Empowering Entrepreneurs

Are you straddling that line between doing it all yourself and building a team? You’re not alone! Whether you’re mowing lawns solo or dreaming of running a company with employees, you’ll pick up some valuable advice here. Hey there, and welcome back to the Empowering Entrepreneurs Podcast! On today’s episode, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith are answering the question a lot of business owners face: Am...

If you’ve ever wondered how much you can (or should) take from your business—or why your bank account doesn’t always feel as full as your profits say it should—this episode is for you! Glenn Harper and Julie Smith tackle a classic challenge faced by business owners—how do you actually pay yourself as an entrepreneur? Drawing inspiration from a recent lively dinner debate, Glenn and Julie talk abou...

Whether you’re planning your own exit or simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is packed with practical advice and relatable stories to help you map out a successful succession plan for your own business. Welcome back to another episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs! Today, hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith talk about a topic that’s top of mind for many business owners:...

How could bartending teach you the essentials of sales and connecting with people? Glenn and Julie sit down with Neil Rogers, owner and VP of Sales and Marketing at Rogers Marketing —a leading promotional marketing firm in New England. From overcoming self-doubt to thriving as a connector, Neil’s journey is all about embracing process, adapting, and helping others succeed. If you’re ready to grow...

Whether you're an entrepreneur juggling business and personal life or simply seeking actionable strategies to bring more ease and joy to your journey, this episode is packed with wisdom, real-life examples, and plenty of "aha!" moments. We are thrilled to welcome back returning guest Kelli Risse—a dynamic coach, speaker, and now accomplished author. Since her last appearance over two years ago, Ke...

The Power of Natural Light: "They say that now we're living in an age where 95% of our day is spent indoors under artificial light." - John Graham Harper, CEO of Lumaflex Why Listen? If you’re an entrepreneur feeling the grind, looking for ways to improve your performance—or simply craving an uplifting story about overcoming adversity—this episode is for you. John’s passion is contagious, and his...

Choosing the Right Business Entity - "So you always have to work with your CPA to make sure that you have the right entity type so you can take advantage of the tax code with those different things." - Glenn Harper Glenn and Julie talk about the practical side of tax savings. Whether you’re a business owner or an individual with a “real job.” Drawing from the latest tax law updates, they break dow...

The Hidden Danger in Letting Invoices Slide - "It's not fair for you to spend all your money to deliver the product or service. And then the customer drags you out for 30 days, 90, 60, 120 a year, and you're not getting money on that." Glenn Harper Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss a topic every business owner dreads but can’t afford to ignore: money leaks. Have you ever wondered where your har...

Have you ever wondered how the grit of Midwest farm life translates into game-changing leadership and a bold approach to scaling businesses in today’s evolving world? We sit down with the dynamic Julie Bonness to explore her remarkable journey from managing a hobby farm in Wisconsin to pioneering global talent solutions in the accounting industry. Julie shares candid stories about her early experi...

The Power of Personal Branding - "A personal brand opens the doors you didn't even knock on. It goes ahead of you, it generates referrals, opportunities, invitations. It's the currency for influence, isn't it? And that's what accelerates your program." - Rob Brown We have a truly special guest. Rob Brown is a global authority in the accounting industry and someone whose journey is as inspiring as...

Learn from a real, honest (and pretty funny) conversation about how couples—specifically the “chicks” and “dudes”—spend money, especially when you throw entrepreneurship into the mix. Glenn breaks down his go-to strategy for keeping household finances in check when your income is anything but steady, while Julie questions whether “bare minimum” budgets really let anyone thrive. They get into the n...

Founder Mindset vs. Entrepreneur Mindset: "If you have that founder mindset that you could make that step from entrepreneur to founder, you are. You are now taking that mindset that you're betting on yourself and you have the ability to do it."- Steve Gelly We sit down with Steve Gelley—entrepreneur, CEO of Blueprint Ventures, managing partner of multiple ventures, and host of the Next Exit podcas...

How would you approach building generosity and responsibility in a family with new wealth? We welcome Jim Sheils. Jim is the co-owner of Southern Impression Homes , founder of 18 Summers , and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller “The Family Board Meeting.” He’s made it his life’s mission to help entrepreneurs blend their passion for business with a thriving, intentional family life. Drawi...

Building a Support Network for Growth: "We finally got to a place where we have a trusted team, and, that's helped so much. And I think that that kind of gave us the, sigh of relief to say, okay. We can do this now. We we have the right people." - Maura Giannobile We’re beyond excited to bring you the latest updates from our recent episode featuring the wonderful Maura Giannobile—a powerhouse entr...

Embracing Discomfort for Growth: "in order to live a life you haven't lived, you have to do things you haven't done." - Marc Scheff This is a fun one. Our guest, Marc Scheff , joins us for a conversation that bridges the worlds of tech, art, and self-transformation. Marc, who began his journey in computer science, found his calling through a remarkable pivot to coaching and illustration. He'll sha...

So I think that shaped me in the path of understanding the, like, the obstacles that any entrepreneur can face when they have a business and they are not ready for this bad, times. Let's call it that way, because in Colombia we call it the vacas flacas. So it's like the skinny cows. When the skinny cows come, you have to be prepared for that, and we wear it. - Olga Hurtago We sit down with the inc...

Invest in Yourself: Your Business Can Outperform the Market: "Plus, if you're doing it correctly, the returns that people can get in their own business you know, the ten years that we've been in business, I have not seen any return outside of their of their own business that could beat it." - M.C. Laubscher As a passionate entrepreneur and the founder of Producers Wealth, M.C. Laubsher has dedicat...

Transitioning from Israel to the US, Dani Beit-Or found an abundance of opportunities. Sometimes, the biggest changes bring the most rewarding experiences. Your environment can shape your journey—find where you thrive. We bring you an inspiring and wisdom-packed episode featuring the remarkable Dani Beit-Or, a real estate entrepreneur with a wealth of experience and insight to share. This episode...

We have an engaging conversation with Kyle Morris, the entrepreneurial force behind The Golf Room and The Golf Room Everywhere. His journey from a professional golfer to a mentor and business owner is nothing short of inspiring, and we're thrilled to share some of his insights with you. From Golf Pro to Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Kyle Morris has taken the fundamental lessons of golf—patience, pra...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make the leap from a conventional career to a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with Matt Ruttenberg, co-owner of Business Development of Life Inc. Retirement Services , to unravel his path from Ohio to Hawaii. You'll hear about his transition from the traditional financial services industry to creating meaningful reti...

The Hidden Struggle of Stay-at-Home Moms: "I was giving all of myself to my children, but there was nothing left for me. And my very creative, active brain had no outlet. Right? I had no intellectual stimulation outside of my children, and I suffered, I think, because of that and I think a lot of women, you know, do too." - Ashley Jordan Julie Smith and Glenn Harper are joined by the insightful an...

The Path to Success: "You just have to be open to all different kinds of experiences and choices that you make, because you don't know how those puzzle pieces come together in the end to paint you a really beautiful picture." Julie Smith and Glenn Harper welcome the multifaceted entrepreneur Kerim Kfuri. From his family's immigrant background to navigating and excelling in various fields, Kfuri sh...

Entrepreneur Isolation: "There's what people think it (entrepreneurship) looks like, and then there's the brutal reality of what it really is." We talk about the stark realities of entrepreneurship, addressing the often overlooked yet omnipresent challenges faced by solo business trailblazers. Key Takeaways The Reality Behind the Glamour: While social media often paints a perfect picture of entrep...

What are some essential steps for leaders to take when developing a strong company culture and ensuring effective team dynamics? We're thrilled to bring you the latest episode of "Empowering Entrepreneurs," where we hear about the inspiring journey of Scott Fleszar , a seasoned leader in the B2B Vertical SaaS sector and a senior adviser for SafeSend. **Choosing the Right Path:** Scott shares his d...

Is scaling up always the best option? Or is refining and improving your existing operations the way forward? Do you wanna be bigger and better? Do you wanna be better and better? How do you wanna spend your time in the new year and really create your intentions around your business?" Key Takeaways: Opportunity Cost Understand the sacrifices entailed in the pursuit of business growth. Time, family,...