The Entrepreneur DNA

Justin Colby, Bleav

This podcast is focused on YOU, the entrepreneurs that want more than they have. That have experienced failure, or maybe are too scared to get off the bench because they have no guidance or advice. Maybe you are looking to finally scale your business and create the life you dreamed about. Justin and his guests will advise you in all of the ways they have become successful in business, along with all of the miss steps to avoid. This is not just all about business as these interviews gets personal and can bring just as much value to your personal life as it does to your business. I hope you enjoy, each and every episode as they are guaranteed to deliver.

  1. 20h ago

    How Do You Prove You're Not Using AI? This Founder Solved It | Tiffany Ward

    In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Ward, founder and CEO of Human Creative, the company behind Certified Human Content, a service that live-monitors the entire writing and creative process to prove a piece of work was made without generative AI. We get into just how much of what we read today (emails, resumes, social captions, even "motivational" posts) is quietly AI-generated, and why that's eroding trust across education, journalism, hiring, and the creator economy. I share my own story of getting caught plagiarizing my senior year at UCLA, long before AI existed, and we talk about how much easier, and more damaging, that shortcut is today. Tiffany walks me through how schools, publications, and businesses are using her platform instead of unreliable after-the-fact AI detectors, including a wild example of her own company using it to hire a junior developer. We close out talking about where "proof of human" goes next, from graphic design to physical craftsmanship. About Tiffany: Tiffany Ward is Co-Founder and CEO of Human Creative, a company dedicated to certifying original human content in the age of AI. She received her M.A.B.S. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2018 and authored a successful fictional trilogy under a pen name. She lives in Morgantown, WV with her husband and children. Guest Social Links Website: https://humancreative.org X (Twitter): https://x.com/HumanCreativeUS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/human-creative-llc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humancreativeus/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj40OeNmELVc7bJUVJcH3eA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578869820261 Email: tiffany@humancreative.org Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Aug 12

    Why Your Old Identity Has to Die Before Your New Life Can Begin | Nathaniel Cilley

    Book a free 15-minute consultation at manifesttherapy.com. Nathaniel Cilley is a licensed mental health counselor, psychedelic therapist, and manifestation coach based in New York City, and he's joining our School.kol.com community to help entrepreneurs work through fear and mental roadblocks. In this episode we cover: What Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is and how it differs from CBT Why entrepreneurs get stuck in fear of failure and fear of judgment The lies we tell ourselves to avoid taking action How identity, not circumstance, drives most of our limiting beliefs Psychedelic therapy, neuroplasticity, and the healing potential of altered states Doctor Hawkins' scale of consciousness and moving from scarcity to abundance The DCA (Direct Chief Aim) method for reprogramming your subconscious Why the old version of you has to "die" for the new one to emerge If this episode resonated, share it with two friends who need to hear it. About Nathaniel: Nathaniel Cilley is a licensed mental health counselor based in New York City, a psychedelic therapist, and a manifestation coach. He specializes in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), helping clients work through anxiety, phobias, and fear of failure by challenging the beliefs behind them. His work now blends traditional psychotherapy with consciousness work, psychedelic integration, and manifestation coaching to help people reprogram limiting identities and align with what they actually want in life. Connect with Nathaniel: Website: manifesttherapy.com Instagram: @manifest_therapy YouTube: @manifest_therapy   About Justin: Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof  LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. Aug 7

    The Disease of Wimpy Goals — Why Your Business Isn't Growing | Brad Sugars

    FREE RESOURCE FROM BRAD SUGARS DM Brad on Instagram @BradleySugars the word "PLAYBOOK" and he'll send you his free business playbook on how to succeed in business. --- In this episode, I sit down with Brad Sugars — the Founder and Chairman of ActionCOACH, the world's #1 business coaching firm with over 1,000 offices in 85 countries — to break down exactly what separates the entrepreneurs who scale from the ones who stay stuck. Brad calls out what he sees as the biggest epidemic in business right now: wimpy goals. We dig into the three stages of business growth (0 to $1M, $1M to $10M, $10M to $100M), why the skills that get you to your first million will actually hold you back from your next ten, and why most business owners have built themselves a job with overheads instead of a real business. Brad also gets honest about his own failures — from team members who liked his money more than he did, to reinvesting $4M right before COVID hit — and shares the mindset shifts that let him operate his companies in just one hour a week. We also get into work-life harmony, the epidemic of loneliness among male entrepreneurs, and why Brad believes the most expensive advice in the world is free advice from a poor person. GUEST BIO Brad Sugars is the Founder, Chairman, and President of ActionCOACH — the world's #1 business coaching firm with more than 1,000 offices in 85 countries. Internationally recognized as one of the most influential entrepreneurs alive, Brad is a bestselling author, sought-after keynote speaker, and has been called the Godfather of Business Coaching for over 30 years. He started his entrepreneurial journey at age 7 and founded ActionCOACH in Brisbane, Australia in 1993 — when business coaching as a profession barely existed. He has since become the CEO of 9+ companies and helped hundreds of thousands of business owners across the globe scale, systematize, and ultimately exit their businesses. Brad lives in Las Vegas with his wife Lauren and their five children.   GUEST SOCIAL LINKS Instagram: @BradSugars Facebook: Brad Sugars ActionCOACH X (Twitter): @BradSugars LinkedIn: Brad Sugars YouTube: Brad Sugars ActionCOACH Website: actioncoach.com About Justin: Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Jul 30

    Scale or Fail: Why Most Founders Get Stuck in the Circus Phase | Allison Maslan

    Get your free copy of Allison's book 'Scale or Fail' - https://pinnacleglobalnetwork.com/dna In this episode I sit down with Allison Maslan, founder and CEO of Pinnacle Global Network and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Scale or Fail, who has personally built ten companies and helped her team mentor over 150,000 founders. We talk about why the business owner is so often the thing standing in the way of their own growth, and Allison walks me through her five phases of scaling, from the seeker all the way through what she calls the ringleader phase, the chaotic circus stage where most businesses get stuck for years. We get into how to build a team of what she calls scale multipliers instead of people who just complete tasks, why tracking your return on employee matters as much as any other business metric, and how her own burnout and health scare early in her career led her to build a completely different way of running a business. We also dig into her morning vision crafting practice and how she uses alignment to make faster, clearer decisions as a CEO. If you've ever felt like your business can't run without you, this conversation will change how you think about that. Main Topics Covered Why the founder is often the biggest bottleneck to growth The five phases of scaling a business Building a team of scale multipliers instead of task-doers Tracking return on employee (ROE) How to let go of control without losing quality Vision crafting and morning routines for clarity Using alignment to guide business decisions Why investing in mentors and masterminds speeds up growth About Allison: Allison Maslan is the founder and CEO of Pinnacle Global Network, a global business mentoring company that has helped more than 150,000 founders scale their companies from seven to nine figures. She has built ten successful companies from the ground up starting at age 19, with past clients including Ben & Jerry's, Supercuts, and Charlotte Russe. Allison is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Scale or Fail, endorsed by Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran, and has been featured in Forbes, Success, Fortune, and Entrepreneur Magazine. She was named one of Forbes' Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs to Watch. Website: https://pinnacleglobalnetwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonmaslan About Justin: Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof  LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. Jul 22

    The #1 Mistake Early-Stage Entrepreneurs Make | Michael Burcham

    Are you ready to stop treating your startup like a side project and start building a scalable business? In this episode, Dr. Michael Burcham shares the hard-earned wisdom of a veteran who has transitioned from a physical therapist to a multi-million dollar private equity investor. We dive deep into the mindset shifts required to go from a day job to a full-time founder, the critical importance of customer discovery, and why most investors won't touch your project until you have skin in the game. Michael breaks down the common mistakes technical founders make and how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of anxiety and frustration that comes with the territory. You will learn how to differentiate your brand in a noisy market, the power of personal touches in networking, and how to align your vision with what investors are actually looking for. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why most early-stage businesses are still just “projects” ● The biggest mistake founders make before launching ● Why investors care about paying customers more than perfect decks ● How to build awareness without wasting money ● Why failure is part of the entrepreneur DNA ● How to avoid chasing every opportunity ● Why your network can become your biggest growth engine ● How anxiety, insecurity, and frustration show up in business ● What investors see that founders often miss ● Why selling your company can trigger an identity crisis About Justin:   Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The Science of Flipping podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience.   Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence.   Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby About Michael Burcham Dr. Michael Burcham is an investor, author, business strategist, and private equity operator who has spent decades building, scaling, and advising high-growth companies. After starting his career in healthcare, he went on to build and grow multiple companies before transitioning into venture capital and private equity, where he now helps founders navigate growth, fundraising, leadership, and long-term business strategy. He is also the author of multiple books focused on startups, scaling, failure, and investor relationships. Connect with Dr. Michael Burcham: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelburcham Instagram: instagram.com/dr.michaelburcham  Website: www.michaelburcham.com Chapters 0:00 Intro and meeting Dr. Michael Burcham 3:15 The journey from physical therapy to private equity 6:30 Why relationships and local ecosystems matter 9:45 The biggest misconception for early stage founders 13:10 Diversifying your offerings and solving customer pain 16:20 The framework for launching a successful venture 19:40 Building awareness and the sales pipeline 23:05 How to differentiate your brand in a noisy market 26:30 The power of handwritten notes and networking 30:00 Projects vs businesses and getting investor attention 33:50 Learning from failure and the importance of grit 37:20 Managing the seven deadly emotions of entrepreneurship 41:00 Identity shifts and the new book Blood Sweat and Equity 44:49 Final thoughts and where to find Michael #entrepreneurship #startupgrowth #venturecapital #businessstrategy #entrepreneurmindset Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Jul 17

    Tackling Toxicity: From Bystander to Upstander | Mauricio Velasquez

    Get Mauricio's book 'Tackling Toxicity' on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/08uHkZag In this episode I sit down with Mauricio Velasquez, a worldwide conflict resolution and emotional intelligence consultant who has trained in over seventy five countries, from Guantanamo Bay to the White House to professional sports organizations like the MLS. We get into why most people are conflict averse and what happens when you ignore toxic behavior instead of addressing it. Mauricio breaks down the difference between reacting and responding, how to spot your own triggers before they take over, and the exact language he teaches leaders to use when someone is coming in hot. We talk through real stories from his thirty year career, from coaching a CEO who nearly destroyed his company's culture in fifteen seconds to a moment in the stands at his daughter's basketball game where he chose to stand up instead of stay silent. This conversation is about moving from bystander to upstander, in your business, your family, and your life. Main Topics Covered Why most people avoid conflict instead of resolving it The difference between reacting and responding How to identify your own emotional triggers What to say when someone is coming in hot Moving from bystander to upstander Holding leaders and toxic employees accountable Building psychological safety for honest feedback Standing up for others in the moment About Mauricio: Mauricio Velasquez is the founder and president of Diversity Training Group and the author of Tackling Toxicity: A Skill-Based Guide to Addressing Toxicity. Over his thirty year career, he has worked as a management consultant, workplace investigator, executive coach, trainer, and expert witness specializing in bias, prejudice, and hate, training more than one million employees, managers, and executives. He has worked in nearly every U.S. state and traveled to more than seventy five countries, coaching organizations ranging from the White House and Guantanamo Bay to Native American tribes, law enforcement agencies, and professional sports organizations like the MLS. Mauricio holds a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Human Resource Management from George Washington University. Connect with Mauricio: Website: https://www.diversitydtg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-velasquez-mba/ About Justin: Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Jul 15

    The Hustler Has to Die: How to Finally Become a Real CEO | Brett Gilliland

    In this episode I sit down with Brett Gilliland, founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, who has spent the last fourteen years helping business owners make the leap from hustler to real CEO. We dig into why so many founders get stuck right before the ten million dollar mark, and why it almost always comes down to control. Brett walks me through the four systems his company teaches to build a business that doesn't depend on the founder for everything, what a CEO's real job becomes once a leadership team is in place, and how to know when you're still holding onto something you should have let go of months ago. We also get personal, talking about the daily disciplines that keep us both grounded, including his fourteen "I am" statements that he's repeated every single morning for over a decade, and why taking care of yourself first isn't selfish, it's what makes you capable of showing up for everyone else. If you've built something real but feel like you're the bottleneck holding it back, this conversation is for you. Topics Covered Why founders need to change in order to grow their business Letting go of control as a business owner The difference between a hustler and a real CEO What changes once a business hits $10 million Building a full leadership team The CEO's real job: vision, team, resources The four systems Elite Entrepreneurs teaches to scale a business Why founders unknowingly sabotage their own growth Daily disciplines and morning routines Putting yourself first to show up better for others About Brett Gilliland: Brett Gilliland is the founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, a company that gives seven figure business owners the knowledge, systems, and coaching to grow to ten million dollars and beyond. For over a decade, Brett helped lead Infusionsoft's growth from seven million to more than one hundred million dollars in revenue, where he was involved in building the company's Purpose, Values, and Mission, co-created the Elite Forum, and served as VP of Leadership Development. He has spent fourteen-plus years coaching founders and executives on how to move from hands-on hustler to confident, capable CEO. Brett has been married to his wife Sharon for thirty years, and together they have eight children. Connect with Brett: Website: https://growwithelite.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/built2lastchamp/   About Justin: Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The M.O.R.E Show podcasts and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience. Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Jul 13

    From Navy Discipline to $18M Entrepreneur in 3 Years | Eric Winegard

    What does it really take to walk away from a seventeen-year corporate career and build an $18 million marketing agency in just three years? In this episode, Eric Winegard shares the mindset, discipline, and relentless commitment that helped him go from a troubled childhood and military structure to becoming the CEO of Rare Blue Moon Marketing. We dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, the difference between paid ads and organic content, and why most businesses fail before marketing even begins. Eric breaks down the importance of networking without an agenda, building a real personal brand online, and why commitment is the trait that separates successful founders from everyone else. You’ll also learn how sales psychology, leadership, and self-belief became the foundation for scaling one of the fastest-growing agencies in the space. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Eric went from a troubled childhood to military discipline Why sales became the skill that changed his life The difference between networking and selling Why most marketers don’t understand sales How Rare Blue Moon Marketing scaled so quickly Why organic content and paid ads need to work together What business owners get wrong when hiring agencies Why commitment matters more than talent About Justin:   Justin Colby is the host of The Entrepreneur DNA and The MORE Show podcast and a best-selling author. He is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience.   Driven by a passion to help entrepreneurs thrive, Justin created the Entrepreneur DNA community to support business owners in building wealth, systems, and long-term freedom. Through his podcasts, books, education platforms, and hands-on mentorship, he continues to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity and confidence.   Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof LinkedIn: Justin Colby About Eric Winegard Eric Winegard is the CEO and cofounder of Rare Blue Moon Marketing, a fast-growing digital marketing agency helping businesses scale through paid advertising, SEO, content strategy, and lead generation. After spending seventeen years in corporate sales leadership, Eric transitioned into entrepreneurship and rapidly built an $18 million agency by combining high-level sales psychology with modern marketing systems. His story spans a difficult upbringing, military discipline, and years of mastering sales, networking, and leadership before becoming a founder. Today, Eric works with businesses across multiple industries to help them grow through strategic marketing, brand positioning, and scalable customer acquisition. Connect with Eric Winegard: Instagram: @ericwinegardofficial YouTube: @ericwinegard8088 Facebook: winegard1 LinkedIn: Eric Winegard Website: rarebluemoon.io   Chapters 0:00 The road from W2 to eighteen million dollars 2:45 Is sales a born talent or a learned skill 5:30 Why high level masterminds are worth the investment 9:15 Overcoming a difficult childhood and foster care 13:40 How the military builds a wartime mentality 17:50 Why Eric left a safe CEO track to start over 22:10 The role of faith and grit in business growth 26:45 Burning the boats and making success a necessity 30:15 Paid ads vs organic content strategy 33:50 Humanizing your brand on social media 37:20 Geofencing and targeting for local businesses 41:05 Lessons from the Gold Coast Podcast and Brad Lea 44:30 Why marketing cannot fix a broken business model 46:46 Final advice for aspiring entrepreneurs   #entrepreneurship #digitalmarketing #salesstrategies #scalingbusiness #mindset Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4.3
out of 5
83 Ratings

About

This podcast is focused on YOU, the entrepreneurs that want more than they have. That have experienced failure, or maybe are too scared to get off the bench because they have no guidance or advice. Maybe you are looking to finally scale your business and create the life you dreamed about. Justin and his guests will advise you in all of the ways they have become successful in business, along with all of the miss steps to avoid. This is not just all about business as these interviews gets personal and can bring just as much value to your personal life as it does to your business. I hope you enjoy, each and every episode as they are guaranteed to deliver.

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