What do you actually say when someone asks, "What do you do?" If your answer is just your task — "I paint houses," "I do landscaping," "I'm a consultant" — you might be missing the identity shift that separates a freelancer from a true business owner. Building on last week's conversation about the three roles inside every small business (technician, manager, and owner), I dig into what it really means to own your business rather than just work in it — and I lay out exactly how to carve out "owner time" so you can step back, evaluate your business's health, and make sure it's still serving the goals that made you start it in the first place. Highlights Why saying "I paint houses" instead of "I own a house painting business" reflects a mindset gap, not just semanticsThe critical difference between working in your business and working on your businessFour things to evaluate during dedicated owner time: strategic vision, economics/business model, and boundariesWhy regularly checking your business against its original mission and "why" prevents driftHow to know when a boundary is being broken — and why that's your signal to hit the "emergency brake"A simple system for scheduling owner time: start with 30 minutes to an hour a week, distraction-freeWhy protecting this time leads to better decisions for your business and your family Chapters 0:00 – Recap: E-Myth Roles1:25 – Owner Identity Shift3:50 – In vs. On the Business5:41 – Strategic Vision Check7:21 – Economics and Business Model9:09 – Boundaries: The Emergency Brake11:13 – Scheduling Owner Time12:56 – You Are the Owner Resources Mentioned The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

Are you putting band-aids on a wound that needs surgery? Kansas ranks seventh in the nation for volunteerism, and yet our state has fallen further than any other in the national health rankings. What if all that good-hearted, charitable energy could be redirected — not away from helping people in need, but one step further upstream, toward preventing the need in the first place? This episode explores the first of nine mindsets from the book: the upstream mindset. We unpack the difference between charity (which treats symptoms) and change (which addresses root causes), and why people in positions of authority tend to default to downstream efforts — even when they genuinely care about the health gap. The classic "babies in the river" story anchors the conversation, and we're joined once again by Teresa Lovelady, CEO of HealthCore Clinic, who brings powerful real-world examples of how one organization works both ends of the stream simultaneously. From cancer screenings and social drivers of health, to giving kids books during their annual checkups, Teresa paints a vivid picture of what upstream work looks like in practice — and issues a challenge to all of us: take just one step upstream. HighlightsKansas ranks 7th in volunteerism nationally — a strength that also reinforces our tendency to stay downstreamCharity treats symptoms; upstream work addresses root causes — and we need both, but the balance is offThe "babies in the river" parable: someone has to stop pulling babies out of the river long enough to find out who's throwing them inCharity can actually weaken the urgency to change the conditions that create the need for charity in the first placeHealthCore Clinic (a federally qualified health center in northeast Wichita) operates simultaneously upstream and downstream — with a food pantry, gym, walking path, pharmacy, transportation, and education classes all under one roofEarly detection example: screening patients at the pre-diabetic stage — or even earlier — is a concrete upstream health interventionHealthCore screens for social drivers of health (housing, food insecurity, violence, substance abuse) and intervenes in real timeEarly literacy is directly linked to long-term health outcomes — HealthCore gives every child an age-appropriate book at their annual visitGoing upstream is disruptive, and you may be accused of "neglecting the babies in the river" — expect pushbackThe incentive structures in our society push leaders toward downstream action; value-based care is beginning to change that in healthcare, but it's a long way offTeresa's practical challenge: take one step upstream — whatever your role, just move one step in that directionTextron Aviation's model: on-site healthcare access and a "one-stop shop" to help people upskill for jobs — upstream workforce investment instead of complaining about workforce qualityStorytime Village: a new early literacy program in Wichita that integrates a clinic, bookstore, and community convening space — upstream collaboration in actionThe call to action: audit your charitable giving from the last several months and mark whether each contribution was upstream or downstream Chapters 0:00 – The 'Upstream' Mindset1:34 – Charity vs. Change: Why Band-Aids Aren't Enough2:50 – The 'Babies in the River' Story: What Upstream Really Means4:52 – Real-World Upstream Examples: Foster Care & Workplace Wellness6:22 – Guest Joins: Teresa Lovelady Returns to Talk Practice, Not Theory7:19 – Inside HealthCore Clinic: Serving Needs Today While Preventing Tomorrow7:57 – Prevention in Action: Population Health, Pre-Diabetes & Early Detection12:06 – Beyond Healthcare: Literacy, Community Factors & Everyone's Role14:02 – Why We Default to Downstream: Ease, Feel-Good Charity & the Health Gap16:26 – Beyond Charity: Take One Step Upstream17:14 – Why Upstream Work Feels Disruptive (and Gets Criticized)18:23 – Downstream Is Tempting: Human Nature & Quick 'Feel-Good' Wins20:00 – What It Takes to Swim Upstream: Org Pushback, Boards, and Incentives21:48 – Upstream Healthcare in Action: Screening Social Drivers & Real-Time Support26:18 – Influence Beyond the Field: Bankers, Electeds, Advocacy, and Collaboration Spaces29:16 – Examples on the Table: Boardroom Questions, CEO Budgets, and Textron's Model32:21 – Call to Action & Wrap-Up: Audit Your Giving and Shift Upstream Resources Mentioned HealthCore Clinic — federally qualified health center in northeast Wichita, KS; offers medical, dental, behavioral health, substance abuse services, pharmacy, food pantry, gym, walking path, and transportation for patientsAmerica's Health Rankings — the national health rankings that measure state health outcomes, including volunteerism as a sub-measureTextron Aviation (Wichita, KS) — cited as an example of upstream workplace wellness and workforce developmentWichita State University — mentioned as a resource for scholarship opportunities available to low-income patients at HealthCoreStorytime Village — a new early literacy program in Wichita integrating a clinic, bookstore, and community convening space Leading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way.  Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealth And be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

Are you making more revenue than ever — but still not keeping enough of it? After 12 episodes and a full season of tax strategies, one truth keeps rising to the top: the business owners who build real wealth aren't always the ones with the highest revenue. They're the ones making better decisions. This season finale breaks down the seven most important lessons from Season 1 of Simplify My Numbers — the ones that, if you remember nothing else, could save you thousands of dollars in your business. From rethinking how you approach tax season, to understanding why your tax return can be filed correctly and still cost you a fortune, these seven lessons are the foundation of every smart financial move you'll make going forward. Producer Bryan joins to push back with real questions from real overwhelmed business owners — and the answers might surprise you. Highlights Why tax season is halftime — not the finish line — and what to do differently in the second half of the yearThe danger of copying tax strategies you see on social media without understanding if they actually apply to your situationHow to evaluate financial content online: why you should always move from short-form to long-format platforms for contextThe difference between filing a tax return correctly and optimizing it — and why compliance alone can cost you thousandsWhy profit on your P&L and cash in your bank account are two very different numbersThe one question you should be asking your tax professional instead of "what can I deduct?"How to get a second opinion on your taxes without feeling like you're going behind your CPA's backWhy you have up to three years to amend a tax return and potentially recover overpaid taxes Chapters 0:00 — Season One Recap & Introduction1:39 — Lesson 1: Taxes Are a Year-Round Business Strategy7:03 — Quarterly Planning: How to Make It Work Without Doing It Alone11:13 — Lesson 2: Your Entity Should Follow Your Business, Not Social Media14:49 — How to Filter Social Media Tax Advice18:05 — Lesson 3: The Biggest Tax Savings Come from Planning, Not Deductions22:16 — Lesson 4: Your Tax Return Can Be Correct and Still Cost You Thousands26:46 — Lesson 5: Don't Copy Tax Strategies — Understand Them30:55 — Lesson 6: Profit Is Not Cash (Confusing the Two Can Cost You Your Business)36:25 — Lesson 7: Never Stop Getting a Second Opinion42:05 — Season One Recap & Season Two Preview Want to keep more of what you earn? If you’re a 7-6-5 business owner ready to move from financial chaos to CFO-level comfort, visit www.simplifymynumbers.com to schedule a call with our team.  Subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help us grow the community, and be sure to share this episode with a fellow founder. This show is designed to be used for educational and informational purposes. For your own situation, be sure to contact a tax professional directly. This show is part of the ICT Podcast network. For more information, visit ictpod.net

What does a school counselor actually do all day — and why does it matter more now than ever? Hanna Mick is an elementary school counselor in Topeka and a part-time consultant with the Kansas State Department of Education, and she's proof that the role goes far beyond what you see on TV. From launching a peer conflict-resolution program at recess to using AI for career exploration with kids as young as third grade, Hannah is redefining what it means to support students. She's also the Kansas School Counselor of the Year and a finalist for the national title — not that she got into education for the awards. This conversation will make you wish you'd had a counselor like her growing up. Highlights The difference between a "guidance counselor" and a school counselor — and why it mattersHanna's unexpected path from advertising to education (a soul-searching pivot she's never regretted)The Junior Coaches program: how sixth graders helping second graders at recess reduced office discipline referrals by 71–77% for some studentsWhy by third grade, kids have already begun limiting their career ambitions based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status — and what counselors can do about itUsing a school-approved AI tool to help students discover careers they never knew existed (e-sports manager, anyone?)Road Trip Nation: a free AI-informed platform that helps students cut through the "noise" and find their pathThe "two I's" framework for thinking about AI in schools: intention and impactWhy teaching kids what cheating actually is in the age of AI is harder than it soundsPiper the therapy dog, the Paws and Claws project-based learning group, and a Humane Society partnership built by third gradersDartography debuts! Gus introduces a new segment using a dart and a cork-board Kansas map Chapters 0:00 – Stadium Renderings2:06 – Podcast Intro: Education Month2:42 – Meet Hanna Mick4:09 – Kansas Roots and K-State4:49 – From Advertising to Counseling8:16 – What School Counselors Do11:04 – Junior Coaches Recess Program15:53 – Counselor of the Year Mindset18:13 – AI in Schools: Basics21:25 – Teaching AI Literacy and Cheating28:08 – Therapy Dogs: Piper and Pickles29:35 – Paws and Claws Project Learning30:45 – Frontloading Expectations31:20 – Piper Costume Project32:00 – Humane Society Partnership33:35 – Career Bias by Third Grade36:15 – AI Career Discovery40:41 – Road Trip Nation Tool41:58 – Counselor of the Year (National)46:08 – Post-Interview Reflections46:58 – Dartography Segment Begins50:05 – Cimarron County Seat Gunfight51:33 – Sewell's Folly Canal53:02 – Ingalls Name Connections & Laura Ingalls Wilder55:57 – Dart Throw Results57:53 – Episode Wrap-Up Resources Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Conscious Discipline – Dr. Becky Bailey's podcast Character Strong Hanna Mick's websiteRoad Trip Nation Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What does it look like to stop running from tension and start letting it fuel you? Fresh off two full days at the Global Leadership Summit in Wichita, I'm sharing the lessons that hit me hardest — the kind that make you reconsider the way you've been thinking about discomfort, uncertainty, and what freedom actually means. I'm also throwing in a bonus lesson from a kid-free night and Season 4 of Ted Lasso, because sometimes the most profound wisdom shows up in the most unexpected places. Highlights Why tension isn't something to escape — it's the fuel that drives growthHow to reframe the tension between ambition and real life demands (contentment vs. ambition, work vs. family, self vs. craft)The concept of "the fog" — why uncertainty is a universal human experience, not a personal failureWhy you should avoid big, irreversible decisions when you're in a foggy seasonThe power of looking down at your feet and taking just the next right stepJim Collins' reframe of freedom: not the ability to do anything, but the ability to choose your responsibilitiesBen Franklin's second act — and why 53% of his biographies cover his life after age 60Why self-renewal is a leadership responsibility, not a luxuryA (mostly spoiler-free) lesson from Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 1 on taking bold leaps Chapters 1:04 – Summit Recap Kickoff2:05 – Embracing Tension (David Ashcraft, President & CEO of the Global Leadership Network)4:09 – Navigating the Fog (Jim Collins)7:42 – Freedom and Self-Renewal (Jim Collins)11:14 – Bonus Ted Lasso Lesson12:50 – Wrap Up & What's Coming Next Week Resources Mentioned Global Leadership SummitWhat to Make of a Life by Jim CollinsSuzy Welch's Values Bridge Want to learn more?The Thread Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.