548: Freedom Over Fortune: Life Lessons from ZICO Founder Mark Rampolla

Have you ever chased success, only to realize it didn’t give you the freedom or fulfillment you hoped for?

In this transformative episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with Mark Rampolla - founder of ZICO Coconut Water, co-founder of Groundforce Capital, and author of The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Freedom: 7 Steps to Living Beyond Limits.

Mark shares a refreshingly honest look at building ZICO from his garage into a global brand which he sold to Coca-Cola for $200 million (before buying it back a few years later) - and the unexpected discovery that financial success alone doesn’t guarantee meaning or joy.

Together, Nicole and Mark dive into why entrepreneurs become trapped in the pursuit of more, how the success industry subtly shapes our definitions of achievement, and the practical steps to experiencing internal freedom and fulfillment—right now.

If you’ve ever wondered why your wins still feel incomplete, this conversation offers a roadmap for shifting your mindset, avoiding burnout, and leading from a place of clarity and purpose. You’ll also hear what investors truly look for in founders and why personal transformation is the hidden engine behind sustainable business growth, even in seasons of loss.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• What does real success look like, and how does your definition evolve as you grow?
• Why do entrepreneurs remain stuck in the cycle of chasing more, and how does the success industry reinforce it?
• How can you prevent burnout and create genuine satisfaction while building your business?
• What are Mark’s seven steps to entrepreneurial freedom and fulfillment?
• How does self-awareness open the door for personal and team transformation?
• Which inner habits and tools help you navigate challenges and create lasting freedom?
• What do top investors like Mark value in founders beyond revenue and metrics?
• How did losing his home in the Palisades wildfire reshape his perspective on what truly matters?
• Why is self-reflection essential for both business success and personal joy?
• How can you begin practicing fulfillment, peace, and purpose in your business today?

Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 - Why Success Doesn’t Equal Fulfillment

04:50 - Be Honest with Yourself

08:12 - How the Success Industry Creates Burnout

09:58 - Success Through Fulfillment and Presence

15:39 - Personal Growth Strategies for Entrepreneurs

17:44 - Shared Freedom and Self-Reflection

20:28 - Escaping the More Mindset

23:32 - Creating Challenges After Retirement

26:18 - Choosing Passion and Purpose

30:59 - Investor Insights: What Founders Must Know

32:54 - How to Lead with Purpose & Clarity

36:25 - Life Lessons from Losing Everything in a Fire

39:50 – Finding Freedom Within

10 Key Takeaways for Finding Freedom & Fulfillment Beyond Money

1. External success doesn’t equal inner fulfillment.
Financial wins feel good—but they rarely create the deep satisfaction we’re truly seeking.

2. The success industry profits from your sense of not enough.
Entrepreneurs are constantly sold the belief that the next achievement will finally make them happy.

3. Personal growth is the real engine of business growth.
Your company can only expand to the level of your own self-awareness and development.

4. Fulfillment is available in the present moment.
Freedom isn’t something you achieve later - it’s something you cultivate now.

5. Self-awareness creates genuine confidence.
Seeing your strengths clearly - and owning your blind spots - accelerates your leadership.

6. Your limiting beliefs are not reality.
Challenging your assumptions opens the door to new possibilities and breakthroughs.

7. Burnout undermines your whole ecosystem.
Your team and your company feel the impact when you’re depleted - renewal is non-negotiable.

8. Coachability and humility matter more than ego.
Investors and partners look for leaders who are curious, adaptable, and willing to grow.

9. Loss can become a doorway to freedom.
Releasing attachments to things reveals deeper sources of peace and inner security.

10. Lasting success is built on inner transformation.
When you evolve on the inside, your relationships, leadership, and business naturally elevate.

Favorite Quotes

• Your business can’t grow if you don’t.
• If I can build safety and security within me, without the house—that is liberating and powerful.
• What annoys us in another is a reflection of what’s going on in us.

Join Nicole Jansen for this powerful, eye-opening conversation with Mark Rampolla. Discover how to cultivate genuine freedom, fulfillment, and purpose - starting today - from the inside out.

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/business/548-freedom-over-fortune-life-lessons-from-zico-founder-mark-rampolla

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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