Start With Why: Escaping the Transactional Trap (Ep. 1)
Are you running your business, or is your business running you? For most 1099 entrepreneurs, the daily grind is a “transactional trap”—a cycle of chasing the next lead without a clear sense of direction. In this debut episode, Mark Sharman and Heather approach Simon Sinek’s classic Start With Why through the lens of the Mentally Awake system.
We break down why “Why” isn’t just a feel-good concept—it’s the Chassis of your professional life. Whether you are “The Filing Guy” (suffocating under structure) or “The Carny” (chasing the adrenaline of the next ‘firework’), without a central anchor, you are sleepwalking toward burnout. Learn how to install a high-performance Operating System that turns your “Why” into sustainable Resilience and Direction.
What You’ll Learn:
- The 1099 Hamster Wheel: Why solo professionals often mistake “busyness” for growth.
- Personas of Unconsciousness: Are you a “Filing Guy” or a “Carny”?
- The Engine vs. The Chassis: How to distinguish between your business processes and your core pillars.
- Resilience as a Shock Absorber: Using your “Why” to navigate the “feast or famine” reality.
Featured Pillar: Direction. Without it, you aren’t an entrepreneur; you’re a high-level gig worker.
Take the Assessment: Stop guessing and start measuring. How “Mentally Awake” are you really? Take the 5-minute diagnostic to find your gaps
Are you building a scalable business or just a high-stress job?
Most independent professionals are one bad month away from a crisis. Stop the “Feast or Famine” cycle and get a clear roadmap for your business.
Mark Sharman is the founder of Mentally Awake, a growth system designed to help 1099 entrepreneurs move from “Job to Business.”
