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Kelly Thornton founded Purchase Point LLC, a design and strategy company with offices in the U.S., London, and Taiwan.   Kelly's third company, Tiege Hanley, launched in 2016. This e-commerce platform focuses on simplifying men's skincare.   The brand's success stems from educating men on skincare, offering simple routines tailored to different skin concerns, and focusing on convenience.   Kelly discusses the importance of vision and creativity as key strengths for entrepreneurs, recognizing that transitioning from a startup to a growth company requires a different skill set.   Kelly shares a unique habit where instead of writing a to-do list for the day, he sets meetings as milestones and works towards meeting those deadlines.   LinkedIn: Kelly Thornton   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that yo

Daree Allen is an award-winning technical writer, authorpreneur, voice talent speaker, life coach, and podcaster.   Daree is the author of three books, including What's Wrong with Me? She shares her stories about self-esteem, media influence, premarital sex, and family and personal relationships, and advises teens about it all.    She highlights the importance of not only mastering the craft but also learning the business side, including marketing.    Daree believes her unique background—combining professional experience in speaking, writing, healthcare, and personal experiences as a single mom and young widow—helps her stand out.   Daree explains the importance of showcasing personal and professional aspects of one's life to build a strong, relatable brand.   Website: Daree Allen Voiceover LinkedIn: Daree Allen Voiceover LLC  Facebook: Daree Allen  Instagram: dareeallen   Previous Episode: iam221-award-winning-technical-writer-voice-talent-and-speaker-inspires-people-using-her-voice   Check out our CEO Hack

Dave Hanley is a serial entrepreneur, with successful ventures, including the social media marketing agency Banyan Branch, which was acquired by Deloitte, and Shelfari, a social network for readers that Amazon acquired.   Dave started Tomorrow after feeling uninspired in his role at Deloitte. Tomorrow aims to help young families become financially stable by providing an easy-to-use app to create wills, choose guardians for their children, and even add life insurance—all for free.   He discusses the importance of intentionality in business decisions, having learned from past successes and failures.   Dave underscores the importance of personal growth and thoughtful leadership in life and business.   Website: Ethos Life  LinkedIn: Dave Hanley   Previous Episode: iam220-ceo-and-serial-entrepreneur-behind-an-app-that-lets-you-makes-wills-and-trusts-on-your-phone   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook V

Gresham Harkless is celebrating his 2nd anniversary and has traveled a lot recently.   Gresham attended a conference with around 200 brands and had the chance to meet with seasoned brokers.   He absorbed much valuable information about what successful brokers do, their mindsets, and how they approach the business.    Gresham emphasizes the importance of becoming skilled at lead generation while keeping marketing costs low.   He believes content creation will play a big role in generating leads and is something he plans to experiment with.   Gresham suggests focusing on learning one or two brands per month and doing deep dives into those brands to truly understand them.   Gresham considers collaborating with others and possibly bringing in additional agents or partners to share the workload, noting that you don’t need to do everything yourself. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out

Gresham Harkless shares insights on his journey toward becoming a broker, emphasizing the importance of moving forward even when you're not fully ready.   He explains that while there were many reasons to wait for a "perfect" time—such as team transitions, personal life changes, and financial considerations.   Gresham emphasizes that there's no perfect time to begin; the key is to act now. He draws inspiration from the quote, "The best time to plant a tree was yesterday; the next best time is today."   Gresham advocates for taking small, low-risk steps, such as recording a first video, researching ideas, or having conversations with potential partners.   In addition, he believes that the key to success is taking messy, imperfect action, as it generates insights that can't be gained from inaction.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessm

Gresham Harkless reflects on his 17th day in his franchise broker journey, returning home after attending a training conference.    Despite enjoying the conference and the beautiful setting, Gresham emphasizes that home is where his heart is.   He shares that the conference provided a wealth of information from various brands and training sessions, which he plans to review and reflect on more thoroughly over the weekend.   Gresh also mentions that top brokers follow the same processes learned in training, dispelling the idea of "secret strategies."   Furthermore, he reflects on his growth, including meeting new people, forming a potential collaboration for a podcast, and being recognized for his efforts by others. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchiseceo.co Check out

In this episode, we have Toni Harris Taylor also known as the "Networking Queen" and "Coach That Connects," who is a dynamic speaker, coach, and the founder of Global Multicultural Franchise Connectors (MFC).    Toni reflects on a life-changing experience she had 10 years ago when she was in a coma, which she views as a turning point in her life.    Toni shares a powerful analogy that while some people may physically be "awake," they’re often "sleeping" through life.   Toni emphasizes collaboration over competition, reflecting a mindset rooted in abundance.    She advocates for people to make bold decisions and take drastic steps to change their habits, even in small ways.    In addition, Toni highlights her mantra: “Show up, be up, follow up to blow up.” Visibility, energy, and consistency in following up are key to long-term success in business.   Website: Toni Harris Taylor  LinkedIn: Toni Harris Taylor  Instagram: toniharristaylor   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks

Ann-Marie Christell is a hairstylist business educator and founder of Serene Flow. She helps hairstylists grow their businesses with sustainable practices, blending mental health and business strategies for thriving businesses with ease.   With over 26 years of experience as a hairstylist, she also runs a successful e-commerce store and coached hundreds of hairstylists on balancing business growth and well-being.   Ann-Marie emphasizes her ability to help others see things in themselves they may not realize and to have tough conversations when necessary.   She schedules all her social media posts a month in advance, recording content and writing captions in one go.   Ann-Marie encourages others to embrace boredom as it often leads to creative breakthroughs, instead of constantly seeking external ideas or distractions online.    Website: Serene Flow LinkedIn: Ann-Marie Christell  Instagram: sereneflow   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organ

Jamelle Sanders is an author, speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, radio host, and respected thought leader.    Jamelle has been featured on NBC, CBS, The Huffington Post, The Best U Magazine, and numerous other media outlets.    His organization focuses on providing resources, mentorship, and strategic planning for leaders and entrepreneurs, especially millennials.   Jamelle shares his mindset that has helped him through challenges—seeing crises as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.    Jamelle advocates for young entrepreneurs to be patient and embrace the journey, reminding them that success doesn’t happen overnight and that it’s essential to focus on continuous improvement.   Website: Jamelle Sanders International  LinkedIn: Jamelle Sanders   Previous Episode: iam219-thought-leader-devoted-to-empowering-individuals-to-fulfill-their-purpose   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook

Matt Gottesman is an international business strategist, brand architect, and purpose-driven entrepreneur.   He shares how his experiences with tech, branding, and consulting helped him transition into working with high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy, and Cadillac.   Matt emphasizes the importance of energy and authenticity in brand building, explaining that he connects with people and businesses on a deep, energetic level to understand their core motivations.   Matt mentions the importance of effectively organizing his time and schedule, using tools like a calendar and a large whiteboard to track goals and tasks.   Matt advises young entrepreneurs to focus on the process, particularly the details, and to learn from successful mentors.    He highlights the importance of setting a good example and making decisions with intuition rather than emotion.   Website: Matt Gottesman  LinkedIn: Matt Gottesman LLC Facebook: Matt Gottesman Instagram: hdfmagazine   Previous Episode: iam218-entrepreneur-and-br

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on a particularly overwhelming period, both personally and professionally.   Gresham describes a hectic pace where he met with around 80 different franchise brands in a short time, likening it to "speed dating" due to the brief 5-minute interactions.   Gresham shares an epiphany regarding his approach to the broker business. He plans to lean heavily into content creation as a key part of his strategy, recognizing it as a potential strength for him.    He points out the challenge of having critical business functions reliant on others, reinforcing the idea that businesses should aim for a certain level of independence, even when people are valuable assets.   Gresham discusses the importance of maintaining strong ethics, conducting thorough due diligence, knowing your inventory, and understanding potential franchise candidates.   He highlights the challenge for less experienced brokers in converting leads into clients and the need for continuous practice to imp

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on his experiences during day 16 of his journey to become a franchise broker.   Gresham emphasizes the importance of understanding what makes a good fit between a brand and a potential candidate.   He points out the challenge of managing a business while learning the intricacies of franchising.   Gresham mentions the value of being part of a collaborative franchise association, which connects him to seasoned professionals and established relationships with brands.   He advocates others to look for ways to reduce the burden of managing every aspect of a business on their own.   In addition, Gresham highlights the importance of outsourcing tasks and leaning on others to maintain a balance and protect mental health.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares a personal and professional update while reflecting on the importance of celebrating small wins and staying present in the journey.   He discusses a recent client interaction in which he didn't close any business but learned the valuable lesson of celebrating the progress made, such as having the first meeting.    Gresham emphasizes that even if things don’t go smoothly, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate each step because those early steps are necessary for future success.   Gresham highlights the concept of "planned advances"—setting clear next steps after each interaction, such as scheduling follow-up calls and asking clients to take assessments to gain better insights.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: http://bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - http://franchise

Jonah Burlingame is a seasoned design strategist and consultant specializing in turning complex ideas into clear, actionable business strategies.   Jonah emphasizes the importance of partnering with senior leaders to understand the company’s strategy, goals, and challenges.   He believes that successful project execution requires aligning various teams early and making sure they collaborate toward a common goal.   Jonah highlights that strategy is often abstract, and the tactical teams tasked with execution might struggle to interpret and act on those high-level ideas without proper alignment.   Jonah shares the concept of "planting yourself where you can bloom," offering powerful advice based on his personal experience of relocating to California for work.   Website: Mind-Arc | Strategy By Design  LinkedIn: Jonah Burlingame   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE.

Gregg Cantor is the President and CEO of Murray Lampert Design Build Remodel, a family business based in San Diego, California.   With over 40 years of experience, Gregg leads a four-generation family business celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.    Gregg emphasizes that its marketing approach is educational, not sales-driven. It aims to educate consumers on design, remodeling, and building, positioning itself as a partner in the process rather than using high-pressure tactics.   Gregg highlights the importance of keeping organized with tools like Apple Notes to track tasks and goals.   In addition, he advocates for reading and continuous learning, recommending audiobooks and podcasts as valuable resources for personal and professional growth.   Website: Murray Lamper Design, Build, Remodel  LinkedIn: Gregg Cantor   Previous Episode: iam1331-ceo-helps-clients-design-and-build-their-houses   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organizatio

Silva Harapetian is a seasoned media consultant, business coach, author, and speaker. Silva's extensive 20-year career as a television journalist for major networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox has equipped her with unique insights into storytelling and its impact on business growth.   She is a television personality and media expert who was featured in online and print magazines as well as television and radio shows internationally and nationally including NBC's The Today Show, the Kathie Lee and Hoda, and syndicated talk show The Nate Berkus Show.   Silva emphasizes the importance of human connection in marketing, saying that effective marketing should resonate on an emotional level and not just focus on product features.   She advocates entrepreneurs to ensure their marketing has a heartbeat, meaning it should connect on a human level, even in the digital space.   She emphasizes the importance of dedicating time each day to something that nurtures creativity and personal well-being.   Silva highlights the i

Sarah Highfield is an International Yoga Teacher based in London, UK and is the founder of Yogagise Yoga.   Her journey from a PR career to becoming a renowned yoga instructor offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a successful business in the wellness industry.   Sarah emphasizes the importance of treating any business seriously from day one, including organizing finances, marketing efforts, and client management.   She discusses that it’s not enough to just teach yoga—creating meaningful, long-lasting connections with students is what drives a successful business.    She feels a deep responsibility for providing a service that helps her clients feel better, more confident, and balanced.    Website: Yogagise  LinkedIn: Sarah Highfield Facebook: Yogagise   Previous Episode: iam214-international-yoga-teacher-helps-clients-destress-with-yoga   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volu

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless discusses the challenges and emotional aspects of starting a new business, comparing the process to the awkward, stumbling stage of a baby giraffe learning to walk.   He reflects on the fatigue that goes with juggling multiple responsibilities—personal, volunteer, and business-related—and acknowledges the struggle of managing energy and staying organized, particularly by the end of the week.   Gresham emphasizes the importance of understanding and embracing the discomfort that comes with new ventures.    He mentions the idea of "letting go of the previous rung" when climbing to the next level, a concept introduced to him by coach Art Radke.   Gresham highlights the importance of protecting one's time and energy, recognizing that being overwhelmed is common in new business ventures.   Gresham underscores the necessity of saying "no" without justification as a way of prioritizing and safeguarding one's well-being.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Br

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on how they started their franchise broker business before they felt "ready," which has been a key part of their entrepreneurial journey.   Gresham emphasizes that it’s often beneficial to start things even when you're not fully prepared because you’ll make more progress than waiting until everything feels perfect.   He shares that they received a potential lead through a Facebook group post from someone looking to sell their franchise.   Gresham believes that blocking out time helps them stay disciplined and focused, which is essential for managing multiple business ventures.   He also admits that they struggled to find a place to fit the franchise brokering business into their schedule.    In addition, Gresham discusses the importance of discipline and intentionality in balancing all their responsibilities. Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless made significant progress in learning about different franchise brands and connecting with potential business owners.   He highlights a conversation with ResiBrands, a brand he is interested in, and discovers a niche opportunity for businesses looking to transition into franchises.   Gresham emphasizes the importance of differentiating not just through innovation but also through execution and a well-developed business model.    He shares a personal experience of having a client call canceled, which serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of building a business.   Gresham acknowledges that resilience and grit are crucial, referencing Angela Duckworth's book on Grit and the importance of persevering through setbacks.   Furthermore, he emphasizes that flexibility is key in entrepreneurship, advising others to remain adaptable and open to change in their approach.   Blue Star Franchise: http://bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: https://blues