Hello Chaos

Ep. 201 Rob Ekno

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Clarity Usually Comes After the First Step Rob didn’t have a five year roadmap when he started building the film festival. He had conviction and a willingness to move before everything made sense. A lot of founders stay stuck because they think certainty comes first. It usually doesn’t. Momentum creates clarity far more often than overthinking does. 2️⃣ You Don’t Need Funding to Start Building Before there were sponsors, investors, or infrastructure, Rob focused on creating value and proving there was real interest. He built relationships, platforms, and opportunities first. Too many founders wait for resources before taking action. The reality is that belief, consistency, and execution are often what attract the right support in the first place. 3️⃣ Your Business Can’t Outgrow Your Discipline The routines that keep you grounded matter more than most founders want to admit. For Rob, prayer, meditation, sobriety, and reflection became the foundation for everything else he built. If your mind is constantly reactive, distracted, or chaotic, eventually your business will reflect it. The way you lead yourself always shows up in the way you lead everything else. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Some Businesses Start With a Calling 01:32 From High School Radio to National Broadcasting 02:43 Losing Everything to Alcoholism 04:10 Starting Over With 11 Months of Sobriety 06:14 The Reality of Building a Career in Hollywood 08:38 Why Alaska Changed the Direction of His Life 10:18 Becoming an Award Winning Author by Accident 13:28 The Stranger Who Told Him to Start a Film Festival 17:15 Building Momentum With No Money or Connections 20:24 The Founder Lesson Most Creatives Miss 25:20 Creating Platforms That Give People Hope 31:47 How He Built a Global Audience Without Funding 35:04 The Vision Bigger Than the Film Festival 41:32 When Founders Stop Waiting for Perfect Timing 46:18 The Daily Discipline That Keeps Him Focused 49:26 The Pause That Can Change Your Entire Life 55:26 Small Habits That Create Massive Transformation 59:18 Why the First Step Matters More Than the Full Plan 01:01:04 Building Something Bigger Than Yourself If you’ve been waiting for the perfect plan before making your next move, connect with Rob below and see what can happen when you build from conviction instead. Website: https://robekno.com/ [https://robekno.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robekno/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robekno/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robekno/ [https://www.instagram.com/robekno/] Website: https://knoxvillechristianfilms.com/ [https://knoxvillechristianfilms.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knoxville-international-christian-film-festival/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/knoxville-international-christian-film-festival/] Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE [https://subscribe.orangewip.com/] and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content. Connect With Us: * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewip] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/hellochaospodcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hellochaospodcast]

Ep. 200 Mitchell Levy

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ What got you here will keep you stuck Mitchell watched successful businesses collapse not because they failed, but because the environment changed. The real mistake is holding on too long to what used to work. If you keep optimizing an outdated model, growth will feel harder and slower every time. The longer you wait to let go, the more momentum you lose. 2️⃣ You do not have a strategy problem you have a clarity problem Most founders are not lacking effort. They are lacking clarity on who they serve and what actually matters. Mitchell found that nearly everyone thinks they have clarity, but very few actually do. Without it, every tactic becomes guesswork and every decision slows you down. Clarity is what turns activity into real progress. 3️⃣ Sell what they want then deliver what they need One of Mitchell’s biggest shifts came from realizing he was focused on what people needed instead of what they were actually asking for. Founders do this all the time and it kills traction. If your message does not match what your audience wants, they will not engage, no matter how valuable it is. Growth starts when you meet people where they are, then guide them to where they need to go. Timestamps: 00:00 Why what worked before is now holding you back 01:45 From success to zero overnight and what it teaches you 05:00 The moment you realize your identity is the problem 09:00 Why most founders chase the wrong thing 12:30 The clarity gap that keeps 98 percent stuck 16:00 The hidden reason your strategy is not working anymore 20:00 Sell what they want not what they need 24:30 Why most marketing advice actually hurts your growth 29:00 The difference between founders who grow and those who stall 33:00 Why your team reflects your lack of clarity 38:00 Experience vs AI and why judgment still wins 42:00 The shift from success to real impact 46:00 What founders get wrong about growth and scaling 50:00 How to find what actually brings you momentum 55:00 The routines that keep you grounded in chaos 59:00 The one mindset shift that changes everything If you are still holding on to what used to work, Mitchell is the person who will help you see what needs to change next. Website: https://mitchelllevy.com/ [https://mitchelllevy.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchelllevy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchelllevy/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchell.levy [https://www.instagram.com/mitchell.levy] X: https://x.com/happyabout [https://x.com/happyabout] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CredibilityNation [https://www.youtube.com/c/CredibilityNation] Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE [https://subscribe.orangewip.com/] and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content. Connect With Us: * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewip] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/hellochaospodcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hellochaospodcast]

Ep. 199 Alicia Hughes & Jenny Ladd

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ People don’t buy your product, they buy the feeling Warm Hugs took off because of what people felt, not what was inside the box. That is the part most businesses miss early. If the emotional connection is not clear, growth gets harder no matter how good the product is. If it is clear, people will pay more, share more, and come back. 2️⃣ Starting messy beats waiting for clarity every time They did not have systems, pricing figured out, or a long-term plan. They just started. That decision created momentum and real feedback fast. Waiting for perfect conditions usually delays the only thing that actually moves a business forward. Action. 3️⃣ Growth forces you to choose what actually matters Saying yes to everything worked at the beginning, but it does not scale. At some point, you have to decide where to focus or you lose time, energy, and consistency. The challenge is growing without losing the personal touch that made people care in the first place. Timestamps: 00:00 Why most founders misunderstand what they are really selling 01:04 The simple idea that turned into something bigger than expected 03:35 When demand shows up in ways you did not plan for 05:42 The moment you realize this is more than just a side project 06:37 The hidden challenges no one prepares you for early on 10:11 The mistake founders make with pricing and their own time 13:13 What scaling forces you to confront sooner than expected 16:05 The small operational issues that can slow everything down 20:36 If you could change anything what would you fix first 23:07 The real opportunity most founders overlook when they grow 28:34 Why being underestimated can actually work in your favor 31:16 How to protect your energy while building something new 35:50 The one system that keeps everything from falling apart 37:49 What success actually looks like one year from now 43:50 The simplest advice most founders ignore 46:40 How to follow the journey and stay connected If you want to see how Alicia and Jenny are building something people genuinely care about, connect with them using the links below. Website: https://warm-hugs.com/ [https://warm-hugs.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-warm-hugs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-warm-hugs/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.warm.hugs [https://www.instagram.com/the.warm.hugs] Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE [https://subscribe.orangewip.com/] and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content. Connect With Us: * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewip] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/hellochaospodcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hellochaospodcast]

Ep. 198 Vida Stanic

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Traction does not mean you are right Vida got customers fast and still walked away. That is the part most founders ignore. Just because people are buying does not mean the foundation is strong. If you keep building on the wrong thing, you are not scaling. You are just going faster in the wrong direction. 2️⃣ The real skill is knowing when to pivot Most founders hold on too long because it is working enough. Vida made the call early because she knew it would break later. That decision is what separates momentum from wasted time. If you avoid the pivot, you end up rebuilding everything when it is more expensive and harder to fix. 3️⃣ You cannot grow if you refuse to let go The hardest shift was not building the product. It was giving things up. Delegating, trusting others, and accepting that no one will do it exactly your way. If you hold on to everything, you become the bottleneck. And your business will only grow as fast as you are willing to step back. Timestamps: 00:00 Why moving fast can still lead you in the wrong direction 01:45 The frustration that sparked a new kind of marketing platform 04:20 When early success hides a bigger problem 07:10 Why you cannot guarantee results in AI and what that means 10:15 The real insight that led to the pivot 13:00 How founders actually find the right idea 16:05 London vs New York vs San Francisco where startups really grow 20:30 Why the media landscape is changing and what founders need to know 23:15 The bottleneck every founder hits when they start scaling 26:00 Letting go is harder than building 29:10 The mindset shift that reduces stress and drives progress 32:20 What founders get wrong about being a CEO 35:10 The trait that actually moves your business forward 38:00 Speed decisions that change everything 41:30 Why consistency matters more than talent 44:30 The advice every founder needs to hear right now 47:00 What success actually looks like when it works If you want to get your brand in front of the right audiences without guessing, check out Vida’s work and connect with her below. Website: https://www.joinastute.com/ [https://www.joinastute.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidastanic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidastanic/] Substack: https://substack.com/@vidastanic [https://substack.com/@vidastanic] Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE [https://subscribe.orangewip.com/] and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content. Connect With Us: * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewip] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/hellochaospodcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hellochaospodcast]

Ep. 197 Brian Thompson

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ You’re the bottleneck whether you see it or not Brian didn’t realize growth was stalling because of strategy or demand. It was because everything still ran through him. The moment you become the approval layer for everything, your business hits a ceiling. If you ignore this, you don’t just slow growth, you cap it completely. 2️⃣ Delegation doesn’t work without trust and structure Hiring help isn’t the solution if you’re still controlling every outcome. Brian learned that letting go only works when you trust the person and clearly define what success looks like. If you skip that, you’ll end up redoing work, building frustration, and pulling yourself back into the weeds. Real delegation isn’t handing things off. It’s building a system that works without you. 3️⃣ Growth forces you to face yourself first Brian didn’t just build a business. He had to unlearn control, people pleasing, and the need for certainty. Scaling a business will expose your habits faster than anything else. If you avoid that internal work, your business will reflect it in every broken process, bad hire, and stalled decision. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the chaos of building something real 00:45 From tax attorney to founder why starting was not the hard part 02:30 The biggest mistake thinking it would be easy 03:45 Learning to build in the chaos instead of controlling it 05:00 The internal work founders avoid and why it matters 07:00 Identity confidence and letting go of people pleasing 10:00 When growth breaks your business and exposes the truth 12:00 The hard realization you are the common denominator 14:00 Why founders hide behind the brand and why that backfires 16:00 The power of curiosity empathy and real connection 18:45 The bottleneck moment when everything pointed back to me 20:00 Why delegation fails and how trust actually works 22:00 The system that changed everything and created clarity 24:30 You cannot make good decisions without good data 26:00 The ugly truths founders avoid and how to face them 27:30 Fear visibility and what happens when it all goes public 30:00 What I would change if I could start over 32:00 Why founders struggle to give themselves grace 34:30 The myth of success and what actually matters 36:00 Why chaos is not the problem it is the path 41:00 Scaling with people learning to let go without losing control 44:00 The advice every founder needs to hear about the journey 45:30 The next chapter learning to stay present as you grow If you’re realizing you might be the thing slowing your business down, Brian’s work will help you see what to change and how to actually let go. Website: https://btfinancial.com/ [https://btfinancial.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianthompsonfinancial/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianthompsonfinancial/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btfinancial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/btfinancial/?hl=en] Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE [https://subscribe.orangewip.com/] and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content. Connect With Us: * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewip] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/hellochaospodcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hellochaospodcast]