Empire Building

Latest Episodes:

254. Should You Start a Business with Friends or Family? Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Starting a business with friends and family—what could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, there are a lot of lessons to learn along the way. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the unique challenges and rewards of building a business with those you’re closest to. Since 2019, we’ve been lucky enough to work alongside some of our best friends on ventures like starting our company, Her Best Life, and hosting our podcast (which has now surpassed 250 episodes and almost a million downloads—how crazy is that?).

But here's the thing: when you go into business with friends or family, it’s not all smooth sailing. There’s the good, the bad, the ugly—and a ton of pro tips that we’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re considering working with loved ones or want to know what to expect, this episode is packed with insights on what makes these partnerships work, and what pitfalls to watch out for. If you’re thinking about teaming up with your friends or family, stick around—this is the episode you won’t want to miss!

Resources:

Check out Her Best Life
Read Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The guest's views, thoughts, and opinions represent those of the guest and not KWRI and its affiliates and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

253. Execute Like an Empire Builder: 5 Steps to Achieve Your Big Goals Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Are you ready to turn your vision into action? Here's the deal: The second Friday in January is Quitter's Day—the day most people abandon their New Year's resolutions. Less than two weeks into the year, those big goals and optimistic plans often fall apart. Why does this happen? It's simple: people set the goal but skip the steps. Without executable strategies, even the best intentions fizzle out.

In today's episode, we're diving deep into how to avoid the Quitter's Day trap. Whether it's your personal resolutions or big-picture business strategies, execution is the secret sauce. Execution means turning strategies into results—and while it sounds simple, it's far from easy.

As empire builders, we know the struggle: You spend Q4 revisiting your vision, setting ambitious goals, and strategizing. But, like 80% of companies and countless individuals, you might find yourself falling short without the right steps in place. That's why we're breaking down five practical steps inspired by the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Franklin Covey. Plus, we've got a bonus empire builder step—because we always bring a little extra flavor to help you ensure success.

Get ready for tactical advice, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective to help you execute your goals like the empire builder you are.

Resources:

Check out Her Best Life

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

WARNING! You must comply with the TCPA and any other federal, state or local laws, including for B2B calls and texts. Never call or text a number on any Do Not Call list, and do not use an autodialer or artificial voice or prerecorded messages without proper consent. Contact your attorney to ensure your compliance.

252. Exit Strategies for Your Business Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

We all have to exit our businesses at some point. It’s good to know what options you have early on so you can feel confident that all your hard work will pay off when the time comes.

In today’s episode, we discuss the five ways you can exit your owner-operator business: sell (or gift), referral, affiliate, train your replacement, or partnership.

If you’ve been feeling burned out, looking to retire, or just want a partner to help carry the load, this episode is for you.

Resources:

Learn more about Dealonomy
Check out Her Best Life

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

251. Ted Lasso’s Leadership Playbook Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

When you’re an Empire Builder, you tend to watch TV a little differently.

In this episode, we discuss what leadership lessons we’ve noticed in the TV show “Ted Lasso.” We identify seven of them and break them down for you.

From the “Believe” sign to “Be a goldfish,” join us on our deep dive into one of our favorite TV series.

Resources:

Learn more about Her Best Life

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

250. Journey to Financial Freedom Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

When Tiffany introduced herself on stage at the 2020 Mega Agent Camp, she described herself as “financially free.” That caught the attention of many folks, and rightfully so.

What does it mean to be financially free? That’s what we get into in today’s episode.

We discuss the difference between financial freedom and financial independence. We swap stories about how we were raised to understand money and how that has shifted over our lives. Most importantly, we have a conversation about how money interacts with purpose and joy.

Are you financially free? Listen in and let us know what you think!

Resources:

Read “Die with Zero” by Bill Perkins

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

249. How to Turn Calls Into Closings Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

Almost every business faces the same challenge: How do you convert live leads into successful sales? In real estate, we call these kinds of leads "sign calls." They're when someone calls you out of the blue to ask you a question about something you're selling. If you're prepared for these conversations, they can be absolute gold.

We break down everything you need to know into three key sections: mindset shift, conversation framework, and follow-up systems.

Remember: The primary goal is not to answer their questions. It's to establish trust, understand their needs, and guide them to the next step.

Resources:

See if “Your First Home” is a helpful resource for your clients

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

248. Bougie and Budget: Gift Ideas for Loved Ones and Your Team Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

Feeling stuck about your gift-giving this year? In this episode, we give you specific gift ideas so you can sprint through that part of your to-do list without a sweat.

Plus, we share tips on doubling up on marketing and gifts and on leveraging your credit card points.

Big or small, affordable or pricier, for loved ones or colleagues, we’ve got you covered! Be sure to check the show notes for links to the products we mention.

Resources:

For Loved Ones:

For Team Members:

HidrateSpark Water Bottle
Lands’ End
BELLA+CANVAS
Academy
reMarkable tablet
Cameo
Notecards for team members
Contact Susan with the Austin Ad Group about branded merch at Susan@AustinAdGroup.com

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

247. Can You Be Happy and Profitable? Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

Have you lost that spark of joy you used to have about your business? Have things started to feel heavy in a way they didn’t before? In this episode, we discuss our personal experience adjusting our business model to find joy again.

At our recent flagship event, Brianna Wiest put it perfectly: “Growth can often mean letting go of the person or the business that has kept you safe in order to become the one who can set you free.”

Listen in as we discuss how we facilitated deep discussion among ourselves about the changes that needed to be made at “Her Best Life.”

If you’re interested in exploring your growth and transformation more in-depth, come join us. Apply at: https://www.herbestlife.com/empirecircle.

Resources:

Apply to join our Empire Circle community at https://www.herbestlife.com/empirecircle

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

246. The Complete Guide to Personal SWOT Analysis Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, we discuss the often overlooked step that goes after setting your goals and before acting on them: SWOT analysis. We dig into everything you need to know about the practice and walk you through how to do one.

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Completing a personal SWOT analysis helps you map out how to most efficiently reach your goals, including how to stay resilient when challenges arise.

Put some time on your calendar to do a SWOT analysis. Your future self will thank you.

Resources:

Listen to Episode 98. Strategic Business Planning - How to Do a SWOT Analysis
Read “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown
Learn more about the DiSC assessment
Download the free Keller Personality Assessment
Listen to Episode 133. Own Your Strengths
Learn more about Gallup’s StrengthFinder
Join the Her Best Life Empire Circle

Connect on Instagram:

Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan
Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti
Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes

Produced by NOVA

245. Thrive In Unexpected Chaos Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes, life kicks you in the teeth. Your aging parent needs extra care. Your kids’ school closes. You get kicked out of your housing in Taiwan because a global pandemic started.

Okay, Tiffany is probably the only one who went through the Taiwan thing, but you get the point.

In today’s episode, we give you 10 practical tools to help you survive—and actually thrive—when your life gets chaotic.

You will get through this. We promise.

Resources: