In this episode of Business, Brains & BS, we dive deep into one of the most powerful concepts from Napoleon Hill’s legendary book, Think and Grow Rich: "No man is ever whipped until he quits in his own mind."

Being a business owner is a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Whether you are celebrating a massive win or questioning every decision you’ve ever made, the difference between failure and success often comes down to one thing: perseverance.

In this video, we discuss:

• The Power of the Reticular Activating System (RAS): How setting a clear goal changes what you see and the opportunities you find.
• The "Three Feet from Gold" Lesson: Why many entrepreneurs quit right before their big break and how to keep pushing through.
• The Importance of Community: Why isolation is the enemy of success and how a support system keeps you from feeling "whipped."
• Imperfect Action: Why doing something is always better than staying stuck in "prose and analysis."

Join us for an honest conversation about the mental grit required to survive the first five years of business and beyond.

What if the secret to true happiness wasn't making more money, but managing your expectations?

In this episode of the Business Brains and BS Podcast, we explore a powerful quote from comedian Jimmy Carr: "Happiness is your current situation minus expectations". Join us as we unpack the psychological trap of "keeping up with the Joneses," the biology of "avoiding threats vs. pursuing rewards," and why downsizing a lifestyle can sometimes lead to an upgrading of the soul.

We share personal stories about leaving the security of corporate America, the fear of starting a business (Evolution Mental Health Services), and the "pruning" process required to grow into the person you were meant to be.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• Why "worst-case scenarios" aren't as scary as they seem once you accept your current reality.
• How advertising and social media manipulate our biological survival instincts by turning rewards into perceived threats.
• The difference between "Revenue vs. Profit" and why revenue is often just vanity.
• Why "pruning" your life—cutting back on material things or old habits—is necessary for the next level of growth.

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• 0:00 – Intro: The Happiness Formula ($Reality - Expectations$)
• 1:40 – Redefining the "Worst Case Scenario" through Acceptance
• 3:30 – Corporate Success vs. Internal Happiness
• 4:50 – The "Lexus" Trap: Social Media and External Expectations
• 6:20 – The Security of a Corporate Paycheck vs. the Freedom of Ownership
• 7:45 – The Emotional Impact of Downsizing to Start a Business
• 9:15 – Survival Biology: Avoiding Threats vs. Pursuing Rewards
• 11:00 – Ancient Nomadic Tribes: Why we fear Social Ostracization
• 13:20 – The "Green Lamborghini" Problem: When Goals become Threats
• 14:40 – Fear-Based Marketing: Decoding Home Security and Political Ads
• 16:50 – "Nights of the Round Table": Fitting in during Junior High
• 18:30 – Revenue is Vanity, Profit is Sanity, Cash is King
• 20:00 – You are the Average of the Five People you spend time with
• 21:50 – Reaching the Top: Why the "Clinical Director" role felt like a dead end
• 23:10 – Evolution Mental Health Services: The Story behind the Name
• 24:30 – Pruning the Plant: Cutting back to grow bigger

#Entrepreneurship #Mindset #MentalHealth #BusinessGrowth #HappinessFormula #PersonalDevelopment

What does it take to grow a local service business into a multi-million dollar operation? In this episode of the Business Brains & BS Podcast, we sit down with Trevor Bass, owner of Five Star Painting of Tulsa.

Trevor shares his incredible journey from a 30-year career in electrical wholesale to launching a painting franchise in March 2020—right as the world shut down. We dive deep into the pros and cons of the franchise model, the reality of running a business with your spouse, and why "Best Known Beats Best" in the world of sales.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• The "Business in a Box" advantages of joining a franchise.
• How to balance professional and personal boundaries when working with a partner.
• The importance of systems, project management, and customer advocacy.
• Why scaling requires a "driver and a navigator" dynamic.

Connect with Trevor Bass:

• Website: Five Star Painting of Tulsa
• Instagram: @FSPTulsa

Subscribe for more insights on business growth, leadership, and the "BS" of entrepreneurship!

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro: Meet Trevor Bass of Five Star Painting.
• 1:10 – Launching a business at the start of the pandemic.
• 2:10 – The reality of business partnerships and marriage.
• 3:30 – Lessons from 30 years in electrical wholesale and customer service.
• 5:15 – Why Trevor chose a franchise over starting a home automation company.
• 6:50 – Franchise Benefits: The "Box of Tools" (CRM, Branding, and Marketing).
• 9:05 – The transition from a sales career to business ownership.
• 10:40 – What makes Five Star Painting different? (The Role of the Project Manager).
• 12:15 – Working with your spouse: The role of a business coach.
• 14:50 – Setting boundaries between business and personal life.
• 17:10 – The biggest mistake in scaling: Not having systems from day one.
• 19:25 – "Systems run the business, people run the systems."
• 20:45 – The "We" Trap: Assigning specific accountability.
• 22:00 – The Future of Five Star Painting: Commercial vs. Residential.
• 24:30 – The Rally Car Analogy: The Driver vs. The Navigator.
• 26:40 – Final Advice: "Best Known Beats Best."