The Friday Habit

Mark welcomes Calvin Correlli, founder and CEO of Simplero, an all-in-one SaaS platform combining courses, community, email, payments, and AI for coaches and creator-led brands. Calvin shares his Denmark upbringing in an entrepreneurial, tech-focused family, learning to code at five, moving to the U.S. in 1999 during the dot-com era, and choosing work over finishing his computer science degree. He...

Growing a business isn't just about generating more sales. In this episode of The Friday Habit, Chad Prinkey shares lessons from working with hundreds of contractors and business leaders. The conversation explores why growth often exposes weaknesses in a business, how leadership development impacts scale, and why competing on price can become a dangerous trap. Chad also discusses the importance of...

Learn how to build a real estate portfolio and navigate legal challenges through the lens of an entrepreneurial journey. Discover the mindset required to rebuild a career with profit with purpose. This conversation breaks down the reality of scaling a business while facing significant setbacks. It is designed for founders and investors who need to understand how extreme responsibility impacts long...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II sits down with Jacob Hicks, a sales strategist and systems thinker passionate about helping entrepreneurs push past their comfort zones, master their time, and build businesses that last. Jacob shares his journey from a shy kid in small-town Iowa to a sales pro who's learned that the best approach to selling isn't closing hard — it's servi...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II sits down with serial entrepreneur Jay Sapovits, a builder who knows firsthand how to turn setbacks into springboards. Jay shares his raw journey—from early success in sports media and private aviation, to losing everything during the financial crisis, to rebuilding and scaling Inked, a custom merch company on track to surpass $5M in reven...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola II interviews Walter Crosby, CEO of Helix Sales Development, who shares his extensive experience in transforming underperforming sales teams into revenue-generating powerhouses. The conversation covers Walter's journey into sales, the challenges of transitioning from a sales role to business ownership, and the importance of hiring the right salesp...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II sits down with Henry Yoshida, CEO and Co-Founder of Rocket Dollar, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable fintech company in a highly regulated industry. Henry shares his journey from a risk-averse upbringing and a stable career at Merrill Lynch to founding multiple companies—including Rocket Dollar, now part of a platform manag...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II interviews Greg Stevens, an executive coach and expert in conflict resolution. They discuss the importance of managing emotions in difficult conversations, the journey to understanding and repairing incomplete relationships, and the skills necessary for effective communication. Greg shares insights from his experiences and his book, 'Build...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II interviews Chad Prinkey, founder and CEO of Well Built Construction Consulting. They discuss Chad's journey from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a scalable business, and the importance of leadership and culture in driving growth. Chad shares insights on competing on value rather than price, the...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, host Mark Labriola II interviews Emma Tessler, founder and CEO of NinentyFiveMedia, a digital marketing agency. Emma shares her journey from a side hustle in interior design to leading a successful remote team specializing in social media strategy and brand storytelling. The conversation covers the importance of building a strong company culture, the challenges...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola II interviews John Gallagher, a seasoned leadership coach, who shares insights on the journey of leadership, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the mindset shifts necessary for entrepreneurs. Gallagher emphasizes the need for practical frameworks, the signs that indicate a business owner may need a coach, and the significance of legacy...

In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark sits down with Kasim Aslam —entrepreneur, author, and founder of the world’s top-ranked Google Ads agency—to unpack the truth about scaling, hiring, and building a business that actually works. From growing up on welfare in Albuquerque to selling an 8-figure agency, Kasim’s story is one of grit, truth, and transformation. He shares how brutal honesty beca...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Neil Twa—e-commerce growth expert, founder of Voltage Digital Marketing, and one of the top minds behind building and scaling private-label brands on Amazon. From going bankrupt to building multiple seven-figure exits, Neil shares the real story behind creating businesses designed to sell. He explains why profit isn’t enough, why most entrep...

In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark sits down with Ozzy Garner—founder of Advertis, angel investor, and entrepreneur with a passion for helping business owners reclaim their time and scale smarter. From cleaning bathrooms at White Castle to doubling revenue in his first sales job, Ozzy’s path to building a seven-figure agency is anything but typical. He shares candid insights into the grind...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Bernie Youngblood—a rule-breaking marketer, connector, and strategist who’s spent his career reshaping industries and helping businesses, nonprofits, and artists thrive. From a start in finance to building sales and marketing ventures, Bernie has seen firsthand what works (and what doesn’t) in business. He shares lessons from his entrepreneu...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Bill Canady—CEO, author, and creator of the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS). Bill has managed billion-dollar businesses, led tens of thousands of employees, and written bestselling books like The 80/20 CEO. His newest book, From Panic to Profit, takes readers inside the process of turning struggling companies into thriving ones. Fr...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark welcomes leadership expert and coach Jennifer DiMotta, founder of Uprisers. Jennifer has spent over two decades in corporate leadership, eventually serving as Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of a $22 billion company before creating her own coaching practice. Through her structured and results-driven approach, Jennifer has transformed the often “soft” c...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steven Puri—film executive turned tech founder, productivity expert, and remote work evangelist. Steven’s career path has taken him from producing blockbuster hits like Die Hard and The Wolverine to raising millions in venture capital and building tools that help people focus better, work smarter, and reclaim their time. Steven shares fascin...

In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark sits down with Patrick Thean—international speaker, serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Patrick shares his journey from building a supply chain software company that landed on the Inc. 500 list to coaching CEOs on how to focus, execute, and scale with intention. From his “7 Key Practices for CEO...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Leslie Venetz—founder of the Sales Led GTM Agency, LinkedIn Top Voice, and 2024 Sales Innovator of the Year—to talk about building a profit-generating pipeline without burning out. Leslie shares her journey from the high-pressure world of corporate sales to designing a four-day workweek, practicing “deep work,” and creating a business rooted...

In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark chats with Ryan Wimpey, founder of Tip Top K9 Dog Training—a nationwide franchise with over 20 locations and counting. Ryan shares his incredible journey from training dogs behind a Chick-fil-A in a beat-up van to running one of the top-ranked dog training brands in the U.S. From scrappy beginnings to building a tightly run operation with a full call cent...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Ellen Wood—CEO and co-founder of vcfo—to talk about the power of financial strategy, planning for exit, and how to build a more valuable business from day one. As a pioneer in the fractional CFO space, Ellen has helped hundreds of businesses scale, prepare for investment, and exit successfully. She shares practical advice for founders at eve...

In this episode of The Friday Habit , Mark sits down with Emmy-nominated content creator, strategist, and international table tennis competitor Justin Bookey. As the author of Ping Pong Leadership: 18 Principles to Succeed at Any Table in Business, Sports, and Life , Justin shares how his lifelong passion for ping pong evolved into a leadership framework that blends sport, strategy, and self-aware...

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark chats with Benjamin Johnson, serial tech co-founder and founder of Particle 41. With over two decades in software development, DevOps, and startup building, Ben shares hard-earned lessons on what it really takes to lead successful tech initiatives—from bootstrapping SaaS platforms to advising CEOs on digital strategy. They dig into the evolution of AI, the...

In this follow-up to Episode 200: How to Build a Sellable Business , Mark sits down with Ben Manley to unpack the next phase— what happens after you sell . Ben opens up about the emotional rollercoaster, the lessons he learned from structuring the deal, and the surprising challenges that come with handing over your business. From choosing the right buyer to creating SOPs, setting expectations, and...