The Million Dollar Podcast interviews Adam Long

In this episode of The Million Dollar Podcast, host Ramneek Wayne sits down with Adam Long, Founder of Conscious Step and Ethical CEO, to discuss Adam's blueprint for building businesses that matter; failure, resilience, and real change.

In the age of fleeting “influencers,” Adam Long offers something rare: a blueprint for businesses that do more than make money—they make a difference. 

Founder of Conscious Step, a company that marries fashion with purpose, Adam’s journey is marked by hard-won lessons, including a failed first venture that left him standing in line at Centrelink, wondering where he’d gone wrong. “I wasn’t making enough choices… we drowned in our own creativity,” Adam says, reflecting on a time when ambition alone wasn’t enough to succeed.

But it was that failure that sharpened his approach and transformed his vision of success. Conscious Step emerged as the antithesis of trendy, feel-good initiatives: each pair of socks sold translates into real-world impact—from planting trees to feeding children. But Adam’s strategy didn’t stop at selling socks; he built a foundation for others to follow, advising that “just because your business is doing good doesn’t mean people will care. You’ve got to get people to give a f—.” For Adam, true influence is grounded in hard-edge strategy and results that go beyond the surface.

With that philosophy, Adam has guided his ventures towards impact rather than mere scale. His approach at Ethical CEO reflects his core belief that businesses must move quickly with real purpose. “Learn from fast-moving companies, not just the biggest ones,” he emphasizes, seeing this as the path to both authentic influence and sustainable impact. Adam’s work in social enterprise reveals his mission: to equip businesses with the tools to solve global problems without losing sight of profitability and scalability.

“Get attention. People don’t just care because you’re doing good,” Adam adds, recounting his own journey from an industrial design student passionate about invention to a strategist who knows that impactful businesses are built on more than dreams. His method? Test relentlessly, learn from failures, and execute with focus. Through his companies and mentoring, he pushes others to pursue bold ideas while grounding them in practical execution.

For Adam, success isn’t just measured by sales—it’s about purpose. He’s clear: “Just because your business does good, doesn’t mean people will care. You’ve got to make them care.” The goal isn’t just building a business; it’s building one that resonates deeply and drives real change.

What does Adam see for the future of social impact and business? To learn more about his unique vision and the powerful lessons he shares, catch the full interview.