Just Get Started

AI used to feel like a “someday” technology. Now it’s a power tool founders can use this weekend to build real products, validate ideas, and even qualify leads while they sleep. In this episode, I’m joined by Cooper Simson of Martell Ventures to talk about the real front lines of AI: shutting down a profitable AI startup, spotting bad ideas in a hype cycle, and using AI to build, sell, and iterate faster—without getting lost in the noise.Topics we cover:When AI actually “caught fire” and why development is becoming commoditizedHow Cooper turned grant writing into an AI startup (and why he shut it down even though it was working)Practical signals it might be time to wind down your product or pivotThe difference between product validation and true product–market fitWhat Martell Ventures looks for in founders (domain expertise + speed of action)Common AI founder mistakes: copycat products, no defensibility, and one-and-done toolsWhy so many founders struggle with sales (and how to sell problems, not features)How to use AI to 10x your output: system prompts, voice-to-text tools, and AI lead qualifiersA simple 2-step playbook to go from idea → customer conversations → weekend MVPCooper’s own “just get started” moment building a Shopify sales-tax tool for his fiancée’s businessChapters:0:00 – Introduction1:30 – Cooper’s first AI startup: grant-writing software in the “GPT 1.0” days 5:30 – Knowing when to shut down a ‘working’ business (government risk, sunk cost, AI catching up)10:10 – Rapid Fire Q1: The Post-It note he’d give the next generation (“Just go sell”) 11:35 – Rapid Fire Q2: Mantra when things get hard (glass-half-full & keep the sail up) 12:30 – Rapid Fire Q3: Priorities when everything feels urgent (Eisenhower Matrix in real life) 14:15 – Rapid Fire Q4: Staying motivated when the wins are slow to come 16:10 – Rapid Fire Q5: Cooper’s next Just Get Started moment (Shopify sales-tax tool for his fiancée)20:45 – What makes an AI idea worth building vs “because we can build it” 24:00 – Common founder mistakes: copycat AI, no defensibility, one-time-use tools & ignoring churn 29:15 – Why founders struggle with sales (and how to sell the problem, not the product) 33:30 – Practical AI for founders: voice tools, system prompts, AI callers & weekend MVPs 39:07 – Two concrete steps to go from idea → conversations → AI-built productFind Cooper Online:Website: https://www.danmartell.com/ventures/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooper.simson/Find your host, Brian, online:Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/If you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time:📨 Sales Skills For Founders newsletter https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe

In this conversation, Chris LaFay (Founder, Classic City Consulting) shares a decade of hard-won lessons on staying profitable, avoiding bloat, and building an agency that lasts. We dig into “one-glass focus,” why not niching can still be strategic, when to pass on work, partnerships without finders fees, pricing and retainers, and the KPI that quietly compounds new business: intentional outreach.In this episode, you’ll learnWhy “one glass” focus beats scattered growthProject variety vs. “niching down” (and how to niche by systems, not industry)The comparison trap: learning from peers without copy-pasting their playbookWhen referral partnerships work without commissions—and when they don’tThe 4 R’s growth engine: Retain → Reactivate → Referral → Recruit (new)Don’t hire on a hope: catching operational bloat before it sinks marginsPricing, retainers, and the “help agencies look great” strategyThe single KPI Chris tracks in good seasons: weekly intentional check-insHow to handle sunk costs with a “fans-first” lens (Savannah Bananas inspo)Mentorship as a cheat code for clarity and decisive actionChapters:00:00 Intro 09:04 One-Glass Focus: creator energy, momentum, and why projects stay interesting 11:29 Project Variety > Burnout: why new client problems keep the work fresh 14:15 Do You Need a Niche? Niching by WordPress/Shopify & repeatable frameworks 15:32 Peer Comparison Without Copy-Paste: learning from others, keeping identity 18:44 Outreach > Everything: how early agencies stall without consistent relationship-building 25:24 Partnerships Sans Finder Fees: when passing leads is the value (and exceptions) 31:10 Adding Value to Your Agency Network: beyond referrals; community & support 32:17 Risk You’re Glad You Took: the hiring lesson that reshaped the business 37:51 Silencing the Inner Critic: external processing & mentor mirrors 41:22 Most Valuable KPI: weekly intentional reach-outs (and why they compound) 46:55 Action Taker You Admire: David Feldman & decisive leadership 51:49 Sunk Costs & When to Quit: “fans-first” filter + staying lean on OPEXConnect with Chris:Founder – Classic City Consulting Website: https://classiccity.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lafay/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aHdpQXccPOE9YTcDJe4gZConnect with Brian: Web:⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/If you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe

In this engaging conversation, professional cyclist Alison Tetrick shares her journey from a competitive tennis player to a successful cyclist, discussing the importance of mental health, the joy of sports, and the need for community support. She emphasizes the significance of encouraging youth, especially girls, to stay in sports and find joy in their pursuits rather than focusing solely on competition. Alison also opens up about her personal challenges, including overcoming fear and anxiety after traumatic experiences, and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. The discussion highlights the value of enjoying the process and finding personal inspiration in one's goals.Chapters:00:00 Introduction02:50 Current Projects and Initiatives05:43 The Journey of a Cyclist11:42 Overcoming Challenges and Mental Health14:38 Rapid Fire Questions23:10 The Importance of Enjoying the Process28:55 Navigating Fear and Anxiety36:44 The Role of Sports in Personal Development43:40 Encouraging Youth in Sports51:33 Final Thoughts and AdviceFind Alison Online:Website: www.alisontetrick.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amtetrick/ Twitter: https://www.x.com/AMTetrickInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/AMTetrickYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AMTetrick TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@AMTetrick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMTetrickShop: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com/👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Episode 472 features Dr. Sheila Gujrathi, a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for under represented leaders. Her new book, "The Mirror Effect: A Transformative Approach To Growth For The Next Generation Of Female Leaders" is out now.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Book Announcement02:15 The Unmet Need: Writing for My Younger Self05:30 Overcoming Challenges: A Personal Journey09:45 The Power of Mentorship and Sponsorship14:00 Spiritual Growth and Finding Purpose18:20 Building a Personal Board of Directors23:10 The Inner Critic and Self-Compassion28:45 The Importance of Storytelling in Leadership33:00 Navigating Negative Work Environments37:15 Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability and ConnectionFind Sheila Online:Website: ​​https://sheilagujrathimd.com/ TEDxTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DpDx6T3-X4 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-gujrathi-md/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilagujrathimd/ Book: https://sheilagujrathimd.com/book/ About Sheila:Sheila is a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for under represented leaders. Over the past 25 years, she’s had the privilege of developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies—including some exciting exits. Today she’s a founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds. Dr. Gujrathi was the co-founder and former CEO of Gossamer Bio and former Chief Medical Officer of Receptos. Her journey started at Northwestern University, where she earned both her M.D. and biomedical engineering degree, and took her from the halls of Harvard, UCSF, and Stanford to the corporate offices of Fortune 500 companies like McKinsey, Genentech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.Dr. Gujrathi has earned multiple leadership awards, including AIMBE Fellow, BLOC100 Luminary, Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology, Corporate Directors Forum Director of the Year, and Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. But what really lights her up is creating the inclusive environments she wished she’d had throughout her career. That’s why she co-founded the Biotech CEO Sisterhood, a group of trailblazing female CEOs—because we’re all better when we support each other. ++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠

Episode 471 features Alyona Mysko, Founder & CEO of Fuel Finance.Chapters:00:00 — Introduction01:23 — How Alyona Met Alina Vandenberghe (Eastern Europe Bond)03:59 — From Math Geek to Finance: Teachers, Simpsons, Degrees07:02 — Big Four to Fractional CFO ➜ Founding Fuel Finance08:44 — Opportunity Cost & Learning to Say No12:28 — Biggest Risks—Startup, Product, Move to the U.S.16:48 — What Founders Miss at the Start: Talk Money on Day One23:42 — Profit 101: Your First Financial Plan & Realistic Forecasting40:06 — Product-Market Fit Signals & Narrowing Your ICP44:25 — Action Challenge: Set Your “Life Number” + Monthly P&LFind Alyona Online:Website: ⁠https://fuelfinance.me/⁠Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyona-mysko/⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/alonamysko⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alyona_mysko/⁠About Alyona:Alyona Mysko is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fuelfinance, an AI-powered financial planning and analysis platform built for SMBs. Before starting Fuel, she spent 10+ years as a CFO helping founders handle messy spreadsheets and build forecasts. Now she’s scaling that superpower with AI, giving founders real-time visibility into their numbers and faster decisions without hiring a full finance team. ++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠

Episode 470 features Amanda Goetz, a 2x Founder, CEO and 4x CMO and author of the book, "Toxic Grit: How to have it all and (actually) love what you have."Find Amanda Online:Website: https://www.amandagoetz.com/Book: https://www.toxicgrit.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoetz/Twitter: https://x.com/AmandaMGoetzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ About Amanda:Amanda Goetz is a 2x Founder, CEO and 4x CMO. She is an inspirational writer and content creator captivating millions of people every month through her social insights and newsletter “Life’s a Game”. Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to lead marketing teams at Ernst & Young, The Knot and still advises as Fractional CMO to multiple startups. She started her last company, House of Wise, during the pandemic in her garage, raised two rounds of venture capital and sold it in 2022 all while homeschooling three young children as a single mom. She found love again and lives with her partner and 3 kiddos in Miami, FL after a decade dodging hustle culture in NYC.++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠

Episode 469 features Timothy Springer, Founder of Level Access and 1 to 100.Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:50 Traveling and Balancing Work03:57 Current Projects and AI Innovations07:44 Partnerships and Entrepreneurial Support11:51 Coaching and Operational Guidance15:52 Goal Setting and Planning19:52 Persistence and Overcoming Challenges23:45 Market Timing and Business Viability27:35 Finding Product-Market Fit28:24 The Reality of Startup Timelines30:36 Sales Strategies and Market Focus35:11 Avoiding Common Startup Mistakes40:11 Mindset Shifts Across Revenue Stages47:29 Founder-Led Sales: When to Transition53:14 Actionable Insights for FoundersFind Tim Online:https://1to100.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/1-to-100/https://x.com/1_to_100mAbout Tim:Tim Springer built a B2B technology company from his Stanford dorm room to $100M+ in annual recurring revenue—a path traveled by only 1 in 2,500 tech startups.His story isn't about overnight success. It's about consistent execution over 25 years, navigating economic downturns, solving complex scaling challenges, and building sustainable growth. Tim's unique advantage? A rare combination of technical depth and operational expertise that bridges the gap between product innovation and organizational mechanics.Throughout his career, Tim has maintained a commitment to both technical excellence and ethical business practices. His experience spans multiple economic cycles, from navigating the dot-com bust to the 2008 financial crisis, bolstering his leadership approach with resilience and adaptability.Now, through peer benchmarking and battle-tested scaling methodologies, Tim helps CEOs cut through the noise to make better decisions faster and implement growth strategies that actually work.++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

Episode 468 features Desiree-Jessica Pely, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Alfa (Top 50 GTM Startup).Find Jessica Online:Website: https://www.getalfa.aiLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pely/About Jessica:Desiree-Jessica Pely, PhD, is pioneering a finance-led approach to B2B sales, go-to-market strategy, and revenue growth. As Co-Founder and CEO of Alfa (Top 50 GTM Startup), she leads the development of an AI-driven platform that transforms complex market signals into precise, actionable insights for sales, marketing, and finance teams.Jessica brings together a PhD in Financial Economics, a background in Computer Science, and hands-on entrepreneurial execution. She has collaborated with Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler, exploring the intersection of behavioral economics and decision-making, and began her career in quantitative finance and predictive modeling.Her passion for redefining GTM strategy grew from a common challenge: sales teams drowning in data yet struggling to identify the accounts that matter most. Alfa was created to solve this, deploying AI research agents that identify high-value accounts, map markets, and adapt continuously to real-time changes, enabling companies to penetrate markets with precision and scale revenue smarter.Recognized as the “Queen of Leads,” Jessica has been named among the Top 100 People in SaaS, and awarded Salesperson of the Year. Beyond her company, she is an active mentor, investor, and coach, championing the next generation of innovators in SaaS, FinTech, and AI.++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

In episode 467, I'm joined by Pete Kazanjy, author of Founding Sales, and one of the earliest voices behind the “founder-led sales” movement. Pete shares lessons from building and scaling startups, the critical mindset shifts founders must make when selling, and why focusing on your ideal customer profile (ICP) is key to growth. From when to hire your first sales rep to the biggest blind spots founders face, this conversation is packed with practical insights for any early-stage entrepreneur navigating sales for the first time.Find Pete Online:Website: https://www.foundingsales.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kazanjy/Twitter: https://x.com/KazanjyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderLedSalesStoriesSubstack: https://founderledsalesstories.substack.comFounder-Led Sales Stories Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GktosGS97HbPoVr8jq5T1++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

On this week's episode, I welcome in Andy Milligan to explore the art of entrepreneurship and personal growth. Discover how to balance ambition with authenticity and transform challenges into opportunities. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives eager to elevate their game and mindset.Find Andy Online:Website: ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mmgdesign⁠Link To Podcast You Host (if applicable): ⁠https://www.mmgdesign.net/podcast⁠About Andy:I’m Andy Milligan, and I run a design and marketing consultancy called MMG Design. I help startups and small marketing teams improve the design and strategy of their website through redesign sprints, audits, and strategy sessions.My story isn't super glamorous, but the theme is consistent in that I always show up and learn the next step along the way.After playing college golf at Methodist University and transferring, I joined a small marketing team at the University of Findlay, where I started taking on freelance projects, unpaid, for small businesses locally. That experience introduced me to design, branding, doing it on the job and I quickly became obsessed with this concept of how design could drive real business results and seeing it firsthand. After graduation, I landed a job as a marketing designer near Columbus, Ohio, but after a layoff, I went all in on building my own business. That was coming up two years ago and I haven’t looked back or had another job since.I got started like most people do, saying yes to freelance gigs I probably wasn’t ready for. But with each project, I got sharper: better strategy, better systems, and a much clearer sense of what I actually bring to the table from a design standpoint, and it led me to slowly niche down into websites and design strategy.Along the way, I also launched Marketing by Design, my podcast where I talk with marketers, founders, and creatives about how to do this work in a way that actually feels sustainable and effective. It’s been a way to connect with people I admire, sharpen my thinking, and build trust with others in the space. I started posting on Linkedin every day since the layoff, and it's been a huge reason as to why I'm able to make the business work and meet my goals.Right now, I’m based in Springfield, Ohio, working from a quiet apartment studio that gives me time to focus, reflect, and get better at what I do. I’m currently the VP of membership for the AMA Columbus chapter and involved with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. I spend at least 2 days per week doing in-person meetings with clients or other marketers in Columbus, and my time is spent between fulfillment of client projects and content.++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

This week's episode welcomes in Gabe Marusca, a business development strategist and host of the Authority in the Wild Podcast.Find Gabe Online:Website: ⁠https://www.gabemarusca.com⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabemarusca/⁠Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/GabeMarusca⁠Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/GabeMarusca⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorityInTheWild⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@gabemarusca⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/maruscagabe/⁠Authority In The Wild Podcast: ⁠https://authorityinthewild.comAbout Gabe:Gabe's focus is on helping established coaches and consultants serve clients better and longer, doing what they love and know best. Gabe's being driven by the mission to help 10,000 individuals achieve freedom through entrepreneurship.Having lived through earning a mere $200 paycheck, experiencing burnout, and repeatedly rebuilding from scratch, Gabe deeply understands resilience and adaptation.Over six years ago, he sold everything, bought a one-way ticket to Asia, and began traveling across continents. He's now visited 27 countries and lived in more than 10, proving his belief that anyone can design a fulfilling life without compromising their health or personal relationships.When he's not developing new business strategies or engaging with industry leaders on podcasts, you'll likely find Gabe exploring tropical jungles, hiking active volcanoes, or swimming in the ocean.++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

Hey everyone! I haven't done a solo episode in a while but I wanted to share why I'm taking a summer break and how taking a step back might help you refocus and come back stronger.Thanks again for listening in and we'll see you in September!just get started,Brian++++++++👋 It’s your host, Brian! Come say hi!Web:⁠⁠⁠ https://brianondrako.com⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/⁠⁠⁠ Or, if you’re an early-stage B2B Founder, join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletter and learn to “un-suck” at sales, one newsletter at a time. 📨 ⁠⁠⁠https://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠

Epside #463 features Bryan Yates, Performance Coach and Experience Producer00:00 – Intro01:10 – Burnout at Disney and leaving the grind08:15 – Tying identity to job title13:00 – Cycling, addiction, and obsessive patterns21:10 – Traits of people who successfully change24:05 – Change happens at the speed of pain28:50 – Status, motive, and marketability31:50 – Hunter vs. gardener mindset36:15 – Stripping away vs. transformation44:10 – Tactical daily mindset reset49:50 – Start with a clear whyFind Bryan Online:Website: https://locomotivcoaching.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanyates/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachbryanyatesAbout Bryan:Bryan Yates helps high-functioning creative leaders stuck in cycles of grinding. He trains them to shift perspectives and access their unused gears when they've hit inflection points.After documenting 4000 hours of holocaust testimonies at Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, Bryan experienced the soul-crushing grind at Disney, where "don't bother coming in Sunday if you weren't here Saturday" was the unspoken rule. That taught him how patterns that create success become chains that prevent growth.His journey through corporate burnout, two costly partnership dissolutions, and recovery from workaholism and alcoholism revealed that most high achievers operate in patterns that once served them but now trap them. He channeled these insights into building businesses including The Bovine Classic, "America's 4th-Hardest, Cow-Themed, Gravel Cycling Ride."His coaching methodology draws from competitive cycling (where "always be shifting" preserves energy), performance coaching principles, and recovery wisdom. This unique blend creates his "Shift your..." framework—a systematic approach to accessing unused potential.👋  Say hi to Brian!Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianondrako

Episode #462 features Angela Hollowell, the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina.Find Angela Online:Personal Website: heyangela.coRootful Media Website: rootfulmedia.comHoney & Hustle Podcast Website: honeyandhustle.coPersonal YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/AngelaHollowellRootful Media YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@rootfultvCreative Architects: https://castos.com/series/creative-architectsTwitter: www.twitter.com/anghollowellLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahollowell/About Angela:Angela Hollowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina. She is also the host of the video podcasts Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects by Castos. She creates documentary films about the outdoors, health equity, social impact, and environmental justice centering Southern voices. Her video interviews feature themes about creative entrepreneurship in North Carolina and beyond. In addition to her professional creative projects, she works to help visual storytellers and creative entrepreneurs build their audience and make an impact.When she’s not working, she can be found in nature or enjoying a fruity beer or margaritas with friends.

Episode 461 features Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper.Find Alina Online:Website: https://www.chilipiper.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/About AlinaAlina Vandenberghe is Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Chili Piper. She’s passionate about building fun SaaS products to solve hard problems and a company where employees thrive.Today, the Romania native and her husband are on their way to IPO — all while giving back to the community through our Citizens Of Our Planet foundation.Alina earned a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the Polytechnic University in Bucharest, Romania. She currently resides in New York City. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn.

Episode 460 features Michael Bryant, whose sole focus has been to help people get unstuck.Find Michael Online:Website: https://www.unstucker.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unstucker/About Michael:For over forty years, Michael Bryant's focus has been helping people get unstuck. He uses his background as an endurance athlete and seven-time Ironman finisher to help people overcome obstacles and stay focused. Individuals and industry leaders come to Michael to help them gain clarity in their professional and personal lives.He was a proponent of creating effective lives long before the term "work/live balance" was used. Helping people do work that gives their lives meaning and communicating and connecting with others are what gets Michael excited to get out of bed. (That and training for his next triathlon)++++++++👋  Come say hi!Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brianondrako 📧 Join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletterhttps://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🎧   Listen to the Just Get Started PodcastApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-get-started-with-brian-ondrako/id1315477238 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FjLPVWfahX1rT0MMFhxvD?si=e61ad283b3de4ace iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-just-get-started-podcast-61217509/ 📺  Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@brianondrako

Episode 459 features Alli Rizacos, a Linkedin Business Coach.She runs a 3 day Bootcamp to help you jumpstart your coaching business on Linkedin:https://www.allirizacos.com/bootcampFind Alli Online: www.allirizacos.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allirizacos/About Alli:Alli Rizacos is a LinkedIn Business Coach, turning corporate leaders into successful coaches on Linkedin. She comes from a long background in sales, working at Salesforce for 8 years. She quit in 2021 to start her coaching business and has successfully launched 2 coaching business with over $1.2M in revenue all from her LinkedIn brand. She’s also a Virgo, Enneagram 3 and Projector…she means business but can see the imposter syndrome behind every business owner.

Episode 458 features Melissa Cohen, Founder of MBC Consulting Solutions, LLC and known affectionately as The "Good Witch of Linkedin" Website: https://www.melissabethcohen.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-beth-cohen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissabethcohen/Newsletter: https://mail.melissabethcohen.com/Melissa Cohen is a personal branding and LinkedIn strategist. After decades in the fashion industry where she led teams at top American brands such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Nautica, Melissa found her calling in helping others to love LinkedIn as much as she does. She works with private clients to build their brand, find their voice, and build their business. Melissa was recognized by the LinkedIn editorial team in January 2024 as a LinkedIn Top Voice.She is also the Chief Engagement Officer of DIY Influence (www.DIYInfluence.com), a collaborative membership community designed to build your visibility, find your audience, and develop your thought leadership.Melissa lives in New York City and is passionate about supporting girls and women in their educational and career journeys. She is a board member of Her Move Next, a 501(C)3 charity dedicated to empowering girls and young women through chess, community and competition, and was a founding member of Chief.She is the co-author of the Amazon Bestselling book, Your Career Resilience Blueprint: A Tactical Guide to Navigate Change, Overcome Obstacles, and Design Your Future.

Episode 457 features Nick Huber, Founder, Real Estate Investor and Author of "The Sweaty Startup"Find his book here: The Sweaty StartupHow To Get Rich Doing Boring ThingsLink to buy the book on Amazon: ⁠https://amzn.to/4bLazjW⁠Link to buy the book in the UK: ⁠https://bit.ly/422njPWFind Nick Online:https://www.nickhuber.com/https://sweatystartup.com/https://www.x.com/sweatystartupAbout Nick:Nick Huber is an Athens, Georgia–based entrepreneur and real-estate investor. He launched his first company, Storage Squad, in 2011, expanding the student-storage service to 25 college markets before selling it for $1.7 million in 2021. While running that venture he built a ground-up self-storage facility in Ithaca, New York for $2.4 million; the property is now valued at more than $10 million.After exiting Storage Squad, Huber co-founded Bolt Storage with partner Dan Hagberg. Today the firm operates two million square feet of self storage across 68 facilities in 11 states, a portfolio estimated at well over $100 million. In May 2024 he led a $52 million acquisition of Somewhere.com, a remote-work hiring platform that has helped 3,500 businesses employ 6,000 global workers and now supports a 200-person team across nine countries.Huber also co-founded RE Cost Seg in 2022 with Mitchell and Melanie Baldridge; the company has completed more than 4,500 cost-segregation studies, generates roughly $700,000 in monthly revenue, and employs 55 people. He holds minority or partner stakes in several other firms, including Bold SEO, AdRhino, Webrun, Titan Risk, The Huber Method, Spidexx, and a family-run business and real-estate brokerage. Collectively, his ventures produce more than $30 million in annual revenue and employ over 325 people.Beyond his businesses, Nick is a prolific content creator with 780,000 followers and more than two billion views across social platforms. When he isn’t working or sharing insights online, he enjoys golf, hunting, mountain biking, fishing, history, travel, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.www.somewhere.comwww.boltstorage.comwww.recostseg.comwww.adrhino.comwww.spidexx.comwww.boldseo.comwww.webrun.comwww.titanrisk.comwww.recruitjet.comwww.hubermethod.comwww.instagram.com/sweatystartupwww.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartupwww.youtube.com/sweatystartupwww.tiktok.com/sweatystartupwww.threads.net/@sweatystartup.comhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-huber-show/id1576120606https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sweaty-startup/id1445260221++++++++👋  Come say hi!Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brianondrako 📧 Join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletterhttps://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🎧   Listen to the Just Get Started PodcastApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-get-started-with-brian-ondrako/id1315477238 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FjLPVWfahX1rT0MMFhxvD?si=e61ad283b3de4ace iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-just-get-started-podcast-61217509/ 📺  Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@brianondrako

Episode 456 features Nikki Lang, and Enterprise Seller and Mindset Coach.Find Nikki Online:Website: www.mindsetinsales.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-lang/About Nikki:Nikki Lang is a seasoned sales professional with over a decade of experience driving results and fostering meaningful relationships. Known for her unique approach to sales, Nikki believes that true success comes from authenticity, mindfulness, and a deep commitment to understanding the challenges of buyers.Throughout her career, Nikki has honed her expertise in building genuine connections—both with clients and within teams—by staying rooted in honesty and prioritizing the value her solutions bring to the table. Beyond her professional achievements, Nikki is a passionate mentor, empowering aspiring sales professionals to break into the industry and thrive.Her insights and philosophies on sales have resonated with many, turning her into a trusted voice in the sales community. Through daily posts on LinkedIn, Nikki shares her personal experiences, actionable techniques, and tools for success, fostering a collaborative space for learning and growth.Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, Nikki also offers her Mindset in Sales e-book and coaching, providing strategies to approach sales with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.Nikki Lang isn’t just a sales leader—she’s a connector, a coach, and an advocate for meaningful change in the way we sell and build relationships.++++++++👋  Come say hi!Web: https://brianondrako.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianondrako/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brianondrako 📧 Join the Sales Skills For Founders newsletterhttps://salesskillsforfounders.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🎧   Listen to the Just Get Started PodcastApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-get-started-with-brian-ondrako/id1315477238 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FjLPVWfahX1rT0MMFhxvD?si=e61ad283b3de4ace iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-just-get-started-podcast-61217509/ 📺  Watch on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@brianondrako