What if getting laid off was actually the best thing that ever happened to your career? That’s exactly the mindset shift that drove today’s guest, Cara Gibson-Gallop, from being a laid-off corporate marketer to a thriving entrepreneur—and now the founder of Autonomy, a company that helps others do the same. In this episode, Cara shares how she turned a vulnerable career moment into a purpose-driven business, how she empowers laid-off professionals and recent grads to build freelance businesses, and why every 9-to-5er should have a side hustle.

Cara’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and creating systems that scale. Whether you're still in a job or running a business, this episode will change how you think about income, opportunity, and your ability to take control.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚀 Why your side hustle is more than just extra income—it’s your freedom plan
• 🔁 How to transform career setbacks (like layoffs) into business springboards
• 💡 The exact framework Cara uses to help people build consulting/freelance offers
• 🛠️ Why your business should start with a strong offer—not a logo or website
• 🧠 The mindset shift that separates wantrepreneurs from entrepreneurs
• 📣 How to confidently "sell" your skills—even if you're new to business
• 🏗️ Why companies are paying her to help their former employees become entrepreneurs

📝 About the Guest
Cara Gibson Gallop is a former New York ad agency exec turned startup founder. After being laid off multiple times early in her career, she decided to never rely on a single income stream again. Her side hustle soon eclipsed her corporate salary, and she took the leap to become a full-time entrepreneur. Today, she's the founder and CEO of Autonomi.Systems, a platform that helps laid-off professionals and recent graduates turn their skills into consulting or freelance businesses. Cara's mission is to revolutionize how we experience layoffs by turning them into launchpads.

🎯 Cara’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Keep coming back to your why. That’s your fuel. Revisit it quarterly or even more often—it keeps you aligned, energized, and unstoppable.”

3 Takeaways from Cara's Advice:
✔ Revisit your goals and motivations often—they evolve as you grow
✔ Your why is your greatest defense against burnout
✔ A strong personal reason gives your business purpose and power

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Audit your LinkedIn—start nurturing your network now before you need it
✅ Don’t wait until your side hustle replaces your salary—jump sooner
✅ Build your offer before worrying about a website or branding
✅ Reframe layoffs as opportunities to build something better
✅ Write out your why and revisit it quarterly—it’ll steer your direction

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Autonomi’s Website
• Follow Cara on Instagram
• Connect with Cara on LinkedIn

Nicholas Cook has worn many hats—financial advisor, teacher, blogger, real estate investor, and founder of Money 101 Academy—but what ties them all together is his passion for helping others understand and use money intentionally. In this conversation, Nicholas shares why he believes business is just a series of meaningful projects, and how he's created a life around blending education with entrepreneurship.

From the power of masterminds to the importance of cash flow, Nicholas gets real about the nuances of entrepreneurship versus freelancing and why a slower, more intentional approach might be the most sustainable path. Whether you're just starting out or already building your empire, this episode is packed with gems about mindset, monetization, and meaningful work.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 💸 Why “cash is king” is more than a cliché—and how cash flow really affects your freedom
• 🎯 How to create a brand that’s bigger than yourself (even if you're a solopreneur)
• 🔁 The difference between freelancing, solopreneurship, and entrepreneurship—and how to know which one you’re actually building
• 🤝 How masterminds and networking groups like BNI can 10x your revenue
• 🧠 Why business is just a series of “projects”—and how to fall in love with creating
• 🧩 How to balance a secure income while growing your business on the side
• 🔍 Why vision clarity beats rigid business plans when building something sustainable

📝 About the Guest
Nicholas Cook likes to find meaningful projects and communities to collaborate with. He is a blogger, teacher, real estate investor, and Founder of Money 101 Academy.

After graduating from college, Nicholas began working as a financial advisor and paraplanner for several years, during which time he helped manage client assets by investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. He mostly worked with a smaller firm where he helped manage over $40 million in clients’ assets.

Around 2012, Nicholas got into working in schools, and the classes he has taught include Personal Finance, English, Literature, Theology, Investing, and Algebra. Nicholas has experience making money online and developing businesses in various ways, including through web design, YouTube, e-commerce, affiliate marketing, and email marketing.

🎯 Nicholas’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Start by creating a vision—not just for your business, but for your life."

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Reframe your entrepreneurial journey as a series of meaningful, creative projects
✅ Join a local networking group like BNI to get real business referrals
✅ Define what financial freedom looks like for you—then reverse-engineer your cash flow to get there
✅ Start building your brand today, even if it’s just you—make it bigger than yourself
✅ Balance your income with part-time work if needed—it’s better than building a business out of desperation

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Nicholas’ Blog
• Visit Money 101 Academy’s Website
• Subscribe to Money 101 Academy’s YouTube Channel
• Connect with Nicholas on LinkedIn

What if building a high-performing newsletter didn’t require hours of content creation or expensive software? Evan Kozliner, co-founder of Potions, shares how he scaled his AI-powered newsletter to 50,000 subscribers in just 3 months—and how you can do it too. With a deep background in AI and experience working with brands like Amazon, Sephora, and Fashion Nova, Evan breaks down exactly how entrepreneurs can use AI and email marketing to drive real results. This episode is packed with practical insights on audience building, content creation, and how to finally get your newsletter strategy off the ground.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚀 How Evan grew a personalized newsletter to 50,000 subscribers in 90 days (and how you can apply his playbook)
• 🤖 The two-tier internet strategy—and why your email list is 10x more valuable than your social followers
• 💌 Why consistent, high-value newsletters drive sales, retention, and referrals (even with a tiny list)
• 🎯 How to turn just 15 minutes of your time into a full week of newsletter + LinkedIn content
• 🧲 What makes Potions different from generic AI tools and why their hybrid approach drives better engagement
• 📥 Actionable ideas for agencies, consultants, and service-based businesses to stay top of mind with prospects

📝 About the Guest
Evan is the co-founder and CEO of Potions. Before starting Potions, Evan helped big brands like Sephora and Fashion Nova automate their email and SMS marketing at Attentive Mobile, where he was the first AI hire 5 years ago.

Evan has been passionate about AI's power to make people's lives better since he was in college. He went to Ohio State where he specialized in AI for his undergraduate degree and conducted cancer research for the Bioinformatics department.

After school, he worked for Amazon's cloud org, AWS, for a couple of years. Then left Amazon to join Attentive Mobile where he got his hands dirty doing AI powered marketing.

When he saw how effective the email and SMS he was producing for large brands was, he became excited about how many of the same techniques could be applied to help smaller businesses automate their content marketing.

Having recently blitz-scaled his own AI-powered newsletter to 50,000 subscribers in just 3 months, he knew a thing or two about newsletter marketing, and decided to start there.

🎯 Guest’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
🗣️ “Marketing IS product—if your content isn’t solving a problem, it’s not valuable.”

💥 Key Takeaways from Evan’s Advice:

• ✔ Good marketing provides real value, not just promotions—focus on solving a customer’s problem
• ✔ Content should feel like a product in itself, not an afterthought
• ✔ Consistency and relevance are key—make people want to open your emails

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

• ✅ Start building your list NOW—even if you're just getting started
• ✅ Invest in high-value, personalized content—not just copy-paste AI fluff
• ✅ Use email to stay top of mind and nurture relationships—not just make sales
• ✅ Let tech and experts like Potions help you scale without losing your voice

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Potion’s Website
• Connect with Evan on LinkedIn

In this episode, Graeme Crawford shares how he transitioned from a successful corporate career working with Fortune 100 companies like IBM and Capital One to building data-driven businesses that empower smaller companies. Graeme reveals how AI and data intelligence, once the domain of massive enterprises, are now accessible to small businesses—and how he’s helping entrepreneurs harness this power for growth. His journey from intrapreneurship to entrepreneurship highlights the mindset shifts, challenges, and opportunities that come with leaving the corporate world and betting on yourself.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

🚀 How to bring Fortune 100-level data intelligence to your small business
🤖 Why AI is leveling the playing field for small and medium-sized businesses
💰 How to adjust big-business strategies for a small-business budget
📊 The most important (and overlooked) data points you should be tracking
⚡ How to create win-win-win partnerships that drive business growth
🧠 Why mindset shifts from risk aversion to strategic risk-taking are crucial for success
🌍 Why permissionless leadership is the key to scaling your business

📝 About Graeme Crawford

Graeme Crawford spent 20 years in the corporate world, helping Fortune 100 companies profit from disruptive technology. After leaving his executive role in 2024, he launched his own data-driven business focused on helping small and medium-sized companies apply AI and data intelligence to grow more efficiently. His ability to bridge the gap between big-business strategies and entrepreneurial realities makes him a powerful force in the business world.

🎯 Graeme's BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs

"Stop waiting for permission. No one will give you permission to lead—so take it."

Key Takeaways from Graeme's Advice:
✔ Leadership is a permissionless act—don’t wait to be picked
✔ Build proof of your value instead of seeking validation
✔ Trust your capabilities and expertise—success follows confidence

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

✅ Start tracking key business data—beyond just website visits
✅ Shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset—there’s room for everyone to win
✅ Embrace strategic partnerships rather than trying to do everything alone
✅ Focus on business impact rather than seeking validation from others
✅ Use AI to improve decision-making and operational efficiency

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Crawford McMillan’s Website
• Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn

In this episode, Rebecca Nolan, a 21-year-old serial entrepreneur, shares her incredible journey from launching her first business at 14 to running multiple successful ventures today. Rebecca is the founder of Asennda, a social media agency that helps entrepreneurs and coaches build personal brands, and co-founder of Lync Events, the #1 event company in Madrid for creating exclusive networking experiences. She opens up about the importance of personal branding, how to leverage social media for business growth, and why building a strong personal brand is the ultimate business unlock. If you've been struggling with social media strategy or want to elevate your business presence, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

🚀 How to build a personal brand that drives business growth
🤖 Why social media is the key to unlocking business success
💰 How to monetize your personal brand while building trust
📲 The exact content strategy Rebecca uses to create consistent viral content
📅 How to balance running multiple businesses, college, and a personal brand
🌍 Why expanding into new markets requires community-first thinking
🛠️ Top tools (Trello, Notion, Simplified) that streamline content creation and team management

📝 About Rebecca Nolan

Rebecca Nolan is a 21-year-old serial entrepreneur who has built her social media expertise since age 16. As founder of Asennda, she helps entrepreneurs scale their personal brands, and as co-founder of Lync, Madrid's #1 event company, she creates exclusive networking experiences.

Her entrepreneurial journey began at 14 when she published her first book. Mentored by Shark Tank winner Sean Knecht, Rebecca gained crucial insights into branding and marketing strategy. Born in Los Angeles, she boldly relocated to Madrid at 18 to pursue Digital Media and Communications.

Rebecca's comprehensive background spans influencer marketing, management, social media strategy, and content creation, giving her a multifaceted perspective on brand building. This varied experience enables her to develop viral content strategies and position clients as industry leaders, consistently driving success for herself and those she works with.

🎯 Rebecca’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs

"Don't lose sight of the value you’re supposed to provide to your customers. Focus on giving consistent value, and the money will come naturally."

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

✅ Build your personal brand as you build your business—it creates trust and opportunities.
✅ Create content every day and focus on providing value (not perfection).
✅ Use AI to automate and streamline content creation and business processes.
✅ Leverage tools like Trello and Notion to stay organized across multiple projects.
✅ Focus on creating a community-driven business model to drive long-term success.

🔗 Links

• Visit Asennda’s Website
• Visit Lync Events’ Website
• Follow Rebecca on Instagram
• Find Rebecca on TikTok
• Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn

In this episode, Brian interviews Norris Ayvazian, the founder and CEO of Service Crucible, a consultancy focused on transforming home service businesses through operational excellence and strategic growth. Norris shares how he grew a regional branch from $4 million to $12 million in just 12 months at a 25% net profit — and how his approach to simplicity and business fundamentals is changing the industry. Whether you’re in home services or any other business, Norris’s insights on cutting through the noise, building systems, and focusing on relationships will help you scale faster and more sustainably.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

🚀 Why simplicity wins — Why business fundamentals matter more than trendy tools and tech
🔑 The Holy Trinity of Business Success — Relationships, knowing your numbers, and clear communication
💡 How to identify bottlenecks — Why most growth stalls happen at the leadership level and how to fix it
📈 Capacity planning secrets — How to maximize efficiency and profitability in any service-based business
💬 Good enough isn’t good enough — Why complacency kills business growth and how to stay ahead
💰 Upselling and value delivery — How to increase customer lifetime value without adding overhead
🌟 Value is everything — Why customers will pay more when they perceive real value

📝 About Norris Ayvazian

Norris Ayvazian is the founder and CEO of Service Crucible, transforming home service companies through operational excellence and sustainable growth strategies. His track record includes working for some of the largest Private Equity firms in the residential service space and growing the Pensacola branch of Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Electrical from $4M to $12M in revenue at 25% net profit within 12 months, earning him Pensacola's Business Leader of the Year award. With extensive experience scaling operations from $2M to $60M+, Norris now helps HVAC, plumbing, and electrical business owners build lasting legacies through proven systems and genuine relationships. His methods are endorsed by industry leaders like Michael and Son Services ($260M), demonstrating his ability to drive measurable results across diverse markets.

🎯 Norris’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs

“Value, value, value. If you don’t believe in the value of what you’re offering, neither will your customers.”

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

✅ Simplify your business strategy — Focus on operational excellence and fundamentals rather than trends
✅ Know your numbers — Identify the key drivers of revenue and profitability in your business
✅ Create a strong internal culture — Relationships and communication within your team matter as much as customer relationships
✅ Capacity planning is critical — Optimize scheduling and efficiency before hiring or adding overhead
✅ Believe in your value — If you’re underpricing or undervaluing your product, it’s time to reassess

🔗 Links

• Visit Service Crucible’s Website
• Connect with Norris on LinkedIn
• Follow Norris on Instagram

In this episode, Justin Coats shares his remarkable journey from the Marine Corps to becoming a leader in AI integration and personal development. Justin's expertise spans across complex systems, from helicopters and UAVs to Amazon businesses and now AI-driven business transformation. He explains why AI integration is the future—and how businesses can harness its power without losing the human element. If you've been wondering how to use AI strategically in your business, this episode is packed with insights you can't afford to miss.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

🚀 Why AI is the great equalizer for small businesses—and how you can leverage it to compete with Fortune 500 companies
🤖 How to effectively integrate AI into your business without losing the human touch
💼 Why "alignment" in business decisions leads to more confidence and better outcomes
📊 How to break down complex business tasks to maximize AI efficiency
📝 The four essential components of successful AI prompting (Instruction, Information, Context, End Goal)
💡 Why rebuilding business processes around AI leads to 2x to 10x improvements in efficiency and output
🔑 How to identify the RIGHT areas in your business to apply AI for maximum impact

📝 About Justin Coats

Justin Coats is a passionate leader in AI integration and personal development, with a journey that spans the Marine Corps, technology, and entrepreneurship. He brings a fresh perspective to how we think about AI, making complex ideas simple and usable for anyone. Justin believes in the power of people, not just technology, to drive real change, and he’s dedicated to helping leaders tap into AI’s potential while keeping the human element at the forefront.

🎯 Justin’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs

"Decision-making is the key to success. The right decision at the right time can define your business trajectory—but alignment with your mission is everything."

Key Takeaways from Justin's Advice:
✔ Confidence in decision-making comes from alignment with your mission and purpose
✔ Not every opportunity is worth taking—if it’s not aligned with your mission, pass on it
✔ Focus on long-term vision rather than short-term gains

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

✅ Start using AI now—falling behind even for six months could put you years behind competitors
✅ Break down complex tasks step-by-step to give AI clear instructions for better results
✅ Identify high-effort, low-output processes in your business—these are the best places to apply AI
✅ Train your team to understand AI fundamentals—it’s not just a tool, it’s a strategic shift
✅ Focus on human + AI collaboration rather than full automation to maintain quality and authenticity

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Neesh AI’s Website
• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

What if your biggest setbacks were actually the foundation of your success story? In this powerful episode, Norberto Orellana shares his meteoric rise from homelessness, abuse, and disability to becoming a three-time TEDx speaker, healthcare leader, and founder of Norberto Orellana Enterprises. His story is a raw, inspiring look at how resilience, vision, and a refusal to be defined by circumstances can lead to entrepreneurial greatness. This episode is a masterclass in how to break free from limitations, define your identity, and take confident action in your business and life.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚀 How to transform adversity into fuel for entrepreneurial growth
• 🧠 Why defining your future self can be the ultimate source of motivation
• 🛠️ How to build resilience as a skill—and use it as your entrepreneurial superpower
• 📣 The 4 traits Norberto teaches to unlock meteoric growth (Ambition, Persistence, Decisiveness, Unbreakability)
• 🎯 How to coach yourself through setbacks and uncertainty
• 🗣️ Why storytelling isn’t just powerful—it’s essential for personal branding
• 🔍 How to identify the “whispers” of purpose that become your business mission

📝 About the Guest
From homelessness, abuse, and disability, to an expert in defying the odds, Norberto Orellana has helped tens of thousands over the past decade unlock their METEORIC power. As the founder of Norberto Orellana Enterprises, he is seen as an expert in the resilience and growth spaces. He is also a healthcare industry leader and innovator, co-founding the management company ASCend Specialists. He is a three time TEDx speaker who was recognized by the US House of Representatives. Norberto helps professionals who feel unfulfilled, afraid of failing, and who don’t believe in themselves. He empowers professionals to tap into their hidden METEORIC power to “be more, do more, say more, and live more,” so that they can take confident action immediately to turn their dreams into their reality no matter what challenges life throws their way.

🎯 Guest’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Look up to the version of yourself ten years from now—and work every day to become them."

💡 Key Takeaways from Norberto's Advice:

• ✔ Dream bigger—stop shrinking your ambitions to fit your current reality
• ✔ The best role model is your future self—visualize them in detail
• ✔ Progress isn't about perfection—it's about consistent action toward who you're meant to be

📢 Memorable Quotes

💡 Actionable Takeaways

• ✅ Try the "10-Year Self" exercise: visualize your life, business, and identity a decade from now
• ✅ When you're in a low moment, remember—you're in the middle of your story, not the end
• ✅ Reframe hardship as the raw material for your brand and mission
• ✅ Start coaching conversations with who you want to become, not what you currently do

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Norberto’s Website
• Connect with Norberto on LinkedIn