Builders, this one goes deep. 🎧

In this episode, I sit down with Christian LeFer, CEO of Instant Nonprofit, for a wide-ranging conversation about justice, bureaucracy, leadership awakening, and what it actually means to build impact at the convergence of cause and commerce.

Christian has helped start thousands of nonprofits, redesigned a broken approval process, and built a company rooted in emotional intelligence, culture, and conviction.

This conversation isn’t about charity optics.

It’s about alignment.

Power.

Process.

And learning when to push - and when to pause.

In this episode, we explore:

00:00 – 09:00 | Justice, Special Olympics & Becoming a Builder

Christian shares how growing up with a developmentally disabled sister shaped his deep sense of justice and service.

09:00 – 16:00 | Bureaucracy, 501c3s & The “Love Letter to a Bureaucrat”

Why is starting a nonprofit often harder than starting a business? Christian breaks down the friction inside the 501c3 process and how he engineered dramatically faster IRS approvals by designing applications that made agents’ lives easier.

16:00 – 24:00 | High EQ as Competitive Advantage

We explore why emotional intelligence is not a “soft skill” but a strategic lever. From turning refunds into raving fans to listening without defensiveness and validating customers instead of hiding behind policy, Christian shares how empathy builds trust — and how trust compounds into long-term advantage.

24:00 – 31:00 | Breakdown, Shadow Work & The Inner Rebuild

This is the chapter most founders don’t talk about. Business strain. Relationship strain. Identity strain. Christian opens up about the personal collapse that forced him to confront unresolved trauma, self-talk, and misalignment. Out of that awakening came a powerful leadership principle: as within, so without.

31:00 –37:00 | Culture as a Safe Container

Why does safety fuel creativity? We unpack how vulnerability - done intentionally -strengthens teams, and how building a culture of acceptance creates the psychological safety required for innovation.

37:00 – 44:00 | Wealthy Leadership: Throttle Up vs. Throttle Back

Christian reflects on the shift from grinding harder to allowing space. We explore persistence versus patience, structure as a path to freedom, and optionality as a true form of wealth.

44:00 – 51:00 | Conviction, Discourse & Leading in a Fractured World

The conversation widens to culture and society. Christian shares his views on free speech, capitalism, and institutional trust — and why leaders can’t afford to retreat from difficult conversations. Wealthy Leadership isn’t just about revenue; it’s about participating in shaping the world you want to live in.

51:00 – 1:02:00 | How Nonprofits Fit into Smart Business Strategy

We break down what a 501c3 actually is and how nonprofits can strategically complement for-profit companies.

1:02:00 – End | Process Over Tools & Building Anti-Fragile Systems

We close with a discussion on why process is king. Christian shares how clear articulation of strategy drives alignment, and why systems that grow stronger under stress -inspired by Antifragile - are essential for long-term resilience.

This episode is for Builders who:

• Want to integrate impact into their business model
• Care about culture as much as cash flow
• Feel the tension between force and flow
• Believe leadership is both internal and external

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation between two operators who believe business can be both profitable and principled.

🔗 Connect with Christian LeFer:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/InstantNonprofit

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/instantnonprofit

https://www.youtube.com/@InstantNonprofitUSA

Builders, this one goes deep. 🎧

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Berman - Founder/CEO of Speakeasy Mastermind- for a wide-ranging conversation about ownership, follow-through, community, and what it actually means to build success that lasts.

Eric has been building companies since the early days of the internet. He’s helped scale platforms, worked alongside names like Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield, lived through near-IPO highs and market-crash lows, and spent decades inside the agency world.

This conversation isn’t about hype. It’s about what you learn when you’ve been in the arena long enough to see the patterns.

We talk about the invisible cost of agency life, why most entrepreneurs underestimate follow-through, and how community becomes a strategic advantage, not a “nice to have”- as the game gets more complex.

In this episode, we explore:

00:00 – 13:00 | Becoming a Builder & The Crash

Eric’s early path into entrepreneurship, why building from nothing lit him up, and the reality of the "IPO that never happened"- being weeks away from a massive exit and watching it disappear.

13:00 – 24:20 | Resilience & The Pivot

How to navigate the aftermath of a market crash. We unpack resilience, identity, and why skills can’t be taken away, even when money can. Plus, how Eric pivoted to working with legends like Brian Tracy.

24:20 – 36:00 | “I Am Responsible”

The mindset that changed how Eric leads, navigates setbacks, and builds trust with clients and teams. Radical ownership as a leadership unlock.

36:00 – 48:00 | The Agency Trap

The realities of service businesses, capped upside, and the moment Eric realized he’d been climbing the “wrong ladder”. Why the agency model often traps founders in a cycle of revenue without asset value.

48:00 – 52:30 | Follow-Through as a Superpower

Why high follow-through is rarer than vision - and why it quietly separates builders who scale from those who stall.

52:30 – 59:30 | Asset Equity & Redefining Success

Why Eric is shifting from clients to partners, plus a candid look at fatherhood, presence, and how his definition of success has evolved.

59:30 – End | Speakeasy & The Power of Community

How Speakeasy Mastermind was born, why entrepreneurship is lonelier than we admit, and why in-person community matters more than ever in an AI world.

This episode is for Builders who:

• Are successful - but questioning the game they’re playing

• Feel the tension between growth and alignment

• Want leverage, ownership, and freedom- not just revenue

• Know community matters, but haven’t found the right room yet

This is a grounded, honest conversation between two operators who’ve seen enough cycles to know what actually matters.

🔗 Connect with Eric Berman:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/, https://www.instagram.com/ericbberman

🎧 What's it like to build an 8 Figure business, not just in your 20's but while you're still a full time student?

What do you need to understand for "working for your future" to be a path to deeper alignment instead of conflict?

In this episode of BUILDERS, I sit down with Adam Shaw and asked him these questins and more! Adam is an 8-Figure Founder, prolific venture builder, General Partner and future dad who shared openly about what it means to lead boldly without breaking yourself (or your relationships) in the process.

We dive into the real tension between identity and ambition, the importance of harmony, and the "surfboard" analogy for leadership in life and business.

This episode is for the builder who’s tired of defaulting to hustle and ready to lead with wholeness.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ 00:00 – 20:00 | The Board Game of Business & Building to 8-Figures as a Student

Adam shares his journey from "gaming" paintball systems as a kid to building an 8-figure supply chain business in his 20s. We discuss seeing business as a "chessboard" and why curiosity, not just hustle is the ultimate lever for growth.

✅ 20:00 – 32:00 | Founders, Funders, and "Strategic Money"

Why you shouldn't just chase a cheque. Adam breaks down the mission of Founders & Funders, why in-person community is making a comeback, and the shift founders must make from visionary to operator.

✅ 32:00 – 46:00 | Redefining Ambition & The Cost of Success

With a baby on the way, Adam and Alex get real about the "fire" of obsession. They discuss therapy, the transition to fatherhood, and why setting boundaries often makes the business more successful, not less.

✅ 46:00 – 56:00 | Married, Co-Founding, and Staying Sane

Adam digs into what it really looks like to build in business and life with your spouse. We cover the specific communication rules that save relationships (handling the "business partner" vs. "spouse" hats) and why your partner is your most important mentor.

✅ 56:00 – 01:16:00 | Harmony vs. Balance (The Surfboard Metaphor)

Why the myth of static balance is outdated. Why the "surfboard" metaphor for leadership makes more sense in practice. Adam shares how he navigates emotional surges and the importance of environment.

✅ 01:16:00 – 01:26:00 | Hiring Intrapreneurs & The "Airplane Test"

How do you spot a team member who thinks like an owner? Adam reveals his hiring strategy: looking for passion over resumes and finding people who pass the "airplane test".

✅ 01:26:00 – 01:45:00 | Visibility, Ageism, and Confidence

Adam opens up about the reality of being the youngest person in the room and dealing with ageism. Alex shares her own stories of repeatedly being the youngest. A powerful segment on the interplay of confidence and competence.

✅ 01:45:00 – End | Focus Filters + The Reverse Pitch

We close with the "reverse pitch" model changing the VC game, followed by rapid-fire insights on game changing decisions and what strategy done right feels like.

This episode is for the builder who:

• Wants to build with their partner without burning it all down
• Is ready to stop chasing balance and start riding the waves
• Believes culture is built moment by moment, not once a year at offsite
• Feels the cost of pushing too hard… and is ready to lead from a new paradigm

🔗 Connect with Adam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfnf?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app