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.

• The 1099 Hamster Wheel: Why solo professionals often mistake "busyness" for growth.
• Personas of Unconsciousness: Identifying if you are 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.

Stop guessing and start measuring. How "Mentally Awake" are you really? Take the 5-minute diagnostic to find your gaps and identify which pillar is crumbling:

👉 Take the Mentally Awake Assessment Here

• Website: mentallyawake.com
• LinkedIn: Join the Community on LinkedIn

Music Credits & Licensing:
Badass by Mr Smith (CC BY 4.0). Modified from original: edited for length and sampled.
Team Funk by Yuri Megis (CC BY 4.0). Modified from original: edited for length and sampled.