Venture Capital, Sports, Law, & Family: Adam H. Phillips On Ambition and How to Know You've Got an Idea Worth Pursuing

/

Adam H. Phillips has led two Techstars Accelerators, investing in ~70 early-stage companies throughout healthtech, cybersecurity, AI solutions and gov/regulatory tech. In his role, he has the power to help people turn good ideas into reality—a reality that has the potential to make a massive impact. But which of these ideas are worth pursuing? In this episode Adam, the son of immigrants, unpacks his story from law school to the federal government to venture capital. He shares which job was his favorite (spoiler: none of the above), his advice to early stage entrepreneurs, and why he is ambitious about his family. 

Adam H. Phillips is the Managing Director of Techstars Baltimore AI Health where he looks for early stage healthtech ventures to fund and grow alongside our network partners at Johns Hopkins and CareFirst.  He is the founding Managing Director at MoxE where he built an impact fund. Adam is also the Founder of AthletesInnovate, a former Senior Attorney/Director of Innovation at USDOT, and an Adjunct Professor.  He holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in History and a Juris Doctorate.

Want to make a big career move in 2025? Need a coach to help you crystalize a plan and carve out the practical next steps of what to do? Learn more about Hustle & Grace Coaching here.

This episode is brought to you by HSL Digital. 

Resources and Recommendations from this episode: 

Learn more about Adam and connect with him at https://adamhphillips.com/

Follow Adam on LinkedIn
Book Recs:
Venture Deals
Watership Down

How to Do Fewer Things Better with Kristin Graham

/

What matters most? How can you feel the most satisfied at work and in how you spend your time across all arenas in your life? These are the questions Kristin Graham seeks to help people answer through her work at Unlock. 

Kristin Graham is an entrepreneur, coach, writer, and host of the Fewer things Better podcast. Before building Unlock, Kristin spent two decades in corporate working for companies like Amazon and Expedia. Kristin’s years in academia and corporate, plus a relentless focus on research, led her to develop workshops, keynotes, and group learnings on how to rewire our internal hardware and update our mental software. 

This episode is brought to you by HSL Digital. 

Resources and Recommendations from this episode: 

Free Resource: 12 Little Hacks for the Mindful Creative

Unlock with Kristin Graham

Doing Fewer Things Better podcast

Follow Kristin on LinkedIn

Stoicism, Fractional Leadership, & Why You Should Schedule Meeting at the End of the Day with Entrepreneur Mike Malloy

/

From Deloitte consultant to founder of a sunglasses brand, from living in his parents' basement to thriving husband and father, entrepreneur Mike Malloy has lived nine lives in the last 15 years. In this episode of Hustle & Grace, Mike shares why the philosophy of stoicism has been transformational for him personally, how parenting changed his approach to work, why fractional leadership is the future of work, and why you should start scheduling meetings at 4 pm. 

This episode is brought to you by HSL Digital. 

Resources and Recommendations from this episode: 

Book: the Daily Stoic

Free Resource: 12 Little Hacks for the Mindful Creative

Malloy Industries

Follow Mike on LinkedIn

Enneagram and Parenting with Beth McCord, @YourEnneagramCoach

/
Beth McCord, woman in red shirt, signs a copy of her book The Enneagram for Moms

Parenting in the digital age can feel like one big opportunity to compare and despair. We have every opportunity to compare our parenting style and personality with others and yet, Beth McCord's message in The Enneagram for Moms is you are a unique parent and you get to be exactly who you are. 

Beth McCord is an accomplished Enneagram speaker, author, coach, and teacher. Her passion lies in helping individuals rewrite their life stories, empowering them to realize that lasting change and meaningful relationships are possible. Beth's mission led to the creation of the Your Enneagram Coach community--a nurturing space where individuals safely explore the Enneagram. She has a new book out called “The Enneagram for Moms.”

This episode is brought to you by HSL Digital. 

Resources and Recommendations from this episode: 

Beth's 2019 visit to Hustle & Grace (Overview of the Enneagram) 

Book: The Enneagram for Moms by Beth McCord

EnneagramforMoms.com

Spring Cleaning Your Inner World to Reduce Mental Overload

/

This 13-minute episode packs a punch delving into spring cleaning your inner world with tips to reduce mental overload. It prompts reflection on progress, adjustments needed, and implementing new strategies. Hilary also talks through tips for a digital detox and an easy way to tidy up quickly.

This episode is brought to you by Hustle & Grace Group Coaching. Applications are open through April 21, 2024. Learn more and apply here. 

On April 18, you're invited to a free virtual workshop called "Rejecting the Rat Race: a 30-minute roadmap to build a career, business, and life you love." Register free here.

  1. Review your goals. The first quarter of the year is behind us. ¾ to go. How has your progress tracked against your intentions? What needs to go? What needs to be adjusted? What needs to be implemented? 

  2. Review your time. Are you happy with how you’ve been spending your time? Reflect on what you want to start, stop, and continue. Review your relationships that are most important to you, does your calendar reflect that? 

  3. Schedule a social media break/digital detox. We have so much information overload. It’s so easy to compare and despair. At least once a year cut way down on your screen time. 

  4. Take a break from your vices. Got any bad habits? Commit to doing a 30-day fast from whatever that habit is. 

  5. Implement a gratitude practice. When you cut things out of your life, fill it with something beneficial instead. Maybe it’s a daily practice of reading the Bible or committing to 30 days of a gratitude practice–just writing some things you’re thankful for each evening before bed. 

  6. Look at your living space with fresh eyes. Is there clutter or a pile of stuff that you’ve stopped noticing because you’re so used to it sitting there? Put time on your calendar to address it. Will you use it? Sell it? Donate it?

  7. Implement a system for getting stuff out of your head. You can’t mentally keep up with all the things. When you think of something, write it down. I use the notes app on my phone to write down anything that pops into my head. I try to put it on a specific list for a specific day. I can always move it if it doesn’t ultimately work for that day.

Resources and Recommendations fro this episode: 

Time Tracking Worksheets with Laura Vanderkam

My favorite journal! 

Smart Pretty & Awkward on Substack

12 Financial Strategies I’ve Learned Over 12 Years of Adulting (Am I becoming a personal finance girlie?)

/

Sponsor message: This episode is brought to you by Dun and Bradstreet
Monitor Changes to Your Business Credit File for Free
Credit is key for your small business. Signup for free notifications on changes to your business credit file. It's free! 
Get free alerts

  • Introduction: Hilary reflects on her journey from struggling financially to implementing smart financial practices and achieving success in her career.

  • Dollar-based Budgeting: Learn how to budget based on the previous month's income using a downloadable template available on Hilary's website.

  • Credit Card Usage: Hilary shares how she manages expenses by using a credit card with rewards and paying off the balance monthly for passive income.

  • Monthly Tracking: Importance of tracking income and expenses monthly for better financial awareness and preparation for tax season.

  • Tools for Wise Money Management: Hilary discusses using High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA), investing in I bonds, and exploring ETFs for investment opportunities.

  • Additional Tips: Increase rates as a service provider, research funding options for home purchases, and sell unused items for extra income.

  • Hustle & Grace Group Coaching: Hilary introduces the upcoming group coaching program and encourages listeners to apply for a chance to participate.

  • Recommended Resources: Hilary shares book recommendations and podcasts for further financial education and inspiration.

  • Conclusion: Wrapping up with a reminder to define financial goals and pursue them with determination and strategic planning.

Don't miss out on actionable personal finance and career tips in this episode of Hustle & Grace!

Resources and Recommendations from this episode:

Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps 

Think Like a Breadwinner 

We Should All Be Millionaires

How to Money Podcast

Money with Katie Show

Hustle & Grace Group Coaching application

Dollar-based budgeting template (Available on Hilary Sutton's website)

Chase Sapphire credit card (Recommended by Hilary for perks and rewards)

CIT Bank (Recommended for high-yield savings accounts)

I bonds (U.S. savings bonds designed to protect cash from inflation)

Schwab (Brokerage firm for investing in ETFs and stocks)

My Year End Ritual

/

Every year somewhere between Christmas and mid-January, Hilary Sutton does a ‘taking stock’ ritual to wrap up the year and start fresh with the new one. In this episode Hilary is breaking down the process step by step and sharing what she does on a monthly basis that makes achieving goals, managing life, and running a business easier. 

If you're a fan of the show and want to support us, please visit the website of our generous sponsor! 

This episode is brought to you by Dun and Bradstreet

Monitor Changes to Your Business Credit File for Free
Credit is key for your small business. Signup for free notifications on changes to your business credit file. It's free! 
Get free alerts

Download the free New Years Goal-setting Workbook here.

Work That Matters: Seth Godin on Finding Significance in Your Career

/

In this episode Hilary interviews renowned writer, entrepreneur, and speaker, Seth Godin. They delve into the profound shifts happening in the world of work, particularly accelerated by the pandemic. Godin emphasizes the fading of traditional industrialism and the rise of decision-making as a valuable skill in the digital age. They discuss the importance of finding work that is significant and making commitments that matter. Godin also shares insights on leadership, the power of projects in shaping a career, and the impact of AI on various aspects of work. This thought-provoking conversation offers valuable perspectives on navigating the evolving landscape of work and building fulfilling careers.

The Song of Significance

Follow Hilary on Instagram

Song of Increase

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

⚡️ Overcoming Creative Paralysis: 8 Tips to Break Free from Fear

/

“What is creative living? Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.” -Elizabeth Gilbert

Could you use a pep talk to get you over the hump from thinking about doing something creative to actually getting out there? In this episode, we unpack eight practical tips to overcome fear in the creative process. 

Learn more about Hustle & Grace Coaching

Follow Hilary on Instagram

Resources mentioned include:

The Man in the Arena

Big Magic

Failing Forward

Daring Greatly

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

Closing the Confidence Gap: How Women Can Advance in Leadership with Kelli Rae Thompson

/
Kelli Rae Thompson

In this episode of Hustle & Grace, host Hilary Sutton interviews Kelli Thompson, a women's leadership coach, speaker, and author. Kelli discusses how a lack of confidence holds women back in the workplace and shares tips for women to gain more confidence and lead with more authority. They also do a deep dive on salary negotiating, the Enneagram, executive presence, and leadership styles. 

This episode offers valuable advice for women looking to advance in their careers and become more effective leaders.

Learn more about Kelli Thompson

Closing the Confidence Gap

Take the Career Motivation Quiz 

Connect with Hilary Sutton on Instagram

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

How to Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul (A Quickstart Guide to Personal Branding)

/

Is it possible to sell yourself without selling your soul? Absolutely. In this episode, Hilary discusses five tips to build a thoughtful personal brand that opens doors for professional growth. Grow your visibility and opportunities without feeding the beasts of narcissism or perfectionism paralysis. Here's how. 

  1. Determine your “why.”

  2. Provide value to your audience.

  3. Remember that your audience has Main 👏 Character 👏 Energy 👏!

  4. Don’t be afraid to celebrate.

  5. Remember you are (or you have) the solution to someone’s problem.

  6. Bonus: Don’t overthink it.

Learn more about Hustle & Grace Coaching

Building a StoryBrand 

How to Plan a Social Media Sabbatical 

Take the Career Motivation Quiz 

Connect with Hilary Sutton on Instagram

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

Bullet Journal Method Inventor Ryder Carroll On Embracing Analog and Intentionality

/

Ryder Carroll is a New York Times best-selling author, digital product designer, and inventor of the Bullet Journal method. He's been featured by the New York Times, LA Times, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Vogue, Bloomberg, and others.

In this conversation Ryder and Hilary discuss intentionality around not only time management but energy management, what is unique about the bullet journal method, and Ryder's career journey from designer to inventor and author.

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

What All High-Achieving Creatives Have In Common: Writer Madeleine Dore Shares Surprising Findings on Creativity

/

Madeleine Dore is a writer and interviewer exploring how we can broaden the definition of a day well spent. As a labour of love, Madeleine spent over five years asking creative thinkers how they navigate their days on her popular blog Extraordinary Routines and podcast Routines & Ruts. The lessons culminated in her first book, I Didn’t Do The Thing Today. Madeleine continues to write, speak and ask questions—but mostly tries to hold things lightly.

In this conversation, Madeleine Dore shares what she learned after spending five years interviewing creative thinkers about their routines and reflections. Her findings may surprise you. Madeleine shares the commonalities that she found across the board with these high achieving creatives, the freeing concept of the “day artist” and what we can actually learn from our impulse to “compare and despair.”

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital. Do you know what kind of marketing support you (really) need?

How to Get Better at Decision-Making with Decision Coach Nell Wulfhart

/

Nell Wulfhart is a decision coach. She helps people make big decisions in a single session, getting them out of endless deliberation and into action. She's been doing this for ten years and has helped everyone from parents and poets to hedge fund managers and Olympic athletes. You can find her at decideandmovefoward.com.

In this episode Nell Wulfhart and Hilary talk about portfolio careers, living and working around the world, and Nell's expertise: helping people make decisions and move forward. They share their theories on why people struggle with decision-making and Nell offers concrete tips to improve the decision-making process and go after the life you want. 

Do you know your career motivation? Take the quiz here. 

This episode is sponsored by HSL Digital, a marketing and communications consultancy dedicated to helping small teams focus on their highest and best use.

Six-Figure Low Stress Freelancing with Melanie Padgett Powers of The Deliberate Freelancer

/

Melanie Padgett Powers is the owner of MelEdits and lives in the Washington, DC, area. She is a freelance writer and editor, primarily for healthcare membership associations. She began her freelance business in October 2013. She has a journalism degree and was previously a newspaper reporter in her home state of Indiana. Melanie is also the creator and host of two podcasts: Deliberate Freelancer, which focuses on the business side of freelancing and has over 130 episodes, and her newest podcast, Association Station, which interviews membership association leaders about content and media.

Melanie Padgett Powers, freelancing expert, shares how she became a six-figure freelancer and how she moved from being an employee into owning her own business. She debunks the idea that to make a solid living as a business owner you have to work long hours. She also shares her approach to finding clients and networking as an introvert.

Bonnie Kirby Founder and CEO of Well Dressed Nashville explores Friendship, Entrepreneurship, and Mental Health

/

Bonnie Kirby is the founder of Well Dressed Nashville, an online elevated closet sale featuring the closets of Nashville’s most stylish and influential women and celebrities. In the past two years, Well Dressed Nashville has worked with women like Caroline Bryant, Brittany Kelly, Hillary Scott, Hunter Premo, Shawn Johnson East (yes, the Olympian) and many more. Before all of that she was a pediatric oncology nurse, and before that she was my best friend!

How is it possible to stay friends with someone who you got along with in preschool? Bonnie noted that when the other person changes or makes a pivot that we may not understand, that’s when it’s most important to champion them and love them through all their seasons. I can attest that she has walked that walk for the last 30 years as we’ve both strived to welcome the new versions of each other with open arms. 

One of those big pivots for Bonnie was her journey from pediatric oncology nurse to full blown entrepreneur with the launch of her successful business, Well Dressed Nashville. I asked her how she knew it was the right time to start a business and she replied with classic Bonnie candor, “I DON’T think it was a good time!” Let me set the scene for you: we’re on the eve of a global pandemic, Bonnie has a “not even one year old” at home, and she decides to dabble in an event-based closet sale thinking it might be a fun bi-annual “thing.” Proof of Bonnie’s entrepreneurial brilliance is that she was able to pivot the whole thing online just in time. “I thought, either this dies here or I figure out a way to make it work.”

We also explored how our greatest strengths can sometimes be the cracks in our armor. I’d say Bonnie’s “unfair advantage,” if you will, is the purity of her extroversion. “When I say that I really love people, I legitimately love people. The networking part of this is my most favorite thing. If I could be at a point in my business where I could only do that, that would be my dream.”  This is something I don’t hear a lot, but I can attest that it’s so very true of her. And it’s likely the reason her business has exploded. She’s gotten some major “Yes”es (like Olympian-sized) even though her business is only two years old because she’s not afraid to talk to anyone and can instantly connect. Bonnie was even gracious enough to share with us the downside of rapidly growing a people-based business. It’s been a huge success and an even bigger joy, but it came at a cost. As is common with FOMO-ridden, visionary-types, extroverted entrepreneurs (like Bonnie and myself) burnout hit her hard and took a toll on Bonnie’s mental and physical health. She shared how she’s overcome and what processes she’s putting in place so that she can bounce back full-force in a sustainable way. 

Links of note in this episode:

Well Dressed Nashville
Traction
Basecamp

Grab Hilary's latest free resource: the mini eBook, 12 Little Hacks for the Mindful Creative.

5 Tips to Get Your Dream Off the Ground

/
GYDOTG Take 2 Social Posts Ad Option1b2.jpg

5 Steps to Get Your Dream Off the Ground

If 2021 is the year you are ready to launch your side hustle, your product, your project, your story, your cause, or your message, there are five things you need to do.

  1. Get clear on what your big goals are and work backward. What do you need to do this year? This half? This quarter? This month? This week? Today? 

  2. Assess your dream’s brand or your personal brand. What needs to change in order to best serve your goal? 

  3. After you’ve fleshed out a plan for your dream (business plan, manuscript, mission of your org, etc) then create a plan for finding your clients, customers, audience, or stakeholders. It’s time to build your platform. 

  4. Set some low-hanging fruit goals for the next 90 days that little by little will get you where you want to be. What can you control? 

  5. At 90 days assess, adjust, and keep going.

Use discount code PODCAST21 at checkout to get the “Get Your Dream Off the Ground” course for just $99.

Annual Planning and Goal Setting for An Unpredictable Year

/

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Android | Libsyn | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | RSS

Annual Planning and Goal Setting for An Unpredictable Year

HilWing-09436.jpg

Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I seek to take a look at my habits, schedule, and priorities and make adjustments as needed. Here are three tips for making lasting change.

  1. If you want to make change, do whatever you can to make it as easy as possible. “Make good habits easy and bad habits hard.” Embrace and celebrate low hanging fruit! 

  2. Review the last quarter of the year. What was missing? What needs to be adjusted? Envision the next 90 days and what you want to do differently. 

  3. Figure out what needs to go and cut it out. You can always add it back in, but remember life is like a closet. You can’t add in new things without cutting out other things. Be judicious.

As you begin annual planning for the year ahead, a good exercise to do is both look forward and look back. You can do this through journaling and visualizing what matters most in your year.

Crack open a journal or Notes app and imagine it is New Years Day of next year. Answer these questions as you journal from the future...

  • What worked well over the past year? 

  • What are the values I’m glad I prioritized over the last year? How did living these out materialize in my day-to-day life?  

  • What habits am I glad that I kicked? What habits am I glad that I implemented?

  • What special moments am I glad I made space for? What memories am I glad I prioritized? 

  • What were the highlights of the year? Who were a part of them? 

  • What are the financial goals I’m proud I achieved?

  • What are the career goals I’m proud I achieved? 

  • What noise did I minimize in my life that resulted in better mental health and better relationships? 

  • What am I most pleased that I accomplished over the last year? What are the 3-4 challenging, but important priorities?

8 Lessons I Learned about Work & Life (Hustle & Grace) in 2020

/

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Android | Libsyn | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | RSS

8 Lessons I Learned about Work & Life (Hustle & Grace) in 2020

HILBRAND-07379.jpg

  1. I want to always be in the kind of financial shape that I could walk away from full-time work for a season if I need to.

  2. Life is too short to try to adequately manage all.the.things.

  3. We can’t compare every season to one another.

  4. Everybody has had a traumatic year so treat people like they’ve gone through something.

  5. Having gratitude during the hard times is even more important than in the easy times. 

  6. Make a plan but write it in pencil.

  7. For me 2020 was the worst year ever but it wasn’t The Worst. 

  8. It’s important to remember all of it: the good and the bad. Reflect on it. Don’t discount it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Budgeting Templates

How to Start a Gratitude Practice

Goal-Setting Workbook

Nona Jones, Head of Faith Partnerships at Facebook On Success from the Inside Out

/
Official Headshot.jpg

Nona Jones is a rare combination of preacher, author, business executive, entrepreneur, media personality and worship leader. In her day job she serves as the Head of Faith Partnerships at Facebook where she leads the company’s work with faith-based organizations around the world. She is the author of two best-selling books: Success from the Inside Out and From Social Media to Social Ministry. She also hosts The Nona Jones Show, a Facebook Live talk show that reaches almost 40 million people around the world each week. Since being licensed into the gospel ministry at the age of 17, Nona has preached around the world. She and her husband, Pastor Tim, lead Open Door Ministries in Gainesville, FL and are the proud parents of two sons.

Hustle Hack: Take time out for strategic thinking. Nona does this on a quarterly basis. I do something similar which I call “Quarterly Zoom Outs.” 4 days a year I take a day to examine what has been working, what needs to change, and what I need to do to work toward my goals over the coming 90 days. But I really love that Nona doesn’t stop there. She also asks herself what has to happen to push closer to her big goal for the quarter and who needs to be a part of the process. She also mentioned that she makes the choice to strategically abandon things. We can’t do all the things all the time. What do YOU need to strategically abandon to push closer to your goal? I’d love to hear from you in the Hustle & Grace Facebook group. Please share!

Moment of Grace: Learn to release the “why.” I don’t really believe this is something that can be tackled in a “moment” but I do think this was such a powerful point that Nona made, I want to reemphasize it. Nona made a decision to forgive regardless of what the other party in her life did, said, explained or rationalized. I think we’ve all been hurt by people and we think “well, if we just got an explanation then that would help” and the truth is it’s not our job to get an explanation. But healing can begin when we release the “why” and make the decision to forgive. Is there a “why” in your life that you need to choose to release?