The Conversations with Florid

Most founders think getting a government grant or VC funding means they've made it.They're wrong.In this episode of The Conversations with Florid, I sit down with Adam McNeill — founder of Founder Academy and one of the most honest voices in the Canadian startup world — to talk about the brutal realities of building a business that actually lasts.Adam has spent over 20 years watching founders make the same mistakes over and over again. And his take is refreshingly direct: most businesses don't fail because of bad ideas or lack of money. They fail because of bad strategy, weak leadership, and a fundamental confusion between being busy and actually building something.We go deep on the things nobody posts about on LinkedIn.────────────────────────────📌 About Adam McNeillAdam McNeill is the founder of Founder Academy — a free, community-driven space built specifically to give early-stage entrepreneurs the strategic clarity that nobody else is giving them. He believes most businesses don't have a demand problem, they have a clarity problem.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-real-adam-mcneill/Founder Academy Google Meet Link (Every Tuesday at 6:00 PM EST): https://lnkd.in/gbBYk36j────────────────────────────🤝 Sponsered By:PORT24 Technologies Inc. - Have a startup idea but don't know where to start? We help founders build their first MVPs. Turn your vision into reality. 🔗 Visit: https://port24.techCaleb Creations - Premium custom apparel, branding, and printing right here in London, ON. 🔗 Visit: https://calebcreations.ca────────────────────────────About the Podcast: The Conversations with Florid is a high-production, in-person podcast series dedicated to figuring out the pillars of a high-performance life. From the Top 1% in Canada to world-class experts, we bring you raw conversations on Education, Career, Entrepreneurship, Health & Relationship, and Finance.────────────────────────────🔗 Connect & Subscribe:🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eT7gdsYD🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eyX5cZG8📺 Watch on YouTube: ────────────────────────────Stay updated and get involved with us: 📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floridmaclean 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florid_maclean?igsh=djlibHQ4ZWpzODN6&utm_source=qr💡 Suggest a Guest for the Show: https://forms.gle/QNqeYaoFhoDPHeKY7────────────────────────────If you got value from this episode, please hit the Follow button and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Thank you for listening,Florid Maclean

Are you tired of waiting to be discovered? In this episode of The Conversations with Florid, we sit down with James Smith, Founder & Head Coach of EQ Rockstar, to uncover the unfiltered truth about emotional intelligence, confidence, and identity. James breaks down his exact Core Identity Method™, explaining how mid-career professionals can transition from being completely "invisible" to undeniably "unmissable."We strip away the typical motivational fluff and dive deep into "identity architecture." You'll learn the crucial difference between learned skills and your innate core gifts, how to control your emotional reactions during moments of intense frustration, and how to make rational, high-stakes decisions even when you are emotionally vulnerable. If you are done proving yourself and ready to start owning who you are, this conversation is your blueprint. ──────────────────────────── 🤝 SPONSORED BY: PORT24 Technologies Inc. - Have a startup idea but don't know where to start? We help founders build their first MVPs. Turn your vision into reality. 🔗 Visit: https://port24.techCaleb Creations - Premium custom apparel, branding, and printing right here in London, ON. 🔗 Visit: https://calebcreations.ca─────────────────────────── 📸 Connect with James Smith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eqrockstar/ Website: https://www.eqrockstar.com──────────────────────────── About the Podcast: The Conversations with Florid is a high-production, in-person podcast series dedicated to figuring out the pillars of a high-performance life. From the Top 1% in Canada to world-class experts, we bring you raw conversations on Education, Career, Entrepreneurship, Health & Relationship, and Finance.────────────────────────────🔗 Connect & Subscribe:📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bLHViBikykw────────────────────────────Stay updated and get involved with us: 📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floridmaclean 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florid_maclean?igsh=djlibHQ4ZWpzODN6&utm_source=qr💡 Suggest a Guest for the Show: https://forms.gle/QNqeYaoFhoDPHeKY7────────────────────────────If you got value from this episode, please hit the Follow button and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Disclaimer: This video is intended solely for educational purposes. The opinions shared by guests are their personal views. This content does not intend to defame or harm any individual, brand, product, or country. Our goal is to provide diverse perspectives to help our audience make informed choices.Thank you for listening.

What does it take to leave a successful career in 3D animation, move across the country, and launch a premium business in the middle of a pandemic? Join us as we sit down with Reid Lucier, the founder of Top Headshots, to deconstruct the blueprint of a successful career pivot and the mindset required to build a "Top 1%" brand from scratch. In this episode, Reid reveals the "messy middle" of his journey—from the technical world of West Coast animation to becoming the go-to photographer for London, Ontario’s elite professionals. We dive deep into why most creatives fail at business, how to confidently charge premium rates for your art, and why the rise of AI is actually an opportunity for those who understand human connection.Connect with Reid:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidlucier/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topheadshots.ca/Website: https://www.topheadshots.caConnect & Subscribe:Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eT7gdsYDListen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eyX5cZG8Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa8PD4HBOS525iiBmD13vPQStay updated and get involved with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floridmacleanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/florid_maclean?igsh=djlibHQ4ZWpzODN6&utm_source=qrSuggest a Guest for the Show: https://forms.gle/QNqeYaoFhoDPHeKY7If you got value from this episode, please hit the Follow button and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Disclaimer: This video is intended solely for educational purposes. The opinions shared by guests are their personal views. This content does not intend to defame or harm any individual, brand, product, or country. Our goal is to provide diverse perspectives to help our audience make informed choices.Thank you for listening.

Join us as we sit down with Rashidi Kabamba, a leader who bridges the gap between high-level HR and the science of Music Therapy. In this conversation, Rashidi shares his unique journey from the world of robotics to becoming an architect of corporate resilience. We deconstruct the "1% Rule" for daily growth, the hidden power of music in managing high-stakes stress, and how to build a mindset that can withstand the pressures of a Top 1% career. If you’ve been feeling the weight of burnout or looking for a sustainable blueprint for performance, this episode is for you.About the Podcast: The Conversations with Florid Maclean is a high-production, in-person podcast series dedicated to figuring out the pillars of a high-performance life. From the Top 1% in Canada to world-class experts, we bring you raw conversations on Education, Career, Entrepreneurship, Health & Relationship, and Finance.🔗 Connect & Subscribe:🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eT7gdsYD🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eyX5cZG8📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa8PD4HBOS525iiBmD13vPQStay updated and get involved with us: 📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floridmaclean 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florid_maclean?igsh=djlibHQ4ZWpzODN6&utm_source=qr💡 Suggest a Guest for the Show: https://forms.gle/QNqeYaoFhoDPHeKY7If you found value in this conversation, please Subscribe and hit the notification bell.Disclaimer: This video is intended solely for educational purposes. The opinions shared by guests are their personal views. This content does not intend to defame or harm any individual, brand, product, or country. Our goal is to provide diverse perspectives to help our audience make informed choices.If you got value from this episode, please hit the Follow button and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Thank you for listening.

Join us as we sit down with Chris Kulbaba to completely rethink how we approach career growth and hiring. If you're still relying on a traditional resume to land your next big role, you might already be behind. In this episode, Chris breaks down why the standard resume is dead, introduces his game-changing "Core Word" strategy to help you stand out, and shares the powerful mindset shift behind his personal motto: "I'm too blessed to be stressed." We dive deep into authentic networking, overcoming career anxiety, and building success on your own terms. About the Podcast: The Conversations with Florid Maclean is a high-production, in-person podcast series dedicated to figuring out the pillars of a successful life. From the Top 1% in Canada to world-class experts, we bring you raw conversations on Career, Health, Love, and Entrepreneurship. ————————— 📚 Chris Kulbaba's "Personal MBA in 6 Months" Reading List: Read 2 books a month — Read 30 minutes a day. Zero to One - Peter Thiel and Blake Masters The Lean Startup - Eric Ries Financial Intelligence - Karen Berman, Joe Knight, John Case I Will Teach You to Be Rich - Ramit Sethi The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing - Al Ries and Jack Trout The Goal - Eliyahu M. Goldratt Thinking in Systems - Donella Meadows Steal the Show - Michael Port Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss How to Be a Power Connector - Judy Robinett Team of Teams - General Stanley A. McChrystal The Almanack of Naval Ravikant - Eric Jorgenson ————————— 📺 Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ABt2CKPsHtw Stay updated and get involved with us: 📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floridmaclean 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florid_maclean?igsh=djlibHQ4ZWpzODN6&utm_source=qr 💡 Suggest a Guest for the Show: https://forms.gle/QNqeYaoFhoDPHeKY7 ————————— Connect with Chris Kulbaba: 📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispkulbaba/ If you found value in this conversation, please Subscribe and hit the notification bell. ————————— Disclaimer: This video is intended solely for educational purposes. The opinions shared by guests are their personal views. This content does not intend to defame or harm any individual, brand, product, or country. Our goal is to provide diverse perspectives to help our audience make informed choices. #FloridMaclean #CareerAdvice #ResumeTips #JobSearchStrategy #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurship #ChrisKulbaba #TheConversationsWithFlorid #Podcast

Welcome to the very first episode of The Conversations with Florid ! We are often told to succeed, but we are rarely given the blueprint. This podcast is dedicated to uncovering the habits, mindsets, and strategies of the "Top 1%"—the leaders and builders who have navigated the messy process of figuring it out.For our debut episode, we sit down with Raji for a deep dive into the "Big Tech" perspective. We explore what it actually takes to break into high-level tech spaces, how to navigate the intense pressures of the industry, and the unwritten rules for building a high-performance career without burning out.If you are an entrepreneur, a student, or a professional trying to elevate your life and career, this conversation is your starting line.🎙️ In This Episode, We Cover:The reality of working in the "Big Tech" ecosystem.How to transition from feeling stuck to taking actionable steps.The "Top 1%" habits that separate high performers from the rest.Practical advice for building resilience when the blueprint isn't clear.🔗 Connect & Subscribe:Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FloridMacleanFollow on LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/florid-maclean⁠Follow on Instagram: @florid_macleanSuggest a Guest: ⁠forms.gle/ez9Dky3zF9vMLiMU7⁠If you got value from this episode, please hit the Follow button on Spotify and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Thank you for listening.