Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

• 1208: Why your tech stack starts with the PEOPLE behind your business w/ Jack Murphy

  In this episode, Jack Murphy, founder of Motion 3 Technology, shares his unorthodox path from the nonprofit camping industry to building a tech consulting business that puts humans first. Jack dives deep into why most tech solutions fail not because of bad technology, but because they ignore people and change management. He breaks down the difference between managed service providers and true strategic tech partners, and why being a facilitator, not a dictator, is the future of IT. This conversation is packed with real-world lessons on business evolution, tech stack decisions, AI integration, and managing growth with patience and fun.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business 🚀 How to evolve your business through multiple iterations while staying true to your strengths 🤖 Why most tech failures are really people failures — and how to avoid them 💡 How to audit and simplify your bloated tech stack for real productivity gains 🎯 The role of timing and beta testers in rolling out new tools and systems ⚙️ How to approach AI as a productivity tool (not a human replacement) 💰 Why understanding your client’s learning styles unlocks better change management 🎸 How injecting humor and fun makes difficult business conversations easier📝 About the GuestJack Murphy is the founder of Motion 3 Technology, where he helps small and medium businesses implement strategic technology solutions that actually fit their people, processes, and goals. With a background in education and leadership, Jack brings a unique facilitative approach that focuses less on selling tech and more on guiding businesses through meaningful change. His company focuses on fractional CIO and CTO services, with a mission to help businesses move forward—hence the name "Motion 3."🎯 Guest’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Intelligence doesn’t build businesses — tenacity does."Key Takeaways from Jack’s Advice: ✔ Longevity in business comes from a willingness to keep going, no matter how hard it gets ✔ You don’t need to have all the answers or credentials to start—just the courage to begin ✔ Comfort zones kill growth—stay uncomfortable and keep iterating📢 Memorable Quotes "I’d rather be a leaf in a river than a leaf in a pond." — Jack Murphy "My job isn’t to have the answers—it’s to help you figure out the right questions." — Jack Murphy "AI should assist humans, not pretend to be them." — Jack Murphy💡 Actionable Takeaways ✅ Start your tech decisions with your people, not your tools ✅ Build an audit system to evaluate your tech stack’s actual productivity ✅ Use small beta test groups before company-wide tech rollouts ✅ Approach AI as a tool for efficiency and support, not a full replacement for human interaction ✅ Bring humor and lightness into your leadership—it makes even tough changes easier🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Motion 3 Technology’s WebsiteConnect with Jack on LinkedInFollow Motion 3 Technology on LinkedIn

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• 1207: Surrounding yourself with SMARTER people, getting 1,000 cups of coffee to grow, and innovating with tech & AI w/ Ian Newell

  Ian Newell brings a rare blend of battlefield intelligence, technical leadership, and entrepreneurial grit to the table. As the founder of Golden Hour Technologies, Ian is solving critical infrastructure problems in maritime autonomy and secure communication systems—pioneering solutions that affect national security, logistics, and global operations. In this episode, you'll learn how his military deployment, Space Force work, and AI-driven innovations shaped his founder journey. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your company, Ian’s story will reshape how you think about purpose, innovation, and execution.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 Why surrounding yourself with smarter people is the secret to scaling successfully🧠 How to use conversations as a tool for exponential learning and networking🌊 Why maritime tech is lagging behind and what it teaches us about real-world product-market fit📡 How to solve “unsexy” infrastructure problems with breakthrough impact🛠️ How Ian used no technical background to lead product teams in AI and secure communications🔄 The power of pivoting—how 20+ pivots led to Golden Hour Technologies’ breakthrough🎯 Why understanding tech limitations helps you innovate more effectively📝 About the Guest Ian Newell is the Founder and CEO of Golden Hour Technologies, a company leveraging AI, secure communications, and high-performance computing to modernize defense, maritime, logistics, and homeland security operations. A former U.S. Army intelligence officer with a combat deployment to Iraq and Syria, Ian also served with the U.S. Space Force. His military background shapes his focus on delivering reliable, mission-critical tech. Post-service, he advanced quickly at BigBear.ai and Saab Inc., ultimately leading product and growth for autonomous systems. Ian holds a B.A. from Virginia Tech and an MBA from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business. Through his “1000 Cups of Coffee” journey, he shares lessons on resilience, connection, and growth, inspiring fellow veterans and entrepreneurs.🎯 Ian’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs “Make sure you are mentally and physically ready to scale. People are relying on you.”Key Takeaways from Ian's Advice: ✔ Entrepreneurship is hard—it demands readiness at every level ✔ Scaling means greater responsibility—prepare your mind and body for the pressure ✔ Culture matters—smart, happy people build powerful products📢 Memorable Quotes “Happy people that are far smarter create really, really cool technology.” – Ian Newell “You have to create an environment where people want to stay, not just believe in the mission.” – Ian Newell “If you want to break the rules, you have to understand how the thing works to its core.” – Ian Newell💡 Actionable Takeaways ✅ Build a recurring habit of having open-ended conversations with people from all backgrounds ✅ Design company culture intentionally—don’t assume the mission alone is enough ✅ Be curious about technical problems even if you’re non-technical—ask engineers, learn, and lead ✅ Focus on infrastructure problems—there’s massive opportunity in overlooked spaces🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Golden Hour Technologies’ WebsiteConnect with Ian on LinkedInFollow Golden Hour Technologies, inc. on LinkedIn

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• 1206: Solving a problem for 10s of MILLIONS of people!? Here's how she's doing it through systems thinking w/ Rukmini Banerjee

  In this powerful episode, Rukmini Banerjee shares how she’s using technology to solve one of the most pressing challenges facing modern families: caring for aging loved ones while juggling careers and children. As the founder of CuroNow, Rukmini is building a mobile platform that reduces cognitive overload for caregivers by organizing tasks, enabling collaboration, and enhancing communication.Her career spans leadership roles at high-growth startups and global corporations, but her entrepreneurial leap came from a deeply personal realization. If you’ve ever wanted to build a business that makes a real difference—this episode is packed with insights, frameworks, and inspiration to help you do just that.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🧠 How to identify overlooked yet massive societal problems as entrepreneurial opportunities🧰 Why tools that reduce “cognitive overload” are the next big frontier in tech🛠 How to apply systems thinking to simplify decision-making in chaotic startup life📈 Why frameworks like “input, throughput, and output” can transform your operations👪 What the “sandwich generation” means—and why it’s an underserved market💡 How to leverage your personal life and global experiences as unique business assets🔍 Why AI’s real value lies in context—not just automation📝 About the Guest Rukmini Banerjee is the founder of CuroNow, a mobile app easing cognitive overload for family caregivers of aging loved ones. With over 20 years of executive leadership, she previously served as COO at Vouch and Chief People Officer at Fetch Rewards, helping scale both companies. Her global experience across the U.S., Australia, and India reflects her strength in operational excellence and commitment to diversity. At CuroNow, Rukmini brings a systems-thinking approach to address the challenges of the "sandwich generation" balancing work, parenting, and elder care.🎯 Guest’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs “Take action. You won’t know what step 10 looks like until you take step one.” – Rukmini BanerjeeKey Takeaways from Her Advice: ✔ Don’t overthink—just start ✔ Course correction is only possible in motion ✔ Action is the antidote to fear and inaction📢 Memorable Quotes“Where’s the solution that helps us see aging loved ones holistically—not just their health needs, but their life needs?” – Rukmini Banerjee “We don’t talk—we play.” – Rukmini’s daughter, reminding us of the human connection at the heart of it all “Systems thinking starts with inputs and throughput. That’s where our leverage is.”💡 Actionable Takeaways ✅ Use real-life frustrations as a launchpad for business ideas ✅ Reduce decision fatigue by anchoring decisions to your core purpose ✅ Think beyond tasks—solve cognitive overload for your customers ✅ Leverage systems thinking: focus on quality inputs and processes to improve outputs🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit CuroNow’s WebsiteConnect with Rukmini on LinkedInFollow CuroNow on LinkedIn

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• 1205: Why and how every business can benefit from EXPERIENTIAL marketing w/ Ana Arguello

  In this episode, Ana Arguello—founder and CEO of Taylor Jean Marketing—dives deep into the power of experiential marketing and how it can create emotional, lasting connections between brands and their audiences. With over two decades of marketing experience, Ana breaks down how businesses of any size or budget can use immersive experiences to stand out, drive growth, and inspire loyalty. Whether you’re a solopreneur or scaling a team, Ana’s advice on creativity, culture, and community will leave you energized to rethink how you market your business.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business 🚀 Why experiential marketing can work for ANY industry—even on a small budget 📍 How to create activations that speak directly to your target audience 🎯 The metrics that matter in experiential marketing and how to track real ROI 📸 How to turn events into long-term marketing assets with social media-ready moments 💡 Creative activation ideas even for small towns and niche markets 🤝 Why community and strategic partnerships amplify the impact of your brand 🔥 What sets an experiential marketing company apart from a traditional event agency📝 About the Guest Ana Arguello is a marketing powerhouse with more than 20 years of experience leading campaigns for major global brands. Today, she’s the founder and CEO of Taylor Jean Marketing, a Miami-based agency that specializes in experiential marketing—crafting unforgettable brand experiences that go far beyond traditional strategies. Ana’s approach blends data, strategy, and emotion to help brands connect deeply with their audiences. She’s also a proud mom, wife, and culture-first leader redefining how women lead in business.🎯 Ana’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs “Don’t be scared. Especially when it starts to get really hard—that’s usually because you’re on the cusp of something bigger and better.”💡 Key Takeaways from Ana’s Advice: ✔ Resilience is key—breakthroughs often come after the toughest days ✔ Your support system matters—surround yourself with believers ✔ Believe in yourself, especially when doubt creeps in📢 Memorable Quotes “Any and every industry should be tapping into experiential marketing if they want to get close to their consumer.” – Ana Arguello “Culture is about showing up, caring in every interaction—not just saying it.” – Ana Arguello “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show up—you just have to get creative.” – Ana Arguello💡 Actionable Takeaways ✅ Start small with a pop-up or activation in a high-traffic area ✅ Focus on the consumer experience, not just promoting your brand ✅ Use photo booths or branded walls to encourage organic social sharing ✅ Know your target audience so you can show up where they already are ✅ Always plan for pre, during, and post-event strategy to maximize results🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Taylor Jean Marketing’s WebsiteConnect with Ana on LinkedInFollow Taylor Jean Marketing Agency on LinkedInFollow Taylor Jean Marketing Agency on Instagram

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• 1204: Bought companies, sold companies, & building companies through RELATIONSHIPS in the IT space w/ Darek Hahn

  Darek Hahn isn’t your typical tech CEO—he’s a relationship-first entrepreneur who's redefining how businesses experience IT. In this episode, Darek shares his path from watching his mom build a business to leading, acquiring, rebuilding, and launching multiple IT companies. Now at the helm of AffinIT, he’s proving that the secret to lasting client success isn't tech—it's trust.Whether you're scaling a service business or stepping into leadership for the first time, Darek’s insights on team building, vulnerability, and executive focus are game-changers for founders at any stage.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🎯 Why leading like a “conductor” can transform how your team performs🧠 The surprising difference between being an entrepreneur and being a CEO👥 How to build client relationships so strong they outlast contracts💼 Why emotional intelligence is your business’s greatest asset🧰 How to structure your time as a visionary entrepreneur with traction and discipline🔄 How to turn IT pain points into profitable value-add services🤖 What AI policies you NEED to have in place before it’s too late📝 About the Guest Darek Hahn is a relationship-driven CEO with a diverse background in facilities, IT, and startup leadership. He entered the IT space in the early 2000s and went on to lead several startups before spearheading the acquisition of an IT Managed Service Provider in 2016. After rebuilding the company following the loss of a major contract, he successfully led its sale to a cybersecurity firm in 2021. In 2024, Darek launched a new MSP with a clear mission: to restore the human connection often missing in the industry. Today, we’ll dive into how that vision is shaping his latest venture.🎯 Darek’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "It’s not about you—it’s about the people you surround yourself with."Key Takeaways: ✔ Success comes from building a high-performing team, not doing it all yourself ✔ Surround yourself with people who challenge and complement your skills ✔ Celebrate and elevate every person’s contribution like you’re conducting an orchestra📢 Memorable Quotes“Your technicians are more important than your CEO—they’re the ones keeping clients.” – Darek Hahn “I want to be at your retirement party—and I hope you’ll be at mine.” – Darek Hahn “The best leaders aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. That’s how you build trust.” – Darek Hahn💡 Actionable Takeaways ✅ Build a values-first company culture rooted in trust and honesty ✅ Schedule structured "executive time" to focus on strategy and self-reflection ✅ Implement traction or a business operating system to align your team ✅ Create a formal AI policy—your people are already using it, whether you know it or not ✅ Don’t just fix tech issues—use them as opportunities to deepen relationships🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit AffinIT’s WebsiteConnect with Darek on LinkedInFollow AffinIT on LinkedIn

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