Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

• 1326: Healing-Centered Leadership: The Next Evolution for Entrepreneurs w/ Dominique Samari

  Ever feel like you have a brilliant business plan, but something mysterious always gets in the way of executing it perfectly? This episode is your answer. Dominique Samari, a former attorney turned strategist and healing arts practitioner, pulls back the curtain on the invisible forces—the hidden organizational and leadership patterns—that sabotage our success. This isn't just another strategy session; it's a deep dive into building a business that is not only successful on paper but is resilient, collaborative, and truly impactful in practice. Dominique shows us how to bridge the critical gap between a great idea and a profitable reality by focusing on the one thing that matters most: human connection.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 How to identify the fear-based patterns in your leadership that stifle creativity and growth within your team.🤝 Why "healing-centered leadership" is the next evolution for building resilient, high-impact organizations that thrive in complexity.💡 A framework for bridging the critical gap between a brilliant plan and successful, real-world execution.🧠 How to quiet the loud voice of your intellect to finally hear and trust your entrepreneurial intuition, even when it doesn't make logical sense.🤖 A balanced perspective on using AI as a powerful tool without losing the human connection that truly drives your business forward.📈 The secret to building "relational infrastructure" from day one to create a culture that fuels, rather than fights, your strategy.📝 About Dominique Samari Dominique Samari is an experienced attorney, strategist, coach, and healing arts practitioner who masterfully blends analytical strategy with a deep understanding of human dynamics. With over 15 years of experience leading planning and training efforts for organizations, including rebuilding rule of law infrastructure in Afghanistan, she has a unique global perspective on what makes teams succeed or fail. Through her companies, Kin Consultant Group and the tech platform Kin Universe, she helps organizations increase trust and strengthen the connections needed to turn ambitious plans into tangible success.🎯 Dominique’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Don't wait until you have cultural problems—design for relationships from day one."📢 Memorable Quotes “My intellect is like, ‘well, that's crazy making.’ And then I take the steps, follow my intuition, and it's f*cking magic.” – Dominique Samari“[Intuition] is always there. It's always ready for us to use, but you have to chip away the things that get in the way of you accessing that.” – Dominique Samari“Culture eats strategy for breakfast. You can have the best ideas, the best strategy but if you aren't building a culture that can actually execute that, then it's all for naught.” – Dominique Samari🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Kin Consultant Group’s websiteVisit Kin Universe’s websiteConnect with Dominique on LinkedInFollow Kin Consultant Group on LinkedIn

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• 1325: How to Make Vulnerability Your Greatest Business Superpower to Unlock Your Full Potential w/ Théa Watkins

  Ready to stop letting fear dictate your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode, Brian sits down with Théa Watkins, an impactful coach with 27 years of experience as a global business leader. Théa shares her incredible story of leaving a secure corporate career to build a business around her passion: helping people and organizations realize their full potential. This episode is a masterclass in overcoming the mental hurdles that hold entrepreneurs back. You'll learn why embracing discomfort is the key to growth, how vulnerability can become your greatest leadership tool, and the practical steps to build unwavering self-belief so you can finally feel the fear and do it anyway.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessThe Power of "And Thinking": Discover how to reframe daunting challenges by acknowledging that fear and excitement can coexist, giving you the fuel to take massive action.Unlocking Team Potential: Learn Théa's facilitation strategy for building deep trust and collaboration by creating a space for intentional vulnerability.Fly Higher, Not Lower: Understand the powerful metaphor for why playing small is more dangerous than aiming for your biggest goals and how to build the courage to soar.From Corporate to Entrepreneur: Hear the unfiltered story of making the leap and the specific actions that turned a passion for inclusion into a thriving consulting business.The 10-Second Mindfulness Hack: Learn a simple Positive Intelligence technique to quiet the "fight or flight" response and create the mental space needed for strategic thinking.Vulnerability as a Leadership Choice: Uncover what vulnerability actually looks like in a business context (hint: it's not about sob stories) and how saying "I don't know" can make you a stronger leader.📝 About Théa Watkins Théa Watkins is an impactful coach and expert facilitator with over 27 years of international experience as a business leader in the financial services industry. After a long and successful corporate career, she took the entrepreneurial leap to found Théa Watkins Consulting. Today, she channels her passion and expertise into helping individuals and organizations realize their full potential through the principles of inclusion, transforming team dynamics and empowering leaders to build more effective, respectful, and high-performing environments.🎯 Théa’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Feel the fear and do it anyway... and never stop believing in yourself."📢 Memorable Quotes“Nothing is achieved in life without some struggle and some level of discomfort. That's where the growth and the evolution happens.” – Théa Watkins“Excitement is an emotion or has the same physiological impact on your body… as fear.” – Théa Watkins"Vulnerability is a key leadership choice in today's world... it's part of showing your humanity." – Théa Watkins🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Théa Watkins Consulting’s websiteConnect with Théa on LinkedInFollow Théa Watkins Consulting on LinkedInFollow Théa Watkins Consulting on TikTok

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• 1324: The Tesla of Motorcycles? How Damon is Engineering the Future of Rider Safety w/ Dom Kwong

  In this episode, Brian sits down with Dom Kwong, the engineer-turned-CEO who is revolutionizing personal mobility with Damon Motors. Dom shares the inside story of how he’s tackling one of the biggest challenges in transportation—motorcycle safety—by applying advanced technology and data analytics in ways the industry has never seen before. This episode is a masterclass in innovation, showing how personal experience can fuel a world-changing business idea. For wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, Dom provides a powerful blueprint for identifying massive market gaps, adapting proven tech from other industries, and building a mission-driven company that creates something the world desperately needs (and thinks is incredibly cool).💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to turn a deeply personal problem into a scalable, tech-driven business.The strategy of adapting proven technology (like automotive sensors) to innovate in a completely different industry.Why data and context are the keys to creating next-level value and insights for your customers.A lesson in market adoption: Why "safety" by itself doesn't sell, but integrating it into a cool, desirable product does.How to build a demonstrator product to prove your concept and open up massive licensing opportunities.Why literally becoming your customer is non-negotiable for developing breakthrough products.The financial models, like subscription services, that can lower the barrier to entry for mass adoption of new technology.📝 About Dom KwongDom Kwong is the CEO of Damon Motors, an electric motorcycle company on a mission to make personal mobility safer for everyone. With over 25 years of experience in hardware engineering and manufacturing, Dom has led global teams at companies like Intel and developed groundbreaking products, from the world's first sports heads-up display to smartphones. He holds numerous US and international patents and brings a unique engineer's perspective to solving complex, real-world problems. Dom's passion is driven by his firsthand experience as a motorcyclist, giving him an unparalleled understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry he is transforming.🎯 Dom’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and EntrepreneursYou must understand the problem you are trying to solve by putting yourself directly in your customer’s position—not just in their shoes. To truly innovate, you have to live the pain points and experience the world exactly as they do.📢 Memorable Quotes“The problems that we try to solve are the ones that we experience firsthand.” – Dom Kwong“The rider is always in control... because you're in control, that gives you greater confidence of your surroundings and that makes you safe.” – Dom Kwong“Motorcyclists develop motorcycle technology. That's it. You know, full stop.” – Dom Kwong💡 Actionable TakeawaysLook at adjacent industries for inspiration. Identify proven technologies that you can adapt to create a breakthrough in your own field.Don't just sell a feature (like safety). Integrate your core value proposition into an aspirational product that people desire for its overall appeal.If you lead a team, ensure they are deeply connected to the customer's experience. If they aren't, find ways to immerse them in it.Embrace "imposter syndrome" as a tool to stay humble and continuously listen to your team, your customers, and your industry.🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Damon Motors’ websiteConnect with Dom on LinkedInFollow Damon Motorcycles on LinkedIn

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• 1323: We MUST DECIDE right now!

  Ever get that feeling of "senioritis" in December? The days get shorter, the holidays get closer, and the temptation to mentally check out and just "drift" until the new year is real. But what if that drift is costing you your momentum for next year? In this Solo Sunday episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on why the most successful entrepreneurs use this time not to slow down, but to decide. Inspired by a powerful conversation with an upcoming guest, Brian breaks down why the opposite of drifting is deciding, and how the choices you make right now are what truly set the stage for a breakout year. If you want to start 2026 ahead of the pack instead of playing catch-up, this episode is your catalyst.✨ Why This Matters for YouThis isn't just another end-of-year reflection. It's a strategic advantage:Gain a Competitive Edge: While everyone else is coasting, you’ll be making the key decisions that create unstoppable momentum for Q1.Take Control of Your Future: Your results in six months are a direct consequence of the decisions you make today. This episode shows you how to be intentional about it.Escape the "New Year's Resolution" Trap: Stop waiting for a magical date on the calendar. Brian shows you how to use the natural rhythm of this month to build your future self, starting now.Turn Downtime into "Up-Time": The natural holiday slowdown isn't a time to drift; it's a gift of space to think, strategize, and decide without the usual daily noise.📝 Key TakeawaysNext Year Starts Now. The entrepreneurs who crush it in January and February didn't get lucky; they used December to make pivotal decisions.The Opposite of Drifting is Deciding. Drifting is passive; deciding is an act of creation. You must consciously choose to decide on your direction, identity, and actions for the year ahead.Success Has a Delay. The life and business you have today are the results of choices made long ago. The decisions you make this week will determine where you are months from now.Decide Who You Will Be. The most important decision isn't just what you'll do, but who you'll be. Define the identity of the person who achieves your 2026 goals, and start living as them now.Decide What to Leave Behind. Making powerful decisions also means choosing what habits, mindsets, and projects are not coming with you into the new year.🚀 Put It Into ActionThis week, use the gift of this "slower" season to make one powerful decision:Where in your business or life are you currently "drifting" instead of deciding? Acknowledge it.Make one concrete decision about who you will be in 2026. What is a core trait of that identity? (e.g., "I am a founder who executes without hesitation.")Decide on one thing—a habit, a project, a mindset—that you are officially leaving behind before the new year. Write it down and commit to it.🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to stop drifting and start deciding📣 Special Thanks and Shout Out to a Brilliant Creator!A huge thank you and shout out to Andrew Safnauer for the incredible conversation that inspired this episode! Brian was so fired up after their chat about the power of decision-making that he knew he had to share the core message with you. You'll get to hear the full, amazing interview with Andrew on December 20th in episode #1336. Get ready, because his story and mindset are going to blow you away

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• 1322: From Homeless Veteran to Running a 150+ Employee Company Thanks to RESILIENCE w/ Aaron "Sgt Q" Quinonez

  This episode is a masterclass in resilience from a man who has lived it. Aaron “Sergeant Q” Quinonez takes us on his incredible journey from a Marine special forces operator to a homeless veteran battling PTSD, and ultimately to a purpose-driven CEO of a 150+ employee company. This isn't just an inspiring story; it's a practical blueprint for rewiring your brain to overcome any obstacle. For wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, this episode is critical because it breaks down the science behind mindset, showing you how to intentionally build the mental fortitude required to survive and thrive in the chaotic world of business. Sergeant Q’s powerful blend of military grit and scientific insight will leave you fired up and equipped to conquer the battlefield of your own mind.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessThe Neuroscience of Motivation: Learn how serving others scientifically builds the four key brain chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins) you need to stay motivated and fight off burnout.Conquer Your "Negative Bias": Discover how your brain is hardwired to focus on the negative and learn the exact steps to override this programming to take calculated risks and push past failures.The "ACC" Advantage: Understand how intentionally doing hard things physically grows the part of your brain (the Anterior Cingulate Cortex) responsible for resilience, giving you the capacity to handle bigger business challenges.📝 About Aaron Quinonez Aaron “Sergeant Q” Quinonez is a Marine veteran, leadership speaker, mental health advocate, and multi-business-owning entrepreneur. After serving as a forward observer in a special forces capable unit in Iraq, he faced a brutal battle with PTSD that left him homeless. Through a combination of faith and a deep dive into neuroscience, he rebuilt his life and founded a janitorial company that now employs over 150 people. Aaron's unique perspective comes from combining his elite military training with his raw, personal journey of recovery to provide a no-nonsense, science-backed approach to building an unconquerable mindset.🎯 Aaron’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "When we see those big things coming at us that are scary...we need to meet whatever that challenge is head long on the battlefield. But for us, it will be the battlefield of the mind.”📢 Memorable Quotes"When we feel discomfort, that's not a reason to run. That is a catalyst for growth. We need to say, 'Hey brain, I understand that that in the past has caused me pain, but today I'm going to push through and see what's on the other side.' That's how you build resilience." – Aaron Quinonez"When I feel down, when I feel depressed, when I feel anxious, I go look for somebody to help because I know I need those four chemicals to counterbalance those negative emotions that I'm having." – Aaron Quinonez"There are no easy days. The easy day was yesterday. And so we've got to do the hard things and push through." – Aaron Quinonez🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit evolve’s websiteVisit The Mental Health Janitors’ PodcastConnect with Aaron on LinkedInFollow Sgt Q on FacebookFollow Sgt Q on InstagramFollow Sgt Q on TikTokSubscribe to Sgt Q on YouTube

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