In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I sit down with John Abrams, founder of South Mountain Company and a pioneer in employee ownership. John transitioned his company into a worker cooperative in the 1980s—long before employee ownership became a mainstream conversation. Now, with his upcoming book, From Founder to Future: A Business Roadmap to Impact, Longevity, and Employee Ownership, he’s on a mission to help more business owners build companies that endure.

We explore what it really takes to transition a business from founder-led to employee-owned, the risks of private equity takeovers, and why sharing ownership creates stronger, more resilient companies.

🎥 Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

🔹 The Shift to Employee Ownership
John shares his journey of converting South Mountain Company into a worker cooperative and the unexpected benefits it brought—not just for employees but for the company’s long-term success.

🔹 Protecting Your Business from Private Equity Takeovers
Many business owners assume selling to private equity is their only option, but John explains how alternative ownership models like ESOPs, worker co-ops, and employee ownership trusts can preserve a company’s mission.

🔹 The Five Transitions to a CommonWealth Company
John introduces the concept of CommonWealth Companies and the five critical transitions—Ownership, Leadership, Mission, Governance, and Impact—that can help a business thrive beyond the founder.

🔹 Aligning Business with a Bigger Purpose
John discusses how business owners can shift their mindset from chasing short-term growth to creating an enduring company that serves employees, customers, and the community.

🔹 The Future of Employee Ownership
With millions of baby boomer business owners retiring, we talk about why employee ownership is gaining traction and how it can reshape the economy by reducing wealth inequality.

💬 “The mentality of ‘they’ll have to drag me out of here feet first’ is a path to disaster. These transitions take planning.”
💬 “When employees have a stake in the business, they think and act like owners—and that changes everything.”
💬 “Selling to the wrong buyer can leave founders with fat wallets and broken hearts. Employee ownership offers another way.”

🌍 John’s Website: https://abramsangell.com
📚 From Founder to Future (Book): https://bit.ly/3C6vyQt
🔗 Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-abrams-3bb94683/
🌍 Project Equity (Employee Ownership Resource): https://project-equity.org/

✅ Start planning your business transition before you're ready to retire—separate ownership transition from leadership transition.
✅ Explore alternative ownership models (worker co-ops, ESOPs, EOTs) to see what best aligns with your values and long-term goals.
✅ Think beyond short-term profit—companies that prioritize purpose and shared ownership tend to thrive in the long run.

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more insights on building a business that lasts, visit jeanmoncrieff.com.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I sit down with Bo Burlingham, celebrated author of Small Giants, The Great Game of Business, and Finish Big, to discuss what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Bo has spent decades observing and writing about businesses that prioritize greatness over growth. In our conversation, we explore the principles of Evergreen companies, the importance of mojo, and why businesses with a clear purpose stand the test of time.

🎥 Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

Key Themes:

🔹 The Principles of Evergreen Companies
Bo breaks down the seven core principles that define Evergreen companies—from Purpose to Perseverance—and explains why these timeless qualities contribute to long-term success.

🔹 Mojo: The Magnetic Force of Great Businesses
Discover the concept of mojo and how it creates a magnetic pull that draws in employees, customers, and partners who genuinely care about the business.

🔹 The Purpose Behind Profit
Why great companies view profit as a byproduct of serving their customers exceptionally well, rather than the ultimate goal.

🔹 Long-Term Thinking in a Short-Term World
Bo shares why Evergreen businesses adopt a long-term perspective, resisting the pressures of short-term gains and focusing instead on enduring impact.

🔹 Ownership Structures That Build Legacy
We explore how family-owned and employee-owned businesses preserve their core values across generations, ensuring that the company's legacy lives on.

Quotes from the Episode:

💬 “Growth for growth's sake isn't the answer. Great companies know what matters most and stick to it.”
💬 “Mojo is like charisma for a business—it makes people want to be part of your story.”
💬 “Evergreen businesses aren’t afraid to go against the grain. They prioritize people and purpose over short-term profits.”

Links & Resources Mentioned: 🌍 Small Giants Community: https://smallgiants.org
📚 Another Way: Building Companies That Last (Book): https://a.co/d/c0kvE4Z
🔗 Connect with Bo Burlingham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-burlingham

Actionable Takeaways:

✅ Identify the core purpose that drives your business beyond profit.
✅ Evaluate your business through the lens of the seven Evergreen principles.
✅ Foster a sense of ownership and purpose across your team to build long-term resilience.

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more insights on building a purpose-driven, enduring business, visit jeanmoncrieff.com.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I sit down with Cate Zoltan, Founder and CEO of the Undo app, to explore a radically different approach to meditation. Cate shares how Natural Meditation helps people reconnect with their bodies, process unresolved emotions, and move away from rigid, goal-oriented techniques that often don’t work. We discuss the disconnect between the mind and body, why traditional meditation methods might not serve us in today’s world, and how true healing comes from feeling, not fixing.

🎥 Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

🔹 Why Traditional Meditation Might Not Work for You
Cate explains why most meditation techniques rely on external structures that don’t address individual needs—and why reconnecting with your body is the key to real transformation.

🔹 Natural Meditation vs. Yogi-Based Techniques
She breaks down the difference between Natural Meditation, which is body-based and intuitive, and technique-based meditation, which often imposes a structure that might not align with your personal experience.

🔹 The Body-Mind Connection
How stress, anxiety, and even physical pain are signals from the body—not just mental conditions—and how listening to these cues can lead to deep healing.

🔹 Releasing Emotional and Physical Tension
Cate shares how unresolved emotional experiences manifest in the body as tension and how meditation can help release these built-up pressures.

🔹 Meditation for the Modern World
Why trying to adopt a monk-like practice in a fast-paced, modern life isn’t practical—and what to do instead.

🔹 Freedom Through Self-Awareness
Cate talks about the role of meditation in self-discovery, emotional resilience, and creating a life that aligns with who you truly are.

💬 “Meditation isn’t about being calm, it’s about feeling how you actually feel.”
💬 “Your body is always trying to heal itself—you just have to listen.”
💬 “We’ve been taught to suppress and distract from our feelings, rather than process them.”

📱 Undo App: Undo App (where to download the app)
🔗 Connect with Cate Zoltan on LinkedIn: Cate’s LinkedIn
🧘‍♀️ Quiet Retreats (where to find the meditation retreats
🎥 Matthew’s Youtube
🤔 Our mental fitness quiz

✔️ Start by paying attention to how your body feels—without trying to change it.
✔️ Question whether your meditation practice is actually serving you, or if you’re just following a technique without results.
✔️ Experiment with different meditation styles to find what feels natural and sustainable.

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more insights on creating a fulfilling and balanced business and life, visit jeanmoncrieff.com.