Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed cover art

Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed

Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed

By: Adrienne Barker MAS
Listen for free

About this listen

 Welcome to 'No Prep Needed LIVE Show. Let's dive deep into the world of business without any fluff or filler. Join me as we uncover the strategies, insights, and stories from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders. From startup tips to scaling strategies, we've got you covered. Tune in to 'No Prep Needed' for your weekly dose of business brilliance.2025 PROFESSIONAL GLOBAL ETIQUETTE Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Patient Ambition of a $100M Journey

    The Patient Ambition of a $100M Journey
    Feb 3 2026
    What if the secret to massive entrepreneurial success wasn’t just about ambition, but about the patience to see it through? In this episode, we sit down with John St Pierre, an entrepreneur who has seen both the dizzying heights of a $100M business and the crushing lows of losing it all. His story is a powerful lesson in resilience, strategy, and the quiet power of playing the long game. This conversation is a deep dive into the realities of scaling a business. John shares the seven core principles that guided him from a devastating failure to building a nine-figure company the right way. We explore the importance of protecting your equity, generating your own cash flow for growth, and building a culture of intrapreneurs within your organization. This episode is for any business owner ready to move beyond the messy middle and build a truly sustainable, profitable enterprise. Protect and grow your equity at all costs. You don’t need partners to start a business; you can own 100% and use your own revenue to grow. Build your own cash flow for growth rather than relying on investors. A good product or service and the revenue it generates are your best fuel. Reinvest smartly in your business. Avoid chasing shiny objects and focus on your core offering. Build a culture of entrepreneurship in your business. Train and develop your leaders to run the company as if it were their own. Protect the house. Regularly conduct vulnerability assessments on your business to manage risk effectively. Move from CEO to chairperson. Work on your business, not just in it, to become a more strategic owner. This conversation with John St Pierre is packed with hard-won wisdom and practical advice for any entrepreneur looking to build something that lasts. Listen to the full episode to learn how to combine patient ambition with smart strategy to achieve your own version of a $100M journey. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear it. To learn more from John St Pierre, visit his website at 100MJourney.com. You can order his book, The $100M Journey, and receive a free gift from the author. John is a trusted investor, speaker, and mentor, and you can connect with him on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Quotes "In my biggest moment of failure, when that happened to me, and I look back at 15 years, and the people I love and the business I loved and losing it all. The one thing that really helped me was perspective." "I wanted to grow so fast that I was chasing shiny objects. I didn’t just focus on our core business. Our core business was working really, really good. But then I was like chasing other verticals and other businesses along the way that were creating a lot of need for cash." "Equity in a business is where you create wealth. And so principle number one is protect and grow your equity at all costs." "I talk a lot today about just having patient ambition. Know exactly what you wanna do over the next decade and have a really good plan to go do that, but be patient." Thank you to our live audience on Chatter Social! Download the app today at chattersocial.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Million Dollar Business Myth: Gwen Bortner on Real Profit, Real Success, Real Alignment

    Million Dollar Business Myth: Gwen Bortner on Real Profit, Real Success, Real Alignment
    Jan 28 2026
    What if the “right” business advice is actually the thing burning you out, and the real win is building a business that fits your life? Adrienne Barker goes off the cuff with Gwen Bortner, an operational strategist and business advisor with four decades of experience across 47 industries. Gwen breaks down why most founders chase someone else’s definition of success, how to think about accountability without cookie cutter frameworks, and what it really takes to vet a business consultant before you waste money and months of momentum. They also dig into family business dynamics, the difference between a practice and a sellable business, and why revenue goals mean nothing unless you understand what that number is supposed to do for you. 6 Key takeaways → Your context matters: two businesses that look identical can require totally different solutions based on people, pressures, and priorities. → Profit is the point: selling a million dollars is not the goal, selling a million dollars at a profit is the goal. → Family business issues are often family issues: the real problem is frequently a relationship dynamic, not a process problem. → Vet consultants with three filters: expert vs teacher, generalist vs specialist, and system they force vs approach they adapt to your environment. → Define success beyond a number: the goal is not revenue, it is what you believe revenue gives you, freedom, time, stability, impact, sanity. → Practice vs business matters: if the value leaves when you leave, it is a practice, and you plan retirement differently because you are not selling it later. Best quotable lines from Gwen → “The number doesn’t actually mean anything. It’s what you think that number gets you.” → “Your context matters.” → “We work for as long as it works.” → “If you’re not happy with the results, you stop paying me.” Guest spotlight Gwen Bortner is an operational strategist and business advisor who helps founders succeed without sacrificing happiness. With experience spanning more than 47 industries, she is known for quickly identifying root causes, simplifying systems, and creating the most direct path to solutions. Gwen works at a high strategic level as a thought partner and accountability partner, helping leaders align decisions with their real definition of success. How to connect with Gwen Website: https://everydayeffectiveness.com/ Follow Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed for more off the cuff conversations with brave, bold, brilliant guests. Want to connect, collaborate, or be a guest? Find Adrienne on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennebarkermas/ Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals for guidance specific to your situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Pete vs Anxiety: When Triggers Take Over (with Pete)

    Pete vs Anxiety: When Triggers Take Over (with Pete)
    Jan 17 2026
    In this episode, Pete opens up about the physical and emotional toll of severe anxiety and PTSD. He explains how certain triggers—like court dates, holidays, or unexpected reminders—can cause days of nausea, exhaustion, and shutdown. Drawing from lived experience, Pete shares how counseling, grounding techniques, trusted support people, and knowing when to seek emergency care helped him survive moments that felt unsafe. The conversation also addresses how misunderstood anxiety is, why people who haven’t experienced it often minimize it, and how grounding tools like the 5-4-3-2-1 method help bring the nervous system back to the present. The episode highlights the real impact of crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline and reinforces one core message: you are not weak for needing help—you are human. What happens when anxiety doesn’t just live in your head—but takes over your body? In this raw conversation, Pete shares what it’s like to live with PTSD-driven anxiety, how triggers can shut everything down, and why having a plan can save your life. Anxiety can be physically debilitating, not just mental PTSD triggers may appear suddenly and drain the body for days Having a crisis plan and trusted contacts is critical Grounding techniques like 5-4-3-2-1 can interrupt panic cycles Knowing when to seek emergency help is a form of strength Support is about listening and presence, not fixing Crisis resources like 988 have proven, life-saving impact Sharing stories helps others feel less alone “I knew I wasn’t in a safe place anymore—and I had to reach out.” Connect with Peter: https://www.instagram.com/pete_vs_annxietypodcast?igsh=MTA1bjczZTFodDY2cg== Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.