Behind Their Success: Advice For Entrepreneurs

If you’ve ever wondered how to escape the referral hamster wheel and actually build a predictable system for attracting clients — this episode is your roadmap. Marketing expert James Donovan, founder of Nine Two Media, joins Paden to break down how accounting firms can use paid ads and Google strategy to scale smarter — not harder. Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with James Donovan,...

Ever wonder why your business never seems to have enough cash—no matter how profitable it looks on paper? In this episode, we break down why that happens and how to finally fix it. From real stories of resilience to actionable tax and cash flow strategies, this one’s a masterclass for business owners ready to take control of their numbers. Today, I’m joined by Megan Schwan, CEO and Founder of Side...

What if your biggest barrier to business success isn’t time or money — but your mindset and your fitness? In today’s episode, I sit down with Devan Gonzalez — a personal trainer turned franchise owner who’s built Strive 11 Fitness into a growing national fitness business. From freelancing in gyms to launching his own franchise model, Devan’s story is a masterclass in mindset, systems, and scaling....

If you’re a high achiever who’s ever thought, “There has to be more than this,” this episode is your wake-up call. Rachel Spekman went from chasing titles and climbing ladders to helping others find purpose and fulfillment in their work. Whether you’re thinking about quitting your job, changing direction, or just craving a career that actually lights you up — this conversation is for you. Today, I...

Imagine losing your entire fortune before you could legally drink… and then rebuilding a multimillion-dollar business by 21. That’s exactly what today’s guest, Andrew McNair, did. From setbacks to success, he’s built an empire grounded in purpose, faith, and financial wisdom. Today we dive deep into how Andrew turned failure into fuel — and how you can do the same. 💡 What You’ll Learn: How Andrew...

What if you could turn deep debt, zero online presence, and total uncertainty into a million-dollar coaching business—without spending a dime on ads? Jeanne did exactly that. In this episode, Jeanne shares how she went from a single mom in her 50s, struggling to find clients offline, to building a multi–7-figure organic marketing empire. Her story proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—an...

What if the real key to scaling your business isn’t what you need to start doing—but what you need to stop doing? That’s the question we dig into today with my guest, Tara Landes, a management consultant out of Vancouver who’s helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and leaders cut through the noise, stop firefighting, and actually build businesses that serve their goals—not trap them inside. This conver...

Tired of excuses? Today's guest, Keren Gonen proves that no one can hold you back but you. From immigrant beginnings to running the top real estate business in her county, she’s living proof that relentless service and grit win every time. Her journey is one every entrepreneur, high achiever, and personal development junkie needs to hear. Keren’s story proves that success isn’t just about transact...

In this episode of Behind Their Success, I sit down with Tom Dunkel, an entrepreneur and investment expert, who transformed a financial crisis into a thriving multi-million dollar business. Tom shares his inspiring journey from corporate VP to overcoming the challenges of the 2008 market crash. Discover how he adopted the SAFE investing method, a strategic approach to evaluating investment opportu...

What if the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your strategy, your market, or even your team—but you? In this episode, we dive into the idea that true growth for entrepreneurs and small business owners starts from the inside out. High achievers often think scaling means doing more, but as Leila Lahbabi reveals, lasting success comes from personal development, conscious leadership, and align...

What if the secret to building wealth, health, and freedom wasn’t in a quick fix, but in compounding small decisions over time? Today’s episode will light a fire under every small business owner and entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and their life at the same time. In this conversation, I sit down with Mike Milligan, founder of Ideas by Mike and 1.Oak Financial. Mike’s journey started...

Ever wonder why so many high achievers and entrepreneurs hit their goals yet still feel empty? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Grace Najean, is here to unpack. Grace is a French-Korean leadership mentor, former Tony Robbins Master Coach, and founder of the Soulfluence Method. With over 5,000 hours coaching top leaders, she blends neuroscience, energy work, and spiritual wisdom to help ambitious...

Ever feel like you’re grinding in your business but not really growing it? Today’s episode is for you. I sat down with Eric Brotman — Certified Financial Planner, CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, author, and host of Don’t Retire...Graduate! With over 25 years of experience helping entrepreneurs and families achieve financial freedom, Eric brings the kind of wisdom you can’t Google. We talk about: Wh...

What does it really take to walk away from the security of a steady career and step into the unknown world of entrepreneurship? In this episode of Behind Their Success, I sit down with David Sauers, co-founder and CEO of Royal Restrooms, to unpack his journey from local banker to national franchise builder. David shares how one frustrating porta-potty experience with his daughters sparked the idea...

Avoiding mistakes is priceless. If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or high achiever chasing personal development and growth, this conversation is going to hit home. I sat down with William Holsten—a seasoned entrepreneur, inventor, bestselling author, and the “Business Mistake Prevention Specialist.” With nearly 40 years in global marketing and innovation plus his own entrepreneurial...

After a near-fatal car accident, Alan came face to face with his own mortality—and it lit a fire that transformed his entire life. From abandonment issues to financial struggles, he turned his pain into purpose, building Next Level University, a top-ranked personal development podcast and thriving coaching business. In this episode, Alan and I dive into: How tragedy sparked his obsession with pers...

It's our 100th EPISODE! Today we are talking about six lessons every Entrepreneur needs to hear after interviewing 100 entrepreneurs. After sitting down with over a hundred risk-takers, game-changers, and trailblazers, I’ve pulled together my top six lessons that will completely shift the way you think about business. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for real business tips...

Ever feel like your small business or personal growth journey is one step forward, two steps back? Or maybe you’re stuck in that loop of self-doubt, playing small, and waiting for “someday” to arrive. Today’s episode will change that. I’m sitting down with Martin Salama — certified life coach, entrepreneur, strategist, and creator of the Warrior’s Life Code. Martin went from losing everything in 2...

Everybody wants the big wins—but nobody talks about the boring part. The slow, unsexy grind. The daily reps. The posts nobody sees. The podcast episodes that only get 12 downloads. But that’s where the magic happens. That’s compounding—and it’s everything. In this episode, I sit down with Portland startup, Rick Turoczy, and we dive into how showing up consistently in business, in relationships, an...

In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to go from corporate structure to the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. If you've ever thought, “I don't know if I can run my own business,” Vicky Brown's journey proves that you absolutely can—with the right mindset, support, and continuous learning. This episode is full of practical gold for entrepreneurs—especially those transitioni...

Are you building your business to sell—or just to survive? In today’s episode of Behind Their Success, I sit down with the powerhouse himself, Sal Tirabassi—a seasoned fractional CFO, private equity investor, and the guy behind CFO Pro + Analytics. With over $400 million raised and decades of experience helping high-growth companies, Sal breaks down what most entrepreneurs get wrong about preparin...

Today I sit down with Shark Tank Winner, Tracey Noonan and co-founder of Wicked Good Cupcakes whose simple advice could save you years of mistakes. Tracey Noonan launched Wicked Good Cupcakes — a business she launched with her daughter from their kitchen and turned into a multimillion-dollar empire. That’s right, no college degrees, no culinary training, just grit, a jar, and a whole lot of belief...

Today I sit down with Jeremy Jenson — founder & CEO of Encore Search Partners — to talk about how to scale your business by building systems, hiring the right people, and becoming a real-deal leader who stops being the bottleneck in their own company. Jeremy went from launching a scrappy lead-gen firm to running the largest executive search firm in Houston. He shares exactly how he made the leap,...

In this episode of Behind Their Success: Advice For Entrepreneurs, I sit down with Ken Gee, the founder of KRI Partners, to explore the lucrative world of multifamily real estate investing. Ken shares his journey from a CPA working long hours to a successful real estate investor with over two billion in transactions. We dive into the motivations that led him to make the leap, including the desire...

Ever feel like your brain’s running a thousand tabs at once—but none of them are actually helping you move forward? You're not alone. In this episode, we dig into how stillness, flow, and a bit of strategic brain-dumping can be the ultimate performance hack for entrepreneurs and high achievers who are stuck in their own mental clutter. I sat down with Reuven Shelef—executive coach, organizational...