Entrepreneurial Family Man

The EFM guys got together and shared what they have been up. 

We continue to live the EFM message and lifestyle even as we wrap up the weekly podcast together.  On this final episode, we explore the past, discuss what's going on in our lives and what's next for each of us.  As Dr. Seuss said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."  Connect with each of us at EFMLife.com

5 Simple Actions To Build Financial Resilience in Any Economic Climate. Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

Discover 2 ways to communicate better with your wife...and the connected assumptions that could hinder it. We often try to solve problems for our spouse - while they mainly just want us to listen. Remember to be quick to listen and slow to speak.  With a focus on changing your goals in communication you'll discover more openness and connectedness.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

Take these 3 opportunities to grow during crisis. You likely have more time now to reassess your business; products, systems, clients. What are new rhythms for a new season? What type of new skills can you learn and apply? Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

How do you maximize your family time? Whether you have lots of time on your hands or less than you'd like, we explore 3 ways to make the most of your time together as a family. Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

Have the coronavirus blues?  What does this make possible?  Fear can feed off of ambiguity. Asking the right questions - instead of the wrong ones - helps give clarity and hope.  How can you thrive or get stronger in an environment that seems gloomy?  What type of questions should you ask yourself?  One area is to ask yourself, what level of leadership does my family need from me right now?  Seasons can be difficult - are you preparing to step into your leadership role?  How can your thrive in these uncertain times?  Listen in as we address these questions and more.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and join our FB group for more activity. 

Recorded on 3/16/2020 during the Coronavirus crisis.  How do you lead during crisis? We explore 3 ways to lead ourselves, our businesses and our families during this time.  #1 - Take inventory in how you can weather this storm. Both in your family and business budget, what can you do to assess where you are, take inventory of your assets (hard assets and skills) and plan accordingly.  #2 - Connect and diversify. This is time to connect with as many people as you can - your family, friends, colleagues and associates. How can you diversify what you offer, team up together and collaborate to weather this together?  #3 - Be proactive and bold in your leadership. Make tough choices quickly to be bold - people are looking for and need your leadership.  Connect with us at EFMLife.com to learn more. 

Where do you put your trust? Filter your information Be prepared  Connect at efmlife.com   

What does it mean to fill up your own cup first in order to serve? Investing in your wife, your kids and your business requires enough fuel in your own tank to serve well.  What makes you recharge?  Makes you come alive?  Recognize, identify and schedule these important activities every once in awhile. You will take care of your wife, your kids and your entrepreneurial endeavors in a bigger way.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more how to work together.   

How do you approach the 'balance' of family, work and life demands? Sometimes the elusive balance is hard to manage. Is it an either/or scenario or is there another perspective?  In this episode, we tackle this idea of a family-centered approach in asking "What's best for my family in this moment?"  It isn't all cut and dried to choose hte family activity over a short work project that will move the family forward too.  Listen in and connect more at EFMLife.com and our Facebook group.   

How would you approach a family mission statement? Have one for your business but not for your family? Stop just "playing house" and consider creating a powerful, intentional family mission.  Your marriage, your children, your family depend on it.  Listen in as we explore some examples and challenges to creating a family mission statement and encourage you to do the same.  Mission, vision, values - incorporate them all for an intentional family plan!  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.   

Kids Are Learning From Me - but what?!  What are we mirroring, where are we teaching or instructing that may fall flat?  How do you receive and give love?  How is each child wired?  Learning this is crucial to sharing and giving what they need from you as a parent. Remember to live it out before you speak it in. Embrace real life situations to teach.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.     

Valentines's Day can be seen as an opportunity to model crazy love - but in the context of regular habits.  Don't let Valentine's Day be your Super Bowl of love. How can you demonstrate regular, consistent ways to show love?  What are the love languages of your spouse? Be a student of her and speak her language regularly!  Visit EFMLife.com to connect for more and on our Facebook page.   

How do you approach true friendship with other guys as an EFM guy? True friendship - adventure, being called up - what does that look like? Take inventory of your key guy relationships and where do they stand? How do these guys lift you up? What could you do to pour into those relationships to grow further?  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect more. 

The Essential Activity to Grow Your Business Pulling Away from Social Media. How do you reengage in meaningful activities to grow your business?  Put down your randomized time on social media involvement. Connect with people!  Truly make yourself available to serve and listen well to the needs of others.  Does everyone know what you do?  Visit EFMLife.com to connect.

Resolutions don't last but what about having a focus for the year - a word to guide you. Having a word of the year helps give a theme and rudder to your year ahead.  If goals and resolutions aren't your thing and if you've struggled in the past, choosing a word of the year is a great way to focus in 2020.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and for more from the Entrepreneurial Family Man.   

What does it mean to be a spiritual leader and head of the household? How do we navigate leading our family well and in the actual practice?  Listen in as we address this important topic to lead our marriage, our kids, our business and our lives well.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.   

Is it time to ditch your resolutions? How about focusing on your habits and who you are becoming? January 17th is coming - National Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day!  Instead of hopping on the bandwagon of resolutions let's focus on intentional, value-based living.  Inside we talk about the mindset, tools, support and types of meetings we each use to make this a reality all year long.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect.   

Before 2019 comes to a close and we embark on a new decade, we encourage you to ask these 4 questions.   It helps to pause, reflect then plan for 2020 by addressing the following: What was the biggest challenge I overcame and wins worth celebrating?  What am I most proud of for accomplishing and/or who did I become during the journey of 2019?  What am I most looking forward to in 2020?  How do I want to grow in business, as a husband, as a father? Connect on EFMLife.com and in our Facebook group to learn more. 

Merry Christmas from EFM!  We have much to be thankful for. It's our hope you enjoy and savor this beautiful Christmas holiday with your loved ones. In what ways will you intentionally celebrate and carry on thoughtful traditions?  We share a few of our personal traditions here in hopes of inspiring you to live out yours.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

Remember when saying Merry Christmas was not controversial?  Let's take action to be intentional to bring Christ back into Christmas. Our culture is undeniably becoming more secularized - we don't have to do the same with leading our families. Creating a plan for togetherness, thankfulness and joy under our roofs is the opposite of the consumerism and flow our culture has taken on.    Make this Christmas the most joyful and spirit-filled one your family will experience. Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect. 

Make the Holidays Great Again What are the key actions to making a memorable holiday? How can you help welcome family and others into your holiday events and traditions? We explore four actions you can take to make the holidays more memorable.   What actions can you take this Christmas holiday season to lead well?  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect for more.     

In this 100th episode of the Entrepreneurial Family Man podcast, we take a look back, see how we've grown, what we envision ahead and challenge all to do the same. Milestones happen throughout life. They are great markers to pause and reflect upon. What has happened?  How have I grown? What did I learn?  Who am I becoming?  What do I envision in the next chapter? We explore all of this and more as we celebrate the 100th podcast episode of EFM.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and jump into our Facebook group. 

How do you truly "balance" the tension that exists between family and business?  There is a weight to being an entrepreneurial family man - so how do you handle that?  We hash out the burden of this reality and approach the work-family life ratio in a unique way.  Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect, learn more and keep the conversation going. 

Mastermind. What does that mean to you?  In this episode we explore 3 benefits to participating in a mastermind. How we've seen ongoing growth, elevating our beliefs, find other like-minded people and the ongoing accountability inherent in a solid mastermind.  Visit us at EFMLife.com and in our Facebook group to learn more and connect. 

Ever felt like your struggling business should die? When do you know if you need to resuscitate it or kill it? Remember that a business is a struggle to begin with. Over 80% of businesses fail in the first 2 years. Each business has seasonality and you need to have a reality check in starting a business.  How about an examination of your self too?  What's your entrepreneurial learning curve?  What do you need to learn as an entrepreneur to grow and flourish - or bring others on board?  What is the reality of what your family needs?  Is this business providing for your family?  Do you need to let it go...or simply follow through?  Connect with us at EFMLife.com and jump in our Facebook group for ongoing discussions on this and more. 

Life happens. How do you respond to it? When loss occurs, how can you lead your family well? Choose to have a family meeting when a big loss happens in your family. Getting perspective from all family members helps before making a big decision.  Lead by openly feeling and expressing grief yourself - this invites your children to do the same and explore those feelings.  How about you?   Visit us at EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

Can you give generously and still live well?  If you're living well, how are you also giving in many areas of your life?  But what if finances are tight?  How do you have an abundance mindset as an entrepreneur?  You can give so you can give MORE! Generosity is a state of mind.  What are creative ways to give of your time, talent and treasure?  Visit EFMLife.com and on our FB page to connect and learn more.

How do you balance life as an entrepreneurial family man? What is more important? And how do you weigh opportunities when they present themselves? In this episode, we explore a question from EFM listener and singer/songwriter Marc who asks how to balance being a husband, father and business opportunities. By identifying how to seek wisdom, check your vision and make a decision together, you can set yourself up for success in these important life domains.  Connect at EFMLife.com and on Facebook to keep the conversation going. 

Ever felt like your defects hold you back? Like you don't have what it takes because of some area of weakness in your life? Having defects can make you stronger! They can remind you of your need for God and community.  Defects can also make you approachable and human - we can all relate since we all have defects. And your weaknesses can also become your superpower.  What do you feel disqualifies you? Where do you need to reframe this?  Connect with us to keep the conversation going on our site and Facebook group. EFMLife.com   

How do you approach the necessary mindset shift of managing money as an entrepreneur?  How do you build new revenue sources within - or outside of - your existing business ventures? Entrepreneurship is great - but it can be a wild ride! How do you navigate the real challenges that come from an entrepreneurial business and potentially inconsistent income seasons?  Listen to another big mental mind shift needed for the entrepreneurial lifestyle and income growth.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.  

How do you approach the necessary mindset shift of managing money as an entrepreneur?  Entrepreneurship is great - but it can be a wild ride! How do you navigate the real challenges that come from an entrepreneurial business and potentially inconsistent income seasons?  Listen to two mental mind shifts needed for the entrepreneurial lifestyle.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more. 

How do you Grind or Ramp Up Your Business For a Season? It doesn't have to last forever. How do you approach ramping up your business for a season? There are ebbs and flows in business and sometimes you do need to put more focus and attention to growing and building.  Are you in a ramp-up time right now? Is there an end date to this window of opportunity?   What are you doing now to set your future self up for success?  What discussion may you need to have with your spouse to assess this? Listen in as we discuss 3 areas to consider as you ramp up your business and grind for a season. Connect with us at EFMLife.com and on Facebook. 

How do you Face, Own & Embrace areas where you may be weak? Where do you wobble? Living the EFM life can be challenging. The balance or integration of our most important relationships and business is tricky.  Shall we focus on our strengths only? Or do we need help and encouragement to get better in important areas?  Accept you need help and you're not alone. Take action to change and improve.  Start investing in an area you may have hidden or set aside because. Acknowledge you may need improvement in an area.  Accept you need help. You’re not alone. Visit EFMLife.com to connect.   

How to Marry the Mission, Date the Methods. Are your values concrete? Are you clear on the mission? Ever get hung up on the method of how you want to get there? Pulling from our discussion with EFM Billionaire, Dan Cathy, CEO of Chic-Fil-A, we gleaned this nugget of "marry the mission, date the method."  Listen in as we dissect what that means while living the EFM life. It's a journey. Creating a mission and vision with your spouse and as a family takes thoughtful care.  Being able to pivot on this entrepreneurial road is key to not get hung up on the methods of living an extraordinary missional life. Visit EFMLife.com for more ways to connect. 

Ever been given a job offer you can't refuse?   On this entrepreneurial journey, what opportunities exist that may also detract from your plan of freedom and flexibility?  Long-time listener and EFM friend Jason Pearl jumps in with a challenging question to us all to explore.   Listen in as we dissect what opportunities on the path to success can mean and how to navigate through your purpose.  EFMLife.com to connect.   

Recently we had the opportunity to hear directly from a true EFM Billionaire, CEO of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy. He shared great insight into what it takes to live intentionally in all areas of life as an entrepreneurial family man.  In this episode, we break down some of his best advice. How do you approach your master, mate and mission?  Connect on EFMLife.com to learn more.   

How do you handle disaster management & mold prevention in your personal life?  Mold can manifest itself in our lives after dark, secretive areas aren't addressed. How can you remediate this?  Better yet, how can you prevent lurking disasters from happening in your marriage, your family and your business?  Listen in as we discuss a 3 step process to prevent disasters in our lives.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.   

Facing Tragedy Well. How do you talk about tragedy with your family? From news events to personal matters, how do you discuss the hard things of life with your children and as a family?  Listen in as we discuss 4 benefits to talking about difficult events in life. Take on the mantle of responsibility to lead your family well even in the face of tragedies.  Visit EFMLife.com to learn more and connect.   

Are you aware of your Enneagram type? This powerful assessment is useful in relationships, business and more. Listen in as we discuss the power of the Enneagram - as a 3 and three 7's - on our friend Teresa McCloy's popular Enneagram podcast.  Visit EFMLife.com to learn more, join our Facebook group and connect.   

Ready for something steamy? Check out our episode covering EFM's four positions for better sex. Romance your wife's heart. Let's explore this steamy subject as we get down to 4 practical ways to become more intimate.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect for more.   

We all want to live the dream with multiple streams of income, right? How do you go about starting down this path? Every EFM guy can build multiple streams of income. Living this lifestyle requires income - why not build it from several streams and in many ways?  The average millionaire in the US has 7 streams of income - how do you compare?  Where can you begin to build revenue sources?  Listen in as we discuss this important topic.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and for more info. 

Learn 2 Practical Ways To Teach Entrepreneurship To Children.  Training kids on entrepreneurship & money - it's a valuable life lesson and one we can start any time at any age.  Listen in as we discuss 2 practical ways to teach your kids entrepreneurship.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect for more.   

What good is it to teach kids entrepreneurship?  Will it work? How young?  Listen in as we discuss 2 reasons why we teach our children entrepreneurship. These two reasons are important to build a foundation of relationship and time with our children. It also builds a legacy within our home, community and culture.   What can you do to begin teaching the entrepreneurial way to your children?  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and learn more.

Do work and family seem like competing demands for you? Are you worried about the "work/life" balance? How can you reframe the question of how you spend your time...or retirement? What's your philosophy on the work and family demands? Listen in as we discuss the philosophy and the practical nature of how to approach the supposedly competing demands in the EFM lifestyle. Connect on EFMLife.com

How do you draw true strength? Where does it come from? Every EFM man should ensure they have these 3 important sources of strength. Which of these sources do you need to tap into more? Where could you adjust and become more vulnerable? Visit EFMLife.com to learn more and connect.

What is the difference between dreamers and visionaries? Listen in as we explore the 3 reasons to have a vision and lead well. Connect at EFMLife.com  

Are You Ready To Launch? As you seek new direction or entrepreneurial pursuits, make sure to take these 3 steps. Is there a safe or ideal time to launch? What questions should you ask yourself in preparing an entrepreneurial venture? Listen in as we explore 3 key steps to take in preparing yourself for a successful launch. Visit EFMLife.com for more ways to connect.

To compete or collaborate? On this episode we discuss the value of collaboration. There are great opportunities to work together. The value of collaborating over competing.  In this gig economy and millions of freelancers and entrepreneurs,  opportunities abound for collaborating.  Visit EFMLife.com to connect and keep the conversation going in our private Facebook group. 

Being a father. Not the easiest job and definitely one without a clear blueprint. How do you train and lead your children?  Remember you are training up adults. Listen in as we discuss reactionary vs. proactive parenting. We are leading - so how can we creatively train them?  Learn about the default vs. the discretionary heart. Visit EFMLife.come to learn more.