Join hosts Ben and Mark on 'The Friday Habit' as they welcome Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading SaaS platform for small business training and onboarding. They delve into discussions about organizational charts, systems, and processes essential for business scalability. Chris shares insights from his journey, including his consulting background, the development of Trainual, and his entrepreneurial roots. He also talks about his book 'The Business Playbook,' which serves as a co...
Jun 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 196
In this episode of 'The Friday Habit,' Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley are joined by Kayvon Kian, an entrepreneur, teacher, and senior advisor at McKinsey & Company, to discuss his latest book, 'What Is Wisdom?' The conversation covers various philosophical approaches from ancient thinkers such as Socrates, Nietzsche, and Hippocrates, and how their wisdom can guide business decisions. Kayvon shares personal anecdotes, discusses the importance of skeptic capital, and emphasizes strategies f...
Jun 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 195
In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark sits down with Chris Tyrell, founder of Chris’s Garage Doors, to talk about the unexpected road from seminary student to successful entrepreneur. Chris shares how faith, community, and a deep sense of purpose have guided his business journey—and why giving generously has always been part of the plan. Chris opens up about how a part-time job in the garage door industry sparked a bigger calling. Today, his company serves not just customers, but the greate...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 194
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steve Van Diest, President of Acumen’s Front Range region, to unpack the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. From founding a thriving mattress business to launching a customizable pillow company, Steve’s path has been anything but linear. Steve candidly shares his experiences with burnout, making costly business decisions, and the challenges of building a healthy company culture. He opens up about the turning points that led him...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 193
In this episode, Patti Johnson shares her path from growing up in a small town in Oklahoma to launching a successful consulting business and becoming an author. She talks about what it really takes to start and grow a business, including the importance of research, networking, and building strong relationships instead of relying on traditional sales tactics. Patti and Mark also discuss the value of developing an exit strategy early, diversifying your client base, and learning through leadership ...
Apr 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 192
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, decentralization is emerging as a powerful force for change. This episode of The Friday Habit brings you a fascinating conversation with David Young, a pioneer in cloud computing and open-source technology. David shares his journey from studying ancient Greek and Latin to becoming a trailblazer in the tech industry. He offers valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship, the importance of perseverance, and the potential of open-source solutio...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 191
In this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley engage with guests Mark Ackler and Mert Esheri, exploring the intricacies of entrepreneurship, the importance of building relationships, and the lessons learned from their experiences in the startup world. They discuss the journey from idea to execution, the significance of legacy in business, and the insights shared in their book 'Exiting Right'. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of business...
Mar 14, 2025•47 min•Ep. 190
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley welcome Natalie Dawson, EVP and partner at Cardone Ventures, to discuss her new book 'Teamwork' and the essential strategies for building high-performance teams. The conversation covers Natalie's journey from a failed business leader to a successful entrepreneur, the importance of team alignment, practical tools for team development, and effective hiring strategies. They also explore how to pitch ideas to a team and maintain ...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 189
In this episode of The Friday Habit, we welcome Eric Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawk Media. We explore Eric's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced in the early stages of his career, and the strategies he employed to build a successful marketing consultancy. The conversation delves into the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of adaptability, and the value of learning from experiences. Eric shares insights on competition, personal growth, and the significance of setting me...
Feb 28, 2025•53 min•Ep. 188
In this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Marc Labriola and Benjamin Manley engage with Youngsoo, who transitioned from a successful career in cryptocurrency software engineering to founding Urban EDC, an eight-figure e-commerce business. Youngsoo shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, risk-taking, and audience engagement in entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges he faced, including job losses and the leap to Silicon Valley, and how he built his business by un...
Feb 21, 2025•57 min•Ep. 187
In this engaging conversation, Cole Rodgers shares his journey as an entrepreneur, life coach, and speaker dedicated to helping men reach their full potential. He discusses the importance of gratitude, navigating conflict, and the challenges he faced in his early career. Cole emphasizes the role of family and personal growth in shaping identity, and he offers valuable insights on overcoming adversity and finding purpose in life. In this conversation, Cole shares his journey of transformation, hi...
Feb 14, 2025•46 min•Ep. 186
In this engaging conversation, Hugh Howey shares his journey from a book-loving youth to a successful author, discussing the challenges and sacrifices he faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of passion in writing, the learning process through reading, and the unexpected success of his short story 'Wool', which transformed into a bestselling novel. Hugh also reflects on the pressures of success and the need to maintain creativity and joy in the writing process. In this engaging conve...
Feb 07, 2025•55 min•Ep. 185
In this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Marc Labriola and Benjamin Manley engage with Joseph Fung, a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of Yovaro. The conversation explores Joseph's entrepreneurial journey, the importance of building a high-performing culture, and the strategies for defining, sharing, and scaling company values. Joseph emphasizes the need for intentionality in culture-building and offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to create a thriving work environment. The discussi...
Jan 31, 2025•39 min•Ep. 184
Summary In this engaging conversation, Mark, Ben, and Adam delve into the world of entrepreneurship, exploring Adam's journey from aspiring doctor to successful entrepreneur with his company, Bottlekeeper. They discuss the influence of childhood environments, the importance of creativity in small towns, and the risks associated with starting a business. Adam shares insights on the initial skepticism he had about Bottlekeeper and the innovative ways he tested the market for his product. The conve...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 183
In this conversation, Mark and Rebecca Leder discuss the importance of building meaningful careers through connection and leadership. Rebecca shares insights from her work with Opportunities Knock, emphasizing the need for durable skills and the challenges faced by younger generations in networking. They explore the impact of remote work on communication and the significance of the Knock Method in fostering high-quality career relationships. In this conversation, Rebecca Leder discusses the impo...
Jan 03, 2025•42 min•Ep. 182
In this conversation, Judah Taub discusses the concept of 'local maximums' and how individuals and businesses can identify and overcome them. He draws parallels between personal and professional challenges and the strategies used by tech giants to innovate and improve. The discussion emphasizes the importance of creative thinking, the role of AI in decision-making, and the need for a culture that encourages risk-taking and innovation. Judah shares insights from his book, 'How to Move Up When the...
Dec 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 181
In this conversation, Mark and Justin Janowski explore the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship, discussing how to align business practices with personal values. Justin shares his journey from sales to coaching, emphasizing the importance of integrity, genuine connection, and effective sales strategies. They delve into the challenges of niching down, the significance of heart posture in sales, and practical marketing strategies for coaches. The discussion also covers the importance of buil...
Dec 06, 2024•52 min•Ep. 180
In this episode of the Friday Habit, Mark interviews Nick Courtright, founder of Atmosphere Press, a literary hybrid publisher. They discuss Nick's journey from academia to entrepreneurship, his philosophy on writing and author rights, and the impact of the pandemic on the publishing industry. Nick shares insights on building a remote team, setting goals, and maintaining company culture while emphasizing the importance of transparency and author autonomy. He also offers practical advice for aspi...
Nov 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 179
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley discuss the journey of balancing family life while traveling and running a business remotely. They welcome James Hylvowski, an expert in franchising, who shares his extensive experience in the industry. The conversation covers the opportunities and challenges within franchising, key elements for success, and common mistakes to avoid when building a franchise. The episode emphasizes the importance of support systems, understan...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 178
Summary Karen Gordon, CEO of SimpliFive, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and business owner. She discusses her background in telecommunications and technical training, as well as the growth and success of her first business. Karen also talks about working with her husband and the challenges they faced in understanding each other's work styles. She highlights the importance of understanding individual strengths and creating a supportive work environment. Karen Gordon shares her journey of s...
Oct 25, 2024•41 min•Ep. 177
In this conversation, Jeremy Lessaris shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and the founder of multiple successful companies. He discusses his early experiences in building an online furniture retail business and the challenges he faced. Jeremy also talks about his involvement in the marine industry and the development of a GPS speed control system. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences and surrounding oneself with talented individuals. In t...
Aug 23, 2024•59 min•Ep. 176
Damon Burton, an SEO expert, shares his journey from working a day job to building a successful SEO agency. He emphasizes the importance of finding the right mentors and masterminds to accelerate growth. Damon discusses the different approaches to success, whether it's being a fast mover or taking a slower, more sustainable path. He also highlights the value of providing value for free to build experience and a portfolio. Damon has built a remote team of 50 members and emphasizes the importance ...
Aug 18, 2024•49 min•Ep. 175
Casey Stubbs, an entrepreneur and business owner, shares his journey of building multiple streams of income and achieving success. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, learning from failure, and following through on opportunities. Casey started his online business in 2009 and found success by creating content, implementing SEO strategies, and launching products. He highlights the significance of having a growth mindset and not settling for a mediocre life. Casey's wife supports his ende...
Aug 10, 2024•48 min•Ep. 174
In this conversation, Mark and Ben are joined by Scott Albrecjt to discuss the hierarchy of team needs. They explore the importance of trust, honest feedback, vision, accountability, and autonomy in building a healthy and successful team. Scott shares insights from his upcoming book, emphasizing the need to start at the foundation and work up to autonomy. The conversation highlights the role of transparency, communication, and continuous improvement in creating a thriving team. In this conversat...
Aug 06, 2024•51 min•Ep. 173
In this conversation, Mark and Ernesto discuss various topics including podcasting, rebranding, building systems, and baking challah bread. Ernesto shares his experience with podcasting and the benefits it has brought him in terms of learning how to speak, hold space, and listen. He also talks about his recent rebranding of his business to 'The Million Dollar Machine' and how it has resulted in increased revenue, clients, and collaborations. Ernesto emphasizes the importance of focusing on the f...
Jul 26, 2024•57 min•Ep. 172
Barbara Richter, founder of DIY Books and Ink Ghostwriting, shares her journey as an entrepreneur in the book writing industry. She discusses the services her companies provide, including tools and resources for individuals to craft their own stories and a premier ghostwriting firm serving a global audience. Barbara also talks about the challenges of starting a second company, DIY Books, and how she aims to democratize the ghostwriting process. She emphasizes the value of writing a book for entr...
Jul 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 171
Kevin Killen, CEO of Aavos, discusses the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on society. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human emotions and using AI to serve and benefit humanity. Killen also addresses the hype surrounding AI and the need to differentiate between useful applications and potential pitfalls. He shares his journey to becoming a CEO and offers advice on handling the pressures of entrepreneurship. Additionally, Killen highlights the mission ...
Jul 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 170
In this episode, Mark interviews John Alwinson, author of Relentless Sales, about his sales experience and how faith plays a role in his business. John shares his background in sales and entrepreneurship, including starting a footwear company in college. He emphasizes the importance of mentors and having a strong identity in sales. John also discusses setting boundaries and creating systems to avoid burnout. He shares his morning routine and the role of affirmations in his life. The conversation...
Jul 22, 2024•34 min•Ep. 169
In this episode, Mark and Benjamin interview Steve Schramm, the founder and CEO of Pro Membership Sites. Steve shares his journey of transitioning from a day job to starting his own business and the importance of building recurring revenue. They discuss the benefits of subscription-based models and how to monetize knowledge and expertise. They also touch on the importance of execution and providing value to clients. The conversation explores various strategies for creating recurring revenue and ...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 168
Welcome to another exciting episode of The Friday Habit! Today, we have Shaun Lee joining us to dive into an important topic many organizations struggle with. Ever wondered why pinpointing individual employees or leaders often misses the mark when solving organizational issues? We’ll explore how this common misconception overlooks deeper, systemic problems. Shaun will share insights on systems thinking, a holistic approach that looks at how different parts of an organization interact. By focusin...
Jun 07, 2024•50 min•Ep. 167
