Episode 95. We tend to glamorize the entrepreneurs out there. The ones we follow and hear about are usually wildly successful and have made it many times over. But that isn’t quite the story of most business founders.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, hosted by Greg Martin, serial entrepreneur Dave Burnett discusses his multifaceted career. Burnett shares his experiences running a promotional products business and a marketing agency, along with past ventures and key learnings from both successes and failures.

The conversation delves into his early days playing junior hockey, his pivot to entrepreneurship following a short-lived hockey career, and his involvement with companies like Achievers. Burnett also offers insights into adapting in the face of technological advancements like AI and maintaining a healthy relationship with money. Key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs include the importance of client feedback, staying updated with trends, especially in digital marketing, and finding balance and support in one’s personal life.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Dave Burnett: Serial Entrepreneur
• 02:06 Dave's Early Life and Hockey Career
• 05:11 First Foray into Business: The Beer Rep
• 08:35 Founding Achievers.com
• 11:44 Promotional Products and Marketing Ventures
• 14:06 Lessons from Entrepreneurship
• 18:59 Navigating Failures and Learning from Mistakes
• 22:39 The Role of AI in Business
• 24:10 AI's Impact on Various Industries
• 25:51 The Journey of AI Adoption
• 27:30 Real Business Impacts of AI
• 28:31 The Role of AI in Content Creation
• 31:04 Encouraging AI Use in Education
• 33:22 Entrepreneurial Challenges and Money
• 42:27 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 46:50 Conclusion and Contact Information

Episode 94. At first the definition of success can seem pretty easy, but over time what success means to each of can change. Sometimes to get it we also have to change the path.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Carolina Lasso, a seasoned marketer with a prominent career at Google. Carolina shares her journey from burning out at Google to discovering her true purpose, which led her to become an author and a purpose coach.

They delve into her early career, her experience with mental health challenges, and her subsequent quest for a meaningful life. The conversation covers the concept of success, societal expectations, individual purpose, and the transformative power of helping others.

Carolina also discusses her latest book, 'The Purpose Reset,' co-authored with colleagues, and its focus on finding purpose at individual, team, and organizational levels. They wrap up with practical advice on integrating purpose into everyday life and the importance of authentic self-reflection.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Carolina Lasso: From Google to Purpose
• 01:37 Carolina's Journey: From Burnout to Purpose
• 04:07 The Meaning of Success and Personal Fulfillment
• 09:18 The Turning Point: Panic Attacks and Self-Discovery
• 11:54 Writing 'The Purpose Reset' and Its Impact
• 16:31 Purpose in Work and Life: A Balanced Approach
• 23:44 The Helpers High: Why Helping Others Feels Good
• 25:31 Maslow's Hierarchy and Finding Fulfillment
• 27:29 Balancing Corporate Ambitions with Personal Purpose
• 29:08 The Importance of Authentic Living
• 31:24 A Near-Death Experience and Its Lessons
• 34:46 The Power of Reflection and Legacy
• 37:53 Connecting Through Success and Purpose
• 38:46 The Role of Risk in Personal Growth
• 42:45 Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Episode 93. What’s an agency business and what do you do after building one to 100 people and then selling? Retire?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews John Ghiorso, founder of Orca Pacific, an Amazon media agency, which he successfully built and sold. John shares his journey from an accidental agency owner to a seasoned entrepreneur now setting up a venture studio model to launch multiple niche-focused marketing agencies.

Key topics include the dynamics of running and scaling agencies, the importance of aligning company values, the impact of AI on agency businesses, and strategies for hiring and retaining top talent.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• 00:23 John’s Agency Journey
• 01:30 Understanding the Agency Business
• 03:12 Starting and Scaling an Agency
• 05:28 Retirement and New Ventures
• 08:10 Hiring and Retaining Talent
• 12:32 Company Culture and Values
• 19:12 Deciding to Sell the Business
• 22:09 Personal and Market-Based Reasons for Selling
• 23:01 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Amazon Agencies
• 24:41 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Strategy
• 25:27 The Acquisition Process and Choosing the Right Partner
• 26:49 Life After Acquisition: Working with Media Monks
• 29:11 Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Leadership
• 31:23 Advice for Aspiring Agency Professionals
• 34:32 The Future of Agencies in an AI-Driven World
• 43:31 Key Traits for Successful Agency Leaders
• 46:56 Resources and Final Thoughts

Episode 92. Networking never goes out of style and hasn’t changed, it all can start with a cup of coffee which has certainly helped Marc Reede across his career working with many Hollywood icons.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Marc Reede, a seasoned agent for high-profile motivational speakers and author of the book 'The Coffee Code.' Reed shares his career journey, starting from his law school days to becoming an agent for celebrities like Tom Hanks, Magic Johnson, and Simone Biles.

The conversation delves into Marc's techniques and experiences, including the importance of storytelling and making impactful connections through 'coffee meetings.' Reed emphasizes the significance of relationships and being genuinely nice in professional settings. The discussion also highlights Reed’s book 'The Coffee Code,' which offers advice and life hacks for young professionals and those shifting their career paths. The episode provides valuable insights into networking, career development, and the art of motivational speaking.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Marc Reede: Career as a High-Profile Speaker Agent
• 01:06 The Journey from Law School to Lecture Agent
• 02:48 Breaking into the Motivational Speaking Industry
• 04:12 What Makes a Great Speaker?
• 07:53 The Coffee Code: Insights and Inspiration
• 11:50 The Power of Networking and Storytelling
• 27:08 Career Day and Networking Tips
• 36:18 The Importance of Being Nice
• 40:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 91. A wealth of experience comes from someone who joined the tech world with experiences at as such places as Google, Slack, Salesforce and most recently Humane. Not surprisingly, the experience eventually leads to becoming a founder herself.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Brooke Hartley Moy, co-founder of the AI startup Infactory. Brooke shares her journey from being a history major with no programming background to co-founding a tech company. The discussion covers her career trajectory, insights on working at major tech companies like Salesforce and Google, and the challenges and benefits of starting her own company.

Brooke also explores the future of AI, the importance of soft skills in the tech industry, the complexities of venture capital, and her experiences as a woman in tech. She emphasizes the need for continuous learning, adaptability, and the value of personal relationships in career development.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Brooke Hartley Moy
• 01:07 Brooke's Journey into Tech
• 04:05 Breaking into the Industry
• 13:09 Starting Infactory
• 15:42 Challenges of Entrepreneurship
• 17:57 Venture Capital Insights
• 23:53 Women in Tech
• 34:27 AI Optimism and Skepticism
• 40:22 Advice for Aspiring Professionals
• 42:32 Conclusion and Farewell

Episode 90. Mary Spio has a very impressive background. She’s a rocket scientist who turned to the movie industry to transform how the industry delivered content. She built a virtual reality platform while also working to let content creators better monetize their work. What’s behind all this?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Mary Spio, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Seek (CEEK) - a platform designed to monetize online content. Mary's journey is discussed from her beginnings as an aerospace engineer, working with companies like Boeing to her current endeavors in VR and AI powered content monetization.

They delve into the challenges creators face with free content, the importance of VR in training and education, and how CEEK empowers creators to control and monetize their own data using blockchain technology. The conversation provides insights on the evolution of virtual reality, the future of content monetization, and valuable career advice.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:23 Meet Mary Spio: From Aerospace Engineer to CEEK Founder
• 01:50 Understanding CEEK: A Platform for Content Monetization
• 06:30 Mary's Journey: From Digital Cinema to VR
• 19:05 The Future of VR and Content Monetization
• 36:15 Career Reflections and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 40:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 89. It’s hard to create one successful business, but if you can take what you learn from doing one thing and apply it to another the opportunities are endless. They key: getting really good at one thing.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews David Steele, a successful restaurateur and founder of One Wealth Advisors. They discuss David's journey from working in the restaurant industry during high school to founding a highly successful restaurant group in San Francisco and a thriving financial planning practice.

Key topics include his love for hospitality, the transition to wealth management, building successful businesses through systematic processes, and career advice for young professionals. David also shares insights on the evolution of the restaurant industry, the impact of the Me Too movement, and the role of technology and AI.

Additionally, David talks about his involvement in other entrepreneurial ventures, including a restaurant company in New York, a rock and roll band management company, and a yoga studio.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet David Steele: Restaurateur and Financial Planner
• 01:16 David's Journey: From Restaurants to Wall Street
• 02:55 The Allure of the Restaurant Industry
• 05:15 Hospitality in Finance: A Unique Perspective
• 07:01 Starting Flour + Water: Challenges and Successes
• 12:16 Universal Business Principles for Success
• 16:21 David's Diverse Ventures and Board Roles
• 18:00 Building Systematic Processes for Success
• 30:23 Empowering Teams and Delegation
• 31:44 The Evolving Restaurant Industry
• 35:20 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Episode 88. How do you put yourself in the position as a founder to solve a really big and complex problem—while building a great company along the way?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Frank Rohde, founder and CEO of Ownify, about his diverse career in financial services and his mission to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers.

Frank discusses his early life in Germany, his transition from banking and consulting to launching financial startups, and the challenges he faced during the .com bust. He explains the impetus behind Ownify and how the company aims to reduce barriers to homeownership through innovative financing solutions.

The conversation also covers the broader economic factors affecting housing affordability and the balance of creating impactful work that also yields financial returns.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Frank Rohde: From Wharton to Ownify
• 01:06 Frank's Early Life and Career Beginnings
• 02:51 Consulting at Oliver Wyman
• 07:29 The Dot-Com Boom and Bust
• 15:25 Joining FICO and Leveraging Data
• 17:23 Nomis Solutions: Price Optimization in Financial Services
• 21:34 Navigating the Financial Crisis
• 23:13 Reflecting on Career and Future Goals
• 26:15 Identifying the Housing Crisis
• 27:12 The Genesis of Ownify
• 28:07 Economic Factors Affecting Home Ownership
• 30:30 Challenges for First-Time Home Buyers
• 37:45 Ownify’s Innovative Solution
• 46:39 Balancing Financial Return and Impact
• 50:12 Conclusion and Call to Action