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  • From Abandoned at 11 to Trusted Advisor to Millionaires: Victoria Woods' Story

    From Abandoned at 11 to Trusted Advisor to Millionaires: Victoria Woods' Story
    2026/06/23
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Victoria Woods wealth advisor, trusted advisor to millionaires, and founder and CEO of Chapelwood Financial Services, where she specializes in high-net-worth investment advisory. Victoria has been featured in Newsweek, named one of 100 Women to Know in America in 2023, and is the author of It's All About the Money, Honey. Victoria's story doesn't begin with wealth. It begins with a father who abandoned the family when she was eleven, a stay-at-home mom suddenly raising four kids on $96-a-month rent, and a childhood spent cooking for her siblings on a hot plate. She started babysitting at twelve and quickly went from minding one child to running six at a time. She built a celebrated retail career, walked away from the corporate world at twenty-three, and eventually built three companies over three decades. In this conversation, Victoria challenges one of the most paralyzing beliefs in business: the idea that you have to have all the answers before you're allowed to lead. Early on, she pretended she had it all figured out confident on the outside, "sweat running down my back" on the inside. What she learned was that nobody expects you to know everything, and admitting you don't isn't weakness. The real skill is being clear about who you are and where you're going, then having the nerve to ask for help getting there. A turning point came the night she asked her store manager for a raise she had earned top sales, most departments and was told the money was going to "Lazy Bill" in furniture instead, because Bill was married with children and she was single. By the next morning she was clear: she would never again let someone else decide her worth. It's the moment that crystallized the phrase she still lives by in the absence of courage, do it scared. Much of the episode is a masterclass in asking for what you want. Victoria describes the goal card she created in her fifties her photo, a QR code, and a handful of specific annual goals which she hands to powerful people across the table, then sits back in silence and lets them volunteer how they can help. She writes their names down, names the commitment out loud, and follows up. Even her own business coach was left speechless watching it work. Victoria and Kim also dig into generosity as a discipline rather than a reward "give while you're living" and the lesson that what you give out rarely returns from the direction you sent it, but always returns. They talk about the loneliness of building something that eventually doesn't need you, which is exactly the point: if the company depends on the founder, Victoria says flatly, you don't have a business, you have a hobby. And underneath it all, she's candid that imposter syndrome never fully leaves her answer is the same as always: keep serving, keep moving, and don't take advice from broke people. This episode explores: Why you don't need all the answers to start — and why pretending you do holds you backHow a childhood of scarcity became an entrepreneurial educationThe raise that wasn't, and the "fork in the road" moment that changed everything"In the absence of courage, do it scared" as a working philosophyThe goal-card method for asking powerful people for help — and why silence is the secretWhy asking for advice is a strength, not a weaknessGiving while you're living, and treating generosity as a responsibilityThat you don't have to be rich to help: a dollar's a dollarWhy a business that depends on its founder isn't really a businessThe bittersweet goal of training your team so well that clients stop needing youWhy imposter syndrome can persist at every level of successSpeaking to clients in plain English instead of jargon"Don't take advice from broke people" — and how to vet credibility before you listen Victoria's perspective is a powerful reminder that success isn't about arriving with all the answers it's about clarity, courage, and a willingness to keep serving even when you're scared. Her journey from a broken stove and floated checks to one of the most respected women-owned advisory firms in the country shows that you can build real wealth without losing your warmth. If you're an entrepreneur, advisor, leader, or anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite belong in the room, this conversation offers practical tools, hard-won wisdom, and a refreshing case that the bravest thing you can do is ask for what you want and then do the work. Connect with me here: Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershonNewsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: Guest: Victoria WoodsCompany: Chapelwood Financial ServicesBook: It's All About the Money, Honey (also available as an audiobook) Website: FinancialDiva.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz ...
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    48 分
  • From Special Ops to $70M in Real Estate: Leadership, Letting Go, and Profits With Purpose with Jesse Sells

    From Special Ops to $70M in Real Estate: Leadership, Letting Go, and Profits With Purpose with Jesse Sells
    2026/06/19
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Jesse Sells co-founder and chief operating officer of Impact Growth Capital, where he runs the daily operations of a diverse portfolio of properties and companies. With a strong passion for creating meaningful change, Jesse connects strategic vision with concrete results, making sure each project not only hits its goals but lifts up the community and the wider market along the way. Jesse's path was anything but conventional. He grew up poor in rural Oklahoma at times without running water before moving to Texas and joining the military, where he spent his twenties in military intelligence and was picked up by Special Operations. His work in foreign internal defense took him across the Middle East, where he learned Arabic and learned, over countless glasses of tea, how trust actually gets built. After leaving the service, he and his brother pooled roughly $20,000 in life savings and, within a few years, built a portfolio of nearly 1,500 units focused on affordable and workforce housing partnering with nonprofits to bring mental health and community services to the people living in them. In this conversation, Jesse challenges one of the most stubborn beliefs in business: the idea that you have to choose between making money and doing good. Raised to resent wealth — he admits that as a kid he saw a new truck and thought "showoffs" he carried the common stigma that profit and purpose can't share a room. Over time, he came to see that as flat-out wrong. The more he earned, the more he could change: pay for nieces and nephews, fund services, and get a seat at the tables where real decisions get made. As he and Kim put it, you can't shift policy from the outside; you have to be in the room. Jesse and Kim also dig into the limits of conventional success advice — especially the "millionaire in 60 days" promise and the social-media fantasy that one viral moment equals a career. Both push back hard. Real success, Jesse argues, is more available than ever but never overnight, and a candle that burns that bright tends to burn out fast. Much of the episode turns on leadership and the hardest lesson of scaling: letting go. Drawing on the military's clarity about "left and right limits," Jesse explains how he set clear boundaries and then trusted his people to make decisions inside them supporting each one the way they needed, not the way he preferred. Kim adds the piece she sees leaders miss most: it's not just about deciding which decisions belong to whom, it's about the *feelings and identity* wrapped up in handing them over. When a founder's whole sense of self is "I'm the decision-maker," they'll claw the work back no matter how good the system is. Throughout the conversation, Jesse is candid about imposter syndrome, the messiness of "building the plane while flying it," and the quiet discipline behind his growth daily study, daily meditation, and a relentless focus on the 80/20 of what actually moves the needle. His trick for staying grounded in any room, even across from a billionaire: find the human first. This episode explores: * Why the "money vs. meaning" trade-off is a false choice * How profits and purpose can reinforce each other rather than compete * Why real impact requires a seat at the table, not just good intentions * The Fort Worth bus-stop story and what creativity-plus-legwork really looks like * Why "overnight success" and viral fame are traps, not strategies * What the military teaches about leadership that the civilian world often doesn't * Why your calendar, not your intentions, reveals your real priorities * How to beat imposter syndrome by finding the human in the room * Why cultural awareness changes how you lead, sell, and connect If you're an entrepreneur, investor, leader, or business owner trying to grow something that matters without losing yourself in the process, this conversation offers practical insight, hard-won leadership lessons, and a refreshing case that doing well and doing good were never meant to be separate. Connect with me here: * Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon * Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 * Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: * Guest: Jesse Sells * Company: Impact Growth Capital * Focus: Affordable housing, infrastructure, and AI * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-sells/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    35 分
  • The Dangerous Belief That's Limiting Your Company's Growth with Ted Fogliani

    The Dangerous Belief That's Limiting Your Company's Growth with Ted Fogliani
    2026/06/16
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Ted Fogliani seasoned entrepreneur, executive, and former CEO with more than 25 years of experience founding, scaling, and leading companies across e-commerce, SaaS, manufacturing, logistics, and technology-enabled services. After spending decades building businesses as a bootstrapped entrepreneur, Ted made an unconventional career move: stepping away from the CEO role and joining Whittier Trust, one of the largest privately held multifamily offices on the West Coast. Today, he leverages his entrepreneurial experience to support founders, business owners, and families navigating growth, transition, and long-term wealth planning. In this conversation, Ted challenges one of the most common assumptions in entrepreneurship: that great leaders should hire people who think, work, and solve problems exactly the way they do. Early in his career, Ted believed surrounding himself with people who shared his approach would create consistency and reliability. What he eventually discovered was that hiring replicas of yourself can limit innovation, reduce scalability, and prevent businesses from reaching their full potential. Ted shares how learning to hire complementary talent rather than familiar talent became one of the most important leadership lessons of his career. He explains why successful companies require diverse perspectives, healthy disagreement, and people who bring strengths that leaders themselves may not possess. The conversation also explores succession planning, delegation, and the difficult process of letting go. Ted reflects on how many entrepreneurs unintentionally become bottlenecks in their own businesses by believing they are indispensable. Over time, he learned that one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership is preparing others to eventually replace you — including preparing someone to take over your own role. Drawing from decades of experience building companies, Ted candidly discusses mistakes he made around hiring, over-titling employees, underinvesting in top talent, and holding onto responsibilities longer than he should have. He explains why many of the lessons that created the most value in his career came not from success, but from failure. One of the most unconventional aspects of Ted's story is his decision to step away from the CEO title after years of leading organizations. While many leaders view career progression as a constant climb upward, Ted found fulfillment in choosing a role that allowed him to contribute without carrying the full weight and responsibility of running an entire company. He shares why leadership is not always about status, titles, or control — and how letting go of ego can create new opportunities for growth. Throughout the episode, Ted and Kim discuss resilience, adaptability, and the reality that no leader truly has everything figured out. Whether managing growing businesses, navigating career transitions, raising four children — including triplets — or recovering from major business setbacks, Ted emphasizes the importance of focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. The conversation also dives into mentorship, networking, and the value of transparency. Ted explains why some of the most meaningful advice he can offer today comes from the mistakes he made rather than the successes he achieved. By openly sharing failures, challenges, and hard-earned lessons, leaders create opportunities for others to learn without repeating the same costly mistakes. This episode explores: - How diverse perspectives drive innovation and scalability - The dangers of believing you're indispensable to your business - How delegation creates stronger organizations and stronger leaders - Why leaders should actively develop people who can replace them - The hidden costs of hiring only who you can afford instead of who you need - How over-titling employees can create long-term organizational challenges - The leadership lessons Ted learned from decades of entrepreneurship - Why many of the most valuable business lessons come from failure - The realities of transitioning out of a CEO role - How to separate personal identity from professional titles - Why ego often becomes a barrier to leadership growth - The role of mentorship and peer networks during difficult transitions Ted's perspective is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating environments where others can succeed, learning from mistakes, remaining adaptable, and having the courage to evolve as circumstances change. His journey demonstrates that true leadership often requires letting go of control, embracing humility, and recognizing that growth comes from both success and failure. If you're an entrepreneur, founder, executive, business owner, or leader navigating growth, succession planning, team development, career transitions, or personal ...
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    41 分
  • How Rest Outperformed Hustle | Kristine Kilty on Leadership, Recovery & Success

    How Rest Outperformed Hustle | Kristine Kilty on Leadership, Recovery & Success
    2026/06/12
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Kristine Kilty — Creative Fashion Director & Luxury Brand Consultant, author, and founder of The Fierce Group. With more than 15 years of international experience across luxury fashion, haute couture, and high jewelry, Kristine has worked with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including Chanel, Dior, and Chaumet. Her career has spanned editorial and campaign direction for leading publications, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, while styling high-profile talent such as Lewis Hamilton, Greta Gerwig, Nick Jonas, and Boy George. Today, she helps luxury brands refine their visual identity while also mentoring the next generation of fashion stylists through her consulting work and writing. In this conversation, Kristine challenges one of the most widely accepted beliefs in business and entrepreneurship: the idea that success requires endless hustle, grinding, and constant busyness. Early in her career, she embraced the traditional mindset that working harder and longer would naturally lead to greater results. Over time, however, she discovered that clarity, focus, and intentional action often create far greater outcomes than relentless effort. A life-changing turning point came when Kristine suffered a serious concussion during the pandemic, forcing her to spend months recovering with limited ability to work. Unable to maintain her usual pace, she focused only on the highest-impact activities while prioritizing rest, visualization, and nervous system regulation. Surprisingly, that period became one of the most financially successful seasons of her career, completely reshaping how she viewed productivity and achievement. Kristine explains why many entrepreneurs unknowingly operate from a dysregulated nervous system, confusing busyness with effectiveness. She shares how slowing down, creating space for reflection, and focusing on a few meaningful priorities each day transformed both her business results and her quality of life. Throughout the episode, Kim and Kristine explore the relationship between self-care and performance, discussing why activities often viewed as "non-productive" can actually become the foundation for sustainable success. Kristine argues that entrepreneurs frequently underestimate the importance of recovery, restoration, and personal well-being, even though these factors directly influence decision-making, creativity, and leadership. The conversation also explores visibility, authenticity, and the pressure business owners face in the age of social media. Kristine candidly discusses her ongoing struggle to balance meaningful content creation with the constant demands of online platforms, while remaining true to her values and strengths. This episode explores: Why hustle culture is often mistaken for productivity How clarity and focus can outperform hard work alone The connection between nervous system regulation and business success What a serious concussion taught Kristine about leadership and performance Why doing less can sometimes create better results The power of identifying the few actions that truly move a business forward How entrepreneurs can avoid confusing busyness with effectiveness The importance of rest, recovery, and self-care for high performers Why great leaders create space for different perspectives and voices How flexibility and adaptability help creative professionals thrive The lessons fashion and luxury branding can teach about leadership Why entrepreneurs should focus on progress rather than perfection How scheduling priorities intentionally can create greater freedom and results Kristine's perspective is a powerful reminder that success does not always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from slowing down, focusing on what truly matters, trusting your intuition, and creating space to think clearly. Her journey demonstrates that productivity is not measured by how busy you are, but by how intentionally you use your time, energy, and attention. If you're an entrepreneur, creative professional, leader, or business owner looking to build sustainable success without sacrificing your well-being, this conversation offers practical insights, powerful mindset shifts, and a refreshing alternative to conventional ideas about achievement.Connect With Me Here: Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=PodcastKristine Notes & Links I’ve just released my new book Fashion Stylist - Seven Proven Steps to Build a Banging Portfolio, a Powerful Network, and Make Shit Happen*. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and online retailers worldwide. Press kit (bio + press release): https://subscribepage.io/Og7NPb Amazon purchase link: https://mybook.to/FashionStylist Website: https://...
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    42 分
  • How Authenticity Builds Real Entrepreneurial Power with Melina Mattos

    How Authenticity Builds Real Entrepreneurial Power with Melina Mattos
    2026/06/09
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Melina Mattos entrepreneur, founder of BRABO, and CEO of Alchemy Imports, a company dedicated to bringing the rich heritage of Brazilian spirits to the global market. Through BRABO, Melina is helping introduce audiences to cachaça, Brazil’s iconic sugarcane spirit, while educating consumers on its cultural history, craftsmanship, and role in modern cocktail culture. As a founder operating in a highly competitive, male-dominated beverage industry, she has built her brand at the intersection of storytelling, authenticity, and global product education. In this conversation, Melina shares her unconventional journey as both a business leader and a deeply intuitive thinker. She opens up about how she moved from trying to fit into traditional expectations to fully embracing her individuality as an entrepreneur even when it didn’t align with conventional norms of professionalism or leadership. One of the most defining threads in Melina story is her shift away from the idea of “fake it till you make it.” Instead, she argues that authenticity and humility build far more trust than curated personas ever could. Early in her career, she realized that pretending to know things she didn’t only created distance while honesty, even in moments of vulnerability, helped her build stronger relationships and credibility in high-level business environments. Throughout the episode, she and Kim explore the balance between intuition and knowledge in modern leadership. Melina challenges the traditional belief that success is purely driven by accumulated information, arguing instead that intuition especially in fast-moving entrepreneurial environments is becoming one of the most important leadership tools. Melina further opens up about building her brand in the beverage industry, from discovering cachaça through personal experience to recognizing its growing potential in the U.S. market. She shares how BRABO was born from both intuition and market opportunity, and how she is working to position cachaça as the next globally recognized spirit alongside tequila, bourbon, and vodka. Beyond business strategy, the conversation also explores identity, relationships, and personal growth. Melina discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with people who match your growth trajectory, even if that means letting go of long-standing friendships or spending significant time alone to evolve. For her, solitude is not isolation it is a tool for recalibration, self-improvement, and alignment. This episode explores: * Why authenticity outperforms “fake it till you make it” in modern entrepreneurship * How Milena built confidence by embracing vulnerability in high-level business settings * The role of intuition versus knowledge in leadership decision-making * The origins of BRABO and the cultural story behind cachaça * How Milena identified opportunity in a fast-growing spirits category * Why cachaça may become the next globally dominant spirit category * The importance of delegation and trusting teams in scaling a business * How spending time alone can elevate personal growth and energy * How focusing on what you want to expand shapes your reality and outcomes Melina's perspective is a reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about strategy or execution it is also about self-awareness, intuition, and the courage to lead in a way that feels aligned rather than performative. Her journey illustrates how success can be built by trusting yourself, embracing uncertainty, and staying grounded in who you are while building something bigger than yourself. If you're an entrepreneur, founder, or leader navigating identity, growth, or industry disruption, this conversation offers a powerful blend of mindset shifts, leadership insight, and real-world business building. Connect with me here: * Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon * Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 * Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: * Guest: Milena Matos* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinamattosusa?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios* instagram: @melina_mattos / @drinkbrabo * Company: Alchemy Imports* Brand: BRABO Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    41 分
  • How CEO Kerri Burns Rebuilt a Nonprofit Animal Shelter From the Ground Up

    How CEO Kerri Burns Rebuilt a Nonprofit Animal Shelter From the Ground Up
    2026/06/05
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, i sit down with Kerri Burns CEO of Santa Barbara Humane and a nationally recognized animal welfare leader with more than 27 years of experience transforming how communities care for animals and the people who love them. Kerri shares a grounded, deeply honest, and highly practical perspective on leadership in the nonprofit world, opening up about what it really takes to scale an organization, build infrastructure from scratch, and lead through uncertainty, burnout, and rapid growth. From starting her role at Santa Barbara Humane with no systems, no software, and minimal structure, to helping transform the organization into a countywide leader in animal welfare, Kerri’s journey is a case study in vision, execution, and relentless adaptability. She also reflects on the emotional and operational complexity of rebuilding teams, leading through COVID, and launching a multi-million-dollar capital campaign to build a new state-of-the-art campus. At the heart of the conversation is Kerri’s unconventional leadership philosophy one that rejects rigid “boss culture” in favor of empowerment, trust, and shared ownership. She explains why traditional rules like “be early, stay late” don’t align with sustainable performance, and why understanding energy, communication, and human capacity matters far more than hours worked. Beyond systems and strategy, she brings a deeply human perspective to leadership discussing imposter syndrome, the pressure leaders feel to have all the answers, and the strength it takes to say “I don’t know” or “this isn’t mine to solve.” We explore: - Why “be early, stay late” is outdated leadership advice - How to build high performance around energy, not hours - The importance of trust, communication, and team empowerment - Why leaders should not be the center of every decision - Rebuilding an organization from zero systems to full infrastructure - Scaling Santa Barbara Humane through mergers, COVID, and rapid growth - What it really takes to lead a multi-million-dollar capital campaign Kerri’s story is a powerful reminder that modern leadership is not about control it’s about clarity, trust, and building systems that allow people and missions to thrive without dependence on a single leader. By staying connected to the work, empowering others to lead, and continuously aligning decisions with mission and community needs, she shows that sustainable impact comes from building organizations that can run and grow without ego at the center. Connect with me here: Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: Kerri Burns is CEO of Santa Barbara Humane and a nationally recognized animal welfare leader with more than 27 years of experience advancing the well-being of animals and the people who love them. Since joining Santa Barbara Humane in 2018, she has transformed the organization into a countywide leader in animal welfare, driving growth, leading a major merger, and expanding access to veterinary care, training, and essential services for thousands of pets and families across Santa Barbara County. She has held senior leadership roles across major humane organizations in the United States, including Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, and American Humane’s animal emergency response programs. Her work spans disaster response, nonprofit transformation, and large-scale organizational leadership. Her leadership has earned national recognition, including the American Humane Dennis White Award, and she was named one of Pacific Coast Business Times’ Top 50 Women in Business in 2025. Beyond her professional work, Kerri is passionate about the natural world and enjoys sailing, hiking, traveling with her family, golfing, and fostering shelter animals. Links: Santa Barbara Humane: https://sbhumane.org Gala: https://sbhumane.org/gala2026/ Donations: http://sbhumane.org/give LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrib/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    43 分
  • Climbing the Corporate Ladder Won’t Save You: The Millennial Lie About Success, Control, and Why Selling Beats Security with Charlie Sharp

    Climbing the Corporate Ladder Won’t Save You: The Millennial Lie About Success, Control, and Why Selling Beats Security with Charlie Sharp
    2026/06/02
    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Charlie Sharp a property investor, estate agency owner, and property tech consultant who specializes in unlocking value from underperforming residential assets across London and the Southwest. With a background in prime Central London estate agency, Charlie has built and led teams focused on helping both established and aspiring property owners maximize the potential of residential real estate. Through his work, he combines hands-on market experience with a practical understanding of how technology and strategy can transform underperforming property assets into high-value opportunities. In this conversation, Charlie shares how one of his earliest “conventional wisdom” beliefs that climbing the corporate ladder is the only path to success ultimately led him to a moment of realization that success on paper does not always equal fulfillment in life. After rising quickly through the ranks in a competitive Central London agency, he discovered that the top of the corporate structure still left him feeling constrained creatively and professionally. He explains how this experience reshaped his thinking around autonomy, ownership, and building a career where you are in control of your own direction rather than dependent on corporate systems or external validation. Charlie also reflects on how modern shifts in business, including AI and workforce disruption, are accelerating the need for individuals to take ownership of their careers and develop their own value-driven paths. Throughout the episode, Charlie and Kim explore the realities of sales, leadership, and communication in business. Charlie emphasizes that sales is not just a function of business — it is the foundation of every successful venture — and highlights how many entrepreneurs underestimate its importance when starting out. He also discusses the critical role of “why” in sustaining motivation through the challenges of entrepreneurship and early-stage business building. They also unpack modern hiring and leadership challenges, including delegation, team building, and the emotional difficulty of letting people go when a business evolves. Charlie reflects on how over-hiring can create inefficiency and how early-stage founders often learn the hard way that smaller, more effective teams can outperform larger, less focused ones. Finally, Charlie opens up about imposter syndrome and how it can actually serve as a useful signal rather than a weakness. Instead of trying to eliminate it, he explains how he uses it as a cue to listen more, ask better questions, and build stronger relationships — particularly in high-stakes environments where expertise and perception may differ. This episode explores: - Why climbing the corporate ladder doesn’t always lead to fulfillment - How challenging clients respectfully builds long-term trust - The hidden challenges of hiring, delegation, and team structure - Why smaller, focused teams can outperform larger ones - How emotional decision-making impacts hiring and firing decisions - Why personal touch still matters in an increasingly automated world - How AI and automation are reshaping business communication - Why imposter syndrome can be used as a strategic signal rather than a weakness Charlie’s perspective is a reminder that building a successful business is not just about strategy or structure it’s about judgment, communication, emotional intelligence, and the willingness to continuously rethink what success actually means. If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or business leader navigating growth, hiring decisions, or your own relationship with success and identity, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights from someone who has lived through both corporate scale and entrepreneurial independence. Connect with me here: Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: Guest: Charlie SharpTikTok: CharlieSharpPropertyInstagram: HuntersSherborne Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    45 分
  • Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom Podcast Episode Seventy Two with Jason Wong

    Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom Podcast Episode Seventy Two with Jason Wong
    2026/05/29

    In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom , Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Jason Wong a serial entrepreneur, manufacturing innovator, and the CEO of Packing Duck, a company specializing in customized packaging solutions for high-growth consumer brands.

    Having built multiple businesses across marketing, e-commerce, and manufacturing, Jason combines entrepreneurial creativity with deep operational expertise. From scaling packaging solutions for major consumer brands to building and exiting successful companies, he has spent the last decade learning how to navigate growth, leadership, hiring, and operational complexity in highly competitive industries.

    In this conversation, Jason shares why one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make early on is trying to imitate larger companies instead of building strategies that fit their current stage of growth. Reflecting on his early business experiences, he explains how copying billion-dollar companies led to costly mistakes and why smaller businesses must learn to think differently, move faster, and operate more intentionally.

    Jason also dives into the realities of entrepreneurship as an immigrant founder, discussing the pressure of cultural expectations, the challenge of creating unconventional career paths, and why building businesses often requires going against traditional definitions of success. He reflects on growing up in a culture where prestigious careers and big-name institutions were prioritized, while entrepreneurship was viewed as uncertain and unconventional.

    Throughout the episode, Jason offers a refreshing perspective on leadership, people management, and company culture. He explains why leadership is rarely black and white, why understanding context matters when managing people, and how giving employees room to grow can sometimes unlock extraordinary results.

    Beyond business strategy, Jason also reflects on hiring, accountability, persistence, imposter syndrome, and the importance of creating standards that shape company culture from the top down.

    This episode explores:
    * Why copying large companies can hurt small businesses and startups
    * The lessons Jason learned from costly early entrepreneurial mistakes
    * How immigrant and cultural expectations shaped his career journey
    * Why entrepreneurship often requires going against conventional paths
    * The realities of bootstrapping businesses without outside investors
    * Why leadership and people management are rarely black and white
    * The importance of hiring for mindset, organization, and adaptability
    * How strong leadership standards influence company culture
    * Why accountability must start with leadership
    * The challenges of building and managing high-performing teams
    * Why persistence and relentless follow-up create opportunities
    * Jason’s perspective on imposter syndrome and entrepreneurial comparison

    Jason’s perspective is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship and leadership are not about following conventional paths or trying to copy what everyone else is doing they’re about resilience, adaptability, persistence, and having the courage to create opportunities for yourself.

    If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, executive, or leader navigating growth, hiring challenges, company culture, entrepreneurship, or self-doubt, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, mindset shifts, and real-world business insights.

    Connect with me here:
    * Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com
    * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon
    * Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8
    * Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast

    Guest Details:
    *Guest: Jason Wong
    *Company: Packing Duck


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    33 分