Your Money, Your Business, Your Life

By the year 2025, 75% of our workforce will be millennials. The millennials outnumber even the baby boomers. They are also different than the boomers. As an employer or business owner, you need to understand the differences. The culture that worked in the past may not be the best fit for the new and upcoming workforce. Today, I’m talking about the changes employers may need to make. Right or wrong, they will need to be aware of what their employees want and create a culture that encourages loyalty and participation. They will need to create an environment where employees feel ownership and have opportunities to give input. They need to feel they are making a contribution and understand the bigger picture.   “If you create an opportunity for the millennials to be successful, your company will be successful .” – Sharon Lechter     This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: Challenges of working with the future generation and workforce retention The importance of understanding that times hav

Dina Dwyer-Owens is the co-chairwoman of the Dwyer Group, a home services and franchise company that her father started. Dina has taken the business to over $1-billion in systemized sales and is inching towards 2-billion. The Dwyer Group supports brands like Glass Doctor, Molly Maid, Mr. Electric and more. Dina and the Dwyer Group were also featured on the television show “Undercover Boss” twice. Today, we discuss Dina’s Living R.I.C.H. concepts, how her father founded the business based on values and a belief system, and how Dina has taken that concept to the next level. We also discuss one of her newest brands, Neighborly, and all things related to being a dynamic leader and business executive who believes in putting people first.   "The one thing we knew we had to keep going was the code of values and the commitment to the code because it truly was the foundation of our success." – Dina Dwyer-Owens     This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: How Dina’s father, Don, founded their com

When you’re just launching a new startup company, one of the first things many entrepreneurs begin to think about is how to find funding from investors and financial partners. But, the problem of getting a “yes” from investors often arises due to a few key components that entrepreneurs have mistakenly overlooked. My guest today is Lauren Flanagan, Founder and Managing Director of Belle Capital USA. She is also the CEO of a strategic advisory firm called SCIO Corp, a company that helps early stage companies prepare to scale, raise capital, and achieve successful exits. I’ve known Lauren for a little over a year and she is filled with knowledge, insight, and understanding of the complexities within the investing industry, as well as the challenges that many startup businesses and entrepreneurs face when searching for outside funding to take their business to the next level. Lauren joins me on the show today to share her knowledge and insight about some of the key components you should consider before presenting

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be creative? To use the power of your imagination and let your mind explore what could be possible in our world? How does creativity, imagination, and curiosity play a role in the development, growth, and success of our businesses? In this week’s episode, I’m talking about curiosity, creativity, and imagination, as well as something that we’ve all experienced at one point in our lives: conformity, comfort, complacency, crisis, and chaos. These are all very different things, and yet they are all connected. As business owners, it can be easy to become complacent in our businesses; to become comfortable or used to doing things a certain way. But, once you’ve become complacent, how do you get back on the saddle of imagination and creativity and why is it important to your overall success?   “Let’s just shed that cape of conformity; that cape of complacency, and replace it with a cape of your super power.”   This week on Your Money, Your Business, Your Life: Why it’s

It’s never been easier to publish a book than it is today. In the past, the primary way to get published was to find and pitch your book idea to a publishing house or start your own publishing company. Although publishing houses are still a viable option to get your book published today, the internet has made it incredibly easy to get published without the need of a major publisher assisting you. In this week’s episode, I’m going to share a few of the many ways you can publish your book idea, the pros and cons of each, and share why it’s important for you to figure out your marketing strategy to sell your book regardless of which publishing option you choose.   This week on Your Money, Your Business, Your Life: The five big publishing houses still available today The pros and cons of working with big publishing houses The hard reality of publishing, promoting, and marketing your book The benefits and drawbacks of self-publishing The pros and cons of self-publishing eBooks How to get your books distributed to

Being a good storyteller can significantly impact your business. Whether you are sharing how your business got started or explaining how something works, you often express your thoughts and ideas through telling your story. When it comes to telling your story, it’s important to keep in mind the medium you are using. Whether it’s writing a book, blog post, or article, or sharing your story with an audience through speaking engagements, presentations, or podcasts, knowing how to connect and inspire your audience is critical to telling a good story. On today’s episode, I’m discussing the differences between sharing your story through writing verses speaking and how to paint a picture for your readers through the words you choose when writing your book, article, or blog post.   The better storyteller you can become, the more effective you are going to be.   This week on Your Money, Your Business, Your Life: Keeping the message you want to get across to your audience at the top of your mind Relating to your audie

Whether you’re selling a book, a product, or a service, the three-legged stool analogy applies. In a business sense, this means that one leg is the product or service you are selling; the second leg is your platform, and the third leg is you. On today’s episode, I want to share with you some of the top reasons why you should write a book and how the three-legged stool analogy applies to writing, publishing, and selling your book. I also want to explain how becoming an author can help you establish yourself as an authority and expert in your industry, the benefits of co-authorship, and the techniques you can use to get your book written and published.   It’s never been easier, or more important, to write a book.   This week on Your Money, Your Business, Your Life: How writing a book establishes credibility, authority, and expertise in your space How to generate ideas for the content of your book The various ways to write your book Identifying what works best for you to get it done Structuring your book How yo

Michael Lechter and I have been married for 38 years. We have built global businesses together including the children's talking book company, the Rich Dad organization, and now the advice we are giving on Napoleon Hill. Michael is an attorney and an expert on intellectual property.  Today we talk about intellectual property and some of the misconceptions that people have. We talk about the difference between trademarks, patents, copyrights, and even trade secrets. He breaks down the various types of intellectual property and how each one can be used. We also discuss the best way to protect your intellectual property by using a combination of tools.    "You’ve got to have a plan, start out keeping intellectual property in mind and consciously build intellectual property assets into your business." - Michael Lechter   This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: Protected trade secrets and taking reasonable efforts to keep the secret Invention, creating something new, and protecting it with a

Statistics show that 8 out of every 10 new businesses fail within the first 18 months, but no one ever talks about why so many new businesses fail so soon after they launch. To have a successful, thriving, sustainable business, you need more than just passion and talent. I’ve talked a lot about the power of association – the power of your network. What many new business owners do not realize is that as your business grows and evolves, so should your network and those you associate with. Beyond your passion, talent, and network, though, your personal plan for your business can often be the determining factor of whether your company grows successfully – or becomes another statistic. On this week’s episode of the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life podcast, I want to share with you some of the critical components that you should be considering when planning your business for success.   This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: Your business plan is a living document The three reasons many

Have you ever looked at your career and thought to yourself: “This is not where I want to be; I have a greater purpose in life.” Many professional women come to a crossroad in their career where they feel trapped in their job, wanting to escape, and find their true purpose in life. My guest today is Ali Brown, dubbed the entrepreneurial guru for women by Business News Daily. Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, her story started in the business world – working for various companies but simply feeling miserable. Today, Ali joins me on the show to share her story, why she decided to leave her regular 9-to-5 job to become a freelance copywriter. She shares how she built up the credibility to become a nationally known public speaker, and why she is so passionate about empowering other women to find the success and freedom they deserve.   “Success for women right now is having choices. There’s no right or wrong way to do this.” – Ali Brown   This Week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: How she got

Have you ever had to make an important decision so you sit down with your pen and paper and write a list of pros and cons? When you’re making that list, you’re likely asking yourself dozens, if not hundreds, of questions – but are you asking yourself the right question? Creating a pros and cons list can sometimes be helpful, but what if your list of pros is just as long as your list of cons? What do you do, then? Fear is often the factor that stops potentially great entrepreneurs in their tracks even before they’ve taken that first courageous step into entrepreneurism. On today’s episode, I’m talking about one very important question you should be asking yourself if your trying to decide to start a business and become a successful entrepreneur – the question of “Why not?” What is stopping you from living the dream life you want for yourself and your family? Why are you letting it prevent you from reaching your true potential? And how can you turn those fears into the courage you need to find the associations

Today with high interest rates and reduced credit limits, monitoring your credit score is vitally important. Your credit score fluctuates frequently. With every major purchase you make, every line of credit you apply for, it impacts your overall score. Anyone who has heard me speak at various events and conferences likely already know my story – how my passion and motivation to educate others about managing their finances really started and ignited after my son, Philip, went to Arizona State University and found himself in debt with credit card companies. Today, Philip joins me on the show to share how he improved his credit score and what he did that may help you benefit and learn from his experiences. He shares his insight and tips on the five key areas that impact your credit score and explains the difference between “Good Credit,” “Okay Credit,” and “Bad Credit,” and what you can do to start improving your credit score.   “Having different types of credit is actually beneficial to your credit score.” – Ph

What makes a company successful? How do you start a business from the ground up and grow it into a successful, sustainable business? What are the key components that you should implement in your business to ensure its future success? In last week’s episode of Your Money, Your Business, Your Life, we discussed why 8 out of every 10 businesses fail within the first 18 months of launching into their industry. Today on the show, I want to share with you some of the essential components that make up a highly successful, sustainable, growing business so that you, too, can build your company to avoid becoming a statistic.   “You are the leader. You are the one that basically steers the ship.”   This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: Identifying your mission Hiring the right people on your team Determining your personal leadership style The balancing act between being a team motivator and being the “pit boss” The importance of hiring an attorney for your organization Managing your cashflow an

Chris Cebollero is a nationally recognized leader and a number 1 international best-selling author and advocate. He is the founder of Chris Cebollero and Associates, a consulting firm with over 100 years experience specializing in helping professionals in healthcare management, small business growth development, and leadership growth and development.   Chris joins me today to discuss the qualities a leader must possess in order to engage and motivate their team. He also explains the importance of a leader taking action and developing others’ leadership skills and the impact of emotional intelligence on our decisions as leaders.   “Leadership is how you engage, satisfy, and motivate your workforce” - Chris Cebollero   This week on the Your Money, Your Business, and Your Life Podcast:   Discovering the value of emotional intelligence to generate leadership success Why authentic leaders should create other leaders in their company Why are we losing personal leadership skills in a complacent society How does a l

Over the last several years, fear has largely dictated the economy instead of fundamentals. The uncertainty of where the market is heading has made it a scary time for many families and investors. Many people who thought they were on the right path to retirement have come to realize that, instead of retiring at 65 – they will need to work until they are 70 or older to achieve the goals they set. On today’s episode of Your Money, Your Business, Your Life, I am joined by the CEO of R.G. Capital, Robert Graham. Robert has been in the investment industry for over a decade and is known for growing his investment firm by 35% year after year despite the uncertain economic times. He joins me today to share his insight on the fundamentals and philosophy of creating a personal investment plan, why it is so important, and what factors you should consider before hiring an advisor.   “The mechanics of money is only half the battle.” – Robert Graham   This Week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: The two

Mixing family issues with money issues and making it all flow smoothly isn’t always easy. The emotional aspects of each often co-mingle and blend, but having the ability to celebrate each win together – as a family – is an incredible feeling. I am incredibly honored to have my son, Phillip Lechter, as well as my husband, Michael, be a huge part of many of my businesses. And, today, Phillip joins me on the show to discuss our family business and how we – as a family – have overcome some of the challenges we have faced over the last ten years as a working mother-son duo.   “No matter how you slice & dice it, who you work with does become your family in some way, shape, or form.” – Phillip Lechter   This Week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast: A game has its rules – and a family business is the same way. It needs rules. You must be able to separate your business and personal emotions. Be present in what you are doing at that moment. Deal with issues right away – face-to-face. Control the “

Diane Kennedy has been in the tax consulting industry for many years. She is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week bestselling author of 8 books and has helped me and many of my clients’ structure and plan their financial and tax strategy. Diane works as a CPA, tax strategist, business builder and investor, but more importantly – she is a financial educator. Diane joins me on the show today to share her tips and insight on how to turn your passion into a asset – a meaningful, successful, money-making business. We discuss what new entrepreneurs should – and should not – do during their first year in business, why it’s critical to hire someone to handle your first-year taxes, and what you need to do to prove to the IRS that your business is, in fact, a business – not just a hobby.   “Sometimes it’s just about taking your passion and tweaking it for what the market wants.” – Diane Kennedy   On This Week’s Episode: We discuss the formula that makes up your Personal Success Equation. Diane expl

YMBL055 One Big Life!   One of the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs face as they build their businesses and strive to creating the “one big life” they deserve is battling the emotions of fear, self-doubt, and self-worth. Women often believe they are unworthy or incapable of achieving their dreams or strive for achieving a work-life balance they can be proud of.   On today’s episode, I’m discussing the importance of creating an environment of positivity, confidence, and support to achieve your dreams. I’ll explain how to use your “big life” goal as a road map to accomplish the success you deserve and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people to help you through the negative moments in your life. I’ll also explain the importance of building your self-confidence, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth to overcome your fears and achieve success.     You have the opportunity to fulfil every aspect of your life.” - Sharon Lechter     This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podc

YMBL054 Principles of Success - Outwitting the Six Ghosts of Fear   Entrepreneurs are faced with a wide variety of challenges and obstacles. Sometimes, we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed in the emotional state that these obstacles create. One of the primary reasons why entrepreneurs stall when it comes to facing these obstacles and achieving success is fear. Fear can be a powerful motivator, stopping us in our tracks from achieving our goals or taking action toward our next level of success.   On today’s episode, I’m discussing Napoleon Hill’s theory of the six ghosts of fear. I’ll share the six most common fears people face and explain how the fear of poverty and criticism can hold us back from achieving success. I’ll also explain how succumbing to “analysis paralysis” and being indecisive are based on fears as well as how to overcome them.     “You give up your power when you let fear take over.” - Sharon Lechter     This week on the Your Money, Your Business, Your Life Podcast:   The impact of indec

YMBL053 Principles of Success - The Sixth Sense   As an entrepreneur, you’ve likely been told to follow your gut, your instincts, your hunches, or your intuition. To use your intuition to guide you to achieving your goals and success. Your “sixth sense” - those gut feelings you have in certain situations or around certain people - is often referred to as “The Temple of Wisdom.” According to Napoleon Hill, your sixth sense is a combination of the mental and spiritual realms.   On today’s episode, I’m discussing Napoleon Hill’s theory of the sixth sense and explaining why he believes it’s important to master the first 12 principles of success in order to fully engage your intuition. I’ll explain how your sixth sense can act as your guardian angel by helping you identify things you should be doing - and not doing - to achieve your goals and the impact of ignoring your intuition can have on your ability to achieve success. I’ll also explain how to engage and develop your sixth sense and why entrepreneurs often st