The Happy Entrepreneur The Happy Startup School

In an age where meaningful leadership and authentic connection are more crucial than ever, Jerry Colonna, coach, entrepreneur, and author of the transformative books Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.
Jerry has worked with CEOs and change-makers from across the world. His company offers a complete foundation for what it means to emerge as a leader through coaching, 360-degree performance reviews, bootcamps, peer groups, internal training and organisational change management, along with plenty of rich resources for entrepreneurs, including their podcast.
This two-part conversation looks at the internal barriers and personal histories we need to face to unlock our true leadership potential. And it continues into the subject matter of "Reunion", extending this journey outwards, exploring how leaders can foster a sense of belonging in a fractured society through authenticity and shared stories.
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Whether it's problem-solving an issue, coming up with a new product, or making a mark on the world, our personal vision of success often needs new ideas. But what if you’re stuck in a rut?
What if the usual ways of “shaking the snow globe” just won’t cut it any more?
What if the way forward isn't the state of our business plan but the state of our consciousness?
On this episode, Carlos and Laurence welcome Dr David Luke, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich, for an enlightening conversation.
He’s published over 100 academic papers, including ten books, and is also a co-founder and director of Breaking Convention: International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness. His research includes altered states of consciousness, especially via psychedelics.
Why? Because there’s an ever-increasing body of renewed research into the use of these substances to help nudge our brains out of our habitual thinking patterns.
But you don't need to take drugs to access the states of mind they trigger.You can feel more creative, less inhibited, and more connected to yourself, others, and the natural world.You just need to know how your mind truly works.
Discover how altered states can:
Disrupt habitual thought patterns to spark innovative ideasIncrease neuroplasticity and open the door to personal growthFoster a deeper connection to yourself, others, and the natural world
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Forget thinking about business in terms of B2B or B2C – It’s time to think H2H; human to human.
As much as lawyers and accountants will tell you that businesses are independent legal entities, in the end, they’re a bunch of humans working together for some reason or other.
Too many solopreneurs and founders hide behind the idea of being a “big business” when in fact they are human beings wanting to serve others.
They forget that people want to connect with other people, and that connection can help them sustain their businesses financially and energetically.
Human beings are hardwired to connect but we have too many barriers between us including screens, cultural biases, and our own limiting beliefs.
In order to work well, we need to learn how to connect more.
At the Happy Startup School, we believe in building a community around your business. But to build community you also need to build connections. And you can’t really connect with others when you can’t connect to yourself. It’s a journey from the inside out.
In his book, The Connection Playbook: A Practical Guide to Building Deep, Meaningful, Harmonious Relationships, Andy Chaleff invites us to investigate how we think about connection and to work on ourselves as well as our relationships. He asks us to foster more empathy, compassion and non-attachment in order to deepen our connection with others.
The more we’re able to stand on our own and not depend on others, the more we’re able to connect and be in deep relationships with them.
It seems paradoxical, but by not holding tightly onto outcomes and content, and focusing more on being present and the process of connection, we’re more likely to bond with those before us, be they friends, family, romantic partners, or customers.
Listen to this episode if you’re curious about feeling more connection in your life and building a business that gives you a deeper sense of meaning through a deeper connection with those you serve.
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In a world that wants to keep hustling and believing that “bigger is better”, we’ve always had a different measure of success.
For Laurence and Carlos, it’s about forging deep friendships and relationships, getting out in nature, making things that give people delight, and making sure that those you love get more of you.
To do this can mean simplifying our lives. It can mean focusing on what matters and recognising that there’s another way to be in the world - and in the business world.
The Happy Startup way of thinking has been influenced by Small is Beautiful by the economist and environmentalist EF Schumacher. But they’re not the first to be influenced by this classic text.
In 1991 Satish Kumar, a former Jain monk and activist, launched the ground-breaking Schumacher College near Totnes with a short course on Gaia Theory led by James Lovelock. In this episode, Laurence and Carlos talk with him about getting off the treadmill of endless competition and consumption, as discussed in his book Elegant Simplicity.
They explore what it means to prioritise happiness, social equity, and a desire to tread lightly on the earth. Hear why we “need to go wild” and reconnect with our souls, the soil, and our society in a less complicated, less wasteful, way. Find out what it means to “live like a poet” and find purpose through relationships, contribution, and connection to the environment around us.
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On our previous episode, Laurence and Carlos spoke with John Parkin about big ideas: what they are; where they come from and how to spot them. He shared how big ideas can create real impact with minimum effort.
The idea itself does the heavy lifting. However, what happens when you’re still searching for your big idea. How do you commit to action when it’s not clear?
Say hello to our new friend – the minimum loveable big idea. "Big enough to create impact, small enough to try, authentic enough to be loved." It's an idea that aligns with your hopes, dreams and intentions. It sparks curiosity and excitement, and ideally one that you're willing to commit even though it isn’t 100% clear. The feeling is strong even if the plan is patchy.
Maybe you have a minimum lovable big idea waiting to be birthed? One that has the potential to make a difference, but personal enough to be close to your heart.
Each guest for this episode has a story to tell about their own minimum loveable big ideas:
Erin McCormack from Boston, USA – The school for inspiring leadersMatthieu Dardaillon from France – Effortless entrepreneurshipKatherine Horsham from the UK – Adventures in nature for womenBeth Derry from the UK – Teenage self-harm
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John Parkin knows a good idea when he sees one. As a formed Creative Director of one of the most innovative and exciting advertising agencies of the 1990s, he knows a thing or two about coming up with ideas. He's helped create big ideas for big brands, and he's also had one big idea of his own that has transformed his world.
His big idea? F**k It. It led to John leaving his job, Him and his wife Gaia running countless F**k It retreats, and more than 1 million books sold.
The happy startup is Carlos and Laurence’s big idea. 10 years ago many people didn't get it or thought they were weird. But people remember it, and all around the world it seems to make sense.
They’ve had people run various happy startup meetups in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, the middle east and all over Europe.
If you haven't yet hit on your big idea, this episode with John explores the power of a big idea, How you can spot one, and how to have one of your own.
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