Voices of Impact with Ryan France

After nearly six months of radio silence, host, Ryan France, answers the question, "What happened to the Voices of Impact Podcast?"  Catch the previous 52 episodes and interviews at VoicesOfImpact.com Keep in touch with Ryan at RyanFrance.com

The Real Story Behind The Healing Power Of Equine Therapy Nancy Krenek's career as a physical therapist had come to a crossroads. She'd spent more than a decade working with clients suffering from mobility issues. She saw firsthand the positive change that occurred when they received power wheelchairs. According to Nancy, "it woke them up to another level of potential." She was certain she'd devote her life to helping others regain their mobility and free choice. And yet, she couldn't shake the dream of spearheading horse-assisted therapy sessions. So, before she could talk herself out of it, she quit her job with a mission to make that happen. “I went to my boss and resigned. She said, ‘Do you have training?’ I said, ‘No ma’am.’ She said, ‘Do you have a horse?’ I said, ‘No ma’am.’ She said, ‘Do you have land?’ I said, ‘No ma’am. But someday you’ll bring a school bus out to our program and make it work.’ That’s true now. She still shows up every week to bring children from our school district to this facility.” Twenty years later, the Ride On Center For Kids (ROCK) has exceeded even Nancy’s wildest dreams. The sprawling Georgetown ranch is now home to 29 horses. It's powered by 400 volunteers and a passionate staff that serves 350-400 families each year. But even that isn't enough to meet the local demand for equine-assisted therapy. Krenek and her team at ROCK are in the midst of capital campaign to add an second arena and increase its staff size. Her efforts don’t stop there. Nancy says she's driven to create an organization that can thrive with or without her at the helm. "Our vision, is to be the trusted leader in this industry, through service, research and education." True to her word, she's partnered with several local universities and contributed to 20+ research projects, all with the purpose of helping deliver more equine-assisted miracles. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Nancy talks about the story behind the healing power of equine therapy. We discuss the shift from reactive business to strategic business, how vision and practice change over 20+ years of service, and the true miracles she’s seen on the ROCK ranch.

A Quest to Raise $18MM to Fund Austin’s New ‘Camp For All’   With twin nine year olds of her own, Ellie Falcao understands the struggle of getting kids out from behind their screens and into nature. Inspired by a tour of YMCA Camp Moody, Ellie recalled her own favorite times as a child in the wilderness of Colorado, and vowed to transform her family to outdoor enthusiasts. Since experiencing Camp Moody, Ellie and her family have since ventured through 44% of our country’s National Parks and goal to hit all 58 before the kids leave for college. Ellie felt a call to join the larger mission of setting up YMCA Camp Moody for success. She was asked to join the board, and has helped spearhead the high-end $18M fundraising initiative ever since. Her favorite part? Seeing the tangible effect of her volunteer efforts. “I didnt want to be on a board in name only. I wanted to get my hands dirty and affect the organization in a better way. The great thing about the ‘Y’ is that they ask you to participate in making a bigger difference.”   YMCA Camp Moody’s “Camp For All” concept, Ellie says, will deeply resonate with the Austin community. Not only will it be a facility accommodated to all levels of social and physical ability, it will also never reject any camper for their ability to pay. Fighting the not-so-shocking metric that children are spending 50% less time in nature than they did 20 years ago, YMCA Camp Moody will seek to bring alive the natural wonders in the Austin area and inspire our younger generation to explore the outdoors. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Ellie talks about what it’s like to lead the charge in funding the $18MM project. We discuss the importance of the outdoors, creating an oasis in Austin, and providing an inclusive experience. Ellie also shares her personal connection to the cause.

A Fine Dining Frontrunner In The Fair Wage Fight   In the rich tapestry of the well-known restaurants in New York and San Francisco, Adam Orman discovered his hunger for two things. First, his love of locally-sourced food came from his experience working under Chef Peter Hoffman at “Savoy.” Second, he dove headfirst into the fight for ethical labor and employee rights. With those two passions in mind, Adam made his way to Austin. In 2016 he partnered with Chef Fiore Tedesco to open L’Oca d’Oro. The pair spent their first two years educating their staff of the full vision. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the servers taking them out to our farms so they can see some of the places where we source our food from. It helps them tell our story.” L’Oca d’Oro has become known for much more than their curated menu of Italian cuisine. Adam and Fiore’s ideas on ethical employment and fair wage programs have permeated the four walls of the restaurant. The pair represent L’Oca d’Oro in “GoodWork Austin,” a consortium of local leaders fighting the notion that businesses should give the modern employee as little as possible in return for their work and loyalty. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Adam talks about ethical employee treatment. We discuss the history of the ‘tipped wage,’ the dilemma of small business versus big business, and what L’Oca d’Oro is doing to change the community landscape. Adam also shares the special relationship L’Oca d’Oro has with the locally sourced food they have the privilege of using.

Proving Digital Marketing Isn’t Just an Industry of Snake Oil Salesmen Carlos Crespo grew up with a fascination for storytelling and the marketing behind a “Hollywood Blockbuster.” His early years took him across the globe to places like Venezuela, England, Spain and Texas. He studied public relations, film, marketing and brand management. Following a brief stint in the gaming industry, Carlos, by his own admission, “stumbled into digital marketing.” After a year and a half as an account manager, Carlos says he’d seen enough of the “murky” nature of the industry. He wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem. In 2011, Crespo teamed up with Andrew Cao to start his own digital agency — Motoza Marketing. “It was a pretty big lunge,” Carlos shared. “We didn’t have any funding. We didn’t have any experience running our own businesses. Neither one of us had ever sold a thing. The first 12–18 months were pretty rough but we kept looking at the baby steps. We knew there were so many businesses out there who could use our services.” Eight years later, as team of eleven, Motoza continues to persist on the back of its commitment to honesty and transparency. More and more businesses these days are struggling to decide where to direct their marketing dollars. Carlos and his team seek to guide misdirected clients onto solid ground. A true win in Motoza’s book is creating a lasting relationship with those who share similar values. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Carlos talks about defying the ‘Snake Oil Salesman’ trope. We discuss keeping a communicative work environment, the merit of creating a process, and learning before doing. Carlos also shares how Motoza was able to sustain so many long term clients in an industry with high client turnover.

Meet The Man Behind The #1 Productivity Website In The World Thanh Pham was at a crossroads. Raised in a blue collar environment, young Thanh was taught to play it safe. And yet, the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” told him a different story. Even as a 14 year old, Thanh realized the path to controlling his destiny lay in starting a business. So at 14, he built a web development agency. By 15, he’d hired his first employee. Soon after, it became clear that his true point of aim was in entrepreneurship. Along that path of discovery, Thanh was often queried by his friends on how he was able to do so much work in so little time. Thanh founded Asian Efficiency to give people the productivity answers they were clamoring for. “Friends were asking me all the time for productivity advice. I said ‘hey, I’m going to start a blog and share what I know.’ They were already successful, had their own businesses and were doing amazing things in the world. I figured if I could help them do more of that, I'd be making a significant impact." That “blog” is now the #1 productivity website in the world and Thanh is one of the top thought leaders in the productivity industry. He’s been featured in the likes of Forbes, Huffington Post, and Inc.com. Thanh is passionate about helping people complete their to-do list by lunch, giving them time to reach their fullest potential. He believes that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your health and your personal life to get things done. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Thanh talks about creating the #1 personal efficiency and productivity platform. We discuss who the “right hires” are, a key morale booster for leading a team, and starting a business as a teenager. Thanh also shares his advice for completing the hardest tasks of the day.

How to Process Success & Failure on an Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster After living in Austin for a year and working various freelance gigs, Chelsea Francis decided it was time to honor what she calls her “multi-passionate” personality - a penchant for connecting people and telling stories that go beyond the digital image. Chelsea Francis Photography and Pass/Fail were created in to mirror Chelsea’s diverse interests and skill sets. Turns out, the two businesses share more similarities than differences. As Chelsea progressed through the trials of success and failure with her photography, Pass/Fail became the outlet to document that journey. Her goal was to “give people and outlet to celebrate when they succeed and process when they fail.” Having those stories guide her own light in business was an added benefit. Chelsea has been a featured guest in the likes of Tribeza, Texas Style Council, and Hello Giggles. As she divulged in her interview, she’s learning to share her bigger wins, like her recent work with major retailer Madewell. Although to Chelsea, the most important things in life aren’t necessarily the magazine spreads or the front cover victories. For her, it’s the “stuff in between” big events, job titles, and relationships that colors the picture of who we are as people. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Chelsea talks about processing wins and losses on the entrepreneurial roller coaster. We discuss how to humanize success, crafting the job you want, and championing the freelance industry. Chelsea also shares how choosing the right location for her career made all the difference.

How Certain Affinity Became The Biggest Independent Video Game Developer in Austin Texas Austin native Mojdeh Gharbi has the kind of “woman-championing-tech” story we need to hear more often. Mojdeh is co-owner of Certain Affinity, the largest independent video game developer in Austin Texas. With contributions to industry-defining games like HALO, Call of Duty and DOOM, Certain Affinity has developed or co-developed more than more than 25 products across 10 different franchises, with more than 100 million units sold. Not bad for what started, twelve years ago, as a “bootstrap startup.” “Most people get into the game industry and say ‘I’m going to make the next big game and it’s going to be amazing.’’ But there’s so much risk involved in making games,” Mojdeh shared. “We intentionally said, we’re not going to go out and raise a bunch of money and hope it works out. We’re going to build the studio from the ground up. We’re going to learn from the best so that when it’s our moment, we’ve set ourselves up for success.” Now a strong workforce of 165 people, Certain Affinity has significantly scaled its operational capability while at the same time remaining profitable and socially conscious. Mojdeh’s leadership has turned heads in the community, as she was recently named a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s “Profiles in Power,” and recognized in the STEM category of the Women’s Way award in Austin Women’s Magazine. What’s more, Mojdeh firmly believes that “leadership” is about creating a positive ripple effect in the lives of Certain Affinity’s employees and their consumers. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mojdeh talks about Certain Affinity’s path to becoming the largest independent video game developer in Austin. We discuss the importance of building a reputation, longevity in a rough-and-tumble industry, and the true meaning of legacy. Mojdeh also shares her fresh, insightful approach on the often over-wrought world of marketing.

How To Network Your Way To A Legacy Business After an eye-opening teenage experience as a teacher’s assistant for students with cognitive disabilities, Joshua Levy knew that he was called to become a voice for that community. Joshua’s Stage was then founded as a unique and innovative nonprofit, offering programs in theater arts, improvisation, dance, photography, and creative expression through story. “When I first thought of Joshua’s Stage, I knew I wanted to have this entity enrich the lives of kids,” Joshua shared. “It first started with special needs kids in mind - and on purpose, a wide range of the arts.” As a youth, Joshua pursued acting, wrote stories and organized plays for neighborhood kids. As a young adult, he taught for 8 years teaching, including time as an assistant principal. Later came the business experience, as project manager for Pearson State Assessments. So, it was only natural when the universe called, with the idea of what would become Joshua’s Stage, Levy was well positioned to answer. With it’s Creative Outlet Method, the organization is enhancing participants’ unique abilities to demonstrate creativity and increase self-confidence. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Joshua talks about how to network your way to a legacy business. We discuss the Creative Outlet Method, the process of scaling a nonprofit, and what the community can do to support our cognitively challenged friends. And Joshua shares how he was able to merge his three personal interests into one cohesive vision.  

How To Transition From Employee To Entrepreneur Following a series of unfulfilling executive assistant jobs, Jill Faulkner started asking herself questions about what changes she could make. Based on the impact that affirmations had begun to have on her life, Jill came up with the idea of handwriting sticky notes with positive “I” statements. After a small test run, the feedback was positive and the demand was there, so she took the natural next steps of molding it into a business - Stick With It Co. “I was so beside myself in a lot of ways,” Jill recanted, “because [the affirmations] are so simple, but so powerful. I just felt really called to do something with it. I had to see what that would look like.” Even with no business experience or direct mentors of her own, Jill was able to set up Stick With It Co for success. From heartfelt customer letters, to distributing to multiple stores in the Austin area, to holding events with local nonprofits, it is clear that the affirmations are making tangible impact. Stick With It Co continues to grow, if by no other choice than the sheer determination of its founder. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Jill talks about how to transition from employee to entrepreneur. We discuss assessing ourselves, empowerment leading to success, and learning to harness the power of positivity. Jill also shares how she maintains objectivity in a business so personal.

How To Master A Socially Conscious Business  While in China teaching English for her first post-grad job, Hannah came across a simple yet functional shoe being sold in the streets. Giving it some thought, she realized that her version of that same shoe could be brought to the western market and paired with her desire for community impact. Inspired by the look and the hardworking people who wear them, BANGS shoes are designed to provide support from one adventure to the next. “I wanted do something very similar to the TOMS Shoes model,” Davis said, “but instead of giving people products, I wanted to use the sale of this shoe to help people bring themselves to change their own circumstances.” By an act of serendipity, Hannah just so happened to share her plans for BANGS shoes with a very interested retired VF executive (North Face, Vans, Seven7 Jeans) during a bartending shift she picked up on Valentine’s Day. He soon became BANGS first investor and partner, shifting the socially conscious shoe company into high gear. Six years later, BANGS has a dozen product silhouettes under its belt and has invested in over 1,700 budding entrepreneurs in 70 countries. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Hannah talks about her journey through mastering socially conscious business. We discuss discovering the adventurer within, small business micro-finance, and championing a new age of community impact. Hannah also shares info about her ambassador program that throttled BANGS into the present day.

How To Cater To An Underserved Market With the help of a Kickstarter campaign, a personal investment, and the tutelage of esteemed Ice Cream University founder, Malcolm Stogo, Valerie Ward and her co-founder started Sweet Ritual. At the time it was the only vegan ice cream shop in Austin. Seven years later, Sweet Ritual remains out in front of Austin’s dairy-free movement, having outgrown its storefront twice, and with the largest shop yet set to open in December. “Everyone deserves ice cream and we’ve had grown men cry when they get their first banana split that they hadn’t been able to have in 20 years. That’s why we call it Sweet Ritual. Ice cream becomes a way to mark memories,” Valerie said. With history in the local ice cream scene, Valerie has no shortage of operational experience. Her business partner, Amelia Raley, brought her own personal recipes along with her to Sweet Ritual. Together, they work in harmonic tandem, both having found their business specialties as time has passed. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Valerie talks about tapping into an underserved market. We discuss nostalgic products, sharing responsibilities with a co-founder, and finding a harmony between work and vision. Valerie also shares how Sweet Ritual was able to grow out of two locations in under seven years.

Unlocking The Secret Behind Professional Breakthroughs “I know that I work hard. I know that I work long hours. And often, my family has to sacrifice for me to be able to craft the message that I craft, and distribute that message to the world. And I know that you work just as hard. So, if we are going to ask our families to sacrifice on our behalf, we better have a damn good reason for doing so.” These were the words of Ryan Fletcher, in a letter to our host, Ryan France. See, both business owners have something in common. They are building a movement. A movement built on the back of a community of trusted advice-givers. Friends and mentors compiling to create an open-source group that knocks down the walls of the problems it faces. Further, their personal sacrifices are aimed at the greater good - be a ‘giver’ or a ‘conscious capitalist’ in large numbers, and the rising tide will lift all boats. In this “solo” episode of Voices of Impact, Ryan shares his key breakaway from the ‘lone wolf’ mentality. He talks about forging fundamental connections beyond business, and synthesizes the three different orientations of influence. And we challenge you to consider what changes you can make in your current practices to bridge the gap between being a ‘business’ and a ‘movement.’

How To Become The Surgeon In Your Business In a past life, Tim Francis was a touring rockstar and a budding real estate investor. Then, in what seemed like a matter of months, his band unexpectedly broke up and the real estate market plummeted. Already down on his luck, Tim started working 90-hour weeks and developed a rare illness that left him bedridden. It was in that moment Tim decided to get his professional life under control, which began an entrepreneurial evolution leading to the creation of Great Assistant. “I don’t know if a second, a minute, or an hour went by, but time stood still,” Tim recalled. “A voice inside me asked, ‘Tim, is this really what you want?’ And as I felt into that, it dawned on me that I really do want to be an entrepreneur.” Tim’s kinesiology degree from his college years didn’t lose its use either. As a leader of two companies, Profit Factory and Great Assistant, Tim has become expert at prioritizing momentum with the precision of a highly trained athlete. With his team all working remotely, Tim believes that delegation, acknowledging personal triumphs, and regularly scheduled check-in meetings are all instrumental to business success. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Tim talks about how to become the surgeon in your business. We discuss how to value your current time management system, feed the audience you already have and network in an authentic way. Tim also shares his advice for prioritizing momentum - the true difference-maker between a low and high level leader.

How To Create A Lasting Business Partnership After starting their architecture businesses separately, Camille Jobe and Ada Corral each discovered how starved they were for someone else to be a part of their creative process. In each other, they found similar design sensibilities, but different skill sets. Forming Jobe Corral Architects allowed the pair to take on bigger, bolder projects together. “Everyone has something in their job that they say, ‘If I never had to do that again, I’d be pretty happy.’ Ada and I had opposite pieces of work that fell into that category,” Camille said. “In a way it was a big relief that there was somebody else who wanted to take that on and do a great job with it.” Since the inception of Jobe Corral Architects, the pair has put an emphasis on affecting the fabric of the Austin community. Both have taught at the University of Texas, made the cut for neighborhood favorite Tribeza, become professionals of some of the most unique building methods from history (look up rammed earth), and received two awards from the prestigious group, Preservation Austin. Additionally, Ada was recently honored as a recipient of an Austin’s “Top 40 Under 40” award. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Camille and Ada talk about how to create a lasting business partnership. We discuss establishing credibility through published work, knowing how much detail is needed at each step of a project, and enhancing the built environment one brick at a time. Ada and Camille also share special upcoming showcases of their work in print!

How To Get Paid Twice To Solve The Same Problem On a tour of South America, Robert Olivier was rattled by the level of agricultural operations demolishing the rainforests around him. He was struck by the feeling that he had to change the larger narrative of the farming industry. GrubTubs was created to initiate change in the toxic landscape of the corporate farming industry. “You don’t have to slash and burn the rainforests,” Olivier said. “You can integrate our cities and farms. And that is the key to a sustainable biological community. We take food waste from restaurants and use it to create grubs to feed to chickens, pigs, and rabbits instead of importing organic soy from other countries.” As Robert found his footing in formulating and distributing the perfect “tub” for restaurants to seal in food waste, he received unanticipated, yet key advice from the logistical juggernaut, UPS. He was advised to plan everything out with pen and paper, rather than software, until his product and procedure fully formed. From that point forward, bolstered by funding from the WeWork Creator Award and MassChallenge, Robert was able start building his team and focus on scaling GrubTubs to meet Austin’s growing need. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Robert talks about solving Austin’s $5 billion food waste problem. We discuss pivoting out of an early idea, avoiding software paralysis, and getting paid twice to solve the same problem. Robert also shares that the Austin-area is losing 9 acres of farmland per day to developers, and other not-so-known facts that we need to know urgently.

How To Understand And Achieve Product-Market Fit When Deven Hariyani and his wife discovered their son might be on the spectrum for Autism back in 2013, they were new parents, unsure what to do. Soon after, Deven was clued in, by a friend, on the cognitive and physical benefits of horseback riding for Autistic children. Continuing to speak to more parents, he discovered how many activities and enrichment programs exist to help children in ways he never realized. From this discovery, Kwaddle had its genesis. Deven soon realized something dispiriting. “One of the statistics that stuck with me was that 4 out of 10 kids don’t have an after school activity or summer experience at all, and that just broke my heart,” he said. Kwaddle seeks to change those numbers. With an MBA and a background in technology, Deven knew he needed an online platform to make childhood experiences accessible and inclusive for parents. A mission-driven company, Kwaddle would also seek to donate a sizeable portion of its proceeds back to charitable groups in the Austin-area, working directly to uplift children of the community. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Deven talks about how to understand and achieve product-market fit. We discuss facing market adversity, bridging the gap between tech and a well-rounded business, and learning to solve a problem that’s plagued parents for decades. Deven also shares his exact personal framework to breaking into entrepreneurship. Tune in to find out more...

How To Bootstrap Your Way To A Health-Conscious Business At 26 years old, Amanda May didn’t have the responsibility of a mortgage or children. Nor did she have the appetite for an extravagant lifestyle. Rather than traveling or ‘going out’ on the weekends, Amanda harnessed her extra time and invested it into the development of The Purple Fig Eco Cleaning Company. “For a portion of the startup process, I lived in my aunt’s garage in Clarksville. In an actual garage, not a garage apartment. That’s where I made all of the cleaning supplies. I washed my cleaning cloths in her washer and dryer inside.” Fresh out of the cubicle in her accounting firm, Amanda didn’t mind the stark transition from mental to physical work. In fact, she knew that she couldn’t sit still forever. Now, well beyond her initial struggles, Amanda’s business has enjoyed steady growth for the past 11 years. What’s more, Amanda has become a leading voice for better employee treatment here in Austin. She offers her hand-picked employees a 401k, sick pay, and vacation time — knowing full well that their health serves the overall wealth and prosperity of The Purple Fig. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Amanda talks about how to she’s learned to embrace short-term discomfort for sustainable business growth. We discuss the role that adaptability and humor play in creating authentic connections. Amanda also shares how clearly defining her business’s ideal customer helped alleviate “team stress” and provide the leverage needed to level up.

How to Identify A Great Product, Step In and Scale Up Taylor O’Neil was searching for the perfect investment at the intersection of business opportunity and social awareness. When Taylor and his business partner met Richard of Richard’s Rainwater, everything began to fall into place. “I heard Richard’s passion for how easy it is to understand from the cloud all the way to the bottle,” O’Neil says. “He was the first person in the United States to get approval for the process of bottling rainwater, but he kept the business small because he wasn’t a marketing guy. He just really believed in helping people through the product.” Having spent nearly a decade in investment banking and mergers and acquisitions, Taylor sensed the product and the business were ripe for scale. He knew the story and the simplicity of Richard’s process would ring true with environmentally conscious, health-driven Austinites. He was absolutely right. In just ten short months, since grabbing the reins of the homegrown company, the brand has undergone a full redesign, significantly ramped up production and is poised for impressive growth. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Taylor talks about the challenges of building an environmentally -friendly business. We discuss the risks associated with living on the edge of market innovation and the power of growing through charitable involvement & strategic partnerships. Taylor also shares some shocking statistics about the lack of clean water and problems it poses. Tune in and find out more…

How To Put A Value To Your Time and Maximize Contribution Kelsey Harrison knew her days as an office manager had a shelf life. Even with multiple internships and a degree in Public Relations, she found that the Austin job market was oversaturated at best. So, Kelsey took her lifetime of experience with photography and doubled down on creating a business of her own - Oh Happy Day Booth. “I’ve been in the photography industry my entire life. I knew what I could offer and that it would be high quality,” Kelsey shared. “I knew there would be clients out there that would pay top dollar for this service, and there is a high demand for it. It really opened my eyes to the viability of creating this business.” Harrison’s PR degree never lost its use though. In fact, by embracing the concept of “skill stacking,” she’s used that knowledge to enhance her perspective on the direction of Oh Happy Day Booth. “I knew from the beginning that branding was going to play a big role in finding my ideal client,” she said. “I knew I wanted to market our services as a luxury product.” In this episode of Voices of Impact, Kelsey talks about how she’s learned to value her time as a business owner as a means to maximize her contribution. We discuss photography as her lifelong passion, overcoming the challenge of a neurological disorder, and her mantra of “leaning in” to creating a personal network. Kelsey also shares how to re-approach volunteering business services to make sure everyone gets paid double. Listen in to find out more...

How To Create The Opportunity You've Been Searching For After nine years of blogging in her free time, Liz Feezor decided to toss her traditional resume aside and double down on making a name for herself through her content and creative strategy. “I had become increasingly disenchanted with what was going on in the corporate realms,” Liz said, “and I wanted to see what I could create for myself if I took the leap and had faith in my abilities.” Liz spent 15 years in a corporate HR setting where she gradually grew tired of resume scrapers and programmed bots dictating who was worthy of a job. Since leaving, she’s worked one on one with clients to help them understand the “why” behind their work and project that core message through the written and visual content she creates. Along the way, Liz had a watershed moment with her physical health, by sustaining an incredible 100lb weight loss. That very same determination, structure, and discipline learned through the process of losing weight is reflective of the way Liz runs her business today. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Liz talks about how to be a better content creator. We discuss the crossover between corporate and creative identity, sniffing out disingenuous messaging, and her mental and physical journey to solopreneurship. Liz also shares how to crack the marketing code via an unexpected vulnerable route. Tune in to find out more…

How To Turn Pain Into Purpose Through their marriage and the birth of their first child, Emilee and Ben Blackburn had nothing but blessings. But then, an unexpected hardship rocked the core of the Blackburn family — a stillbirth of their second child, Tatum. During the grieving process, Emilee suggested the family find a way to turn that pain into purpose. With a naming suggestion from the Blackburn’s first child, Walker, Tatum’s Love Foundation was founded. “We’re always thinking of things that we can do to give back. That helps with our grief,” the couple says. “We show other families this is what helps us, so they can possibly get through their grief by doing the same thing that we are.” Tapping into Ben’s experience running a family business, the Blackburns have moved Tatum’s Love Foundation from a message of hope to a proven program, raising $80,000 to support the stillbirth loss community. And along that path, Ben and Emilee also created Fathers For Hope and Mothers For Hope. Both groups have fundraising initiatives of their own and provide safe spaces for parents to share their difficult stories. In this episode of Voices of Impact, The Blackburns talk about how they’ve created a proven model for funding support programs. We discuss viewing a nonprofit from a business owner standpoint, the benefits of building a board of directors, and finding a healthy outlet for channeling grief. And Ben shares his belief that "every new life, no matter how fragile or brief, forever changes the world."

How to Rewrite Your Definition of Success Sam Gozo can recall the early morning hours of February 28th 2016 like they were yesterday. It was under the cover of darkness that the concept of his business, AniMode Empire, saw first light. “I still have that piece of paper,” Sam says, “I wrote down what I wanted the company to be. It’s about changing lives and perspectives. Unbeknownst to us, we’ve allowed complacency, hopelessness and things that bastardize the human spirit to creep in. We are chasing the wrong things.” Even at the ripe old age of 24 years old, Sam had the awareness to recognize he’d been firing at the wrong targets. He knew that there was more to his story than just the pursuit of material wealth. With AniMode Empire and his Lionheart Life Coaching program, Sam is on a mission to help others re-write their own definition of “success.” Sam believes that life is a game of chess, not checkers. “We can’t just focus on one piece, one move, and expect to win the whole game. It’s about actionable steps and strategies that align with lifestyle.” In this episode of Voices of Impact, Sam and I talk about the key distinction between Passion and Purpose. They’re often confused. We discuss fitness as a metaphor for life and how the language we use informs the belief behind it. And Sam shares how the process of winning the 2014 World Champions in Drill shocked him into a routine that set him on the path to personal empowerment.

How To Craft A More Powerful Identity Through Story “Surely I wasn’t put on this earth to be just a real estate agent, right?” That was the nagging question and the uncomfortable conclusion I came to about three years ago. I was sitting on the couch in our upstairs game room — second week in March 2015. My wife, Kristin, was by my side and my kids were playing on the floor beneath my feet. “What’s wrong?” she asked All I could muster was, “I can’t do THIS anymore. It’s just not me.” I think you’ll agree with me that it’s terribly uninspiring to pour so much time and emotional energy into becoming a better version of something, deep down, you know you were never meant to be. You see, nearly ten years after finally losing my dream — my purpose — of playing professional baseball, I’d yet to find something to fill the emptiness of a vacated “dream-hole.” That “couch conversation” touched off a series of events that led me to the conclusion that I needed to “change my story.” Both the one I was telling myself and others. It was time to officially re-engineer my identity. I decided, then and there, that I would become a storyteller, first. Because like Seth Godin says, “the only monopoly you have in life is your own story.” What I came to realize was that I didn’t necessarily lack purpose. In fact, even from a young age I’d felt somehow called to spread a positive message and encourage others to pursue a better version of themselves. To mentor others along a path to personal success and fulfillment. No, it wasn’t purpose I lacked. What I lacked (and continually work to improve) were the skills needed to live that purpose into existence. I didn’t need a new destination, just a new set of directions. A more finely tuned compass. From that point forward, I’ve dedicated myself to mastering the art and architect of story. Because as a storyteller first, I know that I wield the power to pen an entirely different definition of success — one that echoes from an authentic voice. In this “solo” episode of Voices of Impact, the first since Episode 1, I share the first steps of my journey to an uncommon destination. I talk about the process of shedding my “real estate skin” and crafting a more empowering persona. And I challenge you to consider how different your business, your relationships, your job and your outlook on life might look if you too embraced the power of effective storytelling.

How To Turn Tragedy Into A Million Dollar Opportunity Mark Garza didn’t ask to be the son of a terminal cancer patient. He didn’t ask to have his family rocked by the repercussions. He didn’t ask for the responsibility of bootstrapping a non-profit and raising awareness around the stigma of mental health. But following his father’s diagnosis in 2009, Garza couldn’t ignore the calling to step up, honor his father and continue the family legacy. “My dad didn’t only teach me how to run an organization, he taught me the value of helping others.” Mark said. “He taught me about following your passion, serving a higher purpose and getting rich in the soul, mind and heart. He used to tell me, there are no do-overs in life.” Leaving a successful career as an advertising executive, Garza established Flatwater Foundation. Since its inception, the “Flatwater Family” has raised $3.2 million dollars to pay for over 19,000 hours of therapy, helping caregivers and affected families cope with cancer. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mark and I discuss how to train the mind to overcome life’s biggest challenges. We talk about building community around a cause, changing lives, scaling a non-profit and staying on mission. And Mark talks about his experience living the proverb: if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.

How To Build A Network Of Impassioned Volunteers Despite a longstanding, successful background in marketing & community relations, eight years ago, Mia Johns was at a crossroads. She was searching for a sense of fulfillment and a community that spread the “message of hope.” She found her match in Dress For Success Austin. Starting out as part-time volunteer coordinator, Johns later ascended to Program Director — tasked with building community and helping further the mission of a local affiliate that has served over 11,000 women since opening its doors in 2003. “Women come to Dress For Success Austin with a variety of challenges — homelessness, underemployment, divorce, domestic violence or illness — and we do provide clothing and support. But we are much more than that,” Mia says. “We have so many pre and post-workforce development programs. We pride ourselves on meeting each client exactly where she is and helping her along her journey to self-sufficiency.” With just five full-time staff, serving thousands of women each year, Dress For Success relies heavily upon its army of 250+ volunteers — like past podcast guest Nikki Moore — to serve as loyal community ambassadors On this episode of Voices of Impact, Mia and I discuss how to build a network of impassioned volunteers. We talk about confidence, adaptability, overcoming gaps in employment and building a “functional resume.” And Mia sheds some light on the ladder of outreach programs she’s helped set up to empower women in our community to reach their full potential.

How To Live A Life Beyond The To-Do List A little more than a decade ago, Robin Emmerich’s foundation was shaken. Seemingly all at once, a car accident, an apartment break-in and some powerful, yet unexpected, advice led Emmerich down a path of personal re-discovery. “I started asking myself questions like what am I doing, why am I here and what is my purpose in life,” Robin shared. “I started digging deeper because I knew there was something missing but I just didn’t know what.” She eventually found the answers she was looking for in the form of “two mentors,” one for the heart and one for the mind. With a renewed sense of peace and internal direction, Emmerich started her own life coaching business. For the past eight years, she’s been teaching her clients how to tap into intuition, rewrite the script and live with a strong sense of mission. Along the way, Robin discovered her own inner-artist, which led to the creation of her athleisure line, Beauty And The Mess. It’s a phrase that Emmerich says has multiple meanings, not the least of which is a reminder to live with courage and explore the positivity in life.   In this episode of Voices of Impact, Robin and I discuss the freedom of living a beyond the to-do list. We talk about momentum, mindfulness, legacy, and the struggle of balancing a commitment to both work and personal relationships. And Robin shares the story behind her partnership in an initiative to empower a billion women by the year 2020.

How To Grow From Passion Project to Thriving Business Chelsea Phillips left college with a degree in political science and the thought that she could make the biggest impact through government work. But it didn’t take long for her to realize that she wasn’t particularly passionate about working as a government lobbyist. “I didn’t really enjoy the work that I was doing“, Phillips said. “I decided I needed to focus on and pursue something that I loved instead.” What she loved was kids, animals and teaching. So, true to her word, Phillips left her stable job to venture out into the choppy waters of entrepreneurism. In the teeth of the recession, she boldly followed in her mother‘s footsteps and started Tiny Tails To You – a local hands-on, traveling petting zoo, designed to engage both like young in age and the young at heart. Before long, business was booming, and recognizing she needed help, Chelsea recruited her partner, Joe Moore, away from his teaching job to help scale the business to another level. Together, Phillips are Moore are in their natural habitat working to bring unique animal experiences, natural connection and environmental wisdom to the Austin area. In this episode of voices of impact, Chelsea, Joe, and I discuss the art of building a business on the back of personal passions. We talk about rediscovering a sense of wonder, pet therapy, removing yourself as the bottleneck, and learning how to scale. And Chelsea shares the best resource she’s found to empower the local Austin business community. Hint: it’s free. Listen in to find out.  

How to Open Eyes To The Needs Of A Community At the age of twelve, David C. Smith says he already knew that his life would be dedicated to the cause of creating a world where “equality is the norm.” He remembers being impacted by the number of homeless he saw on the streets, during his first visit to New York City. With young eyes opened, it was clear David’s path forward would become ruled by a strong sense of social justice. “Once your eyes are opened to that,” Smith told us, “you start to see it everywhere and that’s where it just becomes part of the fabric of your life.” Speaking of fabric, Smith’s resume is a colorful tapestry, woven over twenty years of nonprofit and business leadership. He founded both the Hill Country Ride for Aids and the Mamma Jamma Ride for Breast cancer — two of the most successful fundraisers of their kind. He started his own consulting agency, with stints as interim CEO of a handful of local businesses like Conspirare and The Thinkery. Then two years ago, he came on board as CEO of United Way for Greater Austin, which ironically enough is a job he did his best to talk himself out of. You’ll have to listen to find out why. In this episode of Voices of Impact, David and I discuss some startling statistics about income disparity in Austin. We talk about the programs, challenges, successes and opportunities  behind re-energizing an almost century old organization. And David shares why time and again he finds the joy of giving one’s time and resources far exceeds the rewards of supporting the cause itself. To access the full audio, links and resources for David’s interview, visit: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/david-smith

Fashioning Fun for Austin’s Pediatric Patients Aysa Province has a longstanding love for fashion, event planning and giving back to those in need. And yet she confessed to wondering how her three passions would one day fit together. Then, the vision for “Beautifully Loved” firmly took hold of her heart. It started with the idea of a fashion show, to support and spotlight young patients of the Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Hospital. And with one night’s worth of runway sashay, Province caught a glimpse of her life’s calling. “I played with the idea for months,” she said. “I had questions of — is this enough and will this actually make a difference? Finally I just took the leap of faith and everything kind of fell into place. In my head I just thought I’d rather try and know than always wonder what if.” The impact that Beautifully Loved has made in a short time, is beyond measure. From Mother’s and Father’s Day pamper events to holiday initiatives and fundraisers like the Fashion Show, Province and Beautifully Loved are showing the community that there is a lot of power in a little lipstick. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Aysa and I discuss how to be a voice of love and rest for children and families in need. We talk about unwavering conviction, rallying support for a grass-roots charity and learning to be ‘enough.’ And Aysa shares the important lesson of how to walk into fear and come out a stronger leader, on the other side. To access the full audio, links and resources for Aysa’s interview, visit: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/aysa-province

A Hunger To Change The Conversation About Health Growing up, Carly Pollack struggled with a buffet of issues: anxiety, autoimmune disorder, a never-ending battle with her weight. As Pollack puts it, “I was the queen of impeccable weekday eating and the impressive weekend binge.” So, it’s only natural then, that she’d go on to earn a Master’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition and be voted ‘Best Nutritionist’ in Austin for four years running. Right? Well, that’s not exactly the most obvious line of logic but Carly believes, “we often teach what we need to learn most.” That mantra bleeds through to every corner of her work. Pollack caries an impressive resume, having lectured all over the country for incredible companies like: Facebook, Whole Foods, Lulu Lemon and the Livestrong Foundation. And yet, she’s equally at home giving a small talk at the Sustainable Food Center or mentoring an aspiring entrepreneur at the Young Women’s Alliance. Her No-BS approach to creating lasting change is both uncommon and refreshing. You are in for a real treat with this interview. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Carly and I discuss the importance of asking high-quality questions. We talk about celebrating ‘small wins,’ as a means to combat ‘next-level syndrome.’ We tackle the subjects of behavior modification, emotional eating and spirituality. And Carly shares why traditional diets have such a high failure rate and what she and her team are doing to coach their clients back to health and happiness.

Serving Pints With A Purpose Ryan Anglen says he originally started home brewing as a way to keep his mind off of work — a welcomed distraction from the daily “corporate grind.” Years later though, when it got to the point where his wife, Danielle, could no longer park her car in the garage, it was clear that his passion for craft beer had become more than just a “hobby.” With encouragement from friends and family, the Anglen family began scouting locations. Four years ago, they landed in Cedar Park, Texas where they opened up Whitestone Brewery — the area’s first self-distributing brewpub. While Whitestone is well known for its tasty brew, to end the story there would do a grave disservice to Anglen’s primary purpose behind becoming a business owner in the first place. As a two-time cancer survivor, there is a lot more behind Ryan’s business plan than just achieving a healthy bottom line. He and his team regularly open their doors to help fundraise for Austin area organizations like Texas Humane Heroes, Tatum’s Love Foundation and Heroes Night Out. “I started the brewery because of my passion for craft beer. I love the feel of craft beer and the people around it,” Anglen said. “But more than that, I started the business because I wanted to get into a relationship with my community and to really have an impact with the causes that are most important to me.” In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with good people — knowing which voices to listen to and which to tune out. We talk about the challenges of building a profitable business in a heavily-regulated industry. And Ryan shares how, as a business owner, he’s able to use his business as a teaching ground to provide valuable life lessons and principles for his two young daughters.

Crafting A Voice That Carries Positive Influence You could make an argument that Rachel Holtin is one of Austin’s original social media influencers. Her Instagram account, AustinFoodstagram, and her blog by the same name have attracted a cult-like following. Then again, Rachel is quick to point out that the good old-fashioned game of influence has been played since the beginning of time. It’s just the platforms that have changed, in today’s digital age. “The term ‘influencer’ has existed for a long time.” she said. “People have always taken advice from friends, family, even celebrities. Now, with social media, you have online friends, people you relate to, whose opinions you trust for purchasing decisions or events to attend.” As a pioneering voice in the local social media scene, Holtin has turned what was once a hobby, into a full-fledged business. From networking and business planning to storytelling and content strategy planned months in advance, it’s safe to say that Rachel has earned every one of her 76K+ followers. And now, with the advent of Verb.me, she and her co-founders are helping others do the same. Verb is a marketplace that pairs brands with local influencers inside of a platform that Holtin says, “eliminates a lot of the unnecessary friction in the outreach process.” In this episode of Voices of Impact, we get into all of that and we explore Rachel’s brand new project, Showcase. We talk about courage, creativity and paying attention to life’s subtle cues. And Rachel shares how she’s using her voice and her platform to effect positive influence in the local community.  

Helping Recommission The Lost Art Of Appreciation Nikki Moore’s business was born out of necessity. Literally, days after giving birth to her first child, she scoured the internet in search of a “done-for-you” personalized client gift. What she found, frustrated her. “It was all perishable items or things I had to order like 30 days in advance, just to be personalized,” Moore explained. Not having that kind of time, Nikki did what she’s done her entire life. She got resourceful. An appreciation gift, skillfully assembled at the last minute was the “hey wait a minute” moment that sparked Happily Ever Baskets. It’s a business that has afforded her the opportunity to stay home with her son, Nixon, all the while making the outward contribution she desperately desired. It’s a business Moore has bootstrapped as a card-carrying member of the “mompreneur” movement and one that has become the local solution to providing appreciation gifts that recipients actually rave about. In this episode, we discuss traditional gift-giving blunders. We talk about the lost art of appreciation and the importance of running toward what lights you up. And Nikki shares why she’s so passionate about her volunteer efforts with Dress For Success — a local organization that gives women of all backgrounds the tools they need to “get back in the game.” Grab the audio, links and show notes for Nikki’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Nikki-Moore

Rebranding The Importance Of Authentic Storytelling Chad Wright says he believes so deeply in the impact of his team’s work, that he has no qualms about passing away in the middle of a “client pitch” someday. Sounds extreme, I know. Then again, you’d expect nothing less from a guy who stumbled upon his “life’s work” as a teenager. Wright literally grew up in the design business — working for a local newspaper at the age of fourteen and managing one by twenty. “Looking back on it, I don’t know what in the world they were thinking, giving me that kind of responsibility so young,” he confessed. “But you know, I think they saw that I was capable of building something and leading a team.” Decades later, it’s that same type of leadership that local churches, businesses and non-profits look for Wright and his team to provide — in an effort to help them tell their story. Storytelling, as we discuss in this interview, is a specialized skill that is too often overlooked in the “traditional approach” to personal and professional marketing. In this episode, we dive into leadership, team building and making impact. We talk emotional connection, work-life-balance and the beauty of making mistakes. And Chad explains why, in his eyes, patience is the most underrated skill that anyone can acquire in their lifetime.

A Purpose Greater Than A Paycheck Mason Ayer says his first memory at Kerbey Lane Cafe was that of scraping gum off the bottom of tables in his parent’s restaurant. When he was five years old, his reward was a nickel for every crusty piece collected. More than three decades later, the stakes have radically changed. But the one thing that has remained constant is Mason’s commitment to the family business. It’s no secret that the large majority of family businesses decline — if not disappear — as the torch is passed from one generation to the next. Fortunately for Austinites, Kerbey Lane has bucked that trend. With Ayer at the helm, the iconic Cafe will expand to its eighth and ninth locations in the coming year. But that’s not all . . . As you will hear in this interview, the brain trust at Kerbey Lane has been working behind the scenes on a new “fast casual” concept that Mason says he’s extremely excited about — the name of which was announced for the first time, on Voices of Impact. In this episode, we dive into core values, open book management and the importance of surrounding yourself with good people. We talk expansion, fresh food and ‘parachute moments.” And Mason explains why realizing he was illiterate in the fourth grade ended up being the turning point in his life. Grab the audio, links and show notes for Mason’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Mason-Ayer

The Four Pillars Of A Sharing Economy Liza Wilson claims that she was the last person on earth to envision running her own business. “I was stubbornly against it,” she told us. “I thought it would be boring and my brain just didn’t work that way.” Luckily for the Austin community, local teachers and stay-at-home moms, Wilson changed her mind. Radically and instantly. In fact, she went from “not wanting to run a business” to running out to purchase $3000 worth of toys, to stock what eventually became Toybrary Austin. To understand Wilson’s about-face, you first have to appreciate two things. First, Liza boasts an impressive resume in early childhood education — spending 20 years in public schools, Montessori and the French education system. Second, she grew up in a home environment where her parents and grandparents modeled a certain fearlessness. They coached her to believe in possibility and not to be intimidated by big ideas. She could figure out anything, if she stuck with it long enough. Fortunately, Liza heeded that advice. With Toybrary, Wilson has identified a solution to the issue that has plagued parents for generations — what the heck do I do with all of this stuff my kids no longer play with? In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the four pillars of “The Sharing Economy.” We dive into Wilson’s desire to use the Toybrary model to give back to her fellow “educators.” And Liza shares why she is so impassioned about running a ‘zero waste’ business. Grab the audio, links and show notes for Liza’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Liza-Wilson

Striking a Balance Between Business and Creativity It’s pretty safe to say that one thing Danielle Benson does not lack, is drive. Beginning her career as a professional stylist, over ten years ago, Benson put herself through cosmetology school — while working full time.   As a locally renowned stylist, her work has been on display at numerous fashion shows. She been named a “Best Stylist” in the Beauty Issue of Austin Monthly and a finalist for Austin 40 Under 40. And … It wasn’t quickly after having her first child that she recognized her life lacked a measure of balance. So, what did she do? Well, she bought her own salon, of course. Danielle negotiated a deal for the rights to the Downtown location of Wild Orchid Salon. That one location quickly blossomed into two salons and then three. Has Benson achieved work-life balance? You’ll have to listen to this interview to find out. But one thing is certain, Danielle is committed to blazing her own path. In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the idea of living your dreams out loud. We talk about the importance of creating an environment of acceptance and growth. And Danielle shares why she is so passionate about supporting local organizations like Lifeworks and Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center. Grab the audio, links and show notes for Danielle’s interview at: http://www.VoicesOfImpact.com/Danielle-Benson  

How to Act Like an Engineer and Think Like a Creative The first time I sat down with Mark Heaps, he mentioned to me that "People tell me all the time, 'Dude, your story is insane." He wasn't lying. From opulent wealth as a young child, to living with family on a small English island from graduating college at the age of 18, to essentially hitchhiking his way to Silicon Valley. Mark's story is one of patience, persistence, and most importantly, self-awareness. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mark and I dive into the deep connection that comes by way of sharing your authentic story, what I would call the importance of "standing in your brand." And Mark shares with us why, despite decades of accolades and personal achievement, he actually derives more satisfaction and fulfillment by renting out his little photo studio in Southeast Austin, to up-and-coming creatives. Get access to full show notes by visiting: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/mark-heaps/

A Story NOT Being Told About Financial Literacy In the past year and a half, Kara Perez founded her own company [Bravely] and has been featured in magazines like Glamour, Forbes and Austin Woman. She’s established herself as a paid contributor to numerous websites in the ‘financial blogosphere’ and recently started her own podcast, The Fairer Cents, where she and her co-host Tanja, untack sticky financial conversations. And to truly comprehend how impressive all of that is, you first have to understand that just three short years ago, on the regular, Perez confesses to having spent an unhealthy amount of time openly sobbing in her car. In her own words: “I like to refer to summer 2014 as ‘crying-in-cars-2014,’ because I did, indeed, spend June through August of that year crying almost every time I got into my car. Once I was tucked into my little sedan, all my anxiety and stress bubbled to the surface. I was making $900 a month, carrying $18,000 in debt, and had no idea how to break the cycle. I felt trapped by my low income, and was scared witless that this would be the rest of my life.” You see, like many, Kara graduated college in the middle of the recession, with limited job prospects and mounds of student loan debt. “Back in 2011, no one was hiring and certainly no one wanted me, with my English degree,” she explained in our interview. “So I picked up a job catering and another gig as a part time receptionist, making $9 per hour … At this point I’m three years out of college and I’m freaked out … I’m doing everything I can to kind of exist. But I’m not thriving and I’m not growing.” So, what transpired next would likely baffle even the boldest of optimists. Somewhere deep inside, Perez found the courage to change her story. When the pain of a future of financial mediocrity became too much to bear, she cinched up her big girl pants, put her head down and went to work. Literally.  By the time she came up for air, she’d eliminated a 10-year debt in just 10 months. And get this … In 2015 alone, Kara managed to sock away $23,000 on an income of 32 grand. Let that sink in for a moment. Kara’s story highlights the freedom that can only come by way of tapping into the twin super-powers of discipline and grit. Today, as the leader of the Bravely community, her’s is a fresh voice in a somewhat stale world of personal finance conversations. Her’s is a mission to help her generation and the next establish a healthier relationship to money. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Kara and I discuss the importance of having healthy conversations of money. We identify the lessons that are not being taught at home about financial literacy. And we talk about how her company, Bravely, provides a supportive environment for women to tackle their biggest financial challenges. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/kara-perez

The Importance of Community and Finding A Place to Call Home When I first met Tiesa Hollaway — as we sat face to face in her modest back office — she pointed down the hall and said to me, “Let me tell you something, one of the most humbling things you can do in life is to walk through those doors.” The doors she was referring to, were the front doors of Hill Country Community Ministries — a Leander-based nonprofit that provides services to more than 2000 people in need, across ten zip codes. It’s a ministry that Hollaway has shepherded for the past two years. A community that has seen explosive growth, rapidly expanding its reach, by any number of important measures. And with those words, mind you, she was not simply paying lip-service. No, in fact, it wasn’t all that long ago that Tiesa found herself in the same shoes as many of the clients that she has the privilege to serve, as Executive Director, today. As she explained in our interview, “I moved to Central Texas in 1999 with my two children (at the time) and I was starting over. I was a single mom — broke, bankrupt and divorced. All I wanted was something different; an opportunity to provide my kids with a place to call home.” You see, growing up a self-identified “military brat,” the concept of having a place to call ‘home’ was quite foreign. As her mother pursued a career of distinguished service in the United States Army, the family of seven was often uprooted once, if not twice, every year. Better said, about the only predictable aspect of young Tiesa’s life was its unpredictable nature. Because of that experience, Hollaway prescribes to the philosophy that the events in our lives are always stepping stones, preparing us for what is yet to come. As the eldest of six children, to a single mother — a military officer — the writing was on the wall from an early age. “I was forced to grow up and accept responsibility from a young age,” she explained. “I had to learn to be a caretaker, a protector, and a second mother by the age of 15. I was grocery shopping in the commissary for a family of seven and taking siblings to doctors appointments.” At the same time, she told me, having a front row seat to watch her mother’s ascension through the military ranks as female officer in the 70’s, was extremely influential in her own life’s path. “My mother instilled in me a huge sense of drive, work ethic and ambition.” And so, when the stars aligned, a little over two years ago, for Hollaway to accept the Executive position at Hill Country Community Ministries (HCCM), life had undoubtedly prepared her to respond with an uncomfortable “Yes.” A caretaker with ambition was exactly what the organization needed and the results have been staggering. Since her arrival, HCCM has increased the measure of families served by 34 percent. Thus far in 2017, they’ve distributed over 500,000 pounds of food — a 74% year over year increase. They’ve partnered with Starbucks, rescuing food from 28 locations in North Austin and their Laces for Leander initiative collected over 600 pairs of new athletic shoes to give to local students in need. And to be completely honest, that’s only scratching the surface. Tiesa’s story is a testament to the fact that the only person that we need permission from is ourselves. A reminder that backed by a strong community, the ability to make impact knows no bounds.  Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/tiesa-hollaway

How to Manage Yourself Out Of A Job Of all the guests I’ve had the privilege of interviewing for Voices of Impact and of the hundreds of entrepreneurs & business owners I’ve met, not a single one has confessed to growing up with an eye on one day occupying the Oval Office. That is, until I met and interviewed Harlan Scott. “We all have our plan,” he told me. “I wanted to be President. I remember when we were getting our first email addresses in the 90’s, mine was ‘Pres-HMS,’ my initials. Kinda ridiculous right?” Sure, these types of admissions sound silly, in hindsight. But truth was (and still is), Harlan not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. Corp of Cadets at Texas A&M University, military appointment, plans to become a pilot and an eventual Naval Officer. However, as it’s prone to do sometimes, life intervened during his junior year at Texas A&M. According to Scott, his “financial and emotional apparatus started to fall apart.” As a result, his path shifted beneath him. Fortunately, though, his eggs were not all lain up in one basket. He’d developed a love for the restaurant business from a young age. So, when life threw Harlan a curve ball, he took it in stride, turned left and hasn’t looked back. More than that, he paid his dues. Working his way from busboy to Assistant Manager to Director of Operations, Scott helped open eight new restaurants along the way. In a few short months, he will officially add the title of ‘Owner’ to his resume as he and two partners are set to open up a new restaurant, Industry, appropriately named to pay homage to a culture that has fundamentally shaped his outlook on life. “I think the service industry has defined my personality,” he explained. “My philosophy is that I’m going to treat you like a good person unless you don’t treat me as one. I am going to be honest. I am going to be no-bullshit. I am going to be friendly as hell and unpretentious.” It’s a philosophy that served Harlan well when two years ago, he ventured out on his own, for the first time, to start Harlan Scott Hospitality. A consulting business meant to help operators who are struggling with “first world problems,” to systematize their day-to-day and improve their quality of life. And with that, some twenty years later, Scott now recognizes he’s on the path he was destined to walk all along.  In this episode of Voices of Impact, Harlan and I discuss the importance of building a community, networking by accident and how consistency is an extremely undervalued character trait. We talk about how, counterintuitively, his goal has always been to manage himself out of “a job.” And Harlan gives a colorful rendition of what “owning a restaurant” actually means. You’re not going to want to miss it. Here’s Harlan Scott . . . Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/harlan-scott

Two Flawed Mindsets That Hold Us Back From Our Potential When you visit Wendy Irwin’s website, you’ll notice, in bold letters across the top, three words: Dig, Discover & Design. Clearly, that’s no accident. In my recent conversations and interview with Wendy, I’ve come to the quick conclusion that a good business coach does exactly that: Helps you Dig Deeper To Discover the Real Questions you need to ask/answer In order to Design a Blueprint for success And most importantly . . . design a blueprint for success, on one’s own terms. One of the first things Wendy told me, when we sat down for the first time is "I understand the DNA of an entrepreneur." Growing up with a father who owned his own business, Irwin had a front row seat for what some, in today’s business environment, might call the entrepreneurial roller coaster. Despite having entrepreneurship in her blood, Wendy decided to take a different path out of college. For a while, she “worked for others.” But it didn’t take long before she realized that the corporate world was the model of inefficiency. So, capitalizing on a love for design and her creative talent, she started sewing & crafting bags, purses and accessories. Before long, that endeavor became a full-fledged business — Ballistic Sweater Girl Design. She ran that business, exclusively, for the next 12 years. But not unlike many of the “solopreneurs” that we interview on Voices of Impact, eventually Wendy recognized that something was missing — her love for working in a collaborative environment. Irwin attended a weekend course a weekend pre-certification course, to become a business coach. By the end of the weekend, she realized it was something she was born to do. She described it to me, like a fish taking to water for the first time.  And she's been swimming with the current ever since. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Wendy and I explore her transition in depth. We discuss the distinction between a coach and a consultant and the differences between clarity and accountability. We talk about how the alignment of values is the first key to every important relationship. We spend quite a bit of time on Wendy’s passion for helping teens and coaching parents on the right questions to ask. And we tackle the thought that for many, success is actually a bigger fear than failure. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/wendy-irwin/

A Cure For The Headaches Of A Long Office Commute It’s been said that some of the greatest entrepreneurs create products and found companies as a way to “scratch their own itch.” That seems to be a theme that is interwoven throughout Darren Westenhaver’s entrepreneurial journey. Darren grew up in the Pacific Northwest, working alongside his father and brother in the family lumber business. A business he turned down the opportunity to run, after college, instead opting to map the family DNA and start Your Vision Video. For nearly a decade, Westenhaver and his company helped other businesses “tell their story through video and multi-media.” Along the way, working with the likes of Intel, Nike and Hewlett Packard. A move to Salt Lake City — to help with the 2002 Winter Olympics — brought about new challenges and opportunities. A self-proclaimed “Apple nerd,” Darren quickly realized that there was nowhere suitable to buy or have his Apple products serviced. So, what's an entrepreneur to do? Well, he negotiated an exclusive license with Apple and built Simply Mac, a “premier partner store” that now has over 50 locations nationwide. But this is where the story takes a wild turn. A turn that caused Westenhaver to sell the rapidly growing business, not long after successfully launching a second location. A series of events that landed his family in Austin Texas. And within five years, found him sitting in a seat at the McCombs School of Business, pursuing a Masters of Science and Technology Commercialization. It was during his time in grad school, though, that the seeds of Darren’s current business began to sprout. Tired of the debilitating daily commute into downtown Austin, he founded Hamlet Coworking, a network of shared and private office spaces for startups, remote workers and growing teams. But more importantly, providing a convenient solution for people who want to work closer to where they live. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Darren and I discuss the origins of the coworking movement. We talk about community, product validation and the opportunities that stem from filling obvious gaps in the marketplace. Darren shares his experience building & selling multiple businesses and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/darren-westenhaver

Five Strategies For Marketing Without The Agency Price Tag You could say that Mike Rozelle’s passion for marketing developed at a young age. “I was the kid who could memorize TV commercials all the way through,” he told me. The art of positioning a product, of finding an angle to make things easier for a consumer base, seemed to thrill him to no end. It’s what led him to pursue a graphic design degree in college, with an eye on the visual style of creating great offers. But as is the case with most entrepreneurs I come across, the real work and the real intense study doesn’t actually begin until after the final class bell rings. Rozelle’s story is no different. He credits a lot of his success and growth as a business strategist to the three very large bookshelves that line the walls of his home office. Rozelle said that it was that experience and quest for knowledge that eventually pushed him into the digital space. We tend to forget that Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Snapchat, Pinterest … they’ve only really become mainstream in the past decade. And such a diversity of platforms only serves to exacerbate the two challenges that business owners have faced since the beginning of time: Time and Money. Mike believes that most small business owners today don’t have the money to hire a fancy marketing agency and they don’t have the time to spend teaching themselves how to market effectively. And of course, like any purposeful entrepreneurial venture, that is where Mike’s company, The Digital Wingman comes into play. In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mike and I dive into the foundational marketing strategies that all businesses need to pay attention to. Mike shares his wisdom on overcoming the two biggest challenges that people experience with the internet. We talk about the power of community and being able to bounce ideas off of others. And he provides his insight into the dangers of adopting a one-one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/mike-rozelle/

Four Critical Aspects of a Thorough Home Inspection Collin Nowak learned the art and importance of careful craftsmanship from a young age. As a kid he spent hours — holed up in the garage with his father — working on furniture and cabinetry projects. A practice, he said, that taught him that cutting even the slightest of corners can significantly effect the outcome of the final product. It should come as no surprise then, that a quick search for Panther Inspections turns up a number of client reviews that read something like: “Collin is a man that dots his i’s and crosses his t’s … or … Probably the most professional and thorough inspection I’ve ever experienced … or … He analyzed every detail possible and walked me through exactly what he found.” “I guess you could say that details are in my genes,” he explained to me in our recent interview. But like many of us, through high school and even into college, Nowak said he lacked clarity about what he wanted “to be.” That is, except for the fact that he was certain he wanted to be part of something bigger than just himself. “When I was young I never dreamt of being a police officer, a doctor, a sports star, or anything like that,” Collin told me. “But I really liked the idea of being a business owner, however, helping people and making impact that I could actually see and experience.” Fortunately, while working as project manager for a high-end remodeling & interior design firm, he finally got the spark of inspiration he needed to turn an important corner in his career. An argument about whether or not a project had been completed “to standard,” led his boss to sling the backhanded comment that if he cared so much, “he should be a home inspector.” From there, as they say, “the rest is history.” In this week’s episode of Voices of Impact, Collin and I discuss the common misconceptions that people have about home inspections. He talks about the innovative technologies that he’s incorporated into his practice. He explains the reasons why he often spends twice as much time inspecting his client’s homes than do some of his competitors. And we dive into his intense thirst for not only helping people but for sharing knowledge and empowering and impacting others. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/collin-nowak

Taking A Holistic Approach to Financial Planning By almost all accounts, Kevin Douglas had exactly he wanted … everything that he’d studied and worked for. A good job. A great salary. Nice benefits. And yet, after almost a decade as a financial analyst — working for three different companies — he made the decision to essentially risk it all and start over from scratch. Why? Well that story begins with a shift from Great Expectations. The book by Charles Dickens, to be exact. “What struck me as I finished that book by Dickens,” Douglas told me, “was here is this guy who wrote a book while he was alive … that some kid in Austin, TX read a couple hundred years later … that shifted that kid’s perspective on how he viewed the world. His life’s work was spent creating something greater than himself that would have a positive effect on another human being many generations afterward.” That reflection led Kevin to start questioning his own ideas on the concept ‘legacy.” Not unlike my previous guest, Alicia Hoffman, Douglas eventually decided that he wasn’t going to find the keys to a worthwhile legacy trapped inside of a Microsoft Excel formula. Ultimately, he told me, what it came down to was the thought that “life is too short for me to do something that I don’t love and so what the heck to a have to lose?” Stable and unhappy or uncertain and full of purpose? The choice seemed pretty clear to him and in 2012, Kevin left his corporate job to join AXA Advisors. And he hasn’t looked back since. Five years later, as Regional Vice President, he continues to build his own business while devoting a significant amount of his time to “nurturing new leaders.” “Every aspect of the way this team is being built,” Douglas explained “is meant to serve our greater purpose … inspiring positive change in the lives of others.” In this episode of Voices of Impact, we discuss the importance of taking a holistic approach to financial planning versus simply 'shooting from the hip.' Something Kevin likens to picking out random foods at the grocery store rather than having a well thought out grocery list. He talks about his team's strict but fair criteria for accepting new clientele and we hit on the three most common pitfalls to avoid, when it comes to a long term outlook on financial security. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/kevin-douglas/

Tips to Maximize Insurance Coverage & Minimize Your Risk Not unlike many of the successful business owners I interview on Voices of Impact, Patrick Kofron’s entrepreneurial seeds were planted at a young age. Growing up in small town Texas, he says, “you either were a small business owner or you worked for one.” And yet after college, Kofron opted for a more traditional career path, working somewhat dispassionately as an engineer for 13 years - before a late night New Year’s Eve conversation with his best friend and college roommate sparked an idea that eventually became “The Coffee Guy.” He and his business partner grew the coffee chain to five stores but before long, Patrick recognized that something was still missing. He realized that despite the benefits of running a “scalable retail business,” what he really loved was the process of building relationships along the way. Working with vendors and mentoring employees. So, he set his sights on finding a business that would allow him to focus on scaling impact first, before profit. In this episode we uncover the rest of the story … how Kofron somewhat backed into insurance, an industry he says has a bit of an image problem but one he is doing his damnedest to correct. We talk about avoiding risk and working with your local agent to customize an insurance package that can “build a wall of protection around one’s assets.” Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/patrick-kofron/

Your Guide for Uncovering Hidden Gems in Austin's Backyard Meagan Fritts may not have been born in Texas but as the saying goes, "she got here as fast as she could." Graduating from the University of Arkansas amidst “The Great Recession,” Fritts found herself looking for employment anywhere and everywhere. She moved to Austin sight unseen and followed that up by answering an internet ad that read “Do you want to get paid to travel?” The rest of the story can be told through a series of passport stamps. A self-proclaimed "professional gypsy," Meagan worked as a tour director for five years, spending as many as 200 days a year leading group tours through six different countries. After she tired of living out of a suitcase, Fritts decided to return to Austin, where she founded a local sightseeing company - Access ATX Tours. In addition to being a full-time business owner and operator, she is an Austin Community College adjunct professor, teaching students about the tourism industry and the importance of travel.   In this episode we dive into Meagan's love for travel, something she believes breeds understanding of others. We talk about the importance of community, relationships and supporting local businesses. We retrace the origin of the iconic phrase "Keep Austin Weird." And she teaches this life-long Austin resident a thing or two about finding gems that are often hidden in one's own backyard.  Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/meagan-fritts/

A Blueprint For Turning Passion Into a Practical Business It’s not often that you run into someone who is fortunate enough to live at the intersection of talent, passion and purpose. Then again, if you were to draw up the schematics of a successful business, you’d likely find all three of those elements on display. Meagan Miksch grew up with a keen eye for interior design and a desire to own her own furniture store. And yet as many often do, in college, she gradually distanced herself from that dream, in favor of pursuing a more traditional career path. It wasn’t until she and her husband purchased and remodeled their first home that she once again felt the pull towards interior design. The first house led to a second, and then a third, all of which she ended up ‘staging to sell.’ It was that experience that sparked a business idea, which has fueled her entrepreneurial journey as owner and lead designer at Beckett Staging & Design. In this episode we discuss Meagan’s methodical path from first time homeowner, to three time ‘house-flipper’ to eventual business owner. Meagan shares her wisdom behind the idea of Thinking Big and Starting Small. She explains the importance of different types of home staging and answers the important question … Should I leave my own furniture behind, for staging, whenever I make a move? Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/meagan-miksch/

A Bold Move to Impact a New Generation of Business Owners Like most purpose-driven entrepreneurs, Alicia Hoffman’s work was born out of a powerful mission. After nearly two decades in the fields of finance and accounting, she made the bold move to leave behind the comfort and security of a corporate paycheck to passionately pursue her vision of empowering our community’s next generation. When the 'Great Recession' hit, like many, Hoffman found herself unemployed and under appreciated. Though, that time away from 'work' nudged her toward a class in entrepreneurship, which ultimately turned this one time "spreadsheet jockey" into a full-fledged entrepreneur. Hoffman founded Whiz Biz Kids - think Shark Tank for teens and tweens. She is using that platform to inspire young people to explore their inner-entrepreneur, build habits for a life of financial success, and to show her own teenage daughters what is possible when you have the courage to follow your dreams. In this episode Alicia shares her concerns about the fact that in today's world, we are developing a generation of consumers rather than innovators. And we talk about how Whiz Biz Kids gives kids and teens freedom and experience running their own businesses, as a means to practice personal responsibility. Interview Post & Transcript: http://www.voicesofimpact.com/alicia-hoffman/