Persevering from a basement full of spiders to building a 7-figure business, with entrepreneur Steven Pemberton
Release Date: 02/14/2023
How Smart Leaders Use AI to Execute Better
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AI is changing how companies grow, how leaders lead, and how strategy gets executed. In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J Cox sits down with Klee Kleber, co-founder and partner at Build Group, to discuss what leaders need to understand right now. Klee shares why expertise is becoming a commodity, why implementation is still the biggest challenge, and how operator-led strategy creates real value. They cover how AI is reshaping product development, go-to-market strategy, and leadership, along with why human judgment, trust, and execution still matter. This episode is a clear...
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AI, Sales, and the Power of Human Connection
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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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Radical Clarity: How Founders Lead with Purpose
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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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info_outlineBig, scary, spiders. This is when you know you’ve hit rock-bottom: when you have no other place than to live in a basement full of them! For entrepreneurs, how they respond to that situation (and that location) is often the most important piece of their business journey.
And no one knows the peaks and valleys of the entrepreneurial journey quite like our latest guest. Steven Pemberton is an entrepreneur who’s generated over $3 million in revenue on e-commerce platforms. He now helps coaches and business leaders get in front of their ideal customers to accelerate their impact through a system called “Challenges.”
Listen to the full episode for more on Steven’s backstory (from losing all his money and living in a basement, to building a 7-figure business), some of the top characteristics the most successful entrepreneurs have in common, the dangers of pride, and more.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
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More about Steven’s approach to helping entrepreneurs grow their impact and increase their sales
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Why you don’t have to have a ton of money in order to get started on your entrepreneurial journey
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An idea of the conversion percentages that Steven’s clients have experienced by using his “offer drop” tactic
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More on Steven’s backstory, including he and his wife losing everything and how that first taste of “failure” held him back from getting back into business later
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How Steven’s wife went from no experience to making $1 million in revenue — and why she convinced Steven to once again go into business
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Why gross revenue doesn’t tell the full story of a business
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Why Steven says success in business can come down to the intersection of skillsets, opportunity, and perseverance
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Why pride can get in the way of business success, and why transparency is so important when it comes to gross and net revenues
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The difference between providing value and ideas, and why authenticity is so important
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How Steven measures success in his business and in his personal life
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Some of the habits that Steven has integrated into his daily life to be at his best
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
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“The Blessed Life: Unlocking the Rewards of Generous Living” by Robert Morris
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“No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn’t Come Easy” by Chip Gaines
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“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear