In this episode, I’m joined by Nicky Billou, a thought leadership expert, bestselling author, and founder of eCircle Academy. 

Nicky has built his career helping coaches, consultants, and business owners transform from hidden experts into recognized authorities in their fields.

An immigrant who fled Iran with his family in search of freedom, Nicky’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. His mission is to help others achieve that same freedom, not just financially, but emotionally and creatively, by embracing their voice, mastering their message, and serving their audience with authenticity and heart.

We’ll talk about his entrepreneurial journey, the mindset shifts that helped him overcome self-doubt, and how he built a business dedicated to empowering others. Then we’ll dive into his insights on positioning, podcast guesting, and what he calls “selling as an act of love.”

If you’ve ever struggled to put yourself out there, or wondered how to turn your expertise into real impact, this conversation will give you both inspiration and strategy.

eCircle Academy
https://www.ecircleacademy.com

Nicky's Book Recommendation:
Power vs. Force Paperback
by David R. Hawkins MD/PHD
https://tinyurl.com/9vdhmndk

Behind every “successful entrepreneur” is a long list of mistakes, sacrifices, and lessons most people never hear about.

There’s no guest today. No interview. No spotlight on someone else’s story. This episode is about reflection and gratitude.

When I launched The Reluctant Entrepreneur, I had a very specific goal in mind. I didn’t want to create another show that glorified entrepreneurship or romanticized success. I didn’t want highlight reels, buzzwords, or carefully curated origin stories. I wanted honesty. I wanted real conversations with real people—people who didn’t always plan on becoming entrepreneurs, people who didn’t have it all figured out, people who made mistakes, lost sleep, doubted themselves, failed, recovered, and kept going anyway.

And over the course of this first year, that’s exactly what we got.

My guest today is Billy Sammons, founder of Live Local Warm Marketing, a company that helps entrepreneurs and service-based professionals grow their businesses through authentic connection rather than cold outreach or high-pressure tactics.

In this episode, we’ll talk about Billy’s entrepreneurial journey, how he built Live Local Warm Marketing and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 

We’ll also dive into warm marketing itself: what it is, what it does, and how it differs from traditional marketing methods that often rely on cold calls, funnels, and automation.

Billy teaches a human-centered approach to business growth, one that focuses on trust, service, and real relationships. His mission is simple: to help people market in a way that feels good and truly works.

Billy's Company Website:
Live Local Warm Marketing
https://www.livelocalwarmmarketing.com/

Billy's Book:
Warm Marketing: The New Currency
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6LMY1L8

In this episode, I’m joined by Christian Brim, CEO and founder of CORE Group, a financial advisory firm that helps small business owners—especially creative professionals, achieve clarity and profitability through systems like Profit First.

Christian’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t paved with early success. In fact, his story begins with family bankruptcy, a humbling experience that reshaped the way he thought about money, risk, and business ownership. That turning point ignited a mission: to help other entrepreneurs avoid the same pitfalls and build financially healthy companies.

In the first half of our conversation, Christian shares his personal journey, from hardship to rebuilding, and ultimately to founding a company designed to guide others toward stability and success. Then, in the second half, we dive into his area of expertise: how to create profit intentionally, why so many entrepreneurs misunderstand cash flow, and the practical ways creative business owners can turn chaos into clarity.

Whether you’re just starting out or trying to get your business finances back on track, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable insight.

Christian's Websites:
https://www.coregroupus.com
https://www.christianbrim.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Christian's Book:
Profit First for Creatives: Redefining the Creativity/Money Paradigm
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1BVR1L?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

Wes Towers is the founder of Uplift360, an Australian-based marketing agency that focuses on what he calls “Search Everywhere Optimization".

He’s also the author of The Simple Manifesto: Marketing Principles to Save You Time, Increase Profit, and Create Your Dream Business in a SNAP!

Wes helps brands cut through the noise, simplify their message, and bring back what really matters in marketing—human connection.

Today, we’ll talk about his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how we can all keep our businesses authentic in an age dominated by AI.

Uplift360
https://uplift360.com.au

Today, I’m joined by Chip Higgins, the founder of Bizzics, LLC, and the author of The Bizzics Way: Powering Your Business to Maximum Momentum. 

Before launching his own venture, Chip spent 35 years in banking, leading small business practices across the Southeast. 

That experience gave him a front-row seat to the challenges entrepreneurs face every day—managing cash flow, structuring capital, building teams, and connecting with customers in a meaningful way.
In 2024, Chip captured those lessons in his bestselling book, and in early 2025 he launched the Bizzics Ideas Hub, a community where entrepreneurs can collaborate, apply his principles, and drive lasting change.

In our conversation, we’ll talk about Chip’s transition from a long corporate career into entrepreneurship, what inspired him to take the leap, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 
We’ll also dig into practical advice for small business owners, how to build momentum, strengthen customer relationships, manage liquidity, and create a positive workplace culture even without a big HR department.

So, whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to break through your next growth plateau, this episode will give you plenty of insights to fuel your entrepreneurial journey.

Chip's Website
Bizzics LLC
https://www.bizzics.com

Bizzics Idea Hub
https://bizzics-ideas-hub.mn.co

Bizzics On-Demand
https://www.bizzics.com/bizzics-on-demand/

Today I’m joined by someone who embodies both the grit of a behind the scenes fixer and the vulnerability of a heart led leader. 

Meghan Cathlin, founder of Considerate Ventures, has spent more than 25 years supporting artists, authors, celebrities and CEOs. Known as an unassuming and elegant fixer, she brings calm, order and warmth to complex projects ranging from major concerts to memoirs.

Her journey hasn’t been straightforward. Meghan grew up facing deep hardship – she lost her father to suicide, lived in poverty, dropped out of school and overcame abusive relationships. Yet she credits these experiences with awakening her heart led philosophy. She believes the head is a great tool for analyzing the past but “out of its depth” when guiding us into our brightest future, and she’s learned that when we achieve heart coherence, we think more clearly, regulate our emotions and gain greater intuition.

Today she channels those insights into her upcoming book, Leading With the Heart: The Courage to Trust Your Inner Wisdom and Rewrite Your Life, and into the bespoke services she provides through Considerate Ventures. Her clients describe her as having an intuitive sixth sense and the rare ability to shepherd high pressure projects with grace and humor. 

In this episode we delve into how Meghan navigated her transition from a behind the scenes organizer to a purpose driven entrepreneur, why she intentionally keeps her client roster small, and what it means to lead with the heart in business and in life.

If you’ve ever felt drawn to entrepreneurship but hesitant to claim the title, Meghan’s story will inspire you. Tune in as we discuss overcoming adversity, embracing both the “superhero” and the “hot mess” within, and why serving others can be the most powerful motivation of all.

During the episode, Meghan recommended the following website:
HeartMath Institute
https://www.heartmath.org

Meghan's Company
Considerate Ventures
https://www.considerateventures.net

Meghan's Book:
Leading With the Heart: The Courage to Trust Your Inner Wisdom and Rewrite Your Life 
https://tinyurl.com/5xjveszy

Today’s guest is Jim Koetting, a leadership coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of CEOM Consulting Group. But before any of those titles, Jim was a founder who—at the age of 50—lost everything. 
His business collapsed. He lost his home. He emptied his savings. And yet, he never lost his sobriety or his drive to rebuild.

Jim’s story is one of reinvention. From personal and professional devastation, he clawed his way back—not just to success, but to significance. Today, he works with executive teams to build trust, align culture, and transform communication. He’s also the host of the Speaking With Authority podcast and a certified practitioner of the 5 Voices and GiANT leadership tools.

In this conversation, Jim opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of losing a business, the lessons he’s learned about ego and identity, and why most teams aren’t broken—they’re just underdeveloped.

If you've ever felt like you're building something with shaky hands or recovering from a painful reset, this episode is for you.

Jim's Company:
CEOM Consulting
https://www.ceomconsulting.com

Today, I’m joined by Jason Duncan—entrepreneur, business coach, author, and host of The Root of All Success podcast. 

Jason didn’t set out to be a business owner. In fact, he began his career as a schoolteacher, but when he was laid off in 2010, he became an entrepreneur by necessity. Out of that challenge, he built a multimillion-dollar company that gained recognition from both Inc. and Entrepreneur 
magazines.

From there, Jason developed the XOS Method and founded The Exiter Club, where he helps entrepreneurs design companies that run smoothly without them—what he calls “exit without exiting.” I might call that “silent exiting”. He’s also the author of Exit Without Exiting, a playbook for business owners who want freedom from day-to-day operations without having to sell their companies.

On this episode, we’ll talk about Jason’s unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s learned building and scaling businesses, and his insights from interviewing top performers on The Root of All Success.

Jason's Website:
https://www.therealjasonduncan.com

Today, I’m joined by Tim Parmeter, founder and CEO of FranCoach, a national consulting firm that helps aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the world of franchising. 

He’s also the host of the Franchising 101 Podcast, where he’s made it his mission to demystify franchise ownership and guide people toward finding the right business fit.

In the first half of our conversation, Tim shares his personal journey—how he transitioned from the corporate world into entrepreneurship, the highs and lows of building a business from scratch, and the powerful lessons he’s learned along the way.

Then, we switch gears. Tim pulls from his deep well of franchising expertise to offer practical advice for anyone thinking about business ownership through franchising—whether you're curious, cautious, or ready to take the leap.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a franchise that fits your goals—or if entrepreneurship might be closer than you think—this episode is for you.

Tim's Company
FranCoach
https://www.francoach.net

Tim's Book:
Becoming a Franchise Owner
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Franchise-Owner-Entrepreneur-Quick/dp/1642011754/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DLDFORA2BL6J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lpcy7xjIa8V94IgGrunLrA.KmyAvjtimKLnAsBakXc5XWV7EcWgUniHxmxigUAiDyI&dib_tag=se&keywords=tim+parmeter&qid=1753246917&sprefix=tim+parmeter%2Caps%2C463&sr=8-1