Self Funded

Chrissie Francona
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Self Funded is a podcast about building a career outside the traditional 9-5. Host Chrissie Francona, Founder & CEO of The Long Game, shares her own journey of turning experience into opportunity, along with the stories of others who are carving their own paths. From scaling startups to launching ventures, Chrissie and her guests explore what it really takes to create success on your own terms.

Episodes

  1. You Don’t Need a New Idea, You Need to Follow the Spark

    22/12/2025

    You Don’t Need a New Idea, You Need to Follow the Spark

    In this solo episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona explores a simple but powerful idea: you already have the foundation of a business inside you. Drawing inspiration from The Wizard of Oz, she breaks down how to identify your “spark” using lived experience, professional expertise, and real feedback from others. Chrissie shares practical exercises for uncovering what you are uniquely qualified to build, why confidence and action are often the real blockers, and how to systemize yourself into taking action even when fear shows up. She closes with concrete ways to approach 2026 differently, focusing on small, repeatable habits that help you turn clarity into momentum and finally start building on your own terms. (00:00:01) Unleashing Unique Strengths for Entrepreneurial Success (00:02:15) Embracing Your Internal Spark for Success (00:04:54) Stepping Out of Comfort Zone in Business Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxW6fdMBQaTaLXsrAneZ2aQ The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3

    10 min
  2. Why Taylor Crane Bet on Fractional Work and Built a Business Around It

    15/12/2025

    Why Taylor Crane Bet on Fractional Work and Built a Business Around It

    In this episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona sits down with Taylor Crane, founder of Fractional Jobs, to unpack how fractional work became both his career path and his business. Taylor shares how burnout from a venture-backed startup led him to fractional product work, why he deliberately used that income to bootstrap his next company, and how Fractional Jobs grew from a simple newsletter into a revenue-generating marketplace and media business. They dive into the realities of building a two-sided platform, why network is the hardest part of fractional work, how Taylor iterated his business model in real time, and why he believes fractional leadership is becoming the default starting point for modern companies. (00:01:13) Engaging in Part-Time Roles with Fractional Executives(00:01:19) Cost-Effective Senior Expertise for Startups(00:02:14) Expertise-Based Fractional Leadership Talent Platform(00:02:14) Hands-On Expertise: The Essence of Fractional Work(00:08:54) Strategic Evolution of Fractional Work Concept(00:17:49) Fractional Jobs: Empowering Startup Leaders(00:32:38) Equitable Referral Fee Model for Talent(00:32:49) Referral Fee Model Adaptation in Revenue Streams Check out Fractional Jobs here: www.fractionaljobs.ioFollow Taylor on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/taylorcrane/ Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxW6fdMBQaTaLXsrAneZ2aQ The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3

    48 min

  3. 08/12/2025

    Disney, Starbucks, and the Blueprint Behind Tamara Muñoz-Whilden’s CEO Extraction Method

    In this episode, Chrissie sits down with Tamara Muñoz-Whilden, founder of Behind the Screens, to unpack how she transformed a decade of Disney and Starbucks operations experience into a fast-growing agency that helps founders finally step out of the weeds. Tamara shares her path from burnout to entrepreneurship, why scalable systems are the “secret sauce” to consistent delivery, and how she evolved from virtual assistant to fractional COO to leading her signature CEO Extraction program. They dive into what actually keeps founders stuck in the day-to-day, how to build a business that runs without you, and why operations is both the bottleneck and the unlock for growth.Check out Behind the Screens here: https://behindthescreens.biz Follow Tamara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamaramunozwhilden/ Take her Bottleneck Assessment: https://behindthescreens.biz/bottleneck(00:08:29) Strategic Transition: Balancing Risk in Entrepreneurship(00:15:58) Scaling Expertise into Self-Funded Success(00:18:55) Evolving Service Offerings for Business Growth(00:24:18) Optimal Team Composition for Business Growth(00:26:09) Optimizing Business Growth Through CEO Extraction(00:26:35) Transitioning for Growth: CEO Extraction Strategies(00:38:30) Iterating Business Ideas for Market DemandsSelf Funded Links:Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxW6fdMBQaTaLXsrAneZ2aQThe Long Game:I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com.My Self Funded Tech Stack:These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links):Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7BfFlodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3

    41 min

  4. 01/12/2025

    From Serial Acquirers to M&A Integration Advisors with Tim Williamson and Gagan Singh

    In this episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona sits down with Tim Williamson and Gagan Singh, the leaders behind Acquire2Win, to unpack their journey from colleagues at Salesforce to making their own decisions to leave and a collective decision to launch Acquire2Win. Drawing from years of experience inside serial acquirers like Salesforce, Comcast, and Nielsen, Tim and Gagan share the expertise they developed in these roles that they have since leveraged into their own GTM-focused acquisition playbook. They share the ethos of Acquire2Win and the patterns they’ve seen repeated across industries, which prompted them to take a differentiated approach to their services: treat integration as a growth discipline rather than a back-office exercise. Connect with Tim and Gagan on LinkedIn: Tim: www.linkedin.com/in/timothyawilliamson Gagan: www.linkedin.com/in/gdsingh3 Learn more about Acquire2Win: www.acquire2win.com (00:01:19) Customer-Centered Growth in Self-Funded Ventures (00:09:08) Customer-Centric Integration Strategy at Salesforce (00:13:10) Navigating M&A Integration for Entrepreneurial Growth (00:20:20) Relationship Building in M&A Deals (00:24:15) Rejecting Bad Business Ideas Saves Resources (00:30:14) Customer-Centric Approach in Acquisitions for Growth (00:33:15) Aligning M&A with Customer Needs for Growth (00:34:47) Navigating Business Growth and Service Integration (00:43:03) Perfecting Business Value for Convincing Communication Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxW6fdMBQaTaLXsrAneZ2aQ The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

    53 min

  5. 24/11/2025

    How to Say No When You’re Building a Self Funded Business

    In this solo episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona breaks down one of the most underrated skills in building a business around yourself: learning how to say no. She shares how to protect your time when your calendar is blank, how to handle pick-your-brain requests and general catch ups, how to decide which business opportunities are worth pursuing, and how to evaluate full time offers without losing focus on your own path. Chrissie opens up about her own early mistakes, the gut checks she relies on now, and the simple systems she uses to keep her time aligned with the work that actually builds the business.(00:00:45) Time as Capital: Building Self-Funded Businesses(00:10:00) Prioritizing Passion and Sustainable Business Growth(00:11:15) Identifying Energizing Tasks to Boost Entrepreneurship SuccessSelf Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Spotify: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@selffundedpod The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    12 min

  6. 17/11/2025

    The Business You Build When Life Forces a Pivot with Joy Taylor

    In this episode, Chrissie Francona talks with Joy Taylor about a career shaped by grit, reinvention, and the willingness to bet on herself more than once. Joy shares how growing up in a tiny Missouri town running a family ferry business taught her to do the work, how George Steinbrenner “firing” her changed her career trajectory, and how she went from GE’s M and A team to building and selling multiple consulting firms. She and Chrissie dig into the reality of building a business during major life inflection points, the shift from being the person who does the work to building a team that can deliver it, and why Joy believes clarity, transparency, and flexibility are the future of consulting. (00:00:01) Personal Needs Driving Self-Funded Enterprises (00:08:52) Thriving Ferry Business in Key West (00:20:01) Evolution from Solo Consultant to Established Company (00:28:57) Navigating Career Changes During Family Changes (00:33:17) Flexible Work-Life Balance at TayganPoint Consulting Group (00:37:49) Networking for Consulting Success Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@selffundedpod The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    44 min

  7. 10/11/2025

    How Packy McCormick Turned Not Boring from Newsletter to Venture Fund

    Packy McCormick has built a one-of-a-kind career around curiosity. As the writer behind Not Boring and GP of Not Boring Capital, he’s turned a side project newsletter into a thriving ecosystem that bridges media and venture. In this episode, Packy and Chrissie talk about burning the boats to bet on yourself, how deep research and writing became his superpower, and why the Internet still rewards people who do truly original work.Packy shares the evolution from banker to startup operator to full-time creator, the flywheel between his writing and investing, and what he sees coming next for independent builders in the “great online game.” Check out Not Boring: www.notboring.co (00:01:18) Thriving Tech Investment Newsletter from Startup Background (00:06:12) Not Boring: From Niche Club to Media Platform (00:08:19) Transitioning to Sponsorship Model in Media (00:18:14) Writing-driven Investment Strategy Synergy (00:21:43) Strategic Writing Shapes Investment Portfolio Over Time (00:25:02) Deep Dive Writing Process with ChatGPT (00:30:03) Navigating Writing Challenges with Generative AI (00:42:34) Value-driven Innovation: Future of Online Creators Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@selffundedpod The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    45 min

  8. 03/11/2025

    From Class Project to Consulting 2.0: The Story of Catalant with Pat Petitti

    In this episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona talks with Pat Petitti, CEO and Co-Founder of Catalant, about how a class project at Harvard Business School grew into one of the most disruptive forces in consulting. Pat shares the story behind Catalant’s beginnings as “Hourly Nerd,” its evolution into a platform now powering thousands of independent consultants, and what he calls “Consulting 2.0.” He and Chrissie discuss how AI is reshaping the industry, why companies are rethinking traditional consulting models, and what it takes to build a business that connects expertise with opportunity. Check out Catalant Here: https://catalant.com (00:00:01) Harvard Class Project: Catalynt Consulting Success (00:15:37) Consulting 2.0 Evolution: Catalan’s Business Transformation (00:15:58) Enterprise Shift: Disrupting Traditional Consulting Space (00:25:30) Tailored Solutions: Consulting Teams for Better ROI (00:26:36) Tailored Consulting Teams for Effective Solutions (00:29:23) AI Integration and Specialization in Consulting Industry (00:36:35) Expertise-Focused Consulting for Successful Practice (00:42:23) Consulting Firms Embracing Specialized Expertise (00:44:14) Rise of Purpose-Driven Independent Consultants Self Funded Links: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 The Long Game: I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. My Self Funded Tech Stack: These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep. https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface: https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X Granola: I’ve tried several AI notetakers and this is my favorite. I take my own notes in the interface which are the enhanced after the call: https://go.granola.ai/chrissie-francona Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    48 min

  9. 27/10/2025

    Leslie Zaikis on Turning Freelance Flexibility into a Long-Term Career

    In this episode of Self Funded, Chrissie Francona talks with Leslie Zaikis, marketing strategist, fractional CMO, and co-founder of The New HQ, about building a self-funded career long before it was trendy. Leslie shares how leaving big consulting for an early-stage startup and its eventual crash led her to carve out a 13-year path as an independent consultant. She and Chrissie explore what it really looks like to sustain a business on your own terms, from landing clients through genuine curiosity to balancing work and motherhood to helping others design flexible, fulfilling careers through The New HQ. More Info on Leslie: https://www.lesliezaikis.com Check Out the New HQ: https://www.thenewhq.co (00:02:24) Startup Experiences: Navigating Challenges for Growth (00:11:16) From Big Consulting to Marketing Consultant Journey (00:17:20) Strategic Marketing Partnerships with Hands-On Delivery (00:23:31) Flexibility and Tailored Scopes in Consulting (00:30:13) Embracing Flexibility: Balancing Business and Family (00:35:10) Transforming Job Offers into Consulting Partnerships (00:38:45) Empowering Self-Employment: Building Success Together You Can Find Self-Funded Here: Substack: https://selffundedbychrissie.substack.com/ Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded/id1845157459 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u4zA43k4hC183fM0PisKq?si=26bf586458934e49 I help growth-stage companies close the gap between strategy and execution for growth or exit through The Long Game. Learn more at longgametalent.com. These are some of my favorite tools I use everyday in my business and podcast (affiliate links): Collective: Powers my S-Corp from bookkeeping to paying contractors to tax prep.  https://share.collective.com/mQHI7Bf Flodesk: The easiest email platform with clean, easy-to-customize designs and a simple workflow interface:  https://flodesk.com/c/19VL1X  Airtable: I’ve built my business operating system in Airtable, including my CRM, content management tool, and to-do list: https://airtable.com/invite/r/uq7tgTC3   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    47 min
  10. What It Really Means to Be Self Funded

    20/10/2025

    What It Really Means to Be Self Funded

    In the premiere episode of Self Funded, host Chrissie Francona lays the foundation for what it truly means to build a business around yourself, without waiting for permission. Drawing from her own journey and years of observing a growing movement of professionals creating profitable, purpose-driven ventures, Chrissie breaks down the core ideas behind being “self funded”: leveraging your experience, expertise, and network to create both income and equity. She explores the models, mindsets, and motivations shaping this new path for modern professionals ready to carve out something of their own. (00:01:25) Expertise-Driven Entrepreneurial Journey (00:04:35) Monetizing Expertise for Lasting Financial Independence (00:10:54) Building Self-Funded Businesses Beyond Personal Scope (00:17:09) The Boom of Independent Workers in 2020 (00:21:37) Monetizing Skills and Expertise for Business Success This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    26 min
  11. Welcome to Self Funded!

    09/10/2025

    Welcome to Self Funded!

    We’re living in a new era of work, one where ambitious professionals are building businesses around their own experience and expertise. Self Funded is a podcast about this movement: creating a career on your own terms, without waiting for permission. Hosted by Chrissie Francona, it’s for anyone ready to rethink the rules of success and build something profitable, durable, and fully their own. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selffundedbychrissie.substack.com

    3 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Self Funded is a podcast about building a career outside the traditional 9-5. Host Chrissie Francona, Founder & CEO of The Long Game, shares her own journey of turning experience into opportunity, along with the stories of others who are carving their own paths. From scaling startups to launching ventures, Chrissie and her guests explore what it really takes to create success on your own terms.

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissie Francona
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chrissie Francona
  • Show Website
    Self Funded

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