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In this episode, Gresh pivots to a quick primer on franchising, demystifying the model for anyone unfamiliar with it. He describes the franchisor (the “Zor”) who owns the brand and system, and the franchisee (the “Z”) who purchases the rights to run a local operation. By leveraging an established playbook, brand recognition, training, and ongoing support, a franchisee can bypass the guesswork of starting a business from scratch. Gresh highlights that while well‑known names like McDonald’s and Chick‑fil‑A dominate the conversation, there are hundreds of lesser‑known opportunities across a wide range of industries. Gresh underscores why franchising is especially relevant today: people are seeking stability, purpose, flexibility, and a safety net that traditional entrepreneurship often lacks. Whether someone is transitioning from corporate life, looking for a side hustle, or aiming for full‑time ownership, there’s likely a franchise model that fits. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the F

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless Jr. shares about industry challenges, pointing out that decision‑making, confidence, and finances are tougher now than when he started training. Many newcomers feel uncertain about protecting their investment. The message is to turn setbacks into “opportunities to improve,” stay “gung‑ho,” and focus on landing the first deal, then keep moving forward. Gresham recognizes that the franchise landscape and the broader economy have shifted; success means evolving with those changes. He sees content creation as a superpower. Gresham sees his strength in producing content that educates and supports others. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to

In this episode, we have Benjamin Behrooz, founder and CEO of Branding Los Angeles, a global creative agency. Benjamin shares his unconventional path to entrepreneurship—initially pursuing pharmacy at UCLA before discovering his passion for marketing through an internship at Sony Music. A pivotal layoff landed him at Truthdig, a politically‑focused site akin to the Huffington Post, where he realized his gift for giving a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. A single political cartoon he helped produce ended up in the hands of Egyptian protestors, cementing his belief in the power of authentic storytelling. The firm’s culture revolves around empowering its team to make data‑driven decisions, leveraging constant communication and pushing innovative projects such as the world’s first in‑store robot shopkeeper.  Benjamin's mantra for growth is to “add three more zeros” to any idea, encouraging bold, expansive thinking. He defines being a CEO as a blend of empathy, vision, and the ability to act as the c

In this episode, Kristin Hull, an activist and conscious investor, the founder and CEO of Nia Global Solutions, and Nia Impact Advisors an impact investing firm with a focus on diversity in leadership and solutions-focused companies. The firm actively exercises its shareholder voice, voting proxies in‑house and engaging with companies to improve their practices, thereby treating investors as both rights‑holders and responsible stewards of the economy. Beyond the product, Hull shares personal leadership insights. She emphasizes curiosity, continuous learning, and hiring for cultural and values fit as her “CEO hack,” and stresses the importance of gratitude, celebrating small wins, and building trust to sustain systemic change.  Website: www.niaimpactcapital.com , www.moneydoula.org Facebook: NiaInvest Previous Episode: iam363-activist-and-conscious-investor-empowers-people-along-their-money-journeys Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organizati

In this episode, we have Jacqueline Basulto, founder and CEO of SeedX Incorporated, joined the I AM CEO podcast to share her entrepreneurial journey. Growing up in New York as the daughter of Cuban‑Puerto Rican immigrants, she cultivated a strong work ethic that later propelled her from a brief stint at Google into launching SeedX in her early‑20s with just $20 and a vision to help businesses thrive online. The core of SeedX’s service model is what Basulto calls “360 marketing.” Rather than focusing on a single channel, the agency takes a holistic, omni‑channel approach, aligning website design, SEO, email and text‑message marketing, social media, paid ads, and overall business objectives into a cohesive strategy. Beyond tactics, Basulto emphasizes the company’s “scrappy” culture, embodied in her self‑assigned title of “digital Trojan.” She describes SeedX as a lean, resource‑maximizing outfit that thrives on turning limited budgets into impactful results while maintaining a relentless pursuit of excellence.

 In this special episode, Gresh gave a candid update reflecting on the near‑one‑year mark of his franchise‑broker experience. He admits to feeling a “massive flop” and battling imposter syndrome, noting that the lack of closed deals has made it hard to contribute in broker calls. Despite this, he identifies concrete strategies to turn the tide: leveraging LinkedIn outreach, creating consistent content (especially videos), tapping social‑media searches and Google Ads for lead generation, and launching a regular newsletter. He also plans to focus on networking, referrals, and co‑brokering—acting as a lead‑generation specialist while letting others handle the client‑guiding process. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our prem

 In this special episode, Gresh shares on being transparent – Your Story Is Your Super‑Power. Recording every win, stumble, and “aha!” moment not only keeps me accountable, it creates a roadmap for anyone thinking about starting a franchise (or any business). When you share the real process, you become a living case study that educates and inspires. He also shares about Mindset Over Milestones. It’s easy to get fixated on the numbers: “two or three deals by week 10.” But the real growth happens when you re‑calibrate, ask yourself if the expectations are realistic, and treat setbacks as data points—not failures. The journey builds you as much as it builds the business. Gresh emphasized Leverage (and Iterate) Your Tools. He set up LinkedIn automation and digital‑marketing funnels, but early results are modest. The key is to tweak, test, and keep the feedback loop tight—the automation will only work when it aligns with your personal outreach and referral strategy. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.c

In this episode, Gresh shares the highs, lows, and lessons in real‑time creates a roadmap for fellow founders and holds you accountable.  He also shares on building a Lead‑Gen Ecosystem First – Before scaling, focus on a self‑sustaining machine that continuously feeds qualified leads into your pipeline. It’s the foundation of a repeatable growth model. Gresh wants to adopt a Marathon Mindset – Speed isn’t everything; pacing yourself, iterating, and avoiding “move‑too‑fast” mistakes leads to lasting results. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iam

In this episode, Gresh shares candid reflections on his current stage: experimenting with organic lead generation, resisting the pressure to buy leads, and navigating the inevitable ups and downs of building a business. He recounts a nostalgic basketball‑style sprint workout that reminded him how past discipline still fuels his present mindset, emphasizing that mental blocks often become self‑fulfilling unless you keep moving forward. A pending call with a potential funder highlights the mix of optimism and uncertainty that comes with early‑stage entrepreneurship. Ultimately, Gresh stresses the importance of taking one day at a time, staying strategic, and leaning into what works while continually refining the approach.  Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Chec

In this episode, Nick McGowan talks about Thought Leadership - it's your personal lens on what matters to you. He likens it to painting, music, or a podcast—any medium that lets your inner voice shine. Nick also shares why podcasting works for him. Verbal communication is his super‑power; podcasting let him heal, mentor, and broadcast ideas publicly that he’d otherwise share behind closed doors. Website: themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com Youtube: themindsetandselfmasteryshow LinkedIn: thenickmcgowan Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.    I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

Lee Eisenstadt is the founder of the Leading with Courage Academy in Chicago. After a new managing partner swept away the C‑suite at the fifth‑largest accounting firm, Lee pivoted from seeking another full‑time role to taking on one‑off projects that leveraged his expertise in client‑loyalty assessments and cost‑streamlining. A series of interim consulting gigs—culminating in a three‑year interim COO position—revealed to him that he could never be “fired” again and set the stage for launching his own leadership‑development business. Lee’s firm offers a data‑driven toolbox of assessments, workshops, and coaching—including DISC, emotional‑intelligence, and employee‑engagement surveys grounded in his book- Leading with Courage. He emphasizes that self‑awareness is rare—only 12‑15 % of people truly possess it—and that CEOs must cultivate the courage to ask for honest feedback and act on it. Website: www.lwcacademy.com LinkedIn: leeeisenstaedt   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter wit

Alicia Houston is a former biotech founder who spent over a decade scaling her company before selling it for a seven‑figure sum.  Alicia works primarily with small‑ to medium‑sized businesses, viewing them as mirrors of her own early entrepreneurial experience.  Leveraging her background in neuroscience, she helps leaders understand the brain’s wiring, hormonal influences, and neural pathways that can create mental blocks, enabling them to “hack” their own thinking and develop new habits.  Her approach blends scientific insight with practical coaching to unlock both individual and organizational potential, ultimately allowing the entire team to serve the shared vision more effectively. Website: alyciahuston.com Facebook: AlyciaHuston Instagram: alyciahuston   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ thin

In this special episode, Gresh reflects on the past year, noting that his original focus on the franchise‑broker business has been pushed to the side as unexpected demands arose in his digital‑marketing venture.  Despite the shift, he remains optimistic, pointing to early signs of opportunity. He uses a marathon metaphor to describe the entrepreneurial journey: there are fast‑paced stretches, moments to pause, hydrate, and refocus, but the race never truly ends.  This mindset keeps him motivated, especially after a recent workout that reminded him of the constant nature of progress. Looking ahead, Gresh is eager to keep leveling up in both his personal health and his brokerage business. He plans to leverage the experiences he’s documenting, run experiments, and share future updates with the audience.  Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/a

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless Jr. launches a new “Franchise CEO” segment within the IAMCEO podcast to chronicle his BlueStar Franchise startup, offering aspiring entrepreneurs a real‑time look at the challenges and decisions involved in building a business. He now targets people who publicly ask franchising‑related questions on podcasts, social media, and newsletters, aiming for a handful of high‑quality conversations each week instead of a high volume of low‑quality leads. To sustain this pipeline, he aggregates prospects from YouTube, his newsletter, Facebook groups, and other social channels into a single master list. While he feels “nine months behind schedule,” he believes the slower, relationship‑focused approach will reduce wasted effort and generate better long‑term opportunities. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/asses

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares insights from top leaders and announces a new “Franchise CEO” series that will chronicle his own launch of Blue Star Franchise, offering a real‑time case study for aspiring entrepreneurs. He uses a grueling Peloton push‑up ladder workout as a metaphor for growth, stressing that waiting for others to catch up keeps you stuck. Instead, he embraces the mindset that there’s always “another level” to reach—whether in business, fitness, or personal development—and commits to pushing past comfort zones. Gresham addresses a team member’s lack of focus, declaring a clear “in‑or‑out” stance to enforce accountability.  Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with ha

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the evolving nature of the traditional agency model, questioning whether it's truly obsolete or simply transforming.   He shares that his move into franchise brokerage was driven by a desire to break away from the often rigid and inefficient agency structure and to build something that leveraged his marketing expertise into ownership and long-term value.    He emphasizes that while AI has certainly disrupted the industry by offering fast, accessible tools, it lacks the nuance, context, and experience that seasoned professionals bring.   Gresham believes there's a critical need for tools and resources, like CEO Hacks, that help distill information and guide decision-making amid the overwhelming flood of new technologies.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNa

In this episode, we sit down with Gary Engles, the visionary behind MyGig – a full‑stack affiliate platform that equips business professionals to earn recurring income while delivering every essential service a modern company needs, from tax‑credit optimization and IT security to PEO‑backed HR, CRM automation, financing, credit‑building, and even fractional CMO marketing. Gary’s journey is anything but ordinary. He launched a martial‑arts‑based leadership academy at 22, sold it, turned COO of a trading‑education firm, helped multiple companies prep for lucrative exits, and now runs MyGig’s “business‑in‑a‑box” ecosystem. He’ll share how his 35‑year martial‑arts discipline shapes his leadership philosophy, why staying in your “area of genius” is the ultimate productivity hack, and the exact SaaS tools he wishes he’d had when he first started. If you’re a founder looking to streamline operations, boost revenue, or become a certified MyGig reseller, this conversation is packed with actionable insights, real‑world

Linda Taliaferro is the Vice President of Global Quality at Meritor, Inc., a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicles and industrial markets.    With over 30 years of experience in corporate leadership, Linda is also the founder of The Extra Effort (TEE) — a career advisory firm dedicated to helping professionals get unstuck, build executive presence, and change the trajectory of their careers.    Linda explains how she transformed her long-standing passion for mentorship into a focused business that helps professionals build essential but often overlooked career skills — like self-awareness, confidence, communication under pressure, and professional presence.   She discusses her signature offerings, including executive presence coaching, onboarding strategy for the first 90 days in a new role, and targeted support for early- to mid-career professionals.    Linda emphasizes that while hard work is important, it is not enough to get ahead in co

Alan Cohen is a Professional Certified Executive and Team Coach, speaker, and author with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of communication, leadership, and human connection.   Spending decades as both a marketing expert and Human Resource consultant, he presided over the successful launch of the Harry Potter series as Scholastic's Director of Marketing, as well as serving as the Director of Communications for the Broadway League, representing the Tony Awards.    He has coached and consulted with major organizations like Bloomberg, NBC, Tiffany & Co., American Express, and MetLife, as well as hundreds of small businesses and solopreneurs.    Alan emphasizes that the foundation of his coaching is built on emotional intelligence, helping teams cultivate trust, empathy, and resilience without relying on superficial activities like trust falls.    He introduces the concept of “Connection Alchemy,” which is the alignment of three vital connections: to self, to team, and to a shared purpose.   Wi

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless discusses his recent focus on outreach to create more business opportunities, especially with people affected by layoffs.    He expresses some frustration with the lack of engagement within a BNI chapter he’s considering joining, noting that members’ slow responses and minimal one-to-ones raise concerns about whether referrals would be handled with care.    Gresham highlights the significance of staying outside his comfort zone, citing a recent live session that not only pushed his boundaries but also resulted in new opportunities.    He emphasizes his desire to build his franchise brokerage business in a way that aligns with his values rather than simply following conventional models.    In addition, Gresham acknowledges the challenges of going 244 days without closing a deal but remains committed to experimentation, staying mentally strong, and taking it one step at a time, while being mindful not to overextend himself.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranch