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Journey To Mastery

Journey To Mastery

622 episodes — Page 4 of 13

452: Pitching, Perseverance & Personal Growth with Precious Williams

Precious Williams, known as the Killer Pitch Master, shares a glimpse into her life-altering journey from personal despair to clawing her way back up. Precious shares her perspective on resilience and redemption and the vital role of pitching not just in business, but life. She shares the six types of pitches and their role in building success. Precious also shares insights on personal branding, the value of diversity, and the power of authenticity. Episode Highlights:07:17 - It also showed me that there were people who looked nothing like me and did not care what their backstory was. They only cared about how you present yourself, what that does for their audience, and how we can take that into bigger and bigger places. So that was a lesson that was dialed into me, and I leaned into it, and because of that, I was never afraid to walk into any room again to present myself as a killer pitch master. 08:22 - It is so important for founders to know how to pitch because. If you don't have a way of briefly introducing yourself, your books, your business, your brand, your product, or your service in a way that captivates, titillates, excites, and delights, you're going to have a hard time. You're going to have a hard time posting on social media. A lot of us started by ourselves. So if you cannot get people interested in taking a look at your products or services to want to book you, hire you, or refer you, if you don't show why you're the only choice that matters in an oversaturated place.36:01 - One of the greatest things I want you to take from me is to be the celebrity of your own brand. It's great to take pictures with all these people and that's wonderful. That doesn't impute anything to you. It doesn't, I promise. I know it looks good. You get a lot of likes on social media. But you want people to come to you.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Precious WilliamsWebsiteNewsletter1 one 1 ExperiencesHire to Speak at Your Event|Holiday SpecialBook LinksUpcoming EventsLinkedInFacebookYouTube

Mar 7, 202441 min

451: The Journey from Stress to Success with James Grant

Elzie Flenard talks with legal entrepreneur, James Grant, who reveals the challenges and triumphs of scaling a business. From navigating team dynamics during growth phases, to maintaining focus on the business's purpose, James' insights are invaluable for any entrepreneur. Plus, hear why not all business partnerships are disasters, and how dividing responsibilities based on strengths can be a game-changer. Get a sneak peek into James' enjoyment of his entrepreneurial journey and how it aligns perfectly with his lifestyle.Tune in to learn more about creating a business that serves you, and not the other way around! Remember, entrepreneurship is about more than just work, it's about crafting the lifestyle you want for you and your family. Discover how James did just that.Episode Highlights:13:03 - If you're listening and you think that, "Oh, I don't have the money to hire this super expensive, super qualified rockstar, start small." Hire a VA to manage your email inbox. Hire a VA to do something that is ultra small, that is super basic, but that's taking a lot of your time. With most business owners, most of what you do is administrative in some way. And if you can offload that to a virtual assistant, that's somewhere across the globe in a country where you're both getting a significant benefit by maybe paying them $6 an hour, which is wonderful to them and wonderful to you as a business owner, and everyone wins, why wouldn't you want to do that? 25:00 - I think there's a lot of typical B2B marketing platforms and methods that may not work as effective because, at the end of the day, especially when you're dealing with professionals, professionals want to speak with other professionals. So, when it comes to the vast majority of our B2B model, it's based on networking and being able to build relationships with other lawyers because you do business with those you know, like, and trust.30:29 - Hiring is tough. It's one of those skills that's not easily acquired. And when you start bringing people into your company, that's a really big step because now you're responsible for somebody else and possibly their family. And you have to understand that you have a commitment to them, but they also have a commitment to you. And being able to be on the same page, as far as where you're going, you have to be clear with your team.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact James Grant WebsiteLinkedIn

Mar 6, 202436 min

450: Networking with Love and Impact with Toni Harris Taylor

Elzie chats with the "Networking Queen," Toni Harris Taylor. Dive into Toni's journey from Cleveland to Houston at 16, and discover how this transformative move has shaped her understanding of diversity and relationships. Get valuable insights into the art of networking, with a spotlight on the importance of showing up, presenting a professional image, and mastering your elevator pitch. Listen as Toni unravels the power of following up, underscored by a recent success story. Learn about the advantages of joining a networking franchise, particularly for minority entrepreneurs. Get a glimpse of Toni's unconventional marketing strategy, using love to drive business growth. Find out how being part of a networking group can enhance your business through community, connections, collaborations, and referrals. Tune in for these and much more – a must-listen for entrepreneurs looking to build meaningful connections!Episode Highlights:12:06 - I was this close to shutting down the business and going to get a job because I couldn't figure out what my uniqueness was and what my passion was. And when I then started talking to a money mindset coach, she asked me, "What's your why?" And I told her, and she said, "You know, you've accomplished that. You need a new why." 18:08 - You have got show up and look the part. You want to be attractive, so people are like not repelled by you, but attracted to you. You have to have good brand tactics. You have to know your elevator pitch. Who are you? What do you do? What do you say? 21:57 - I want your audience to hear this, especially for brown entrepreneurs. I don't think I'll ever start another business from scratch. Franchising can save you time, money, and energy. You're going to spend that same $40,000 to build it from scratch. It may not be in a lump sum, but if you're going to build something and build it right, you're going to spend the exact same money. Why not plug into a franchise system? Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Toni Harris TaylorWebsiteLinkedIn

Mar 5, 202428 min

449: AI and Entrepreneurship with Artem Koren

Elzie chats with tech entrepreneur Artem Koren, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI. They delve deep into the world of AI, entrepreneurship, and the secret sauce to achieving success. Artem shares invaluable wisdom, from choosing the right business partner to the importance of securing funding. Listen in as they discuss his journey with start-ups, including an intriguing venture incorporating AI in cancer biopsies. Get a sneak peek into Sembly AI’s groundbreaking technology designed to revolutionize meetings. With exciting features on the horizon, the future looks promising for this AI meeting assistant. Don't miss Artem's perspectives on fostering innovation while maintaining focus. This episode is packed with insights you wouldn't want to miss! Curious? Sign up for a free trial to experience the transformative power of Sembly AI.Episode Highlights:04:54 - I would say that in any startup or in most startups, the three things that typically take center stage and determine survivability are: your ability to raise capital, your ability to build products, and then the ability to take that product to market. And if you can't put a check mark of some weight in all three of those categories, success is very not guaranteed. 08:29 - If you have a great idea, the best thing is not to start building the tech, but to get a really brilliant designer to create a beautiful visualization of what the tech will be and find those initial investors who will see it, be wowed and will help you get off the ground with that initial investment. 26:15 - Innovation is primary and has always been at Sembly. So, I think it's a factor of just me and how I view innovation. I'm probably on board with Elon Musk, and I believe that ultimately, what makes a company long-term competitive is how quickly it innovates. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Artem Koren LinkedInWebsite

Mar 4, 202431 min

448: Amplifying Your Message With Podcasting with Angela Lewis

Angela Lewis, Founder of ALA Public Relations, delves into the intricate world of podcast outreach and the strategy behind getting your message out. Discover her top three criteria for matching clients with shows and learn why a podcast's listener count isn't the end-all for guest appearances.Angela offers a fresh perspective on the role of both podcasts and guests in marketing and shares priceless tips on building a lasting connection beyond the microphone. Don't miss out on her valuable advice tailored for anyone looking to amplify their voice in the digital space. Tune in to hear the full conversation and uncover the secret to earned media success!Episode Highlights:03:22 - It's knowing who you are, what's important to you, and where you're going to be able to make the decisions about opportunities. Then it's also looking at your skill set and seeing what you're great at, and then being able to see if that opportunity that is presented aligns with something that actually works for you.13:39 - I chose podcasting because there are a lot of podcasts and the structure of podcast is really long form content. And most podcast hosts actually want to build connections versus someone being hired by a TV station to do this five-minute segment. So, you can really deep dive and get to know people. I work only with people who are service-based or they work for a nonprofit, and the organization has hired me to help share the mission of the organization.18:21 - Don't be a guest on a podcast without the right equipment. I've heard podcasts where people don't have microphones. My microphone's right here and I wear headphones as well so that there isn't an echo. And you want to have clear, crisp audio. It doesn't matter how much, you know, if people can't hear it. It doesn't matter how much you want to help them if your audio is so bad, that it's distracting.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Angela LewisLinkedInWebsite

Mar 1, 202434 min

447: Self-Mastery, and the Power of Podcasting with Kimberly Spencer

In this episode of the Enterprise Now show, Elzie Flenard engages in a conversation with entrepreneur and founder Kimberly Spencer. Kimberly is a certified high performance coach, bestselling writer, health junkie, freedom-lover, & unsinkable optimist. The conversation unfolds into a discussion about Kimberly's entrepreneurial journey, beginning with her decision to drop out of college at 17 to pursue an acting career. Kimberly talks about her coaching business and emphasizes the significance of resilience in entrepreneurship and how self-mastery plays a crucial role in personal and professional development. They discuss the power of taking ownership of one's journey and the transformation that occurs through challenges.Overall, the conversation provides a rich tapestry of Kimberly's entrepreneurial journey, self-mastery principles, coaching philosophy, and the transformative power of podcasting.Highlights:14:36 - I came up with the idea, but I was doing all the things that I call productive procrastination. It was like doing the logo, like building a business plan. It looked really good, but I felt that there was no money flowing in from it and that whole process, and I had to take ownership of where I felt like my blame ended and where I would stop blaming my former business partner for my current circumstances and my lack of success. In my case, it was in my coaching business. 27:03 - When you've borrowed people's audiences enough, because you've guested on other people's podcasts, they've heard your message, they want to learn more, and you have your own podcast, then they're in an incubator of being able to consume your content, get to know you, understand your messaging, understand your values, and then discern based on long-form content if they want to buy rather than like short 15-second reels, where you're mouthing something that they may forget in a couple of days, like when you take the time to consume a podcast, three out of four people who listen to podcasts listen to learn something new.30:59 - This is where I get very on with podcasters. Do the guest a favor, release the episode, honor your commitment, and be impeccable with your word, because podcasting can be a really good thing. This is like the secret sauce, guys, like it can be a beautiful way to pick your brain, like where you get the concepts, the knowledge, the book recommendations, the strategies—and you're like, holy crap, I'm getting this for free. Yes, you're getting this because you are committing to share their message and their strategies with the world. What drives me up a wall is when podcasters do that and then they don't release the episodes because only 5 percent of podcasts do, releasing an episode every 90 days.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Kimberly SpencerWebsite LinkedIn

Feb 29, 202439 min

446: Discovering Your Business North Star with Kati Pauls

Dive into an invigorating discussion with Elzie and brand alchemist, Kati Pauls of KP Design, as they navigate the transformative landscape of branding and website design. Discover Kati's unique observations on the effects of artificial intelligence on the industry, and learn why she champions specialization over dilution of skills.  Gain insights from her personal journey of scaling her business while sticking to her "North Star". Uncover the power of strategic partnerships, and how they've bolstered Kati's business without sacrificing her individuality.  This episode offers a glimpse into the complexities of aligning business decisions with lifestyle choices and the art of maintaining authenticity in a rapidly evolving market. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that doesn't shy away from hard truths and thought-provoking insights. Episode Highlights:06:09 - I'm a specialist. I'm doing this by myself. I'm not growing a team. So, usually when I come across coaching, the first thing is, "Oh, hire this person, hire that person, hire that person. Let's grow the team. That's the only way to scale your business." But that's just not how I work. 10:31 - The Alchemist is my truth. I read it every year, and every time I read it, there's something in it that gives me a message that I wasn't expecting to get. So, when I thought about The Alchemist for myself, it's like, "This makes sense because when someone works with me, they're expecting a transformation of some kind." So, we're taking one thing and transforming it into something else.13:54 - When you are building your brand, you have to first look at your own brand and ask yourself if you connect. What is your emotional reaction when you see your brand? If the reaction is not great, if you're even just a little bit embarrassed or timid about your brand, that's a problem. If you want to grow your business, your brand has to be able to be out there on your behalf 24/7. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Kati PaulsLinkedInWebsite 

Feb 28, 202430 min

445: Grace Under Pressure: How to Triumph in Customer Service with Angela Black

Join Elzie and Angela Black, the revered Customer Queen, as they unravel the art of turning customer service lemons into loyalty lemonade. Discover how a small desk mishap with Amazon blossoms into a masterclass on maintaining grace under pressure.Angela's candid tales from the frontline of sales—complete with hang-ups and tears—will equip you with the emotional armor necessary to conquer customer service battles. Meanwhile, Elzie underlines the importance of gratitude, and the pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams. This is not just about keeping customers but it's a deeper dive into why "all money is not good money" and how to respect your business boundaries. Eager for the blueprint to customer recovery and professional poise? Tune in for insight that balances humanity and business, with a sprinkle of tough love. Episode Highlights:09:11 - I surround myself with people who are doing really well in business and I learned from them. That's what I didn't do and the mistake that I made the first two times was I didn't surround myself with a community of people that were supportive and understood what it's like to be an entrepreneur. I didn't get the help that I needed. I didn't invest in myself, and now I do. 17:54 - Things that you can delegate to people, delegate. And I know people have tight budgets. That's why I say hire your teenage kids, if you have kids that you can hire, but also look into hiring a VA. There are a lot of VAs that are overseas that you could hire to do some of these personal touches for you, even if it's send an email directly to a person and not a mass email.23:58 - It makes it easier for me to help a larger amount of people because I see there are so many people who have just not even thought about their customer experience, and you're also going to find out how to build your customer journey from the very beginning, where they find out about your business to the time they purchase from you and beyond. That whole customer journey, I'm going to teach you how to build it out and how to plan it. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Angela BlackLinkedInWebsiteFacebookEmail

Feb 27, 202431 min

444: Understanding the Dynamics of Selling Businesses with Scott Bushkie

Elzie chats with Scott Bushkie, a 25-year veteran in business selling and the Founder and Managing Partner of Cornerstone Business Services. They unpack the often overlooked dynamics of selling businesses. Scott compares running a business to training for a marathon and shares practical tips to enhance business value. He provides a sneak peek into the business selling process, from engagement to market entry, and highlights the crucial role of confidentiality. He also teases about the "three-legged stool" concept. The due diligence stage, buyer identification, and crafting compelling business narratives are also emphasized.Scott delves into the unique mid-market segment, where Cornerstone specializes. This episode promises valuable insights for business owners, potential sellers, and anyone intrigued by business transactions! Tune in for an enlightening discussion.Episode Highlights:11:06 - With most business owners, it's almost like running a marathon where they start out really strong and they're excited, and then they kind of get into this rut and slow down, and it becomes more of a lifestyle business. And also now all the coaches go away, the mile markers go away, and you have no idea where you're in this process, and they don't know where that finish line is.15:43 - The less important you are to the business ideally, hypothetically, the more valuable the company is. Because what I'm buying, there's a team there that's proven, no one's leaving, and I have a better chance of success moving forward. So, that's the first one. It's really building out your management team. 20:39 - Most business owners, unfortunately, they don't know what their business is worth. So, one day they wake up and say, "I"m burnt out. I'm going to call my CPA or my attorney. I'm going to call my competitor on the street and they'll help me put the deal together, and it'll be easy."Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Scott Bushkie WebsiteLinkedIn

Feb 26, 202441 min

443: Manifesting Your Dreams through Belief and Imagination with Meshell Baker

Meshell Baker, who is a transformational keynote speaker, shares insights on the power of belief, imagination, and gratitude in transforming your life. Meshell delves into how a clear vision and an expansive imagination can help you overcome the hurdles life throws at you. She also emphasizes the necessity of constantly infusing your mind with your audacious goals, and the priceless feeling of joy when your trust in the universe pays off. This episode isn't about superficial achievements, but about architecting a resilient character that remains joyful and valuable no matter what. So, tune in to discover how to create a life that's more than just the acquisitions and accolades. Remember, you are invaluable!Episode Highlights:26:28 - If you want to master your business and your life, start stepping into the uncomfortable because it is not real. It's an illusion. Fear is not real. Fear is just your mind making up a story based on the historical data of that emotion. If you have a future of wanting success, you have never felt success in this moment. You must train your body to know that fear is success. Success, failure, and mistakes are the opposite sides of the coin.30:31 - I always tell people to dream big. So, joy comes from satisfaction and fulfillment of a life lived well. Joy is lasting above. Happiness is a temporary emotion. Joy is actually a mindset. And in order to shift your mindset to joy, you must be doing things that give you fulfillment and satisfaction.31:25 - When you are focused on something that's bigger and greater than you, that you can't see or figure out how you're going to do it, it ignites you from the inside internally. It causes your imagination to start to work in your favor instead of against you. Because that's the only way you're going to fulfill it, is you have to start thinking big and positive, favorable outcomes. Otherwise, you'll never achieve it and it actually helps to elevate your gratitude.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Meshell BakerLinkedInFacebookWebsiteEmail

Feb 23, 202436 min

442: Building Authentic Connections and Nurturing Success with Ramon Ray

In this lively episode, Elzie engages with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Ramon Ray, exploring a range of topics from small business advocacy to personal branding. Ramon, the founder of Smart Hustle Media, shares insights into his multifaceted role and experiences, emphasizing the power of podcasting in building authentic connections and dedicated tribes.Ramon delves into personal aspects of his life, touching on his nearly 30-year marriage, two adult children, and notable experiences like testifying before Congress and interviewing President Barack Obama. Ramon's perspective on faith, family, and business highlights the centrality of faith in everything he does, reflecting his genuine desire to help others.Ramon provides valuable insights into the principles of building trust and attention, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in the process. The discussion takes a practical turn as Elzie and Ramon explore the challenges of focus and mindset in entrepreneurship. The episode provides valuable takeaways on the nuances of entrepreneurship and relationship-building in the business landscape.Episode Highlights:04:01- Podcasting is the ultimate way, in my humble opinion, to build your best tribe. Podcasting is something you can't do halfway. People are going to either want to listen to it, download each episode, like getting an episode of SWAT, or take your best channel, whatever it is, they're going to even want to watch it, or they're not. So, that's why I find that podcasting is the ultimate tool of connectivity.26:07 - Many business owners want sales. I'm a firm believer before they get sales, they should be seeking trust. Before they get trust, they have to have attention. That's why we teach that if you get attention from the right people and start to build trust with them over time, you will make a sale.43:57 - I'm talking to people of faith. This world is competing against that. I do believe we're in a spiritual war. So, my advice is to be the best business owner you can be, with no shame or blemish. I mean, zero blemish. You have no room for error, no room for error, none, zero margin. So, you are the best business person in the world who happens to be a person of faith and then, whatever your devotions or your connection to God may be, mine may be different than yours in particular, but if we're talking to people who are on the same wavelength, be filled in that every day.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Ramon RayWebsiteLinkedInFacebookTwitterCelebrity CEO

Feb 22, 202445 min

441: Authentic Listening and Emotional Intelligence with Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson, the mind behind the Master of Business Leadership program imparts his wisdom on the importance of authentic listening and shares how it can deepen relationships and foster personal success.He also delves into the powerful impact of aligning individual and organizational goals. Hear more about what the Master of Business Leadership program offers and how it's helping individuals and companies attain their goals. Tune in now to get exceptional insights on the difference between intellectual and experiential learning.Episode Highlights:06:06 - We go into what psychologists refer to as an amygdala hijack. Some people lash out, some people run away, some people freeze like a deer in headlights. When that happens in conflict situations, people die. When it happens in business or personal situations, relationships die. We burn trust. 13:50 - When we're unconsciously giving away our energy, it creates an energy deficit in us. So, at the same time we're giving away our energy over here, we're simultaneously trying to replace that energy by stealing energy from other people over here. And that dynamic is going on inside of everybody, everywhere in the world, all the time. And that is the root cause of all drama, chaos, and conflict.17:39 - Think of the organization as an engine and think of the employees as the pistons in that engine. By aligning the individual vision to the organizational vision, you're going to create a much more engaged, smoother running organization that's more highly, highly engaged. If the employee doesn't see how the organizational success is aligned with their individual view of success, they're not going to be that engaged. The employee has to understand what it is they want to achieve, and they have to understand the organization's view of success, and you have to create that alignment, because if that alignment's not there, you're not going to have the level of engagement that you want to have to succeed. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Phil JohnsonLinkedInZoom Calendar

Feb 21, 202423 min

440: From Beta Tests to Billion-Dollar Bullseye With Jonathan Cronstedt

Elzie Flenard engages in a dynamic conversation with Jonathan Cronstedt about leadership, self-leadership, and the transformative journey of Kajabi. Jonathan emphasizes the evolving nature of leadership across different stages, highlighting the challenges of self-leadership and the need to overcome the desire for approval.Their discussion explores the intricate relationship between purpose, culture, and business growth, drawing inspiration from Netflix's "good goodbye" concept.  Jonathan introduces the "bullseye" concept from his upcoming book, "Billion Dollar Bullseye," outlining seven core areas of focus in a business. Purpose, profit, product, prestige, promotion, persuasion, and people form the concentric rings that contribute to a company's growth.Jonathan shares valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, urging them to focus on solving real problems, remaining customer-centric, and adapting to the evolving landscape of business. As the conversation unfolds, listeners gain deep insights into the dynamics of leadership, navigating challenges, and the power of purpose in driving entrepreneurial success.Episode Highlights:13:31 - The most famous quote on culture is from Peter Drucker, who says "Culture eats strategy for breakfast", and he's right. This is one of those areas where I think the biggest mistake that most companies are making as it relates to their culture is that they're trying to be everything to everybody. And you just simply can't be that, whether you're looking at the customers you serve, the employees you have, or even your own internal goals, I really do think that you've got to get very, very precise on what those goals are and how those goals are brought about through an organization.28:09 - I don't know the right answer for you. I know the right answer for Kajabi was to remain steadfastly focused. The outcome, which was the success of our customers, meant that when our customers needed email, we built email. When our customers needed automated live events, we built automated live events.It meant that whatever our customers needed, we were committed to staying at the forefront of that for them.32:20 - I'm a much bigger fan of actual intelligence than I am of artificial intelligence. That's the AI that I choose to focus on. I think that right now, AI is an amazing tool, but it's a terrible leader. If you're counting on the fact that AI is going to replace your business, then you probably deserve to be replaced by AI. If the world needed information and that was what was important or relevant, we'd already be set; you know, all of the information is online, available for free, and in a disorganized and possibly not true fashion, but it's all out there and available. And AI is learning off of that and is a little bit better. But I think we're going to see AI go through the same adoption curve that we always see everything go through that everyone's going to get really excited about, like the Internet in 1995.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact JonathanLinkedIn

Feb 20, 202442 min

439: Digital Assets, Self-Mastery, and Podcasting Legacy with S.A. Grant

Podcast. S.A. shares his diverse background, from graffiti artist in Brooklyn to founding multiple businesses, emphasizing the continuous journey of self-mastery. S.A. details his current focus on consolidating digital assets into one platform and delves into the concept of digital assets as income generators or lead magnets.S.A. shares thoughts on his journey of self-mastery and reflects on the ongoing process of learning, overcoming hurdles, and adapting to new challenges, emphasizing the mental aspect of personal growth.S.A details his business models, envisioning passive income through affiliate marketing and leveraging the podcast as a lead magnet. The Boss Uncaged Podcast is not just a podcast—it's a comprehensive ecosystem that he is strategically building for long-term success. He delves into various aspects of his media and podcasting journey sharing valuable insights and plans.Listen to this engaging and dynamic conversation with S.A., covering podcasting insights, business strategies, and personal growth. His forward-thinking approach reflects a vision beyond his current role, envisioning the intersection of technology and podcasting for future growth and scalability.Highlights:16:22: There are a million different ways to monetize podcasting, than this agency, right? Podcasting becomes a lead magnet. Then people will kind of buy your services from your agency. But ideally, I'm looking at, okay, what if I use the podcast as a lead magnet? I find the right people, and then I apply them to other products and services, and it kind of goes into the affiliate side to kind of say, "Hey, I have information for you. I have value to add here. It is for free. Check it out." If you buy great things, I get paid. If not, then it is what it is. But ideally, that's the model. Everything that I'm building is going to go to just sending traffic to particular destinations.33:08: You could become a wealthy millionaire or a billionaire with a fraction of a percent of the entire world's population. So when somebody says that podcasting is flooded and there's too many again, there's only 3,000,000 podcasts collectively. And out of those podcasts, maybe 5 percent of them are creating content on a regular basis. So that leaves the other two million and change that don't do anything. So is it really flooded? No, it's far from it. Your audience and my audience may overlap, but again, you have a range of 8 billion people, and I have a range of 8 billion people. So if you're looking at this as two separate circles, yeah, we have some overlap. But I almost guarantee you that whoever's listening to this episode right now may be the first time they've even heard of me, and vice versa on my episode.43:07: I am working to the point where, if I die tomorrow, this podcast, everything that I'm building in this ecosystem, and this umbrella company should be able to not run itself today but eventually be able to run itself to a certain extent. So whether it's my ancestors, whether it's like my kids, or whether it's someone else that buys the company from them, then ideally all these structural things are in place.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact S.A.LinkedInWebsite

Feb 19, 202452 min

438: Credit Mastery and Creative Financing With Will Roundtree

In today's episode, Elzie Flenard engages in a captivating conversation with business expert Will Roundtree. Together, they dive deep into the realm of business credit, funding strategies, and the art of managing finances.Throughout the conversation, the importance of structured business approaches is underscored. Will advocates for businesses to operate with a focus on customer experience, result-oriented processes, and scalability. The episode encapsulates the essence of wealth-building through creative financing.Will's journey from personal credit struggles to mastering creative financing and building a financial education empire is both inspiring and educational. This episode provides valuable insights into the world of business credit, funding strategies, and the mindset required for financial success. Tune in, learn, and transform your approach to business and finance.Highlights:02:31 - The banks know that nine out of ten businesses will fail year one through three, and the likelihood of a business being open past year one through three is about 10%. And so the odds are stacked against most people. So, when people go to the bank and the first thing they say is, "Oh, let me go get a small business loan," it's almost like looking for Bigfoot; it's almost nonexistent. But then, a lot of times, people will say, "Well, let me try to go for an SBA loan." Less than 1% of businesses ever get approved for SBA loans, especially in the black community, because a lot of those businesses don't have their paperwork in order.11:35 - I started studying economics because I often say that one of the reasons why a lot of small businesses, especially in our communities, don't make it is that we don't learn the economics of things. We hear about financial literacy, but I think that economics is the second part of that. And so in my four-step Roundtree methodology, I call it that there's four things that you need to focus on, or four steps. Number one is mindset. Number two is understanding the power of credit. Number three is knowing the cost of money. That's the economic part, which eventually will help you build assets and wealth.29:14 - A lot of times I meet so many people who go and get capital or want to go into business, and they're so busy looking at everybody else's lens that they are trying to hurry up and get there, not knowing that the person who you're looking at probably has been in the game or running this race for 20 years, like myself. So, stop trying to compare yourself to somebody who's on chapter 20 and you're still in the introductory stage of your book or in your journey. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Will RoundtreeLinkedInFacebookTwitterBooks: Credit is King, Full Time CEO

Feb 16, 202435 min

437: Data Transparency Revolution with Britt Gottschalk

Elzie Flenard is joined by Britt Gottschalk, the founder of Geno.Me, as they dive into the entrepreneurial journey and the groundbreaking work being done in the field of health data accessibility. Britt shares her transition from a corporate background in management consulting to venturing into entrepreneurship. With a background in industrial organizational psychology, she emphasizes the importance of understanding team dynamics and organizational behavior.As the discussion delves into Geno.Me's genesis, Britt explains the critical problems they aim to solve in both B2B and B2C realms. On the B2B side, Geno.Me provides a revolutionary solution to data accessibility issues faced by research organizations, offering a streamlined platform for data sharing and analysis. On the B2C side, contributors to Geno.Me are not just sources of data but active participants compensated for their contribution, fostering transparency in the often opaque world of data monetization.Britt also shares insights into her funding journey, emphasizing the significance of aligning with investors who share the passion and vision for the business. The show wraps up with Britt offering valuable advice to budding entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of starting, prioritizing, and being prepared to make sacrifices on the path to success.Episode Highlights:15:50 - So, our seed round, we rounded out at $500,000, and that was at the end of 2021. So, the last year and a half has been dedicated to producing things like our beta, our MVP, and raising additional capital.18:36 - mean, we are tackling the big, hairy elephant of data transparency, because a lot of times it's gotten a bad rap because of the way that the business is conducted, where it's just these large institutions that are stockpiling data on individuals and selling it to other organizations.That's not what we want to do. We want to be as transparent as possible and loop in people whose data it is that is lucrative and that is being sold. 23:44 - The number-one tip is start. Do it. Because I talk to a lot of entrepreneurs where it's like they have an idea, but they are really hesitant about trying to make any leaps forward with it. And you can always say what if, but at some point you have to just be able to take that step. 26:16 - There's going to be a lot of critics out there. There's going to be a lot of people who are going to laugh in your face and tell you that what you're doing is not worth your time, your energy, or your effort. But, at the end of the day, you need to be the one that can say to yourself, I believe it's worth my effort and my time, and I'm confident in what I'm doing. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Britt GottschalkWebsiteLinkedInE-mail

Feb 15, 202433 min

436: Navigating Marketing, Growth and Operations with Nathan Yeung

In an exciting conversation between Nathan Yeung and Elzie Flenard, Nathan, the CEO of Find Your Audience, shares a wealth of insights drawn from his unique journey, transitioning from a VP of finance and management consulting to a marketer. He emphasizes the need for a holistic perspective in marketing, combining creativity with a focus on operations for practical implementation.Nathan details the growth of his agency from 14 to 25 employees, addressing the challenges of scaling and the crucial role of organizational structure. He explores the delicate balance between autonomy and oversight in managing creative teams, advocating for empowering employees while providing necessary support.This episode is a treasure trove of practical business advice and heartfelt reflections, offering invaluable insights for entrepreneurs and professionals alike. Nathan Yeung's experiences provide practical lessons for marketers and business owners seeking to enhance their marketing strategies and effectively scale their operations. It delivers a compelling blend of industry wisdom and personal revelations, making it essential listening for those navigating the dynamic landscape of marketing.Highlights:08:02: So, business owners, you know that it is not easy to empower employees. Why? You're scared to fail. You don't make mistakes. And when you make mistakes, you put in the extra hours to do that. When someone else makes a mistake, it's out of your control. You don't feel comfortable. So the reality is that there is no shortcut to this. You're going to have to give autonomy, and you're going to have to sometimes do things in parallel.16:00: So the reality is that marketing in general, for, I'm going to say, more than 90 percent of my clients, is very much an educational journey. Which is why they're probably hiring me. The reality is that a lot of companies go, "I don't know where to start." And they go, "Well, where have you started?" And they go, "Well, I've done this." And I can probably ask 5 or 6 questions within 5 minutes. And I'll be able to identify why they're not successful. 26:58: When you start your business, you're going to have to work with people you don't like because you have to get it going. You have to cross that chasm. You know, you've got to make sure you've got your case studies and your success track record. But once you do that, don't work with someone you don't like. It's not worth it ever.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Nathan YeungLinkedInInstagramWebsite

Feb 14, 202434 min

435: Cultivating the Future with Mitchelle Lyle and Paul O'Neil

Elzie Flenard hosts another engaging episode, this time featuring Mitchelle Lyle and Paul O'Neil. The episode delves into the unique intersection of Mitchelle and Paul's paths, exploring the themes of vision, hope, and perseverance.Mitchelle shares her journey with ITA (International Traveler's Academy), a startup focusing on connecting employers and employees in the niche market of working and living internationally. The momentum and impact of ITA led Mitchelle to explore her passion for hydroponics, a soilless gardening method. She highlights the significance of contributing positively to her community, drawing parallels between her experiences in the corporate world and her desire for more meaningful change.Paul, an electrician turned IT professional, narrates his story of transitioning careers and discovering hydroponics. The chance meeting with Mitchelle at the National Society of Black Engineers conference sparked their collaboration on a hydroponics program. The conversation shifted to their shared goals of piloting the program in Milwaukee and eventually expanding to Brooklyn, addressing challenges and showcasing their adaptability.The episode offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship, community impact, and the fascinating world of hydroponics.Highlights:03:52 - I don't want to ever get stuck in the space where I feel stuck in a job or I feel stuck in a particular career, and it's very one-dimensional because, as people, we're just not. Even considering that for myself and the momentum that I have for ITA, I moved away from Milwaukee, I came back, I live in the same neighborhood that I grew up in, and a lot of those things didn't change. And I have been thinking about what I can do to really impact my community in a positive way.20:15 - I think it's because hydroponics are probably on the cusp of still being new enough that people are confused when you say it, and it's like you have to convince them of how good it is. But I think once people understand it, then it can be a part of a lot of different programs. It can be a part of a lot of these initiatives.23:07 - Somebody could put some big money into hydroponics, and this thing could blow up. So, I think that is one of the things, like people just aren't putting money behind it yet because there are a lot of things in this world. We're still stuck on the old stuff. Instead of looking ahead and saying, "You know what? This right here is what we need."Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Mitchelle Lyle and Paul O'Neil EmailTikTokLinkedInWebsiteFacebookInstagramCheck out Mitchelle's other episodesEp 250: Conquering Professional Challenges with Mitchelle LyleEp 251: Harnessing the Courage To Win with Mitchelle LyleEp 252: Bringing the Vision to Life with Mitchelle LyleEp 253: Engineering a Business Out of Passion with Mitchelle Lyle

Feb 13, 202439 min

434: Mastering the Art of Deals With Corey Kupfer

Elzie Flenard engages in an insightful conversation with Corey Kupfer, a seasoned entrepreneur and expert in law, negotiation, and podcasting. Corey shares his journey from being a Brooklyn kid to establishing a successful law firm and speaking, training, and consulting company. As a deal maker, Corey delves into the strategies he employed to build, grow, and scale his service-based business in the highly competitive field of law.Corey and Elzie explore various types of deals, such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, online affiliate deals, sponsorship deals, and more. Corey also sheds light on his foray into podcasting and how it became a cornerstone of his authority marketing approach. The DealQuest podcast, now rated in the top 1% globally, has become a platform for deal makers to share their experiences and insights, inspiring entrepreneurs to explore different avenues for business growth.Listen now gain valuable insights into Corey's approach to negotiation, deal-making, and the significance of a clear mindset in achieving success in the world of entrepreneurship.Highlights:11:09- So what happens in the authority marketing model is that some people think you have to do everything—you know, you have to be on Instagram, you have to be on LinkedIn, you have to be blogging, you have to be doing a podcast, you have to write a book, you have to write. And first of all, it's impossible and second of all, I think the most successful people find the platform of platforms that they're on. That's why they're comfortable with that; they're drawn to it. They're going to do it consistently, right? Because one of the biggest things on authority marketing is that you have to do things consistently.18:50- So there's a deal-maker mentality. One of the reasons I really started the podcast is because I found that every company's trying to grow organically. Everybody's trying to get more customers, more clients, increase sales and marketing, and provide great products and services, right? And you should do that. If you can't get a customer, a client, get another one, and get another one organically, you probably don't have a viable business. Having said that, though, I also would run into people all the time who would be frustrated they weren't growing or they were not growing as fast as they'd like and they were trying to, let's say, access a new market or hire a new talent or get into a new vertical, geography, whatever it was, and they were trying to do it organically. And there are many, many ways that you can do deals to help accelerate that. And if you study the most successful companies, they do both. They have a good, or excellent, organic growth engine. And they also do deals. 33:30-The other huge thing that's been important to me in my life for many, many years now is being of service. And that's how I approach my clients and my law firm, but it's also, my wife and I are involved in many things outside of businesses, and I have a very specific goal in terms of what we want to do in terms of increasing our philanthropic work and specifically it's funny, we've given out a lot over the years, and we have given a decent amount of money.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Corey Kupfer WebsiteLinkedIn

Feb 12, 202431 min

433: Success, Self-awareness, and Stress Management with Dave Valentine

Elzie hosts Dave Valentine, Founder of DreamQuest Agency, for a deep dive into agency growth. Dave shares insights from his agency journey, emphasizing the pivotal role of reliable lead generation and operational efficiency. A focus on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and effective task delegation emerges as a key theme, with Dave highlighting the long-term benefits of documenting processes for scalability.The conversation explores the significance of focus, clarity, and intention in business strategy. Dave advocates for niche specialization, comparing the efficiency of specialists to the challenges faced by generalists. Introducing the Dream Agency Quest program, Dave outlines its two versions, offering yearly growth support and a three-year commitment for agencies contemplating a potential sale.Dave encourages entrepreneurs to embrace self-awareness, believe in their services, and resist the allure of every opportunity. The Dream Agency Quest emerges as a valuable tool for agency owners seeking to scale, grow, and potentially sell their businesses. The episode concludes with gratitude from Elzie and an invitation from Dave for entrepreneurs to reflect on the impact of focus and intention on their businesses.Highlights:07:00: If you don't have SOPs, standard operating procedures, for your team to follow, it doesn't matter if you're a really great practitioner. I was and am a very good digital advertising person. I knew how to target the right copy and put it to the creative. And this was before they had a lot of automated targeting that's pretty savvy now. So I could do it, but I could never train someone else to do it. And so I always found myself going behind the people that I hired to do that work and doing it for them.15:28: After I sold my first agency, I had a lot of people say, dude, how did you do that? You know? I mean, because that's what people want to do. And in 2020, I started consulting with agency owners, and I started to see they would see immediate success. So they would go from making $10,000 a month to $25,000 a month in 45 days just because I was like, "hey, here's how you do lead generation. Here's how you set up the systems. Here's how you take sales calls." And it's so rewarding to see other people be successful when they're using your playbook.31:27: So one of the ways that we do this is that no one person at any company that I own ever makes more than 5 times as much as the lowest-paid person. So if I want to take a raise, that's cool.That's great. I have to get the bottom person up so that I can have that race. And what that does is create this community amongst our employees where they go. Dave has a job that I don't want. I'm glad that he makes more than me exponentially, because I don't want to do what he does. But I also know that I'm not getting fleeced, that I'm still making a lot of money, and that I'm being taken care of. And so it's just being thoughtful, conscious, and aware of the actions that we take that affect other people and the planet.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Dave ValentineLinkedIn

Feb 9, 202434 min

432: Disrupting The Freelancing Industry with Karl Swanepoel

In this lively conversation, Elzie and Revolancer founder Karl Swanepoel explore the dynamic world of freelancing. Revolancer, born out of personal frustration with existing solutions, stands out with over 20,000 users in just two years, aiming to revolutionize freelancing by eliminating commission fees. Karl, with a background in AI and robotics, sheds light on the strategic shift to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model and the importance of first-principle thinking in overcoming industry challenges.The episode emphasizes key insights for entrepreneurs and freelancers, touching on self-confidence, networking, and standing out in a crowded market. Karl shares tactics to combat the race-to-the-bottom pricing dilemma, offering valuable advice to businesses and freelancers.The conversation dives into broader business lessons, with Karl emphasizing perseverance, learning from failure, and adopting a customer-centric approach. Highlights:09:40: I think it's really important to work with clients who kind of develop a good relationship with clients. I can tell you that from my freelancing experience, I actually noticed a really strange kind of trend, which is that for my 2 clients, I have 2 clients who paid me a lot more than every other client I had. And those two clients were by far the best to work with. They were the most understanding, the most reasonable, and just a real pleasure to work with. I felt like I was really contributing something, and the clients who were constantly trying to push the price down and had tiny budgets were often horrible to deal with.19:32: I don't think it's likely that some AI is going to start launching nukes or go  terminate, or whatever. But I think it's more so in automating jobs that there's now suddenly a large portion of humans who cannot do anything better, more efficiently than a machine can. And at that point what do they do? I think there are a lot of big questions around that, but there aren't really good answers, and people aren't moving fast enough to find good answers there. 23:21 People think that when you start a business, you have a cool idea. You go out there and build the idea and put it out there, advertise to people, and they buy from you, essentially. But, really, what I found is that the best way to start a business or any kind of project is to identify your target audience and then sort of like understand what their problems are and then build a solution for a very big problem for a very specific group of people. That way, your chances of success and your chances of guessing the right idea are just so much higher. 25:59: That's why you start with finding a target audience that you want to help or kind of a certain, just broader, industry that you want to be involved in. But as for what your business very specifically does, I think it needs to be driven by  what the audience wants. So, for example, I could say that I used to be a freelancer. I face all kinds of issues. I want to make the industry better for freelancers. I don't know. I want to build a platform that's going to help freelancers.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Karl SwanepoelLinkedIn

Feb 8, 202431 min

431: Blazing a Trail from Music to Tech Entrepreneurship with Chynna Morgan

Blazing a Trail from Music to Tech Entrepreneurship with Chynna MorganChynna shares insights into her journey as a SaaS founder, recounting the challenges posed by the pandemic and how it led to the birth of Vidlo. Diving into the essence of user-generated content (UGC), Chynna breaks down the concept, emphasizing its impact on brand authenticity. She explains how Vidlo facilitates the creation of UGC campaigns, allowing brands to engage their audience organically.Chynna highlights the significance of a visually appealing brand design for capturing audience attention. The conversation flows seamlessly from discussing favorite campaigns to the pivotal role of connections and teamwork in business success. Episode Highlights:10:08: So I think that a lot of times what brands do is create an experience, whether it's like a photo booth inside their store or a campaign to drive more impact for their brand. But what the audience is getting in return is a giveaway. They could get a promo code of, you know, you post this on Instagram. You get 10% off your next product. And to be honest with you, bigger than that, they're a part of the brand story now. Right? Now that you are, I'm seeing myself on your page. I feel like I'm a part of a story, which I think has a bigger impact than anything I said before.17:30: You have to create a campaign that's visually appealing. So that's going to be the first thing someone's going to see when they scan it. If they think that your branding is sloppy or blurry, they're not even going to go to the next step. So I think first impressions always, have to have that good first impression. So I would say, like, make sure the design of your landing page for your logo is very clear and very nice. What else should they not do? You should not just let the campaign sit on the platform.21:38: Because I think a lot of people have these ideas. Like you said, they think they're awesome. It's going to work right away. Right? But they're not doing any type of research to really understand their target audience. They're not doing any market research to really understand, is this business sustainable? Am I really going to make money off of this business? Or am I just being cocky and thinking that this is awesome because I thought of it? So I think that's where a lot of problems lie when people create businesses. It's like they're doing it for themselves, and there's really not a problem to solve in the market. So I want to make sure there was a problem to solve with Vidlo. So I did a lot of market research.29:08: The key is not giving up. Right? And always knowing that, the goal ahead, if you don't give up, you're always going to attain that, you know? So I keep that in mind, and I just have passion for what I'm building. When you have passion about it and you see how it can benefit people and how it could change other people's lives or make their lives easier, that also allows you to keep on going as well. So I don't know. I think just from being young, I've always just kind of had this kind of resilience in me. And I never give up; if I believe something, then I'm going to keep on doing it. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios. Contact Chynna MorganLinkedin

Feb 7, 202428 min

430: Key Skills for Successful Newsletter Strategy with Itay Paz

Itay shares his journey into the online world over 28 years ago, emphasizing the importance of thinking long-term in business.The conversation dives into the world of newsletters and email marketing, with Itay stressing the value of quality over quantity in building an email list. He highlights the simplicity of effective email writing, suggesting that individuals write how they speak to authentically connect with their audience.Itay introduces the concept of the Morning Dough, a curated newsletter born during the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses various types of newsletters, including content updates, podcast highlights, and curated news. Itay provides insights into differentiating newsletters and attracting subscribers by putting oneself into the content.Episode Highlights:06:06 - You can always find people to connect with you. And that's why it's connecting also to emails or podcasts. If you're speaking the same language, it's much easier because people can relate to you. Getting the people and start building a podcast slash email list, I think it's more or less the same.11:21 - In the email list, it's very easy to say, "Oh, the email list doesn't really work. I don't have enough subscribers." It takes time to build it. It's all about one more and one more and one more and some will leave and that's okay. Some people are doing all kinds of efforts to keep people on the list. I say, you don't need it. If someone wants to leave the list, let them go. You don't need them. 16:03 - Think about the long term and evergreen. You need a business that works also for you that if you're gone for two months, it might be lower a little bit but still keep on running. Build value, build employees.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Itay PazLinkedInWebsiteFacebook

Feb 6, 202423 min

429: Threads of Success Beyond The Lens with Dujuan Cherry

Dujuan Cherry, the creative force behind Agency ML, offers valuable insights into navigating the world of wealth advisory. He emphasizes the importance of embodying your brand and becoming the character you aspire to be. As we delve deeper, Dujuan shares his ambitious plans for incorporating AI and creating short films. He opens up about his dream of transforming Milwaukee into a production hub for great shows and talent. He envisions a future where Hollywood comes to Milwaukee, providing the talent in his city an elevated platform. Listen in as Dujuan shares insights into creating an unforgettable customer experience and his unique approach to video production. For an episode packed with passion, determination, and a fresh perspective on building a local Hollywood, tune in.  Episode Highlights: 14:11 - Talk about what you do, talk about the importance of your service. But not only that, do whatever you can, you know. Volunteer your time. It's always good. Once again, kind of going back to that it's always good to give more than you take. So, volunteer your time. At the end, people will see that, and people will understand this is somebody who loves us and not just wants to have us as a client. 18:48 - I feel when you see something visually and you're hearing a person's story, you feel as if you're in the room with them. It's almost as if there's a relatability. It just tells a better story visually. People are attracted to movies, and movies tell a great story. And if you can create almost a movie-like feel to whatever message you're trying to portray to your specific type of clientele for your business, then it's going to have that same sort of emotion behind it.29:04 - I think I want Milwaukee to become a place where you don't have to go to Hollywood. Hollywood will come to us. And I think that's the biggest thing right now that I'm working on. I guess you could say, new business plan or try to incorporate that within the business, but I want to build a film-slash-television show production where great shows are being put on major networks. And people are either moving to Milwaukee or young talent are auditioning in Milwaukee.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Dujuan CherryLinkedInInstagram

Feb 5, 202431 min

428: Changing Game-Night with Tech with Frederick Birchfield

A self-taught tech enthusiast and entrepreneur, Frederick Birchfield, shares his journey of creating a transformative contactless ordering system for sports venues - Arena Eats. Peek into the mind of Frederick as he discusses the importance of customer satisfaction and his vision to revolutionize the sports tech business. Learn about the unique features of Arena Eats and how it's designed to give every customer a VIP experience, right from pre-ordering food hours before a game to efficiently handling customer feedback. The discussion extends beyond just the app as Frederick shares valuable insights on how to create successful partnerships in business, maintain effective relationships, and handle the challenges of being a CEO. Tune in to get a glimpse into his life lessons and his unwavering determination to keep going against all odds. This episode is a deep dive into the world of sports tech, entrepreneurship, and relationship building. A must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts alike.Episode Highlights:08:06 - Most of these sports teams and stuff don't even have a relationship with their fans. They don't even have a clue. But whoever they're working with is not forwarding that information. They just saying, "Look, you got a boost in this. You got that and that." It's more to it than that. And being a sports fan myself, I'm big on customer service. If you screw me once, I will not be back. It's just how it is. I'll stay home and watch a game from home. And I realized that and if you want these fans to come back, you have to be on it.12:42 - If a team has sponsors or partners, we can put in a chat wall, we can put in a photo gallery, and we can spotlight every partner on any given night that they will want to choose from. If they want them to come on and tell a story, or whatever it is, Harry's Plumbing, or something like that, we can showcase that. Which basically, for most venues, if it's a small market, that's a way of helping them generate revenue because their partners or sponsors are paying for marketing somewhere else. This way you got your brand in a fan's pocket. They're taking you home.14:46 - Just because you own a business, and it doesn't matter if the sand that goes now, if you got it out the mud, and nothing was handed to you, it wasn't who you knew, or none of this stuff, is to always be grounded and realize who you are. If I treat a person coming out in a suit the same way I would treat the janitor who's probably mopping the floors of the hallway, because that's just how I am. I was just brought up that way. Always being up front, truthful, always be hungry, but at the same time, be willing to hear a no. A no doesn't mean never, it's just not right now. I think a firm handshake and eye contact goes a long way. A lot of that is missing. 20:50 - When you have investors, which most of these tech giants do, you can't do that or you tacking a fine line because these investors want a certain return back on their money, and you got to make a profit. So, that's what I'm looking at right now where I'm like, if you got investors now, it's got to be a pain in the butt right now because they're calling you if not everyday, and they're telling you what you got to do. So, you're not in control anymore. That's what happened and I've turned down so many investors, not in a rude way, but I didn't get this far to hand over the keys to someone else to tell me how my brand should be run.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Frederick BirchfieldLinkedInWebsiteArena Eats appEmailPhone 414-553-9095

Feb 2, 202425 min

427: Money Isn't Everything in Business with Frederick Birchfield

Elzie teams up with the brilliant Frederick Birchfield to unravel the true essence of entrepreneurship. Frederick shares priceless insights from his vast experiences, unveiling the hidden secrets to success. Brace yourself for a mind-blowing conversation on resilience, the power of a clear vision, and the surprising role of revenue. But wait, there's more! Frederick takes us on an exclusive journey into his people-centric approach to entrepreneurship. He fearlessly exposes the often-overlooked challenges of involving investors. Don't miss out on this exhilarating dive into the depths of entrepreneurship, where you'll discover the ultimate secret to carving your own path in the dynamic world of business!Episode Highlight:01:46 - When you have investors, which most of these tech giants do, you can't do that or you tacking a fine line because these investors want a certain return back on their money, and you got to make a profit. So, that's what I'm looking at right now where I'm like, if you got investors now, it's got to be a pain in the butt right now because they're calling you if not everyday, and they're telling you what you got to do. So, you're not in control anymore. That's what happened and I've turned down so many investors, not in a rude way, but I didn't get this far to hand over the keys to someone else to tell me how my brand should be run.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Frederick BirchfieldLinkedInWebsiteArena Eats appEmailPhone 414-553-9095

Feb 1, 20244 min

426: Role of Relationships in Building Powerful Alliances with Frederick Birchfield

Join Elzie and Frederick Birchfield in this enlightening episode as they explore the crucial role of relationships in building strong business alliances. Discover insightful strategies to stay top of mind with customers and gain wisdom on forming valuable partnerships with team and arena owners.Tune in to learn how to cultivate effective relationships, uphold business etiquette, gracefully handle rejection, and recognize when to seek help in areas of weakness on your journey to success. Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights from these industry experts!Episode Highlight:00:36 - Just because you own a business, and it doesn't matter if the saying that goes now, if you got it out the mud, and nothing was handed to you, it wasn't who you knew, or none of this stuff, is to always be grounded and realize who you are. If I treat a person coming out in a suit the same way I would treat the janitor who's probably mopping the floors of the hallway, because that's just how I am. I was just brought up that way. Always being up front, truthful, always be hungry, but at the same time, be willing to hear a no. A no doesn't mean never, it's just not right now. I think a firm handshake and eye contact goes a long way. A lot of that is missing. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Frederick BirchfieldLinkedInWebsiteArena Eats appEmailPhone 414-553-9095

Jan 31, 20243 min

425: Serving Up Success in Sponsor Revenue with Frederick Birchfield

Frederick Birchfield explores strategies to enhance relations with concessionaires and maximize sponsor revenue. He offers invaluable advice on staffing and food quality, leaving you eager to uncover his specific insights. Discover how teams can creatively use apps to highlight sponsors, and the role push notifications and geofencing play in revenue generation. Don't miss out on Frederick's unique perspectives on finding and seizing lucrative opportunities. For these highlights and more, plug in your headphones, and dive into this micro episode!Episode Highlight:01:30 - If a team has sponsors or partners, we can put in a chat wall, we can put in a photo gallery, and we can spotlight every partner on any given night that they will want to choose from. If they want them to come on and tell a story, or whatever it is, Harry's Plumbing, or something like that, we can showcase that. Which basically, for most venues, if it's a small market, that's a way of helping them generate revenue because their partners or sponsors are paying for marketing somewhere else. This way you got your brand in a fan's pocket. They're taking you home.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Frederick BirchfieldLinkedInWebsiteArena Eats appEmailPhone 414-553-9095

Jan 30, 20242 min

424: A Customer-Centric Approach with Frederick Birchfield

Frederick Birchfield delves into the creation of an innovative app aimed to revolutionize the sports fan experience. He has found a way to prioritize what fans truly care about - convenience. Listen in as Frederick shares his vision of enhancing product reliability to ensure customer satisfaction and change the sports tech business. What if every customer could feel like a VIP, regardless of their seat? It's all about creating an immersive, inclusive experience. Tune in to discover more.Episode Highlight:01:56 - Most of these sports teams and stuff don't even have a relationship with their fans. They don't even have a clue. But whoever they're working with is not forwarding that information. They just saying, "Look, you got a boost in this. You got that and that." It's more to it than that. And being a sports fan myself, I'm big on customer service. If you screw me once, I will not be back. It's just how it is. I'll stay home and watch a game from home. And I realized that and if you want these fans to come back, you have to be on it.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Frederick BirchfieldLinkedInWebsiteArena Eats appEmailPhone 414-553-9095

Jan 29, 20243 min

423: Sales that Shine with Stacey Hall

The dynamic Stacey Hall, Founder and CEO of Success with Stacey Hall, TEDx and Keynote Presenter, and Author of 5 #1 Global Best-Sellers, shares a fresh perspective on business and entrepreneurship in this episode. She reveals her unique "ABCs of sales" and how selling from her comfort zone has propelled her to the top.Dive into a discussion on empathy-driven sales and learn how shifting away from traditional tactics can result in a more successful outcome. Stacey introduces a modern sales framework that emphasizes alignment, belief, and consistency. Hear about her lighthouse metaphor and understand how to effectively transform connections into prospects.If authenticity in sales intrigues you, Stacey's take on the matter is a must-listen. Plus, a sneak-peek into networking in the digital era. Tune in for these insights and more!Episode Highlights:04:06 - We must treat people like they're human beings. We take the targets off their heads. We stop looking at them as soulless, like all they have the ability to do is say yes or no. We realize that they're dealing with all sorts of issues in their lives. All of us are dealing with issues in our lives. We don't assume that the most important thing in the world to them is our product or our service. We learn to listen rather than be prepared to pitch. And we treat people that we meet wherever we meet them like we would if we were meeting them at a party. That's what I'm talking about. Like when I say to folks, "Would you ever walk into a birthday party wearing a sandwich sign for your business?" You might have business cards in your pocket. I get that. But would you walk into a party with a sandwich sign promoting your business? Everybody I've met says, no, they would not do that. I say, "Well, then why, when you first meet somebody through social media or at a networking event, the very first thing that comes out of your mouth is what you do?"05:54 - In this day and age, my new version of the ABCs is first, alignment, then belief, then consistency. And I use the metaphor of a lighthouse for what I'm talking about. So, if we think of a lighthouse and how it stands tall, I think you might be able to see mine here. They stand tall and grounded and centered, and they know their spot. And if it was in human form, you'd say, "Okay, they're pleased with their spot. They stay here. They don't try to be a searchlight being in everybody else's space. They know their space." So, the first step of alignment, Elzie, is I have to have a personal story as to why I believe in what I'm selling.19:48 - Not, oh, I can sell you a pair of shoes. You're doing research? Great. Have you researched this brand? They say, "No, I haven't heard about it." "Are you open to hearing about it? I can get you some research as to why I love them." I'm still not using the word sell because nobody wants to be sold something. Everybody loves to buy something. Everybody loves to know something that other people don't know. So, again, if it's very clear I'm there because I'm selling, I'm still not going to use the word. This is why I sell it. This is why I love it. This is why I use it. This is why I believe in it. This is why I chose to check it out. All those phrases are going to be more human than this is why I sell it. And if the person says, "Yes, I'm open to researching," I'll say, great, where would you like me to send it to you?20:49 - I sure hope that your way is producing sales satisfaction and success for you. Because my theory is, what I stand on is, we make the best salespeople when we're standing in our own comfort zone. So, there are people who love the competition. They thrive on it. They love to see if they can win somebody over. Okay, great. You've got that marketing style. Have at it. That marketing and that sales style, not me. I'm not even saying we can agree to disagree. I'm saying I celebrate your way of wanting to do it.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith

Jan 26, 202429 min

422: From Selling with Authenticity with Stacey Hall

Stacey Hall talks about the art of genuine selling in this micro episode. She addresses the contentious question of traditional vs. her unique sales methodology, revealing some startling statistics about network marketing. Stacey emphasizes the power of personal stories and passion over pushy promotion. But how can corporate salespeople leverage this approach? And how does a copier fit into the sales conversation? Tune in to uncover Stacey's insightful tips on transforming your sales strategy and increasing your success rate. Don't miss out on this episode if you're looking to revolutionize your sales approach.Episode Highlight:00:32 - I sure hope that your way is producing sales satisfaction and success for you. Because my theory is, what I stand on is, we make the best salespeople when we're standing in our own comfort zone. So, there are people who love the competition. They thrive on it. They love to see if they can win somebody over. Okay, great. You've got that marketing style. Have at it. That marketing and that sales style, not me. I'm not even saying we can agree to disagree. I'm saying I celebrate your way of wanting to do it.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Stacey HallLinkedInWebsite8 Steps to Close a Sale

Jan 25, 20244 min

421: From Connection to Prospect with Stacey Hall

Stacey Hall dives into the depths of cultivating meaningful connections. She unveils her unique approach that views each connection as a potential friend. Her secret? Holding back the sales pitch and prioritizing genuine curiosity. You'll hear about her empowering technique of acknowledging commitments and encouraging informed decisions. But how exactly does she weave this all together to turn a connection into a prospect? Tune in to find out. Get ready to revolutionize your networking strategy!Episode Highlight:00:41 - Not, oh, I can sell you a pair of shoes. You're doing research? Great. Have you researched this brand? They say, "No, I haven't heard about it." "Are you open to hearing about it? I can get you some research as to why I love them." I'm still not using the word sell because nobody wants to be sold something. Everybody loves to buy something. Everybody loves to know something that other people don't know. So, again, if it's very clear I'm there because I'm selling, I'm still not going to use the word. This is why I sell it. This is why I love it. This is why I use it. This is why I believe in it. This is why I chose to check it out. All those phrases are going to be more human than this is why I sell it. And if the person says, "Yes, I'm open to researching," I'll say, great, where would you like me to send it to you?Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Stacey HallLinkedInWebsite8 Steps to Close a Sale

Jan 24, 20244 min

420: Align, Believe, and Consistently Sell with Stacey Hall

Stacey Hall introduces a modern, transformative sales framework emphasizing alignment, belief, and consistency. Her unique lighthouse metaphor holds captivating insights on how salespeople can anchor their endeavors. Get a taste of this approach from Elzie Flenard, who intrigues us with his fun, curious, and energetic persona. Discover how aligning with your values, skills, and reasons for selling can foster meaningful connections and build trust. Will this approach help you stay consistent and triumph in sales? Tune in to find out.Episode Highlight:00:41 - In this day and age, my new version of the ABCs is first, alignment, then belief, then consistency. And I use the metaphor of a lighthouse for what I'm talking about. So, if we think of a lighthouse and how it stands tall, I think you might be able to see mine here. They stand tall and grounded and centered, and they know their spot. And if it was in human form, you'd say, "Okay, they're pleased with their spot. They stay here. They don't try to be a searchlight being in everybody else's space. They know their space." So, the first step of alignment, Elzie, is I have to have a personal story as to why I believe in what I'm selling.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Stacey HallLinkedInWebsite8 Steps to Close a Sale

Jan 23, 20245 min

419: Empathy-Driven Sales with Stacey Hall

Stacey Hall delves into the vital role of empathy in sales, marking a shift from old-school, aggressive tactics. She hints at the importance of genuine alignment with your product or service, and the power of listening over monologic pitching. What if we treated potential customers not just as leads, but as fellow humans? Tune in to discover more about how this empathetic approach could revolutionize your sales strategy. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion that promises to transform your perspective on the sales process.Episode Highlight:02:13 - We must treat people like they're human beings. We take the targets off their heads. We stop looking at them as soulless, like all they have the ability to do is say yes or no. We realize that they're dealing with all sorts of issues in their lives. All of us are dealing with issues in our lives. We don't assume that the most important thing in the world to them is our product or our service. We learn to listen rather than be prepared to pitch. And we treat people that we meet wherever we meet them like we would if we were meeting them at a party. That's what I'm talking. Like when I say to folks, "Would you ever walk into a birthday party wearing a sandwich sign for your business?" You might have business cards in your pocket. I get that. But would you walk into a party with a sandwich sign promoting your business? Everybody I've met says, no, they would not do that. I say, "Well, then why, when you first meet somebody through social media or at a networking event, the very first thing that comes out of your mouth is what you do?"Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Stacey HallLinkedInWebsite8 Steps to Close a Sale

Jan 22, 20244 min

418: Building Brands and Empowering Teams with Jamar Jones

Elzie gets into an engaging discussion with Jamar Jones, the owner of Foureva Media, who shares his journey from music to entrepreneurship, brought on by vocal cord issues. Jamar talks about creating value and leverage, stressing the importance of making tangible impacts and aligning with others' vision. Jamar then delves into strategies for elevating B2B brands, emphasizing the need for personal growth and consistent content creation. He highlights the importance of focusing on one's niche for sustained growth and discusses the role of efficient systems for scalability. He also explores the "joy meter" concept, underlining its significance in decision-making.Don't miss this illuminating episode where seasoned entrepreneur Jamar Jones shares invaluable experiences and advice, emphasizing the crucial role of self-awareness, the journey from transition to purpose, and key strategies for elevating B2B brand building and scaling with focus. Tune in now for a wealth of inspiration and practical guidance for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of business!Episode Highlights:07:33 - When I went international, it changed my perspective completely because I was the foreigner. And I'm like, "I don't even know how to cross the street." I'm learning all these things different. So, when I went back here, I was like, "Wow." This is like my whole thought process. I'm like, "There's more to life than just what I had in my bubble." So, you learn those things. And the last one I'd like to sprinkle on there is self-love. You have to love yourself first and not seek validation from others. So that way you can truly believe in yourself, love yourself first, and not just look for others to bring you up in this world. And so, self-awareness is key. So, if you talk about for business, as these things are happening to you in business, the more that you're aware and you can make those changes, the quicker and faster you can implement.18:11 - Add value, but do it also in a way that is entertaining and engaging and showcase the value that you're giving, not in a boasting way, but in a way that you're showing what you do and how you give back and your impact. Because the more you do that, people start to add you up with that. They start to think of you as like, "Oh man, I keep seeing you doing this, but you're doing that." And it's great because you're on top of mind. And so the more that you could do that in a more entertaining or engaging way is amazing. I think the last thing I would say is just create an experience. So, do an event.20:13 - Stop making excuses. I mean, if you really think about it, the excuses, that self -talk that we have in our head is crazy. If you have a small business and you're in the B2B space and you're scraping, you're hustling. First of all, stop looking at everybody else and focus on yourself.40:25 - You've got to niche down and create focus. So, one of the problems with Foureva Media is that we're doing a lot of stuff. And I just had a guy yesterday, he's like, "Dude. So, when I met you about nine months ago, we had a conversation. You told me about what you did, then I started following you." And so I met him. Then it's been nine months later, I met him yesterday and he's like, "I don't think you do the same thing. Did you pivot your business? Like, what happened?" And it's because we're doing so much. We got a podcast. I'm speaking. I have my book. We do events. We help organizations with branding and marketing strategies. We're doing video content. We're doing social. There's just a lot of areas that we're doing, and then we have a lot of nonprofit engagements and we're doing a lot of stuff. And so, I would say before you spread yourself too thin, focus on what works. Just really dive into it. And then once that really gets cranking where it's a system and you understand, you can actually do projections on the profitability and you can really say, "Okay, this is going to scale." That's another thing. Work on what's going to scale.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉

Jan 19, 202453 min

417: From Jack of All Trades to Master of One with Jamar Jones

Elzie extracts a crucial business lesson from Jamar Jones - the art of niche specialization. Jamar candidly shares insights from his journey with Foureva Media, cautioning against the pitfalls of being a "Jack of All Trades." Jamar emphasizes the need to resist distractions, especially the allure of "shiny things," and the company's struggle during a period of refocusing. The key takeaway: focus on what works and, most importantly, what you're great at. Join Elzie and Jamar as they underscore the importance of niching down, carving your unique space, and, ultimately, maximizing your revenue. Don't miss this micro-episode for a swift dose of entrepreneurial wisdom! Episode Highlight:00:36 - You've got to niche down and create focus. So, one of the problems with Foureva Media is that we're doing a lot of stuff. And I just had a guy yesterday, he's like, "Dude. So, when I met you about nine months ago, we had a conversation. You told me about what you did, then I started following you." And so I met him. Then it's been nine months later, I met him yesterday and he's like, "I don't think you do the same thing. Did you pivot your business? Like, what happened?" And it's because we're doing so much. We got a podcast. I'm speaking. I have my book. We do events. We help organizations with branding and marketing strategies. We're doing video content. We're doing social. There's just a lot of areas that we're doing, and then we have a lot of nonprofit engagements and we're doing a lot of stuff. And so, I would say before you spread yourself too thin, focus on what works. Just really dive into it. And then once that really gets cranking where it's a system and you understand, you can actually do projections on the profitability and you can really say, "Okay, this is going to scale." That's another thing. Work on what's going to scale.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jamar JonesLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 18, 20243 min

416: B2B Brand Building with Jamar Jones

Unlock the secrets of B2B brand building with Elzie Flenard and entrepreneurial guru Jamar Jones in this insightful micro-episode. Jamar's straightforward advice centers on self-focus and abandoning excuses. Dive into the art of content creation by authentically sharing daily experiences across platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. Jamar stresses consistency, urging entrepreneurs not to overcomplicate their narrative. Learn how these simple yet impactful steps can propel your B2B brand from a mere concept to a market hero.Tune in for strategic gems on amplifying your brand presence, refining your content game, and establishing a potent digital footprint in just over three minutes. Episode Highlight:00:53 - Stop making excuses. I mean, if you really think about it, the excuses, that self -talk that we have in our head is crazy. If you have a small business and you're in the B2B space and you're scraping, you're hustling. First of all, stop looking at everybody else and focus on yourself.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jamar JonesLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 17, 20243 min

415: Creating Value and Leverage with Jamar Jones

Elzie dives into a conversation with the astute Jamar Jones on crafting business strategies that deliver results. Breaking away from traditional self-promotion tactics, Jamar offers a refreshing perspective on value creation and leverage. What could be the secret to harnessing entrepreneurial potential in a mere two minutes? Will launching a podcast or offering impactful referrals be your game-changer? Jamar emphasizes the significance of aligning with collaborators' vision, mission, and values. But how exactly can you craft unforgettable experiences for stakeholders? Join us in this episode for some tantalizing insights. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Jamar Jones and ramp up your entrepreneurial journey!Episode Highlight:01:24 - Add value, but do it also in a way that is entertaining and engaging and showcase the value that you're giving, not in a boasting way, but in a way that you're showing what you do and how you give back and your impact. Because the more you do that, people start to add you up with that. They start to think of you as like, "Oh man, I keep seeing you doing this, but you're doing that." And it's great because you're on top of mind. And so the more that you could do that in a more entertaining or engaging way is amazing. I think the last thing I would say is just create an experience. So, do an event.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jamar JonesLinkedInWebsite

Jan 16, 20242 min

414: Mastering Fear and Gaining Confidence with Jamar Jones

Jamar Jones dissects the core elements that contribute to entrepreneurial success and tackles common obstacles such as fear, lack of confidence, and the often-underrated aspect of self-awareness. Jamar shares his unique three-fold approach towards overcoming these challenges, but the highlight centers around an unexpected factor – the power of self-love. He emphasizes its role as the cornerstone of true confidence, freeing entrepreneurs from the shackles of external validation. This micro episode is a treasure trove of actionable strategies, vital lessons on fear dynamics, and secrets to fostering ironclad confidence. So, if you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned veteran seeking a breath of fresh perspective, you won't want to miss this.Episode Highlight:02:02 - When I went international, it changed my perspective completely because I was the foreigner. And I'm like, "I don't even know how to cross the street." I'm learning all these things different. So, when I went back here, I was like, "Wow." This is like my whole thought process. I'm like, "There's more to life than just what I had in my bubble." So, you learn those things. And the last one I'd like to sprinkle on there is self-love. You have to love yourself first and not seek validation from others. So that way you can truly believe in yourself, love yourself first, and not just look for others to bring you up in this world. And so, self-awareness is key. So, if you talk about for business, as these things are happening to you in business, the more that you're aware and you can make those changes, the quicker and faster you can implement.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jamar JonesLinkedInWebsite

Jan 15, 20243 min

413: Mastering Business Resilience with Jene Liddell

Join Elzie Flenard in a dynamic conversation with Jene Liddell, the seasoned business management consultant from Resilience Consultancy. Jene unveils her unique approach of "stealth consulting" that promises to revolutionize the way you streamline business operations. Discover the delicate balance between expertise and experience, gaining enlightening perspectives on the true value of consultants.Delve into the intricacies of goal-setting and operational streamlining, where Jene shares insights on handling customer complaints and identifying key players in your business process. Explore the world of process optimization, specifically in debt management, and unravel the significance of training and auditing for standardized processes.In a deeply personal segment, Jene recounts her resilient response to significant business changes. Learn about the importance of self-grace, positive symbolism, and strategic planning when navigating pivotal moments. This episode is a treasure trove of practical advice and valuable tips for any business owner looking to enhance their resilience. Tune in and embark on the journey to master your business resilience!Episode Highlights:05:59 - So, when it comes to solving problems in a business, I believe in solving them within. So asking your employees, the people that are on the ground, what do you think will make this more efficient? What do you think will make this process better? Because they know. They work with the machines, they work with the material, so they know what would make it better, better than some consultant that you just brought in and think they know everything.12:11 - When you get a customer complaint, it usually has to do with a process, like you didn't do something efficiently, you didn't return this item, this item was faulty, something like that. Or this service - this service took too long, I booked my appointment, my time got taken, something like that. So, anytime there's a complaint, it has to do with the process. And people just try to be like, "Okay, we'll give you a credit, we'll give you this, we'll give you that." But they never really look at what is the real problem. The problem is in the process. It's how we're doing things. Because if we were doing things the right way, this wouldn't have happened, basically.17:30 - I said before, the standard operating procedures. So, once you have like a written manual of the steps of each process, you can show somebody once, you can give them the book, and then they can do it themselves. That cuts down training time. That cuts down training costs. But a lot of people don't do it that way. They do it the, well, watch me do this for a couple of days and then you'll just catch on. Like, it's not assimilation. People don't just catch on. I mean, I know every job that I went to, crazy enough, I would write notes when I was training, and people thought I was crazy because I was the only one writing notes. No, I need to know this like the back of my hand. I don't want to have to ask you every time. That's just the key. Just writing stuff down and training so that somebody else can see it so they don't need you to actually delegate it.26:50 - I got my name, so I was like, okay, this is my name. And then from there, I started, "What does this name mean? Resilience." Resilience, when I thought about that, it was a sunflower growing out of cracked concrete cement. And it's resilient because it can still grow out of that. It can still flourish. So, you have to think of it that way. Like, how can I pivot to make better, what steps I need to take? And I write down everything. I write down the steps to everything. And then if it doesn't go as planned, like I said, but at least I have some steps to go by, a guide.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity

Jan 12, 202428 min

412: Resilient Response to Business Changes with Jene Liddell

In this quick but impactful micro-episode, Jene Liddell shares her firsthand experience of pivoting her business in response to significant changes. With a need to adapt due to alterations in business partnerships, Jene recognized the importance of giving herself grace during this new journey. Discover the resilience embedded in Jene's approach as she not only navigates change but embraces it. Learn how she chose a positive symbol, a sunflower breaking through cracked concrete, to represent her business's newfound strength. Jene's proactive mindset shines through as she outlines steps to follow in case things don't unfold as planned.Join us for this powerful discussion on resilience, adaptability, and the strength that lies in embracing change with a positive outlook.Episode Highlight:01:40 - I got my name, so I was like, okay, this is my name. And then from there, I started, "What does this name mean? Resilience." Resilience, when I thought about that, it was a sunflower growing out of cracked concrete cement. And it's resilient because it can still grow out of that. It can still flourish. So, you have to think of it that way. Like, how can I pivot to make better, what steps I need to take? And I write down everything. I write down the steps to everything. And then if it doesn't go as planned, like I said, but at least I have some steps to go by, a guide.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jene LiddellLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 11, 20242 min

411: Enhancing Efficiency & Process Optimization with Jene Liddell

Elzie engages with business management consultant Jene Liddell, uncovering valuable insights into enhancing business efficiency and process optimization. Jene introduces a key concept: identifying the efficiency level of processes and recognizing opportunities for acceleration. She emphasizes the critical role of training in standardizing operations and enabling effective delegation. They delve into the necessity of regular process audits to ensure currency and the importance of comprehensive, written procedures as guides for seamless training. Tune in now to unlock the secrets to operational excellence, fostering a business environment poised for growth and success.Episode Highlight:03:32 - I said before, the standard operating procedures. So, once you have like a written manual of the steps of each process, you can show somebody once, you can give them the book, and then they can do it themselves. That cuts down training time. That cuts down training costs. But a lot of people don't do it that way. They do it the, well, watch me do this for a couple of days and then you'll just catch on. Like, it's not assimilation. People don't just catch on. I mean, I know every job that I went to, crazy enough, I would write notes when I was training, and people thought I was crazy because I was the only one writing notes. No, I need to know this like the back of my hand. I don't want to have to ask you every time. That's just the key. Just writing stuff down and training so that somebody else can see it so they don't need you to actually delegate it.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jene LiddellLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 10, 20244 min

410: Goal-Setting and Streamlining with Jene Liddell

Join Elzie and Jene Liddell in this insightful micro-episode as they unravel the significance of systems and processes in enhancing business efficiency. Elzie kicks off the discussion by emphasizing the need for business owners to embrace structured systems.Jene sheds light on a common issue—customer complaints often stem from inefficient processes. She advocates for a strategic approach, starting with setting clear goals, whether related to time or finances. Jene also guides listeners through the essential steps of breaking down these goals into manageable tasks, streamlining processes, and identifying key players to optimize efficiency.Tune in to discover actionable insights on goal-setting, streamlining processes, and the transformative impact these practices can have on the overall effectiveness of your business operations. Learn how a strategic mindset can pave the way for a streamlined and customer-centric business approach.Episode Highlight:01:33 - When you get a customer complaint, it usually has to do with a process, like you didn't do something efficiently, you didn't return this item, this item was faulty, something like that. Or this service - this service took too long, I booked my appointment, my time got taken, something like that. So, anytime there's a complaint, it has to do with the process. And people just try to be like, "Okay, we'll give you a credit, we'll give you this, we give you that." But they never really look at what is the real problem. The problem is in the process. It's how we're doing things. Because if we were doing things the right way, this wouldn't have happened, basically.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jene LiddellLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 9, 20244 min

409: Stealth Consulting to Enhance Business Operations with Jene Liddell

Dive into the world of operational excellence with Jene Liddell in this dynamic micro-episode. As an experienced consultant, she unveils the pitfalls of micromanagement and emphasizes the importance of learning from undesirable consulting experiences.Jene and Elzie discuss an alternative approach—asking employees, the frontline experts, about potential improvements in processes. She adds a crucial perspective, highlighting the necessity of balancing expertise with experience, asserting that the latter holds greater value.The episode introduces the concept of "stealth consulting," a practice where leaders step into the shoes of regular employees to observe operations firsthand. Join this insightful conversation to glean practical insights on enhancing business operations, understanding the intricate balance between expertise and experience, and the transformative power of stealth consulting in shaping a culture of continuous improvement.Episode Highlight:02:08 - So, when it comes to solving problems in a business, I believe in solving them within. So asking your employees, the people that are on the ground, what do you think will make this more efficient? What do you think will make this process better? Because they know. They work with the machines, they work with the material, so they know what would make it better, better than some consultant that you just brought in and think they know everything.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Jene LiddellLinkedInWebsite 

Jan 8, 20243 min

408: The Intricacies of Business Operations with Alicia Butler Pierre

Elzie Flenard is joined by Alicia Butler-Pierre, Founder & CEO of Equilibria, in this enriching episode. They delve deep into the intricacies of business operations and tackle the often-neglected aspects of operations and revenue, using relatable analogies like a "leaking bathtub" to illustrate the consequences of poor oversight. They discuss various aspects of customer satisfaction, team managing, and even tease a potential limited series on operations.Discover the importance of documentation in business, with Alicia offering practical tips on how to document business processes effectively. She also suggests ways to do it even when pressed for time, from using audio recordings to simple visualization tools. Find out how established businesses can leverage frameworks to reorganize for growth and the significant impact of a sturdy business infrastructure on the bottom line. This episode is packed with actionable insights and a wealth of knowledge from Alicia's extensive experience in operations. If you're looking for advice on process improvement, business infrastructure, operational excellence, HR at home, and digital technology pieces, this episode is a must-listen. Alicia also shares her plans for international expansion in the next year. So tune in now!Episode Highlights:05:23 - For businesses that will fail after that 10-year mark, there's a number of reasons why they can fail. But one reason, as you so again brilliantly pointed out, Elzie, is because they go from not having enough customers to having too many. And because they are not focusing on those things that you call as being in the middle, they're so focused on bringing the business in that they're not looking at the customers that are angry and not returning and leaving bad reviews and then bad word of mouth spreads way faster than positive word of mouth, all of these things start to rear their ugly head and it creates this recipe for disaster via failure.11:58 - Document what you do and how you do it. Those two things alone will carry you far. And when you document it, document it in a way that if you were to hand it to someone else, that person could, within reason, not only follow it and understand it, but produce the same result as if you were to do whatever it is that you've written down. Think of this. This is what we call processes in operations speak. Get your processes and your procedures out of your head and onto paper, into some digital format. Whatever you can get it into that can easily be shared with someone else.25:40 - How are stick figures and index cards foundational to your business infrastructure? Here's what comes out of those exercises that I just described. Number one, job descriptions. Now you have succinct, transparent, well-thought out job descriptions, so that there isn't any room for interpretation. You know exactly what you want that specific role to do, and now you're in a better position to go and recruit, interview, and hopefully even offer some type of offer to have someone join your team. It also serves as a foundation for creating an organizational chart for your business. You asked, "What does it look like when you have three to five employees or five to ten, then ten plus?" We always have at least two versions of an organizational chart that we create for our clients. The current state, meaning this is what it looks like now, and maybe for the next twelve months. And then there's a version, this is what it's probably going to look like in three years or five years, just so that everyone has a visual picture of how much the company can grow if they continue on their trajectory.28:05 - The number one benefit truthfully goes back to your customer experience. Think about yourself as a customer. Even though you may not know exactly how the sauce gets made, you know whether or not you have a great experience as a customer. And a great experience means a consistent experience also. So, this matters because it ensures that your customers get what they want, that they have a great experience. And when they have a great experience, that means you are truly a customer-centric organization.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: Th

Jan 5, 202436 min

407: How Business Infrastructure Impacts Your Bottom Line with Alicia Butler Pierre

Alicia Butler Pierre dissects the pivotal role of a solid business infrastructure during acquisitions and exits. Exploring the multifaceted advantages, she underscores the paramount importance of customer experience, identifying it as the top benefit derived from a well-structured system, ensuring consistency in operations.The discussion extends to internal teams, highlighting the positive impact of a streamlined infrastructure on team members. Alicia emphasizes how clarity and organization within the business structure contribute to a cohesive and productive internal environment. She also stresses that a meticulously organized business infrastructure is a fundamental asset during acquisitions. Prospective buyers rely on a well-documented and efficient system to understand the essence of what they are acquiring and to ensure a seamless transition.For business leaders navigating transitions or contemplating acquisitions, this micro-episode offers strategic insights into the pivotal role of infrastructure in enhancing customer experience, internal team dynamics, and overall business success. Tune in for valuable perspectives that can shape your approach to business transitions.Episode Highlight:01:11 - The number one benefit truthfully goes back to your customer experience. Think about yourself as a customer. Even though you may not know exactly how the sauce gets made, you know whether or not you have a great experience as a customer. And a great experience means a consistent experience also. So, this matters because it ensures that your customers get what they want, that they have a great experience. And when they have a great experience, that means you are truly a customer-centric organization.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Alicia Butler Pierre LinkedInWebsiteEquilibriaBusiness Infrastructure - Curing Back Office Blues PodcastBehind the Facade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success

Jan 4, 20245 min

406: Getting Organized & Restructuring for Growth with Alicia Butler Pierre

Alicia Butler Pierre explores practical approaches for existing organizations aiming to refocus, reorganize, and restructure. Tailored for fast-growing businesses with a minimum of three years of operation, the discussion centers on actionable insights that can make a substantial impact.Alicia introduces a strategic exercise designed to refine organizational aspects, including the creation of clear and concise job descriptions. She delves into crafting an efficient organizational chart, streamlining digital and physical record-keeping, and optimizing workspace arrangements. These elements collectively contribute to the enhancement of overall operational efficiency.If you're part of a growing organization seeking proven strategies to adapt and thrive, this micro-episode provides valuable guidance on the essential steps to refocus and restructure effectively. Tune in to gain practical insights that can propel your business toward sustainable growth.Episode Highlight:02:11 - How are stick figures and index cards foundational to your business infrastructure? Here's what comes out of those exercises that I just described. Number one, job descriptions. Now you have succinct, transparent, well-thought out job descriptions, so that there isn't any room for interpretation. You know exactly what you want that specific role to do, and now you're in a better position to go and recruit, interview, and hopefully even offer some type of offer to have someone join your team. It also serves as a foundation for creating an organizational chart for your business. You asked, "What does it look like when you have three to five employees or five to ten, then ten plus?" We always have at least two versions of an organizational chart that we create for our clients. The current state, meaning this is what it looks like now, and maybe for the next twelve months. And then there's a version, this is what it's probably going to look like in three years or five years, just so that everyone has a visual picture of how much the company can grow if they continue on their trajectory.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Alicia Butler Pierre LinkedInWebsiteEquilibriaBusiness Infrastructure - Curing Back Office Blues PodcastBehind the Facade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success

Jan 3, 20244 min

405: Prioritizing Documentation with Alicia Butler Pierre

Alicia Butler Pierre underscores the paramount importance of documentation in the realm of business operations. Diving into the analogy of documentation as business recipes, she advocates for the meticulous recording of processes and procedures to ensure seamless replication.With a focus on enhancing operational skills, Alicia emphasize the need to transfer valuable insights from the minds of individuals to a documented format. Just like a recipe detailing the order of ingredients, temperature, timing, and equipment, comprehensive documentation becomes the backbone of successful business processes.Tune in to hear about the repercussions of neglecting detailed documentation, pointing out that without it, businesses may face increased turnover cycles. Employees, without proper guidance, struggle to reproduce desired results, making documentation a key ingredient for sustainable success in the business world. Listen to this concise yet impactful exploration of why documentation is a must for businesses aiming to thrive and endure in the competitive landscape.Episode Highlight:00:37 - Document what you do and how you do it. Those two things alone will carry you far. And when you document it, document it in a way that if you were to hand it to someone else, that person could, within reason, not only follow it and understand it, but produce the same result as if you were to do whatever it is that you've written down. Think of this. This is what we call processes in operations speak. Get your processes and your procedures out of your head and onto paper, into some digital format. Whatever you can get it into that can easily be shared with someone else.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Alicia Butler Pierre LinkedInWebsiteEquilibriaBusiness Infrastructure - Curing Back Office Blues PodcastBehind the Facade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success

Jan 2, 20243 min

404: Why Marketing Seduces and Operations Matter with Alicia Butler Pierre

Alicia Butler Pierre delves into the dynamics of business, exploring the allure of marketing and the often-overlooked significance of operations. Unpacking why marketing is often considered "sexy," she sheds light on the critical balance needed for sustainable success.Alicia also discusses the pivotal role cash flow and effective operations play in preventing business failures. Surprising statistics reveal that only a fraction of companies that cross the 10-year mark manage to reach subsequent milestones. She emphasizes the potential pitfalls of poor operations, emphasizing that it's the backbone of how businesses produce or deliver goods and services — essentially, what keeps the lights on.For an engaging conversation on the essentials of business longevity, join Elzie and Alicia as they explore the seduction of marketing and the operational intricacies that can make or break a business. Tune in for a fresh perspective on achieving enduring success in the business world.Episode Highlight:02:19 - For businesses that will fail after that 10-year mark, there's a number of reasons why they can fail. But one reason, as you so again brilliantly pointed out, Elzie, is because they go from not having enough customers to having too many. And because they are not focusing on those things that you call as being in the middle, they're so focused on bringing the business in that they're not looking at the customers that are angry and not returning and leaving bad reviews and then bad word of mouth spreads way faster than positive word of mouth, all of these things start to rear their ugly head and it creates this recipe for disaster via failure.Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.Contact Alicia Butler Pierre LinkedInWebsiteEquilibriaBusiness Infrastructure - Curing Back Office Blues PodcastBehind the Facade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success

Jan 1, 20244 min

Journey to Mastery: A New Chapter for Enterprise NOW!

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Exciting News! Enterprise NOW! is now Journey to Mastery! 🚀After almost 8 years and over 500 episodes, Enterprise Now is rebranding to Journey to Mastery! Host Elzie is on a journey to master the art of podcasting, including storytelling, great conversations, and highlighting people - and he wants to take you on that journey too.Key pointsJourney to Mastery will bring you even more impactful, well-crafted content to enhance your personal and professional growth.The community at theflamestarters.com is being launched, offering groups, book clubs, private community, training, and courses - an invaluable resource for collaboration and learning.The first Journey to Mastery episode will go live in February, but in the meantime, stay tuned for exciting Enterprise NOW! episodes as the transition takes place.Join the journey of mastery and stay updated on the latest by visiting the new website - myjourneytomastery.com and checking out the flamestarters.com community. Ready To Go Deeper?If today’s episode resonated, don’t just move on to the next one. The next step isn’t more content. It’s context, clarity, and formation.That’s why I created the Journey Feed.Inside the Journey Feed, you’ll find:Mentorship Notes: Honest reflections, Elzisms, and faith-driven insight to help you align your life and leadership.Behind-the-Scenes Perspective: The thinking, lessons, and real-time discernment shaping the Journey to Mastery.Weekly Focus & Reflection Prompts: Simple tools to help you slow down, get clear, and lead with intention.Early Invitations: First access to gatherings, workshops, and live experiences.If you want to grow God’s way, this is where the journey continues. 👉 Join the Journey Feed (free)Want To Go Deeper on Self-Mastery? If you’re ready to work from the inside out, Flame Starter: The Art of Self-Mastery lays the foundation for everything we talk about here. It’s about learning to live and lead In Purpose. On Purpose.™ 👉 Learn moreSupport The MissionJourney to Mastery is an independent podcast created to serve faith-driven entrepreneurs.If this show has helped you grow, your support helps us continue building tools, spaces, and conversations rooted in faith, clarity, and purpose. 👉 Support the missionJourney to Mastery is produced by EF3 Studios.

Dec 27, 20231 min