Mission Driven Business
Diverse entrepreneurs share their experiences, strength, and hope to help mission-driven businesses thrive. In a series of intimate conversations, attorney and CFP Brian Thompson and his guests provide practical steps to create businesses with impact and profit.
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 74: Using Data To Drive Diversity with Ken Jansenns
04/23/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 74: Using Data To Drive Diversity with Ken Jansenns
Brian chats with diversity, equity, and inclusion trailblazer Ken Janssens. During his 25-year-long career at JPMorgan Chase, Ken co-founded and chaired the company’s LGBTQ+ Executive Council, championing diversity and inclusivity at the highest levels. He’s also the former Board Chair for leading LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion non-profit Out & Equal. On the episode, Ken discusses his new venture, Windō, which aims to make corporate sustainability transparent and to connect young people with employers that share their values. He also shares his journey from activist leader to visionary entrepreneur and touts why establishing a clear mission and vision makes financial sense for companies. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses place purpose at their core. Ken defines a mission-driven business as one that puts purpose at its core. He also pointed out that purpose is especially important to Gen Z employees, who are the first generation to place purpose over pay when finding an employer. “Whilst a lot of companies have adopted purpose statements, there are many that still haven’t,” Ken said. “Purpose can rally an entire organization around something that is usually quite simple but very powerful.” Keep it simple. Ken co-founded Windō to connect young talent with value-aligned employers. Having such a simple mission statement has made it easy for him to recall and ensure his daily decisions are grounded in the company’s purpose. “Our mission just rolls off the tongue, but obviously, you don’t just come up with that willy nilly,” he said. “You really think about it, but then it’s very clear. It grounds us and makes it easy to talk about what we’re about in one simple sentence.” Use data to drive diversity. While Windō’s data focuses on large companies, Ken says that small business owners can still take inspiration from some of the top performers. For instance, a company of any size can implement self-ID, which allows employees to disclose their demographic information to break down large data sets by diverse groups. Companies can then use the self-ID data to measure how employee satisfaction varies among different groups of people and, ideally, use the resulting awareness to improve year over year. “I think every company is aiming for belonging, and that’s difficult to measure,“ Ken said. “This is a great way of doing that. You ask employees different kinds of questions and get the results by a diverse group, and you don’t guard the results as a secret when there’s work to do.” Transparency builds trust. The ultimate goal of sustainability reports is to build trust, according to Ken. However, you can’t have trust without transparency, commitment, and accountability. He also emphasized that potential employees know that increasing workplace diversity can be challenging and that progress isn’t always linear. “Gen Z is okay with the numbers being low, but they want to see progress,” Ken said. “Moving the dial is hard, and sometimes you have a dip. It’s okay if they’re still in the grand scheme making progress.” Resources + Links Ken Janssens: Windō: , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Thompson Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/30946163
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 73: Tech, Ethics, and Empowerment with Amanda Wilson
04/09/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 73: Tech, Ethics, and Empowerment with Amanda Wilson
Brian chats with Amanda Wilson, the co-founder of #open, a dating app for ethically non-monogamous relationships. On the episode, Amanda opens up about the fear she faced pivoting from running political campaigns to launching a sex-positive tech business with her business and life partner. She also shares essential strategies and tactics for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and how she utilizes AI to fuel growth and innovation at #open. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses balance making money with benefiting society. Amanda defines a mission-driven business as one that doesn’t just focus on finances as the number one goal. As part of making #open a mission-driven business, Amanda is setting up the company to become a Certified B Corporation, which requires balancing making money with the responsibility to benefit society. “Our mission is to create safer spaces for marginalized and at-risk communities to form authentic connections,” Amanda said. “That’s exceptionally important to us because we are a dating app for people that are in ethically non-monogamous relationships, which is still a hard road for people who are doing that.” Keep your customers safe. One of the goals of #open is to build a safe space for the sex-positive community. To do that, the company makes it a point to listen to its user base, including by talking to customers through the #open support team and by reading app store reviews. Amanda also says the company prioritizes safety through data privacy. “Your data is just an extension of you, so your data needs to be treated as respectfully as we would treat another person standing right here in front of us,” Amanda said. “#Open can always strive to be a safer place.” Use AI to improve your human touch. Amanda sees the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a way to improve the personal touch of businesses and marketing strategies. For instance, #open reviews every picture that goes inside its app, and AI can help flag images that may break the company's content policies. Also, Amanda uses an AI transcription tool to review her podcast interviews and find points she can improve upon for next time. “AI definitely helps us to be able to have that personal touch,” she said. “Building our community is one of the strategies and tactics we use.” Hire your potential customers. #Open emphasizes hiring people within the community they’re serving, so that the people creating the tools can better understand the dynamics around the software’s real-world use. “We try and hire as many women and other marginalized people as we can,” Amanda said. “My one request is if we can get more women in tech, life would be so much better for so many people.” Resources + Links Amanda Wilson: #open: , , , , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Thompson Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/30742763
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 72: Crafting A Legacy Of Leadership with Amanda Bauer-Frisch
03/26/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 72: Crafting A Legacy Of Leadership with Amanda Bauer-Frisch
Brian chats with serial entrepreneur and visionary leader Amanda Bauer-Frisch. As the CEO of Small Legacies, Amanda creates a way to give thoughtful, high-quality learning tools that enhance a child’s development. She also oversees several other small, legacy-driven businesses under the Enduring Legacy brand. On the episode, Amanda opens up about how becoming a young widow and being open to the right, new opportunities shaped her entrepreneurial journey. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s purchased several existing brands and shares tips for finding and acquiring businesses. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses exist for a reason deeper than profit. Amanda defines a mission-driven business as one that exists for a reason deeper than profit. When she started Small Legacies, she created a hand-made wooden bank to teach her oldest son the basic financial literacy skills of saving, spending, and giving. But she also had a deeper meaning in mind. “My first husband passed away in 2017 from a genetic heart condition at 30 years old,” she said. “So making this bank for my oldest was like helping to carry on my husband’s legacy and memory.” Elevate and delegate. When Amanda started Small Legacies, she built the company’s signature wooden bank boxes in her garage. Eventually, Small Legacies received so many orders that she needed to find a wood toy manufacturer to meet the demand, which in turn made it possible to acquire and take over the operations of another family-owned woodworking business. She wouldn’t have been able to grow if she hadn’t practiced the principle of “delegate and elevate.” “That’s still a daily part of my journey -- trying to figure out where I can shine and what things bring me the most joy but also yield the most results for the business,” Amanda said. “And then how can I find the right people to support me in the business on the things that, frankly, bring me no joy or I’m not good at them.” Hire and fire based on your values. For Amanda, one of the hardest parts of running a mission-driven small business is knowing that she is responsible for the well-being of the employees on her payroll. Finding the right teammates that fit her company’s mission, vision, and values is already challenging, but gets even more complex when acquiring employees of another company. Amanda experienced this challenge firsthand last year when an existing employee of a company she had acquired refused to comply with Enduring Legacy’s policy of being open and accepting to any employee. Although the employee had a lot of knowledge about the newly acquired brand and processes, Amanda decided to end the company’s relationship with him because he wouldn’t be a good fit for the company’s values. Even though the decision required Amanda to cash in her 401(k) to buy new equipment, she knew it was the right thing to do. “It was an incredibly easy decision,” she said. “It was a difficult day, but at the same time, I went to bed and slept great that night because it was the right thing to do.” Resources + Links by Gino Wickman and Tom Bouwer Amanda Bauer-Frisch: Small Legacies: , , , , Navy Paddles: , , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Thompson Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/30544168
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 71: Driving A Heart-Led Business with Brian Moak
03/12/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 71: Driving A Heart-Led Business with Brian Moak
Brian chats with Brian Moak, an entrepreneur, consultant, coach, and motivational speaker focused on service-based businesses and team engagement. As the owner and CEO of HEART Certified Auto Care, Brian used empathy to transform his family’s business into an industry-leading auto shop. He also owns one of the largest Shack Shine franchises in North America and is a partner in a digital marketing firm. On the episode, Brian Moak details his rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey, riding the lows of losing $1.5 million in one year to growing his business to earn nearly $15 million in revenue. He also lists his Four Point Plan to help any business thrive and shares the most critical question to ask to change your business’s trajectory. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are aligned. When defining a mission-driven business, Brian takes a term from the auto shop world: alignment. At a mission-driven business, all parts of the operation are aligned toward the end goal or outcome to be achieved. “Every person in the company should be facing the same way,” he said. “That has to come from the top. The top has to give that vision and sell that vision to the team, so they can feel engaged and make it happen.” Create a 4-point plan. Through the years, Brian has learned that for a plan to work it needs to be based on strategy, not just an idea. He’s since created and implemented a 4-point plan to help his company reach its goals. Step 1: Build rapport Rapport means understanding the connection between the owner and the employees as well as understanding the needs that your employees have. To build rapport, Brian makes it a point to talk with every one of his 75 employees every week. “It’s not like I do a review,” Brian said. “It’s a casual stroll through the business to say hello and find out how their family is doing." Step 2: Define “it” To know where you want to go, you first have to define “it.” Rather than speaking in generalities, get clear on your vision, mission, and short- and long-term goals. Also, be specific when you tell employees what you need from them to achieve those goals. Step 3: Share why Not only is it important to clearly detail the plan, but it’s also critical to share why the broader goal matters. “Sometimes it’s as simple as we have to do this so we can ensure job security,” Brian said. “Sometimes it’s as big as we have to do this, so you can get a huge raise.” Step 4: Ask for commitment A plan can’t succeed without the commitment of everyone to follow the process and achieve the outcome. At HEART Certified Auto Care, Brian makes sure everyone is aligned on the plan and then asks for a verbal commitment. “If we don’t have their commitment, typically there’s a breakdown in communication somewhere,” Brian said. “Either their values don’t align, the ‘what’ wasn’t clear enough, or the ‘why’ wasn’t compelling enough.” Live up to your standards. As a gay man in a blue-collar industry, Brian felt he had to prove himself. Early in his career, he tended to overcompensate, which created a toxic work culture. The result was that he almost lost his business. “I asked everyone else to succeed in an area that I was failing, and that’s the worst kind of leader,” he said. “I have really high standards, and if I was going to have those high standards, I better live up to them myself.” After personal therapy and a forced business rebrand, Brian committed to putting heart at the center of his business and leading with empathy instead of tyranny. It didn’t take long for the business to start to grow. “All of a sudden, people wanted my help,” he said. “We went from losing a million and a half dollars in one year to we’re going to do just shy of 15 million bucks this year.” Resources + Links Brian Moak: , , , , HEART Certified Auto Care: Shack Shine: , , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Thompson Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/30335683
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 70: How To Create Powerful Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
02/13/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 70: How To Create Powerful Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
On this special episode, Brian dives deep into the art of crafting your business’s mission, vision, and value statements. These principles are the roadmap to success, and Brian gives a blueprint for creating powerful mission, vision, and values statements that shape the foundation of a successful company. This process is a fundamental topic for any budding entrepreneur or business owner. Episode Highlights How to write an effective mission statement The mission statement is the heart of any business, encapsulating the “why” behind your company’s existence. To be effective, a mission statement must be clear, concise, and informative. It should also encapsulate your business’s identity. Below are three helpful questions to ask yourself when creating a mission statement: What is our purpose? Who do we serve? What impact do we want to make? How to write an inspirational vision statement A good vision statement is aspirational. At its best, the vision statement inspires not just the company’s founder and employees but everyone associated with a business. Below are two helpful questions to ask yourself when creating a vision statement: What problem are you solving? What would your company look like 10 years from now if all your goals were met? How to write an authentic value statement Value statements are memorable, actionable, and timeliness principles that guide a company’s decision-making and culture. As the backbone of an organization, value statements are not just words on a page but the core beliefs that the company would be willing to go out of business to defend. Resources + Links Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/29836593
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 69: Building A Business For Financial Independence with LaSean Smith
01/09/2024
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 69: Building A Business For Financial Independence with LaSean Smith
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 by James Clear “Fortunes require leverage. Business leverage comes from capital, people, and products with no marginal cost of replication (code and media).” -- Naval Ravikant () by Todd Henry Follow LaSean Smith: , , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/29401128
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 68: Start 2024 With A Clean Slate With This Year-End Checklist
12/26/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 68: Start 2024 With A Clean Slate With This Year-End Checklist
It’s hard to believe that 2023 is almost over. Before the New Year, it’s time to reflect on the past year and get ready for the next one. On this special episode, Brian lists off 10 business and 10 personal tasks that you should check off your list to end 2023 on the right note and start 2024 with a clean slate. Episode Highlights 10 End-Of-Year Business Action Items 1. Review your goals How did you do this year? What were you proud to accomplish? Anything you wish you could have done better? The end of the year is a great time to review the goals you made at the beginning of the year and set new ones for 2024. 2. Update your cash flow If you use Profit First, look at each bucket’s allocations. If a bucket looks too full or scarce, update your percentages accordingly. Remember: Do not make adjustments of more than 3%, which can put you in a bind later. 3. Review your profit & loss At this point in the year, you should have a good sense of your business’s gross income, which makes it an ideal time to review your profit & loss statement. Hopefully, it was a banner year for you! 4. Find your tax return There’s nothing like some downtime during the holidays to organize and prepare for tax season. Take some time to find a return to help with some of the next tasks on this list. 5. Max out your Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA If you have a little extra profit this year, retirement accounts are a great way to shelter income. If you have a Solo 401(k), you can contribute $22,500 as an employee in 2023. Additionally, if you are age 50 or older, you can contribute $7,500 in employee catch-up contributions and up to $66,000 in employer contributions. If you have a SEP IRA, you can contribute up to 25% of your adjusted net earnings or $66,000 in 2023, whichever is less. 6. Defer income and incur expenses It’s an excellent time to defer income until 2024 and incur expenses you know you’ll have at the beginning of the year while it’s still 2023. However, remember two things before you take this approach: The business expense must be ordinary and necessary, meaning it’s an expense that a business like yours would incur. You don’t save money on an expense you wouldn’t otherwise buy. 7. Consider “out-of-the-box” expenses When thinking about expenses, consider some that may be “out-of-the-box,” such as employee cell phone reimbursement, educational assistance, or dependent care assistance. Expenses can also include up to $25 per person gifts for clients or holiday parties and some forms of holiday travel if they include business reasons. 8. Update your asset list Did you buy new assets during the year that will affect your tax return? It’s important to have an accurate list of assets associated with your business for tax purposes. Also, figure out what equipment you no longer use in the business and consider what equipment you can acquire if you’re trying to reduce your bottom line. 9. Review your business structure Evaluate your business structure and the qualified business income deduction for any changes that you need to make, such as setting up a Solo 401(k) by the deadline of December 31. 10. Reflect before 2024 How do you feel about your business? Is it going in the direction you want? How can you bring more intention to what you’re doing? Reflecting on the past year and creating some attention for the new year is essential. 10 End-of-Year Personal Action Items 1. Review your goals Just like you did with your business, review your goals for 2023 and take stock of where you succeeded and where you fell short. Either way, you’ll have some good information about the changes you can make in 2024. 2. Update your budget Your money and your business are tools to live the life that you want, and the end of the year gives you a solid endpoint to assess whether you matched the goals you set at the outset of 2023. If you didn’t set financial goals for 2023, the start of the new year is a great time to that finally works for you. 3. Create a holiday bucket Consider how much you want to spend this holiday season, which may look a lot different than in past years. Create a separate bucket for holiday spending, then stop spending when that money is gone. You’ll thank yourself come January when you don’t have huge credit card bills. 4. Spend benefits you’ll lose Take stock of the benefits you have that won’t roll over to 2024. Whether that’s unused vacation days, medical dependent care benefits, or money in your flexible spending account, use your workplace benefits to your advantage. 5. Make any last charitable contributions December 31 is the last day your donations can go on your 2023 tax return. If giving to charity is part of your spending plan, use to make the most out of your charitable giving. 6. Pump up your 529 account More than 30 states for your contributions to a 529 plan. However, to count for this tax year, contributions must be made by December 31. 7. Max out your 401(k) If you have a spouse who works as a W2 employee, 401(k) contributions made through December 31 count for the 2023 tax year. If you have extra cash and want to boost your savings, consider adding your spouse’s last 2023 paycheck to their 401(k). 8. Find your tax return Tax season is right around the corner, so prepare yourself now, while you have some space and mental energy. You can also use this time to assess whether a Roth conversion is best for you. 9. Review your will and trust With end-of-year reflections, you’re keenly aware of all the changes in life. Remember, your estate plan is also affected by those changes and needs to match your current situation. Checking your estate documents is especially important if you’ve gotten married, gone through a divorce, or had children in the past year. 10. Review your insurance documents Just like your estate documents, your insurance policies should also cover your current needs. Review your life and disability policies to ensure they protect your income and those dependent on you. Also, your renters and homeowners insurance should protect any additional big purchases you made during the year, and your health insurance policy should be reviewed for any upcoming changes. Resources + Links The bucket budget: Questions for charitable giving: Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/29220538
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 67: Empowering Inclusive Entrepreneurship with Ebony Janelle
12/12/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 67: Empowering Inclusive Entrepreneurship with Ebony Janelle
Brian chats with inclusive entrepreneurship expert Ebony Janelle. As an Empower by GoDaddy manager, Ebony drives GoDaddy’s corporate program that helps underserved entrepreneurs thrive. She manages the day-to-day operations that provide education, networking, and mentorship to small business owners from underfunded communities. On the episode, Ebony discusses the challenges facing LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, including a disparity in funding and resources. She also shares the three pillars that entrepreneurs of all kinds can use to uplevel their businesses and how the use of generative AI can give small business owners some of their precious time back. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses support positive change. Ebony defines a mission-driven business as a company that seeks to solve or change social problems, demonstrating responsibility for supporting positive change in the world. She's proud that the company she works for, GoDaddy, meets that definition -- especially because the work she manages within GoDaddy’s signature Social Impact program and Empower by GoDaddy are crucial components of GoDaddy's mission to make opportunity more inclusive for all. “The mission is actually what drives all aspects of the business,” she said. “Not only does it help local economies, it also helps build intergenerational wealth for families.” Three pillars for success: Education, networking, and mentorship. Empower by GoDaddy espouses three pillars to help business owners succeed: Education, networking, and mentorship. All three pillars are needed to “uplevel” entrepreneurs, according to Ebony. “Without the education of how to run your business, you’re not going to have the opportunity to network or find a mentor,” she said. “If you don’t have the networking of like-minded individuals, you’re not going to be able to run ideas past them or improve your education. And without a mentor, you don’t have the necessary pathway to discuss areas of opportunity or talk through roadblocks.” Use generative AI to get some time back. Small business owners wear many different hats, and there’s never enough time to do all the tasks on the to-do list. Recently, Ebony has heard entrepreneurs using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, to lessen the time it takes to do some of the more menial tasks. As a result, the business owner can focus on bigger, more important items. “Using generative AI can really be helpful to your small business to automate some of the things that you may not have the time to do,” Ebony said. Don’t do it alone. Especially if you’re an entrepreneur from an underserved community, you may feel like there’s no one else who’s faced the hurdles you’re experiencing. That’s why it’s important to find a community of like-minded individuals. “One of the things that a lot of small business owners don’t take into consideration is that there are others that have done it before you and can give you some practical advice to help you over the hurdle you may be facing,” Janelle said. “Don’t try to do it alone.” Resources + Links Ebony: , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/29035073
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 66: Creating Your Personal Brand with Isaac Saldana
11/28/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 66: Creating Your Personal Brand with Isaac Saldana
Brian chats with serial entrepreneur and SendGrid founder Isaac Saldana about his new venture Memo, which helps people build authentic and trustworthy personal brands. On the episode, Isaac opens up about how his introversion initially made it difficult for him to sell his expertise online, and how he's now using his experiences to help other entrepreneurs and creatives effectively showcase their talents. He also gives tips for being a leader with your natural personality and for using your values to navigate difficult business decisions. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses move mountains. Mission-driven businesses share a motivation to make the world a little bit better. Issac says you know your level of motivation is right as a business owner when you have the passion to move mountains. "If your motivation is big enough to move a mountain, then you've found the right motivation and the right mission," he said. Personal brands build new connections. Establishing a personal brand on social media can help convey trust and demonstrate your knowledge. While some people think the purpose of a personal brand is to be popular online, Isaac sees its true value as building connections. "If your purpose is to connect with other people, specifically new people that you don't know, a personal brand could be influential," he said. Establish your company values early. One of the first things that Isaac did with his new company, Memo, was to establish a set of values, which spell out the word HAPPY: humility, adaptability, peers, passion, and you. Issac prioritized creating values for Memo early on because being an entrepreneur requires making decisions even when there's no right answer. In those instances, he believes it can be helpful to lean on your values. "You can't go to Google or ChatGPT and ask them to give you an answer," Isaac said. "You need something to help you make decisions, and values do that." Build a culture around your values. Establishing company values can help with more than just making decisions. Building values into a company's culture can lead to a more efficient and happy workplace, and conveying a company's values online can help build trust and credibility with an audience. "I can talk about values for a long time because I truly believe they make a huge difference," Isaac said. "Many entrepreneurs don't focus on that early on." Resources + Links Isaac: , , Memo: , , , , SendGrid: , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/28820688
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 65: Cultivating Courage with Elliot Greenberger
11/14/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 65: Cultivating Courage with Elliot Greenberger
Brian chats with Elliot Greenberger, a new entrepreneur who recently pivoted from corporate leadership to business coaching. On the episode, Elliot opens up about how he felt stuck and drained before he started his business, even though he had a successful career and a fulfilling family life. He also shares the practical steps he took to launch his coaching firm and tips for creating an effective sales process that aligns with your business's mission. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are born out of a sense of purpose. Every business has a purpose, whether the leaders of a company know it or not. But what defines a mission-driven business is that the company is born out of that sense of purpose, according to Elliot. "What sets a mission-driven business apart is that there's a specific kind of intentionality and specificity about the mission," Elliot said. "That mission literally drives the business." For Elliot's coaching business, the mission has evolved into teaching his clients how to be courageous. He writes a weekly newsletter called "On Courage" and is thinking about teaching courses or doing speaking on the subject. Align your sales process with your mission. A company's mission can't go very far without a sales process to support turning that mission into a reality. That's why creating a sales process that aligns with your business's mission and vision is one of the most important steps you can take, according to Elliot. "Having a process really allows me to keep my integrity as a coach," Elliot said. "It allows me to really focus on my mission and make sure I'm attracting clients and getting clients who support the work I want to do." Carve out time for self care. One of the benefits of being a business owner is being able to more easily carve out time in the day for self care. For Elliot, that sometimes looks like ending his day at 3 p.m. and going for a swim as a way to care for himself and do what's best for his business. "The way I pace my day not only helps me become a better person to those around me, it also helps my business," he said. "It helps me as a coach, and there's something that can be transmitted about that to the people that I work with." Resources + Links Elliot: , Elliot’s and the Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/28629473
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 64: Creating An Inclusive Clothing Company with Spider Perry
10/24/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 64: Creating An Inclusive Clothing Company with Spider Perry
Brian chats with Spider Perry, founder of the inclusive clothing company NerdyKeppie. Spider initially created the company as a side business to provide LGBTQ Judaica for their daughter and now runs NerdyKeppie full-time with the help of several part-time employees. On the episode, Spider shares how the business has evolved throughout its growth. They also list their top tips for keeping a business afloat and emphasize the importance of delegation. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses create the world you want to live in. Spider defines a mission-driven business as a company that actively tries to create the kind of world you want to live in. This definition of a mission-driven business extends beyond just the products a company makes to the working environment it provides for employees. “It has to go both ways,” Spider said. “It would be hollow if it were only outward facing or only inward facing.” Get organized from the beginning. When Spider started NerdyKeppie, they were the only person who had to understand how files were named and organized. But as the company has grown, the system they created didn’t always make sense to the other people working at the company. They advise other business owners to strategically organize files from the start. “Keep track of things better than you think, and do it from the beginning,” Spider said. “I still have a file on our server now that I still have to finish sorting.” If you don’t trust a person, don’t work with them. Delegation is a crucial part of running a business, so it’s important to trust the people that you work with. If you don’t trust a person, you shouldn’t be working with them, Spider advises. “If you can’t hand off something to someone and trust that they’re going to get it done in the way that you need, maybe you need to reevaluate that relationship,” Spider said. Spider has had to end a few business relationships because they couldn’t trust the end result. However, the people he does continue to work with are empowered to make decisions and do the job right. “I have to pay our operations lead for the job that I want him to do,” he said. “I have to make sure that he has the tools that he needs. And then I need to stop, walk away, and let him do the job.” Resources + Links Spider: , , NerdyKeppie: , , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/28404320
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 63: Disrupting the Status Quo with Miki Agrawal
10/10/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 63: Disrupting the Status Quo with Miki Agrawal
Brian chats with serial entrepreneur, social innovator, and author Miki Agrawal. As the founder of disruptive ventures Tushy, Thinx, and Wild, Miki is known for challenging the status quo and driving cultural change. She is also the author of best-selling books Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her. On the episode, Miki dives deep into her experience building multiple 100-million-dollar businesses. She also shares the questions she asks before starting a new business and opens up about how some of her hardest times have led to growth. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses do well and good. Miki defines a mission-driven business as a company that does good and well at the same time. As a member of a board on conscious capitalism, she’s witnessed how companies that create socially conscious business models perform better financially, too. “It’s a company that looks at the stakeholders versus just the shareholders,” Miki said. “Having not just a revenue-focused target but also an impact target is important.” Three questions to ask before starting a business. Before she starts a new business, Miki asks herself three questions: What sucks in my world? Does it suck for a lot of people? Can I be passionate about it for a really long time? “There’s a saying that it takes 10 years to be an overnight success,” Miki said. “When I think about starting Tushy or Thinx or Wild, they are all things I could be really passionate about for a really long time.” 90% of success is action. Miki likes the saying that 90% of working out is putting on your running shoes and walking out the door. She attributes a similar action-first mindset to success in business, too. If you’re inspired and take action, you may end up somewhere miraculous. “If you have an idea in your head, take the first step,” she said. “Talk is cheap. Action speaks louder than words.” Question everything. Miki attributes her success to her desire to creatively solve problems to the best of her ability. She also credits her culturally diverse upbringing in French Canada, where she grew up with a Japanese mother and Indian father in a Hindu-Buddhist household. “We got a chance to not conform,” she said. “When you don’t conform, you get to really question everything. And when you get to question everything, you invent new possibilities.” Resources + Links Miki Agrawal: , , , Books: , Tushy: , , , , , Thinx: , , , , Wild: , , Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/28273757
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 62: 7 Lessons From 7 Years In Business
09/26/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 62: 7 Lessons From 7 Years In Business
Brian Thompson Financial just celebrated its seventh birthday. In this inspirational special episode, Brian reflects on the lessons he’s learned as a mission-driven business owner over the past seven years. He also shares the moments that led him to starting his own company, critical turning points, and factors he attributes to his success. Episode Highlights: 7 Lessons 1. Celebrate your success. Starting a business is scary and involves a lot of risk. To stay grateful and humble, it’s important to celebrate what you’ve built. “I’ve found taking moments to appreciate and celebrate things about my business has helped keep me present. And it’s really fun to celebrate and recognize the achievements of having somebody give you money for your services.” 2. You don’t have to be perfect. Everyone will mess up when it comes to running to a business. The important thing is to recognize when you’ve made a mistake, learn from it, and then take a different action in the future. “I’ve taken on too much, not served clients in the best way, or let the business consume too much of me. I’ve learned to accept that this is a growth process and will continue as long as I’m in business.” 3. Everything is an experiment. Thinking of your business ideas as experiments can help you overcome paralysis from fear of change and seize new opportunities. Continuous experimentation that follows the principles of build, measure, and learn empowers you to create the business you want. “It takes the pressure off by thinking that everything I do in the business is an experiment. I’ve had so many opportunities to try different things or take the business in a different direction.” 4. Follow your curiosity. The good and bad thing about being a business owner? You can build whatever you want. To help you find focus and direction, follow your curiosity. “What things do you really enjoy? What do you find yourself working on or researching when you ‘should’ be doing other things? The answers to those questions have helped me develop many new aspects of my business that I never initially considered.” 5. Delegate (even when you don’t want to). It takes time to follow the things you’re curious about or take the business in a new direction, which means you’re going to have to give up doing some of the business tasks. If you’re a “control freak,” this can be difficult. “It’s been very hard for me to hand off things to someone else, but I realize that in order to be able to focus and still do the things that I want to do, someone else has to take over things that maybe I don’t do the best.” 6. Marketing is hard but necessary. You can have the best product or service in the world, but it’s useless if nobody knows about it. To grow your business, you have to put yourself out there, promote what you do, and show people why it’s important. “With things like my podcast, I’ve learned how to promote myself more in the service of the business and to my potential clients. It’s still hard seeing myself on video or hearing my voice, but that imperfection and vulnerability helps me connect with people in ways that I didn’t expect.” 7. You are enough. Chances are, there are many other business owners doing exactly what you do. If you're feeling insecure, it's important to remember that you are enough just as you are. Each business owner brings a unique and different perspective -- and that’s worth a lot. “Insecurity and imposter syndrome were huge stumbling blocks for me, but they became stepping stones when I stopped comparing myself to other business owners and began focusing on my value. Whatever it takes for you to really internalize and accept your value as a person and what you bring to the world, the easier it is for you to create the thing that you do.” Resources + Links Brian Thompson Financial: , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27932157
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 61: Owning Your Legacy with Jori Davis
09/12/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 61: Owning Your Legacy with Jori Davis
Brian chats with professional basketball player-turned-entrepreneur Jori Davis. Jori started her professional career in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever. Her decade-long global basketball career spanned six countries and sparked her desire to help other elite athletes own their legacy. Jori’s new venture, Wevolv, builds on her passion for empowering global athletes by creating a decentralized platform for global athletes to manage their careers and lifestyles. On the episode, Jori chats about what keeps her motivated as an athlete and business owner. She also opens up about some of the barriers that modern athletes face and how her company is trying to overcome them. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses have soul. A mission-driven business goes beyond just having a purpose but drives straight into the heart and soul of the founder, Jori said. By starting with the soul and a struggle, a founder and company get the energy and grit to do something most others wouldn’t or couldn’t. “It’s impossible for you to just walk away from,” Jori said. “That’s when you find a mission-driven business.” For Jori, that mission is to build a community of athletes that have an opportunity of ownership and force the industry to shift with the needs of athletes. However, that also puts her on the opposing side of powerful forces. “Do I get a little nervous? Yes because I know what people are capable of when it comes to money, greed, and having power,” she said. “It scares me that I will lose touch or get blinded as I’m trying to navigate these waters.” Stay humble but confident. One of Jori’s greatest strengths is to find common ground with people from totally different backgrounds, while still staying true to herself. She attributes her ability to blend humility and confidence to her strong New Orleans roots. As she has traveled around the world, she has learned that not everyone knows the genuine, unconditional love of her hometown community, so she’s made a conscious effort to show that kindness to others even when it’s hard. “I felt it was my duty, no matter where I go, to allow someone to experience that love despite it being hard,” she said. “I might not get it returned, but that’s okay because I have enough.” Detach when you’re feeling overwhelmed. When Jori was younger, her stepfather would help her try and see a new perspective by encouraging her to imagine her mind detaching from her body and looking down at herself from above. Now that she’s a business owner, she finds taking a similar 360-degree view helpful for finding clarity. “Literally imagine the people involved,” she said. “Pay attention to what they’re paying attention to like the pieces on a chessboard. Really conceptualize the whole element, then come back to your vision and what you’re doing today.” Resources + Links Wevolv: , , , , Jori’s Social Media: , , , , Follow Brian Online: , , , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27932127
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 60: From Rejections To Raising $169 Million with Neha Sampat
08/22/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 60: From Rejections To Raising $169 Million with Neha Sampat
Brian chats with three-time tech founder and CEO Neha Sampat. Her latest venture, Contentstack, is a category-leading Composable Digital Experience Platform used by Mitsubishi Electric, Burberry, Icelandair, Leesa, and more. Neha has raised $169 million in capital for Contentstack over the past three years, including a recent $80 million Series C round. On the episode, Neha provides a wealth of strategies and tactics for building multiple successful businesses, including the importance of aligning a mission with company values. She also shares why she is a relentless advocate for achieving equity in the workforce and how getting comfortable with rejection helped her to become one of the top women in tech for fundraising dollars. Photos Credit: Courtesy of Austin Woman Magazine. Shot by Rudy Arocha. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses align with their values. Neha describes a mission-driven business as one whose mission aligns with its values. Ideally, the business’s mission is to change lives, create impact, and do something meaningful. The company's values then inform how the business achieves its mission. “It all boils down to what the company’s values are,” she said. “Values that are shared and understood and revisited often so that they're not just something on a board somewhere but something we’re actually living on a regular basis and rewarding people to live by.” Get comfortable with rejection. Raising millions of dollars takes a lot of rejection. When Neha was figuring out how to raise capital for her startups, she was routinely told no. To get to a yes, she learned to be resilient, ask for feedback, make changes, and try again. “You do that 100 times before you get to the point where someone wants to write you a term sheet,” she said. Find your champion. Neha’s breakthrough came when she found her champion and, later, her first investor. By following her champion’s playbook, she reached an inflection point where her work started to come together. Now, Neha is one of the top women in tech for fundraising dollars -- a fact that makes her smile. “There’s always somebody that becomes a champion for you, and when that happens, it’s so magical,” she says. “There aren’t a lot of female CEOs, and almost none in enterprise SAAS, that have raised this much capital. I want people to know that and see that it is possible if you stay on that course, build resilience, believe in yourself, and find champions.” Everybody has a superpower. As a woman of color tech founder without an engineering background, Neha didn’t have someone successful to look up to when she was a new tech entrepreneur. Her experience made her incredibly passionate about providing access and opportunities to more people in the tech industry. For instance, when she created Contentstack, Neha partnered with community colleges to bring students into the organization. Now, some of those students have been with Contentstack for more than 15 years. “Everybody has their own superpower, and sometimes the right access, opportunities, or education lets you unlock it,” she said. “I go out of my way to look for those opportunities.” Resources + Links Contentstack: , , , , , Neha’s Social Media: , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27816468
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 59: Creating The Job You Want with Sarah Kendrick
08/08/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 59: Creating The Job You Want with Sarah Kendrick
Brian chats with RHEA Services founder and “accidental business owner” Sarah Kendrick. Sarah started her career as a music therapist for children and adults with developmental disabilities but later realized the need for care and support in the bereavement process while helping her family after the death of her grandma. Bringing together the skills she developed during her years as a therapist, she founded RHEA Services to simplify the life transitions pre-planning and estate closure processes. On the episode, Sarah walks listeners through her journey of becoming an entrepreneur, including the struggles that turned into stepping stones. She also shares how she’s iterated and developed RHEA Services by listening to the needs of her customers and reads a blessing for business owners. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses make the world better. Sarah says mission-driven businesses do work that makes the world better than it is now. She started her mission-driven business, RHEA Services, in 2020 to help families and small business owners gather essential information in case something were to happen to them. “You’re the only person who knows what’s in your head, which is usually a good thing, but it gets troublesome when you are the one person who knows all of your most important pieces of information.” she said. “I help people basically make a map of that information so that if something happens, somebody knows where to go and look and get what they need.” She stumbled upon her line of work after reading an article about a woman in her 40s who struggled with the “business of death” after her husband died of cancer suddenly and unexpectedly. She immediately knew that helping families with the administrative pieces of losing a loved one was exactly what she wanted to be doing, but she couldn’t find another business doing that kind of work. “I am very much an accidental business owner, and I think that’s sometimes how mission-driven businesses start,” she said. “They see a problem and what they can do to help that problem. That was my situation.” Your customers will tell you what they need. Listen to them. The type of administrative work that Sarah set out to do in 2020 is just a small portion of what RHEA Services offers today. While Sarah didn’t intentionally set out to grow her business, it has naturally evolved as Sarah uncovers her own needs and listens intently to customers’ needs. “I am hearing what people need,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that I have to just do whatever people want me to do, but if it feels right to me, too, that’s a really lovely way to honor their faith in me.” Being a business owner is exciting and terrifying. Sarah describes herself as the type of person who prefers predictability and a schedule, which is not the life of a business owner. As she’s created and grown her business over the past three years, she’s learned to adjust her mindset about being an entrepreneur. She may never love the lack of predictability, but she’s grown to like the challenge of solving problems. “Being a business owner is exciting, exhilarating, and terrifying, and I am far more open to it than I ever was before,” Sarah said. “I’m more capable than I thought I was, and I’ve developed this newfound confidence in myself.” Resources + Links RHEA Services: , , Sarah’s Social Media: Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27684462
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 58: Outworking Your Imposter Syndrome with Jesmond Riggins
07/25/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 58: Outworking Your Imposter Syndrome with Jesmond Riggins
Brian chats with long-time friend and fellow lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Jesmond Riggins. Jesmond founded Legislative Logistics, a legislative consulting company for small and medium-sized businesses. On the episode, Jesmond tells his inspiring story from graduating high school near the bottom of his class to graduating from law school and now starting his own business. He also provides insight into the motivational mindset that helps him to continue to achieve success. Episode Highlights Who you were does not determine who you will be. By the time Jesmond reached high school, he was entirely disinterested in school except for playing football. In a pivotal conversation, his football coach convinced him to not quit the team, which he now attributes as a key factor for why he stayed in school and eventually graduated. However, he graduated with a GPA of 1.3 on a 4.0 scale and a rank of 443 out of 459 students. “Graduating from high school I felt lost,” Jesmond said. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m going nowhere. I’m left behind.’” While his friends went off to college, Jesmond joined the military. After his time in the service, he worked full-time and attended community college while sleeping in the living room of his mother’s apartment. Because of his poor high school performance, he had a lot of catching up to do and took several remedial classes. Despite the difficulty, Jesmond kept pushing and landed a scholarship to continue his education at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, where he decided to study government and politics. His professors saw a brilliance in him that they cultivated, which led him to attend Rutgers University law school and land a job after graduation in the Department of Justice. “I was lucky enough to find myself in the Civil Rights Division,” he said. “I was the only Black male civil rights analyst who implemented and enforced section five of the Voting Rights Act.” Outwork your imposter syndrome. Even as Jesmond worked toward a future he wanted, he struggled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. To overcome those feelings, he gave his studies his best effort and gained confidence as the effort he put in reflected in his grades. “I was deathly afraid that people would find out that I was stupid, that I’m not supposed to be there,” he said. “So I worked hard. I studied every single day. And when I got my first report card back, it was straight As.” Create a business that solves a problem. Desmond’s law career spanned a variety of government and politics-related roles, where he noticed that many people from organizations didn’t know how the political system worked and how to best influence it. “I had no idea that what I was observing would turn into a business idea," he said. "It was just something that I noticed and all of us complained about.” Once he realized he could create a business to help small and midsize businesses that can't afford lobbyists, he came up with the dollar amount he needed to save to cover the essentials for himself and his family while he got his business off the ground. Then, he saved as if his life depended on it. "If you wait for the right moment, you may never do something," he said. Resources + Links Jesmond’s Social Media: Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27558924
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 57: Going from Startup to Shark Tank with Krish Himmatramka
07/11/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 57: Going from Startup to Shark Tank with Krish Himmatramka
Brian chats with Krish Himmatramka, the founder of Do Amore, which sells ethically sourced engagement rings to further its mission of providing clean water to people in developing countries. On the episode, Krish shares his journey from mechanical engineer to mission-driven entrepreneur, including his experience on the hit TV show Shark Tank. He also provides insights into building a for-profit brand that makes an impact and details how he scaled his business from an $18,000 investment to netting $40 million in sales. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses change lives. Krish defines a mission-driven business as one where you want to make money and use some of that money to improve a community -- whether that community is small and local or the entire world. His company, Do Amore, fulfills its mission by bringing clean water to a person in a developing country every time a customer buys an engagement or wedding ring. “Do Amore is basically the most ethical engagement ring and wedding ring company in the world,” Krish said. “This way a couple can use their life-changing moment to actually change another life forever.” Make an ethical case for a for-profit company. Before Krish started Do Amore, he saw many nonprofit businesses trying to bring people clean water, but few that made a significant impact at fulfilling that mission. Rather than starting yet another nonprofit, he thought he could positively change more lives by funding nonprofit work with the sales from a for-profit business that sold something expensive at a large volume -- like engagement rings. “I focused on making an ethical ring for my girlfriend that actually helped the world,” Krish said. “The best way to do this was to sell something expensive that was high volume and high profit margin, so that every time we sell something, we could make a massive difference.” Keep a startup mentality. Krish saved $18,000 to start his business, and it’s the only money he needed to invest. He largely credits the success to avoiding inventory costs by only making orders after receiving payment from a customer, but he also says putting his savings into the company forced him to make the business work. “It was a very slow and steady process,” Krish said. “You start with selling one ring a month, then the next month selling three, then five.” Advertise your mission -- especially on SharkTank. After years of slow but steady growth, Krish says two decisions were crucial to building Do Amore’s momentum: (1) Migrating to a “real website” that he didn’t build himself and (2) paying for advertising. Another great way to advertise? Being on the hit TV show Shark Tank, as Krish can attest since he was featured on Season 13 of the show. “Having people like Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary talking to you on the screen adds some trust,” Krish said. “I think it added a trust component for us.” Resources + Links Do Amore: , , , , Krish’s Social Media: , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27430893
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 56: Creating an Inclusive, Profitable Tech Company with Paul Pastor
06/27/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 56: Creating an Inclusive, Profitable Tech Company with Paul Pastor
Brian chats with Paul Pastor, a media and tech entrepreneur who currently serves as Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder of Quickplay. In the episode, Paul shares his experience transitioning from media to the tech industry -- and how he immediately noticed and began to address a lack of diversity in the latter. He also discusses the business case for diversity and opens up about the lessons he learned from a previous failed business venture. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses follow personal motivations. Mission-driven businesses take a step back and follow the personal motivations of their founders, according to Paul. When he created Quickplay, he had three big drivers and motivators behind the vision for the company: Do you see a big idea and want to chase it? Can you continue to drive impact in the industry that you have? How do you make sure you keep a sense of responsibility that comes with being an entrepreneur? Paul and his co-founders stayed true to their answers as they created a company that builds out the technology behind streaming services. Paul's also guided Quickplay to a broader LGBTQ+ ally-driven initiative, which gives the company an even greater sense of mission and purpose. “I think about how do I, from a company perspective, not only make an impact on a specific technology or specific television show distribution, but also how do I step up as an individual and how do we step up as a company and say there’s other things that are important about the way we do business,” he said. Make a business case for diversity. When Paul moved into the tech industry, he immediately noticed the lack of diversity. Walking around a trade show, it was clear that the majority of attendees were white or Indian men. In response, he’s made it a focus for Quickplay to create space for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in the tech industry -- and the result is a positive impact on the business. “At the National Association of Broadcasters conferences, we had a co-sponsorship with Google Cloud, and what I loved was not only did we have a huge number of attendees but it became an event that people wanted to go to and co-sponsor,” Paul said. “Anil Jain from Google stood up and said, ‘This is the company that shares the values of how we like to operate, and that’s the type of company we want to do business with.’” Culture always wins. Not only can diversity lead to business opportunities, but it can also create a work culture that allows employees to do their best work alone and together. As a result, the company creates a strong, safe, and respectful culture that allows it to thrive. But Paul emphasizes that culture has to stop at the top. “When a leader walks in the room, everybody else is looking at how that leader walks into the room,” Paul said. “Your presence, how you communicate, how you talk to others matters because it sets up how others mimic those behaviors and fundamentally take on the positive and negative aspects of the company.” Find product-market fit quickly and cheaply. The first gate for a business to cross on its way to success is product-market fit. Paul emphasized that it's important to find product-market fit as quickly and cheaply as possible because once you can show fit and market size, you can find capital to grow. “It takes a lot of discipline to make sure you follow through those proper phases,” Paul said. “We’ve clearly agreed and defined our goals, so we’re not spending a lot of time debating the next step because we’ve already defined where we’re headed.” Resources + Links Quickplay: , , Paul’s Social Media: Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27279222
info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 55: Demystifying the 1040 Tax Form
06/13/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 55: Demystifying the 1040 Tax Form
Now that we’re past the tax deadline of April 18, you may be tempted to throw your tax return into a drawer or folder and not think about your taxable income or deductions until next year. But now is the best time to look over what you filed and think ahead. Brian walks listeners through the 1040 tax form, so you can catch mistakes before it’s too late and start planning for next tax year. Episode Highlights Part 1: Personal information This is the place to make an excellent first impression. Missing your name, address, and social security number will get you rejected immediately. Make sure your filing status and dependents are correct. The definitions generally focus on your status as of the last day of the last year, and if multiple options apply, pick the one that’s best for you. This section of the 1040 tax form also has two checkboxes. The first asks if you’d like to contribute $3 of your tax money to the presidential election campaign fund. The second asks about digital assets, such as cryptocurrency, and it’s important to not skip. Part 2: Gross income Gross income is pretty much anything and everything you’ve earned. Just some examples listed in include earnings from fees, commissions, fringe benefits, business gains and dealings, property interest, rent, royalties, dividends, alimony, annuities, and pensions. Importantly, gross income doesn’t just include cash. For example, exchanging legal services or dental services is also part of your gross income. Part 3: Above-the-line deductions Once you have your gross income, it's time to make some adjustments, deductions, and allowances to figure out the final amount you owe the government. Figuring out your taxable income can be complicated -- after all, the tax code is 74,000 pages long. Use the income documents you receive, such as W-2s or NEC-1099s, and any tax software to guide you. Reading the form details can also be surprisingly helpful, and the IRS provides a guidebook called . In the tax world, there are two types of deductions: above-the-line deductions that reduce your total income and below-the-line deductions that reduce your taxable income. There are a lot of adjustments you can make, so take time to read through and figure out which ones apply to you. Most people can access the above-the-line adjustments if they have a qualifying expense. You can find a list of your adjustments on Part 2 of your , the same document you use to identify additional income sources. Part 4: Below-the-line deductions Your gross income minus the above-the-line deductions becomes your adjusted gross income (AGI). Now it’s time to look at the below-the-line deductions to get to the final taxable income figure. Take a look at the standard and itemized deductions. The standard deduction is the standard amount you can subtract from your AGI based on your filing status. Alternatively, you can deduct itemized deductions if the total adds up to more than the standard deduction. Itemized deductions appear on your Schedule A and include medical and dental expenses, interest paid on your mortgage or mortgage insurance, gifts to charity, casualty and theft losses, certain taxes, and more. If you’re a business owner, the qualified business income deduction allows the owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S-corporations, and some trusts and estates to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income (QBI). Part 5: Other taxes Once you’ve subtracted your below-the-line deductions from your AGI, you have your taxable income. From your taxable income, the IRS uses its tax tables to determine how much tax you need to pay on your income. The 1040 also has a line for other taxes. Several additional taxes that may need to be paid, such as the alternative minimum tax, which is an alternative form of taxation that applies to some taxpayers. Part 6: Credits and payments The last way to reduce your tax involves taking tax credits. While a deduction reduces your taxable income, a tax credit has the advantage of deducing your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Also, some tax credits are refundable, so even if your credit exceeds your tax liability, you get the excess back. Credits include the foreign tax credit, the child and dependent care credit, education credits, retirement sayings credits, adoption credits, alternative motor vehicle credits, and residential energy credits. The form provides more information about the qualifications and restrictions of credits. Once you have your total tax, whether you get a refund from the government or owe tax money depends on payments made throughout the year through withholding from an employer and estimated tax payments. Resources + Links Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/27133560
info_outline
Building A Business From Bootstrap To $1 Million with Yong-Soo Chung
05/09/2023
Building A Business From Bootstrap To $1 Million with Yong-Soo Chung
Brian chats with Yong-Soo Chung, a serial entrepreneur who founded three e-commerce companies in the span of seven years. With his latest venture, the podcast First Class Founders, Yong-Soo is on a mission to impact entrepreneurs by sharing his lessons on building sustainable businesses from bootstrap to earning more than $1 million in annual revenue. On the episode, Yong-Soo shares his three pillars for a successful business and fulfilling life. He also discusses the importance of listening to your intuition and taking advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses do more than make money. Yong-Soo defines a mission-driven business as one that has an intention or purpose beyond making money. Whether it’s helping a community or donating a percentage of profits to a cause, mission-driven businesses do activities for a bigger purpose. "The way I like to put it is when you're living, money is like oxygen, so you need money to survive,” Yong-Soo explained. “But it's not like you're living your life to breathe, right? That's the kind of way that I like to look at it." Root yourself in a city that supports your growth. Before becoming a serial entrepreneur, Yong-Soo worked in finance in New York City. Following his intuition, Yong-Soo decided to take his life in a new direction by moving to San Francisco and pursuing his own business. “What I was doing didn’t feel like something that would fulfill me 5 or 10 years down the line,” Yong-Soo said. “I knew that it was like a bandage that just needed to be ripped off, and I just needed to essentially start over in a new area.” The move was difficult but allowed him to meet people with similar goals and discover opportunities he would have never known existed. His personal values and vision for the future were key in deciding which city to live in and which opportunities to pursue. “New York City is obviously a fantastic city for opportunities, but it didn’t serve what I wanted to do 5 to 10 years down the line,” Yong-Soo said “Being rooted in an area that you want to compound yourself in all areas of your life is really the key.” Three steps to live your best life. Yong-Soo lists three simple but impactful actions to live your best life: Focus on what you can control. Focus on what you do have. Do not dwell on the past. “The chances of an app succeeding in a big way was very small, but it’s more about the learning process and the lessons you’re going to learn along the way,” Song-Yoon said. “That’s where the gems and the valuable lessons come from.” Resources + Links First Class Founders: , Spotted by Humphrey: , Urban EDC: , , , , , Growth Jet: , Yong-Soo’s Social Media: , , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26785914
info_outline
Finding Your Focus with Tuesday Brooks
04/25/2023
Finding Your Focus with Tuesday Brooks
Brian chats with Tuesday P. Brooks, a business owner, educator, trusted tax and accounting advisor, and U.S. veteran. Her company, AJOY, champions profitability for women-led micro and small businesses. On the episode, Tuesday shares the power of being open to suggestions and how following where you’re led can lead to some incredible outcomes. She also breaks down how prioritizing profitability can help entrepreneurs better support their mission and create impact. Episode Highlights Revenue is a primary focus for mission-driven businesses. Tuesday describes a mission-driven business as one in which the people running it understand that revenue and sales have to be a key focus. If you’re running a business with a good cause that doesn’t make any money, then you’re essentially volunteering. “The only way you can support your mission is if you have the resources to do it,” Tuesday said. “And resources mean money.” The need for revenue to support a mission is particularly impactful for Tuesday as her company AJOY teaches financial fluency to business owners. The company specializes in helping womxn-led businesses achieve profitability through three tiers of support: bookkeeping, cash management, and tax strategy. “If they're employing all of these things, they have no choice to but to be profitable,” she said. You can’t grow if nobody knows what you do. Before AJOY existed as a financial management firm, Tuesday used the brand name to provide a wide variety of business services to clients. The problem was that the company didn’t grow because nobody quite knew what she did. “If during that time you were to ask 10 people, ‘What does Tuesday do?,’ you would have gotten 10 different answers because I was capable of doing a lot of things,” she said. Then, in 2009, she decided to focus on accounting and tax for small businesses. Once she claimed her niche, the business started to grow because people became very aware of her services and did not come to her for anything else. “I have not wavered from what we do, and how we do it has only gotten better,” she said. “People started to understand they could rely on us.” Follow where you’re led. Before leaning into running a financial management firm for womxn-led businesses, Tuesday had a winding career path. She got her Master’s in Education based on a friend's suggestion and her Business Degree in Media Management because her Mom saw a flier for a program. She also discovered her niche because her mentor and business coach suggested she go to a boot camp. Her experiences have led her to espouse the power of being able to follow. “Everybody talks about leadership, but there’s also power in being open to suggestions and doing things,” she said. “It led to so many wonderful experiences that brought me to where I am now, and it’s how we’re able to support our business because I tapped into so many industries.” Resources + Links AJOY: , , , , , Tuesday’s Social Media: , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26641989
info_outline
An Expert Guide To Understanding The 1120-S Tax Form
04/11/2023
An Expert Guide To Understanding The 1120-S Tax Form
It’s tax season crunch time. In this episode, Brian will walk you through the S-Corporation income tax return to help you better understand what you’re filing and hopefully catch mistakes before it’s too late. He provides a section-by-section analysis of Form 1120-S and highlights key areas that business owners and tax professionals make mistakes. Episode Highlights Part 1: Heading, Income, Deductions, Tax and Payments Most of this information is drawn from your business’s Profit and Loss Statement. Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the first page: Calendar year: The very top of the form asks for the calendar year. If the corporation has a calendar year-end, leave this blank. If a fiscal year or short year put in the appropriate dates. Address: Underneath the calendar year, the form asks for a name and address. Use the name set forth in the charter or other legal documents, such as your Employer Identification Number (EIN) letter. Item A: Located to the left of the address, Item A asks for your S election effective date. You should have a letter from the IRS (CP 261) with your S-Corp starting date. This date should stay the same every year. Item B: Your business activity code. This code shows the IRS exactly what you do. Item C: Item C only applies if you have assets of $10 million or more. Most of the time, Item C will not be checked. Item D: Put your EIN in Item D. Make sure to verify it’s correct before you file your form. Item E: Your date of incorporation should match the articles of incorporation. This date may or may not be the same date as your S-election. Like the S-election date, the date of incorporation won’t change. Item F: Total assets at the end of the year. Item G: If the corporation is electing to be an S-Corp beginning with the current filing tax year, check the appropriate box. If the S-Corp did not already file the S-Election, attach Form 2553 with the return. Item H: These boxes should be self-explanatory. Check the boxes that apply. Item I: Enter the number of shareholders in the firm (e.g. yourself and your partners). Item J: Most of the time, Item J will not be checked. If you believe that one of the Item J items applies, follow up with your tax accountant. Income: Report gross revenue your business has earned for the year and any additional income or interest income that you may have incurred. Only report trade or business income. Do not list rental income, portfolio income, or tax exempt income (those go on your Schedule K). Expenses: Report all deductions on your Profit and Loss statement. Pay special attention to the following lines: Line 7: Compensation of officers should have something on it. S-Corporations must pay shareholder/employee reasonable compensation for services rendered, and failing to put reasonable compensation could lead to an IRS audit. Also included on this line are fringe benefits, including employer contributions to health plans and group term life insurance, for shareholders/employees owning more than 2% of the corporation stock. If your S-Corp has total receipts of $500,000 or more, you’ll need to attach Form 1125-E to explain what was paid to each officer. Line 8: Salary and wages paid to employees (other than officers) of the corporation. Line 17: An S-Corporation can deduct contributions made for its employees under a qualified pension, profit sharing, annuity, SEP plan, Simple plan, or any other retirement deferred compensation plan. This includes shareholders/employees owning more than 2% of the corporation stock. Line 18: Employee fringe benefits provided to officers and employees owning less than 2% go on this line, such as health insurance, disability insurance, and educational assistance. Line 19: Line 19 includes any other deductions. There should be an attached statement, and it should match your profit and loss. The numbers should be close to your Profit and Loss statement. Taxes and payments: In general, an S-Corporation does not pay taxes at the corporate level, so this section will be blank. Signature: It’s important to sign the return only after verifying all of the information, including the following sections. Part 2: Schedule B This section is mostly self-explanatory questions. Make sure to read and understand each question. Below are two lines to pay special attention to: Box 1: This easy-to-miss box can change your entire return if you’re not careful, since it’s where you select whether you’re a cash or accrual basis taxpayer. Once you choose an accounting method, you generally cannot change without approval from the IRS. Box 2: Here is where you explain what you do. Part B is an either/or question, so state whether you sell products or services. Also, if you hire contractors, say yes to question 14 -- and hopefully you got out your 1099 forms by January 31. Part 3: Schedules K and K-1 Schedule K reports the pro rata share items in total for the Corporation. Schedule K-1, which you receive in your personal name, reports the percentage of pro rata share items allocable to each shareholder. Lines 1-17 on Schedule K correspond to Boxes 1-17 on Schedule K-1. Most items on Schedules K and K-1 are self-explanatory and come from other parts of the return. Part 4: Schedule L This is where many taxpayers make a mistake. Schedule L matches your business’ balance sheet and should agree with your books and records. If it doesn’t, find out why before you file. The first two columns match what your accounts were at the beginning of the year and should match what the accounts were at the end of last year. If this is your first year filing an 1120-S return, these two columns should be blank. The second two columns are for what the accounts had on December 31 of the previous year and will carry over to next year’s return. Some of the most common assets on Schedule L are: Line 1: Write the amount of cash in your bank account on the last day of the year. Line 7: Loans to shareholders are loans from the corporation to the shareholder. Keep in mind, these loans need to be documented and should have a repayment schedule and interest rate. Line 10a: Buildings and other depreciable assets are fixed assets that the business owns that have been depreciated, such as real estate, furniture, or machinery Some of the most common liabilities on Schedule L are: Line 18: Other current liabilities are expenses incurred at the end of the year but not paid until January of the next year. Current expenses often include wages, state taxes, federal taxes, and payroll taxes payable at the end of the year. Line 19: Loans from shareholders are loans from the shareholder to the corporation. As with the other loans, these loans should be documented and include a repayment schedule and interest rate. Line 22: The par value or stated value of the capital stock issued by the corporation. This amount stays the same each year unless the S-Corporation issues additional stock after incorporation. The corporate charter or minutes should identify the stock. Line 23: Enter the beginning and ending balances of additional paid-in capital. This includes the amount contributed to the S-Corp by shareholders for which the corporation did not issue stock or amounts contributed in excess of the stated or par value. Line 24: This section is especially tricky. You should base the retained earnings on the S-Corporation’s books and records. Most of the time, retained earnings should match the Accumulated Adjustments Account (AAA), other adjustments account (OAA), and previously taxed income (PTI) balances on Schedule M-2. Line 27: This line represents the total liability and shareholders equity. This line must match line 15. If you answered “yes” to question 11 on Schedule B that your total receipts were less than $250,000 and total assets were less than $250,000, then you aren’t required to file a Schedule L. However, it may be beneficial to file Schedule L anyway because it will be crucial for future balance sheets. Part 5: Schedules M-1 and M-2 Schedule M-1 helps explain discrepancies between the books and your tax return. This section should explain any differences you notice. Some common items reported on Schedule M-2 include: Meal expenses (100% on books, 50% on taxes) Entertainment (100% on books, 0% on taxes) Life insurance premium expense (100% on books, 0% on taxes) Certain fines and penalties (100% on books, 0% on taxes) Political contributions (100% on books, 0% on taxes) Book depreciation expense (100% on books, 0% on taxes) Tax depreciation expense (%0 on books, 100% on taxes) Tax-exempt income (100% on books, %0 on taxes) Schedule M-2 tracks the income and losses and separately states items that the shareholder should report on their tax return. Resources + Links Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26500329
info_outline
Staying Focused And Authentic with Tristan Schukraft
03/28/2023
Staying Focused And Authentic with Tristan Schukraft
Brian chats with Tristan Schukraft, president and CEO of MISTR, a telehealth platform that offers discrete access to medication that can help prevent HIV. On the episode, Tristan shares how he started MISTR to help his friends, which led to a business fueled by passion. He also discusses the importance of knowing your market, staying true to your mission, and questioning how to make the status quo better. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses make a positive impact on communities. Like other guests on the podcast, Tristan defines a mission-driven business as one that has a higher purpose and makes a positive impact on the world. But he goes one step further by saying mission-driven businesses even more specifically make a positive impact on the communities they’re designed to serve. “The mission of any business is like the guiding North star,” Tristan said. “All business decisions that are made all circle back to the mission. It’s really important for entrepreneurs to understand what the mission is and stay focused on that.” For MISTR, that mission is to help increase access and adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a once-daily medicine that helps prevent HIV. While PrEP is “a huge change in the fight against HIV,” the number of people using it to prevent new HIV infections was limited. Tristan created MISTR to try and help. “It was not necessarily a business at first, but more that I wanted to help my friends get on PreEP and help eliminate HIV infections,” Tristan said. “When you’re focused on making money, it doesn’t work out. And when you’re so passionate about what you’re doing, everything kind of comes together.” Know your audience. To be a successful entrepreneur, you not only need to be passionate about your work and your mission but you also have to know the audience you’re serving. For instance, Tristan was invited to join the HIV Commission in Los Angeles, which was made up of passionate people who lived through the AIDS crisis. But to get more young people to use and adhere to PreP, the commission’s plan involved calling people and using data that was years out of date. “I quickly realized if you want adherence and access to increase, you have to move this online,” Tristan said. “Who are you trying to target? Young people. Young people don’t answer the phone. Young people don’t have voicemail.” Stay focused to find success. Tristan is full of energy and ideas, and he’s always looking for opportunities. So his brother gave him advice that has stuck with him: To be really successful, you have to stay focused. Tristan applied his brother’s advice to launch his first successful company and still uses it to focus on his business initiatives today. “You can’t be everything to everyone,” Tristan said. “You have to really understand your market and stay true to your market.” Staying focused is also something that Tristan tells the marketing team of MISTR. The company speaks to its target community in a non-medical and very sex-positive way, which resonates with its customers. ‘You’re going to offend some people, but that's okay, right?” Tristan said. “If you’re trying to please everybody, then you lose your authenticity.” Resources + Links Tristan’s Social Media: , Mistr: , , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26363001
info_outline
Building A Bold Business with Ciara Stockeland
03/14/2023
Building A Bold Business with Ciara Stockeland
Brian chats with Ciara Stockeland, a serial entrepreneur who has owned and operated businesses since she was a teenager. On the episode, Ciara shares her best tips as an inventory and cash flow expert that can help all types of entrepreneurs build better businesses. She also opens up about the lessons she learned the hard way after she built a seven-figure retail business that she felt trapped in. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are bold. Ciara defines a mission-driven business as one that takes initiative in the world. It also allows the people behind it to live intentionally, be bold, and be intentional. “A mission-driven business really has a strong purpose behind every action and thought,” Ciara said. Follow your gifts and talents. Ciara started her first business when she was just a teenager, eventually growing her skillset to grow a retail franchise business and later a subscription box for retailers. Through the subscription box business, Ciara met many inventory-based business owners who had a lot of questions that she could answer. Initially, she was reluctant to coach other business owners, but realizing that it was her gift motivated her to become a coach and consultant. “There’s a lot of different reasons that we fight what we’re called to do,” Ciara said. “But when we realize and give in and be intentional with our gifts and talents, it just leads to so much more joy and contentment, which produces revenue, funnily enough, because we’re not struggling anymore trying to create something that everyone else demands of us.” Know your numbers. Entrepreneurs and businesses must know their numbers and understand what those numbers mean. If you run an inventory-based business, Ciara recommends learning your numbers for sales, cost of goods, gross margin, expenses, and net profit. “You need to understand what each of those mean and how they work together,” she said. “Once you understand that, you can make really good decisions, build a good foundation, and grow or not grow.” Don’t be the smart person in the room. Ciara advises surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you. While you may be a little uncomfortable or nervous, you’ll grow from experiences that are just a little bit away from what you typically know or do. “When you’re in a storm in your life or your business, you’ll have really good people that you can go to,” Ciara said. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble.” You always have options. Sometimes, running a business can feel like you’re at the extremes of having to go all in on something or quit something. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Ciara wants you to remember that you always have options and try and simplify what you have to do by taking one thing out at a time. “Get to the root of what the opportunity is,” she said. “In your business life, it’ll help to be able to look at the big picture and not be overwhelmed but to drill down.” Resources + Links Ciara’s Social Media: , , , , , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26221071
info_outline
Inspiring A Movement of Kindness with Matthew Hoffman
02/28/2023
Inspiring A Movement of Kindness with Matthew Hoffman
Brian chats with Matthew Hoffman, the founder of You Are Beautiful, a Chicago-based company that uses art to provide kindness, compassion, and community when it’s needed most. On the episode, Matthew shared how he became an accidental entrepreneur and some of the hard lessons he’s learned as a business owner and artist. He also digs deep into using feedback to grow and refine your business. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses have a message. When Matthew started making his signature You Are Beautiful stickers that would eventually become a business, he had a clear message that he wanted to share with the world. He thinks the same kind of purposeful messaging separates mission-driven businesses from the rest. “It’s all about having a clear mission or message and trying to share that with the world,” Matthew said. You can be an “accidental” entrepreneur. Some people start a business with the desire to be an entrepreneur. But other entrepreneurs, like Matthew, don’t originally dream of running their own businesses. In Matthew’s case, growing demand from his community was the catalyst to take his sticker business online and for profit. “I say I am sort of an accidental business owner because for the first years, the stickers were absolutely free, then people were begging me to let them buy them,” Matthew said. “I finally began to offer them for sale on the website … and that began growing the community even bigger.” Treat customers and employees well. One tip that Matthew shared throughout the podcast is the importance of treating people the way you want to be treated. Recognizing that he can’t build a business alone, Matthew tries to cultivate a family-style company culture that is fun, drama-free, and supportive. He also prioritizes the customer experience with dedicated customer service and an online review system. “To find those people that support you and help fill you up is critical,” he said. Grow from your mistakes. While Matthew always strove to overdeliver through his business, his track record hasn’t been perfect. After his stickers appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday program, You Are Beautiful got so many orders that he couldn’t fulfill them all and his payment system didn’t allow him to reach customers with updates. That experience led him to overhaul his approach to e-commerce in order to deliver the premium service he wanted to give customers. “I didn’t want to disappoint or upset, and I always want to overdeliver,” Matthew said. “That allowed me to set up a really successful and rigorous system.” Resources + Links You Are Beautiful: , , Matthew’s Social Media: , , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/26072673
info_outline
Finding Your Calling In Business with Adam Markowitz
02/14/2023
Finding Your Calling In Business with Adam Markowitz
Brian chats with Adam Markowitz, the owner and operator of people-centric tax firm Luminary Tax Advisors. On the episode, Adam opens up about how he decided to lean into his calling to take over his father’s tax advisory firm and the hurdles he faced to buy the business. He also shares a treasure trove of tips to prepare for the upcoming tax season. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses have pillars to support the mission. When Adam took over his father’s company, he rebooted the business, which included coming up with a new name, Luminary Tax Advisors, and a new mission statement, navigating the tax code to shed light on your personal, professional, and financial goals. Equally important to the mission statement are the three pillars that Adam created to support how the business operates internally and outwardly: humanity, accessibility, and humility. “It’s not just about what you stand for outwardly, but what you stand for inwardly that’s really important,” Adam said. Overcome imposter syndrome with confidence. Though accounting runs in the family, Adam did his best to avoid the family business, from skipping business and finance classes in college to pursuing a career as a sports writer after graduation. Even when he eventually did join his father’s company, Adam experienced imposter syndrome. Only after an expert came to Adam for his opinion on a tax law did he realize that he was better at his job than he had first imagined. “Don’t have imposter syndrome,” Adam told the business owners listening to the podcast. “Own it. Be it. That’s not to say there’s not somebody out there better than you. But, my God, if somebody’s paying you for what you’re doing, you must be pretty darn good at it.” Keep learning and ask questions. Adam encourages entrepreneurs to pay attention to the world around them to learn and gain inspiration for their business -- and that learning-oriented mindset can also come in handy at tax time. He recommends that his business owner clients ask or write down their money questions as soon as they think about them (or else they'll forget to ask at tax time). “There is not a good tax preparer on the planet that does not want you to ask questions of them because that’s how we do our jobs better,” Adam said. ”We need to learn, we need to listen, and we need to better ourselves on a daily basis.” Resources + Links Luminary Tax Advisors: , Adam’s Social Media: , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/25923135
info_outline
Diversifying The Financial Services Industry with Choir
01/24/2023
Diversifying The Financial Services Industry with Choir
Brian chats with Sonya Dreizler and Liv Gagnon, the co-founders of Choir, a business dedicated to lifting the voices of people of color, women, and non-binary professionals in industries historically represented by white men. Sonya and Liv share why they started with a focus on the financial services industry. They also discuss how they’ve adapted to meet the needs of their customers while staying true to their company’s mission. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses look inward and outward. Like other guests on the podcast, Liv defines a mission-driven business as one that balances doing good with making a financial impact for those involved with the business. Sonya expanded on that definition by noting that mission-driven businesses can also apply their mission within the company itself. At Choir, that means not only helping other companies diversify people speaking at conferences and in the media but also hiring internal professionals and contractors from diverse backgrounds. “What’s the mission you’re accomplishing with the business, and what are you doing inside of the business as well?” Sonya asked. “The financial impact is going to go back to people who have been underpaid, underserved,” Liv added. Being aware of a problem is powerful. Part of Choir’s mission is to use data to make organizers aware of how conferences lack diversity. A recent analysis by the company showed that men of color, in particular, are lacking in the financial services conference circuit. It’s a data point that may be surprising but is a good starting point for change. “Just knowing and understanding the challenge makes next year a lot easier to increase representation — not just for representation’s sake but to make it a more interesting event and draw more people,” Sonya said. Successful businesses adapt. Liv and Sonya set out to connect professionals from underrepresented backgrounds with conference circuits and media. But how they’re achieving that aim has already changed a few times based on client needs. For instance, the platform they had initially wanted to build, Voices, got pushed back to launch the Choir certification first. They also iterated their pricing structure for Choir based on client feedback. “You become so much more emotionally tied to your ideas and your business model, so it is a challenge every time you have to pivot because you’ve put so much heart into it,” Liv said. “People have a lot of opinions about what we’re doing,” Sonya added. “We have changed things because of people’s suggestions and made what we offer better, and we’ve also looked at feedback and said, ‘It doesn’t fit with our mission.’” Resources + Links Choir: , , , , Sony’s Social Media: , , , Liv’s Social Media: , , Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/25703310
info_outline
Numbers For The New Year
01/10/2023
Numbers For The New Year
Brian kicks off 2023 with tactical tips to start the new year. Now that you’re hopefully relaxed and ready for a new year, Brian digs into the numbers to give you some targets to aim for over the next few months. He covers revenue, retirement, health savings accounts, and more. Episode Highlights Look for new revenue figures. Because of inflation, many revenue and tax figures have increased quite a bit in 2023, meaning you can make more money and still pay less in total tax. For example, in 2023 single filers with a taxable income of $95,376 - $182,100 will have their last dollar taxed at 24%. Last year, that same tax bracket ended at $170,050. Don’t forget the QBI deductions. If you’re a business owner, don’t forget about the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. QBI allows pass-through entities like partnerships and S-Corps to take a 20% deduction on their business income, saving some businesses thousands of dollars. Importantly, you lose the QBI deduction if you exceed certain income thresholds. For instance, the QBI deduction begins to phase out at $182,100 in taxable income and goes away after $232,1000 in taxable income. Use retirement accounts to shelter income from taxes. Maximizing contributions to retirement accounts is one strategy to avoid taxes and save money for your future self. Here are some things to know about common retirement plans: 401(k)s and Solo 401(k)s: Employees can contribute up to $22,5000 plus an additional $7,5000 in catch-up contributions if you are 50 or older. Employers contribute another $43,500. SEPs: You can contribute 25% of your net self-employment earnings or $66,000 -- whichever is less. SIMPLE IRAs: Employees can contribute up to $15,500 with a catch-up contribution of $3,500 if you are 50 or older. Traditional IRA or Roth IRA: You can contribute up to $6,500 with a catch-up contribution of $1,000. Importantly, Roth IRAs have income range phase-outs, starting at $138,000 for single filers and $218,000 for married filers. Consider opening an HSA. A Health Savings Account (HSA) is one of Brian’s favorite savings vehicles and one of your few options to save money on taxes up until April of the following year. An HSA offers triple tax savings: The contributions are tax-deductible. The money grows tax-free in your account. Withdrawals are tax-free if the money is used to pay qualified medical expenses. For 2023, you can contribute up to $3,850 for eligible individual plans and $7,750 for eligible family plans. You can also open and contribute to an HSA if you’re self-employed. Resources + Links Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/25552470
info_outline
Your Year-End Checklist
12/13/2022
Your Year-End Checklist
Can you believe it’s already the end of the year? Now is the time to celebrate with friends and family, reflect on the past 12 months, and plan for the new year. To help you out, Brian created a checklist you can use to review 2022 and start 2023 with a clean state. The checklist includes business and personal to-do items as well as links to resources sure to help you out. Business Checklist 1. Review your goals. The end of the year is the perfect time to review the goals you made at the beginning of 2022 and set new ones for 2023. Ask yourself: How did I do this year? What did I accomplish that I’m proud of? What could I have done better? 2. Update your cash flow. If you’re using the , look at your buckets and see if one looks too full or too sparse, then adjust your allocations accordingly. Remember to not make any adjustments of more than 3% per quarter. 3. Review your profit and loss. At this point in the year, you should have a good sense of your gross business income. If you have a little extra profit this year, look at ways to shelter some of that income so you’re not paying unnecessary income or self-employment tax. 4. Find your tax return. December may seem a little early to think about taxes, but while you have some downtime, it can be worthwhile to organize and prepare for tax season. Finding your tax return will also help you out in your year-end review. 5. Max out your retirement savings. If you’re a business owner and need to shelter some profit, retirement accounts like a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA are great resources. 6. Defer income and incur expenses. The end-of-the-year is an excellent time to defer income until 2023 or incur business expenses that you know you’ll have at the beginning of next year. This is an easy way to reduce your tax liability as long as the expenses are ordinary, helpful, and necessary. 7. Consider out-of-the-box expenses. When considering expenses, don’t forget some out-of-the-box expenses, such as employee benefits, cell phone reimbursement, educational assistance, or dependent care assistance. You can also expense up to $25 per client for gifts as well as expenses for a holiday party for your staff. 8. Update your asset list. Did you buy new assets in 2022? Review your list of assets associated with your business and make sure it’s up-to-date before the new year. You can also consider what equipment you no longer need and what you can acquire if you’re looking to reduce your bottom line. 9. Review your business structure. When you evaluate your business structure and qualified business income (QBI) deduction, don’t forget to consider setting up a Solo 401(k) before the deadline of December 31. 10. Don’t forget pandemic programs. We’re coming to the end of the government pandemic benefits for 2020 and 2021, so don’t forget to review whether you can receive any benefits from programs like the PPP and ERC. Personal Checklist 1. Review your goals. Review where you succeeded and where you fell short. Use that information to decide what changes you can make in 2023. 2. Update your budget. The end of the year gives you a solid endpoint to assess whether you matched the goal you set at the outset of 2022. It’s also a great time to create a . 3. Create a holiday spending bucket. Consider how much you want to spend this holiday season. Create a separate bucket just for the holidays and stop spending when the money's gone. You'll thank yourself when January comes and you don’t have a huge credit card bill. 4. Spend the benefits you’ll lose. Whether it’s vacation days, a medical flexible spending account, or a dependent care flexible spending account, some workplace benefits don’t roll over to 2023. Take stock of your remaining benefits and use them to your advantage before January 1. 5. Make charitable contributions. December 31 is the last day your donations can go on your 2022 tax return. If giving to charity is part of your spending plan, to make the most of your charitable giving. 6. Pump up your 529. The tax deductions for your 529 will have to be made by December 31 for this tax year. Your that allows you to deduct your contributions. 7. Max out your 401(k). If your spouse is a W-2 employee, they have until December 31 to contribute to a 401(k) plan for this tax year. However, they have until April to make contributions to a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and HSA. 8. Find your tax return. Tax season is just around the corner. Preparing now can save you mental energy in 2023. You can also review your tax return to assess whether something like a Roth conversion makes sense for you. 9. Review your will and trust. At the end of the year, you’re likely to reflect on the year and all of the changes that have happened. Now is a great time to make sure your estate plan reflects those changes and that your needs match your current situation. 10. Review your insurance documents. Your insurance documents should cover your current life situation. Review the following policies to make sure they meet your needs: Life insurance Disability insurance Renters or homeowners insurance Health insurance Resources + Links “How To Get Control Of Your Spending Without Tracking Every Penny,” “How To Make The Most Out Of Your Charitable Giving,” “How Much is you State’s 529 Tax Deduction Really Worth?” Brian’s Social Media: , , 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.
/episode/index/show/missiondrivenbusiness/id/25308870