In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Shirley Wantland, CEO of Recovery Consultants, a company providing bespoke recovery support for individuals and families navigating addiction, mental health, and behavioral health challenges.

Shirley shares her journey growing up as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants in Oklahoma, where fitting in felt like survival, and how those early experiences shaped her views on identity, success, and belonging. She opens up about stepping into her authentic self—symbolized by her now-signature purple hair—and what it really took to move beyond fear, judgment, and societal expectations.

Her story is not just about building a successful business—it’s about unlearning perfectionism, embracing vulnerability, and redefining what leadership and success actually look like.

We talk about how authenticity can feel risky but necessary, why so much conventional business advice falls short, and how self-compassion plays a critical role in both personal growth and leadership.

We explore:

Why authenticity requires vulnerability and courage
How early cultural expectations shape our view of success
The trap of perfectionism and “being ready”
Why fitting in can hold you back from real growth
The reality of imposter syndrome—even at the highest levels
How to lead without hierarchy and embrace collaboration
Why self-compassion is essential for healing and progress
The importance of addressing mental health without shame or stigma

Shirley also shares personal insights into building and leading a 25-person team, navigating difficult leadership decisions, and creating a company culture rooted in growth rather than perfection.

This conversation is a reminder that success isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about breaking it, owning your story, and having the courage to show up as you are.

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Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

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/kmillerhershon

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Jerry, an entrepreneur who has built, bought, and sold over a dozen businesses, generating more than $450 million in revenue.

Jerry shares his journey from growing up in extreme poverty as one of nine children to building a life and career from nothing no degree, no safety net, and no shortcuts. Through it all, he built a mindset grounded in one powerful principle: total ownership of your life and outcomes.

This conversation goes beyond business. It’s about resilience, discipline, and rethinking what real success looks like.

We dive into why taking responsibility changes everything, how early life shapes long-term outcomes, and why a lot of popular business advice misses the mark. Jerry also opens up about imposter syndrome, leadership, and the reality behind building and sustaining success.

We also explore:

- Why responsibility is a superpower in business and life

- How adversity can shape your advantage

- Why “perfect” business personas are a myth

- Why common sense often beats formal education

- What most leadership advice gets wrong

- How to grow without losing yourself

This is a conversation about mindset, ownership, and what it really takes to build something meaningful.

Connect with me here:
Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com
LinkedIn: /kmillerhershon
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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, I sit down with Michael Black, founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, one of Australia’s fastest-growing education franchises, and author of the bestselling book Millionaire Tutor.

Michael shares his journey from starting a tutoring business in a spare room as a teenager to building a global education brand with over 100 locations across multiple countries, all before the age of 30. Now expanding into the United States, his story challenges many assumptions about age, experience, and what it really takes to succeed in business.

Along the way, Michael realized that some of the most common advice entrepreneurs hear, like chasing “work-life balance” or diversifying too early, can actually slow growth. Instead, he built his success by focusing deeply on one thing, reinvesting consistently, and committing fully to a single vision without a backup plan.

We talk about what it means to build a business early in life, how to stay focused in the face of endless opportunities, and why execution matters more than perfection.

We explore:

Why work-life integration may matter more than work-life balance
The case for specialization before diversification
Why perfection can delay progress—and what to do instead
How reinvesting in your business fuels long-term growth
The reality of imposter syndrome at every stage of success
Why action, not just mindset, is the key to creating “luck.”

Michael also shares honest insights about navigating uncertainty as a young founder, from negotiating his first commercial lease to hiring his first team, and how pushing through discomfort helped him grow into his role as a leader.

This conversation is a reminder that success doesn’t come from having everything figured out—it comes from taking action, staying committed, and being willing to learn as you go.

Connect with me here:
Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn:
/kmillerhershon

Subscribe to newsletter:
link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8

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