In this revealing episode, Erik Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawke Media, shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to build and keep running a company you love. From turning voice recordings into a bestselling book now taught at Columbia and NYU, to leading a multimillion-dollar agency through economic downturns, Erik’s story isn’t just impressive, it’s deeply relatable for every founder chasing both growth and freedom.

Erik dives into the three core pillars of all great marketing and unpacks why trust is the piece most companies fail to build. He talks about the realities of ambition, burnout, and how founders accidentally trap themselves in businesses they no longer want to run.

This episode is a must-listen if you want real insights from someone who’s actually in the arena.

Key Topics:

-Building a company you actually want to run

-The three pillars of great marketing

-Turning knowledge into a bestselling book

-The power of work-life integration

-Why high locus of control defines entrepreneurial success

Quote From The Episode:

"Work like most won’t so you can live like most can."

- Erik Huberman

Timestamp:

[01:20]: From Beanie Babies to Billion-Dollar Ambition: The Truth About Building a Real Empire

[11:26] Why Playing It Safe Will Keep You Broke: The Brutal Truth About Ambition, Risk, and Building a Real Legacy

[21:16] Build Fast, Hire Hard, and Tell the Brutal Truth: Inside the Culture of Hawk Media

[30:33] Brutal Truths, Real Leadership: How Eric Huberman Builds Culture That Wins

[41:26] No Plan B: Eric Huberman on Focus, Culture, and Playing the Long Game in Business

[53:22] Ambition Over Everything: Eric Huberman on Sales, Grit, and Winning in the AI Age

[1:05:13] What It Takes to Be an Excellent Entrepreneur Today

[1:25:36] Outro

Connect with - Erik Huberman:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman

Websites: hawkemedia.com

erikhuberman.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, we sit down with Cecilia Ziniti, Founder & CEO of GC AI, to explore the raw truth behind leadership, legal tech, and what excellence really looks like today. From representing Apple in the early smartphone wars to helping launch Alexa, Cecilia has seen tech evolve from every angle, law, operations, and now AI. She opens up about what it means to scale with heart, embrace feedback, delegate with intention, and why parenting might be the best metaphor for building startups.

We go deep into how AI is transforming law, why resilience matters more than ever, and what founders get wrong about success. If you’ve ever wondered whether greatness requires being tough or vulnerable, this conversation is for you.

Tune in to hear why the future of legal work won’t replace you with AI but it might, if you don’t evolve.

Key Topics:

-Building high standards without burning out your team

-Why AI-powered lawyers will lead the future

-Letting go of outdated success metrics

-Hiring people you'd actually work for

-Delegating to people and AI with intention

Quote From The Episode:

"It’s not always perfect progress, but good things are happening, and you get to learn every day."

- Cecilia Ziniti

Timestamp:

[01:32]: From Law to Alexa: How a Tech Lawyer Helped Shape the Future of AI

[10:47] Why Manifesting Isn’t Magic, It’s Momentum.

[20:14] You Can’t Return the Baby: The Raw Reality of Startup Resilience

[31:10] Same Chaos, New Growth: Parenting, Founding, and the Power of Feedback

[40:12] Do You Need to Be Tough or Tender to Build a Billion-Dollar Company?

[52:29] From Courtroom to Code: Why Smart Lawyers Are Embracing the AI Era

[1:01:09] Is This As Good As It Can Be? The Relentless Standard Behind Entrepreneurial Excellence

[1:14:26] Outro

Connect with - Cecilia Ziniti:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ceciliaziniti

Websites: getgc.ai

ceciliaziniti.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

In this episode, we dive deep into the real journey of building and scaling companies—from sleeping on the office floor to managing multiple businesses with clarity and purpose.

Connor Tomkies shares honest lessons on delegation, hiring, culture, EOS, and the mental shifts founders must make to avoid burnout and build smarter.

We talk about why fundraising isn't always the answer, how to spot the wave you should ride, and what it means to lead with systems—not stress. You’ll hear how small habits, like aiming to be just 1% better, can change the entire game.

This episode is packed with stories, strategies, and mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to hear!

Key Topics:

-Building systems that scale

-Hiring people who’ve done the work

-Culture that keeps people around

-Choosing to bootstrap over fundraising

-Growing through 1% daily improvements

Quote From The Episode:

"Focus on getting 1% better — every day, every week, every month, every year."

- Connor Tomkies

Timestamp:

[01:32]: From Dorm Room Hustles to Running 6 Companies: How This Founder Outsmarted Burnout and Scaled Like a Pro

[12:42] What Scaling to 6 Companies Taught Me About Leadership, Burnout, and Remote Teams

[21:19] Why Most Startups Fail at Hiring—and What to Do Instead

[31:37] Why Most Founders Waste Time—and How Systems Thinking Can 10x Your Focus and Scale

[41:05] The Hidden Habits of High-Performing Founders: How to Think, Hire, and Scale Like a Pro

[1:00:33] Founder’s Edge: How to Spot Big Waves, Avoid the Fundraising Trap, and Build Smarter

[1:00:19] What Makes a Founder Great? The Real Lessons No One Teaches You About Building, Scaling, and Living Well

[1:23:56] Outro

Connect with - Connor Tomkies:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/connortomkies

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence