Empowering Entrepreneurs

Our guest hasn't always been the CEO of multiple companies with students from all over the world and properties in various states. Back in 2015, Paul was working a corporate job… the long hours, the commute… and was tired of it. He wanted out. And real estate investing became his escape plan. And in just over a year’s time, he quit that corporate job and hasn’t looked back since!I wanted to do things that were interesting and learn what it takes to make those interesting decisions. I wanted to make things that are interesting. And I found that growing and building businesses are really interesting and really complicated.Why real estate?I could get really low-interest rates at the time. Six percent or less. And that, I feel like, was a very measured and careful approach and not at all throwing caution to the wind. But I was not afraid to make mistakes. My mistake was not trying for 15 years.Paul talks about his unique experience finding and working with his mentor....here's what you got to do first. You have to go by the book The Richest Man in Babylon. I want you to get a physical copy. I want you to read it, highlight it and write a three-page handwritten essay. And then I want you to mail it to my P.O. box. And after you do that, I'll talk to you. So it was his way of testing people if they're serious and if they're coachable and teachable. So I did it, and over the next two years, I probably wrote like six seven eight handwritten, three-page essays on different books that he sent me.What advantages has Paul seen in working with a CPA that also offers business strategy?You need that business strategist. It's really handy when they're an accountant and or an attorney as well, so they can give you advice on those aspects of any business that you're in because you have to solve for both of those.How does Paul see businesses being able to survive over the years?I knew very early on from being in business for other people that the reality of the world in the business world, is adapt or die. You have to adjust.Are there any other relationships that have really been imperative to your success throughout your journey?I did not go into real estate or entrepreneurship for relationships. But I realized that, oh, that's why you go into business in the first place. It's about relationships, it's about service, about creating value to other people. And you're going to need other people in the industry or any other other professionals that you're working with.Paul helps busy professionals design a real estate investment strategy that fits their needs. Whether that's taking control of investments, reducing taxes, accelerating debt paydown, or leveling up in their investing game. He's guided numerous beginners through the process of doing their first real estate deal. He works with investors from California to New Zealand. The best part of his life is helping others build extra sources of income so they can lead a life of their design. As a full-time real estate investor, he no longer depends on a day job. He shows busy professionals how they can follow a simple plan to build wealth with real estate. If you're looking to get started with real estate investing or an investor who is looking for support, feel free to join his free Facebook group. Paul's Facebook group Paul's Website Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for successOur clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.Copyright 2025 Glenn Harper

Brett Johnson is the founder and owner of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants. He consults with businesses on developing, launching, and optimizing podcasts into their marketing strategy.Realizing that radio was on the downturn and that podcasts were always being included in marketing strategy meetings, he pivoted careers.As a 35-year radio veteran, he leverages his years of content creation, marketing skills, and sales to provide customized consulting. As a result, his clients now focus on the 'why' they are podcasting, not on the 'how' to create a podcast.Brett talks about how his career transition happened from radio to podcast consultant...All these advertisers were asking me about podcasting. I started doing homework. I started going to what I called "night school" and just plowing through bunches of podcasts, reading all about this stuff. And became pretty good at understanding what to do with podcasting pretty quickly. Over about six or seven months of every night reading about and listening to podcasts. So I started working with clients doing this on the side outside of the station. And then there came a point, very quickly, where doing this as a side hustle interfered with my regular work.Accountability is scary to a lot of people. Once you speak it, it becomes real. And you have to have action. Who are those centers that are your influencers? Who are those mentors?I try to make it a variety of people. I went to my old sales manager. He was the one that hired me initially at the radio station. I trust his advice and I am very lucky to have him there for me. I also try to make that circle of people different as well, too. That (circle) would hold me accountable and people I could go to.Making podcasting easier for the client is the key, right?There are a lot of details to it. And I think that's what does stop a lot of podcasters from either doing it and or not doing it very well. Because it's detail-oriented. As with any content-generating opportunity, it just takes time. My goal is to make it fun. Let's create that episode. But what else are you going to do with it? What else do you want to do with it?Did you have it all figured out when you started?I had no clue what I was doing. I had people around me, though, helping me figure this and giving me the confidence to do it. It took me about two or three years to really know that, "Yeah, Brett, you know what you're doing."Find out more about what Brett does by scheduling a time with him, or more on his website. And don't miss his podcast Note To Future Me.Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for successOur clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.

Janel Sykora is on a mission to help accounting firms grow profitably. She works with a lot of accounting firms. She builds sales funnels and helps them tell their brand story.She teaches firms how to create and implement marketing and sales strategies that drive profitable growth without adding resources.Business leaders can choose to grow or be comfortable, but not both. Comfort leads to falling behind, and growth requires change. Janel works with accounting firms that have a vision for growth and are willing to embrace change to achieve it.So you're basically helping your clients evolve?100 percent. For a while, I worked for a large software company. What we were selling wasn't necessarily solving the biggest problems those accounting firms had. So, I found myself talking to these firms about, where is your pain? Where are your bottlenecks? I realized this is a profession in a middle of a massive transition right now.How long were you in that stage before you said, "Wait a minute, I've got to branch out and talk to people because I just need to get different perspectives?"I never hesitate to get second opinions. Not only with businesses that I've owned and been involved with, but really my entire professional journey. But I'm also a doer, so I'll get an idea, and then I run with it. If I fall down and scrape my knee, I get back up and I'm going to look at people around me and say, "OK, what did I do? Help me figure out what I did wrong or what I did right?"Have you been able to have a mentor throughout this entire process? Or maybe during that pivoting time?I've had a lot of mentors throughout my career. I had a mentor throughout that particular pivotal time who was just a fantastic person. He was very high up at another software company that was very successful and kind of took me under his wing. He was brutally honest and just was there for me. He provided a completely "no judgment zone" and really did help me. But part of it was I had to get over myself and get out of my own way,What is your superpower?I believe my superpower is being able to take a company's vision and be able to translate that into their brand story and the message that attracts the clients that they want. I want to be the part that helps communicate the brand story of these firms who are ready and willing to make that shift.You will want to find out more about Janel on her website. Want to learn more about working with Janel? Fill out the quick form on her website, and she'll be in touch!Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for successOur clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.

We welcome Stephen E. Palmer, Columbus criminal defense attorney, and owner and partner at Palmer Legal Defense: Columbus Criminal Defense AttorneyGraduating from college in 1992 with a degree in history with a liberal arts background, he soon found that the job openings were slim to none. He then decided to apply to law school. After graduation, he soon started learning from small law practices. That propelled his journey to starting his own defense attorney practice with his partner Eric Yavitch.How Steve differentiates himself from other defense attorneys...I've always been able to objectively evaluate truth, and then I can reiterate that. I can do that with confidence. once it's in my head, that it's true in my soul, that it's true, then I can explain it to anybody.The importance of mentors in Steve's career...My mentor always said it. And this is probably not only true in law, but probably everything. If you're a good trial lawyer, everything else will tend to fall into place. And the depth of that is really, really sort of incredible.Why having a strong network around you helps you build your business...My dad actually used to say this. You need, as a professional, you need a good accountant. You need a good doctor, you need a good lawyer, you need a good barber, you need a good suit guy. You need a good banker. You need all these things. And it's not because you need them. It's because it's you need to round out your network.You can learn more about Steve's practice on his website.Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for successOur clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account

As a fellow business owner, our team works with clients who want to be self-employed and be an entrepreneur. And there's a decision that has to be made at some point. Am I doing business doing the work? Or do I want to build a business?For most clients, that transition is that "aha" moment. What does that mean? We help them navigate that path. That "aha" moment is when they realize they could build something that's not just them, it involves a whole team. It's a little intimidating. And when it's intimidating, entrepreneurs get scared of success. We want to be able to tell them it's OK to be successful. Everybody else is doing it. Why can't you? Our role is to help that business owner to make that transition. From doing business to building a business. And achieving the greatness they didn't even know they had. I'm Glenn Harper. My co-host Julie Smith and I are producing this podcast because we believe that entrepreneurs are stuck in their own quantum of solace. They need to hear from other fellow entrepreneurs that it's possible to exceed their expectations, grow their business, and be the best they can be.We don’t just care about numbers. We care about helping you tap into greatness on your entrepreneurial journey.You deserve a partner who has helped hundreds of businesses go from paying the bills to building the business and lifestyle of their dreams. Contact us by visiting our website.