Empowering Entrepreneurs

Join Glenn Harper and Julie Smith as they help you build your brand and gain confidence as an entrepreneur. Explore key topics like business growth, mentorship, and overcoming challenges. Their guests bring intriguing and entertaining clarity to help you increase your confidence in building your business (and enjoy your journey doing it). Drive your passion, grow your business, and empower your journey today!

Empowering Entrepreneurs is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 136 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Empowering Entrepreneurs, a business show with 136 episodes published.

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  Episode #136

  Stop Confusing Tasks for Business Growth

  Aug 12, 20264 minS5

  Many entrepreneurs mistake task completion for true business growth—discover the biggest lie holding you back. Entrepreneurs often fall into the trap of feeling productive by crossing tasks off their to-do lists—but is that really growing your business? In this eye-opening episode, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith bust through the biggest lie most entrepreneurs tell themselves. This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started. Key Takeaways Don’t confuse task completion with business building: Many entrepreneurs spend their time on easy tasks instead of strategic growth activities (00:29-01:32). Prepare for the necessary pivot: Being stuck in routines can make it difficult to adapt when your business needs a change (00:45). Identify your real product or service: It’s easy to mistake what you sell (e.g., homes) for what you truly provide (e.g., the dream of homeownership) (02:09-03:02). The path of least resistance isn’t the best route: Doing what’s comfortable often prevents substantial progress (01:37). Growth requires doing the hard things: Embrace the challenging tasks if you want your business to thrive (01:47-01:49). 5 Frequently Asked Questions What is the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves? - Glenn Harper explains it’s believing they are running a business, when they’re just completing tasks (00:29). Why do entrepreneurs get stuck doing easy tasks? - According to Julie Smith, easy tasks are enjoyable and offer the path of least resistance, making them an easy comfort zone (01:37). How can being task-focused hurt your business? - It can prevent you from pivoting quickly or prioritizing activities that actually drive growth and revenue (01:47). What does it mean to misunderstand your product or service? - Glenn Harper shares that entrepreneurs often think they’re selling a product (like a house) instead of the real value (a dream or lifestyle) (02:09). What can help entrepreneurs shift their mindset? - Focus on doing the hard, strategic things and be prepared to pivot—don’t let comfort tasks hold you back from growth (01:49). Running a business doesn’t have to run your life. Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business. Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today. Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account . Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.  An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family. Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.  Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree. Copyright 2026 Glenn Harper Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus Running a business takes vision, grit… and the right financial partner. At Harper & Company CPAs Plus, we don’t just crunch numbers—we empower entrepreneurs. From proactive tax strategy and accounting to business advisory services, our team helps you keep more of what you earn and scale with confidence. Whether you’re launching, growing, or preparing for exit, Harper & Company is in your corner with expert guidance built for business owners like you. Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222. Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus

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  Episode #134

  How Entrepreneurs Handle Hard Talks With Family and Teams

  Jul 29, 20268 minS5

  Learn what makes entrepreneurial conversations with family, staff, and funders so challenging, and how to address them confidently. Starting—or growing—a business isn't just about grit and hustle. Sometimes, the toughest part is having difficult conversations with the people who matter most. Glenn Harper and Julie Smith look into what makes these moments so challenging and how to approach them with clarity and confidence. Key Takeaways: Transition Talks Are Critical: Whether it's telling your employer you're leaving, sharing your dream with your spouse, or explaining your vision to friends and family, it's tough to put your entrepreneurial drive into words others understand (Glenn Harper at 00:33). Confidence Is Contagious: How you frame your plan—confidently presenting your vision and preparation—shapes how much support you’ll receive from those around you (Julie Smith at 02:29). Tough Conversations Never End: Success and failure both require direct discussions, whether it's about reinvesting in the business or facing setbacks with transparency and a plan (Glenn Harper at 04:40, 05:18). Running a business doesn’t have to run your life. Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business. Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today. Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account . FAQ's About How Entrepreneurs Handle Hard Talks With Family and Teams What are the hardest conversations entrepreneurs face when starting a business? The hardest conversations entrepreneurs face often involve telling employers, spouses, children, and friends about their decision to leave stable jobs and pursue a new venture, as discussed by Glenn Harper and Julie Smith. These talks are challenging because others may not understand the entrepreneur's mindset or vision, making it difficult to articulate their reasons and address doubts 00:33–01:23. How should entrepreneurs approach discussing their new venture with family and supporters? Entrepreneurs should approach discussions with family and supporters by clearly communicating their vision, having a confident plan, and directly addressing potential concerns or objections. Glenn Harper recommends presenting a well-thought-out strategy, explaining the financial plan, and specifying the support needed, which helps make these conversations easier and more productive 02:07–02:21. Why is confidence important when explaining your entrepreneurial decisions to others? Confidence is crucial when explaining entrepreneurial decisions because it reassures supporters and helps them believe in the venture. As Julie Smith explains, when entrepreneurs lack confidence, others may also doubt the plan, but a clear, purposeful vision encourages buy-in and support from those around them 02:29–02:45. Running a business doesn’t have to run your life. Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business. Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today. Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account . Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.  An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family. Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.  Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Copyright 2026 Glenn Harper Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus Running a business takes vision, grit… and the right financial partner. At Harper & Company CPAs Plus, we don’t just crunch numbers—we empower entrepreneurs. From proactive tax strategy and accounting to business advisory services, our team helps you keep more of what you earn and scale with confidence. Whether you’re launching, growing, or preparing for exit, Harper & Company is in your corner with expert guidance built for business owners like you. Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222. Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus

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  Episode #133

  How Chasing Every Opportunity Can Ruin Your Business

  Jul 22, 20266 minS5

  The Real Reasons Small Mistakes Kill Businesses Today Have you ever wondered why so many promising businesses quietly fail—not from catastrophic mistakes, but from tiny, often overlooked missteps? In this eye-opening episode, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith reveal the small things that slowly erode business success: lack of purpose, scattered focus, and the avalanche of overwhelming opportunities. Through candid conversation, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights, they dissect why even the most driven entrepreneurs can lose their way without a clear vision and decisive action. If you're tired of feeling stuck or distracted in your business journey, this episode will challenge your thinking and reignite your determination. Discover how pausing for clarity could be the most powerful tool for business survival. And why sometimes, the things you ignore are the ones killing your dreams. This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started. 3 Key Takeaways: Define your purpose early and let it guide every major business decision. Don’t let opportunities turn into distractions—capture ideas, but finish your current race first. Take intentional time to reflect, focus, and see beyond today’s fires toward long-term success. FAQ's What small habits or decisions are causing businesses to fail today? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith explain that a lack of purpose, unclear decision-making, and constantly chasing new opportunities without direction are small but critical reasons businesses struggle or fail. Entrepreneurs often lack awareness around profit, inventory, and their actual goals, leading to poor daily decisions. How can entrepreneurs avoid getting distracted by too many opportunities? Glenn Harper suggests entrepreneurs should clearly define their main goal, make intentional decisions, and set aside new opportunities for later instead of jumping on every idea immediately. Staying focused helps ensure consistent progress toward the primary objective rather than being derailed by distractions. Why is having a clear purpose so crucial for business success? According to Glenn Harper and Julie Smith, a clear purpose allows entrepreneurs to answer every other business question and make better decisions. Purpose acts as a guiding star, helping teams prioritize actions and avoid decision paralysis or distraction by less important opportunities. Running a business doesn’t have to run your life. Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business. Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today. Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account . Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.  An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family. Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.  Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Copyright 2026 Glenn Harper Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus Running a business takes vision, grit… and the right financial partner. At Harper & Company CPAs Plus, we don’t just crunch numbers—we empower entrepreneurs. From proactive tax strategy and accounting to business advisory services, our team helps you keep more of what you earn and scale with confidence. Whether you’re launching, growing, or preparing for exit, Harper & Company is in your corner with expert guidance built for business owners like you. Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222. Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus

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  Episode #132

  Scaling Up or Staying Small: The Truth About Business Growth

  Jul 15, 20265 minS5

  Success doesn’t have to mean “big.” Shape your business to fit your own vision and happiness, not someone else’s expectations. Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss the age-old question: is bigger always better when it comes to business? As they talk about the pressures entrepreneurs face to constantly scale and grow, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith explore why some of the best businesses intentionally stay small — focusing on profitability, purpose, and personal satisfaction over sheer size. Together, they uncover the importance of quiet reflection, defining your own vision for success, and tuning out the noise from social media and peers. Whether you dream of running a multinational company or a boutique operation, this episode will help you clarify your goals and find fulfillment on your entrepreneurial journey. Here are 3 key takeaways for any business leader considering their next move: Define Your Own Success - Don’t let external noise dictate your goals. Ask yourself what truly makes you happy and fulfilled in your business (03:00). Is it maximizing profits, impacting more clients, or maintaining flexibility and control? Intentional Planning is Essential - Growth for growth’s sake isn’t always the answer. Carve out quiet time away from daily tasks (preferably on a mountain, according to Glenn Harper!) to reflect on the future you want and map a path to get there (02:19). Scaling Requires Support - If growth is your goal, don’t go at it alone. Building a great team or hiring experienced consultants can make scaling more manageable and successful (01:31; 04:04). This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started. FAQ's Is it better for a business to stay small or try to scale up? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss that "better" depends on the entrepreneur's vision and goals. Some find more satisfaction and profitability by staying small, while others thrive by scaling up and building large teams 00:33 01:58. Ultimately, choosing the right path means assessing personal happiness and business objectives rather than blindly following growth trends. How can entrepreneurs decide what size they want their business to be? Glenn Harper recommends entrepreneurs spend quiet, uninterrupted time away from daily tasks to reflect deeply on what makes them happy and what they truly want their business to be 02:19 02:50. By tuning out outside noise and societal expectations, they can clarify their own definitions of success before committing to growth or staying small. What steps should business owners take before scaling their company? Before scaling, Glenn Harper suggests entrepreneurs clarify their vision, assemble the right team, and seek guidance from experienced consultants 01:26 04:04. He emphasizes that attempting to scale alone is very difficult, so learning from others can dramatically improve the process. Running a business doesn’t have to run your life. Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business. Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today. Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account . Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.  An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family. Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.  Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Copyright 2026 Glenn Harper Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus Running a business takes vision, grit… and the right financial partner. At Harper & Company CPAs Plus, we don’t just crunch numbers—we empower entrepreneurs. From proactive tax strategy and accounting to business advisory services, our team helps you keep more of what you earn and scale with confidence. Whether you’re launching, growing, or preparing for exit, Harper & Company is in your corner with expert guidance built for business owners like you. Visit www.harpercpaplus.com to book a complimentary discovery call today - or call us at 614-456-7222. Brought to you by Harper & Company CPAs Plus

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  Episode #131

  Nick Averia on Sustainable Growth and Entrepreneurial Freedom

  Apr 22, 202655 minS5

  <p>Whether you’re feeling burned out or seeking inspiration for sustainable growth, this conversation delivers hard-earned insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and legacy.</p><p>We sit down with Nick Avera, founder of Agency Acquisitions and a seasoned entrepreneur with a global story. From his multicultural upbringing between Vancouver and Chile, to building a career spanning DJing, corporate roles, and ultimately launching and scaling businesses, Nick shares pivotal lessons on buying back your time, building resilient companies, and the true value of systems and team development.</p><p>Tune in as Nick reveals why preparing your business for sale is a...

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