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The Art Of Entrepreneurship

The Art Of Entrepreneurship

By: Jackie Hermes
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About this listen

Let's be honest: building a company from nothing is freaking hard. It has been for me. I grew my company Accelity from 0 to 7 figures with no partners and no funding. I'm also a startup mentor, a speaker, and a dedicated mother of three. Welcome to The Art of Entrepreneurship podcast—I’m your host, Jackie Hermes. Listen in as I share all the mistakes I’ve made and, more importantly, what I’ve learned from them, with no fluff, and no rose-colored glasses. The Art of Entrepreneurship is a show where we cut through the BS and dig into what it actually takes to start and grow a business. I’ll be giving unfiltered advice 1 episode per week, up to 20 minute per episode. I want you to walk away from this podcast with the mindset and tools you need to be successful. This podcast is for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and busy professionals with a short attention span (like me)—you’ll get quick-hitting, actionable information in every single episode. If you give me your time, I promise it won't be wasted. Now let's get to work!Copyright 2026 Jackie Hermes Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Who you need to be at each stage of building a business
    Feb 10 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel stuck, disengaged or exhausted as their business grows—even though nothing is “wrong” on paper.

    You may be doing the right strategic things, but still feel misaligned. Often, the problem isn’t revenue, hiring or systems. It’s that the version of you that built the business isn’t the one required to lead it now.

    In this episode, I walk through the different stages of building a business and the internal shifts each stage demands. We talk about what it looks like to move from founder to delegator, from expert to leader, and eventually from control to clarity. I explain why staying in survival mode too long can stall growth, why letting go feels so uncomfortable and how leadership often stretches your confidence more than your skillset.

    This episode is about recognizing when personal evolution—not another tactic—is the next unlock for your business.

    Tune in if you’re ready to stop leading your business with an old version of yourself and step into the role this next stage actually requires.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Episode 285. What I learned from my first (vegan cookie) company: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/my-first-company-revisited
    2. Episode 267. Driven or drained: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/driven-or-drained
    3. Episode 142. Prioritizing, delegating & asking for help: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/prioritizing-delegating

    This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok: @jackie.hermes

    Website: jackiehermes.com

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • Why deep work is the real competitive advantage w/ Steven Puri, founder of The Sukha Company
    Feb 3 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who want to reclaim focus and build sustainable high performance in a world filled with distraction. Many entrepreneurs confuse busy work with meaningful output, but the real edge comes from deep work, clarity and intentional attention.

    My guest is Steven Puri, founder and CEO of The Sukha Company, whose background includes producing Oscar-winning visual effects and building venture-backed startups. We explore why remote work often feels chaotic, how blurred boundaries erode productivity and why deep work is becoming increasingly rare and valuable.

    Steven breaks down what flow states really are, why they drive your best creative work and how your environment and systems can help you enter them more consistently. We also unpack practical habits founders can adopt to protect focus, reduce overwhelm and move their business forward without burning out.

    Tune in if you’re ready to stop reacting all day and start creating space for the deep, focused work that actually moves your business forward.

    About Steven Puri

    Steven Puri has been a senior executive at two major motion picture studios and has raised over $20M in venture capital. He produced digital effects for Independence Day, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects, and later founded multiple startups—including one successful exit. Steven now leads The Sukha Company, a focus and flow platform designed to help people achieve sustainable high performance. He lives in Austin, TX.

    Website: thesukhacompany.com

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenpuri/

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Episode 281. Remote work isn’t the problem—your leadership might be — Rethink how remote work and leadership intersect. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/remote-work-isnt-the-problem
    2. Episode 262. Stress management — Why managing stress is a leadership and productivity decision. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/stress-management
    3. Episode 94. 5 ways to maximize productivity from my favorite book: Make Time — Practical strategies for reclaiming your time and attention. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/5-ways-to-maximize-productivity

    This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • How I would build a company from scratch today
    Jan 27 2026

    This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who want to build a company that actually makes money from the start. If you’re thinking about what to prioritize early, or how to refocus a business that isn’t generating consistent revenue yet, this episode will help you reset.

    If I had to build a company from scratch today—with no audience, no awareness and no momentum—I’d start with revenue.

    In this episode, I walk through exactly how I’d rebuild a company with the goal of getting paying customers as quickly and intentionally as possible. I break down how to identify a problem people are already paying to solve, how early sales shape smarter decisions and why focus makes everything, from messaging to growth, easier.

    This episode is about building from reality, not assumptions, and letting revenue guide what you build next.

    Tune in if you’re building something new, rethinking your priorities or ready to stop guessing and start selling with more clarity.

    If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.
    1. Why you must know how to sell: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-must-know-how-to-sell
    2. Why you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-cox
    3. It’s not time to slow down: generating business at the end of the year: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/generating-business-at-the-end-of-the-year

    This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

    If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

    → accelitymarketing.com

    🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

    jackiehermes.com/podcast

    ⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

    📲 Let’s connect!

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

    Instagram: @thejackiehermes

    TikTok:

    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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