Ep. 8.3 When The Call Is Clear But The Path Is Messy Part 2
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
In Part 2 of Meg’s conversation with Melinda Emerson, the focus shifts from why to who you become after you buy a business. They talk candidly about the identity corporate life creates — titles, distance from the work, and the quiet arrogance that can follow you into ownership. Melinda explains why real owners roll up their sleeves, switch roles without ego, and do whatever the business needs that day. This episode is about humility, responsibility, and the mindset that separates operators from spectators.
info_outline
Ep 8.2 When The Call Is Clear But The Path Is Messy Part 1
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
When the call is clear but the path feels messy, most people mistake discomfort for a stop sign. In this episode, Meg sits down with Melinda Emerson (SmallBizLady) to explore what happens after momentary ambition fades—when faith, fear, and real-world pressure collide. Melinda shares how losing control of her business, her marriage, and her certainty became the proving ground for her purpose. Together, they unpack why buying a proven business or franchise can offer more stability than chasing another job, what it truly means to think like an owner, and why real freedom requires...
info_outline
Ep 8.1 Don't Quit The Mission
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
In this episode, Bill shares how he went from SEAL training to buying a 65-year-old manufacturing company, navigating turnover, building a high-performance team, and using automation to help people earn more—not get replaced. He also opens up about stepping into (and back out of) politics, and why lifelong “forward-skilling” matters as industries shift fast. If you’re over corporate, craving mission, or wondering if ownership—especially franchising—could be your next move, this conversation gives you a clear, hope-filled way forward.
info_outline
Ep 7.30 Reinventing Yourself in a Time of Rising Anxiety
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Fatima didn't leave social work because she stopped caring. She left because the cost of caring became too high. After years of holding other people's trauma, her own body and spirit demanded a new kind of life. In this powerful conversation, Fatima shares how she transformed burnout into a career rooted in healing, inclusivity, and conscious touch. Her journey offers a blueprint for anyone navigating the pressure-filled transitions so many Americans are facing today — career uncertainty, financial stress, identity shifts, and the ache for something steadier.
info_outline
Ep 7.29 Bootstrapped and Still Standing
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Matasha didn’t fast-track her way into entrepreneurship — she played the long game, rebuilding her skills and timing her move while carrying the full weight of being the only income. Her story is one of patience and calculation, proof that steady planning can matter just as much as the dream itself. For anyone wondering how to start something with the skills they already have and almost no extra resources, this episode shows one of the many real paths forward.
info_outline
Ep 7.28 The Beauty of Subtraction: Why Freedom Begins with Less
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Government shutdowns? Market shake-ups? Forget the panic. Meg and Chari talk about the real flex: letting go of what doesn't serve you. Because freedom doesn't come from adding more; it starts when you finally subtract.
info_outline
Ep 7.27 When the Paycheck Ends and the Real Work Begins
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
When the paycheck ends, the real work begins. Nail artist, Thasia Williams, shares what it really feels like to bet on yourself when the safety net disappears. From crying through uncertainty to finding purpose in creativity, she and Meg unpack what it means to lead yourself when no one’s watching. This episode flips the fear of losing security into the truth about ownership — it’s not the paycheck that defines you, it’s the power to keep going anyway.
info_outline
Ep 7.26 Turning Beauty into Freedom
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
She's not waiting for permission — she's building her own stage. Instead of chasing overnight success—Josalyn’s chasing proof that betting on herself is worth it. This episode is for every high achiever who’s tired of talking about freedom and finally ready to get their hands dirty.
info_outline
Ep 7.25 Freedom Without the Freefall
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
In this milestone episode, we celebrate one year of IMAGE Studios Wauwatosa—a hub where beauty, wellness, and entrepreneurship collide. 🥳 But this isn't just about a grand opening. It's a spotlight on what happens when bold vision meets real opportunity. Makayla, a first-time entrepreneur, shares her leap from stylist to studio owner—navigating the fears, the wins, and the freedom that comes with building something of her own. Standing right beside her is Meg Schmitz, who isn't just coaching others into franchise ownership—she's in the arena herself, leveraging her own...
info_outline
Ep 7.24 Running from pain toward legacy
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
When the system breaks you down, some people shrink. Others rise. Samantha is walking away from a healthcare career that's eating away at her time, her health, and her spirit. She's building Skinship Esthetic Spa inside IMAGE Studios Wauwatosa — creating a future where beauty professionals don't just survive... they own their freedom. This isn't a story about chasing money. It's about reclaiming time, rewriting the rules, and building a legacy that outlives the pain. This special episode highlights emerging entrepreneurs in the beauty and wellness...
info_outlineShe's not waiting for permission — she's building her own stage. Instead of chasing overnight success—Josalyn’s chasing proof that betting on herself is worth it. This episode is for every high achiever who’s tired of talking about freedom and finally ready to get their hands dirty.