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Episode Summary
In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Kegs sits down with Elaine Rasmussen, founder and CEO of Social Impact Now and Connect Up Institute, to explore how entrepreneurs can align money, mission, and impact while building systems that scale. Elaine shares her remarkable transition from corporate America to social enterprise, breaking down how she turned a “mic drop” career moment into a multi-faceted platform for social innovation. She dives into the philosophy behind building businesses “as if you already have 50 employees,” the gap between early-stage hustle and sustainable scaling, and why philanthropy needs a radical redesign. This conversation is a masterclass in intentional entrepreneurship—where mindset, structure, and purpose collide to create lasting change.
Key Takeaways:
- Build your business for scale—create systems early as if you already had 50 employees.
- Philanthropy’s 95/5 model limits impact; entrepreneurs can reimagine how capital flows.
- Every business hits a “first-to-second base” struggle—bridging it requires processes, not just passion.
- “Hustle” isn’t chaos—it’s fear harnessed by courage and clarity of purpose.
- Learn to say no to distractions disguised as opportunities.
- AI is the great equalizer for small businesses—if leveraged ethically and strategically.
- Clarity on marketing, operations, and money (M.O.M.) is essential for scaling with purpose.
- Time studies and delegation are hidden superpowers for growth-minded founders.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Guest Overview: Meet Elaine Rasmussen and her mission-driven ventures
01:40 – From First to Second Base: The missing link in business growth ecosystems
05:40 – Building with the End in Mind: Systems, structure, and scaling lessons
10:00 – Corporate to Entrepreneurship: The “mic drop” resignation story
17:00 – Reinventing Philanthropy: Rethinking how foundations fund impact
23:45 – The Natural Predator Problem: Why business discipline beats complacency
26:00 – Creating Connect Up: Uniting investors, founders, and changemakers
30:30 – Entrepreneurial Resilience: The conference that survived COVID
35:10 – Scaling Systems & Clarity: Focusing on M.O.M.—Money, Operations, Marketing
41:50 – Hiring & Time Mastery: Buying back time and building team capacity
46:30 – AI for Small Business: How to use tech to level the playing field
51:20 – Balancing Process & Growth: Knowing when to sell and when to systematize
56:00 – Time Studies, Efficiency, and Leadership Growth
58:00 – Upcoming Events & Accelerators: How to connect with Elaine’s programs
01:00:20 – What Hustle Means: Harnessing fear into fearless momentum
Guest Resources:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dobetterwithelaine/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/y-elaine-rasmussen-21b4ba3/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Do.Different.Better
Website: https://connectupmn.org/
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