Joseph Denick grew up in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where he learned early on the value of hard work. After graduating from Pinellas Park High School, he went straight into the plumbing trade. He spent the next 15 years working in the field, gaining hands-on experience and learning how to solve real problems every day. That time shaped his work ethic and gave him a clear path forward.

He later attended technical school and passed the state master plumber’s test, a milestone he describes as challenging but important. Soon after, he made the decision to start his own plumbing business. The early days were not easy. “I was learning on the fly,” he says. “Balancing family, goals, and business all at once.”
Over the past nine years, Denick has built a strong reputation in his community. His company now has more than 1,200 five-star reviews. He credits that to one simple approach: “I treat my customers fairly with the utmost integrity.”

Outside of work, Denick is a devoted husband and father of two daughters. He also has a background in martial arts, with over 20 kickboxing matches and three amateur world titles. Today, he continues to train and enjoys motivating others. His mindset is simple: stay consistent, stay patient, and keep moving forward.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I check in with my team, go over jobs for the day, and make sure everything is lined up. Then I’m out in the field or handling calls. A lot of my day is problem-solving. I stay productive by focusing on what’s right in front of me. I don’t overcomplicate it. I just chip away at tasks one by one.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I keep it simple. If something makes sense, I try it. When I started my business, I didn’t have a big plan—I just acted. Same thing now. I test ideas on real jobs and adjust fast.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I like seeing younger people getting into the trades again. There’s real opportunity there. Not everything has to be behind a desk.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Consistency. Showing up every day with the same mindset. Even when you don’t feel like it.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be patient. I wanted results fast when I was younger. It takes time to build something real.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

I think most people overthink success. It’s not complicated. Do the work, treat people right, and stay consistent.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Ask for feedback. Whether it’s from customers or people close to you. It helps you grow faster.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step back. I’ll pray, talk to my wife, or go work out. That usually clears my head.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Focusing on reputation. Every job matters. I treated every customer like they were my only customer. Over time, that led to over 1,200 five-star reviews. That kind of trust builds your business for you.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early on, I took on too much work without the right systems in place. Jobs piled up, and I felt stretched thin. I had to slow down, get organized, and learn how to manage time better. It taught me that growth without structure can hurt you.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Start a simple service business in your area—plumbing, pressure washing, lawn care. Focus on doing it better than everyone else. Most people don’t follow through consistently.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I use a basic scheduling app to keep track of jobs and appointments. It helps me stay organized and not miss anything.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I like listening to podcasts about discipline and mindset while driving between jobs. Nothing fancy, just real conversations that keep you focused.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I enjoy anything that shows hard work paying off. Those stories remind me that consistency matters.

Key learnings

• Consistency and integrity build long-term success more than short-term tactics.
• Strong reputations are earned one interaction at a time through reliable service.
• Growth requires balance between ambition, structure, and personal life.

Juan Sebastian Palomo Murga is an entrepreneur who has spent more than 25 years building companies across infrastructure, logistics, mobility, and financial technology. His career began in 1999 in large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, where he learned the value of discipline, execution, and long-term thinking. Those early experiences shaped the way he approaches business today.
As Founder and CEO of Arqcons Group, he led complex engineering and infrastructure projects that demanded precision and accountability. Over time, he expanded into logistics and technology, launching iPakket and later Ride by iPakket, a micromobility platform focused on organized urban transportation systems and infrastructure-first deployment.
Rather than chasing trends, Juan Sebastian has focused on solving practical problems. His companies are built around structure, operational clarity, and systems that can scale responsibly. More recently, through Fink Financial Corporation, he has expanded into financial technology, focusing on transparency and accessibility.
Outside of business, he is a long-time supporter of Amnesty International and initiatives that help improve access to clean energy in underserved regions of Central America. He prefers low-profile philanthropy and believes consistency matters more than visibility.
Away from work, Juan Sebastian enjoys NASCAR, tennis, and spending time with family. Across industries and decades, one principle has remained constant in his life: ideas only matter when they are put into action.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My day usually starts early. I wake up around 5:30 a.m. and avoid looking at messages for the first hour. I use that time to think clearly before the day’s noise starts. I review operational reports, mobility usage data, and logistics updates before meetings begin.
Most of my day is structured around decision-making and problem-solving. I spend time with infrastructure teams, software teams, and city partnership discussions. Every part of the business connects to another system, so communication matters.
I make my day productive by keeping things simple. I do not overload my schedule with unnecessary meetings. If a meeting can be solved in 10 minutes, I do not turn it into an hour.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I test ideas against reality very quickly. I come from infrastructure, where mistakes are expensive. That mindset stayed with me.
At iPakket, we do not just ask if something sounds innovative. We ask if it can operate consistently in a city with regulations, traffic, weather, and public use.
Most ideas fail because they skip structure. I focus on systems first.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The integration of digital systems into physical infrastructure.
Cities are becoming smarter, but the real opportunity is coordination. Mobility, logistics, energy, and data will increasingly work together rather than operate separately.
I think organized micromobility networks will become a normal part of city planning over the next decade.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Writing things down by hand.
I still keep notebooks. It slows my thinking down in a good way. Some of my best operational decisions started as rough sketches during airport delays or late-night reviews.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Stop trying to move too fast.
Earlier in my career, I believed speed solved everything. Experience taught me that structure matters more than speed. Sustainable systems take patience.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

I think many companies expand too early.
There is pressure today to scale quickly and dominate markets. But uncontrolled growth damages operations. I would rather grow slower with strong infrastructure underneath.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Talk directly to the people closest to operations.
Executives sometimes become disconnected from reality because information gets filtered. I learn more from maintenance teams, drivers, and field operators than from presentations.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I disconnect from screens for a few hours.
I play tennis, walk without my phone, or spend time with family. Distance helps me solve problems faster than staring at them.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Partnerships instead of confrontation.
In the mobility sector, many companies entered cities aggressively. We took the opposite approach. We worked with municipalities and universities rather than treating regulation as an obstacle.
That created trust and long-term stability.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Years ago, I underestimated how difficult operational integration could be after expanding into a new market. We grew faster than our internal systems could support.
We corrected it by slowing expansion, improving reporting systems, and standardizing procedures across teams.
The lesson was simple: growth without operational discipline creates instability.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Structured charging hubs for suburban micromobility near commuter rail stations.
Many transportation discussions focus on downtown cores. I think suburban mobility connections are still underserved.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Notion has been useful because it combines operational notes, planning, and collaboration in one place.
I use it to organize infrastructure rollout timelines, meeting summaries, and long-term planning documents.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I revisit The Prize by Daniel Yergin often. It explains how energy, infrastructure, and politics shape economies over time.
For podcasts, I enjoy Acquired because it focuses on how companies are actually built, including mistakes and operational decisions.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I recently watched BlackBerry. I liked it because it showed how innovation alone is not enough. Operational discipline and timing matter just as much as vision.
That is true in almost every industry.

Key learnings

• Structured growth creates more long-term stability than rapid expansion without operational discipline.
• Infrastructure and technology work best when they are designed together from the beginning.
• Strong partnerships with cities and institutions can create sustainable business advantages.
• Operational clarity often comes from listening directly to frontline teams and field operators.
• Sustainable systems are built through consistency, not hype.

RX Pros was built around a simple but powerful idea: make healthcare easier to access. The company is based in Clearwater, Florida, and operates as a telehealth marketplace that connects patients with licensed providers and pharmacies.

The story begins with a clear frustration. “People were waiting weeks just to get basic treatment,” the team recalls. That delay became the turning point. Instead of trying to change healthcare itself, RX Pros focused on the process around it.

From early on, the company chose a different path. It did not build clinics or hire large medical teams. Instead, it created a system that connects the right people at the right time. “We’re not the doctor and we’re not the pharmacy,” they explain. “We sit in the middle and make the system work better.”

As demand for digital healthcare grew, RX Pros found its place. The company leaned into areas where access was limited, especially medical weight loss and GLP-1 treatments. It offered a faster, fully online process that removed common barriers like scheduling delays and in-person visits.

Over time, RX Pros has become known for its focus on simplicity. The model is built around convenience, speed, affordability, and accessibility. Each step is designed to move quickly and clearly.

“We didn’t try to rebuild healthcare,” they say. “We just made it easier to reach.”

Today, RX Pros reflects a broader shift in how people approach care. It shows how small changes in process can create meaningful impact.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My day usually starts early with reviewing platform activity. I look at where patients are getting stuck. That tells me what needs attention. Productivity comes from focusing on friction points. If I can remove one bottleneck each day, that’s progress.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I start by asking a simple question: where is the delay? Most ideas come from real problems. Once I see the issue, I map out a cleaner path. Then we test it quickly. We don’t overbuild. We refine as we go.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The shift towards digital healthcare access. People are becoming more comfortable managing care online. That change is happening fast, and it opens up a lot of possibilities.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I keep things simple. Every day I write down one problem that needs solving. That keeps me focused. It prevents me from getting distracted by everything else.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Most things become clear after you start. I would tell myself to act sooner and adjust along the way.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

I think most systems don’t need to be rebuilt. They need to be simplified. People often try to replace everything, but small improvements can go further.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Ask better questions. If you ask where the problem actually is, you can solve it faster.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step back and look at the process again. Usually, the overwhelm comes from too many moving parts. Simplifying the next step helps me reset.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Focusing on one clear problem at a time. Early on, we looked at delays in access. By solving that one issue, everything else started to align. It kept the business grounded.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early on, we tried to build too many features at once. It slowed everything down. We had to strip it back and focus on the core process. The lesson was to keep things simple from the start.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

A simple tool that compares wait times for different types of care in real time. People don’t always choose the fastest option because they don’t have the data.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

We use internal dashboards to track where users drop off in the process. It helps us see friction points instantly and fix them.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I tend to revisit books about systems thinking. They help me see how small changes affect the whole process. That’s important in what we do.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I recently watched a documentary about supply chains. It sounds niche, but it showed how small inefficiencies can scale into big problems. That connects directly to our work.

Key learnings

• Simplifying existing systems can be more effective than rebuilding them entirely.
• Identifying and removing friction points creates measurable progress over time.
• Acting early and adjusting quickly leads to better outcomes than waiting for perfect conditions.
• Clear processes and focused problem-solving drive sustainable growth.
• Awareness and better questions can significantly improve decision-making.

Marco Nobel is the founder of Fuse, a flex-living operator working to solve Europe’s housing crisis for young people. Fuse takes undervalued, overlooked real estate and repositions it into premium student housing people are proud to call home. Since last year three cities are live today, Riga, Budapest and Vienna, with Prague, Krakow and Warsaw opening this year.

The idea grew out of his first company. At twenty, on a semester abroad in Asia, Marco started what would become the largest social platform for students studying abroad, reaching more than 150 cities and over a million students a year before he exited in 2025. That business taught him how community forms when people land somewhere new. Fuse adds the piece he kept finding missing: the place they actually live. Today he pairs that community DNA with an AI-driven operating layer, running much of the business with a quiet team of agents that lets a small team do the work of a far larger one.

Alongside his companies, he produces and performs on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Tomorrowland, Ultra and EDC as an artist.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My mornings are for focus. That’s when I do my hardest thinking, in one big block, with nothing else pulling at me. The afternoon shifts to people: check-ins with the teams at both my companies, Fuse on the real estate side and Socials on the platform side. Somewhere in there I try to squeeze in a game of tennis or a gym session to clear my head. The late part of the day goes one of two ways, either another focus block if I’ve got the energy, or I switch off and go for a walk or out to dinner with my girlfriend. Sharp in the morning, with my teams in the afternoon, actually present in the evening. That balance is the whole thing for me.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I experiment. When something feels promising, I take it to the smartest people I know, friends and people in my network who actually work in that space, and I get honest feedback. Then I iterate. But the part most people skip is the simplest one: just try it. Build the thing, let it break, and make it better from there. An idea sitting in your head is worth nothing. A rough version that’s been out in the world for a week teaches you everything.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Real estate is turning into an operating game. For a long time it was about location and buying smart, get the right asset cheap in the right place and you win. That’s changing. The real value now is in how you actually operate the building, the experience you wrap around it, the systems behind it. The same four walls can be worth completely different things depending on who’s running them. That shift is what Fuse is built on, and it’s only getting started.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Long, protected focus blocks. When I give one topic a big uninterrupted stretch, I make real kilometers on it, far more than I would picking at it between ten other things. The other side of that is meetings. I’m with Elon Musk here: most meetings quietly kill productivity, so I cut them hard. If a meeting is genuinely needed, it happens. If it’s not, it doesn’t go in the calendar.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Think in longer chapters. When I was younger I was impatient, I wanted everything to happen at once. Looking back, the best things came from committing to a direction for years, not months. I plan my life in rough five-year chapters now, and that long view takes the panic out of the short term. I’d tell my younger self to relax into that a lot sooner.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

That you shouldn’t let yourself be defined by one thing. Everyone tells founders to pick one lane and go all in on a single identity. I think that’s a trap. I want to be excellent as an entrepreneur and as an artist, I’m planning to do a PhD later in life, and right now I’m deliberately building companies in different industries. People treat range like a distraction. To me it’s the point.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Build a small system instead of doing the task twice. The second time I catch myself doing something by hand, I hand it off to a tool or a script. Do it once properly, then never again. It compounds harder than almost anything else.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I go and move my body. A long run or a gym session, with a podcast on that has nothing to do with whatever I’m working on. There’s one with three geography students who go country by country through the whole world and talk through each one’s history, I love it (they’re nearly through every country now, so I’ll need a new one soon). By the time I’m back at my desk, the thing that felt overwhelming is usually just smaller.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Diving straight into the deep end, and being opportunistic about it. With my first company I packed up and moved from Amsterdam to Hong Kong to build it on the ground. With Fuse, I saw the opening in Central and Eastern Europe, booked a flight to Riga, hired my first team member there and spent days on the ground getting it going. I didn’t wait for the plan to be perfect. When I see the opportunity, I get on the plane and make it real. That instinct has moved me forward more than any strategy on paper.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early on, I didn’t hire enough high-quality, senior talent. My first company was bootstrapped, so I kept the team very lean and outsourced a lot. It worked, it only accelerated when later I brought in the more senior and experienced people. I took that lesson straight into my second company and hired for real experience from the start, especially in areas where I wasn’t the expert. The fix was simple once I admitted it: stop protecting the budget and start buying the experience you’re missing.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Build for AI agents as the customer, not humans. The whole internet is designed for people, the websites, the services, the sign-up flows, all optimized for a human looking at a screen. But more and more, the thing actually using those services is an agent acting on someone’s behalf. There’s a real business in building a platform or service designed from the ground up with agents as the user. Someone is going to own that, and it’s wide open right now.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Wispr Flow. I never learned to type with ten fingers, I’m slow at it and I never took a typing course, so I just talk and it turns my voice into text. I’m literally using it to answer these questions right now. Not having to type anymore has genuinely changed how much I get through in a day.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

Food in Italy. I just spent a month there with my girlfriend, and the meals were unforgettable. The purest, simplest ingredients, incredible wine, nothing overcomplicated. A great meal in a place like that, with someone you love, is about the best hundred dollars I can think of.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

On podcasts, My First Million is the one I’d point to. It’s two guys talking, genuinely excited, about business ideas and what’s happening in startups, and that energy is contagious. I come away from almost every episode with something I want to try. On books, I like anything with a real story to it, and the one that stuck with me most is Richard Branson’s autobiography. He’s a big example for me: adventurous, restless, building across completely different industries and refusing to be boxed into one. That’s the kind of life I’m building toward.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I’m working my way through The Crown at the moment. I’ve got a weakness for that era and the classiness of the British, the restraint, the sense of occasion. It’s a nice contrast to the pace of everything else in my life.

Key learnings:

1. Take care of your health. Sleep especially. Nothing else works without it.
2. Don’t wait. The moment rarely feels ready. Get on the plane and figure it out when you land.
3. Work with the best and brightest, always, whether it’s a co-founder or your next hire.
4. Don’t let one thing define you. Build across what you love and let the range be your edge.

In 2004, Mark Stokes began working with the London Metropolitan Police Department. Mark Stokes started as head of the Forensic Digital Evidence Unit at the Metropolitan Police Department, where he worked with a covert police unit. Then, in 2007, he became the head of the Digital, Cybercrime, and Communications Forensics Unit, overseeing a staff of 160 technology specialists. He developed working relationships with key leaders to establish guidance and policy in digital forensics and forensic science.

Among his accomplishments, Mr. Stokes developed and implemented a transformational operating model for digital forensics. Through collaboration with key leaders, he combined the traditional forensics organization with the digital forensic unit. Mr. Stokes also obtained approval to invest in and implement a new digital forensic infrastructure across London, enabling frontline police officers to produce 64 percent of forensic evidence casework previously handled by forensic specialists.

Today, Mr. Stokes is the CTO and director at Engineering & Forensic Services. In this role, he is an expert witness in digital forensics and telecommunications, conducts digital forensics research, handles complex caseloads, and serves as a consultant to lawyers.

Mr. Stokes also advises universities on digital forensic courses, processes, facilities, and standards, and serves as a guest lecturer. Some of his work includes designing and building a complex digital forensic training and partnering with the University of East London to create a chip lab for security testing and reverse engineering.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My days are usually split between forensic consultancy, research, teaching, and supporting investigations. I begin early by reviewing priorities and emerging developments in digital forensics and cybersecurity. Productivity for me comes from structure, curiosity, and continuous learning. I focus on solving the most technically challenging problems first, particularly where there is a need to recover evidence others believe is unrecoverable.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Most ideas begin with a real-world problem. Throughout my forensic career, innovation often came from necessity, whether that was recovering data from damaged devices or developing new approaches to cell-site and Wi-Fi analysis. I bring ideas to life by combining research, experimentation, collaboration, and practical testing until the concept becomes operationally useful.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The convergence of silicon-level analysis, AI-assisted forensic workflows, and embedded systems research is incredibly exciting. We are moving into a period where investigators can recover and interpret evidence from devices once considered inaccessible. The future of digital forensics will increasingly depend on multidisciplinary expertise across hardware, software, and artificial intelligence.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I consistently dedicate time to learning and experimentation. Even after decades in the field, I still spend time testing techniques, studying new technologies, and challenging assumptions. Staying curious has been one of the most valuable habits throughout my career.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Do not be afraid to pursue unconventional ideas. Many of the techniques now widely used in digital forensics initially appeared too ambitious or impractical. Innovation often requires persistence before others recognise its value.

Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe the future of digital investigations will rely far more heavily on deep hardware knowledge than most people currently appreciate. Many still see digital forensics primarily as software analysis, but the real breakthroughs increasingly happen at the silicon and memory level.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Question assumptions. In forensic work, small, overlooked details can completely change the direction of an investigation. The ability to critically analyse information is invaluable in both technical and professional life.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step back and focus on fundamentals. Breaking a problem into smaller components usually reveals a pathway forward. I also find teaching and mentoring useful because explaining complex ideas to others often clarifies thinking.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Building credibility through expertise and integrity has been the most important strategy in my career. In digital forensics, trust is essential because investigations often involve highly sensitive or high-profile matters. Consistently delivering reliable results and sharing knowledge internationally helped establish long-term professional relationships and opportunities.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early in my career, there were occasions where investigative technologies advanced faster than organisational processes. Some ideas took years to gain acceptance. I learned that technical innovation alone is not enough; communication, collaboration, and education are equally important for lasting impact.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

A specialist forensic recovery service focused exclusively on damaged and encrypted IoT devices would become increasingly valuable. As connected devices expand into every aspect of life, there will be growing demand for expertise capable of recovering evidence from nontraditional hardware at the chip and memory level.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Python has been one of the most useful tools throughout my work. It allows rapid development of forensic scripts, automation of repetitive tasks, and experimentation with new analytical methods.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Specialist electronic components and tools for experimental data recovery work. Small investments in the right hardware often lead to breakthroughs in understanding device behaviour and recovery techniques.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I value technical research papers and engineering publications more than any single book because technology evolves so quickly. However, I have always appreciated works that combine engineering, problem-solving, and investigative thinking.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I enjoy documentaries and investigative series that explore technology, intelligence, and problem-solving because they often mirror the complexity and human dimensions of real forensic work.

Key learnings

• Innovation in digital forensics often begins with practical investigative problems.
• Deep technical knowledge combined with curiosity can unlock evidence others cannot recover.
• Long-term credibility is built through integrity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Future digital investigations will increasingly depend on hardware and silicon-level expertise.
• Questioning assumptions is essential for solving complex technical challenges.

Emily Bua is the CEO and Co-Owner of Flexfire LEDs, a US-based leader in manufacturing high-quality LED lighting solutions for professionals and end-users, trusted by homeowners, contractors, designers, and integrators alike. A creative and ambitious entrepreneur with a deep appetite for calculated risk, Emily acquired Flexfire LEDs in 2024 alongside her husband, Eric Bua, the company’s COO and Co-Owner, with a shared vision: to expand the brand and make professional, spec-quality lighting more accessible across the US and beyond.

The two approached the acquisition as a team: Eric drove the initial search and analysis, and Emily led the negotiations that sealed the deal — a process that drew on more than a decade of experience in marketing, strategic planning, business development, and project management. Since coming on board, Emily has focused on deepening Flexfire’s partnerships with contractors, distributors, designers, and integrators — strengthening the company’s B2B offerings and building programs that help partners win more projects and grow alongside the brand. Born and raised in Texas, she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Before stepping into the CEO role, she built a versatile career spanning marketing strategy, event planning, and organizational leadership, including coordinating large-scale programming for audiences of 800-plus and consulting work that sharpened her instinct for building strong, values-driven teams.

Under her leadership, Flexfire LEDs has continued to push the industry forward — more intentionally spotlighting and expanding the product offerings of its Leona® Smart Home System and earning national visibility, including a feature on All Access with Andy Garcia and a primetime commercial on Fox Business Network.

Emily’s boldest moves haven’t been confined to the boardroom. In 2022, she and Eric set aside the conventional playbook and traveled the country in an RV with their two young children, welcoming their third child along the way. That leap — choosing adventure and intentional living over the predictable path — reflects a guiding belief that meaningful rewards often require the courage to take big risks. She has also self-published a non-fiction book offering practical life guidance to young adults, a project that speaks to her wide-ranging creativity.

Today, Emily lives in Tennessee with Eric, their three children, and the family dog. When she’s not leading Flexfire LEDs, she’s traveling, exploring nature with friends and family, or riding her Vespa through Chattanooga.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

A typical day involves reviewing our business and financial milestones, connecting with team members where my input moves things forward, and protecting dedicated time for strategic thinking and development. I’ve found that intentionally stepping back from the day-to-day lets me lead more effectively — working on the business rather than in it. That’s only possible because of the strong team we’ve built, anchored by Eric’s leadership and our directors, Caye and Vanessa, who keep a productive environment running day to day. My most valuable contribution is setting clear, high-level direction and strategy that the team can then shape and execute.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I’m driven by inspiration, and I often find it in the most unexpected moments — while watching a show with Eric, on a walk, or on a bike ride. Bringing those ideas to life is where my team comes in: I tend to see the big picture and the direction, and I rely on the strong people around me to shape and execute it.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Eric and I always say that LED lighting is still in its infancy, and I love being in a space with so much future potential — especially as energy efficiency becomes a bigger priority. With AI and modern living driving electricity demand higher, people increasingly want lighting that’s efficient, long-lasting, and beautiful, without compromise. There will always be a need for light, and the technology behind it is only getting smarter.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I’ve recently built a somatic yoga practice into my routine — three to five times a week, whether for five minutes or thirty. It helps me connect more deeply with myself and shows up in my work as greater clarity, energy, and focus.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Honestly, I’d tell her to trust herself more. I believe we all have a strong inner knowing — and when we tune in to it, we find the clarity and direction we’re looking for. For me, there was plenty to work through to clear out the noise, and there still is.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

Toast with peanut butter, a fresh slice of tomato, and a sprinkle of sea salt is absolute gold — and I’ll stand by that no matter how many strange looks I get.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Always give yourself — and the people around you — room to grow. It’s less about hitting a specific goal or “arriving” and more about a continual practice of expansion.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

The best thing I can do is step away — move my body, or go for a ride. I love a good Vespa or bike ride. I’ll deliberately point my attention toward something completely unrelated. Giving myself that separation is often the hard part, because my instinct is to drill in harder. But that space is almost always where the clarity comes from.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Something I continually return to — both internally and with my team — is meeting hardship by asking what the situation has to offer us. When a challenge arises, instead of seeing it only as a setback, I look for what it’s doing for us and the opportunity inside it. I’ve come to treat each challenge as a map pointing toward something better.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

For years, I operated under the illusion that making other people happy would make me happy. It took a lot of unwinding before I realized how untrue, and how relentless, that pursuit really is. I did a lot of deep therapy work (like most millennials these days) and started turning inward, toward my own needs and desires rather than everyone else’s. It was painful and arduous, and I still have tendencies that pull me back into that mindset. But learning to honor myself has been a total game-changer. I genuinely wouldn’t be sitting in this role today if I hadn’t worked through it.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I literally thought last night that there should be salads on pizza slices — I love some good crunch with an NY-style pizza. And no, I’m not just talking about an arugula pizza. I’d suggest a local spot with a lot of character and unbeatable salad-and-pizza mashups.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I use Spark Mail to organize my inbox — it filters new senders and helps me prioritize, which keeps me sane every time I have to tackle email.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I recently started drinking hot tea, thanks to an amazing herbalist and company based in Tennessee called High Garden Tea. I ordered a tea kettle and several of their teas, and it’s been the medicine in my life I never knew I needed.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

I go through seasons of consuming books and podcasts, and then quieter stretches where I’m not. Most recently, I’ve enjoyed Amy Poehler’s podcast “Good Hang.” I’m a big Parks and Rec fan, so hearing the cast and creators share their stories is always fun. I especially enjoyed the Michael Schur episode — I admire his approach to his shows and the way he empowers his team: creating a clear, defined vision and then giving them room to play within it. That’s a lot of how I aim to operate as a leader.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I’m currently working through all the Harry Potter movies — something I tend to do every year or two. There’s real nostalgia in them, having grown up reading the books as they were released. But they also help me tap back into my childlike imagination and creativity, which is a nice shift from business and parenting mode.

Key learnings:

• A leader’s role is to create a clear, defined vision and then give the team room to play within it — empowering people to take ownership and operate from curiosity.
• Hardship is best met by asking what the situation has to offer; every challenge can be treated as a map toward something better, not just a setback.
• Entrepreneurship takes a “semi-delusional” belief that things will work out — detaching from any single outcome and continuing to move forward through inevitable difficulty.
• Real success is being at home in your own life; outward achievement is just a band-aid without peace underneath it.
• Take everyone’s experience with a grain of salt — draw inspiration where you find it, but resist turning someone else’s recipe into the rulebook; people are just as likely to succeed going their own way.

Christopher Reep has built his career around a simple idea: make work actually work.

Early on, he focused on operations and quickly saw a pattern. Companies had strong goals. Teams worked hard. But results did not always follow. The gap between strategy and execution was real, and it was costly.
That realization shaped his path.

He began working deeply in systems like Lean and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). Over time, he developed a methodical approach. Not flashy. Not complicated. Just clear, structured, and repeatable.

Christopher focuses on tools like Standard Work, 5S, and Root Cause Analysis. But for him, the tools are not the point. The system is.
He believes daily routines matter most. Small actions. Done consistently. That is where real change happens.

Along the way, he also turned to writing. He began working on books like Leading with Clarity and True PDCA Implementation Guide. His goal is to make complex ideas simple and usable. His style reflects his mindset. Clear. Direct. Practical.

Today, Christopher is known for helping organizations stay aligned and focused. He pushes leaders to think differently about execution. Not as a one-time push, but as a daily discipline.

His philosophy is steady and grounded. Keep it simple. Stay consistent. Build systems that last.
Because in the end, success is not about ideas. It is about what gets done.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My day is built around structure. I usually start early by reviewing priorities. I keep it simple—what are the top one to three things that actually matter today? From there, I spend time on leadership routines. That might be reviewing performance, checking alignment with goals, or working through problems with a team. I avoid jumping between too many things. Productivity, for me, comes from focus and consistency, not volume.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I break everything down into steps. Big ideas fail when they stay big. I use PDCA thinking—plan it, test it, adjust it. I also try to connect ideas to daily work right away. If it can’t show up in someone’s routine, it’s not ready.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The shift toward operational discipline. There’s more awareness now that execution matters as much as strategy. People are starting to realize that systems and habits drive results.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Clarity before action. I don’t start work until I know what “done” looks like.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Slow down and focus on fundamentals. Early on, I tried to fix too much at once. Systems take time to build.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

Most organizations don’t need more innovation. They need better execution of what they already know.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Review your work daily. Not in a casual way, but in a structured way. That’s how you stay aligned.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step back and simplify. I go back to priorities and ask, “What actually matters right now?” Then I reset from there.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Building repeatable systems. Early in my career, I focused on solving problems one at a time. That worked short term. But real progress came when I built systems that prevented the same problems from coming back.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I once helped roll out a Lean initiative that looked great on paper but failed in practice. We focused too much on tools and not enough on leadership routines. It didn’t stick. That experience changed how I approach everything. Now I start with behavior and structure, not tools.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

A simple execution audit service. Go into organizations and map how strategy flows into daily work. Most companies don’t see the gaps until someone shows them.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I use simple task management tools. Nothing complex. The value isn’t in the software—it’s in how clearly you define priorities inside it.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I’ve always gotten value from books on Lean and systems thinking. Not because of new ideas, but because they reinforce discipline. You don’t need constant new input. You need consistent application.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I tend to like documentaries. Anything that shows how systems work behind the scenes. It aligns with how I think.

Key learnings

• Execution gaps often come from lack of clarity, not lack of effort
• Systems and daily routines matter more than one-time initiatives
• Leaders drive consistency through structured behaviors, not just strategy

Beau Cassidy is a Senior Broker at Bishop Gold Group, where he helps individuals protect and diversify their wealth through precious metals investing. With a client-first approach and a strong focus on education, Beau works closely with investors to develop personalized strategies using gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Drawing on a background that emphasized hard work, adaptability, and relationship building, he is passionate about helping clients navigate economic uncertainty and build long-term financial security through tangible assets. At Bishop Gold Group, Beau continues to advocate for financial education and the value of physical precious metals as part of a well-rounded investment strategy.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My day is a mix of watching the markets and talking with clients. Growing up in a showbiz family, I learned pretty early on that you have to work hard and stay adaptable. I bring that mentality to the office every single day, constantly keeping tabs on global economic shifts so I can give our clients the best, most practical advice.

How do you bring ideas to life?

By keeping things simple and personalized. When we see a gap in the market—like a need for people to better understand physical assets—we don’t just talk about it. We roll up our sleeves, create straightforward educational resources, and map out custom strategies that make investing in gold and silver totally accessible for everyday people.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I love seeing how much younger generations are getting into precious metals. We’re seeing a huge wave of millennials and Gen Z investors who want to diversify with gold and silver. It’s awesome helping them see the long-term value of holding physical assets.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Staying adaptable and never stopping learning. The market moves fast and economic climates change, so I make it a habit to constantly adjust my approach. If you aren’t willing to pivot, you get left behind.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I’d tell my younger self to embrace the lessons of hard work and flexibility I learned growing up, and not to be afraid of carving out my own path. Moving away from the Hollywood spotlight and into the world of finance and wealth preservation was a big leap, but trusting my gut was the best thing I ever did.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

A lot of people in the traditional finance world are obsessed with purely digital or paper assets right now. But I genuinely believe we’re moving into a new phase where having physical, tangible assets—things like gold and silver that you can actually hold in your possession—is going to be the absolute foundation of real financial security.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Consistently look for ways to protect what you’ve worked for against economic uncertainty. Diversifying your assets isn’t something you just do once and forget about; it’s a habit you should keep up with.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I strip away the noise and remember why I’m doing this: to help people. Hearing a client tell me they finally feel safe about their retirement completely resets my focus and reminds me of the real-world impact we’re making.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Ditching the one-size-fits-all approach. Treating every single client as an individual and focusing on exceptional customer service and education has been our biggest growth driver. When people know you genuinely care about their specific situation, they trust you—and trust is everything in this business.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Early on, dealing with sudden market volatility was a real wake-up call. I realized quickly that rigid, old-school financial planning just doesn’t cut it when the global economy shifts overnight. I overcame it by diving deeper into market research and learning to be way more flexible. The big lesson? You always have to stay on your toes to keep your clients protected.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Build an “Education-First” business model. Whatever you’re selling, stop the hard sell. Instead, focus entirely on empowering people with free, high-quality knowledge and resources. When you help people make smart decisions for themselves, they’ll naturally want to do business with you.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Salesforce is the software that’s super helpful for me. We use it to stay entirely on top of client communication and make sure all their data is right where it needs to be. Combined with real-time market trackers for precious metal spot prices, it allows us to reach out with personalized updates exactly when our clients need them.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?/

Honestly, I recently bought silver right at the dip. I actually spent quite a bit more than $100 on it, but it’s paying off already! It’s a perfect example of what I tell my clients all the time—watching the market and striking when the timing is right is always worth it.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I’ve gotten a lot of value out of Trump 2.0 by Sean Spicer. It gives a really interesting insider look into current political shifts and massive policy transformations. Books like that are incredibly valuable because understanding where the country’s leadership is heading is a huge part of predicting where the economy and the markets will go next.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I recently watched the series Nemesis on Netflix and absolutely loved it. It’s a super fun watch! With my Hollywood roots, I always appreciate great storytelling and intense pacing, and that cat-and-mouse dynamic kept me hooked the whole way through.

Key learnings

1. Education over sales. Beau leads with knowledge, not pitches. When you make people smarter, they come to you ready to buy.

2. Physical assets are the next foundation of wealth. While the finance world chases digital and paper, Beau is early on the conviction that tangible assets like gold and silver will be the bedrock of real financial security.

3. Adaptability is the only strategy that survives. From market volatility to career pivots, every major lesson he’s learned comes back to one thing: the people who stay flexible win.

4. Personalization builds trust, and trust builds business. Dropping the one-size-fits-all model and treating every client as an individual has been his single biggest driver of success. Generic doesn’t retain people. Care does.

5. The next generation of investors wants hard assets. Millennials and Gen Z are diversifying into precious metals at scale. Beau sees this as a massive, long-term shift in how young people think about protecting wealth.

Simon Arias is an entrepreneur, speaker, business leader, and mentor known for combining high-performance leadership with a message rooted in discipline, resilience, and personal growth. As the President and State Director of Arias Organization, formerly Arias Agencies, he has built one of the top-performing organizations within the Globe Life American Income Division while mentoring thousands of sales professionals and entrepreneurs across the United States. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio,

Simon Arias developed his work ethic early through athletics, adversity, and a determination to create a different future for himself and those around him. His transition from athlete to entrepreneur shaped the mindset that now defines his leadership
philosophy: growth comes through consistency, accountability, and the willingness to embrace discomfort. Arias is also the creator and host of the GRINDcast, a motivational podcast focused on leadership, mindset, entrepreneurship, and self-development.

Through solo episodes, interviews, and coaching conversations, he challenges audiences to pursue excellence in every area of life, from business and finances to physical and mental discipline. The podcast has built a loyal following among entrepreneurs, athletes, and professionals looking for practical motivation and honest conversations about success. Beyond business, Simon Arias is deeply committed to mentorship and community impact. He frequently speaks at leadership events, youth programs, and entrepreneurial conferences where he shares lessons on overcoming setbacks, building winning habits, and creating lasting success through service and integrity. His mission continues to center on helping people unlock their potential while building stronger leaders, families, and communities.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I typically wake up around 5:00 AM and start my day with a workout, whether that’s weight training or grappling. I spend time in prayer and scripture, then read something educational or listen to motivational content on YouTube. Starting my day with discipline, faith, and personal growth helps set the tone for everything else.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I’m excited by how much information is now at our fingertips with tools like ChatGPT and AI technology. I also think it’s encouraging to see more people becoming health conscious and focused on improving themselves physically and mentally.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Going to bed early and waking up early has been a huge factor in my productivity. Prayer and starting my day grounded spiritually also helps keep me focused and disciplined.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self that sacrificing and working hard in your 20s to build a better future is absolutely worth it. I’d stress the importance of saving money early because compound interest is powerful. I’d also say that mentorship is a cheat code in life, humility will take you farther than ego, and I wish I would have started martial arts and grappling at a younger age.

Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on?

I don’t believe true balance exists when you’re trying to become great at something. I think you have to go all in first, and then over time that level of success can create balance later in life.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

MBS in the morning AKA. mindset, body, and spirit. Starting the day by strengthening all three areas consistently can completely change your life.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I go back to the basics: prayer, MBS, and breath work. Those things help me reset mentally, spiritually, and physically.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

One strategy that has helped me tremendously is continually reinvesting back into myself and my business. A lot of people chase shiny objects or spread themselves too thin, but I believe the most controllable investment is yourself and your own company.
I also believe in staying focused on one thing at a time and mastering it before moving on to something else. Everyone talks about needing seven streams of income, but I think it’s better to build one strong stream first and then expand from there. The man who chases two rabbits at the same time catches neither.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

One of my biggest lessons came from trusting someone close to me too quickly. It taught me to be more discerning and to understand that true loyalty is tested during difficult times, not just during success.
That experience helped me become stronger mentally, more aware, and more intentional about the people I allow into my inner circle.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Continue investing back into your own business and personal development.
Also, schedule consistent one-on-one meetings with key up-and-coming leaders. It helps develop them, strengthens relationships, and creates long-term loyalty and growth for everyone involved.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

ChatGPT has become a very useful tool for me. I use it regularly for brainstorming ideas, solving problems, organizing thoughts, and getting unstuck when I need a fresh perspective.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

The Bible has had the biggest impact on my life. Having faith and keeping God at the center has given me wisdom, discipline, and strength during some of the hardest times in my life.
As a Man Thinketh is another book that really influenced me because it teaches how powerful our thoughts are and how everything is created first in the mind before it becomes reality.
I also highly value The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It’s foundational for anyone leading people and provides timeless leadership principles.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I honestly don’t watch a lot of movies, but the original Home Alone is probably one of my favorites because my whole family enjoys it together. It keeps us in the Christmas spirit, and most of the time I watch movies, it’s really about spending quality time with my kids.

Key learnings

• The hardest and most important person to lead is yourself first. Consistent MBS (mindset, body, spirit) is essential for personal growth.
• Go all in on one thing before spreading your focus across multiple opportunities.
• Make major decisions alongside your inner circle and trusted people.
• Invest back into yourself and your business before chasing outside opportunities.
• Discipline, faith, and humility create long-term success more than talent alone.

James Warring is a seasoned financial professional whose four-decade career spans public accounting, wealth management, and entrepreneurial leadership. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), James built his expertise across multiple CPA firms in the Washington, DC metropolitan area before founding two successful enterprises in 2007: Eaglestone Wealth Advisors Inc., a registered investment advisory firm, and Warring & Company CPAs, a public accounting practice.

Rather than pursuing rapid growth, James chose a deliberate, patient path, one that ultimately paid off. Over 15 years, both firms grew nearly tenfold, expanding from a four-person operation to more than 40 employees. His approach to growth included the strategic integration of five practices, among them four CPA firms and a third-party administrator, each chosen to deepen operational capability and strengthen client service.
James’s leadership extended well beyond his own firm. He served as Past President of the Estate Planning Council of Suburban Maryland and as an Advisory Board Member of the Planned Giving Committee at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. He also contributed to the executive committee of the Personal Financial Planning section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. His organizational excellence was recognized in 2020 with the Smart CEO award.

Outside the boardroom, James is a lifelong and competitive golfer. He was ranked third in Maryland in high school golf and continued playing at Towson University. He has remained an active competitor throughout his life, most recently capturing the Bubba Invitational Match Play title at Belleair Country Club in 2024.

Faith and community are central to who James is. He and his family are actively involved at Chapel By The Sea in Clearwater Beach, Florida, where they give regularly and engage deeply. These same values, integrity, stewardship, and long-range thinking, have shaped his professional decisions at every turn.

Now entering a new chapter, James brings the same measured purpose that defined his career to fresh endeavors, including an international trade venture he is helping to develop from the ground up. For James Warring, the closing of one chapter has always been the beginning of another.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I usually start my day at sunrise, as I have trouble sleeping when the light peeks through the bedroom window. So I typically try to watch the sunrise in the morning with a hot latte coffee. I typically get 60 minutes of exercise per day … for example, yard work, a walk, or a workout at the gym. Lately, I’ve been focused on an international trade start-up project that a friend of mine asked me to get involved in. So I spend many hours each day helping develop the master business plan & strategy for this project. We are under NDA, so we can’t get into the specifics.

How do you bring ideas to life?

The older that we get … the more we can learn. We never stop learning. And when you think you know everything, that’s when you’re in trouble. I try to listen more than I talk. I am a firm believer in consensus thinking, because multiple brainwaves & thoughts add value, as EVERYONE has great ideas to share.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The trend that excites me most currently is artificial intelligence and machine learning. I have been using AI to help save time and have come to value the input and the research associated with using either Gemini or Copilot.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Making your bed every morning … it’s a good start to your day. I think having systematic discipline and structure in your life leads to greater productivity and happiness.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Follow your passion. Spend your life doing what you love … as our time on this planet is finite.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

Charlie Kirk was a prophet. He was a great communicator and was never hesitant to let others know what he believed. Whether you agree with his political views or not, you have to admire his ability to spark passionate discussions on topics important to younger people. He promoted open dialogue and thought, yet he was assassinated … Why?

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Be proactive with your health. One of the things we really can’t take for granted in life is good health. Eat well … sleep well … stay busy … and be grateful for all the blessings that we have in life.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I tend to meditate. I go to a quiet, peaceful place and THINK. I reflect on my past experiences and pray that I learn from both the positives and negatives that Life brings us.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Taking educated risks. When I started my business back in 2007, my twins were only two years old. I left my secure position as a partner at a large CPA firm and took the risk of starting my own business. I woke up every morning thinking this initiative CANNOT fail. And I ended up working 12- to 14-hour days for the first few years with that ambition, which fueled my drive to succeed. Looking back, it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I am human and made mistakes along the way, but at least I wasn’t afraid to take some chances. And follow my passion to be an entrepreneur. In the end, I continued to learn from my experiences, from my mentors, and others who crossed my path during my career.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I became too close to a client. I had a romantic relationship with a client, which in retrospect, was a mistake. It was a breach of my fiduciary duty as an advisor to have a romantic relationship with a client. My faith in Jesus Christ & God helped me overcome my poor judgment in allowing this romantic relationship to occur & the consequences of my decision. Material items are truly immaterial in the grander scheme of our lives.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Stay focused and never take your eye off the ball. Create a goal … develop a passion to achieve that goal … and do whatever you can to accomplish the success you desire.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I love EXCEL. I eat spreadsheets for lunch. I love devouring a complicated mathematical problem … customizing solutions in Excel… where assumptions can be easily changed. I love watching the spreadsheet ripple as it calculates the formulas I’ve created. Fun … Fun.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?/

I gave $100 to our local church earmarked for Rise Against Hunger. We are so blessed in our lives, and so many can’t afford their next meal. Giving back and sharing our blessings are among our greatest purposes in life.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I enjoy Tucker Carlson’s podcast. Whether you believe in his political views or not, he has a very thoughtful and interesting approach to both sides of the aisle. And it’s entertaining.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

We have been enjoying anything Taylor Sheridan has written. That includes Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Landman & the Madison. All great entertaining shows, in my humble opinion.

Key learnings

• Let’s make better mistakes next time. We are human, and we will make mistakes … no matter how perfect we think we might be.
• They say “time heals all wounds”. Well … it doesn’t. The pain dissipates but never completely vanishes.
• The true lesson of “pain” is on the other side of it … is immense joy. Experiencing pain is a precursor to happiness. To find happiness, you have to experience the other side of it.
• We should all do the things in life that are “right”. Even though we might think otherwise, integrity is doing the “right” thing when no one else is looking. Even though those of Faith believe that God is always looking.
• Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Live it as if it were your last day.
  Winston Churchill said… lies can travel halfway around the world before truth has a chance to put its pants on. So don’t believe everything that you read or hear.