On The Rise Podcast

Taking the Leap : Risk, Resilience and Building a Business in Mental Health with Gabriela Lopez and Percy Llerena 

About Our Guests :

Gabriela Lopez is the founder and clinical supervisor of the Therapeutic Self-Care Mental Health Agency based in South Jersey. She is also a mother to three exceptional children. Percy Llerena is the Operations Manager at Therapeutic Self Care Mental Health Agency. He doubles up as Gabriela's partner. 

Episode Highlight :

Are you in the mental health industry and would love to transition into private practice? This episode is for you. Our guests, Gabriela Lopez and Percy Llerena, share their journey of setting up and growing a private practice. Gabriela's background is in mental health, while Percy is from a different field. When they formed a partnership, they invested time learning how to run a business and, for Percy, bringing himself up to speed with the mental health space was a successful crucial part of the journey. Percy, and Gabriel attribute their business success to learning and making sacrifices, ensuring they gave this business their all. In this episode, our guests take us through how they started the business, how their partnership came to be, and their goals for the future, among other things.

Quote of the Day :

"In life, the only two things you can control are your effort and attitude. This? Everything else is not up to you."- S McNutt  

Key Talking Points :

01:57 Quote of the day 03:54 Getting to know Gabriella Lopez 05:56 Gabriela's motivation to become an entrepreneur 11:03 What kept Gabriela going despite meeting challenges in business 12:14 Gabriella's most significant obstacle as a business owner 13:22 Getting to know Mr Percy Llerena, operations manager at Therapeutic Self Care 15:02 The magical piece that made Gabriela and Percy get into a partnership 17:20 What to look for in a business partner 20:01 Gabriela's message to people who want to start a business but are afraid 21:09 Percy's message to people wanting to venture into entrepreneurship 21:52 A message to the people who want to transition into private practice 24:07 Gabriela and Percy's goals for the next six to twelve months

Quotes :

"As a business owner, my business is my baby." "Stay on board and to the learning. And on the other side of that frustration, you will learn, implement those systems, and be able to progress and be successful." "Take the jump, jump off the bridge, and grow your parachute on the way down."

Connect with Our Guests :

Website : https://therapeuticselfcare.com/

Episode Summary :

How many times have you heard people introduce themselves or get introduced as serial entrepreneurs? Serial entrepreneurship is the new cool. People are now owning multiple businesses and flourishing. On today's show, I have a fantastic friend joining me on the show, Eric Lewis. Eric and I have been friends for a couple of years now. He owns multiple companies, and he will be sharing shares his entrepreneurship journey. Also, he gives us some nuggets of wisdom to help us remain disciplined and do better as the millennial generation. Listen to hear more from Eric.

Quote of the Day : "People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures." -FM Alexander.

Getting to Know More About Our Guest : Eric Devin Lewis is the co-founder and MC of Sole Performance Entertainment and owns a painting company. He is a husband and a father. Eric's first job was at 15 doing phone sales. The person he was working with was kind enough to assign him some tasks out of work, and it got Eric thinking about how good it was to have a side hustle. His desire to become an entrepreneur sparked there.

Key Talking Points of the Episode :

[02:05] Quote of the day

[05:16] Getting to know Eric

[10:25] Eric's motivation to pursue business

[13:42] Eric's first business

[15:34] Eric's partnership with Bishop and how they have made it work for eight years

[19:39] Eric can sing: understanding Eric's music career

[23:30] Eric's most significant obstacle as a business owner

[26:20] A message to people who are afraid of starting a business

[27:36] Why aren't millennials not getting married and having children as much as the boomers?

[33:30] Eric's goals for the next six to twelve months

Quotes : “When you're put in a position to fulfill your passion alongside someone doing their passion, and your passions coincide perfectly, it's like it's a match made in heaven."

"Don't stop till you get enough."

"Everyone wants more from what the neighbor has, but you don't know what the neighbor has."

Additional Notes : Enjoy 10 % off on soleperformanceent.com on any entertainment package you choose by putting "On The Rise" in the notes.

Connect with Eric D Lewis :

Website: https://www.soleperformanceent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.lewis.television/

Episode Summary :

How big are your dreams? Imagine leaving a full-time job and hopping onto the entrepreneurship wagon to chase your dreams. That’s a considerable risk. Jessica Rodriguez left her job to become a makeup artist and build an empire of her own. For Jessica, this was a massive leap of faith, but one thing she knew for a fact was looking back was off the table. She had to do everything in her power to make it work. Jessica reminisces about her first week in business. She made good money that she couldn’t believe it.  Since Jessica started her business, it has been on an upward trajectory. The business has grown and expanded exponentially. She launched a cosmetic line, and she has a pink print that is a guide to building a six-figure business as MUA in less than 12 months. In this episode, Jessica shares her journey as an entrepreneur, how she sets her goals, and how her business is expanding.  Listen and learn from Jessica.

Quote of the Day : “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. “ 

Getting to Know our Guest :

Jessica is a professional makeup artist, beauty educator, and the CEO and founder of Makeup by Angels bridal business and cosmetic line. She is one person who dreams big and believes in the power of her dreams. 

Key Talking Points :

[02:10] Quote of the day and our guest’s opinion on it [03:38] The birth of Jessica’s business [05:25] Jessica’s first job [08:12] The biggest obstacle Jessica has faced as an entrepreneur [16:35] Jessica’s first gig [18:18] Jessica’s worst experience with a client [20:09] The Pinkprint [24:02] How Jessica is managing her business with the exponential growth and expansion [28:14] Jessica’s upcoming goals for her business Quotes : “When you get backed up against a wall, and you have nowhere else to go, you’re just forced to tap into this person inside you that just gets it done.” “Everybody’s not for everybody.” “In the makeup industry, you have to find your niche.” “If your goal list isn’t, huge, what are you doing?”

Connect with Jessica Rodriguez :

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jessicamakeupbyangels/ 

Website : https://makeupbyangels.com/ 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-rodriguez-18689564/

Episode Summary :

If you were asked to work with any of your parents, would you be okay with that? For some of us, it would be one of the most challenging tasks. Today I have a fantastic duo joining me on the show, Mike Miller and Mike Miller Junior of Nambarii. Their journey started when one of the Co-founders revamped a design found in a tattoo book that became the NAMBARII logo before establishing NAMBARII in 2021. At that time, the NAMBARII logo was tattooed on all three of the Co-founders and later by one of the Co-founders children.  Just for fun, the NAMBARII logo was placed on Polo shirts, T-shirts, stickers, and car decals, receiving attention and several inquiries on the design. The attention confirmed that they had something appealing and unique, which led them to trademark the design. They came up with the brand name Nambarii, a Swahili name meaning Number. Their inspiration behind Nambarii is their belief that anything is possible with an immense number of positive people unifying. Their goal was to bring people together. They have built the business for themselves and their future generations. In this episode, they share their entrepreneurship journey with us. Listen and learn.

Getting to Know our Guest : Mike Miller and Mike Miller junior is a father and son duo who do business together. They are passionate about creating a company that will serve them now and future generations. They firmly believe in black-owned businesses. 

Quotes : "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat."- President Ronald Reagan "The only way to succeed is to persist." It's weird how you meet somebody at a certain point in your life, and you kind of circle back and have different roles. "You might think what you're doing is stupid, or no one will listen to you as long as you try. Someone's going to buy and listen." "Confidence comes with experience."

Connect with Mike Miller and Mike Miller Jr :

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nambarii_/?... Website : https://nambarii.com/

Get to Know Our Guest :

Chris Ward Jr is an expert at brand storytelling and does brain clarity coaching. This man works all over the world. His mission is to ensure we have about 5000 people who are storytellers, heart-centred storytellers, in their business.

Key Highlights :

In life, never confuse your calling with an assignment. Assignments have expiring dates, but your calling is forever. When Chris was fired from his job, he knew it was time to get onto his calling. Looking back, he can comfortably say it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Wherever you go, always leave a positive footprint. For instance, if you go to a company with a negative culture, try as much as you can to be a beacon of positivity. You never know who you could be tuned in the right direction. Chris calls that positive disruption. We've always been told that practice makes perfect.

According to Chris, the practice creates preparation to execute. The pressure to execute builds your confidence and helps you achieve your goals. For instance, we know people with over 100 recorded but unrealized videos, but today they are confident enough to be in front of the camera.

Why is that? They did a lot of practice. Do you feel like your business is being friend zoned? Here are three things to help you move to the next level: Become likeable, trustworthy, and memorable. Once you achieve this, your business will be ready for the next level.

Notable Quotes :

"We need people to reconnect and build rapport with themselves before they try to go lead others. We're at a time right now where people desire human connection." "It gets really difficult to lead people when you want to be the star of the show." "Practice doesn't make perfect practice creates preparation, and then preparation to execute." "Define what success looks like to you, the money will come." "The greatest investment that you can ever make is in yourself."

Episode Summary :

Sometimes, you go through a situation that awakens you to become the solution provider. Today, we host a special guest who lived in the street for years but turned into a homeless advocate. In this episode, our guest is Walter Herres. Walter is an executive director who is a formerly homeless individual helping to resolve the homelessness problem in New Jersey. He was raised by foster parents but kicked out of their home while a teenager. Walter went to jail at 19 years. Later he struggled to live in the street for over 10 years. In this show, Walter shares his story and journey in founding SHILO, New Jersey. He explains how this non-profit organization is working to resolve homelessness in partnership with other organizations.

Quote of the Day :

“Open your eyes, look within, are you satisfied with the life you're living.” - Bob Marley Getting to Know our Guest : Walter Herres is the founder and executive director of SHILO (Supporting Homeless and Innovatively Loving Others), New Jersey. He is an entrepreneur and a former homeless who transformed to advocate for homeless individuals. He has vast experience living homeless from his teenage. He went to jail at the age of 19 years. His life in the street inspired Walter to create an organization to help homeless individuals. With other partners, they are focusing on providing resources to the unhoused population in New Jersey.

Key Talking Points of the Episode : [01:37] Qoute of the day and guest’s thought about it [06:23] Walter’s background story [08:39] Kicked out and going to jail at 19 years [15:27] Walter’s turning point. [20:14] Walter’s bigest obstacle in the transformation journey [21:37] Common misconception about homelessness [22:31] When Walter realized his calling [25:23] Walter explaining what SHILO is and its mission in New Jersey. [32:21] SHILO’s next goal [38:14] Walter’s source of influence and inspiration. Connect with Walter : Facebook Instagram - shilonewjersey https://joinshilo.org Quotes from the Episode : "Open your eyes. Look Within? Are you satisfied with the life you're living?" "You need a little discontentment in the tank. I believe without that discontentment, there's no willingness to change." "Once you make it up to that goal, there'll be other soul distractions." "Job retention is the number one thing to stop you from homelessness." "It's going to take either you to wake yourself up, or it's going to take a constant poking by someone which is biggest enemy five years later is going to be your best friend. "You have your social services taken care of if you have your basic needs taken care of."

Episode summary 

Are you wondering how you can solve a problem in your community? No doubt, everyone wants to be a change maker. You can use your skills and hobby to profit yourself while offering a solution. This is what our episode guest is doing. 

In this episode, we are honored to have an exceptional guest: Dwayne Fletcher. Dwayne is a leading personal trainer, entrepreneur, and director who runs a street fight and boxing project to curb gun violence in Philadelphia. He uses his boxing skills to train youths on replacing guns with gloves. 

In today's episode, Dwayne shares his journey in running this project, inspirations, the upcoming events, the business side, and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts his mission.  

Getting to know our guest 

Dwayne Fletcher is the owner and executive director at Gunz Down GloveZ Up. He is a leading entrepreneur and a 10-year personal trainer. Dwayne runs a project that seeks to create awareness about gun violence in the street. He aims to change the youth's mindset by training them on positive ways of handling their anger. 

Dwayne seeks to end gun violence in Philadelphia and other cities across the globe. Currently, he partners with celebrities to organize street fighting and boxing events. Also, he offers free classes where he equips youth and women with critical thinking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and self-defense training.

Key Talking Points of the Episode 

[00:53] Introduction to the episode guest: Dwayne Fletcher.

[01:31] Quote of the day and guest’s tought about it.

[05:30] How Dwayne got into boxing

[07:35] Street fights transition into boxing 

[09:51] Biggest challenges Dwayne faced when starting Guns Down Gloves Up

[11:00] When Dwayne realized his first success on the project

[13:06] Does Dwayne feel like boxing is a calling or more than that?

[16:40] how has the pandemic affected Dwayne

[19:20] Guns Down Gloves Up next goal

[23:56] Dwayne’s ultimate objective on the business side of boxing.

[28:11] Personalities who influence Dwayne.

[36:43] How you can support Guns Down Gloves Up and the upcoming events.

Episode Summary:

What comes to your mind when you hear of network marketing? Many of us think that network marketing is the worst scam that has ever existed on this planet. The truth is, many of us do not know what network marketing is and how it works, yet we rush to making a judgment. What we may not know is that network marketing has changed many lives for the better. In this episode, we have a retired network marketer on the show, Rabu Gary. He will share his entrepreneurship journey, retirement, and touch on life after surviving a car accident that flipped his vehicle 7 times. Listen in, get inspired, and take something to the bank!

Getting to Know our Guest:

Rabu Gary is a founder or partner in more than six companies in various industries, ranging from technology to exotic car rentals. He is an accomplished business professional that has touched the lives, coached, mentored, and supported thousands of people with backgrounds ranging from entrepreneurs and corporate executives to everyday employees and small business owners. Rabu has helped many implement personal success strategies designed to increase their earnings, create time freedom, and market their businesses and themselves. Also, he is a firm believer in giving.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

Rabu’s background and how he became an entrepreneur Confidence: What gave Rabu the confidence to step up? How Rabu got into network marketing Most common misconception people have on network marketing Racism Rabu’s retirement Rabu’s current investment Life after Covid Rabu’s message to people who have been hit hard by Covid Rabu’s crowdfunding international program

Episode summary :

Take it this way: you have a well-paying job. Unfortunately, you get fired when you need it most. It can be a frustrating moment. However, you can turn that downfall into a stepping stone to your next level in life. This is what happened to our episode guest. In this episode, we have a great honor to host Michael Matthews. Michael is a successful real estate entrepreneur and broker who ventured into this field after losing a well-paying job. He was working for a reputable company but got fired the same day his firstborn daughter was born. In today’s Podcast, Michael shares his story in the real estate industry and the entrepreneurial journey as well as obstacles and challenges along the way.

About My Guest :

Michael Matthews is the co-owner of Orange Key Realty and a licensed broker. With his partner, Ofir Hillel, they are transforming the real estate industry by enhancing customer experience. Their company consists of real estate professionals that prioritize customer service. Currently, he has 15 years in the real estate industry and works with his team in delivering an enjoyable experience to the customers buying or selling properties.

Quotes from the Episode :

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started”

“There’s never an option to fail.”

“We were looking for bright statements, something that everybody can say they can't miss it”

“When we started the company, one of the promises we made was, we'll never make a decision based on the need for money.”

“It's always good to have a few brokers in the office.”

“The younger generation is definitely big on technology.”

“I think that people are afraid to change.”

“It’s a numbers game. Make as many friends as possible, be honest and truthful. When you build trust, everything else will fall in place.”

Links : Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mjmatthews2/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/michael.j.matthews.3 Website : https://www.orangekeyrealty.com/

Imagine realizing your calling through a mistake. Is it even possible? Well, coming from an entrepreneurial background does not mean you will be an entrepreneur. However, you can become a successful entrepreneur by making a mistake in your career path. In this episode, we have the honor of hosting Sabrina Matera. Sabrina is a successful entrepreneur who discovered her passion for creative design by mistake. She shares her entrepreneurial journey and key advice for women just starting out in any industry that has a corporate structure that is still mostly dominated by men.

About My Guest :

Sabrina Matera is an award-winning Visual Design Consultant, strategist, and the owner of Design Maters, a creative strategy firm whose vision is elevating brands. Sabrina is an artist, designer, animator, and painter. She is a multidisciplinary designer who discovered her entrepreneurial calling through a mistake while in college. Currently, she has five years in entrepreneurship and works with corporate executives in helping them elevate their brands.

Quotes from the Episode :

“If you don't learn from the disappointments and learn to be humble and take something away from it, then you're, you're not focusing on anything.”

“You’re going to go through tough times. That's life. But I say nothing happens to you. It happens for you to see the positive in negative events.”

“Building a business, you can't really start anywhere without a brand.” “I'm a designer at heart.” “It’s more females to be honest, not so much males.”

“You just kind of trust your gut and your intuition.” “It’s a lot easier for females to be entrepreneurs at this time, and it's the best time to take advantage of the opportunity.”

“People have this illusion that everything they see on Instagram is the life.” “You can't expect to get somewhere and not put in the hard work.”

“You learn to hold yourself accountable through these bad experiences and you grow from it.”

Links :

Instagram - @levelupnelson @designmaters

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-matera-4a37398/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/SabrinaMaters

In depth health and nutrition talks as Mr. Tac talks about the health scare that motivated him to become the best version of himself. They discuss how Tac Zone was started and about being a better entrepreneur, growing a brand and why New Years Resolutions do not work for most people.

Quote of the Day :

“He who conquers others is strong but he who conquers himself is mighty.” ~Lao Tzu

About the Guest :

Merril Hyman (Mr. Tac) is a fitness and nutrition expert. He is the owner and operator of Tac Zone Gym in Kenilworth, New Jersey.

Quote of the Day :

“Knowing is not enough. We must apply. Willing is not enough. We must do.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

About the Guests :

Nickey Stringz. He’s an entrepreneur, a CEO, he’s the co-founder at bars and burgers an event planning company.

Terrell Smiley (L Bezzle). He’s an entrepreneur, CEO of CBD heaven and his Music Company, L Bezzle Music.

Key Talking Points :

* Getting to know our guests
* Quote of the day
* Our guests’ background
* Kanye West and JUICE WRLD tragic death
* The 3 F’s

Quote of the Day : “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to that.”

About the Guest : Marileidy is an MBA holder, a commercial banker, and a co-founder at the Social Butterfly.

Key Talking Points :

*About the Social Butterfly
*Marileidy’s MBA
*Blogging for business, not for fun
*How did Mari and Samantha build the Social Butterfly
*Marileidy’s journey in Capital One
*How Mari got to the commercial side of the business
*Is higher education worth it?

Episode Sponsors :

DatChat: The future of email and messaging. DatChat puts you in control of your text messages and allows you to pull back any message you have sent using secure blockchain technology. DatChat IPOs will start on sale in 2020 on the NASDAQ. Get a once in a lifetime exclusive pass to purchase shares now by visiting https://www.datchat.com/levelups/

Swerve Cannabis : Are you tired of your student loan debt while you are not alone. The American student loan debt hit $2 trillion. The good news is: hundreds of college graduates are using the legal cannabis industry to clear their debt. You can join the trail of selling marijuana products from CBD to THC. For more information, send an email to swervecannabis@gmail.com with the subject line as “student loans.”

Do you have a dream in entrepreneurship? Certainly, many of us have a dream of start and running successful businesses. However, the fear of getting started holds us back.

In our episode today, we have a privilege to host Eric Cruz. Eric is a successful entrepreneur who is transforming traditional slippers. He is re-imagining indoor slippers through technology to come up with modernized footwear. Stay tuned to learn and get inspired.

Quote of the day :

“Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining - it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn't solve any problems.” -Zig Ziglar

About the Guest :

Eric Cruz is the CEO and co-founder of Muvez Footwear. Eric transformed his dream into reality through re-imagining and using modern technology to design new indoor slippers. He attributes his passion in the footwear industry, creative team, inspiration from Phil Knight, and family as the key pillars of his success in entrepreneurship.

Key Talking Points :

Eric's dream and success story
Eric's Inspiration from Phil Knight memoir
The requirement of a Successful CEO
Eric's comment on the quote of the day
First journey to china
Developing a tech pack
Eric's experience in china
Losing a critical team member
Eric's most significant obstacle in entrepreneurship
Eric's advice

Key Milestone of the Episode :

[02:08] Eric's dream and success story
[08:34] Eric's Inspiration from Phil Knight memoir
[10:17] The requirement of a Successful CEO
[14:54] Eric's comment on the quote of the day
[17:51] First journey to china
[18:34] Developing a tech pack
[19:43] Eric's experience in china
[22:54] Losing a critical team member
[30:22] Eric's most significant obstacle in entrepreneurship
[33:55] Eric's advice

Key Quotes of the Episode :

“You don't have to be great at everything.”
“You can't expect to be paid for every little win.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask the question because somebody has the answer.”
“Seek knowledge, ask the right questions, the right people, and good things will happen.”

Episode Sponsors :

*DatChat - the future of email and messaging. DatChat puts you in control of your text messages and allows you to pull back any message you have sent using secure blockchain technology. DatChat IPOs will start on sale in 2020 on the NASDAQ. Get a once in a lifetime exclusive pass to purchase shares now by visiting https://www.datchat.com/levelups/

*Swerve Cannabis - Are you tired of your student loan debt while you are not alone. The American student loan debt hit $2 trillion. The good news is: hundreds of college graduates are using the legal cannabis industry to clear their debt. You can join the trail of selling marijuana products from CBD to THC. For more information, send an email to swervecannabis@gmail.com with the subject line as “student loans.”

Certainly, eating healthy is now a priority for every person worldwide. We are looking for meals and food that is clean. No one wants to suffer from diabetes, heart attacks, and other lifestyle-related conditions. For this reason, we’re avoiding burgers and other fast foods for fear of cholesterol. But did you know you can still enjoy a cholesterol-free burger?

In this episode, we are honored to host Dan Zeno. Dan is an entrepreneur who left the air force to venture in plant-based burger business. He tells us his story about business and why he ventured into this field. Stay tuned to learn more and get inspired.

Quote of the day :

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness.”

About the guest :

Dan Zeno is the founder and CEO of Seed Burger. He also sits on the DatChat board. Dan is a former air force captain who turned to entrepreneurship. He found passion for baking plant-based burgers and transformed the impossible into possible.

Key talking points :

Opinion about the quote of the day.
Knowing Dan Zeno
From military to entrepreneurship
The birth of Seed burger
Expanding your business: stores or franchise
Franchise: Dan's business expansion plan
Lessons Dan learned from military
Developing the business name
Dan's down moment at Seed Burger
Dan involvement in DatChat

Episode sponsors :

This episode’s sponsor is DatChat: the future of email and messaging. DatChat puts you in control of your text messages and allows you to pull back any message you have sent using secure blockchain technology. DatChat IPOs will start on sale in 2020. Get a once in a lifetime exclusive pass to purchase shares by visiting https://www.datchat.com/levelups/

Key Milestone of the Episode :

[01:39]: Opinion about the quote of the day.
[04:39]: Knowing Dan Zeno
[07:11]: Shifting military to entrepreneurship
[08:05]: The birth of Seed burger
[13:37]: Expanding your business: stores or franchise
[14:46]: Franchise: Dan's business expansion plan
[22:39]: Lessons Dan learned from military
[25:46]: Developing the business plan and name
[29:42]: Dan's down moment at Seed Burger
[35:47] Dan involvement in DatChat

Key Quotes of the Episode :

“You cannot know the true beauty of light without the darkness.”
“The darkness prepares you to deal with your fears and overcome them.”
“Stretching as much as you can stretch and never lose sight of the vision.”
“Only a bad decision is no decision.”
“Every failure sow the seed of hunger and drive and made me more ambitious, hungry, and resilient.”

Professional Skills Trainer and Founder at Basketball Society, Martin Soaries stops by the show and sheds some light about the basketball business and how often times a youths success depends on parent involvement or lack there of.

Nelson sits down with a Mortgage Officer to discuss how important it is for Millennials to consider home ownership. Major levelups in this show, take notes!

Cybersecurity, the future of messaging and shouldn't we own our data? The Executive VP at DatChat came by to share some light on their big IPO coming in 2020 and much more!