Connecting the Journey

Connecting the Journey

Join podcast host and CEO Gabe Abshire as he takes a deep dive into a new entrepreneur's journey to success.

  1. 08/28/2025

    The Secret Behind a Company People Never Want to Leave

    What if moving didn’t have to be one of life’s most stressful experiences? Gabe Abshire, founder and CEO of Move Concierge, reveals how he built a company and an entire industry dedicated to making moves seamless, stress-free, and even enjoyable. In this conversation, Gabe shares the lightbulb moment that sparked his idea, the grind of convincing realtors and providers to believe in it, and the culture-first approach that keeps his employees inspired after 16 years. From 20,000+ five-star reviews to lessons learned in rapid growth, Gabe opens up about leadership, humility, and the balance between people and technology in a world leaning on AI. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 What Move Concierge does and how it started 02:02 How did Gabe succeed? 02:36 Early struggles and convincing realtors & providers 05:24 How customer feedback fuels the business 09:03 Maintaining company culture through growth 11:00 Balancing people, AI, and technology 13:28 Events, family, and keeping employees engaged 15:20 Lessons from mistakes through rapid growth 19:13 Leading with humility and being yourself 20:36 Benefits of being an entrepreneur 22:08 Personal habits that keep energy up 24:18 Outlook for the future and real estate market 26:30 Doubling down during downturns 27:47 Gratitude, regrets, and staying grounded 28:56 Dealing with regrets 29:40 Staying grounded and fired up 30:40 What’s coming next 👉 Ready to make your next move the easiest one yet? Visit https://moveconcierge.com for all your home service needs. #MoveConcierge #GabeAbshire #StartupStory #StressFreeMoving #LeadershipLessons #BusinessGrowth

    32 min
  2. She Traded a Law Career for Wine & Never Looked Back

    08/05/2025

    She Traded a Law Career for Wine & Never Looked Back

    She was a lawyer, a Marine officer candidate, and a Texas farm girl, until one unexpected moment changed everything. In this episode, Sarah Shadonix shares how a maternity leave identity crisis led her to build Scout & Cellar, a clean-crafted wine brand reshaping the industry. You'll hear how she navigated leaving law, trusted her outsider perspective, and scaled a purpose-driven business. From burnout to bold decisions, parenting struggles to entrepreneurial wins, this is the real, unfiltered story of starting over. Subscribe for more founder stories that fuel bold career pivots.   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:41 Meet the Guest: Shayla Varnado 01:59 Life on a Texas Farm 05:21 Hunting, Dogs & Fellowship 06:37 Running as Mental Reset 08:08 Marine Corps Detour 10:00 Boot Camp Experience 11:01 Turning Down Military Career 13:25 From Law to Family Life 14:53 Parenting in a Digital Age 16:42 Keeping Kids Off Smartphones 18:43 The Leap from Law to Wine 20:47 Becoming a Super Taster 22:53 The Birth of Scout & Cellar 24:18 Scaling Small-Batch Wine 26:15 From Skepticism to Success 28:13 Rethinking Wine Sales 29:24 Consultant Model Takes Off 30:07 Changing Lives Through Wine 32:05 Life After the Exit 34:17 The Biggest Fear 35:28 Advice to Her Younger Self 37:04 Final Message to Entrepreneurs #SarahShadonix #ScoutAndCellar #CleanCraftedWine #FounderStory #WomenInBusiness #WineLovers #EntrepreneurLife #StartupJourney #FromLawToWine #WineIndustry #WomenEntrepreneurs #BusinessPodcast #EcommerceBusiness #SmallBusinessSupport #PurposeDrivenBusiness

    40 min
  3. Be the Coffee Bean: Damon West’s Journey from Prison to Purpose

    07/29/2025

    Be the Coffee Bean: Damon West’s Journey from Prison to Purpose

    What if a 65-year prison sentence became the start of a global movement? In this gripping episode, Damon West shares how a single conversation in jail led to the birth of The Coffee Bean message, how he built an eight-figure speaking business from scratch, and why servant leadership transformed his time behind bars. Listen now and subscribe for more real stories that inspire powerful personal and professional growth. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:42 Meet Damon West 02:33 Growing up, college & addiction 05:49 Identity loss after football 08:04 The Uptown burglaries and arrest 11:47 Trial & 65-year jail sentence 15:06 Life-changing prison advice 16:58 The coffee bean message is born 20:05 Serving others in prison & building community 24:13 Out of prison & speaking to the mirror 28:57 First big break: speaking at Clemson 38:58 The ripple effect: John Gordon & the book 40:45 Building an eight-figure speaking business 42:40 Mentors & servant leadership 45:04 Faith, daily mindset, and paying it forward

    49 min
  4. Zach Hoopes, CEO of National Settlement Services

    05/02/2024

    Zach Hoopes, CEO of National Settlement Services

    At the time of this episodes release, Zach has since been promoted from Operations Manager to CEO of National Settlement Services.  Started in 1988, National Settlement Services has been a cornerstone of excellence in Northern Virginia's title industry for generations. Now, with Zach as CEO, the company's legacy enters a new chapter. Zach shares his journey of growth, learning, and leadership development. He reflects on the values instilled in him by his family and the principles that have guided National Settlement Services since its inception. With a deep understanding of the company's operations and a clear vision for its continued success, Zach is poised to lead National Settlement Services into a new era of growth and innovation. Learn more about National Settlement Services Prefer to watch the episode? Find us on Youtube! Ready to partner with Move Concierge? Check us out here:  https://www.gowithmc.com/

    27 min
  5. Chris Sears, President of JPAR | Episode 17

    04/10/2024

    Chris Sears, President of JPAR | Episode 17

    Chris Sears' is no stranger to perseverance. As a teenager, he faced a pivotal moment of truth, realizing the path he was on wasn't the one he wanted. He faced adversity head-on, turning moments of challenge into opportunities for growth. Hear his story on resilience, determination, and fortitude that propelled him the path for him to become President of JPAR, helping expand the organization from 300 to 1200 agents and steering agents towards personal and professional growth. Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/4JRs5qzNtnA Learn more about Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-sears-0a59a14/

    48 min
  6. Meet Utility Concierge CRO, Sajag Patel | Episode 16

    03/27/2024

    Meet Utility Concierge CRO, Sajag Patel | Episode 16

    With a proven track record in real estate innovation, Sajag Patel's transition from Keller Williams to Utility Concierge as Chief Revenue Officer marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to simplify home service setups for movers nationwide. Get to know Sajag's journey, his "Why" and future plans for Utility Concierge. ➡️ Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/WDMPQEqavKY

    54 min
  7. Jason Lindwall, Utility Concierge President | Episode 15

    03/13/2024

    Jason Lindwall, Utility Concierge President | Episode 15

    Late 2023, Utility Concierge proudly welcomed their first president in the company's history, Jason Lindwall! Jason is a distinguished leader with a wealth of experience in global operations and technology, and he is ready to steer Utility Concierge through its next phase of growth and innovation! Get to know Jason and his journey and as he sits with Gabe Abshire, Utility Concierge Founder and CEO. ➡️ Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/YnHKCkMJAMg

    43 min
  8. Debra von Storch | Episode 14

    02/28/2024

    Debra von Storch | Episode 14

    A true Dallas Fort Worth native, Debra's journey has taken her from the heart of Texas, graduating from UNT, to boardrooms and companies around the world. Having spent a large part of her career at EY, she is an advising expert for high growth companies and entreprenuers alike - leaving her mark on the corporate landscape. Post-college, Debra faced challenges that shaped her into who she is today. Auditing for major corporations, she encountered barriers simply for being a woman. Imagine being barred from the executive floor and confined to work out of a supply closet! Yet, these obstacles became stepping stones, teaching her the art of adaptation and the necessity of style flexibility. Now retired, Debra remains proactive and busy by sitting on boards of both corporate public and private companies. Hear Debra's story, from her early days out of college to the serendipitous moments that changes the trajectory of her career. Learn more about Debra and her story Learn more about Gabe and the show Watch the full episode on Youtube

    40 min
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About

Join podcast host and CEO Gabe Abshire as he takes a deep dive into a new entrepreneur's journey to success.

Information

  • Creator
    Connecting the Journey
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Connecting the Journey
  • Show Website
    Connecting the Journey