logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
59m 33s

Burnout, Balance, and Building Forums wi...

Kelly Kennedy
About this episode

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/


Level Up Your Business Development with Kelly Kennedy – Free Discovery Call

Business growth isn’t luck—it’s a skill. Master proven strategies to close more deals, generate leads, and scale with confidence.

✔ Actionable frameworks that drive real results

✔ Coaching tailored to your goals

✔ Strategies to win more business

Serious about growth? Book your free session now.

Up next
Today
Everything You Think About AI Is Wrong with Damien Benveniste
In Episode 266 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Damien Benveniste, former Meta machine learning lead and founder of The AI Edge, to unravel the truth about artificial intelligence. Damien breaks down what AI and machine learning actually are, why ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 20
Why You Should Buy a Business Instead of Starting One with Jory Evans (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Why You Should Buy a Business Instead of Starting One with Jory Evans, we move past the mechanics of deal-making and into the high-stakes world of execution. Jory Evans, CEO of Evans Trucking, explains why acquisitions succeed or fail not in the negotiation room, but ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 17
The Hidden Future of Generative AI Revealed with Charlene Li
In episode 264 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with New York Times bestselling author and disruption expert Charlene Li to unpack what it truly means to lead in the age of generative AI. Drawing on more than three decades of experience helping global ... Show More
1h 6m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
$100M Without Paid Ads
In this episode, Charles explores the revolutionary journey of Steven Galanis, the entrepreneurial force behind Cameo who transformed a simple idea about celebrity connections into a billion-dollar tech phenomenon. Steven reveals his blueprint for building a platform that generat ... Show More
48m 46s
Nov 2024
The Secret to Success
Welcome to another compelling episode of "Accelerate Your Business Growth"! Today, we have the privilege of hosting Jim Huling, the global managing consultant for Franklin Covey's 4 Disciplines of Execution. Jim brings his wealth of expertise to discuss the critical elements that ... Show More
48m 22s
Jul 2024
How to Acquire Venture Capital Funding with Paul Jarrett
Paul Jarrett artfully blends difficult tales of entrepreneurship, logistics, and venture capital with his own real experiences, captivating audiences beyond just bullet points on a slide. His storytelling transforms complex topics into relatable narratives that go beyond insights ... Show More
27m 36s
Dec 2024
Sustainable Business Success
Welcome to another insightful episode of Accelerate Your Business Growth! Today, our host Diane Helbig sits down with Dr. Ian Brook, CEO and founder of Rhodes Smith Consulting, to delve into the essence of intentional transformation in the business world. In this episode, Ian hig ... Show More
41m 37s
Dec 2024
The 1% Mindset: Success through Focus, Team Building, and Marketing Mastery [REPOST] | Andy Elliott | EP 51
Andy Elliot advocates for achieving top-tier status in one's industry by focusing on mastery in a singular area rather than diversifying efforts. Throughout the conversation, there is a recurring emphasis on the significance of constant self-improvement, resilient mindsets, and s ... Show More
45m 39s
Nov 2024
Achieve Business Goals
Welcome to another episode of Accelerate Your Business Growth! In today's insightful discussion, our host Diane Helbig sits down with leadership expert Ron Karr to explore how to turn your vision into reality through effective leadership and employee engagement. Ron emphasizes in ... Show More
38m 8s
Jan 2025
551: The 5 Stages of Entrepreneurship
From Self-Employed or Solopreneur through Serial Entrepreneur—what does it look like and what does it take, to go from running a one-person operation to managing a portfolio of successful businesses and creating a lasting legacy. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/ ... Show More
23m 18s
Apr 2024
The Transformative Power of Change & Giving Back, w/ Rodric Lenhart
Rodric Lenhart is a dynamic force in the world of finance, blending his expertise in investment strategies with a passion for driving positive change. He’s also an author, a lifelong entrepreneur, and a coach who helps entrepreneurs and owners build businesses that fit their live ... Show More
50m 49s
May 2024
Commit First: The Secret to Building Your Dream Practice | Erik Sorenson
Some hearing care providers struggle to take the first step in starting their dream private practice, while others feel stuck, unable to grow their practices to achieve the balanced life they desire. The common problem? Difficulty in committing. This isn't a flaw but points to th ... Show More
45m 57s
Jun 12
#243: Steve Case, Cofounder of AOL – Success takes time
When you’re building something new, it’s easy to get discouraged by how long it takes to gain traction. But if anyone knows how to stay in the game, it’s Steve Case. In this episode, the AOL cofounder and Revolution CEO opens up about the grit, patience, and strategy it took to p ... Show More
1h 1m