Full Transcript for Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Mentor with Bruce Taylor

lonely journey when you're running your own business. 57 00:05:07,631 --> 00:05:13,085 think especially for entrepreneurs and maybe a month and I sure or not. 58 00:05:13,085 --> 00:05:13,827 don't know. 59 00:05:13,827 --> 00:05:21,631 but I think especially for women entrepreneurs who are in charge of a family and raising children oftentimes. 60 00:05:21,692 --> 00:05:34,850 And I am amazed at the demands that are being placed on them and their ability to continue to build a business and navigate all of the challenges that is involved in that as they're 61 00:05:34,850 --> 00:05:40,443 also maybe primarily responsible for children in the home and so forth. 62 00:05:40,739 --> 00:05:46,244 I'm not sure when Ashley Logan actually sleeps, but there's a lot on your plate. 63 00:05:46,244 --> 00:05:58,335 But again, it can be lonely and having somebody who can be an advocate, an advisor, somebody to share or bounce ideas off of can be meaningful. 64 00:05:58,335 --> 00:05:59,235 Yeah. 65 00:05:59,316 --> 00:06:06,927 Well, I have to say that one of the highlights of my business experience has been working with you. 66 00:06:06,927 --> 00:06:08,687 And that's nice of you to say. 67 00:06:08,687 --> 00:06:09,687 It's true. 68 00:06:09,687 --> 00:06:13,627 Well, people will be like, oh, OK, you've got got lunch with your mentor. 69 00:06:13,627 --> 00:06:15,607 I'm like, you mean my best friend, Bruce? 70 00:06:16,647 --> 00:06:26,567 Well, one of the things you mentioned, and this is funny, and I still remember this from when we first met this culture index personality test and why they matched us because we 71 00:06:26,567 --> 00:06:28,227 have some similarities. 72 00:06:29,207 --> 00:06:33,167 Sorry about that, Ashley, but you have some similarities to me. 73 00:06:33,167 --> 00:06:34,447 But we. 74 00:06:34,989 --> 00:06:43,782 We actually learned we both like to talk a lot and enjoy and meet people and get to know what makes people tick and so forth. 75 00:06:43,782 --> 00:06:51,444 And we were advised to not let our discussions devolve into something that is great conversation, but we never get anything done. 76 00:06:51,444 --> 00:06:54,265 But I think we kind of navigate that pretty well. 77 00:06:54,465 --> 00:06:55,105 So. 78 00:06:55,105 --> 00:06:55,675 I think so. 79 00:06:55,675 --> 00:07:00,803 We figured out how to, we go and then we make our way. 80 00:07:00,803 --> 00:07:01,703 back. 81 00:07:01,703 --> 00:07:08,936 So what do you think in your experience are the key components of a mentor relationship? 82 00:07:08,936 --> 00:07:17,682 First of all, it's a willingness to be an advocate and to meet the person, the mentee that you're working with where they're at, not based on my expectation. 83 00:07:17,682 --> 00:07:20,534 I'm not a director of that business. 84 00:07:20,534 --> 00:07:21,434 I'm not a lender. 85 00:07:21,434 --> 00:07:22,575 I'm not an investor. 86 00:07:22,575 --> 00:07:25,876 It's really about meeting the entrepreneur where they're at. 87 00:07:26,917 --> 00:07:30,367 And then understanding how I can best 88 00:07:30,367 --> 00:07:43,834 advocate, how I can be a really good listener, ask some good questions, and provide some, whether it's access to my social network or resources that I'm aware of. 89 00:07:43,834 --> 00:07:58,893 But I think at the end of the day, flexible, being flexible, resourceful, willing to also learn from the mentee, because I've learned a lot from you over time, and just being that 90 00:07:58,893 --> 00:07:59,715 advocate. 91 00:07:59,715 --> 00:08:02,956 you know, for the business owner that you're working with. 92 00:08:02,956 --> 00:08:04,697 Yeah, I think that's so true. 93 00:08:04,697 --> 00:08:04,907 So. 94 00:08:04,907 --> 00:08:06,788 Well, I've learned a lot from you as well. 95 00:08:06,788 --> 00:08:09,999 And I think the other thing that I would add to that is consistency. 96 00:08:09,999 --> 00:08:15,832 So every time that we end a meeting, we make sure to schedule the next session. 97 00:08:15,832 --> 00:08:18,193 So it's on the books and that we're. 98 00:08:18,193 --> 00:08:22,054 Yeah, you're always on the hook to meet with me. 99 00:08:22,054 --> 00:08:23,145 Always on the hook. 100 00:08:23,145 --> 00:08:29,039 One of the important things you do that I appreciate, and I think it's important in a mentoring relationship is. 101 00:08:29,039 --> 00:08:34,099 you spend a little bit of time at least to prepare an agenda before our meetings. 102 00:08:34,399 --> 00:08:40,879 Now that may be, I don't know, I'm guessing you don't sweat about it for 24 hours, but maybe a few minutes before. 103 00:08:40,879 --> 00:08:45,258 But I think that helps give our discussion a little bit of structure. 104 00:08:45,258 --> 00:08:51,159 And so it gives you the opportunity to think about what are the most important things you want to discuss? 105 00:08:51,159 --> 00:08:55,699 What's the takeaway you want to take from any particular meeting? 106 00:08:55,699 --> 00:08:56,479 Yeah, yeah. 107 00:08:56,479 --> 00:08:57,159 So. 108 00:08:57,159 --> 00:08:58,379 No, absolutely. 109 00:08:58,395 --> 00:09:02,466 And I don't necessarily have all the answers. 110 00:09:02,547 --> 00:09:04,668 And no mentor is going to have all the answers. 111 00:09:04,668 --> 00:09:16,332 But having the opportunity to discuss things that may be a little uncomfortable or difficult to discuss because it exposes a vulnerability, uh it's important. 112 00:09:16,332 --> 00:09:26,296 And even if I can't respond or provide some meaningful feedback, there are people that I know that I hopefully could talk to, tap into that. 113 00:09:26,328 --> 00:09:29,829 could fill a gap that maybe I can't necessarily fill. 114 00:09:30,010 --> 00:09:30,750 Yeah. 115 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:43,568 Well, and the other thing too that I think is important and that you're great about is not necessarily giving advice, but

asking questions to help people thoughtfully consider. 116 00:09:43,568 --> 00:09:51,738 So how do you think that people in entrepreneur leader types, how do they react to giving advice? 117 00:09:51,999 --> 00:09:56,020 First of all, I don't think a role of a mentor is to tell the mentee what to do. 118 00:09:56,020 --> 00:09:57,641 It's your business, you know it. 119 00:09:57,641 --> 00:10:06,859 And I found out through my career, there's more than one way, there's more than my way to get something accomplished and something meaningful and positive accomplished. 120 00:10:06,859 --> 00:10:12,500 So I think that has to be done in a very judicious way. 121 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:23,803 I mean, I can share an experience of, know, if there's a particular topic and I can share what I did and what the result was, whether it was good, bad, or indifferent. 122 00:10:23,803 --> 00:10:25,520 But I don't think 123 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:32,223 As successful as anybody has been in their business career, there have been plenty of mistakes and there are other ways to get things accomplished. 124 00:10:32,223 --> 00:10:39,186 And to think that somebody has the one right way to make something happen is probably not actually true. 125 00:10:39,186 --> 00:10:42,167 There are many ways to get things done. 126 00:10:42,167 --> 00:10:52,731 you know, as when I thought I was on the right course of doing something and realized it wasn't necessarily the right course and not going to produce the results I wanted, you 127 00:10:52,731 --> 00:10:55,476 know, that makes me very aware today. 128 00:10:55,476 --> 00:10:59,069 to be very careful about telling anybody what to do in their business. 129 00:10:59,069 --> 00:11:01,100 You know it better than anybody. 130 00:11:01,301 --> 00:11:15,612 So, you know, I can, I can lob in advice sometimes from the grandstands, but you know, you're the one that has to live with it, execute, and know all the different aspects of, 131 00:11:15,612 --> 00:11:22,078 uh you know, what possibly would make it a good decision or not a good decision or course of action. 132 00:11:22,078 --> 00:11:23,038 Sure. 133 00:11:23,038 --> 00:11:25,540 Well, and also like advising people 134 00:11:25,568 --> 00:11:35,514 It creates sort of an emotional hierarchy, I think, to some extent, where that one person knows better than the other. 135 00:11:35,514 --> 00:11:47,150 And I think that when, that most people sort of tense up when someone starts telling them what to do or giving should statements, how they should do something or what they should 136 00:11:47,150 --> 00:11:48,441 not do. 137 00:11:48,601 --> 00:11:54,172 And I think about how through these entrepreneur organizations and that 138 00:11:54,172 --> 00:12:07,121 sort of coaching that they provide around interacting with one another as peers and mentorships and is the gestalt type mindset where you're not necessarily taking that 139 00:12:07,121 --> 00:12:13,966 hierarchical position of looking down and telling someone what you do or not do. 140 00:12:14,046 --> 00:12:21,772 But this extends so much beyond just business relationships and into personal relationships too. 141 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:30,668 think it's hard for us type A type people who like to get shit done to not try to control other people's outcomes. 142 00:12:30,869 --> 00:12:41,128 think um people naturally, I think, especially an entrepreneur, a founder of a business, business owner, get fairly defensive when you tell them what to do. 143 00:12:41,128 --> 00:12:42,199 And 144 00:12:43,796 --> 00:12:46,828 ah I'll reiterate maybe in a slightly different way. 145 00:12:46,828 --> 00:12:55,453 I don't know all of the players in your company and clients that you serve and the demands that are being made by various stakeholders. 146 00:12:55,453 --> 00:13:01,096 I wouldn't know that necessarily in any mentor mentee relationship. 147 00:13:01,096 --> 00:13:02,767 You know that as best. 148 00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:12,660 So I can jump to a conclusion, tell you what to do, and miss some very important aspects that are kind of rate limiting factors when you have to decide. 149 00:13:12,660 --> 00:13:13,940 What's the right thing to do? 150 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:16,420 What's the right course of action to take? 151 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:23,160 But I will say, one of the things that I've noticed, I think it's related, two points related to this. 152 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:30,140 One is the mentees that I've worked with that have been most successful are those that are like sponges. 153 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:36,200 And I know I'm not the only person giving advice to you or to some of the other mentees I've worked with. 154 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,640 That's so much smarter than I was when I was growing up in my career. 155 00:13:40,692 --> 00:13:45,945 Because I felt like if I couldn't know the answer myself, then I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing. 156 00:13:45,945 --> 00:13:47,897 But that's absolutely wrong. 157 00:13:47,897 --> 00:13:59,043 The willingness to seek advice and input from others, I think is one of the critical success factors for success in running, starting up and running your own business. 158 00:13:59,043 --> 00:14:03,206 I think you do that, some of the other mentees that I work with do that. 159 00:14:03,206 --> 00:14:06,888 I think getting that input from others. 160 00:14:06,888 --> 00:14:09,060 different sources I think is really important. 161 00:14:09,060 --> 00:14:21,840 There's another interesting aspect about I think being a good mentor and that is I don't know if my children, my adult children who are now in their 40s and mid 30s uh will be 162 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:35,971 listening to this podcast but it has made me a better parent to my adult children where I can consciously take the tape out of my head that deals with them as teenagers and puts in 163 00:14:35,971 --> 00:14:36,702

the tape with 164 00:14:36,702 --> 00:14:46,976 dealing with them as professionals, responsible adults, people who are accomplished in their own way. 165 00:14:46,976 --> 00:14:58,281 I get a lot further with my children not telling them what to do or accusing them of doing something like they always did when they were in high school, but asking, again, asking 166 00:14:58,281 --> 00:15:04,823 good questions, sharing experiences, and letting them talk through the situations that they're involved with. 167 00:15:04,823 --> 00:15:06,924 It opens the conversation up. 168 00:15:07,270 --> 00:15:11,161 I would say new possibilities, new thoughts, new ideas. 169 00:15:11,362 --> 00:15:18,625 and instead of shutting somebody down with a wall of advice, which is what it really is, it creates a wall. 170 00:15:18,625 --> 00:15:30,550 Well, so one of the things I think about is being part of these entrepreneur organizations like YPO or EO, prestigious organizations with very, very well-connected people. 171 00:15:30,550 --> 00:15:36,012 And so naturally through that, it allows people to uplift one another at this. 172 00:15:36,244 --> 00:15:37,425 playing field. 173 00:15:37,425 --> 00:15:42,467 And that's to the benefit of the business community at large and to communities at large. 174 00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:56,205 um But one of the things I think about a lot, and I know you do too, is how to um bring up other entrepreneurs or business owners maybe who don't have the same access to these 175 00:15:56,205 --> 00:16:04,800 organizations, who don't have the same access to incredible mentors who can help pave the way either because 176 00:16:04,946 --> 00:16:14,781 their socioeconomic status and they weren't born in a position where they automatically know people who are more connected or have other barriers. 177 00:16:14,781 --> 00:16:21,505 So tell me a little bit about how you feel about bringing other entrepreneurs up in the world. 178 00:16:21,505 --> 00:16:21,905 Yeah. 179 00:16:21,905 --> 00:16:29,570 Well, as you know, I was born and raised and my and raised my family all in the Chicago area. 180 00:16:29,570 --> 00:16:30,690 I love Chicago. 181 00:16:30,690 --> 00:16:34,572 Even in the winter, I love Chicago and 182 00:16:34,708 --> 00:16:51,668 When I left my full-time role at the bank back in 2014, I wanted to give back in a lot of ways, but in one way in particular in helping create more economic opportunity throughout 183 00:16:51,668 --> 00:16:53,308 all of Chicago. 184 00:16:53,808 --> 00:17:03,068 And through a fair amount of networking and discovery, I met a woman who was running the entrepreneurship program. 185 00:17:03,118 --> 00:17:05,248 at the Chicago Urban League. 186 00:17:05,429 --> 00:17:17,312 And as I learned, there are many different organizations in the city that are supporting a very diverse group of emerging business owners and entrepreneurs. 187 00:17:17,852 --> 00:17:24,434 And she had mentioned to me that the one thing she had not yet been able to accomplish was a mentoring program. 188 00:17:24,434 --> 00:17:25,894 And I said, aha. 189 00:17:26,095 --> 00:17:28,935 Wait, you know a thing or two about mentoring. 190 00:17:28,935 --> 00:17:30,456 I have an idea. 191 00:17:31,348 --> 00:17:34,148 This is in 2017, we launched our first group. 192 00:17:34,148 --> 00:17:35,848 think it can be incredibly. 193 00:17:35,848 --> 00:17:37,148 And this is through. 194 00:17:37,148 --> 00:17:41,008 So you this led you to founding the next level exchange. 195 00:17:41,008 --> 00:17:46,168 So we started with the Chicago Urban League, then Sunshine Enterprises joined us. 196 00:17:46,168 --> 00:17:49,788 And then about a year later, the Women's Business Development Center. 197 00:17:50,088 --> 00:18:00,626 And I just think we have found a very meaningful way for established business professionals, business owners to give back uniquely. 198 00:18:00,626 --> 00:18:15,178 you know, their gifts of their experience, their skills, their networks, their resources to a group that as we are more successful and as they are more successful become very 199 00:18:15,178 --> 00:18:24,014 vested in this entrepreneurial experience we have all had, so many of us in so many different communities that make Chicago what it is. 200 00:18:24,295 --> 00:18:26,216 The established business 201 00:18:26,216 --> 00:18:38,469 community here in Chicago giving back in a very unique way can make a significant impact over time and helping these business owners and their businesses become more successful 202 00:18:38,469 --> 00:18:39,760 more quickly. 203 00:18:40,020 --> 00:18:47,782 Whether that's creating jobs, careers, wealth, you know, within their own community. 204 00:18:47,782 --> 00:18:56,114 I've seen this in many other communities here in Chicago, what that entrepreneurial experience is like over the course of 205 00:18:56,432 --> 00:18:58,333 multiple generations. 206 00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:11,138 And I think that can have the same type of impact uh throughout all of the Chicago area, especially in areas and neighborhoods that are either overlooked or under-resourced 207 00:19:11,138 --> 00:19:12,059 currently. 208 00:19:12,059 --> 00:19:22,163 And there's a lot of great ideas, a lot of very energetic people who are working hard to establish uh businesses within these communities. 209 00:19:22,163 --> 00:19:25,234 And not all of them are going to be successful. 210 00:19:25,556 --> 00:19:27,397 That's true in any community. 211 00:19:27,397 --> 00:19:38,003 Being a banker, I saw plenty of people with what maybe you would call a lot of privilege, not end up being successful in their business ventures, but some of them will be. 212 00:19:38,063 --> 00:19:46,287 And I think one of the most important things that you get out of successful entrepreneurs is role models for others to follow. 213 00:19:46,296 --> 00:19:54,964 I mean, one of the things that

I'm most proud about regarding our program is when we ask one of our mentees, 214 00:19:54,964 --> 00:20:01,564 to become a mentor because of their experience and what they've learned and what they have achieved. 215 00:20:01,564 --> 00:20:12,824 Now it's a very hard sell because entrepreneurs are really busy and these people are running around spinning a lot of plates at the same do you mean? 216 00:20:12,824 --> 00:20:14,684 Yeah, really, you have no idea. 217 00:20:14,684 --> 00:20:16,144 You have no idea. 218 00:20:16,424 --> 00:20:22,580 But there such important role models like the role models that I had, not only of my... 219 00:20:22,580 --> 00:20:36,100 father and my grandfather, but the people in and around the community that I grew up in and was able to define what success can look like following an entrepreneurial or business 220 00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:36,780 career. 221 00:20:36,780 --> 00:20:37,500 Yeah. 222 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:51,340 I mean, I think that what's so cool about what you did was you took the experience that you had of one being mentored by those in your life and then also being a mentor to other 223 00:20:51,340 --> 00:20:52,434 entrepreneurs. 224 00:20:52,434 --> 00:21:00,906 and then created that roadmap to extend to communities with less resources. 225 00:21:00,926 --> 00:21:03,727 And then you formally built that program. 226 00:21:03,727 --> 00:21:09,259 Tell me a little bit more about how the organization has grown and how people listening can get involved. 227 00:21:09,259 --> 00:21:11,940 Yeah, so we are the Next Level Exchange. 228 00:21:11,940 --> 00:21:16,091 You can find us at nextlevelexchange.org on the internet. 229 00:21:16,091 --> 00:21:18,071 We're always looking for mentors. 230 00:21:18,071 --> 00:21:20,712 We're always looking for new mentees. 231 00:21:20,826 --> 00:21:31,395 One of the interesting aspects about this, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, is that this is a collaborative effort across more than one nonprofit organization supporting 232 00:21:31,395 --> 00:21:32,386 entrepreneurs. 233 00:21:32,386 --> 00:21:38,831 We have probably paired close to 300 mentors and mentees since the start. 234 00:21:38,831 --> 00:21:49,566 This past year was uh really, I think, the beginning of an inflection point for the program when we actually hired our first full-time program director. 235 00:21:49,566 --> 00:21:51,087 who's doing a marvelous job. 236 00:21:51,087 --> 00:21:52,488 Shout out to Amy. 237 00:21:52,488 --> 00:21:53,498 Hi, Amy. 238 00:21:53,498 --> 00:21:55,159 You're doing a great job. 239 00:21:55,159 --> 00:22:07,546 um And so as we continue to build the program, not only in terms of scale and the number of people we touch, but also the value we add, where we can help identify business 240 00:22:07,546 --> 00:22:18,706 opportunities for the mentees, continue to create meaningful networking opportunities, educational opportunities, and can hear from and to allow 241 00:22:18,706 --> 00:22:25,241 the entrepreneurs in the program to hear from successful business owners about their journey. 242 00:22:25,241 --> 00:22:36,170 I know I got that experience a lot in YPO when they had something called in the boardroom type luncheon discussions where somebody would talk about how they built their business 243 00:22:36,170 --> 00:22:37,731 and the ups and downs. 244 00:22:37,731 --> 00:22:44,066 I think those are important learnings and opportunities for learning that we can share with the participants in the program. 245 00:22:46,110 --> 00:23:00,184 So first of all, I think it's just amazing that you built this from the ground up and have found sort of this pathway for entrepreneurs of all levels to give back. 246 00:23:00,224 --> 00:23:03,385 And that's really impressive because it matters. 247 00:23:03,385 --> 00:23:12,487 so what do you think are some of the benefits for the community around uplifting business owners and new ventures? 248 00:23:12,567 --> 00:23:16,178 Somebody once asked me at a planning session for this program, 249 00:23:17,732 --> 00:23:18,933 several years ago. 250 00:23:18,933 --> 00:23:21,954 So why are you doing it? 251 00:23:21,954 --> 00:23:25,194 um Why is this important to you? 252 00:23:25,194 --> 00:23:29,215 I think at the end of the day, it really is about I get a better place to live. 253 00:23:29,216 --> 00:23:40,889 When there's more economic opportunity, more career opportunity, more wealth creation opportunity throughout all of Chicago, every one of us, whether you live in the suburbs or 254 00:23:40,889 --> 00:23:45,690 in the city, on the north side or the south side, is gonna end up with a better home. 255 00:23:45,810 --> 00:23:47,681 because the reverse is also true. 256 00:23:47,681 --> 00:23:51,505 When there are challenges in our community, it affects all of us. 257 00:23:51,645 --> 00:23:57,190 It may not affect us at that moment, but it affects opportunity, think, for everybody here in Chicago. 258 00:23:57,190 --> 00:24:00,593 So I think we get a better home. 259 00:24:00,593 --> 00:24:02,695 We get more economic opportunity. 260 00:24:02,695 --> 00:24:09,721 We have more people who are invested in what I think is one of the greatest expressions of liberty. 261 00:24:09,801 --> 00:24:13,127 Don't want to get all mushy here, but liberty in... 262 00:24:13,127 --> 00:24:25,508 in America and that is the opportunity to start and build a business and to earn the rewards from a successful journey of building a business. 263 00:24:26,229 --> 00:24:37,639 And so more people invested in that and I also think when you create ultimately a critical mass of successful businesses in any community, it begins to build on itself and it 264 00:24:37,639 --> 00:24:38,760 creates. 265 00:24:38,976 --> 00:24:51,025 uh Opportunities sort of like this flywheel concept that I think Stephen Covey or wasn't good to great one of those books had mentioned

that um You know it creates this critical 266 00:24:51,025 --> 00:24:53,087 massive continuing activity. 267 00:24:53,087 --> 00:25:01,773 So when we're looking at the entrepreneurial landscape are all opportunities created equal. 268 00:25:02,354 --> 00:25:04,135 Oh absolutely not. 269 00:25:06,056 --> 00:25:10,837 You know, there are some businesses that are much more difficult, at least from my observation as a banker. 270 00:25:10,837 --> 00:25:16,259 Our focus as a company was working with owner-operated family-owned businesses. 271 00:25:16,379 --> 00:25:21,480 And I saw that there are some industries and types of businesses that are just harder. 272 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:27,122 Subcontracting in the construction business can be very difficult ah as an example. 273 00:25:27,122 --> 00:25:35,174 Being a contractor in general, major contracts that you have to manage over the course of time could be multiple months to... 274 00:25:35,174 --> 00:25:41,209 over a year managing large contracts, construction projects can be very difficult. 275 00:25:41,389 --> 00:25:53,429 So no, mean, different opportunities, em you know, are, doesn't necessarily mean you can't, shouldn't pursue them, but they're gonna have inherent in them some different risks 276 00:25:53,429 --> 00:25:54,900 and different challenges. 277 00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:56,602 Real estate's a good example. 278 00:25:56,602 --> 00:25:59,544 Real estate can be a feast in famine business. 279 00:25:59,544 --> 00:26:04,388 I mean, we learned that during the financial crisis. 280 00:26:04,820 --> 00:26:11,583 The great recession in 2008, uh home building, it basically falls off a cliff. 281 00:26:11,643 --> 00:26:14,464 And we did experience that in spades. 282 00:26:14,965 --> 00:26:24,969 So that real estate can be very lucrative, can be a very positive career, but also just to be aware that it can be also very volatile. 283 00:26:24,969 --> 00:26:32,512 So what advice do you have for someone who's just getting started on their entrepreneurial? 284 00:26:32,628 --> 00:26:41,216 because I know there's a lot of people listening who have a seed that's planted in their mind that maybe they haven't taken that first step on yet. 285 00:26:41,216 --> 00:26:44,919 uh so what do you have to say to that person? 286 00:26:44,919 --> 00:26:47,541 ah This is not the easy path. 287 00:26:47,541 --> 00:26:49,984 Being an entrepreneur is not the easy path. 288 00:26:49,984 --> 00:26:53,426 It is, in many respects, the harder path. 289 00:26:53,427 --> 00:26:59,622 Because if the owner doesn't get it done, oftentimes it doesn't get done, whatever that done is. 290 00:26:59,622 --> 00:27:01,904 realizing that it is a challenge. 291 00:27:01,904 --> 00:27:02,604 It's a journey. 292 00:27:02,604 --> 00:27:04,475 It's a lifestyle choice. 293 00:27:04,516 --> 00:27:08,398 I know when I was running the business, I never really left the company. 294 00:27:08,398 --> 00:27:12,621 I was thinking about it all the time, oftentimes dreaming about it. 295 00:27:12,621 --> 00:27:22,729 My father coined a term about the three o'clock in the morning sweats he would get waking up worrying about the latest series of problems that might have been occurring. 296 00:27:22,729 --> 00:27:27,892 So I'm laughing to myself because for the last three nights I have had. 297 00:27:27,904 --> 00:27:28,424 3 a.m. 298 00:27:28,424 --> 00:27:31,334 Well, you just may be sick, but hopefully. 299 00:27:31,334 --> 00:27:32,945 Probably a combination of a bunch of things. 300 00:27:32,945 --> 00:27:34,486 Yeah. 301 00:27:34,626 --> 00:27:36,366 political turmoil. 302 00:27:36,366 --> 00:27:37,667 Yeah. 303 00:27:37,667 --> 00:27:40,888 So it's not necessarily easy. 304 00:27:40,888 --> 00:27:45,109 It can be a hard path, but it also can be an incredibly rewarding path. 305 00:27:45,109 --> 00:27:54,471 I mean, the opportunity to be your own boss, the opportunity to build something that has never existed before, the opportunity to be very creative. 306 00:27:54,471 --> 00:27:58,002 It's going to take a lot of perseverance, a lot of energy. 307 00:27:58,036 --> 00:28:03,819 I would suggest get a lot of input, get a lot of help, find advisors, friends, peers. 308 00:28:03,819 --> 00:28:05,200 Mentors. 309 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,342 Mentors oh who can help you along the way. 310 00:28:08,342 --> 00:28:22,470 Oftentimes testing your idea out while you may be working full time in one job, but finding ways to test something out to see if it's viable, uh if that's a possibility, 311 00:28:22,470 --> 00:28:25,992 whether it's a retail concept of some type or. 312 00:28:26,112 --> 00:28:33,535 some consulting or advising type of business to see if you can generate the... 313 00:28:33,675 --> 00:28:37,317 The number one thing to generate, obviously, is revenue. 314 00:28:37,317 --> 00:28:44,019 So can you begin to generate the revenue that will give you a chance to sustain and build a business? 315 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:45,620 It's so true. 316 00:28:45,620 --> 00:28:54,484 mean, and right now, not that you're suggesting that someone leans on the corporate dollar to go ahead and get started on something else. 317 00:28:54,484 --> 00:28:56,355 But by the way, that's a really good strategy. 318 00:28:56,355 --> 00:28:59,306 While you're gainfully employed, you... 319 00:28:59,504 --> 00:29:08,970 I don't wanna tell people to not go the extra mile working those late hours at their day job, but at the same time, if you're passionate about something, you have a seed that's 320 00:29:08,970 --> 00:29:11,952 planted and you wanna get something done, it's never been easier. 321 00:29:11,952 --> 00:29:17,604 There's never been more resources to do that because it's easy to build a website. 322 00:29:17,604 --> 00:29:18,654 It's easy to... 323 00:29:18,654 --> 00:29:22,612 ah I don't wanna suggest that it's easy to start a business, but...

324 00:29:22,612 --> 00:29:26,875 The word side hustle is something that people understand. 325 00:29:26,875 --> 00:29:38,643 First of all, I feel busted, so I'm busted, but no, there are many businesses, and this goes back even prior times, that get started at night or on the weekends. 326 00:29:38,643 --> 00:29:43,367 Yeah, I'm not suggesting you don't do your job for your day job. 327 00:29:43,367 --> 00:29:45,508 That's how I started with Yakety Yak. 328 00:29:45,508 --> 00:29:51,632 Actually kind of funny, because I'd started Yakety Yak, but I was working at an agency. 329 00:29:51,632 --> 00:29:54,054 and I was freelancing for the Sun Times. 330 00:29:54,054 --> 00:29:56,396 And they all knew about each other. 331 00:29:56,396 --> 00:30:03,257 So when I had downtime at the agency, I was working on my own business and then freelancing in the meantime. 332 00:30:03,257 --> 00:30:08,217 And I gradually dropped those other parts till I was full time with Yakity Yak. 333 00:30:08,217 --> 00:30:10,809 You know, it can start as a hobby. 334 00:30:11,550 --> 00:30:18,516 If you're thinking about baking and wanting to open a bakery, you can start that somewhat out of your own. 335 00:30:18,516 --> 00:30:24,279 home kitchen or as a bakery, as a hobby, and kind of build it from there. 336 00:30:24,279 --> 00:30:39,748 uh And we have, I know we've had several salon owners who've started doing hair salon services in their homes on the weekends before they went out and took the leap to leave 337 00:30:39,748 --> 00:30:45,271 their current full-time employment and start their own full-time salon business. 338 00:30:45,271 --> 00:30:46,772 So those are. 339 00:30:46,772 --> 00:30:49,013 couple of examples I think about. 340 00:30:49,252 --> 00:30:56,146 It also is interesting to me when I think about some of the customers that we dealt with at the bank that I loved. 341 00:30:56,146 --> 00:31:00,012 And one that I think of was a letter envelope converter. 342 00:31:00,012 --> 00:31:11,623 I won't say their name because they might get upset with me, but I love this customer and the story about how they started their business in their garage with one little machine 343 00:31:11,643 --> 00:31:14,356 and were able to persevere. 344 00:31:14,356 --> 00:31:20,518 to be resourceful and to build what has become a multi-million dollar business. 345 00:31:20,579 --> 00:31:29,683 So there are a lot of these businesses that are very well established, well known, that got very meager starts in somebody's garage. 346 00:31:29,683 --> 00:31:40,488 Well, I think the part of that too is that when we have such a mindset around performance and revenue and growth and all of those things, and it's really part of our capitalistic 347 00:31:40,488 --> 00:31:41,482 culture. 348 00:31:41,482 --> 00:31:46,736 that sometimes it can be intimidating to start something because people will be like, okay, well, what are you gonna do with that? 349 00:31:46,736 --> 00:31:53,061 And ask a lot of questions about how it's going to grow and where it's gonna be in the future. 350 00:31:53,061 --> 00:32:03,529 And I think it's okay to get started without necessarily having those answers and taking all of those little wins in stride because those little wins are really important and a 351 00:32:03,529 --> 00:32:07,816 collection of little wins builds a foundation for growth and. 352 00:32:07,816 --> 00:32:08,486 and other things. 353 00:32:08,486 --> 00:32:15,718 So I totally agree with you that starting in the garage, starting in the home kitchen, all of that, it's a start and should be celebrated. 354 00:32:15,718 --> 00:32:24,460 But starting off and thinking that you need to be up here can be a really big barrier for just taking the baby steps to start. 355 00:32:24,460 --> 00:32:35,824 oh And there's a lot of on the job learning that occurs when you're running, I don't care what business, that life changes, circumstances change. 356 00:32:35,824 --> 00:32:37,534 um 357 00:32:37,534 --> 00:32:48,168 You know, I think about the wonderful job some of our mentees did as COVID broke out and all the shutdowns and how they pivoted so quickly to morph their business into something 358 00:32:48,168 --> 00:32:51,580 that could survive, you know, a huge shock to them. 359 00:32:51,580 --> 00:32:54,691 But that's not something anybody plans for. 360 00:32:54,704 --> 00:33:02,854 And you don't necessarily need to have a very fancy, glossy operating plan every year. 361 00:33:02,854 --> 00:33:07,686 Having somewhat of a plan, having some objectives and how you can achieve them is important. 362 00:33:07,754 --> 00:33:11,626 But you can probably do that on a page, maybe at most two. 363 00:33:11,706 --> 00:33:16,809 But the doing is really important and learning from the doing is also really important. 364 00:33:16,809 --> 00:33:19,290 And what's working and what's not working. 365 00:33:19,410 --> 00:33:24,084 And that's also, I think, what's important going back to not giving advice. 366 00:33:24,084 --> 00:33:28,745 I mean, you have more contact with your clients and what they like and what they don't like. 367 00:33:28,745 --> 00:33:31,077 I felt that way about our bank customers. 368 00:33:31,077 --> 00:33:33,798 They let us know what the competition was doing. 369 00:33:33,798 --> 00:33:37,184 They let us know where we were doing well and maybe where. 370 00:33:37,184 --> 00:33:38,724 we were falling short. 371 00:33:38,724 --> 00:33:48,504 So that type of information in your connection to your clients and other stakeholders is really critical in learning on the job. 372 00:33:48,504 --> 00:33:50,204 I'll just put it that way. 373 00:33:50,204 --> 00:33:54,724 I think taking the time to reflect is important. 374 00:33:54,724 --> 00:34:04,764 more than that, and that goes back to the mentee mentor relationship, is that it is a moment of reflection when you're coming together and sharing

your updates and have a 375 00:34:04,764 --> 00:34:06,868 chance to respond to questions. 376 00:34:06,868 --> 00:34:10,791 that someone's asking about your business and about you as the whole person. 377 00:34:10,791 --> 00:34:19,927 I think that that's one of the things I value so much about you is that when you're asking me questions about my business and we're checking in, it's a great chance for me to 378 00:34:19,927 --> 00:34:22,979 reflect on, okay, what is actually true about my business right now? 379 00:34:22,979 --> 00:34:24,220 What is true about the direction? 380 00:34:24,220 --> 00:34:25,131 What are the opportunities? 381 00:34:25,131 --> 00:34:27,402 What are the things I'm missing? 382 00:34:27,402 --> 00:34:36,234 But you're asking me those questions, not as someone who is a stakeholder in the business who's tied to its performance. 383 00:34:36,234 --> 00:34:48,062 but an advocate of me, the person, the whole person who is not just a business owner, but an entrepreneur and podcast host and fire starter and all sorts of other. 384 00:34:48,062 --> 00:34:49,143 All that good stuff. 385 00:34:49,143 --> 00:34:51,274 All that good stuff. 386 00:34:51,895 --> 00:34:59,500 it's nice to have someone who can see the full picture and then ask questions to support the full picture. 387 00:34:59,500 --> 00:34:59,682 Yeah. 388 00:34:59,682 --> 00:35:03,844 As you were talking, what came to mind was work-life balance. 389 00:35:03,844 --> 00:35:04,928 And one of the 390 00:35:04,928 --> 00:35:15,868 I think a really successful mentoring relationship not only deals with a business, but what's going on in the mentors and mentees personal lives. 391 00:35:15,868 --> 00:35:26,148 Because there, you know, I've said this a lot over the course of time, that when you are running your own business, what happens in your personal life affects your business and 392 00:35:26,148 --> 00:35:29,268 what happens in the business impacts your personal life. 393 00:35:29,268 --> 00:35:31,468 You can't really separate the two. 394 00:35:31,548 --> 00:35:34,304 So having the willingness and 395 00:35:34,304 --> 00:35:41,807 uh openness to deal with both sides of what makes you the whole person that you are. 396 00:35:41,807 --> 00:35:46,049 And part of that, one that comes to mind is work-life balance and how do you get it? 397 00:35:46,049 --> 00:35:58,294 That was important when I was coming up in my career and it's equally important now and it surprises me sometimes what small shifts can do in terms of the impact, the big impact 398 00:35:58,294 --> 00:35:59,374 that they can have. 399 00:35:59,374 --> 00:36:00,405 I'll give you one example. 400 00:36:00,405 --> 00:36:03,416 Yeah, tell us about that because I don't know if you guys, 401 00:36:04,010 --> 00:36:10,860 Bruce, you ran one of the largest banks in the Midwest and it was eventually sold to? 402 00:36:10,860 --> 00:36:14,157 We merged with MB and then we all merged with

Fifth Third. 403 00:36:14,157 --> 00:36:15,008 OK. 404 00:36:15,008 --> 00:36:21,102 And a family business, legacy business, you were under a lot of pressure when you were running this organization. 405 00:36:21,102 --> 00:36:24,014 So and you had three kids. 406 00:36:24,014 --> 00:36:28,797 Well, I had a very supportive spouse and Barbie was was great. 407 00:36:28,797 --> 00:36:33,504 We had a very we organized ourselves in a very traditional way. 408 00:36:33,504 --> 00:36:39,308 um that enabled me to spend a lot of time at work. 409 00:36:39,308 --> 00:36:43,301 Looking back now, I'm thinking, well, maybe I didn't have to spend all that time. 410 00:36:43,301 --> 00:36:52,137 think one of the benefits of maybe today's world, FaceTime is less important, but that may be for a different episode for you. 411 00:36:52,137 --> 00:37:01,264 But the one change that I made, because it was when our kids were little, and so I'm thinking in the late 80s, early 90s. 412 00:37:01,264 --> 00:37:02,152 um 413 00:37:02,152 --> 00:37:04,074 You know, I would work six days a week. 414 00:37:04,074 --> 00:37:08,176 It made a huge difference when I started coming home for lunch on Saturdays. 415 00:37:08,517 --> 00:37:11,669 That it was just at least for me. 416 00:37:11,669 --> 00:37:23,768 I don't know about for I think also for Barbie and the kids that I left work and just spent that that rest of that day with the family and took some of the burden off of Barbie 417 00:37:23,768 --> 00:37:26,090 and obviously took Sunday off. 418 00:37:26,530 --> 00:37:29,182 I never got to the end of the to do list. 419 00:37:29,310 --> 00:37:33,721 I think that's another issue we should talk about it another oh episode. 420 00:37:33,721 --> 00:37:36,002 ah But there's always something to do. 421 00:37:36,002 --> 00:37:44,644 That situation struck me as it was a little change that had a very big impact in improving family relationships. 422 00:37:44,644 --> 00:37:58,888 So one of the things that I really appreciate about you is your capacity for curiosity, always learning new things, open minded to new perspectives. 423 00:37:58,942 --> 00:38:04,293 What's something that had you known now that you would have done differently? 424 00:38:04,293 --> 00:38:05,454 Well, you know what? 425 00:38:05,454 --> 00:38:10,515 There's this saying about give credit and take responsibility. 426 00:38:10,515 --> 00:38:14,935 Another way that I think about that is catching people doing things right. 427 00:38:14,935 --> 00:38:17,857 I would have done a lot more of that. 428 00:38:17,857 --> 00:38:26,179 I mean, there were times when I felt the weight of the world was on my shoulders running our company when things weren't going well. 429 00:38:26,179 --> 00:38:28,750 And it was hard for me to do that. 430 00:38:29,130 --> 00:38:40,715 But if I were to do something different now as being my genuine, interested, curious self, but also catching people doing something

right, encouraging them, being positive with 431 00:38:40,715 --> 00:38:45,427 them, yeah, it doesn't mean that you don't address issues that might be coming up. 432 00:38:45,427 --> 00:38:49,909 When you feel the weight of the world is on your shoulders, it's hard to do that. 433 00:38:49,909 --> 00:38:58,152 You know, when you're worried and concerned and overwhelmed, it's sometimes hard to give that credit. 434 00:38:58,164 --> 00:39:00,525 give that positive feedback to people. 435 00:39:00,525 --> 00:39:05,227 As much as you possibly can, I would definitely have done that. 436 00:39:05,227 --> 00:39:07,749 It's so much about finding the right people. 437 00:39:07,749 --> 00:39:16,473 And that's the hardest, I think, part of almost every business is getting the right people in the right places in the company. 438 00:39:16,473 --> 00:39:18,994 We weren't always successful about it. 439 00:39:19,974 --> 00:39:23,806 And oftentimes, you know, we hired some... 440 00:39:24,542 --> 00:39:28,554 big name professionals in the banking business that didn't work out so well. 441 00:39:28,554 --> 00:39:39,378 uh But I would say the last six to eight years of the company before we merged, we had a wonderful opportunity. 442 00:39:39,378 --> 00:39:53,130 If I could boil my career down to two decisions I made, one of them was bringing in a whole team of bankers and executives from our primary competitor. 443 00:39:53,130 --> 00:39:54,401 who did a wonderful job. 444 00:39:54,401 --> 00:39:55,432 were great people. 445 00:39:55,432 --> 00:39:59,645 The opportunities that arose from the financial crisis crisis. 446 00:39:59,645 --> 00:40:00,625 Yeah. 447 00:40:00,625 --> 00:40:01,105 know what? 448 00:40:01,105 --> 00:40:04,820 Thank God we were smart enough to take advantage of it. 449 00:40:05,489 --> 00:40:17,907 they uh being they did a wonderful job, know, sometimes keeping your eyes open and changing your plan when an opportunity arises, you know, is as important as identifying a 450 00:40:17,907 --> 00:40:20,799 risk and trying to mitigate it as best you can. 451 00:40:20,799 --> 00:40:22,536 So I think. 452 00:40:22,536 --> 00:40:33,865 And also even with mentorship, there's also, would guess, you as you observe, anyone observes people they've worked for, what they do that they like and what they do that they 453 00:40:33,865 --> 00:40:34,946 really don't like. 454 00:40:34,946 --> 00:40:38,229 Those are important learnings too, to kind of tuck away. 455 00:40:38,229 --> 00:40:41,772 What do you like what your boss does for you? 456 00:40:41,772 --> 00:40:43,403 And what do you really don't like? 457 00:40:43,403 --> 00:40:46,175 And I think those are important learnings too. 458 00:40:46,716 --> 00:40:51,840 So in any event, people are really important. 459 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:53,781 And hard to get it right. 460 00:40:55,783 --> 00:40:56,664 Amen. 461 00:40:56,664 --> 00:40:57,485 Amen to that. 462 00:40:57,485 --> 00:41:00,487 They're the most important part of the business. 463 00:41:00,648 --> 00:41:02,580 And they are. 464 00:41:02,580 --> 00:41:03,931 It's hard to get right. 465 00:41:03,931 --> 00:41:15,711 I chew on that a little bit because I think for anyone who's looking to build a team, doing things like taking a personality test, like culture index, so you could know that 466 00:41:15,711 --> 00:41:18,876 you're a good match is important. 467 00:41:18,876 --> 00:41:23,458 especially as you think about like role allocation and different things like that in the scaling part. 468 00:41:23,458 --> 00:41:26,439 Going back to the next level exchange. 469 00:41:26,439 --> 00:41:38,945 So right now you have had over 300 pairings of mentee mentors and which is making a huge difference in the business landscape in the city of Chicago. 470 00:41:38,945 --> 00:41:47,388 And so what are your goals over the next couple of years and how can what qualifies someone to be uh a mentee or a mentors if 471 00:41:47,388 --> 00:41:50,509 should they want to be involved in the program? 472 00:41:50,689 --> 00:41:54,830 Can I mention something first before I answer your question? 473 00:41:54,830 --> 00:41:55,710 Of course. 474 00:41:55,710 --> 00:42:07,144 So one of the uh additional benefits of this program is the relationships that are being created between people who would have otherwise never met one another from different 475 00:42:07,144 --> 00:42:08,834 communities, different cultures. 476 00:42:08,834 --> 00:42:15,736 There are so many walls that exist in our city, in our area that these bridges being uh 477 00:42:16,116 --> 00:42:21,760 built between these different individuals and the communities they represent. 478 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:27,864 We've heard from our mentors, it's one of the most valuable things they get out of participating in the program. 479 00:42:27,864 --> 00:42:31,567 know, that's A sense of community is so, and so important. 480 00:42:31,567 --> 00:42:42,024 That's been very rewarding to see happen and the commitment so many people in the established business community have towards this program and the mentees they're working 481 00:42:42,024 --> 00:42:42,434 with. 482 00:42:42,434 --> 00:42:45,746 With the entrepreneurs, the mentees that we work with. 483 00:42:45,854 --> 00:42:56,527 We're generally looking for people who've been in business for a couple years who either have made it their full-time job or are considering making it their full-time job. 484 00:42:57,467 --> 00:43:01,848 And so generally at least $25,000 a year in sales. 485 00:43:01,848 --> 00:43:05,069 ah But we also make exceptions. 486 00:43:05,069 --> 00:43:11,971 And those exceptions are based on the organization that they come through and how they enter in the program. 487 00:43:11,971 --> 00:43:13,872 One of the three partner organizations. 488 00:43:13,872 --> 00:43:14,932 If they feel 489 00:43:14,932 --> 00:43:22,294 that

they're ready, then we'll make the exception and make sure that we find hopefully the best mentor we can for them. 490 00:43:22,294 --> 00:43:27,856 And that's again, the Urban League Women's Business Development Center and Sunshine Enterprises. 491 00:43:27,856 --> 00:43:31,957 That's where about 90 % currently of our mentees come from. 492 00:43:31,957 --> 00:43:43,860 The mentors are people who have been in business for about 10 years, who've had either some extensive professional experience or managerial experience or ownership experience. 493 00:43:44,264 --> 00:43:45,805 It's a very diverse group. 494 00:43:45,805 --> 00:43:47,967 I mean, even just age demographic. 495 00:43:47,967 --> 00:43:52,749 I think that one of the youngest mentors we had was in his young thirties. 496 00:43:52,950 --> 00:43:56,212 And some of the mentors we have are in their seventies. 497 00:43:56,212 --> 00:44:01,016 We have a lot of women, we have a lot of men, we have mentors of color. 498 00:44:01,016 --> 00:44:05,098 So it's, uh you know, a very diverse group. 499 00:44:05,098 --> 00:44:09,041 uh And so, you know, we're fortunate. 500 00:44:09,041 --> 00:44:13,884 And that was one of the litmus tests for me about the sustainability of this program. 501 00:44:13,958 --> 00:44:20,857 is to continue to attract people in the traditional business community to give back in this very meaningful way. 502 00:44:24,369 --> 00:44:33,212 You know, as far as what I hope, like I said, I hope we uh will add more organizations to this effort. 503 00:44:33,572 --> 00:44:37,954 We'll see more success that's very tangible and very meaningful. 504 00:44:37,954 --> 00:44:48,798 You know, I've mentioned to you before a woman who I've mentored, uh who founded Ladies of Virtue when we first started. 505 00:44:49,358 --> 00:44:54,242 She had only volunteer help, and now I think she has a staff of close to 10. 506 00:44:54,242 --> 00:45:00,677 or maybe more people that she's paying because of the expansion and growth of her nonprofit program. 507 00:45:00,717 --> 00:45:13,787 More stories like that, more opportunities that we're giving the entrepreneurs in the program to find new markets and new opportunities for them to do business, not only within 508 00:45:13,787 --> 00:45:19,512 their community, but outside their community, if that's the interest of the entrepreneur. 509 00:45:19,512 --> 00:45:20,398 And when we... 510 00:45:20,398 --> 00:45:30,867 continue to create a community of mentors who are kind of like-minded and want to give back in this way because they find value in this work and they know it's important um to 511 00:45:30,867 --> 00:45:35,321 creating that home we all want to live in here in the Chicago area. 512 00:45:36,182 --> 00:45:37,122 So. 513 00:45:37,363 --> 00:45:41,166 It's a really, really impressive thing that you're doing. 514 00:45:41,166 --> 00:45:47,952 And because it not only uplifts the business owners who, let's face it, 515

00:45:48,144 --> 00:45:53,324 We entrepreneurs need all the support and compassion that we can get. 516 00:45:53,324 --> 00:45:55,544 And you don't get it necessarily. 517 00:45:55,544 --> 00:45:58,724 You really have to fight to build your own community. 518 00:45:58,964 --> 00:46:05,184 And in some cases, you might be lucky enough to join a group like YPO or EO. 519 00:46:05,404 --> 00:46:16,904 And other times, you're scraping by and trying to find people who understand and speak the language and get all of the headaches. 520 00:46:17,012 --> 00:46:20,896 and joys of being in business. 521 00:46:20,896 --> 00:46:29,923 But more than that, it's about the impact that each of these businesses can make by creating jobs, by uh creating new paths. 522 00:46:29,923 --> 00:46:38,200 And I think that what we need to remember is that there's room at the table for everyone. 523 00:46:38,200 --> 00:46:43,534 There is endless opportunities to create wealth and abundance in businesses. 524 00:46:43,534 --> 00:46:45,752 And by extending 525 00:46:45,752 --> 00:46:57,502 a hand to the next person and bringing them along and sharing networks and sharing information and helping to build community, it really is to the benefit of everyone. 526 00:46:57,502 --> 00:46:58,462 All of us here. 527 00:46:58,462 --> 00:47:04,127 So absolutely, I'm very lucky to have found something that I do for free. 528 00:47:04,127 --> 00:47:05,918 I don't get paid for this and I love it. 529 00:47:05,918 --> 00:47:10,892 Somebody is very lucky if they find a career that they would do even if they didn't get paid. 530 00:47:10,892 --> 00:47:12,854 And I would do this. 531 00:47:12,854 --> 00:47:15,426 So I'm fortunate to have the opportunity. 532 00:47:15,426 --> 00:47:28,844 I feel so lucky to have miraculously been matched with you and that we've built such a great rapport and you've been such a huge impact in my life just from being a friend and 533 00:47:28,844 --> 00:47:40,130 then also uh making introductions that have been so helpful and connecting me with people who might give me those insights that maybe I would have otherwise overlooked. 534 00:47:40,130 --> 00:47:42,151 So I'm so profoundly grateful. 535 00:47:42,151 --> 00:47:44,312 But who is your favorite mentee? 536 00:47:44,604 --> 00:47:48,868 you are by so much, so many lengths. 537 00:47:48,868 --> 00:47:49,959 Absolutely you are. 538 00:47:49,959 --> 00:47:53,291 But Jamila's right there with you. 539 00:47:53,291 --> 00:47:55,593 You and Jamila are tops. 540 00:47:55,713 --> 00:47:57,074 We won't tell any of the other ones. 541 00:47:57,074 --> 00:47:57,904 Yeah, no. 542 00:47:57,904 --> 00:47:58,095 Shh. 543 00:47:58,095 --> 00:47:59,976 You will keep that between us. 544 00:48:00,337 --> 00:48:04,820 So, Bruce, there is a question that I ask everyone on the show. 545 00:48:05,501 --> 00:48:10,065 What are you doing to show up in your life unapologetically? 546 00:48:10,185 --> 00:48:14,144 Well, you know, I know you end your shows this way because I've heard 547 00:48:14,144 --> 00:48:18,966 This on every show so I get ready for this for this One of the ten listeners. 548 00:48:18,966 --> 00:48:34,213 Yeah, no, so I you know what I think at this stage um And I think you know this I think it is so important to let people know how you feel about them and to share the love and In a 549 00:48:34,213 --> 00:48:42,736 very overt way that you have towards the people that are important to you in your life that to me You know is 550 00:48:42,808 --> 00:48:46,491 guess what I am doing more today than I have ever done before. 551 00:48:46,491 --> 00:48:47,411 So. 552 00:48:47,932 --> 00:48:50,288 That's great. 553 00:48:50,288 --> 00:48:51,628 I appreciate that. 554 00:48:51,628 --> 00:48:52,275 It is. 555 00:48:52,275 --> 00:48:57,739 important to to express and tell people what you mean to them. 556 00:48:57,739 --> 00:49:02,983 So on that note, so profoundly grateful for you. 557 00:49:02,983 --> 00:49:04,053 So thank you. 558 00:49:04,053 --> 00:49:10,552 Thank you for your letting me into your world and your journey of being a business owner. 559 00:49:10,552 --> 00:49:13,133 So it's been really meaningful to me. 560 00:49:13,353 --> 00:49:14,473 So. 561 00:49:14,673 --> 00:49:27,804 So anything else that you'd like to share about entrepreneurship, mentorship, business, life, parenthood that you've been dying to get off your chest? 562 00:49:27,804 --> 00:49:29,888 Because I know there's some insights in there. 563 00:49:29,888 --> 00:49:31,078 my gosh. 564 00:49:31,618 --> 00:49:38,992 Well, one of the things I try to think about, and I'm not successful, particularly with you when we meet. 565 00:49:38,992 --> 00:49:42,332 But I've got to be listening 75 % of the time. 566 00:49:42,532 --> 00:49:44,292 I talk way too much. 567 00:49:44,292 --> 00:49:49,852 Probably the problem is you ask two good questions and then I start spouting off. 568 00:49:49,872 --> 00:49:52,732 So we've shared a lot today. 569 00:49:53,512 --> 00:49:56,732 I think as an entrepreneur, it can be lonely. 570 00:49:56,732 --> 00:49:58,932 There's no reason to take this journey alone. 571 00:49:58,932 --> 00:50:05,632 There are a lot of people who are looking to help provide advice and guidance and provide a boost. 572 00:50:05,772 --> 00:50:08,904 So it's too difficult to try and do it. 573 00:50:09,348 --> 00:50:10,649 So look for the helpers. 574 00:50:10,649 --> 00:50:11,269 Yeah. 575 00:50:11,269 --> 00:50:12,411 Find a Bruce. 576 00:50:12,411 --> 00:50:18,015 Find or even there's there's better Bruce's than this Bruce. 577 00:50:18,075 --> 00:50:20,717 I am sure this is what we'll name that episode. 578 00:50:20,717 --> 00:50:21,898 Better Bruce. 579 00:50:21,898 --> 00:50:22,699 No, better. 580 00:50:22,699 --> 00:50:24,010 Find a Bruce. 581 00:50:24,010 --> 00:50:25,661 Find your Bruce. 582 00:50:26,022 --> 00:50:26,432 All right. 583 00:50:26,432 --> 00:50:27,673 Well, thank you so much. 584 00:50:27,673 --> 00:50:31,046 For those of you tuning in, thank you for being here. 585 00:50:31,046 --> 00:50:38,676 And if you have a little seed planted in your mind and are ready to say take the steps towards entrepreneurship. 586 00:50:38,676 --> 00:50:40,577 Um, know that you aren't alone. 587 00:50:40,577 --> 00:50:42,447 Know there are people who are cheering for you. 588 00:50:42,447 --> 00:50:44,318 Know that there is a seat at the table. 589 00:50:44,318 --> 00:50:46,418 No idea is too big or too small. 590 00:50:46,418 --> 00:50:50,579 The most important thing to do is to just start. 591 00:50:50,579 --> 00:50:56,461 So take a minute, smash that follow button. 592 00:50:56,461 --> 00:51:01,772 If you've got any questions, um, send us an email at podcast at unapologeticallyyours.com. 593 00:51:01,772 --> 00:51:08,580 We want to hear from you and until next time, go out and make some mischief in the world. 594 00:51:08,580 --> 00:51:14,410 Jump in puddles, make some noise, call your friends and tell them how important they are to you. 595 00:51:14,410 --> 00:51:20,450 And until next time, I'm Ashley, this is Bruce, and we are unapologetically yours.