5 Keys to Being Financially Secure as an Entrepreneur

Do you have a dream that feels just slightly out of reach; just a little too impossible? Well, today is for you because it’s all about setting big goals and finding the right pathways to achieving them. We begin with the definition of “big goals” before exploring why it’s vital for human growth and development to always shoot for the stars. Then, we unpack Caroline Adams Miller’s summation of Dr. Edwin A. Locke's Goal Setting Theory as found in her latest book, Big Goals, why you need to be surrounded by people who support you while also holding yourself accountable, how to build the necessary grit and resilience to help you persevere, and the undeniable power of consistency. We end by examining the motivations behind your goals and the importance of understanding your “why”, and it’s always helpful to remember the people in your life who may be affected by your actions and decisions.

As the clock winds down for another year, now is the perfect time to think about what you hope to achieve in 2025. But are the goals we set for ourselves big enough and perhaps more importantly, are they the right goals? Today we pose these questions to the eight-time bestselling author, international speaker, and world-renowned expert in positive psychology, Caroline Adams Miller. Caroline’s work is focused on setting big goals for yourself and finding the grit and determination to achieve them, and she begins today’s conversation by sharing details of her latest book, Big Goals – a manual that reveals the science behind the power of Dr. Edwin A. Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Caroline defines “big goals” and how they differ from others before explaining how setting big goals can change a person for the better. We discuss the modern trend of trying to eliminate all stress from our lives and how that has bred a timid generation, helpful tips and tools from the world of applied positive psychology, how learning goals and performance goals manifest in real life, and the roles of happiness and accountability in achieving everything you set out to do. We end with the reminder that hard work often leads to satisfaction and that through healthy competition, we are able to develop resilience, determination, and grit.

The great irony in personal branding is that your personal brand is not actually about you! Welcome back to another special recap episode with your host, Rory Vaden. Today’s recap episode stems from our recent interview with Jamie Hess, and we hone in on what most people get wrong about personal branding. Tune in as we explore why the best personal brands are service-focused rather than self-centered, what might be holding you back, and the key differences between selling and serving. Thanks for joining us!

Want to know how you can secure brand deals, bring in extra income, and even increase your followers? You’re in luck! Today, we’re joined by the incredible brand deal coach, Jamie Hess, who shares her secrets to securing brand deals! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guest’s career, her brave shift to entrepreneurship, how brand deals became part of her work, and what led her to coach. She delves into the financial aspects of brand deals before sharing ways to find brands to partner with, how to approach them, and more! It takes a lot of courage to approach big brands, especially smaller influencers, and in this episode, Jamie also shares her tips for gaining confidence in yourself and tells us how she helps her clients shift their mindsets about brand deals. Thanks for listening in and remember not to underestimate the power you have as an influencer!

Ask yourself: What do you truly want to accomplish with the money you make? And how do you know when the number in your bank is truly enough? We’re back with a recap of our conversation with Vanessa and Shana from Budget Besties, where AJ talks about recognizing when enough is enough. Making more money isn’t a bad thing; it’s good and sometimes necessary. But ultimately, it’s what we do with that money and how much control we let it have over our hearts that makes the difference. Join AJ as she shares her thoughts on the topic, breaks down the natural lifestyle acclimation of earning more, shares her belief in “dying with zero,” and much more. Thanks for tuning in!

If you’re wondering if this episode is for you, ask yourself: Do you want to have more money? Would you like to keep more of what you make? Have less debt and more spending power? More financial peace and less stress? If you answered yes to any of these, then this episode is for you! AJ welcomes Vanessa Porten and Shana Roberson from Budget Besties to the Influential Personal Brand podcast for a deep dive into budgeting and financial health. Join the conversation to hear more about how they wound up founding Budget Besties, what causes people to make good money but have nothing to show for it, and the biggest mistakes people make when managing their money and how to avoid them. We also talk about some tactical approaches to managing your money and separate accounts, the 90-day audit, why you should look at your finances often, navigating and overcoming your money baggage, and much more! Don’t miss out on another great episode, start listening now!

Before you sell to customers, you have to find them, but where do you look for your ideal clients? It starts with the places you frequently visit because serving like-minded individuals is your most powerful position. Then, it’s always helpful to ask the right questions, lean on other industry leaders, and listen to podcasts as you utilize every online search box you come across. Lastly, Google Alerts is your best friend for staying informed on your clientele’s movements, and similarly, SparkToro will help you connect the dots between certain topics and the people who follow them.

Today’s guest does everything we teach personal brands to do, except for one thing, he’s not our client! Michael Mogill is the Founder and CEO of Crisp – America’s number one law firm growth company – and he joins us today to share his story of how he’s built a massive business by serving one, very specific niche. Crisp, America’s fastest-growing company of its kind, advises law firms on how to grow their practices and improve operational efficiency, and we begin today’s conversation with some interesting analytics about the company, including details on how it was founded and why it chose to only serve lawyers. Then, we dive into Michael’s recipes for success as we learn how to narrow one’s niche effectively, the power of free marketing through satisfied customers, his advice to novice entrepreneurs who want a better life for themselves, and his tips for scaling a business in a short time. To end, Michael underlines the goals of the Crisp Game Changers Summit, how it’s evolved since its inception, and how it plans to grow moving forward.

Have you ever wondered how you can turn self-doubt into self-belief? What if all of the experiences that have made you doubt yourself can actually help someone else in their own struggles? Today on the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, AJ is sharing her definitions of self-doubt and self-belief and the differences between them. Tune in to hear all about how to turn self-doubt into self-belief, learn how to let the experiences that make you doubt yourself help others, and be reminded that failure is what people need to hear about the most. To hear all this and be encouraged to lean into the things that make you doubt yourself, tune in now!

You cannot find your true destiny if you do not experience disruption in your life first! Today on the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we are joined by the illustrious author, coach, TV personality, and mother, Marshawn Evans Daniels to discuss the concept of believing bigger. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Marshawn’s upbringing as well as how that shaped who she is and what she does, the inspiration behind her books, how she began to believe bigger with Christ as her strength, and so much more! We delve into how to figure out what you are called to do in each season of your life, hearing God’s voice to shape you, and purpose-driven success before discussing the two voices that battle for your belief in your identity. Finally, our guest even tells us about a free gift for listeners and what it’s all about. You don’t want to miss out on this incredibly inspirational and insightful episode, so be sure to press play now!