Journey to Business Ownership - Freedom Friday Podcast

From Homicide Detective to Dog Rescue | How Clancy’s Dream Saved 2,000+ Border Collies🐾 What happens when retirement becomes the beginning of an entirely new purpose?On this episode of Freedom Friday at the Journey to Business Ownership Podcast, I sit down with Kenny Shuck, a retired homicide detective who went from a career in law enforcement to building Clancy’s Dream Border Collie Rescue.The journey began with Kenny’s own Border Collie, Clancy. After Clancy unexpectedly passed away, Kenny turned that loss into a mission that has now helped rescue and rehome more than 2,000 Border Collies.Kenny’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the next chapter of your life can look completely different from the one before it — and still become the work you were meant to do.In this episode, we talk about:🐶 How Kenny went from homicide detective to Border Collie rescue🐶 The story of Clancy and how his loss inspired Clancy’s Dream🐶 How the organization has rescued more than 2,000 Border Collies🐶 The rescue operation where they took in 38 dogs at one time🐶 Why Border Collies often end up needing rescue🐶 Why education about the breed is so important before bringing one home🐶 What it really takes to build and financially sustain a nonprofit🐶 Why doing the right thing can attract people who want to support your mission🐶 His advice for anyone dreaming of starting a business or nonprofit🐶 How 12 years of blogging eventually became a book🐶 How his new book, Clancy’s Dream, became a #1 bestseller just one day after its releaseOne of the most inspiring parts of Kenny’s story is that he never considered himself a writer. He even shares a funny story about a college English professor telling him that his final grade of a D was “a gift.”Yet years later, those stories became a bestselling book.Kenny’s message for anyone sitting on the fence about pursuing something new is simple:“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”Whether your dream is starting a business, launching a nonprofit, writing a book, or doing something completely different from the career you have always known, Kenny’s story is proof that you don’t have to have everything figured out before taking the next step.Connect with Kenny Shuck & Clancy’s Dream🌐 Website: https://clancysdream.org/📞 Phone: 812-390-2300📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clancys.dream📚 Get Kenny’s book, Clancy’s Dream, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/02FPme00Clancy’s Dream is a multi-state Border Collie rescue, and Kenny shared that they answer their phone 24 hours a day. If you need help with a Border Collie, want to support the rescue, are interested in adoption, or simply want to learn more about their mission, reach out and get connected.Ready to Explore Business Ownership?I’m Patrice Miles, a Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source.I provide free coaching and consulting to help people explore different paths to business ownership, including franchise opportunities, business acquisitions, and other entrepreneurial options.🌐 Learn more at: https://JourneyToBusinessOwnership.comIf you’ve ever wondered what business ownership could look like in your life but you’re not sure where to start, I would love to have that conversation with you.👉 Like this episode, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who may need a little encouragement to take the next step toward their own dream.🎙️ Journey to Business Ownership – Freedom FridayKeep chasing purpose, not just a paycheck.#ClancysDream #BorderCollieRescue #DogRescue #KennyShuck #Nonprofit #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership #FreedomFriday #JourneyToBusinessOwnership #CareerChange #PurposeDriven #bordercollie From Homicide Detective to Dog Rescue | How Clancy’s Dream Saved 2,000+ Border Collies

“Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From ScratchWhat happens when you stop waiting for the “perfect” time and just start?On this episode of Freedom Friday at the Journey to Business Ownership Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Gary Smith, founder of Gary Loks Premium Cigars, to talk about a business journey that has been anything but ordinary.Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset took shape after a major layoff at Sprint. After experiencing the uncertainty of depending on an employer, he made a decision that changed his path: instead of continuing to ask someone else for a job, he started creating opportunities for himself.Over the years, Gary tried multiple businesses—from pressure washing to building a nationwide mobile loan-closing business with hundreds of notaries. Then, about five years ago, an unexpected rediscovery of his love for cigars led him into an industry he knew very little about.With less than $10,000, Gary launched his own cigar brand.Since then, **Gary Loks Premium Cigars** has earned recognition from Cigar Journal and has been featured at major events, while Gary has continued building the brand one opportunity at a time.And Gary’s philosophy toward entrepreneurship is refreshingly simple:“Just start.”In this episode, we talk about:🔥 How being laid off helped shape Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset 🔥 Why he stopped waiting for someone else to give him an opportunity 🔥 The businesses he started before entering the cigar industry 🔥 How he launched his cigar brand with less than $10,000 🔥 Why preparation allowed him to act when opportunity appeared 🔥 The recognition his cigars have received 🔥 Why fear hasn’t stopped him from pursuing new opportunities 🔥 His advice for anyone sitting on the fence about becoming their own bossGary’s message is simple: Start where you are. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just start.If you’ve been thinking about entrepreneurship but keep waiting for the right time, the right amount of money, or the right opportunity, this conversation may be exactly what you need.🥃 CONNECT WITH GARY SMITH & GARY LOKS PREMIUM CIGARS🌐 Website: https://garyloks.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-smith-sr-38417b38/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garylokspremiumcigars/Gary also offers personalized cigar boxes and cigars for corporate clients, special occasions, client gifts, real estate closings, and more.🚀 THINKING ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?I’m Patrice Miles, franchise business owner and Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source. I provide **free coaching and consulting** to help people explore what business ownership could look like in their lives—whether that’s starting a business, buying an existing business, or investing in a franchise.🌐 Start your journey: JourneyToBusinessOwnership.comDon’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with someone who may need a little encouragement to take the leap.🎙️ Freedom Friday | Journey to Business Ownership PodcastKeep chasing purpose, not just a paycheck.#JourneyToBusinessOwnership #FreedomFriday #GarySmith #GaryLoksPremiumCigars #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership #EntrepreneurJourney #CigarBusiness #SmallBusiness #BecomeYourOwnBoss #entrepreneurmindset “Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From Scratch

No Film Degree, Just YouTube University | How Dave Carroll Built One Stop Media KYWhat happens when you have no film degree, no traditional creative background, and decide to learn through “YouTube University” and experience?On this episode of Freedom Friday at the Journey to Business Ownership Podcast, I sit down with Dave Carroll, founder and co-owner of One Stop Media KY, to talk about his journey from corporate sales and leadership to entrepreneurship.Dave’s passion for storytelling began through podcasting, where he discovered how much he loved helping people open up and share their stories. Eventually, that passion led him to pick up a camera, learn through trial and error, and build a business helping organizations tell their stories through video and photography.But Dave’s journey isn’t just about building a successful creative business.It’s about freedom.Dave shares how business ownership has given him more control over his time, allowed him to be more present for his wife and four kids, and given him the ability to make business decisions that align with his faith, values, and priorities.In this episode, we talk about:🎥 How Dave went from corporate sales and leadership to owning a media company🎙️ Why podcasting sparked his passion for storytelling📚 How he learned videography without going to film school🚀 Why some of his biggest fears actually came AFTER becoming an entrepreneur❤️ How he and his wife work together as business partners🙏 The role faith plays in the way he runs his business👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How entrepreneurship gave him more freedom to prioritize his family💡 Why business ownership isn’t always easy—but can completely change your lifeDave’s story is a great reminder that you don’t necessarily need the perfect background, degree, or roadmap to build something of your own. Sometimes you start with the skills you already have, learn what you don’t know, and keep making the next right choice.Connect with Dave Carroll & One Stop Media KY🌐 Website: https://www.onestopmediaky.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestopmediaky/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onestopmediakyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-stop-media-ky/posts/?feedView=allLinkedIn Dave Carroll: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecarrollky/One Stop Media KY helps small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofits with video production, photography, YouTube and podcast production, events, drone video and photography, commercials, and brand storytelling.Ready to Explore Business Ownership?If you’ve been wondering what entrepreneurship could look like in your life, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Webinar - Before You Buy a Franchise: The 10 Biggest Mistakes to AvoidThinking about buying a franchise? Before you invest, learn the biggest franchise mistakes to avoid.In this webinar, Career Ownership Coach Patrice Miles shares 10 common mistakes people make when exploring franchise ownership, including choosing the wrong franchise, misunderstanding the FDD, underestimating startup costs, skipping franchise validation, and rushing into a decision.You’ll learn how to buy a franchise with more confidence by understanding:• How to choose a franchise that fits your financial and lifestyle goals • What to look for in a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) • How to validate a franchise with current owners • How much money you may really need to start a franchise • Why franchise funding and pre-qualification matter • How to avoid costly franchise buying mistakes • Why working with a franchise coach can help during due diligenceThe Q&A also covers franchise costs, SBA financing, service-based franchises, senior care, home services, and higher-margin franchise models.Special thanks to the Louisville Small Business Development Center for hosting and producing this Toolkit Tuesday webinar.Learn more about the Louisville SBDC: https://kentuckysbdc.com/louisville/Considering franchise ownership? Schedule a complimentary discovery conversation with Patrice.🌐 https://www.JourneyToBusinessOwnership.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricemiles/Patrice Miles Career Ownership Coach The Entrepreneur’s Source#HowToBuyAFranchise #FranchiseMistakes #FranchiseOwnership #BuyingAFranchise #FranchiseOpportunities #FranchiseDueDiligence #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnershipWebinar - Before You Buy a Franchise: The 10 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid

Tumbling Into Entrepreneurship: How Holly Turned Gymnastics Into 2 GymsAt five years old, Holly Slone wouldn't stop turning cartwheels in the yard. Today, she owns two gymnastics and cheer facilities in Louisville, Kentucky!On this episode of Freedom Friday, the Journey to Business Ownership podcast, Holly shares how she went from 15 years in marketing and sales to owning Spark Athletics, with locations in Jeffersontown (J-Town) and the Highlands. An army brat who grew up mostly in Germany, Holly has spent 38 years coaching kids, and she's learned a lot of business lessons the hard way.In this episode, we talk about:✅ Why her first gym (a 25,000 square foot facility) was too much, too fast✅ Funding a business with investors vs. bootstrapping vs. buying from an existing owner.✅ How she bought two gyms from retiring owners with a 3 to 5 year buyout plan.✅ Her #1 money lesson: no matter how much money you think you need, you need more.✅ The big leap from being the coach to being the business owner.✅ Why a support system and a peer group are so important for entrepreneurs.✅ Her exciting new adaptive gymnastics program coming soon.Holly's story is a reminder that you really can turn your passion into a business, as long as you're ready for the hustle that comes with it.🤸 CONNECT WITH HOLLY & SPARK ATHLETICSSpark Athletics J-Town: https://spark-athletics.comSpark Athletics Highlands: https://sparkathleticshighlands.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SparkAthleticsLouisville/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkathleticslouisvilleTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spark.athleticsHolly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-slone-1176a1175/Spark Athletics offers preschool gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, ninja, trampoline and tumbling, cheerleading, birthday parties, open gyms, Parents' Night Out, and holiday and summer camps for boys and girls ages 2 and up!🚀 CONNECT WITH PATRICEThinking about becoming your own boss? My coaching is completely free, and I work with people anywhere in the nation.📅 Book a free Discovery Call: https://pmiles.esourcecoach.com/schedule-a-call/💼 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricemiles/🌐 Learn more: https://journeytobusinessownership.comDon't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a little encouragement today. Keep chasing purpose, not just a paycheck!#FreedomFriday #JourneyToBusinessOwnership #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwner #GymOwner #Gymnastics #Louisville #BusinessOwnership #TurnYourPassionIntoABusiness #SparkAthleticsTumbling Into Entrepreneurship: How Holly Turned Gymnastics Into 2 Gyms