Shock Your Potential

Service Before Self - Kadena Tate

“One of my foundations is the commitment to do the right thing, even when no one's looking.” Kadena Tate
As we go through the different phases of our lives, we find that most of our previous experiences prepare us for our future. One of the most crucial attribute in this journey as it turns out, is flexibility. This allows you to know what is working and what is not, and how to align yourself to fit with your current circumstances.  Our guest today, Kadena Tate, has been through the experience of unlearning in order to grow and says it needs a commitment to continuously change, learn and adapt.
Kadena Tate helps authors, business coaches and speakers suffering from burnout, over-giving and under-earning leverage their expertise by creating an online course, membership program, mastermind and/or ecommerce store. Kadena is the author of “Cultivating Courage: The Path to Reclaiming Your Power” (release December 2021) and contributing author of the NY Times Bestseller “Business Model You”, published by Wiley Press. 
Kadena’s father served in the Marines for 4 years then Air Force for 28 years. She is named after Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan because he was stationed there during Vietnam. Kadena served in the Air Force for 4 years. She believes that authenticity has no competition and that no one craves the ordinary. She also believes that by owning all of who we are - the gifts, talents, strengths, abilities and lessons that we've learned from our life experiences - we can contribute in delicious and delightful ways to the healing and growth of humanity.  
In today’s episode, Kadena will talk about how the being in the military shaped her for a career in business, and how she had to unlearn things that were not serving her business well in order to grow.
Listen in!
 
Social Media
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kadena  
Facebook   http://www.Facebook.com/KadenaTate
Instagram  http://instagram.com/kadenatate#
YouTube    http://www.youtube.com/user/KadenaTate 
Website: https://www.kadenatate.com 
 
My dad was a marine first, and then he switched to the Air Force. [3:30]
For the entire time he was in the Air Force, he was in recruiting where he became the military entrance processing officer at the station in New Orleans. [3:48]
I watched my father as a child and what impressed me was the fact that if he told you, he was going to do something, he did it. [4:02]
When I graduated from high school, I went into the air force to follow in his footsteps because I couldn't afford to go to college. [4:44]
I went into the Air Force as an X ray tech which not my personality but for me, it was more so about shared values, ethics, morals, and how that is aligned to the way that you live your life. [4:52]
The way we see our parents as a child is one thing as an adult as another thing and as I got older, I just appreciated him being honest about what he felt were shortcomings. [7:46]
I have a very strong work ethic which helps me to get so much stuff done. [8:38]
For many years, I got confused about excellence versus perfection and I would be spinning into over giving and under earning. [9:03]
In the military, I learnt the idea that I had to be bigger than life which on one side of the coin which has served me well while on the other side, it introduced me to what I call failing forward. [9:38]
I had to unlearn certain things because the same thing that's a gift can also be absolutely a curse. [10:22]
One of my foundations is the commitment to do the right thing, even when no one's looking, because it's about legacy. [12:01]
I really think that is formed inside the military and it is common of service people no matter what their jobs are, service before self. [12:21]
I feel like a lot of people don't understand what service really means nor do they understand what freedom really means. [13:07]
Service and freedom are huge themes that people have these idealistic views about, but they're not necessarily living them. [13:18]
Commercial break. [15:00]
I'm a revenue strategist and there are three foundations to it. [16:25]
First, I'm a woman and as women, we have been socialized to serve, but not be compensated. [16:32]
So when you start your business, you don't necessarily know how to price the value of what you do and that's where the revenue strategy came into play. [16:39]
I'm fascinated by people's gifts and how they present them to the world and that's how I became a marketing strategist. [17:24]
After the military, I started working for British Airways where I worked for 20 years in customer service where I used the skills I leant as a child growing up in a military home. [18:39]
I did not realize that those were the foundations of what was growing my business and because I had all the perfectionist drama, I literally started studying all these different things. [19:17]
The biggest struggle that my people have had is the gold standard because I believe I need to give them my very best which goes back to the military and its foundational values. [19:43]
When I first started, women told me that they did not want to lead but I told them that if they were going to be with me, they had to learn how to lead as business owners. [21:09]
My ideal client is a female entrepreneur who has been in business at least three years and she's in burnout, she's been stained into over giving and gross under earning. [22:02]
What I do is I help them build a business around their expertise and their natural gifts because I don't believe in a one size fits all formula. [22:29]
Look within and know that you're worthy and deserving of health, wealth, loving, harmonious relationships and the freedom of creative self-expression. [23:13]
At the end of the day, your business is designed to help other people live fuller, richer and more rewarding lives, so believe in yourself. [23:22]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Never Forget We Care - Michael Harris

“One person can't do all of it, but one person can do something to make it a little bit better.” Michael Harris
The aging process can be challenging especially for veterans due to their experiences while they were in service. The need for personalized care where each senior is treated with a degree of sensitivity and respect is therefore needed. Our guest today, Michael Harris together with his wife, have been providing care and assisting these senior veterans together with their families to find the care that they need in order to live a dignified life.
Michael Harris and his wife, Elizabeth are the proud parents of four very intelligent children and grandparents of four incredibly beautiful grandchildren. To them, God and family are the two most important things in their lives. Michael is a retired veteran that served five years in combat and his wife held the most challenging position of holding everything together while he was away. Now Michael supports her while she is obtaining a master's degree.
The two of them have owned and operated several small businesses from bail bonds to clothing stores but nothing compares to the gratification of helping others. As Pastors in a small community, they have learned the best gift a human being can give another, is love.
Michael's parents were married for 68 years and are both disabled needing 24 Hour ADL's /home care service. The parent's health decline was an unplanned event that took place and put the family in an unfamiliar situation. Therefore, they took on the responsibility as caregivers and cared for their loved ones. This inspired them to start "Never Forget WE CARE LLC''. They wanted seniors, handicap, and physically challenged individuals to know that they were never forgotten. In the year 2020, they partner with Compassionate Helpers Franchise to gain knowledge, learn the business model and help care for more seniors during pandemics. Couples own and operate franchise units located in Houston, TX
In this episode, Michael will be discussing about his time in the military and his passion of providing care to the senior and handicapped veterans.
Listen in!
 
Contacts
www.neverforgetwecare.com  
www.compassionatehelpers.com  
I graduated high school and I enlisted as a private in the military because I just wanted to get away and try and learn about life and grow up. [3:11]
While I was serving, I really started to enjoy the military and I began to work hard and be committed to the military. [3:34]
I was actually promoted up to an officer and got an opportunity to actually get out of the military, go back to college and obtain my Bachelor's degree. [3:50]
Upon graduation, I re-entered the military as an officer and going from a private to an officer was a big [3:56]
While serving, my wife and I just realized that there was something bigger than us out there. [4:19]
I was deployed for five years and I really enjoyed living a purposeful life and I'm thankful for my wife that she supported me throughout all those years by making sure that home was okay. [4:43]
When I retired out of the military, I came back home and my parents were seniors and needed assistance which kind of caught my family as a surprise, because planned for it. [5:21]
I began to realize that I knew my dad was a veteran and I knew that he had some benefits but I wasn't quite sure what those benefits were. [6:38]
We began to research and found that he did qualify for a veteran program that would actually allow a caregiver in the home. [6:48]
While we were looking, I thought it'd be a good idea if we started our own business to help them but also to help others out there. [8:00]
None of my dad's or mom’s friends who were veterans even knew that there was a program out there that can assist them. [8:14]
When we started the business, it healed a lot of us and a lot of our issues that we had because we were now still serving the seniors that had served us. [8:28]
We didn't want any senior, any handicapped person either temporarily disabled or are permanently disabled or veteran to feel likeeveryone had turned their back on them. [8:47]
We named the business ‘Never Forget We C’ And set it up in Louisiana but we moved to Houston. [9:03]
We've been able to be a blessing to so many people by helping to bring in the best nurses and [9:35]
We have since partnered with compassionate helpers to help us bridge that gap with the communities with the senior veterans who want to stay in their own homes. [10:01]
I thank God for the experience with my parents, because it helped me realize that there is an area where a lot of people have just lost focus, and that's taking care of our seniors. [10:23]
My family and I are devout Christians and we believe that no one was born for themselves and that we were all created for someone else. [11:53]
I share all the information that I can because it's iron that sharpens iron. [12:52]
Commercial break. [13:15]
Military taught me several things which I apply as many as I can to my life daily. [14:49]
One person can't do all of it, but one person can do something to make it a little bit better. [14:24]
The military taught me that you can change the world, you just got to have to be willing to be motivated enough to get up and go do it. [15:33]
It also taught me that If you believe in your heart, that something is right, you never give up. [15:42]
In entrepreneurship, you're going to have some good days and bad days but you have to get up every morning with that positive attitude. [15:50]
If there's someone out there that's thinking about starting their own business, I would highly encourage you to do that. [16:42]
Take everything that you've learned from the military if you are a veteran and apply it and success is going to come. [16:50]
You get such a fulfillment, knowing that your military experience is still working through you to help someone else. [18:38]
We want to be a blessing by impacting the lives of the people and not for it to be just about business. [19:23]
When you wake up be thankful to be here and just be the best you that you can be every day. [24:41]
Remember that we were not born for ourselves but to help someone else. [24:49]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

We‘ve Done Hard Things Before - Krystalore Crews

“We won't know what is if we don't reach outside our comfort zone.” Krystalore Crews
Looking inward and developing a connection with self helps own our experiences and trust our capabilities. This is especially important when going through circumstances that require our input in order to move forward. Our guest today, Krystalore Crews, has gone through varied experiences in her military journey and says that strategic planning, goal setting, and mindset are paramount in any journey. She taps from her lessons to teach and guide others to navigate through the different hurdles they are facing in life.  
Crews, MBA, ADC, is a People Strategist--Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Consultant, Certified Coach and Facilitator. Krystalore has spent the last 19+ years serving in the United States Air Force, and the last four years in strategic development and execution of diversity and inclusion programs in the US Government and Department of Defense. She has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with an Entrepreneurial concentration from Medaille College, and a Professional Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University.
Krystal Crews uses her personal experience overcoming obstacles and 19+ years as a military leader in the Air National Guard to engage employees. Krystalore continues to serve, leading an organization of 800 employees part-time with a strategic D&I program from strategy, communications, coaching, and training. She also oversees the strategic community engagement plan for the United States consisting of 90 other Practitioners. Additionally, she mentors and supports 14 Practitioners in the Northeast Region.
She has prior diverse experiences as a Financial Advisor, Construction Project Manager, restaurant Corporate Trainer, Recruiter, Retention Manager, and Computer Engineer. Additionally, as an NFL Alumni Cheerleader, her clients will not get hours full of boring PowerPoint slides. Instead, Krystalore entertains and incorporates videos, interactive activities, team building, goal setting, and engagement to educate the audience.
Based out of Louisville,KY, Krystalore operates as a Coach and Consultant as founder of The Crews Coach. Krystalore leads individuals and teams toward improving their emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership journey. Krystalore is an athlete and marathon runner. She is the Coach of the (National) Air National Guard Marathon Team, competing annually at the Air Force Marathon. The team has won first place of 12 teams 3 out of the last 4 years. Her leadership, stamina, determination, and resilience overcoming diversity and health challenges bring a unique perspective to relate to many challenges that many people are faced with.
Krystalore spent the last 6 years organizing and leading local chapters for the National organization, Team Red, White, and Blue (RWB). The mission is to enrich the lives of Veterans through social and physical activity. Her mission as a military member and military spouse is to unite members of all services and wars to a common mission through awareness, connection, and engagement. Krystalore continues her coaching and consulting work virtually as she travels to support her husband’s active career in the Army.
Krystalore enjoys studying human behavior and engaging with people to communicate better in the workplace, but also at home with a spouse, family, friends, or children. It helps them grow not only professionally, but personally.
She also released her new book: Your Krystal Clear Life Planner: A Woman's 90 Day Action Plan to Embrace Chaos and Live a Fulfilling Life is available on Amazon: Link here:  https://thecrewscoach.kartra.com/page/planner
 
Social Media Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalore-crews/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystalore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrewscoach/
The Crews Coach Business pages:
Website: www.krystalorecrews.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrewscoach
I joined the military right after 911 with a friend of mine initially to pay for college but also for the things that were going on in the world. [4:00]
We chose to go with the Air National Guard so that we can serve our community and go to school. [4:26]
I found out that it really provided so much experience, education, camaraderie and community that I ended up falling in love with it and staying in. [4:45]
In the last 19 years, I've had seven different positions and I just keep challenging and growing myself through those experiences. [5:01]
What we do is we serve in the community that we live in where we do domestic operations and we have a federal mission as well. [6:10]
Even though I work part time, technically, I wear that uniform inside my heart, mind and life and is very deep rooted in our core values. [8:08]
As a servant leader, an airman, as a leader, I have to consistently hold on to the call to serve others before self. [8:37]
I met my husband eight years ago and as a military spouse, I had to resign my fulltime active duty position, go part time and serve right with [9:47]
The biggest thing when I think about my service and how it connects to me, being an entrepreneur is really just learning to trust myself, and reach outside my comfort zone. [11:25]
My experience enables me to help my clients face difficult situations and really owning the trust of their experience and [12:18]
Many a times we have to drown out those negative noises and really stay true to our passion, drive and our values. [14:08]
Commercial Break. [14:55]
Both of my businesses have a foundation of emotional intelligence and personal growth. [16:04]
I think in order for us to show up in life, relationship and connect with other human beings, we have to be totally good with ourselves first. [16:15]
My career has evolved so much over time, because the more I help mostly women, the more I learn how complicated human being we are. [16:52]
What I found is that many times if people want to lose weight, it's much deeper than that and so I focus on everything about emotional intelligence and the human connection. [17:10]
We just launched the cruise beyond limits and my husband is handling all the men's personal training. [17:52]
I also found that the power of stretch, recovery, and Yoga has to be a really great part of our cross training and so I actually just brought on an affiliate cruise coach who is a yoga instructor. [18:16]
My second business is inclusion culture where I have three other business partners doing consulting work on inclusion and diversity for four years now. [20:13]
When COVID happened, we had to pivot really quickly to zoom and really learn how to facilitate group training over zoom. [20:43]
We also have a foundation of emotional intelligence where we help leaders and companies discover within themselves so that they can make deeper connections and understand themselves. [21:07]
With the new ways of working, people are getting comfortable at home and it's a whole other dynamic of what humans go through and grow through. [22:22]
Our goal is really to drive that connection, not only with themselves, but with others, regardless of the situation. [22:45]
Take each day as it comes and everyday as a blessing so live each day just your true potential and reach outside your comfort zone to see what's possible. [23:54]
Sometimes we don't have to have all the answers or always be perfect, we just have to be willing to try. [24:16]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Write To Influence - Carla D. Bass, Colonel, USAF (Ret)

“If you learn how to write powerfully, it unlocks the doors to opportunities.” Carla Bass
One of the skills that can turn out to be a superior advantage in any career is effective writing. Considered to be an essential life skill, writing makes a great difference in one’s ability to convey information, a key factor that drives successful careers. Our guest today, Carla bass, found the power of writing early on in her career in the military, and says that it is the key to influencing powerful outcomes.
Carla D. Bass is a retired Air Force colonel and author of the book "Write to Influence!" which has won eight national-level awards. The ability to write powerfully was central to her success. Throughout her 45-year career (30 years in the Air Force and 15 with a federal agency), she composed products for Congress, the White House, generals, and ambassadors; hundreds of performance reviews; budget justifications; award nominations; and executive memoranda.
As a lieutenant colonel, Carla transformed her 480-person unit from the most losing in state-wide professional competitions into the one to beat. How? She developed her writing methodology and taught her troops to compose compelling nominations. So successful was her program that she taught thousands of Air Force members for the next 15 years – to rave reviews.
She now teaches workshops to clients that include government agencies, corporations, private businesses, NGOs, and academia. The second edition of "Write to Influence!" incorporates material from her highly acclaimed workshops. These include material that covers powerful writing to banish bureaucratic blather (for the workforce) to composing resumes, input for performance reviews, grant submissions, and essays for college applications.
Carla's battle cries are twofold: "Powerful writing changes lives!" and "Powerful writing is the lifeblood of effective organizations!"
In today’s episode, Carla talks about how writing opened opportunities for her and many others while she was working for the military. She will also highlight how she helps others tap into the power of good writing.
Listen in!
 
Social media: 
www.linkedin.com/in/carladbass/  
https://www.facebook.com/WriteToInfluence01/
https://www.twitter.com/CarlaDBassWrite/
 
I was the child of a military family and I decided when I was in seventh grade that I was going to join Air Force intelligence. [3:24]
My father was at that point an Air Force officer intelligence and since I couldn’t ask him what he was doing, I decided I will join it myself to find out. [3:50]
One of the proudest day of my life is when my father Colonel Sand Bass gave me the oath of office and at that point he was a veteran and had had a bad stroke. [4:58]
In my 30 years, I served in many places and Bulgaria was fascinating because I was the first female defense attache for 3 years representing all of America's military to our Bulgarian counterparts. [5:31]
When my father commissioned me, he gave three pieces of advice; stay focused on the job, always keep your sense of humor and always take care of your people, and they will take care of you. [7:19]
My becoming an entrepreneur goes back to Hawaii, when I transform the most losing unit into the one to beat and it was a pivotal point for me. [7:46]
I realized that powerful writing changes lives after I took a couple of days and developed my writing methodology which helped us transform the unit into the one to beat. [8:03]
I ended up teaching that one hour writing workshop for the next 15 years to 1000s of people. [8:50]
By the time I retired I had received so many testimonials from people who said my writing had benefited their entire federal career. [9:02]
I realized that I have something that works and It's proven and so I have to keep sharing it. [10:10]
If you learn how to write powerfully, it unlocks the doors to opportunity. [11:34]
People and organizations fail to achieve their goals because of ineffective writing. [13:23]
It is important to gain the critical edge by learning how to write products that are concise and compelling. [13:34]
Commercial break. [13:50]
I love teaching workshops and with COVID, I had to do great with webinars and I cover a multitude of programs. [15:14]
I've got one hour webinars on powerful writing for professionals or even fiction writers spend the captivating tale because every word counts. [16:07]
Every author is constrained by two things, the readers time and available space and therefore the writer who best leverages his time and space wins. [16:32]
What I teach you how to do is make every word count, and every second of the readers time play to your advantage. [17:11]
It is a two-step process involving the strategies on how you arrange the logic of your presentation of your case, and the word sculpting tools. [17:27]
The big mistake that people make in writing resumes is failing to know the audience and ensuring that every word spoken is addressing the needs of the employer. [18:26]
Two important tips when writing a proposal include adding details on the how and the what as well as the impact of what you have done. [19:52]
Another mistake people make is to think that the first draft is [21:43]
Writing is like either chess or poker because it involves strategy and once you look at it from those angles, all of a sudden it is not so intimidating. [23:59]
I have 10 word sculpting tools. One of which is verbs are your friends use them or rely on them and avoid using many words to suffocate the verb. [24:30]
By sculpting out all of those useless words and redundancies, you not only tighten up the text, but you buy yourself more strategic opportunity. [25:54]
Tool number two is called not to use words that hogs space to go from writing fat, to writing skinny. [26:56]
Word sculpting tool number ten Is revise, edit, and proofread and these are three distinct functions, each with a separate list of criteria for which you search. [29:27]
Learning to write powerfully is a life skill which need to be taught and passed down young adults because they're not getting it in school. [31:36]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Courageous Discussions - Judy Skilling

“It is okay to ask for help. It is not shameful, nor embarrassing. It's very humble, and courageous to do so.” Judy Skilling
Regardless of the level of success attained while serving in the military, transitioning to civilian life is never easy. Finding people who have successfully gone through similar experience can make the process easier and less stressful. Our guest today, Judy Skilling, taps from her experience in the military and post military to help others who are transitioning and says that it all starts with asking for help.
Judy Skilling is a Certified High Performance Coach that works with veterans to help them re-claim and excel in their work, health, and relationships by tapping into their trained military behaviors and learning how to apply it in a civilian lifestyle. As a Navy veteran, Judy understood the struggles of adjusting to the civilian life post military and with using specific high-performance principles and techniques, she is able to successfully navigate the civilian sector without feeling lost or confused on her personal life path. She now focuses on working with veterans to help them accomplish similar results: gaining a clear direction on next steps in their life after service. 
Judy Skilling work has been featured in numerous publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, Medium, and so forth. She has a book published titled, "Un-Hot The Mess You Are", a co-author of a new release book called "Dare to be Authentic Volume 6: Finding Your Purpose" and a new published journal titled "The Transitioning Veteran Journal: A Self-Guided Journal to Discovering Who You Are Post Military,” which can all be found on Amazon. 
In today’s episode, Judy talks about her life in the military and the events that led her to pursue her current career. She will also highlight her current business and how she helps others have a smooth transition.
Listen in!
Social media links:
https://www.judyskilling.com
https://www.facebook.com/judyskillingHPCVet
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyskillinghpcvet/
I joined the navy in 2000 and a year later 911 happened and at that time, I was actually stationed in Puerto Rico which changed the whole dynamic of being in the military. [3:14}
I was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and so from 2002 to about 2005 I was on three different warships in the Middle East. [3:49]
I served seven years and got out and became a nurse working with emergency medicine which was a great experience. [4:35]
At that point I was about mid 20s already leaps and bounds ahead of my peers, just because of the military experience that I had. [5:17]
When you are in the military, it definitely broadens your life experience as you'll see and do things, people half your age won't even have the chance or opportunity to. [5:46]
I was married and in the year of 2013, unfortunately, my husband at the time who was also a veteran, had gotten diagnosed with cancer. [6:04]
I journeyed with my husband through that battle for five years almost. [7:03]
During that journey, it got me to think of trying some things to help supplement the income so I can be more at home. [7:09]
That's where coaching actually came into the picture and I went through a coaching program as a client and loved my transition so much that I wanted to be a coach myself. [7:38]
 I realized how many veterans could use this type of guidance and their life to help them whether they're leaving the military or transitioning. [8:51]
I became certified and it changed my life and now I try to get more of what I learnt in front of these veterans. [9:05]
When I served and I was in the military everything was routine and very predictable but we also had to be flexible to adapt to any unexpected changes. [11:56]
That skill set has served me many times after leaving the military, being in the emergency room and being an entrepreneur. [13:14]
Commercial break. [14:18]
For most of the veterans that I've worked with, they still feel like they're in this funk of transitioning regardless of the period they have been out. [16:16]
They get to have a hard time getting acclimated into the civilian lifestyle because there's something special unique about a bond they have when in service. [16:26
They struggle with identity of who they are supposed to be like in this next phase of life and so that's one of the things that I help them with. [17:16]
We work on not only finding their purpose which is about what they are passionate about at that moment. [18:02]
When you are able to get clear on that, then that kind of opens up some other doors of opportunity and owning the new sense of independence which can feel a little foreign. [18:21]
I help people really embrace this new person of themselves post military and help them feel really good about who they are now. [20:10]
When I get to talk to somebody and have a conversation with them, my aim is to see if they're fit for coaching. [25:13]
I also have to determine whether or not they need help outside of coaching, like psychological help, or therapy help because coaching is not therapy. [26:00]
I also have to distinguish when they're ready and invested and need a little bit of more one on one personal guidance on how to handle some big responsibilities. [26:23]
One of the things that a lot of veterans struggle with, is confidence and so we talk about courage and not only speaking up for self but also having courageous discussions. [28:14]
One of the things that as a veteran I have seen and been involved in different veteran groups is we don't ask for help and that we can figure it out on our own. [30:18]
One of my things I'd love to leave you with is it's okay to ask for help. It is not shameful, nor embarrassing. It's very humble, and courageous to do so. [30:33]
It's always good to reach out for help whether it's working with me or with any kind of coach, or just any kind of friend, it's always okay to ask for help. [30:51]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our April Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Chase Your Calling - Wyman Winbush

“One of the things that is most important is not necessarily what you can see as physical attributes, but what you can't see with regards to one's mindset.” Wyman Winbush
In order to overcome adversity and live the best and fulfilling life, developing not only the physical, but the mental and spiritual aspects as well is crucial. Our guest today, Wyman Winbush has been able to overcome a lot of adversity in the course of his career and life, and attributes his success to having a resilient attitude and a strong grounding on his spiritual values.
Wyman Winbush, is a Multi-Disciplined Problem Solver  and self-professed polymath* who is known as "The Wisdom Broker."  He combines 31yrs in Corporate America with 30 yrs in the US Navy , and 30 yrs in ministry to direct individuals, and corporations towards the most direct path to sustained success.
After 31 years, Wyman left full-time employment at IBM and started a consulting/training company called WRW International, LLC with his wife Rosemary. WRW International, LLC is committed to educating, empowering, and inspiring businesses and individuals to reach their maximum and divine potential.  With over 40 years of combined business experience, corporate savvy, military leadership, community volunteerism, and spiritual insight, they are able to leverage their expertise to meet the needs of each client.
Wyman continues to educate and enable others as a professional speaker/trainer which includes working as a member of the DoD Yellow Ribbon Cadre of Speakers. He has also recently agreed to work in a consultant capacity as a Sales Advisor in IBM's Global Sales School.
 
In this episode, Wyman will discuss his time in the military and how it shaped his life post military. He will also talk about how he helps people and businesses reach their potential.
Listen in!
 
website:  www.wymanwinbush.com
website: wrwinternationalllc.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwinbush/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wwinbush
 
I'm a graduate of the Naval Academy, and my journey started in the 10th grade when a teacher asked me whether I had ever heard of the Naval Academy. [4:08]
Needless to say that question change the trajectory of my life because I graduated from Naval Academy and became a helicopter Hilo pilot. [4:27]
You can't be in the military regardless of what service without knowing how to be resilient and so I applaud my brothers and sisters who served out there. [5:04]
When you get into a business situation, and you're up against the wall, there's a lot of things you can do but panic is not an option. [7:41]
I didn't have to go to business school to get that but I learnt those core precepts and principles during the military training. [7:57]
The faith element is as much part of me as any other of my physical attributes. [9:03]
One of the things that is most important is not necessarily what you can see as physical attributes, but what you can't see with regards to one's mindset. [9:10]
On my worst day, I find hope in that situation because I expect whatever this is, to work to my favor. [9:43]
A lot of times you'll find that to be true because a lot of the adversity that we encounter builds up our resilience to respond to it or similar circumstances in the future career. [10:00]
All else equal, the person that believes that someone bigger than him or her is with them, will go to the battle field more confident that they will win. [11:05]
On confidence, it's not confidence in me, but it's confidence in the God that I serve and that we're not in the boat by ourselves, God is with us. [12:11]
I believe God does his best work Monday through Friday on the battlefield and so I acknowledge his presence everywhere. [14:47]
The testimonies are birthed out of the tests on the battlefield Monday through Friday, on Saturday, and Sunday is when you testify about what he has brought you through. [15:21]
Commercial Break. [17:12]
The essence of business is you have a product or a service that your clients need. [18:31]
The sooner you have identified the true why, it is only then that you can chart a path that represents the most direct route to get there. [19:41
The purpose of college is not to obtain a diploma but rather to acquire a set of skills that allows you to bring the most value to the marketplace. [20:09]
You only get one chance to distinguish and separate yourself from the pack and if you do it correctly, you don't have to forego having fun as a freshman. [21:37]
Sometimes your clients don't know what they need and so by adopting a client centric approach you work on enabling them towards divine potential. [23:54]
Whatever your calling is, whatever your niche is there are always things you can do to maximize the value you bring to the community. [25:52]
To specifically those who have served, thank you for your service. [29:11]
One of the things that the world needs right now in the business community is people who are resilient, solid and sober thinker and so our business community and the world needs veterans. [29:29]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.
 

Constantly Learning and Adapting - Dr., Commander Mary Kelly

“We owe it to ourselves and the people around us to be as great as we can.” Mary Kelly
The brain is a central determinant of how people perform. Consequently, people can be able to improve their quality of life by altering their thinking and eliminating the negative beliefs and perspective that limit them. Our guest today, Mary Kelly has years of experiences educating and coaching people to reach their full potential and says that constant learning and adapting is key if we are to trust our brains to guide us effectively.
Dr. Mary Kelly is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and spent over 20 years on active duty in intelligence and logistics. She retired from the Navy as a commander. She has masters’ degrees in history and economics, and a PhD in economics. With over 20 years combined teaching experience at both the Naval Academy and at Hawaii Pacific University, she taught economics, finance, history, and management. She has extensive experience in business coaching, management, economics, finance, banking, insurance, real estate, government, organizational leadership, communication, business growth, teamwork, strategic planning, human resources, customer service, time management, and project development.
Mary has a track record for success as an organizational change agent. In her role as a human resources director, Dr. Kelly developed a business model for the computer and telecommunications organization for personnel hiring, training and retention that was adopted globally by the U. S. Navy. Managing culturally diverse teams, she orchestrated organizational changes for over 3,000 personnel for 2 military base closures. Her ability to problem-solve and provide innovative solutions enabled her to transform the Navy’s largest pay and personnel organization from the lowest in customer satisfaction to the highest in the nation in 18 months, with 23% fewer employees and a 19% budget decrease.
As an educator, Dr. Kelly created a mandatory curriculum for a college student body of 4,500 students. During her teaching career, she developed 31 university courses in the areas of business management, economics, history, management, geography, political science, human resources, and international relations. Mary taught remote course work for multiple colleges while creating 4 distance learning courses using online lectures, webinars, interactive exercises, and podcasting. In addition to standard curriculums, Dr. Kelly coached 450 students on life skills and time-management. She created and taught wealth building and personal finance to students at the United States Naval Academy, resulting in a student body educated on budgeting and retirement planning before graduation.
As a speaker and presenter, Mary Kelly pulls from her diverse experience to provide keynote presentations that are engaging and compelling, leaving the audience wanting more. With a warm and sincere style, Mary takes her vast knowledge and provides an educational presentation that holds the interest of her audience. She is a popular speaker on topics of leadership, communication, financial planning, and management. As a communicator, she has chaired academic and military panels for economics, political science and historical conferences, and she has conducted over 2,200 seminars on financial, business, management and leadership topics.
In today’s episode, Mary will talk about her experiences working in the military and how she is helping people achieve greatness through education and coaching.
Listen in!
 
Social Media Channels:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/DrMaryKelly
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarykelly/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/marykellyspeaks
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/productiveleaders
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/maryaloha/
 
Military services is a part of my family's heritage and my siblings and we all went to the Naval Academy. [3:03]
Things that the Naval Academy taught me early on was, you get it done and you don't waste time. [3:47
Time in our life is a finite number of unknown minutes and we cannot afford to waste it on things that don't matter. [3:57]
We have to value our time and we have to get things done now. [4:22]
If you think about something and you want to get things done, you have to take some kind of action because things just don't happen and this is where I think military training really helps. [4:27]
When we're thinking about doing something, we oftentimes go to our family and our friends and and ask them what they think and I think that's ridiculous and a little dumb. [5:19]
Your family remembers may not picture you as the CEO of your organization and friends often don't push you to be your best self. [5:28]
I have to do my best potential because otherwise to not do that is kind of misusing the gifts and the opportunities that we have. [5:55]
Some days are harder than others but we still have to keep each other accountable and hold each other to a higher standard. [6:07]
What I loved about being in the military was the constant learning, changing and [7:26]
I was never that kid who knew what they wanted to be when they grow up so the military gave me all of these great job opportunities and I got to travel and see different things and meet new people. [7:38]
I got to learn about that really helped me figure out what I want to be and what I was good at. [8:02]
Working in the military helps us identify what our natural strengths are and then we can focus on what we're great at. [8:55]
I love working with numbers and being in front of people talking and you and I both know for many people, that is terrifying for many people. [9:28]
I've been writing since I was a kid and while I was in the Navy, I co authored a couple books for leadership for the Naval Academy and some other groups. [11:16]
I had four books that I was participatory in before I launched my own which became the master World Book and is doing really well. [11:33]
One of the latest books, ‘The Five Minute Leadership Guide,’ is on how to improve your leadership, focus and your priorities and de stress and calm your brain in less than five minutes a day. [11:53]
I have learned to trust my brain and part of that is also knowing when i’m wrong and acknowledging that something isn't doing what I want it to and looking for a way to make it better. [12:52]
Commercial break. [13:19]
My company is called productive leaders, because who wants an unproductive leader and yet, when we look around the workforce, we've got a lot of people who are unproductive. [14:24]
Almost 80% of our workers are not fully engaged and yet, less than half of them have any intention of leaving and this is not good. [14:52]
One of the things I try to do with my audiences is help our leaders reengage, reignite and remotivate their teams so that they stay focused. [15:05]
I get to talk to conferences and also work as a corporate and the idea is to improve all the things that are important to your employees. [15:20]
Many of us in the military go weeks and weeks and months and months and months without a day off, and nobody's that worried about work life balance. [15:58]
You know what you're doing is really important, you've got such a high sense of purpose and mission and vision, that you're not too worried about your work life balance. [16:07]
For businesses, I focus on the bottom line and as an economist, if a business is not making profitability, then they're going to be out of business. [16:13]
We've got to make sure that our businesses are taking the right steps in order to move forward and be wildly successful. [16:29]
A major problem is that people can't get their brain to focus in one area and it's really critical to have that because our brain derive satisfaction out of crossing things off our list. [18:13]
Right now, people are not getting that sense of accomplishment because they don't feel like they have as much control over their time which leads to burnout and exhaustion. [18:41]
I like to focus on how we could alter our thinking and see how well equipped we are to deal with a crisis or changes around us. [19:43]
A lot of times when people say they are overwhelmed, it is just their brain that is disorganized. [21:28]
When I started my business, I created checklists for me, and then all of a sudden I realized people could use the lists. [21:49]
So I have these things I call the five minute business success solutions that are one page put together in a 12 month planner and that is available for your people totally free. [21:57]
Some people need a little revision of their business plan and these five-minute success plans can helps people get focused, stay focused, and get things done. [22:58]
It's not easy and if it was easy, everybody would do it. [25:41]
The way to be successful in running a business is to set a schedule and figure out what you have to do in order to take that next step forward. [25:46]
Don't get distracted by the little things but rather identify the important things and stay focused on what we've got to do next. [25:59]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Mission - Men - Self - Charles Read

“Business is not a sprint, it's a marathon, so stick with it and you'll be amazed what can happen over the years.“ Charles Read
After leaving the military, majority of servicemen and women find that all they have learnt and experienced is not valued and appreciated in the civilian world. This is according to our guest today, Charles Read, whose experienced while transitioning from the military to civilian life was not easy despite having the skills and expertise needed by majority of organizations. Charles believes that the service men and women have all they need and more to be successful in business, only if they believe in their abilities.
Charles J Read is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), U.S Tax Court Practitioner ( USTCP), member of Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), and the Founder of GetPayroll. Mr. Read’s companies have provided full-service payroll services, payroll tax services, and other payroll-related services since 1991. Charles is an accomplished senior executive and entrepreneur with more than fifty years of financial leadership experience in a broad range of industries and the author of four books with the most recent one being, The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups.
In todays episode, our guest will discuss his life in the military as well as how he was able to successfully start and run his business after leaving the military. He will also talk how the military helped him become who he is today.
Listen in!
 
Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GetPayroll/  
Twitter - https://twitter.com/getpayroll  
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpayroll  
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxs-_RwC9NgfUcqbwvEaMIQ
 
I grew up in Iowa, graduated from high school at 16 and worked because I wasn't ready for college for a number of years. [3:11]
We're a military family going back several 100 years and so we have always [3:24]
I joined the Marine Corps at 17 and enlisted for four years and so I was 21 when I got [4:08]
I started as an operator and later I was transferred to Okinawa to the third FSR support group there and was sent to IBM and became a computer programmer and systems engineer. [4:27]
I got myself transferred to Vietnam and I got myself reassigned to the local infantry company that was doing interdiction and ambushes. [4:55]
After six months being in the field I came back and was stationed in Kansas City Marine Corps automated service center. [5:22]
When I got out, I found that businesses did not value my military experience and at that point I realized I had to go get the civilian credentials. [6:15]
I went up to the local junior college and then to University of North Texas and in two and a half years, I had my MBA which got me [7:56]
One thing the military teaches you is, how to accomplish things, staying focused and the discipline necessary. [8:17]
One of the things I learned in management while in the Marine Corps is mission, men then self, and that you need to accomplish the mission and in business, that same mechanism works. [9:38]
You complete the mission, you take care of your men, whether it be your employees or your clients, then you take care of yourself. [11:04]
One of the biggest things I've seen that is destructive to businesses is ego. [11:12]
You don't want to be the smartest person in the room, you want to know how to hire the smartest person in the room. [11:33]
You learn to value your men because your employees are the most important thing you have. [12:03
My job as CEO was really not to do the work anymore rather my job is to make theirs easy and make them more efficient. [12:19]
Commercial break. [13:22]
When I was 14, I started doing security analysis because I was interested in the stock market and buying and selling stocks. [15:10]
Afterwards I worked in the corporate world for 15 years and I realized I was never going to get to the top of a major corporation because I lacked the political skills. [16:03]
Marines have a have a real aversion to sucking up to anybody and that did lead to problems at times, which I learned to just keep my mouth shut. [16:30]
I started my own business and 30 years later, we're here but about 10 years ago, I sold off the accounting side, because I'd gotten kind of bored with it. [16:50]
I finally realized one of my deficiencies here a few years ago, that I can't market my way out of a paper bag. [19:41]
We're continuing to grow and bringing in clients to take care of them and enjoying the business. [20:02]
I recently wrote my fourth book which Wiley published last year. It's the payroll book guide for small businesses and startups. [20:10]
It's a comprehensive book and we think the only thing similar to it is the payroll source from the American Payroll Association. [21:10]
For your listeners, if they'd like a copy of this, they will go to the payrollbook.com on the web, and enter the discount code for the podcast and we will ship them a free book. [21:24]
There are a lot of things I don't do that I outsource and payroll is one of those things you can outsource as a small business and an entrepreneur very inexpensively and get really good care. [23:15]
A person will overestimate what they can accomplish in a year and underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade. [25:53]
Business is not a sprint, it's a marathon, so Ssick with it and you'll be amazed what can happen over the years. [26:05]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Seek To Be Uncomfortable - David Armstrong

“No matter where you are or what you're doing in life, the core values that is integrity, service before self and excellence transcends into what your life is today.” Dave Armstrong
Regardless of the circumstances that face us, we always have a choice to determine what informs our actions. Furthermore, our actions always determine the kind of rewards that come our way. Adopting strong core values to inform our actions is therefore very important since the quality of the life we live depends on the values that we adopt. Our guest today, Dave Armstrong, uses his life experience to help people better their lives and says that seeking new knowledge and being grounded on good values is key to overcoming life obstacles.
Sensei Dave Armstrong is a motivational speaker, life coach and at-risk youth expert. He grew up as a product of a broken family, foster care, youth correction facilities and a deceased, only parent at the age of 13. After overcoming all of these obstacles in life and defying his destiny, he decided to serve humanity by dedicating 20+ years towards helping people better their lives and their relationships with their children or the children they work with. After Sensei Dave retired from 24-years of Active Duty Military Service he decided to open Unlimited Potential Network Academy Life Coaching and to publish his amazing motivational autobiography, ‘Why Me, My Fight For Life’ which is available on amazon and on http://www.whyme.world.
In today’s episode, Dave will discuss his journey to finding his ‘why’, his life in the military and how it has been instrumental in shaping his life after the military.
Listen in!
 
Social Media:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SenseiDaveArm
Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/senseidavearmstrong/
 
I'm retired in Greece after serving 24 years in the Air Force. [4:05]
I sold my martial arts schools because I thought that I didn't need to work anymore and moved to Greece. [4:13]
After about two years of that I felt that I wasn’t okay not working so I had to find a new why. [4:28]
I was lucky, I've been able to realize my why's because we're not just subject to have one. [5:12]
Early on in life I started developing myself, mind and my skill set out of necessity as I had to do that out of survival. [5:21]
After retiring from the Air force I, decided that I had to do something else and now I help parents and entrepreneurs just to crush life. [5:37]
After I retired, I wrote a book that is an auto biography where I tried to put so much knowledge and experience in there and that's doing so well. [7:15]
We all have to figure out how to overcome in our own way and it's incumbent upon you to learn how to overcome for you. [8:26]
We as biological beings like comfort but unfortunately, that doesn't work to our benefit all the time because in order to overcome you have to become uncomfortable. [9:24]
I tell my clients to seek to be uncomfortable and open up their schema just a little bit every day and seek new knowledge growth. [9:52]
I had a program where I was training women that were being battered by their spouses self-defence and I remember consistently seeing the same women repeating the same patterns. [11:25]
It is scary when you have no resources and can't see past the darkness and on the other side of that wall. [12:12]
I remember I had to move my martial arts school because I was silly enough to think that I was going to move it into a low-income neighborhood to try to give back but it did not work. [12:38
Sometimes it's really hard to see past the difficulties but you have to figure out how to look around that wall and get ready for whatever that is on the other side of that wall. [13:14]
Commercial break. [13:54]
I think everything, every failure and success one has in their life ties in to the next moment and so I use everything of my past to tie into my current and my future. [15:13]
No matter what your background is, you can always use your past knowledge and combine that with the current or whatever you're seeking. [16:00]
Consistently seek knowledge for your present, draw from your past, to secure your future so as to see that dream come to fruition. [16:55]
The Air Force prepared me to be an entrepreneur because of the core values that we have in the Air Force such as integrity, first service before self and excellence in all we do. [18:22]
That's a model that I've brought over to my current career and to everything I do but at the expense of myself. [18:36]
No matter where you are or what you're doing in life, these core values, integrity, first service before self and excellence in all we do transcends into what your life is today. [20:52]
If I could say something that creates an aha moment for someone, no matter where it is in your life, I'm so happy. [22:07]
My niche is parents of teenagers that are having some struggles with their kids where I have programs that they could buy and do one on one coaching. [22:21]
Some of these courses include goal setting and how to teach your teen how to properly set goals; cyber bullying and physical bullying and how to how to overcome. [22:42]
There are going to be times that it feels like what you're after isn't worth it and feel like you should just give up. [25:02]
If you have a thought-out dream, write a why and It's going to be hard but it's going to be worth it and you are going to seriously thank yourself for sticking to it. [25:23]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our November Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.

Grandma‘s Wealth Wisdom - Amanda Neely

“If you do not pay yourself first, you'll have to go do something else to sustain yourself.” Amanda Neely
When you are in the business of serving people, striking a balance between sustainability and serving is key to survival. This is according to our guest today, Amanda Neely, who having run a successful business for years, insists that business people need to get their financial status in order so as to ensure profitability and sustainability of their businesses.
Amanda Neely is a small business and financial professional. She founded and ran Overflow Coffee Bar, L3C from 2008 through 2018. Now, she shares her experiential knowledge through podcasting and through developing personalized financial strategies for individuals and couples and profitability strategies for businesses. Her goal is to work with people to take charge of their cash flow, leverage their assets, and increase their profitability in ways that would make their grandma proud.
In today’s episode, Amanda will discuss about her time in the military as well as in business. She will also talk about some of the important lessons she learnt while running her business and how she shares the wisdom with the world.
Listen in!
 
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grandmaswealthwisdom/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandmaswealth/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/grandmaswealthwisdom?sub_confirmation=1
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/11854079/admin/
 
I met my husband after he was done being in the Marine Corps so I don't have direct experience of being a spouse of someone who is actively serving. [2:40]
I wouldn't change anything about his experience with the Marines because it is what has gotten us through some of the worst times of entrepreneurship. [3:01]
The service mentality that also was part of my husband is what led us to start a business. [5:57]
I was working for a nonprofit trying to give back and make a difference when I realized that actually small businesses really change the world. [6:13]
That's what led us to start the coffee shop where we wanted to know the bean to cup story and make sure that the farmers are being paid well. [6:32]
We are a legitimate social enterprise, we are for a purpose prior to a profit and we had to always put that purpose first. [7:06]
We were a couple years into the coffee shop when we met a certified financial planner. [9:24]
We were doing documentary showings and he chose a documentary about how money really works and showed it as a documentary screening. [9:29]
When the credits rolled, I was mad that he had never told us this before and that we had put ourselves really where we were which was on the edge of bankruptcy. [9:36]
I forced him to sit down with us and a couple of years later, we'd paid off our business debt and our student debt and we had gotten the business to a stable place. [10:02]
I had also been introduced to this concept called profit first and we started instead of paying ourselves last we started paying ourselves first. [10:17]
We were able to sell the business to a nonprofit who continued that mission and were able to even add their own mission to it to be an incubator of small businesses on the Southside of Chicago. [10:43]
We decided that we had to continue being in service to others and being a voice of change. [10:59]
We decided to help people get their stories with money into a better place and help them by empowering them to make the difference they need in their financial stories. [11:17]
Commercial break. [11:41]
If you do not pay yourself first, you'll have to go do something else to sustain yourself and eventually it could come in time where you can't work because of burnout. [13:42]
We work a lot with entrepreneurs and small business owners who often get to the point where they realize the biggest risk they are taking financially is with their business. [14:08]
A lot of times in your active military you can get help with financial planning but afterwards, it's a little harder to know who to talk to. [17:30]
It is about having that connection with the military and with entrepreneurship, and trying to figure out how to manage all the different buckets to make sure you are doing what's best for you. [17:46]
Other military people have been really interested in real estate and I love to assist real estate investors to be able to figure out some of those big questions. [18:19]
To be able to have those conversations with people brings me a lot of joy and I think helps them get more clarity as well. [20:17]
When we think about grandma, we picture an old woman maybe just hanging out and doing nothing. [12:07]
I love talking about grandma when she was in the prime of her life and she had huge potential and she took advantage of it. [20:18]
If you picture the grandma how they were like when they were your age and what they were doing then, there's a lot that we can learn. [21:51]
…………………………………….
Thank you to our April Sponsor: Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being or Wayne Titus
Imagine starting a long journey without a map…or even a clear idea of the obstacles ahead. That’s exactly what it’s like for entrepreneurs who start companies with a lot of passion, but without the financial expertise to grow and scale their businesses and create long-term wealth for their families.
 Wayne Titus shows you how to find a financial adviser who can help you map a better journey. In his book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being.  With the right adviser at your side, you’ll have the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.
Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financial Well-Being at Amazon.com and in the virtual bookstore on the Shock Your Potential app.