What if the key to growing your business is not working harder but doing fewer things that actually align with who you are?

I sat down with Corey Gladwell, a four-time bestselling author, professional speaker, and co-founder of Authors IO, to talk about what happens when you stop grinding and start building with intention.

Corey has built and sold multiple businesses, from real estate to restaurants to a vodka brand. His journey is a masterclass in knowing when to hold on and when to let go.

Creating Your Own Economy

Corey started in real estate during the boom years and was still young when the Great Recession hit.

“Creating your own economy means you stop waiting for the perfect conditions and start building something that reflects your values. When your business aligns with your soul, growth becomes natural instead of forced.”

Corey Gladwell

While everyone around him was panicking, he made a decision that shaped his entire career.

“I have to create my own economy. I can’t let whatever is going to happen affect me. So how do I innovate? How do I adapt? How do I find ways to adjust?”

That mindset carried him through the downturn and led him to buy a restaurant at a discounted price during the recession, turning an economic crisis into an opportunity.

The lesson applies to any entrepreneur in any market condition: you always have more control than you think if you are willing to adapt and think creatively.

The Power of Strategic Quitting

One of the most surprising parts of our conversation was about quitting.

“You can do hard things. You’ve got to do hard things. But doing hard things in a very intentional way is completely different than just banging your head on a wall because it doesn’t align with who you are.”

Corey Gladwell

Corey owned several profitable businesses but realized they were draining his energy and pulling him away from work that truly mattered to him.

He made the bold decision to sell off businesses that were working financially but were no longer aligned with his vision.

“You can do hard things. You got to do hard things. But doing hard things in a very intentional way is completely different than just banging your head on a wall because it doesn’t align with who you are.”

That distinction is critical. There is a huge difference between persevering through meaningful challenges and suffering through work that no longer serves you.

Sometimes the bravest entrepreneurial move is walking away.

Self-Awareness as a Business Strategy

Corey uses tools like the Enneagram and Human Design to understand himself and the people on his team.

“The more I understood myself, the not only the more efficient and effective I was at work, but the less guilt and shame I had about not doing something that didn’t really feel aligned for me.”

Corey Gladwell

“The more I understood myself, the more efficient and effective I was at work, but also the less guilt and shame I had about not doing something that didn’t really feel aligned for me.”

Self-awareness creates a language for how your team communicates and collaborates.

When team members understand each other’s strengths and working styles, problems get solved faster and the company culture improves dramatically.

This mirrors what I explored in my conversation with Russell Schmidt about the power of awareness and owning your inner potential.

The Difference Between 2x and 10x Growth

Corey broke down a concept that every growth-minded entrepreneur needs to hear: the difference between doubling your business and achieving exponential growth.

Going from 2x to 10x requires a completely different mindset. You cannot just work harder. You have to rethink your entire approach.

That often means letting go of the tasks and even the businesses that got you to where you are so you can focus your energy on higher-leverage activities.

It also means being honest about the math. If you want to take home $100,000 in profit, depending on your business model, you might need to generate $300,000 to $400,000 in revenue after taxes, operating costs, and cash reserves.

Understanding those numbers clearly is the foundation of smart scaling.

How a Book Opens Doors for Entrepreneurs

Corey co-founded Authors IO after experiencing firsthand what publishing a book can do for a business.

His first book, The Human Experience, led to TV appearances on shows like Good Morning Austin and Good Morning Virginia in front of millions of viewers.

While the TV spots did not directly sell books, they opened doors to speaking invitations, masterminds, and consulting clients.

One consulting client went from just an idea to $36,000 in the first month, $52,000 the next, and $84,000 in the third month.

Today, Authors IO has helped more than 250 professionals publish books that boost their credibility and create new revenue streams.

For anyone considering writing a book, Corey’s advice is to start with version one and make it real. A published book, even an imperfect one, creates more opportunities than a perfect manuscript that never leaves your laptop.

This idea of turning intellectual property into profit is something Tony D’Angelo and I have also explored in depth.

Key Takeaways

• You create your own economy. External market conditions matter, but your ability to adapt and innovate matters more.
• Strategic quitting is a strength. Letting go of profitable but misaligned businesses frees energy for work that truly matters.
• Self-awareness tools like the Enneagram and Human Design help you lead more effectively and build stronger teams.
• 10x growth requires a different mindset than 2x growth. You have to rethink your approach, not just work harder.
• A published book opens doors to speaking, consulting, and partnerships that are hard to access any other way.

If you are ready to build a business and a life that aligns with who you really are, I would love to connect. Visit coachcanfield.com and let’s start the conversation.

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