Andrew Kussmaul, lawyer, doesn't mind doing the dirty work. While he was a working at a law firm in Dallas, he started a business on the weekends for the sole purpose of learning what it was like to be an entrepreneur, to manage the books, hire employees, and work on weekends until the job was done. Today, Andrew uses his knowledge and experience to help guide and support his business clients through his law practice. I started my business because . . . I wanted to combine my business and legal experience to help entrepreneurs with issues they might not always see or think about.

The thing I enjoy most about my business is . . . knowing that the services I provide help entrepreneurs achieve their dream in one way or another.

The biggest surprise for me as a business owner is . . . how a small amount of effort each day can produce big results.

One question people should ask me is . . . what legal structure should my business be in order to help me attract investors and grow.

My older self would coach my younger self to . . . take on as much responsibility as you can handle. Responsibility gives you a purpose and molds you into a successful and competent individual.

One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . the power of action. The only thing standing in your way of being successful is you. You need to act if you want to achieve your dreams.

Martin Rojas is founder of Alas de Dios, Wings of God, and President of US Roast, Coffee with a Cause. Energetic. Adventuresome. Generous. Martin has experienced the adventure of saying "yes." Martin's "yes" started with a last-minute trip to the jungles of Nicaragua and over a 10-year period, has led to starting a school for children who live on the trash dumps. And, oh yes, in the middle of all this, he has started a coffee plantation to support this work . . . which led to a "yes" to being President of US Roast. It's a "you just can make this stuff up" type of story.

I started the non-profit, Alas de Dios, because . . . we were given this amazing land to steward and we felt that we needed to affect children's lives, not just two or three times per year when we could visit them in the jungle, but every single day through a school where we could feed them physically, spiritually, and mentally.

The thing I find most rewarding is . . . watching the kids grow up and knowing that their minds, hearts, souls, and bodies are being nurtured and cared for by our loving Christian staff.

The biggest surprise for me as a founder of a non-profit is . . . I had to relinquish trying to control every aspect of an organization that is 1500 miles away, and delegate authority on day-to-day decisions to trusted staff members. Being a double A type personality (disorder-LOL), this was surprisingly difficult, but absolutely essential to my sanity, and theirs!

In my current role at US Roast I am responsible for . . . I call it profits, procedures, policies, and people planning. The last is the most critical - hire better/smarter/etc. people than yourself and get out of their way.

The biggest surprise for me as a businessman is . . . success is relatively easy and predicated on three things - Quality, Price, and Service. Most people and companies only do two out of three well, so do all three, and success should follow.

My older self would coach my younger self to . . . value people over profits, travel the world when you are young and care free, invest in Amazon, Microsoft…etc. (LOL)

One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . I wish I knew, but more importantly, understood and accepted, that God knows everything that I am going through, and He has allowed it to happen so that my character is honed and refined to be more like Him, and to rely more on Him, so that others can see more of Him, and be drawn to Him.

Welcome to the LIFT Office and our twenty-fourth episode of LIFT Speaks, stories of what people do and their impact on the world.

Today we are visiting with, Ryan Wilkerson, RevGrow. Ryan looks for the "why" in his work and finds joy in supporting his clients and helping their businesses grow.

Chuck Finney, Finney Media, can tell a story that will stop you dead in your tracks. He's a master at understanding how to capture the attention of people who are distracted, busy or hurting. After many years of experience in radio, Chuck took the leap and started his own company helping businesses hone, communicate and deliver their message. I started my business because . . . prayer. It's what I was made to do. And when I was laid off in 2009, it felt like that was the right time to get moving. It sure was.The thing I enjoy most about my business is . . . the people. Our friends and clients who work in communicating uplifting, encouraging music and messages. And the team I'm blessed to work with. LOVE the collaboration.The biggest surprise for me as a business owner is . . . how much I enjoy it. I would not have guessed that. I loved my work under others, but I love this so much more.My advice to others considering starting a business is . . . Ask a lot of questions of successful, prayerful people. Look for honest answers.One question people should ask me is . . . what my favorite sports team is. But you won't get me to slow down on talking about the Xavier Musketeers. 😊My older self would coach my younger self to . . . turn it off. Have start and end times for work. Still figuring that one out. One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . humility. The older I get, the less I know. Again, still figuring this one out.

Tracy Levinson, first-time author, is a bull-dog when it comes to prioritizing.

As a self-published author, Tracy did her research, designed her book launch strategy, unwaveringly executed, and achieved her goal as a best-selling author on Amazon – not in one category – but in 5 different categories.

Join us on LIFT Speaks and learn the secret of successfully launching a book on Amazon.

Jarvis Boyd took the leap from corporate guy to owner/operator of a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Grapevine, Texas. He believes in the corporate vision, and he has created actionable steps to support it. Jarvis is intentional about personally living out the vision and creating a team that executes on the vision. It takes focus, commitment, energy and time. But, for Jarvis, it's core to how he wants to live his life – to have positive impact on his community.

I started my business because . . . I wanted to make an impact on my community and partner with an iconic brand.

The thing I enjoy most about my business is . . . meeting and connecting with new people.

The biggest surprise for me as a business owner is . . . how extremely important it is to plan out my time because of the many daily demands.

One question people should ask me is . . . why Chick-fil-A?

My older self would coach my younger self to . . . to take advantage of every moment to connect with and learn from as many people as I could.

One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . that connecting with others is the best way to bring your dreams to reality.

Shane Bender has a plethora of experience in the accounting world. As a CPA, he spent over 15 years in the corporate world, and then moved to a digital startup company as their controller until they were acquired. He's worked as a CFO for a variety of small businesses. He understands how to evaluate a business and forecast for a profitable future.

• I started my business because . . . I wanted to make a larger difference helping small businesses be successful in a more direct and impactful way.

• The thing I enjoy most about my business is . . . that I learn so much and get to work with various types and sizes of businesses. I have freedom to build a business that adds value in areas of my strengths.

• The biggest surprise for me as a business person is . . . that you never know when and where new business will come. I have had business come from different contacts and take varying amounts of time to acquire. We just need to keep planting seeds and leave the timing to God.

• One question people should ask me is . . . Why would a CFO help me grow my business, increase cash flow, and provide clarity?

• My older self would coach my younger self to . . . Don't think so negatively and with a scarcity mindset. It really does not help. Be more positive and think abundantly.

• One thing I wish I knew when I was younger . . . Everything worthwhile tends to take longer than you think. Work smart and enjoy the journey.

When Ponce Duran III graduated from university, the 2008 recession had just hit in full force. Ponce felt blessed to get a job working for a Dallas Congressman, Pete Sessions. One requirement of this job was to join seven Chambers. Seven. Ponce not only grew to love the work, he also rode the digital tidal wave, using a variety of platforms for branding, marketing and communications. Hear what it takes to create an award-winning program as the Director of Communications for the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce.

In my current position I am responsible for . . . Marketing and Communications for the Grapevine Chamber as a whole – Social Media, Websites, Graphic Design, SEO, Content Creation, Photos, Video, Email Marketing, Strategy, Technology and Database.

The thing I enjoy most about my work is . . . Exploring new technologies while promoting the business community.

The biggest surprise for me as a businessman is . . . That many people don't know they have to innovate and adapt or become obsolete.

One question people should ask me is . . . What are the things that they should know for the next 5 years in biz tech.

My older self would coach my younger self to . . . Be more patient and to rest while always pushing forward.

One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . Don't wait for someone to tell me what to do, go do and the rest will follow.

Erica Davis-Frimpong, owner/operator of Annie Admin, had her life planned, and it didn't include running her own business. However, after years in the big banking world, Erica took the leap and started her own business . . . and it's flourishing.

Thoughtful. Energetic. Driven. Purposeful. Erica has found her pace and her place in the entrepreneurial world. Learn from her honest and raw stories about the decision process, the leap, and the unadulterated truth about the beauty and the pain of starting and running your own business.

Welcome to the LIFT Office and our seventeenth episode of LIFT Speaks, stories of what people do and their impact on the world. Today we are visiting with, Christina Cates, Community Manager at the LIFT Office. Christina finds great joy in creating community and connections that last. She's smart, has a big, generous laugh, and she loves to celebrate birthdays with cake!

In my current position, I am responsible for . . . making sure the toilet paper never runs out because we all know what happens when it does.

The thing I enjoy most about my work is . . . rising to the challenges that come up daily. They give me the opportunity to further sharpen who I am and who I want to become.

The biggest surprise for me as a business woman is . . . being an adult. My childhood punishments of going to bed early, not leaving my house, and taking naps are my adult goals.

One question people should ask me is . . . anything about Myers Briggs or Enneagram. I'm very unhealthily obsessed with these personality theories.

My older self would coach my younger self to . . . to be more aware of the power words have. You can use them to build others up or to tear them down.

One thing I wish I knew when I was younger is . . . how important it is to know your personal boundaries so that you can learn the importance of a work/life balance.