Mike DeJong: Growing Too Early Can Hurt Your Business

Edi Matsumoto holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Tsukuba University in Japan. After traveling around Southeast Asia exploring cultures and volunteering at the Mother Theresa's Home for the Dying Destitutes in Calcutta, India, she came to the U.S. She earned a Master's degree in Nursing, and she has worked in the healthcare field for nearly thirty years. Encouraged by her husband, Fred, who saw her sketch from 20 years prior, Matsumoto began taking art classes at a community college. In 2018, she earned her second Master's degree in Fine Art from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Edi's work has won numerous awards and has been shown at galleries and museums locally, nationally and internationally including the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, the Triton Museum of Arts in Santa Clara, and Pacific Grove Art Center among others. In episode 664 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what originally drew Edi to the healthcare profession, what was the moment where she realized she needed a different path, how her great-grandfather's traditional Japanese ink brush art influenced how she sees art today, whether she felt tension between creativity and practicality when she was younger, what lessons she learned by working with Mother Teresa, what is the importance of people who believe in us, where the idea for her book "Otter Therapy" came from, how humor and art actually help reduce stress, how to choose the best career for yourself, and what famous painting she will turn into an otter masterpiece next. Enjoy!

As a clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and founder and Executive Chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), Dr. Steven Stein spent over four decades advancing the science and application of emotional intelligence and psychological assessment. At MHS, they've built a global reputation for delivering scientifically validated tools used by governments, militaries, Fortune 500 companies, and elite sports teams. Their work has earned recognition as a three-time Profit 100 winner, one of Canada's Best Managed Companies, one of the 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and an E&Y Entrepreneur of the year in Health Care. Dr. Stein also brought psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments to reality TV, consulting on shows that include Beast Games, Big Brother Canada, Yes Chef, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, and many, many more. Whether Dr. Stein is speaking on stage, consulting with leaders, teaching at The Directors College, or conducting psychological evaluations for reality TV, his mission is to help people and organizations thrive through emotional intelligence, resilience, and evidence-based insight. In episode 663 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what a psychologist does behind the scenes of a reality show, why reality TV resonates so strongly with college students, what inspired Dr. Stein to to start studying these personality patterns, when does healthy competition become unhealthy, what does "The Strategist / Mastermind" bring to a team, how these personality archetypes can help you navigate friendships, leadership roles, and conflicts on campus, how emotional intelligence will influence whether someone becomes a respected leader in a group, three habits college students should start practicing today, what skills will matter most for students entering the workforce, and what advice he would give his 20 year old self. Enjoy!

Ron Dushkin, MD is a Holistic physician, Stress Management Specialist, Former consultant to Westinghouse and Johnson & Johnson in setting up their Stress Management Employee Wellness Program, Charter Member of the American Holistic Medical Associate, and a Former President of the American Institute of Homeopathy. In episode 662 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what inspired him to focus on stress management as a physician, what he discovered when he began studying the relationship between diet, stress, and disease, what resistance he faced with alternative and holistic medicine, how students can use the early warnings systems for stress, how Stress Management Breath works, how diet and exercise really influences stress levels, what are some daily stress-management habits students should develop early in life, what stress mistakes young professionals make, how younger generations handle stress versus older generations, and the most surprising thing he has learned about stress after decades of working with patients. Enjoy!

Mike DeJong is a multi-business owner, keynote speaker, and the author of Grow Smart: Your Path to Freedom: Mastering the Transformation from Operator to Owner. Over the past 30 years across multiple industries, including the last decade in franchising, Mike has built businesses, turned around struggling operations, and often been the person called in to fix what isn't working. Through that experience he discovered something most entrepreneurs do not realize until it is too late: Owning a business and having an owner's mindset are two completely different things. Mike now teaches entrepreneurs how to escape what he calls the operator trap, the cycle where owners work harder and harder but never actually gain freedom. In episode 661 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what pushed Mike toward business ownership, what is the most common problem he seed when things start going wrong, what is the difference between an operator mindset and an owner mindset, what is the difference between a student leader who runs everything themselves versus one who builds systems within their chapter, why growing too early can hurt your business, how should young entrepreneurs think about scaling, what is the difference between having "staff" and building a true team, what are the first 3 steps students should take when starting their business, what habits should students build now to avoid burnout and overwork later in life, and what is the definition of success. Enjoy!

David B. Hampson—entrepreneur, pilot, aviation insurance guru, award-winning author of Rainbow Gold, and founder of Rainbow Gold Advisors—is a sought-after keynote speaker who brings real world business experience, humor, and authenticity to every stage. His new book is called "Rainbow Gold: Building a Business That's Both the Journey and the Destination", where entrepreneur David B. Hampson shares his candid story of moving from a science student with no business training to becoming a successful acquisition entrepreneur and aviation insurance leader. In episode 660 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why insurance is the DNA of capitalism, why we have so few companies that insure the fraternity and sorority industry, why liability insurance premiums are so high in our industry, what fraternity men misunderstand about liability, personal exposure, and risk, why there is a generational talent gap in insurance, what aviation gets right about accountability and safety that fraternities could learn from, how building a great business is about both the journey and the destination, how to spot burnout among high achievers, what financial mistakes do young professionals make in their first five years out of college, and what a 97% client retention rate means about your business. Enjoy!

Nathan Cook is a captivating speaker, poet, and mental health advocate who transforms audiences with his powerful storytelling and spoken word. Drawing from his journey of overcoming adversity, Nathan inspires individuals to embrace self-leadership, make intentional choices, and take ownership of their narratives. Known for his unique combination of poetic expression and practical strategies, Nathan empowers professionals to thrive in their personal and professional lives while fostering emotional resilience and authenticity. In episode 659 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out when Nathan realized he needed to change, how his experience in the US Navy shaped his view of leadership, pressure, and emotional control, what are college men telling themselves that might be holding them back, how students can create their legacy now, what is the danger of suppressing emotion in college, why anger is a destination that gives away your power, what self-leadership looks like for a college student, why poetry can be more effective than a lecture, and how students can reframe failure. Enjoy!

Ariel Vox is a dynamic speaker and a Destiny Designer. She combines her rich background in various fields to offer a unique perspective on overcoming fear and turning failure into success. Her diverse experiences led her to start her own business, which she sold for a 7-figure sum after just 2 years. Ariel loves to speak at events, where she inspires others to STOP doubting their dreams and START doubting their limitations. She captivates audiences with her stories and practical advice. In episode 658 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what does "LUCK" actually mean in her framework, what lessons from entrepreneurship shaped the ideas behind her book, what are the four distinct personality patterns, how her approach is different from MBTI, DISC, or Enneagram, what are the common mistakes people make when trying to read someone's personality in the first five minutes of meeting them, how understanding personality types can help chapters improve brotherhood, sisterhood, and communication, what personality combinations tend to work well together in leadership roles within student organizations, how understanding personality can be game-changing in a job interview, and how students can overcome procrastination, stress, and uncertainty about the future. Enjoy!

Evelyn Kelly, PhD, based in Ocala, Florida, is an accomplished writer, speaker, and educator with a deep passion for exploration and learning. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, a master's degree, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee, where her studies spanned microbiology, English, and history. With 22 published books to her name—including works on stem cells and a comprehensive two-volume encyclopedia of genetics—Evelyn has taught at four universities. Natalie Kelly, MS, resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where she serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a state organization and is a seasoned writer and public speaker. She earned both her M.S. in Communications and B.S. in Visual Arts and Communications from The Florida State University. Over her 35-year career, Natalie has held prominent leadership roles, including being the youngest female staff director in the Florida Senate and a director in Washington, DC. She has also run her own public relations and lobbying firm. In episode 657 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how a mother-daughter duo ended up traveling the world together, what keeps Evelyn motivated and adventurous at age 91, how college students can realistically plan an unforgettable trip on a tight budget, why national parks are such powerful travel experiences, what makes them special for Gen Z travelers, how travel helps students reset mentally and emotionally, what is their best tips for car-camping or road trips to keep costs low, what makes America so unique to explore, what advice they would give students about traveling with parents, grandparents, or siblings, and what should be your first step in planning an adventure. Enjoy!

Matthew Fornaro is a business law attorney with over two decades of service in South Florida who brings valuable, engaging conversation to audiences. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of guiding entrepreneurs and small business owners through both the practical and strategic aspects of building successful businesses, from entity formation and contract drafting to handling complex disputes and mentoring new professionals stepping into the world of business. As a proud graduate and instructor for entrepreneurship programs and someone who has offered pro bono work to veterans, he relates deeply to the sense of purpose and community that our listeners embrace. His background as a law firm founder and his recognition with Marquis Who's Who in Forbes Magazine reflect a dedication to making the often intimidating world of business law approachable and relevant for people at any stage of purposes like Greek life, professional growth, and networking. In episode 656 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Matthew chose FAU, what inspired him to be an attorney, what legal steps should someone should take before launching their first venture, what are the biggest legal mistakes he sees young entrepreneurs make, what are the most common types of business disputes, what college students should do before signing a contract, what skills college students should develop now if they want to become successful entrepreneurs, what role mentorship played in his career, a legal lesson every college graduate understood before entering the professional world, and the most unexpected cases he has worked on. Enjoy!

Before COVID-19 hit the US in 2020, Tammie Osborne spent over a dozen years as an in-demand nationwide healthcare technology executive and consultant, on the road nearly every week. Tammie knew she needed to uncover a new 'normal', one she hoped to find in a coworking space. She soon learned, however, that her corner of Middle Tennessee didn't offer what she envisioned. So, in true entrepreneur fashion, she discovered a new passion: to create that which she was seeking and build a place where busy women could be productive without distraction, continue to grow professionally, socialize, and even exhale. The Sapphire Suite in Franklin, TN is fashioned as a destination—a thoughtful, welcoming place where women can crush their task lists and conquer new frontiers in a dynamic, nurturing environment of like-minded women. In this place, female strengths, intuition, and potential are organically recognized and nurtured; and women will always be made to feel both supported and inspired. In episode 655 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what drew Tammie into healthcare, what was the moment she know that she needed to build something new, how you know when it's time to pivot, why designing a co-working space was so important in Middle Tennessee, how we can design spaces where people feel safe, supported, and inspired, how organizations can balance productivity and social culture, how college students can seek out mentors without feeling intimidated, what nobody told her about starting a business, and why you shouldn't feel pressure to have your whole career mapped out. Enjoy!