The Startup Sessions with Michael Knouse

How often do we say “no” to the things that are calling us? Or we say, “I can’t do that until I make $X.” Or we say, “I have bills to pay. Maybe when the kids are older.”

And how do we even know what’s calling us? In this guest interview, David Howitt will discuss what it means to Heed Your Call.

David Howitt, founder & CEO of Meriwether Group, is an inspiring thought leader and guiding mentor in the world of commerce. He is an accomplished entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience providing business strategy and brand counsel to startups and Fortune 100 companies.

David also used to be a corporate lawyer, wondering why life and work felt so terribly misaligned. But over the years, David began listening to his intuition, which led him to the life he fully enjoys today.

David advises that it is no longer enough to simply be a good parent OR a successful executive. No longer should we accept being a soulful and centered person OR an abundant professional. Commerce, our communities, and the world require us to be BOTH. Living from this place is what makes us the heroes of our own lives.

Enjoy this episode as David and I discuss his new book, Heed Your Call, and talk about how we all have the extraordinary within us, waiting to be released.

Whether you’re just now contemplating your Hero’s Journey, or maybe you’re already on your path, you’ll gain incredible insights about what it means to listen to your deeper wisdom and move towards the life that’s waiting for you.

For more help on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

May is heating up with an incredible discussion about Doing Work That Matters with Kedma Ough.

Here is what Kedma said to me at the end of our interview: “We have an obligation to show people how to live in a world where they wake up excited every day.”

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard someone speak their mission so clearly.

Kedma is a champion for aspiring entrepreneurs and business builders. She overcame her own struggles years ago and figured out how to rise above them with the perspective that she will remove obstacles for anyone that has the desire to succeed.

Kedma is the founder of Avita Business Center and the Executive Director of MIPO, a non-profit organization providing resources, training, and advising to inventors and entrepreneurs.

Kedma has dedicated her life to showing others how to remove obstacles, find available funding and bootstrap businesses with honest straightforward guidance.

As a nationally respected leader, business educator, economic development consultant, and author, her advice has given insight to thousands of entrepreneurs seeking ways to achieve their business goals.

It’s truly an honor to be featuring Kedma as a guest on this show.

Here are some of Kedma’s favorite things:

If you’re looking for someone to tell the truth about getting an idea off the ground and succeeding at a small business, your search is over. You want to listen to what Kedma has to say.

For more help on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

I’m so excited to be bringing you another great discussion about Doing Work That Matters.

My guest this week is someone that makes it her number one priority to make a positive difference in the world while having a really great time doing it. I have Michelle Ghilotti with me on the show and she will be talking about dancing your way through life while creating a no apologies brand and business.

Michelle left a job in advertising to create a life of travel, creativity, and freedom. For the past 12 years now, Michelle has been living all over the world while growing her business and enjoying the adventure with her husband and son.

As the founder of Michelle Ghilotti International, she empowers mostly women to create businesses and brands that are infused with personality, values and self-expression. Michelle believes in being bold and living a self-approved life and building a self-approved business.

It’s no wonder I like her so much!

Here are some of Michelle’s favorite things:

If you dare to create a no-apologies life and business, this episode is a must watch. Simple as that!

For more advice on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

Welcome to the month of May. This month we are dedicating our expert interviews to those that have made it their life’s mission to serve others by Doing Work That Matters.

I will be focusing exclusively on interviewing guest experts that have built their businesses around meaning and doing the work that matters most to them.

My guest this week is a dear friend and a huge inspiration to me. Annie Kamiya and her husband Curtis Kamiya have built a business around their talents and a deep passion for music. They are living examples of what it means to follow your heart and do meaningful work in the world. Together, they are building a music empire in paradise.

Like many of my guests, Annie started in the corporate world and was a financial stockbroker, but soon realized that her one true passion would always lie in music. She followed the twists and turns that many entrepreneurs take on the way to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the music business.

In this episode, Annie will be sharing her inspiring story as well as some of her best strategies for building a business around her deepest desire – changing people’s lives through music.

Here are some of Annie’s favorite things:

This episode is the best one yet for breaking down how to take your creative talents and transform them into a thriving business.

For more advice on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

We’re in the final month of episodes dedicated to creating a successful side hustle.

While all the guests this month have brought incredible insights and wisdom about what it takes to start and build a side hustle, today’s guest is right in the thick of launching his own thriving business.

Dave Hoch is my guest today and he is the mastermind behind The COG Space, a hybrid co-workspace and accelerator for new and growing bike businesses in Portland, OR.

Feeling unfulfilled with his corporate job, Dave shifted his career path to that of an entrepreneur devoted to making a difference in the world. He maintains his corporate job by day while building the ideal work environment for aspiring startups and socially aware businesses by night.

In this episode, Dave will be sharing some amazing strategies that he has used to blend his interests and align his values with meeting a real need in the marketplace.

Here are some of Dave’s favorite things:

If you’re looking for a way to blend many of your interests and values into a business concept that can make a difference, then you will enjoy Dave’s story and his approach.

For more advice on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

We’re in week 3 of talking to experts about creating a successful side hustle – everything you need to know about starting a meaningful business on the side.

This week you’re in for a giant dose of inspiration and real world tactics for becoming a “Lifestyle Fanatic” and creating work you love.

Jeff Steinmann is my guest and he’s the author of How to Quit Working: A Simple Plan to Quit Your Job for a Life of Freedom and a business and marketing consultant. He is a speaker and hosts the weekly How to Quit Working Show, which features lifestyle fanatics who quit their jobs to start a business that lets them put living first.

Most of all, Jeff is a lifestyle fanatic, fiercely devoted to finding better ways to “do life.”

On this episode, Jeff will be sharing some amazing tips and tools that you can use to start and build a successful side hustle and eventually make the shift to becoming a full-time lifestyle fanatic.

Here are some of Jeff’s favorite things:

If you’re ready to take matters into your own hands and get paid for doing something you really care about, then you’re going to love this episode.

For more advice on creating a business that matters, download my free guide: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

Here’s the next installment of the new series spotlighting the art of creating a successful side hustle – everything you need to know about starting a meaningful business on the side.

Everyday he’s hustling…

Nick Loper is my guest on today’s show and his expertise is building a successful side hustle and escaping the rat race. He’s the Chief Side Hustler at SideHustleNation.com.

Nick used to work for a giant corporation and he built his business during nights and weekends. He is a big believer in leveraging a side hustle to bridge the gap between working for someone else and being a full time entrepreneur.

This episode will showcase some of Nick’s successes and failures as well as actionable lessons learned from working with many fellow side hustle entrepreneurs.

Here are some of Nick’s favorite things:

In this interview Nick will also discuss:

If you’re wondering how to get started with a side hustle of your own, maybe it’s time to take the plunge. As Nick likes to say, what’s riskier: starting a business, or relying on your job as your only source of income?

For more advice on creating a business that matters, download my free ebook: Getting Paid To Make A Difference!

Enjoy!

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

Welcome to the first episode in a series dedicated to creating a successful side hustle – everything you need to know about starting a meaningful business on the side.

I’m very excited to be interviewing Anne Samoilov. Anne is a full-time mom, business + launch strategist whose main goal in life is getting you to launch — your ideas, your next project, your next business, a blog, an event, perhaps even a physical product.

Anne is also the creator of the revolutionary online training program Fearless Launching.

Anne has spent the last decade+ helping entrepreneurs, digital artists, authors, video game developers and healers launch their big ideas. And she started her business while working for someone else.

Listen in as Anne describes how she went from a successful side hustle to full time entrepreneur and how you can leverage her knowledge and her launch expertise to do the same.

In this interview Anne will discuss:

If you’d like to hone your business building skills to start a side hustle, create a customized system to launch, take the hassle out of running your business, and make more money, then you won’t want to miss a second of this episode.

Enjoy!

RESOURCES FROM ANNE:

OTHER RESOURCES SHARED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST:

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

Doing creative work can be both exhilarating and challenging. It’s not for the faint of heart. Some days we succumb to the pressure of our inner creative battles. Other days we soar higher than we might have ever imagined.

The key is staying in the game long enough to gain traction with your creative project. And that’s exactly what this week’s episode is all about.

Tom Morkes is my guest this week and he is an author, publisher, startup consultant and instigator at TomMorkes.com. He believes that everyone has a great, creative project inside of them – something waiting to be taken seriously, something begging to be given the chance, something demanding to be brought into existence.

Listen in as Tom reveals the keys to his success as a creative entrepreneur.

Subscribe to The Startup Sessions on iTunes

In this interview Tom will discuss:

The life of the creative entrepreneur isn’t for everyone, but then again it’s not supposed to be. Today’s episode will challenge you to embrace your inner creator and unleash that visionary idea you’ve been holding on to. Whether it’s a book, a business, a blog, or a world-changing movement, maybe it’s time you bring it to life.

Enjoy!

RESOURCES FROM TOM:

OTHER RESOURCES SHARED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST:

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below! 

It seems elusive to many – leaving the stressful corporate job behind and starting a thriving business built upon the skills, talents and desires that you enjoy most.

My guest this week has done what so many others only dream of. Jennifer Bryman had a successful 13-year career as a senior level business professional in financial services.

After starting her family, she decided to move across the country and begin a new career that aligned with her longtime passions of cooking, food, and nutrition.

This led to Jennifer co-founding The Heart’s Kitchen, a nationally recognized team of culinary professionals, educators, and dietitians specializing in food & nutrition consulting and recipe development.

Listen closely as Jennifer shares her journey from the cubicle to the kitchen and how her mission to serve others is impacting the world.

Subscribe to The Startup Sessions on iTunes

In this interview Jennifer will discuss:

Successful entrepreneurship begins with dreams. When dreams are acted upon, businesses are born and miracles happen. Enjoy this episode as Jennifer Bryman discusses how she turned her entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

Enjoy!

RESOURCES FROM JENNIFER:

OTHER RESOURCES SHARED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST:

If you prefer audio only, you can subscribe and listen to The Startup Sessions podcast on iTunes! 

P.S. What did you find most helpful in this episode? I’d love to hear your remarks or questions in the ‘comments’ section below!