Christian Biz Owners On Fire

Distance used to be a hurdle for most with all kinds of business and personal connections, including romantic ones.  Business owners are wise not to get too sucked into working too much at the expense of investing in personal relationships. With so many communication apps available now, distance may no longer be an obstacle to having a long distance relationship (LDR). Staying in touch has never been easier; however, actually connecting with someone living a few hundred — or thousand — miles away is still no easy feat. Add that to the normal ups and downs of being in a relationship it's no wonder that LDRs don't work for everyone. However LDRs can and do work — it just takes some creativity, communication, planning, and sometimes, even mentoring. Our guest in this episode is the founder of Undivided, a professional mentoring business specially made for people in long distance relationships. Undivided focuses on personal development, mutual growth, and unlocking for their clients, a rock-solid bond with their partner that not only withstands the tests of distance, but the tests of time. Johnathan Jena was in a long distance relationship himself for over 3 years, bridging the 3,100 miles distance. He and his partner developed ways to help them cope with many of the common issues long-distance couples face (such as loneliness, conflict resolution, intimacy, jealousy, personal growth, etc.).  In a world where long distance love is still often seen as "illegitimate" or "not worth the risk", Johnathan, through his company, wants to show people that there is an easier way to feel close when you're far apart.

In this age of infinite choices, small business owners need to be creative in finding ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace. But how do you do that? One way to do so is via brand photos. Photography can help you represent yourself to the world in a way that’s positive, genuine and, most importantly, unique to your business. After all, you and your business are more than a logo.  You as the business owner are the face of your business. It’s important to have a visual brand that presents you in the best light, with an up-to-date look that you feel fabulous about. Needless to say, how a brand is perceived affects its success! Our guest in this episode spends just as much time identifying your brand as she does behind the camera. Stephanie Simpson, owner of branding photography company Simpson Portraits, has years of experience in marketing, image making, and visual storytelling. That combination of skills makes her uniquely qualified to help you to build your business and your brand. Stephanie helps people feel good about themselves. She can see the real you inside and helps bring that to life. Many of her clients are uncomfortable being in front of the camera, but Stephanie guides them through every pose, expression, and mood to shape a cohesive brand story.

Personal branding used to include nothing more than a simple business card with your name on it. But with the development of social media and an increasingly individualized society, the brand you build around yourself is perhaps the single most important way to stand out in your spheres of influence. If you’re interested in becoming a leader in your field or landing your dream job, you need to set up and maintain a digital presence and in person presentation that tells people who you are and why you’re special. But for some reason, many of us aren’t comfortable with developing our personal brand. For some, especially for beginner entrepreneurs, it could feel forced. Or some don’t want to put themselves out there. Or they feel like they’re selling out. What exactly is personal branding and how do you establish an awesome personal brand?   Our guest in this episode, JuliAnn Stitick, is a Personal Brand Strategist with over 22 years of experience working with trusted brands such as Lexus, Nordstrom, Disney, LAPD, Kaiser Permanente and Caruso Affiliated . Her expertise in helping her clients connect with their audience has also attracted notable Oscar and Golden Globe winning clients.

It doesn’t matter what products or services you offer. In this age of countless options, being able to differentiate yourself from your competitors and position yourself as the person or business most suited to serve them is vital to your success. The secret to getting noticed is authority. When you have authority, people will pay attention. When you are perceived as an expert in your industry, people will naturally want to work with you. They will seek you out instead of you chasing them. Our guest in this episode talks about the importance of first and foremost establishing yourself to be an authority figure in your industry rather than focusing on generating leads and converting those prospects into clients. Weston Lyon is the author of 19 books and one of the only authors to ever write nine books in eleven months. Weston also founded Plug & Play Publishing, a Pittsburgh-based authority-positioning company that teaches coaches, consultants, speakers, and other education-based service providers how to write a book to grow their business.

Lacking the “grit”. Silencing the inner critic. Procrastination. Beginner entrepreneurs are very much guilty of these self-sabotaging roadblocks that drive them further away from their goal of thriving in their business. You may not be aware of it but some of those are inherited roadblocks and patterns that once recognized and released will lead to awakening of your life. Our guest in this episode is an intuitive life coach and transformational energy healer. Lisa Thomas has had the privilege of working with talented people from all walks of life. She empowers individuals to reach their full potential by removing inherited emotional blocks such as fear of success, fear of failure, anxiety, procrastination, fear of public speaking, false money beliefs, relationship drama and business stagnation. Lisa's expertise in removing inherited patterns within the epigenetics empowers people to get their gifts, talents and bright ideas out into the world, confidently and in alignment with their Soul's purpose.  

This episode focuses on a specific niche, which is dancing, but make sure to tune in as we discuss everything involved in owning a commercial venture that requires capital and business savvy. Our guest in this episode owns a dance school that helps instructors set up classes on-site in schools. Jeannette Sermak-Proulx  has been teaching since 1981. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from California Institute of the Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in English/Dance from Loyola Marymount University, and a Polish Folk Dance Teaching credential from Bursa Szkol Artystynych Lublin, Poland. Jeannette has built her business from the ground up by mastering cold calling.  She is in the process of writing a book teaching others how to have cold calling success.  

The strengths approach says that when it comes to developing people, there is more to be gained by building on their existing strengths than on trying to correct or make  good their weaknesses. Too many people focus on fixing what's "wrong" with themselves, instead of appreciating and leveraging the unique, innate talents they already possess.   Our guest in this episode, Brea Roper, is a coach who uses the  power of CliftonStrengths. Learn more about this type of coaching in this episode.  

Have you heard of the adage that says, “Leaders aren't trained, they're developed”? This is a subtle yet very important distinction lost on many. In this episode, our guest David M Robertson explains the distinction between leadership coaching and leadership development and how one is better than the other.   David M Robertson is a Leadership Development Practitioner with GrassFire Industries LLC in Wichita, Kansas. He developed and continues to refine the several programs now being taught at GrassFire and has been teaching leadership development in various roles since 2009.  

In last week's episode, we talked about tithing and how doing so can actually lead you to a six-figure income. This week, returning guest Michael Holmes, founder of tithehacker.org shares with us the stories, patterns, and strategies employed by wealthy Christian entrepreneurs and how everyday business owners like us can learn from those habits.

An old saying goes, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. But what if you are told that you do not just give, but to give a percentage of what you are actually earning? The first ten percent, to be specific. This is called tithing. When it comes to topic of tithing, many Christians want to rationalize. For those who find themselves in financial trouble, tithing doesn’t make sense from an economic standpoint. One person who found himself questioning the Bible teaching of tithing led him to an experiment that changed the course of his life.   Michael Holmes, founder of tithehacker.org, shares how a ”tithing experiment” took him from unemployed, broke, and in debt to a six-figure income in a matter of 2 years.

If you watch any of my Facebook Live videos, read my blogs, or are a regular listener to Christian Biz Owners on Fire radio show, you've heard me invite you and others to do a Manifesting Your Vision session with me.  So what the heck is that and why is it a good investment of your time and money. Some of my decisions to do a "strategy session" with others over time have literally changed the course of my lfie. Tune into today to see how doing a Manifesting Your Vision session with me could be the game changer for you!

Don't 3e the best kept secret in town.  Learn ways to communicate your advantage to your clients with humility and grace.

The road of an entrepreneur is a bumpy one.  Almost everyone loves the idea of the perks of running your own business. You control your own time and schedule.  You decide the kind of work you will and will not do.  And you determine which clients and environments you will be around. No one is capping yoru income. Real business owners live the other less-than-fun side of entrepreneurs.  Successful entreprenuers must possess grit to make a business work.  They have to learn to ride the waves of uncertainty and change.   Wtih time you figure out the cycles.  Seasoned business owners recognize patterns.  Often it is after the breakdowns that the breakthroughs come, if we learn to continue to trust that God has a plan for us and take the next step he puts before us. Tune in for three ways to you can respond to turn your breakdowns into breakthroughs!

These simple tips can help you make sure you absolutely love the business and life you are creating.  So many people are short-sighted.  They don't consider the impact of their business models on their lives.  They compartmentalize rather than look at a global view. But by being a Christian Biz Owners on Fire radio listener, you can avoid these common pitfalls and enjoy your journey as much as the end result.

Selling isn’t for everyone. Some people, including executives and entrepreneurs, panic at the thought of “putting themselves out there,” especially when that means asking colleagues for referrals or reaching out to past clients to drum up new business. Is this you? Our guest in this episode is passionate about changing the negative stigma around sales and helping women in business become confident in bringing on new clients and asking for what they deserve. Ryann Dowdy is a 15-year veteran of the advertising industry. She moved from individual contributor to sales trainer, to territory manager, to Director of Sales. Today, Ryann helps entrepreneurs, consultants and corporate sales team overcome their fear of sales to grow their business.    

In the previous episode, we talked to Pam Hopman, creator of The Money Profile and author of the best selling book, “Wealth Amplified. Pam talked about money mindset and the money style diagnostic tool she has created.  In this episode, Pam gives recommendations for sound financial management as a business owner.  Having a strong advocate of women and finances, Pam has recently launched her video course, Wealth Amplified. The course is a series of guided conversations through important financial topics. Pam created this program as a fun and powerful way for women to view their behavior around finances and money. The women who have participated in her programs have made major breakthroughs in making more money, keeping more money and loving their lives. As Pam often says, every dollar has a job. Are your dollars working hard enough for you?

Unhealthy money beliefs can destroy a successful business. Some of the warning signs of an unhealthy money mindset might be excessive discounting, a strong need to be all things to all people and operating in a constant state of fear, including fear to spend money or spending most of your money the minute it hits your checking account.   While there are certainly emotional components associated with this, most important of all is the mindset you maintain around how you make and spend money. With a scarcity mindset, you'll find yourself always focusing on never having enough. How then do we shift from scarcity to abundance? Our guest in this episode is a strong advocate of women and finances. Pam Hopman, the creator of The Money Profile and author of the best selling book, “Wealth Amplified”, has recently launched her video course of the same name. The course is a series of guided conversations through important financial topics. Pam created this program as a fun and powerful way for women to view their behavior around finances and money. The women who have participated in her programs have made major breakthroughs in making more money, keeping more money and loving their lives. As Pam often says, every dollar has a job. Are your dollars working hard enough for you?

Thought leaders are the informed, go-to people in their fields of expertise. For small business owners, becoming a thought leader within one’s industry can open up the doors to numerous opportunities for business growth. But while many strive for thought leadership, few actually know how to achieve it. Especially these days when being heard is tough enough–what more being heard online? Our guest in this episode shares some tips on how to be a thought leader in your industry. Mitchell Levy is the AHA Guy & CEO at AHAthat who empowers thought leaders to share their genius. He is an accomplished Entrepreneur who has created twenty businesses in Silicon Valley including four publishing companies that have published over 800 books. Mitchell is a TEDx speaker and international bestselling author with fifty nine business books. He’s provided strategic consulting to over one hundred companies, has advised over five hundred CEOs on critical business issues, and has been chairman of the board of a NASDAQ-listed company.    

We’ve recently talked about mindfulness, so this episode might come as a surprise to you. How come we’re discussing about being angry this time? At its worst, anger can be incredibly frustrating and vexing, and it can become a tremendous obstacle to our success. At its best, however, anger is an emotion that can fuel us to great success–and ultimately, even happiness–so long as we control the anger we feel, and don't let it control us. In this episode we talk about how being angry sometimes can help you take those steps you need to move forward in your business.

Our guest in this episode is the CEO of a company that has created innovative solutions addressing the number one reason why businesses owners sell their companies: sailing into the sunset of retirement bliss. Nobody plans to get sick, but the number one reason businesses get put up for sale is a health scare suffered by the owner. Illness of the owner or another crisis can lead the owner to sell the business only getting pennies on the dollar.  Small business owners have to manage their funds to stay in business. With the daily challenges of making a business work, putting plans in place to protect the company and owner from potentially fatal events in the future often is not a current day financial priority. Luis Beeli helps educate business owners on the real risks while providing an affordable means to protect the business they are building.   Being too tight with money to the point of restricting and sacrificing the potential growth of your business or ignoring or minimizing future risks can do more harm than good.  The key, according to our guest in this episode, is to be creative in managing your finances and risks. And one of the ways to turn costs into assets is making money from your credit card processing rather than having to pay that out. How is it done? Luis sheds some light on this topic. Luis is the CEO of Lunar Financial Services, a company that creates protection for businesses should the owner becomes ill.

In this digital age where business owners are endlessly being told just how critical web presence is to their business’s success, it’s but natural to feel overwhelmed. There are countless online marketing and networking tools available that entrepreneurs sometimes feel like unplugging. But there is no need to resist networking and marketing just because you hate putting yourself and your business out there, especially in the online world. Remember that relationships are key and businesses are never built in a vacuum. Our guest in this episode shows that nothing keeps things classier than old-school moves that show others that online social media hasn’t destroyed your manners when it comes to being social in the business world. Gail Foley has been known as “The Hey Card Lady” for 12+ years. An entrepreneur, relationship marketing consultant, personal development trainer, author, speaker, network marketer and a podcast talk show host, Gail shares her own true story of transformation in “Stop The Ride! Taming The Emotional Roller Coaster” published in the book: ‘A Journey Within: Self- Discovery for Women’. Gail is passionate about helping people grow their business, and have learned that expressing appreciation, showing gratitude and staying in touch is the ultimate key.  

Want to win an Introduction to Mindfulness  4-week course? Tune in, Call and Win!  Listen live on May 31st 11am CST and dial the number (773) 897-6360 when prompted by Christina. The first caller wins!  **** As a business owner, you are probably operating at your maximum level, constantly juggling clients and switching between projects, running from one meeting to the next. On top of this, there’s the challenge of convincing yourself to see the value in mindfulness, both for yourself and possibly your employees. But there is this misconception that investing in mindfulness is a complex task that involves time, money and training. In this episode, our guest talks about mindfulness– how business owners can benefit from practicing this and how to incorporate this into your daily routine. Connie Porazka is the Founder of Retreat to Joy, a company that creates workshops focused on mindfulness to increase awareness, creativity, and productivity for businesses and groups.   Connie has over 20 years of healthcare marketing and promotion experience. She is an MBSR (Mindfulness based stress reduction) teacher through UCSD (provide what this stands for) Connie, an encore entrepreneur, believes that being present in your life is the path to more joy and less stress.

Working with the right business coach or consultant can truly help you take your business to new heights. The support and guidance you receive will save you SO much time and money when it comes to creating and nurturing a profitable business. But do you know the difference between a business coach and a consultant? How do you know which one is best for you? Our guest in this episode gives some much-needed clarity so you can decide which one you actually need– or if you require the services of both. Lee Gray is a certified Business Coach, providing business help, business advice, business coaching and mentoring services to small and medium-sized businesses. Lee has a strong business development and marketing background with a passion for helping businesses grow and become profitable so business owners can enjoy the lifestyle they deserve.  

Any established manager knows that he or she should always have an exit strategy. In instances of a promotion or a new position, a manager or business owner needs to have a plan in place for his or her departure—including a solid suggestion for someone to fill the role. And that means one needs to be preparing his/her employees for leadership now. Regardless of their position or department, the people in your organization have the potential, with the right coaching, to become better leaders. But developing your employees into leaders isn’t an instantaneous shift. Sometimes, qualified employees, although exceptional at their current jobs, are not yet prepared to assume a leadership position. Our guest in this episode has spent more than 9,000 hours speaking, coaching and sharing his passion for life with a wide variety of people of diverse ages, professions, and cultures: from business leaders in New York to indigenous people in the Amazon of Venezuela, from Italian bankers to American farmers, from Austin software engineers to Russian oilmen. Kristian Jaloway, founder and CEO of Jaloway Leadership Consulting (JLC) believes that no business can thrive without a healthy culture, and his experience abroad taught him how to get beyond the superficial to go to the heart of what makes people tick.   In this episode Kristian gives us tips on how to train your employees to be leaders, encourage your employees to own up to their responsibilities and take an active role in growing your company.  

Everyone encounters self-doubt at least every once in a while. But do you know what is the difference between successful people and non-achievers when it comes to dealing with self-doubt? Successful people overcome their self-doubt, while low achievers wallow in it and allow it to prevent them from achieving their goals. Easier said than done? There was not enough time during her first interview to tackle kicking self-doubt to the curb. Three-Time International Best-selling Author & Confidence and Presence Coach Dorothy-Inez  Del Tufo returns to our show to further discuss ways to overcome self-doubt. Dorothy-Inez is passionate about working with high-functioning women entrepreneurs, coaches and leaders who are ready to show up and shine online and in-person with more purpose, power, and presence so they can have more influence and impact in the world with their business.  

Successful entrepreneurs know that marketing is an essential ingredient to build a brand, get new customers, and make profit last. But marketing is no longer what it used to be. In this digital time, the marketing machine is way bigger and more complex than ever. Because of this, traditional entrepreneurs are conflicted by so many options to market in the digital world. What are the changes entrepreneurs need to get from behind their computers into real life? Does every entrepreneur need to embrace digital marketing? If so, which social media platform should one focus on? In our last episode, we talked about the importance of digital marketing to businesses. In this episode returning guest Jean Scally delves deeper into digital marketing for entrepreneurs, focusing on establishing effective social media campaigns and maximizing the Internet for business profits. Jean is the founder of Jeanius Marketing, a company that offers services including Website development, search engine visibility, lead capture strategies, social media marketing, video marketing, email and text message marketing, and digital advertising.

Are you a small business owner who still think having an online presence is an optional business strategy? This episode is for you. According to Google, 97% of consumers use the web to search for local businesses. Given that astounding number, there is no reason not to tap into that big percentage of potential customers. Having a strong online presence is a crucial component of your marketing strategy, no matter what size your business is or what industry it belongs to. But it can be a daunting task for a beginner entrepreneur to take care of the moving parts of the business, let alone establish an online presence. Our guest for today is a marketing strategist and best-selling author, and speaker. Jean Scally’s proven marketing strategies help every type of business, even if they're just getting started. (In fact, grand openings are a specialty of hers!) In this episode, Jean helps us navigate marketing in the digital world. Her business, Jeanius Marketing, works with businesses across the USA. Jeanius Marketing services include website development, search engine visibility, lead capture strategies, social media marketing, video marketing, email and text message marketing, and digital advertising.

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving 2015 report, approximately 43.5 million caregivers in the U.S. have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months; about 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older; and about 15.7 million adult family caregivers care for someone who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. While caregiving may feel like something natural for others–you are, after all, caring for someone you love–it can oftentimes be a stressful time in a carer’s life.  As a family caregiver, how do you avoid getting overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks and not neglect your own well-being? Our guest in this episode has co-founded a ministry that equips parishes to create a spiritual home that ministers to the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of caregivers. Nourish For Caregivers provides them the tools and resources to help caregivers connect with their faith and encounter Christ so that they can see the grace and blessings in their caregiver journey. Deb Kelsey-Davis, RN, MHSA, is a caregiver to her aging parents, one of the most important and challenging roles of her lifetime. She is a life-long clinician and respected healthcare leader. Deb is also a member of the National Association of Catholic Nurses (NACN-USA) and holds a Lay Ministry Certification from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Called and Gifted Program, bringing with her 20+ years ministry experience.

Corporate philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, giving back. While these are part of a company’s mission statement, oftentimes, the majority of employees have no direct connection to the work that is being done. Instead, they may see a picture of their CEO handing out a giant check or watch on the sideline as another executive is honored for giving back, all the while having no understanding as to how they have personally contributed. In this episode, we talk about how to turn employees from being passive spectators into engaged contributors to your social enterprise.   Our guest in this episode believes in order for a company’s “Culture of Good” to be successful and meaningful, giving back must be ingrained in the foundation of its core values.   Ryan McCarty is an author, speaker and the co-founder of Culture of Good, Inc. Ryan’s work has been featured in Huffington Post, Inc.com, People, Forbes and more. He is featured on podcasts regularly for his profound message on how to operate your business and live your life with a soul. Ryan began his career as a minister leading nonprofit organizations for more than 20 years before becoming director of customer and employee relations at TCC, one of the nation’s largest Verizon retailers. During his time at TCC, Ryan launched Culture of Good, a movement that enabled the wireless retailer’s 3,000 employees to give back in their 850 communities. Ryan bases his work on the principle that profit isn’t evil. He believes every leader and employee can leverage their daily work to discover their life calling by making the world better and meeting the needs of others.

So you’re ready to make a shift in your business to something bigger, better or even different, then fear and self-doubt come along to stop you in your tracks. You are paralyzed and nothing happens.  A year later you are stuck in the same place and hating what you do. Hoping one day things will change. Does this sound like you? If you’ve ever wanted to know how to kick that self-doubt in the butt that makes you question whether you’re good enough, this episode is for you! Our guest in this episode is three-time International Best-selling Author & Confidence and Presence Coach, Dorothy-Inez Del Tufo.  She is passionate about working with high-functioning women entrepreneurs, coaches and leaders who are ready to show up and shine online and in-person with more purpose, power, and presence so they can have more influence and impact in the world with their business.

Family members start a major portion of new businesses launched in the U.S. every year. However, according to The Family Firm Institute, only about 30% of family and businesses survive into the second generation, 12% are still viable into the third generation, and only about 3% of all family businesses operate into the fourth generation or beyond. Having little separating the dining table from the board room table can be the recipe for not only a family feud but also for business strife. The high failure rates of family businesses may seem unavoidable, but they actually not. Our guest in this episode will help us recognize and learn to avoid the potential threats of failing family businesses. Stephanie Rising has 20+ years of practical management and marketing experience combining behavioral analysis, business diagnostics, and employee alignment processes into strategic and tactical business solutions. Her company, The Rising Effect, elevates family-owned businesses and partnerships to create profitable growth, personal harmony, and a lasting legacy.

God cares about our spiritual life and our physical life. He created the human body, and he is pleased when we enjoy health and vigor. But in this world, our bodies endure sickness and pain. Sometimes we abuse our own bodies, but often our ailments occur because -- well, we don't always know why, nor does God promise that we will understand why. When mainstream medicine and all else fails, one could only go down on his/her knees and pray for healing. After all, the Bible tells us to pray for whatever we need, and that includes freedom from pain. And this is exactly what our guest in this episode did two decades ago. When her health failed she did what most Christians do, went forward for prayer and began seeing doctors.  After lots of prayer and 11 or 12 doctors in 18 months, she canceled all her medical appointments and began chasing God for answers.  He showed up and took her on an amazing journey and taught her that it was pointless to heal someone who would only return to their diet, environment, and relationships that made them ill in the first place.   She hasn't been to a mainstream medical doctor for an illness since 1989 because God taught her how to care for her body and how to hear His voice guiding her through this maze of life.   Hers is a powerful story of healing. Kathy Bates is a licensed massage therapist utilizing many tools to bring improved health and appearance to her clients. She is the author of the book, Getting Well God’s Way, a personal account of her healing journey from several diseases.

Many Christian business owners unknowingly block the flow of revenue and abundance into their companies. Christina Marie Weber, Christian Entrepreneur Consultant and Coach will share three common myths and how to overcome them to help you flourish is all areas of your business and life.

Not everyone has it in their bones to be an entrepreneur.  People who work for someone else are at the mercy of the corporate culture, leadership, and values of that company.  The work experience these companies offer has a direct impact on the quality of life of their employees, their families, and their communities.   Our guest for this episode uses her talents to improve corporate culture and climate by helping businesses hire, train, and retain the best and brightest to create high performances enterprises that yield a high quality of life and satisfaction to their employees. Through her signature process of “benchmarking”, Sonya guides her clients how to make internal changes that generate lasting results and set them apart from the competition, and attract, develop, and keep the cream of the crop talent. Sonya offers services the businesses she consults with in her 3 phase system of HIRE, TRAIN, and RETAIN. Sonya Gregory is the president of GOL Solutions, a company that provides  hands-on coaching and showing entrepreneurs HOW TO apply those techniques and skills in their business or personal life. Sonya is a management consultant, executive coach, trainer, and inspiration visionary.  Her passion is to help people recognize the leadership abilities within themselves and to assist in creating successful team environments. Sonya combines her 20 years of practical management experience and her knowledge in organizational leadership, communication, and the behavioral sciences to create successful leaders, teams, and organizations.  

Most of the time, business is referred to as a game, where the winner is the entrepreneur who finds success. In this case, the playing field is the market and the players within the game are the different companies and entrepreneurs competing for customers in the industry. Undoubtedly, competition in business is just as fierce as on a field, and the strengths of good  entrepreneurs can be strikingly similar to successful athletes. There are similarities between the world of entrepreneurs and the world of athletes – parallels that can give direction to business owners who are trying to succeed on the playing field of economics. In this episode we discuss business as a mental game, mind-conditioning tricks athletes use to be successful in their sporting careers, and how entrepreneurs can apply this mentality to their businesses. Our guest for this episode is a Mental Game Coach for NCSA Athletic Recruiting and former infielder for Northwestern University and the San Diego Padres. Carmen Bucci has 20 years of experience as an Educational and Motivational Storyteller to professional athletes, student-athletes, and entrepreneurs, specializing on talks on the Power of the Mind. Carmen has also toured and performed the country doing standup comedy.

Every time the calendar flips from one year to the next, millions of us resolve to eat healthier, get organized, quit smoking or reduce debt. But have you given much thought to getting your house and/or office in order? Are you tired of staring at your closet crammed with clothes you haven’t worn in years? Do you look around your home or office and see nothing but clutter and chaos on every surface and in every room?  Getting organized is key to creating the life we want for ourselves and our families. This is sometimes no easy task, but gaining and using organizing skills in our daily lives can be so important and rewarding. In this episode organizing coach for business and life success and best-selling author Marcia Ramsland helps us realize that no one needs to live in chaos and that the stress and shame that often accompanies the mess can be held, and how it can help our businesses make more of a profit.    

Let’s talk about how things get done in your business. If you are in a stage of your business wherein if you do not start something yourself or generate it, it doesn’t get done–then it only means you have not created a system for your business. A system is a series of processes that dictates how one part of your company operates. Once implemented, a system requires little thought and minimal effort to maintain. If you ever wondered how other biz owners can possibly step away from their growing business to take a vacation–systems are how they do it. When set up effectively, they enable your business to run without you—at least when necessary. In this episode, we talk to an expert who specializes in working with people to help them create systems that work. Kevin A Dunlap is an Entrepreneur Strategist. He is the owner of Plentiful Perspectives, a unique personal development company helping people to overcome challenges, move behind stagnancy, and master their destiny. Kevin is also the author of the book Designing Your Own Destiny. He also hosts a weekly podcast offering wisdom on perspective living to followers from all over the world.  

"I'm not good with money." "I can't get that promotion." "I won't find my ideal partner." "I can't earn money and not neglect my family." "I am not good enough for this."   Have you uttered (or thought of) any of these lines? These are not necessarily bad. In fact, recognizing and acknowledging that you do believe these things is the first step in order to  release yourself from these self-limiting thoughts. In this episode Christian entrepreneur coach Christina walks you through identifying what self-limiting beliefs are, how to recognize them, and the steps you need to take in order to free yourself from the bondage of limiting beliefs.

If you are familiar with the term “old boys’ club”, an exclusive network of businessmen who can call in a favor from their exclusive group to help close a deal, get new business or progress in their career, then you must have realized that there is no reason women can’t do the same. Networking with women assists the exchange of ideas, the ignition of trade through the development of strategic business contacts along with enhancing entrepreneurial skills for business success. Our guest for today champions women networking. For the past four years she was the  chapter president of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) Wichita Kansas, which is now the I.A. W (International Association of Women).  Linda Shinogle has been in Toastmasters since 1976 and is one of the 2% in that organization to reach the level of  is a DTM (Distinguished Toast Master). Linda is determined to make a difference in the lives of other professional women by creating new and exciting opportunities for all.  

In the bible, God created animals before he created people. When Jesus was born it was in a stable surrounded by animals.   Animals in the bible go on to be associated with The Holy Trinity, with God sometimes referred to as the great “lion” of Judah, Jesus Christ as the “lamb” of God, and the Holy Spirit as a “dove” that descended from heaven.   With these mentions of animals as well as in others biblical passages that connect animals to people and faith, it only goes to show a reflection of God’s own love of animals and his want for humans to take care of them. Our guest for today talks about lessons of faith from animal ministry. Being the Curator of Innovation and Partnerships for GLMV Architecture in Wichita Kansas, specializing in zoo design, Michael Clifford shares how compassion for our four-legged friends helps spread God’s message of love, hope, kindness, and compassion to the community. Monickered as the “Zoo Philosopher”, Mike travels the world talking about the role of zoos and aquariums in fostering fascination and compassion for the created world. Mike is also the founder and facilitator for Capacity Ministries, and organization that offers hands-on training to community of influencers to help them integrate discipleship and change into their ministry. (Listen to our interview with Michael Clifford about Capacity Ministries here.)  

In this part 2 of "How Lessons in Salvation History Apply to Your Business and Life", Christina delves deeper into the lessons in salvation history that appy to entrepreneurs' life and business.  Check out the first part here. 

In this episode, Christina discusses "The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation" by Jeff Cavins. The Bible Timeline is "a fascinating study that takes participants on a journey through the entire Bible" where participants go deep into each period of salvation history and discover the amazing story woven throughout all of Scripture.  Christina shows the key themes and lessons in salvation history that apply to every solopreneur's business and life.

As a solopreneur, marketing yourself and your services is vital to finding customers but you need to make your limited funds stretch as far as possible, and get the most bang for every buck you’ve allocated to several aspects of your business. With so many things to tick off, how do you know where to invest your funds into? You may have a website built now–but what’s next? With the abundance of online marketing strategies, how do you know where to allocate those limited funds? Our guest for this episode has several years of experience in content marketing, having started as a blogger years ago, writing and creating content and tutorials for a crafts and lifestyle blog. From being a stay-at-home mom who blogs, Vivienne Wagner has leveraged her outstanding skills as a professional blogger and established a creative social media agency, Houndstooth Media Group. Vivienne’s company specializes in organic search and helps business owners develop their brand and be more visible online.  In this episode, Vivienne share with us some strategies to help your business maximize its online presence.   RESOURCES: Best Organic SEO practices and Best Blog Post Practices downloads (Get them here.)            

Beginner entrepreneurs face not only the physical challenges of allocating space and acquiring capital for their business, but moreso the mental and emotional challenges of overcoming doubt, facing uncertainty, building self-confidence and managing stress. One of the intangible challenges entrepreneurs experience is conquering self-limiting beliefs. But before one can overcome those limiting beliefs, one must first identify those. And this is where problem arises. Our limiting beliefs are a problem, not because they are hard to change, but because they are hard to find. Our guest in this episode is passionate in helping leaders actualize their full potential and break through personal limitations. Grace Moniz, CEO and founder of Moniz Executive and Team Coaching, is a board certified coach who specializes in Leadership Development and Team Communications.  Grace works with and helps to create impactful executives. If you think you are sabotaging the success of your business, this episode is for you.

One of the questions a beginner business owner asks is this: Where do I start with branding my business? Some marketers may suggest to start with your ideal client. But would it be right to do so? In this world of skeptical consumers, how do you determine, in the first place, your ideal clients? Our guest in this episode helps us navigate through branding your business through authenticity and heartfelt approach to marketing. Stephanie Nivinskus, brand strategist and copywriter, has a unique approach to marketing. She believes every single company has something very special at their core–a story that sets them completely apart from their competition and deeply resonates with their ideal clients. She helps entrepreneurs humanize their brand and bring in more business.

Seeing yourself the way God does is the key to living the way He wants you to live. Remember that in God’s eyes, you’re an amazing woman. But the question is: do you feel amazing yourself? In this episode, we take a step higher and add dressing for success (aka having a stylist) as part of self-care for biz owners.   Your professional wardrobe style is like your very own visual business card.  It speaks for you even when you are not speaking. But have you ever really thought about what your wardrobe is saying about you and your brand? Many of us think that personal stylists or image consultants only work with celebrities and that there’s no way an average person could afford one. But did you know that having one can actually save you precious time and money? Christine Vartanian, stylist and founder of jade. for all seasons, shares styling tips every female solopreneur must know to up their game, look and feel amazing and be the dignified woman God created you to be.  

Business owners are realizing the power of owning a business as a means to  transform communities and nations in God’s name. Christians biz owners who try to follow Jesus’ teaching in everything they do – personally, professionally, and privately – strive to integrate their  faith into their business practices. This means holding ourselves to a high standard of ethical and moral behavior. In today’s complex work environment, how do you, as a small biz owner, effectively incorporate the deepest parts of your faith into a Christ-based business plan that serves and blesses everyone involved? Our guest in this episode, Michael Clifford, is the founder and lead facilitator for Capacity Ministries, an organization that offers hands-on training to community of influencers to help them integrate discipleship and change into their ministry. In this episode, Michael talks about his company, Capacity Ministries, and its role in helping  entrepreneurs/owners, business practitioners, business students, or those exploring business as a catalyst for transformational change how to use their unique gifts to serve Him in the marketplace.  

Our guest in this episode has observed the decline in health of the younger generations and is dedicating his professional life with his wife in their latest evolution with their new business to reverse this trend. Changes in our food supply, toxicity issues, less physical activity and more "screen" time, more frequent eating out, and a more hectic pace with busy stressful lives had taken its toll on our health and bodies. Even some approaches to fitness can lead to long and short-term health problems rather than improvements in health. Tyson Drummond is a Veteran, a WSU graduate, and has spent a number of years as a  full-time dad. He and his wife own a gym, which was built through entrepreneurship of all kinds–from start-ups to real estate transactions, accounting, taxation and personal finance. In this episode, Tyson shares his passion in inspiring happiness through self-awareness and taking advantages of the multiple opportunities that have come his way.

It is important for a Christian to be able to recognize financial bondage, but it is equally important to know how to achieve freedom. But how do you achieve such freedom without steering away from the teachings of the church? How do you get relief from worry and tension about overdue bills and still have a clear conscience before God and before other men? Our guest for today teaches families how to get out of debt, stay out of debt, and be financially free using biblical principles. Clyrese E. Minor, Owner and CEO of Financial Bondage Broken LLC, is a Financial Strategist, Author, and Motivational Speaker. Clyrese’s experiences before achieving financial freedom are something we may have encountered ourselves and definitely something we can all learn from. Let’s hear it from Clyrese herself.

Pew Research Center documents that millennials are the least outwardly religious American generation, where “one in four are unaffiliated with any religion, far more than the share of older adults when they were ages 18 to 29”. At the same time, the millennial generation is also said to be the most entrepreneurial. So it can be a bit surprising to meet a millennial who has co-established a recruitment software company and strongly brings his faith in his personal and business life. Christian Barry is the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of WorkBubble, a company that facilitates the hiring process for both professionals and job seekers. Christian works with the some of the best minds in business and creates lasting partnerships with major corporations. Christian, a Millennial himself, coins himself “The Voice” of the millennials, and at the same time integrating your faith in his work navigating at times muddy waters.  

Once considered a punch line and subjects of jokes, life coaching has made it to the mainstream. More people are seeking out life coaches to help guide them through their life’s toughest decisions–whether a career change, having trouble balancing work and personal life, or just want to feel more confident–any major improvement you want to make could be made easier and more authentically if tackled alongside a trusted life coach. Not only has life coaching become more mainstream, it has fully grown up as a profession. While the life coach of the past was simply anyone skilled at giving advice and connecting with a person’s deeper motivations, today’s life coaches are full-time professionals who are highly qualified to coach others in their area of specialization.   Our guest for today, life coach Adrianne Luban, has trained with one of the most successful coaches there is, Tony Robbins. Adrianne has been in the personal development for 30 years and takes great joy in watching her clients grow and gain confidence in themselves.   In this episode Adrianne shares the rigorous training she has had to undergo to become the kind of coach she is today.