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

The Mission Driven Business Podcast

Ten years ago, Brian walked out of his law office for the last time. There is not a strategy or a framework in this episode, but there is a heartfelt reflection on a decade of building Brian Thompson Financial, the lessons learned along the way, the people who made it possible, and what the next ten years might hold. If you have ever wondered what sustains a mission-driven business over the long term, this episode is a deeply personal answer to that question.

 

The Moment Entrepreneurship Became Reality

The morning after Brain left his law firm he felt surprisingly normal. He had a business to build, clients to serve, and a million ideas running through his head. The reality of what he had done did not fully land until two weeks later when he opened his bank account and there was no direct deposit. No employer, no guaranteed paycheck, no safety net. From that moment on, if he wanted to get paid, he had to build something people believed in. Like many entrepreneurs, he had a vision accompanied by a lot of fear. Would anyone hire him? Would he make enough money? Did he know enough? Was he making a huge mistake? Ten years later, he has his answer.

 

Showing Gratitude for Clients

The first and most heartfelt thanks in this episode goes to Brian’s clients. Whether they have been with him for nearly the full decade, including a shout out to his very first client who is still with him today, or they just started working with him, each one trusted him with something deeply personal: their finances, their businesses, their dreams, their families, and their worries. Financial planning, Brian reflects, has never been just about investments or taxes. It is about helping people feel more confident, more safe, and more capable of building lives rather than just good balance sheets.

After months of work setting up an S Corporation for a client, navigating forms, IRS delays, payroll setup, and a lot of moving pieces, she finally saw how everything came together and told Brian he was well worth what she was paying him. Those words, Brian says, mattered not because they were about him, but because they reminded him of why he does this work. Sometimes the biggest value in financial planning comes from having someone who knows the path and can guide you through it.

 

Gratitude for the Broader Community

Brian extends deep thanks to everyone who has supported BTF without ever becoming a client. Podcast listeners, newsletter readers, people who share episodes or comment on Instagram, past podcast guests, referral partners, friends, family, fellow advisors, and his business coach. Every recommendation, every introduction, every encouraging message has meant more than most people realize. Entrepreneurship can feel like a solo journey, but Brian has learned that meaningful businesses are built through community.

 

The Unexpected Gift of Starting a Podcast

When Brian started the Mission Driven Business Podcast, he hoped it would become a resource for mission-driven entrepreneurs. What he did not anticipate was how much he would learn about himself in the process. Every guest has challenged him in a different way. Every solo episode has pushed him to think more clearly about his own values and purpose. Every conversation has reinforced that there is no single right way to build a successful business. Those conversations, Brian reflects, have made him a better advisor, a better business owner, and a better person.

 

A Special Thank You

Brian shares a tribute to his mom, who was, without knowing it, his first ever client. When his father passed away during college, his mom was suddenly managing a significant amount of money with no idea where to start. Brian dove into every personal finance book he could find, not because he planned to become a financial planner, but because he wanted to make sure she was going to be okay. That experience changed the course of his life. Without it, he says, there is probably no BTF. He also thanks his friends, mentors, coaches, his current husband, and his former husband, all of whom have been pivotal in ways he is deeply grateful for.

 

What the Next Decade Holds

Brian is clear that this episode is about celebrating the past, but he is even more excited about what comes next. The world has changed dramatically over the last decade. Technology has evolved, financial planning has evolved, and the landscape for mission-driven entrepreneurs continues to shift. What has not changed is his belief that mission-driven business owners deserve thoughtful financial guidance, that businesses should support the life you want rather than consume it, and that good planning creates freedom and flexibility. That is the work Brain intends to keep doing for the next ten years.

 

A Business Anniversary Request

Message Brian and tell him about a milestone you are proud of: your first client, your first employee, launching your website, finally paying yourself consistently, or simply surviving a difficult year. Entrepreneurs are wonderful at chasing the next goal and terrible at appreciating how far they have come. Send him a message on Instagram, reply to his newsletter, or reach out on LinkedIn.

 

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.