Hire Yourself Podcast

Hire Yourself
  • 5.0 (6)
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Every week Pete from Hire Yourself will give you some franchise, business, or entrepreneurial advice and information. The episodes are ten to twenty minutes long and are perfect for the commute to or from your office. And who knows, maybe one day they will convince you to hire yourself!

  1. 5d ago

    Build Your Exit Before You Need It

    What if you could build your Plan B while Plan A is still paying you? Most executives don’t seriously consider business ownership until something forces the issue. A layoff, acquisition, leadership change, missed promotion, or growing frustration with corporate life can suddenly turn a future possibility into an urgent decision. In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explains why building your exit plan before you need it can put you in a stronger position. He shows how decades of corporate experience in leadership, operations, finance, sales, strategy, hiring, and problem-solving can translate directly into business ownership, especially within a franchise model that provides an established brand, systems, training, and support. Pete also explores how executives can build a Plan B without immediately leaving their corporate careers. By investing in a semi-active business, creating supplemental income, and building an asset they actually own, professionals can begin diversifying their financial future while Plan A is still paying them. The goal is not to make a rushed decision, but to create more options, more control, and a stronger contingency plan before the next restructuring or career disruption happens. Chapters 00:00 - What Asset Are You Building That You Actually Own? 01:00 - Build Your Plan B While Plan A Is Still Paying You 02:10 - Your Corporate Career Has Already Prepared You for Business Ownership 03:02 - How Franchising Reduces the Risk of Starting From Scratch 04:14 - Leaving Corporate America to Build Something for Yourself 05:01 - Building a Semi-Active Business While Keeping Your Corporate Job 05:55 - Why Having Options Changes the Layoff Equation 06:41 - Stop Renting Your Income and Start Building an Asset 07:23 - How AI Looks Different From the Business Owner’s Side 08:16 - Why Franchise Due Diligence Matters 09:10 - Applying Your Executive Skills to Something You Own 09:40 - Build Your Exit Before You Need It CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    Build Your Exit Before You Need It

  2. Sep 15

    Your Corporate Job Is Not a Retirement Plan

    A strong corporate career can still leave you financially exposed if all of your income depends on one employer. In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explains why job security and income security are no longer the same thing. Even successful executives can lose their positions because of restructuring, acquisitions, management changes, outsourcing, automation, or AI. Pete also explores the idea of concentrated career risk and why relying on one paycheck, one bonus, and one benefits package can create the same kind of vulnerability as putting an entire investment portfolio into a single stock. If you’re a corporate executive thinking about your long-term future, this episode will help you consider what your contingency plan looks like and why it may be worth exploring options like consulting, business ownership, or franchising before you actually need them. Chapters: 00:00 - Why One Employer Creates Concentrated Risk 01:06 - Why Good Performance No Longer Guarantees Job Security 01:49 - Rethinking What Income Security Really Means 02:39 - How Corporate America Is Reducing Headcount 04:00 - Why Senior Executives Face Fewer Opportunities 04:49 - The Risk of Depending on One Employer 05:53 - How AI Is Increasing Career Risk 06:39 - Why Executives Need a Personal Contingency Plan 07:29 - What Would You Do If Your Job Disappeared Tomorrow? 08:01 - Building Your Plan Before You Need It CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    Your Corporate Job Is Not a Retirement Plan

  3. Aug 25

    The Jobless Boom

    Strong profits and rising share prices no longer guarantee job security. As companies invest in AI, streamline operations, restructure teams, and redirect capital toward higher-growth priorities, even high-performing executives can find themselves impacted by layoffs and organizational change. In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explores the growing “jobless boom” and what it means for corporate professionals.  He explains why companies can report strong financial results while simultaneously reducing headcount, how AI is changing the economics of white-collar work, and why individual performance alone may not be enough to protect your position. For executives thinking about their long-term future, Pete makes the case for building a Plan B before it becomes necessary. By exploring business ownership and franchising while still employed, professionals can diversify their income, build equity outside of a paycheck, and create a greater level of control over their financial future. Chapters 00:00 - Good Performance Doesn’t Guarantee Job Security 01:01 - What Is the “Jobless Boom”? 02:00 - Why Profitable Companies Are Still Cutting Jobs 03:13 - How AI Is Reshaping White-Collar Work 03:40 - Why Individual Performance Is No Longer Enough 04:07 - The Psychological Shift for Corporate Executives 04:44 - Why More Professionals Are Exploring Business Ownership 05:06 - How Ownership Creates a Different Kind of Security 05:39 - Why You Should Build Your Plan B Before You Need It 06:16 - Turning Corporate Experience Into Business Ownership CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    The Jobless Boom

  4. Aug 11

    The Biggest Franchise Trends Shaping the Next Decade

    Where are the biggest opportunities in franchising headed over the next decade? After spending several days hearing directly from more than 120 franchise brands across North America, one thing was clear: franchising is evolving, and some of the strongest growth is happening in areas driven by long-term shifts in how people live, spend, work, and invest. In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, we break down the biggest trends shaping the future of franchising and what they could mean for professionals considering business ownership. In this episode, we cover: 🔹 Why health, wellness, and longevity businesses are gaining momentum 🔹 Why essential and specialty services continue to offer resilient opportunities 🔹 The growing demand behind pet care, children's services, senior care, and home improvement 🔹 How AI is making franchise businesses more efficient—not simply replacing them 🔹 What these trends reveal about where franchise growth may be headed over the next decade For corporate professionals navigating AI disruption, layoffs, restructuring, and changing workplace expectations, these trends offer another perspective on what it can look like to build something of your own. CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    The Biggest Franchise Trends Shaping the Next Decade

  5. Jul 28

    Remote Work Is Over, Now What?

    As more companies tighten return-to-office requirements, many professionals are being forced to reconsider what flexibility really means. Remote work may offer freedom from the office, but when an employer can change that policy at any time, how much control do you actually have? In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explores the difference between employer-provided flexibility and the flexibility that can come with business ownership. Drawing from his own experience leaving the corporate world, Pete shares how becoming a business owner gave him greater control over his schedule, from being present for his kids’ activities to spending a month working remotely from Florida. Business ownership does not necessarily mean working less, but it can give you more control over when, where, and how you work. For corporate executives considering what comes next, the bigger question may not be whether remote work will survive, but what kind of life and career you want to build. Pete discusses how corporate leadership skills can transfer to business ownership and why franchising may offer a path toward greater control over your time, income, and future. Chapters 00:00 - The freedom to work on your own terms 00:56 - Why return-to-office mandates are making a comeback 01:54 - What flexibility really means 02:42 - The return-to-office trend is accelerating 03:24 - Why corporate flexibility can change overnight 03:56 - What flexibility really looks like as a business owner 04:13 - How business ownership gave Pete more control over his time 04:54 - How technology is creating more flexibility for business owners 05:33 - Working, traveling, and building a schedule on your own terms 06:14 - The bigger question: What kind of life are you trying to build? 06:30 - Turning corporate experience into an advantage in business ownership 07:36 - Next steps for exploring business ownership CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    Remote Work Is Over, Now What?

  6. Jul 14

    How Do You Finance a Franchise Business?

    One of the biggest misconceptions about buying a franchise is that you need to write one massive check upfront. In reality, experienced entrepreneurs often approach business ownership very differently by strategically combining multiple funding sources to preserve capital while investing in a business designed to generate long-term wealth. In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan breaks down the fundamentals of franchise financing and explains why understanding your funding options can be one of the most important steps toward becoming a business owner.  Rather than viewing financing as a barrier, entrepreneurs learn to leverage available resources in ways that maximize flexibility, reduce risk, and maintain liquidity. Successful entrepreneurs focus less on the purchase price and more on building an effective financing strategy. The episode also explores several common funding options available to prospective franchise owners, including brokerage-backed lending, retirement funding through the ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) program, SBA loans, traditional bank financing, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), outside investors, friends and family financing, and franchise-sponsored financing programs.  Key themes include: Why many successful entrepreneurs avoid paying for a business entirely with cashUnderstanding leverage as a core principle of business ownershipHow combining multiple financing sources can reduce financial strainThe advantages of retirement funding through the ROBS programHow SBA loans work and what entrepreneurs should expect during the processUsing brokerage accounts and home equity as sources of business capitalThe role of outside investors, friends and family, and franchise financing programsWhy preserving liquidity is critical when starting or acquiring a businessThe mindset shift from asking "Can I afford it?" to "What's the smartest way to finance it?"How understanding financing options can remove one of the biggest barriers to business ownershipFinancing a franchise is rarely about writing one large check. This episode helps listeners understand the full range of funding options available and strategically leverage multiple sources of capital to preserve cash, reduce financial risk, and build a stronger foundation for long-term business success. CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    How Do You Finance a Franchise Business?

  7. Jun 30

    The Rise of Tiny Teams

    What if the future of entrepreneurship isn't about building bigger companies—but building smarter ones? In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explores one of the most important business shifts emerging in the age of artificial intelligence: the rise of tiny teams.  For decades, business success was measured by growth in employees, management layers, office space, and operational complexity. Today, AI and automation are changing that equation. Pete explains how entrepreneurs are leveraging AI-powered tools to automate tasks that once required entire departments. From customer service and scheduling to marketing, lead qualification, content creation, and operational support, technology is enabling lean businesses to operate with unprecedented efficiency. Pete also examines why corporate executives may be uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend. Skills developed in large organizations—such as leadership, process management, operations, project management, and technology integration—can become powerful competitive advantages when combined with modern AI tools. Key themes include: How AI is reducing the labor required to operate many businessesWhy tiny teams can compete effectively against larger organizationsThe advantages of low-overhead, lean business modelsHow AI can function as a virtual assistant, marketer, scheduler, and customer service representativeWhy corporate leadership experience translates well into entrepreneurshipThe growing role of automation in customer service, scheduling, and operationsHow franchising and AI create powerful scalability opportunitiesWhy technology is lowering the barriers to business ownershipThe potential to manage multiple businesses and revenue streams through automationThe core takeaway: entrepreneurship is entering a new era where success is no longer determined by the size of your workforce. By combining AI, automation, and proven business systems, entrepreneurs can build highly competitive, scalable businesses with smaller teams, lower overhead, and greater operational flexibility. Chapters 00:00 - How AI and automation make it easier to scale multiple businesses 00:56 - The rise of tiny teams and the end of the "bigger is better" business model 01:37 - Why large corporate organizations are losing their advantage 02:23 - Future of entrepreneurship: building a business with AI, experience, and execution 02:56 - How AI is reducing the labor required to run a business 03:27 - The reinvention of the solopreneur through AI 03:59 - The competitive advantages of lean, low-overhead businesses 04:38 - AI as your workforce: sales, customer service, scheduling, and operations 05:24 - Real-world examples of AI in customer service and automation 06:10 - How technology is lowering the barriers to business ownership 06:43 - Why corporate executives have an advantage in the AI era 07:09 - Using AI to manage multiple businesses and revenue streams 07:40 - Why franchising and AI are a powerful combination 08:08 - The future belongs to agile, technology-driven businesses 08:35 - Exploring franchise ownership opportunities and final thoughts CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    The Rise of Tiny Teams

  8. Jun 16

    Why Blue-Collar Businesses Are Booming

    Why are blue-collar businesses becoming some of the most attractive opportunities in today's economy? In this episode of the Hire Yourself Podcast, Pete Gilfillan explores the major shift taking place across the workforce and business landscape. While corporate careers, technology roles, and white-collar professions have dominated the conversation for decades, many blue-collar and service-based industries are quietly experiencing significant growth and creating substantial wealth-building opportunities. Drawing from his own transition from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship, Pete explains why essential service businesses such as home services, skilled trades, property maintenance, restoration, and senior care continue to thrive regardless of economic uncertainty. These businesses solve urgent, necessary problems that consumers cannot delay, creating predictable demand, strong cash flow potential, and long-term resilience. Pete also discusses how advances in AI and automation are making these traditionally "old-school" businesses more efficient than ever. From AI-powered customer service and estimating tools to automated lead qualification and scheduling systems, technology is helping service businesses scale while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. The core takeaway: some of the biggest wealth-building opportunities today may not be found in flashy startups or emerging technologies. Essential service businesses combine recurring demand, scalability, AI resistance, and operational leverage, creating a compelling path for executives seeking greater control over their future through business ownership. Chapters 00:00 - Why blue-collar businesses may create the next generation of millionaires 01:02 - The shift away from white-collar careers and corporate ladders 02:24 - Why Pete left corporate America and became an entrepreneur 02:49 - Essential services: the foundation of predictable demand 03:38 - Why blue-collar businesses are recession-resistant and AI-resistant 04:32 - Workforce shortages and the opportunity in skilled trades 05:07 - Real-world examples: Grout Medic, Oura Ring, and Surface Experts 06:38 - Why franchising and technology create a powerful combination 07:02 - How executives can leverage their leadership skills in business ownership 07:57 - The overlooked opportunity in blue-collar and home service businesses 08:26 - Final thoughts and exploring franchise ownership opportunities CONNECT WITH PETE GILFILLAN: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegilfillan/ 🌐 Website: https://www.hireyourself.com/ CONNECT WITH HIRE YOURSELF PODCAST: 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hire-yourself-podcast/id1472038217 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eTKOLjuUWbf7BRtGtp6dP?si=eb2f7b38bd884804 ▶️ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hireyourself7642 📅 Meet with Pete: https://go.hireyourself.com/gilfillan?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IR

    Why Blue-Collar Businesses Are Booming
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About

Every week Pete from Hire Yourself will give you some franchise, business, or entrepreneurial advice and information. The episodes are ten to twenty minutes long and are perfect for the commute to or from your office. And who knows, maybe one day they will convince you to hire yourself!

Information

  • Creator
    Hire Yourself
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    198
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hire Yourself Podcast
  • Show Website
    Hire Yourself Podcast