Circle Back

Join host Sam Davidson as he unpacks the extraordinary journey of Michael Burcham, the founding CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. From his humble beginnings in rural Mississippi, Michael shares how a dream to escape his small-town bubble led him to the Army National Guard for college, a dynamic career in healthcare, and ultimately, to becoming a prolific founder, investor, professor, and four-time author.   This episode is a masterclass in resilience, strategic thinking, and the power of giving back. Michael details the challenges and triumphs of founding two successful healthcare companies, Teraphysics and Paradigm Health, including how he overcame dozens of rejections to secure his first investor, strategically pivoted business models for explosive growth, and navigated lucrative exits. He then recounts the inspiring story behind the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, from its audacious vision of a physical hub for entrepreneurs to the monumental task of renovating its historic Hillyard home with no debt.   Dive into Michael's profound insights on the entrepreneurial mindset, including lessons from his books, "The Art of Startup Failure" and "The Seven Deadly Emotions of Entrepreneurship." Discover his three critical guideposts for discerning when to pivot versus persevere, and learn why fostering relationships is the bedrock of lasting success. Michael also shares his current focus at Shore Capital and his mission to empower entrepreneurs who are driven not just by profit, but by a desire to scale for impact and "send the elevator back down" for the next generation.    Episode Highlights:  0:06  - Meet Michael Burcham: Founder, Author, Investor, Professor  1:07  - Michael's first glimpse of entrepreneurship in rural Mississippi  1:38  - Starting his first business at 14: The lawnmower venture  2:44  - The deep-seated drive to expand beyond his small-town upbringing  3:41  - How the Army National Guard paved Michael's path to college  4:34  - Launching a career in healthcare and earning an MBA at HCA  8:04  - Founding Teraphysics: Overcoming 30 rejections to raise crucial capital  10:59  - The strategic business model pivots that propelled Teraphysics' success  19:07  - Co-founding and scaling his second impactful company, Paradigm Health  23:38  - The ambitious vision behind establishing the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC)  31:00  - The monumental challenge and triumph of renovating the EC's historic Hillyard building  34:40  - Why strong relationships are non-negotiable for entrepreneurial success  37:40  - Transitioning from the EC to Shore Capital and embarking on an authorship journey  41:35  - Key takeaways and wisdom from "The Art of Startup Failure"  44:27  - Exploring "The Seven Deadly Emotions of Entrepreneurship" and navigating internal struggles  49:01  - Michael's three essential guideposts for deciding when to pivot  54:23  - Michael's current mission: Coaching entrepreneurs to scale for impact, not just profit, and his upcoming book, "Blood, Sweat, and Equity"  Listen now to gain Michael's unique perspective on entrepreneurship. Subscribe to Circle Back for more inspiring stories. Share this episode with aspiring founders and business leaders, and leave us a review to help others discover valuable content.   Relevant Links:   Michael Burcham's Books Nashville Entrepreneur Center Shore Capital Partners Connect with Michael Burcham Circle Back Podcast Nashville Post