The Business of You with Rachel Gogos

277 | When Your Business No Longer Feels Aligned with Mike Brcic

What if the thing you've been chasing isn't actually what you're looking for? Many entrepreneurs build successful businesses or hit major milestones, but they still feel disconnected, burned out, or unsatisfied. The challenge isn't a lack of achievement. It's a lack of alignment. Mike Brcic is a serial entrepreneur, global adventurer, and founder of Wayfinders, a company that helps entrepreneurs build more connected and fulfilling lives through immersive experiences in some of the world's most remote destinations. After building and selling businesses of his own, Mike discovered that success without connection often leaves people feeling empty. Today, he helps founders explore a different path. In this episode, Mike breaks down why community, adventure, and honest self-reflection may be the missing pieces many entrepreneurs are searching for and how you can begin finding them for yourself. When Success Stops Feeling Successful After more than two decades building an adventure travel business, Mike found himself trapped in a cycle familiar to many entrepreneurs: relentless growth, mounting pressure, and diminishing joy. As revenue increased, so did complexity, stress, and burnout. What started as a lifestyle business built around passion slowly became something that no longer felt aligned. Mike shares the remarkable story of nearly losing everything before a last-minute acquisition changed the course of his entrepreneurial journey. The experience forced him to confront a difficult question: What was all that growth actually for? His answer led to the creation of Wayfinders. The Power of Connection, Clarity, and Community Wayfinders takes entrepreneurs far beyond traditional networking events. Through immersive adventures in places like Mongolia, Patagonia, Greenland, and Papua New Guinea, participants step outside their normal environments and create space for deeper reflection. Mike explains why entrepreneurs often struggle with loneliness and why meaningful community is essential for emotional resilience, better decision-making, and sustainable leadership. He also shares the concept of alignment: bringing your external life into harmony with your deepest values, desires, and sense of purpose. Through intentional conversations, solitude in nature, and supportive community, participants gain clarity about what truly matters and what changes they need to make moving forward. The result isn't simply a memorable trip. It's a chance to reconnect with yourself. Enjoy this episode with Mike Brcic… Soundbytes 15:14–15:45 "For me, alignment is this idea of your outer experience matching your inner experience. And so, on the inside, for lack of a better word, we have this thing called a soul. And soul, to me, is this really true aspect of myself, this really true core of who I am at the center of my being, and layered on top of that is years and decades of people layering messages on top of that about who we should be, how we should be, what we should be, why we should be — all these kind of things." 23:43–24:12 "I'm trying and I'm hoping that I can get them to take seriously this idea of having a dialogue with one's inner world, with one's soul, and that that's a useful thing to do. And also this understanding that, you know, there's a journey to be had in this life, this journey towards self-actualization, towards individuation, to becoming a whole person, to becoming more yourself. And eventually casting off these shackles of who you're supposed to be." Quotes "Adding more zeros to your balance sheet is ultimately not going to get you what you're searching for." "Life will force you to answer those questions eventually." "I'm trying to help people stop bullshitting themselves." "The soul doesn't deal in logic. The soul wants what the soul wants." "There's a journey toward becoming more yourself." "What I do isn't really about travel. Travel is simply the delivery mechanism." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://way-finders.com [https://way-finders.com] Email: mike@way-finders.com [mike@way-finders.com] Connect with Mike Brcic on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrcic [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrcic] Follow Mike Brcic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinders_inc [https://www.instagram.com/wayfinders_inc] Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast [https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast] Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/ [https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/]

276 | What Brands Get Wrong About Influence with Chelsea Clark

What makes people buy? Most businesses assume it's visibility. In reality, trust often matters far more than reach. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Chelsea Clark, founder and CEO of Momfluence, a leading influencer marketing agency that helps brands create authentic connections with consumers through trusted creator partnerships. Chelsea shares her entrepreneurial journey from scaling a restaurant franchise business to building a specialized marketing agency and developing software designed to streamline influencer campaigns. She breaks down how trust-driven marketing creates stronger business outcomes, why niche positioning can be a competitive advantage, and how founders can build businesses that align with the life they actually want. Trust Beats Reach Every Time Many brands focus on finding the biggest audience possible. Chelsea believes that's often the wrong approach. The most successful campaigns are built around credibility and connection. Smaller creators with highly engaged communities can often drive stronger results than influencers with massive followings because trust has already been established. Chelsea also explains why influencer marketing works best when it becomes part of a broader strategy. The most effective brands don't stop at a single campaign. They build familiarity over time through repeated exposure, retargeting, and long-term partnerships. Building a Business That Fits Your Life Chelsea's entrepreneurial journey began in the restaurant industry, where she spent over a decade growing a business to 13 locations through company-owned stores and franchising. That experience taught her valuable lessons about customer service, leadership, systems, and the realities of scaling. It also helped her recognize that growth isn't always about getting bigger. Sometimes it's about creating a business model that offers more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment. Today, Chelsea is focused not only on growing Momfluence but also on building software that supports the influencer marketing industry, allowing her to solve bigger problems while creating a more scalable future. Enjoy this episode with Chelsea Clark… Soundbytes 27:58–28:18 "The person in charge of our content said that something like 90 percent of content on LinkedIn is AI-written. Of course, we use AI as foundation research, but then she writes it. It's almost like all content's going to become obsolete if you assume AI is writing it. Why are you going to read it?" 31:28–31:47 "Use the same creators multiple times. Most brands still use one creator one time and then get upset when she doesn't sell them out. Then it's like it seems inauthentic if a creator is always just using something once. So, having the same creator, even if it's months apart, you show that they're actually a fan of your brand and use it." Quotes "Growing things is just satisfying. I would get really bored if I didn't have problems to solve." "Customer service gives you tough skin. It teaches you how to handle people and solve problems." "Most successful marketing comes down to trust and consistency." "It's better to work with the right audience than the biggest audience." "Influencer marketing works best when it's part of a larger brand-building strategy." "Growth isn't always about getting bigger. It's about building the business you actually want." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://www.momfluence.co [https://www.momfluence.co] Email: chelsea@momfluence.co [chelsea@momfluence.co] Connect with Chelsa Clark on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-clark-momfluence/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-clark-momfluence/] Follow Chelsea Clark on Instagram: https://instagram.com/momfluence.co [https://instagram.com/momfluence.co] Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast [https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast] Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/ [https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/]

275 | Why Most Business Owners Are Overpaying the IRS with Peter Holtz

Most entrepreneurs don't realize how much money they're losing through poor tax strategy. The problem isn't always revenue. It's what happens after the money comes in. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Peter Holtz, founder of one of the fastest-growing accounting firms in the country. With experience spanning Big 4 accounting, CFO leadership, and building a $10M-plus firm from the ground up, Peter shares why traditional accounting models are failing entrepreneurs and what founders should be doing instead. Peter explains how proactive tax planning, financial organization, and smarter business structures can dramatically improve profitability and help business owners build real long-term wealth. He also breaks down how entrepreneurs can legally reduce their tax burden, improve financial clarity, and turn accounting into one of the highest ROI investments in their business. Why Reactive Accounting Is Costing Founders Thousands Peter explains that most accountants operate as "box fillers," focused only on filing returns instead of helping business owners strategically reduce taxes year-round. He shares why accuracy, organization, and the right business structure are foundational to keeping more of what you earn. From separating business and personal expenses to optimizing entity structure, small changes can create a massive financial impact. Peter also dives into overlooked strategies many entrepreneurs miss, including the Augusta Rule, paying children through the business, vehicle deductions, and structuring travel expenses correctly. Building Wealth Through Financial Clarity Beyond taxes, this conversation explores the deeper connection between financial awareness and leadership. Peter reflects on building his firm from a small operation into an Inc. 5000 company by embracing cloud accounting, systems, and long-term thinking early. He also shares why he believes entrepreneurs are modern-day pioneers and why supporting business owners is central to his mission. Rachel and Peter also discuss personal branding, scaling a service-based business, and the evolution of authority in today's digital landscape. Enjoy this episode with Peter Holtz… Soundbytes 17:53–18:14 "The Augusta Rule lets you rent out your house at fair market value. You have to determine fair market value. You've got to create a lease between yourself and your business, and there's a lot of details you have to live with. But it could easily be anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 in tax-free income, depending on how you use it." 20:39–21:04 "I've said, you know, you should pay your kids, and I've heard, 'Well, we talked to our tax preparer, and they said it's a red flag.' It's not. I've been around for 40 years. I've been through audits. I've helped people that have come to me to get help with audits. The tax law is very clear that any child above age 7 can be paid a reasonable wage to help you in your business." Quotes "Most entrepreneurs are overpaying in taxes because no one ever showed them a better strategy." "A CPA should not be a cost center. They should be one of the highest ROI partners in your business." "When you don't commingle business and personal expenses, you're already telling the IRS you're organized." "The ultimate resource you can never get more of is time." "There's not a business problem that I can't solve anymore because after a while, you understand how businesses really work." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://www.peterholtzcpa.com/ [https://www.peterholtzcpa.com/] Free Resource and Consultation: https://go.peterholtzcpa.com/rachel [https://go.peterholtzcpa.com/rachel] Connect with Peter Holtz on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/peterholtzcpa [https://linkedin.com/company/peterholtzcpa] Follow Peter Holtz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterholtzcpa [https://www.instagram.com/peterholtzcpa] Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast [https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast] Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/ [https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/]

274 | What Burnout Is Really Costing Your Business with Dr. Anna Cabeca

What happens when the drive that helped you build your success becomes the very thing that pushes you toward burnout? Many entrepreneurs pride themselves on powering through exhaustion, stress, and overwhelm. But eventually, the body sends signals that can no longer be ignored. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Anna Cabeca, a triple board-certified OB/GYN, bestselling author, hormone expert, and founder of a thriving wellness company. Dr. Anna shares how personal loss, infertility, burnout, and financial hardship led her to completely rethink health, performance, and what lasting success really looks like. In this episode, she breaks down how leaders can protect their energy, improve resilience, and build a healthier foundation for both life and business. When Success Comes at the Expense of Health Dr. Anna's entrepreneurial journey wasn't born from a business plan. It was born from necessity.\ After losing her mother, experiencing infertility and early menopause, navigating divorce, and eventually reaching severe burnout, she found herself forced to step away from the medical practice she had spent years building. The emotional and financial consequences were significant, but so was the lesson. Rather than accepting the limitations she was told to live with, Dr. Anna began exploring functional medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches to health. Her own transformation became the catalyst for helping others do the same. What started as solutions for her patients eventually evolved into bestselling books, educational programs, and a seven-figure wellness brand built around solving real problems and sharing authentic stories. Why Energy is the Ultimate Asset One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the connection between health and performance. Dr. Anna explains how chronic stress, elevated cortisol, inflammation, and insulin resistance can affect everything from decision-making and focus to mood, resilience, and long-term health. While many people focus solely on hormones, she argues that true wellbeing requires a broader approach. She also introduces the concept of increasing oxytocin, the hormone associated with connection, trust, and wellbeing, as a practical strategy for managing stress and supporting overall performance. Enjoy this episode with Dr. Anna Cabeca… Soundbytes 29:11–29:40 "You can't out-supplement a bad diet. So, it's these lifestyle pieces. So when I think about what are some of the things we do to improve our health? It's starting with — I don't like to talk about stress management — increasing oxytocin. That is the antidote to stress. So, gratitude practice. Positive terminology. Being kind to yourself. Being kind to others." 36:39–37:49 "I was over 240 pounds. I had terrible weight loss, and that was at 39 years old. Everyday I think, OK, I can walk towards health, or I can walk towards disease." Quotes "Your mess becomes your message." "It takes more than hormones to fix the hormones." "Workaholism is an addiction like anything else." "We have it within us to be empowered and to create solutions and serve others." "I want to be a safe place where people feel seen and heard and empowered and inspired that their life can be better." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://dranna.com [https://dranna.com] 10-Day Breeze Through Menopause Program: https://dranna.com/tribe [https://dranna.com/tribe] Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drannacabeca [https://www.linkedin.com/company/drannacabeca] Follow Dr. Anna Cabeca on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca [https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca] Follow Dr. Anna Cabeca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor [https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor] Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast [https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast] Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/ [https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/]

273 | The Simpler Way to Start a Nonprofit with Christian LeFer

Starting a nonprofit can feel inspiring until the paperwork, confusion, and red tape slow everything down. In this episode, Rachel Gogos sits down with Christian LeFer, founder and CEO of Instant Nonprofit, to talk about how mission-driven founders can move from idea to 501(c)(3) without getting buried in complexity. Christian has helped thousands of changemakers launch and grow nonprofit organizations by removing the legal, administrative, and operational barriers that often keep great ideas from moving forward. In this conversation, he shares how simplicity creates momentum, why fundraising is really about inviting people into a bigger mission, and how automation, AI, and authentic human connection can help nonprofits scale with more ease and impact. Why Simplicity Creates Momentum Christian's early experience in fundraising changed the way he viewed nonprofit work. He stopped seeing fundraising as "asking for money" and started seeing it as an invitation for people to be part of something meaningful. That perspective shaped Instant Nonprofit. Instead of making founders navigate complexity on their own, Christian built a process designed to remove friction and make starting a nonprofit feel more approachable. He also shares an important lesson from an early software failure: technology alone doesn't solve the problem. The process has to work first. By simplifying the customer experience before layering in automation, Instant Nonprofit was able to scale while still delivering personalized support. Building Human-Centered Brands in the Age of AI As AI and automation continue to reshape business, Christian believes authenticity will become even more valuable. Rachel and Christian talk about why people want real stories, transparency, and human connection from the organizations they support. They also explore how team members can build trust by showing personality, sharing experiences, and genuinely caring about the customer experience. The episode also looks at the future of philanthropy, including the growing number of entrepreneurs and families using nonprofits and foundations to connect financial success with legacy, purpose, and long-term impact. Enjoy this episode with Christian LeFer… Soundbytes 04:58–05:23 "Once I flipped around that way I looked at fundraising and that way I looked at what was that exchange for something, I wasn't selling them a product. I was just giving them a good feeling. But, the good feeling is actually — to recall the old MasterCard commercial — the good feeling is what's priceless, right? Inviting someone to feel like they have a bigger part of life by giving them an opportunity to do something they can't do." 21:39–21:46 "People just want a real experience, and they want to deal with real people. They don't want to buy from companies. They want to buy from people." Quotes "You're really inviting people to a bigger life. You're adding to their life; you're not taking away." "What automation allows us to do is allow our humans to be most human." "Anything short of somebody snapping their fingers and wishing the nonprofit into existence is still an obstacle for the customer." "People don't want polished perfection anymore. They want real people and real experiences." "There's nothing wrong with doing well while doing good." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://instantnonprofit.com [https://instantnonprofit.com] Start-Up Kit: https://instantnonprofit.com/podcast [https://instantnonprofit.com/podcast] Connect with Christian LeFer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianlefer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianlefer/] Follow Instant Nonprofit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instantnonprofit [https://www.instagram.com/instantnonprofit] Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast [https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast] Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/ [https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/]