My guest for this episode of Paradoxical is Jessica Mozeico of Et Fille Wines.I love Jessica’s commitment to sustainable winemaking and how creative Jessica is in her approach to business. We had a great conversation discussing the origin and evolution of Et Fille. Here’s a few of the topics we explore:* What Cameron Diaz’s mother had to do with her career pivot* Jessica’s unique approach to describing Et Fille’s wines* How not having any formal training in winemaking has been an advantage* How Jessica’s perspective on failure helps her innovate in business* How curiosity contributes to creativity in business* Why Jessica chose to make Et Fille a B-Corp, and how her commitment to sustainable winemaking has shaped the business.If you’re someone who wants to find new ways to serve your audience or make a difference in the world, I think this conversation will spark some ideas for you.You can learn more about Jessica & Et Fille here:Web: etfillewines.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/etfillewines/Facebook: www.facebook.com/EtFilleWines This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Today I’m joined by Danielle Ruttenberg. She’s a trained glassblower, entrepreneur and mother of two young children, and co-founder of Remark Glass, a fully-sustainable, zero-waste custom glass studio located in the revitalized Bok Building in South Philadelphia.  Combining art and sustainability, Remark Glass fulfills its mission of creating sustainable art and manufacturing practices by employing traditional glassblowing techniques to repurpose discarded bottle glass into small batch home accessories. in 2020, Danielle and her team also formed Bottle Underground, a 501(c)(3) organization committed to increasing their impact in waste reduction and generating jobs for the local community. In our conversation, Danielle discusses how Remark Glass transforms waste materials like bottles and jars into new wares such as barware, lighting, and tabletop accessories. We also explore their recycling methods and their commitment to providing fair employment opportunities. Along the way, we also explore the various challenges they've faced in blending social responsibility with business growth and explore some of the funding challenges they’ve been working through and creative ways they’re worked to supplement revenue during critical periods such as their popular ‘mystery’ boxes.You can see their beautiful work and learn more about Remark Glass at the following links: Web: remarkglass.comInstagram: instagram.com/remarkglassTikTok: tiktok.com/@remarkglassBlown Away (Netflix show on glass blowing): netflix.com/title/80215147 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

After having kids, Jessica Mathews made quite the career pivot! As is so often the case, though, there are things from her past career (family law attorney) that have helped her succeed in building Dancing Zebra Safari into a successful business where she helps others plan once (or more) in a lifetime adventures. Beyond the pivot, we also talked about specialization and why it matters for your business, the challenges of running a business from almost half a world away, and a whole lot more.While you’re listening, you can learn more about Jessica & Dancing Zebra Safari and see some great pictures at the below links:Web: https://www.dancingzebrasafari.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancingzebrasafari/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Being a visionary entrepreneur isn’t without it’s challenges, and certainly has it’s ups and downs. Rich Cohen, founder & CEO of Elevate Packaging, is very familiar with these. As someone who was thinking about sustainability long before others in his industry, it took him some time (and some challenging sacrifices) to gain traction, but Elevate is now a leader in the realm of compostable packaging, and Rich continues to be a powerful advocate for the environment who’s products match his values. In addition to exploring Rich’s journey and how he’s managed to build a successful, innovative business, I coach him on some challenges he’s having with finding the right people for his team, and we discuss the surprising thing that swimsuits and compostable labels have in common. You can learn more at Elevate Packaging’s website, and connect with Rich on LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

So, I'll admit upfront that I'm a fan of MERGE4's socks, and you'll hear that pretty clearly in this conversation with Cindi Busenhart, their CEO & founder.Cindi’s a big believer in the power of team and you’ll hear that throughout this episode, as well as how she’s used her past experiences in business and a very clear focus on values to build MERGE4 into a unique sock brand.Bio: Cindi Busenhart, the Founder and CEO of MERGE4, has revolutionized the sock industry for action sports enthusiasts. MERGE4's unparalleled commitment to style and performance has resulted in socks that not only look great but can withstand the most rigorous demands of active individuals and extreme athletes, while providing maximum comfort and functionality. Boasting a list of artists and athletes deeper than Lake Tahoe, MERGE4 has rightfully earned its place as the ultimate sock company.Connect with MERGE4: Web: https://merge4.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/merge4socks This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Ok, you’re probably not in the wine business … so why listen to this episode? Well, Fritz knows a lot about how to be successful in small business while being efficient with his time & energy and honoring himself and his identity. So, there’s a lot of strategies you can adapt to your business that you’ll hear about in our conversation. Some of the topics we explored include: * The magazine article that inspired Fritz’ career path* Fritz’ journey from employee, to solo business to small business.* Fritz’ approach to serving his clients and discussing renewals that results in a very high retention rate while saving him time & energy.* How Fritz took an established model used in other industries and translated it into the world of viticulture as a way of expanding his business.* Why Fritz does not engage in affiliate relationships.* Fritz’ challenges in balancing working on and in the business and why his support team is an important part of addressing that challenge.Connect with Fritz:Web: Virtual Viticulture AcademyPodcast: Vineyard UndergroundInstagram: Westover Viticulture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Today’s guest is Mary Jenner, founder of The Butterfly Pig, a business that creates doll-sized medical devices for children, to help them understand medical procedures and lower their anxiety around them.Here’s some of what we explored in our conversation:* The intersection of experience, interests, and identity that contributed to the beginning of The Butterfly Pig.* The origin of ‘The Butterfly Pig’ name.* How the ‘How hard could it be?’ gene has helped (and hindered) Mary.* The advantage Mary has over traditional doll makers and larger companies when it comes to developing products.* The role of family in helping her grow her business* How social media and Facebook groups have played an important role in the evolution and growth of the business.Find Mary & The Butterfly Pig online:Web: https://thebutterflypig.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/thebutterflypigFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheButterflyPigTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebutterflypigLiked what you heard? Share it with a friend or colleague who you think would also enjoy it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Reid Edgar is thinking differently about his environmentally-focused laundry detergent brand, Spot. He’s not the first one to do laundry detergent sheets, but he’s definitely the first to go about marketing a product like this in the way he is. Why? He’s thinking big. Listen in as we talk about why Reid created Spot, how he’s gone about developing and marketing the product, and his next idea for bringing environmentally-focused products to a wider audience.Learn more at Spot's website or on their Instagram. A few people have asked lately why I put my podcast on Substack. Well, it’s because I appreciate and enjoy the community aspects of the platform, and it allows for people to comment on episodes and for us to discuss them, which isn’t possible with most platforms. So, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, eco-friendly products, and how they’re marketed - leave a comment below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Elaine Frei is a landscape designer by training, but a balloon … artist? sculptor?(take a look and decide for yourself) in her business. Not wanting to settle for making beautiful, artistic spaces with her work, she’s also found ways to make a difference with it, too. While listening, check out the Luft website or their Instagram so you can get a sense of the work Elaine and the Luft team do, as I don’t think it can be captured in words! I really admire Elaine’s openness and vulnerability as she talks about both the ups and downs of her journey and the growth she’s had to undertake along the way. If you’re looking to have a business that does good in the world, but is fun as well, you’ll definitely want to listen in.Enjoying the podcast? If so, I’d appreciate your support - please pass it along to someone else you think would enjoy it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

What happens when a maker who plays disc golf, cares about the environment and has a background in marketing starts experimenting in their garage? Well, in the case of today’s guest, Jesse Stedman, you get Trash Panda Disc Golf, a Colorado business that makes flying discs out of recycled plastic. Listen in as we talk about Jesse’s journey, including * Why it took a decade to go from inspiration to action in starting up Trash Panda* Why what Jesse didn’t know was so important in Trash Panda coming to life* The benefit of creating a YouTube channel before even having a product* Trash Panda’s unusual disc names and the meanings behind them* How Jesse turned a byproduct of the injection molding process into a key design element in Trash Panda’s first disc* How Jesse has used values & constraints both to simplify his decision making and strengthen the clarity of the brand* The good and bad of product launches* Why Jesse decided to pursue B-Corp certificationLearn more at Trash Panda Disc Golf’s YouTube channel and website.Want new episodes right in your inbox? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

I’m honored to have author, podcaster, speaker, and new(ish) Substack-er as my guest for this week’s episode of Paradoxical. Her book Pivot was a valuable tool for me in my business journey, and her latest work, Free Time, is another great resource for those of you with small or solo businesses who are looking to get more done in less time (and with less effort). We covered a lot of ground in our conversation, including: * Jenny’s relentless documentation of her workflow and the central repository she uses for that information* The ‘whisked away to Fiji’ test she uses to assess her business.* The importance of time boundaries and constraints as tools to help get things done.* The value of exploring both sides of fear when navigating business changes* Her transition to Substack, and how & why she’s balancing free vs. paid content on the platform.* How (and why) she’s bringing more vulnerability to her work and her strategies for making it a more manageable growth activity.You can connect with and learn more about Jenny at her Substack.Thoughts on the episode? Let me know!Want to get new episodes, notes, and articles from me right in your inbox? Subscribe below (it’s free!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

My guest for this episode of Paradoxical is the CEO & co-founder of Cambium Carbon, Ben Christensen. Ben, a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister and TedX speaker, is a thought-leader and industry expert. Cambium Carbon is a limate-tech start-up that works with cities to divert wood waste, local manufacturers to create sustainable products, and demand partners for offtake they are creating a new regenerative supply chain for urban wood.Listen in and you'll likely be as surprised as I am by some of the data Ben has to share about how wood and the furniture supply chain are (mis) managed in the world and the carbon footprint that results. You'll also learn about the great work Cambium Carbon is doing to keep wood out of landfills, decrease carbon emissions, support local supply chains, and bring more character and beauty to the world. In our coaching segment, Ben and I explore the challenge of balancing 'I' and 'we' in a team. Learn more about Cambium Carbon and their Carbon Smart Wood at https://cambiumcarbon.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

I think curiosity is one of the most powerful tools we have when it comes to problem solving, creativity, and innovation. If you’re trying to build a successful, innovative business that’s making a difference and serving people powerfully, getting better at being curious will take you a long way in that direction.Especially when it’s an alternative to judgment, a tool that comes with very limited upside and a whole lot of downside. Inspired by one of my favorite (misattributed) quotes, this episode will help you understand why we veer into the realm of judgment so quickly and easily, how to stop doing so, and how to get better at the skill of being curious.Like this episode? Know someone you think would find it helpful? Click below to pass it along.Links:Paradoxical, Season 3, Episode 9: Transformation through Truth: Some Thoughts on Personal and Business Development (explains the ‘3 A’s’ framework in more depth.Ted Lasso - ‘Darts’ sceneSnopes on ‘Be Curious, Not Judgmental’I’ve moved my podcast to Substack! If you’d like to receive episodes in your inbox (as well as other things I’ll be sharing), hit the button below to subscribe (it’s free!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

My guest this week is Aubri Thompson of Rebrand Skincare. Aubri is a cosmetic chemist and sustainable beauty expert. In 2020, she started Rebrand Skincare, a refillable skincare company in the Bay Area. She holds a BS in Chemistry and MS in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley.Me, I never made it past my first semester of college chemistry, but I love how Aubri has combined her degree, her desire to address some of the issues she saw within the beauty industry, and the goal of creating a business that also supported her desired lifestyle in creating Rebrand. We covered a lot of ground, including:* The Rebrand 'origin story'.* Issues with the beauty industry - packaging and products - and how Aubri addresses them.* The different channels Aubri has used to build her business (online, social media, retail).* The choices and tradeoffs Aubri's faced and considered in building a business that is profitable, environmentally conscious, and aligned with her values and lifestyle priorities.* Different options Aubri is considering for future growth and expansion.Aubri's story, I think, is a great example that highlights that small businesses can indeed do big things. Resources discussed:Company of One - Paul JarvisThe Million-Dollar One Person Business - Elaine PofeldtCredo Clean StandardGet in Touch with Aubri:Web Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Imagine setting out on a new business journey after a life-altering loss, and shaping it into a model that challenges traditional corporate structures. That's what you'll hear about today as Elisabeth Barton, the co-founder and CEO of Echo Adventure Cooperative, joins me for this episode of Paradoxical. If you've ever wondered about how a cooperative differs from a traditional business, this episode will enlighten you. Elisabeth talks about the motivation behind choosing a cooperative model and how it helps to empower their employees, as well as the other benefits (and challenges) that go along with this business model.  In addition, you can listen as we explore her vision for growing Echo and I coach her around some of the challenges she's facing in that area. Get in touch with Elisabeth: Web: echocoop.comEmail: adventures@echocoop.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

What does the world of 12-step programs have in common with a famous business book? Well, listen in to this solo episode and you'll find out, learning a useful growth framework along the way. I'll dig into the complex relationship between denial as a survival skill and the undeniable power of information, exploring one of my favorite lessons from Jim Collins' must-read business book, Good to Great.Beyond the framework, I also explore some specific strategies you can use to navigate the framework. I hope you'll come away from this episode with some new ideas and a new perspective on uncomfortable truths.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

How does someone take a 30-year career in social work and use it as a foundation for a successful business teaching guitar? Well, David Feldstein, my guest for this episode of Paradoxical, has done just that. Listen in for the story of his journey and how he's leveraged his social work experience to create a safe, positive, and engaging learning environment for his young guitar students.David's values about teaching are a fundamental component of his success, and we explore how he makes learning fun for his students. Many of David's students are 'kiddos with superpowers', as he says, and David also shares about his journey of navigating the world as someone with Tourette's syndrome and how that's helped him connect with and serve his neurodiverse students. Running a one-to-one service business like Kids Guitar Atlanta isn't without its challenges, of course, and we discuss some of the logistical issues around scheduling in-home lessons in Atlanta and the limits he's encountered around wanting to serve as many kids as possible while still ensuring top-notch service.Connect with David at kidsguitaratlanta.com.Listen to David's album on Spotify or Apple Music. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Have you ever been caught in the oversimplified dichotomies of 'good /  bad' or 'right / wrong'? Today, I'm talking about the importance of nuance in decision-making. Social media often exacerbates the challenge we can have with finding nuance, favoring simplified, polarized viewpoints. But, the truth is that there's a lot of value and power in the grey areas. By exploring those, we can find creative solutions that help us both get through challenging situations but also can spark growth and innovation. Connect with Steve:steve@stevemccready.comstevemccready.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

In this episode, Lissy Alden, founder of MYNDY, shares the story behind MYNDY and provides a master class on metal fitness; what it is, how to improve yours, and how MYNDY supports people with improving their mental fitness. Ever wondered how it feels to build a community, or the challenges one faces while starting a company? Lissy goes into detail about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of her entrepreneurial journey. We also dig  into the science behind mental fitness, exploring the importance of both positive and negative interactions in shaping our mental fitness. Get ready to challenge your mental patterns, coping mechanisms, and discover a new perspective that'll help you improve your mental fitness and wellness. Connect with Lissy:Web: myndy.co Connect with Steve:Email: steve@stevemccready.comWeb: stevemccready.comInstagram:  instagram.com/stevebmccready This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com

Join us as we talk with Forest Linden from Clarity Lab about his journey to becoming a strategist and marketing expert for businesses. Discover how Forest's unique approach has helped many entrepreneurs find the right path to success.Forest and I talk about the challenges and opportunities in online business, myths and truths, and what’s working now when it comes to doing business online. In this episode, we also discuss Forest's willingness to give entrepreneurs a reality check when starting their journey towards creating a business selling online courses. Plus, learn how Forest's study and practice of Buddhism has influenced his approach to business, helping him to connect deeply with clients and create more meaningful content. We didn’t end up talking about Zwift, the virtual cycling app, but you can find out more about it at zwift.com.Oh, and that quote I couldn’t recall in the episode is from Maya Angelou:  “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”Connect with Forest:Web: claritylab.coTwitter: @forestlindenPost.news: @forestlinden Connect with Steve: Email: steve@stevemccready.com Web: stevemccready.com Instagram:  instagram.com/stevebmccready This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stevemccready.substack.com