Turning Relationships Into Lasting Impact with Juergen Schmid | EP 52

You Never Know Until You Say Yes with Tim Whelan | EP 54

In this week's episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Tim Whelan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-whelan-cpa-b951b041/]to talk about saying yes to unexpected opportunities, the evolution from compliance to advisory in his tax practice, and the work it takes to build freedom in life and business. Tim Whelan is a CPA and tax advisor at Dark Horse [https://www.linkedin.com/company/darkhorsecpa/], bringing over a decade of experience helping small business owners proactively improve their tax and financial situations. Tom has honed his skills at both large national and mid-sized regional firms before finding the perfect fit at Dark Horse, where he focuses on going beyond compliance to deliver real strategy and advisory for his clients. Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life. Timestamps: [00:03:00] Making Networking Feel Effortless [00:05:00] Soccer, Travel & the First Big Opportunity [00:07:00] Semester at Sea [00:13:00] Do We Have a Business or Just a Job? [00:16:00] Building a Team & Defining Excellence [00:19:30] From Compliance to Advisory: Evolving the Practice [00:28:00] Why Dark Horse & Leaving the Traditional Path [00:34:00] Big Firms vs. Small Firms [00:44:00] Relationship to Money & The Meaning of Freedom [00:51:00] Generosity, Gratitude & Paying It Forward [01:00:00] Growing Up in Boston & Moving to San Diego [01:12:00] Takeaways: Saying Yes - - - - - - [01:15:00] Deep Dive Connect with the SIX° Community: Website [https://sixdegreesconnections.com/] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/6-degrees-connections] Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

The Next Level Mindset with Megan Ward | EP 53

In this week's episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Megan Ward [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwfis/] to talk about building a referral-based business from the ground up, motherhood as the ultimate motivation to level up, and mastering the art of hiring the right people. Megan Ward is the founder of MW Financial and Insurance Solutions [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mwfis/], with over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. Megan is known for her strengths in financial planning, insurance, and building a thriving referral-based practice, with a deep passion for empowering business owners and pre-retirees to achieve lasting financial security. Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life. Timestamps: [00:01:45] Check-In: Mid-week Reflections [00:08:00] The Road to Financial Services [00:09:30] Telemarketing in High School & Learning to Sell [00:11:45] Landing at New York Life & Building From Scratch [00:13:30] Surviving the Early Years of Entrepreneurship [00:15:45] The Turning Point: Becoming a Mom [00:17:15] Going All In: Leveling Up the Practice [00:27:00] Using AI in the Financial Services World [00:29:00] Hiring the Right Person: A New Approach [00:33:30] The Art & Science of Interviewing [00:52:00] Growth Goals & Vision for the Future [00:58:30] Building a Referral-Based Business & Moving Up Market [01:10:15] Takeaways & Final Thoughts - - - - - - [01:17:00] Deep Dive Connect with the SIX° Community: Website [https://sixdegreesconnections.com/] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/6-degrees-connections] Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

Turning Relationships Into Lasting Impact with Juergen Schmid | EP 52

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Juergen Schmid [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juergen-schmid-8530aa39/] to talk about his journey into entrepreneurship, travel as a form of education, and the importance of meaningful connections in both business and life. Juergen Schmid is an Associate Mortgage Broker at Mortgages By Juergen [https://mortgagebyjuergen.com/]/ Western Capital Mortgage with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and families achieve homeownership through personalized wholesale financing solutions. Specializing in VA loans, divorce lending, first-time homebuyers, and self-employed borrowers, Juergen is passionate about education, advocacy, and relationship-driven service. Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life. Timestamps: [00:02:15] Friday Check-In & Weekly Reflections [00:08:00] Growing Up in New Jersey [00:16:30] Working for the Airline Industry [00:24:00] Travel Stories and Destinations [00:30:30] Life Outside of Work [00:36:00] Career Lessons from Early Jobs [00:42:00] Modern Sales, Networking & Relationship Building [00:45:00] Getting Into the Mortgage Industry [00:53:00] Corporate Security vs Entrepreneurship [00:59:00] Finding “Your People” [01:09:45] Rejection, Sales Skills & Lessons from Domino’s [01:13:30] Convenience Culture & Human Isolation [01:14:00] Building Community Through Experiences [01:16:00] Tailgating, Family Traditions & Sports Culture [01:19:00] Concerts & Discovering New Artists - - - - - - [01:26:00] Deep Dive Connect with the SIX° Community: Website [https://sixdegreesconnections.com/] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/6-degrees-connections] Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

Pressure, Perspective, and Personal Growth with Camille DeCamp | EP 51

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Camille DeCamp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-decamp-4011491b1/] to talk about conflict and communication, the psychology of pressure, and the sense of connection created through music and community. Camille DeCamp is a Senior Attorney at Clark Hill LLP [https://www.clarkhill.com/people/camille-decamp/] with experience representing businesses, developers, and individuals in complex commercial, construction, and employment disputes. Camille is passionate about helping people navigate difficult conversations and brings a strong understanding of psychology and human behavior into her work with clients and teams. Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life. Timestamps: [00:05:00] Check-In: Weekly Reflection [00:06:15] The Illusion of Pressure & Internal Narratives [00:12:00] Why a “Good Settlement” Means Nobody Wins [00:17:30] Justice, Morality & Defending Clients [00:22:00] Holding Companies Accountable [00:24:45] The Concert Ticket Crisis [00:29:00] The Eras Tour Experience [00:37:30] The Power of Live Music [00:42:15] Saying Yes to Experiences [00:46:00] Filling Your Bucket & Protecting Your Energy [00:58:00] Emotional Triggers & Rewriting Narratives [01:04:00] Managing Conflict & Difficult Conversations [01:16:00] Teaching Instead of Arguing in the Courtroom [01:22:00] Not Taking Things Personally [01:28:00] Creating Meaningful Experiences [01:34:00] Balancing Career, Family & Personal Fulfillment - - - - - - [01:37:00] Deep Dive Connect with the SIX° Community: Website [https://sixdegreesconnections.com/] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/6-degrees-connections] Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.

Building Confidence as an Entrepreneur with Linda Nelte | EP 50

In this week’s episode of Sixcess Stories, Kristina and Eric sit down with Linda Nelte [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-nelte-2165a0136/] to talk about navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, building a business rooted in authenticity, and the often overlooked importance of estate planning. Linda Nelte is an estate planning attorney and founder of Nelte Law [https://www.neltelaw.com/], dedicated to helping individuals and families plan for the future with clarity and confidence. With a background in boutique law firms, she brings both technical expertise and a client-centered approach, specializing in personalized estate plans and guiding clients through important decisions around family and legacy. Sixcess Stories is a collection of real, honest conversations with the incredible members of the SIX° Community about leadership, intentionality and the positive impact of developing deep, meaningful relationships in business and in life. Timestamps: [00:02:00] Check-In: Weekly Wins [00:06:15] Marketing Perspective vs. Legal Mindset [00:08:15] Linda’s Early Career Path [00:09:45] Why She Chose Law [00:11:00] Stepping Into Entrepreneurship [00:14:00] “Security” in Corporate vs. Entrepreneurship [00:17:30] Breaking Out of the Corporate Box [00:19:15] Learning to Network & Building Confidence [00:20:30] The Human Side of Estate Planning [00:22:15] Building Trust Through Client Relationships [00:24:30] Why People Avoid Estate Planning [00:27:45] Overcoming Procrastination & Following Up [00:37:15] The Consequences of Not Having an Estate Plan [00:40:15] Life Outside Work [00:49:00] Theater, Live Performance & Personal Interests - - - - - - [01:05:00] Deep Dive Connect with the SIX° Community: Website [https://sixdegreesconnections.com/] LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/company/6-degrees-connections] Lead on Purpose. Connect with Intention. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Your next breakthrough is just one connection away.