Million Dollar Relationships

Kevin Thompson
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Have you ever been introduced to a person that completely changed the course of your business or your life… so much so, that much of what you have today wouldn't be possible, if not for this person? Each week on The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast, your host Kevin Thompson interviews successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs as they share their personal stories and experience around this very question. Your invitation is to have a seat at the head of the table as they honor and introduce you to the most valuable people in their lives and remind us that relationship capital is the most valuable asset we possess. Each week you'll be inspired and motivated to intentionally create more meaningful, rewarding and profitable relationships in your life so that together we can make a far bigger impact in this world.

  1. 18h ago

    Who You Are Is Not What You Do with Michael Fineman

    What if the empire you built became the thing you got lost inside? In this episode, Michael Fineman, author of The Authority Drift and co-founder of the Les Brown Prodigy Program, shares how a kid who was on his own at 15 taught himself to be an adult by listening to Les Brown cassettes in a beat-up car, and later found himself sitting across the table inking a deal with the man himself. Michael's work centers on one idea: high achievers build remarkable things and then mistake those things for their identity. When the business sells or the market shifts, they go down with it. This conversation is about catching that drift before it costs you everything. [00:05:27] What He Does and Who He Serves Spent years in corporate marketing and sales before breaking out Co-founded a supplement company helping brands create innovative products Launched clean, ethical consumer brands and later stepped back from daily operations Now focused on speaking, coaching, and his new book The Authority Drift [00:06:49] What Inspires Him Loves watching people find their true identity Many professionals do something remarkable and then become it When you are attached to a product, you go down with it if it fails Helping someone take the mask off produces joy, peace, and freedom [00:08:34] Why Masterminds Can Make It Worse Best-practice rooms create pressure to always be crushing it People feel they must show up performing rather than asking for help Entrepreneurship is ebbs and flows and every solved problem invites the next Michael jokes that constant whining is the real tell [00:09:44] What Authority Drift Actually Means People build a mask based on other people's expectations They construct an amazing life that does not agree with their center They build an empire and then get lost within its walls Founders who exit after 20 years often end up completely lost [00:11:58] The Working Dog Analogy His daughter has a highly trained Belgian Malinois that needs work to survive Without a job to do, the dog becomes agitated and directionless Remove the work entirely and a dog like that would not make it People are the same, but purpose cannot be attached to what you do [00:13:00] Where Real Identity Comes From Michael is faith-based and describes himself as a completed Jew For him identity came down to whose he was, not what he did Without that anchor, the path is stillness and returning to childhood dreams At six he wanted to make TV commercials and today he makes ads [00:14:53] Walking His Son Through It His son was on a serious basketball track before an injury ended it Performance anxiety had already been building beforehand Michael brought him back to his faith and to the difference between doing and being His son found Christian rap and is now writing again in a new form [00:15:52] The Question Most People Cannot Answer He asks people what they would do if money did not matter Most cannot answer because they buried that dream years ago The answer requires being genuinely alone and undistracted Make it a practice for a couple of weeks and it surfaces [00:18:30] The Tactical Way to Show You Are Not Taking On a first Zoom, ask the person how you can serve them People physically pull back because nobody has ever asked It immediately signals you are there to give, not extract [00:19:00] Client Impact: Jose G. Lopez Met Jose pre-COVID when he was 16 or 17 and nobody took him seriously Jose had met Les Brown but could not close anything with him Michael re-engaged the conversation and they started a company with Les together It catapulted Jose's career [00:20:03] Connecting for the Sake of It Currently connecting a hip hop producer with a triple platinum credit to a major clothing industry contact Has never charged for making introductions Feels like he participated even when he makes nothing from it The end users will never know he was there, and that is fine [00:22:58] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Les Brown Was on his own at 15 teaching himself how to be an adult Listened to Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, and Les Brown on cassettes in his old car Years later got Les on the phone and told him directly he was the guy to build his program They launched the Les Brown Prodigy Program together pre-COVID [00:24:49] The Compliment That Changed What He Thought Was Possible Coached side by side with Les through COVID to thousands of people online The day they inked the deal in Miami, Les said the meeting was for Michael, not himself Les's son told him what he liked was that Michael was not trying to be Les Brown Those words sent him to the moon and he never looked back [00:26:20] What Came Next Found the guts to quit corporate and take off the golden handcuffs Started the supplement companies that funded the next stage That funded the speaking, the courses, the funnels, and the book Now building high-level coaching around The Authority Reset program [00:27:03] The Cohorts and the Experiential Events Six men come through a nine-week online program together Between weeks three and four they meet Michael for something outside their norm Options include flying a fighter jet or following the Iditarod by helicopter The point is to break the pattern and then go deep on identity [00:28:49] Blake's Story Blake was building a concierge wellness practice for high achievers He was snapping at his kids, his wife, and his employees from constant stress The cohort helped him separate who he is from what he is building He became more loving at home and more present with his team [00:30:18] Impact That Runs Generationally One participant was 65 and another mentor figure was 70 The 70-year-old is a high-achieving minister who shifted his life direction The program is a relatively new launch and still early Michael wants to make an impact that helps others make generational impact KEY QUOTES "My identity is not rooted in what I've achieved or what I've done. My identity is rooted in who I am and whose I am." - Michael Fineman "They find out that they've built this amazing empire, but they get lost within its walls because it doesn't really align with who they actually are." - Michael Fineman "We all have the drive that we're headed towards this place, this destination, and at the end, guess who's there with you? You are." - Michael Fineman CONNECT WITH MICHAEL FINEMAN Website: https://www.authoritydrift.com Book: https://www.authoritydriftbook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-n-fineman-the-dot-connector-2a844b13 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.fineman.7   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  2. 4d ago

    Money, People & Relationships with Shane Pliska

    What if the highest use of a CEO's time is the one thing that never shows up on a balance sheet? In this episode, Shane Pliska, president and CEO of Planterra, shares how a film school graduate who wanted to make movies ended up running his family's 53-year-old interior landscape company and turning its legacy greenhouse into one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Michigan. Shane serves Fortune 500 brands across the country with plants, greenery, and living walls. But the conversation goes far deeper than horticulture. It covers why grocery stores greet you with flowers, what Steve Wynn understood in the 1970s, and the three duties Shane learned that reshaped how he spends his time as a CEO. [00:03:12] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs a national interior landscape company serving Fortune 500 brands Provides tropical plants, greenery, and ongoing maintenance on a recurring revenue model The business is 53 years old and Shane is the second generation Locally known for converting the legacy greenhouse into a wedding venue [00:04:27] The Venue That Draws People Across State Lines About half of their couples live outside Michigan Most have a family tie, but more are choosing Michigan purely for the venue The Instagram photographs are the proof The space delivers both an experience and images worth traveling for [00:05:46] How He Got Here Grew up watering plants in the family greenhouse as a toddler Left for film school in Boston and then Los Angeles Came back not because film failed but because he knew he was an entrepreneur He and his father agreed to give it ten years and build a national company [00:06:30] Where Show Business Meets Horticulture Producing a wedding runs on a production mentality The bride is the star and the show must always go on He could not have run weddings straight out of film school He first had to learn how plants change an environment [00:07:33] What Steve Wynn Understood Planterra opened a Las Vegas office serving the casinos Shane later saw a clip of Steve Wynn naming his secret to success It was sunlight, water, and plants and flowers Hospitality and show business converge on one thing: how people feel [00:10:14] Biophilia and Why It Is Not a Trend Humans are biologically hardwired to be attracted to nature The term biophilia has been trending in architecture in recent years Casino operators understood it long before architects were discussing it [00:10:39] The Grocery Store Order A grocery store greets you with plants, then flowers, then produce, in that order A store leading with processed foods and chips is a convenience store That order resets the brain and influences how much people spend Every square inch of a grocery store is valuable real estate [00:12:00] Why a Plant Makes You More Trustworthy The gaming industry measures how much people put at risk, not just what they spend What you risk depends on how you feel For lawyers and advisors selling trust, a plant makes you appear more human Studies show a bare desk with no personal photographs reduces trust [00:15:39] The Ocean View Argument for CFOs Two identical buildings, same construction, same zip code One has an ocean view and the other does not Everyone knows the ocean view sells for more per square foot That is a universal human value, not a regional preference [00:16:34] Why Nature Analogies Beat Sports Analogies Nature analogies land harder because they reach more people Business people default to sports analogies constantly That only works if the audience follows the sport In a global and diverse business environment, that is a risky assumption [00:17:55] Client Impact: Bringing It to Main Street The results he values most are in ordinary businesses people visit daily Helps customers make good choices between live and faux foliage Takes a design concept and makes it realistic, affordable, and maintainable The real question is how a credit union makes you feel when you walk in [00:20:44] The Relationship That Changed Everything: YPO Joined the Young Presidents Organization and has a small inner circle The group solidified relationships as a top three CEO duty The three duties: do not run out of money, right people in the right seat, build relationships Once he understood that, the doors opened incredibly [00:21:41] What His Father Taught Him Credits his father with teaching him creative visualization as a young child The skill is seeing where you want to go in order to get there He still uses it every single day [00:22:19] Turning Dreaming into Action The conservatory itself began as a dream Currently expanding into a fully layered botanical garden experience Vision plus execution is a muscle that has to be exercised If you can visualize something that cannot be benchmarked, you are a true entrepreneur [00:24:10] Inspiration Is Abundant, Not Scarce Has travelled to more than 45 countries and goes abroad several times a year Builds a personal catalog from what he sees, hears, and tastes Borrows a phrase from an artist friend: creative people are never bored If you feel there is nothing out there for you, you are not being creative enough [00:25:54] The MGM Grand Living Wall Chef Joel Robuchon's contract required a terrace for his first US restaurant The problem was a hotel sitting above the space, so no windows and no natural light The solution was a curved living wall, built in 2005 No living wall systems or companies existed yet, so they created it from scratch [00:29:12] Final Word: Plant the Garden Returns to the human connection at the heart of relationships Nature never goes out of style and will never be dated No one gets tired of a forest, a tree, or a flower Plant the garden and the trees because future generations will appreciate them   KEY QUOTES "Don't run out of money, right people, right seat, and most importantly building relationships. Those are the three main duties for me as a CEO." - Shane Pliska "If you can creatively visualize something different that can't quite be benchmarked, then you're a true entrepreneur." - Shane Pliska "Nature never goes out of style. No one's ever gonna be tired of a forest or a tree or a flower. So plant that garden, plant those trees." - Shane Pliska CONNECT WITH SHANE PLISKA Website: https://www.planterra.com Conservatory: https://www.planterraevents.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanepliska Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  3. Sep 8

    A Mission That Began with a Banana with Gina Gabel and Priscilla Heffelfinger

    What if the most sustainable thing you could build started with the smallest thing you could give? In this episode, Gina Gabel and Priscilla Heffelfinger, co-founders of Thrive, share how two mothers living in Bangladesh for their husbands' work started delivering bananas to one school once a week and built a feeding program that now serves almost 4,000 children every school day. Thrive has missed only three days of school meals in thirteen years, through a terrorist attack, floods, fires, and a global pandemic. That consistency is possible because of three women in Bangladesh who walked up after a focus group and said they wanted in. [00:05:00] How Thrive Started Both moved to Bangladesh with their families in 2012 for their husbands' work Saw children the same age as their own begging on Gulshan Circle Went to a nearby school and asked how they could help Teachers said bring food, so they started with one banana, one school, once a week [00:05:47] Why It Grew So Fast People in the US and in Bangladesh immediately asked to join in Both locals and expats wanted to be part of it from almost day two Gina and Priscilla instigated it but never owned it alone A simple school meal gets kids to school and keeps them healthy [00:06:36] What Inspires Gina Witnessing that level of poverty in person is nothing like seeing it in a film Children the same age as her own looked at her with hope for food No one with a kind heart could sit with that and do nothing Ten dollars a month feeds a child school meals every single day [00:08:19] What Inspires Priscilla Thrive now pays local mothers to cook the meals One mom used her first steady paycheck to buy a washing machine She had been walking to the river to wash clothes She turned the machine into a laundry business for her neighborhood [00:09:55] The Vision Going Forward Unlike many feeding programs, Thrive serves every single school day Once they partner with a school, they stay with that school Thousands of children remain on the waiting list A hungry kid is a hungry kid, but the need where they already serve is enormous [00:11:31] Looking at It Through a Parent's Eyes Parents also carry the weight of knowing food is there With each meal comes the opportunity to go to school Attendance and enrollment both rise from a simple meal of protein and vegetables [00:12:37] From 66% to 99% Attendance One school had roughly a 66% attendance rate Children were helping their parents in the seaweed farms instead Once parents heard Thrive was providing daily meals, they made sure the kids went That school now averages 99% attendance every day [00:14:22] The Relationship That Changed Everything: The Bangladesh Rock Stars A businessman named Arsalan invited them to share about Thrive at a focus group Three women, Amna, Sadia, and Khanwal, came up afterwards and said they wanted in All three still live in Bangladesh and drive the work forward They introduced Gina and Priscilla to a culture neither of them came from [00:15:16] What Those Three Women Built Currently planning a major Bangladesh fashion show with the country's top designers Ambassadors and dignitaries will walk the runway alongside the designers Priscilla jokes she was more accustomed to bake sales [00:15:47] Why Thrive Survived When Others Left A terrorist attack shortly after they started sent many expats out of the country Without a strong local base the whole operation would have stalled The same thing happened again during COVID Thirteen years in, they have missed only three days of school meals [00:17:12] The Advice That Keeps Them Going Amna says if you do things pure of heart, good things come out of it Thrive has faced terrorist attacks, floods, fires, and a pandemic Stay honest and clear to the mission even when money pulls you elsewhere One foot in front of the other, one step at a time [00:18:39] The Boiled Egg In week three the menu was a boiled egg and local vegetables Many children were not eating their eggs and the team could not work out why A little girl explained through a translator that she wanted to take it home She wanted to share it with her family [00:19:18] Why They Have Never Stopped If one boiled egg is that treasured to a five-year-old, stopping is not an option Gina calls it a one-sided relationship since the girl likely has no idea who she is She keeps a picture of a child from Bangladesh holding an egg in her home It sits there as a reminder of how precious food is [00:20:17] Priscilla Honors Gina Gina's answer to every reservation was let's just do something People raised concerns that the plan was not well thought out Gina said they would catch it as they went and start small Without her yes to that first banana, Thrive would never have started [00:21:39] Final Word: It Is Easy to Make a Difference Businesses of every size support the work in different ways Ten dollars a month feeds a child every single day Paying mothers to cook the meals changes entire generations Supporters can join Zoom calls with the kids or visit in person KEY QUOTES "We'll catch it as we go. Let's just start small. Let's start simple." - Gina Gabel, as shared by Priscilla Heffelfinger "If you do things pure of heart, good things come out of it." - Amna, as shared by Priscilla Heffelfinger "If one tiny little boiled egg is so treasured to a little five year old girl, there's no way that we can stop delivering those school meals, because those kids are counting on us." - Gina Gabel CONNECT WITH GINA GABEL AND PRISCILLA HEFFELFINGER Website: https://www.thrive-global.org Gina LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-gabel-ab428b1a4 Priscilla LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillaheffelfinger Email: gina@thrive-global.org Email: priscilla@thrive-global.org Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  4. Sep 4

    Millions of Dollars That Changed Nothing with Ray Higdon

    What if you hit every number you ever set for yourself and still woke up feeling like something was missing? In this episode, Ray Higdon, sales trainer, author, and founder of Rank Makers, shares 21 years of lessons from telemarketing, door to door advertising, and selling $7,000 education systems from stage to cold rooms. He has never seen a sales script he could not improve, and he has the results to back it up. But the heart of this conversation is what happened after the money arrived. Ray had his first million dollar year in 2013, his first million dollar month in 2014, and his first million dollar day in 2015. None of them delivered what he expected, and the search that followed changed everything. [00:04:30] What He Does and Who He Serves Helps sales reps go from chasing to closing with confidence Trains sales teams across real estate, financial, insurance, and direct sales Works with leaders on onboarding, scripts, and follow-up [00:05:19] A Sales Background That Started Early At 12 he bought Airheads for a dime and sold them for a quarter Moved 90 to 100 a day and got a candy rule created because of him At 18 he was making 450 calls a day selling long distance Later spent 22 days a month on the road pitching to cold rooms [00:08:30] What Inspires Him Meets people with great products who simply do not know how to sell them Loves helping someone sell more of a thing they already love Has hundreds of hours reviewing team conversations and scripts Has yet to see a set of scripts he could not improve [00:09:35] The Insurance Team That Sold $40,000 More Was hired by a small health insurance group with about eight people Had never worked in insurance before Reviewed their scripts and made direct changes The next week they sold $40,000 more than they ever had [00:12:55] Why Most People Struggle to Sell Weak salespeople focus on their own solution Strong salespeople focus on the problem the prospect has Quotes Ben Settle: talk more about their crab grass than your weed killer Pushy and aggressive does not work when buyers have endless options [00:14:13] Expanding the Problem People will not spend thousands on a nice-to-solve problem The problem has to grow in their mind before they will act Ask whether solving it is optional or necessary Then ask how they plan to solve it without you [00:15:33] The Question That Saves the Sale When you feel the anxiety of losing someone, stop selling Ask what made them look at this in the first place Connect your solution to that single reason You do not need to knock down every objection [00:17:07] Client Impact: Rank Makers Launched the membership community in 2017 Publishes a video under five minutes every weekday Started tracking member sales in 2018 With roughly 10% reporting, members have brought in over 300,000 new customers [00:18:00] Amy Murphy: Seventeen Years Without a Profit Spent 17 years in network marketing without ever making a profit Pinky swore with her husband she would never do it again Found Ray's training and joined Rank Makers Went on to make $5 million, retire her husband, and pursue acting [00:21:29] Helping People Already Winning Current client was behind register.com and its growth to $700 million His app Punchrify uses AI to solve a major construction problem Ray is simplifying the message so the pitch lands faster Also building a calculation showing exact hours saved per house [00:24:58] Honorable Mention: Russell Brunson Studied Russell's videos before ever meeting him Launched a marketing business off what he learned from those videos Met him years later in a Vegas hallway and Russell knew exactly who he was Read Expert Secrets and launched Rank Makers that same week [00:27:52] Honorable Mention: Eric Worre Walked up to Eric at a Vegas event purely to thank him Eric said he loved Ray's videos and invited him as a VIP Ended up speaking at Eric's events for the next four or five years Eric has put Ray in front of well over 100,000 people [00:29:17] Honorable Mention: Mark Hoverson Calls him the best mentor he ever had Heard him speak for 15 minutes in Austin and knew he had to hire him Hoverson passed away from pancreatic cancer several years ago Ray writes about him throughout his book Time, Money, Freedom [00:30:26] The Real Answer: God All three mentors contributed millions of dollars to his business But the actual answer to the question is only one Found God in November 2022 after a two-year search Now looks back and sees where God was in rooms before he knew him [00:33:34] Why the Money Never Filled the Gap Thought a million dollar year in 2013 would make him feel worthy Hit the year, then the month, then the day None of them did what he expected them to do Saw a 60 Minutes interview where Tom Brady described the same emptiness [00:35:42] The Sermon He Googled the Night Before Was booked by a faith-based organization before he found God Three months in, they asked him to give the Sunday message People mentioned sermons and altar calls and he had no idea what they meant Googled how to do an altar call, spoke on church hurt, and 20 people accepted the Lord [00:41:35] Money Was My Master, But Only When I Was Broke His latest book is Faith Driven Wealth, with a foreword by John Maxwell When the bank account was low, his trust was in Bank of America Believes prosperity is fine as long as it does not own you Quotes Zig Ziglar: money won't buy happiness, but everyone wants to find out on their own [00:43:39] Where to Find Him YouTube channel updated every single week with free education Two longer videos a week plus several shorts Instagram is @rayhigdon and he checks his own direct messages KEY QUOTES "It's not about not having money. It's about money not having you." - Ray Higdon "I had my first million-dollar year in 2013, my first million-dollar month 2014, my first million-dollar day 2015, and all of them were great, but none of them did what I thought they would do." - Ray Higdon CONNECT WITH RAY HIGDON Website: https://www.higdongroup.com YouTube: https://www.higdongroup.com/channel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayhigdon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ray.higdon1   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  5. Sep 1

    From Beauty School to a $7 Million Business with Chelle Neff

    What if the only thing standing between where you started and where you could go was one person willing to tell you the truth? In this episode, Chelle Neff, founder of Urban Betty in Austin, Texas, shares how a girl from a small West Texas town with no savings and no safety net built a salon company with three locations, nearly 100 employees, and revenue trending past $7 million. Chelle got her cosmetology license at 18 and moved to Austin the day after high school graduation. She opened Urban Betty at 27 with a $10,000 loan from her grandfather at 8% interest. But the relationship that changed everything was a woman who sat in her chair for a haircut in 2008, and who she still sees to this day. [00:05:00] What She Does and Who She Serves Founder of a salon company in Austin with three locations Nearly 100 people on the team, all employees rather than contractors Recently stepped back as CEO and promoted her general manager into the role She serves her employees first, most of whom chose a path outside college [00:06:18] How She Got Here Knew at age 10 she wanted to be a hairstylist Grew up in Throckmorton, a West Texas town of about 800 people Her parents had her as teenagers and college was never discussed Saw a newspaper notice for a high school cosmetology program and transferred schools [00:07:48] Getting Her License at 18 The program was government funded through the public school She paid only $200 for supplies when cosmetology school cost $10,000 to $15,000 Had no financial support system and no safety net Moved to Austin the day after graduating high school [00:08:26] Learning the Business from the Ground Up Started at Supercuts doing men's and children's haircuts all day Credits them with teaching her speed and how a well-run franchise operates Moved to Regis at the mall and then worked up to higher end salons Spent about ten years studying how each business was run [00:09:23] Opening Urban Betty at 27 Named the salon after her grandmother; her real first name is Betty Had no savings but good credit, so she took equipment and build-out loans A nonprofit that lends to women and minorities gave her a rate at 8% Her grandfather loaned the final $10,000 at that same rate [00:10:39] Twenty-Two Years Later Retired from doing hair in 2017 The business started with $70,000 and now trends over $7 million Never imagined going from cosmetology student to a multimillion dollar salon company Thought she would be rolling perms as an 80-year-old lady [00:12:05] What Inspires Her Now Has been working through the shift in identity from operator to founder Public speaking and mentoring salon owners is the next uncomfortable step Everything that scared her before led her somewhere greater Helping others grow gives a different kind of fulfillment than doing hair [00:14:02] The Vision Going Forward Working toward an exit strategy as she approaches 50 Her new CEO already owns 7% of the company Options include selling more shares to employees or finding the right buyer Wants to be present for her five-year-old son while the business runs without her [00:18:16] The Newsletter That Revealed Hidden Impact Added a call to action asking if anyone at Urban Betty had changed a client's life A woman wrote back with photos documenting her cancer journey and hair loss Her stylist had coached her through losing her hair and growing it back The stylist had no idea the impact she had made [00:20:07] What Clients Actually Want to See The highest engagement came from photos of a team trip to a Texas farm Clients care less about hair tutorials than about the people behind the business They want to know how the team is treated and what the company supports Almost no other salons are connecting with customers this way [00:21:54] Why Referrals Still Beat Everything The majority of guests still come through referrals from other people Reddit has become a major source because people trust unpaid, real voices That system cannot be gamed the way paid channels can [00:24:15] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Rebecca Rebecca sat in Chelle's chair for a haircut and said she heals people Chelle took her info thinking she would go once for help with dizzy spells At the first session she admitted out loud that she was unhappy in her marriage That was 2008 and she still sees Rebecca to this day, 18 years later [00:25:37] What That Relationship Made Possible Rebecca taught her to step into her own self-worth She held Chelle accountable and helped her leave her first marriage She officiated Chelle's wedding to her current husband Chelle says she would not be who she is today without her [00:26:00] The Referral Behind the Referral Rebecca was herself a referral from another client Chelle later told that client her whole life traced back to one recommendation Her husband, her son, and the success of her business all came from it Seeing Rebecca also taught her to ask for help elsewhere, leading to her first business coach in 2014 [00:29:22] Meeting Her Husband and Becoming a Mother Believes she would never have met her current husband without Rebecca They went through ten rounds of IVF before turning to adoption Their son was a hospital surrender they brought home at six days old His birth mother was a teenager, just as Chelle's own mother had been [00:30:14] Why She Talks About Therapy Openly She parents her son the way she wishes she had been parented Without Rebecca she believes she would have stayed in that first marriage far longer Her dizzy spells were her body telling her she needed to leave She refuses to gatekeep therapy and speaks about it every chance she gets [00:32:48] Final Word: Representing the Industry Grateful to speak on a platform like this for her industry Salon professionals tend to stay behind the scenes and rarely speak out Wants to prove that hairstylists can build real, sustainable wealth   KEY QUOTES "From cosmetology student to multimillion dollar salon business was never anything that I imagined. I thought I would be rolling perms as an 80-year-old lady." - Chelle Neff "Everything that's hit me that I've not wanted to do and really freaked out about, such as opening my own business or doing the first haircut, has led me to something greater." - Chelle Neff CONNECT WITH CHELLE NEFF Salon: https://www.urbanbetty.com Coaching: https://www.chelleneff.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanbetty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urbanbetty Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanbetty   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  6. Aug 28

    Starting Every Conversation with Yes with John Loyack

    What if the simplest way to open every door in front of you is to refuse to close any of them? In this episode, John Loyack, President of Rider University, shares how 40 years across corporate finance, energy, rail, and higher education led him to a model that turns struggling universities into engines of economic redevelopment for the cities they serve. He has now done it three times, in Wilkes-Barre, Reading, and Pottsville, and is starting again in Trenton. But John traces the whole approach back to two men: a colleague at a lighting company who taught him a leadership style, and a construction executive who handed him an entire political network he had no obligation to share. [00:04:48] What He Does and Who He Serves President of Rider University, a role he started in July His third time leading a higher education institution Came into higher ed as a first-generation student whose own college was struggling Knew nothing about higher education but a lot about restructuring businesses [00:06:44] The Model: Unleashing What a University Already Has Universities rarely start these projects with money, but they have bright, talented people Connects those resources to the community to accelerate local development Students get experiential learning while providing real free resources He has now done this in four cities, most recently Trenton [00:08:21] Why It Works Like Karma When you are in it for something bigger than you, partnerships become genuine He arrives with an asset to offer rather than an ask Resources then appear that he never would have had otherwise Partnerships fall out of it without him even trying [00:10:26] Do It Before You Have to Do It for Real Wants students doing the work many times before it counts Runs student-centered business incubators with graduate mentors and local entrepreneurs Rider is built to support first-generation students, which benefits everyone That experience almost always leads to a job [00:11:52] The Student as Customer Says students are customers and the value equation has to work An undergraduate degree means roughly another million dollars over a lifetime A graduate degree takes that to about a million and a half Higher education has to be the facilitator of that outcome [00:16:03] How He Got Here First-generation student who found his own way to King's College Started at Pricewaterhouse and became a CPA Realized he wanted finance and problem solving inside a real business Moved to Lutron Electronics and then eight years at Union Pacific [00:18:54] From CFO to College Turnaround Became chief accounting officer then CFO at PNM Resources The work connected him to Wall Street and bond deals Became CEO of the unregulated business after the company split Stepped in to save King's College and never left higher education [00:20:36] What the King's Turnaround Produced Arrived when an S&P rating would have been good luck Left after completing an $80 million bond deal at BBB plus Built new programs, new athletics, and downtown Wilkes-Barre redevelopment There were no road maps for running a university like a business at the time [00:22:00] Reading and the Poorest City in the Country Got a call telling him Reading needed what he had done in Wilkes-Barre Reading was Pennsylvania's fourth largest city and the poorest in the country Grew Alvernia from a master's institution to a professional doctoral one Converted half a million square feet of downtown into College Town [00:23:53] When Others Start Following You Developers who worked in Reading came to Pottsville only because Alvernia went there They followed the university into a market it had proven out He calls it the highest form of compliment when partners follow you [00:27:41] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Mike Patino Worked with Mike at Lutron after leaving public accounting John was a public accountant suddenly standing on a production floor Mike did not have to engage at the level he did, but he did anyway Even when John failed, Mike made him feel good while teaching the lesson [00:29:15] The Leadership Style That Built Thousands of Partnerships Mike gave him the architecture for connected personal relationships in business Accountability and genuine care for each other can coexist John credits Mike for the skill set behind thousands of partnerships Mike has no idea, because they never had that conversation [00:31:02] Why It Matters More in Higher Education Business partnerships can be transactional and one-time A university is in its community forever with infrastructure it cannot move He is not leaving no matter how bad it gets That permanence makes relationship building the special sauce [00:32:54] The Multiplier Effect Good relationships mean you think of that partner for things beyond the original scope That leads to more opportunities and more ways to get things done With a difficult client you only think about how to get out The best partnerships produce things you could not have drawn on a whiteboard [00:34:01] The Second Relationship: Barry Schlauch Arrived in Reading knowing no one, unlike Wilkes-Barre where he grew up Walked downtown at sunset asking himself what he needed that he did not have The answer was access to the political machinery Barry, a construction executive, happened to attend his first president's dinner [00:36:29] Hijacking the Meeting Barry told a trustee to get John into a meeting on downtown redevelopment Reading had 25 years of fits and starts with nothing to show John brought his brochure and took over the entire meeting They talked about nothing but College Town and the building they planned to buy [00:37:00] The Network He Had No Obligation to Share Barry made his full political network available to John John joined every political event and they told the story together Every level of government showed up when the building opened Barry did not have to help; he saw the community impact and engaged [00:39:22] Why He Signs Up in Five to Six Year Chunks These turnarounds are five or six year processes Real value comes from bringing what you know to a business that does not know it Every institution is a new Rubik's cube and a new community to impact He says it feels like his first job all over again [00:41:05] The Vision for Rider Phase one is reshaping the institution to live within its cash flow Phase two is reprioritizing resources to build the engine for growth Phase three is community engagement and economic redevelopment in Trenton All three run at the same time and shift in weight as the years go on [00:46:03] Final Word: Start with Yes A rule he began at Alvernia, a Franciscan institution About 75% of the time starting with yes gets both parties where they want to go Another 20% ends somewhere unexpected but still creates a partnership Saying no means you never get anywhere at all   KEY QUOTES "To me, leadership at its best is when you're looking out for your community as a business leader and you're willing to put your capital at risk to make it happen, that's the best level of entrepreneurship." - John Loyack "We start every conversation with yes. Because if you say no, you don't ever get anywhere." - John Loyack CONNECT WITH JOHN LOYACK Website: https://www.rider.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-loyack-77999012 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.r.loyack.2025   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  7. Aug 25

    The Relationship That Sparked an AI Business with Moshe Edri

    What if the relationship that changed your life also uncovered the business opportunity you were meant to pursue? In this episode, Moshe Edri, Founder of Spa Sphere, shares how an unexpected relationship led him to discover a massive gap in the aesthetics industry and inspired him to build an AI-powered platform designed specifically for aestheticians. After spending more than 20 years building technology for some of the world's largest companies, Moshe never imagined he'd become an entrepreneur serving the skincare industry. But through one meaningful relationship, he saw firsthand the daily challenges independent aestheticians faced and realized no one was building software around the way they actually worked. Moshe explains how listening to customers, creating genuine partnerships, and staying close to the people you serve has fueled Spa Sphere's rapid growth. He also shares why relationships, are the true competitive advantage for any business, and how meaningful connections continue to shape both his company and his life.   [00:03:28] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder of Spa Sphere, an AI-powered platform built specifically for aestheticians Helps skincare professionals simplify operations and grow their businesses Creates technology around the unique workflows of estheticians Enables practitioners to spend more time serving clients and less time managing software [00:05:19] Solving a Problem No One Else Was Addressing Existing software wasn't designed for the way aestheticians work Many professionals relied on disconnected tools and manual processes Fragmented systems created unnecessary stress and burnout Spa Sphere brings everything together into one purpose-built platform [00:06:41] Helping Clients Create Better Outcomes Supports personalized treatment plans instead of one-time appointments Gives aestheticians tools to guide clients through long-term skincare journeys Helps practitioners increase revenue while improving client care Aligns technology with how estheticians naturally serve their clients [00:11:04] How One Relationship Changed Everything The idea for Spa Sphere began while dating an esthetician Saw firsthand the frustrations of running an independent practice Realized an entire industry had been overlooked by technology companies Combined his background in software with a real-world business challenge [00:12:45] Growing Through Strategic Relationships Focuses on partnerships with educators, coaches, and industry leaders Chooses collaboration over chasing individual customers Creates win-win opportunities throughout the industry Builds momentum through trusted relationships and referrals [00:14:31] The Relationship That Sparked His Mission Credits a personal relationship with introducing him to the aesthetics industry Was inspired by how deeply aestheticians care for their clients Built technology that removes friction so practitioners can focus on people Turned a personal experience into a purpose-driven company [00:17:08] Growing Beyond His Comfort Zone Learned business development as a technical founder Built meaningful partnerships despite being naturally introverted Embraced new challenges to grow both personally and professionally Continues refining the customer experience as the company expands [00:18:59] Why Customer Relationships Matter Gives every client direct access to him Values personal conversations over transactional support Makes time to meet customers whenever possible Believes authentic relationships are the foundation of lasting success [00:20:54] Scaling Without Losing the Human Touch Confident the technology can scale to support future growth More concerned about maintaining exceptional customer support Wants every customer to continue feeling personally valued Committed to growing without sacrificing relationships [00:21:35] Giving Back to the Industry Inspired by the generosity and passion of aestheticians Finds purpose in helping professionals better serve their clients Provides free resources, education, and tools alongside the platform Measures success by the impact he creates for others   KEY QUOTES "The challenge for me was to create the best platform for aestheticians so they need to forget about technology. Technology becomes the easy part, not the hard part, so they can focus on building relationships with their clients." "I'm looking back where I started and where I am today, and it makes me proud that I was capable of creating those meaningful connections and always creating win-win-win situations." "All my clients have my cellphone number. They know about our hamsters, they know about my dog. We've developed those kinds of relationships." "Personal time is what helps build those relationships. That digital persona you show on camera isn't enough." "I'm happy that in a way we are now giving back to them with their time, with their revenue, and with the free content and tools we provide for them." CONNECT WITH MOSHE EDRI Website: https://www.spasphere.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moshe-edri Email: moshe@spasphere.ai   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

  8. Aug 21

    Building Wealth Through Relationships with Peter Skaggs

    What if the biggest obstacle to building lasting wealth isn't a lack of money, but meeting people who make it possible? In this episode, Peter Skaggs, Founder of Investor Lighthouse and Innovative Mortgage Alliance, shares how decades in real estate investing taught him that financial freedom isn't built through luck or chasing trends. It's built through education, disciplined action, and relationships with people who challenge you to think differently. From learning hard lessons early in his career to helping busy professionals build wealth through strategic real estate investing, Peter explains why the best investors focus on long-term thinking, continuous learning, and surrounding themselves with the right mentors. Throughout the conversation, he reveals how one relationship after another helped shape his philosophy of investing, leadership, and serving others.   [00:03:41] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder of Investor Lighthouse and Innovative Mortgage Alliance Helps busy professionals create long-term wealth through real estate investing Focuses on education before investment decisions Empowers investors to build confidence instead of depending on others [00:05:18] Why Financial Education Matters Believes financial literacy creates freedom and confidence Encourages investors to understand every investment they make Explains why knowledge reduces fear during uncertain markets Teaches people to think like long-term investors instead of speculators [00:08:42] Lessons From His Early Investing Journey Learned that success rarely happens overnight Experienced setbacks that became valuable learning opportunities Developed a disciplined investment approach through experience Realized patience consistently outperforms emotional decision-making [00:12:15] The Biggest Mistakes Investors Make Chasing quick profits instead of building lasting wealth Relying entirely on advisors without understanding the investment Allowing fear and emotion to dictate financial decisions Ignoring the value of long-term planning and consistency [00:16:47] Building Wealth One Decision at a Time Small, consistent decisions create significant long-term results Every investment should align with personal financial goals Wealth comes from disciplined habits more than perfect timing Focuses on sustainable growth rather than shortcuts [00:20:54] The Relationship That Changed Everything Credits key mentors with expanding his perspective on investing Learned the value of asking better questions before making decisions Relationships opened doors that knowledge alone could not Continues investing in meaningful connections throughout his career [00:25:10] Why Mentorship Accelerates Growth Great mentors help shorten the learning curve They provide wisdom gained through real experience Accountability often matters as much as information Success becomes more predictable when learning from those who've gone before [00:29:36] Serving Before Selling Believes trust must always come before transactions Education creates stronger client relationships Long-term success comes from putting clients' interests first Strong relationships naturally generate referrals and opportunities [00:33:48] Creating Financial Freedom Financial freedom begins with intentional planning Investing should support the life you want to build Wealth provides choices rather than simply accumulating assets Every financial decision should move you closer to independence [00:38:22] The Legacy That Matters Most Helping others achieve financial confidence is deeply rewarding Success is measured by lives impacted, not just dollars earned Building relationships creates influence that lasts beyond business The greatest return on investment is seeing others succeed   KEY QUOTES "Real wealth isn't created by chasing the next opportunity. It's created by making disciplined decisions consistently over time, even when those decisions aren't exciting." - Peter Skaggs "The relationships you build throughout your life will often determine the opportunities that come your way. Knowledge is important, but relationships open doors that knowledge alone never will." - Peter Skaggs "Financial freedom isn't really about money. It's about having the ability to make decisions based on your values instead of your circumstances. That's the kind of wealth worth building." - Peter Skaggs CONNECT WITH PETER SKAGGS Website: https://investorlighthouse.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-skaggs   Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

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About

Have you ever been introduced to a person that completely changed the course of your business or your life… so much so, that much of what you have today wouldn't be possible, if not for this person? Each week on The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast, your host Kevin Thompson interviews successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs as they share their personal stories and experience around this very question. Your invitation is to have a seat at the head of the table as they honor and introduce you to the most valuable people in their lives and remind us that relationship capital is the most valuable asset we possess. Each week you'll be inspired and motivated to intentionally create more meaningful, rewarding and profitable relationships in your life so that together we can make a far bigger impact in this world.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Thompson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    421
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Million Dollar Relationships