In a face-to-face interview, the Steven reflects on learning responsibility and adaptability through service work at Oregano’s, arguing hospitality should be a rite of passage because it builds confidence with strangers and sales skills. He describes moving from ASU to ITT Tech for computer drafting, working in AutoCAD at Fitch, and realizing the “CAD monkey” desk life lacked the people-focused creativity he wanted. Encouraged by Kimberly, he joined his father’s company MasterTax, then transitioned through ADP’s acquisition, using training and certifications to grow as a salesperson and leader while recognizing the value of human connection with business owners. He shares early interest in starting a payroll company, a 15-month family move to Denver, and eventually buying into a payroll franchise with longtime colleague Jaime, highlighting hard lessons in managing people. He also explains creating the OPPO FLOW framework - open mind, purpose, preparation, opportunity awareness - and sharing it with other entrepreneurs and solopreneurs through writing, workshops, podcasting, and speaking as a creative outlet to keep the momentum, and create future opportunities.

00:00 Earn Your Spot

00:39 Service Industry Rite

01:40 Oreganos Lessons

03:28 Tipping And Incentives

05:10 Finding Drafting Path

08:04 Cad Monkey Reality

09:33 Architecture Vision Board

11:22 Master Tax Leap

14:45 ADP Transition

16:46 ADP Learning Sprint

17:36 Payroll Idea Sparks

18:32 Dad’s Acquisition Advice

19:58 Denver Family Detour

21:52 Go Time Entrepreneurship

22:46 Starting the PHX Franchise

24:55 Hard Truths Leadership

26:58 OPPO FLOW Framework

30:54 Closing Reflections

Follow the SuccessFlow Podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠: @successflowpodcastTo connect with Steven and ways he can help:⁠Founder/Creator: ⁠www.oppoflowmindset.com⁠ Small Business Payroll - PHX Franchise Owner: ⁠wwww.journeypayrollhr.com⁠ Instagram: @steven.oppo.flow To connect with Phil and contact directly: ⁠https://phillipcrawford.com/⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/PhillipCrawford⁠ Instagram: @flowstatecrawfordAcknowledgements:The Intro and Outro Music credit to Holden Peyton.This podcast episode is produced and published by Dolphin Podcasting, LLC. Launch your podcast today at ⁠www.DolphinPodcasting.com

Variety Show Episode: Signal vs Noise, KPI Snapshots, Social Media Audits & Guilty-Pleasure TVIn a free-form “variety show” episode, the hosts jump between observations from work and life, starting with a comedic take on holiday traditions. They discuss how unpredictable weeks have become, including a personal highlight of a son switching club baseball teams and regaining excitement for the sport. One host shares a new quarterly “business snapshot” that gives team members KPI-driven insight into their book of business—client stats, compensation, revenue metrics, retention, and efficiency—to build ownership and an entrepreneurship mindset. They also audit time, travel, and social media habits, emphasizing signal vs noise, creation over consumption, and curating feeds. The conversation touches on investing boredom vs risky options, athlete self-sabotage and rehab headlines, and ends with confessions about binge-watching escapist TV and balancing consistency with being human.00:00 Holiday Humor Opener00:33 Variety Show Setup01:56 Club Baseball Reset03:06 Quarterly Business Snapshots07:50 Social Media Audit11:16 Casino Rabbit Hole13:11 Consistency And Health15:02 Boring Investing Challenge18:09 Athletes And Self Sabotage23:41 Netflix Binge Confessions25:17 Zombie Movie Debrief27:59 Wrap Up And Listener Call

Follow the SuccessFlow Podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠: @successflowpodcastTo connect with Steven and ways he can help:⁠Founder/Creator: ⁠www.oppoflowmindset.com⁠ Instagram: @steven.oppo.flow Small Business Payroll - PHX Franchise Owner: StevenH@JourneyPayroll.comTo connect with Phil and contact directly: ⁠https://phillipcrawford.com/⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/PhillipCrawford⁠ Instagram: @flowstatecrawfordAcknowledgements:The Intro and Outro Music credit to Holden Peyton.This podcast episode is produced and published by Dolphin Podcasting, LLC. Launch your podcast today at ⁠www.DolphinPodcasting.com

Why You Need a Side Quest (and How It Can Change Your Life)

The hosts discuss the growing idea of “side quests” as intentional challenges outside one’s main job that add joy, purpose, and personal growth, distinct from hobbies or income-driven side hustles. They compare life to gaming, where side quests support the main mission and often have clear endpoints (e.g., training for a 5K, writing a weekly newsletter, starting a podcast). They share examples of side quests becoming massive successes in business, including 3M’s sticky notes, Google’s Gmail, Stewart Butterfield’s Flickr and Slack (built as internal tools while developing failed games), Twitter emerging from a failing podcasting company, and Patagonia evolving from climbing tools to apparel and culture. They connect side quests to identity beyond career, mention Jesse Itzler’s “Misogi” yearly challenge, and suggest making AI learning a valuable side quest.00:00 Side Quest Defined01:04 Why Adults Need One03:14 Hobby vs Intentional Growth04:35 Gaming Origins Metaphor07:30 Side Quests In Business08:10 Flickr Slack Origin Story15:57 More Success Examples19:23 Personal Side Quest Ideas21:56 The Misogi Annual Challenge24:44 AI As A Side Quest25:36 Identity Beyond Your Job26:55 Wrap Up Take ActionFollow the SuccessFlow Podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠: @successflowpodcastTo connect with Steven and ways he can help:⁠Founder/Creator: ⁠www.oppoflowmindset.com⁠ Small Business Payroll - PHX Franchise Owner: ⁠wwww.journeypayrollhr.com⁠ Instagram: @steven.oppo.flow To connect with Phil and contact directly: ⁠https://phillipcrawford.com/⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/PhillipCrawford⁠ Instagram: @flowstatecrawfordAcknowledgements:The Intro and Outro Music credit to Holden Peyton.This podcast episode is produced and published by Dolphin Podcasting, LLC. Launch your podcast today at ⁠www.DolphinPodcasting.com