Pivots and Perseverance: LJ, Ted, and Bob Redefine Their Destinies

Pivots and Perseverance: LJ, Ted, and Bob Redefine Their Destinies

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/fan_mail/new] In a roundtable on business and life pivots, host Jan Simon talks with LJ Richardson, Bob Flecken, and Ted Bliefnick about leaving corporate paths for entrepreneurship and the motivations behind those decisions. LJ describes abruptly quitting a 16-year career at Discount Tire to launch ventures including golf apparel and later a mobile tire business funded by a HELOC, driven by culture shifts, refusing to return to school, and a desire to control time and prioritize family and faith. Bob recounts career pivots after a mentor’s death, roles with private equity, becoming a CEO, selling a company, moving back to Arizona, and starting independently to regain fulfillment and family time. Ted shares a slower transition from corporate/VC roles, panic attacks from performance pressure, and the belief that hating corporate life isn’t enough without passion and a clear “why.” They discuss comfort and fear, authenticity, sales, leadership, spouses’ influence, raising kids, and defining success as family, time, character, and faith over money. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/support] www.abovebeyondpodcast.com Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.

From Broken Ribs to Real Estate Success | Brett Johnson

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/fan_mail/new] In this episode of "Above & Beyond: Where Excellence Meets Elevation," host Jän Simon sits down with Brett Johnson, a licensed real estate professional serving the Phoenix and Denver metro areas. Brett shares her journey from a competitive sports background in Colorado to becoming a leader in real estate and a champion for foster youth.    We dive deep into:  • The origin story of her unique name and growing up in a fiercely athletic family  • How a traumatic line drive injury in 8th grade taught her the resilience needed for the ups and downs of real estate  • Her transition from a Master's in Sports Law and Business at ASU to finding her true calling in property  • Why she's passionate about building generational wealth and helping first-time homebuyers  • Her philanthropic work with "All-In Empowering Futures" and using golf as a platform for impact  • Practical advice for anyone looking to enter the real estate market or make a major life pivot   Connect with Brett Johnson:  Instagram: @movewithbrett  Website: allinempoweringfutures.org [http://allinempoweringfutures.org] 🎧 Subscribe for more stories of excellence and elevation! 🌐 abovebeyondpodcast.com [http://abovebeyondpodcast.com]   #RealEstate #PhoenixRealEstate #DenverRealEstate #WomenInBusiness  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/support] www.abovebeyondpodcast.com Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.

When Life Labels You a Failure… Build Anyway | The Eric Lopez Journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/fan_mail/new] Eric Lopez shares his journey from growing up in small-town Illinois with an absent father to being raised by his mother, stepfather, and influential older brother, including a turbulent period living with his dad in California that led to drugs, quitting other sports for bowling, and eventually college bowling. After graduating from the University of Illinois, he was kicked out of MBA school and earned a felony after being arrested with marijuana, which pushed him into entrepreneurship when traditional jobs were unavailable. He built a logistics book of business, worked from home, and later sold it for $1.4 million due to rising fraud in trucking. He then pivoted into AI Agency USA, focusing on inbound/outbound AI voice systems for businesses, while also pursuing fulfillment through a baseball-focused podcast, The Pen, and emphasizing family, resilience, and legacy. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/support] www.abovebeyondpodcast.com Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.

From Small Town Dreams to Big City Success | Dallas Sloan's Transformative Journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Dallas Sloan shares her journey from growing up on acreage in southern Alberta to moving to Arizona at just 23 years old to pursue her dream of building a multi-modality beauty business. She opens up about launching Colair Beauty Lounge & Medspa in 2017, growing from hair and spa services into cosmetic injectables, and building a team culture rooted in character, care, accountability, and integrity. Dallas also reflects on leadership, divorce, navigating COVID, protecting her peace, and creating a business that supports community, family, travel, and quality of life. This conversation is about courage, resilience, reinvention, and building something meaningful — both in business and in life. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/support] www.abovebeyondpodcast.com Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.

From Life's Setbacks to Stronger Connections | Brian Riley's Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/fan_mail/new] Recorded remotely from Brian Riley’s garage pub hangout, this episode follows Brian’s path from growing up in Enfield, Connecticut and playing football and baseball to a life shaped by “saying yes,” including a chance retail interview that launched a 20-year career with Structure/Express, where he met his wife Cheryl and focused on developing teams. Brian contrasts today’s club “super team” sports with neighborhood development, explains why time and relationships matter more than money, and shares how COVID pushed him into business development and restoration. He discusses prioritizing trust over selling, rejecting referral-fee kickbacks in trades, helping customers avoid unnecessary insurance claims, and Built Different Restoration’s emphasis on accessibility, ownership, and doing the right thing. Brian defines legacy as being a good person and a great dad, advocates kindness, community, and travel, and describes his dream of owning a community pub. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500436/support] www.abovebeyondpodcast.com Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE.