The Friday Habit

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Ozzy Garner—founder of Advertis, angel investor, and entrepreneur with a passion for helping business owners reclaim their time and scale smarter.From cleaning bathrooms at White Castle to doubling revenue in his first sales job, Ozzy’s path to building a seven-figure agency is anything but typical. He shares candid insights into the grind of entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from angel investing, and how building a business rooted in core values (and powered by faith) has transformed his life.If you’ve ever struggled with focus, wondered when to quit versus push through, or dreamed of creating a company that runs without you—this conversation is packed with perspective.🧠 Takeaways:Why focus—not chasing every shiny object—is the key to sustainable growthThe power of perseverance and “outlasting” to find tractionHow taking a vacation exposes the cracks in your businessScaling by firing yourself from roles and empowering your teamBuilding with intention: serving clients, your team, and your familyWhy faith and entrepreneurship don’t have to be in conflictResources & Links: Connect with Ozzy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozzygarner Explore Advertis: https://advertis.com👉 Don’t forget—you can download the free Friday Habit system at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to dedicate one full day each week to working on your business instead of in your business. (00:00) - – Intro (01:14) - – From White Castle to Sales Success (05:22) - – Discovering Entrepreneurship (09:18) - – Angel Investing and Consulting (13:12) - – Founding Advertis and Early Growth (20:13) - – The Grind: Cold Calls and First Clients (23:31) - – Building Systems That Work Without You (29:16) - – Family, Faith, and Entrepreneurship (36:21) - – Scaling with Intention and Team Culture (44:23) - – Knowing When to Pivot or Persevere (51:20) - – Balancing Business and Faith (55:24) - – Leading with Core Values (57:45) - – One Action for Monday Morning

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark welcomes leadership expert and coach Jennifer DiMotta, founder of Uprisers. Jennifer has spent over two decades in corporate leadership, eventually serving as Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of a $22 billion company before creating her own coaching practice.Through her structured and results-driven approach, Jennifer has transformed the often “soft” concept of leadership into an actionable framework that helps middle managers and emerging leaders rise to the next level. She shares her personal journey—navigating single parenthood, climbing the corporate ladder, and ultimately launching her business—and introduces her six-step system for becoming your own leadership coach.If you’ve ever felt stuck in your leadership journey or wondered how to break through to the next level in your career, this conversation is packed with practical insights, mindset shifts, and actionable steps you can take right now.🧠 Takeaways:-Leadership isn’t reserved for a certain personality type—anyone can develop into a strong leader.-Self-awareness is the #1 trait of great leaders; start with honest self-assessment.-Long-term vision paired with 90-day goals gives you a 95% better chance of success.-Accountability partners and reward systems help sustain motivation.-Coaching should be measurable and structured, not just “soft” conversations.-Financial acumen and company-level thinking are key for advancing in corporate leadership.-Sharing your learnings with others reinforces growth and builds stronger teams.Resources & Links:Connect with Jennifer at https://Uprisers.comReach out directly: jennifer@uprisers.comTake the StrengthsFinder AssessmentFollow Jennifer on LinkedIn👉 Don’t forget—you can download the free Friday Habit system at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to dedicate one full day each week to working on your business instead of in your business. (00:34) - – Welcome & Guest Intro: Jennifer DiMotta (03:01) - – Growing Up with Brothers & Early Leadership Tendencies (07:14) - – Returning to Omaha & Lessons from Moving Around (12:35) - – Why Jennifer Chose Leadership Development (16:43) - – From Single Mom to Corporate Executive (20:34) - – Building Uprisers to Help Stuck Middle Managers (25:05) - – The Six Steps Framework Explained (29:24) - – Step 1: Assess Yourself (StrengthsFinder, Personality, EQ) (33:40) - – Step 2: Create Your Long-Term Vision (35:26) - – Step 3: Break It into 90-Day Goals (42:27) - – Steps 4–6: Accountability, Rewards, and Paying It Forward (47:25) - – Building Motivation & Habits That Stick (50:14) - – Key Mindset Shifts for Emerging Leaders (53:44) - – Jennifer’s Entrepreneurial Journey (57:36) - – Pricing, Value, and Believing in Your Work (01:01:38) - – Where to Connect with Jennifer (01:02:16) - – Monday Morning Action Item

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steven Puri—film executive turned tech founder, productivity expert, and remote work evangelist. Steven’s career path has taken him from producing blockbuster hits like Die Hard and The Wolverine to raising millions in venture capital and building tools that help people focus better, work smarter, and reclaim their time.Steven shares fascinating behind-the-scenes lessons from Hollywood—how storytelling principles apply to business—and the practical strategies he’s developed for managing dopamine, achieving flow states, and structuring your day for maximum productivity. Whether you’re a leader managing a remote team or an entrepreneur trying to get more done without burning out, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.🧠 Takeaways:Great storytelling—on screen or in business—comes from understanding what’s really driving your characters (or customers).Your environment matters: create a dedicated space that triggers focus and productivity.Flow states require meaningful, challenging work matched to your skills, plus the right conditions (think music, timing, and feedback).Time boxing and knowing your chronotype help you tackle the right work at the right time of day.Limit distractions—just two hours of protected focus time can change your team’s output dramatically.Sometimes the key to momentum is starting small, not tackling the biggest task first.Decide if you’re serious—commitment comes before any productivity hack can work.You can find Steven at:Website: https://thesukha.coEmail: steven@thesukha.co📥 Download The Friday Habit Guide at https://thefridayhabit.com to learn how to set aside one full day each week to work on your business instead of in it. (00:00) - – Intro (01:15) - – Meet Steven Puri: From Blockbusters to Startups (04:02) - – Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? A Screenwriter’s Take (08:38) - – Seeing Story Patterns Everywhere (12:18) - – 80s & 90s Action Films and the Art of Character Writing (16:15) - – The Indiana Jones Plot Twist You Never Noticed (20:44) - – Why Great Movies Let the Audience Do the Math (22:42) - – Steven’s Unplanned Path Into Hollywood (24:53) - – From Independence Day to Raising Millions (27:39) - – When Startups Fail and Life Changes Direction (29:30) - – Yoga, Remote Work, and Productivity Lessons (31:44) - – Dopamine Management in the Digital Age (36:00) - – Understanding and Entering Flow States (39:49) - – The Power of Environment on Creativity (43:00) - – Learning Your Chronotype for Better Work Output (44:22) - – Time Boxing and the Cold Start Problem (48:12) - – Momentum vs. Eating the Frog (51:08) - – Why Small Wins Matter for Motivation (54:52) - – The Meaning Behind ‘Sukha’ (55:55) - – Leading Remote Teams with Protected Focus Time (57:55) - – Trust, Hiring, and Giving Teams Space to Excel (59:27) - – Monday Morning Action: Decide If You’re Serious (01:00:04) - – Wrap-Up & How to Connect with Steven

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Patrick Thean—international speaker, serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Patrick shares his journey from building a supply chain software company that landed on the Inc. 500 list to coaching CEOs on how to focus, execute, and scale with intention.From his “7 Key Practices for CEO Success” to practical tips on narrowing your niche, Patrick breaks down the habits, mindset shifts, and leadership skills that separate thriving companies from the ones that stall. He reveals why the best leaders are always learning, how to build a culture that becomes your competitive edge, and why knowing your “core customer” changes everything.🧠 Takeaways:Surround yourself with greatness early in your career to learn what “great” looks like.Be humble enough to seek mentors—and willing to “eat crow” to accelerate learning.Focus means saying “yes” to a few things and “no” to most.Keep growing yourself so your company never outgrows you.Build an early warning system to avoid being blindsided.Align your team not just on what to do, but how to do it.Treat culture as a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.Be intentional about your “people ecosystem” (employees, advisors, customers, partners).Build your strategy around your core customer and resist chasing every opportunity.👋 Connect with Patrick:Website: https://rhythmsystems.comBook: The Journey to CEO Success — Available on Amazon👉 Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit System at https://www.thefridayhabit.com (00:34) - – Introduction (01:39) - – Life Between Charlotte & Seattle (02:37) - – Family & Career Paths of His Daughters (03:20) - – Nature vs. Nurture in Entrepreneurship (04:36) - – The Value of Working for Great Companies Early (07:06) - – Knowing What “Great” Looks Like (08:20) - – Humility & Learning from Masters (09:54) - – The “Amateur” Lesson & Mentorship Story (13:37) - – Building & Scaling a Supply Chain Software Company (15:20) - – Discovering the Power of Execution (16:45) - – Common Scaling Mistakes CEOs Make (18:06) - – The Importance of Focus for Growth (20:20) - – The 7 Key Practices for CEO Success (27:01) - – Early Warning Systems & Team Alignment (28:02) - – Building Culture as a Competitive Advantage (29:59) - – Designing Strategy Around the Core Customer (34:55) - – Narrowing Down Your Ideal Customer (38:39) - – The Abundance Mindset & Learning from Apple (40:35) - – Recap of the 7 Practices (41:23) - – Favorite Business Book Recommendation (42:41) - – What Career He Might Have Chosen Instead (44:16) - – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with Patrick (45:24) - – One Daily Habit Every Leader Should Adopt (46:07) - – Outro & The Friday Habit Guide

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Emmy-nominated content creator, strategist, and international table tennis competitor Justin Bookey. As the author of Ping Pong Leadership: 18 Principles to Succeed at Any Table in Business, Sports, and Life, Justin shares how his lifelong passion for ping pong evolved into a leadership framework that blends sport, strategy, and self-awareness.From practicing with Olympians to advising Fortune 100 CEOs, Justin distills decades of insights into memorable “Pong Principles” that can help anyone become a more agile, authentic, and aware leader. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or just trying to level up personally, this conversation is full of practical wisdom, unexpected metaphors, and even a few laughs.🧠 Takeaways:Leadership is like ping pong: fast, strategic, and deeply personal.“Embrace your quirks” is more than a feel-good mantra—it’s a path to authentic influence.Don’t try to solve internal problems with external solutions.“What’s your ready position?” means more than being prepared—it’s about knowing your natural strengths and tendencies.Elegant learners stay curious and open, even when it’s hard to hear feedback.Rhythm is everything—understand your own and know when to break it.👋 Connect with Justin:pingpongleadership.comJustin Bookey on LinkedIn👉 Want to start spending more time working on your business instead of in it?Download our free guide to The Friday Habit system at thefridayhabit.com. (00:00) - – Intro (00:34) - – Welcome & Guest Introduction (02:00) - – How Ping Pong Started It All (04:40) - – Can You Make a Living Playing Ping Pong? (06:20) - – Chess at 80 MPH (08:00) - – Building Confidence Through Sport (10:45) - – Training with Olympians & World Champs (12:50) - – The Birth of Ping Pong Leadership (14:00) - – Pong Principle #10: Embrace Your Quirks (17:30) - – Pong Principle #12: Don’t Try to Solve Internal Problems with External Solutions (21:20) - – The Wake-Up Call (26:00) - – Pong Principle #6: What’s Your Ready Position? (30:45) - – Finding Your Ready Position at Work (31:45) - – Leaving Law for a Creative Path (32:25) - – Pong Fit: Bringing Table Tennis to the Community (35:00) - – Playing for the Love (and a Little Prize Money) (38:30) - – When Your Kids Choose Their Own Path (39:00) - – Pong Principle #4: Be an Elegant Learner (41:30) - – Marriage Advice: It's a Plant, Not a Sculpture (46:40) - – Monday Morning Challenge: It’s a Rhythm Game/Outro

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark chats with Benjamin Johnson, serial tech co-founder and founder of Particle 41. With over two decades in software development, DevOps, and startup building, Ben shares hard-earned lessons on what it really takes to lead successful tech initiatives—from bootstrapping SaaS platforms to advising CEOs on digital strategy.They dig into the evolution of AI, the risk of overengineering, and how founders can use time-tested principles like quarterly planning, intentionality, and simplicity to build smarter—not harder. Plus, Ben explains how he turned 1,000+ unread LinkedIn messages into 10 real leads in 30 minutes using AI.If you're an entrepreneur, CTO, or creative leader navigating the tech landscape, this episode will challenge you to rethink complexity, lead with clarity, and focus on what truly matters.💡 Takeaways:You don’t need all the answers—you need a clear intention and a small next step.“Stage-appropriate decisions” help you avoid overbuilding and stay lean.AI is powerful, but not all tech is good tech—discernment is key.Quarterly planning (vs. annual) creates focus and drives momentum.Founders should demystify the tech—not hide behind it.Artificial relationships and overreliance on digital environments pose risks to younger generations.Building niche products (like Brevo vs. HubSpot) shows there’s still room for thoughtful innovation.Use “future language” with your team to unlock possibility and performance.Vector embeddings and AI search can turn customer data into real insights.Great leadership focuses on intention and empowers teams to figure out the how.🔗 Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjohnson/https://particle41.com📚 Learn More:Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the free guide on working on your business—not just in it.📩 Stay Connected:Subscribe to The Friday Habit for real-world business stories, practical strategies, and weekly inspiration for entrepreneurs and creators.

In this special 200th episode of The Friday Habit, Mark and Ben reunite to celebrate a huge milestone—and to share some big news. After nearly six years as co-hosts, Ben is officially stepping away from the mic (don’t worry, he’ll still pop in from time to time). But before he goes, he’s opening up about what it really took to build, systemize, and sell his business, Knapsack.From Bro Mountain retreats and podcast dreams to building a business that runs without you, Ben walks through his journey of creating a sellable company—from first hire to final handoff. Whether you’re dreaming of an exit or just want more freedom in your business, this episode is packed with practical lessons, honest reflections, and the kind of wisdom only 200 episodes can deliver.🧠 Takeaways:You don’t need an MBA to sell your business—just solid systems and repeatable processesSOPs aren’t helpful if no one uses them—checklists and Loom videos are a better way to trainHaving steady leads and a great reputation increases your business’s valueA strong niche and recurring revenue model can dramatically increase your valuationFinancials matter: clean books and clear reports will save you headaches when it’s time to sellThink about your exit before you need it—everyone leaves their business eventuallyProcesses aren’t about control—they’re about freedom and scalabilityBuyers want turnkey, low-risk operations, not personality-driven businessesYou can start small: document one process, one checklist at a timeReflecting on what’s next can help you build a business with purpose—not just momentum📌 Learn More Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the guide on working on your business instead of in it.📣 Stay Connected Subscribe to The Friday Habit for real-world business lessons, candid conversations, and actionable strategies to help you build a business (and life) you love.👋 And yes—Ben will be back now and then. You can’t get rid of him that easily.

In this episode of the Friday Habit, Nick McEvily shares his journey from design to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of customer interviews and the role of design in business success. He discusses his life in Mexico City, the challenges of the zero to one stage in startups, and the common pitfalls founders face in achieving product market fit. The discussion highlights the necessity of data-driven decision-making and the art of understanding customer needs through effective communication. In this conversation, Nick McEvily shares insights on the importance of effective listening, crafting open-ended questions for interviews, and the significance of gathering honest feedback from clients. He emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to validate their ideas quickly and the changing landscape of venture capital, advocating for a more thoughtful approach to business development. The discussion also touches on the value of data in decision-making and the importance of humility in leadership.Takeaways:Nick McEvily emphasizes the importance of customer interviews.Design plays a crucial role in building trust with users.The zero to one stage is a critical phase for startups.Delusion can be necessary for founders to succeed.Many founders do not spend enough time understanding their customers.Effective design must resonate with the target audience.Data should back the intuition of CEOs and founders.Customer feedback can be misleading if not approached correctly.Surveys are just one tool among many for gathering insights.Building a strong narrative is essential for fundraising. Good listening skills help decipher unspoken truths.Facing the truth can lead to stronger confidence.Crafting a script is essential for effective interviews.Open-ended questions yield higher quality responses.Limit the number of questions to maintain engagement.Finding unbiased participants is crucial for research.Statistical significance is important in decision-making.Don't wait too long to present ideas to customers.Exploration leads to new opportunities and ideas.The venture capital landscape is evolving towards more validation.Connect with Nick:https://www.nickmcevily.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmcevilyLearn More: Visit TheFridayHabit.com for show notes, resources, and to download the guide on working on your business rather than in it. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Friday Habit for more real-life business lessons, candid conversations, and actionable strategies to elevate your entrepreneurial journey.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Nicholas McEvily 01:04 Life in Mexico City and Family 04:00 Journey into Design and Entrepreneurship 07:00 The Importance of Design in Business 10:00 Navigating the Zero to One Stage 13:04 Common Pitfalls in Product Market Fit 16:00 Insights from Customer Interviews 19:11 The Art of Listening and Understanding 20:37 Crafting Effective Interview Questions 21:33 The Importance of Open-Ended Questions 23:14 Navigating Client Relationships 25:16 Finding Participants for Research 26:23 The Value of Data in Decision Making 28:23 The Balance of Confidence and Humility 30:33 Validating Ideas Quickly 33:05 Exploring New Ventures and Markets 35:42 Learning from Failure and Exploration 37:47 The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital 39:22 Final Thoughts and Action Items