The Necessary Entrepreneur

Tim Lidman, co-founder and CEO of Clyde AI, joins Mark Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur to explain why this is the most disruptive moment entrepreneurs will ever live through, and what to do about it. Tim opens with a confession: he caught himself delegating original thought to AI, and it scared him. "The second I delegate creative critical thought to AI, I truly have delegated my value to technology." From there, he and Mark dig into what AI actually changes for founders, consultants, and small business owners, and what it should never touch. Tim has spent 20 years inside high-stakes decisions. He co-founded ThinkTank, the collaboration platform Accenture acquired in 2021, and now leads Clyde AI, an AI-native platform that helps consultants and business owners frame problems, pressure-test decisions, and turn AI from a shiny toy into an actionable plan. He breaks down why consultants are the profession most ripe for disruption, why AI adoption is about to overcorrect, whether the 9-to-5 job survives the decade, and how the efficiency gains from AI should be reinvested in people instead of just extracted as profit. If you run a business and your head is spinning from ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and a new AI tool launching every week, this episode gives you a starting point: stop evaluating tools and ask a better question. Tim closes with exactly how a business owner can use Clyde to figure out what to use AI for in the first place. Key Takeaways: • Never delegate original thought to AI. That is delegating your value. AI structures problems; you do the thinking. • The most disruptive moment of our lifetimes, bigger than the internet, and it will play out over decades, not years. • AI adoption will overcorrect, then swing back to human judgment. • AI wins when it pairs with humans: machines synthesize, people decide. Adoption means meeting users where they are. • ThinkTank's edge: product people are trained to say no, consultants are trained to always say yes. His team built in the overlap. • Consultants build for everyone but themselves. That gap is why Clyde exists. • The 9-to-5 may not survive. The question is whether AI's efficiency gains get reinvested in people or just extracted as profit. • Stop comparing AI tools. Ask Clyde what to use AI for and get a plan you can actually implement. Listen to The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins for practical conversations about entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, mindset, and the decisions that shape successful careers. 📌 Connect With Us:  Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About Tim Lidman & Clyde AI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlidman/ https://meetclyde.com/

Most companies don't have an AI problem. They have a data problem. Ilan Man, founder and CEO of Paradox Machines, joins Mark Perkins for a hype-free conversation about what AI actually means for mid-market businesses. A former actuary turned data science leader at Squarespace, Paperless Post, Formation Bio, and the Brooklyn Data Company, Ilan now builds AI-native data systems for companies that could never before afford them. They cover why EQ is becoming more important than IQ, the new economics of AI services, why you're renting your data from your SaaS vendors, and his contrarian advice: buy something cheap off the shelf and live in the world of pain before you build anything custom. Practical, direct, and built for business owners. Key takeaways: Most companies don't have an AI problem; they have a data problem. Fix the data foundation before buying AI tools. Separate AI as a tool from the business of AI. The trillion-dollar narratives from AI CEOs have little to do with your day-to-day operations. EQ is becoming more important than IQ. As AI commoditizes raw intelligence, interpersonal skill is the differentiator. A new category, AI-native services, is emerging between low-margin consulting and high-margin SaaS, targeting 50 to 60 percent margins and above. You don't own your data; you're renting it. If you can't freely export and use it, your SaaS vendor's moat is built on your data. Most AI decisions are two-way doors. Buy something cheap off the shelf, live in the world of pain for six months, and you'll know exactly what to fix. Just because you can vibe-code a CRM doesn't mean you should. Building is cheaper than ever, but change management is the real cost. Design for no lock-in: open data formats, portable code, and systems that stay in your environment. The winning org structure is compressing to sellers and builders on the edges with AI in the middle, squeezing middle management. Token and energy costs are rising but secondary; human capital is still the main cost, and model economics shift every six months. Listen to The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins for practical conversations about entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, mindset, and the decisions that shape successful careers. 📌 Connect With Us:  Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About Ilan Man & Paradox Machines: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanman/ https://www.paradoxmachines.com/

What does it take to believe in yourself, build a recognizable brand, and create a life that reflects who you really are? On this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins, photographer and artist David Drebin shares the mindset, philosophy, and relentless work behind his journey from commercial success to fine art entrepreneurship. David discusses how self-belief, authenticity, and creativity influence both business and life. He explains why making people feel something is at the heart of great art, how to develop a distinctive brand, and why staying true to yourself matters more than chasing external approval. He also shares lessons from pivotal career moments, the value of patience and persistence, and how gratitude and perspective can change the way you define success. This conversation goes beyond art to explore the principles entrepreneurs can apply to building a business, developing a personal brand, and reaching their potential. David challenges listeners to rethink how they see themselves, keep working when results take time, and focus on the person they become along the way. Key Takeaways: Why self-belief is essential to pursuing ambitious goals and building a successful career How to transition from commercial work to a more authentic creative vision Why emotion and making people feel something are central to great art and branding How to build a recognizable brand without losing your individuality Why relentless work, patience, and persistence matter more than quick wins How your personal philosophy shapes your decisions, reputation, and results Why gratitude and perspective help you define success on your own terms How underestimating yourself can create an unexpected advantage Why authenticity matters when building a business and a meaningful life How to approach creativity, entrepreneurship, and personal growth with greater purpose If you're an entrepreneur, creative professional, artist, or business owner looking to strengthen your mindset, build a distinctive brand, and pursue success without losing yourself, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it means to create meaningful work and live with intention. Listen to The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins for practical conversations about entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, mindset, and the decisions that shape successful careers. 📌 Connect With Us:  Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About David Drebin: https://linktr.ee/daviddrebin

What if being busy is actually holding your business back? On this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Bill Gallagher, a four-time CEO, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Scaling Coach, who has spent more than 40 years building and scaling businesses. Bill has helped grow two companies from startup to more than $500 million and has worked with roughly 800 companies across 18 countries. Bill is the author of Busy Is Broken: Do Less, Scale More, built around a simple but challenging idea: the person working the hardest in the business can sometimes be the biggest obstacle to its growth. Bill and Mark dig into why long hours don't necessarily produce better results, how busyness can lead to bad decisions, and why curiosity and self-awareness are essential leadership skills. Bill shares the story of taking a month away from his business and discovering that it could operate without him, along with the leadership lessons he learned during a dramatic business downturn. They also discuss delegation, building teams that don't depend on the founder, why CEOs often resist honest feedback, self-coaching, mentorship, aging and leadership, AI and productivity, setting clearer priorities, and what it takes to build a business that can thrive long after the founder steps away. Topics covered: Why being busy can prevent a business from scaling The difference between activity and meaningful progress Curiosity as a critical leadership skill Self-awareness and understanding how others experience you Delegation and building a team that can operate without the founder What Bill learned from taking extended time away from his business Common leadership mistakes that keep companies dependent on their CEOs Why successful leaders can be especially resistant to feedback Self-coaching, reflection, mentorship, and continuous learning Using AI as a tool rather than treating it as a solution Setting priorities and reducing unnecessary complexity Leadership, aging, legacy, and continuous personal growth Building a company that can outlive its founder Creating the right environment for leadership development The habits and commitments that drive lasting change About Bill Gallagher: Bill Gallagher is an entrepreneur, four-time CEO, author, and leadership advisor with more than 40 years of experience building and scaling businesses. He has helped grow two companies from startup to more than $500 million and has worked with roughly 800 companies across 18 countries. He is the author of Busy Is Broken: Do Less, Scale More, which explores how leaders can escape the trap of busyness and build businesses that can thrive without them. The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders about what it actually takes to build, operate and scale a company. 👍 Subscribe to The Necessary Entrepreneur for weekly conversations with founders and operators who have actually built something. 📌 Connect With Us:  Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About Bill Gallagher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgall/ https://billgallagher.com/ https://busyisbroken.com/ https://coaches.scalingup.com/coaches/bill-gallagher 📕 Order a Copy of Busy is Broken HERE

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Joshua Evarts, entrepreneur, business owner, and author of the new book If Jesus Smoked Cigars: The Eight Lessons in Relational Leadership. Joshua has spent 25 years in business, most recently as the owner of the Vault Cigar Lounge in Meridian, Idaho, where he built a thriving community around one simple belief: relationships are not just a nice part of doing business, they are the business. His model of relational leadership comes down to three truths. People do business with people they like. People stay loyal to people they trust. And people evangelize for people who make them feel loved. In this conversation, Joshua and Mark dig into: Why you should build culture, not your business, and how a healthy culture attracts healthy employees, customers, and vendors The cheeky story behind the title If Jesus Smoked Cigars, and what a 2,000 year old model of relational leadership can teach modern entrepreneurs How cigar culture, from Idaho's Snake River to two deployments in Iraq, shaped his philosophy of connection and refuge The $1.4 million embezzlement that shut down his second location, and the two things founders overlook when starting companies: legal structure and an org chart Why likability is a competitive advantage, and the Steve Jobs and Elon Musk exception to the rule John Wooden's pyramid of success, and why industriousness and enthusiasm bookend every winning culture His 2020 battle with primary pancreatic lymphoma during COVID, and how facing mortality rewrote the book he was writing Whether you run a startup, a small business, or a team inside a larger company, this episode is a practical guide to building a business people actually want to be part of. About Joshua Evarts: Joshua Evarts is an entrepreneur with 25 years in business across software, real estate development, and hospitality. For the last decade he has owned the Vault Cigar Lounge in Meridian, Idaho, a premium cigar experience built on the idea that relationship is the primary currency. He is the author of If Jesus Smoked Cigars: The Eight Lessons in Relational Leadership. The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders about what it actually takes to build, operate and scale a company. 👍 Subscribe to The Necessary Entrepreneur for weekly conversations with founders and operators who have actually built something. 📌 Connect With Us:  Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About Joshua Evarts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaevarts/ https://ifjesus.com/ https://thevault.live/ https://www.instagram.com/vaultcigarlounge/