Create The Life You Want

Guidant Financial

Welcome to the official "Create the Life You Want" podcast, hosted by Jeremy Ames, CEO and Co-Founder of Guidant Financial. Join Jeremy as he interviews a diverse lineup of business owners from across America. Each episode is packed with compelling stories, invaluable lessons, and actionable advice that can help you shape your own path.

  1. 04/20/2025

    He Chose a Cleaning Franchise — Here's Why

    Zack Vosecky, owner of MaidPro in East Atlanta, shares what it was really like to go from restaurant manager to franchise owner — and why he's stepping away just three years later. He opens up about the pressure to perform, the cost of hiring mistakes, and what changed when he found out he was becoming a dad.  Zack talks about researching 30+ franchise options, choosing a cleaning business during COVID, and what he wishes he did differently. Whether you're thinking about buying a franchise or starting a business from scratch, this episode will give you the real story — the wins, the misses, and everything in between.  ---  Get insider tips and real success stories! Subscribe to the Create the Life You Want newsletter from Guidant Financial for expert advice and inspiration. Click below to sign up!  Sign Up for the Newsletter: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com/newsletter⁠   ---  Guidant Financial, sponsor of "Create the Life You Want," is America's leading provider of Rollovers for Business Startups (ROBS). Since 2003, Guidant has assisted over 30,000 small businesses across the U.S. in securing funding to start or grow their companies. With a strong focus on building the American entrepreneurial dream, Guidant Financial offers the tools and resources needed to launch a successful business.   Learn more about Guidant: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com⁠   Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur⁠   Visit Jeremy's website: ⁠https://www.jeremyames.com⁠

    34 min
  2. 03/30/2025

    She Lost Her Job at 60… Then Built a Thriving Distillery: Here's How

    Jan Morris never planned to be a business owner – let alone a distiller. But after being laid off just before turning 60, she took an unexpected path that led to The Hardware Distillery Co. in Hoodsport, Washington, a charming town with a storied bootlegging past. Alongside her husband, Chuck, Jan turned a rundown building into a thriving craft distillery, specializing in unique spirits like aquavit and honey-based mead. In this episode of Create the Life You Want, host Jeremy Ames gets into Jan's fascinating story – from a career in law to learning distilling in just one week! She shares the ups and downs of starting a business later in life, the unexpected friendships that shaped her success (including a Scottish master distiller!), and why she believes business ownership keeps her young. --- Get insider tips and real success stories! Subscribe to the Create the Life You Want newsletter from Guidant Financial for expert advice and inspiration. Click below to sign up! Sign Up for the Newsletter: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com/newsletter⁠ --- Guidant Financial, sponsor of "Create the Life You Want," is America's leading provider of Rollovers for Business Startups (ROBS). Since 2003, Guidant has assisted over 30,000 small businesses across the U.S. in securing funding to start or grow their companies. With a strong focus on building the American entrepreneurial dream, Guidant Financial offers the tools and resources needed to launch a successful business. Learn more about Guidant: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com⁠ Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur⁠ Visit Jeremy's website: ⁠https://www.jeremyames.com⁠

    49 min
  3. 03/23/2025

    Reinventing Herself at 50: Her Leap into Fashion Retail

    Georgina Sussewell spent 35 years in financial services, overseeing pensions and investments. But at 50, she decided it was time for a major career change. Now, she owns Apricot Lane Boutique in Dallas, Texas, bringing her passion for fashion to life. In this episode, Georgina shares what led her to franchising, the financial planning behind her decision, and the challenges she faced in retail. She also talks about working with her daughter, navigating seasonality in boutique sales, and the surprises that came with business ownership. If you've ever considered leaving a corporate job to start something completely different, this episode is for you. --- Get insider tips and real success stories! Subscribe to the Create the Life You Want newsletter from Guidant Financial for expert advice and inspiration. Click below to sign up! Sign Up for the Newsletter: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com/newsletter⁠ --- Guidant Financial, sponsor of "Create the Life You Want," is America's leading provider of Rollovers for Business Startups (ROBS). Since 2003, Guidant has assisted over 30,000 small businesses across the U.S. in securing funding to start or grow their companies. With a strong focus on building the American entrepreneurial dream, Guidant Financial offers the tools and resources needed to launch a successful business. Learn more about Guidant: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com⁠ Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur⁠ Visit Jeremy's website: ⁠https://www.jeremyames.com⁠

    47 min
  4. 03/09/2025

    She Opened a Restaurant 9 Days Before COVID – Here's How She Survived

    "Plan, pivot, and persevere." That's the mindset Ann Ulrich and her husband, Chef Robert, have embraced as restaurant owners for over 15 years. From launching Mendoberri Café and Wine Bar in Mendota Heights to now running FoodSmith Bistro Pub in West St. Paul, MN, Ann shares the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, Jeremy Ames, CEO of Guidant Financial, sits down with Ann to discuss what it takes to build and sustain a restaurant business, why they made the leap to owning their own building, and how they navigated the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as they consider their next chapter, Ann reflects on the realities of the restaurant industry, the importance of contingency planning, and what's next for her and Robert. --- Want more empowering stories and entrepreneurial advice? Subscribe to the Create the Life You Want newsletter brought to you by Guidant Financial. Click the link below to sign up and start your journey today! Sign Up for the Newsletter: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com/newsletter ⁠ --- Guidant Financial, sponsor of "Create the Life You Want," is America's leading provider of Rollovers for Business Startups (ROBS). Since 2003, Guidant has assisted over 30,000 small businesses across the U.S. in securing funding to start or grow their companies. With a strong focus on building the American entrepreneurial dream, Guidant Financial offers the tools and resources needed to launch a successful business. Learn more about Guidant: ⁠https://www.guidantfinancial.com⁠ Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur ⁠ Visit Jeremy's website: ⁠https://www.jeremyames.com ⁠

    1h 2m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the official "Create the Life You Want" podcast, hosted by Jeremy Ames, CEO and Co-Founder of Guidant Financial. Join Jeremy as he interviews a diverse lineup of business owners from across America. Each episode is packed with compelling stories, invaluable lessons, and actionable advice that can help you shape your own path.