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The Friday Habit: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Mark Labriola II
Grow your business. Lead with purpose. Love your life. The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
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- Today52 min
The Will Ferrell Impersonator Who Made a Client $3 Million
David W. Babcock is a professional Will Ferrell impersonator and the founder of In The Lead Marketing, where he uses comedy, character and trade show strategy to help brands grab attention and turn it into real sales conversations. On this episode of The Friday Habit, he talks with Mark Labriola II about how a Halloween costume contest became a business, why a celebrity impersonator at a trade show isn't a gimmick, and how he moves people from a laugh and a photo into a sales conversation in seconds.David also shares how a walk for a sandwich at San Diego Comic-Con got him on Cameo right before COVID, why everything he does with AI still stops with him, and what happened when a stranger told him, "God told me to pick you up," while he was hitchhiking across the country.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BkunZWjBMz8Key InsightsA pattern interrupt opens the door: Standing out gets attention, but a clear system is what turns that attention into sales conversations.Experience makes AI useful: The more you know, the easier it is to spot when AI is wrong, so keep a human check before anything goes out.Say yes before you feel ready: You can't know where an opportunity will lead, and committing first often creates the next one.Connect with David: https://lonniethehawk.comIn The Lead Marketing: https://intheleadmarketing.com#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Marketing #TradeShowMarketing #AI #TheFridayHabit
- 4 weeks ago58 min
Leading on Your Terms: Lessons from a CEO
Beth Goff-McMillan is the CEO of SKG, one of the fastest-growing and largest woman-owned businesses in Texas, and the founder of FOLIO. On this episode of The Friday Habit, she talks with Mark Labriola II about leading on your own terms — including what changed when she turned 50, how to hold space without losing power in male-dominated rooms, what young women often miss entering the workplace, and how aging leaders stay relevant without burning out.Under Beth's leadership, SKG has made the Inc. 5000 list three consecutive years, been named among Austin and San Antonio's Best Places to Work, and expanded flagship showrooms including the region's first Healing & Learning Center for restorative workplace design. She is a Henry Crown Fellow, former first woman chair of YPO Austin, serves on the UT Leadership and Ethics Council, and was named 2023 CEO of the Year by the Austin Business Journal.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dzij101wL_IConnect with Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-goff-mcmillan-82074bSKG: https://skgtexas.com
- Sep 11, 20261h 3m
Why Experience Matters More Than You Think in Entrepreneurship
In this episode of The Friday Habit, we sit down with Zach Staples to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, AI, and the lessons that come from building companies over time.Zach shares how his experiences in the Navy shaped the way he thinks about leadership and entrepreneurship, why experience can give founders an advantage, and how his first company, Fathom Five, influenced the way he approaches building technology today.We also discuss AI, where it should be applied, why moving quickly doesn't mean moving carelessly, and why choosing the right environment for experimentation matters.Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/x9Zo_7XygPoKey Insights1. Experience compounds: Career paths often only make sense in retrospect, and seemingly unrelated experiences can eventually shape a unique perspective and contribution.2. Communication is a founder's responsibility: If you can't explain what you're building simply enough for anyone to understand, you probably haven't clarified the idea enough yet.3. Choose where you move fast: Innovation requires experimentation, but the environment matters. The goal is to move quickly in areas where potential risks can be observed and managed.#Entrepreneurship #Founders #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth #TheFridayHabit
- Sep 4, 202644 min
How to Sell and Exit a Small Business
Mark talks with Arthur Beisner about small business sales, valuations, acquisitions, and exit planning.
- Aug 21, 20261h 4m
Why Your Expertise Isn’t as Ordinary as You Think
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Christian Ray Flores to talk about career transitions, the "competence trap," personal branding, and what happens when your expertise becomes so familiar that you stop seeing its value.They discuss why starting as a generalist can be useful, how skills from seemingly unrelated experiences can transfer into new industries, and why your differences, failures, preferences, and perspectives can become part of your personal brand.The conversation also explores how focusing your expertise into central ideas and pillar concepts can help you create content more consistently.
- Aug 7, 202645 min
How to Build a Business That Doesn't Depend on You
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark welcomes back Bryan Clayton, founder and CEO of GreenPal, the on-demand lawn care marketplace connecting homeowners with local lawn care professionals across the country.After successfully building and selling a $10 million landscaping company, Bryan started over from scratch with one goal: build a company that could eventually thrive without him. Over the past decade, GreenPal has grown into a nationwide platform serving hundreds of thousands of users every week—all without outside funding.Bryan shares the lessons he's learned from scaling a technology company, building systems that outlive the founder, leveraging AI to move faster, and creating a business that is designed to be sold from day one. He also opens up about founder identity, delegation, personal health, and why working on yourself is just as important as working on your business.If you're building a service business, SaaS company, or simply trying to create something that doesn't depend entirely on you, this conversation is full of practical insights.Key TakeawaysBuild your business to function without you.Systems create freedom; hustle alone does not.Delegate only after you understand the work yourself.AI amplifies experience—it doesn't replace it.Track inputs, not just outcomes.Every dollar spent should have a measurable return.Your business should become stronger while you're away.Hire naturally motivated people instead of trying to motivate the wrong ones.Protect your health while building your company.Continuous learning is one of the greatest competitive advantages.Notable TopicsBuilding GreenPal After Selling a $10 Million CompanyBryan explains why he started over after selling his landscaping business and how he intentionally designed GreenPal to be a scalable, sellable company from day one.The Difference Between a Lifestyle Business and a Sellable BusinessMany entrepreneurs accidentally build themselves a job. Bryan discusses the mindset shift required to create a company that has value beyond its founder.Running Your Business From a SpreadsheetEvery expense should produce a return. Bryan shares why emotional decision-making can reduce business value and how disciplined financial thinking creates long-term growth.AI Is a Force Multiplier—Not a ReplacementAI dramatically increases productivity, but only when paired with real-world experience and deep understanding of your craft.Delegation Done RightOne of the biggest mistakes founders make is delegating too early. Bryan explains why you should first understand a process before handing it off.Working In, On, and On YourselfAs businesses mature, founders should gradually shift their time from daily operations toward strategy, leadership, and personal growth.Building a Team That Doesn't Need MotivationRather than trying to motivate employees, Bryan focuses on hiring naturally curious and self-driven people who already love the work they do.Health and Business PerformanceAfter reaching nearly 300 pounds while building GreenPal, Bryan realized his physical health directly impacted his leadership and decision-making.ChaptersWelcome Back Bryan ClaytonThe Growth of GreenPalScaling From Startup to Nationwide PlatformThe Three Growth Buckets: Get, Keep, GrowLeading a 300,000-User MarketplaceHow AI Is Changing EntrepreneurshipWhy Experience Still MattersBuilding a Business to SellLifestyle Business vs. Sellable BusinessRunning Every Decision Through ROIFounder Identity After Selling a CompanyBuilding Systems That Outlast YouWorking In the Business vs. On the BusinessDelegating at the Right TimeAvoiding Founder FOMOHiring Motivated PeopleLessons From Personal HealthLearning Through YouTube and AIMonday Morning ChallengeFinal ThoughtsResources & LinksLearn more about GreenPalConnect with Bryan ClaytonVisit TheFridayHabit.comDownload the free Friday Habit System guideMemorable Quotes"You don't really have a bu
- Jul 24, 202647 min
From Manager to CEO: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Tom Kubanik, founder and CEO of SecureIt Tactical. Tom shares the remarkable story of building a company that transformed firearm storage—from military armories to consumer gun safes—without venture capital.Before becoming an entrepreneur, Tom chased a career as a professional heavy metal guitarist until an injury forced him to reinvent himself. That setback ultimately led him into sales, entrepreneurship, and eventually creating one of the most innovative companies in the firearm storage industry.Tom discusses how he built multiple businesses from scratch, why momentum is more important than perfection, and the leadership lessons that helped him break through the $5 million revenue ceiling. He also explains why entrepreneurs must stop managing every detail, learn to delegate, and create space for strategic thinking.Whether you're launching your first business or trying to scale an established company, this episode is packed with practical advice on leadership, creativity, resilience, and building something that lasts.Key TakeawaysYou don't need every answer before starting—just enough to keep moving forward.Sell your product before spending months perfecting your business.Momentum beats perfection every time.Becoming a leader requires learning to delegate nearly everything.Entrepreneurs often become the bottleneck in their own companies.Creativity should be scheduled just like meetings.Failure is one of the fastest teachers in business.Bootstrapping forces efficient decision-making and financial discipline.Claim expertise by earning it through relentless learning and execution.Long-term success comes from continuously learning and adapting.Notable TopicsFrom Heavy Metal Guitarist to EntrepreneurTom shares how an injury ended his dream of becoming a professional musician and forced him to reinvent himself through sales and eventually entrepreneurship.Starting a Business Without Knowing EverythingRather than waiting until every detail was perfect, Tom focused on making sales first and solving problems as they appeared.Becoming the Leading AuthorityTom explains how he positioned himself as an expert in military firearm storage, won a critical military contract, and used that opportunity to truly become the industry's leading authority.Why Most Businesses Stall Around $5 MillionAfter building three different companies that each plateaued around the same revenue level, Tom realized the common bottleneck was himself—not the market.Manager vs. LeaderOne of the biggest mindset shifts for growth is moving from managing every task to leading through delegation and strategic thinking.Bootstrapping vs. Venture CapitalTom discusses why being forced to self-fund his businesses ultimately made them stronger and more disciplined.Learning Through FailureFrom product mistakes to difficult financial seasons, Tom explains why expensive failures often create the greatest long-term advantages.Creating Space for CreativityOne of Tom's most valuable habits is intentionally blocking time to think, write ideas down, and allow creativity to solve business problems.Resources & LinksLearn more about SecureIt TacticalExplore The Friday Habit resources at thefridayhabit.comDownload the free Friday Habit System guideMemorable Quotes"You don't need all the answers. You just need to keep moving.""Sell one first. Then build the business.""The bottleneck wasn't my company—it was me.""Managers build systems. Leaders build people.""The entrepreneur sleeps like a baby because they believe they'll figure it out.""Everybody can work hard. Not everybody trains themselves to be creative."Monday Morning Action ItemSchedule 15 minutes every day this week for uninterrupted thinking.Turn off distractions, grab a notebook, and simply think about your business. Write down every idea—even the bad ones. Creating intentional space for creativity can unlock solutions that never surface during a busy workday.Small, consistent thinking sessions often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
- Jul 17, 202640 min
Building a Lead Generation System for Sustainable B2B Growth
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Kevin Downey, a Kansas City-based entrepreneur and recruitment leader who helps B2B companies build high-performing sales teams and create scalable lead-generation systems.Kevin shares how his early career in golf equipment sales eventually led him into entrepreneurship, recruiting, outbound sales, and email marketing. He explains why his first attempts at email outreach failed, what changed when he began writing emails like real phone conversations, and why properly structured email campaigns can deliver an unmatched return on investment.The conversation also explores how small businesses should approach their first sales hire, why commission-only roles frequently fail, and how Latin American business development representatives can help companies scale outbound activity at a manageable cost.Kevin also challenges one of the most common beliefs in modern sales: that cold calling no longer works. According to Kevin, activity still creates opportunities. The problem is not that calling has stopped working—it is that many representatives are not consistently making the calls.Whether you are building your first sales process, hiring a business development representative, or trying to generate more qualified B2B leads, this episode offers a practical look at the systems, activity, and execution required to grow.🧠 Takeaways:Activity breeds business, but representatives must consistently do the work.Cold calling is a business development and marketing function until a qualified decision-maker is engaged.Small businesses may need an appointment setter before hiring a full sales representative.Commission-only sales roles often fail without the right structure, support, and opportunity.Successful cold emails should sound like concise, natural phone conversations.Email marketing requires enough volume to generate consistent leads.CRMs are useful for managing relationships but are not always built for high-volume cold email.Latin American representatives can provide experienced outbound support at a more manageable cost.Once someone becomes a lead, human follow-up should replace automated communication.Every B2B business needs a repeatable lead-generation system before growth becomes urgent.Kevin’s Approach to Cold Email:Kevin recommends keeping cold emails concise, conversational, and focused on one clear pain point.Instead of writing a long marketing message, the email should communicate:The problem you believe the prospect may haveHow your company can help solve itA simple reason for the prospect to replyA clear next stepThe goal of the first email is not necessarily to close the sale or immediately schedule a meeting. It is to identify a decision-maker with a relevant problem and begin a real conversation.Chapters:Welcome and Guest Introduction: Kevin DowneyKaraoke Stories and Rapid-Fire QuestionsMoving to Kansas City and Beginning a Sales CareerFrom Golf Equipment Sales to EntrepreneurshipLanding the First Recruitment ClientBuilding a Recruitment Agency Through ExecutionWhy Most B2B Outbound Email FailsWriting Emails Like Real Cold CallsWhy Email Volume MattersThe Cost and ROI of Scalable Email CampaignsShould You Hire a Sales Rep or an Appointment Setter?Why Cold Calling Is a Marketing FunctionCreating a Sales Team in the Right OrderHiring Business Development Representatives in Latin AmericaBuilding an International TeamTraining and Onboarding Remote RepresentativesThe Essential B2B Email Technology StackWhy CRMs Should Not Run High-Volume Cold OutreachUsing AI Without Losing the Human ConnectionWhat Makes an Effective Cold EmailWhy Sales Representatives Fail to Make CallsActivity, Accountability, and Sales PerformanceBlocking Time for ProspectingBuilding a Lead-Generation SystemWhere to Connect with KevinResources & Links:Connect with Kevin at kevinmdowney.comExplore Kevin’s YouTube content and consulting resourcesLearn more about the Active Index assessmentConnect with Kevin for sales recruiting, business development, and outbound lead-generation guidanceMonday Morning Action Item:Determine how your business will consistently generate qualified leads.Do not wait until your current opportunities disappear. Build a repeatable lead-generation system now—whether it includes cold calling, outb
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About The Friday Habit
Grow your business. Lead with purpose. Love your life. The Friday Habit gives entrepreneurs and small business owners actionable tips, inspiring interviews, and real-world strategies to help you scale smart and stay sane. Hosted by Mark Labriola II, this weekly show is your permission slip to build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
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