Scared SHITLESS

In this episode of Scared Shitless, I talk about something most entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and multi-passionate professionals quietly struggle with…👉 That simple question: “What do you do for a living?”On the surface, it sounds harmless. But in reality, it often feels like people are trying to:- Put you in a box- Size you up- Attach your worth to a title or incomeAnd when you wear multiple hats? It gets even more uncomfortable.In this episode, I open up about:- Why I used to feel hesitant (even shy) answering this question- The pressure to simplify yourself for other people’s understanding- The truth about having multiple income streams and identities- Why it’s time to normalize NOT fitting into one boxIf you’ve ever struggled to explain what you do—or felt like your path doesn’t fit the traditional mold—this one’s for you.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro00:45 Why this question feels uncomfortable02:30 Wearing multiple hats as an entrepreneur05:10 The “putting you in a box” reality08:00 Income, identity & perception11:30 Learning to own your path14:00 Final thoughtsYou don’t need one title to be validMultiple income streams ≠ confusion — it’s strategyYou get to define your identity, not othersentrepreneur mindset, multiple income streams, real estate investor life, what do you do for a living, personal branding, multi-passionate entrepreneur, career identity, business mindset, female entrepreneur, mom entrepreneur, passive income, entrepreneurship journey#EntrepreneurMindset #MultipleIncomeStreams #RealEstateInvestor #PersonalBranding #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #PassiveIncome #BusinessMindset #ScaredShitlessPodcast #MomEntrepreneur #CareerIdentity #BuildInPublicIf this resonated with you, drop a comment:How do YOU answer “What do you do?”And if you’re building something outside the box—make sure to subscribe. You’re not alone in this.

Stop trading time for money—start using what you already have.In this episode of Scared Sh*tLess, Sarah Sémajuste sits down with IT consultant turned developer Dennis Tanguay. From a self-paying cottage to a 6-unit townhouse project, he shares how he leveraged home equity, handled zoning challenges, and scaled without quitting his day job.A real, no-fluff look at building wealth through calculated risk.What you’ll learn:• Using property to generate its own income• Leveraging home equity to scale• Moving from rentals to development• Navigating zoning and delays• Why keeping your job mattersChapters:0:00 Introductions0:54 Life as an IT Consultant2:37 First Investment Strategy5:24 Scaling Up7:13 Leveraging Equity9:18 Joint Ventures11:41 Market Challenges15:36 Keep Your Day Job16:40 Land Development21:52 Zoning Lessons25:20 City Delays29:22 5AM Routine31:02 Generational Wealth35:33 What’s NextAbout Dennis Tanguay Dennis is a proud father and husband, a long-time IT consultant, and a fitness buff who tries not to complain about early-morning workouts.Recently stepping into life as an empty nester, he’s channeling his energy into a new chapter as a land developer - bringing fresh energy and big ideas to the next chapter.ContactEmail: [email protected]

Building a business is scary — doing it with your twin sister makes it even more powerful.In this episode of Scared Shitless, host Sarah Sémajuste talks with twin founders Medjine Hyppolite and Mendjaly Hyppolite of Frizé Frizé about entrepreneurship, natural hair, and the courage to pivot.They share how they balanced motherhood and full-time jobs while building a natural hair brand, the financial risks they took to fund the business themselves, and why they eventually pivoted from selling products to focusing on hair education and coaching.This episode explores natural hair identity, imposter syndrome, business pivots, and building a Black-owned business from scratch.Key Moments0:00 Intro: Meeting the founders of Frizé Frizé1:36 Balancing business, motherhood, and community support3:03 Overcoming fear of charging for your work5:59 Creating their first natural hair product8:54 Why they pivoted away from products11:11 Hair and identity: embracing natural texture17:33 Funding the business without loans21:25 Lessons from business coaches31:34 Running a business with your twin37:47 Launching a 90-day hair education program49:25 Biggest wins and milestonesConnect with Frizé FrizéWebsite: https://www.frizefrize.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/frize_frizePinterest: https://ca.pinterest.com/frize_frizeTopics: Natural hair journey, entrepreneurship, Black-owned business, curly hair education, business pivot, success mindset.

What happens when your military discipline meets the "Wild West" of entrepreneurship? In this episode, I sat down with Victoria Cluney, a military veteran turned business coach and real estate investor, to discuss the raw, unglamorous truth of building an empire.From smuggling her toddler into military barracks to walking away from a massive partnership to protect her integrity, Victoria’s story is a masterclass in resilience. We dive deep into the $200,000 mistake that taught her about due diligence, how she how she evolved from feeling alone in her responsibilities to building a strong, supportive partnership with her husband, and why she believes radical transparency is the only way to build a personal brand that lasts.(00:00) – Intro & Welcome Victoria Clooney (01:01) – The "Most Important Role": Being a Mom (02:01) – Defining the BUILD Ecosystem and Life by Design (03:56) – From Military "Lone Wolf" to Entrepreneurial Impact (05:04) – Breaking into Male-Dominated Real Estate Spaces (07:38) – Reluctantly Stepping into Leadership in Ottawa (09:16) – Choosing Integrity Over Opportunity: The BUILD Origin (12:27) – Opening Doors: Why Mission Trumps Revenue (14:04) – Managing Business Growth with a Risk-Adverse Partner (18:57) – Knowing When to Let a Business Go (20:16) – The Reality Behind Being a "Power Couple" (22:52) – Growing Up in a Global Military Family (24:55) – Choosing the Infantry Over Law School (28:21) – Starting a Real Estate Portfolio at 20 (30:57) – Accidental Landlord: Managing Property from Overseas (35:07) – Playing Big: Why Big Success Requires Big Problems (38:24) – Navigating Career Pivots for Family Needs (41:32) – Normalizing Motherhood in Professional Spaces (45:33) – Learning to Ask for Help During Crisis (48:20) – Smuggling a Baby into Military Shacks (51:55) – Leading Teams with Empathy and Personal Support (54:01) – Scaling Your Most Valuable Asset: Personal Branding (56:56) – Overcoming the Fear of Judgment Online (1:00:12) – Why Credibility Trumps Information in 2026 (1:05:05) – Losing $200,000 and Learning Hard Business Lessons (1:11:08) – Mastering Due Diligence in Modern Partnerships (1:17:21) – Instilling Capability in the Next GenerationGot questions for Victoria? 📥DM the word "Shitless" to @victoriacluney on InstagramMeet Victoria CluneyVictoria Cluney helps founders go from overlooked to in demand by showing up online with messaging that lands and the confidence to lead with it.She blends behaviour science and leadership with more than 20 years of real operator experience, building and scaling businesses across real estate, hospitality, franchising, and service-based ventures.Backed by 24 years of military leadership, a master’s degree in organizational psychology, and national media experience including CBC’s Dragons’ Den, she brings a high-stakes standard to how founders communicate and grow. Because when results stall, it is rarely a talent problem, it is usually a messaging problem, a positioning problem, and a strategy problem. Victoria helps entrepreneurs fix all three, while building the resilience to navigate growth without burning out or losing themselves in the process.She is the founder of BILD (Business, Impact and Life by Design), a high-support coaching community, and WE BILD, a monthly networking community with chapters in Toronto, Ottawa, and online. She also hosts the BILD What Matters Podcast, designed to showcase the real struggles and behind-the-scenes decisions founders face as they grow, and the shifts that help them rise.Connect with Victoria CluneyWebsite Instagram Tiktok - Facebook LinkedIn Alex Hormozi X Tony Robbins Interview

Master the world of land development and learn how to scale your real estate portfolio by "flipping the paper" and building high-value projects. In this episode of Scared Shitless, host Sarah sits down with Carina Guzman, founder of the Land Development Academy, to uncover the raw truth about transition from a corporate 9-to-5 to becoming a powerhouse developer.Building a life you love means doing it afraid, and Carina shares her journey as an immigrant escaping war in El Salvador to navigating the complex regulations of the Canadian real estate market. We dive deep into modular construction challenges, the importance of deal structuring, and why your "exit strategy" is the most critical part of any land development project. Carina explains her "flipping the paper" strategy, securing permits and entitlements to add massive value to raw land before selling to builders and why this niche is the ultimate wealth-builder for those willing to learn the foundations.Whether you are a seasoned investor or a curious beginner, this conversation covers the importance of networking with high-caliber individuals, managing the stress of multiple mortgages, and leading a team with a sense of urgency. Carina doesn’t sugarcoat the failures; she treats every "landmine" as a lesson. Tune in to learn how to move beyond your "like-minded" circle and elevate your floor to become a leader in the real estate industry.Timestamps0:00 – Welcome...1:10 – How to Manage Motherhood, Marriage, and Multiple Projects4:06 – Developing a Sense of Urgency as a Leader6:07 – From Boutique Real Estate to Landlording7:09 – The Reality of Modular Construction & Why It Failed in 201611:08 – From Immigrant Household to Entrepreneurial Spirit13:07 – That Moment You Realize You’re Not a Good Employee17:12 – Navigating Family Expectations & Risk-Averse Parents21:35 – What is "Flipping the Paper"?23:36 – The Single Hardest Part of Land Development24:35 – Underwriting for Your Exit: 3 Exit Strategies You Need27:40 – Biggest Mistakes: Timing, Market Analysis & Regulations28:41 – Inside the Land Development Academy (LDA)33:12 – Overcoming Daily Fears & Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone35:14 – Why "Like-Minded" Groups Might Be Limiting Your GrowthConnect with Carina GuzmanIG -   / iamcarinaguzman  Linkedin -   / carina-guzm  Website - https://www.landdevacademy.com/💬 Drop your questions in the comments📩 DM Sarah for help with your project👍 Like the video to support the channel🔔 Subscribe for weekly real-estate development breakdowns#landdevelopment #entrepreneurship #propertydevelopment

#FailureIsNormal #ScaredShitlessPodcast #GrowthMindsetEver feel like failing means you’re a failure? Spoiler: it doesn’t! In this episode of the Scared Shitless Podcast, I dive into why failure is not only normal but necessary on your journey to success.I talk about the negative emotions that come with failing — guilt, shame, fear — and why they’re actually signs you’re learning and growing. If you’ve ever been scared of messing up, this episode is for you.🎧 What you’ll learn:Why failure is part of every success storyHow to reframe negative emotions around failingSteps to move forward even when things go wrong💬 Drop your questions in the comments📩 DM Sarah for motivation👍 Like the video to support the channel🔔 Subscribe for weekly motivation and real-estate development content#OvercomingFailure #PersonalGrowth #SuccessMindset #FailureToSuccess #MentalHealth #SelfImprovement

Ever wondered what developers actually spend before construction even begins?In today’s episode of Scared Shitless, Sarah breaks down the complete soft-cost budget for her 6-unit development project in Ottawa, from surveys to permits, engineering, environmental studies, and everything in between.If you're planning your first development, raising capital, or trying to understand what numbers investors want to see, this episode will save you from surprises and thousands in mistakes.

In this episode of Scared Shitless, we welcome back Carine Toham Ngoy — this time joined by her business partner, Adenike (Nike) Oreyomi — to continue the conversation about their 24-unit infill development project in Ottawa.Together, they open up about the challenges they’ve facedalong the way — from a year-long tenant eviction process, to unexpected city requirements for additional studies, to the hurdles of financing a major project.These Momvestors talk about the courage it takesto take on big risks and the unstoppable mindset required to keep going, no matter what.Carine and Nike are the founders of The NCTL Group, aBlack-owned real estate development company on a mission to create accessible, high-quality housing that helps immigrant families find stability, belonging,and pride in their new home.Connect with them:🏢 The NCTL GroupInstagram: @thenctlgroupEmail: [email protected]👩‍💼 Carine Toham NgoyInstagram: @cktpartnersinvestFacebook: Carine Toham👩‍💼 Adenike (Nike) OreyomiInstagram: @lanik_real_estate_investingFacebook: Adenike-Shittu Lanre Ore

On this episode of Scared SHITLESS, I sit down with my husband, Lenard, to talk about the big transitions he’s made in life — from a professional football career, to working in government, to building wealth through real estate investing. 🏈💼🏡Lenard shares:• What it really feels like to pivot careers when your “first dream” ends.• His best tips for getting started in real estate investing (even if you have little or no money)• The key things to look for in a life partner before marriage.This episode is all about facing fear, taking risks, and building a future you love. If you’ve ever felt terrified of change but knew you needed to take the leap — this one’s for you.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share if you got value from this conversation.Lenard can be found on:Instagram: @20.more Facebook: Lenard Sémajuste

Decision burnout is real — and it’s draining your energy before you even get to the important stuff. In this episode, I talk about how I cut down on the little daily choices so I can save my brainpower for the bigger, business-defining decisions. From streamlining routines to creating mental shortcuts, these are the hacks that help me stay focused on what actually matters.

Starting a business isn’t just about strategy, money, or ideas—it’s about surviving the silence when no one else “gets it.” In this episode of Scared Shitless, I dive into the raw reality of entrepreneurship: the late nights, the self-doubt, and the overwhelming loneliness that no one talks about.If you’ve ever felt like you’re building something on your own island, this episode is for you. I'm talking about why entrepreneurship can feel so isolating, and how to cope with the mental weight.👉 Subscribe to Scared Shitless for unfiltered conversations about the messy, human side of chasing big dreams.

Monica can be reached on:Instagram: @monica_finance_coachFacebook: Monica Anne SusinLinkedIn: Monica SusinFrom connection to clarity. From fear to forward motion. From stuck to strong.At age eight, I began formal riding lessons, terrified, yet deeply at home. As a teen, I worked alongside trainers to rehabilitate horses considered “difficult” or “broken.” These experiences awakened something I’ve never let go of: the belief that, given safety, patience, and the right communication, any being can heal and grow.That belief shaped my early career. I earned a college diploma in Equine Science (Classical Riding specialization) and became a Centered Riding® Instructor, blending technical instruction with emotional awareness and body-based coaching. I later opened my own school, École d'Équitation Monica Susin, where I trained both horses and riders with a focus on harmony, biomechanics, and mutual respect. I taught students across all levels and disciplines, expanding my education through study in Austria, the Netherlands, and the U.S.While fully immersed in the equestrian world, I also began building a parallel path in finance, starting in 2011 as a bank clerk. I was quickly promoted to financial advisor, a role I held until 2018. During that time, I worked with clients facing serious financial challenges, helping them rebuild after bankruptcy, confront limiting beliefs, and create values-based financial plans. I saw how money, like the horse, reveals what we’re carrying beneath the surface: our fears, dreams, patterns, and pain.After stepping out of financial advising, I expanded into real estate and Airbnb investing while taking on management roles where I developed systems, implemented technologies, and enhanced both internal processes and client experience. It was a period of growth where I further sharpened my ability to identify root problems and build strategic, compassionate solutions.Today, I bring all of these threads together as a real estate investor, coach, and strategist. I work with driven, heart-centered individuals ready to reconnect to themselves, whether through mindset work, financial clarity, or building a path toward freedom.I’ve faced fear, overwhelm, and reinvention many times. Those moments didn’t just shape me, they equipped me to guide others through their own. I believe transformation happens when honesty meets action, and I’m here to offer both.If you're ready to move forward, with clarity, confidence, and a bit of wild-hearted grit. I'm here to help.

In this episode of Scared Shitless, we’re calling it like it is: some things you’re holding onto are dead weight. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, a belief, or that voice in your head telling you you’re not ready — it’s time to let that thing go.Letting go isn’t always brave or pretty. Sometimes it’s terrifying, messy, and exactly what you need. So grab a seat, take a breath, and let’s unpack what it really means to release what no longer serves you... before it drags you down with it.

Kim Lackie is a retired 26 yr+ law enforcement officer turned entrepreneur and speaker who helps high-achieving women reconnect with their energy, purpose, and leadership. She’s the founder of Signature Events by Kim Lackie and A Seat at the Table, a leadership series for women looking for deeper, meaningful connections and community. With a background in law enforcement and real estate, Kim brings depth, clarity, and heart to every conversation about growth, reinvention, and feminine leadership. LinkedIn: Kim LackieFacebook: Kim LackieInstagram: @kimlackie1

When Adenike (Nike) and Carine couldn't find a clear path to affordable, dignified housing as newcomers to Canada, they decided to build one—from the ground up.Today, they lead NCTL Group, a Black-owned real estate development company with a mission: to create accessible, high-quality housing that helps immigrant families find stability, belonging, and pride in their new home. Their 24-unit infill development is more than a construction project—it’s proof that with grit, heart, and strategy, first-time developers can challenge the status quo and deliver real impact.Investors are paying attention. Why? Because NCTL Group isn’t just offering returns—they’re building a long-term vision where social good and financial growth go hand in hand. Nike and Carine are creating value where others see risk. Their journey is raw, real, and full of the kind of resilience that inspires confidence.On The Scared Shitless podcast, they open up about the real behind-the-scenes of their development journey—the wins, the near-breakdowns, and the lessons that will shape their next bold move.

In this episode of Scared SH*TLESS, I open up about my own battle with anxiety and how I found calm through meditation and positive mindset shifts. If you've ever felt like you're one thought away from spiraling, this one's for you.

In this episode of Scared Shitless, I'm unpacking the hard truth: the person you choose to love can either fuel your fire or piss all over your passion. I’m talking from the heart, breaking down how love can be your secret weapon… or your biggest distraction. If your relationship feels more like an energy drain than a power-up, this one’s for you.

Meet your host, Sarah Sémajuste! In this kickoff episode, I share a bit about who I am, how I stumbled into entrepreneurship, and what this podcast is all about.