CEO Confessions: What It Really Means to Be a Hard Ass

CEO Confessions: What It Really Means to Be a Hard Ass

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, host Juming Delmas takes on a leadership label that is often treated like an insult: being a “hard ass.” Juming argues that demanding people are not always cruel, unreasonable, or impossible to work with. In many high-performance environments, the person who refuses to lower the standard may be the same person pushing a team, athlete, employee, or entrepreneur toward a level they would not have reached on their own. The conversation explores what a healthy hard ass actually looks like. According to Juming, strong leaders hold the line when excuses, discomfort, and temporary emotions threaten the bigger goal. They care enough to correct people, expect follow-through, and remain willing to be disliked in the moment when the long-term result is growth. But the episode also draws a necessary line between demanding leadership and toxic behavior. A healthy hard ass pushes people because they believe in their potential and care about the outcome. A toxic hard ass uses pressure to control, embarrass, dominate, or break people down. Juming makes it clear that being demanding does not require constant yelling, public humiliation, disrespect, or emotional coldness. Using Kobe Bryant and the “Mamba Mentality” as a central example, Juming examines how elite standards can sharpen the people around a high performer. Bryant’s intensity forced teammates to confront whether they were truly committed to the goal or simply attracted to the idea of success. His approach was not comfortable, but comfort was never the standard. The episode also looks at what people can gain from learning to function under demanding leadership. Those who can receive correction without collapsing often develop thicker skin, greater discipline, better emotional control, and the ability to perform when pressure is high. In that sense, hard leaders naturally separate people who are serious about growth from those who only want encouragement without accountability. For leaders, the final lesson is not to become softer or abandon high standards. It is to sharpen the way those standards are communicated. Strong leadership should challenge people without degrading them, build resilience without destroying confidence, and create better performers rather than frightened followers. This episode is for entrepreneurs, coaches, managers, athletes, and anyone trying to understand the difference between accountability and control. It asks a hard but important question: are demanding people holding you back, or are they refusing to let you remain below your potential? Listen to The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur on all major podcast platforms or visit utodcast.com. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/support] Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [ https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300]

Business & BullSh** Part 4: Phone Sex, Polyamory & the Business of Being Untraditional

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, host Juming Delmas sits down with Cidney Green, an author, phone sex operator, trainer, and adult-industry entrepreneur, for a candid conversation about making money in unconventional spaces, building a business from lived experience, and challenging the social rules many people take for granted. Cidney shares how she entered the world of professional phone sex at 21 and eventually turned her experience into a training and certification business for others interested in the industry. She discusses the business side of phone-based adult entertainment, including income potential, customer psychology, performance, character work, and why she sees the industry as more resilient than many traditional career paths. The conversation also explores the performance aspect of the work, including Cidney’s use of a “secret voice” and character-based interactions with clients. Juming and Cidney discuss how fantasy, confidence, communication, and emotional intelligence all play a role in what outsiders may misunderstand as a simple or one-dimensional business. From there, the episode moves into a deeper philosophical conversation about monogamy, polyamory, religion, emotional regulation, and human nature. Cidney challenges the idea that monogamy is the natural default for everyone, arguing that many relationship structures are shaped by history, culture, and social expectations. She also explains her view of polyamory, “organic monogamy,” and why nontraditional relationships require a high level of honesty, vulnerability, and communication. Juming and Cidney also debate whether people can control their feelings. While they acknowledge that emotional reactions can be automatic, Cidney makes the case that people can do the inner work needed to understand triggers, regulate themselves, and change long-term emotional patterns. This episode is a bold, unconventional conversation about adult-industry entrepreneurship, personal freedom, relationship structures, trauma, communication, and what it really means to build a business outside the lines. Listener discretion advised: this episode includes mature themes and adult-industry discussion. Connect with Cidney Green on Instagram at @CidneyGreen or visit allthreeandme.com. Watch or listen to The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Visit utpodcast.com for more. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/support] Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [ https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300]

Business & BullSh** Part 3: The Mud and Ugly Side of Pitching Investors with Leah Williams

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Leah Williams, a pitch deck strategist and designer, for a real conversation about what it actually takes to pitch investors. This episode strips away the glamor around venture capital and angel investing and gets into the harder truth: investors are not funding dreams, ideas, or excitement alone. They want proof. Leah breaks down why founders need traction, paying customers, a working beta, and a clear understanding of their business before approaching serious capital. Juming and Leah also explore the different types of pitch decks entrepreneurs need to understand, including teaser decks, reading decks, and presentation decks. Leah explains how each one serves a different purpose, from getting the first meeting to supporting a deeper investor review to guiding a live pitch. For founders who think one generic deck is enough, this episode delivers a much-needed wake-up call. The conversation also gets practical about the cost of creating a professional pitch deck. Leah explains why founders should expect to invest real money into the process, with professional decks ranging from around $1,500 to $12,500 depending on the startup’s stage, complexity, and funding goals. The episode also touches on the importance of speaking the language investors expect, including financial structure, market opportunity, growth potential, and the kind of clarity venture capitalists are trained to look for. Another major theme is timing. Leah and Juming discuss why early-stage founders should not rush into investor conversations before they are ready. Instead, they talk about when to bootstrap, when to rely on friends and family, and how accelerators, incubators, and local support programs can help founders prepare for larger funding opportunities. This episode is a blueprint for entrepreneurs who want to raise capital the right way. Whether you are building your first startup, preparing for a seed round, or trying to understand what investors actually want to see, this conversation gives founders a clearer picture of the mud, pressure, preparation, and discipline behind pitching for funding. Connect with Leah Williams at leahcatherine.com. Listen to The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast at utepodcast.com. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/support] Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [ https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300]

CEO Confessions: The Business of Michael Jackson and the Cost of Fame

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, host Juming Delmas uses the legacy of Michael Jackson as a case study in branding, business, fame, and the personal cost of becoming one of the most recognizable people on earth. This CEO Confessions episode looks at Michael Jackson not only as an entertainer, but as a global brand — a marketing machine whose name, image, music, controversy, nostalgia, and cultural influence created an economic ecosystem far larger than one performer. Juming explores how an individual can become a “face brand,” generating money and attention for record labels, media companies, estate managers, documentaries, merchandise, streaming platforms, and entire industries built around legacy and public fascination. The episode also expands into the idea of infinite scaling, a concept connected to a previous conversation with David Shands. Juming reflects on the idea that certain people — from Michael Jackson to Martin Luther King Jr. to Elon Musk — become so culturally embedded that their names continue to carry influence, value, debate, and business power long after a single moment, product, or career phase has passed. But this conversation is not only about success. It is also about the price of celebrity. Juming talks honestly about why extreme fame can be dangerous, isolating, and almost impossible to live inside. Through Michael Jackson’s public life, media scrutiny, appearance changes, interviews, allegations, and constant public interpretation, the episode raises a larger question for entrepreneurs: how visible do you really want to be? Juming also discusses the complexity of access, trust, celebrity proximity, and betrayal, especially when powerful public figures become surrounded by people who may be motivated by loyalty, opportunity, money, or a mix of all three. The conversation touches on the allegations that followed Jackson throughout his life while examining how fame can turn every relationship, every accusation, every defense, and every public mistake into part of the business machine. At its core, this episode is a warning and a challenge for entrepreneurs, creators, and public-facing business owners. Building a brand can create opportunity, money, influence, and legacy — but it can also attract scrutiny, pressure, distortion, and people who want access to what you have built. Before chasing notoriety, Juming asks listeners to think carefully about the full cost of being known. Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2359339/%20https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300] Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [ https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300]

Grit, Growth & Business Ownership with Dr. Matthew Zaideman

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, Juming Delmas sits down with Dr. Matthew Zaideman for a candid conversation about business ownership, masculinity, grit, and what it really takes to lead when pressure hits.  Dr. Zaideman shares that his path into ownership was never random or rushed. Rather than starting from scratch, he spent five years working inside the practice he would eventually buy, intentionally studying both the clinical side and the operational side so he could learn what worked, what did not, and what mistakes he wanted to avoid when the business became his. That long-term mindset set the stage for a transition into ownership that was strategic, patient, and deeply intentional.  The episode goes beyond business mechanics. Shortly before buying the practice in 2017, Dr. Zaideman’s son was diagnosed with autism, and that moment transformed his motivation. What had once been a goal of ownership became something much bigger — a mission. He talks about how that diagnosis reshaped the way he saw his work, his future, and the type of foundation he wanted to build, not just for his business, but for his family and the people he hoped to help.  Juming and Dr. Zaideman also dig into what separates true entrepreneurs from people who panic when circumstances shift. They talk about the “automatic” instinct that business owners need — the ability to adapt, survive, and problem-solve without freezing when something goes wrong. Dr. Zaideman reflects on how that mindset helped him navigate the uncertainty of 2020, when he quickly pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering antibody testing after his normal chiropractic schedule dropped off. It becomes one of the clearest examples in the episode of what entrepreneurial grit looks like in real time.  A major focus of the conversation is the evolution from being the business to actually building a business. Dr. Zaideman explains how he worked to stop being “the product” by expanding services beyond himself, bringing in massage therapy and health coaching so the company could continue operating and serving clients even when he was not physically present. That leads into a broader discussion about the role of a CEO — not as the star player doing everything alone, but as the strategist who builds the team, sees the whole field, and empowers the right people to do their jobs well.  The episode also offers strong insight into hiring, accountability, and leadership. Dr. Zaideman speaks honestly about the cost of holding on to underperforming employees and why avoiding difficult decisions can hurt the entire team.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359339/support] Support us by Joining Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/imjustheretolistenpod]. Also, Stay Connected on Socials: The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/ [https://www.facebook.com/ImJustHereToListenPod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@utepodcast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@ijhtlpodcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untraditionalentrepreneur [https://www.instagram.com/imjustheretolistenpod/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuntraditionalentrepreneur [https://youtu.be/ORiK65EDYPM?si=vm8CGFT3CsIiA2Un] Produced by Juming Delmas Studios Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/ [ https://www.facebook.com/jumingdelmasstudios/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios [https://www.tiktok.com/@jdelmasstudios] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/jdelmasstudios/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300 [https://www.youtube.com/@jumingdelmasstudios3300]