What does it really take to build a business from nothing and design a life you love?
For Emily Frisella, founder of The Paper & Plan Co., it started on a farm. She bought her first house at 19, launched a brick-and-mortar business at 20, and turned early failure into fuel for long-term success. Today, she leads multiple brands with relentless execution, discipline, and heart.
In this episode of Common Denominator, we unpack how resilience, reverse-engineered goals, and paper planning helped Emily go from a $42 bank balance to a thriving entrepreneurial life she loves.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🌾 How growing up on a farm built discipline, resourcefulness, and work ethic
📉 The cash flow crisis that nearly broke her, and the hustle that changed everything
🧠 Why successful entrepreneurs still use pen and paper to set and stick to big goals
📈 How to diversify your business without losing focus
👩💼 Why women excel in executive roles that require detail and emotional intelligence
🤝 How to build relationship capital that isn’t transactional
🧒 The tools she’s created to help kids learn financial literacy, without screen time
Like this episode? Leave a review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/commondenominator
Timestamps:
00:00 The Journey Begins: Early Lessons in Entrepreneurship
02:57 Building a Business: The First Steps
05:56 Facing Challenges: The Reality of Entrepreneurship
08:55 The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness
11:56 Diversification: Balancing Multiple Ventures
14:57 Scaling and Forecasting: Strategic Business Growth
17:39 The Power of Goal Setting and Visualization
20:42 Building Genuine Relationships in Business
24:07 Empowering Women in Business
26:51 Giving Back: The Importance of Community Engagement
29:50 Reflections on Success and Gratitude
Guest Links:
Follow Emily: https://www.instagram.com/emilyfrisella/?hl=en
🎙 Common Denominator Podcast
Website: https://moshepopack.com/podcast/
YouTube: @mpopack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpopack
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoshePopack
Newsletter: https://moshepopack.com/newsletter/
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.