Founders Journey Podcast

Jimmy Douloumbakas
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Welcome to Founders Journey, a podcast that explores the lives that shape remarkable builders. Each episode features a personal conversation with an entrepreneur who shares early dreams, first jobs, key turning points, lessons from setbacks, and the steady wins that shaped their path. If you want real stories about what forms a founder and what fuels a relentless drive to build, this podcast offers it each week.

  1. 1d ago

    Joseph Rhodes on Building Strong Leadership Teams and Business Growth

    Why Joseph Rhodes Believes Leadership Starts With Clarity What happens when a business has a clear vision, but its people struggle to execute it? In this episode of The Founders Journey, Jimmy Backus sits down with Joseph Rhodes, founder of Rhodes Works. They explore how leadership teams can build accountability, improve communication, and create healthier businesses. Joseph shares his experience with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a framework built around vision, traction, and organizational health. Together, they discuss why leadership teams need shared goals and the discipline to turn plans into results. Turning Business Vision Into Real Progress Every entrepreneur has ideas about where their business should go. However, translating those ideas into daily action takes structure. Joseph explains how businesses use scorecards, accountability charts, and regular meetings to track progress. He also discusses how leadership teams can identify problems before they become serious obstacles. They examine the challenge of having talented employees whose behavior damages company culture. As Joseph explains, technical ability matters, but shared values and personal accountability matter just as much. The Career Lessons That Changed Joseph's Direction Joseph's journey into entrepreneurship took several turns. He worked in technology, helped scale companies, and experienced the failure of a growing software business. That experience eventually introduced him to the book Traction by Gino Wickman. After applying its principles, Joseph discovered that teaching and coaching interested him more than managing operations. However, starting his coaching business brought another lesson. His original plan focused on startups, but he discovered that established businesses faced different challenges. He adjusted his approach and began working with family businesses, growing companies, and nonprofits. How Joseph Rhodes Learned to Read People The conversation also explores Joseph's childhood and how his parents' divorce shaped his ability to understand people. He describes learning to recognize emotions, read situations, and understand what people were experiencing. Those early lessons later influenced his approach to coaching leadership teams. Jimmy and Joseph also discuss education, career choices, and the value of learning through mistakes. What Joseph Rhodes Wants Entrepreneurs to Understand Failure plays an important role in this conversation. Joseph explains how different personalities respond to setbacks and why understanding their causes matters. He also shares five leadership abilities that help entrepreneurs grow. These include simplifying, delegating, predicting, systemizing, and structuring a business. Ultimately, this episode explores how leadership teams can grow through better decisions, stronger relationships, and a willingness to learn.

  2. Oct 22

    Matt Duboise Shares the Hard Lessons of Starting and Growing a Business

    Matt Duboise and a Business Born From Necessity Matt Duboise always expected to start a company, yet the chicken coop industry surprised him. During the 2008 recession, his family faced serious financial pressure after moving to North Carolina. So he salvaged materials from dumpsters, built his first coop, and sold it through Craigslist. That small sale revealed a market with real demand. Today, we explore how necessity shaped his approach to business growth. How a Small Workshop Found Its Customers Back in New York, a larger workshop helped Matt build faster and recognize repeat customer requests. Then a conversation about SEO pushed him to invest in getting found online. Soon, calls surged and he began hiring employees to keep pace with demand. Meanwhile, his challenge shifted from making every coop himself to building a company that could keep up. He now leads more than 30 employees and serves customers around the world. His experience shows how business growth changes a founder's daily work. Why Matt Rethought Pricing and Production As demand climbed, Matt learned to put real costs behind his prices. He shares a simple target: 25% materials, 25% labor, 25% overhead, and 25% profit. However, he says that profit target has remained difficult to reach. He also explains why his wife handled pricing and how delegation became essential. For founders, business growth means knowing your value and giving trusted people real responsibility. Chickens, Childhood, and a Different Way to Learn The conversation reaches back to childhood, when caring for chicks sparked Matt's interest in animals. He struggled in traditional classrooms yet excelled in hands on vocational training. Later, he saw how chickens connected children with learning and gave adults meaningful routines. He shares customers' personal stories about comfort, connection, and spending time with their birds. These experiences give business growth a purpose that extends beyond sales. What Duboise Learned About Leadership and Risk After building a bigger team, Matt faced new problems with communication, hiring, and company culture. As a result, he started viewing his role more like a coach. He credits direct mentors with challenging his habits, sharpening his message, and helping him trust his instincts. Finally, he reflects on risk, family support, and the choice to pursue a difficult dream. His advice connects business growth with persistence, practical learning, and a willingness to act. More From Matt Duboise https://carolinacoops.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-duboise-30ba411b1 https://www.instagram.com/carolinacoops/ https://www.facebook.com/carolinacoops/ https://www.youtube.com/@CarolinaCoops https://www.linkedin.com/company/carolina-coops/ https://linktr.ee/carolinacoops https://carolinacoops.com/pages/videos Chapters 00:00 How Chicken Coops Adapt to Different Climates 01:09 How Matt Duboise Founded Carolina Coops 03:34 Building a Business With Salvaged Materials 07:10 Surviving the 2008 Recession 16:59 How SEO Changed the Business 20:46 Pricing and Profit Lessons for Entrepreneurs 31:17 Childhood Challenges and Learning by Doing 41:26 How Chickens Help Children Learn and Connect 47:27 Leadership Hiring and Learning From Mentors 58:13 Taking Risks and Pursuing Entrepreneurship

  3. Oct 15

    How Stuart Faught Builds and Sells Profitable Software Businesses

    Why Stuart Faught Believes Small Businesses Create Big Opportunities What if building a successful business didn't require hundreds of employees or years of complicated operations? In this episode, we sit down with Stuart Faught to explore the opportunities behind small, profitable software businesses. Stuart shares how he transitioned from selling dental software to building and selling his own companies. Along the way, he discovered that simple products could generate recurring revenue without demanding massive teams. Moreover, he explains why serving a specific market often creates more opportunities than chasing enormous valuations. The Simple Strategy Behind Building and Selling Companies After selling his first company, Stuart challenged himself to build and sell another business within 90 days. He succeeded, completing a sale for $500,000. Since then, he's repeated the process around 20 times, developing a practical approach to software businesses. Instead of pursuing complicated products, Stuart focuses on one customer, one solution, and one sales channel. Furthermore, he explains how partnerships help him reach potential customers without relying entirely on individual sales conversations. We also discuss how entrepreneurs can evaluate recurring revenue, understand business valuations, and recognize the advantages of niche markets. Ultimately, Stuart demonstrates why simplicity and consistent execution matter more than constantly pursuing new ideas. What Stuart Learned About Focus and Failure Success didn't come without setbacks. Stuart reflects on his childhood experiences in karate and competitive skateboarding, where repeated failures taught him patience and persistence. Those lessons eventually shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. However, he explains that discipline alone isn't enough without a clear direction. He shares how setting specific goals, working backward, and maintaining daily routines help him stay focused. Additionally, he discusses why mentorship could've saved him years of unnecessary trial and error. Stuart Faught on Creating Freedom Through Ownership For Stuart, entrepreneurship isn't about building the next billion-dollar company. Instead, it's about creating financial opportunities while maintaining control over his time. We explore how software businesses can support a lifestyle that prioritizes family, personal interests, and meaningful work. Stuart also explains why ownership requires a different mindset than traditional employment. Finally, we discuss how aspiring founders can approach their first business without overcomplicating the process. Rather than obsessing over every possibility, Stuart encourages entrepreneurs to identify customers, solve problems, and develop consistent sales habits. If you're considering entrepreneurship or already building something, this conversation offers practical lessons on software businesses, focus, and personal freedom. You'll hear why deliberate choices, patient execution, and a willingness to keep learning can shape your entrepreneurial journey. Chapters 00:00 Why Consistent Focus Matters in Entrepreneurship 01:02 Stuart Faught on Building Small Software Companies 04:01 How Software Business Valuations Work 07:46 From Dental Software Sales to Business Ownership 09:42 How Stuart Built and Sold a Business in 90 Days 13:21 The One Product One Customer Sales Strategy 19:58 Why Small Profitable Businesses Beat Bigger Goals 24:30 How Skateboarding Developed Entrepreneurial Resilience 37:34 Why Finding Business Mentors Matters 43:36 Distribution Strategies and Leaving the 9 to 5

  4. Oct 9

    Andre Alexander on Business Growth Without Sacrificing Your Personal Life

    What if your business gave you more time instead of demanding more of it? In this episode, we sit down with Andre Alexander to explore a different approach to entrepreneurship. We discuss why financial success doesn't always create personal freedom and how business owners can rethink their priorities. For Andre, business freedom starts with understanding what you actually want from your life. Growing up in Trinidad, Andre experienced a culture that valued ambition alongside family, sports, and community. Although hard work mattered, people still made time to enjoy themselves and maintain relationships. Later, his experiences in Canada showed him how easily constant work could become the expectation. Consequently, he developed a perspective that challenges the idea that success requires endless sacrifice. As businesses grow, founders often struggle to release control over everyday decisions. However, Andre explains how this habit creates bottlenecks, frustrates employees, and limits growth. Instead, entrepreneurs need to communicate expectations, trust capable people, and give their teams room to act. We explore why effective delegation matters and how business freedom requires changing your relationship with control. Andre's professional journey didn't follow a carefully planned route. After struggling academically, he found opportunities through family connections, encouragement, and his natural understanding of accounting. Eventually, his career led him into corporate planning, leadership, and consulting. Yet his progress included failed exams, difficult business ventures, and projects that never reached completion. Rather than defining himself through those experiences, Andre learned to recognize their lessons. His story also shows why guidance and support can change someone's direction. Many entrepreneurs chase financial milestones without defining what those milestones should accomplish. As a result, their expenses and responsibilities increase alongside their income. Andre encourages founders to identify their desired lifestyle before designing their businesses around it. Furthermore, he explains why experiences, relationships, and personal satisfaction deserve attention alongside financial goals. Business freedom becomes more achievable when your daily decisions reflect those priorities. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the importance of recognizing when something needs to change. Sometimes that means trusting employees, while other situations require leaving an unsuccessful project behind. Ultimately, Andre reminds us that entrepreneurship isn't simply about earning more or working harder. It's about learning from experience, making deliberate choices, and protecting time for what matters. If you're reconsidering your definition of success, this conversation offers a practical starting point for pursuing business freedom. More From Andre Alexander Learn more about Andre's perspective on entrepreneurship, business leadership, and creating more personal freedom. Website https://missionfreedomhq.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealexander Additional Resources https://www.missionfreedomhq.com/founding-cohort/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Andre Alexander's Journey 01:09 How to Build a Business Around Your Lifestyle 03:29 Caribbean Culture and Work Life Balance 07:55 Corporate Lessons in Business Leadership 11:00 Why Entrepreneurs Become Business Bottlenecks 15:22 Growing Up in Trinidad and Learning Through Sports 20:44 How Career Setbacks Can Change Your Direction 29:34 Leadership Lessons and Entrepreneurial Mindset 37:32 Overcoming Failure and Learning From Setbacks 43:50 Advice for Young and Aspiring Entrepreneurs

  5. Oct 1

    Reid Robinson on Medical Innovation, Recovery, and Starting Over

    Reid Robinson’s story connects recovery, invention, consulting, and entrepreneurial resilience through several major changes in his life. He grew up in Nova Scotia before moving west to Calgary for work. Although his parents taught at universities, Reid initially chose labor jobs instead of higher education. However, a serious head injury eventually changed his direction. He returned home, earned technical certifications, and started building a long career in IT. That career also shaped Reid’s approach to entrepreneurial resilience. As an independent consultant, he learned how different companies manage knowledge, teams, and internal politics. However, Reid rejected the idea of protecting information to make yourself indispensable. Instead, he found that sharing knowledge helped teams accomplish more. What Reid Learned From Consulting Reid also explains how he approached contract negotiations throughout his IT career. First, he focused on proving his value before discussing rates. Then, he used negotiation based on how strongly he wanted each opportunity. As a result, he learned when to push for more and when certainty mattered more. Meanwhile, another event completely changed his direction. In 2015, Reid crashed into a tree on an icy Calgary road. The crash shattered his lower leg and broke his wrist. Over several years, he underwent 13 surgeries while doctors worked to save his leg. Through that process, entrepreneurial resilience became something Reid practiced rather than discussed. Reid Robinson on Building Before Perfect Crutches created another challenge during Reid’s recovery. Because his wrist was injured, conventional options became especially difficult. Therefore, he started thinking about a different way to stay non weight bearing. Reid sketched an idea while recovering and searched existing products and patent databases. When he couldn’t find the concept, he started building it himself. He bought a welder, watched instructional videos, and created his first prototype inside his garage. That early version used modified crutches, aluminum, leather belts, and even an IKEA cutting board. Although the prototype looked rough, it worked. Reid could move without placing weight through his injured leg. More importantly, the experience reinforced his entrepreneurial resilience and gave him something practical to develop. Turning Pain Into Momentum From 2016 through 2021, Reid worked with engineers through repeated design, building, and testing cycles. Eventually, he started selling the device. However, his perfectionist instincts almost delayed that step. A friend encouraged Reid to launch before everything felt finished. Customers started buying the product, using it, and providing feedback. Therefore, Reid realized that waiting for perfection had kept useful information away from him. Ultimately, entrepreneurial resilience doesn’t mean avoiding setbacks in Reid’s story. Instead, it means finding useful action when circumstances become difficult. His experience shows why testing ideas, sharing knowledge, and creating momentum can matter more than waiting. That approach to entrepreneurial resilience connects his recovery, career, invention, and lessons for other entrepreneurs. More From Reid Robinson https://www.xleg.ca https://ca.linkedin.com/company/robinson-exotech-corp https://ca.linkedin.com/in/reid-robinson-441a7837 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnvVTZm7uJQ Chapters 00:00 Why Sharing Knowledge Creates Better Teams 01:09 Reid Robinson and the X Leg Medical Device 08:25 Growing Up in Nova Scotia and Moving West 18:14 How Reid Started His IT Consulting Career 24:29 Building Trust Inside New Companies 29:25 How to Negotiate Consulting Contracts 32:22 The Car Crash That Changed Reid’s Life 49:22 Why Crutches Led to a New Invention 53:11 Building the First X Leg Prototype 59:12 Lessons About Failure Perfection and Progress

  6. Sep 25

    Steve Mack on AI Entrepreneurship Resilience and Building a Life That Fits

    Steve Mack on AI and Better Decisions We start with Steve’s path from enterprise technology into AI-focused entrepreneurship. He outlines Blue Sky AI’s work across products, placements, projects, and AI-enabled systems. He also explains PHIT, which combines wearable data with coaching for health and human performance. However, the conversation quickly moves beyond tools and into how people should use AI. He favors human-centered systems, clear domains, and practical guardrails. As a result, entrepreneurial resilience appears alongside responsible decision-making, not reckless speed. Steve on Sports and Failure Then, we trace his early years in upstate New York, where sports and technology both mattered. Steve played baseball, basketball, soccer, and later college baseball at Drew University. Meanwhile, his parents’ teaching careers reinforced academics and discipline. He connects those experiences to entrepreneurial resilience because sports normalize mistakes, adjustment, and repeated effort. Therefore, failure becomes useful when you learn quickly and move forward. Building Work Around Family Later, the conversation turns to the tradeoffs behind career choices. Corporate consulting brought opportunity, travel, and broad experience, but it also pulled time away from family. So, Steve chose entrepreneurship partly to control his schedule and protect time with his children. He describes Blue Sky AI as a lifestyle business, not a race toward an exit. Still, entrepreneurial resilience matters because freedom requires judgment about clients, projects, and personal limits. Mack on Lifestyle Business Choices Next, we explore how sports, coaching, and parenting shaped his leadership style. He values trying different activities, finishing commitments, and learning without dwelling on mistakes. Because setbacks are inevitable, entrepreneurial resilience depends on staying level through both wins and losses. He also shares why time with family carries more value as children grow older. Ultimately, that perspective changes how he measures a good career and a good life. Systems That Keep Progress Moving Finally, Steve shares the systems he uses to stay focused. He combines current AI tools with simple habits like journaling, notes, whiteboards, and task lists. In addition, he uses EOS to clarify quarterly priorities and longer-term goals. He also delegates finance, reporting, and administrative work when that protects higher-value time. For us, entrepreneurial resilience becomes practical through better systems, clearer priorities, and faster course corrections. The episode closes with a simple idea: keep learning, enjoy the ride, and spend your time where it matters most. More From Steve Mack https://www.phitai.com/ Chapters 00:00 Sports Failure and Entrepreneurial Resilience 01:10 Blue Sky AI and the PHIT Sports Tech Startup 05:35 How Data Can Improve Decisions and Performance 09:20 AI Guardrails and Human Centered Technology 16:15 Sports Childhood and an Early Interest in Tech 24:05 How Sports Prepare You for Entrepreneurship 31:20 Building a Career at Accenture Avanade and IBM 39:10 Why Steve Mack Left Corporate Life 47:15 Building a Lifestyle Business Around Family 56:30 Failure Life Lessons AI Tools and EOS

  7. Sep 19

    Angus Nelson on Founder Resilience Fear and Leading Through Growth at Scale

    When Angus Nelson Says Growth Changes the Founder As companies grow, founders often face more decisions, people, uncertainty, and responsibility. However, the real strain can come from how they respond internally. Angus explains why founder resilience becomes essential when the company changes faster than the person leading it. He argues that strategy alone won't solve a leadership problem rooted in identity, beliefs, and emotional patterns. The Hidden Cost of Carrying Everything Founders can become the bridge between one stage of growth and the next. Therefore, that bridge can become a bottleneck when every decision still returns to them. We discuss how overwork, control, and constant involvement can quietly reduce clarity and presence. Founder resilience requires more than endurance because carrying everything can eventually damage performance and relationships. Why Fear Feels Like Protection Angus describes the Guardian as the internal voice that tries to keep us safe. Yet that protection can keep leaders inside habits that once worked but no longer fit. He connects this tension to the nervous system, subconscious patterns, and the fear of failure. As a result, founder resilience starts with regulating pressure instead of only pushing through it. Nelson on Failure as the Path Forward Failure, in this conversation, isn't the opposite of success. Instead, it exposes what we know, reveals what we don't, and builds empathy through experience. Nelson also explains resilience through the image of shock absorbers adjusting to changing road conditions. That model gives founder resilience a practical meaning grounded in regulation, capacity, and composure. Build the Life Before Chasing the Symbols Later, we explore why people often chase outcomes for the feelings they expect those outcomes to create. Angus shares how his family chose Portugal around the quality of life they wanted. Therefore, the focus shifts from collecting symbols of success to creating joy, peace, and fulfillment directly. This idea also reframes visualization as a way to bring a desired future into present action. What Angus Believes Leaders Must Become The conversation closes with identity, action, and the person required for the next stage. Angus says leaders should focus less on the thing and more on who they must become. Ultimately, founder resilience grows when leaders redefine old stories, expand capacity, and stop waiting for permission. The lesson is simple. Growth asks the company to change, but it also asks the founder to change. More From Angus Nelson BOOK LINKS Amazon https://amzn.to/4baeI1d Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/neuro-resilient-leader-angus-nelson/1149514309?ean=9781636988795 Also available at: Target Walmart Books-A-Million SOCIAL YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@coachangusnelson Instagram https://www.instagram.com/angusnelson Facebook https://www.facebook.com/angusnelson LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/angusnelson Twitter https://www.twitter.com/angusnelson TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@angusnelson WEBSITES https://angusnelson.com https://neuroresilientleader.com https://freebook.vip Chapters 00:00 Founder Pressure and Nervous System Regulation 01:16 Why Founders Struggle as Companies Grow 05:07 From Innovation Advisor to Executive Coach 08:11 Why Companies Resist Business Innovation 17:22 How Life Experience Shapes Leadership 26:55 Confidence Fear and Using Your Past 31:48 How Founders Become Business Bottlenecks 35:56 Nervous System Regulation and the Guardian 41:37 Personal Agency Permission and Entrepreneurship 01:01:02 Failure Resilience Capacity and Composure

  8. Sep 11

    How Zech Thomas Built a Business With Hockey, Discipline, and Speed

    Zech Thomas Finds Direction Through HockeyHis path started with hockey, not business. He began at ten, which he describes as extremely late for the sport. Still, he climbed through competitive levels and eventually played junior, professional, and national team hockey. Along the way, hockey taught him repetition, competition, and daily accountability. That foundation shaped the entrepreneurial resilience he later carried into business.When Covid Changed the PlanAfter high school, he expected hockey to remain his main path. However, Covid repeatedly disrupted the opportunities he hoped to pursue. Meanwhile, extra time away from hockey pushed him toward online business experiments. He tried day trading, car washing, window washing, dropshipping, and other e-commerce ideas. As a result, entrepreneurial resilience became practical through constant testing, setbacks, and quick adjustments.Thomas Builds Around a Real ProblemEventually, he focused on a problem he already understood from years in hockey. Players needed sticks, yet high-end options could cost hundreds and break often. So, he built around affordability, durability, and direct relationships with customers. He also leaned heavily on organic social media instead of paid advertising. Therefore, entrepreneurial resilience supported a model built on product knowledge, audience attention, and controlled costs.Learning Through Rejection and PressureDespite early sales, banks wouldn't provide the financing he wanted. Later, he appeared on Dragon's Den and received three offers. He accepted one offer, yet he heard nothing from the investor for a year. Then, he declined the partnership when contact finally resumed. That experience deepened his entrepreneurial resilience and forced him to learn legal, accounting, and operating decisions himself.Zech Moves Fast and Keeps LearningHe also talks openly about struggling in school and learning differently after graduation. During Covid, he read more than 50 books and studied business topics online. Meanwhile, he developed a strong preference for speed over endless preparation. He argues that markets change quickly, so founders need to act before ideas lose relevance. However, he also credits faith, his team, and a clear mission for helping him continue. Ultimately, entrepreneurial resilience connects every stage of his story, from sports competition to business pressure.More From Zech ThomasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zechthomass/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zechariah-thomas/Chapters00:00 How Hockey Players Plan Life After High School01:07 How Zech Thomas Built an Affordable Hockey Stick Brand05:06 How Dropshipping Led to Ecommerce Entrepreneurship11:13 Growing Up in Canada With Jamaican Family Roots16:31 Starting Hockey Late and Reaching Higher Levels20:34 Choosing Business After a Competitive Hockey Career22:22 How Covid Created a New Ecommerce Opportunity24:23 What Dragon's Den Taught a Young Entrepreneur29:16 How to Self Fund and Scale a Growing Business33:05 Why Resilience and Speed Matter in Entrepreneurship

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Welcome to Founders Journey, a podcast that explores the lives that shape remarkable builders. Each episode features a personal conversation with an entrepreneur who shares early dreams, first jobs, key turning points, lessons from setbacks, and the steady wins that shaped their path. If you want real stories about what forms a founder and what fuels a relentless drive to build, this podcast offers it each week.

Information

  • Creator
    Jimmy Douloumbakas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jimmy Douloumbakas
  • Show Website
    Founders Journey Podcast