Today we talk to Alyx Parks — fly fishing guide, TV host, career coach, photographer, professor, and the self-proclaimed “girl who falls in frog ponds”.

For most of us, the idea of creating a career out of what we love is a promise we gave up on long ago. But Alyx is living proof it can be done. And she’s here to show us it’s not too late to shape a career — and a life — that actually feels like you.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of conviction over confidence, how to answer, “what do you do?” in a way that makes people pay attention, and her lessons from the river that guide her work and her life. We also dive into burnout, imposter syndrome, personal branding, and why we need to rethink our Mondays.

If you’ve ever felt like your job no longer fits, or maybe that you’re running out of time to finally find a career that suits you, this conversation is for you.

Please enjoy, Alyx Parks.

Key Takeaways:

• Conviction over confidence: You don’t need to feel confident to move forward — just have conviction in who you are and what lights you up. The confidence will follow.
• “I’m the girl who falls in frog ponds”: Alyx shares how reframing the way you introduce yourself can open doors and make people truly listen.
• The 'why tree' exercise: A powerful way to go deeper into your values and passions to build a more authentic personal brand — from the inside out.
• Say “okay,” not “yes”: You don’t need to feel 100% ready. Just be open. A lot of Alyx’s best adventures began with an “okay, I’ll try.”
• Lessons from the river: Fly fishing is full of metaphors — about uncertainty, learning by doing, casting even when you can’t see what’s under the surface.
• The power of “Mediocre Mondays”: You don’t have to crush it every Monday. Permission to show up as you are and reset.
• We only accept the love we think we deserve: A beautiful reminder to stop pushing away compliments and start seeing yourself the way others already do.
• You are the bubble: We often chase a feeling of safety, energy, or connection — but that feeling can come from you. Let people into your world.

Links and Resources:

Alyx on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyxparks/

Alyx’s website: https://www.ontarioflygirl.com/

Alyx on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontarioflygirl/?hl=en

Alyx on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk2DJldSE7hhQTU8rjNHeYw

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Today we talk to Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of Profit First, a revolutionary system implemented by over a million companies around the world to make profit a habit, not a year-end event. As Mike puts it, the entrepreneurial dream of working for yourself, working as much as you want, having complete freedom - it’s a myth for most people. Most business owners I know are stressed out, working their asses off and barely getting by. That was Mike too, so he decided to start writing about it. And that was 10 books ago.

So I’ve got a confession to make. This episode was a bit of a test, a challenge to myself. I was curious…can I make a conversation about finance interesting? What could we possibly say that hasn’t been said? Well, if you know Mike you know I had nothing to worry about. This was one of the most fun conversations I’ve ever had. Mike’s got a story for everything, including the financial rock bottom that inspired his new book, The Money Habit.

I’ve never been great with money, and I know I’ve left a lot of it on the table. As I near what most people call retirement, that’s starting to concern me more than it used to. But honestly, I feel like I’m just getting started. So sure, I could have used this conversation 20 years ago. But it’s also just what I need, right now.

If you’re struggling to make your business work for you, or maybe you want to hear about how someone writes 10 best selling books about something no one wants to talk about - this one’s for you.

Please enjoy, Mike Michalowicz.

Key Takeaways

Entrepreneurial Poverty is Real: Mike defines it as the painful gap between the outward appearance of success and the inner financial struggle many entrepreneurs face. His mission is to eradicate it.

Profit First Philosophy: Instead of treating profit as what’s left over, take it first. The formula changes from Revenue – Expenses = Profit to Revenue – Profit = Expenses. It’s a mindset—and a habit—that shifts everything.

Behavioral Triggers > Discipline: Mike shares how behavioral psychology plays a huge role in money management, and why creating systems (like putting sneakers on the toilet seat) work better than relying on willpower.

Multiple Bank Accounts = Clarity: Whether for your business or personal life, setting up separate bank accounts for different purposes helps remove emotion from financial decisions and creates instant visibility.

Your Business Shouldn’t Depend on You: The entrepreneur’s job isn’t to do the work, but to create jobs. If you're doing everything yourself, you’re stealing an opportunity from someone else—and setting yourself up for burnout.

Build Wealth at Home, Too: The Profit First system isn’t just for business. Mike adapted it for personal finances after realizing he was profitable in his company, but still living paycheck to paycheck at home.

The Power of Starting Small: Mike encourages listeners to take one simple step—open a new bank account and start moving money into it weekly for the thing that causes the most financial stress. That clarity creates momentum.

It’s Never Too Late: Whether you’re 25 or 55, building better financial habits now will absolutely change your future. As Mike says: “Profit is not an event. It’s a habit.”

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Links and Resources

Website

YouTube

LinkedIn

Instagram