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Paul, Founder at The F: Advize Career Interview
From undergrad missteps to founding The F, a training, consulting, and content creation business with multiple podcasts, a career journey emphasizes the importance of active engagement and networking.
As the Founder, responsibilities encompass content creation, sales, and marketing, with "a day in the life" including speaking engagements, administrative tasks, and continuous learning.
This career path requires strong communication, sales, and technical skills, with personal satisfaction stemming from connecting with others, training, and influencing strategic decisions.
Challenges include saying no to opportunities and securing revenue streams.
Success in this industry demands comfort with financial uncertainty, confidence in communication, and a willingness to learn the business, while potential entry points include FP&A analyst roles or starting a business.
Significant lessons include embracing curiosity and understanding that finance is about relationships.
While college preparation initially missed the mark, success blossomed in grad school through networking and strategic involvement, creating impactful experiences and career confidence that continue to make the Founder an expert in their field.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Paul Barnhurst
Founder
The F
Brigham Young University
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey earned MBA and Master of Science in Information Management
Business Management & Admin
Education
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Founder of Their Own Business
Paul's career journey began with a lack of internships and networking in undergrad, confessing "I really didn't do a great job," and sharing a memorable interview blunder, but blossomed in grad school with active involvement and internship opportunities; this foundation led to roles in procurement and FP&A before venturing into entrepreneurship to found "The F," a training, consulting, and content creation business with several podcasts. Initially focused on academics, Paul's perspective shifted to recognize that career success requires more than just good grades, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and networking.
Main Responsibilities of a Founder at FP&A Guy
As the Founder of The FP and a Guy, Paul's responsibilities are wide-ranging, encompassing content creation through hosting three podcasts on finance-related topics aimed at helping people "be better in finance", as well as sales and marketing efforts to acquire customers. The role is "much broader than a traditional job" since it's primarily a business of one, requiring them to wear multiple hats.
A Day in the Life of a Founder at The F
For the Founder at The F, "a day in the life" involves a diverse range of activities, including frequent speaking engagements like podcasts and webinars, continuous sales efforts, and necessary administrative tasks such as responding to emails. Paul emphasizes that a typical day also includes content creation, interviewing, training, and marketing, highlighting the varied responsibilities of a founder.
Most Important Skills For A Founder At The F
For Paul, Founder at The F, excelling in a content creation and training role hinges on strong communication, encompassing both empathetic listening and the ability to simplify complex topics. While technical skills, like expertise in Excel and financial modeling, initially paved the way for this career, Paul emphasizes that "the communication skills have become so important" alongside sales abilities to effectively convey the value of services.
Favorite Parts of Being a Founder at The F
Paul, Founder at The F, most enjoys the opportunity to connect with others, stating "I love meeting with founders...hear their story, hear their passion" and gains satisfaction from training others, finding it rewarding when learning materials are helpful. The role provides Paul with the chance to engage with individuals globally, allowing for the sharing of stories and providing career assistance.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Founder at The F
Paul, a Founder at The F, identifies two major challenges: the first is learning to "say no" amidst a wealth of opportunities, understanding that effective strategy involves "closing doors" to focus on what's most important for the business; the second challenge involves the constant need to secure revenue and build the business through one-time collaborations, requiring a persistent focus on "where's the next dollar gonna come from?"
Favorite Parts of Working in the Financial Content Creation Industry as a Founder
Paul enjoys two distinct aspects of their career: in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), the rewarding part was "being a business partner" and influencing strategic decisions; and in content creation for FP&A professionals, the most satisfying aspect is "helping people be better at the job" and seeing the positive impact on others' careers.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Solopreneurship According To A Founder At The F
Paul from The F describes that to thrive in the solo training, consulting, and content creation industry, one must be comfortable with financial uncertainty, recognizing that "you don't always know where your next dollar is gonna come from," and also possess the confidence to put themself out there, communicate effectively, and handle potential criticism. A person must also be prepared to accept that as a solopreneur, "it's all on you."
What a Founder at The F Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Online Course Industry
Paul wishes someone had emphasized the difficulty of selling digital courses, stating that the process requires a great deal of marketing, sophistication, and testing, even with an existing following. The ease of course creation, where "anyone with a computer, camera, mic can create their own course," ironically makes standing out and driving sales a significant challenge.
Entry-level Opportunities for Aspiring Founders by The F
Paul, a Founder at The F, suggests that for those interested in FP&A, analyst roles in corporate finance are a great entry point, offering exposure to either the broad experience of a startup or a more specialized role within a larger company, with roles ranging from corporate to business support, and encouraging a start in business support for a "broader experience." When it comes to content creation and entrepreneurship, "there's not necessarily entry level positions," but one could gain experience through internships or by starting their own business.
Significant Career Lesson from a Founder at The F
Paul from The F emphasizes that curiosity and a focus on "learning the business" have been significant, noting that finance is not just about numbers, but about relationships and truly understanding the business to effectively partner with colleagues. A willingness to learn is critical for success in finance, as it enables one to better help others.
College Experiences That Helped A Founder At The F Succeed
Paul, the Founder at The F, believes that undergrad was not well-utilized for career preparation, and in hindsight, he would have focused more on "networking" and securing an "internship"; rather, career success began in grad school by switching the emphasis to finance, joining clubs, and actively networking. Paul advises students to be "more well-rounded" and leverage opportunities to prepare for a career instead of solely focusing on grades.
College Experience Advice From a Founder at The F
While at WP Carey, strategy case competitions were impactful for Paul as they provided confidence to succeed in a career, especially after winning one contest; additionally, the opportunity to network with fellow students was "huge" since those relationships can "stick with you the rest of your life".
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