5. Strategic Success: Balancing Today with Tomorrow with Christian Rivera Lopez
Have you ever wondered what truly drives your business forward? Do you have a well defined strategy in place? If your answer is no, then this episode is a must listen. Join us as we dive deep into the essentials of business planning and effective strategy development, discover actionable items and insights to craft a robust business strategy that can set you on a path to success.
Eric Beels:Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Business Boost Hour podcast. My name is Eric Beals.
Crystal Privett:And I am Crystal Privett. Thank you for joining us for the single CEU podcast. We welcome today, Christian Rivera.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Thank you. Hi, guys. Christian Rivera. I'm with Transamerica Financial Advisors and really excited to be here. I'm financial adviser.
Christian Rivera Lopez:I've been in the industry for a little bit over 10 years, and I help families and individuals, right, prepare for and live in retirement. Excited to be here. Thank you guys for having me.
Eric Beels:Nice. Awesome.
Crystal Privett:Such a pleasure having you in our group.
Eric Beels:Yeah. So, Kirsten, so today, what we had planned and what we wanna kinda talk about is, like, business planning. I think that's that's such a fitting, you being in life insurance, like, that, you know, planning and whatnot. Right? So that's so that seems so fitting for you.
Eric Beels:And so this is an aspect that I haven't really I feel like I don't know. I didn't do much. I'm like a, you know, single entrepreneur, you know, solopreneur kind of thing, like, back in the day. Now it's not the case anymore. But like, that's kind of what I grew up with and solo print for myself and, you know, being early twenties or whatever, I didn't really get into, you know, a lot of my planning.
Eric Beels:I was like, let's just go out and film. I started, you know, videographer, you know, to film whatever, and then it was just a matter of, like, taking the camera and recording it and putting something together. There's no planning involved with with all that. Yeah. So, what so the I wanted to kind of just start off, like, kind of laying some, like, groundwork of, like, what exactly business planning is?
Eric Beels:Like like, what is that, and and what does that mean exactly?
Christian Rivera Lopez:That that's a that's a good question. Right?
Crystal Privett:For someone green.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. Right. You know, business planning, I I feel like it's it. I'm always gonna preach about this. And like you said, I'm a I do this for a living for a living.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? It's it's crucial for any business. Now why do I say that? It's it's something that, you know, by having a proper plan, by having a proper strategy, right, it's it's really what's going to allow you to survive those turmoils. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's really what's going to allow your business to stay centered, staying course. Right? And at the same time, it's something that's going to help you, you know, just deviate to to be able to keep growing, to keep evolving, right, which is something crucial, especially for businesses. Mhmm. You can't stay stagnant.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You have to keep evolving. And and having a business plan, there there's not one way to do it, which is beautiful. And, at the same time, it's a little bit archaic. Right? Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Because there's there's so many ways to do it. There's there's so many strategies, and each of us, we have we're individuals. Our businesses is not the same as the next one. Right? And having you know, you need to first analyze what you're trying to do, where you're trying to go.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Having those goals in mind and then starting to create plans around them. It's trying to create what that strategy is really going to look like.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:So now I'm just thinking about it, how you're gonna take action on it and implement it as well.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. Absolutely. You know? And and kudos to you. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Being a solo preneur. Right? Mhmm. It's it's what a lot of, you know, a lot of entrepreneurs nowadays are doing. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, I've I've I've had a lot of friends that do a lot of videography and things like that. And it's like you said, just go out and work Mhmm. Which is also really important because at least you're starting your business. Right? Sitting at home and planning, you're not gonna do anything.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You're just sitting there. Right? But it's something that, you know, you also need to, it can deviate you. It it you can just be running haywire, just trying to do things, and you're just trying to keep up. Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And and you're never gonna get ahead if you're always reacting to what's happening that day or that week or how many clients I have, things like that. Right?
Eric Beels:Sure. So it almost sounds like there's kind of a bit of a balance between, like, yeah, just getting out there and kind of doing stuff, but then simultaneously, if you just were all planning, it's like an an analysis that sounds like that sounds like analysis paralysis right there. Right? And so I know whenever I've kind of sat down, like, actually, I do this more definitely more now than I ever have in the past, but I'm still, like, very green. I've never really been been coached on really how to kind of do it, just kind of what I've seen other other people, what other people other businesses have done.
Eric Beels:Like, all what kind of reference. Like, oh, what does this person do for their, for their, like, mission statement or their core values and such too. Right? And and I don't know how much of those those things, like, play into your business plan, but I imagine those are kind of more, like, top foundational for that, I guess. But what would be like I guess for, you know, for honestly, for someone like myself, what what's like a kind of a starting point on, like, really how to get into even planning a business?
Eric Beels:Is that again, I've kind of just learned as I go. So this is totally total honesty. Like, I you know, there's aspects where I'm like, I don't even know how I kind of got to where I am. Like, my wife, Amber, like, she's like like, definitely the one of the cornerstones in our in our business. I couldn't do half of what we're doing with with without her.
Eric Beels:So, but
Crystal Privett:What would someone green do? What's a first, like, step to build a foundational
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. Sure.
Crystal Privett:Security?
Christian Rivera Lopez:No. And and that's a great question. Right? And, in in your situation, you said, right, you don't know how you got here? Well, a lot of hard work.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And and and that's being an entrepreneur, we never stop working. Right? We're we're always there, and and kudos to you. But but in your example, right, your your wife is the one that's doing a lot of the back end stuff.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? So it sounds like she's the one that's doing a lot of the planning. And and I'll explain this because there's 2 things that we we first need to identify and separate. Right? It's what is a strategy and what is a plan?
Christian Rivera Lopez:So, for example, to answer the question, right, what should we start with? We should start with a strategy. So strategy is more of a theory, in your business, right? It's what a lot of the business call, like, their mission, right, their core values, things like that. It's strategy is going to be more of you identifying what is the playing field that you wanna be in.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And how are you, for example, in that playing field, how are you gonna be better than your competitors? How are you going to differentiate from your competitors? Now this theory is going to keep evolving, right? That's why it's only a theory.
Eric Beels:So the strategy comes first, it sounds like. Like, absolutely. So the planning is based off of the strategy.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Exactly.
Eric Beels:Okay.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Exactly. And and that strategy has to be clear coherent and doable. Right? So it's something that, you know, this is how I'm going to operate my business. Right.
Christian Rivera Lopez:This is and and and it's something that is practical. Right. And and it's a little bit crazy, right, because it's it's just a theory. So it's it's nothing set in stone. Usually a lot of, in my experience, right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:In my 10 years in the industry, I come from the corporate side, right? So I used to work with Nationwide Financial, right? Great Financial Company, one of top Fortune 500 companies. And there I was lucky enough that I saw a lot of coaching for leadership. I saw a lot of, you know, just mentorship, things like that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Every day is an interview, things like that. Right. That corporate America type of education. And one thing that I've learned then that I've seen is a lot of managers, a lot of leaders, right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:They just stay focused on the planning part of it. And that's how you get leaders that are just micromanagers, right? Because they're just thinking that to be a proper leader, you just need to focus on results. Now to
Eric Beels:Tell people what to do and all that stuff.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Exactly. Right. And and sometimes as a solopreneur or or even in our businesses, right, we're doing that to ourselves. Mhmm. You know, I'm driving myself crazy because I'm not getting the results that I want.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And now that it doesn't mean that, you know, you you're doing, you're not doing right proper planning. You need to stay take a step back. You need to first go back into your strategy. Right? And another big thing is once you have your strategy in place, right, once you have that and how that's going to look like, now you can start going into planning.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And and planning is really just going to be that list of things that how are we going to achieve this? Right. You know, what what in what instruments do I need to have? Right.
Christian Rivera Lopez:What equipment I need to have? Or for example, like, what's the retail place that I I wanna have for my business, etcetera. Right? Mhmm. And and that does require planning.
Christian Rivera Lopez:But, you know, if if you just focus on that, you're just going to be just trying to catch up all the time. With a strategy, you're thinking ahead. Right? You're you're having that vision ahead of time of how that's going to look like, how your business is going to grow, etcetera.
Eric Beels:It sounds like planning is a little bit more logistical stuff Mhmm. Usually. And then strategy is more like
Crystal Privett:Implementation of it.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Absolutely.
Crystal Privett:Yeah.
Eric Beels:Yeah. And and or, like, more, like, big I guess, a more big picture, and then planning is kinda more getting into those those details of it, without having that. And if you just do planning without that strategy, then you kind of get into the details without seeing if this is playing into the big picture or not. Right. Okay.
Eric Beels:And so how how does I mean, because there's an aspect of I'm not even really sure where you really begin with that. Something that I've kind of, struggled a lot with was figuring out how do you even come up with the right strategy? You know? Because, like, you can come up with the planning aspects of it, but the the strategy, I guess, sometimes maybe you have something in your head. Like, you're like, oh, I have this side.
Eric Beels:This thing, it'll be great and stuff too. But then, I guess there's taking a step back and, like, okay, is this really gonna, you know, make make the most sense or whatever that might be?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? You know, and and that's the the beauty, but the scary part of it too. Right? It's evolving. So it's it's it would always say, right, one thing that I've learned is a strategy should just be a one page type of thing, something that you can just write in 1 page.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? It's simple. It's doable. Right? And, but it's today is not going to be the same thing in 6 months.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Because now you have new data. Now you've been out there in the market. Mhmm. You've been working with clients.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You've you're seeing what's working, what's not working. Well, let's start, you know, configure it, like, just evolving that strategy to match my future plans with this current knowledge that I have, things like that.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm. Knowing when to pivot. Absolutely. Absolutely. And then also the different learning styles.
Crystal Privett:So like you said earlier, one size might not fit all.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:Some somebody might, you know, be more of a a visual learner. Yeah. Some might be more auditorial. So how would you help someone planning that based on their, like, learning styles?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Well, you know, it's it's something that it requires for me to help. Right? And one thing that I do a lot with my clients is to a lot of listening. Right? And and and when I when I used to be a wholesaler, I was more of an educator.
Christian Rivera Lopez:So I was teaching financial advisers all the time. It was very easy for me to get very technical, just talk, talk, talk. Right? Talked a lot. Did a lot of webinars.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? A lot of education. And and it's great to have that. But now that going into the independent side, right, having my own agency and things like that, I've learned that how can I help best my client to take a step back and listen? Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:So, trying to understand what their situation is, what their goals are. Right? And once we we identify those, what those goals are, then what are things that we can start working with that we currently have to be able to reach those goals. Right? And and it's something any good financial adviser out there will be connecting with their clients on a regular basis.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? One thing that's huge in my industry is follow-up. And the importance for that is you need to understand where your clients at, how things have changed. Right? And clients don't tell you that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? They they don't think they have to tell you that. Right? And it's because, you know, we we just don't know. But by having that relationship, building that relationship, right, in in following up with your clients, seeing how they're doing, where they're going, right, that's going to help you build that relationship and understanding where they're currently at, and you can start modifying their need their strategies to match their needs later on.
Eric Beels:Yeah. So, we had, Julian, actually, and she talked about, we we had a, our whole topic was on communication actually. And a big part of that communication, ironically, is, ironically or unironically, I don't know, is actually not communicating but listening because that's a big form of communication.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Amen to that.
Eric Beels:You know, I guess when we think of that communication, we we kind of think of it like a broadcast style, like one one way. But communication is is both ways. Right? I think, so it's like I think, a miss bit of a misunderstanding on the word. And so in with with what so you do like, like, financial planning for people.
Eric Beels:So how is that what you do there? What are what are other similarities with that with like planning a business, like, instead of just instead of it being planning for financial planning for a person? Is it's it's like planning for a, you know, switch the person out with the business. Absolutely. What what are some of those, like, similarities
Christian Rivera Lopez:that you that
Eric Beels:you see?
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, there's a lot of them. Right? When it comes to us starting our own businesses and things like that, it's a whole new world. Right? We're wired, sadly, right, to just be w two employees, to just be, you know, part of a corporation.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, you're gonna work for the next 40, 50 years, retire, you're gonna have your pension, things like that. That's how it was for our parents. That's how it was for previous generations. That's not the case anymore. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:That there's a reason why a 401 k exists nowadays. Right? It's because pensions don't exist. So 401ks replaced those traditional corporate pensions. Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:So now since we're wired that way, right, we we now have when we open up our own business, when we go independent, things like that, it's a whole new world. Now I have to understand everything about taxes. Now I have to understand everything about marketing. Now I have to understand everything about, just being a business owner, how to find new clients, how I need to be an expert in my product or my service that I'm providing. Right.
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's it's all these things that it's just gonna drive you crazy. Right? And, that's one of the important things. And and and I'll tie this into how I do it with my clients of taking a step back, having having a strategy. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Something basically a core theory that you can base what your business is on and having a plan, but as simple as possible. Right? So another another big thing of why I've seen businesses fail and same thing on on the financial side of why I see a lot of clients not having, you know, the financial success or financial independence that they wanna have is because we see all these things that I have to do or in my side, right, all all these things that I need to focus on, life insurance, annuities, retirement planning, investments, right, taxes, things like that. Hats to wear. Exactly.
Christian Rivera Lopez:A lot of hats to wear. And and it just becomes too much, and you just stop. You start procrastinating, you know, all these things start happening. Right?
Eric Beels:That's what happens to me. Like, if I get overwhelmed, if some of this if there's too many things, I tend to just, like, stop everything. Yep. Like and and that's and I I know I've just over the years, I've had to kind of, like, really, like, get a stronger grasp of what I'm mentally capable of of handling.
Crystal Privett:Which is so great to be in BNI because in some ways, we don't have to wear all of those hats ourselves. Absolutely. I can allow you to be the financial expert, and I can lean on you a little bit and your knowledge and your wisdom because I'm gonna focus more on the mental health and and helping people with their minds. But, it all does play together because there's sometimes there might be a reason why someone's feeling blocked, like like Eric said, maybe.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Definitely. When
Crystal Privett:we hit a a point where we don't know which hat to put on again.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. Right.
Crystal Privett:And that's one thing that's nice about BNI is being able to take a little bit of that pressure off.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:And maybe sometimes see the blind spots as well because we have experts within our chapter.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Absolutely. You know, and and I couldn't agree more. Right? The ever ever since I started with BNI, I I've always described it as I am so lucky to be at BNI be because of that. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's it's because now I have a full network of professionals in each industry. Right? That, depending on on what situation I am in, what what's going on in in my business and things like that, I can use them. Right? I can leverage my peers within BNI.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And and that's the importance, right, of of building those relationships. Right? Same thing as we were talking about earlier. Right? You've been listening to your BNI colleagues
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Because there's things that you wouldn't imagine because you're so focused in your business. You're you're so centered right into I got to get all these this whole to do list done that. But by, you know, just sitting down with them, listening to them and understanding what they they the services that they provide, how it can help your business grow. Right. And that's one thing that that I do a lot with my clients because having having a network like this, right, being with BNI and having this group of professionals that that are gonna help you in different aspects of your business is crucial because, for example, with my clients, I need to sit down and and I need to make everything as simple for them.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:You
Christian Rivera Lopez:know, because I'm the expert when it comes to all the financial advising, all the different retirement planning, things like these. I need to simplify it for them for them to not get that mental block.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? For for them to be able to just get a macro view of what their finances are.
Crystal Privett:They're not overwhelmed by too much information. Right.
Eric Beels:Right. Well, because, you know, what is the the, I think the the saint goes a a, a confused
Crystal Privett:Mind doesn't buy. A confused
Eric Beels:mind doesn't buy. That's it. Yeah. Right. Confused mind doesn't buy.
Eric Beels:And and so, you know, I always kinda feel like the the business plan I guess I don't know what what a simple business plan actually looks like because I feel like there's so much that that could go into that. And I guess it might kinda just depend on, like, the scale of your business. If you have a bigger business, it might be more in-depth. Maybe you can hire somebody to, like, literally do that for you. Yep.
Eric Beels:What does a simple plan really look like? Because so that's what I'm so yeah. So what what what does a simple plan really look like? And and and maybe it depends on the size of the of of the business.
Christian Rivera Lopez:It does. Absolutely. You know, and it's a little bit hard to to narrow it down to to just a simple plan because it's it's absolutely going to vary depending on the business, depending on the industry. Are you providing a service? Are you providing a product?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? But this is where, you know, being in BNI, for example, is is something that that's crucial to to have your business grow. Right? Because it's even though you don't have the let's say you your your business is still at a small scale. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:So you don't have the capabilities of of hiring, you know, a person that's going to focus on taxes, a person that's gonna focus on marketing. Right? A person that's gonna focus on, you know, just product development, things like that. Right? You have access to a network that's people that are going to help you with all of that stuff.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. And they're incentivized to help you with that.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. The when it comes to, you know, just having having a simple plan in that sense is it's I feel like I I have to go back with doesn't matter, what you know, it's who you know. Right? Mhmm. And, also, you know, by by doing that, you're you're leveraging your peers.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? You're to to have all this access. And in a way, it's like the saying goes, you know, dream work I'm sorry. Teamwork makes the dream work, right, because of that. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Because now you have a group of experts. Right? I used to when I was at Nationwide, I use this terminology and it's something that Nationwide has always done with their advisers. Right? I I called it my circle of excellence.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, when when I I was in charge of my own territory, supporting my advisers, I always had to I always knew who did I have on underwriting, who did I have in new business, who did I have in customer service. You know, all these different people that I had a personal relationship with were my are my friends. Right? Mhmm. And anytime I had an issue with any of my cases, I had a circle of excellence that I was going to rely on to be able to grow the business.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Mhmm. Right? In your case, you you say you were a sole entrepreneur, but now you have your wife. Right? She's part of your circle of excellence.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? You have that support. And us that now we're in BNI, now we have this crazy beautiful network, right, of people that are really passionate about what we do, and we're just, you know, we're just truly professionals, in each of our fields. So that's huge. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Especially starting your own business.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm. It kind of reminds me, I'm dating myself, of those old choose your own adventures. It's like, if you want your business to go up by 10%, turn to page 54. If you want to have more, employees, turn to page 72.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely.
Crystal Privett:So, yeah, it's it's really catered Dope. To who you are and what you're looking for. Because, I mean, like, for me, money is important, but for me, I'm a very heart centered business. So for me, I'm very passionate about helping people. Sure.
Crystal Privett:The money is definitely, a bonus, but so I might have a different trajectory or different goals than someone who's maybe more transactional transactional based.
Eric Beels:Absolutely. Absolutely. So if some if like like, if I was to kind of start writing, like, the first thing on this on this this simple action plan, what would be what what would be, like, that first that first step?
Crystal Privett:Have a one to one with Christian. Absolutely.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Amen to that. I love it. I love it. Yep.
Eric Beels:Top of
Crystal Privett:the list.
Eric Beels:1 to 1 in Christian. Okay. We got that. We're doing that now. So what would be the kind of like that utmost important thing?
Eric Beels:Like, if if anything, if there's, like, one thing on that's on that plan, what what's that? What is that?
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, I I think I'm gonna go back to to having a strategy. K. Right?
Eric Beels:Or yeah. Sorry. I guess strategy. Yeah. Same plan.
Eric Beels:I guess I'm really mean strategy.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. With you. So, you know, what what should be your strategy? You know, identify what what your goal is. You you first need to ask yourself, what's gonna be your goal?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? What are the service that I'm gonna provide, or who who am I gonna provide this service to? Right? And and there, you're identifying what your level playing field is going to be. Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Once you've identified that is how are you gonna be better than everyone else. Right? Do your research. What are other companies?
Christian Rivera Lopez:What are the other competitors doing? Right? Mhmm. And focus at that point on on how you can be you know, what's going to identify you. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:And, you know, we've we've heard of, for example, Simon Sinek would say, have your why. Right? And and this has to be merged into your strategy. Like, why are you doing this? Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:For for example, with me, and this is a big part of of my agency is I've even though I have all these 10 years of experience, all this knowledge in the financial industry, right, I I came from great schools of knowledge with Nationwide, One America, Transamerica, different carriers. Right? That but one thing that that always stood out and and has helped me keep is how can I take all this theory and actually help my family? Mhmm. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:And and then this is my personal why. How can I make this practical to make sure that my family has the financial security that they need? Right? And and same thing is I'm a big believer that, you know, it's really important for you to have your financial plan and everything. But, man, we work too hard to not enjoy your money.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? We we need you know, I there was this old way of thinking, my parents always had it, that it's, you know, you need to keep putting as much money away as possible. You need to keep saving. Well, you know, I've seen so many cases, sadly, that clients pass away before they got to go on that cruise that they wanted and things like that.
Eric Beels:Right? Similar stuff.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. Absolutely. And, you know, and that's why, like, a big why for me is, you know, how can I help my clients make sure that they have this financial security that they need? Right? And at the same time, you know, let's enjoy our money.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Let's let's just have the life that you want. And that's part I I always tell my clients, this has to be part of your financial goals. Right? You wanna go on this trip, then we're going to plan for that. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:We're we're going to start working on how that's going to look like and how we're going to achieve that goal. Mhmm. So, yeah, I I would say, right, a having those two parts to your strategy. Right? And, again, keep it in a single page.
Christian Rivera Lopez:It has to be something that's, you know, coercive and and doable at the same time. But but it's mainly, you know, that fact. Right. That you can you know, what is your level playing field and how are you going to excel in that level playing field by identifying your why.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Eric Beels:Okay. So you're so really kind of, like, determine what that why is. What so I've heard a lot of I've heard mixed things on, like, what your why should actually be. And a lot of times people kind of go, like, my why is my family or my wife. And and and but then I've heard other people say, well, your your people have have said that your your why has to be something that's, like, sellable, essentially.
Eric Beels:Your wife and kids are hopefully not sellable. Right? And and so I I wonder and I'm, you know, I'm like, okay. I understand kind of where both sides are kinda coming from. Yeah.
Eric Beels:What's if if, what do you what do you think on that?
Christian Rivera Lopez:I think and no. You know, that that's a really good point, actually, Eric, because the there's there's 2 whys in a way. There's our why Mhmm. Why we wake up every day. Why am I doing that's my family.
Christian Rivera Lopez:That's my 3 year old son, Sebastian. You know, he this guy wakes up at 6 30 in the morning, but it's, like, the coolest thing because he's like, papa, good morning. You know? It's Mhmm. That's my why to waking up.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Having him, you know, next to me, you know, making sure he has his everything. But my business why is different.
Eric Beels:Right? 2 whys, a personal why and a business why. Yeah. Because, like, I guess, you know, if you if, I mean, if it's kind of like, well, why am I in business in the first place Sure. At all?
Eric Beels:And it's like, well, it's okay. You have family members and stuff too. People that are maybe depending on you to kind of, you know, pay the mortgage or whatever. Right? And such.
Eric Beels:So maybe that's kind of where that's the aspects come, that the aspects coming from.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And maybe we can do, like, an exercise. For example, like, let let's take your business, for example. What what what do you see what's the the field that you wanna be in? Well, it's it's podcast production. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's creating, you know, this tool for different businesses for them to grow their businesses. Right? But what makes Eric Biel's different than all the other competitors that you have that are out there in the industry? Mhmm.
Eric Beels:Well, I think so what what so one what what one aspect that I'm really, really passionate about. I don't know if it's necessarily my why, but I'm very passionate about it. And that is I really, really I'm a systems guy. I like I think at least I did for a while. My, like, BNI sheet on, like, you know, fun fact or whatever.
Eric Beels:Like, I'm a I'm a spreadsheet nerd. Okay. Like, I like going to spreadsheets and, like, making calculations and stuff too. I
Crystal Privett:have it.
Eric Beels:And and well, part of why I like that is, like, I hate doing the same thing over and over and over and over again. And I'm not and and so maybe there's an aspect of, like, this is, like, kind of like a pain point where I just if I'm doing the same thing over and over again, I'm building a system, however rudimentary it is, if it's a little calculation within Google Sheets or something.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Sure.
Eric Beels:And so I'm I'm really passionate about I've just become really passionate about systems and processes.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Like Yeah. Efficiency.
Eric Beels:And so tying that to kind of what I do, I'm applying that to podcasting, which is why I formed, like, this online podcasting business to make as simple and easy as possible to for people to do podcasts remotely. Right. That was kind of like my, like, like, starting point that that kind of for it kind of formed, like, what's my actual brand? What kind of makes me stand out, I guess, in in podcasting? I don't advertise, like, high quality or anything like that, even though that's what we do.
Eric Beels:I do want high quality, but that's not that's not something that I'm like, yeah. We wanna do that, but that's not
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's kinda standard.
Eric Beels:Yeah. It's kinda standard. And, like, I'm not I'm not really passionate about that. I'm passionate about, like, being able to just focus on the content.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And
Eric Beels:I'm also really passionate about podcasting because there's no, you you have minimal, like, big brother above you. Right? I think if you, like, pour everything into YouTube or pour everything into one actual brand. Right. People kind of mistake this.
Eric Beels:Like, what's the difference in YouTube and podcasting? Podcasting is a platform like email is. No one controls email in and of itself. No one controls podcasting in and of itself. Yes.
Eric Beels:There's platforms, but they don't control that those those things. And so that's one reason I'm I'm really passionate about podcasting because it's kind of a free speech platform.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Sure.
Eric Beels:And, like, I it went from a like, when when, you know, YouTube blocked someone because they said something that they they they didn't like, whatever, it's like, well, that's your opinion. Like, you know, if if
Crystal Privett:The censorship.
Eric Beels:Yeah. The censorship. I hate the censorship. I I can't stand it. And so, you know, you should go on YouTube.
Eric Beels:You should do all those things. But, like, you know, pouring all your eggs into that one one one basket, I I think, is is a bad idea because at the end of the day, they they can just just, do that. I'm also one that's like I I've I've I feel like I don't make all that great of an employee because I always have kind of my own ideas and the way I want something to be done. And then but I understand the importance of, like, processes and stuff. So I'm like, I don't maybe I don't really make that.
Eric Beels:I don't think I make that good of an employee because I'm like, I'm gonna have my own ideas on the ways that I think are better. And so I can be a little stubborn in that in that way sometimes. But that's kinda like, I think the nature
Crystal Privett:entrepreneurial spirit to me. Absolutely.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You've been to that.
Eric Beels:I agree. I I mean, that's why I I started in photography and and, like, way early, like, in my teen years, and I've always kinda had that that spirit on on doing that. And, I mean, a lot of that originated from, like, a, like, a security kind of standpoint. I was kind of thought kind of, like, if I'm an employee, I'm like, well, at the end of the day, like, they could just fire me and I'll lose my job. That sort of thing.
Eric Beels:Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Nothing is guaranteed.
Eric Beels:And it's almost like, well, if I just do my own thing if I do my own thing, well, then it's like, okay. 1, I'm the one that's you know, if it if it fails or succeeds, I'm the one that end end end of the day that kind of made all that happen.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yep.
Eric Beels:So for me, a lot of it kind of a lot of it, it kind of sounds a bit ironic, but a lot of it kind of for me going into, like, being a solopreneur initially was kind of came from, like, a security standpoint. To me, it seems safer.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Sure.
Eric Beels:Right? And even though I think a lot of people would think the opposite, in a lot of ways, it kind of is where it's like, oh, it's so risky. You might fail. And I'm just like, well, if I fail, at least it's on me now. Right?
Eric Beels:At least I did. At least I caused the failure.
Crystal Privett:Maintain accountability. Sure. Why? Mhmm. I had a quick question.
Crystal Privett:So you talked about, being proactive and being reactive. Mhmm. And a lot of times when people set goals, obviously, you probably see people at all different stages of their business, whether they're really at the very beginning or whether they're a they're a little bit further down the road. I've been told that sometimes we're supposed to make our goals or our strategies not necessarily based on where we're at today, but based on where we might be in 6 months or a year from now. Could you speak to that?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Sure. Definitely. And and that's a a huge part of my business. Right? How are we gonna be planning for what my income is gonna be 30, 40 years down the road, right, when I'm going into retirement.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? We don't know what taxes are gonna be at that point. We don't know, what's gonna happen with the market. Lot of variables. There's there's exactly.
Christian Rivera Lopez:A lot of variables going on at the same time. So that's why it's it's important, for example, to to be able to identify, you know, where where do you wanna see your business growing, first of all. Right? And then start thinking about, you know, just different key things that you can do to be able
Crystal Privett:to term goals and then longer term goals?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. You're you're always gonna have both. Right? Mhmm. Because even these short term goals are going to affect how that long term girl goal is going to look like.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right?
Crystal Privett:Especially with something like the pandemic where so many people thought that they had a certain trajectory going on, and then a whole lot of pivot was going on.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Definitely. Definitely. You know, for me, I'm I'm I'm an adviser that's fully securities licensed, and I also have my insurance licenses. Right? And and there's in in my industry, it's it's a wide, it's we see a lot of TikToks.
Christian Rivera Lopez:We see a lot of social media that they're always arguing, like, life insurance covers everything. There's other another train of thought that forget about life insurance. You're just paying money to an insurance company. No. You should just focus on your investments and grow and things like that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Well, it's my my philosophy and and how I approach this with my clients is you need to diversify.
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? You need to have a full diversity of of different plans. That's healthy. Right. And different goals.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. Because that way you can like, for example, yeah, we had the pandemic, so market went down and things like that. But then since the pandemic, my market has skyrocketed. Right? We just saw the S and P 500, I think it was yesterday, 2 days ago, hit its highest high in the history of the S and P 500.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And that's wild. You know, there's a lot of people talking about scares of a recession, things like that, and we're still living in a market like that. Right? But then, for example, there's other vehicles that you can use to be able to guarantee that, okay, the market does crash right now and I lose all my money in in the market.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Well, I still have options of that. I'm safeguarding pockets of money in other different vehicles. I'm using different strategies. Right? That at the end of the day, it's this plan is, you know, I get to retire when I want and how I want to.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? But there's there's not one way to do it. Right? It's always and and that goes back to how you have to, like, sit down. You need to listen to your client, what what their goals are, and just having a little bit of both.
Crystal Privett:Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, and know when to walk away? Absolutely. Yes. Yep. Yep.
Eric Beels:Yep. And I guess so I I guess, you know, similar to listening to your your your clients, when when with it's almost like listening to yourself, I guess. Right? And so one one thing that my wife and I have done before, like, if something's kind of on on your mind to kinda just, like, write all these things down, we've gone through process before. If something's, like, bothering you just to, like, open up a notebook and just write down all of these these things.
Eric Beels:And and and it's not even, like, thinking about what that is. It's just literally, like, write whatever comes to mind or however ridiculous it might it might be. And I feel like that would that that's that could be a very healthy thing to do from a from a with a business hat on, I guess, for that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Like, what am
Eric Beels:I trying to get out? Just kinda writing those things the, what that looks like for you, like, what your what your goal actually actually is. Like, I guess, you know, how do you wanna change your goals?
Crystal Privett:What's it gonna look like? What's it gonna feel like?
Eric Beels:Right. Right.
Crystal Privett:What do you want want it to grow into?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Definitely. You know, and and going back to to our exercise, right, I wanna make sure I don't forget about that. The so you told me your why as you were going, right, as you were explaining to me. You know, you have your your playing field Mhmm. Which is this form of communication, which is podcasting, which is is a new thing in our age.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? It's it's something that it's new. It's something that's still being developed. Right? And talking about, like, email in early 2000, right, late nineties.
Christian Rivera Lopez:That's what's happening right now with podcasting. So so you have your field. You have your playing field right there. But then you also have your your why. And and what's your why is is providing a service for different businesses.
Christian Rivera Lopez:I'm sorry. Not a service, a system, providing a system for different businesses for them to grow their business. Right? This passion that you have for developing systems and things like that, that's your your strategy right there. That's what differentiates you from anyone else.
Christian Rivera Lopez:It's not about like you said, it's not about having the high quality.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, all these this is the gear that I use, etcetera. Mhmm. Anyone can do that. Anyone can go and, you know, put that investment in and and and do that. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:But the way that you focus on creating these different systems for your clients is what's gonna help your clients succeed and help your business succeed. Mhmm. Right? And and that's right now, but but but it keeps developing.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:So and and that's the beauty in a way of of having a strategy because with with your mindset that you have that, you know, I I wanna keep improving systems, you know, things are going to change. Right? I can't be stuck in this one box doing things, you know, just just like a machine every day. No. At all.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know? And and and that's how also your strategy in your business is gonna keep developing. Right?
Eric Beels:So Well, tech industry is very dynamic in that sense. Like, it's it's constantly talk about evolving. Like, it's evolves, like, almost, like, too rapidly. Like, it kinda bugs me a little bit actually with how much it is. It's like I just figured something out, and then now there's something new.
Eric Beels:And I'm just like, gosh. Don't don't waste all that time and stuff.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know? Tell me about it. I'm with you.
Eric Beels:It's like kinda it it's kinda, it's kind of maddening, you know, with all the
Crystal Privett:psychologically, you also have to be able to see it
Eric Beels:to be
Crystal Privett:able to achieve it. So you have to tangibly, like, get your head wrapped around what you actually your your goal is and the strategy behind it.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah.
Crystal Privett:It's really important.
Christian Rivera Lopez:I agree. No. And and I feel like, you know, that's why even though, you know, you can do a lot of planning, right, and your business is not going to succeed because you don't have that goal. You you don't have that that core foundation, which is your strategy, your why to be able to keep that business alive, keep that business booming.
Crystal Privett:I guess that's probably why BNI does the strategies with the the planning. I know we're getting ready to to move into another planning strategy session, so I'll be interested after we we do that to get your feedback on what our our chapter planning strategy is because Absolutely. As a chapter, it's kind of like a business. We, you know, we have 47 members. We're very blessed to have such a great group within the BNI Essadito chapter.
Crystal Privett:I know there's some that are, you know, struggled to to maintain above, you know, a a dozen or 2.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:So, I think it's really beautiful to see someone of your skills and someone of Eric's skills be able to kinda merge their Yeah. Their talents together to be able to grow from one another. And, essentially, we're pouring value into one another that we wouldn't have had without the b and I group. So
Christian Rivera Lopez:Definitely. So much. So much.
Crystal Privett:We're very grateful to have you. You know, you've only been in the chapter a few months.
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Crystal Privett:What's, the takeaway you've had?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Wow. I mean, it's for me, it's it's an honor to be in in our chapter, and I I count it as a blessing. Right? I'm I'm I'm truly lucky to, 1 I mean, how many financial advisers are finding out there, right, to to be part of BNI?
Eric Beels:We we we kind of joke that BNI chapters are all started by life insurance, financial, and And real estate. And and real estate.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. Like,
Crystal Privett:those The top 3.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. I I don't doubt it. Right? We
Eric Beels:there's actually an acronym. I'm trying to remember what the acronym is. Ed's gonna kill me when he listens to this, and he's like, I just taught you that. Because we learned that in our VP training. And, but there's, like, there's an actual, acronym for that.
Eric Beels:And and
Crystal Privett:You'll remember as soon
Eric Beels:as They mortgage. Maybe that was last October. Right? Mortgage. Might have been the other one.
Eric Beels:That might have been the mortgage. That's right.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right. And and and, you know, how how lucky was I that that I got the opportunity that when I did apply, you know, there was a life insurance opening. Right? Because for me, even though I'm fully licensed financial adviser, I provide all these services and my office, we're we're really unique in the sense that we we also have tax advisers in our office that we focus on tax planning. We do estate planning.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? We we also do, health care. Right? So we we've created in our office a one stop shop for our clients to have all of this stuff. But my experience ever since I, you know, born and raised in Puerto Rico, I moved from Puerto Rico to Ohio to work with Nationwide on the life insurance side.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? So that's where where my training started from. Right? And I also you know, as the years went by, I I grew a lot into the long term care side of the business. And long term care, for example, it's one of those products, right, that has evolved insanely, right, in the last 5 to 10 years.
Crystal Privett:It needs to with the baby boom coming.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Absolutely. Absolutely. You know, and and it was because long term care back in the day was just like home insurance. Mhmm. You know, premiums were never guaranteed, so your premiums kept going up each year, which is crazy.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And if you never used that policy, right, you you had this beautiful life, you passed away, like, in the notebook, you know, hugging your loved one, things like that, then all the money you put into that long term care policy was lost. Right? So those products have evolved, and, I've been able to focus really on those niches. So having an opportunity to come into BNI and be the life insurance and long term care expert for our chapter, it's it's just truly blessed.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, every time another big thing about my theory and how I work is I I like to educate people. I wanna say 95% of my work is free of charge with my clients because I'm just educating them. I'm just trying to be a resource for my customers to be able to you know, any questions that they have anything financially, I'm helping them, or I know someone that's gonna give them the right information. Right? And BNI is exactly like that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Anytime I have a 1 on 1, they're not trying to sell me a product. Christian, you know, you yeah. Of course. We work on referrals and things like that. That's we wanna grow our businesses.
Christian Rivera Lopez:That's natural for BNI. That's the whole purpose. But, really, the way that we operate within BNI is we're we're trying to be a a resource for our referral partners. Right? And that just adds so much value.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Because, yep, BNI is now my circle of excellence. Right? That's that's my circle of the pros when it comes to anything podcasting, right, or having proper mindset. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:And and, you know, at the same time with with anything, the mortgage guys, with even the services provide landscaping, anything like that, I know I have the right person for this. Right? So
Crystal Privett:Seeing you get involved at the golf tournament was fun. I showed up, but I was talking to these 2 gentlemen, and they were asking me about BNI. I said, I'm so sorry, but we're only allowed 1 person per category in the group. You guys seem really nice, but we have someone that's of your category. Well, I didn't know that at the time, it was Christian's team, and they were they were so curious about learning more that they wanted to jump in.
Crystal Privett:And I was like, nope. We already have someone and come to find out it was your team. But I thought that event was beautiful because it got to see, like, Bea and I out in the real world.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right.
Crystal Privett:Like, we're not just sitting in there, our one chapter sharing 90 minutes a week. We're we're sharing time and energy within the community as well.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Which is, for me, right, that's another big part of BNI. It's how you know, we're local. Right? We were the professionals that are in a way, we all have the same goal. We're we have our own ways on how we're gonna help our communities grow.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And, like, just yeah. That golf event was amazing. You know, Joe did a a beautiful job with that. Even the mayor of Escondido was there.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? It was just such a great, day to to just meet more of my community. Right? And and for me, like, that it's crucial too. I've been in San Diego since 2017.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? And most of that, I was traveling every other week because of my job, my territory, and everything that I had. So having the opportunity to be able part of to to be part of these events. Right? Yeah.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Now we have another one coming up. Put
Crystal Privett:in your roots.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Mhmm. Absolutely. Absolutely. Right? So
Crystal Privett:The great thing about roots is they help you grow.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You meant to that. I love that. Yeah.
Eric Beels:One thing so one thing I'm actually kind of noticing from just talking on on all on all of this is that, BNI actually kind of acts as, like, I guess, kind of at least a piece in that strategy actually or that's because there's, like, so many different aspects of it. It's not just a referral group. It's not just, like, you know, passing referrals, but, like, you know, the the relationships built, like, at golf tournaments, for example, and such. Right? And it's a very kind of like, holistic organization where it's like, yeah, people are like people are kind of coming for the referrals.
Eric Beels:Right? I think and I don't know if anyone's ever, initially came to BNI that wasn't for, like, oh, referrals or or networking or one of those purposes. But you kinda stay for a lot of the the relationships that you build from it. And, which I think is a very, like, high level, way of thinking about it from your business, like, your overall business business plan.
Crystal Privett:Kind of like Gus, we have someone that's a little bit harder in the chapter to refer, but he constantly is talking about how important it is for him to be in the chapter, for him to add value to the people that are his clients from everyone that he knows, like, as you say it, the the circle of of influence. Excellence. Yeah. Yeah. Right.
Eric Beels:Raises his credibility. Yeah. Right? Even if he's there's
Crystal Privett:a gift. To offer them than just what he does.
Eric Beels:Right. Because it raises his his own own credibility, which in turn is gonna make his, you know, clients like him more and stuff. Yeah. Yeah. No.
Eric Beels:That that that that makes sense.
Crystal Privett:So BNI is kinda what helps us stand apart from the other companies that are doing what we're doing Definitely. Because we have a culture and a community behind us, not just because as solopreneurs, we can wear a lot of hats, and it can get a little heavy. Yep. The the neck can get strained at time and and being able to hand Mhmm. You know, a podcast hat to Eric, a financial hat to you, it it just helps it feel a little bit more comprehensive.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah.
Crystal Privett:Yeah. And especially for someone like me, I'm a single mom, so, you know, people can kind of try to take advantage. And at least I know within the BNI network that we have a code of ethics that I I feel comfortable referring people. And I know that if I use people within that sphere, that I'm less likely to to get taken advantage of and to make an educated decision for myself or my clients
Christian Rivera Lopez:too. Absolutely. And and, you know, and and definitely. Right? This these are the people that you're referring to your clients.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Your your credibility, your reputation is on the line. Right? And and b and I, in a way, guarantees that what you're showing to your clients is the best of the best. Right?
Crystal Privett:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:And, for me, right, like I said earlier, being that one resource for my clients, right, anytime that they have a question, even if it's something that's not my niche, it's not something that I focus on, I have the peace of mind that that I have this amazing network of people that are gonna help me find the right answer. Right? And for, you know, just for the educational part of it. Right? Because we're here to help each other out, help our communities out, and things like that, and it's just it's it's really a a unique platform that we have.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? It's I've I've seen a lot of networking groups. Right? I I me starting my own business. Right?
Christian Rivera Lopez:I it's been a year now since I opened up my own agency, and I've been part of multiple networking groups. And it's all about how are you gonna be the best referral partner for me, not for us. With BNI, we're we're always trying to add value to each other, and and that's that is priceless. Right? That that just brings that's really what can help a business make it or break it.
Crystal Privett:Especially if you're from Puerto Rico and a lot of your family is maybe not here. Yep. It's almost like being able to build a a a chosen family Absolutely. That actually might have a little more, intention and purpose behind seeing you succeed. Yeah.
Crystal Privett:We're rooting for you.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Yeah. Thank you.
Eric Beels:Yeah. Thank you. You know, there's a huge you're right. There's, like, a huge, like, trust aspect that that happens on. It's actually to the point where, like, I was in Texas recently, and a couple of some family members were having, like, issues with some some development stuff on their on their on their home.
Eric Beels:And then, like, immediately, I was like, have you I was like, you should we should let me put you like, let me find, like, your local b and I chapters or whatever. I have no idea who any of those people are. They're over in in Texas, but I'm like, okay. If they're anything like that the BNI chapters I'm familiar with and holding that higher standard, you have that, like, extra trust factor with that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Definitely.
Eric Beels:And, so, you know, it's kind of pretty cool to be able to just, like, send them the those web pages instead
Crystal Privett:of list, it's Ivan Meisner's. Right. Right.
Eric Beels:That's fantastic. Yep.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Exactly. Yep. Yep.
Eric Beels:That's that's amazing.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You know, and another thing too is is you said you said a crucial word is the holistic approach that we have to everything. Mhmm. Right? One thing as a financial adviser starting your own I mean, my territory was over 20,000 advisors that I educated. So how can I stand out?
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? Mhmm. And is having that holistic approach to to the business. Right? And so nowadays, that's a huge part of the market.
Christian Rivera Lopez:You You know, if you want your business to grow, having BNI giving you this platform to be so holistic when it comes to your business and being a resource for multiple things is crucial
Eric Beels:Mhmm.
Christian Rivera Lopez:For businesses nowadays. So,
Crystal Privett:just wanna know that. They should check out their chapter if they haven't already.
Eric Beels:Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. So, Christian, if someone wanted to get in contact with you, like, how would they how would they best do that? Maybe they won't have more questions, like business planning questions, or maybe they need life insurance or something like that.
Eric Beels:What would be the best way for them to contact you?
Christian Rivera Lopez:So, best way to contact me is is my cell phone. You can text me, call me, at any time. I'm always available. But my number is 619-705-7676. Christian Rivera Lopez.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Again, I'm with Transamerica Financial Advisors, and feel free to contact me with with any questions. Right? Anything I I mainly focus in retirement planning, investments, having proper protection, right, and, having a sound financial plan. And and it's it's crucial, right, especially in the world that we live in. So so I support my clients that way, but I always say contact me with anything financial.
Christian Rivera Lopez:Right? I'm I'm part of this beautiful network, this group of b and I. So, I know that I I'm gonna have resources for whatever needs you have. So
Crystal Privett:nice. I'm grateful that you're part of the group because I'm sure I'll take you up on that.
Christian Rivera Lopez:There you
Eric Beels:go. Absolutely. Thank you. To anyone out there, so if you, if if this episode impacted you, and I think in particularly if you know someone who maybe is like like a solopreneur like myself 15 10, 15 years ago, send them this episode because I, you know, I think I would have loved to have heard an episode something like this, 15 years ago when I kind of really got started on my media production journey. It's very much a journey because it's adapted.
Eric Beels:I didn't go 15 years ago, I'm gonna do podcasting or whatever. You know, jump into that. So if you know someone, like that, send this to them, and and I'm sure that they will thank you for, for this this insight for those people that are developing. So thanks so much everyone for listening. We'll see you in the next episode.
Crystal Privett:Thank you for joining us for the Business Boost Hour. My name is Crystal Privette, and this is Eric Fiels. Thank you for joining us, and don't forget to document your single CEU. See you next time.
Eric Beels:See you in the next episode.
Creators and Guests
