--- title: "The art of evolution and calculated risk with Sharon Rechter" description: "How a dyslexic author reshaped the media industry" url: "https://www.decimal.com/resources/ep14-sharon-rechter" --- Episode 14 # The art of evolution and calculated risk with Sharon Rechter October 16, 2024 46 min listen [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yAvziGY04qQU4sMj5UrIA) [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-evolution-and-calculated/id1739009037?i=1000673280214) [YouTube](https://youtu.be/116MfPZMAvw) In this episode, [Sharon Rechter](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonrechter/) shares her challenging journey of starting her own cable network, [First Media](https://first.media/), while being dyslexic. Throughout our conversation, you’ll notice the prevalent theme of evolving as a company and adapting to change. Sharon shares lessons learned, like embracing failure to foster creativity and the critical concept of “calculated crazy.” Stay tuned as we uncover the resilience, humility, and tactical planning that have driven Sharon’s remarkable success. ## **In this episode, you’ll learn:** - **Adapt and Thrive with AI:** Sharon highlights how AI is revolutionizing creative industries. By evolving your skills and learning to collaborate with AI, you can stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation in your field. - **Calculated Crazy Equals Winning Strategy**: Want to succeed without going off the deep end? Embrace Sharon’s notion of “calculated crazy” — chasing ambitious, scalable, and profitable ideas without getting lost in the fun and excitement. - **Resilience Fuels Creativity:** Struggling with setbacks? Mourn your losses for 24 hours, then bounce back stronger. Sharon’s story shows that overcoming failure sparks unparalleled creativity and innovation. ## **Jump into the conversation**: 00:00 Meet Sharon 02:14 Creative problem-solving with dyslexia 05:43 Launching a new cable network 12:26 Embracing change and humility 18:59 The role of failure in success 22:03 Follow the money 34:10 Evolving with the market 43:10 Harnessing your unique power in business Share this post [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fep14-sharon-rechter.html "Share on LinkedIn")[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fep14-sharon-rechter.html&text=The%20art%20of%20evolution%20and%20calculated%20risk%20with%20Sharon%20Rechter "Share on X")[](mailto:?subject=The%20art%20of%20evolution%20and%20calculated%20risk%20with%20Sharon%20Rechter&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fep14-sharon-rechter.html "Share via email") ## More Resources [ ![Bookkeeping Firms Don't Have a Tool Problem. 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It's about being ready for everything that comes with it. Sep 21, 2026 ](https://www.decimal.com/resources/is-your-small-business-ready-for-its-first-hire-here-is-how-to-tell)[ ![The Case for Owning a Decimal Franchise Over Starting Your Own Accounting Firm](https://www.decimal.com/images/uploads/274.png) Blog ### The Case for Owning a Decimal Franchise Over Starting Your Own Accounting Firm Starting an accounting firm from scratch is a legitimate path but the honest conversation about what it actually requires, years of infrastructure building, brand development, and costly wrong turns, doesn't get had often enough. This blog makes the case for the Decimal franchise model as a smarter alternative, covering what independent firm founders actually spend their first years doing, what a Decimal franchise starts with instead, the specific market it was built to serve, the trade-offs worth understanding going in, and who the model is actually the right fit for. The tone is honest rather than promotional, written for someone seriously weighing their options. Sep 18, 2026 ](https://www.decimal.com/resources/the-case-for-owning-a-decimal-franchise-over-starting-your-own-accounting-firm) [All Resources](https://www.decimal.com/resources) ## Stay up to date Stay up to date with Decimal and get our monthly newsletter to stay informed on industry trends, financial best practices, and Decimal news. Thanks! We'll be in touch. Oops! Something went wrong, please try again. ← Try again