EP 87: The Entrepreneur’s Mental Balance Sheet

Building a business is one thing; holding your vision steady through growth, pressure, and uncertainty is something else entirely.   Alex Raymond sits down with John Sampogna, the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, to talk about what the entrepreneurial journey really demands once the excitement wears off. John shares how he built a 100-person agency, why he created a “mental balance sheet” to manage the emotional costs of leadership, and what he learned from selling his company while staying true to its original vision. How do you scale without losing yourself in the process? How do you know when a business opportunity is truly right for you, not just financially but personally?   John also digs into the realities of leadership that rarely get talked about: why bottlenecks are your best feedback loop, why approachability matters more than you think, and why a thriving business culture starts with making space for mistakes. He challenges entrepreneurs to rethink what scale really means in the age of AI and shares why lasting success depends on more than just growth metrics.   If you are building a business and want to do it with intention, resilience, and clarity, this conversation will give you a much-needed shift in perspective.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Holding a Long-Term Vision Through Growth and Uncertainty 03:49 Selling Wondersauce and Choosing the Right Partner 09:01 How the Founder Role Changes After Acquisition 10:02 Navigating Earn-Outs, COVID, and the Rise of AI 12:10 Building a Mental Balance Sheet for Emotional Resilience 15:00 Scaling a Business Without Burning Out 19:25 Bottlenecks as a Signal for Operational Change 22:05 Creating Psychological Safety and Strong Leadership 25:59 Smart Marketing and True Differentiation for Entrepreneurs 32:44 How AI Is Redefining the Idea of Scale   Links Connect with  John Sampogna: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsampogna/ Website: https://www.wondersauce.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Real leadership isn’t being the smartest person in the room. It’s creating the kind of culture where people feel safe enough to say, “I don’t know.”   In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Garry Ridge, the former CEO of WD-40 and the author of “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It.” Garry shares how a moment of “jumping in to fix it” early in his career completely reshaped his approach to leadership. That shift, from problem-solver to coach, set the foundation for one of the most admired cultures in business, with 93% employee engagement and a company-wide commitment to learning and accountability.   Garry explains why admitting what you don’t know isn’t weakness but the beginning of trust. He unpacks the idea of “dumbassery” as a leadership superpower, and why removing fear in the workplace creates room for growth, innovation, and genuine connection. What can happen when you stop calling things failures and start treating them as learning moments? What will change when your company values are more than just words on a wall?   This episode offers ideas for leaders who want to build purpose-driven companies without losing their people, or themselves, in the process. From the power of clearly ranked values to the surprisingly effective “Maniac Pledge,” Garry provides a framework for creating a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and proud to contribute.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 03:13 Learning Moments and Redefining Failure 05:25 “I Don’t Know” as a Leadership Superpower 07:28 Psychological Safety and People-First Cultures 14:16 Purpose, Values, and the Will of the People 21:44 Purpose Beyond Product and Real Accountability 33:19 Leading with Love   Links Connect with Garry Ridge: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/ Website: https://thelearningmoment.net/ Website Quiz: https://thelearningmoment.net/quiz/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Building a business with purpose will push you to grow in ways you probably didn’t expect. What happens when your ambition outpaces your timing? Or when your team starts breaking down and you realize the real issue starts with you?   In this episode, Alex Raymond talks with Brian Dally, the co-founder and CEO of Groundfloor, a fintech company that gives everyday investors access to real estate debt. Brian shares what he learned from starting too early, betting on the wrong timelines, and eventually paving the way for a market that wasn’t quite ready for him.   Brian also opens up about a turning point in his leadership when a blowout between two teams during a family ski trip forced him to confront the culture he had helped create. That moment led to a reset, not just in how the company operated, but in how he saw himself as a leader.   What do you do when your company hits a wall? How do you stay committed when the cost of building starts to feel personal? Brian reflects on his spiritual life, his leadership missteps, and the values that guide him today. He also shares the habits that keep him steady like hiking Colorado trails, practicing mindfulness, and checking in with the people who matter most.   If you’re building something ambitious, this conversation will make you think more deeply about the kind of person you’re becoming in the process.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 03:07 Early Challenges of Launching Groundfloor 05:55 The Cost of Being Early 08:10 Lessons from Republic Wireless 12:09 Personal Growth Through Leadership 14:45 Faith, Vulnerability, and Inner Work 16:48 How Company Culture Broke and Got Rebuilt 23:05 Big Goals, Ambition, and Opportunity Cost 30:59 Real-World Impact on Customers 34:02 Habits That Keep Brian Grounded   Links Connect with Brian Dally: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdally/ Website: https://groundfloor.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs think they need a new growth strategy. What they actually need is a better relationship with themselves.   In this episode, the tables turn as Sarah Lockwood, the founder of HiveCast, interviews Alex Raymond about the upcoming Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, happening May 28–29 in Boulder, Colorado. Now in its fourth year, the summit offers something most business events miss entirely: a chance to work on the person behind the company.   Alex shares how the idea for the summit came from countless conversations where founders showed up to talk about strategy but ended up revealing stress, fear, and self-doubt. What if those internal struggles are actually the bottleneck in your business? And what would happen if you had space to name them, examine them, and move through them?   This year’s summit features Dr. Benjamin Hardy, the author of 10x is Easier Than 2x, leading a small-group workshop on the psychology of exponential thinking. Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading voice in entrepreneur mental health research, will speak on how entrepreneurship can become a path for deep personal growth.   Sarah and Alex also talk about what makes this event feel so different. The connections are real. The conversations go deep quickly. And the room is full of people who are serious about growth, not just in revenue, but in clarity, confidence, and capacity.   If you’re the kind of founder who wants to scale your business without losing yourself in the process, The 2025 Conscious Entrepreneur Summit might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Get your tickets now and don’t miss your chance to join the exclusive 10x Workshop with Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Seats are limited!   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Sarah Lockwood on the Conscious Entrepreneur Community 04:45 The Origin of the Summit and Why It Matters 08:20 Personal Growth as a Business Strategy 13:00 Big Ideas from Past Speakers 15:55 Ben Hardy and 10x Thinking 24:15 Why In-Person Connection Still Wins 26:50 Founder Well-Being with Dr. Michael Freeman 29:00 JV vs Varsity Thinking for Entrepreneurs 35:20 Who the Summit Is For   Links: Dr. Srikumar Rao on The Conscious Entrepreneur:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000641708365 Gay Hendricks on The Conscious Entrepreneur: ​​https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000?i=1000630685954 Touched by Fire Publication: https://michaelafreemanmd.com/Research_files/Are%20Entrepreneurs%20Touched%20with%20Fire%20(pre-pub%20n)%204-17-15.pdf The Conscious Entrepreneur Website: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ Benjamin Hardy Website:  https://www.benjaminhardy.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ Connect with Sarah Lockwood: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lockwoodsarah/ Website: https://hivecast.fm   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most outbound sales strategies rely on volume and noise. Mark Kosoglow is betting on something different: relevance, proof, and actually caring about the people on the other end.   Mark helped scale Outreach to over $230 million in revenue as its first sales hire. Now he’s a first-time founder and CEO at Operator, a startup built inside the GTM Fund, where he’s rethinking what outbound should look like and calling out what’s broken. What happens when you stop chasing reply rates and start focusing on provable business problems? How do you build a company without tying your self-worth to the outcome?   In this episode, Mark sits down with Alex Raymond to talk through the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the decision to say yes to starting something new after being fired, and how “work hard and have fun” became the filter he uses to make decisions. He shares lessons from working alongside leaders like Manny Medina and the Chu Brothers, his take on building authentic company culture, and why he treats the CEO role like a sales role: listening first, solving second.   If you’re tired of the spray-and-pray approach to sales or wondering how to stay grounded while building something ambitious, this conversation will land.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Mark Kosoglow: From Outreach to Operator 03:16 Lessons from Catalyst and Customer Success 06:56 Why Outbound Is Broken 13:46 The “Great Ignore” and Rethinking Sales Math 17:43 Starting Inside a Venture Fund 21:24 Hiring, Delegating, and Lessons from Past Leaders 27:36 Leading Through the Emotional Highs and Lows 35:20 Daily Habits, Book Recommendations    Links Connect with Mark Kosoglow: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkosoglow/ Website: https://www.operator.ai/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/   HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Surviving a lawsuit, scaling a franchise, and losing 125 pounds all pointed Bennett Maxwell toward one surprising realization: his nervous system had more influence than he ever imagined.   Bennett joins Alex Raymond to talk through the chaos and clarity that came with building Dirty Dough. When Crumble, a billion-dollar competitor, sued him over sprinkles and box shapes, he could have folded. Instead, he went bold. His response—cheeky billboards and viral content—caught fire and helped fuel the sale of 450 franchises in just two years.   But what happens after the adrenaline fades? What if growth brings a whole new kind of pressure? Bennett shares how success forced him to confront his health, his identity, and his relationship to stress. He talks about selling his first company, hitting his financial goal, and realizing he still felt miserable. That moment led to a full-body reset from gastric sleeve surgery to daily meditation to red-light therapy and vagus nerve stimulation. He even carved out half his workweek to focus on his mental and physical state.   This episode raises a bigger question: can you really lead well if your nervous system is fried? Bennett’s story is a reminder that personal growth and business growth aren’t separate, and that sometimes the most strategic move is stepping back.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  01:37 Mental Resilience and the Power of Detachment 03:37 Franchising Dirty Dough 05:52 The Cookie Wars with Crumble 08:06 Handling Stress During the Lawsuit 10:32 Decision-Making and Personal Mission Statement 14:52 Raising Capital During the Lawsuit 17:07 Importance of Surrounding Yourself with the Right People 21:06 Consciousness and Physical Health 23:34 Focusing on the Nervous System 28:19 Using Tools to Optimize Mental Health 30:10 Importance of Regulating the Body 32:24 Experience with Ketamine and Psychedelics   Links Connect with Bennett Maxwell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-maxwell-703717126/ Website: https://bennettmaxwell.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs think they’re chasing success. Could they actually be addicted to the struggle?   Alex Raymond is joined by Dr. Nona Djavid, the founder of eLIVate Club, to discuss why so many business owners feel stuck in cycles of burnout, even when they seem to be thriving. Dr. Djavid built a successful business, but instead of feeling fulfilled, she found herself exhausted and trapped. That realization changed everything. She wasn’t chasing success; she was hooked on the struggle.   Why does overwork feel normal? And how do you break free from it? Dr. Djavid explains how subconscious beliefs and nervous system patterns keep entrepreneurs locked in hustle mode, even when they know there’s a better way. She shares a four-step framework to shift from burnout to real, lasting success, starting with setting an unreasonable vision and ending with bold, aligned action.   For anyone tired of grinding toward the next milestone, Alex and Dr. Djavid’s discussion offers a different path. Success doesn’t have to come at the cost of exhaustion.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 03:36 Entrepreneurs Addicted to Struggle 05:00 Personal Story: Nona’s Closet Breakdown 07:00 Realization: Scarcity and Worthiness 09:07 Identifying Scarcity in Life 11:22 The Role of the Nervous System 16:36 Four Steps to a Quantum Leap 33:09 Taking Unreasonable Actions 36:11 Addressing Common Objections 38:02 Areas Where People Get Stuck 40:24 Belief for Entrepreneurs: Worthiness and Enough-ness   Links Connect with Dr. Nona Djavid: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nonadjavid/ Website: https://www.elivate.me/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely grind, but it doesn’t have to be. Dave Parker, the CEO of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, knows firsthand what it takes to build, scale, and sometimes close a business. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what separates successful founders from those who get stuck—breaking down product-market fit, the power of timing, and why self-awareness matters more than most people think.   A key takeaway? Forum, EO’s peer-driven support system, offers entrepreneurs a space to be real about the highs and lows without the noise of unsolicited advice. Dave opens up about his own mental health journey and why having the right people around you can make or break your ability to keep going. He also challenges the idea of failing fast, arguing that knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to push through.   For founders navigating uncertainty, this episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t just about grinding harder, but about making better decisions, leaning on the right community, and staying clear-eyed about what actually works.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 03:31 Product-Market Fit 05:01 Five Components of Product-Market Fit 10:20 Timeless Advice from Mentors 15:09 Timing and Market Conditions 18:09 Importance of Clear Communication 20:09 Solving Complex Problems 25:00 EO’s Mission and Growth Goals 28:48 Personal Mission and Vision 30:30 Entrepreneurship is Lonely but Doesn’t Have to Be 34:20 Dealing with Burnout and Mental Health 38:00 Importance of Forum in EO 40:02 Self-Awareness as a Key Mindset Shift   Links Connect with Dave Parker:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveparker/ Website: https://eonetwork.org/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs play it safe with their goals, but Dr. Benjamin Hardy makes a bold case: setting “impossible” goals is the fastest way to scale. Is aiming for something that feels out of reach exactly what forces clarity, focus, and exponential growth?   In this episode, Alex Raymond sits down with Dr. Hardy, an organizational psychologist and bestselling author, to discuss the mindset shift behind 10X growth. Why do so many entrepreneurs stay stuck in slow, incremental progress? According to Dr. Hardy, the problem isn’t effort. It’s the way we set goals. Most people aim for what feels achievable, which keeps them trapped in the same patterns. A true 10X goal demands a different way of thinking, working, and making decisions.   The discussion touches on why scaling requires accountability and brutal honesty. Dr. Hardy introduces a game-changing concept called “raising the floor,” eliminating distractions, letting go of tasks that don’t drive results, and narrowing your focus to what truly moves the needle. He also explains why urgency matters. A distant, 10-year goal won’t push you to make bold moves today, but setting a 3-year deadline forces better decisions and a clearer path forward.   Along the way, Dr. Hardy shares examples of entrepreneurs who made massive leaps by shifting their focus. He also previews his upcoming workshop at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit in Boulder, Colorado, where he’ll break down the science of scaling and help attendees build a strategy for exponential success.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  03:33 Challenges in Scaling for Entrepreneurs 04:05 Systems Dynamics and Business Goals 06:13 Accountability and Economic Models 08:27 Raising the Floor Concept 09:20 Selective Attention and Goal Framing 11:05 Strategy and Eliminating Non-viable Options 12:45 Time as a Strategic Tool 14:52 Future-Driven Decision Making 17:54 Avoiding Distractions and Making Hard Decisions 19:03 Self-Honesty and Ambition to Scale 23:49 Personal Story: Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy 26:03 Letting the Future Drive the Present 28:42 Identity and Entrepreneurial Growth 30:13 Practical Steps to Create a Bigger Vision 35:44 Specializing and Focusing on a Niche 41:08 Preview of Conscious Entrepreneur Summit   Links Connect with Benjamin Hardy: Website: https://www.benjaminhardy.com/   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most entrepreneurs assume growth means doing more. More effort. More complexity. More stress. But what if scaling 10X was easier than doubling your efforts?   Alex Raymond digs into the bold idea behind 10X Growth, inspired by 10X is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy. He challenges the trap of incremental thinking and explains why real success comes from eliminating distractions, simplifying decisions, and focusing on what truly moves the needle. If most of your results come from a small fraction of your efforts, what would happen if you let go of everything else?   Alex also explores the psychology of growth, including the concept of “the gap and the gain.” Many entrepreneurs measure success by how far they have left to go instead of recognizing the progress they have already made. Before next week’s conversation with Ben Hardy, Alex shares a preview of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, where Hardy will lead a deep dive into the 10X mindset.   If you’ve been grinding toward growth and feeling stuck, this episode offers a different path. One where doing less leads to far greater results.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  02:00 The Inner Game of 10x Growth 03:42 The Trap of Incremental Thinking 04:49 The 80/20 Rule and Eliminating Low-Impact Tasks 08:02 Unique Ability and Zone of Genius 09:04 Delegation and Focusing on High-Impact Activities 12:05 Case Studies and the Cumulative Effect of Focus 14:02 The Mindset Shift for 10x Growth 16:18 The Gap and the Gain Concept 18:05 Living in the Gain vs. Living in the Gap 21:37 Overcoming Scarcity Mindset 24:44 Physical and Mental Signs of Scarcity vs. Abundance 26:04 Summary of Key Themes: 10x vs. 2x 28:01 The Courage to Focus on Unique Ability 29:46 Implementing the Gap and the Gain 30:18 Scarcity vs. Abundance Thinking 31:00 Immediate Action Steps for 10x Thinking 36:38 Final Thoughts on 10x Growth   Links Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/ Website: https://amplifyam.com/ HiveCast.fm is a proud sponsor of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast. Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm