The Friday Habit

Mark Labriola II

Grow your business. Lead with purpose. Love your life. The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.

  1. 1D AGO

    Why Every Tough Conversation Goes Wrong

    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 New Bridges: The Art of Restoring Impossible Relationships,' emphasizing the need for self-awareness and accountability in both personal and professional relationships. The conversation also touches on performance reviews and how to approach them constructively, as well as the significance of closure in relationships. 🧠 Key Takeaways  Greg Stevens emphasizes the importance of practicing what you teach in relationships.Incomplete relationships can be identified and addressed for personal growth.Managing emotions is crucial during difficult conversations to avoid escalation.Timing is key; sometimes it's best to step away and revisit a conversation later.Self-awareness is foundational for effective communication and conflict resolution.Performance reviews should focus on inspiration and constructive feedback.Understanding the difference between impossible and salvageable relationships is vital.Closure in relationships can lead to personal healing and growth.Asking questions can help manage emotional responses during conflicts.Investing in conflict resolution skills can lead to breakthroughs in relationships. Resources & Links:Connect with Greg!Website: alignment-resources.com/Greg's Podcast: ashotofinspiration.com Download the free Friday Habit Guide: https://thefridayhabit.com 01:05 Introduction to The Friday Habit02:29 Meet Greg Stevens: The Relationship Coach05:01 The Journey to Conflict Resolution07:48 Understanding Incomplete Relationships09:23 Managing Emotions in Conflict12:34 The Importance of Timing in Conversations14:02 Common Communication Challenges16:04 Building Self-Awareness and Skills19:15 Learning from Real-Life Experiences22:41 Empathy in Parenting and Relationships27:26 Understanding Relationship Dynamics32:46 Constructive Performance Reviews37:21 Measuring Communication Progress40:44 Starting with Yourself in Relationships

    50 min
  2. 1D AGO

    Why Regret Is More Dangerous Than Risk With Henry Yoshida

    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 managing $12B+ in retirement assets. They dive deep into ownership, timing, regret vs. risk, venture capital trade-offs, and why paying attention to “small signals” can unlock massive opportunities. 🧠 Key Takeaways Regret Is More Dangerous Than Risk – Fear fades, but “what if?” lingersStay a Mile Deep, Not a Mile Wide – Specialization creates leverageTiming Matters More Than Ideas – Many failures are just too earlyVenture Capital Is a Clock – Momentum determines survivalBuild for the Right Customer Segment – CAC must beat LTVBalance Fuels Longevity – Burnout kills good businessesCuriosity Compounds – Small observations connect into big ideas Resources & Links:🔗 Learn more about Rocket Dollar: https://bit.ly/4qaDVxUConnect With Henry! Instagram: @fitfinancehenry 📘 Download the free Friday Habit Guide: https://thefridayhabit.com Chapters:00:42 Meet Henry Yoshida: CEO & Co-Founder of Rocket Dollar02:05 Growing Up Risk-Averse & Fear of Regret04:45 Merrill Lynch’s Competitive Culture07:55 Early Career Lessons That Shaped a Founder10:40 Leaving Stability to Take the Leap13:10 Building & Selling the First Business16:00 Venture Capital, Timing, and Momentum18:55 Failing Into an Acquisition21:35 Why Most Startups Pick the Wrong Customer24:10 The Problem With Traditional IRAs & 401ks27:10 What Rocket Dollar Actually Does30:05 Building in a Highly Regulated Industry32:45 Risk, Regret, and Confidence as a Founder35:40 Burnout, Balance, and Founder Mistakes38:05 Henry’s Friday Habit: Stay Curious & Connect the Dots40:29 Outro

    41 min
  3. JAN 30

    Compete On Value, Not Price

    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 mindset shifts necessary for long-term success, and key systems that can help construction businesses thrive. The conversation concludes with actionable takeaways for listeners looking to improve their own businesses. 🧠 Takeaways: Chad Prinkey emphasizes the importance of building a strong company culture.Growth can expose underlying issues in a business.Leadership development is crucial for scaling a company.Competing on value rather than price is essential for profitability.Business owners should prioritize investing in their own companies.Mindset shifts are necessary for long-term success.Creating a three-year organizational chart can guide business growth.Understanding financial health is critical before strategic planning.Building a team of leaders at all levels is vital for success.Continuous improvement and reinvestment in the business are key to sustainability. Resources & Links:Connect with Chad!Website: www.wellbuiltconsulting.comDownload the free Friday Habit Guide: https://thefridayhabit.com 00:37 Welcome To The Friday Habit01:24 Meet Chad Prinkey03:03 Delicious Crabs06:28 Chad's Background08:13 Company Growth 09:59 Leaving Something Good For Something Better14:46 The Difficulties Of Leaving Something Good 16:13 How Chad Helped A Company Grow From 300 to 3,000 Employees18:31 Building Leaders That Scale 24:49 Advice For Leaders Playing The Long Game29:47 When Should You Bring New Leaders?32:46 Chad's Book WellBuilt40:06 Take Action42:13 Outro

    43 min
  4. JAN 23

    Turning A Side Hustle Into A Brand

    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 of scaling a business, and the evolving landscape of video content in the age of AI. Emma emphasizes the significance of authenticity in marketing and offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs looking to grow their brands. 🧠 Takeaways: Emma Tessler transitioned from a side hustle to CEO of 95 Media.The importance of community engagement in social media marketing.Building authority online is crucial for trust and sales.Consistency in content creation leads to better results.Hiring for will over skill can enhance team dynamics.Video content should reflect authenticity to stand out.Niche down in services, but not in target audience.A remote team can provide flexibility and access to diverse talent.Scaling requires effective delegation and teamwork.Building a strong company culture is essential for remote teams. Resources & Links:Connect with Emma and NinetyFivemedia!Website: Ninetyfivemedia.coInstagram: @Ninenty.Five.MediaDownload the free Friday Habit Guide: https://thefridayhabit.com 00:35 Introduction to The Friday Habit01:47 Meet Emma Tessler04:15 Emma's background06:08 Building 95 Media: From Side Hustle to Success07:13 Humble Beginnings11:28 Building NinentyFiveMedia21:59 Creating Company Culture23:19 Navigating Remote Work34:34 Advice for Hesitant Business Owners26:01 Staff Structure29:04 Video Content Strategy32:45 Building Authority Online34:31 Working On, Not In Your Business 35:47 Is there Riches in the Niches?39:52 Planning For The Future41:02 Actionable Steps to Scale Your Brand 41:41 Outro

    43 min
  5. JAN 16

    The Mindset That Scales Your Business

    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 leadership. He also discusses the challenges of consistency, the impact of distractions, and the importance of prioritization and delegation. The conversation concludes with Gallagher's advice on making small changes for personal growth. 🧠 Takeaways: Leadership is a continuous journey of growth and learning.Entrepreneurs must shift their mindset from operator to team leader.Delegation is crucial for scaling a business effectively.Understanding the 'so what, now what, so that' framework helps clarify purpose.Regular reflection is key to developing emotional intelligence.Distractions can hinder leadership effectiveness and must be managed.Prioritization is essential for effective time management.Legacy is built through intentional relationships and impact on others.Consistency in habits is more important than initial motivation.Coaching can provide accountability and support for personal and professional growth. Resources & Links:Connect with John: https://coachjohngallagher.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohngallagher Download the free Friday Habit Guide: https://thefridayhabit.com 00:00 Introduction to The Friday Habit02:13 Meet John Gallagher03:22 John Gallagher's Leadership Journey09:30 Mindset Shifts for Entrepreneurs13:40 Practical Leadership Frameworks16:17 Recognizing the Need for Coaching18:50 The Impact of Leadership on Legacy 20:43 Developing Emotional Intelligence26:11 Consistency in Leadership Development29:58 Faith and Entrepreneurship: Balancing Control and Trust32:07 Overcoming Distractions: The Entrepreneur's Challenge34:14 Prioritization and Delegation: Keys to Effective Leadership35:30 The Importance of Accountability and Continuous Learning36:19 Small Changes for Big Impact: Stop Eating French Fries36:58 Outro

    37 min
  6. 2025-09-26

    Building Sellable Brands with Neil Twa

    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 entrepreneurs fall into the “hopium” trap, and how putting purpose before profit transformed his life. If you’ve ever thought about starting an Amazon business—or if you’re simply curious about what makes a company truly valuable—this episode is packed with insights you can apply today. 🧠 Takeaways: -Don’t marry products—marry the brand and data.-Amazon is just one channel: leverage it, then expand beyond it.-The biggest myth: e-commerce success requires a brand-new invention.-Sales fix everything—but only if profit margins are real.-Avoid the “hopium” mindset of chasing overnight success.-Purpose and values create sustainable growth (profit follows).-The Five F’s for entrepreneurs: Faith, Family, Friends, Finances, and Freedom. Resources & Links:Learn more about Neil: https://VoltageDM.com Check out Voltage Digital Marketing: https://VoltageDM.com 👉 Don’t forget—you can download the free Friday Habit system at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to dedicate one full day each week to working on your business instead of in your business.

    1h 7m
  7. 2025-09-19

    Faith, Focus, and a 7-Figure Agency

    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 of entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from angel investing, and how building a business rooted in core values (and powered by faith) has transformed his life. If you’ve ever struggled with focus, wondered when to quit versus push through, or dreamed of creating a company that runs without you—this conversation is packed with perspective. 🧠 Takeaways: Why focus—not chasing every shiny object—is the key to sustainable growthThe power of perseverance and “outlasting” to find tractionHow taking a vacation exposes the cracks in your businessScaling by firing yourself from roles and empowering your teamBuilding with intention: serving clients, your team, and your familyWhy faith and entrepreneurship don’t have to be in conflictResources & Links: Connect with Ozzy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozzygarner Explore Advertis: https://advertis.com 👉 Don’t forget—you can download the free Friday Habit system at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to dedicate one full day each week to working on your business instead of in your business.

    51 min

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About

Grow your business. Lead with purpose. Love your life. The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.