Stop Chasing Leads, Start Building Lighthouses: Heart-Centered Networking with Mike Ashabraner

What if the best marketing strategy you'll ever use is simply being yourself?

On this episode of The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, hosts Julie Lokun, JD and Dominick Domasky sit down with Mike Ashabraner, known as The Redneck Connecktor, the Louisville, Kentucky entrepreneur behind the Hounds of Business community. Mike is funny, blunt, and unapologetically real, and he's built something most entrepreneurs only talk about: a business ecosystem where people from every walk of life, every political stripe, and every stage of business actually want to show up for each other.

Mike doesn't chase fish. He builds lighthouses. And in this conversation, he breaks down exactly how heart-centered entrepreneurs can grow a business without fast-food tactics, forced sales calls, or pretending to be someone they're not.

Why inner work is a business skill. Mike explains how doing your own inner work "removes the buttons" other people push, so you stop reacting to difficult personalities and start seeing the mask instead of the person. That shift changes how you show up in every room.

The difference between connection and flattery. Flattery says you want something. Mike shares how genuine observation, like telling a stranger they seem to have fond memories of a place, opens doors that pitching never will. His warning: if you're performing to get money, it will expose you.

The Costco sausage lesson. A 20-minute conversation with a sample lady (and five sausages he never planned to buy) became the blueprint for how Hounds of Business markets: let people test drive and sample what you do instead of persuading them.

Why Hounds of Business is an ecosystem, not a networking group. It's not BNI, not an engagement pod, and not a media network. Mike describes it as a pack for "strays," the entrepreneurs who already move with heart but haven't found their people yet.

Building lighthouses instead of buying lead gen. Too many entrepreneurs spend thousands on systems that promise everything because they lack the clarity to make any marketing work. Mike and Steve Woodruff, the "king of clarity," are tackling that problem head-on with clarity workshops.

Who the Hounds serve. Newer founders who don't want to waste four years of time, money, and heart, and seasoned pros who succeeded faster than expected and now face a pile of new challenges. Members range from a Hollywood stuntman turned soul guide to a highly accredited wealth advisor spreading kindness worldwide.

The business must fit the person carrying it. Borrowing Bruce Lee's "be like water" idea, Mike argues you should be the same person 24/7, define success on your own terms, and recognize that some tactics are either wrong for you or right at the wrong time.

In honor of Mike from Kentucky, Julie weighs in on the best outdoor activities. The crew lands on bonfires, pig roasts, hiking, kayaking, sun tanning, outdoor gun ranges, and camping (with glamping as Julie's preferred compromise), plus a very honest conversation about Julie's closet redneck and why the slower pace of the South lets her breathe.

"How the hell can somebody push a button that you took off?" — Mike Ashabraner

"Flattering says I want something." — Mike Ashabraner

"Opportunity won't plop its ass on the couch next to you." — Mike Ashabraner

"Mike doesn't chase fish. He is building lighthouses." — Julie Lokun

• The Redneck Financial Coach (Website): redneckfinancialcoach.com
• Mike Ashabraner on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/redneck1
• Hounds of Business on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hounds-of-business
• Hounds of Business on YouTube: youtube.com/@HoundsOfBusiness

Mike's advice for reaching out: just say, "Hey Mike, you said reach out." You don't have to know what to say. The Hounds will take it from there.

Julie Lokun, JD is a media entrepreneur, podcast strategist, and brand consultant whose shows rank in the top 0.05% globally on Listen Notes and top 5 on Apple Podcasts weekly. She is the founder of The Mediacasters LLC, co-founder of Dragonfly Cre8tions LLC, Dragonfly Podcast Academy, and Cre8tive Con, and a contributing writer for Entrepreneur Magazine and MindValley. Her guiding philosophy: own your ecosystem, don't rent your audience. Connect with Julie: www.julielokunconsulting.com

Dominick Domasky is the Founder of Motivation Champs Media, a bestselling author, speaker, co-host of The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, and co-founder of Cre8tive Con. He brings the energy, the community, and the conviction that business does not have to be boring. Connect with Dominick: www.motivationchamps.com

The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast is where entrepreneurs, authors, and creative disruptors come to build something extraordinary, out loud. Hosted by Julie Lokun and Dominick Domasky, the show ranks in the top 0.05% of podcasts globally and consistently lands in the top 5 on Apple Podcasts.

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Mike builds lighthouses. Cre8tive Con is where you build yours, in person. Co-founded by Julie Lokun and Dominick Domasky, Cre8tive Con brings entrepreneurs, podcasters, authors, and speakers into the room to own their ecosystem instead of renting their audience.

• Cre8tive Con OTR Orlando — January 2027, during Podfest week. Theme: Monetize Your Message.
• Cre8tive Con 2027 — Chicago, the flagship event.

Tickets and info: www.cre8tivecon.com On The Road tour: www.cre8tiveconotr.com Take the Own Your Ecosystem assessment: www.cre8tivepower.com Join the community: Cre8tive Con Facebook Group

Interested in being a guest on the Creative Entrepreneur Podcast?

Reach out : www.creativeenrepreneurpod.com

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