In this riveting episode of Mic Drop, Josh Linkner interviews Anne Mahlum, an extraordinary entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and philanthropist. Anne shares her inspiring journey from a small-town girl in North Dakota to becoming one of the most successful female entrepreneurs. She delves into the challenges she faced growing up, the impact of her father's addiction, and how running became a crucial outlet for her. Anne's story is a testament to the power of resilience and self-belief. She discusses founding the nonprofit Back on My Feet, which helps the homeless through running, and her venture into the fitness world with Solidcore. This episode is packed with lessons on overcoming fear, betting on yourself, and creating a life driven by passion and purpose.
Anne Mahlum is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist known for her transformative impact in the nonprofit sector and the fitness industry. She is the founder of Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that uses running to help homeless individuals gain independence, and Solidcore, a high-intensity fitness boutique. Anne's innovative approach to community building and personal empowerment has garnered widespread recognition. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, dedicated to inspiring others to pursue their passions and overcome life's obstacles.
Early Life and Personal Challenges: Anne shares her upbringing in North Dakota, revealing the idyllic start of her childhood and the later turmoil due to her father's gambling addiction. This period of her life teaches listeners the importance of resilience and finding healthy outlets during challenging times.
Founding Back on My Feet: Discover how Anne’s passion for running and her personal pain from her father's addiction led her to create Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that empowers homeless individuals through running. This segment highlights the power of turning personal struggles into impactful community initiatives.
The Journey to Solidcore: Anne describes her transition from nonprofit work to founding Solidcore, a fitness brand with a unique approach. She emphasizes the importance of standing out in a crowded market and leveraging personal strengths. This part offers valuable insights into brand differentiation and market entry strategies.
Empowerment through Speaking and Future Goals: Anne discusses her new chapter as a keynote speaker and thought leader. She shares her motivation to empower others and her commitment to helping people realize their potential. This segment is a powerful call to action for listeners to pursue their dreams, overcome fear, and make a significant impact in their own lives and communities.
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ABOUT MIC DROP:
Hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter its starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.
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ABOUT THE HOST:
Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.
On the business front, he’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he’s helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He’s twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.
While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on innovation. Josh
is the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he’s on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.
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Anne Mahlum:
What was driving me was my pain. I was desperate to heal myself and help people, and pain is a hell of a driver.
Josh Linkner:
Hey friends, Josh Linkner here. Delighted to bring you season three of Mic Drop, the number one podcast for professional speakers and thought leaders on the show. We connect with experts at the top of the field unpacking their success to help each of us grow and thrive from elevating your artistry to booking more gigs. Mic Drop is designed to give you the tools and insights you need to reach the next level. Together we'll accelerate the path to growth, success, and most importantly, impact
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The best keynotes, start movements and incite change. And when you couple an electrifying speech with a project that fuels audience engagement, the result is lightning in a bottle. What I'm talking about here is a book that's where our friends at Amplify Publishing Group come in With 20 plus years of experience and ho owned by some of the industry's most renowned veterans, including bestselling author and global superstar, Mel Robbins, the team at Amplify knows not only how to produce a fantastic book, but how to leverage that book and make it work for you, your brand and your business. And Amplify not only knows books, they know the world of keynote speaking and thought leadership. Having published CEOs and executives, they take positioning into consideration at every step of the way. Whether you have a one line concept or a comprehensive outline, amplify is ready to work with you. Visit amplify publishing.com/mic drop to schedule an exploratory call and receive an exclusive editorial one pager tailored to your concept. That's amplify publishing.com/mic drop.
Josh Linkner:
Today on Mic Drop, I sit down with legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist Ann Mullum. Coming from Hubble Beginnings in North Dakota, she built a nonprofit organization that helped homeless people shift their identity and in turn, elevate their lives, never one to rest. She then launched a revolutionary fitness studio called Solid Core, which she scaled to 125 locations before selling it in 2023, creating a massive win for herself and her team. Today she's an author and speaker inspiring millions of people to rethink what's possible. In today's episode, Ann shares how she used pain as a driver of progress. She reveals a memorable distinction between the worst likely case scenario and the worst catastrophic case scenario, helping us better assess risk and move forward with confidence. She helps us understand the entrepreneurial mindset and illustrates the difference between wanting something and wanting something bad enough. All in. It's an energizing conversation with a remarkable entrepreneur and thought leader that you won't wanna miss. Alright, and welcome to Mic Drop.
Anne Mahlum:
Hi, Josh, nice to see you.
Josh Linkner:
You too. Uh, man. Am I excited for our conversation today? I just am so inspired by you and your story, and I wanna start kind of from the beginning. You, you're born in North Dakota, you ended up to become one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in the world. Not to mention you've had this massive impact on millions of people as a nonprofit leader and a philanthropist. So before we really get going in your current chapter as a thought leader and and keynote speaker, can you walk us through a little bit of those early days that, that unlikely evolution to become the person you are now?
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, I mean, yes, I grew up in North Dakota, uh, like most listeners, I'm sure. Um, no, I'm kidding. But there, you know, yeah, I I had a pretty decent childhood, at least I thought that I did in my early days, you know, and as a kid, you don't have the knowledge of the rest of the world. Your whole world exists, you know, in your front yard, your backyard, in your little neighborhood. So I thought everybody grew up the same way that, that I did. I didn't know that other people didn't have a, a house, a yard, a bike, you know, I walked three blocks to my school in the morning. I had a mom, I had a dad, you know, and to be honest, I thought I had life figured out by the time I was 12 years old. Like, school was pretty easy, you know, I was playing sports, had friends.
Um, and I created this box, uh, and I put it underneath my bed of like what my life was gonna look like when I got older, based off of how my life was going at, at since when I was a 12-year-old. So I was gonna get married, you know, get this tall, dark, handsome man is my husband, um, grow up and get a fancy job and live in this big white house with a white picket fence. Like, I just sort of wanted this ubiquitous perfect life that you sort of saw on the, on the movies. And, you know, by the time I got 16, by, by the time I was 16 years old, I really got some realities, uh, about my life and my family life. That just wasn't so, so true. My, my dad had a pretty secret gambling, um, addiction that he had been hiding, which most addictions thrive in the dark for the last several years, that, that surface when it got too bad. Um, and that caused my mom to kick my dad out pretty quickly. Like the day he told us, my mom asked him to leave. And that was really challenging, especially for a, a girl who had everything figured out. Um, but my dad had drug and alcohol addictions that he had battled and overcame when I was really young. So I'd never sort of seen, you know, that side of my parents or my dad go through that. So that, that had a really, a really big impact on the rest of my life.
Josh Linkner:
I, I can only imagine. So you, you, you then come to these realizations that, you know, there, there's more complexity than you, than you anticipated. How did you sort of go from that point in life and then kind of launching into your beginning of your professional career and then ultimately starting the nonprofit?
Anne Mahlum:
Well, for one, I was like a typical teenager full of hormones and emotions. And I spent those next three years blaming my mother and being very resentful toward her for taking my dad away and also trying to fix my father. I didn't get addiction. You know, it's a very difficult thing to understand, especially as a kid, why someone just can't stop doing something that's causing so much, you know, pain and hurt to the people around them. So I, I needed something to do with all that energy. And I started running, I loved sports, I played a lot of sports growing up and in high school and running, served as that outlet. And I decided, you know, the, the best way for me to overcome this was to go get all of those things in this box as fast as I could, so my life could be perfect.
And I went to college, grad school, found myself in Philly and Josh, like, I think a lot of us, you know, you start to question life, you get a little bit older, you get a little bit more, um, knowledge. I wanted purpose, I wanted, I wanted fulfillment. I just sort of felt like I don't really know what to do with my life. I didn't know if I wanted to get married. I wasn't sure if I wanted to have kids. And like a lot of people, when you're driving toward plan A and plan A becomes less appealing, it becomes a pretty lonely process. So I was in Philly, uh, 24 to 26 years old, completely lost. I didn't have a lot of friends because I didn't know who I was. Um, and I'm open, I am just searching, and I'm, I'm at a point where I just want someone to tell me what to do with my life.
Like, I'm willing to do it. I just, you know, like when you're, when you're so lost, but you know you're supposed to do something, it can be a very frustrating experience. Mm-Hmm.
And I was in this transition of work, I'd quit my job because I felt like I needed to do something drastic that would force me to figure something out. Just took a, just took a big job at Comcast, asked them for six weeks if I could get this running club stabilized, that I could get enough people involved when I was gonna be having to do a lot of traveling. And I tell you what, in those six weeks, you know, my life obviously completely changed direction. And I began to see that this wasn't just gonna be a running club. Like this is what I had been asking for, for the last few years to turn my pain that I had from my dad's addiction and my parents' divorce, you know, into helping people. And I just knew the power of running. I knew that it could make you feel invincible.
It changed the way I saw myself. And I thought, if it can do that for these group of people who found themselves homeless, and if we can change their identity into somebody who thinks that they're worthy, a teammate, hardworking, responsible, uh, focused and athlete, if I can change their identity, then we can change their life. And if you think about it, change doesn't happen any other way, right? Anybody who thinks that they're not deserving, not capable, you know, uh, set to live a certain life really has a difficult time making big changes. So it seemed very obvious to me that there was no other place to start. We had to start with the emotional wellbeing and identity. Um, and so I walked away from that Comcast job. I never even made it to day one. And I to, that was the first time I took a really big bet on myself and the vision and my desire to help people.
Josh Linkner:
It's just such a beautiful story. I mean, it was driven by passion and, and, and, and fulfilling a deep need in your own, um, world and, and life at the time. And you, you mentioned you, you adopted this new identity, which is awesome. You, you said a really important thing. You said, you know, you bet on yourself and, and at really at every point in your career, you bet on yourself from, from, from that to to to what you've done subsequently, which we'll get to in a minute. But I wanted to really unpack what gave you the confidence to, to bet on yourself, and what advice do you have for your fellow speakers who are intern entrepreneurs who are essentially having that same question betting on themselves?
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah. You know, after years of reflection, you know, you kind of just think that you're like less risk averse than most people. But Josh, what I had realized is I had bet on myself so many other times, it just wasn't at that magnitude. So it didn't actually feel so scary when I did it. So when I was 18, I moved away to college. I didn't know anybody. I had six, six and a half hours away. Uh, I graduated in, in, in three years. So I was going a million miles a minute. I was joining student government, joining, you know, clubs. And then I went out to intern for my US senator between my junior and senior year of college, again, out in DC I didn't know anybody moved in with three roommates, you know, and then I went back to DC grad school, moved in with three.
So like, all of these things of taking risk, you know, then I cut my hair, like, it's like, it's all these things that you don't think are so scary, but add up. And I realized every time I've done something uncertain or that I hadn't done before, like I was okay, like nothing bad happened, maybe it was a little bit uncomfortable. And I tell people, you know, if you've never done that, if you've lived in the same house your entire life, the same city never changed your hair, never done anything, starting a business or taking a massive leap, like starting a a profit is going to feel too overwhelming. So I tell folks to build up the data points, go out to dinner, you know, by yourself, cut your hair, color your hair, do something that on a smaller scale feels uncomfortable and you realize, oh, that wasn't so bad. And then take it up a notch. So when the big moment comes when you're ready to make this massive change, you are prepared because you know that you've gotten through all those little, little moments.
Josh Linkner:
It's so good. I mean, really confronting fear in the face, and actually you, you've attributed your success to the fact that you refuse to be influenced by fear. Of course, all fear, all humans have varying degrees of fear. It's a natural, you know, human condition. But how have you been able to sort of rise above those fears? And, and, and how could, how have you helped other leaders do the same? Um, you mentioned, you know, taking some small steps and, and feeling comfortable being uncomfortable. Are there any other sort of approaches or, or suggestions that you have for those of us trying to confront a a fear and breaking through to the next level?
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, there's actually research done on this that humans, if, if left to our own devices, create this diabolical, you know, what's the worst possible outcome scenario a lot. And we'll say things like, okay, well if I, if I quit my job and I wanna start my photography business, you know, well, what if someone steals, all steals my cameras, and then I can't pay my bills, and then I can't pay my mortgage, and the bank comes and takes my house, and then my husband leaves me, you know, we, we truly create that spiral effect. And once you get to the end result of the spiral, you're like, oh my God, that sounds totally, you know, irresponsible to even try. And when you talk yourself into the best case scenario, people just have a tendency to think like that, that it's not gonna work out for them for whatever reason.
You know? So we don't believe that, that, you know, the business is going to be successful or you're gonna be able to make a living that way. And there's that fear again, of failure that overrides the fear of possibility and opportunity. So I, I remember back on my feet, specifically walking around Philadelphia, when I was trying to decide, am I gonna go all in on this thing? Am I gonna go to this job in two days? And I remember thinking all this stuff around here, all these buildings, all these businesses exist because somebody had an idea and they decided that that idea was worth acting upon, or they didn't. And I have an idea. And in addition, Josh, I was like, I'm actually perfectly positioned to execute this idea. I have more passion than, than anybody about helping these guys. I get to heal my pain by, you know, using my dad's a addiction and, and the pain that caused the family to help other people.
I understand running an identity. I had worked in nonprofits, like when I really thought about it, all the odds if I chose to look at it that way, were stacked in my favor. Instead of me saying, who do I think I am? I'm just some girl from North Dakota. I don't have any money. You know, I don't know how to run a nonprofit. Like, how do you even begin to, to, to do that? How do I, I've never raised money before, you know, I just chose to look at why I was perfectly positioned versus why not? And then on top of it, I said, okay, what is the worst case scenario? What's the actual worst case scenario? Not the, you know, nightmare situation is these guys quit, this thing doesn't work, and these guys quit. That's it. That's the worst case scenario. I am smart enough to, to get another job. I'm educated like nothing that bad was gonna happen to me. But the best case scenario, what if I'm right? What if I can help these guys realize they can change the way they see themselves and they can create a better life for themselves and their families, or their loved ones, or their future? And that was just too big of a what if on the positive side, for me not to at least try.
Josh Linkner:
It's so awesome. I just, I mean, first of all, reframing that why you're the right person to do it, not the wrong person, you know, and, and reframing, you know, focusing on the upside instead of the downside. And then secondly, I love this idea of thinking of the worst case scenario, not as the, the most improbable catastrophic scenario where your small decision leads to the end of humanity and the world burns up. But to the wor worst likely scenario, which still is not good, but like, okay, it didn't work out, I'm gonna get a new other job. And like, that's a huge mindset shift, which is like the worst likely scenario instead of the worst catastrophic scenario. So I really appreciate you sharing that with us.
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Josh Linkner:
So you, you said that people can create whatever life you want for yourself if you want it bad enough, and I just love that if you wanted bad enough thought, and I was hoping you could give, give me a sense of what do you think the difference is between wanting something and wanting something bad enough?
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, that's a really great question because I think we've all found ourselves in our scenarios where we say that we want things and then we don't, we don't back it up with action. You know, whether it's like, oh, you know, I should be doing yoga. You know, I, I've, I've used to use that example. I've said that so many times, and I'm like, why do I keep shooting all over myself and I never follow through, and then I just end up feeling badly? And the reality is, I like the idea of me being that person who says I do yoga on a consistent basis, but the reality is I'd rather play beach volleyball. I'd rather sprint on a treadmill, you know, I'd rather lift heavy weights, and I don't have time for all of it. So yoga is usually the thing to go. So I have to then say out loud, I just don't want that bad enough.
And that's okay. And I think that we can all be influenced by what we think that we want because of what other people want, um, timelines in our life based off of how old we are. And so when I always try to tell people, think about something you've actually changed, either stop doing or started doing, and try to put yourself back in that emotional place or position and what was actually driving you. And for back on my feet, Josh, for me, and I know we'll get to the, you know, next chapter of my life here, but you know, what was driving me was my pain. I was desperate to heal myself and help people. And pain is a hell of a driver. And I know there are some people out there that say like, oh, don't let resentment drive you, or pain, or whatever. And I'm like, I don't care what it is.
Whatever fuel that you need to, to achieve, to move forward, to learn, to grow, I think it's all useful. Um, and I think it's, again, pain is one of the amazing motivators, but if you kind of just want something, you know, and, and you're telling yourself, oh, I really should lose these last five pounds, but there's not a good reason why. Chances are when push comes to shove, you know, you're gonna make the decision that allows you to keep the five extra pounds versus the discipline that it might require to lose it. And I also wanna tell people like, that's okay. You might just not want it bad enough. And I think it's better to admit that than feel badly about yourself.
Josh Linkner:
It's such a powerful lesson. And I think that distinction also applies to people in the keynote speaking business. I've seen many people who are really smart, great, great presenters, they have a, a powerful message, but they want, and they wanted it, but they didn't want it bad enough. And to me, that do the work, are you gonna, you know, legends to do the work they're gonna do, the reps are gonna make the sacrifices required because they want it bad enough instead of just wanting it, and it's being, wanting things bad enough. Um, solid core. So you, yeah. As you, you continue to build this incredible powerhouse of a nonprofit, you were drawn to the fitness world further and, and obviously into, uh, some incredible commercial success. What, what drove you to want solid core bad enough? Maybe start to unpack that next chapter that became such an important part of, of who you are today?
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, so the fabric of, of who I am and my life that I always envisioned myself, you know, it's like I wanna have multiple lives in, in one life. I think that's what keeps it exciting. And my values, if I think about those also, Josh, a lot of it is to do with contribution and personal growth. So six plus years in the back of my feet, one, my life is amazing, right? I get to, I have a job that I created for myself where I get to help people on a pretty cool basis using a sport that I still very much, you know, loved and, and was a big part of, of who I am. I was making decent money at that point. I was speaking, I was getting awards, you know, people would pass me around at cocktail parties and talk about how amazing I was.
You know, there was a lot to like about my situation, and my ego was definitely filled up, um, by all of the accolades and awards I was getting. But this feeling started to pop up in this voice telling me it's time to do something else. And for anybody out there who's ever found them, their, their identity so closely attached to whether it's another human or a thing, and those voices come, it's like maddening. You're like, are you kidding me? Like, the fact that this thing worked out is a miracle in itself, and it's worked for six years and growing, you know, like, no way. Like, I don't know what that is, but I'm gonna do everything in my power to just like shut it up. Um, and it, and it didn't go away. And I think if I was being honest with myself, Josh, there was, there was the fear of failure.
There was the self-doubt, there was the, well, how do I top this? You know, well, where do I go next? You know, what if I'm just, what if I just got lucky? What if I'm a one hit wonder? You know, what, if this is what I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life? Like, I can't be selfish and, you know, now ask for more. So there was all of that internal battling going on, but it didn't, it didn't go away. And that's when I accepted, how can I be telling all of these guys to show up, push themselves, you know, become a different person when I feel it happening for myself, and I'm just trying to like, shut the door on it. Mm-hmm,
Um, and that's when I was in Los Angeles for back of my feet, and I walked by this Pilates studio, and they had these like really souped up reformers and wallpaper really pink in there. And I was like, what, what is this? Like, I'm an athlete. I as a marathoner, a triathlete, you know, did everything underneath the sun. And I thought this like little cute Los Angeles workout would be a fun thing to do while I was in town. And so I went and I'm like, oh my God, I didn't know you could work out like that. I thought you had to beat up your body, jump pound being injured as a rite of passage to being fit. You know, I just didn't get it. And then I started taking Pilates in, in New York and realized that this is unbelievable, and nobody knows about it.
There's, there's like, I found so much joy in bringing people to come and try this workout because I was beginning to have a better, you know, sense of confidence in my own body, feeling stronger. And I found such joy introducing everybody. I'm like, oh my God, this is my next thing. Nobody has built a brand, an incredible brand around this. That's what I know how to do. There's no real community when I'm in these studios. And it's, that's a, that's also like, I know how to do that. Um, I, I know how to create and I know how to scale. So it was like, this is my next thing. I'm gonna open a high-end fitness boutique. And as you might imagine going from, you know, building a innovative nonprofit, helping the homeless, it was a, it was a eyebrow raising reaction from a lot of people that didn't make sense on my next step, but I knew that, you know, I was also very passionate about helping, particularly women fall in love with their bodies and feel strong.
Uh, I faced several, you know, years of body issues and bulimia in my, in my own life, and it's just an exhausting cycle. And so I got really excited that this could be a way for me to build a really cool brand and company, and also help people in a different way that optimized and maximized my talents of marketing, branding, uh, creating community and culture and scaling. So I was like, I'm going all in. I, I, I stepped down from my CEO role, obviously talked to my board at back on my feet. I stayed on as a consultant for the next six months and made sure everything was stable. And then, uh, had my first solid course studio open in November of 2013.
Josh Linkner:
It's such a cool thing. Once again, follow the patterns, bet on yourself. Do you want it bad enough? And you did. And, and, and now the other cool thing is you entered a, a crowded space, not, not Pilates specifically at that time, but, but fitness, certainly there was, you weren't the first fitness studio in, in the world. And, um, and but, and you had to stand out. You had to differentiate yourself, which is what you're doing now, of course, as a thought leader. What, what are some of the, the, the key insights or lessons when you, when you think about starting anything, whether it's a fitness studio or a speaking practice, to enter a crowded field and stand out and to really soar above, uh, uh, you know, sort of a, a deep field of competitive threats?
Anne Mahlum:
Well, you already started to rub the nail on the head, I'll say, with even the question of asking. You have to figure out a way to stand out and be different. And I knew this way of working out because I had done the research and had been doing, working out my entire life. I knew that nobody knew about this and I was going to use that. My, frankly, my marketing line was, you've never worked out like this before. So that alone, PID the interest. I mean, Josh, our market, we didn't spend a dime on digital marketing for the first 25 studios. It was all word of mouth. 'cause people had the same reaction I did, which was, I have never done anything like that before. And so we just utilize the fact that like, it's kind of difficult to explain and you just have to come try it to understand it.
So that's one thing. And the second thing is, you know, there we all have, if you think about a scale of one through 10, right? We all have certain set of skillset sets and talents, and I don't really mess with the things. I'm a one, a two, a three, a four, a five at like, I just kind of like, I'm just not good at those things because let's just say I put in all of the hours and I take myself and I get a hundred percent better, and I go from a two to a four. No one's gonna hire me to be a four at something or I'm not gonna make great impact. But the things that I am an eight and a nine and a 10 at what business, what idea is, is needed to har to harness and, and amplify those talents for something to be successful.
And both back on my feet. And SoCore needed a leader and a founder that was personable, outgoing, you know, understood community and culture and authenticity and passion. And still to this day, you know, SoCore has 125 studios across the country. When we do survey work, the number one reason people take solid core is community and then the results of the workout. And that just tells you how crucial it is if you're gonna build an in-person, experiential fitness brand, that you have to nail the community and how you treat people. Otherwise they're not gonna come back.
Josh Linkner:
Come right on. So last year you sold solid core at a massive exit. Congratulations. Um, and we should note that you shared much of that with your team, which by the way, speaks volumes to who you are as a human being and, and your character. Uh, I'm lucky enough to have gone through that myself actually a couple times, maybe. Tell us what that felt like. A lot of us haven't had that experience of go, you know, building something with your bare hands downs and struggle and, and sacrifice, you know, to bring it to its full conclusion, what it meant to you, what was surprising about it, and also maybe a little sense of, of how it changed your life, but pro probably morely, how it didn't, what are some of the sort of underlying core truths that, that a massive win like that had nothing to do with, 'cause that, that's, that's not a material thing.
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, fantastic questions. Um, and only someone I think who's gone through it would even ask some of those questions. But one, it, it was, it was honestly awesome. And it was awesome because that had been the plan for a very long time. Uh, I took private equity money in my business in late 2017, and once you bring private equity into the equation, you are obviously entering a relationship where the private equity partner is looking to return capital with a nice, healthy return to their partners. And I had always known from the very early stages of solid core, like from day one, that I wanted to build an empire. And I also knew from my experience at back on my feet that I wanted a beginning and I wanted an end to that chapter. And that after solid core, whenever that would be, obviously in the beginning I knew it would be, you know, years upon years that there would be another chapter for me.
I like that. And I like going into the, to the business relationship, knowing that so that my identity and the business's identity don't become so intertwined that they don't know who they are without one another. So, uh, I had put the processes and the systems and the people in place over the years, uh, knowing that once I sold that I would be in charge of the exit, in charge of the timing. And it would be a very joyous experience, not just for me, but my team also because I was sharing some of those proceeds with them. Um, because let's face it, I wouldn't have ever sold that business if this team wasn't dedicated to our purpose and this company and delivering the kind of quality experience that they were on a very consistent daily basis. Um, so it honestly was really cool, and I was super proud of myself.
Sometimes I'm like, oh my God, how did I do that so fast? Like when you sit back in hindsight. Um, but it was, it was really great. I remember the day going in and telling the team, uh, the weird part was, you know, Brian, who runs the business now and is doing a great job, you know, as the CEOI, I brought him on board in 2018 and promoted him to C or he was COO, and then I promoted him to president and CEO and, you know, after that celebration, I like gave him, you know, my office key. And it's like, okay, like that's it. Obviously I still talk to people there, but you know, I don't have any ownership in this business that you started. And there are times when it feels, you know, weird, but there are more times when it feels like that's how it was supposed to go.
And it opens up white space for me to figure out what the next chapter is. You know, how I wanna be spending my time, um, do I wanna start another business? I don't, I don't think so. I definitely don't wanna do that right now. I wanna be in service to other people who are starting their businesses and see how I can be helpful to them as advisors, as investors, um, and playing a ton of beach volleyball. I am speaking and writing a book and trying to take everything that I've learned, Josh, because I'm not like, you know, we all have our own set of special circumstances, advantages, and disadvantages, every single person, me included. And I love showing and teaching people how to take all of that and figure out how to play a game that people can win. All of us can figure out how to put ourselves in a position to be successful. You just have to go through some of those exercises. And again, the things I can't help people with is, do you want it bad enough? And if you don't, there's no amount of, you know, workshops or anything else, you know, on a formulaic basis that's gonna, that's gonna help create that drive, you know, if that's not there.
Josh Linkner:
Well said. And, uh, and again, I'm so happy for you and your, and your success. So now you, I I also love this notion of like, you live a few different lives inside the same, you know, physical life. You're a different person throughout these different lives and each one building on the, on the previous. Um, so now you have entered this new chapter, you are a thought leader, author, keynote speaker. You're clearly not doing this for the money, although you'll make some money at it, which is awesome. But what called you to the world of speaking and what impact are you really striving to make in that new, in this new chapter, this new, this new version of yourself?
Anne Mahlum:
Uh, I, one, I think it's thrilling to be on a stage for one, and I, I thrive there. I, i, I just, I love empowering people and I think, you know, in person is still my favorite way to connect with people. I remember even in covid with solid core and everybody transitioned to online stuff, and I'm like, we're not doing that. We gotta hold on through this thing. But we are doubling down on in-person fitness because people wanna be connected. And that's a big part why, you know, I like speaking as well, and I just think it opens, it's my job as the speaker always right? To make sure that people walk out of that room feeling that they can, that they're empowered and that I hopefully serve as an example to them that like, if she can do it, I can do it. Um, because I didn't come from, you know, a lot, I, I, I don't have great test scores.
I had to work really hard in school and I just figured out how to take all of my stuff and make it work for me. And I just, I, I, I love helping people realize they can live whatever big life that they want for themselves and to start asking questions on, does it really have to be that way? Does my life have to, do I have to work for somebody else? Do I have to do chores on the weekend? And I have found a lot that for the most part, many people live a certain way because they haven't even paused to ask themselves, is there a different way to do this? And hopefully I can be an example, you know, as somebody, again, who grew up in North Dakota and moved all over the East coast and created herself, recreated herself, you know, left those things. And, and, and now on this new identity, you know, search of, of, of what I'll be doing next, again, yeah, serves as some sort of inspiration that they can do too
Josh Linkner:
Well, a powerful source and, and on so many levels. And again, I'm, I'm so grateful for your time today. I thought we'd just kind of end things up with a fun little game if you're, if you're game for it, um, a game that we'll call myth truth. And so it goes like this, most people think blank, but the truth is blank. I say people could be, most entrepreneurs, for example, most entrepreneurs think blank, but the truth is blank. Or, or most thought leaders or speakers think x you know, blank. But the truth is blank. So I'll kick us off for one and let, we'll go back and forth. It'll be kind of a fun little jam session. So I'll start us off. Um, mo most, uh, let's see. Lemme think of a good one for us. Okay. Um, most people think that to be a good keynote speaker, it, it, it has to do with innate talent. But the truth is, it's a learnable skill that can be cultivated and developed with enough reps and practice. Um, most people can be very effective at it.
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah. Okay. I'll stick with your theme, your theme and say, most people think that keynote speakers, you know, they just must not get nervous, um, before they speak. And that's why they can do it. And the truth is, oh my God, there's tons of nerves going on, and you have to find a strategy to work through those nerves, you know, to get you up on stage.
Josh Linkner:
Awesome. We'll keep going. Have some fun. Most entrepreneurs, I'll do this one, as entrepreneurs, most entrepreneurs think that they should see what other people are doing that works and replicate it. Well, the truth is, the most successful entrepreneurs find a white space of opportunity. They do do what others are not doing. They, they focus on what makes them different, not what makes them the same.
Anne Mahlum:
Okay, cool. I'll stick with, I'll, I'll stick with your theme and, and raise you. Um, another thought in that category and that I think that people think that, you know, everybody has to use their product. And I remember a solid core, like when we had 50 locations, nobody knew who we were, but you know, who knew who we were is our niche audience that we were very good at talking to. But still, like the majority of people in the world would never know what solid core is, even though we are a nine figure, you know, business. And there are multiple, frankly, billion dollar businesses that you've never heard of. So you don't need your customer to be everybody. You just need to know who your customer is and speak to that person.
Josh Linkner:
Amazing. Well, I'll just do one more. Um, and this one will tie to my, uh, my body of work. And I'd love for you to tie to yours 'cause I speak on, as you know, innovation and creativity is something I'm very passionate about. And, um, in this one, most people think that innovation only counts if it's a billion dollar idea. If it's not big enough, some, some arbitrary threshold, it's irrelevant. The truth is that even the smallest little acts of creativity can add up to greatness. And sometimes those little baby ones are the ways to cultivate skill and they're more accessible and less risky. And if you cultivate a high volume of small ideas, that can lead up to big results.
Anne Mahlum:
Yes, I love that one. Um, okay, I'll take a money one. 'cause I talk a lot about money too, Josh, and you know, a lot of people think that when you know you're not supposed to talk about money, whatnot, and a lot of people just think, you know, oh, um, I didn't come from money, or I don't understand money, therefore, like, I'm never meant to have money. And I think with money, you know, I was broke at 26 years old and the way I started to tell myself, I am going to be rich and wealthy, I didn't just say those mantras. I started to back it up with, with education. And again, from a girl who didn't have you know, much growing up at all, and frankly was in credit card debt from buying ice cream in her late twenties. I'm telling you that anybody can learn, um, how to make money, how to invest money, and how to have financial freedom for yourself.
Josh Linkner:
Hmm. What a fabulous way to end our conversation. And thank, thank you so much. Thank you for the inspiration that you are for showing us a model forward. You, you, we've learned so much about wanting things bad enough about kind of working through those fears, betting on yourself and, uh, and I'm, I'm grateful for our time together and the impact that you continue to create on the world. Thanks so much for joining me on Tro.
Anne Mahlum:
Yeah, thanks for putting on this podcast, Josh, and thanks for the great questions.
Josh Linkner:
Ann's energy is contagious coming out of today's conversation, I feel ready to take on the world. A few highlights for me. Number one, I was really struck by the distinction of wanting something and wanting something bad enough. We all have limitless wants. We wanna ride a unicorn on a rainbow to work and live in a mansion and have, be tan and fit, but, and helps us really better reframe that progress generally occurs not when we want something, but when we're willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to achieve it. Number two, I love how each of Anne's successes were in fields where she had zero experience. Sometimes the outsider's edge is a real advantage since she wasn't steeped in the way things should be. It also gives us inspiration to go after opportunities regardless of our resume fit. And number three, speaking of confidence and illuminated the path by contrasting the worst likely case scenario with the worst catastrophic case scenario. I'm borrowing that for sure to size, risk on all future pursuits, and I hope you do too. Today's episode showed us a clear path on how to leverage pain into purpose and ultimately progress. The name of Ann's Fitness Empire, solid core is fitting since she showed all of us how to build a more solid core of vision, confidence, and persistence. No doubt, Anne Star will continue to rise and here's to hoping your star rises right alongside.
Thanks so much for joining me on another episode of Mic Drop. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. If you love the show, please share it with your friends and don't forget to give us a five star review. For show transcripts and show notes, visit mike drop podcast.com. I'm your host, Josh Linkner. Thanks so much for listening, and here's to your next Mic Drop moment.