When You’re a Business Owner, Why Do You Have to Pay to Get Paid?

Why Your Voice Online Is the New Attention Currency

“Most people are not stuck because they lack talent. They are stuck because they keep waiting to feel ready.” In this episode, the host sits down with Giselle Ugarte, a coach and speaker who helps leaders and entrepreneurs find their voice and use it to create meaningful impact both online and offline. Giselle shares how her journey began with uncertainty and small experiments on YouTube, using makeup tutorials as a way to practice speaking on camera before she ever considered herself ready. She explains why personal branding is often misunderstood and why it is not simply about social media visibility, followers, or polished content. Instead, she reframes it as the alignment between who someone is online and who they are in real life. Giselle discusses the difference between building a personal brand and creating a “business with a face,” and why storytelling, authenticity, and human connection are essential for long-term influence. The conversation also explores the realities of self-doubt, the importance of taking action before feeling fully prepared, and the idea of “action forward” taking one step that moves a dream closer to reality.  Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introducing our guest, Giselle Ugarte 00:31 – Building relationships beyond social media 02:13 – Giselle’s journey from insecurity to coaching leaders 03:16 – What is your brand? 06:05 – Why early, imperfect content matters 09:02 – Contribution over popularity 10:44 – Self-doubt is common at every level 13:40 – The “action forward” approach to overcoming fear 15:49 – How overthinking creates “doubt stacking” 17:31 – The power of saying yes to opportunities 21:06 – What a personal brand actually means 25:47 – Personal brand vs. a business with a face 29:16 – Why storytelling builds trust with audiences 31:14 – Four guiding questions for strong content 33:56 – Faith, crisis, and staying grounded 36:23 – Influence comes from understanding people 38:14 – The importance of the human touch in business 39:41 – How people have become “socially out of practice” 42:06 – Rebuilding connection through in-person events 44:39 – Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 45:44 – Advice to her 20-year-old self 48:01 – Success through faith and purpose 50:21 – Connect with Giselle Connect with Giselle Ugarte: * Web: https://www.giselleugarte.com/ [https://www.giselleugarte.com/] * InkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleugarte/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleugarte/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giselle.ugarte [https://www.tiktok.com/@giselle.ugarte] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/giselleugarte/ [https://www.instagram.com/giselleugarte/] Connect with Erica: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr [https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr]  * Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com [ericalemarr@gmail.com]

How to Free Yourself From the Time Money Trap

“Time is the only asset you can never get more of. If your money depends on your time, you’re not building wealth, you’re renting your life.” In this episode, the host sits down with Clay Weger, CEO and co-founder of PaymXnts, for a conversation that questions one of the biggest lies many of us were taught: that time equals money. Clay introduces a different concept he calls passive money, which is income produced by systems and labor that continue working even when you are not. He shares his journey from investing over a million dollars and years of effort into traditional businesses to discovering how to build mechanisms that gave him control of his time. Clay explains the difference between passive income and passive money, why so many people remain stuck trading hours for dollars, and the defining formula for freedom: your passive money must exceed your monthly expenses. The conversation explores the payment processing industry and how his referral model allows everyday people to earn recurring revenue by connecting business owners to better systems. He also speaks openly about spiritual setbacks, mentorship, and how shifting his perspective changed the way he sees trials, success, and impact. This episode offers a fresh lens on wealth, freedom, and what it truly means to stop living on payroll and start building systems that work for you. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introducing our guest, Clay Weger 00:29 – The mission to set 10,000 people financially free 01:55 – The three types of millionaires 03:53 – The two essentials for passive money: mechanism and labor 05:05 – How the PaymXnts referral agent model works 08:56 – Passive money vs passive income 09:56 – The Freedom Equation 14:14 – Building systems takes time 16:53 – The power of leverage and doing less 18:34 – Escaping the cash flow quadrant 20:04 – The $350 entry and building the engine  21:27 – Why helping others achieve freedom matters 23:54 – Funding freedom without large capital  26:18 – Mentorship, faith, and mindset reset  29:01 – Trials and tribulations as a guidepost 33:23 – Retirement equals control of time  35:28 – Look upward first  36:11 – Inaction costs more than mistakes  39:08 – Never sell passive income without replacement  40:41 – How to get started with PaymXnts Connect with Clay Weger: * Web: https://www.paymxnts.com/ [https://www.paymxnts.com/] * YT: https://www.youtube.com/@PaymXnts [https://www.youtube.com/@PaymXnts] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/PaymXnts1? [https://www.instagram.com/PaymXnts1] Connect with Erica: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr [https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr]  * Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com [ericalemarr@gmail.com]

When You’re a Business Owner, Why Do You Have to Pay to Get Paid?

If “that’s just the cost of doing business” is draining your profits, it might be time to stop accepting the leak and start fixing the bucket. In this episode, the host sits down with Bobby Poole, co-founder and CMO of PaymXnts, to talk about how his journey through entrepreneurship, real estate, and running a family entertainment business led him to discover a better way for business owners to keep more of their money and get it faster. Bobby shares his origin story, from realizing early on that he was not built for a 9-to-5, to building and buying businesses, to facing the pressure of keeping things afloat during COVID. He explains how one simple question about credit card fees opened his eyes to how much money business owners quietly lose every year and how that moment eventually led to the creation of PaymXnts. He breaks down the dual-price model, why the idea of “paying to get paid” never made sense to him, and how faster access to your money can change cash flow, payroll, and day-to-day decisions. This conversation challenges the belief that losing a percentage of your revenue is just part of the deal and offers a practical look at how keeping more of what you already earn can create more time, more freedom, and more breathing room for business owners. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introducing our guest, Bobby Poole 01:00 – Why Bobby chose entrepreneurship over a 9–5 02:40 – From real estate to owning a paintball park 04:30 – Buying a business right before COVID 07:45 – The question that changed everything: credit card fees 11:08 – The dual price model  12:44 – Getting 100% of your money, faster 15:14 – Cash flow is king 18:18 – Passing fees to the customer  19:34 – When's the best time to plant a money tree?  22:16 – The hidden fees most owners never check 25:23 – What keeping $30,000 a year could change in real life 29:19 – Getting off the hamster wheel 30:49 – Advice to his 20-year-old self: Start sooner 31:39 – What does success mean to you? 32:29 – How to get started with PaymXnts Connect with Bobby Poole: * Web: https://www.paymxnts.com/ [https://www.paymxnts.com/] * YT: https://www.youtube.com/@PaymXnts [https://www.youtube.com/@PaymXnts] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/PaymXnts1? [https://www.instagram.com/PaymXnts1] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-poole-5468762a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-poole-5468762a/] Connect with Erica: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr [https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr]  * Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com [ericalemarr@gmail.com]

How Social Media Has Changed the Real Estate Game W/ Shannon Gilette

You do not need a massive budget or instant fame to build a business people trust. You need consistency, clarity, and the courage to show up as yourself. In this episode, the host sits down with Shannon Gillette, one of the top Realtors in Arizona, leader of the Gillette Group, founder of the Awaken Summit, and a nationally recognized real estate leader known for her bold voice of faith in the industry, to talk about building a business through personal branding and social media. Shannon shares what it was like to start with zero followers, no budget for leads, and a lot of uncertainty, and why she chose to stay consistent even when it felt uncomfortable. She explains why posting only “just listed, just sold” content rarely builds trust, how Instagram Stories and video help people get to know you before they ever reach out, and why showing who you are matters in a crowded market. She also talks about how faith shapes her work, the pressure that comes with real estate, and what it looks like to keep going without expecting overnight results. This conversation is a reminder that building a real estate business is not only about transactions. It is about showing up. It is about earning trust. And it is about doing the work long enough for people to see and choose you. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Shannon’s start in real estate and early fears 01:36 – Creating content that attracts the right audience 03:03 – Fear as part of growth 04:58 – Connection over selling 05:55 – How social media brings referrals 07:19 – There is no overnight success 08:30 – The birth of the Awaken Summit 10:12 – The vision: faith, industry burnout, and purpose 12:17 – Building the speaker lineup 14:49 – Choosing action over regret  15:47 – Why spreading the word matters 17:06 – Faith as a foundation for business 17:56 – How to connect with Shannon Awaken Summit Tickets: To learn more about the Awaken Summit or to get your tickets, visit https://www.awakensummit.com/tickets Connect with Shannon Gillette: * Web: https://gillettegroupaz.com/ [https://gillettegroupaz.com/] * FB: https://www.facebook.com/gillettegroupaz/ [https://www.facebook.com/gillettegroupaz/] * YT: www.youtube.com/@shannon_gillette [http://www.youtube.com/@shannon_gillette] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/shannon_gillette/ [https://www.instagram.com/shannon_gillette/] Connect with Erica: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr [https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr]  * Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com [ericalemarr@gmail.com]

Protecting the Business You’re Building

You can build the business of your dreams, but without the right protection, one mistake can cost you everything. What you’re building deserves structure, clarity, and security. In this episode of Intentional Improvement, Erica sits down with Las Vegas-based attorney Sarah Ocampo to break down the real-world legal risks business owners face and the practical steps required to protect assets, companies, and families. With a background in business, probate, and real estate law, Sarah brings clarity to a world most entrepreneurs overlook, including LLC formation, piercing the corporate veil, commingling funds, operating agreements, umbrella policies, and modern real estate scams affecting homeowners and investors. Through powerful client stories and relatable teaching moments, Sarah explains why having an LLC is not enough, how courts evaluate liability, when insurance becomes asset protection, and why written agreements and documentation are non-negotiable in business. Her journey anchored in connection, fulfillment, and service gives listeners a deeper understanding of success beyond money. This conversation is an essential reminder that business is not just about growth. It is about protection. It is about stewardship. And it is about building something that can withstand conflict, mistakes, and unexpected storms. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introducing our today’s guest, Sarah Ocampo 01:01 – An unconventional path into law 04:00 – Why LLCs alone don’t guarantee protection 07:28 – What “piercing the corporate veil” really means 08:31 – Using Series LLCs for real estate asset protection 12:27 – Can you fix an LLC that hasn’t been operated properly? 14:33 – Why umbrella insurance is powerful asset protection 17:45 – The biggest mistake business partners make 22:05 – How real estate law shows up in everyday situations 23:51 – How fraudulent deed cases get resolved in court 27:10 – Why suing isn’t always worth it financially 29:08 – Why good lawyers don’t take cases personally 31:05 – Can buyers sue real estate agents?  36:23 – How to document agreements without contracts 39:42 – Where do you see yourself and your business in the next 5 years? 41:03 – The real value of relationships and networking 43:25 – AI as a tool vs. replacing professional judgment 45:09 – Success is fulfillment and impact 49:00 – Connect with Sarah Ocampo Connect with Sarah Ocampo: * Web: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocampo-wiseman-law/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocampo-wiseman-law/] * X: https://x.com/OcampoWiseman [https://x.com/OcampoWiseman] * FB: https://www.facebook.com/ocampowisemanlaw [https://www.facebook.com/ocampowisemanlaw] * YT: www.youtube.com/@ocampowisemanlaw [http://www.youtube.com/@ocampowisemanlaw] * IG: https://www.instagram.com/ocampowisemanlaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/ocampowisemanlaw/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocampo-wiseman-law/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocampo-wiseman-law/] Connect with Erica: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr [https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr]  * Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com [ericalemarr@gmail.com]