Business Owner Freedom

Dan Miller is the founder of 48 days and the author of 48 Days to the Work You Love. Along with being a successful entrepreneur, Dan is a Dad, Husband and Grandfather of an amazing family. Listen to his journey and how he built a business from a simple idea that served others. He has inspired me for years.

Dan loves what he does everyday. He looks forward to Monday mornings and surrounds himself with people who compliments his skills. Dan has always been an entrepreneur and started his business 48 Days after he went through difficult financial time. He found himself teaching sunday school with his wife about the transitions in life and the class just exploded with members. This is what triggered the start of his business.

"It's not like I sat down and created a business plan for what I'm doing, it just kind of evolved right under my feet." – Dan Miller

Dan's father was a pastor and he found himself challenged when transitioning to a business that monetized. Dan was of the mindset that he was volunteering his time in sunday school and people would see him in a different light if he began to charge. This was not the case and instead it gave his business credibility as he started to coach CEOs of large companies and Nashville celebrities. Dan also invests in himself and continues his learning and personal development.

"I have a formula that I recommend to people invest 3-5% of their income back into personal development." – Dan Miller

Dan realized that you don't always need the traditional kind of logistics to start a business. When Dan went through his horrendous business disaster it opened his eyes to many different possibilities. Dan approached the different ways you could expand a business by writing books, creating a course or giving a seminar.

"When I was freed from what I built that appeared to be a disaster, it opened my eyes." – Dan Miller

Dan has always been part of a group of guys that shared ideas during a mastermind. He decided that he would start his own and started a high level personal mastermind and opened it up to invited friends. Dan now has opened an online community and intends to grow it to 2,500 members. At $36 per month, Dan will be making roughly $1,000,000. His business is always evolving and this is essential to Dan's success. He is always building business and looking four years out.

"The worst thing for me is to get a business that is predictably successful and requires no new energy on my part. " – Dan Miller

To hear more about Dan Miller's business journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you have any questions please email us at [email protected]

If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Aaron Walker, Big A, is a 39 year entrepreneur, business owner, Dad and Husband. He leads a group of men in a Mastermind called ISI (Iron Sharpens Iron). As author of View from the Top, he outlines his journey in this episode.

Aaron grew up in a very poor household but his dad taught Aaron about character and integrity. Aaron started working in a pawn shop at 13 years old. At age 18 Aaron approached two men with money and proposed that they open a pawn shop together and they formed a business. God blessed the business fourfold and Aaron eventually sold his business and was retired at 27 years old.

"I go back and bought the pawn shop I started with, we spent 10 years building it up to four times the size it was." – Aaron Walker

Aaron's life came to an abrupt halt when he struck a pedestrian crossing the street with his car and killed him. Aaron was devastated. He took five years off after selling the business again and went to counseling and surrounded himself with accountability partners and coaching. Dan Miller talked him into coaching and Dave Ramsey invited him to come do EntreLeadership Master Series. Aaron loved this and branched out on his own.

"About five years ago I started View From The Top and God has just blessed that." – Aaron Walker

Aaron prayed for guidance from God and began to look outward to enable him to help others. He found that the more significant that he was with others the more successful he has become. Aaron found that he could be significant and successful.

"How to live a successful and significant life." – Aaron Walker

Aaron wants everyone to be encouraged to have a can do attitude. With education, training and a growth mindset. Don't live a life of being afraid. Eliminate the fear in your life and you will be successful.

"Don't ever measure yourself against anybody else because you will always be sorely disappointed; do your own thing, stay in your own lane and do what you're called to do." – Aaron Walker

To hear more about Aaron Walker's business journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Business Owner Freedom is a weekly podcast for created for small business owners. Some of the podcasts are interviews and a portion are topic based. We invite you to join us weekly to obtain multiple points of view. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

The thought of going and getting a job instead of running your own business is a thought that sometimes crosses a business owner's mind. Getting your business where you want to be is finding your way to a freeing lifestyle.

"Sometimes you hear the acronym J.O.B.-just over broke." – Gregory Gray

Remember your purpose of starting a business and why you made that decision. Reflect on how you arrived at that decision and what spurred you to go out on your own. The majority of millionaires come from being business owners.

"Being a business owner is exciting, it is rewarding." – Gregory Gray

Those individuals that want to start a business are coached by Greg's to create a vision story and decide what your ultimate goal. Determine the style of business you want to run, the size of the business, and how the business will affect your family. Decisions need to be made on the front end.

"Structure your business around what you enjoy." – Gregory Gray

Greg talks about how to structure your business whether you want to be in your business daily or have someone else run your business. The culture is also part of your vision. Having a clear vision will change your business and your life.

"Take specific actions, intentional actions towards your vision." – Gregory Gray

To hear more inspiring business advice from Gregory Gray, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Kent Lewis is the President and Founder of Anvil Media. He shares his story with you, along with some great insights into digital marketing for the Small Business Owner. Listen for his Jerry McGuire moment.

As President and Founder of Anvil Media, Inc., Kent is responsible for ensuring the company is living its mission and vision by managing overall corporate strategy, including operations, business development, sales and marketing. Kent specializes in analytics, search engine and social media marketing services, Anvil is a digital agency which provides measurable marketing that moves clients' businesses forward.

"My true passion is helping small businesses, of course the big clients pay the bills as well, but helping small businesses play against big companies and digital marketing flattens the field." – Kent Lewis

When starting the process of marketing Kent recommends that you create a level of awareness and keep the customers engaged. Knocking on doors for follow-up isn't easy but necessary. Your company must have a website; most small businesses use WordPress.

"While most companies focus on sales for growth, I'm suggesting focusing on delighting your current customers." – Kent Lewis

Kent specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and advises that your website should include the following:

1. Content
2. Code
3. Credibility

Listen to this podcast where Kent explains this in detail.

Depending on your audience and goals of your business, Anvil Media is a great resource to use. Kent and his team can assist you on your business journey and bring exposure.

"Brands are built on public relations and defended by advertising." – Kent Lewis

To hear more about Kent Lewis' business journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Brian McRae is a networking and relationship expert. He is a man of integrity and faith. He will walk you through how he identified a new business opportunity by taking action to grow his original business.

Marc currently is a straight commissioned employee of a local community based bank that does nationwide lending on the residential side. As part of his job he must build relationships and bring clients to the bank. In doing so, Brian became passionate about helping others and focuses on the concepts of studying, practicing and teaching.

Marc built a coaching and consulting business derived from his first business that was based around influence. He created Mastermind St. Louis, a networking event that discusses various topics in personal leadership, productivity and referral marketing.

"I love sharing, I love teaching; it's really a coaching type event." – Brian McRae

Working at a stable company and in the mortgage space for 16 years, Marc has a real passion for helping people with their mortgage needs. He was surprised by the need for good quality representation in a community.

"Providing good quality information that keeps them coming back; attendees were eating up the material and that fulfilled that need." – Brian McRae

Marc's Mastermind St. Louis began to grow. He started with 15 members and now has 280 members. As the event grew, people wanted to start reserving seats and sponsoring the event. Marc and his team run 11 events a year on the 3rd Thursday of every month taking off December.

"Running an event that is changing the way that business is done in that community; it's being done in an authentic way with a giving heart." – Brian McRae

To hear more about Brian McRae's business journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Patty Denny and her husband own and operate several Auto Collision Centers in the Pacific Northwest. She shares great insight into lessons learned along their journey. Listen for the one thing she would do differently.

Patty's husband has always been in the collision business. He learned the trade from his father. They recently celebrated their 35th Anniversary in the business, April 1, 2018. They started with with 1 body chop and grew each year. They are not part of a franchise. Their daughter has been in the collision business with them for the 35 years they have been operating.

"The small businesses had the challenge of competing against the big MSO's, now we are a bigger force to compete with the franchise." – Patty Denny

Finding quality and reliable workers has been their biggest challenge. Patty attributes this to high schools taking out teaching this trade and dad's aren't teaching their children anything out in the garage anymore.

"The collision world or any trade that uses their hands and their head is a dying breed." – Patty Denny

Patty and her husband are trying to work with vocational schools to help grow young people interested in this field. Schools are teaching the basics, but they are trying to hone their skills. They will job shadow to garner interest, some businesses will pay for their vocational school to get certified, but the young person must have the desire.

"Vocational schools teach the basics and then they get on-the-job training, especially the technology side; last 20 years our youth have not been getting hands on training like they used too." – Patty Denny

To hear more about Patty Denny's small business journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Business Owner Freedom is a weekly podcast for created for small business owners. Some of the podcasts are interviews and a portion are topic based. We invite you to join us weekly to obtain multiple points of view. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Gregory answers the question of an existing employee of several years not complying with the new culture initiative and the business's new vision. He explains at one time this employee was a good employee and met the standard and now the company is moving in a different direction and has implemented clear expectations. The employee is struggling to meet expectations now and is not a good fit now since the business is following their vision. Greg says it's imperative to address this behavior swiftly.

"If an employee whether they have been there ten plus years or whether they've been there only a few months and they don't meet the values of the organization, there there is no fit." – Gregory Gray

It is essential to the culture of a business to address non-compliant behavior. You must ask yourself the following:

1. Have you made clear expectations?
2. Does the employee understand the values?
3. Is the employee capable?

Business Owner Freedom advises to sit down with the employee and show them what expectations they are not meeting. Give them a timeframe to improve and list the behaviors that must change.

"As long as it's nothing illegal, unethical or immoral, you can address it this way, First step is a verbal warning, second step is in writing and third step is termination." – Gregory Gray

Gregory advises that you have a 7-12 step hiring process. You will learn more about the candidate. Here are the three main steps that Greg uses:

1. Background Checks
2. Interview Process
3. Assessments

Always repeat the vision, values and expectations throughout the interviews. Reach out to Gregory with questions at [email protected]

"It is easier to train skill, so hire on personalities, attitudes and culture fit." – Gregory Gray

To hear the details of hiring and firing for culture, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Mark Hawk is Senior Director with Legal Shield as an Independent Representative. Mark has been on an unplanned but successful entrepreneurial journey the past several years. He will give some great insight into what he experienced.

Mark lives in the Jackson, TN area and has a mission everyday to help people. He is a believer and a family man. Mark gives thanks to GOD and his mission is to help people. His business, Legal Shield helps people with identity theft protection, affordable legal access and small business development.

Mark was a second generation pastor and was not entrepreneurial minded. He was recruited and soon realized he had the vehicle to help people. The journey entailed a massive transition for Mark but he never gave up.

"It's all about helping people, that is what drives me and what gets me going." – Mark Hawk

Mark's biggest challenges were shifting his entire mindset from employee to entrepreneur. He is an independent contractor, so it is sink or swim, or you don't get a paycheck. In addition, Mark says staying focused and being consistent is essential to his business. Being in sales and marketing is difficult.

"When you get a regular paycheck it's easy to lose focus and drift." – Mark Hawk

Mark indicates that the one thing that would catapult his business is having insurance brokers finally recognizing the value added of Legal Shield. This company provides a membership for legal access for a monthly fee. If insurance brokers included this as a benefit in their packages it would take Mark's business to the next level. Mark offers classes and trainings that can help your small business and your employees with identity theft protection, affordable legal access and small business development and would be happy to help you in any way he can. His contact information is below

To hear more about Mark Hawk's journey and Legal Shield, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP

Business Owner Freedom coaches, educates and inspires CEO's, Executives and Business Owners to achieve freedom of time, money and purpose, while removing chaos and overwhelm from your business. We do this together through focus and clarity on the priorities of a highly developed Vision Story and Strategy. Together, we will build an incredible culture, dynamic leaders and powerful teams. We also systematize the business through processes to create sustainability. The end result is a predictable and growing business with a lifestyle you desire. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

When defining culture, Gregory looks at it from the employees and customers perspective as they are defined differently. Culture encompasses relationships within a business. From the leadership perspective, Gregory challenges the leader by asking if they are intentional about the culture in their business. He also asks if you talk about the culture and do you have a clear list of values and a vision story that articulates what culture you want for your business.

"Culture is the conscious of your business." – Gregory Gray

Greg explains through visual examples to show that people and processes are key instruments in your business. They must work congruently together and both must move in the same direction. As they work together it affects your purpose in business. Purpose leads to profits and performance.

"You will not achieve your purpose unless your people and processes are working congruently together." – Gregory Gray

Business Owner Freedom focuses on being introspective as a leader. You can change the culture of any business by setting your vision story and asking your team to uncover your blind spots as their leader. Gregory also challenges listeners to take action by asking yourself as a leader the following questions:

1. Do you have regularly established meetings?
2. Have you asked your people about the culture of your business?
3. If Gregory Gray were to walk into your business, what do you think he would garner about the culture?

"You're gonna have a culture whether you work on it or not so you might as well spend a little bit of time and intentional effort and have a great culture." – Gregory Gray

To hear more about Business Owner Freedom and to join other small business owners on their journey, download and listen to the episode!

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If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Business Owner Freedom Podcast!

Copyright © 2018 BOFP