In this conversation, Alicia Porter shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, detailing how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to start her own bookkeeping business. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of her first year in business, including the importance of networking and the impact of joining BNI. Alicia also reflects on her branding journey, emphasizing the need for a strong identity in her business and the lessons learned along the way. In this conversation, Alicia Porter shares her journey as a bookkeeper and entrepreneur, discussing her branding efforts, the importance of mastermind groups, and her goal to become a certified Profit First professional. She emphasizes the value of building strong client relationships, the challenges of hiring, and the continuous improvement of business processes. Alicia also highlights the significance of mindset in achieving success and encourages others to believe in their potential.

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summary

In this conversation, Will Berry shares his journey from a young athlete to the owner of Berry Insurance Group. He discusses his early life, the transition from education to the insurance industry, and the challenges he faced while building his agency. Will emphasizes the importance of personal networks, team culture, and values in driving business success. He also highlights the significance of lead generation and adapting to market changes as he looks to the future of his agency.

takeaways

• Will Berry's journey began in Batesburg, Leesville; where he played baseball and pursued education.
• He transitioned from a physical education major to business administration, leading to a career in insurance.
• Starting at State Farm, Will learned the ropes of the insurance industry from experienced colleagues.
• His first year in insurance was focused on learning and building trust with clients.
• After five years at State Farm, he ventured into entrepreneurship with Berry Insurance Group.
• Will's experience with partnerships taught him valuable lessons about trust and control in business.
• The first year of Berry Insurance Group was about learning and establishing a client base.
• Hiring his office manager, Debora, allowed Will to focus on sales and growth.
• The team culture at Berry Insurance Group is built on shared values and effective communication.
• Will emphasizes the importance of making clients feel valued and understood.

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In this episode, Virgil Sweat interviews Chelsea Lanigan Williams, the owner of Southern Pines Pet Lodge. They discuss Chelsea's journey of purchasing and running a pet daycare and boarding facility. They cover topics such as the inspiration behind the purchase, the business model, pricing strategies, employee management, and personal finance management. In this conversation, Chelsea Williams discusses the financial aspects of running a business and the importance of outsourcing tasks that are not within your expertise. She emphasizes the value of hiring professionals, such as bookkeepers and accountants, to provide advice on saving taxes and optimizing spending. Chelsea also shares her experience of accidentally becoming an entrepreneur and the importance of embracing failure and continuous improvement. She discusses the growth of her business over the years and her plans for expansion, including building a second facility and increasing capacity for daycare services.

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