Category: Cover Stories

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The April 2023 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Julius Abraham

Posted on by Alex

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Julius Abraham holds the position of Managing Director at Direct Mortgages South Coast and is also an accredited Mortgage Broker.

Julius has a comprehensive corporate background in finance and compliance and personal experience in purchasing, selling, and renovating properties. Although he had been interested in real estate for some time, it was not until his first renovation project proved successful that he realized the significant rewards that property investment could bring.

Julius developed a passion for research and problem-solving during his corporate tenure, which he now applies as a Mortgage Broker. The role demands extensive analysis and interpretation of data to ensure each home loan application is written in an attractive manner for the lender. While each application is unique and can pose challenges, Julius finds it immensely rewarding when clients express joy and satisfaction, knowing that he has provided a financial solution for them. His regular community work also fuels his passion for serving others.

Julius prioritizes establishing an honest and transparent relationship with his clients as a Mortgage Broker. His primary objective is to assist, educate, and motivate individuals seeking to initiate or expand their property portfolio to achieve their objectives expeditiously. Julius firmly believes that property investment is a means to attain financial freedom.

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Julius to discuss his journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

My primary focus was to partner up with as many reputable key professionals in the Finance and Real Estate Industry and to maintain consistency through networking. This has allowed me to partner with local Buyers Agents, Real Estate Agents, Accountants, Conveyancers, and Financial Planners. Doing so has allowed my business to present at various events and has increased exposure to a wider audience.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?

Facebook and Instagram have been the main social media platforms to promote my business. My brand focuses on providing education and general advice about property and finance. This ranges from helpful tips and strategies for achieving goals and raising awareness.

What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content campaigns? Does it work?

Paid advertising can be helpful; however, “word of mouth” has created the most leads for my business. A stranger will likely engage with you after an introduction or referral from a mutual contact. We are drawn to connection.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

The toughest decision was taking that “leap” of starting my own business and becoming my own boss. Not knowing where a journey can lead is very scary. Uncertainty is a scary mindset. I had to accept that this journey was going to be challenging, not just emotionally but also financially. However, knowing I had the support of family, friends, and members of the finance and property industry ie mentor, other mortgage brokers, business owners, and other key professionals, their guidance and advice has helped ease a lot of the stress that one would succumb starting a new business.

What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

Marketing your brand doesn’t have to come at a cost. Free social media and graphic design platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Canva have been very effective for my business. Fortunately for me, through educational articles and advice from others, I have not made any significant money mistakes.

What new business would you love to start?

From here, I would like to expand my knowledge and experience within property and finance and progress into property development. What I am learning from this experience and the people I continuously meet throughout this journey as a Mortgage Broker I know will help me transition into this field.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I had big aspirations and goals to dive into this field at 110% and give up my day job. Initially, I took unpaid leave from my day job to primarily focus on Mortgage Broking. It wasn’t long until I realized that not having a consistent income was detrimental to starting a new business. Receiving consistent income alleviated the stress of the cost of living and other financial commitments and allowed me to focus on the day-to-day running of the business. I admit it is challenging to juggle a day job and manage a business, however, I have learned to handle my time effectively to avoid burnout.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

“Your rewards in life will always be in direct proportion to your contribution or service” – Earl Nightingale.
“Any person who contributes to prosperity must prosper in turn.” ― Earl Nightingale.

What advice would you give someone who wants to enter your field?

Focus on helping others and being of ‘value’ to others. Mortgage Broking is rewarding as the role allows you to provide a service, to not only write up home loans but also improve the quality of life for an individual. Maintaining this mindset will enable you to overcome challenges and have that edge to propel you further in your Broking journey.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The August 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Carl Runefelt

Posted on by Alex

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With the crazy crypto boom around the world, there is a bit too much information to process, and hard to take your pick. But few special people have both the understanding as well as the belief. “Carl Runefelt” is one such individual. The billionaire has made his fortune with considerate assessment and belief in the law of attraction. The golden boy from the crypto industry shares an exclusive interview for the readers of MoneyCentral magazine.

Carl is very firm about his vision of crypto being the only currency we will use in the future. He has always believed that one bitcoin can be worth millions in the extended imminent stripe. He has invested in more than four hundred crypto startups, making him possibly the world’s largest crypto angel investor. With a following of over five million subscriptions across all social media platforms, Runefelt is prompting more and more people to share his journey, lifestyle, and reliance on the decree of magnetism. His youtube channel has been one of the most significant apparatuses in his accomplishment and distinction.

Runefelt, who hails from Sweden, dropped out of school early as he had a hard time focusing because of attention deficit disorder (ADD). He started working at a department store for a living, but within two years, he realized that he could never be successful or make his parents proud if he continued in that profession.

The founder of The Moon Group’s faith is in the law of attraction. He believes firm visions of your future can lead to possibilities of all your goals and dreams. The know-how of leveraging the internet to mint money and the ability to foresee the future of digital money have allowed him to climb up the success ladder.

Carl says, “I began to picture myself as a rich, cheerful and effective individual.” He even pretended that he was successful even though he was still working at the grocery store. He always took the train to his job, but he imagined driving a Ferrari in his head. He also started to look for yachts for sale online, envisaging that he was ready to purchase one. His life changed in just a couple of years more than he thought or most people would think could be possible.

Runefelt says, “There is no similarity between then and now.” He started probing for methods to get successful; he ran over a few speculations and meetings with fruitful individuals. What struck him more than anything else was the “law of attraction.”

Twenty-seven-year-old Runefelt mentally transformed himself into a successful person. From where he was, to where he is now, and where he’s headed. It’s been a shift of mindset and approach towards life. Self-belief and optimism about the future gave him the enthusiasm, courage, and strength required to overcome the barriers.

Carl did his research on cryptocurrency extensively a few years back, both online and by pouring through whatever literature was available at the time. He concluded that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins are designed to work as a medium of exchange. Educating people frequently about the traders and investors would be necessary and became his life’s purpose. Being a millennial, Runefelt realised the power of the digital world early on.

In no time, he created a YouTube channel, TheMoonCarl, to disseminate adequate and correct information about the control and value of cryptocurrencies, educating people on its nuances and how it’s competing against a broken system.

Runefelt says, “My life completely changed in just a couple of years, more than I thought or what most could even think possible. There’s no comparison between now and then. Being with people who share your ideals and goals is important; your company matters.”

He believes achieving success isn’t a matter of luck; it’s a decision. He says: “I thank myself every day. I decided to become the person I am today because I wasn’t happy with who I was before. The way to become whoever you want is to believe in your mind that you’re already that person. Act as if it’s already your reality, and you’ll attract it.”

The entrepreneur wants to be remembered for his extensive career. Wealth creation is no longer a motivating factor; he wants to contribute to society through philanthropic ventures. He says: “I want to be remembered as a great person who did great things. I already know that I’ll be one of the wealthiest people in the world, so it’s no longer a big motivator anymore. I want people to remember me as someone who did well for other people.”

In recent times, Carl announced his official partnership with Formula 2 & driver Ralph Boschung. An avid fan of racing, Runefelt’s multi-million-dollar sponsorship puts his name “The Moon” at the forefront of Formula 2. Runefelt says, “Bringing mass crypto adoption is my goal for 2022. Not only do I wish to bring more awareness to crypto but also to children with disabilities.” Carl himself is donating 30,000 USD every race to his charity for helping children in need and is motivating people to do so as well over a QR code printed on the car’s nose. “Formula 2 gives me a platform for both subjects that are near and dear to my heart. Crypto has built my wealth over the years, which has allowed me to make major donations to foundations that help children with major disabilities such as Down Syndrome, which my little brother has.”

Carl Runefelt, a serial entrepreneur and renowned crypto leader, is set to launch another exciting blockchain project, CryptoJobs.com. CryptoJobs.com aims to revolutionize the Web3 job space with an innovative employment platform for job seekers and employers. The platform will offer a sustainable solution to the existing job market problems and provide long-term benefits to its early supporters.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The June 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Dr. Apollo Emeka

Posted on by Gary

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Dr. Apollo Emeka is a leadership and organizational coach and consultant with a vision to see everyone reach their full potential for good. If you saw Apollo as a kid, you probably wouldn’t expect he’d grow into the type of guy who’d be fortunate enough to start, grow, and run his own business. In fourth grade, he essentially stopped going to school and officially opted for the GED at 17 years old. Few would have thought he would ever earn a doctorate, join the FBI, become a Green Beret, or become a successful entrepreneur.

Apollo continuously took unconventional and sometimes counterintuitive steps to achieve success. He distilled what he learned as he reached milestone after milestone and distilled it into a system that helps others achieve seemingly impossible personal and professional feats. Apollo is the ultimate coach, consultant, and accountability partner to help high-performers stay focused on the strategies and actions they commit to.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Apollo to discuss his journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you became a leadership and organizational coach?

Growing up, I didn’t go to many schools and never graduated high school. Despite my unconventional start, I had ambitious hopes and dreams. I knew if I had any chance of accomplishing greatness, I’d have to do it unconventionally. By the time I was 36, I had accomplished nearly everything I had set out to do when I was 18.

I battled my way through community college, then went on to earn a BA and a doctorate from USC. I served in the FBI for six years; I became a Green Beret and did Special Forces work worldwide, built and sold a business, and started a family. My ability to accomplish so many big tasks in such a short time frame drew the attention of a friend and fellow entrepreneur, Chris, who asked me to consult on his business. That was 2016, and he was my first client. I’ve always had a passion for growth and performance improvement, but it was Chris who helped me see that I could build another business out of that passion.

Is there a particular moment that comes to mind when you realized leadership coaching was your calling?

Some leaders energize and empower teams, and other leaders create chaos and stress. Like most people, I’ve worked for both types of leaders, which made me understand the impact leadership can have on people and outcomes within organizations.

When I attended the Special Forces qualification course, I learned how transferable leadership skills are. I came out the other end of that 15-month course completely transformed. I figured if I could learn all of these skills, anybody could. I carry the philosophy into my own company and help other entrepreneurs embody the same skills.

How did you get into this line of work? What qualifies you to be a leadership and organizational coach?

Coaching is such a strange profession right now. There are coaching certifications you can earn in a matter of hours online and others that take months of study, in-person meetings, and supervised coaching sessions. But I believe that anyone can be a coach in areas where they are knowledgeable.

Every single member of a Special Forces team is a coach in their areas of expertise. My specialty was communications, so I regularly coached my teammates on radio operations. I’d also get coached by our medics on things like hemorrhage control and get coached by our engineers on the safe handling of explosives. I believe that what qualifies one to be a coach is the proven experience in impacting the desired outcomes of the person they are coaching. And that if you are a member of a team that has skills that others don’t, it is your obligation to coach them.

So, what qualifies me to be a coach? I have a track record of personal accomplishments despite daunting obstacles. I’ve built and sold a business, I’ve coached across language and cultural differences worldwide as a Green Beret, and my doctoral work focused on organizational development and leadership. Every time I help clients achieve their goals, I become a little more qualified. Being a great human is all about continuous learning and development. Coaches have an even greater obligation to continuous improvement. I never stopped learning.

What are some primary issues that you see your clients going through?

All of our clients want to shift their team culture to incorporate diverse perspectives and generate high-performance results. Their challenges range from managing change and its fear to understanding what skills and systems will drive high-performance. Even as teams become more diverse, the status quo is a powerful cultural force that prevents diverse perspectives and ideas from being leveraged to their fullest potential. As a result, innovation efforts fall flat, things feel overwhelming, calendars are packed, and organizations plunge into a reactive fire-fighting mentality. Our services are designed to help our clients overcome these challenges and achieve consistent success.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

The most difficult part of the job is also the most fun. Unlike most coaching and consulting agencies, our goal is to build capacity within the companies we work with. We’re not trying to be the smartest people in the room; instead, we aim to help our clients become stronger, better, faster versions of themselves. When clients have a growth mindset, their ability to generate high-performance results improves quickly and dramatically. On the other hand, working with some clients feels a bit like trying to coach a couch potato to run a marathon. It doesn’t do any good for us to run the marathon for them. But that’s also the fun part because everyone gets super pumped when the couch potato not only crosses the finish line but becomes a motivator and coach themselves. That’s a cultural shift!

Another big challenge is that we are committed to outcomes, not deliverables. We don’t get tunnel vision on completing a deliverable at all costs, even when we know it won’t move the needle. We stay focused on the desired outcome and constantly engage in reflection and retrospection with our clients to understand how we need to pivot our activities to get the results we all want.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

I take two approaches to marketing: passive and active. Our passive efforts consist of thought leadership content. We’ve gotten a surprising amount of business from videos and blog posts that resonate with people.

My active marketing approach is hyperfocused networking. I’m not talking about going to the Chamber of Commerce meeting and swapping business cards, then having ten lunch meetings to keep in touch. I have a list of companies we want to work with, and I actively ask happy clients and close personal connections to make introductions with the pretext of working together. I’m surprised by how few people take this direct approach. It’s how we’ve generated the bulk of our business.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

In the last few months, we had to make the tough decision to end our work with a client once I realized our values weren’t in alignment. Our company values are courage, inclusion, authenticity, intention, and growth, and we take them very seriously. This client didn’t display the courage necessary to generate the ambitious results they said they wanted. It felt like we wanted to hit their goals more than they did. It also became painfully clear that this client was not committed to inclusion which is inconsistent with the makeup of our company and the vision of the world we seek to co-create.

We don’t expect the companies we work with to mirror our values. We look for companies with complementary values that create magical synergies to foster close working relationships and create mind-blowing results. That type of synergy is what we have with the rest of the leaders and teams we work with.

What new business would you love to start?

I’m completely obsessed with our current business, and I’ve prioritized exciting ways we’re going to grow and expand to serve more people even better.

That said, if I were starting a business today, it would probably be in the mental health space. Emotional intelligence is so important, and most people are never explicitly taught how to develop it. Couple that with the increasingly complicated nature of just being a human, and you get a massive market need and an opportunity to do some real good in the world.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

The selection process for Special Forces is a physically, mentally, and emotionally daunting three-week event. On the first day of selection, a crusty old medic with a thick Boston accent addressed around 500 other soldiers hoping to qualify for Special Forces and me and said, “I know you’re all here because you think you want to be hard. But there’s hard smart, and there’s hard stupid. If you’re about to hurt yourself or get injured, just stop and come see me.” He paused a moment and then exclaimed, “Don’t be hard f***ing stupid!”

That quote really hit me. I hear that thick Boston accent every time I think that I might be pushing myself too hard. You can’t fight if you’re broken!

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

People tend to focus too much on admin and operations early in the business formation stage. Like, “Should it be an LLC or an S-Corp?”Or, “What kind of software should I use?” The only thing you should be thinking about early on is, “How am I going to create massive amounts of value?” It means finding a big problem you can solve for someone or a massive opportunity you can seize.

If you can create an opportunity for someone to save or gain $10 in value, you can easily charge them $1. That math works into the millions. If you can create an opportunity for someone to save or gain $10million in value, you can charge them $1million. Before you think about what you’re going to sell, identify a target market and talk to them about their challenges and hopes. Once you’re really clear on the size of the value there, you can start building your product or service to create massive value and capture a portion of that.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The May 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Steven Cravotta

Posted on by Gary

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Steven Cravotta is the self-taught creator and developer of the original Wordle app, a word-based puzzle app he uploaded to the Apple’s App Store when he was 18. He eventually abandoned the entire project because it averaged merely one or two downloads per day in the four years since he uploaded the app.

Fast forward to last December; after checking the app’s stats, he shockingly noticed it had 500,000 downloads in just five days! After investigating the source of the spike in downloads, he realized that thousands of people looking for the web-only game “Wordle,” created by software engineer Josh Wardle, were downloading his app by mistake.

“I was doing one-two downloads a day, and then all of a sudden, a couple of weeks ago, I checked my developer dashboard, and the graph just went vertical, and I was getting 50,000 downloads every day,” Cravotta told ABC News.

Instead of keeping all the proceeds for himself, Cravotta reached out to Wardle and offered to team up with him to impact the world positively. Cravotta decided to donate $50,000 of the app’s revenue to Boost West Oakland – an organisation that provides free tutoring and mentorship for children in Oakland, Calif.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Steven to discuss his journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your app?

Currently, I am marketing Puff Count on TikTok. I make videos educating viewers on the dangers of smoking nicotine and then offer a solution to help them quit. You can check out my TikTok account here: www.tiktok.com/@puffcount.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?

TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are all platforms I utilize to increase Puff Count’s awareness. TikTok has been the most successful platform thus far.

What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content campaigns? Does it work?

In my opinion, paid advertising is getting less and less effective every year. Apple’s new privacy updates have made tracking users exponentially harder, which is a great thing for privacy, but bad news for paid ad platforms.

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your app and engaging your customers? How did your app stand out?

My main tactic is posting as much content as I can on TikTok. Creating TikToks costs me virtually nothing but my time, so my customer acquisition cost is $0. Puff Count stands out from the crowd because, unlike other quit smoking apps, it will guide you through the process of reducing your usage to make quitting more achievable.

What form of marketing has worked well for your app throughout the years?

Organic marketing has worked well for all of my mobile apps. Because the margins on mobile apps are slim, you have to get creative in the way you market.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

Removing the paywall from Puff Count. I want to make quitting nicotine accessible for anyone and everyone who wants to, and that requires me to make Puff Count a completely free application.

What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

There are no mistakes, only lessons. I learned that your product would never be perfect; you just have to keep moving fast and listening to customer feedback.

What new app would you love to start?

Something in the Web3 / Metaverse space.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I would post even more on TikTok in the early days when it was easier to go viral.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Bet on yourself.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first app?

App development can be expensive. Try to set up an MVP and get initial user feedback before investing all of your time and money into an idea.

Meet The Woman Behind The Cover Of The March 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Dr. Tanisha Denise Manning

Posted on by Gary

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A veteran entrepreneur, Dr. Tanisha Denise Manning, better known as “Wonder Woman,” is an inspirational game-changer with an impressive resume. She has built a career dedicated to public service – leveling the playing field for some of the most at-risk youth in various communities. She’s a “Light” combat veteran, a highly sought-after author, a motivational speaker, a Holistic Health practitioner, an International certified birth doula, a 1st HBCU (Historically Black College and University) certified life coach, a certified yoga instructor, a Forensic fingerprint and mortuary expert, a Juvenile Justice Advocate, a former deputy sheriff, as well as an active humanitarian. No wonder she was dubbed as “The Wonder Woman Life Coach” by Source Magazine in 2014 and featured as “The 2018 Wonder Woman of San Joaquin County.”

Raised amid rampant gang violence and poverty in South Stockton, California, Denise managed to claw her way out of poverty through sheer willpower. She overcame hardship and loss and actually succeeded where failure was almost a certainty. Thus, her life is a shining example of what the human spirit can endure and achieve as long as there’s determination and willpower.

When it comes to public service, Denise is undoubtedly in a league of her own. She has worked diligently for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, advocating for youthful offenders and creating their first re-entry and mentoring program in Tallahassee, Florida. She has established and facilitated several creative writing and poetry classes for young offenders already in the criminal justice system. In fact, Denise implemented the first poetry creative writing classes in Orlando, Florida, Killeen, Texas, and Stockton, CA, and has received numerous commendations for Outstanding Distinguished Service.

Back in 2015, Denise opened her business, “Pretty Lady Boutique.” The boutique provided services for women and housed a mentoring non-profit for teenage girls. She took to local schools and created “Pretty Lady Sisterhood” – she became the first in the city and school district to incorporate and implement a mentoring program for high-risk teenage girls. Because of her extensive public service, she has been featured for community service leadership in several print and online publications, television as well as various organizations and universities.

Fast forward to today, and Denise currently has over thirteen years of military service in the United States Army under her belt. She holds degrees in Criminal Justice Administration and Business Administration, and she has received an Honorary Ph.D. in Theology and Spiritual Counseling. Denise has also worked with various police departments in fingerprint analysis, crime scene processing, and violence prevention strategies. She holds membership in several prestigious social and civil organizations where she has been recognized as a Visionary Pearl and Charter President and she’s currently a Master Counselor/Life Coach. She’s also a new mother to a beautiful baby boy.

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Denise to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, and here’s what went down:

Can you tell us more about your life coaching journey since you’re a pioneer in the field?

Coaching and counseling was always a calling in my life. While deployed to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi freedom, I made up my mind that I was going to become a life coach; however, years prior, I had implemented programs and held coaching groups in local detention centers for high-risk youth. My passion for helping high-risk youth drove me to implement mentor coaching programs for state departments of juvenile justice, local city governments, juvenile detention centers, and federal correctional facilities for women.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

There’s no better feeling than creating something from the ground up without someone telling you what you can and cannot do. I remember working a job and realizing I was giving them all my creativity for pennies. I didn’t particularly appreciate feeling used. I was motivated by freedom – the freedom to create, serve, and give back without restrictions.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

The need and passion for helping others. Being the person I needed when I was a troubled youth or young woman who was in need.

It has come to our attention that you made history as one of the first women to obtain a Master’s degree in “life coaching” – can you tell us more about this?

I started coaching before it became popular and saturated with people that didn’t have life experience or education. Life coaching degrees weren’t offered until 2016-2017, and I jumped on the first outstanding accredited program.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business, and how did you overcome them?

Overcoming the fear of doubt. Understanding that oftentimes your worst enemy and worst critic is yourself.

You recently trademarked “Venting Session” as a service in your private counseling practice. Why did you feel the need to trademark this service, and what makes this service so unique?

Many people don’t want, can’t afford, or don’t trust therapy. I’m an advocate of therapy; however, I also understand that sometimes you just want to get something off your chest, get some unbiased advice without the hassle of insurance or high copays. Sometimes you need to talk to a professional with no strings attached, someone that relates and can identify with your situation. Someone other than your relatives or close friends – that’s me. Venting session is a 45-minute session that offers more than a space to let go but a space to heal and be heard, become grounded, and get a clear perspective on what’s next.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The January 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Scott Hughes

Posted on by Alex

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A veteran entrepreneur, Scott Hughes is the founder of OnlineBookClub.org. He is also a highly sought-after author of four books; Justice: A Novella, 10 Step Plan to Promote Your Book, Achieve Your Dreams, and The Banned Book about Love. He recently announced that he finally finished the first draft of his next book “#InItTogether: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All.”

Born and raised in Manchester, Connecticut, from 2006-2014, he worked at various modest jobs on the side, including being a server and bartender at various local restaurants. In late 2014, Scott eventually decided to give up his side jobs and focus working full-time on just one thing – OnlineBookClub.org. OnlineBookClub.org is a bibliophile’s heaven and one of the best websites around for booklovers. It has it all; free books, daily contests, book discussions, and so much more. OnlineBookClub.org will even pay people to read and review books plus; it’s free to use, hence why it grew at such a rapid pace.

Since 2014, OnlineBookClub grew from strength to strength, and, as of November 2021, OnlineBookClub has garnered over 2.7 million registered members. Its development team recently released an OnlineBookClub e-reading app which is supposedly meant to compete with Amazon Kindle, called OBC Reader – it’s now available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Scott to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur, and here’s what went down:

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

Fundamentally, I grow the business exponentially with a simple formula: I delegate whatever and as much as I can, hiring new people as needed. Then I take the time of mine that’s been free to do extra work or new projects that I wouldn’t have had time for otherwise. I also push that pattern down the chain as much as possible so that the other people I have working for me delegate what they can to others, especially new hires, freeing up themselves to take on more work.

Essentially, when I hired my first full-time assistant, it doubled the output. Then I eventually hired two more people, one for me to delegate to and one for my assistant.

For me, it comes down to crucial ingredients: Delegation and leveraging the power of exponents and exponential growth.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?

My Social Media Director, Beth Jackson, leads our social media team. To be properly active on multiple social media platforms requires an entire team of people. Off the top of my head, we currently primarily use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Minds.com, and MeWe.

What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content campaigns? Does it work?

It depends on what you are advertising. PPC on search engines like Google can provide highly targeted leads at almost unlimited volume, fairly easily. But it only works if you have a way to monetize those targeted leads in a way that exceeds the cost of obtaining them at volume. For instance, I don’t feel that it’s a good strategy for advertising a single $3 book because the profit per book sale will not be enough to cover the cost of obtaining an initial lead and a $3 sale from the ads.

If the cost of your product or service is high enough and converts well enough with targeted leads, it can work. But another factor is whether you are using those leads to create long-term relationships. So, for instance, it could work great for a subscription service, such as one of those weekly subscription boxes for prepared food in the mail.

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?

My main tactic is making the best product I can or in other words, ensuring customer satisfaction. I follow this motto: Great advertising only makes a bad product fail faster. And, in a competitive commercial setting, anything less than great or amazing is a bad product. In a competitive commercial setting, merely good is not good enough.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

Viral marketing is the only thing that has ever really worked for me. You make a great product or service, and then as needed, find a way to encourage your customers or users to spread the word. The more important part is the former, and depending on the business and product the latter may do itself.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

Personally speaking, my wife and I chose to get divorced in early August. That’s not really business-related, but it definitely comes to mind when you mention tough decisions.

But it speaks to this point: business decisions aren’t really ever tough for me. It’s the common cliché from movies and such that someone says usually before doing something seemingly mean “It’s not personal; it’s business.” Business is often just math. Which one makes more money? Which one costs less? Which one takes less time? What’s the bottom line?

What mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

When I first went full-time working on my business without any side jobs to pay my rent and put food on the table, I was working 70-80 hours a week. My profit—meaning what I paid myself—the first year doing that was $20,000. I worked 70-80 hours because I had to keep the business from going under and pay my rent and bills. I was scraping by the pennies some weeks—literally; I remember taking my jar of coins to the Coinstar machine on the 10th of the month because rent was due and I literally would have been short unable to pay it without cashing in the $5-$10 in coins I had.

I prefer the term learning experience to mistake, but what I would have done differently if I knew what I knew now is this: Once I got in that habit of working 70-80 hours a week, I kept going for years beyond what I had to. The company and business became very successful, I became very successful financially and professionally. About a year or two ago, I started cutting back and working a lot less per week. I could have afforded to do that much sooner.

And giving myself more free time personally made me more creative and thoughtful, so I think it’s actually been helping the company and business grow even more, ironically.

Sometimes the best ideas for the company come to me while I’m sitting in my hot tub looking up at the moon and stars.

What new business would you love to start?

I would love to start some kind of business that helps people achieve their goals and dreams, particularly in a way that focuses on self-discipline. For me, I use the term self-disciple interchangeably with the term spiritual freedom.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I got started young. I created OnlineBookClub.org when I was still a teenager.

In one way, I made a ton of mistakes both professionally and personally. My values and priorities now as a 35-year-old man are so different. This 35-year-old Scott speaking to you now would do things much differently than teenager-Scott, but he did what was right for him. If he had done anything differently, the man speaking to you now wouldn’t exist. So I wouldn’t change anything. It’s the Butterfly Effect. I believe in the principle of Amor Fati, meaning love your fate, which in this context means seeing the past as being perfect just as it is. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Another way of saying the same is to say accept what you cannot change. I believe strongly in that, and the past is something I cannot change, so I believe in wholly accepting it and embracing it with inner peace, seeing it as perfect.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

I wasn’t given it personally, but my best advice comes from Ram Dass, as paraphrased by Mike Posner, and it’s only three words: “Just Love Everything.”

I have that tattooed on my right forearm, where I can see it every day.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

You have to be driven by something other than money. In my anecdotal experience and just from watching the world around me, I’ve found that those who desperately chase money are the least likely to find it. In contrast, when you work hard on yourself and your real dreams, the money chases you. Money and even health and physical fitness are only really ever a means, not an end in themselves. Without some kind of vision or passion to be the real end, the real goal, the real dream, it’s like driving a car with no gas.

When someone overvalues money itself, that person often tends to end up getting paid to work on someone else’s dream in exchange for money.

Meet The Shepreneur Behind The Cover Of The December 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Dr. Roya J. Hassad

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Award-winning anti-aging physician Dr. Roya J. Hassad has taken the world of cosmetic medicine by storm with her first-class, innovative and ingenious approach to beauty and wellness.

Dr. Hassad, an Educator, Speaker, and the Founder of Hope, Life, and Dream Centers—the most prominent Anti-Aging medical centers in New York, has adopted a streamlined, highly-effective approach to her craft known as The Five C’s: Comprehensive, Cutting-edge, Compassionate, Connected, and Concierge, which we will break down one by one in the following five paragraphs.

Dr. Hassad’s rise in her profession can be adduced to her insistence on delivering a comprehensive service for her clients, which entails conducting a complete and thorough evaluation of each patient individually.

Dr. Hassad’s medical procedures are replete with advanced, state-of-the-art cosmetics and aesthetics. These are inclusive of anti-aging solutions, integrative medicine, preventative care solutions. Dr. Hassad and her team’s focus has always been on ensuring that each patient has an option that works for them.

Compassion is at the forefront of Dr. Hassad’s medical practices. The good doctor has a heartwarming reputation as one of the most compassionate, friendly, and amiable doctors in the field today, a quality she has infused in her medical team.

The world has since gone digital, with virtual connections helping to shape a new reality. Dr. Hassad and her team have harnessed this connection to build an ever-connected world powered by digital technology. She and her team have created an extensive medical network—extending deep into the international medical community—with some industry pioneers in medical health centers. These connections help Dr. Hassad and her team to share ideas with other brilliant minds in the medical field.

Dr. Hassad and her team offer concierge services for clients from beginning to end. The group helps to facilitate some of the more challenging aspects of preventative and aesthetic care, from acquiring previous medical records to scheduling appointments with sub-specialists for unique treatments.

“We approach every client’s health 360-degrees while testing and going over a complete evaluation that ensures our services are effective and safe,” said Dr. Hassad. “We then leverage the most innovative, cutting-edge advanced technology in anti-aging and integrative medicine, including aesthetic and preventative care that is award-winning in nature. While all of this is happening, I oversee a compassionate relationship with the client that acknowledges their personal well-being. It’s this exact arrangement that makes what I do so rewarding to me – I wouldn’t change my job for anything else in the world.”

Dr. Hassad has treated numerous patients with hormone deficiency disorders related to aging, such as menopause or diabetes mellitus in her New York City-based clinic. She has also developed incredible treatments like Bioidentical Hormones, which mimic hormones found in the human body.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The August 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Steve Stanulis

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Steve Stanulis is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and the founder of Stanulis films who is currently adding to the revolution of the modern-day entertainment industry with his premium content and unmatched vision.

As the world continues to evolve digitally, high-speed internet connection has paved the way for the latest addition to the entertainment industry: streaming services that allow people to watch their favourite movies or shows online.

According to Action Elite magazine, Streaming services also brought about a significant impact on the roles of actors and actresses. They are no longer tied to major movie studios and productions exclusively. Rather, they can now earn through various online platforms because the advertisers in these digital channels pay them a certain fee to promote their products to their followers.

Leveraging this new wave of digital entertainment, Stanulis established Stanulis Films in 2019. His enterprise has already showcased early success, earning the award for “Best Documentary” in the New York Independent Film Festival for his documentary “Wasted Talent”.

Stanulis made a statement of intent with that documentary, alerting the entertainment world of his vision, creativity, and drive for triumph. Stanulis followed up this maiden success by bringing home the titles of “Best Drama” and “Best Ensemble Cast” with the hit 2020 film “5th Borough.” This casting award further lends credence to Stanulis’ creativity and a keen eye for detail in finding the right people for his films.

With longevity comes experience; with experience comes greater expertise. Stanulis didn’t appear from thin air to scoop up laurels. A former NYPD Officer and A-List Celebrity security guard, Stanulis honed his craft and garnered entertainment experience as a published and credited actor (starring in projects such as The Sopranos, The Interpreter, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry).

With his expertise, a wealth of experience, ability to develop and find talent, and work ethic, Stanulis has been successfully steering the wheels of his enterprise in the right direction, creating amazing content all while staying within minimum film budgets.

Stanulis is not resting on his laurels yet, for his drive for success is new every morning. Leveraging on the rising independent film industry, the filmmaker currently has 10 upcoming films in the works through 2022, and with his precedents draped in awards and laurels, viewers have reason to be excited, for first-class entertainment is on the way.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Steve to discuss his journey in the entertainment industry and here’s what went down:

Why Did You Decide To Be A Producer Above All Other Industry Job Roles?

I really enjoyed the business aspect of the entertainment industry. Being a producer allows you to run the show and make business decisions, which ultimately decide the success of the project.

What Was Your First Job In Film And How Did You Progress To Producer?

My first job in film was The Replacements with Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. I played Keanu’s backup quarterback and only had two lines, but I was hooked!

What do you look for in a script?

When reading a script, the genre, the dialogue, and character development are most important to me. Unfortunately, many writers fall short when it comes to character development.

How do you select a director?

I usually choose a director based on the genre of the film and their past success on prior projects. It’s also very important for us to be compatible and have the same creative vision.

Have you ever had to handle a difficult conflict in your career? What did you learn from it?

There have been many difficult conflicts, usually on the financial side. For instance, sometimes monies are counted on and at the last minute, investors don’t follow through. As a producer, you need to have a fallback plan and if for some reason you do not have enough time to raise the money, you have to decide where to cut the script where it doesn’t change the story.

What would you change in a movie you produced that you believe would make it better?

None- I have been blessed in the sense I have never looked back on a film or cast member and wished something was done differently.

What Film Projects Are You Working On Right Now?

We are currently shooting a project called “Monica”, starring Emily Browning and Patricia Clarkson. The film is about a transgender woman who comes home to take care of her sick mother, even though their relationship is estranged. We think the topic is timely and we are proud to be a part of this film.

Do you think it’s a good time to invest in films right now amidst this pandemic?

It’s never been a better time to invest in films, due to the fact when I first started in 1999, you either needed a theatrical release or a deal with Blockbuster. Now, there are so many platforms looking for new content. Therefore, it truly has never been a better time to have your work as a filmmaker distributed.

What Advice Would You Give To Those Hoping To Pursue A Career In Producing?

My advice would be to network, do your research, and try to find a mentor already in the business to help you learn the ins and outs. I’d also warn them that the journey is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. But if you stay motivated and remain tenacious, you will achieve all that you dream of!

Meet The Woman Behind The Cover Of The July 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Sue Turner

Posted on by Krissy

Photo Credit: Tony Palliser (Studio 49)

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Susan (Sue) Turner came from a wonderful family with a mother who was a head nurse and a beauty queen; her father loved to sing at weddings and was also known as an unbeaten famous boxer as well as a long-distance runner.

Sue has been married to Steven Turner for 31 years and together they have eight children who have grown up to be amazing adults. She’s also a proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren and has been a French bulldog breeder for 15 years. Her main profession is in the beauty industry – she runs her own beauty salon.

When Sue was only seven years old, she won the little miss MS multiple sclerosis pageant; this started her journey towards her passion as a beauty queen. From there, she worked tirelessly with her mother in many charities. In fact, her charity hours amount to around 60.000 hours and she has raised over $100,000.00 in 2018/2019 through various car shows. Some of the charities she supports include Domestic violence association Sydney, MS multiple sclerosis, Child’s vision Australia, Breast cancer foundation, Wesley mission, Salvation Army, Cystic fibrosis foundation, Starlight foundation, and Destiny Rescue.

She is the director for the “I hear voices” parent support form for addiction and has worked alongside the justice system to help prevent criminal activities. She also has her own show car – a Subaru WRX my05. This car has been used in the event to raise much-needed money at various car shows around Australia.

Sue is a global mentor within the pageant industry to all beauty queens worldwide as a featured public figure influencer. She has also won many awards as a beauty queen including Mrs. Earth Air Australia 2017, Mrs. International Global Australia 2018, Mrs. international Global Australia 2018, Humanitarian International 2018, Woman of the World 2018 and AGSA’s International Beauty Queen of the year 2019.

Sue’s passion has led her worldwide, seeing firsthand many disturbing events such as famine and disease. Because of that, she helps many other situations around the world. Sue is currently the CEO of GEQ (Global Elite Queens) magazine and her vision is to give voice to those who inspire to become the best they can in their industry. MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Sue Turner to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

As a young girl, I grew up in the outback of Western Australia in 1979. My father as a youngster was a barber in the army and my mother was a nurse and an outstanding figure in her community. After school I was offered a part-time job, working in a hair salon. On weekends I worked at the local vets. I then decided after a few years that a job in the beauty industry would be my call. My parents then sent me to Victoria and set me up with an apprenticeship in hairdressing where I gained work at one of Victoria’s most prestigious hair salons then later at Bogart’s. At the time, Bogarts became my doorway to runway modeling. And then by accident, we were short of models at a fashion event in St Kilda Melbourne so I was asked to fill in, and this led to an exciting new venture into glamour and fashion.

For many years I enjoyed the limelight until I decided to take on another degree, a university degree in skin therapy. This led to an opportunity to run my own business in the beauty industry. My degree is grade 1 level esthetician skin therapist. For 22 years I owned my business growing and building a foundation with an outstanding perspective in the beauty industry. I maintained my business by being a leader in my field and also in a growing dominant industry by developing and growing my brand and sharing my platform to create a future I have passed onto my 2 daughters.

My business has reached its target in achieving what I’d set out to do and that’s to be able to share this wonderful opportunity with my own daughters giving them both the strategies and the opportunity to support their own business in the future with absolute success.

My daughter Alycia is now an internationally recognised Sfx makeup artist with her own brand and my youngest daughter became an international beauty queen also giving her the incentive to become a partner in the beauty industry.

Why do you think social media is important in business?

Being active in social media can lead to attracting customers, allowing you to get customer feedback and building customer loyalty. It can also help increase your market reach, including international markets and increase revenue by building customer networks and advertising.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

As we all are suffering at the hands of the pandemic, we all have had to make a few changes in the way we run our businesses. Sadly there have been drastic changes in our industry with a loss in revenue. This has been the hardest decision I’ve had to face in over 22 years. Many people are in the same situation as me and these are tough times ahead for us all.

What new venture would you like to start?

I’m looking at expanding my horizons on a new venture working with missing persons. I have a current platform with crimes against humanity missing persons in Australia. This platform will enable me to work with the crime task forces in seeking closure for many families. Recently, last November, I was awarded the Mother Teresa award at the Australian parliament for her work with missing persons.

If you could go back in a time machine what would you do differently?

I love who I am so I do not think I’d do anything different. I’ve succeeded in the pathway I chose based on a future I envisioned for myself. I basically accomplished what I feel is a successful venture from a woman’s point of view. My target was to pass on my legacy to my children and in saying that, I’ve successfully done just that. Mission complete.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To never say never and always be one step ahead. Follow your heart and your dreams and it will eventually work out. Stick to your plan and do not look back because the future is yours. My advice to others ia be to remember who you are – no one can do or appreciate what you yourself has to offer. Be yourself and be content In who you are.

What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

If you have a dream, follow it and do not be afraid as fear can take over so many baby steps one step at a time. Be vigilant – my all-time favourite saying is to be your own kind of beautiful.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The June 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Aaron Villa

Posted on by Krissy

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Aaron Villa is a crypto analyst and a self-made millionaire – he’s the founder and CEO of A1PHA Trading & Investing. He is a cryptocurrency trader and blockchain expert, certified by the blockchain council. He has been a crypto coach since 2017 and is deeply knowledgeable. He has created multiple courses, formed mastermind groups, and shared a lot of informational tools and tips regarding cryptocurrency.

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Aaron to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

I first realized my entrepreneurial flair when I was in college, I got involved with a lot of networking businesses. Also, I watched my parents build and grow their business as a child which influenced me to become an entrepreneur. When I became a Registered Nurse in the USA two years into my career I realized that it was not for me and that I did not want to work for someone else. I wanted my freedom and to be able to do the things I want to do whenever I wanted.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

Before becoming an entrepreneur I was working full time as a Registered Nurse. I did 12-hour shifts 3-4 times a week. On top of that, I also began my MSN degree to become an Acute Nurse Practitioner. And on my free time, I worked on learning and educating myself everything about investing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

As an entrepreneur, I am motivated to prove to myself constantly that I can be successful in all aspects of life. Achieving those goals and growing as a person.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.

Exciting. My life as an entrepreneur has been exciting because every day I wake up knowing that I am going to do something I love and am passionate about. I get excited to create new things, connect with new people, see new places, and learn along the way. It also excites me to know that I can also spend more time with my family more as I pursue these things.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

1. Freedom to be able to handle my own time.

2. Passion, which allowed me to work day in and day out without getting tired.

3. To be able to create my own future by following my own timeline and pursuing all the goals that I set out to do.

What do you put your success down to?

My success is because of my passion, dedication, and consistency. Also having the right mindset and the right partner (my wife) who constantly guides me throughout my journey.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

The three elements to running a successful business are first of all loving what you do, valuing relationships with people, and remembering your why. I also believe that the more you give, the more opportunities and blessings that come back to you. So giving back to your community is also important.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge at first was lack of time and dealing with uncertainties.

When I started A1PHA trading and investing I was also still working as a Nurse. I enjoyed teaching clients about cryptocurrency but I didn’t put much time in. Instead of focusing on doing what I wanted, I had to fulfill my responsibilities at my job. I was a bit uncertain about going all-in with my business because I was used to having a steady income coming in monthly as a Nurse. But as soon as I took that leap of faith to grow and really focus on my business, that’s when I realized that I could actually do this and quit my job. And so far I don’t regret my decision and I never looked back.

Does the loneliness of the entrepreneur really exist?

Yes, it can be lonely at times, but being alone while doing what you are passionate about can be addicting because I can spend countless hours doing what I love without any distractions.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?

Leadership lessons that I’ve learned are to delegate by outsourcing, managing your time wisely, and learning how to take breaks.

I want to see more small businesses being started and being successful because I myself support small local businesses. I find that in a way, I am contributing to my community and helping another individual no matter how big or small.

You can follow Aaron on Instagram via these links: Alpha Trading I Aaron Villa