What actually drives high performance in business and leadership?

On this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Curtis Sprouse, Founder & CEO of EurekaConnect, LLC, to explore the science behind how humans perform, make decisions, and lead effectively.

Drawing from behavioral science, neuroscience, and decades of leadership experience, Curtis explains why self-awareness, environment, and genetics all play a role in shaping how individuals and organizations perform. The conversation dives into how leaders can better understand human behavior, define the right problems inside organizations, and create conditions where people actually perform at a higher level.

Mark and Curtis also discuss how cultural narratives influence how people perceive difficulty, why many organizations misdiagnose their real problems, and how leaders can build stronger teams through trust, clarity, and intentional communication.

Curtis shares practical frameworks for improving decision-making, developing leadership capability across an organization, and helping individuals better understand their own behavioral patterns.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• What modern science reveals about human performance and decision-making
• How genetics and environment influence behavior and leadership ability
• Why defining the right problem is the key to solving organizational challenges
• The role of self-awareness and self-regulation in high performance
• How communication and societal narratives shape mindset and leadership
• Strategies for improving team performance and organizational effectiveness
• Why pursuing truth and staying open-minded is essential for growth

Curtis also discusses his broader mission through Institute for Biomedical Entrepreneurship and how behavioral science and biomedical innovation can work together to create meaningful societal impact.

For entrepreneurs, leaders, and operators looking to build stronger teams and make better decisions, this episode offers a deeper look at the science behind how people think, act, and perform.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Curtis Sprouse:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtissprouse/
https://eurekaconnect.com/
https://www.ibeinc.org/

What if entrepreneurship is simply about getting on the right train, and staying on long enough to reach the next opportunity?

On this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Skye Banks, COO of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), for a global conversation about small business, leadership, and what he calls the "Opportunity Train."

Operating in more than 80 countries, ICSB connects policymakers, educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to strengthen small businesses worldwide. Skye shares how his entrepreneurial mindset, fueled by curiosity and pattern recognition, led him to international leadership, the cannabis industry, and front-row exposure to how entrepreneurs operate across cultures.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the "Opportunity Train" really means for entrepreneurs

• How global markets view risk, failure, and innovation differently

• Why small businesses are the backbone of economic development worldwide

• How ICSB funds and sustains a global, mission-driven organization

• Lessons from the cannabis industry and navigating regulatory complexity

• Growth strategies rooted in reinvestment, collaboration, and long-term thinking

• Why consistency and authenticity define strong leadership

• How AI is reshaping small business strategy and competitive advantage

Skye makes it clear: opportunities don't always look obvious when they arrive. The key is positioning yourself, building community, and staying consistent long enough to capitalize when the train pulls into the station.

For founders, small business owners, operators, and growth-minded entrepreneurs who want a broader perspective beyond their local market, this conversation delivers global insight with practical application.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Skye Blanks:
https://www.instagram.com/skyeblanks/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/skye.blanks/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/skyeblanks/
https://www.skyeblanks.com/biography/
International Council for Small Business: https://icsb.org
Premo Cannabis: https://premocannabis.co
https://hermantodd.com/index

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Justin Giuffrida, founder and CEO of Citizens All Day, to explore what it really takes to scale a hospitality brand while staying true to culture, community, and purpose.

Justin shares his journey from Australia to the United States and how he built Citizens from a single New York City café into a multi-state, fast-growing lifestyle brand with ambitious national expansion plans. Along the way, he reveals the leadership challenges, capital decisions, and operational trade-offs that come with scaling a people-driven business in a competitive industry.

Mark and Justin dive into the concept of building a "community-first brand," the realities of entrepreneurship versus the romanticized version founders often imagine, and the mindset required to grow while still feeling like you have not arrived yet. Justin also discusses the importance of mentorship, the role of advisory boards in navigating growth, how optimism must be balanced with realism, and why embracing the entrepreneurial journey matters more than chasing a destination.

This conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders looking to grow businesses without losing their culture, their people, or themselves in the process.

If you are building a brand, scaling a company, or leading a team through growth, this episode delivers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and long-term vision.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Justin Giuffrida & Citizens All Day:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-giuffrida-02187769/
https://citizensallday.com/
https://www.instagram.com/citizen.allday
https://wefunder.com/citizenscoffee
https://www.linkedin.com/company/citizens-cafe-holdings/

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with international bestselling author and long-term investing expert Robert Rolih to unpack the hidden realities of wealth creation that most entrepreneurs never learn.

After building significant success as an entrepreneur, Robert lost much of his wealth by trusting traditional financial advisors and so-called experts. That painful experience launched him on a seven-year research journey into how the financial industry actually works. What he discovered became the foundation of his book The Million Dollar Decision and his mission to help entrepreneurs and professionals avoid costly investing mistakes that can quietly destroy long-term wealth.

Mark and Robert dive into why pessimists often sound smart while optimists make money, how the financial system is structured in ways that disadvantage everyday investors, and the biggest wealth-building errors entrepreneurs make once they start generating real income. They also explore long-term investing strategies, the psychology of risk, how to think about trillion-dollar fortunes, and why simplicity often beats complexity when it comes to building financial independence.

If you are an entrepreneur who wants to protect what you have built and grow it intelligently, this conversation delivers practical insights, hard-earned lessons, and a fresh perspective on investing success.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Robert Rolih:
https://robertrolih.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/RobertRolih
https://www.facebook.com/robert.rolih
https://www.instagram.com/robertrolih/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rolih-685a6893/

The Million Dollar Decision: Get Out of the Rigged Game of Investing and Add a Million to Your Net Worth: Order Here

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Russell Breuer, CEO and founder of Spot & Tango, to discuss what it really takes to build and scale a direct-to-consumer brand in a competitive market.

Russell shares the entrepreneurial mindset behind launching a premium pet food company and the realities of navigating the complex world of DTC growth, customer acquisition costs, retention metrics, and operational challenges. He explains why successful founders must operate with a "no other option" mentality, how first-principles thinking helps solve business problems at the root, and why relationships, both with customers and teams, are critical to long-term success.

Mark and Russell dive into the daily realities of entrepreneurship, including constant problem solving, decision-making under uncertainty, and maintaining a "day one" mentality even as a company scales. Russell also discusses product differentiation, customer feedback loops, marketing strategy, and the evolving future of the pet food industry.

This episode provides valuable insights for founders, operators, and leaders building brands in today's competitive environment, especially those navigating direct-to-consumer business models.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to build and scale a direct-to-consumer brand

• The importance of metrics, retention, and customer lifetime value

• Why first-principles problem solving drives better decisions

• How differentiation creates competitive advantage

• The role of relationships and team dynamics in business success

• Why maintaining a "day one" mindset matters as you grow

• Lessons learned from building a fast-growing pet food company

Whether you're launching a startup, scaling a consumer brand, or leading a growing organization, this conversation offers practical insights into the realities of entrepreneurship and sustainable business growth.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Russell Breuer & Spot & Tango:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-breuer-0b3b57/
https://www.instagram.com/spotandtango/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1000066503949814
https://www.tiktok.com/@spotandtago

In this powerful episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Karen Ann Canham, founder of Karen Ann Wellness, to explore a topic most entrepreneurs ignore until it becomes unavoidable: mental and emotional capacity.

Karen shares how nervous system regulation, trauma awareness, and body-based healing directly impact leadership, decision-making, and business growth. This conversation goes beyond traditional mindset talk and dives into the physiological realities behind stress, burnout, and performance, and why strategy alone isn't enough if your internal capacity can't support the pressure of entrepreneurship.

Mark and Karen discuss the limitations of conventional therapy models, the role of stored emotional patterns in business behavior, and how self-leadership requires taking ownership of both your internal state and external results. Karen explains how entrepreneurs often unknowingly operate from past experiences that shape risk tolerance, relationships, and leadership style, and how addressing those patterns can unlock clarity, confidence, and momentum.

If you're building a business while managing stress, uncertainty, or personal growth challenges, this episode offers a perspective that connects emotional wellness with practical entrepreneurial performance.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why mental wellness is foundational to sustainable business success

• How your nervous system affects decision-making, leadership, and growth

• The difference between strategy problems and capacity problems

• How trauma and past experiences influence entrepreneurial behavior

• What self-leadership really means in business and life

• Why emotional awareness can accelerate personal and professional progress

This conversation is essential for founders, leaders, and high performers who want to grow without burning out, and who understand that the most important asset in business is the person running it.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Karen Canham & Karen Ann Wellness:
https://www.karenannwellness.com/
https://www.instagram.com/karenann_wellness/
https://www.facebook.com/karenannwellness1/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenannwellness/

What does it really take to build a business that lasts, especially in a highly competitive, high-stakes industry?

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Michael McCready, Founder and Principal of McCready Law, to unpack the mindset, discipline, and leadership required to grow a successful firm while staying grounded in purpose and client care.

Michael shares his entrepreneurial journey of building a personal injury law firm from the ground up, emphasizing why passion for the work, genuine relationships, and long-term thinking matter more than shortcuts or hype. He explains how hiring the right people, not just the most technically skilled, has been critical to sustainable growth, and how leaders must evolve as their organization scales.

The conversation also explores how technology and AI are reshaping the legal profession, what business owners should understand about competitive pressure, and why defining success on your own terms is essential as your responsibilities grow.

Mark and Michael discuss:

• How to build a values-driven business in a competitive industry

• The leadership mistakes founders make as they scale

• Why relationships and reputation are long-term advantages

• How AI and technology are changing the future of law and business

• Defining success beyond revenue and titles

• Thinking about legacy while still actively building

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, professional service firm owners, and founders who want to grow with integrity, clarity, and intention, without losing sight of why they started.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Michael McCready & McCready Law:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mccready/
https://mccreadylaw.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mccready-law/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZfwXk7RGYx_Ju_VGhNt_Q
https://www.facebook.com/McCreadyLaw/#

What if the business you worked so hard to build is the very thing stealing your time, energy, and joy?

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Michael Walsh, President of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of the 2025 book Freedom By Design: The Established Business Owner's Guide to Grow, Make an Impact, and Find Joy Again.

Michael has spent decades helping established entrepreneurs break free from chaos, overwork, and stagnation by installing the leadership, systems, and accountability required for real growth. In this conversation, he explains why many successful founders feel trapped by their own companies, and what must change to reclaim control, clarity, and purpose.

You'll hear Mark and Michael discuss:

• Why hard-working entrepreneurs often feel burned out and stuck

• How founders unknowingly become the bottleneck as their business grows

• The leadership shift required to scale without sacrificing freedom

• Why systems and structure unlock both growth and joy

• The core ideas behind Freedom By Design and why established owners, not startups, need it most

This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs who want more than revenue, who want a business that works for them, not the other way around.

📌 Connect With Us:
Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

📌 Find Out More About Michael Walsh & Walsh Business Growth Institute:
https://walshbusinessgrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-walsh/