This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders and leaders who want to reclaim focus and build sustainable high performance in a world filled with distraction. Many entrepreneurs confuse busy work with meaningful output, but the real edge comes from deep work, clarity and intentional attention.

My guest is Steven Puri, founder and CEO of The Sukha Company, whose background includes producing Oscar-winning visual effects and building venture-backed startups. We explore why remote work often feels chaotic, how blurred boundaries erode productivity and why deep work is becoming increasingly rare and valuable.

Steven breaks down what flow states really are, why they drive your best creative work and how your environment and systems can help you enter them more consistently. We also unpack practical habits founders can adopt to protect focus, reduce overwhelm and move their business forward without burning out.

Tune in if you’re ready to stop reacting all day and start creating space for the deep, focused work that actually moves your business forward.

Steven Puri has been a senior executive at two major motion picture studios and has raised over $20M in venture capital. He produced digital effects for Independence Day, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects, and later founded multiple startups—including one successful exit. Steven now leads The Sukha Company, a focus and flow platform designed to help people achieve sustainable high performance. He lives in Austin, TX.

Website: thesukhacompany.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenpuri/

1. Episode 281. Remote work isn’t the problem—your leadership might be — Rethink how remote work and leadership intersect. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/remote-work-isnt-the-problem
2. Episode 262. Stress management — Why managing stress is a leadership and productivity decision. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/stress-management
3. Episode 94. 5 ways to maximize productivity from my favorite book: Make Time — Practical strategies for reclaiming your time and attention. https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/5-ways-to-maximize-productivity

✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

→ accelitymarketing.com

🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

jackiehermes.com/podcast

⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who want to build a company that actually makes money from the start. If you’re thinking about what to prioritize early, or how to refocus a business that isn’t generating consistent revenue yet, this episode will help you reset.

If I had to build a company from scratch today—with no audience, no awareness and no momentum—I’d start with revenue.

In this episode, I walk through exactly how I’d rebuild a company with the goal of getting paying customers as quickly and intentionally as possible. I break down how to identify a problem people are already paying to solve, how early sales shape smarter decisions and why focus makes everything, from messaging to growth, easier.

This episode is about building from reality, not assumptions, and letting revenue guide what you build next.

Tune in if you’re building something new, rethinking your priorities or ready to stop guessing and start selling with more clarity.

1. Why you must know how to sell: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-must-know-how-to-sell
2. Why you should learn to love selling w/ Mark Cox: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/why-you-should-learn-to-love-selling-with-mark-cox
3. It’s not time to slow down: generating business at the end of the year: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/generating-business-at-the-end-of-the-year

✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

→ accelitymarketing.com

🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more

jackiehermes.com/podcast

⭐ Love what you hear? Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts to help more entrepreneurs find the show.

📲 Let’s connect!

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thejackiehermes/

Instagram: @thejackiehermes

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This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for founders who know visibility matters but still hesitate to put themselves out there.

My guest is KJ Blattenbauer, a PR strategist and the author of Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off. KJ helps founders use media and storytelling to build credibility and grow their businesses.

KJ and I talk about the biggest misconceptions around PR, especially the belief that visibility is self-promotional or ego-driven. Instead, this conversation reframes public relations as a way to build trust, shorten sales cycles, and help the right people find you at the right time.

We unpack why PR is less about attention and more about credibility and long-term growth, including why waiting until you feel “ready” often holds your business back. We also discuss why being visible is not vanity, but responsibility, and how personal branding and company branding work best together as buyers increasingly want to understand the humans behind the business.

Tune in if you’re ready to rethink PR, step into visibility with intention, and use storytelling as a growth lever instead of something you avoid.

KJ Blattenbauer is a powerhouse publicist who turns overlooked experts into headline news. With nearly 30 years of experience, she’s the go-to pro when you’re ready to stop being ignored and start owning the spotlight. Known for her bold yet approachable style, KJ delivers clear, actionable strategies that have been featured everywhere from Forbes to Architectural Digest. She’s also the author of the DIY PR book, How to Be a Media Darling, and Pitchworthy, a modern guide to building lasting visibility and authority.

Website: https://www.hearsaypr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjblattenbauer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjblattenbauer/

Book: https://www.hearsaypr.com/buy-my-book

1. Genuine connection & straight talk w/ Amy Volas, Founder & CEO, Avenue Talent Partners: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/straight-talk-with-amy-volas
2. Credibility isn’t about age, it’s about how you show up: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/credibility-isnt-about-age
3. Being bold: Why playing it safe won’t get you noticed: https://www.jackiehermes.com/podcast/be-bold-and-get-noticed

✨ This podcast is produced in partnership with Accelity, a full-service marketing agency for bold people growing bold companies.

If you're ready to level up your B2B marketing, check us out.

→ accelitymarketing.com

🎧 Catch up on past episodes, submit topic ideas, and learn more