What if you ran your life the way great founders run their companies?

In this episode of The LIV Lab, I feature a blogcast by Jeff Burgess, founder of BCD Video and author of It Worked for Me. Jeff shares ten business principles that helped him build a $100 million company — from trusting your gut to holding yourself accountable.

Throughout the episode, I connect these ideas to everyday life through one central theme: you are your business. Your values shape your culture. Your actions are your product. And your reputation is your brand.

As the new year begins, this episode encourages you to aim high, move forward without waiting for perfect clarity, and build trust through confidence, listening, and integrity.

00:00 Welcome to The LIV Lab

00:24 Introducing Jeff Burgess and His Business Philosophy

01:46 10 Easy Business Rules That Apply to Everyday Life

01:51 The Power of OPFD: Speed, Accountability, and Quality

04:18 10 Business Commandments for Entrepreneurs

05:05 Connecting Business Principles to Personal Life

13:08 Final Thoughts and Reflections

17:47 Lab Notes

When you’re standing at a fork in the road, it’s tempting to wait for certainty — the “perfect” sign that you’re making the right choice. But what if the people who build the most meaningful careers aren’t the ones who feel 100% sure… but the ones who learn how to take smart risks without losing their purpose?

In this episode, I sit down with Charles Levin — founder of Mu Avenue Press, novelist, former tech and business leader, and lifelong reinventor — to unpack what it really takes to choose a path when the future isn’t guaranteed. Charles shares how he went from studying philosophy and ancient Greek to launching businesses, writing bestselling thrillers, and building a publishing company — and what every pivot taught him about resilience, reinvention, and momentum.

We talk about the 40–70% rule for decision-making (why waiting for 100% certainty can cost you opportunities), what poker taught Charles about calculated risk, and why purpose isn’t just a mission statement — it’s the people you impact along the way. If you’ve been stuck trying to pick the “right” option, this conversation will help you move forward with courage, clarity, and a compass.

📩 Share your thoughts:

What’s one thing you’re 40–70% sure you should try — a project, a class, a leap, a conversation? Commit to it for one week and tell me what you chose. Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com and follow @thelivlabpodcast on Instagram for more episodes on risk, purpose, and growth.

What if the thing you’ve spent your whole life trying to hide… is actually the thing that makes you powerful?

In this episode, I talk with Maya Chupkov. She is a podcast host, storyteller, documentary director, and lifelong stutterer. Growing up, Maya’s stutter shaped the classes she was placed into, the way adults perceived her, and the confidence she carried into college and her career. But instead of letting it limit her, she learned to see it as a strength.

We talk about how she built a career in communications despite the very thing people told her would hold her back, how she learned to stop hiding and start owning her voice, and why vulnerability became her greatest professional asset. Maya also shares the story behind her successful podcast, Proud Stutter, and the powerful documentary she’s directing on stuttering, identity, and generational trauma.

If you are feeling bounded to your challenges, let Maya's story be proof that your struggles don't disqualify you from success. You don’t need a perfect voice, a perfect résumé, or a perfect level of confidence to pursue the career you want. You just need the courage to start where you are.

📩 Share your thoughts:

What part of yourself have you been hiding in school or in your career because you think it makes you “less than”? How have you (or how can you) use it as a strength?

Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com, and follow @thelivlabpodcast on Instagram for more stories on leadership, purpose, and growth.

Learn more about Maya’s work and her podcast at proudstutter.com.