Hello Chaos

Ep. 204 Andrew Stallings - Laid Off on Monday and Bought the Company by Summer

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Your Network Is Not a Safety Net. It Is the Business. Andrew did not build Athelo Group on a pitch deck or a business plan. He built it on a decade of relationships that were already in place before he ever wrote a check. When founders underinvest in genuine connection and only reach out when they need something, they are not just being bad at networking. They are quietly dismantling the only infrastructure that actually holds when everything else breaks. Community over currency is not a mindset. It is a survival strategy. 2️⃣ Small Failures Are a Feature. Ignoring Them Is the Real Risk. Andrew did not avoid failure. He learned to engineer smaller ones so the catastrophic ones never had a chance to land. Founders who only see the tidal wave when it is already on top of them are not unlucky. They are avoiding the discomfort of early signals. The ability to pivot before you have to is the skill that separates founders who scale from founders who stall. You cannot course correct what you refuse to look at. 3️⃣ Stability Is Not Weakness. It Is the Thing You Were Always Chasing. Eight years in, tens of millions built, and what Andrew wants most is to stop freaking out about payroll. That is not a failure of ambition. That is clarity. Founders who treat stability like a consolation prize often run past the finish line without realizing they already won. If you cannot define what enough looks like, the chaos never becomes organized. It just stays chaos. Timestamps 00:00 The Origin Story Nobody Romanticizes But Every Founder Needs to Hear 01:10 Beer League Hockey a Bad Idea and the Birth of Othello Group 05:30 Why He Paid Out His Partners and Never Looked Back 07:44 What Happens to Friendships When One Person Outgrows the Vision 10:43 The Trait Every Successful Founder Has That They Will Never Admit Out Loud 13:47 Stress Is My Love Language and Why That Is a Gift and a Problem 20:49 The Person Behind the Scenes Who Makes the Whole Thing Work 21:30 The Biggest Misconception About What It Takes to Run Your Own Business 25:09 Why Your Network Is the Only Strategy That Actually Compounds 27:44 How to Build a Personal Brand When You Have Nothing to Offer Yet 33:57 What Andrew Does When the Chaos Gets Too Loud 36:13 The Injury That Forced Him to Stop and What He Found in the Stillness 39:53 The Two Things He Would Change About His Business Right Now 42:17 What He Wishes People Understood About Him Beyond the Hustle 44:38 One Word That Sums Up Eight Years of Building in the Messy Middle 49:24 The Win He Is Chasing Next and Why It Has Nothing to Do With Revenue If Andrew's story of building Athelo Group from a post-honeymoon layoff into a powerhouse sports agency resonates with you, here is where to find him and keep up with what he is building. Website: https://athelogroup.com/ [https://athelogroup.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astallings88/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/astallings88/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athelogroup/ [https://www.instagram.com/athelogroup/] 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. 203 Carl Stecker - The $407 Pharmacy Bill That Wouldn't Let Go

What founders will take away from this episode: 1️⃣ The problems that won't let go are the ones worth building for Carl couldn't shake the $407 pharmacy bill. It stuck to him like a tick, and that obsession became FreeRx. When something frustrates you so deeply that you can't stop thinking about it, that's not a distraction. That's signal. The best founder problems aren't the ones you choose because they're trendy or fundable. They're the ones that choose you and won't let you walk away. If you're constantly trying to convince yourself to care, you're building the wrong thing. 2️⃣ Your business partner can collapse overnight and you still have to keep building Carl's Ohio pharmacy partner went from "we're gonna make it" to bankrupt in what felt like a weekend. His whole fulfillment operation disappeared while customers were waiting on prescriptions. Instead of shutting down, he started buying into pharmacies across four states to control the experience. Partners fail. Vendors go dark. Systems break. The founders who survive aren't the ones who avoid chaos. They're the ones who build contingency into their operations before they need it and pivot fast when everything falls apart. 3️⃣ Mission over money isn't just a tagline when you've almost died three times Carl said if FreeRx doesn't make a dime but changes the pricing model for healthcare, he's happy. That's easy to say in a podcast. It's harder to mean it when you've been on life support for 11 days and you're still choosing to disrupt the industry that saved you. Founders talk about purpose all the time, but real mission clarity shows up in how you make decisions when growth is slow, partners bail, and the path forward isn't clear. If your why can't survive your worst week, it's not strong enough to build a company on. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the chaos of building while broken 01:20 The $407 moment that started everything 02:40 Three open heart surgeries and 11 days in a coma 05:30 Why CVS and Walgreens markup prescriptions up to 3000% 08:10 Building a formulary when you know nothing about pharmaceuticals 12:15 The membership model that makes healthcare actually affordable 18:45 Adding virtual urgent care when people don't have doctors 24:30 Why the staffing industry became the perfect first market 31:20 The EpiPen scandal and medication access deserts 38:15 When your Ohio pharmacy partner goes broke overnight 43:50 Buying into pharmacies to control the customer experience 48:25 Marketing that drives you crazy but you keep going anyway 52:40 The mission over money philosophy that keeps you moving 56:30 Gary's no filter moment that exposed everything 59:00 Where to find FreeRx and how the model actually works If you're curious how Carl's actually disrupting a 3000% markup with a $50 subscription model or you just want to see if FreeRx covers what you're paying too much for, start here. Website: https://freerx.com/ [https://freerx.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-stecker-3580118/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-stecker-3580118/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carl.stecker/ [https://www.instagram.com/carl.stecker/] 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. 202 Greg Arnold - You’re Not Lacking Confidence You’re Lacking Reps

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Confidence Comes After The Reps Waiting to feel ready is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. Greg realized confidence was never the starting point. It came from showing up consistently, taking uncomfortable action, and proving to himself he could handle the next step. If you wait for certainty before you move, momentum dies fast. 2️⃣ Perfection Quietly Kills Momentum Founders lose years trying to perfect things nobody has seen yet. Greg talked about how chasing perfection kept him hesitating instead of building. The people who grow fastest are usually willing to look unpolished long enough to gain experience, feedback, and traction. 3️⃣ Your Inner Dialogue Impacts Everything The way you talk to yourself eventually impacts how you lead, build, and take risks. Greg shared how years of negative self talk affected his confidence and momentum. If your mindset constantly works against you, eventually your business feels it too. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Most People Wait Too Long To Start 02:03 The Moment Greg Realized Confidence Wasn’t The Answer 05:15 The Hidden Cost Of Low Self Esteem In Entrepreneurship 06:52 Why Confidence Always Comes After Action 10:12 Momentum Beats Perfection Every Time 13:22 What Arm Wrestling Taught Him About Business 20:00 The Discipline Most Founders Avoid 23:12 How To Stop Letting Negative Thoughts Control You 27:19 Why Your Circle Shapes Your Momentum 30:14 Entrepreneurship Feels More Like A Roller Coaster Than A Plan 33:06 The Dangerous Trap Of Comparing Yourself To Other Founders 35:32 The Small Wins Most Entrepreneurs Ignore 36:31 The Real Difference Between Confidence And Commitment 40:51 Chaos Isn’t Failure It’s Proof You’re Growing If Greg’s perspective on confidence, momentum, and taking the leap resonated with you, connect with him and follow his journey below. Website: https://www.gregarnoldspeaks.com/ [https://www.gregarnoldspeaks.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregarnoldvo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregarnoldvo/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garnoldvo [https://www.instagram.com/garnoldvo] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@garnoldvo9229/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@garnoldvo9229/videos] 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. 201 Rob Ekno - He Followed the Calling Before the Business Existed

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 - What Got You Here is Quietly Killing Your Next Level

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]