This is Cindy Gilman and you're listening to Discovery of Potentials. So until next time, do something nice for yourself, but do something nice for someone else. As I look at over-audiences all across the world, one thing that really makes me happy is that laugh, that smile. You see them scribbling down notes. You see the excitement they have. That's what I like so much. I'm Ramon Ray, founder of smarthustle.com. I started four companies, sold two companies, author of many books and event producer and in-demand small business expert. And I love going around the world and hosting an MC events or giving keynote presentations to audiences all over to inspire and educate them to grow their businesses. And as we can be better humans, better humans for each other. From the first moment that I walked in and Raymond got up on stage, he just brought this incredible amount of energy with him and he brought a lot of energy to the people around him and he really engaged the audience. And with that, let's go network. Let's go to the workshop in session to have a great day. And again, thanks for being here at the 10th Annual Small Business Leadership Conference. A lot of times when you go to a conference, it's pretty rare to get that amount of energy out of the host. Ladies and gentlemen, do you feel that you're smarter right now than you were an hour ago? Can we give another round of applause to Scott? He's very exciting, upbeat and uplifting and really wakes you up. Put your hands together and join me for a rousing round in round of applause as we welcome Amanda Brinkman to the Spage Amanda. I've been to many, many conferences for small businesses and large organizations. And I've got to say, his ability to kind of get the audience excited and geared up for the day is quite a gift. Can you give yourselves another round of applause as we kick off? It's an amazing event. And I love engaging with the audience. We take selfies together. We take pictures together, give them my book, whatever it is. How can I all about inspiring them? There's nothing better than a small group of people to say a moment. Thank you for what you shared to me. Hi, welcome to Discover Your Potential. I'm your host, Dan Gilman. And we have a very special guest today, Ramon. Ramon Ray. He's a motivational speaker and a vent host, a leading expert in personal branding and small business growth. He's also a serial entrepreneur who has started five businesses and sold three of them. But I'll let him talk to you about that. He's the founder of zoneofgenius.com and smarthustle.com. I'm so blessed to have you here, Ramon. Thank you so much for being here. Hey, Dan. The blessing is all mine. Thanks for having me on this beautiful, beautiful day. Whether people are hearing it today or tomorrow or next year, I'm glad to have you here. And thank you for sharing a bit of your backstreet with me as well. So it's good to be here. Hello. Dan, Gilman audience, good to be here. Well, thank you. I just want to start and talk about your upbringing, your childhood, if you don't mind. And you mentioned actually your father and your father and your all these amazing tapes. What type of upbringing and what inspired you? And I'd love to talk you about your journey. Sure. I'll say I talk usually in sound bites. So if you want more, you have to pull that out of me. But the bottom line of it with the bottom line and those are three different things, the inspiration, all that. But I grew up in a evangelical Christian home. So my parents are ministers. My mother is an older lady and still in full-time ministry. My father passed away 24 years ago and he was a pastor of our church, you know, meaning an international global church, but non-denominational per se. And that wasn't my upbringing. And as far as inspiring me as far as like who I am today, I don't really know Dan. You know, I don't, I don't, I'm asked that question a lot and I wish I had a pithy answer. But I worked at the United Nations for some years and I was fired from there. And I guess I always had the entrepreneurial bug inside me. And so when I was fired, I think you just went full tilt. And that could be, I think God gives us all some people like to work for a company. Some people like my daughter as a teacher. She loves being a teacher. She told me, Dad, I don't want to be an entrepreneur all. My son, he's a creator like me and you probably Dan. So the inspiration, I love people, but I can't say that when I was a child, I would look up at the stars and say, one day I want to be a podcaster. No, I don't have that story. I think I answered those two questions. But that's a little bit about me. Yes, my father was a preacher and you and I were connecting talking about cassette tapes. And I'll just recap that a bit. So I have a number of cassette tapes of his sermons and things. And so that's who he was. His name was Claib. You've also shared the stage with so many, so many actually. And I wanted to mention that too, that leading business members like Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, Gary Vee, which is incredible. In business, it's not all about mindset. Mindset, of course, is very important, obviously. But there's also, you mentioned there's a science of running a business. And there's a lot of people now that are watching the show too that are in business and are interested in and even running their own business. But what type of advice can you help people or entrepreneurs? And I should also mention to scaling. Scaling a business is very important too. And how does one grow their business? I mean, after they build and actually get their science down. Yeah. No, I think it's a great question, Dan. And I think I'd love to hear your input on this as well. You always love to have a bit of back and forth and learn from my host. You know, I'm not the fountain of knowledge. But here, of course, thank you for interviewing me. But I think two things I'll say, Dan. And as you asked Dan about the aspect of the science versus the mindset or and the mindset, I think the mindset's important. Sometimes maybe ignored too much, especially for us smaller businesses. But Dan, starting and growing a business is hard. You never get sales as much as you wanted or as fast as you wanted. You invoice the client and they renege, say they don't want to pay, say they're not going to do it with you anymore or it comes late. Those, that's just an example of when I say mindset, hiring your team. You know, you hire the wrong person or are they still from you or they're not operating is they're not as passionate in the business as you are. So those are just a few of the mindset things. John A. Cop has a book out, soundtracks, you know, that's the older book. But I referenced it because it reminds me, Dan, often times that the childhood things we've all gone through. That effects our mind is set. So I can go on more, but I love to hear more. Yeah, but I'll, but my, but my, my bridge made it. So that's the mindset and the science part of that. I think really goes back to let's not also forget that we have the little business. So things like, are we hiring properly? What is our profit margin? Are we making sales? Are we focused on who the customer is? Are we finding and identifying the right customer? So I think that's what the science and the mindset come in and both are important. So those are a few things. I'm not sure if I got all the internet. Everything yes, but those are a few things that come to mind to me to remind those who are starting out. It's not going to be easy. And if you just want a check, then you probably shouldn't have your own business. You know, people talk about, oh, have the passion and all that. Passion's important. But as the founder of 37 signals said, I forgot the name Tom Fry. And I think it is, but you know, is that you need to also like the things you may not like to do. Like accounting is a weak area of mind, Dan. But I got to get it done. So I hope that's a little helpful. Is that, you know, many business owners, Dan, you know, you can get caught up and saying, I'm doing it for the love for the passion, which is good, especially if you have other revenue streams. But as you and I maybe are learning a bit of it, a bit more, different lens than maybe our parents were. Yes. That business, if it's a business in itself, should generate revenue unless, like many podcasts may not generate revenue directly, right? John Lee, do let's talk about this and other people. But it can feed something else. So, but in general, speaking, yeah, if you're Becky making your first t-shirt company or you're selling cool water bottles, at some point, the water bottle needs to be making money. Yes, absolutely. And Harkie back to mindset. You mentioned something really interesting that even your childhood or your upbringing, affectionate mindset. Yeah, I think I addressed the childhood part, Dan. I think that, I think that, I think that I'll refer back to the book, you know, that I held up earlier, what did I say the name was? Soundtracks. Soundtracks, yeah. And this is only an example, you know, of it. But let's say, for example, you have problems, maybe, maybe a problem was self-doubt or lack of confidence. You know, your parents, or you were bullied in school, whatever. It takes a bit of bravado to build a business. Now, you don't want to keep going, keep going, when Dan's telling me, remote, the bridge is out, Dan's telling me that. And I'm going head long and I fall off. Dan told me that the bridge was out. I didn't listen. So, I guess my point being, Dan, here is that those things that we go through and childhood, those negative things, they can affect us. We can work too fast, not have confidence. Be mean to our team, things of that nature. So, I think those things we have to heal from. And that's the kind of thing we're trying to understand that, why mine, sit, hence the whole reason for zone of genius.com, we our tagline, live life, fulfill, that there's something beyond just the tactics of business success. And I think that as business owners, as leaders, remember, Dan, Ramon, we're grown men. Well, we used to be little boys. So, we used to have whatever we went through. So, that's kind of what we're talking about when we talk about the mindset of business is important. But paired with the business tactics, because a number of business owners, Dan, I'm sure you know, some are maybe you have been one at some point. I know I have, is that we didn't get our advertising right. We didn't get the right target audience right. We focused too much on the wrong customer. You know, for a long time, I held back from investing. Honestly, I thought I didn't know enough that it was something only finance experts understood. Between work, family, and everything else, I didn't have the time to sit down and figure it all out. That's why I really like what Acorns is doing. They make it so easy to start investing, even if you're an expert at something else entirely. You can literally start with your spare change. Every time you make a purchase, Acorns rounds it up and automatically invest it into an expert built portfolio. So, you're growing your money without even thinking about it. For me, that takes away the fear and replaces it with progress. Whether you're saving for your kids, a home, retirement, or just trying to be smarter with your money, Acorns helps you start now and get this. They even offer a checking account that invests for you automatically and an emergency fund that helps your money grow. All inside one simple app. Sign up now and Acorns will boost your new account with a $5 bonus investment. Join the over 14 million all-time customers who have already saved and invested over $25 billion with Acorns. Head to acorns.com slash dyp or download the Acorns app to get started. Paid non-client endorsement, compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns. Tier 2 compensation provided, investing involves risk, Acorns advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. View important disclosures at acorns.com slash dyp. Those quote-unquote tactical things are important as well, for sure. Again, I was sure as a lesson learned. I've started several companies. Content business small biz technology.com and sold it. Smart hustle.com and sold it. Later's Ventures zone of genius.com to help people live a life fulfilled. Help small business owners live a better life. I'm happy to share my story, but I also like to hope to leave something practical and not just about me, but I think that as a lesson learned for business owners with those thinking of different business models, there's business model and content. And the word of content that I do is find a good domain name. Build good content around it. Build lots of good content around it. Have it rich for SEO so people outside who are searching will go to it. But also good headlines and the news of the day, things of this nature. And then you have the right, as you build up the audiences, you hint to Dan. You have the right then to get sponsors for that content. And to offer premium offers to the community who's buying, who's your audience. So that's kind of our playbook. Good content, lots of good content, lots of good content builds up a user base. Now that we build up a user base, we have the right to seek out sponsors. And don't you serve that user base in premium ways. And that's our business. Or as I like to hold up books, Dan, another book. Yes, I love to. Jim Collins book, the Flywheel, right? Flywheel talks about what's the simple things you can do in your business that make the business run. So that's what we do. So zone of genius, yes, is the newest platform I've built. Really, and it's beginning stage, we're start up, you know, a zero funding, minimal traffic. But it's to really give people, get, let business owners be inspired. And then a new, new venture, even for that is something called BWC Daily. Come from breakfast with champions, a member group of about 200,000 of us, almost 200,000 in our group. And we talk every day about 5 a.m. for about six hours of content. All about personal development mindset, growth, health, nutrition, fitness, finance, real estate, a, a, a, popery dish of a variety of things. We do that from 5 a.m. to 1, BWC Daily.com as well. You're actually a host on there or, yes, host on there. And he's asked me to help lead the future growth of it. So Gleinlandy indeed is the founder. Wow. And then he asked me to lead the future growth of that a few weeks ago. And I'm working with a good team of people just to grow it and make an impact in the world. Oh, congratulations. That's incredible. Yeah, Gleinlandy, he's incredible. And you and, and what a team. And I know he also is connected to Dave Meltzer as well. Yes, for sure. Yeah, because he was also on the show as well. Small world. It is a small world. I also, if you don't mind, I'd love to talk to you about your speaking career. Sure. As well, I know you're a motivational speaker. And we just talked about, you know, you being a host, I'd love to talk more about that. And what first, was there anything or any one that inspired you like a speaker or a poor person in your life? And what drove you to become a speaker and touched so many people's lives? Because speaking is, there's a science, there's an art to speaking. And I was blessed because I got to study with Les Brown for two years. Okay. And for me, he was just such an incredible connection. And, and I was extremely, it was, it was by good fortune that I did, but to study with such a master storyteller, but he always mentioned a quote, and then I'll say, but he always said, he always said, the most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. And the storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come. And that was obviously stated by Steve Jobs. So everybody knows about that, but he always mentioned that quote. But I truly believe that the storytellers set vision and values and agenda for an entire generation. Absolutely. So I'd love to hear, I'd love to hear your story. Yeah, sure. I wish I had one as aspiring as that, but I think to answer, and you're right. Les Brown is an amazing storyteller. And I think stories, Jesus, you stories, right? Wires, stories, important. I think they connect the dots. They're bridge to something else. So I can say, this is a cool water bottle. This has great water in it. Or I can say, you know, when I was a child, I had some great water from a river. It was so refreshing and clean. This water bottle is not a river, but boy, the water inside your to freshen clean. That's a silly story. I just made it up. But I think people resonate with that. So I think Les Brown is entirely right. Two people I can think of who I've observed over the years and really loved. One is Seth Goden, who's still set the one of the greatest business marketers of all time and influencer and thought leader, not just in marketing, but in so many of the things. He's made an impact. I followed his career for a while. Red, red, and or purchased, and or touched most all of his books, 17 or 21. He's written by now probably so many. One of them is this is marketing. One of his, and it's not as right latest one. I think he has a book out the practice, which is more recent. But Seth Goden, I just have a light to his PowerPoints there. He was the one mine where so text heavy. His are so vivid and picture rich. So following his style of one picture in several thoughts. So I think that was a powerful thing. Which to watch him in his style, his cadence, his shaved head, and purple ties, and colorful glasses and things. I always kind of like that, you know, his mismatched colorful socks. So that's one thing. And Steve Harvey, I really liked his style of doing things as well. Steve Harvey, I liked his, his humor. Steve Harvey's humor was really, really is, and that was, is really jived with me. I really thought it was pretty cool. I'll Steve Harvey's humor. Yeah, he also has an incredible story. Yes, he does, right? People saying no and rejecting him over and over and over again going into it. He got his first gig, I think, as I recall the story. And you know, ran into the to do his first gig and things like this. So that's a little bit of my backstory. But you may have asked, please ask those questions again. And I'll answer again, please. Yeah, no, absolutely. I would say, um, who, I guess who inspired you as a storyteller? That's what I started out to say. Got it. Also, where you, did you have, I could just go into the other question. But did you, did you work with a mentor to? No, no, no, okay. I wish I did. I'd be better, but, uh, but no, no, no, no, no mentor I can think of. But, um, yeah, as far as, um, who inspired me, I think that, yeah, I don't know. I'm just not an inspiring guy, you know, I think, well, those are those are the ones I would say inspired me. So I have to go in and, and Steve Harvey to the degree, but I, inspired probably too, too strong of a word. I, I looked up to them as models, uh, speaking, but I think I, I've looked at so many great speakers and more so just different models. So yeah, I'm not, for me, Dan, and everybody's different. I've never kind of been that person so much to, wow, I, I feel overwhelmingly inspired. I just, I just never that kind of guy. I just kind of, I, my career overall, not just speaking, but I was a student of Income magazine, Black Enterprise Entrepreneur, Red Build Magazine for years. Uh, I was a big email newsletter reader back in the day, you know, before, uh, uh, uh, uh, social media was, was powerful. And I think I've just been blessed to surround myself with amazing people over years, you know, just seeing this speaker and that speaker and how they transform, how events are put together, uh, how, how small businesses are built. And even in like in April 1999, when I bought my first domain, small biz technology.com, shortly thereafter, I was doing one of my first interviews, uh, with, with, uh, with an executive at Microsoft, which birthed into me a career of interviewing people. So yeah, I wish I could say, and I hope I don't disappoint people. I wish I could say that, um, man, this person inspired me, but my journey was probably a bit different. When did you embrace or find your, because the whole premise of, you know, the show really, too, is discovering your potential. Okay. We don't always discover our potential fully, obviously. We can always keep growing. Uh, but my mother had this thing about, you know, touching people's lives and moving forward. And the one thing, even though she wasn't, and sorry, mom, but even though she wasn't wealthy, yes, she was wealthy, because she inside, inside, because after she passed away, um, I had literally over a hundred people call me that I didn't even know that said, your mom touched my life. And, beautiful. And she wasn't named, oh, Cindy Gilman. Cindy Gilman, all right. Yeah. And she, she was actually on, uh, AM radio for, you know, 30 plus years. Yeah. And streaming, streaming, uh, as well, because I got her on streaming. Actually, the last two years, I started this show, thinking that, oh, great. She'll start, restart her, her career path. But little did I know I was actually seguating this to my legacy. I understand. So, which is, which is great. Thank you for passing that on to me. Indeed. But, um, you know, the question is, when did you embrace or find your why? Sure. Sure. Um, so I'm almost 50 years old. And I've been speaking for almost 30 years. My son's 28. And I've been speaking since he was about four years old. So I'd be 20, 24 years. I'm about 24 years speaking some version of professionally. Yesterday or Saturday, I was speaking at a Christian business conference. And I had an epiphany right there about something. That was just a few days ago as we're doing this session. Dan, uh, a few years ago, just a few years ago, sitting with the former executive of Black Enterprise, the name is Alfred Edmund. A few years older than me, maybe 10 or so. You know, let me not sure exactly 10, 15 years. Point is being he said, Ramon, you have to understand when people hire you, they want Ramon. You have to understand Ramon. The power you have explained to me. Dan, that was just a few years ago. And what I'm trying to say is that the reason why my story, sometimes I feel is difficult or you've kept coming back to it, which I sense it and I understand it. But hopefully this is helping others because every journey is not going to be easy, right? Meaning even this conversation, meaning what I'm trying to get at is that, I can't say 20 years ago, I saw a light and a star came on. I've just spoken. I love speaking like a like a chef baking. Is it worth? They just baked. That's what they do. A LeBron. He's just playing ball. Yes. But imagine only 15, 20 years in his career. He's been giving hats to kids and all that. But did he realize you know what? Through this, I can help other people. So yeah, Dan, only in recent days, have I been more so embraced the tagline that he's seen my emails on a polygetically positive. Only in recent days, they wake up every single morning and put a post on Facebook and Instagram saying, make a positive impact in the world. So that's why for me, I've been speaking for many, many years. And I know I've been impacting thousands of people a year. For sure. I'm relatively the same person who I am. But I guess Dan, maybe because I'm turning 50 this year, maybe something's clipped inside me, only have him embraced this as an asset as a tool to help others. Now, I'm a member of the National Speakers Association. So there's many members there, many members there, who for years have embraced it and they can inspire the world. And I want to change people's lives. Dan, I was fired from United Nations. I just wanted to make a fuck. And there's no shame in that. I don't think I had a skill. And I just wanted to feed my family. So I've started businesses. I didn't do it because, oh my god, I saw the child across the room. I wanted to teach her. You can do it too. I know I didn't care about the child across the room. I wanted to get a check. That's it. So I still want to check. I still want to grow a business. But yes, Dan, I think I'm seeing that. And how can I make the world a better place? But that's only been recently. So that's the story for those who discover your potential. This hasn't been a year. Years long of me speaking, Dan. By not years long in me, one to change the world at least actively. I hope that's helpful. Very helpful. My latest book is called Celebrity CEO. That's all about personal branding. So people have welcomed to check that out. Celebrity CEO. You can just go on Amazon or anywhere you find it online. But thank you for asking that, Dan. But I think that what I love to leave people with Dan, I think is a few things probably. I think it's one for those who are at new business owners. And then I'll say something for those who are not, but new business owners, you're going to screw up. You won't make mistakes. It's going to be imperfect. Embrace it. Suck it up and just move on. That's that. And learn from your mistakes. Amy for Leo. In her book, everything is figure outable. When you're looking for a book, you can never find it for some reason. Here it is. Yes. Amy, Amy, sorry, Marie for Leo. Marie for Leo's book. Everything is figure outable. She talks about that in her book. So I think understand that. Embrace that. That you're always going to be the constant journey of learning. Number two, do seek to always learn and do better and better and better. Number three, understand that you have a special strength. You have a special strength. And I have a special strength. God's give me the ability to communicate and talk to people. And inspire people from stages. But I'm not good in numbers. That's at my friend, Ruchie Pindigard. Watch her prosper. Check out watch her rosers or other people like that. Or, right? By the friend Jonathan, a small business, CFO. So we all have strength. That's number three. I think number four, those again, discover your potential. Whether you're in business or not. Everybody has the choice to make a difference in someone's life. There's somebody in the train on the bus and the taxi in the Uber and the airport. At the crosswalk, at the Starbucks, at the bar. Who needs a smile? A good smile. A smile from you and encouragement. Who needs a thank you. And if we can each do that every day, the world will be a better place. That's wonderful. Well, there's so much energy that you bring. That it's just incredible. I've seen so many videos and everything with you speaking. And there's just so much power and so much energy and so much positivity that you bring to the world. And I truly appreciate that. Appreciate it. That's great. Well, thank you Ramon. I truly appreciate your time today. And I appreciate you. So, equal. Thank you, Daniel, for what you do. And thank you for having me. You want to discover your potential. This is Cindy Gilman and your listening to discover your potential. So until next time, do something nice for yourself. But do something nice for someone else.
