The Art Of Entrepreneurship

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders navigating hard decisions, learning when to let go and building the belief required to keep going.My guest is Joan Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families and setting a new standard for trust in the space.Joan and I talk about what it actually looked like to run two companies at the same time while raising young kids, and what that season required from her mentally and emotionally. She shares how she knew it was time to let go of one business, even when she still cared deeply about it, and how she reframed that decision as growth instead of failure.We also talk about the idea of healthy delusion and why it’s often what keeps founders going when everything around them says to stop. We unpack how your belief system has to evolve as you grow, what it looks like to check whether it’s still serving you and how to build real trust when your product involves something as high-stakes as childcare.Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to make clearer decisions, trust your instincts and keep building even when it’s hard.About Joan NguyenJoan Nguyen is the co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families. Raised by Vietnamese refugee parents who emphasized education as a pathway, she founded MeriEducation at 20 years old with $3,000 in savings and grew it into an Inc. 5000 company before launching Bumo alongside Chriselle Lim.As a founder and working parent, Joan has navigated everything from pitching over 200 investors to rapidly pivoting the business into a virtual school in just 11 days during the pandemic. Today, Bumo has raised over $10 million and connects families with thousands of licensed childcare providers across the country.Website: https://bumo.com/LinkedIn – Bumo: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bumoparent/LinkedIn – Joan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannguyen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumoparent/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 308. Who you need to be at each stage of building a business — Outgrowing your current version of yourself: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/who-you-need-to-be-at-each-stage-of-building-a-businessEpisode 291. The problem with chasing the “visionary founder” myth — When belief turns into a liability: ​​https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/the-visionary-founder-mythEpisode 150. Become a better leader by learning how to change your mind — Letting go is part of leadership: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/learning-to-change-your-mind✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who leans on urgency to get people to move… and is starting to wonder if it might be hurting trust.In this episode, I talk about a phrase I hear all the time in sales and marketing: “If you don’t create urgency, people won’t move.” Sometimes that’s true. But more often, what people call urgency is actually pressure, and those two things are not the same.I break down how pressure shows up in subtle ways through language, timelines and sales processes, and why it works in the short term but creates long-term problems. I’ve seen that persuasion, rather than pressure, takes a very different approach, one rooted in patience, clarity and respect for the buyer’s process. Persuasion creates alignment while pressure tries to create control.Tune in if you’re ready to stop forcing decisions and start building trust that actually lasts.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 312. Building trust instead of chasing attention — Why trust outperforms short-term tactics: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-not-attentionEpisode 244. Dear companies everywhere, sales and marketing are not about you — Stop making sales about yourself: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/companies-sales-and-marketing-are-not-about-youEpisode 283. 6 ways to persuade your prospects to buy (revisited) — Persuasion without pressure or manipulation: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/persuade-your-prospects-to-buy-revisited✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who are realizing that marketing is its own movement and that building trust through authentic communication drives growth.This episode is a little different because, well, I’m the guest. I joined Rob Botts, Director of Sales at Dubb, on his company’s podcast, Connection Loop, to discuss what real authenticity looks like in modern marketing.We talk about how marketing and sales are no longer separate, and how communication itself has become the strategy. I share my perspective on why authenticity isn’t a buzzword, but a real advantage when it comes to connecting with buyers.Rob brings a practical lens from his work helping sales teams rethink how they follow up and stay relevant in a noisy digital environment. We also get into how video is changing the way teams show up and why it can fast-track trust when it’s done right.Tune in if you’re ready to shift away from transactional selling toward conversations that actually feel human.Website: https://dubb.com/Podcast: https://dubb.com/blog/category/interviews/connection-loop/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-botts-676064224/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dubbappAbout Rob BottsRob Botts is the Director of Sales at Dubb, a video communication platform that helps sales professionals build trust, increase engagement, and grow revenue. With a background in consultative selling and partnerships, he works with businesses to use video to accelerate their sales pipeline. Rob is passionate about authentic communication in the digital sales process and brings deep insight into modern outreach strategies.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 246. Why you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox, author of Learn to Love Selling — Sales and marketing work better together: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-cox?Episode 244. Dear companies everywhere, sales and marketing are not about you — A better way to connect with buyers: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/companies-sales-and-marketing-are-not-about-you?Episode 312. Building trust instead of chasing attention — Why trust matters more than attention: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-not-attention?✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who feel like everything is hitting at once, and are starting to wonder why it all feels so personal.Life feels heavy right now, and I’m hearing it everywhere: in conversations with founders, leaders and friends. There’s pressure, uncertainty and personal challenges stacking on top of business challenges, and when it all piles up, it can start to feel personal.In this rebroadcast, I’m revisiting one of the most important mindset shifts I’ve learned: life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you. This isn’t about pretending things aren’t hard or forcing a silver lining. It’s about choosing a perspective that actually helps you move forward.I share the stories and experiences that helped me build this muscle so I can show up more grounded in hard seasons. Because I don’t get to control when challenges show up, but I do get to decide what they mean. And that meaning shapes how I lead, how I respond and what I do next.Tune in if you’re ready to stop feeling like everything is happening to you and start using it to move forward.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 134. What to do when nothing goes as planned — How to respond when things don’t go as expected: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/when-nothing-goes-as-plannedEpisode 137. Healing yourself is a radical act — Why change is hard—and why it matters: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/healing-yourself-is-a-radical-act-2023-goals Episode 61. "If you don’t make time for wellness, you’ll be forced to make time for illness” — Why taking care of yourself can’t wait: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/make-time-for-wellness-not-illness✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and executives who know visibility matters, but still hesitate to show up online and share their perspective.My guest is Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications and an executive brand strategist who helps leaders build a digital presence that is clear, confident, and unmistakably human.Jess and I talk about why leaders can’t afford to stay invisible online and how the expectations around executive visibility have changed. We unpack the difference between self-promotion and thoughtful executive branding, and why telling your own story is an important part of modern leadership.Jess shares how her experience inside companies shaped the framework she now uses to help executives develop a clear and authentic presence online. We also discuss how leaders can start showing up digitally without feeling like they need to become full-time content creators. Jess explains why consistency matters more than perfection and how executives can communicate ideas in a way that feels human rather than corporate.→ You can join the waitlist for Jess’s upcoming Altitude cohort here: https://www.copilotcommunications.com/altitudeTune in if you’re ready to stop hiding behind the brand and start showing up with clarity and confidence as a leader.About Jess JensenJess Jensen is the founder of Co-pilot Communications and an executive brand strategist who helps leaders build a digital presence that is clear, confident, and unmistakably human. After 20 years inside Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft and Qualcomm, she now works with executives who want to take control of their narrative online. Jess believes executive branding helps leaders take the mic—and tell their own story before someone else does.Website: https://www.copilotcommunications.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakjensen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copilotcommunications/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 100. Unlock major business growth w/ LinkedIn coach Lea Turner — How to be authentic on a “professional” platform: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/linkedin-with-lea-turner Episode 125. Growing your personal brand: A nitty-gritty how-to — Practical steps to build your brand: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/growing-your-personal-brandEpisode 51. Do I need a personal brand? — Why founders should build visibility: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/do-i-need-a-personal-brand?✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel pressure to monetize every bit of attention they earn online. The internet often treats attention like something you’re supposed to squeeze for every possible dollar. But just because you’re collecting impressions and likes doesn’t mean you’re actually building trust.In this episode, I talk about why protecting trust has mattered more to me than short-term revenue. I share what I’ve learned from watching how incentives shape content online and how quickly audiences disengage when everything becomes a play. Over time, I’ve realized that trust compounds quietly while algorithms, reach and platforms constantly shift. And once that line gets crossed too often, people usually don’t leave loudly. They just drift away quietly.The decisions you make early about monetization and visibility don’t just affect revenue. They affect who you’re allowed to become later as a leader and entrepreneur.Tune in if you’re ready to think differently about attention, restraint and the long-term power of trust.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 96. How do you build trust in business relationships? — How trust develops in business relationships https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/build-trust-in-business-relationshipsEpisode 295. Disarming stakeholders to get to the truth — Using vulnerability to uncover real insights https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/disarming-stakeholdersEpisode 300. 300 episodes: What I’ve learned about building, growing, and showing up — Lessons from showing up for 300 episodes https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/300-episodes✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who feel the weight of responsibility, not just for growth, but for the people whose livelihoods depend on their decisions. When things get hard, leadership isn’t about optics or ego—it’s about who you’re willing to become.My guest is Dilip Rao, founder and CEO of Sharebite, who shares what it really means to lead through crisis. We talk about the moment COVID brought Sharebite’s revenue to zero, why Dilip quietly took his salary to zero and moved into his in-laws’ basement, and how that season reshaped his view of leadership.Dilip explains his inverted leadership model, why leaders work for their teams, not the other way around, and how responsibility, not ideas, becomes the defining factor as a company grows. We also explore the parallel journey every founder is on: building a business while confronting fear, ego, endurance, and self-identity.Tune in if you’re ready to lead with responsibility, clarity, and purpose—even when the answers aren’t obvious.About Dilip RaoDilip Rao is the Founder and CEO of Sharebite, the leading enterprise meal-benefits platform built exclusively for companies. Under his leadership, Sharebite has become one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., earning recognition from Inc. Magazine, Deloitte, and Fast Company. Backed by Prosus, Sharebite partners with top employers to ensure every worker has access to meals while advancing its mission to help solve hunger.Website: https://sharebite.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilipnrao/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharebite/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharebite/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 134. When nothing goes as planned — Staying steady when plans blow up: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/when-nothing-goes-as-plannedEpisode 141. Founder’s syndrome w/ Erica Rankin — The leadership traps founders have to outgrow: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/founders-syndrome-with-erica-rankinEpisode 55. “That’s impossible” or “I can’t” — Reframing the mindset that limits your next level: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/thats-impossible-or-i-cant✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who are quietly wondering if they’re behind, if they’ve done enough or if they still have something to prove. Turning 40 isn’t about getting older for me. It’s about recognizing that every year is earned and deciding what energy I want to carry forward.In this episode, I share what it actually feels like to hit a milestone birthday and why I believe my 40s will be the best decade of my life. I talk about why I choose to celebrate myself (instead of waiting for someone else to do it), and why aging is something to be proud of. I open up about trauma, resilience and how our brains help us move forward even after difficult seasons. I also explore what changed when I stopped chasing approval and started trusting myself instead.This is a reminder that I don’t have to prove myself to anyone, and neither do you. We get to choose who and what we bring into our lives. We get to choose our mindset. And we get to decide that every challenge we’ve faced has prepared us for what’s next.Tune in if you’re ready to stop proving yourself and start trusting yourself.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 64. Getting older sucks. (But does it really?) https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/getting-older-sucks-not-really Episode 82. What I would tell my younger self https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/what-i-would-tell-my-younger-self Episode 123. It is not too late. You are right on time. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/it-is-not-too-late ✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who have ideas they believe in but feel blocked by execution. As AI removes traditional barriers, entrepreneurship is entering a new phase where speed and clarity matter more than resources or technical skill.My guest is Dr. Alex Mehr, a former NASA scientist and serial entrepreneur turned Co-Founder and CEO of Famous.ai. Alex explains why execution is no longer the bottleneck and why ideas have become more valuable than ever.We talk about how AI allows founders to focus on higher-value thinking, why traditional MVP models no longer apply and how quickly testing ideas creates momentum. Alex also shares why fear, not lack of skill or capital, is now the biggest thing holding people back.Tune in if you’re ready to stop waiting and start turning ideas into action.About Alex MehrDr. Alex Mehr is a former NASA scientist turned serial entrepreneur who has built and exited multiple companies serving millions of users worldwide. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Famous.ai, a platform that allows anyone to turn plain-English ideas into production-ready apps in minutes. Alex’s mission is to help non-technical founders move faster and build without relying on engineers, large teams or massive funding.Website: https://famous.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmehr/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Episode 199. Ideas are nothing without execution — Turning learning into action: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/ideas-are-nothing-without-execution-revisitedEpisode 176. Indecision is a decision — Getting out of analysis paralysis: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/indecision-is-a-decisionEpisode 81. Rapidly validating & testing new ideas w/ Author & investor John Zeratsky — A faster way to test ideas: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/new-ideas-with-john-zeratsky✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

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.Episode 285. What I learned from my first (vegan cookie) company: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/my-first-company-revisitedEpisode 267. Driven or drained: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/driven-or-drainedEpisode 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

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 PuriSteven 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.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenpuri/If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.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-problemEpisode 262. Stress management — Why managing stress is a leadership and productivity decision. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/stress-managementEpisode 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

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.Why you must know how to sell: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-must-know-how-to-sellWhy you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-coxIt’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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who know visibility matters but still hesitate to put themselves out there.My guest is KJ Blattenbauer, a PR strategist and the author of Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off. KJ helps founders use media and storytelling to build credibility and grow their businesses.KJ and I talk about the biggest misconceptions around PR, especially the belief that visibility is self-promotional or ego-driven. Instead, this conversation reframes public relations as a way to build trust, shorten sales cycles, and help the right people find you at the right time.We unpack why PR is less about attention and more about credibility and long-term growth, including why waiting until you feel “ready” often holds your business back. We also discuss why being visible is not vanity, but responsibility, and how personal branding and company branding work best together as buyers increasingly want to understand the humans behind the business.Tune in if you’re ready to rethink PR, step into visibility with intention, and use storytelling as a growth lever instead of something you avoid.About KJ BlattenbauerKJ Blattenbauer is a powerhouse publicist who turns overlooked experts into headline news. With nearly 30 years of experience, she’s the go-to pro when you’re ready to stop being ignored and start owning the spotlight. Known for her bold yet approachable style, KJ delivers clear, actionable strategies that have been featured everywhere from Forbes to Architectural Digest. She’s also the author of the DIY PR book, How to Be a Media Darling, and Pitchworthy, a modern guide to building lasting visibility and authority.Website: https://www.hearsaypr.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjblattenbauer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjblattenbauer/Book: https://www.hearsaypr.com/buy-my-book If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Genuine connection & straight talk w/ Amy Volas, Founder & CEO, Avenue Talent Partners: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/straight-talk-with-amy-volasCredibility isn’t about age, it’s about how you show up: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/credibility-isnt-about-ageBeing bold: Why playing it safe won’t get you noticed: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/be-bold-and-get-noticed✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who keep hearing, “We don’t have budget,” and assume their price is the problem. Most of the time, it’s not. The real problem isn't the price itself, but the narrative surrounding it and whether buyers genuinely grasp the value you’re offering.I break down why perceived value matters more than the number itself. When you sell features instead of outcomes, urgency disappears and your offer starts to feel optional. Pricing pushback is rarely about the cost. It’s about confidence, proof and whether buyers truly believe this will work.This episode walks through how to strengthen perceived value so pricing feels justified instead of uncomfortable. That includes anchoring pricing to ROI, giving buyers better context for comparison and surfacing the emotional payoff behind a purchase. When you position yourself as the safest choice instead of the cheapest one, the entire conversation shifts.Tune in if you’re ready to stop lowering your price and start raising your pricing power.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.How to humanize your brand w/ Rich Turgeon, Creative Director & Head of Brand at AtlasFX: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/richard-turgeonDiscounting: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/discounting6 ways to persuade your prospects to buy (revisited): https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/persuade-your-prospects-to-buy-revisited✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is a reflection on the conversations that stayed with me most over the past year.After sitting down with founders, CEOs and operators who have built truly impressive businesses, what stood out wasn’t just what they built, but how they think, lead and move through challenges.I was fortunate to have so many conversations with impressive founders and leaders that reshaped how I look at growth, leadership and what it actually takes to keep going when things get hard.You’ll hear insights on:Why entrepreneurship doesn’t get easier (but you get better at handling it)How growth becomes repeatable when you design for itWhy strong leadership starts with curiosity, emotional intelligence and listening instead of having all the answersThank you to every guest who shared their perspective this year, and thank YOU for being here and continuing to listen. 💛Check out the full episodes featured in this podcastChoosing a billion-dollar mindset w/ Suneera Madhani, Founder & CEO of Worth AI: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/suneera-madhani-founder-of-worth-aiHow to grow and exit—again and again w/ Lior Weinstein, serial entrepreneur & Founder of CTOx: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/lior-weinsteinThink like a CEO w/ Patrick Thean, CEO of Rhythm Systems: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/patrick-theanBuilding a portfolio career w/ Ilana Golan, Founder & CEO of Leap Academy: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/ilana-golanWhat if we launched a buzz-worthy campaign? w/ Michael Ray, Strategic Marketing Director at Accelity: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/michael-rayThe step-by-step process of a successful rebrand w/ Abby Bruckner & Michelle Breen, lead creatives at Accelity (Pt. 2): https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/abby-bruckner-michelle-breen-accelity-pt2✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who always starts the new year already feeling behind.January doesn’t magically reset your habits, your workload or your pressure—and pretending it does is why so many people abandon their goals before February even hits.This episode explores what actually holds people back, why motivation fades so quickly and how changing your environment and systems does far more than trying to rely on discipline alone. This isn’t about reinventing yourself or shaming yourself. Just making it easier for your current self to win through clear behaviors, better structure, and consistent check-ins.Tune in if you want to turn pressure into progress this year, and learn the four shifts that make goals work in real life, not just on paper.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Re-examine your habits to start the new year off strong: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/re-examine-your-habits-in-the-new-yearIt’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-year8 ways to start fresh in marketing and sales for the new year https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/8-ways-to-start-fresh-in-marketing-and-sales-for-the-new-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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone tired of overcomplicated business advice and ready to build something profitable, simple and real. My guest is Safeer Qureshi, CEO at SPG Media, angel investor, and operator who has built companies across aviation, med-tech and AI by doing the opposite of what traditional business playbooks preach.Tune in for a refreshing, no-nonsense look at building businesses that actually make money, and for Safeer’s simple question that every stuck entrepreneur needs to ask: what’s the fastest way to get a customer to pay me today?About Safeer QureshiSafeer Qureshi is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of SPG Media who has spent nearly two decades helping founders simplify growth and build profit-first companies. He co-leads CodeStack Capital and has incubated and scaled ventures across aviation, med-tech, AI, logistics, retail, and software development. His portfolio includes SPG Media, Knock it! Pro, Datafluent, Quickie, and Limitless Tire, where he focuses on operational execution, founder development, and stripping complexity out of business models. Safeer is also an international TEDx speaker known for his belief that simplicity drives momentum and that real experience, not theory, is what shapes successful entrepreneurs.Website: https://spg-media.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safeerq/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spgmedia/ If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Building a portfolio career w/ Ilana Golan, Founder & CEO of Leap Academy: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/ilana-golanScaling a franchise empire w/ Mike Andes, Founder of Augusta Lawn Care: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/mike-andes-founder-of-augusta-lawn-care Getting in front of investors + funding underrepresented founders w/ Alex Chompff, angel investor and serial entrepreneur: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/alex-chompff✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone building something slow, imperfect, and real. This milestone, 300 episodes across four years, has become one of the most consistent things I’ve ever created. I share how this podcast started with no real plan, just a desire to talk honestly about entrepreneurship, and how consistency carried it through burnout, life changes and every version of myself along the way.Tune in for a reflection on the four lessons I’ve learned from showing up imperfectly, consistently, and sometimes reluctantly for 300 episodes. This one is a thank you, a reminder, and a promise: the messy, honest work continues—and the next 300 are going to be even better.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Should you start a podcast? Pros, cons, and how to get started: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/should-you-start-a-podcast I decided to start a podcast. Now what?: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-decided-start-podcast-now-what-jackie-hermes/ Why should I create content?: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-should-i-create-content✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who is ready to rise above the identity that survival created for them.My guest today is Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon, a two-time Inc. 5000 CEO and the founder of Incredible One Enterprises, who went from bankruptcy to an eight-figure net worth by completely rewiring her beliefs about money, worthiness, and work.Darnyelle and I talk about how chaotic upbringings, generational patterns and epigenetics shape our relationship with money long before we ever start a business. She shares how growing up around lack and debt led her to a quarter of a million dollars in credit card balances by age 35, and how a mandated financial literacy course after bankruptcy became the catalyst for redefining her identity, her nervous system baseline and her entire view of abundance.Tune in for a conversation that will challenge the stories you were raised on and show you what’s actually possible when you stop living from a place of survival.About Dr. Darnyelle Jervey HarmonYou’ve never met a business consultant and speaker like Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon. Darnyelle is the award-winning, iconic and incomparable two-time Inc.5000 CEO of Incredible One Enterprises, LLC, a multi-million-dollar coaching and consulting brand. Best known for transforming the lives of her business coaching clients and live event attendees, Darnyelle equips her clients to leverage and scale businesses that serve them financially and spiritually. In fact, over the last 10 years, she has helped her clients generate more than $1/2B in sales and more than $488M in revenue. By teaching her award-winning Move to Millions® Method, Darnyelle helps clients collapse the amount of time it takes them to cross the million-dollar mark all while deepening their connection to God and strengthening their faith.How to connect with Darnyelle: https://movetomillions.com/podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darnyellejerveyharmon/ Facebook Group: http://www.movetomillionsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darnyellejerveyharmon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamincredibleone/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darnyellejerveyharmon/ Quiz: http://movetomillionsquiz.com Move To Millions Book: movetomillionsbook.com  If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.​​What I would tell my younger self: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/what-i-would-tell-my-younger-selfYou don’t have to plan your future based on who you were in the past: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/dont-plan-your-future-based-on-who-you-were-in-the-pastOptimizing cash flow with Ryan Calton, CEO of RC MKE: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/optimizing-cash-flow-with-ryan-calton✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who has ever felt too young, too new or too underqualified to take up space in a room.If you’ve ever been the youngest in the room or the one who feels like you have the least experience, you know that pressure to prove you belong. In this episode, I break down what I’ve learned in the 12 years since: authority comes from competence, confidence and preparation—not your age. Tune in for the five shifts that helped me move from faking credibility to earning it, how to use your youth as an advantage, and why showing up with consistency matters more than trying to look the part.If you like this episode, here are some others you'll enjoy.Finding your voice doesn’t mean being the loudest: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/finding-your-voice-in-businessHow do I overcome imposter syndrome?: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/overcoming-imposter-syndromeApologize only when you need to—the why & how: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/apologize-only-when-you-need-to✨ 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 morejackiehermes.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: @thejackiehermesTikTok: @jackie.hermesWebsite: jackiehermes.com