Entrepreneur Strategies

In this episode we focus on Mike Metzger’s journey as an entrepreneur and the many facets that contributed to his success in the financial planning field. Starting his career in finance in Santa Barbara, Mike faced a nonlinear path, transitioning from working in a large bank to starting his own firm, LifePoint Financial Design – a challenging leap of faith taken without a guaranteed income. With the support of his wife and guidance from mentors and self-development books, such as Tim Ferriss's "The Four-Hour Workweek," he navigated the initial difficulties. The podcast also delves into the importance of building a strong network, balancing personal health and family well-being, and maintaining a daily routine that integrates work, health, and family priorities. Mike’s philosophy emphasizes community, vulnerability, and credibility, and the episode paints a comprehensive picture of his entrepreneurial mindset and practices.

"I think business is important. But it's never more important than your family or your health." - Mike Metzger

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Deciding to become an entrepreneur.
• Taking the leap of faith with no income.
• Important conversations Mike had with his wife and partner.
• Mentorship and guidance along the way.
• The importance of reading books.
• The importance of building a strong network.
• Personal health and family well being.
• Starting your day with a clear mind. 
• How to get started with a workout routine.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "And at that point, I'd rather be broke than to continue doing a job that I felt like wasn't going in the right direction." - Mike Metzger
• “My workout time is non negotiable. It's every single day. There may be a new client, a prospective client that I really, really want to start working with. And they can only meet at two o'clock, I just have to be of the mindset that I can't negotiate on my health, because I'm not going to be a good business owner, I'm not going to be a good financial planner for that client, if I don't get my personal health in order.”  - Mike Metzger
• "As entrepreneurs, you have to bet on yourself, and have the confidence that you can make it work." - Mike Metzger
• "I'm very blessed that my wife was very supportive through it all, she knew I was very unhappy and she had the confidence in me that I could make it work." - Mike Metzger
• "It was about making sure this time it was going to work out and how do we both get ourselves in a position where we have a little bit more freedom and control over our lives?" - Mike Metzger

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website
• Email Mike: [email protected]
• Mike Metzger on LinkedIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Kim is co-founder and co-owner of TidyBooks LLC, an outsourced accounting and bookkeeping firm, alongside her partner and long time friend, Heidi Hansen. Over the span of three years, Kim and Heidi have grown their portfolio of businesses from 3 to over 50 clients across e-commerce, financial, and wellness industries. TidyBooks has grown their average monthly revenue by 40x, exclusively through word-of-mouth referrals

In this episode, Mike interviews Kim Nmezi, the co-founder of Tidy Books LLC, an outsourced accounting and bookkeeping firm. Kim shares her journey of starting the business from home while being a stay-at-home mom, the challenges they faced, and the importance of processes and delegation in scaling the business. She emphasizes the significance of word-of-mouth referrals and the need for entrepreneurs to focus on their core business while leaving bookkeeping to professionals. Kim also discusses her long-term vision of working on the business rather than in it, ultimately achieving a balance between entrepreneurship and family life. If you're a small business owner seeking reliable bookkeeping services, Tidy Books might be the right fit for you.

"Regardless of how good your people are, if there's not a good process, nobody can do it." - Kim Nmezi

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• How to attract and retain staff.
• The growth process of an entrepreneur.
• Balancing work and family.
• The benefits of owning your own business.
• What does it take to become an entrepreneur?
• The importance of having a bookkeeper.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "You work for yourself for a reason. Because guess what? You can say, 'I'm taking a month off.’” - Mike Metzger
• "We're still in the process... one day it's like, 'This is amazing,' and the next day it's like, 'Burn it to the ground and run away.'" - Kim Nmezi
• “Something I've been challenged to me early in my career is building something up, tearing it back down, building it back up, tearing it back down. I think that's the evolution of an entrepreneur, constantly refining, building, and then scaling back, and then building again, but better.” - Mike Metzger
• "If you don't have a bookkeeper as a small business, I highly highly implore you to do it." - Kim Nmezi
• "I just caught the vision of being able to have a career and be a mom." - Kim Nmezi

Connect with Kim Nmezi:

• Kim Nmezi on LinkedIn
• Email Kim: [email protected]

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website
• Email Mike: [email protected]
• Mike Metzger on LinkedIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast. Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Gina Cotner is the founder and CEO of Athena Executive Services, a firm that pairs virtual Executive Assistants around the United States with busy business owners, entrepreneurs and executives. Her team of high-caliber Executive Assistants work part-time, from home, taking many administrative tasks and projects off the plate of successful people, leaving them free to spend their time where they are needed most.

In this episode Gina Cotner joins Michael to discuss how relinquishing control and embracing a partnership mindset can accelerate growth and productivity. They share valuable insights on the importance of delegation and letting go as a business owner, as well as the benefits of investing time and resources in developing and empowering others. Gina share’s one powerful tool she used to launch her business as they touch on the power of referrals and word-of-mouth marketing in growing their client base. This conversation focuses on freeing up time as a business owner and pursuing personal passions and well-being, emphasizing the need to prioritize health and family.

"People want to help their friends and family, but they often struggle with what to say. A referral letter helps them understand and refer us effectively." - Gina Cotner

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Gina Cotner’s background.
• The perseverance of an entrepreneur.
• Getting out of your own way and investing time.
• The power of one more.
• The difference between virtual executive assistant and virtual assistant.
• The importance of being accountable to your employees.
• The importance of taking care of your health.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “It's not about dumping tasks on people, it's about empowering people to take ownership.” - Gina Cotner
• "You're just one referral away, you're one client away, you're one COI (Center of Influence) away." - Mike Metzger
• "When you're a rockstar executive assistant, you can be dropped into almost any industry and provide valuable support." - Gina Cotner
• “Focus on providing good service, good product, and it will happen you'll put yourself in a position of luck and I think that's really important.” - Mike Metzger
• "My job shifted to working for my managers. I help them overcome obstacles and keep pressing them towards bigger goals." - Gina Cotner
• "The goal is to be able to spend time with your family, to be hyper-focused on those parts of your life." - Mike Metzger

Connect with Gina Cotner:

• Athena Executive Services Website
• Gina Cotner on LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website
• Email Mike: [email protected]
• Mike Metzger on LinkedIn

If you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.