Behind Their Success: Advice For Entrepreneurs
<p><b>You are not alone, building a business is hard. This is a podcast to hear from those who have done it before you so you can become the healthy, wealthy and wise entrepreneur you want to be. <br></b><br></p><p><b>My name is Paden Squires, and I started  out of college working in finance at a Fortune 500 company and hated it- I was bored out of my mind. So I wanted to change my life. I started studying for the CPA exam, listening to podcasts six hours a day; and I took four exams in eight months. I even started my business in...Show more
All Episodes
109: Sink or Swim: How Entrepreneurs Can Become Unstoppable
Tired of excuses? Today's guest, Keren Gonen proves that no one can hold you back but you. From immigrant beginnings to running the top real estate business in her county, she’s living proof that relentless service and grit win every time. Her journey is one every entrepreneur, high achiever, and personal development junkie needs to hear. Keren’s story proves that success isn’t just about transactions—it’s about transforming lives, building community, and doing it with authenticity. We cover: How being an immigrant shaped her entrepreneurial mindset. Why customer service is the biggest competitive advantage in any business. The importance of saying no to protect your time and energy. How to stay grounded, present, and focused while chasing big goals. The daily habits and mindset shifts that keep her operating at a high level. Keren’s outlook is a masterclass in resilience and personal growth—you’ll leave this one motivated to just do it. Where to Find Keren 📱 Cell: (551)262-4062 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @KerenGonenRealEstateBroker 🔖 Hashtag: #KerenCares About Your Host – Paden Squires Hey, I’m Paden Squires—CPA, entrepreneur, and the owner of Squires Tax Planning. If you’re a business owner or high income earner, chances are you’re overpaying in taxes because you only have a tax preparer and not a tax planner. At Squires Tax Planning, we work alongside entrepreneurs and high achievers to create proactive strategies that save you real money. 💻 Take the free assessment at squirestaxplanning.com to see if you’re overpaying the IRS. From there, you can book a free tax discovery call with our team.
108: The S.A.F.E. Method: A Smarter Way to Invest in Real Estate
In this episode of Behind Their Success, I sit down with Tom Dunkel, an entrepreneur and investment expert, who transformed a financial crisis into a thriving multi-million dollar business. Tom shares his inspiring journey from corporate VP to overcoming the challenges of the 2008 market crash. Discover how he adopted the SAFE investing method, a strategic approach to evaluating investment opportunities, and learn about the importance of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people. Tom's insights into resilience and growth will empower you to embrace challenges and pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. Join us for a conversation filled with valuable advice and practical strategies to help you navigate your own path to success.
107: Why You Should Scale Yourself to Scale Your Business
What if the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your strategy, your market, or even your team—but you? In this episode, we dive into the idea that true growth for entrepreneurs and small business owners starts from the inside out. High achievers often think scaling means doing more, but as Leila Lahbabi reveals, lasting success comes from personal development, conscious leadership, and aligning your business with who you are at your core. In this episode, we talk about: Why personal development is the secret ingredient to building a business that lasts How high achievers often fall into burnout—and how to break the cycle Why your business will never outgrow you (and what to do about it) The balance between hustle, scaling, and actually enjoying your life as an entrepreneur The “CLAP” methodology for leadership, teams, and scaling from the inside out This one is packed with wisdom, stories, and practical strategies for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to build both profit and purpose. 👉 Connect with Leila: LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/leilalahbabiimpactstrategy Instagram: @leilalhb Podcast: Billion Dollar Purpose YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leilalahbabi Tax Services: Squires Tax Planning is where we help high achievers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners pay the least amount of tax legally and ethically. My team and I have saved clients hundreds of thousands of dollars through proactive strategies most tax preparers never bring up. If you’re tired of just filing taxes and want to see what true tax planning looks like, head over to squirestaxplanning.com . Take the free assessment to find out if you’re overpaying and book a discovery call with our team.
106: Is Building Your Business Making You Broke and Unhealthy?
What if the secret to building wealth, health, and freedom wasn’t in a quick fix, but in compounding small decisions over time? Today’s episode will light a fire under every small business owner and entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and their life at the same time. In this conversation, I sit down with Mike Milligan, founder of Ideas by Mike and 1.Oak Financial. Mike’s journey started at his grandmother’s dining room table, selling collared sandwiches at construction sites, and has grown into decades of helping entrepreneurs create purpose-driven wealth. We dive into: Mike’s personal health transformation—losing over 100 pounds by “planning his health like his money.” The lessons he learned from his grandmother that shaped his entrepreneur mindset. Why compounding small actions is the real way to grow your business and yourself. The advantages and challenges of living and running a business in Puerto Rico (and the tax strategies behind it). The critical difference between a tax preparer and a true tax planner. Why entrepreneurs must pay themselves first and learn to own their business—instead of letting their business own them. If you’re an entrepreneur chasing personal development while trying to grow your business, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical steps. Connect with Mike: – COMING SOON: his books The One-of-a-Kind Financial Plan and Retirement Déjà Vu 👉 Website: www.1oakfinancial.com Follow Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/ Are you a small business owner tired of overpaying the IRS? Here’s the truth: most CPAs are historians—they file what already happened. But real money is saved through tax planning, not tax prep. At Squires Tax Planning, we work with entrepreneurs and high-income earners to legally and ethically minimize taxes. We’ve saved clients hundreds of thousands of dollars through strategies their previous preparer never mentioned. ✅ Take our free tax assessment at squirestaxplanning.com to see if you’re likely overpaying. ✅ Book a free discovery call and find out how much tax you can save this year. If this episode brought you value, do me a favor: rate, review, and share the podcast. That’s how we keep helping entrepreneurs become healthier, wealthier, and wiser. And connect with me on social media or at paydensquires.com where I share daily tips on entrepreneurship and personal development. Mike Milligan is an investment advisor representative of Advisory Alpha, LLC, a SEC registered investment advisor. All opinions expressed by Mike Milligan are solely his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Advisory Alpha, LLC, and as such, any and all statements of purported or observed general practices of non-affiliated firms and advisors; conditions of the broad financial services industry; or performance or returns with regards to products, securities, markets, or otherwise, whether or not advisor indicates they may be relying on third-party data or sources, are solely the opinions and/or interpretations of the advisor and are not intended to be offered as factual. The validity of these statements has not been verified, and as such, no representations of their validity are made. This recording is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment decisions. Investment advisory and financial planning services offered through Advisory Alpha, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance, coaching, and education services offered through Ideas by Mike, LLC, DBA 1.oak Financial. Ideas by Mike, LLC, DBA 1.oak Financial, Paden Squires - Behind Their Success Podcast are separate and unaffiliated entities from Advisory Alpha, LLC. While tax and legal issues may be discussed in the general course of financial and investment planning, Advisory Alpha does not provide tax or legal services.