The reality of planting your flag and starting your own business can be daunting. When starting your own business, there is a lot that nobody tells you, and the reality of starting your business can give new entrepreneurs a whole cacophony of challenges.

Here on the 37th episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast, Mike Bean and Jeremy Mountain recap the last two episodes with the owner of Estelle Esthetics, Morgan Brink, and Mike Ford, owner of Fora M&A Consulting. Join us as they discuss what starting a new business looks like for new entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and fresh business owners.

In this episode of PYF, they discuss:
- Finding fulfillment in the work you do
- Overcoming doubt and pushing through failure
- Building business relationships that lead to new opportunities
- Knowing when it's time to hire and expand
- Managing the financial and operational challenges of business ownership

They go through the trials and triumphs that new business owners experience, such as hiring their first employee, managing finances, and learning to accept failure. All while they talk about how important it is for your role to be rewarding for these owners.

Aside from the successes, Mike and Jer discuss the next steps for entrepreneurs to take after they start their solo business to grow beyond what they are now.

Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast! If you liked the podcast, be sure to check out our other podcast episodes on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

=== Find Us! ===
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeanMediaProductions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bean-media-productions/
Website: https://www.beanmediaproductions.com/

Listen:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/762c1F00LAMJXBSTATQ8gL?si=7695a335d2044918&nd=1&dlsi=85f6ed7dae244c6f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-your-flag-with-bean-media/id1736171111

#podcast #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurmindset #businesssuccess

Watch the video on YouTube on the Bean Media Channel!

This podcast will be dedicated to the fearless ones who decided to stick their flag in the ground and start their venture. We will continue to talk about the entrepreneurship world and feature guests who inspire us and keep us going. Stay tuned!

She made the choice in her career to start her own business. That shocked everyone, but it turned out to be correct. Plant Your Flag is back with its 36th episode, and we are joined by another outstanding entrepreneur, Morgan Brink, owner and operator of Estelle Esthetics.

She had an amazing journey, beginning with her career in healthcare. She left that industry, focused on her education, and eventually started her own beauty company in Buffalo, NY, focusing on eyebrow waxes and Brazilian waxes. Additionally, she was named Buffalo Business First’s 2026 30 Under 30 and the Buffalo News Best of 716 in 2025. Needless to say shes impressive.

On this episode of the Plant Your Flag Podcast, Mike Bean and Morgan Brink discuss her entrepreneurial journey into the world of business, along with what she's learned, what advice she has, and where she is going.

Expect:
- Entrepreneur Stories
- Business Advice
- Flag Planting
- Motivation for starting your own business
- And more on the 36th episode of the Plant Your Flag Podcast!

Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast if you liked the podcast, be sure to check out our other podcast episodes on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts.

=== Find Us! ===
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeanMediaProductions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bean-media-productions/
Website: https://www.beanmediaproductions.com/

Listen:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/762c1F00LAMJXBSTATQ8gL?si=7695a335d2044918&nd=1&dlsi=85f6ed7dae244c6f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-your-flag-with-bean-media/id1736171111

Watch the video on YouTube on the Bean Media Channel!

This podcast will be dedicated to the fearless ones who decided to stick their flag in the ground and start their venture. We will continue to talk about the entrepreneurship world and feature guests who inspire us and keep us going. Stay tuned!

When you're selling a business, what really happens? Well, a mergers and acquisitions specialist such as Mike Ford from M&A consulting is here to answer your questions on the 35th episode of the Plant Your Flag Podcast!

Most successful business owners may get to the stage where they want to retire and sell their business. Alternatively, a business owner might be looking to expand and acquire a new business. Helping people buy and sell businesses is exactly what Mike Ford is here to do.

Preparing for this business exchange can be a process; certain changes may need to be made, and ensuring a buyer and a seller are a good fit for eachother is very important for the success of the deal and the businesses. That's why M&A consulting can be such a valuable tool.

Mike and Jer have known Mike Ford for a while, and it’s been exciting to witness his journey and plant his flag from the start to the present. He's an incredible person, and it's an honor to have him on the podcast!

Reach out to Michael Ford: https://fordmaconsulting.com/

===CHAPTERS===
00:00 - Outtakes
00:54 - Intro
02:37 - Who or what inspired you to plant your flag?
06:05 - Building relationships
08:53 - What mergers and acquisitions actually are
12:50 - How has owning a business changed you?
15:09 - Athletes and business owners
17:30 - Getting the best results for both sides
19:27 - How to prepare to sell your business
23:30 - Caregivers across states
26:15 - Where M&A consulting is going
30:00 - Challenges with mergers and acquisitions
33:53 - Aligning company culture
35:43 - The NYS Self-Employment Assistance Program
37:36 - How can Mike Ford help you?

Thanks again for joining us on another episode of the Plant Your Flag podcast. If you liked the podcast, be sure to check out our other podcast episodes on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

=== Find Us! ===
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeanMediaProductions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bean-media-productions/
Website: https://www.beanmediaproductions.com/

Listen:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/762c1F00LAMJXBSTATQ8gL?si=7695a335d2044918&nd=1&dlsi=85f6ed7dae244c6f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-your-flag-with-bean-media/id1736171111

#podcast #business #smallbusiness #buffalo #entrepreneur

Watch the video on YouTube on the Bean Media Channel!

This podcast will be dedicated to the fearless ones who decided to stick their flag in the ground and start their venture. We will continue to talk about the entrepreneurship world and feature guests who inspire us and keep us going. Stay tuned!