#37 - Anne Mahlum (SolidCore)

Anne Mahlum, the founder of SolidCore, shares her journey from being a waitress in North Dakota to negotiating a major company sale.   Anne shares her incredible story of founding SolidCore with $175,000 of her own savings after initially working in nonprofits and creating a running club for a homeless shelter. She discusses the challenges she faced, including navigating contentious business relationships and securing funding, while highlighting the importance of an unwavering belief in oneself.   Discover how Anne turned her passion for fitness and community building into a $100 million success story, the strategic decisions she made during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her ultimate exit strategy.   Anne also sheds light on her financial philosophy, the impact of her upbringing, and the significance of achieving a nine-figure exit.     00:33 Introducing Anne Mahlum: From Waitress to Entrepreneur 4:54 The Power of Believing in Yourself  
7:00 Stepping Into the Next Chapter of Her Life  
10:06 Overcoming Deep Self-Doubt as an Entrepreneur  
11:52 Navigating a Tough Relationship With a Business Partner  
14:00 Becoming Intentional With Every Spending Decision  
15:57 Scaling From 6 to 25 Studios  
18:00 Why Control Is Everything in Dealmaking  
19:36 Expanding at Lightning Speed to 50 Studios  
22:59 A CEO’s True Risk Tolerance in a Crisis  
25:00 Negotiating With Landlords to Keep the Business Alive  
27:00 Expanding Into Red States During the Pandemic  
28:38 Promoting Brian to CEO  
30:37 How She Achieved a $100 Million Exit  
32:54 Why Rewarding Employees Matters More Than Ever  
34:33 The Case for Not Starving Founders  
36:20 Seeing Money as a Trophy for Value Creation  
39:31 Aligning Your Skills With the Right Opportunities