This is Sam Oven's interview from 12 years ago!!! 🤯 And EVERY TIP he says then applies today still. It's only 26 minutes of your life, but it will serve you for years to come as an entrepreneur. If you're thinking of building a business...or have a business already but something is not working, and you don't know what...watch this 26-minute video! I see the same patterns he discussed in all the business books I've read, the business classes I've taken, the coaching I've paid for, and the content I've consumed on "What is an entrepreneur?" And in this interview...he broke down those patterns in his lived experience...so it's not just theory anymore. ---------------------------------------------- QUICK STORY (in 60 seconds) Sam was 22, bored in a corporate job at Vodafone, finishing a Commerce degree in New Zealand. One weekend on a friend's private island, he met an entrepreneur who had more time, more freedom, and more fun than anyone he knew. He came home, Googled "what is an entrepreneur," and everything changed. After two failed businesses (including a job board site that cost him his car and a year of his life), he started a third — SnapInspect, a property inspection app. Within a few years, he grew it from a garage operation to an international business with 1,600 customers, charging some U.S. clients $10,000/month for software that originally cost him $10K to build. The interview is a masterclass in validating an idea before you waste time building it. ---------------------------------------------- Your Resources (Make a Copy): Summary + Action Checklist Transcript

What do these words make you feel? Pausing is not procrastinating. Pausing is prioritizing. I was chatting with a member of my mentorship program about this. I reminded her that for me, pausing doesn’t mean I’m procrastinating. It actually means I’m permitting myself to stop, think, and feel what truly matters for me. That’s how prioritizing looks for me. I will elaborate on this in my next post (so stay tuned! 🥰). But for now, I'm sharing this here for a different reason… This message has felt so strong inside of me since I shared it with her…that it wanted to be free. So I think someone needs to hear this right now as well…someone in our Thriving community. If these words cause you to “pause,” this message is for you. 💕

Hi, my Thriving members! You've probably heard of this new feature in Skool: spammer alert for Skool community owners. 🚨 This morning, it went into action in protecting our Thriving community! Yehey! Here's how it works: 1. I clicked on the "Membership Request Pending" link. This shows up even though I have the auto-approve for new members--another plus! 2. I see the Spam Risk Score of the person asking to be a member. As you can see here, the score is "HIGH!" 3. So, I press Decline. That's it! Keeping our community safe is a priority for me. That's why I'm thrilled about this new feature. 🥰 Curious, have you seen this new feature in action in your own community?

Thank you for responding to my question, "Why you became an entrepreneur?" @Kelly Childs @Sara Fredrick @Cheryl Grogan @Dipa M @Mindy Iannelli @Tianna Knudsen @Pamela Igwe @Crystal Johnson @Reema Rana. 🙏 As I read your responses with mine, I noticed a silent pattern about us. 🥰 Most of us didn’t wake up dreaming of “being an entrepreneur.” We became one to ADAPT. 🤩 👉 For self-preservation, family protection, and meaning. I saw 6 repeating themes from our responses: 1. Entrepreneurship as a solution to our constraints 2. Freedom with our time is really about emotional safety 3. Entrepreneurship as family protection 4. Meaning matters more than money 5. Entrepreneurship as autonomy & dignity 6. Entrepreneurship as a way to rewrite our painful story -------------------------------------------- Let me explain more. Again, this is based on what I saw in your responses. 1. Entrepreneurship as a solution to our constraints Many chose entrepreneurship because traditional systems excluded us based on the seasons of our lives: - Chronic illness & health issues - Disability or sensory limitations - ADHD & its comorbidities and RSD - Parenting demands - School schedules Business became a way to design around our realities, not escape them. 2. Freedom from our time is really about emotional safety When we say we want “time freedom,” we don’t mean beach laptops. We’re saying: - “I want to be there when my kid needs me.” - “I’m burnt out from rigid schedules.” - “I don’t want to live in constant stress or guilt anymore.” For me, this is not about wanting to be productive; it’s about needing to regulate our nervous systems.

I want to share this softly and clearly, because protecting the feel of our space matters. Inside our community, one of our Immutable Laws is simple and grounding: GIVE TO GIVE. GETTING IS IRRELEVANT. 💞 👉 That means we lead with contribution, connection, and character first. I’ve noticed a few (very, very few) posts lately where someone’s first or early post is a service or product offer, and it feels more sales-forward than community-forward. ❌ This isn’t about shaming or calling anyone out — it’s about preserving what makes this space feel safe, human, and meaningful for everyone. Here’s how we hold this together as a community: ✅ We give first — insights, support, reflections, encouragement, presence ✅ We build real connections with other members ✅ And before posting services or offers, we ask for approval At times, I do approve members to share their services or businesses. When that happens, I ask them to mention that I approved the post beforehand. These are members I’ve vetted, connected with personally, and whose character and contributions I know well. They’re the ones I’ve shared about before — the ones I’m “holding the lantern for” so they can shine brighter and create a bigger impact. This isn’t about restriction. It's about stewardship. 🥰 We keep this community safe and meaningful by consistently acting with character — another one of our Immutable Laws. Thank you for helping protect the spirit of this space. I truly appreciate how much heart lives here. 💛 🧭 Your Next Steps: 1. If you’re new, jump into conversations and connect before sharing anything promotional. 2. If you’d like to post about your service or business, please message me first for approval. 3. When approved, simply note that approval in your post so expectations stay clear for everyone. I appreciate you. 🙏 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔥CLARIFICATION: You do not need to ask permission to share your wins, lessons, reflections, or business strategies here. Please post those freely. 🙌