Becker Business Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Starting Businesses, Writing Books, & Lots of Headaches
Host: Scott Becker
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Introduction and Career Overview
In the latest episode of the Becker Business Podcast, host Scott Becker delves into his multifaceted career, sharing insights from his experiences as both a successful lawyer and an entrepreneur. Scott begins by reflecting on his dual career paths: building a prominent legal practice and founding a leading business media company.
“Over the course of my career, I've had two principal careers. Been a lawyer and built a great practice at a major law firm... Second, founded a company called Becker's Healthcare, which became a leading business media company.”
— Scott Becker [00:30]
Leadership and Team Building
Scott emphasizes the importance of strong leadership and the role of talented teams in his professional successes. He highlights key individuals who have surpassed him, showcasing his ability to mentor and develop future leaders.
“Holly Buckley runs at McGuire Woods. Jessica Cole runs the media company, the CEO and president of Becker's Healthcare both are just phenomenal...”
— Scott Becker [02:15]
His admiration for his mentees underscores his leadership philosophy: empowering others to excel and take ownership.
Writing and Publishing
Transitioning from his corporate endeavors, Scott discusses his ventures into writing and public speaking. He shares his journey of authoring his first book, “The Entrepreneur’s Edge,” after a 20-year hiatus from publishing.
“My first book I'd written in nearly 20 years in this book, being a business book called the Entrepreneurs Edge that came out last year, was a B B plus book.”
— Scott Becker [04:10]
Despite receiving constructive feedback, Scott remains committed to improving his craft, hinting at a forthcoming book that promises to delve deeper into building businesses amidst a landscape of successes and setbacks.
“Went back and wrote a whole different version of that book, a whole new book that'll come out next year...”
— Scott Becker [05:45]
Starting a New Business
Motivated by a desire to stay actively engaged in entrepreneurship, Scott shares his recent endeavors in launching a new business. He candidly discusses the challenges and excitement that come with building a sales team from the ground up.
“One of the things that's caused me to do is to get more serious about building another business because I sort of feel a little bit old and artificial if I'm writing about business and not literally engaged in building a business.”
— Scott Becker [07:20]
Scott details the steps taken, including hiring salespeople, and expresses optimism about the potential success of this new venture.
Navigating Administrative Challenges
Highlighting the often-overlooked aspects of entrepreneurship, Scott opens up about the administrative hurdles faced while starting a business. From handling payments to overcoming banking issues, he provides a realistic glimpse into the complexities of running a new enterprise.
“...trying to get them paid right now through Zelle, when you hit the fraud alert systems reminds me of all the little administrative headaches.”
— Scott Becker [09:05]
More specifically, Scott recounts a frustrating experience spent hours resolving fraud alerts with his bank while attempting to compensate his contractors, illustrating the unpredictable obstacles that can arise.
“...three hours I spent this morning with Chase getting the account unlocked for potential fraud or fraud alerts and sending money to the people that I'm working with. What a pain in the butt.”
— Scott Becker [10:30]
Balancing Vision and Practicality
Despite the setbacks, Scott remains focused on the core objectives of his new business: ensuring the right team is in place and validating market demand for their product. He stresses the importance of maintaining vision while managing day-to-day operational challenges.
“...the real issue we're trying out, trying to find out if you got the right people in place and if people actually want to buy the product that you're selling, which is a whole different question...”
— Scott Becker [12:00]
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Wrapping up the episode, Scott reiterates his enthusiasm for the new business venture and commits to providing regular updates to his audience. He underscores the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the entrepreneurial journey.
“We'll be providing regular updates as we get going on building a new business and working with our remarkable team.”
— Scott Becker [13:45]
Scott concludes by thanking his listeners, reinforcing his dedication to sharing authentic experiences and lessons from the frontline of business development.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership: Building and mentoring strong teams are crucial for business success.
- Continuous Learning: Scott’s journey into writing highlights the importance of adapting and improving one’s skills.
- Entrepreneurial Challenges: Administrative tasks are a significant part of starting a business, often requiring patience and problem-solving.
- Future Plans: Scott is committed to launching a new business and will keep his audience informed of its progress.
This episode offers a transparent and insightful look into the realities of balancing multiple careers, the dedication required to start a new venture, and the relentless pursuit of growth and excellence in the business world.