Serial Entrepreneur & Marathon-Minded CEO on Building Businesses That Fuel Life (Not Consume It) - Leo Gestetner

Serial Entrepreneur & Marathon-Minded CEO on Building Businesses That Fuel Life (Not Consume It) - Leo Gestetner

Author: Junaid Ahmed May 25, 2026 Duration: 25:47
What if success didn’t mean sacrificing your health, family or sanity?  In this episode Junaid sits down with Leo Gestetner — founder, CEO, and late-blooming endurance athlete — to unpack how to build thriving companies without burning out. Leo recounts starting as a 13‑year‑old selling secondhand computers, transforming his life from “couch potato” to marathoner and triathlete, and reframing entrepreneurship as a long race, not a sprint. This conversation blends practical routines (what gets scheduled gets done), hard-earned resilience (the “wall” in marathons and business), and the emotional payoff of pacing yourself for a sustained, meaningful life. If you’re tired of hustle porn and want a playbook for sustainable ambition, this episode is a masterclass in balance, discipline, and reimagining success. Top takeaways: Schedule your life: you won’t make time for fitness, family, or reflection unless you calendar it. Build for the long game: treat business like a marathon — pace, recovery, and consistency matter more than bursts. Reframe failure: setbacks teach more than success; willingness to fail is a core entrepreneurial advantage. Manage energy, not just time: focus on what gives you the most value and protects your health span. Small, repeatable habits scale: achievable challenges compound into lasting transformation. Timestamps: 00:00 — Intro & Leo’s origin story: selling computers at 13 02:30 — From entrepreneur’s DNA to need-driven hustle: early influences 04:40 — The turning point: choosing sustainable success over pure scale 06:50 — Scheduling, boundaries & routines that protect family and fitness 09:40 — Marathons as metaphors: hitting the wall in sport and business 14:00 — Culture of failure: what Steve Jobs and Corning taught about risk 17:30 — Pacing life: digital nomad chapter and lessons on reinvention Guest links: Website: https://leogestetner.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogestetner (search “Leo Gestetner” on LinkedIn) Podcast appearances & resources: (see personal website for links) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered how a personal passion evolves into a sustainable venture? Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed explores that very journey, moving beyond theory into the tangible stories of momentum. Host Junaid Ahmed sits down with entrepreneurs, creators, and builders who are actively transforming their interests into measurable outcomes-be it income, confidence, community, or broader impact. Each conversation is grounded in the practical realities of building something from what you love. You’ll hear detailed discussions on the mechanics of creating engaging content, from podcasting and video production to setting up an effective home studio. The dialogue consistently returns to foundational elements like personal branding, building efficient systems, and cultivating the right mindset for growth. This podcast is for anyone who feels that nagging pull of a “someday” project and is seeking the concrete steps to bring it into the present. The focus remains on actionable takeaways, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how others have navigated the path from hobby to meaningful enterprise. By sharing these narratives, the show provides both inspiration and a practical toolkit for your own endeavors in business, creation, and self-improvement.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed
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