Join host Sam Davidson as he unpacks the extraordinary journey of Michael Burcham, the founding CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. From his humble beginnings in rural Mississippi, Michael shares how a dream to escape his small-town bubble led him to the Army National Guard for college, a dynamic career in healthcare, and ultimately, to becoming a prolific founder, investor, professor, and four-time author.

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, strategic thinking, and the power of giving back. Michael details the challenges and triumphs of founding two successful healthcare companies, Teraphysics and Paradigm Health, including how he overcame dozens of rejections to secure his first investor, strategically pivoted business models for explosive growth, and navigated lucrative exits. He then recounts the inspiring story behind the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, from its audacious vision of a physical hub for entrepreneurs to the monumental task of renovating its historic Hillyard home with no debt.

Dive into Michael's profound insights on the entrepreneurial mindset, including lessons from his books, "The Art of Startup Failure" and "The Seven Deadly Emotions of Entrepreneurship." Discover his three critical guideposts for discerning when to pivot versus persevere, and learn why fostering relationships is the bedrock of lasting success. Michael also shares his current focus at Shore Capital and his mission to empower entrepreneurs who are driven not just by profit, but by a desire to scale for impact and "send the elevator back down" for the next generation.

Episode Highlights:

• 0:06 - Meet Michael Burcham: Founder, Author, Investor, Professor
• 1:07 - Michael's first glimpse of entrepreneurship in rural Mississippi
• 1:38 - Starting his first business at 14: The lawnmower venture
• 2:44 - The deep-seated drive to expand beyond his small-town upbringing
• 3:41 - How the Army National Guard paved Michael's path to college
• 4:34 - Launching a career in healthcare and earning an MBA at HCA
• 8:04 - Founding Teraphysics: Overcoming 30 rejections to raise crucial capital
• 10:59 - The strategic business model pivots that propelled Teraphysics' success
• 19:07 - Co-founding and scaling his second impactful company, Paradigm Health
• 23:38 - The ambitious vision behind establishing the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC)
• 31:00 - The monumental challenge and triumph of renovating the EC's historic Hillyard building
• 34:40 - Why strong relationships are non-negotiable for entrepreneurial success
• 37:40 - Transitioning from the EC to Shore Capital and embarking on an authorship journey
• 41:35 - Key takeaways and wisdom from "The Art of Startup Failure"
• 44:27 - Exploring "The Seven Deadly Emotions of Entrepreneurship" and navigating internal struggles
• 49:01 - Michael's three essential guideposts for deciding when to pivot
• 54:23 - Michael's current mission: Coaching entrepreneurs to scale for impact, not just profit, and his upcoming book, "Blood, Sweat, and Equity"

Listen now to gain Michael's unique perspective on entrepreneurship. Subscribe to Circle Back for more inspiring stories. Share this episode with aspiring founders and business leaders, and leave us a review to help others discover valuable content.

Relevant Links:

Michael Burcham's Books

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Shore Capital Partners

Connect with Michael Burcham

Circle Back Podcast

Nashville Post

Nashville Entrepreneur Hall of Famer Cal Turner shares the remarkable story of his family's legacy in founding Dollar General, tracing its roots back to his grandfather Luther Turner—a self-taught entrepreneur with only a third-grade education. Cal reflects on his unexpected path from ministry to business leadership, highlighting the values of humility, hard work, and the importance of surrounding yourself with smarter people. As CEO, he guided Dollar General's growth into a thriving public company by keeping customers and frontline employees at the heart of its mission. Now devoted to philanthropy, Cal channels his family's story into efforts to improve literacy and education, proving that true success lies in lifting others up.

The Rev. Becca Stevens shares her journey becoming the founder of Thistle Farms, a powerful social enterprise that helps women heal from trauma, addiction, and trafficking. What began as a small venture making bath and body products has blossomed into a nationwide movement, complete with a cafe, global partnerships, and over 70 sister communities across the U.S. Rev. Stevens offers a fresh take on "justice entrepreneurship," prioritizing dignity and empowerment over profit and explains the importance of tackling big challenges, staying open to new paths, and building a strong circle of support. Rev. Stevens was the 2000 Nashvillian of the Year and in 2013 was inducted into the Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame.