PRIVACY NOTICE | TERMS OF USE
Interested in being a guest on Entrepreneurs on Fire? Click here to learn more!

Entrepreneurs on Fire with John Lee Dumas

Daily business podcast interviews

  • About
  • Income
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Archive
  • contact
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
« Previous | Next »

Feel the Fear – And Do It Anyway with Cliff Nonnenmacher

October 8, 2025

Franchise expert and serial entrepreneur Cliff Nonnenmacher built businesses from Wall Street to Main Street—now helping others find financial freedom through practical, proven franchise guidance.

Subscribe to EOFire

Apple | Spotify | iHeart

Guest Resource

Franocity – Check out Cliff’s website to learn how to properly navigate the franchise process. Schedule a 15–20 minute call to assess your fit for franchising, risk tolerance, and fear tolerance.

3 Value Bombs

1. Fear isn’t a stop sign; it’s a signal to move forward with courage and clarity.

2. Structure kills fear; discipline and systems turn anxiety into execution.

3. Execution, alignment, and coachability are what separate successful franchisees from those who fail.

Sponsors

HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!

Freedom Circle: A powerful community of entrepreneurs led by JLD! Are you ready to go from idea to income in 90-days? Visit Freedom-Circle.com to learn more.

Quicksilver Scientific: Make advanced liposomal supplements so you can actually feel the difference – energy, focus, calm, recovery. Get 10% off + free shipping at TryQS.com/fire!

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: Feel the Fear – And Do It Anyway with Cliff Nonnenmacher

[1:33] – Cliff shares something he believes about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

  • Fear is not your enemy, indecision is.
  • Waiting for certainty often stalls courage.
  • Discomfort is the down payment for growth.

[3:25] – Cliff talks about why fear is so rarely discussed in business circles, even though it drives so many decisions.

  • Fear is biological, not logical. Most disguise it as caution or bad timing.
  • We’re born with only two innate fears: falling and loud noises; the rest are learned.
  • 85% of what we worry about never happens.

[7:00] – Cliff tells how to coach someone through catastrophic thinking.

  • The ego ties worth to external outcomes, creating fear of loss.
  • Fear lives rent-free in the mind as imagined failure.
  • Awareness and presence dissolve fear. Return to the “now.”

[12:29] – Cliff talks about loss aversion and gives a real-world example.

  • People fight harder to keep what they have than to gain something new.
  • His restoration franchise reduced $50K in damages to $0 by making it employees’ bonus money to lose.

[13:35] – A timeout to thank our sponsors!

  • HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!
  • Quicksilver Scientific: Make advanced liposomal supplements so you can actually feel the difference – energy, focus, calm, recovery. Get 10% off + free shipping at TryQS.com/fire!

[16:06] – Cliff talks about one truth that makes anyone afraid and lets them to hold back.

  • Structure kills fear. Be a disciplined investor.
  • Like trained pilots in crisis, entrepreneurs can override fear through protocols, checklists, and systems.

[19:30] – Cliff talks about what separates the franchisees who succeed from those who don’t.

  • Execution is everything.
  • Failure is often due to misalignment, wrong expectations, or lack of coachability.
  • Successful franchisees plan for capital needs, remain coachable, and obsess over key metrics like break-even speed, customer retention, and ticket size.

[22:41] – Call to action.

  • Franocity – Check out Cliff’s website to learn how to properly navigate the franchise process. Schedule a 15–20 minute call to assess your fit for franchising, risk tolerance, and fear tolerance.

[24:33] – Thank you to our Sponsors!

  • HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!
  • Freedom Circle: A powerful community of entrepreneurs led by JLD! Are you ready to go from idea to income in 90-days? Visit Freedom-Circle.com to learn more.

Killer Resources!

1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!

3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!

Subscribe

« Previous | Next »
Learn More about Uncommon Success Book

Featured Posts

1. 10 Things We Know After 10 Years In Business

2. The Ultimate Podcasting Guide

3. Podcast Sponsorships

4. Top 15 Business books in 2023

5. Set & Accomplish Your Biggest Goals

Learn More about Uncommon Success Book

Copyright © 2025 · Not affiliated with Entrepreneur Magazine
Terms and Conditions · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer
CONTACT US
CONTACT US

Cleantalk Pixel