How does the first hour of your day dictate your success as a leader? For many business owners, the morning is a frantic rush. This episode challenges that norm with Michael Klassen, co-founder and host of the 5AM Podcast. With a deep background in broadcast television and media production, Michael joins Harmonious at Lunch to detail why a purposeful morning routine is a non-negotiable strategic asset for any executive.

We go beyond just waking up early and discuss the core components that drive performance: cultivating genuine gratitude to improve decision-making and developing an abundance mindset to spot opportunities others miss. Michael shares the framework he uses to help entrepreneurs and leaders structure their mornings for mental clarity, sustained focus, and personal fulfillment, directly impacting their business's bottom line. This is your guide to building a morning that builds a better company.

Chapters:

[00:00] - Intro: Your Morning Routine as a Business Strategy

[01:35] - Michael Klassen on Why He Founded the 5AM Podcast

[03:50] - The Tangible Business Benefits of a Gratitude Practice

[06:20] - Shifting from a Scarcity to an Abundance Mindset as a Leader

[09:10] - The Practical Framework for a High-Impact Morning Routine

[12:00] - Leveraging Storytelling Skills from Broadcast TV in Business

[14:45] - Overcoming Consistency Hurdles for Non-Morning People

[16:30] - How to Connect with Michael and the 5AM Community

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Download the full podcast here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harmonious-at-lunch/id1722490295

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CIVZu21nyAbhHuO0nskRq?si=3d1f729fa9a743bd

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For strategies to achieve greater clarity in yourself and your employees, visit the HumanOp Website: https://humanop.com/

Learn from Michael Klassen & the 5AM Podcast: Join a community dedicated to personal growth and intentional living. Visit the 5AM Podcast website for powerful resources and episodes: https://www.5ampodcast.com/

Connect with the 5AM Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5AMPodcastChannel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5ampodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5ampodcast/

X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/5ampodcast1

Follow Harmonious at Lunch:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanop-technologies-inc/

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

#MorningRoutine #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset #ProductivityHacks #PersonalGrowth

Think you need a massive cash injection from VCs to succeed? Fractional CFO and former investment banker Stan Sukhinin joins Harmonious at Lunch to argue that for most businesses, capital is NOT the primary problem. He reveals the dangerous myth that drives founders to chase funding before they have a viable business model, a trap that often leads to failure.

Stan unpacks the two real reasons most companies struggle: a lack of customers and poor gross margins. Discover why many founders use the hunt for capital to avoid the uncomfortable but essential work of sales and product validation. This conversation is a crucial reality check for any entrepreneur who believes 'more money' is the answer. Learn what investors actually look for and the steps to building a financially healthy, sustainable company from the ground up.

Chapters:

[00:00] - Intro: Why Capital Isn't Your Primary Problem

[01:15] - The Post-COVID VC Funding Myth That Traps Founders

[03:40] - The 2 Real Reasons Businesses Fail (It's Not Lack of Money)

[05:25] - The Critical Mistake: Growing Revenue with Negative Gross Margins

[07:10] - Flip the Script: Validate Your Idea & Build a Waitlist FIRST

[10:00] - Why Founders Chase Funding to Avoid Uncomfortable Work (Sales!)

[12:20] - A CFO's Advice for Product-Obsessed Founders

[15:15] - When SHOULD You Seek Outside Investment? (Optimal Capital Structure)

[17:00] - The E-commerce Trap: Why You Can't Bootstrap & The Debt vs. Equity Dilemma

[20:30] - Final Checks Before Approaching Investors for 7-Figure Businesses

[21:40] - Where to Connect with Stan Sukhinin

Like this video, Comment with your thoughts, and Subscribe to Harmonious at Lunch!

Download the full podcast here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harmonious-at-lunch/id1722490295

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CIVZu21nyAbhHuO0nskRq?si=3d1f729fa9a743bd

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For strategies to achieve greater clarity in yourself and your employees, visit the HumanOp Website: https://humanop.com/

Learn more from Stan Sukhinin & Sorso: For expert CFO guidance without the full-time overhead, visit Stan's consulting practice: https://www.thesorso.com

Connect with Stan Sukhinin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-sukhinin/

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Stan_3s

Personal Website: https://www.sukhinin.org

Follow Harmonious at Lunch:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanop-technologies-inc/

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

#StartupFunding #CashFlow #FractionalCFO #BusinessFinance #VentureCapital

Why do so many high-achievers credit their success to one strikingly simple habit? Veteran real estate investor and mentor Dennis Henson joins Harmonious at Lunch to detail the single most effective action for achieving long-term professional and personal growth. After mentoring hundreds of successful students, he identified the one common denominator: the daily habit of reading positive material aligned with your primary goal.

This episode breaks down how this small, consistent action serves as a powerful tool for business leaders. Dennis explains how to use this method to maintain motivation, gain critical clarity on your objectives, and overcome the subconscious resistance that derails most new routines. Discover how to build a sustainable practice that improves focus, reduces stress, and keeps you on track, drawing lessons from the repeated failures of historical figures like Hershey and Lincoln.

In This Episode:

[00:00] - Intro: The Simple Habit for Lifelong Success

[01:18] - Dennis Henson's Journey from Real Estate to Mentorship

[03:00] - The #1 Success Habit Taught to Every Student

[05:25] - How a 6-Year Project Became a Tool for Habit Formation

[08:00] - Why This Isn't Just "Reading": The Power of Contemplation

[09:15] - Overcoming Your Subconscious Resistance to New Habits

[10:45] - Gaining Motivation from the Failures of Great Leaders

[12:30] - A Proven Method to Find Your Goal When You Feel Adrift

[15:10] - Using The "Aladdin's Lamp" Principle for Goal Setting

[17:00] - How to Get Started Today & Access Free Resources

(Note: Timestamps may vary slightly based on the final video edit.)

Like this video, Comment with your thoughts, and Subscribe to Harmonious at Lunch!

Download the full podcast here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harmonious-at-lunch/id1722490295

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CIVZu21nyAbhHuO0nskRq?si=3d1f729fa9a743bd

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For strategies to achieve greater clarity in yourself and your employees, visit the HumanOp Website: https://humanop.com/

Learn from Dennis Henson: Get Dennis's book, 'Real Impact,' and access FREE monthly e-books and other tools designed to build your success habits: http://realimpactbook.com/

Connect with Dennis Henson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennisjhenson/

Follow Harmonious at Lunch:

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

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanop-technologies-inc/

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

#SuccessHabits #PersonalDevelopment #Productivity #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship

Are you busy, or are you productive? In this weekly update, Harmonious at Lunch host Brandon Smith gets transparent about how a simple scheduling request exposed major cracks in his own productivity system. He shares the candid story of discovering his automated AI lead generation "robots" had been silently broken for five weeks, potentially costing the company significant revenue opportunities.

This episode is a real-world case study in applying the "Signal vs. Noise" framework to your business. Brandon details the exact steps he took to execute a complete calendar overhaul, why he ditched third-party apps like Calendly for Google Calendar's native scheduler, and how he uses aggressive time blocking to protect his focus. Learn how to identify your highest-value activities (the "signal") and ruthlessly eliminate the distractions that destroy your momentum.

In This Episode:

[00:00] - This Week's Crazy Episodes & The "Signal vs. Noise" Follow-Up

[01:10] - The Wake-Up Call: How Scheduling an Interview Exposed My Calendar Chaos

[02:15] - My Calendar Overhaul: Why I Ditched Calendly for Google Calendar Schedules

[03:25] - Identifying The #1 Signal: Focusing on Revenue for the HumanOp Retreat

[05:22] - The Painful Discovery: Our AI Lead Gen Bots Were Broken for 5 Weeks

[07:05] - How Automation is Saving Me an Hour Every Week on This Podcast

[08:00] - The Power of Uninterrupted Focus vs. Sporadic Work

[08:50] - My Action Plan: How I'm Taking Back Control of My Time & Calendar

[10:15] - An Invitation: Join Us at the HumanOp People-Centric Business Retreat

[11:20] - What Makes This Business Retreat Different (2X ROI Blueprint)

Like this video, Comment with your thoughts, and Subscribe to Harmonious at Lunch!

Download the full podcast here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harmonious-at-lunch/id1722490295

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CIVZu21nyAbhHuO0nskRq?si=3d1f729fa9a743bd

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Join the HumanOp Business Retreat: This episode's revenue focus is on our upcoming retreat for business owners with teams. Get a 90-day blueprint for growth, ongoing accountability, and strategies to build a business compatible with who you are. Learn more and see testimonials at: https://humanop.com/retreat

For strategies to achieve greater clarity in yourself and your employees, visit the HumanOp Website: https://humanop.com/

Follow Harmonious at Lunch:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanop-technologies-inc/

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

#TimeManagement #Productivity #BusinessAutomation #LeadGeneration #CalendarManagement

Is the $1.3 trillion in bank-issued credit card debt weighing down business owners a legitimate obligation, or is it based on a systemic banking fallacy? Tommy Kilpatrick, an author and entrepreneur with a background in accounting, joins Harmonious at Lunch to present a startling claim: your bank-issued credit card debt may not be a real debt at all.

After being left with $85,000 in credit card debt from a business deal gone wrong, Tommy challenged the banks in federal court. He argues that without an invoice or a signed promissory note, banks have no legal standing for the debt they claim you owe. He breaks down the difference between a true debt (like from a store card) and what he calls "alleged" bank-issued debt, explaining the process he used to have his balance completely removed from his credit report in about 45 days, with no tax consequences.

Chapters:

[00:00] - Intro: A Method to "Nuke" Your Credit Card Debt

[01:10] - How an $85,000 Business Setback Led to a Major Discovery

[03:20] - The Core Argument: No Invoice, No Promissory Note, No Debt

[05:41] - Why This Doesn't Apply to Mortgages or Car Loans

[08:08] - The Critical Difference: True Store Credit vs. Bank-Issued Cards

[11:05] - Is Your Credit Card Actually a Disguised Gift Card from the Bank's Ad Budget?

[14:48] - The 45-Day Strategy to Challenge and Remove Alleged Debt

[16:20] - Using a CPA and Attorney Letter to Add Power to Your Claim

[18:05] - How to Use a Lawsuit Complaint (Without Filing) to Force the Bank's Hand

[21:15] - Why Banks Often Fold to Avoid Depositions and Court

[23:00] - Where to Find Tommy's Resources and Supporting Documents

Like this video, Comment with your thoughts, and Subscribe to Harmonious at Lunch!

Download the full podcast here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harmonious-at-lunch/id1722490295

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CIVZu21nyAbhHuO0nskRq?si=3d1f729fa9a743bd

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-harmonious-at-lunch-163898157/

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Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb240cab-0e14-4923-8c75-03fe1b21e3ef/harmonious-at-lunch

For strategies to achieve greater clarity in yourself and your employees, visit the HumanOp Website: https://humanop.com/

Learn more from Tommy Kilpatrick:

Explore Tommy's step-by-step method and get the resources mentioned in the episode: https://www.diy-debtrelief.com/

Connect with Tommy Kilpatrick: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571446316625

Follow Harmonious at Lunch:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanop-technologies-inc/

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

#CreditCardDebt #DebtRelief #BusinessFinance #SmallBusinessOwner #FinancialLiteracy