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join the Badass Amplifier!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

You didn’t start your business to become the most overworked, underpaid employee in it.

And yet… here we are.

In this episode, we’re calling it out directly: if your business still depends on you for everything, you’re not operating in CEO mode—you’re stuck in employee mode with a fancier title.

We see it all the time. Founders who are busy all day, calendars packed, tasks checked off… but still feeling behind, capped, and exhausted. That’s not a capacity problem. That’s a leadership problem.

We’re breaking down the real difference between CEO mode and employee mode—and why this shift is the one that changes everything.

Because employee mode is reactive. CEO mode is intentional.

Employee mode asks: “What do I need to get done today?” CEO mode asks: “What actually moves this business forward?”

Inside this episode, we cover:

• The subtle (but costly) signs you’re still operating in employee mode

• Why being “busy” is often just disguised avoidance

• The mindset shift required to step into true CEO leadership

• How control, fear, and lack of clarity keep you stuck doing everything yourself

• What CEO mode actually looks like in action (hint: it’s not just “thinking big”)

• Why your current clients might be a reflection of your leadership level

• How to start prioritizing, delegating, and building systems that scale without you

We’re also getting honest about something most people won’t say: You can make good money in employee mode… and still be completely trapped by your business.

This isn’t about working less for the sake of it. It’s about working on the right things so your time, income, and impact can actually grow.

Because the moment you fully step into CEO mode? You stop being the bottleneck—and start becoming the driver.

Your challenge: Where are you operating from right now—and what’s one shift you can make today to start leading like a CEO?

Ready to actually make that shift (not just think about it)?

Join us inside the Badass Amplifier. This is where we take everything we talk about on this podcast and apply it directly to your business—in real time, with real strategy, real feedback, and real accountability. If you’re done spinning in employee mode and ready to lead like a CEO, this is your next move.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join the Badass Amplifier!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

Running a lean business does not mean playing small. It means operating with clarity, discipline, and intention.

In this episode, we break down what it actually means to run a lean business and why simplifying your operations may be the fastest path to sustainable growth, higher profit, and stronger leadership.

Most entrepreneurs are not struggling because they lack ideas or opportunities. They are struggling because their business has become too heavy. Too many offers, too many systems, too many moving parts that are not producing results.

A lean business removes what is unnecessary so you can focus on what works.

If your business feels more complicated than it should, this conversation will help you simplify, refocus, and scale more effectively.

What You’ll Learn About Running a Lean Business:

• What a lean business actually is and what it is not

• Why complexity slows growth and creates unnecessary stress

• The most common ways businesses become inefficient and overloaded

• The difference between revenue growth and profitable growth

• How simplifying your offers, systems, and structure improves performance

• What strong leadership looks like in a lean business model

• How to identify what is no longer serving your business

• Practical ways to reduce complexity and increase efficiency

Who This Episode Is For:

• Business owners who feel overwhelmed by the complexity of their business

• Entrepreneurs who are growing but not seeing the profit they expected

• Leaders who want to simplify operations and improve efficiency

• Anyone ready to scale without adding more chaos

Key Takeaway:

Lean businesses do not grow by adding more. They grow by removing what no longer works and focusing on what does.

Ready to Simplify and Scale Your Business?

If this episode made you realize your business has become heavier than it needs to be, it is time to make a shift.

Inside The Badass Amplifier, we help business owners simplify their offers, strengthen their systems, and build a business that can actually support growth.

This is where you move from overcomplicated to focused, from reactive to intentional, and from busy to profitable.

If you are ready to scale your business without unnecessary complexity, join us here:https://www.badassamplifier.com/Last Chance to Support

If this podcast has helped you grow as a business owner, this is the last week to support us.

We have been nominated for the Women Podcasters Awards, and your vote makes a difference.

Vote here: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting

Thank you for being part of this and helping us continue to lead these conversations.

Stay Connected

Follow or subscribe so you do not miss future episodes on leadership, business growth, and scaling strategies.Share this episode with another entrepreneur who needs to simplify their business.Take what you learned today and apply it immediately.

Because the strongest businesses are built with clarity, not complexity.

Make sure to subscribe to our⁠ YouTube⁠ or⁠ Spotify⁠ and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join⁠ the Badass Amplifier⁠!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

Want to sponsor us? Find out how⁠ HERE⁠.

If you feel like you never have enough time to grow your business, this episode will challenge that belief.Because most entrepreneurs do not have a time problem. They have a priority problem.

In this episode, we break down why trying to do everything is slowing your growth, diluting your focus, and keeping you stuck in constant motion without real progress.As your business grows, your ability to prioritize becomes one of your most important leadership skills. Without it, you stay busy. With it, you build momentum.

This is a direct conversation about how to simplify your focus, make stronger decisions, and move your business forward with clarity.What You’ll Learn About Priorities, Time Management, and Business Growth:Why “not enough time” is often the wrong diagnosisHow too many priorities slow execution and stall growthThe connection between focus, decision-making, and revenueWhy everything feels important when you are building a businessHow to identify the few priorities that actually move the needleWhat it takes to stay committed to your top prioritiesThe role of discipline in scaling a business effectivelyHow simplifying your focus leads to faster, more sustainable growthWho This Episode Is For:Business owners who feel overwhelmed and stretched thinEntrepreneurs juggling too many ideas, offers, or responsibilitiesLeaders who want more clarity, focus, and control over their timeAnyone tired of being busy without seeing the results they wantKey Takeaway:You do not need more hours in your day.You need fewer things competing for them.Ready to Grow and Scale Your Business?If this episode made you realize you are doing too much and still not getting the results you want, it is time to shift how you operate.Inside The Badass Amplifier, we help business owners simplify their priorities, build stronger systems, and focus on what actually drives growth.This is where you stop spinning and start executing at a higher level.If you are ready to grow your business with clarity and intention, join us here:https://www.badassamplifier.com/Support the MissionIf this podcast has helped you think differently, lead better, or take stronger action in your business, we would appreciate your support.We have been nominated for the Women Podcasters Awards.You can vote for us here:https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-votingYour vote helps us continue bringing real, actionable conversations to business owners who are ready to grow.Stay ConnectedFollow or subscribe so you do not miss future episodes on business growth, leadership, and scaling.Share this episode with another entrepreneur who needs to simplify and refocus.Take what you learned today and apply it immediately.Because clarity creates momentum.Make sure to subscribe to our⁠ YouTube⁠ or⁠ Spotify⁠ and leave us a review!Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join⁠ the Badass Amplifier⁠!Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!Want to sponsor us? Find out how⁠ HERE⁠.

If you are a business owner navigating growth, pressure, and increasing responsibility, this episode is for you.

The last 6 weeks did not break us. They revealed where our leadership needed to evolve.

In this episode, we break down what happens when entrepreneurs hit capacity, lose momentum, and start to feel stretched too thin. This is a real look at leadership under pressure, managing business growth, and staying focused when your time, energy, and attention are maxed out.

You do not drift because you lack discipline. You drift because your current systems, structure, and priorities are no longer aligned with the level you are operating at.

This conversation will help you strengthen your leadership, make better decisions, and stay on track as you grow and scale your business.

What You’ll Learn About Leadership, Capacity, and Business Growth:

• How to recognize when you have outgrown your current capacity as a business owner

• Why time management is not the real issue and what to focus on instead

• How decision fatigue and leadership pressure impact business performance

• The most common ways entrepreneurs lose momentum while scaling

• How to identify early signs of burnout and overwhelm

• Practical ways to simplify your priorities and regain control

• How to build stronger systems and structure to support growth

• What it takes to stay consistent and focused as your business expands

Who This Episode Is For:

• Business owners who feel stretched, overwhelmed, or reactive

• Entrepreneurs trying to scale but struggling to stay consistent

• Leaders who want more clarity, structure, and control in their business

• Anyone tired of feeling busy but not making the progress they want

Key Takeaway:

You do not stay on track by avoiding pressure. You stay on track by strengthening your leadership, simplifying your priorities, and building a business that can support your growth.

Ready to Grow and Scale Your Business?

If you are serious about scaling your business without burnout, you need more than motivation. You need strategy, structure, and support.

Inside The Badass Amplifier, we help business owners simplify their operations, strengthen their leadership, and build scalable systems that actually work.

If you are ready to grow your business with clarity and confidence, join us here: https://www.badassamplifier.com/

Support the Mission

If this podcast has helped you grow as a leader and business owner, we would appreciate your support.

We have been nominated as Best Business Podcast for the Women Podcasters Awards.

Vote here:https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting

Your vote helps us reach more entrepreneurs and continue delivering real, actionable business growth strategies.

Stay Connected

Follow or subscribe so you do not miss future episodes on business growth, leadership, and scaling strategies.Share this episode with another entrepreneur who needs to refocus and step back into leadership.

Apply what you learned today and move forward with intention.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join the Badass Amplifier!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

In this episode of The Pursuit of Badasserie, we’re calling out a hidden cost that most entrepreneurs are paying every single month—without even realizing it.

It’s not your overhead. It’s not your payroll.

It’s you.

More specifically, it’s the cost of operating like an overworked employee inside the business you were supposed to own.

We break down what we call the “$30,000 monthly fine”—the revenue you’re losing by staying stuck in technician mode, bottlenecking decisions, and avoiding true CEO-level work.

This episode dives deep into the identity shift required to move from operator to owner, and why this isn’t a math problem—it’s a mindset problem.

We talk about the real reasons entrepreneurs stay stuck: control, perfectionism, fear of delegation, and the belief that “it’s just faster if I do it myself.” But that short-term speed is creating long-term stagnation—and costing you serious money.

From inconsistent client experiences to stalled growth and missed opportunities, we unpack how the “I’ll do it later” cycle and reactive decision-making are silently killing your margins.

If you’re ready to stop being the highest-paid employee in your business and start building something that actually scales, sustains, and eventually runs without you—this episode is your wake-up call.

• The biggest cost in your business might be you being the bottleneck

• It’s not a math problem—it’s a mindset and identity problem

• Acting like an employee keeps you stuck; thinking like an owner creates growth

• Short-term speed (“I’ll just do it myself”) leads to long-term stagnation

• The “I’ll do it later” habit is costing you time, money, and client retention

• Inconsistent systems create inconsistent client experiences—and lost revenue

• Saying yes to everything dilutes margins and limits scalability

• CEO-level work = strategy, growth, partnerships, and vision—not daily tasks

• Delegation isn’t optional if you want to scale—it’s required

• You can’t build a business that runs without you if you’re in everything

• You’re involved in every decision and task

• You default to “I’ll just do it myself”

• Your day is filled with doing, not strategizing

• You delay systems, processes, and delegation

• You’re constantly reacting instead of planning

• Your client experience is inconsistent

• You feel busy—but not like you’re growing
  

Employee Thinking:

• “What needs to get done today?”

• Focused on tasks, completion, and immediate output
  

CEO Thinking:

• “What will grow the business long-term?”

• Focused on strategy, scalability, and leverage

  
  

It’s not just income.

It’s:

• Building leverage

• Creating systems that run without you

• Generating long-term wealth

• Increasing valuation

• Having a clear exit strategy

Because you didn’t start a business just to create another job.

Ask yourself:

If you disappeared from your business for 30 days…

• Would it grow?

• Would it stall?

• Or would it collapse?
  

Your answer reveals everything.

Identify one area where you’re acting like an employee instead of an owner—and make a shift this week.

Delegate it. Systemize it. Remove yourself from it.

Share it with another entrepreneur who’s stuck doing everything themselves—and help them see the real cost of staying in that role.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Want to work with us and watch your business grow? Join the Badass Amplifier!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

• Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

Key TakeawaysSigns You’re Paying the $30K Monthly FineCEO vs. Employee Mindset ShiftThe Real Goal of BusinessReality CheckAction StepIf This Episode Hit Home

In this episode of The Pursuit of Badasserie, we’re flipping the script on growth. Instead of asking “What should I add?” we’re challenging you to ask a far more strategic question: What should I remove?

Because the truth is—most entrepreneurs aren’t stuck because they’re not doing enough. They’re stuck because they’re doing too much.

We dive into how constant addition—more offers, more content, more platforms, more tools—is actually diluting your results, draining your energy, and confusing your buyers. This episode breaks down why subtraction is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) growth strategies in business.

From overloaded offer suites to decision fatigue, micromanaging, and low-profit clients, we unpack the hidden ways complexity is costing you revenue—and what to do about it.

We also explore the mindset shifts required to let go: the fear of missing out, the fear of losing momentum, and the discomfort of simplifying when everything around you is telling you to do more.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels, create clarity in your business, and focus on what actually moves the needle—this episode will challenge you to think differently about growth.

Key Takeaways

• More does not equal growth—focus and clarity do

• Subtraction creates space for what actually drives revenue

• Too many offers dilute your marketing, sales, and customer experience

• Confused buyers don’t convert—clarity always wins

• 20% of your efforts drive 80% of your results—identify and double down

• Decision fatigue is real (for you and your customers)

• Not all revenue is good revenue—low-profit and high-drama clients cost more than they’re worth

• Busy work and micromanagement keep you stuck in a job, not building a business

• Delegation isn’t about perfection—it’s about freeing capacity

• Reactive decision-making kills strategic growth

• Excess offers and complicated pricing structures

• Tools, apps, and platforms you’re barely using

• Tasks that don’t require your level of skill

• Meetings that don’t drive decisions or progress

• Over-explaining your work or messaging

• Micromanaging your team

• Low ROI or high-drama clients

• “Busy” work that isn’t moving the needle
  

Ask yourself:

What is ONE thing in your business right now that you know you should subtract?

Start there.

Because subtraction isn’t about losing—it’s about creating space for better strategy, stronger growth, and higher profit.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

What to Subtract (Start Here)Action StepWant to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.

In this episode, Philip Jayhawk Chan, founder and CEO of his firm and a rising voice in the world of leadership and success, breaks down what it truly takes to build an empire. Philip shares his personal journey from athlete to entrepreneur and explains how he’s built a life around intention, discipline, and strategic self-awareness. He challenges the common “dream big” mindset and reframes it into something far more powerful: your goals aren’t a want — they’re a need. Philip discusses how he approaches his NBA ownership goals with relentless urgency and how he continues to grow as a leader by focusing on skills, systems, and the people he surrounds himself with. He also shares success principles around earning your rewards, mastering self-awareness, and building a life at the intersection of passion and skillset.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Convert your wants into needs Philip explains that the difference between people who succeed and those who don’t is relentless urgency. Your goals should feel as essential as breathing.

2. Success requires relentless effort Entrepreneurship isn’t a trend — it’s a grind. Philip emphasizes that big dreams require big work, consistency, and resilience through setbacks.

3. Earn your rewards Philip shares how he only rewards himself once he reaches a certain level — not before. This mindset prevents entitlement and keeps you grounded in reality.

4. Self-awareness is the foundation of success If you don’t know yourself, you won’t know your purpose. Self-awareness shapes your goals, your decisions, and your life direction.

5. Find the overlap between passion and skillset Philip suggests starting with interests and letting them evolve into purpose. The most fulfilling life is built where what you’re good at meets what you love.

6. Surround yourself with the right people Philip highlights the importance of your team. If you love who you work with, the work feels effortless — and that’s a key ingredient to long-term success.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube or Spotify and leave us a review!

• Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!

• Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

• Want to sponsor us? Find out how HERE.