Before Solidcore had a single studio open, Anne Mahlum turned down $75,000 from an investor who wanted 30% of the company. She knew that money would become a crutch, so she walked away and risked everything on her own terms.

Anne is a fascinating person. She started her first business with nothing but a running route past a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. Then she built another studio. This is a replay of one of my favorite conversations on the show, and it is one I keep coming back to.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1hSIhe6UmE

"Money for me has always been a trophy. It means I did a really good job." ~ Anne Mahlum

In This Episode:

- How strict standards built culture at Back on My Feet

- Why giving things away for free makes people value them less

- How the same culture principles shaped Solidcore

- How she negotiated 100 Solidcore locations without security deposits

- Turning down $75K to go all in

- Why founders need skin in the game

About Anne Mahlum:

Anne Mahlum is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, investor, and philanthropist who has built two organizations from scratch. In 2007, she founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that uses running to help people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives, growing it to 14 cities with an $8M annual budget. In 2013, she founded Solidcore, scaling it to over 100 locations before selling it 10 years later and sharing millions from the sale with her employees.

Website: https://annemahlum.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottlieb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

A few weeks ago, I was on a tiny island in the Keys with my husband, phone off, and nowhere to be. A $25K speaking deal came in while I was lying on a lounge chair watching fish jump out of the water.

That moment got me thinking. There is a fine line between putting in the work and pushing so hard that you start repelling the very things you want. I had crossed that line without even realizing it, and the vacation snapped me back.

This solo episode covers what that taught me about building a personal brand that works even when you are not. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is nothing at all.

"If you are pushing, you will attract pushing energy, and you will push everything that you want away." ~ Jen Gottlieb

In This Episode:

- The fine line between high achieving and desperate pushing

- How rushing leads to avoidable mistakes

- Doing nothing as a productivity strategy

- Your personal brand is your most valuable asset

- Posting content four times a day changed everything

- Jen's challenge to you

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottlieb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

I'm revisiting one of my favorite conversations with bestselling author Steven Pressfield, whose wisdom on fear, resistance, and creativity has inspired millions. If you've been sitting on an idea, delaying your next move, or wondering why the work that matters most feels the hardest to begin, this episode will give you the perspective—and the push—you need.

When Steven Pressfield published The Legend of Bagger Vance, many called him an overnight success. What they didn't see were the 30 years of failed novels, unproduced screenplays, and stretches of homelessness that came before it.

Few conversations left an impact on me as this one did. Steven is now in his eighties and still creating, doing what he loves, and showing no signs of stopping. I never thought about fear the same after this podcast, thanks to Steven's words.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/K3Z8bcnvNlU

"It's like the old story of an overnight success that only takes you 30 years." ~ Steven Pressfield

In This Episode:

- Finding your authentic creative voice

- How to work with the muse

- A simple process for developing great ideas

- Why resistance means you're on the right path

- Self-doubt as a sign of growth

- What a shadow career really is

About Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art, which has sold over a million copies worldwide and has become essential reading for writers, artists, and entrepreneurs. His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, was made into a film starring Matt Damon and Will Smith. His other novel, Gates of Fire, is required reading at West Point. Before his breakthrough at 52, he spent decades failing as a novelist and screenwriter, at times living out of his car. His latest novel, The Arcadian, was released in May 2026.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/

X: https://x.com/SPressfield

Website: https://stevenpressfield.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottlieb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb