The Anthony Vazquez Show

My thoughts on the PPP and EIDL loan and the crisis Today I talk about how to prepare for the next pandemic and how we could have better prepared our own private Pandemic Funds... As small business owners we were not prepared for this!

Episode 39 How to Navigate Our New Norm The world has changed forever! As a small business owner now is the time to pivot and adopt new sales strategies and platforms to interact with your clients. Millennials and Get Z have merged with Baby boomers and everyone will now play in the same field!

How to figure out if your Business is PROFITABLE. Anthony breaks down the process of working through the costs of running your business and helps you see how much you are actually making... Now more then ever this exercise is crucial to your business surging the 2nd Pandemic!

What Does 33 Million Unemployed Mean to Your Small Business? Anthony talks about the economic impact of the second pandemic... Unemployment and how that will impact your business over the next few years and methods to best insulate yourself for the coming roller-coaster of business!

Anthony reviews David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell.

Part 2 of Five Ways Small Businesses Can Survive the Covid-19 Pandemic

Updates from Anthony Vazquez and 5 ways for your small business to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anthony Vazquez shares a quick status update on why the show has been put on a little hiatus and Silvia interviews him for a quick catch-up session. They discuss the stock market impacted by what's going on in the world right now and the inevitable economic downturn. They talk about the best practices for your business during a recession. Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Michelle Rago and her team have produced and designed events as far-flung as New Delhi and the Cote d'Azur and, of course, from coast to coast on the continental United States. Michelle Rago Destinations was named one of the top planning companies in the world by Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR & Martha Stewart Weddings. Anthony and Michelle sit down to talk everything destination weddings and how Michelle got started in event planning, from working in catering to cultivating a passion for entertainment. Michelle discusses how she transitioned to destination planning and how she'd recognized an opportunity and had come in at the right time. Michelle talks about what makes a great destination planner and the incredible blend of wanderlust/art/design that comes with it. Anthony and Michelle discuss the challenges of a destination wedding market, or any luxury market, the importance of saying no, finding solutions in stressful situations, and much more. Connect with Michelle Rago: https://michelleragodestinations.com/ https://www.instagram.com/michellerago Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

"Just like cake, we always rise!" On this episode of the Anthony Vazquez Show, it is our absolute pleasure to have on a celebrated and beloved pasty chef Ron Ben-Israel of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes. His artistry is legendary and he is truly America's cake maestro, the wizard and darling of the industry. His specialty and wedding creations are consistently featured in national periodicals, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine and New York Magazine and are also prominently highlighted in books, such as Vera Wang on Weddings. Anthony sits down with Ron to talk about Ron's upbringing—being the child of Holocaust survivors, growing up around baking, and always having a sweet tooth. However, he had never expected to go into baking or confectionary, and instead, inspired by his parents, he had gone into practical arts. Ron talks about fate leading him to baking through life's circumstances that included walking into Betty van Nostrand master class and having Martha Stewart reach out to him to design cakes for her magazine. Anthony and Ron talk about a myriad of topics that range from the differences between New York wedding market vs the rest of the US, the pressures of servicing high end clients, Ron's fascination for America's culture and his heart being set on New York as his home, and much more. Connect with Ron Ben-Israel: https://www.weddingcakes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rbicakes Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Pejy Kash is a renowned & beloved event planned based in NYC. With over 14 years of experience in management in variety of industries from high end retail to technology and almost just as long in catering, event planning and sales, Pejy brings an incredible vibrance to every event he plans. After attending New York University and Stony Brook University, Pejy Kash began working in the field of high-end, luxury retail. It was through his work in the field, that he was asked twelve years ago to join the team of one of the leading industry event planners. During that time he had the privilege of working with some of the most creative and diverse groups of people that help to shape the industry to what it is today. Pejy & Anthony discuss the wedding industry, maintaining a healthy mental state, and the connection between successful business & successful personal life. Pejy expands on his belief in timing and how everything happens for a reason. Pejy opens up about his start in the industry as well, and the way a life-changing event has propelled him to where he is now. Additionally, Pejy touches upon his experience of coming out while growing up in a conservative community and the struggles he went through. Connect with Pejy: https://www.pejykashevents.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pejykashevents/?hl=en Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Marcus Reid is a band leader of an immensely popular Marcus Reid Band of Hank Lane Music & Productions. With a B.F.A. in Music from Purchase College Conservatory of Music, Marcus has been a bandleader now for over 15 years performing up and down the East Coast with his band. Marcus has appeared on Broadway in Rock of Ages and Off-Broadway in Rock-The Musical. He has opened for headline acts including for Gavin DeGraw, Regina Spektor and Sara Barielles. With musical influences as diverse as Bono, Mick Jagger, The Beatles, The Police, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Jimmy Hendrix and Queen's Freddie Mercury, Marcus and his band play a wide range of styles including Rock, Pop, Dance, Blues, Singer/Songwriter, 1980s and 1990s. Anthony and Marcus sit down to chat about authenticity in the wedding industry and staying true to yourself and your clients. They discuss the importance of giving 100% of yourself for every single event. Marcus talks about his love of music and how his dad influenced it, and also his beginnings in the industry. Connect with Marcus Reid: https://www.instagram.com/marcusreidband/?hl=en Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

For this special Christmas episode of the Anthony Vazquez Show Anthony invites his father, Hector who was mentioned on the show a few times and who is a legend! Hector talks about his upbringing in Puerto Rico and his journey moving to America, building a family, and helping bring some of his siblings over from Puerto Rico. He talks about his work ethic, and what made him work so tirelessly for his family as he raised his children. Hector talks about what it was like for Hispanic people in America in the 1960s. Hector talks about what he learned from the different jobs he'd worked trying to find his way, and more importantly what he learned from the people at those jobs. Anthony thanks his father for instilling in him his arduous work ethic. Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

The roles have been reversed—for this special episode of the Anthony Vazquez Show, Anthony Vazquez is the one being interviewed by Silvia and talks about all things business, entrepreneurship, work ethics, drive, and dispenses invaluable advice to those who're starting out and want to run their own company. Anthony's career in wedding photography started over 20 years ago while working in a local wedding studio. “I knew I found my calling because it was all I could think about." After completing his Bachelors at NYU with a concentration in culture and communication, Vazquez traveled through Italy to study the Old Masters, Italian culture, and of course, food and wine. He founded Anthony Vazquez Photography upon his return in 2001, which has since grown into the dynamic, multifaceted artistic vision he has nurtured since childhood. His extraordinary work has been featured in such publications as Town and Country, Grace Ormonde, People, The Knot and US weekly – and displayed in the homes and albums of his celebrity client family of musicians, actors and professional athletes…diverse talent from the Jonas Brothers to Robert Herjavec of Shark Tank to countless others. Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Carats & Cake was founded in 2012 by Jess Levin Conroy while she was pursuing an MBA at NYU's Stern School of Business. Having previously worked in Venture Capital, Jess saw an opportunity in the wedding space to build a better experience both for couples and businesses. To date, the company works with over 30,000 businesses and has become the go to resource for couples looking for a better way to plan their weddings. Jess & Anthony talk EVERYTHING wedding industry including how it has evolved and how it is a relationship-driven space. Jess discusses the launch and rise of Carats & Cake. They also discuss the foundation of building a business, and how to maintain a profitable business. They talk about having a vision as an entrepreneur, and finding your audience, and then figuring out how to get them to actually buy what you're selling. They discuss social media, and having direct access to consumers, and the idea of taking advantage of opportunities in the face of change. They talk innovation, and how the timeline has sped up with the enhancements of technology over the years. Connect with Carats & Cake: https://www.instagram.com/caratsandcake/?hl=en https://caratsandcake.com Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

From cookie dough covered ice cream to extra cheesy pizza, Tessa Gluck is the face behind the food instagram @FOOOODIEEE. Tessa's account has escalated to over 500K followers with her “drool worthy” content. One of Tessa's many milestones includes being recognized by Cosmopolitan as one of the top 15 food Instagram accounts to follow. In addition, she has been invited to numerous live events and appeared on Gordon Ramsey's hit show, “24 Hours to Hell andBack.” Tessa's ability to engage an audience leads her to new and exciting opportunities as a food and lifestyle blogger. On this episode of the Anthony Vazquez Show, Tessa and Anthony talk about how she got into the world of being a food blogger/influencer, how she got featured in Cosmo, and her meteoric rise to over half a million followers. They talk commoditizing an instagram brand and finding your niche, as well as the difference in the way millennials consume content through social media. She talks her collabs with Ben & Jerry's, Oreo, and more, how they got connected with her and what she has to do to stay on-brand for Foooodieee. They talk best desserts in the city, and how Tessa likes keeping a day job. Connect with Foooodieee: https://www.instagram.com/foooodieee http://foooodieee.com Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Third and final installment in a series featuring Anthony's Professor Janet Farrell Leontiou who has a PhD in Rhetoric and specializes in the teachings of the Ancient Greeks and Viktor Frankl, the author of Man's Search for Meaning. The first and second installments focused on The Process and The Resistance, and this episode ties them together with Purpose. Anthony and Professor Leontiou delve deep into what The Purpose is, how it manifests in your work, how it pertains to ethics, and the counter-intuitive nature of purpose emerging from your life's work vs chasing goals & results. Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Lauren Grunstein is the Vice President, Sales, PR and Marketing at Verstolo, a fine jewelry company whose owners are fourth generation diamantaires with hands-on experience in all facets of the diamond business. Verstolo brings precise workmanship, vast expertise, and a deep-rooted history to every diamond that bears its name. All Verstolo diamonds are 100% natural and conflict-free. On this episode of The Anthony Vazquez Show, our guest Lauren Grunstein talks about the birth of the Verstolo company, its founders, and how the diamond industry is a family industry. Lauren walks Anthony through the process of what it's like to buy a ring with Verstolo, and have it custom made. They discuss the diamond rental program, and how vital it has been to the creation and development of the company. Lauren breaks down the 4C's of the diamond grading scale, what that means and how it works. They both discuss the buying patterns of Gen Z'ers, natural vs. lab grown diamonds, and how social media has helped their company. Connect with Verstolo: http://www.verstolo.com https://www.instagram.com/verstolo/ Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Silvia Perez was born in Venezuela and came to the States in 2015 to study at NYFA. With ten years of experience mainly in production, camera, directing and editing, documentaries and television, her background also includes being a creative producer at HBO & Cinemax. At HBO, Silvia was responsible for the production of on-air media content. Her recent projects include Speed The Collapse, which she started with her partner and which focuses on creating reels and head shots for actors, and Cinema House Media, a production company that will focus on corporate media work. Anthony sits down with his long-time employee, colleague, and dear friend, Silvia, to discuss various topics such as the political turmoil in Venezuela, how the current climate in Silvia's home country has caused her to be an avid activist, and Silvia's journey from her upper-class Venezuelan upbringing, to her family being stripped of everything, to her triumph and starting a new life here in America/New York. They also discuss the immigrant mentality, and how she wouldn't be here today without the diligent work ethic that it created within her. They talk about Silvia's past at HBO/Cinemax, and how she ended up running operations for Anthony Vazquez Photography and spearheading the project that is The Anthony Vazquez Show. Silvia discusses going from having absolutely nothing to finding success through persistence, perseverance, hard work, and initiative. Connect with Silvia: https://www.instagram.com/silviapats/?hl=en Subscribe to The Anthony Vazquez Show: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

David Miller co-founded Label, a luxury clothing company that makes custom clothing company, in 2013 with his younger brother, Jeremy Miller. Label use high-end fabrics such as Zegna and Loro Piana and have offices in New York, Charlotte and Miami. They also service clients in other major markets, such as Chicago, D.C., Boston, LA, SF, and Dallas. Label has recently expanded its casual-wear product line to include custom cashmere and merino wool sweaters. The company has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Harper's Bazaar, among others, and David's brother/co-founder, Jeremy was selected for Forbes' 30 Under 30 List for Retail & E-commerce. On this week's episode, David opens up about making the jump from working in finance to starting a custom clothing company. David explains how he seized upon the opportunity of being the go-to supplier in the market. Anthony & David discuss the difficulties of getting a company off the ground & how the mindset of 'no failure' helped David along the way. Anthony & David discuss the ins and outs of manufacturing and how a custom clothing company operates. David talks about what it's like to run a company with a family member and the challenges that arose while hiring other people as well. Connect with Label: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearlabel/ Website: https://label.co Subscribe to Anthony Vazquez Workshops: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-vazquez-workshops/id1464026842 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GNX6yyTKqWxTa1sYNIS0L Anchor: https://anchor.fm/anthony-vazquez4

Lena Martin is one of New York City's top personal trainers and nutrition coaches. She offers programs and packages that unite physical fitness, nutrition, and mindset. With her own brand Fit Bride by Lee; she specializes in working with brides. Competitive by nature, Coach Lee qualified nationally in three NPC Bikini competitions earning recognition in the world of competitive body building. She's also been blessed to have the opportunity to work at Equinox, Crunch,Orange Theory Fitness and most recently, Ripped Fitness. If you caught her on Bravo's “Workout New York”, a reality show based off of top personal trainers in NYC, she shared her own struggles and dreams with viewers—she knows first hand how difficult it is to turn your dreams into reality with constant hard work and effort it takes to achieve your goals. This episode of the Anthony Vazquez Workshop combines all things FITNESS & BRIDAL. Lena Marti shares how she created her successful company FitBride, and how she transitioned from bellydancing to personal training. Anthony and Lena talk about how she found her niche in training brides, and how it was the best thing for her career. They talk about instagram and its negative impact on our body image. Lena discusses where her passion comes from, and how you have to love what you do to keep going. Lena also discusses how mindfulness and accountability take part in her current practices with clients, and talks about moving forward with a new online platform. Lena & Anthony touch upon the language of dieting/fitness and the importance of focusing on the good things and not just the bad. There are no such thing as "cheat meals" with Lena—she believes you should enjoy your food if you're going to eat outside your regimen. You can find out more about Lena's work on her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/coachleenyc) or her website (http://www.coachleenyc.com/).

This special edition of the Anthony Vazquez Workshops show was recorded in Element Music's studio and features Marianne Bennett: Founder & CEO of Element, New York City's top live music production and entertainment company. Stealing the show and winning over any crowd, Element Music has shot to stardom since Marianne Bennett opened her Manhattan based company 10 years ago. One of the country's only live-mixing producers, Element has embraced the unpredictable nature of performing and used it to their advantage. Element Music is a community of artists and professionals with a decade of experience providing live entertainment on an internationally recognized level. Marianne opens up about her beginnings as a singer, and her journey towards becoming a producer and a director. She discusses how her love of classical music drives her and talks about the unique way in which she uses music to shape an event and cater each event to her clients' needs. Anthony and Marianne discuss the business side of the music/creative industry, specifically from the perspective of failure, and how nothing is truly a 'failure' if you learned/grew from it. Marianne also discusses how the creative side comes easily to her, and how the business mindset came later, as a mode to get the music across better.

Tinsel started eight years ago, on a kitchen table in Brooklyn and since then has grown to a multimillion-dollar company. Tinsel is committed to redefining luxury events through the execution of imaginative, immersive experiences for private clients and for brands like Mercedes-Benz, Spotify, L'Oreal, and Condé Nast. Tinsel has proudly produced events at iconic institutions like The New York Public Library, The Guggenheim Museum, The Rainbow Room, and One World Observatory. The team's work has been featured in Vogue, WWD, Forbes, and Town & Country, with the company named recently as one of the Top 50 Event Designers in North America. Anthony sits down with Erica to chat about Tinsel's beginnings, experiential marketing, and unconventional approaches to event planning. Erica talks about the importance of pushing through, growing pains, and 'The Process' that goes into building a multimillion-dollar company. Eric and Anthony also discuss the importance of playing to your strengths and building a team around that, the exponential growth of responsibility, how social media has shaped the event landscape, and much more. You can find out more about Tinsel on their Website (http://tinseldesign.com) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tinseldesignnyc).

With 15 years of experience, Michael Russo is a full-service event planning company with branches in New York, California and Florida. With Michael's inimitable sense of style and a flair for orchestrating unforgettable events, it comes as no surprise that he is in increasingly high demand among Hollywood's brightest stars and some of the nation's most influential people. E!, “Access Hollywood,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “The View,” “The Wendy Williams Show,” InStyle, The Knot, Modern Bride, People Magazine, Us Weekly, Hamptons, OK!, InTouch, Distinction Magazine, and Newsday are among the various outlets where you can read about, hear about and see Michael's impressive oeuvre. The two wedding industry veterans and long-term friends, Michael and Anthony, sit down to chat about building long lasting client relationships, as well as how to build a celebrity clientele. Michael describes the process behind planning and personalizing an event for each client, including how to thrive in the chaos of event planning. They touch upon what true success is and how to define it in terms of personal happiness rather than anything else. You can find out more about Michael via his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mikierusso/) or his Website (https://www.michaelrussoevents.com/).

Anée Atelier is a New York City photography boutique led by best friend duo, Gina Esposito and Sheena Meekins. While, Gina is an accomplished photographer with more than 16 years experience capturing weddings throughout Manhattan, the Hamptons and destinations as far as Dubai; Sheena is a seasoned creative who co-founded Anée Atelier following an esteemed, eight-year career in publishing, with magazines including Teen Vogue, People, StyleWatch and Essence. Gina and Sheena open up about the creation of their business after Gina was feeling worn out from too many years on her own, and Sheena was growing tired of an industry that was so corporate and had wanted to embark on something more meaningful. They both discuss things they've overcome and what it took for them to get to where they are now. Gina talks about her struggle with anxiety and Sheena talks about how her family life inspires her. Sheena explains how her obstacles pale in comparison to her father's who has worked so hard to provide for her and her family despite having lived through segregation, oppression, and marginalization. You can find out more about Anée Atelier via their website (https://www.aneeatelier.com) or Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/aneeatelier/).

Brittany Lo is Manhattan's go-to bridal beauty expert, Founder and CEO of Beautini. Beautini, is one of the top bridal beauty companies in NYC that has been featured in People Magazine, New York Times, The Knot, BRIDES and many more. Brittany with her combined 40K+ following is a regularly tapped expert by beauty brands including La Mer & Bare Minerals and enjoys shedding light on life as an entrepreneur and the beauty behind the wedding industry! Brittany tells her journey of graduating from Babson, a top entrepreneurial school, to becoming a beauty expert, finding a need for a service like hers in NYC and starting Beautini. Anthony and Brittany discuss how to grow a business in today's social media economy, the concept of "makeup on demand", how to turn your passion into a working business, the fiscal and financial nuances of starting a business (including how to secure investors), building and maintaining a brand, scalability in businesses, making lasting business connections and much more! You can find out more about Brittany on her website (https://www.brittanylo.com) and her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brittany.lo).

Josh Spiegel is the President & Creative Director of Birch Event Design. Birch Event Design is a high-end décor, floral and production company that has produced hundreds of bespoke events to date—weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate affairs, soirées—transforming New York City's most iconic and eclectic venues for private and corporate clients. Birch Events has been featured in Wedding Style and New York Magazine, and multiple times in Grace Ormonde. Anthony & Josh sit down to talk all things high end wedding market—starting form the bottom, taking on too much and learning from your mistakes and the necessity of committing those mistakes. They discuss what it takes to make it in the NYC luxury market and how Josh has expanded beyond the Jewish Orthodox Market into the secular market. They discuss social media and how it has shaped the wedding industry and touch upon the importance of authenticity and having a real connection with your clients and your audience. Anthony & Josh give tips on how to get started in the wedding industry and talk about work ethics, building a great team, and much more. You can find out more about Birch Event Design on their website (https://birchevents.com) or follow them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bircheventdesign/).

Kristie Alicea is a personal trainer in NYC who specializes in pre and postnatal market. Kristie was always passionate about fitness and began whole-heartedly pursuing her passion after she left her corporate job. Since then, she's gained expertise in personal and group training at large wellness brands such as Gold's Gym, New York Sports Club, Equinox and Barre3. Most recently she created a new HIIT fitness concept called BEAST Fitness Evolved in Brooklyn where she manages and oversees operations. On this episode of the podcast, Anthony's guest opens up about taking the plunge and leaving her corporate job to pursue her dreams, and talks about a big fitness project and an online platform she's been working on. Kristie discusses what it's like starting a company with a partner—the challenges and the advantages—and how to balance personal life with your work. Kristie expands on to how to weave training into your daily life as well as in preparation for a big day such as a wedding, how to schedule work-outs into your schedule, and how to stay motivated and focused. Anthony and Kristie also touch upon the importance of following your intuition, staying authentic to yourself and your clients, and much more. Follow Kristie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kristie_fitness/?hl=en.

José Rolón has been a nuptial maestro for almost a decade, and launched José Rolón events in 2013 the same year his son was born and his husband had passed away. With José Rolón Events, he quickly made a name for himself, and his planning and design aesthetic has made him one of the top rising wedding planners in NYC. His work has been celebrated with the Best of The Knot, Essence Magazine, Sophisticated Weddings Magazine, New York Weddings and Brides. He's the host of his own wedding video series, The Wedding Buzz. Anthony sits down with José to discuss José's inspiring journey from interning for free at The Foundry to rising to the top of NYC's wedding industry. José talks at length about being a single dad, the work ethic and the hustle, and the mindset of turning hardships into blessings. You can discover more of his work on his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/joserolonevents) and find out about The Wedding Buzz here - http://www.joserolonevents.com/theweddingbuzz.

Part Two of the bonus series featuring Professor Janet Farrell Leontiou. This episode focuses on the concept of The Resistance as it pertains to The Process. Anthony & his guest speaker explore The Resistance through two perspectives: Steven Pressfield's idea of overcoming the work to achieve your goals and Ryan Holiday's view of resistance as your ego talking you out of accomplishing what you want. Additionally, Janet & Anthony touch upon how language shapes our inner resistance and in what ways we employ defense mechanisms and old scripts to our own detriment.

Elizabeth Savetsky is a stylist, an influencer, a mother of two and an activist passionate about social issues. Anthony & Elizabeth talk about building an authentic and loyal audience on Instagram and the dedication and the time that goes into it. Liz discusses following your passion for social activism, balancing work/life balance as a mother of two and incorporating your children into your work, and much more. You can find Liz's blog here or follow her on Instagram.

Anthony is joined by his college professor Janet Ferrell Leontiou who has a PhD in Rhetoric and specializes in the teachings of the Ancient Greeks and Viktor Frankl. This will be the first in the three part bonus series. In this first episode, Janet & Anthony talk at length about falling in love with the process vs obsessing over the goal and dedicating yourself to the work completely. They discus success and the way obstacles and failures shape our growth, and the way adversity strengthens our moral character and fortitude. They bounce ideas of what 'greatness' is and how it is developed through dedication and process and by consistently showing up and putting the work in.

Anthony sits down with one of the country's top business coaching experts, Victor Pierantoni, to discuss approaches to cultivating a company culture and an environment where employees thrive and work towards a common goal, as individuals and together as a team. Victor imparts tips on how to hire based on person's potential, how to build a like-minded and morally aligned team, and how to integrate the concepts of Stoic Zen into your business philosophy. Victor discusses how to overcome obstacles by re-framing your thought process and Anthony's shares his perspective on the value of business coaching and accountability. Check out Victor's Podcast: The Zen Stoic Podcast here (https://anchor.fm/victor-pierantoni) & follow Victor on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/zenstoic_v)

Bobby Attiko is one of the most sought-after private party dance bands in the New York metropolitan area with a reputation stretching from Coast to Coast. Bobby's charismatic persona, amazing voice and the unrivaled energy he brings to his band makes them the one to have for so many clients. Anthony and Bobby dig deep into what it takes to rise to the top of the industry—the years of hard work, the drive, the hunger and the ambition to always push to the next level. Bobby tells his incredible story of going from living out of his car to being the leading artist at Hank Lane and starting his own company, Golden Child Artists. Bobby expands on what it's like being the talent of his band but also a team player; and the importance of drawing inspiration from your workplace. Bobby encourages to think creatively, not to take anything for granted, and emphasizes the importance of being nice to the people in your industry. Follow Bobby Attiko on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bobbyattiko)

Francesca Cerchione is a psychotherapist who works with couples and individuals. She's passionate about helping people find health and wholeness in themselves and in their relationships. Anthony and Francesca talk at length about the importance of trust, compassion, and vulnerability. They discuss the role that self-love and self-reflection play in building healthy relationships. They touch upon the concepts of "separateness" and "togetherness" in relationships and how to balance the two. Francesca expands on ways to better balance the drive for entrepreneurship with love and intimate relations. They discuss intimacy, rituals, commitment, and more. You can connect with Francesca via her website (http://francescacerchione.com) & her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/therelationshipist/).

Emily Reifel is the Empress Em of the events at The Plaza Hotel, a premier NYC wedding venue and the center of world-class events and prestige. Anthony sits down with Emily to discuss what it takes to ascend to the top of the event industry in New York, one of the toughest wedding markets. They chat about meeting and managing client's expectations and setting the right parameters. Emily discusses how to work with huge personalities and what's like to have your wedding hosted in one of the most iconic venues.

Harris Lane is a lead vocalist and CEO of Hank Lane. As the president of Hank Lane Music, Harris has performed at hundreds of weddings, private parties and special events in his career. His band has been highly publicized in Bridal Guide, Inside Weddings, Gotham Magazine, the New York Post, and New York Magazine and has become one of the most sought-after and exciting contemporary dance bands for weddings and private parties in the industry today. Anthony sits down with Harris to discuss what it takes to build a legacy brand, what it's like to take over a family business and the pressures involved. Harris talks about paving his own way in the industry, living through the economic downturn of 2008 and preparing for the next one. Anthony and Harris discuss how to truly service your clients, how to expand your business beyond your original market, and how to balance entrepreneurship and fatherhood.

Alain Martinez is a beauty & luxury wedding photographer based in Miami and NYC known for his unique eye, the discerning attention to detail, and his stunning bridal portraits. Alain also runs a Youtube channel dedicated to wedding photography tips for brides and wedding professionals. Anthony sits down to chat with Alain about creating "real" images, managing client expectations, producing a timeless wedding look, the value of true professionalism in the modern world & much more. You can find more of Alain's work on his Instagram and his website.

Elizabeth Riya Kumar founded Premini Events in 2010 in NYC. Being named "Planner of the Year" by the International Live Events Association, Priya has expanded the company to new heights by opening up several divisions under the brand. The company is now bi-coastal, with offices in NYC and LA, and is one of the most premier luxury wedding planning services in the country. Anthony sits down with Priya to talk about leveling up, expanding your brand, setting goals and exceeding client expectations. They discuss tapping into the luxury wedding market and Priya's journey towards becoming "the Indian Martha Stewart." You can find out more about Priya Kumar on her website: https://www.preminievents.com instagram: https://instagram.com/preminievents/

Samantha Agostino is a celebrated bridal & fashion make-up artist whose work has graced numerous covers such as IAN and NJ Bride and been featured by top publications including Grace Ormonde, Carats & Cake and The Knot. Anthony and Samantha chat about work-life balance as well as exploring Sam's dual mom-entrepreneurial spirit, how she got started in the wedding industry, and the importance of patience in the growth of your brand and business. You can find more of Sam's work on her Instagram and her website.