Episode Overview

In this episode of the Action Academy podcast, host Brian Luebben invites renowned entrepreneurial coach and former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Cameron Herold, to discuss a provocative idea: “Only 3% of people should be entrepreneurs.” Their candid, humorous, and wisdom-packed conversation explores what sets real entrepreneurs apart from “wantrepreneurs,” the essential DNA and skills required for leadership, how to handle the emotional rollercoaster of running a business, and why enjoying the journey matters more than money or grind.

If you’re wrestling with your corporate role, pondering entrepreneurship, or simply seeking a fresh perspective on business and life, this episode delivers hard-won truths, practical frameworks, and memorable moments to help you find clarity and—most of all—permission to play.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Who Should (and Should Not) Be an Entrepreneur?

• Only a small minority are true entrepreneurs
  • “97% of people should never be an entrepreneur. They don’t understand the risks and they don’t necessarily have the skills to do it or they think it’s going to happen too quickly.”
    — Cameron Herold [00:00]
• Being entrepreneurial vs. being an entrepreneur
  • Many can have entrepreneurial traits, but launching and growing a business, hiring people, taking on debt and risk, and sometimes not paying yourself is a calling for a very specific type of person, not just for those who want flexibility or money.
    [01:49]
• The myth of overnight success
  • Cameron and Brian discuss that it takes a long time and a “roller coaster” journey before you see the fruits or get to the proverbial “overnight success.”
    • “They forget or they don’t even understand. It takes a long time to get to the night before you become the overnight success…”
      — Cameron Herold [01:49]

The Entrepreneur’s DNA: Traits & Skills

• Must-have traits:
  • Sales ability: “If you’re not good at sales, you’ll never be good as an entrepreneur.” [03:05]
  • Leadership: Early leadership behavior often reveals future entrepreneurs
    • “Most entrepreneurs were leading people when they were kids... that’s leadership.” [03:44]
• Skills can be learned or hired:
  • Financial, planning, priority management, AI, marketing, etc. are not innate and can be learned or delegated.
    [04:40]
  • “You can hire the skills, but you can’t hire the traits.” — Cameron Herold [04:40]
• Nature vs. nurture
  • Essential entrepreneurial traits are often hardwired; cultivation helps, but DNA plays a huge role.
    [05:00]

Leadership: Art, Science, & Frameworks

• Supporting vs. commanding
  • True leadership flips the org chart: leaders support those “above” them (customers/fronlines), not command from the top.
  • “Leadership is not telling people what to do. It’s showing them where you’re going. It’s inspiring them with your future... and then your job is to support them.” — Cameron Herold [06:11]
• Situational leadership (4-point system):
  • Leaders gauge each person’s skill and commitment for every task and adapt management style accordingly:
    • 0 points: Delegate elsewhere
    • 1 point: Micromanage step-by-step
    • 2 points: Show the plan and explain why
    • 3 points: Coach, develop, and cheer on
    • 4 points: Complete independence
      [06:11–09:37]
• Passive income myth
  • Real “passivity” comes from people, process, and profits, not just investments.
    • “Your ability to be passive isn’t in correlation to how well you can invest. It’s in how well you can lead the team.” — Brian Luebben [11:08]

Education, Childhood, and Developing Leaders

• Traditional schooling often suppresses entrepreneurial traits
  • “Schools are trying to breed us to become workers, not to become entrepreneurial.” — Cameron Herold [16:26]
  • Public education system can emotionally wound nonconforming or ADHD kids, labeling innate difference as “problems.” [16:26–21:01]
  • Both speakers advocate for alternative schooling (Montessori, international, homeschooling, or AI-based schools).
• Focus on developing and recognizing children’s unique talents, not forcing everyone into the same mold.

Systems over People & Accountability

• Blame systems, not people
  • “People don’t fail. Systems fail.” — Cameron Herold, quoting Michael Gerber [21:01]
  • When something goes wrong, look for systemic issues before blaming or firing individuals.
• Extreme Ownership mantra:
  • “If you point your finger at somebody and say Kelly didn’t do a good job, there’s three fingers pointing back at you.” — Cameron Herold [22:23]
  • Ownership applies at work and in personal life.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship

• The “season of suck” is normal—and cyclical
  • Cameron introduces the rollercoaster metaphor:
    1. Uninformed optimism – Excitement, naive energy
    2. Informed pessimism – Worry as reality sets in
    3. Crisis of meaning/Valley of despair – Feeling stuck, hopeless
    4. Hopeful realization – “I think I can”
    5. Informed optimism – Confidence/competency returns
       [24:59–29:12]
  • “The rollercoaster never ends for entrepreneurs. When you get on a rollercoaster at the theme park, you go around once and get off. When you’re an entrepreneur, it’s a never-ending rollercoaster.” — Cameron Herold [33:02]
• Don’t try to work through crisis—unplug!
  • “No one is ever going to praise you for working hard and no one will actually criticize you for taking a break.” — Cameron Herold [34:03]
  • Take real breaks—your team needs a rested leader.

Reframing Problems, Celebrating Wins

• Problems never go away; level up your relationship with them
  • “Entrepreneurship is problems. You should want to chase the problems. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity.” — Brian Luebben [49:49]
  • Visual/mental exercises: Lower the emotional charge of the problem; remember it’s not a tiger about to eat you [51:12]
  • “If you’re an entrepreneur and you don’t know what the one big problem facing your business is this week, you’re the problem.” — Elon Musk, quoted by Cameron [53:02]
• Celebrate wins as much as you set goals.
  • “Every time you set three new goals for your business, find three goals that you just accomplished and celebrate those.” — Cameron Herold [56:37]

Longevity & Enjoying the Journey

• Pace yourself for the long run:
  • “We should enjoy the journey... the finish line is we die.” — Cameron Herold [41:52]
  • Delegate early, grow people, set boundaries on work time.
• Life is for living, not mere achievement
  • “No one’s going to praise you for working hard. No one’s going to criticize you for taking a break.” [41:08]
  • “Entrepreneurs who say that business is their hobby are really fucking boring.” [40:00]
  • Leading by example: Creating a life story that includes hobbies and passions beyond business. [63:02]
• Practical hacks:
  • Weekly prioritizing: Make a list of needed projects, delegate 80%, limit yourself to your zone of genius. [44:51]
  • Develop and train your leaders continuously.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Enjoy the journey, man." — Cameron Herold [00:27, 62:32]
• “You need to have the traits and the skills, and you can hire the skills but you can’t hire the traits.” — Cameron Herold [04:40]
• “Leadership is not telling people what to do. It’s showing them where you’re going... your job is to support them, remove obstacles, to grow them.” — Cameron Herold [06:11]
• “If you point your finger at somebody... there’s three fingers pointing back at you.” — Cameron Herold [22:23]
• “People don’t fail. Systems fail.” — Michael Gerber, cited by Cameron Herold [21:01]
• “The finish line is we die.” — Cameron Herold [41:52]
• “Entrepreneurs who say that business is my hobby are really fucking boring.” — Cameron Herold [40:00]
• “No one is ever going to praise you for working hard and no one will actually criticize you for taking a break.” — Cameron Herold [34:03]
• "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, everyone will believe they're stupid." — Albert Einstein, referenced by Brian [19:15]
• “Every time you set three new goals… find three goals you just accomplished and celebrate those.” — Cameron Herold [56:37]
• Rule Number Six: "Don’t take yourself so fucking seriously. There aren’t any other rules." — Cameron Herold [54:03]
• “If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, water your own grass.” — Cameron Herold [23:38]
• “Delegate everything except genius.” — Cameron Herold [42:31]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] - Only 3% should be entrepreneurs: The DNA and myth of entrepreneurship
• [03:05–04:40] - The non-negotiable traits and learnable skills for entrepreneurial success
• [06:11–12:13] - Situational leadership and the inverted org chart
• [16:26–21:01] - The failure of traditional education for entrepreneurial kids; alternatives
• [22:23–23:38] - Systems vs. people; Extreme ownership in business and life
• [24:59–33:02] - Entrepreneur’s Emotional Rollercoaster (uninformed optimism, crisis, hopeful realization)
• [34:03–36:24] - The right way to cope: prioritize rest, unplugging, and self-compassion
• [41:08–42:31] - “The finish line is we die”; why doing less can yield more
• [44:51] - Weekly prioritization & delegation hack
• [53:02–54:03] - Problem-solving frameworks; “Rule #6: Don’t take yourself so seriously”
• [56:37] - Celebrating wins with the same fervor as setting goals
• [58:21–62:42] - Final advice for sustainable entrepreneurship and living fully

Takeaways for Aspiring (or Current) Entrepreneurs

• Not everyone is meant for entrepreneurship—and that’s okay. Examine your motivations, your skills, and your deep-seated traits before leaping.
• Sales and leadership are the critical DNA. Skills and knowledge can be acquired, but hunger for leading and selling must be innate or deliberately cultivated.
• Study leadership as much as you study marketing and sales. Adopt situational frameworks, delegate, and truly support your team.
• Your emotional health is inseparable from business health. Seasons of “suck” happen; take breaks, celebrate, and never be ashamed to recharge.
• Process and people create true freedom—not passive-labeled investments or automation hype.
• Enjoy your life now. Don’t put happiness on layaway until your exit, millions, or retirement.
• Don’t take yourself so fking seriously. Remember Rule #6!

If you’re on the entrepreneurial path, this episode will challenge your assumptions, offer real tools for the journey, and—maybe most importantly—give you permission to play.