Journey to Business Ownership - Freedom Friday Podcast

About Journey to Business Ownership - Freedom Friday Podcast

Freedom Fridays is a weekly podcast everyday entrepreneurs share educational insights to help you explore what business ownership could look like for you. Hosted by Patrice Miles, Franchise Business Owner and Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source, this series dives into real stories, practical resources, and clear guidance for anyone considering a transition from employee to entrepreneur. Whether you’re curious about starting a business, buying a business or investing in a franchise, this playlist will equip you with clarity & inspiration.

Publisher

Patrice Miles

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Dec 2025

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

46 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   “Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From Scratch

   “Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From ScratchWhat happens when you stop waiting for the “perfect” time and just start?On this episode of Freedom Friday at the Journey to Business Ownership Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Gary Smith, founder of Gary Loks Premium Cigars, to talk about a business journey that has been anything but ordinary.Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset took shape after a major layoff at Sprint. After experiencing the uncertainty of depending on an employer, he made a decision that changed his path: instead of continuing to ask someone else for a job, he started creating opportunities for himself.Over the years, Gary tried multiple businesses—from pressure washing to building a nationwide mobile loan-closing business with hundreds of notaries. Then, about five years ago, an unexpected rediscovery of his love for cigars led him into an industry he knew very little about.With less than $10,000, Gary launched his own cigar brand.Since then, **Gary Loks Premium Cigars** has earned recognition from Cigar Journal and has been featured at major events, while Gary has continued building the brand one opportunity at a time.And Gary’s philosophy toward entrepreneurship is refreshingly simple:“Just start.”In this episode, we talk about:🔥 How being laid off helped shape Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset 🔥 Why he stopped waiting for someone else to give him an opportunity 🔥 The businesses he started before entering the cigar industry 🔥 How he launched his cigar brand with less than $10,000 🔥 Why preparation allowed him to act when opportunity appeared 🔥 The recognition his cigars have received 🔥 Why fear hasn’t stopped him from pursuing new opportunities 🔥 His advice for anyone sitting on the fence about becoming their own bossGary’s message is simple: Start where you are. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just start.If you’ve been thinking about entrepreneurship but keep waiting for the right time, the right amount of money, or the right opportunity, this conversation may be exactly what you need.🥃 CONNECT WITH GARY SMITH & GARY LOKS PREMIUM CIGARS🌐 Website: https://garyloks.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-smith-sr-38417b38/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garylokspremiumcigars/Gary also offers personalized cigar boxes and cigars for corporate clients, special occasions, client gifts, real estate closings, and more.🚀 THINKING ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?I’m Patrice Miles, franchise business owner and Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source. I provide **free coaching and consulting** to help people explore what business ownership could look like in their lives—whether that’s starting a business, buying an existing business, or investing in a franchise.🌐 Start your journey: JourneyToBusinessOwnership.comDon’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with someone who may need a little encouragement to take the leap.🎙️ Freedom Friday | Journey to Business Ownership PodcastKeep chasing purpose, not just a paycheck.#JourneyToBusinessOwnership #FreedomFriday #GarySmith #GaryLoksPremiumCigars #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership #EntrepreneurJourney #CigarBusiness #SmallBusiness #BecomeYourOwnBoss #entrepreneurmindset “Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From Scratch

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   No Film Degree, Just YouTube University | How Dave Carroll Built One Stop Media KY

   Host Dave Carroll shares how he built One Stop Media KY through self-learning and passion, gaining freedom and prioritizing family.

3. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Webinar - Before You Buy a Franchise: The 10 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid

   Career Ownership Coach Patrice Miles guides aspiring entrepreneurs through ten critical mistakes to avoid when buying a franchise, ensuring confident investment decisions.

Who has been a guest on Journey to Business Ownership - Freedom Friday Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dave Carroll
• Holly Slone
• Steve Stallings
• Dave Oetken
• Elizabeth Terry Crowe

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Journey to Business Ownership - Freedom Friday Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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