If you're in the messy middle of building something big and you're exhausted, doubting yourself, or wondering if it's ever going to click, this episode is for you. I'm giving you a real-time behind-the-scenes milestone from my company Frello: we just demoed a fully working product to our investors after a nearly three-year journey filled with pivots, pressure, setbacks, and more "this might not work" moments than I can count. I'm breaking down the two reasons businesses actually fail, the mindset that kept me in the game when most people would have quit, and why your dream is supposed to feel like this sometimes. If you've been close to giving up, let this be the reminder: there is always a way forward.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Renewed grit to stay in the game when you feel like quitting.

• A simple lens to diagnose what's really threatening your business.

• Confidence to pivot without making it mean you "failed".

• Perspective that turns setbacks into fuel instead of stop signs.

• A founder's roadmap for surviving the long, messy middle.

RESOURCES

Want Lori + Chris as your mentors this year? Only 2 Elite Mastermind spots left. Apply: chrisharder.me/mastermind

Join the most supportive mastermind on the internet - the Mentor Collective Mastermind!

Make More Sales in the next 90 days - GET THE BLUEPRINT HERE!

Check out upcoming events + Masterminds: chrisharder.me

Text DAILY to 310-421-0416 to get daily Money Mantras to boost your day.

FOLLOW

Chris: @chriswharder

Lori: @loriharder

Frello: @frello_app

This week, Lori did something I never thought I'd see… she unsubscribed from her favorite brands. Not because she hates shopping, but because she finally saw how much brain space tiny distractions were stealing. In this episode, Lori and I break down the "97%", the constant stream of emails, texts, offers, and distractions that steal your time, energy, and momentum. We talk about how even the smallest interruptions compound into hours of lost progress, why distractions are so dangerous because they're enjoyable, and how the most successful people block anything that isn't part of their mission. Get ready to stop letting distractions run your life and start choosing what actually deserves your focus.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The decision Lori made that even I didn't see coming.

• The 97% that steals your focus.

• How even self-care routines can become hidden stressors.

• How "harmless" distractions steal hours of your day.

• The mindset shift elite performers use to protect their attention.

• Ways to start deflecting distractions without burning out.

RESOURCES

Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE!

Join the most supportive mastermind on the internet - the Mentor Collective Mastermind!

Make More Sales in the next 90 days - GET THE BLUEPRINT HERE!

Check out upcoming events + Masterminds: chrisharder.me

Text DAILY to 310-421-0416 to get daily Money Mantras to boost your day.

FOLLOW

Chris: @chriswharder

Lori: @loriharder

Frello: @frello_app

Want higher retention, more referrals and a stronger lifetime value without constantly relying on new customer acquisition? This episode is for you. I'm breaking down how to increase adoption fast so customers actually use what they buy, get a quick win, and build the kind of momentum that turns into long-term results, renewals, and word-of-mouth growth. You'll learn the shift that changes everything: it's not enough to sell the product, it's your responsibility to design an experience that makes starting frictionless, progress obvious, and consistency more likely. I walk you through 5 practical levers to drive usage, including simplifying the first step, building smart reminders and cues, using proactive check-ins that reduce cancellations and returns, creating community and recognition that reinforces identity, and leveraging social proof to keep belief high while results catch up.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Why usage beats acquisition and how it impacts retention, referrals, and lifetime value.

• The real reason customers cancel, return, or churn even after an excited purchase.

• How to design a "fast start" experience that creates an early win and reduces drop-off.

• The 5 most effective ways to increase adoption (without becoming high-maintenance.)

• How to use reminders, community, and recognition to build habit and consistency.

• Why "perception is reality" when customers decide whether your offer is worth it.

• How retention improves your CAC-to-LTV math, and why that changes everything.

RESOURCES

Join the most supportive mastermind on the internet - the Mentor Collective Mastermind!

Make More Sales in the next 90 days - GET THE BLUEPRINT HERE!

Check out upcoming events + Masterminds: chrisharder.me

Text DAILY to 310-421-0416 to get daily Money Mantras to boost your day.

FOLLOW

Chris: @chriswharder

Frello: @frello_app