#158 – How to Turn Your Expertise into an Eight-Figure Online Business w/ Justin Allan Montgomery
The Necessary Entrepreneur
Want to turn your expertise into a business that earns while you sleep? Former ER nurse Justin Allan Montgomery left a capped-income career to build an eight-figure online education empire, and now he’s helping professionals transform their knowledge into profitable continuing-education businesses. In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Justin to explore how he escaped the traditional career trap, replaced his income within 12 months, and built multiple multi-million-dollar businesses from tiny market shares. Justin shares why fear stops so many smart...
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#157 – Evan Unger: Scaling Elite Leadership, Virtual Training Systems & Building High-Output Teams
The Necessary Entrepreneur
What does it take to turn real-world leadership training into a scalable, high-performance system used by executives, entrepreneurs, and fast-growth companies around the world? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with performance strategist Evan Unger for a deep conversation on building leaders, eliminating operational drag, and unlocking elite execution inside any organization. Evan shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from his early days learning under mentors trained in the Jack Welch GE era, to reinventing his entire business model...
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#156: Derek Gwaltney — From Lottery Marketing to Luxury Brand Experiences | Building Atlas Experiences & the Power of Emotional Branding
The Necessary Entrepreneur
From Lotteries to Luxury Experiences: How Derek Gwaltney Built Atlas Experiences into a Top-Tier Brand Experience Company 🎯 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Derek Gwaltney, founder and CEO of Atlas Experiences, to explore the art of creating unforgettable brand moments that spark emotion, connection, and loyalty. Derek shares his remarkable journey from the lottery and gaming industry to leading one of the fastest-growing experiential marketing companies in America, earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 list (#33 overall). Today, Atlas...
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#155 - Finding Your Internal Edge: Mandy Morris on Mental Wellness, Stress, and Leadership 💡
The Necessary Entrepreneur
Feeling stressed, stuck, or burned out as a high-achieving leader or entrepreneur? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Mandy Morris, LPC, co-founder of Sofree, to explore how high performers can reclaim mental clarity, confidence, and emotional balance. Mandy shares her journey from athletic trainer to licensed therapist and entrepreneur, blending psychology, neuroscience, and practical tools to make mental wellness accessible, actionable, and part of everyday life, not just something you turn to in crisis. She dives into how stress, high...
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#154 - Building Twice: Jesse Lipson on Scaling ShareFile, Selling for $93M, and Starting Levitate
The Necessary Entrepreneur
What makes a successful founder dive back in after a major exit? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Jesse Lipson, founder and CEO of Levitate, a fast-growing SaaS platform helping service businesses build authentic client relationships at scale. Before Levitate, Jesse founded and sold ShareFile to Citrix, where he later served as a public-company executive before leaving to start all over again. Mark and Jesse dive deep into the psychology of entrepreneurship, the pressure of building a second company after a big win, and how to keep...
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#153 - Mary Elizabeth Sadd | How Great Leaders See Around Corners and Live a Generous Life
The Necessary Entrepreneur
What separates great leaders from good ones? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Mary Elizabeth Sadd, leadership advisor, executive search expert, and author of Living a Generous Life: Learning, Earning, and Returning. With over two decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and fast-growth organizations, Mary has spent her career helping CEOs and boards build world-class leadership teams, and uncover the human side of scaling a business. Mary shares timeless lessons on leadership, legacy, and generosity,...
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#152 - Morgan Styler | Rethinking Capitalism with Circular Wealth
The Necessary Entrepreneur
What if capitalism could work for people instead of against them? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Morgan Styler, veteran entrepreneur and co-founder of Circular Wealth, to explore a bold new model he calls “capitalism with compassion.” After decades in direct sales and network marketing, including co-founding companies with over $2 billion in revenue, Morgan became determined to build a system where everyone shares in the success they help create. Morgan explains how Circular Wealth uses regenerative economics to reward human...
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#151 - Thriving on Chaos: How Columbus Brewing Co. Built a Lasting Craft Beer Brand | Eric Bean
The Necessary Entrepreneur
What does it take to build and sustain one of Ohio’s most respected craft breweries? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Eric Bean, co-owner and brewmaster of Columbus Brewing Company, to explore how craftsmanship, culture, and community come together to shape a lasting brand. Eric shares how he and his wife, Beth, have helped transform Columbus Brewing Company into a cornerstone of Ohio’s beer scene, staying true to their roots while pushing innovation and quality forward. From learning under a German brewmaster to growing a modern legacy brand,...
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#150 - Brewing Grit & Growth: Darrel Grumman, CEO of Bubbles Tea Company | Mark Perkins, The Necessary Entrepreneur
The Necessary Entrepreneur
In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Darrel Grumman, CEO and franchiser of Bubbles Tea & Juice Company. Since acquiring the brand in 2024, Darrel has transformed Bubbles from a small local favorite into a rapidly growing franchise with new locations, mobile units, and an updated, innovative menu. Darrel opens up about the realities of scaling a business, the grind of entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned while balancing risk, leadership, and vision. From overcoming setbacks to building culture through authenticity, this episode dives into what...
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#149 - Building Together: Kass & Mike Lazerow on Love, Leadership & “Shoveling $h!t” | The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins
The Necessary Entrepreneur
In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins, we sit down with powerhouse couple Kass and Mike Lazerow, entrepreneurs, investors, and authors of “Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story.” Together, they share honest insights on building businesses, navigating marriage, and leading with empathy through life’s inevitable messes. From founding multiple startups to investing through Salesforce Ventures, Mike and Kass reveal how vulnerability, partnership, and resilience have shaped both their personal and professional success. They discuss the importance of mindset, communication,...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins welcomes Danny Lehr — co-founder of Caffeine & Kilos, gym owner, and now author of the powerful new book, Win the Next Hour.
Danny shares real-world insights on what it takes to do the hard things, make meaningful progress, and build momentum through consistent, mindful execution. Drawing from years of entrepreneurial experience, he breaks down the exact mental frameworks that have helped him grow multiple businesses, balance priorities, and enjoy the process — without burning out.
🧠 Topics Covered:
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80% proficiency with 2 year commitment
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The secret to prioritizing by importance, not urgency
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How to simplify your path to success by focusing on the next hour
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Developing mindfulness as a business advantage
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Taking advantage of unexpected opportunities
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Building a life and business you actually enjoy
Whether you're building a business, writing your first book, or just trying to get unstuck, this conversation will change how you approach time, goals, and growth.
📌Find Out More About Danny Lehr:
https://dannylehr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/danny.lehr.9
https://www.instagram.com/
https://shop.caffeineandkilos.
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@
📚 Danny’s new book, Win the Next Hour, is out now.
🛒 Get it here: Win Your Next Hour
📈 Perfect for entrepreneurs, founders, creatives, and high-performers.
📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167