9 : Entrepreneurship as a Spiritual Practice with Colm Dolan

“I found that work was an ability for me to bring out my spiritual teachings and share my values with other people.”

Welcome to the Mindful FIRE Podcast, where we explore living mindfully on the path to financial independence and beyond. I’m your host Adam Coelho and I’m glad you’re here. 

Today we talk to my friend, Colm Dolan who was one of the first people I met when joining Google back in 2010. Colm is a former Googler and founder of Publift - an adtech business that helps online publishers build sustainable revenue streams. He is an ad ops veteran and sports fanatic with a passion for self-improvement and creating better life situations for all.

I’m excited to share this episode with Colm where we explore his entrepreneurial and mindfulness journey both of which started after he and I had dinner together in Sydney, Australia 7 years ago. After that dinner he quit his job and set out on his own path. His mindfulness practice developed alongside his business and provided incredible support to him and all of the people that his business touches. 

In this episode Colm and I dive into:

• Colm’s thoughts on how entrepreneurship is a spiritual path in it’s own right
• How there is so much learning and growth that come from building a business and dealing with the challenges that come along with it.
• Why Colm has found it essential to build structure in the your day
• How Colm thinks about his metal diet to keep a healthy mind by avoiding news and social media
• Why Colm says it’s important to find a few minutes of mindfulness throughout the day to reset and flush out the “mental build up” that comes from living and working in the modern world. 
• How to discover what your values are a

Join the Mindful FIRE Legends community at MindfulFIRE.org/join.

PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program

You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.

In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).

Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat

🔥 WHO I’m creating this for

This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:

• You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
• You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
• You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.

🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)

In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:

• Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
• Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
• Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
• Turn yo...