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

Pain and curiosity are two of the greatest forces for growth. Dr. Anna Yusim, a psychiatrist and spiritual teacher, shares how entrepreneurs can use both to tap into intuition, break free from limiting patterns, and build a more fulfilling path.

Her journey from Stanford and Yale-trained psychiatry to a deeper exploration of spirituality and Kabbalah wasn’t planned. It started through unexplainable moments with patients and a dream that shifted everything. In this episode, she challenges the idea that success is purely external, showing how personal growth and self-awareness shape the way entrepreneurs lead, create, and navigate uncertainty.

Are you growing because of past pain, or are you choosing growth before hardship forces your hand? Dr. Yusim breaks down the difference and offers insights on intuition, purpose, and the inner roadblocks that often hold entrepreneurs back. She also explores the importance of community in a world where loneliness is at an all-time high and explains how spirituality—and for some, even psychedelics—can be powerful tools for transformation.

Alex Raymond and Dr. Yusim’s discussion is a reminder that business isn’t just strategy and execution. The inner work matters just as much.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality and Entrepreneurship

09:07 Embracing Growth: The Spiritual Path of Entrepreneurship

13:13 Challenges in Balancing Professional Success and Personal Relationships

15:06 Exploring Inner Emptiness and Its Impact on Relationships

17:06 Navigating the Human Condition: Addressing Inner Voids and Mindset Shifts

20:48 Transforming Mindset: A Holistic Approach

23:49 Holistic Approaches to Changing Thoughts: Biological, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual

24:38 Shifting Perspectives: Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health in Entrepreneurship

28:56 Finding Purpose and Building Community in Entrepreneurship

33:23 Understanding and Addressing Burnout: A Medical Perspective

36:26 Psychedelics and Mental Health: Exploring Benefits and Spiritual Connections

Links

Connect with Anna Yusim MD:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annayusim/

Website: https://annayusim.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

Entrepreneurs chase optimization, but what happens when that’s not enough?

Jamie Wheal joins Alex Raymond to talk about flow, resilience, and the deeper search for meaning in leadership. He challenges the idea that personal optimization is the ultimate goal, suggesting it’s only the first step. The real work is in navigating uncertainty, making an impact, and staying grounded through Hedonic Engineering—a way to keep motivation high even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

Jamie shares how flow states unlock creativity and why great teams embrace dynamic subordination, letting the most capable person take the lead at any moment. He also reflects on the Bhagavad Gita’s lessons on purpose, reminding entrepreneurs that leadership isn’t about control, but about clarity, adaptability, and knowing when to step forward or step back.

If the pressure to perform feels overwhelming, Alex and Jamie’s discussion offers a unique view on leading with purpose and keeping your footing when everything shifts around you.

Quotes

• “I think it’s really important that we don’t end up in the kind of late stage neoliberal fetishization of infinite individual perfect ability for a price. And we actually just realized, Hey, Shaolin temple style, train your body and mind, right? Push it to its limits so that you can hone it and direct it to those things of most meaning and significance and impact. Otherwise, we’re all just trapped little monkeys in the machine.” (04:25 | Jamie Wheal)
• “Business leaders are in varying degrees and intensities themselves. It requires a very strong center for you to be able to enter the melee and not lose your own footing.” (07:51 | Jamie Wheal)
• “You don’t want to get stuck in a model or a mode simply because you think it’s groovier or more enlightened. And again, Silicon Valley leadership culture has kind of now permeated, has kind of become the default norms, which is, I’m a level five leader, a la Jim Collins. I’m a little Yoda behind the scenes. I want to make everyone feel empowered and heard, and our collective intelligence will win the day. Maybe, it depends.” (17:17 | Jamie Wheal)
• “Small is beautiful. It’s a timeless text, but I’d super encourage folks to just give themselves permission to do a beautiful thing in the world at a high quality or standard that is satisfying to you and the people you serve. And just have that as one other option, at least, versus just chasing the series.” (55:39 | Jamie Wheal)

Links

Connect with Jamie Wheal:

https://www.flowgenomeproject.com/

https://jamiewheal.substack.com/

https://www.recapturetherapture.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

Success isn’t supposed to feel like a grind. The real challenge is knowing when to let go and step into what feels effortless.

Alex Raymond sits down with Ret Taylor, the co-founder and former co-CEO of Ned, to talk about the moment he knew it was time to walk away. After years of building a wellness company with a mission he believed in, Ret found himself stuck in the day-to-day demands of running a business that no longer felt right. A banking crisis forced him to make a decision, but his real breakthrough came when he stopped pushing and started surrendering.

Inspired by Michael Singer’s teachings, Ret learned to let go of fear and lean into what felt natural. That shift led him to Foria, a company that shared Ned’s values, and gave him the space to step fully into his zone of genius.

Join Alex and Ret’s discussion to be reminded that the path forward isn’t always about working harder but about knowing when to trust the pull toward something better.

Quotes

• “What if it’s not supposed to be hard? What if it’s supposed to be easy, like it was for me the last two retreats I did? And I had this big realization that I’ve been idolizing the wrong things. I should be idolizing, and I want to idolize those who don’t work so hard, those for whom it comes easy, and those that really surrender to their paths and move with confidence in them.” (13:08 | Ret Taylor)
• “I’m meant to be with people outdoors, sharing my passion for nature, sharing my expertise that I’ve gathered over the last 25 years, and helping people heal and thrive with them. Ned, my business, has done that for hundreds of thousands of people.” (17:21 | Ret Taylor)
• “My mantra has become: ‘Worry doesn’t serve me.’ It just doesn’t. It doesn’t help to worry. It’s this thing left over from prehistoric days when there actually were things to worry about.” (21:30 | Ret Taylor)
• “ I just feel much more fulfilled and very, very grateful. I’m grateful for those learnings, grateful to Josh, my best friend, for the opportunity, for Finian, and for you, for the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit. It all came together at the right time for me.” (31:22 | Ret Taylor)

Links

Connect with Ret Taylor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rettaylor/

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

Success won’t fix what you think it will—and Wil Schroter, founder of Startups.com, explains why so many entrepreneurs hit major milestones only to feel more lost than ever.

Wil has built, sold, and acquired multiple companies, yet he’s seen countless entrepreneurs hit their biggest milestones only to feel more lost than ever. He sits down with Alex Raymond to talk about why financial wins don’t fix deeper struggles and how chasing an exit can leave founders grappling with purpose, identity, and unexpected disappointment.

Wil shares what he’s learned from working with thousands of entrepreneurs—why they conflate success with happiness, why scaling too fast can backfire, and how to build something sustainable without losing yourself in the process. He also gets personal, talking about the non-negotiables that keep his life in balance.

If you’re constantly pushing toward “someday,” this episode might change how you define real success.

Quotes

• “Everything we thought was going to get cured, doesn’t change at all. In fact, it actually gets worse. Now, when people hear that, they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry that you made a million dollars. I’m so sorry your life is worse.’ It’s not that easy. Yes, it’s improved safety, but it hasn’t changed purpose.” (09:16 | Wil Schroter)
• “The value of anything is the fact that you don’t have it. And once you get it, once you get that success, you realize that it didn’t change any of the things you were expecting it to. And it’s really depressing, which is ironic.” (11:55 | Wil Schroter)
• “If you are unhappy on a canoe, you’re not gonna be happy on a yacht. You’re the same person just on a more expensive boat.” (14:13 | Wil Schroter)
• “It feels very lonely, and that is kind of the worst part about the founder journey. It is incredibly alienating. That’s something that we’ve tried to kind of unpack for a very long time—to tell founders we’re in the business of showing you you’re not alone.” (26:32 | Wil Schroter)

Links

Connect with Wil Schroter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/

Website: https://www.startups.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

Why do the most thoughtful leaders hesitate to share their stories online? Justin Nassiri, the founder and CEO of Executive Presence, believes those voices are exactly what the world needs. In this episode, Justin joins Alex Raymond to break down how leaders can use LinkedIn to build authentic personal brands that amplify trust and authority without losing their true selves.

From navigating discomfort with social media to creating content that genuinely reflects your voice, Justin shares strategies for standing out in the noisy world of online platforms. He explains why personal branding should be more about creating meaningful connections and making your expertise visible to those who need it most.

If you're an entrepreneur who’s looking to build a genuine presence on social media, join Alex and Justin as they share tips on creating and repurposing content, and staying consistent with your message.

Quotes

• “The people listening who are least interested in [establishing a personal brand], the world probably needs to hear from them the most.” (03:29 | Justin Nassiri)
• “Authenticity sells. And I think that, when I work with a CEO, oftentimes they’re like, ‘Who do I need to be? I’m all of these things, but who do I need to be online?’ And my kind of biased reaction is, ‘We need to present you in the highest fidelity possible online.’” (08:25 | Justin Nassiri)
• “When that one person has the courage to be vulnerable, almost all the heads around the room nod like, ‘Oh yeah, I know that.’ It’s almost like this person having the courage to voice something has put a name on something everyone else is feeling, but now it’s out there, so it’s almost like a sense of relief, and then that person sharing realizes they’re not alone and it creates connection.” (10:03 | Justin Nassiri)
• “You can’t, in the long term, build a personal brand or reputation or executive brand that is in conflict with who you are. I think eventually the truth will come out.” (13:15 | Justin Nassiri)
• “If you reveal what’s important to you, if you talk about the things that you know and where you’re an authority, you actually have experience, or more importantly, you just share your own experience like, ‘Hey, I made a mistake in my first company with this. I really regret it but here’s what I learned, I hope you benefit as well.’ That’s just a way of giving visibility into why you do the things that you do and what you know about where your expertise is.” (13:46 | Justin Nassiri)

Links

Connect with Justin Nassiri:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnassiri/

Website: https://executivepresence.io/

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