loader from loading.io

The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 69: Building A Business For Financial Independence with LaSean Smith

Mission Driven Business

Release Date: 01/09/2024

The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 85: Nursing Your Instagram Profile To Wealth with Jumer Adalin show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 85: Nursing Your Instagram Profile To Wealth with Jumer Adalin

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with nurse-turned-entrepreneur, Jumer Adalin. As a social media expert, Jumer helps fellow nurse entrepreneurs grow their businesses through social media to create both impact and income. On the episode, Jumer shares his journey from ICU nurse to social media superstar. He also offers valuable tips for Instagram marketing and creating content to grow and nurture your own online audience. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses focus on solving problems. As a nurse-by-trade, Jumer likens a mission-driven business to a healthcare team whose common goal is to bring about...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 84: Improving Financial Security for the LGBTQ+ Community with Debt Free Guys David and John Auten-Schneider show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 84: Improving Financial Security for the LGBTQ+ Community with Debt Free Guys David and John Auten-Schneider

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with Queer Money podcast hosts and Debt Free Guys founders David and John Auten-Schneider. David and John have more than a decade of experience helping the queer community thrive financially through their podcast, website, and emails. On the episode, they discuss the importance of being intentional with how you choose to grow and engage with your audience. They also open up about some setbacks they’ve experienced as entrepreneurs and tips they’ve learned in their decade-long entrepreneurial journey. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses have a purpose beyond...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 83: Braving Discomfort to Live Your Purpose with Channyn Lynne Parker show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 83: Braving Discomfort to Live Your Purpose with Channyn Lynne Parker

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with human rights advocate and Brave Space Alliance CEO Channyn Lynne Parker. Channyn is a public speaker whose accolades include the inaugural Trans100 award, Henrietta Lacks award, and Equality Illinois Freedom Award. As CEO of Brave Space Alliance, Channyn shepherds the first Black-led, trans-led TLGBQ+ center on the south side of Chicago. On the episode, Channyn shares her journey to becoming the CEO of Brave Space Alliance and the significance of finding alignment in life. She also reveals why the nursery rhyme “Row, Row, Row  Your Boat” is deeper than you...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 82: Creating a Thriving Private Social Network with Shadé Akande show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 82: Creating a Thriving Private Social Network with Shadé Akande

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with Shadé Akande, founder and CEO of ONE X LEAGUE, a private social league for Black and Afro-Latina women executives and founders. With more than 18 years of global HR experience at companies like Google and Walmart, Shadé shares her journey of creating a community during that pandemic that blossomed into ONE X LEAGUE. Tune in to hear how a series of brunches sparked the idea for a business all about building relationships and how the transformative power of feedback made ONE X LEAGUE the social network it is today. Episode Highlights  Mission-driven businesses...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 81: How To Use Instagram to Amplify Your Mission and Engage Your Audience show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 81: How To Use Instagram to Amplify Your Mission and Engage Your Audience

Mission Driven Business

Instagram is more than just a social media platform. It has evolved into a visual storytelling hub where businesses can connect deeply with their audience among the more than 1 billion monthly active users on the platform. On this special episode, Brian delves into the intricacies of marketing on Instagram. Whether you’re just starting out looking to enhance your online presence, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to leverage Instagram effectively. Episode Highlights Outline your engagement strategy. Instagram provides a unique platform for you to showcase your...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 80: Transforming Lives and AI with Wendy Gonzalez show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 80: Transforming Lives and AI with Wendy Gonzalez

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with tech trailblazer and Sama CEO Wendy Gonzalez. Sama is a mission-driven Certified B Corp that seeks to raise the standards for both machine learning and global working conditions. The company’s innovative approach to ethically sourcing and training tech talent has lifted more than 68,000 people out of poverty since 2008. On the episode, Wendy dives deep into Sama’s unique for-profit business structure, including reserving a Board of Directors seat for its non-profit on its non-profit roots. She also touts the importance of conviction and self-awareness when building and...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 79: Niching Down with Hugo E. Gomez show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 79: Niching Down with Hugo E. Gomez

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with entrepreneur and Hispanic marketing leader Hugo E. Gomez. As the founder of HispanicMarketing.com, Hugo helps U.S. businesses connect with the Hispanic market. On the episode, Hugo discusses the importance of niching down for marketing and creating personal branding on social media. He also shares the lessons learned on his journey from an employee to self-employed, including embracing uncertainty and trusting himself to figure things out. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses seek win-wins. HispanicMarketing.com is composed of four sub-brands -- Abogados NOW, Doctores...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with entrepreneur and mobile app pioneer John Driscoll. As the co-founder and CEO of Naked Development, John and his team are rewriting the rules of mobile app development, raising the bar for innovation and creativity. John shares invaluable insights on the courage, patience, and perseverance needed to navigate the unpredictable to succeed in business. He also debunks the myth of overnight success. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses pick their fight. John believes you shouldn’t start a business unless you have a mission because having a true mission is like picking a...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps

Mission Driven Business

On this special episode, Brian dives into the all-important mid-year business review. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship or deep into running a medium-sized business, the mid-year business review is the perfect opportunity to take stock of your progress so you can stay on track toward your goals. Learn why the mid-year review is essential, what key areas to focus on, and three practical steps to conduct a thorough assessment. Episode Highlights 1. Revisit your mission, vision, and values. Your mission statement is the heartbeat of your business, articulating its...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with financial planner-turned-business coach Elizabeth Jetton, M.Ed., CFP. Elizabeth has made igniting passion a throughline of her career, evolving from the first female stockbroker in Atlanta to founding a financial planning firm and now working as a business coach and teacher. On the episode, Elizabeth gets to the heart of what makes a mission-driven business successful. She dives deep into how to identify your unique gifts and utilize them to create a business that serves your needs and makes an impact. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses reflect their owners’ golden...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Brian chats with LaSean Smith, a software developer and business creator on a mission to help businesses and business owners succeed. LaSean spent more than a decade as a software executive at Amazon and Microsoft, where he uncovered patterns to use process as a tool to win in business more often. He now uses those insights to help entrepreneurs launch and sustain bootstrapped businesses. 

On the episode, LaSean digs deep into what it means to have a values-based business and why owning a business is the most predictable way to achieve financial independence. He also outlines the three-step process that can help any business serving a healthy market to reach $2 million in revenue in five years.

Episode Highlights

Mission-driven businesses are values-based businesses.

LaSean believes that values are the foundation of a successful business. Mission-driven businesses don’t just identify their values, but they also live and breathe them even when times get tough.

 “Increasingly, customers are seeking out companies that stand for something,” LaSean said. “If you really want to be a values-driven business, you have to be willing to go out of business to protect those values.”

Move fast or rescope.

How fast you iterate is requisite for building a business, according to LaSean. While big businesses move in months and medium-sized businesses move in weeks, a budding entrepreneur needs to move in a matter of hours. If you can’t break the process down and move that quickly, rescope and reconsider how you’re tackling your problems.

“You have to move that fast because you’re trying to compound faster than anyone else,” LaSean said. “Your doubling rate is critical when you’re starting a business.”

Find your audience first.

Rather than starting a business by building a product, LaSean first recommends focusing on your audience. By talking to 100 potential customers upfront, you can gain valuable insights from the people who will ultimately buy your product or service.

“A market requires that you have an audience of people who have a shared problem that is urgent, that is painful and reoccurring, and they have the willingness to find the means to financially pay to solve that problem,” he said.

Audit your life’s minutes.

For more than two years, LaSean has journaled his life through a calendar. Three times per day, he inputs what he’s done so far that day into his digital calendar as an exercise to be more intentional with his time. He challenges others to do the same exercise for 30 days.

“Challenge yourself for 30 days to journal and see how you are spending your time,” he said. “Audit the books of your life minutes and see if there’s a disconnect between where you say you want to go and how you’re actually spending those minutes.”

Resources + Links

About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast

Brian Thompson, JD/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.