How to step out of entrepreneurial poverty, with bestselling author Mike Michalowicz
Release Date: 04/26/2022
AI, Sales, and the Power of Human Connection
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In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J Cox talks with Gabe Lullo, CEO of Alleyoop, about the real role of outbound sales in today’s market. They discuss how AI is changing sales without replacing human connection, why founders should stay close to revenue early, and how content builds trust before the first conversation ever happens. Gabe shares lessons from scaling a remote SDR organization and explains how fractional sales teams help growing companies create momentum without overspending. This conversation is practical, honest, and focused on strategy over tactics. If you...
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Why AI Is Reshaping Leadership Today
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In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl sits down again with CEO and author Trey Taylor for a candid conversation on AI, culture, and the future of leadership. Trey explains why AI is no longer optional, how leaders can avoid lazy thinking, and what’s driving the rapid rise of Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. He shares insights on balancing culture, people, and numbers—his signature “three things”—while adapting to tools that change faster than organizations can keep up. Trey also gives practical examples of AI improving operations, decision-making, and customer...
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Where Do Leaders Go For Real Growth?
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In this episode, Carl J. Cox talks with global speaker and executive coach Dona Amelia about why leaders need safe spaces to grow. Dona shares her upbringing in rural Indonesia, her rise as a performer and executive, and how those experiences shaped her belief that leaders can only grow when they have a place to speak honestly, ask real questions, and receive support without judgment. She explains how peer networks, shared experiences, and diverse perspectives help executives make better decisions and avoid isolation at the top. If you’ve ever felt pressure to know everything or carry...
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Get Found in the New AI Economy
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In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl sits down with digital marketing expert Dave Burnett to unpack the seismic shift happening in search and AI. Dave explains why Google is no longer the only place customers look for answers and how large language models are reshaping discoverability. He shares lessons from his own journey—partnership failures, business resilience, and recovering from a traumatic brain injury—and how those experiences shaped how he leads today. Dave outlines the new rules of digital visibility, why PR is becoming essential, and how companies can position...
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Double Revenue. Cut Costs. One Strategy.
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On this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox speaks with Tammy Nam, CEO of The Brief, the AI Agency for marketers. Tammy shares how she doubled revenue at Viki while cutting costs and improving team morale—a rare combination that highlights her strategic clarity and leadership strength. She explains how The Brief helps marketers run smarter campaigns from start to finish using intelligent agents that analyze performance, generate content, launch faster, and learn continuously. Tammy also breaks down how leaders can protect their top performers, remove friction, and communicate...
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The Secret to Elite Business Performance
Measure Success Podcast
In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox talks with Michael Erath, founder of Next Level Growth and author of The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations. Michael shares his powerful story of losing a multimillion-dollar company to fraud and how that crisis transformed his view of leadership. He explains how elite organizations are built around five obsessions—great people, inspiring purpose, optimized playbooks, performance-driven culture, and sustainable profits. Tune in to learn how you can lead with purpose, build stronger teams, and achieve both a return on investment...
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Radical Clarity: How Founders Lead with Purpose
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Many technical founders find themselves running companies almost by accident. They know their craft — but struggle to lead with clarity. In this Measure Success Podcast episode, Carl J. Cox interviews Pete Steege, author of Radical Clarity, to discuss how “accidental CEOs” can grow their businesses by uncovering their true story. Pete explains why clarity — not more effort — drives growth. He shares how to focus on purpose, align your team, and communicate with meaning so your message connects with customers. 🎧 Tune in to learn how to move from complexity to clarity.
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Leadership Without Accountability Fails
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Leadership alone doesn’t drive success—it’s only part of the equation. In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Dr. James Chitwood shares how his TRAC framework—Training, Recognition, Accountability, and Communication—creates lasting organizational transformation. Hear how his military background shaped his leadership philosophy, why capitalism is at risk, and what it takes to build high-performing, people-centered teams. Listen now and learn how to lead through structure, not just inspiration.
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Data Privacy Laws Every CEO Must Know
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In this week’s episode of the Measure Success Podcast, I sit down with Richard Dunbar, CEO of Bottom Up Consulting and author of Bottom Up Breakthrough, to discuss how true innovation often starts from the ground up. Richard shares how empowering employees at every level builds trust, strengthens transparency, and improves retention. He explains why many leaders fear “bottom-up” leadership—and how shifting from a top-down model can uncover hidden ideas that transform organizations. From his experience in the Canadian Armed Forces to founding Bottom Up Consulting, Richard’s work...
info_outlineIn This Episode:
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s ever hit “rock bottom” (or think you could be headed there), this conversation with Mike Michalowicz is for you. Entrepreneurship can be a roller coaster—but Mike is an expert at using the lessons he’s learned along the way to serve business leaders who might be on a similar journey.
Mike is the entrepreneur behind three multi-million dollar companies and is the author of Profit First, Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan, Fix This Next, and one of his newest books, Get Different. He’s also a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and regularly travels the globe as an entrepreneurial advocate.
Tune into the full episode to hear more about Mike’s personal journey (from bankruptcy to bestselling author), what some top mistakes that he sees entrepreneurs making in their own businesses, and Mike’s personal and professional strategies for measuring success.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
- What “entrepreneurial poverty” means
- Why it’s important for entrepreneurs to keep a “profit first” mentality and not necessarily “reinvest” profits back into the business
- Which of Mike’s books he had the best time writing
- Which of Mike’s books he thinks has had the biggest impact on the world
- How Mike measures success as a business owner, as an author, and in his personal life
- More about Mike’s “rock bottom” and how he uses the lessons from that experience to help serve entrepreneurs now
- The type of brain science Mike has been studying recently (beyond the behavioral psychology he integrates into his books)
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Mikemotorbike.com
- Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business by Mike Michalowicz
- Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz
- Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself by Mike Michalowicz
- The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field by Mike Michalowicz
- Get Different: Marketing That Can’t Be Ignored! by Mike Michalowicz
- 40 Strategy
- Contact 40 Strategy
- Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn