Mark Porteous Reveals Why Most Partnerships Fail (And What Actually Works)

“You don’t scale with more tactics — you scale with aligned relationships.”   That idea sits at the heart of this conversation with Mark Porteous, known as The Soul Connector — and it explains why so many partnerships fail before they ever have a chance to work.   This isn’t a hype-filled JV episode.   It’s a grounded, honest conversation about why most collaborations collapse, how transactional thinking kills long-term growth, and what it actually takes to build partnerships that create impact and income — without burning trust or your audience.   Steve and Mark cover:   🤝 Why most partnerships fail (even when both people have good intentions)   🧭 The difference between transactional JVs and soul-aligned collaborations   🚫 Why list size matters far less than values, delivery, and trust   🔑 What it really means to be “JV-ready” (and why most people aren’t)   📈 How to grow through collaboration without ads, pressure, or manipulation   🌱 Why aligned partnerships create more ease, longevity, and freedom than hustle-driven growth   If you’ve ever felt frustrated by joint ventures, burned by collaborations, or unsure how to grow without selling your soul — this episode will give you a completely different framework for partnership and scale.   👉 Learn more about Mark’s work, the Soulful Leadership Retreat, and his partnership ecosystem at MarkPorteous.com

If you’ve ever wondered why some parts of your business feel effortless while others feel like constant drudgery, today’s episode delivers the answer. Steve sits down with international speaker, consultant, and human-behavior expert Carly Pepin to unpack the unseen value systems driving every move you make in your business.   Carly explains why entrepreneurs stall when their actions conflict with their internal hierarchy of values — and how realigning those values with business strategy immediately eliminates procrastination, burnout, and self-sabotage.   From building scalable systems to reframing dreaded tasks like sales and marketing, Carly shows you how to use your personal wiring as jet fuel instead of a drag on your success. What You’ll Learn   ✔ Why businesses plateau even when the strategy is “right” Carly explains how internal misalignment — not lack of skill — is the real growth bottleneck.   ✔ How values determine motivation, productivity, and stress Your brain will NOT sustain actions that conflict with your highest values. Carly breaks down why.   ✔ The link between systems and personal freedom Most entrepreneurs resist systems because they think it makes them replaceable. Carly shows why the opposite is true.   ✔ How to “link” tasks you avoid to values you love A real example of turning a sales-averse entrepreneur into an inspired relationship-builder.   ✔ Why leaders must make themselves replaceable And how doing so increases your value inside the company.   ✔ How to identify your real values (not the ones you wish you had) Plus, how Carly uses Dr. John Demartini’s method to help clients achieve rapid momentum. Timestamps   00:00 — Why entrepreneurs stay stuck in the weeds 01:00 — Carly’s path from skincare company to human behavior expert 04:00 — Why systems don’t restrict you — they free you 07:00 — The fear behind “being replaced” 10:30 — Leadership, delegation, and working on (not in) the business 12:00 — What values actually are — and why you must know yours 15:00 — How misaligned values create procrastination 18:00 — Live linking example: turning “sales” into “connection & impact” 22:00 — Why acting wasn’t her client’s real dream — and how values revealed the truth 26:00 — How to use the Values Assessment to design a fulfilling and scalable life 30:00 — Where to connect with Carly and access her free tools Guest Resources   Carly Pepin Website & Coaching Podcast: Built For This Free Gift Link: https://www.westcoastgrowthadvisors.com/podcast-gift About Carly Pepin   Carly is an international speaker and consultant specializing in leadership, human behavior, and scaling businesses through aligned strategy and psychology. She equips entrepreneurs with systems, frameworks, and behavioral insights that help them operate from clarity instead of chaos — designing businesses and lives that feel fulfilling, not forced.

Most entrepreneurs are brilliant at generating income—and terrible at turning it into lasting wealth.   In this episode, Steve sits down with Ian Noble, founder of RunSteady Investments, who went from operating a 14-location dry cleaning business in Austin to exiting and going all-in on passive real estate: mobile home parks, private lending funds, and other low-risk, cash-flowing deals.   Ian shares how he quietly built a portfolio alongside his business, why he loves “boring” 7–8% returns, and how smart owners are using depreciation and K-1s to stop tipping the IRS every year.   You’ll hear: From dry cleaner to deal maker How Ian grew up in the family business, took over 14 locations with 90+ employees, and used every extra dollar to buy single-family and commercial properties on the side. The real problem with “reinvest everything” Why so many owners end up with big revenue and almost no assets—and the simple habit change that would’ve saved Ian (and his clients) years of stress. Why mobile home parks beat single-family rentals (for him) Limited supply, long-term residents, and lot rent that appreciates like a business—not like a house. Ian explains why he sees manufactured housing as a quiet winner in the affordability crisis. Passively investing vs being a landlord Fleas, broken toilets, and midnight calls versus wiring money into a deal run by a professional operator. Ian compares his active rentals with his passive syndications—and why he’s leaning heavily toward passive now. How he thinks about returns and risk Why “slow and steady” 7–8% cash flow plus depreciation often beats chasing 18% projections, and how he decides what’s “safe enough” to put his own family’s money into. What to look for in an operator The questions Ian asks before wiring a dollar: track record, failures, communication cadence, background checks, and why “this can’t fail” is his favorite red flag. Using real estate to keep more of what you make How depreciation, cost seg studies, and K-1s can offset income from your investments—and why you still need a sharp CPA to help you do it right. Where to put the extra cash in your business Why many owners sit on $200K–$400K in a checking account “just in case,” and how Ian thinks about using private lending funds and other “parking garages” instead.   If you’re a business owner sitting on cash, paying a painful tax bill every year, and wondering how to actually build wealth outside your company, this episode will give you concrete next steps—and better questions to ask before your next investment. If you're interested in this, you can click on Ian's links below: Free Passive Investing in Real Estate Cheat Sheet: go.runsteadyinvestments.com/grow-your-impact-podcast Join My Passive Investor Mailing List: runsteadyinvestments.com/investor-club LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iannoble1/   Instagram: @ian_invests  

When an AI platform declared his agency effectively worthless, Wes Towers had a choice: panic… or pivot. In this episode, Wes—founder of Uplift 360—reveals how he transformed that gut-punch moment into a strategy that’s helping brands stand out more than ever.   Discover why “Search Everywhere™” matters now, how AI is actually elevating human connection (not replacing it), and the simple shifts that help your brand show up with authenticity across every platform—without sounding like everyone else’s AI-generated noise.   If you want your audience to feel you, trust you, and choose you, this episode is your new playbook.   If you're interested in this or if you'd like to connect with Wes, check out his links below: https://uplift360.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/westowers/

In this episode of Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence, Steve sits down with real estate entrepreneur and coach Mike Deaton to unpack his journey from burnt-out corporate executive to seven-figure land investor.   Mike reveals: How a layoff from Microsoft became the catalyst for total lifestyle freedom Why vacant land is his favorite “invisible” asset class (no tenants, no toilets, low overhead) The simple business model he and his wife used to replace their W-2 income How owner financing turns land flips into predictable monthly cash flow What you actually need to get started (capital, time, and realistic expectations)   If you’re an entrepreneur who makes good money but isn’t building wealth, this episode will show you a low-drama, high-leverage way to put your cash to work.   Here's a link to Mike's free book: https://flippingdirt.us/freedom/

In this episode of Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence, bestselling author and energy medicine pioneer Inna Segal reveals the surprising truth behind pain, chronic symptoms, and why your body may be holding onto patterns you can’t see.   Inna shares the pivotal moment when a chiropractor told her, “Your body wants to be stuck,” and how that frustration pushed her to discover a powerful way to heal herself—eliminating chronic back pain, psoriasis, and anxiety.   You’ll learn: Why your pain often doesn’t start where you feel it How emotional and ancestral experiences get stored in the body The simple steps she used to reconnect to her body and begin healing How she “maps” a person’s symptoms back to key timelines in their life A practical exercise anyone can use to feel more connected immediately   If you’ve ever felt stuck, stressed, or held back by persistent health issues, this episode will help you understand what your body’s been trying to tell you—and how to finally listen. If you're interested in this, Inna has a free masterclass. Feel free to join via the link below: https://ww.innasegal.com/new-masterclass-registration/ 

What if your budget is hiding $300–$700 every month? Imagine turning that into investments, an emergency fund, and faster debt payoff—without cutting Starbucks. Keep reading.   🔎 Where the “Found Money” Comes From Paris Cluff’s clients routinely free up $300/month on average, with wins of $600–$700/month by tracking cash flow, trimming leaks, and reallocating spending to goals. One couple also raised their credit score by 100 points.    📈 Why High Earners Still Feel Broke An estimated 60–70% of six‑figure earners report living paycheck to paycheck—Paris targets habits and systems, not just math, to fix it.      🧱 The Simple Structure Paris Uses Build an emergency fund and sinking funds before speculative plays Optimize 401k choices with clear education Automate saving and investing to reduce stress and decision fatigue   Download Paris’s free book below with a guided email series, upgrade to the video course, and book a discovery call to apply the plan. Perfect if you want practical financial coaching, better budgeting, and smarter 401k investing—fast. http://pariscluff.com/freebook 

Ever wonder how real estate investors make money while they sleep—even when interest rates feel scary? This episode breaks down practical, low-risk moves you can copy today.   🔑 Buying Right, Not Fancy David’s rule: you make money when you buy. He targets value-add multifamily and singles, negotiates hard, and avoids retail pricing. He’s sourced deals from Zillow, Facebook groups, Craigslist, and expired listings—Zillow alone reached 243M average monthly users in Q2 2025, so hidden gems exist in plain sight. 🛠️ Finance Like a Pro (Even with $0) Mix of hard money, private lenders, and banks. Typical private/hard money ranges around 10–12% for speed-to-close—why pros still use it. David often pays about $1,000 per $100k per month and closes in 4 days—then flips or refinances. 🧮 Metrics That Matter Optimize cash-on-cash return; small flips work if out-of-pocket is near zero. BRRRR strategy (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) helps recycle capital; aim to keep total cost ≤70–75% of ARV. 🚀 Market Reality Check Investors bought roughly 1 in 6 U.S. homes in Q2 2024; low-priced homes saw about 1 in 4 go to investors. Grab David’s free book for step-by-step scripts, funding options, and BRRRR worksheets. Visit his site below: http://www.nomoneymillionaire.com/ 

Ever feel like “investing” is code for confusion? This episode gives you a simple, step-by-step wealth plan you can actually follow—no jargon, no hype. If financial freedom, retirement planning, and 401(k) strategies have felt out of reach, this is your on-ramp.   💡 The Simple Roadmap That Actually Works Save 20% using their flipped 50/20/30 budgeting rule and automate it. Build three “buckets”: 0–2 years (emergency fund), 2–5 years (near-term goals), 5+ years (stock market). Emergency fund target: 3–6 months of expenses. View market dips as “flash sales,” not failures—long-term stock market returns have averaged about 10% annually.   📈 Stay Invested: The Data That Kills Market-Timing Schwab’s 20-year analysis shows investing immediately earned 92% of “perfect timing”—and crushed procrastination. Translation: time in the market beats timing the market.   🧰 Quick Wins You Can Use Today Max your 401(k) match: common formula = 100% on 3% + 50% on next 2% (effective 4% extra); overall average employer contribution ~4.8%. Start with 2–5% if 20% feels big; automate increases. Use dollar-cost averaging to reduce stress and build consistent savings with a fiduciary advisor mindset guiding decisions.     If you're interested in this, here's a link to their book: www.simpleroadbook.com

Ever feel rich on Stripe and broke at payroll? You’re not alone. Half of U.S. small businesses have had cash flow issues in the last year, and most check cash daily because they’re anxious—not strategic. 🔍 Why cash flow collapses even when sales grow Sales ≠ solvency. Most businesses hold a median of just 27 days of cash buffer—one slow month can cripple operations. Jen explains why “cash is king,” why hiring too fast squeezes margins, and how asset purchases beat subscriptions you can’t resell. 💸 What a fractional CFO actually does (vs. CPA/bookkeeper) Bookkeeping and taxes look backward. Jen forecasts forward: weekly revenue targets to cover payroll, budgeting, and scenario planning. She aims to “pay for herself” by cutting waste and prioritizing high‑profit offers—classic cash flow management and small business finance. 📈 Tactical takeaways you can use this week Build reserves before scaling headcount. Pressure‑test “reinvestments” with profit, time, and resale value. Sell one more job to buy equipment in cash—skip the interest. Start with a 4‑month CFO engagement: month 1 cleanup, months 2‑4 execution. Relevant stats: 48% report cash flow issues; 27 buffer days is the median. If you're interested in booking a call with Jen, you can click the link below: https://calendly.com/jen-mkb/30minclientcall