263: From Burnout to Freedom: Austin’s Entrepreneurial Journey

The “crush-it” culture of entrepreneurship almost led to me giving up the business I have today.

After two years at a fast-growing startup, I was pushed to the edge mentally and physically. I knew I had to walk away and form a vision for what I wanted my future to look like. It took eight years for me to go from burnout to freedom by building my business into what it is today, and creating that vision involved a lot of trial and error and reinvention.

In this episode I talk about some of the lowest points I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur, what it was like to close down a successful marketing agency, the trials of breaking up with a business partner, and the importance of defining success so you know what you’re actually working towards. 

Episode Highlights

• 5:22 The early foundation of Austin’s journey as an entrepreneur
• 8:17 Invaluable experience gained from startup life and lessons learned from burnout
• 10:58 Making sales while you sleep: Austin’s introduction to ecommerce and email marketing
• 12:49 How the Ecommerce Influence podcast was born
• 14:04 The unexpected rise and intentional fall of Austin’s marketing agency
• 18:30 The most important thing to consider when forming a business partnership
• 20:32 Austin’s lowest point in his entrepreneurship journey
• 22:38 The lightbulb moment at a mastermind that led to the creation of a new business model
• 24:47 Crush it culture resurfaces: how a second round of burn out changed the direction of Austin’s business
• 28:50 Hiring a business coach and building a membership site
• 31:23 The three current revenue-drivers for Austin’s business
• 32:42 Austin’s huge mindset shift that led to steady and consistent growth
• 36:07 How to create more freedom in your life as an entrepreneur
• 40:20 Austin’s definition of success in business and life today
• 44:22 An unpopular opinion Austin has about business that many other entrepreneurs won’t agree with

Links and Resources:

• The Doing it Different Podcast
• Make a Difference Asia Conference
• Traffic and Conversion Summit
• James Schramko
• The Coalition
• Brand Guild
• Profit Summit
• @a_brawn on Twitter
• Brand Growth Experts
• Review or subscribe on iTunes