LoneStartup

Remember those Dos Equis commercials with The Most Interesting Man in the World? Well, I think I may have met The Most Interesting Man in Texas. Hear me out… J.B. Sauceda: ? Host of Texas Country Reporter ? Built & sold a logistics company to Cart.com ? Founder of Texas Humor (iconic brand, check your closet) ? Author of "Y'all: The Definitive Guide to Being Texan" ? EOS implementer (this is way harder than it sounds) ? Photographer …and most importantly, a dad and husband who’s constantly working to prioritize time and happiness with his family. Today's episode of LoneStartup is special. I left my chat with Jay B, raced home, and immediately dumped every detail on my wife. I now completely understand how my 4-year-old feels when I pick her up from school—I couldn’t shut up. The way J.B. incorporates EOS not just into business, but into his family life is something you have to hear. His entire approach to leadership, balance, and chasing things you're interested in is one you don’t want to miss. ??? Listen now on: ?? YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dQpgA-6Q ?? Apple: https://lnkd.in/dem5RPEs ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dVf4YfMc

Thank you Pat Killoren for being a great host and welcoming me as a guest to your podcast #LonestarStartup you turned a podcast interview into the art of conversation! ????? Q: What was your first big break as a celebrity fashion stylist? ????Michelle W: "My big break came when I styled actress Wendy Raquel Robinson for a swimwear fashion editorial. At the time, Wendy had never done a swimwear spread, so she was trusting me with her image in a whole new way. She was literally at my mercy! But I knew she was in good hands. The shoot went so well that she asked me to move to LA and work with her full-time. That moment was a huge validation for me—it was like a door opened to a whole new world of celebrity styling. I had always been confident in my abilities, but when someone with that level of influence trusts you like that? It shifts your whole career trajectory. That moment was the start of a beautiful relationship with some incredible clients and new opportunities." Q: What’s the most rewarding part of producing and hosting Behind the SEAMS?? ????Michelle W: "Whew, becoming a certified Producer wasn’t easy—it took serious training, education, and grit. But the reward? Telling stories that need to be told. The TV show Behind the SEAMS? isn’t just about clothes; it’s about the people behind the fashion—the successes, the struggles, the real business side of this industry. I love that I get to show fashion beyond the glitz and glam and highlight the work that goes into it. People need to know that fashion isn’t just about looking cute—FASHION is a BUSINESS, and like any business, there are wins and failures. If I can educate, inspire, and pull back the curtain? That makes it all worth it." AND we talked about SOOOO much more! (Special THANKS to Muted Studio) ~ Michelle Washington #tvstyleexpert #fashionstylist

Opening up to recruiters about your true pain points is not easy. But, imo, it's essential to bringing in the right people for the job. I loved this part of my chat with Kurt Wilkin about the hiring philosophy and approach his team takes over at HireBetter.

"Just because someone helped you get to where you are today doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right leader to take you where you want to go." Woof. That one hits hard. I can’t count the times I’ve struggled with building the right team—or questioned whether I was the right person for the job. Leadership isn’t just about making tough calls; it’s about knowing yourself first. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. The blind spots that can hold you (and your team) back. Today's LoneStartup episode is a masterclass in exactly that. Kurt Wilkin is an Austin entrepreneur, investor, and author of Who’s Your Mike?—a no-BS guide about the people you meet on your entrepreneurial journey. It’s one of the few business books I actually finished… and for good reason. I won’t list a million reasons why you should listen. But I will say this: when I re-listened to this episode, I found myself reflecting on past decisions and wondering how I’d handle them differently today. And...isn’t that what growth is all about? Listen (or watch!): ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dnJ-sXpt ?? Apple: https://lnkd.in/dwTD3Wgt ?? YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d8XMyxbM #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #StartupLife (Do people still use hashtags?)

Bootstrapping a company isn’t for the faint of heart, but when done right, it offers something priceless: the freedom to build on your terms—and exit on your terms, too. That’s exactly what Chris Taylor accomplished. A couple of months ago, I sat down with him in front of a live audience at the Red Fridge Society to unpack his journey—from building and selling Square Root to creating one of Austin’s most vibrant entrepreneurial communities. I’ve distilled our conversation into a fast-paced, 15-minute story that takes us back to 1995, the wild frontier of the internet. Listen on Spotify:?https://lnkd.in/grtiUz4c Listen on Apple:?https://lnkd.in/gUb4uHnr

Automate Business, Reclaim Family Time. Isn’t that what everyone’s trying to do? My latest guest on LoneStartup, Chelle Neff, figured it out. She built the award-winning hair salon Urban Betty Salon. And after 20 years of hard work she’s created the ability to focus on what truly matters—her family and life beyond work. The latest episode of LoneStartup is available to listen AND watch below! YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g_Ci5XNG Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gUJjKMAU Apple: https://lnkd.in/g4Kgke2N

Ok, so who in Austin has found their dream job? I know you're out there, and I’ve already found a few of you. Launching today is a new theme of the LoneStartup podcast called ‘ATX Dream Job’. The goal is simple: to sit down with people in Austin and hear their journey securing a job they absolutely love. And I could not have been more excited to kick things off with Austin Monthly Magazine's Madeline Hollern. As the Editor-in-Chief, she mixes work and play, profiling everything from the latest food hotspots to inspiring local visionaries. But how did she know this was her dream job? What does the job entail exactly? And how did she ultimately get there? Don’t let your career journey be lonely. Check out the latest episode of LoneStartup to get inspired from other Austinites who are building, creating and living out their dreams. Know someone who has their dream job in Austin? Send me a DM and I'll see if we can get them on the show! ?? Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gR-S4HwD ?? Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/4iXndQ6

Anyone ever heard of a little sushi spot called Uchi? If so, you likely know the story about how Chef Tyson Cole became obsessed with Japanese cuisine after being the dishwasher at a Japanese restaurant and after 20 years studying the craft, opened his flagship spot in a bungalow off Lamar. But did you know that Uchi has since expanded into 4 other concepts all run by Hai Hospitality? Each of them is infused with the philosophy and impeccable service that's unique to Uchi. And the man behind this expansion of great food and operational excellence is Tony Montero. He's the CEO of Hai Hospitality and has been in the restaurant business since he was 12 (yes, 12) years old when he also got his start as a dishwasher. Tony was just a kid from South Florida that wanted to make a little money and wasn't afraid of hard work. That skillset that would catapult him through the restaurant industry, pair him with culinary titans like Cole, and inspire others to build empires from the ground up. ??? Get inspired this Thursday morning with the latest episode of LoneStartup! ?? Links in the comments.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit down with Chris Taylor at The Red Fridge Society's HQ—a 1921 craftsman house nestled in downtown Austin. It’s more than just a space; it’s where entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives come together to network, collaborate, and unwind. As we dove into conversation, I realized there’s a much deeper story behind this unique clubhouse. Chris is the epitome of an entrepreneur—he bootstrapped his SaaS company, Square Root, for 15 years, successfully exited in 2021, and then founded the Red Fridge Society. I’m thrilled to announce that as we kick off Season 2 of LoneStartup, we’ll be hosting a LIVE taping of the show at Red Fridge Society on November 21st! I can’t wait to uncover more of Chris’s entrepreneurial journey in front of a live audience. Join us at “The Fridge” to hear the full story—RSVP through the link in the comments!

Why am I doing a podcast that's solely focused on Austin entrepreneurs? Well, for one, I can do things like this. Season 1 is done and that means it's time to get together IN PERSON to hang, network and toast to some incredible stories we heard the past few months. If you're in Austin, this is going to be a FREE event for anyone who wants to swing by. In the coming weeks, I'll be working with the bartenders at Lustre Pearl East on a custom cocktail menu that will give the first 100 people a startup-themed beverage of their choice...let's just say this event should 'Move The Needle' for the podcast. Hope to see you out there! You can RSVP here --> https://rb.gy/os2288