Smashing the Plateau

Trippe Steven Fried is a business lawyer and consultant with the "outside-the-box" belief that attorneys can actually add value to the ventures they represent.In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a legal and consulting practice that clients actually want to engage with — and how to apply the same principles to your own independent business.Trippe and I discuss:How Trippe landed on his current business model [03:44]Why nobody wants what he's selling — and how he solved it [05:02]How to communicate your value proposition around wants, not needs [07:34]What separates successful involuntary entrepreneurs from those who struggle [12:00]How professionals can collaborate without a formal arrangement [14:08]How trusted thinking partners shaped Trippe's success [18:41]The future of businesses formed by involuntary entrepreneurs [17:32]Learn more about Trippe at http://www.olyverapp.com/.______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of peer perspective.Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest• Stay connected to the conversation.Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Camille L. Miller is the Founder and Visionary behind the Soul Professional® Movement, a global initiative redefining success for purpose-driven professionals. She has built an international community spanning 6 continents and 48+ countries, bringing together leaders and visionaries committed to aligning their work with who they truly are.A three-time Amazon bestselling author, Camille's work explores the intersection of purpose, business, and leadership. Through her writing, speaking, and community building, she is leading a new conversation around authentic success. Her mission is simple: to help others bring their gifts to the world and create a lasting impact.In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a purpose-driven community that outlasts you and operates beyond your personal involvement.Camille and I discuss:What led Camille to start the Soul Professional Movement [03:38]How Camille's prior business experience shaped her approach [05:08]The evolution from a coffee club to a global community [07:06]The shift from a paid to a free community model [10:01]How Camille learned to lead instead of do [08:23]The biggest hiring mistakes she made and what she learned [15:29]What it means to build a double bottom line organization [20:00]How Camille finds thinking partners as a pioneering CEO [23:36]Learn more about Camille at her:Website: https://www.soulprofessional.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillelmiller/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@camillelmiller______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of peer perspective.Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest• Stay connected to the conversation.Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Federico Malatesta is the founder of FM Transformational Coaching™, a practice that integrates executive insight, leadership frameworks, and lived experience to explore how identity evolves through change. His background includes 15 years in oil and gas, culminating as Chief Investment Officer responsible for a $40B capital program. He is also a serial entrepreneur and writes the newsletter "Almost Everything Is Context." In 2022, Malatesta founded The Artha Ranch in Texas, which functions as both a coaching space and a working reined cow horse ranch. In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a business rooted in lived experience, personal values, and the wisdom that only comes from navigating major life transitions.Federico and I discuss:What led Federico to leave his dream job and pursue entrepreneurship [03:27]How watching a documentary changed the direction of his life [05:00]What horses reveal about leadership and communication [06:07]Why every person — and every horse — requires a different approach [08:15]How Federico structured his boutique coaching business around a chosen lifestyle [12:13]Why solo entrepreneurs must stay connected to community to grow [15:35]What Federico means by "almost everything is context" [18:14]Learn more about Federico at https://www.federicomalatesta.com/podcast/smashingtheplateau______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of peer perspective.Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest• Stay connected to the conversation.Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Glenn is a professional economist and management consultant who specialises in local and regional economic development. After leaving a senior public sector role in 2013, Glenn has worked as a freelance consultant with local, regional, and national government in the UK, and over the past two years has ramped up his online presence, developing online business ideas — aiming to commercialise his knowledge in new ways whilst maintaining the social purpose of improving economic prosperity for localities and communities. Glenn is a member of Smart Passive Income. In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a distinctive consulting brand and create your own breakthrough as an independent expert.Glenn and I discuss:What prompted Glenn to become independent [02:36]How Glenn differentiated himself in a competitive consultancy market [06:37]How Glenn developed his brand as a visible expert [08:46]The tension between financial realities and staying focused [14:49]How Glenn uses his peer network to make strategic decisions [18:07]How Glenn's definition of success has evolved [20:11]The role of community and thinking partners in business growth [23:06]Learn more about Glenn at https://www.economicdevelopment.world______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of peer perspective.Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest• Stay connected to the conversation.Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:https://smashingtheplateau.com/news

Miki Feldman Simon, MSc, PCC, is an executive coach, global business leader, speaker, and author of CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. Over her three-decade career, she has held leadership roles in marketing, operations, and HR across multiple industries and guided organizations through growth and successful acquisitions. In her coaching, she helps leaders align values and actions to lead with greater clarity and influence. Known for her warmth, sharp insight, and candor, she blends behavioral science with practical tools that drive lasting change.In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how leading yourself first can transform the way you show up as a leader and build deeper influence with the people around you.Miki and I discuss:Miki's non-linear career journey across Israel, Australia, and the US [02:56]How unexpected career breaks shaped her leadership philosophy [05:28]Why leadership starts with leading yourself [12:26]The CORE framework: Clarify, Operationalize, Reflect, Evaluate [13:19]How habit stacking builds intentional leadership [15:42]Understanding self-talk and limiting beliefs [17:21]The gap between intentions and impact [19:18]Real results leaders experience through the CORE framework [20:31]The role of curiosity and psychological safety in community [23:39]Learn more about Miki at https://mikifeldmansimon.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikifeldmansimon/______________________________________________________________About Smashing the PlateauSmashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.______________________________________________________________Take the Next Step• Experience the power of peer perspective.Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest• Stay connected to the conversation.Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:https://smashingtheplateau.com/news