Empowering Entrepreneurs

The Regrets of a Busy Parent: "I don't even remember giving my son a bath his 1st year of his life." — Leslie Alvarez  Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with the remarkable Leslie Alvarez, a powerhouse mompreneur and the president and founder of Community Association Consulting Experts Inc. Glenn and Julie talk with Leslie Alvarez, the president and founder of Community Association Consul...

Setting Intentions: "If you can break it down into 30 day, 60 day, 90 day increments with those intentions of what you're going to do to achieve the said goal, it becomes really attainable." As we approach the end of the year, it's the perfect time for us, as entrepreneurs, to take a moment and reflect on our journey. We talk about setting meaningful intentions for the new year. Key Takeaways Set...

Have you ever faced a major career transition? How did you manage the challenges that came with it? Glenn and Julie welcome Doug Motley, an accomplished real estate developer and the principal of Jackalingo Asset Management. Doug's journey from the banking sector to real estate development is nothing short of inspirational. Growing up in Delaware, Doug has always been surrounded by a close-knit co...

How important is it for entrepreneurs to embrace unpredictability, and what role does seeking help play in personal and business growth? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with Blake Oliver, the mastermind behind Earmark CPE and host of The Accounting Podcast , to dive into his unique entrepreneurial journey. From his unconventional childhood steeped in music to navigating the challenges of ser...

We have the pleasure of hosting Kristin Taylor, Vice President of Legacy Retirement Group and co-host of " Winning Retirement Radio ". Kristin joins us to discuss her multifaceted journey as a business leader, mother, wife, and part-time teacher to her youngest son. Kristin shares the importance of people in her life—her children, faith, husband, and clients—emphasizing how supporting her team is...

What strategies can entrepreneurs implement to support their nervous system amidst their busy schedules? We welcome back Dr. Indigo (Indie) Vasquez! We're thrilled to continue our conversation with the remarkable Dr. Indigo Vasquez in this highly anticipated Part 2 of our series. Dr. Vasquez, a board-certified Doctor of Natural Medicine and best-selling author of "Optimize Your Gut," brings her we...

What strategies can be employed to effectively identify potential key employees? We discuss the crucial process of identifying talent, setting guardrails, and effectively communicating your vision to elevate your business. Invest in the Right Person - Finding an employee who matches your dedication is challenging but possible. When you do find them, invest in their development. Recognize that your...

How does Dr. Vasquez’s approach blend entrepreneurial mindset with effective health management? We are thrilled to sit down with the remarkable Dr. Indigo Vasquez. Dr. Vasquez (or Dr. Indie, as she likes to be called) is a board-certified doctor of natural medicine with a wealth of expertise in hormone health, sports performance, and gut healing. She shares her lifelong commitment to patient care,...

How do personal and professional commitments impact an entrepreneur's ability to plan for the following year? It's time to talk about the importance of forward planning to make the most out of the upcoming year. Carve Out Time for Strategic Planning Major organizations set aside dedicated time for strategic meetings and retreats. As entrepreneurs, we too need to step back from day-to-day operation...

The Power of Listening to Your Gut: "I've always kept asking, like, what brings me joy? What do I like? And I've been willing to have the courage to pivot and do that." Welcome to another inspiring episode of *Empowering Entrepreneurs*! Today, your Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with Amber De La Garza, a remarkable productivity specialist, coach, and host of the * Small Business Straight Ta...

What are the benefits of having "No! People" - individuals who challenge ideas, provide constructive criticism, and ultimately contribute to more refined and well-thought-out decisions - in your entrepreneurial team? Living Fast Forward - Building a Team that Challenges You Living Fast Forward Takeaways Surround Yourself with Challengers: Build a team that isn't afraid to question and push back on...

How do mentors contribute to an entrepreneur's journey, and what qualities should one look for in a mentor? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith welcome Aaron Marcum , who shares his incredible story filled with challenges, growth, and invaluable lessons. From his early days as a top sales rep to founding a successful home care agency and Home Care PULSE, Aaron's journey is one of resilience and creativit...

How do you balance entrepreneurial responsibilities with personal life, especially during the summer months when kids are back in school? Living Fast Forward, An Entrepreneur's Journey We're starting something a little different with this episode. We're exploring what's it like living in 'fast forward' mode—not just in business, but in real life. As the summer winds down and kids head back to scho...

The Impact of Discipline on Personal Success**: "The discipline and kind of the consistency around my morning routine and my daily routines has stuck and I think contributed to a lot of the success that I've had as a, father and a husband and an entrepreneur." — Troy Lavinia  Julie Smith and Glenn Harper sit down with Troy Lavinia, the visionary founder of Daily SOS and Mosaic Research Manage...

How important is quick decision-making and confronting uncomfortable situations for personal and professional growth? From her beginnings in athletics at the University of Washington to earning a Ph. D. in adult learning and leadership development, Dr. Carrie Graham 's journey is both inspiring and instructive. She opens up about her transition from a shy individual to an assertive professional in...

"Shaping an Industry and Advocating for Change": "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build and shape one of the largest industries in the country. And it has far-reaching aspects beyond just the plant and, you know, rescheduling the plant, de-scheduling the plant, but there's a social equity component tied to it." Today’s episode is going to be a blast because we’ve got the amazing Naomi...

Staying Calm Under Pressure: "Because when you're able to stay calm, calm your mind, you see things, and you can counter, and you can do those things." We sit down with an inspiring guest, Steve Gavatorta. Steve, a certified behavior analyst, emotional intelligence coach, and author, shares his incredible journey from a hard-working childhood in Burgottstown, Pennsylvania, to becoming a successful...

"My entrepreneurial spirit sort of got unleashed in my public accounting days. So as soon as I became, as I graduated, became a public accountant, I helped other entrepreneurs get started. And that was just a fabulous learning experience." Welcome back to Empowering Entrepreneurs! In today's episode, hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith are joined by the dynamic Jim Buffington . They get into Jim's...

How do you juggle the demands of running a PR firm, writing children's books, and being a mother? Our guest shares her unique journey from practicing law to becoming a children’s book author and starting her own PR firm. We welcome Alysson Bourque—a multi-faceted entrepreneur who wears many hats as an author, publicist, attorney, and teacher. This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax pre...

Learning to delegate effectively can transform your business. It not only helps in managing workload but also empowers your team, making room for growth and innovation. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Gina Cotner, a remarkable entrepreneur and the founder of Athena Executive Services . Originally setting out to leave corporate America behind, Gina ventured into the world of...

Our guest states that the success rate of franchisees from the companies he represents is around 90% after 5 years. What industry-specific challenges do these franchisees face, and how do they overcome them? In this episode, we chat with franchising guru Jon Ostenson and dive deep into the thriving world of non-food franchising. Jon shares his extraordinary journey from finance whiz to franchise e...

From her childhood leadership to claiming the title of Miss Kentucky, and now a successful business consultant, Maria Maldonado Smith 's journey is a testament to dreaming big and taking risks. She shares invaluable insights on creating impactful vision boards, the power of mentorship for future visionaries, and the courage it takes to pivot from a secure corporate path to entrepreneurship. If you...

This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started. We "dive" into the world of fishing and entrepreneurship with our special guest, Sena Wheeler, the passionate for...

In this episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss the birth of PureTax, LLC, a company that emerged from the need to serve clients who required simple tax returns. They share their journey of identifying a market need, finding the right talent, and leveraging their experience to create systems and processes that propel their new venture forward. Identifying Ideal Cl...

What motivated our guest to transition from a career in teaching to real estate investing, and what can you learn from his career shift? Welcome back to Empowering Entrepreneurs. In this episode, Julie and Glenn have a truly motivating episode as they're joined by Dan Gomer , an individual whose entrepreneurial journey is as inspiring as it is educational. Dan, a former middle school teacher, took...