A Decade in Business: Lessons, Gratitude, and What Comes Next

The Mission Driven Business Podcast

Ten years ago, Brian Thompson walked out of his law firm for the last time with a vision, a lot of fear, and no guaranteed paycheck. In this episode, he reflects on a decade of entrepreneurship, the lessons that shaped him, the people who made it possible, and what the next ten years of mission-driven financial planning looks like.

This is not a strategy episode. It is a personal and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of the BTF journey, and a reminder that meaningful businesses are not built overnight. They are built one conversation, one client, one courageous decision, and one ordinary Tuesday at a time.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The business lessons Brian has carried through a full decade of building BTF

  • Why financial planning has always been about helping people build lives, not just balance sheets

  • How community and connection have shaped the growth of a mission-driven business

  • Why the podcast became one of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of the journey

  • What Brian believes about mission-driven entrepreneurship going into the next decade

  • Why celebrating milestones matters and how to start doing it more intentionally

A decade of entrepreneurship teaches you things that no business book can. It teaches you that mission matters more than metrics, that community sustains what strategy alone cannot, and that the businesses that last are the ones that know why they exist.

Whether you are just starting out, somewhere in the middle, or celebrating your own milestone, this episode is a reminder of how far one courageous step can take you.

Resources + Links

About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast

Brian Thompson, JD/CFP®, is a tax attorney and Certified Financial Planner® who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.