In Episode 226 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back serial entrepreneur and CFO-turned-forum-founder Justin LaRocque for a raw and powerful conversation on what it really takes to build a business — and a life worth living. Justin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he transitioned from leading a successful family business through an exit to launching River City Leaders Forum, a peer support network for business owners navigating the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. He opens up about the hidden cost of hustle, the importance of community, and how creating space for “slack” in your schedule can be the key to long-term success.
This episode is packed with value for business owners at any stage — covering burnout, balancing family with ambition, personal branding, and why Edmonton needed a more accessible, age-aligned leadership forum. Justin also breaks down how he grew both River City Leaders and ROC Advisors intentionally, using quarterly focus, referrals, and strategic outreach. Whether you’re scaling your first startup or deep in the trenches of leadership, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and remind you what really matters.
Key Takeaways:
1. Entrepreneurship can be incredibly isolating, and peer forums provide vital emotional and strategic support.
2. Burnout is a real threat, and building intentional slack into your schedule helps prevent it.
3. You don’t need to sacrifice your family for success — investing in them now is just as important as investing in your business.
4. Strategic growth works best when you focus on clear 90-day objectives, not endless hustle.
5. Fractional CFO services offer huge value to growing businesses without the overhead of full-time leadership.
6. Community-focused leadership models can outperform traditional forums by being more affordable and intentional.
7. Word-of-mouth referrals only happen when you ask clearly and directly for them.
8. Young entrepreneurs benefit most from being surrounded by others in the same life stage who understand their challenges.
9. Emotional health should be treated as a core business priority, not an afterthought.
10. Success is less about size and more about sustainability, freedom, and fulfillment.
River City Leaders Forum: https://rclf.ca/
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