December 10, 2025 • 25 mins
A revolution, a cross-continental leap, and a career built one cold call at a time—Monica Richmond’s story shows how resilience and faith can turn uncertainty into lasting impact.
We dive into the disciplines that sustained her success: integrity as a daily operating system, financial stewardship as a strategy for freedom, and generosity as a source of joy. She also unpacks the reality of cold calling and rejection, why “failing forward” is a skill, and how mentors and peers reduce the loneliness that often shadows independent work.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:06):
Welcome to the Leader Impact Podcast.
We are a community of leaderswith a network in over 350
cities around the worlddedicated to optimizing our
personal, professional, andspiritual lives to have impact.
This show is where we have achance to listen and engage with
leaders who are living this out.
We love talking with leaders, soif you have any questions,
comments, or suggestions to makethis show even better, please
let us know.
(00:26):
The best way to stay connectedin Canada is through our
newsletter at Leaderimpact.ca oron social at LeaderImpact.
And if you're listening fromoutside of Canada, check out our
website at leaderimpact.com.
I'm your host, Lisa Peters, andour guest today is Monica
Richmond.
Monica is the proud daughter ofHungarian immigrants who fled
Budapest during the HungarianRevolution of 1956, seeking
(00:48):
freedom from Soviet occupation.
Growing up in a Hungarianhousehold, Monica was deeply
influenced by her parents'resilience, determination, and
courage.
Her frequent trips back toHungary allowed her to stay
connected to her heritage whilefostering a global perspective.
Her parents instilled in her thevalues of independence, hard
work, and perseverance, thequalities that would shape her
(01:09):
life and career.
In 1998, Monica embarked on agroundbreaking journey in the
financial credit card paymentprocessing industry.
That year she founded her owncorporation, a decision that
marked the beginning of aremarkable 27-year career.
Over the years, Monica has builtand managed multiple client
portfolios, representing over250 million annually in
(01:31):
transaction processing.
Monica attributes her businessgrowth and resilience to her
commitment to biblicalprinciples in business and
generosity, financialstewardship, and unwavering
determination never to give up.
Losing my voice, Monica.
Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (01:46):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (01:48):
Thank you.
In your bio, I I'm not where youreside, people would love to
know.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
Okay.
I I live currently in Atlanta,Georgia, in the United States.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (01:58):
Yeah.
Well, thank you for joining ushere today.
I'm excited to hear more.
Just being raised in Hungary, inHung in Hungary, having that and
keep going back.
And so I'm excited to begin.
So I'm I'm just going to start.
We want to hear about a littlebit about your journey.
And really we want to, you know,pack it down to those pivotal
(02:20):
moments because you know, weknow that those are turning
points in our lives, and we'dlove to hear more about yours.
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
Thank you.
Well, thank you for having me.
It's an honor to be on here withyou.
Thanks for asking.
So, yes, for sure.
Should I should I answer alittle bit?
Okay.
Well, basically, I do have aHungarian history, a very strong
one.
My parents did uh escape in 1956with the Russian Revolution when
(02:48):
the uh Soviets occupied Hungary.
There was a revolution in 56 ofthe youth in Budapest, and many,
many thousands were able toescape at that time, and my
parents were one of them.
So I was very grateful for thatbecause I was born here in 64
and went back many times tovisit my family, and all of my
family reside there even today.
(03:11):
Yes, and so I have credited mymy parents many times because of
their courageous, courageousnessto escape a country.
Um, you know, a lot of us wedon't even we can't even
conceive of that.
I can't even conceive of that.
And uh so I'm really gratefulfor and I'm proud of them for
(03:32):
having done that.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
Yeah.
And would you ever do you havesomething in your life, like I
mean, that is so big and that isa pivotal moment in your
parents' life?
Like, do you have something thatyou would even consider?
I mean, and it it's tough,right?
Because that's big.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
That's big.
SPEAKER_00 (03:48):
Yeah.
Is there anything in your lifethat has been pivotal in your
career that you look back?
I mean, in 19, was it 1998, youembarked on a groundbreaking
journey?
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (03:59):
Definitely.
Yeah.
Well, you know, I think for me,uh, what was the most pivotal is
losing my parents uh in in themid-90s.
And um, you know, I I did notmarry until later in life.
I actually stayed single until Iwas 50.
It was a big part of my story.
So my first marriage was when Iwas 50.
(04:20):
Um, but when I lost my parentswithin three years of each
other, that left me alone in theUnited States.
And that was 1992 and 1995.
And, you know, I kind of had achoice.
I was probably the biggestpivotal moment of my life.
I had a choice of what was gonnahappen to me at that moment.
(04:41):
You know, uh the world got verybig, much bigger than me.
You know, I ended up alone inthe United States, a country,
um, and because my family wasall back in the United States,
and that is when the most thebiggest pivotal time for me
began.
And in my career, my careerstarted in 1998.
unknown (05:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (05:03):
So, you know, I was just, you know, I don't have a
college degree.
Uh, I don't, I didn't have thatopportunity, you know.
I um really the success that Ihave, I have to say I have to
give, you know, the credit to myGod for that, and we can talk
about that a whole lot morethroughout.
Um, you know, but it was it wasuh a time where I feel like he
(05:27):
caught me and he headed me andpointed me in the right
direction, and I just chose togo that way, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (05:34):
So when when this happens and you're alone in the
country and your family is otherfamilies back in Hungary, who do
you who did you surroundyourself with at that point that
continued to uplift you?
Yeah, like who were thosepeople?
Because it the world is lonelyand leadership can be lonely.
SPEAKER_01 (05:51):
Very, very, very so at that time I moved from New
Jersey, because that's Rose Fromto Atlanta by myself.
And um, you know, that isactually the turning point of my
faith story when I moved here in1995, I guess.
(06:11):
Um, and I started to have reallygood community.
God put amazing people aroundme.
Um, and and that was through mychurch, you know, at that time,
and I just met fantastic friendsand they just started
surrounding me.
So it was there is a scripturein the Bible that says, you
know, God puts the lonely infamilies, and that's exactly
(06:32):
what happened to me.
So um I look back now, and uhthose people that I was
surrounded with were strong,very strong believers, and they
were very strong in theircareers.
And um, you know, they justburdened me up.
That they just they providedwhat I needed and surrounded me
with with we are so made forcommunity.
(06:54):
We are so not made for uh livinga life alone and on an island.
You know, we are definitely madefor community, even if we don't
know we're made for community.
So um, you know, I'm just youknow, that is my story.
I just felt like I just kind ofallowed myself to be surrounded
by people, and it helped.
SPEAKER_00 (07:16):
Yeah, great.
Thank you for sharing the powerof community, the power of
showing up people on both sides.
People will show up for you,show up for others.
Yeah.
Thank you for sharing that.
Uh I want to talk a little bitmore about principles of
success.
Um, if you have one and tell usa story that illustrates this.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Oh my gosh, there's so many principles of success.
I mean, they're really just notas one.
It's that was a hard question.
I thought, hmm, okay.
Um well, I think integrity is avery large principle of success.
I feel like um I feel like, youknow, through the years of a
career working with people, um,you know, even in personal
(07:58):
relationships, I I feel likegrowing emotionally, um, along
with spiritually, along withbusiness, um, along with
understanding um how to navigatethis broken world really, is
integrity.
And um, you know, for mepersonally, I felt I feel like
(08:20):
through the years and stilltoday, because I still manage my
portfolios with customers and Icare for them.
And um, you know, I I reallywatch and make sure that the
companies that I represent don'tgouge them, you know.
Um, I'm doing things in thebackground that they don't even
(08:40):
know I'm doing.
You know, they don't know howuh, you know, I watch their
accounts and I watch and makesure that they are um, you know,
being treated fairly, beingtreated well.
And uh I think that that line ofintegrity can go through so many
areas of your life, and I feellike that's probably the largest
(09:01):
principle, well, you know, oneof the largest principles, you
know, I feel like that I havegrown in through the years.
Because I feel like God honorsthat, you know, when you honor
truthfulness, really, in the waythat you work.
unknown (09:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:18):
Have you have you ever had a worst-case scenario
where you've had to pull andlike something bad happens,
something bad was gonna happen,you didn't trust you something
in your heart was sayingsomething's wrong.
SPEAKER_01 (09:30):
Many, many, many, many, many, many times like
that, yes.
Um and and you know, honestywith um with my customers have
been like one of my largestthings too.
So uh, and that's they follow meeverywhere because of that.
Yeah, you know, they realizethat if there is honesty, you
(09:51):
know, with me, they can trustme.
They don't even they don't evenpay attention to competitors.
I mean, there I have customersthat have been with me for 20
years.
Wow.
You know, and they just they'renot paying attention to
competitors because they knowthat I will have their back.
And that is so important, youknow, such an important
principle, for sure.
(10:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:12):
Too many times we get caught up in the the goal of
more money, more more you know,but take care of the ones you
have, yes, and you will you willgrow.
SPEAKER_01 (10:22):
Even if it's at a little bit of a loss to
yourself, and that that's thething.
I I think that you know, if ifyou if you make sure that you
are caring for your customers,and and not even customers, just
anybody you work with.
I mean, you can take this andapply this to any section of
business that you're in.
And even if you know that theremight be a little bit of loss to
(10:44):
yourself, but if it's the rightthing to do for them, you you
know, it will be made up ahundredfold in your own life.
You know, it's just calledsacrifice, you know, which which
we are able to do.
So, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:59):
Good comment.
All right.
Well, uh, our next questiontalks about our our failures,
and I think many of us know welearn more from our failures and
mistakes than our own successes.
So if you have one, you couldshare and a story that
illustrates it.
SPEAKER_01 (11:11):
Okay.
Um, you know, I think that thefailure, I would say, uh, you
know, I don't even know if Icall it a failure.
You know, I love the termfailing forward.
Um, you know, failing forward tome is is how you make it work.
I I feel like not being scaredof being making mistakes, making
(11:34):
mistakes, going forth, takingchances, you know, things like
that is is you know the key, Ifeel like, to growth.
And um, you know, and I thinkfor me, myself, um, you know, I
I built my business on coldcalling.
I mean, straight cold calling.
And I made so many mistakes, youknow, through that time.
(11:58):
And I had a lot of failure.
I mean, a lot of failure,rejection, you know, I I would
say that, you know, learningfrom all those mistakes on how I
communicated made me better, youknow, and the whole thing was
not quitting, um, because itit's really that.
(12:22):
It's like if if you go forth ona certain path and you
constantly are falling, wellthat, and you know that that's a
path that God has you on.
You you don't you don't sitdown, you know, you don't you
don't quit.
You you just keep going, youlearn what you just, you know,
what what you m made a mistake,okay, don't don't do it like
(12:43):
this, don't do it like that, youknow, don't beat yourself up in
it, yeah, and just keep movingforward, you know, because
eventually things break through,you know, with persistence.
So that's a big one for me.
If that, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (12:58):
That's awesome.
Sometimes we s we we sit in thesuck.
Yes, yes, well in it.
Yeah, yes.
Yeah.
Cold calling is so hard.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Oh my gosh.
Did it for 30 years.
I mean, you know.
Yeah.
Still today.
I mean, you know, and I feellike, you know, a lot of times,
uh, well, it it is one thing athing that is has a paper wall
in front of you of fear.
Cold calling is that that'sreally what it is.
Like every day you have to justkind of break through, you know,
(13:30):
and you know, and I don't evendo it every day.
I mean, yeah, I don't do itevery day anymore, but I used to
when I had to pay my bills andmake a sale and eat, make a sale
and eat, you know.
Um, but it is a paper wall offear that holds a lot of people
back from doing things that arethat they're called to do,
really.
SPEAKER_00 (13:48):
Did you ever surround yourself that did you
have a coach at the time whenyou were going through the cold
calling?
Because I mean it's you gottacall someone and just someone
needs to pump you up.
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yes.
And when you're in sales andyou're an independent contractor
like myself, it's a lonely worldout there.
There's no that, you know, ifyou have a team that's awesome.
If you don't have a team, you'reby yourself.
Um, you know, I always made surethat I had at least, you know,
uh people that that I wouldtrusted that I worked with
(14:20):
either they were co-workers thatthat did the same thing as I
did, or somebody further along.
I think it is so vital to havesomebody that's further along in
your career and spiritually andevery way that can that can be
there as a mentor for sure.
And so, yes, I had a lot of thatthrough the years.
For sure, I leaned a lot onthem.
(14:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:42):
Well, that definitely leads into my next
question about at Leader Impact.
We want to grow personally,professionally, and spiritually
for increasing impact.
So, um, and we're talking aboutteams, and that's that's one of
the things I love about uhleader impact is having a team
of people to surround myself.
But I'm wondering if you'rewilling to share an example of
how the spiritual makes apractical difference in your
(15:03):
life as well.
SPEAKER_01 (15:04):
Oh gosh, yes.
Um, I mean, gosh, I think theintegration of your spiritual
walk into the practical everysingle day is the key to a life
fully lived in your purpose.
Um, I think that eventually, Ithink people grow in it.
(15:25):
I grew in it, you know, I didn'tquite get that, you know, uh at
first, but I think that as yougrow in your life, you know, you
grow older, um, you havechildren, get married, stepkids,
so much, so many blended family.
I'm in a blended family.
So, you know, um it is it is itis vital to have a spiritual
(15:50):
relationship uh with yoursavior, uh with your God, to
help you make decisions thatneed to be made, you know, lead
you in the right direction uhwhen you don't know which way to
go.
I mean, that's uh promises inthe the word all through it.
And so um and he he shows up.
(16:11):
He totally shows up, and that'sthat's that's been beautiful.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Can't live without it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:18):
How do you I and I and I'm I ask this because I'm
just taking a a course, and it'speople from across Canada, we've
signed up, we go at noon,hearing God.
How do you know?
Um, because you say, you know,every day, and you grew into it,
and I I feel like every day I'min the word.
And what I mean by that is I I Itake this scripture, I'm I'm
(16:39):
diving in, I'm like, what doesthis mean for me, my leadership?
But for you, how are you hearingGod when you're in a situation
and you know, failure?
And it's like, but how do youhear God?
SPEAKER_01 (16:51):
Um, well, I pull myself aside, uh, for sure.
And uh prayer is the number onething.
Uh, I think the communicationand a relationship with God is
the number one thing,cultivating as you as you just
mentioned, you do, um, spendingtime.
I think his love line, I believehis love language is quality
(17:13):
time.
Um and um so I spent a lot oftime, you know, just definitely
pulling aside and you know,getting away from this, if you
can see it.
Oh no, she's right here.
Yeah, getting away from that,shutting that down, quieting
(17:33):
yourself, um, you know,surrendering, you know, your own
desires, your own thoughts, um,trusting him in all of your
ways, meaning not on your ownunderstanding, allowing him to
straighten your path.
Yeah, boy, that is a big thing,and and that takes practice.
And then he talks in differentways through different seasons
(17:55):
of our lives.
So we might have heard him oneway for many years, and then all
of a sudden he wants you to growin another area and he starts
talking to you in some otherway.
Yeah, and you have to reallytrust him again, you know, to
hear him in a new way.
Yeah, but he's always talkingand he's always speaking to us
because he lives in us.
(18:15):
And um, it's a matter of us justquieting our own minds and
connecting with him.
unknown (18:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
100%.
SPEAKER_00 (18:22):
I I think my biggest question was I don't know if
I've ever heard an audiblevoice, right?
And not everyone does.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (18:30):
You know, you'll hear it through, you know, going
to church.
Uh you might hear it.
You might hear it through a umuh the this the sermon that is
being shared.
You might hear it throughthere's so many ways that God
speaks to you.
And I think we think, or orpeople who may not have faith,
think, but I don't hear him.
I don't know.
Um and I I think uh one of thethings I think is uh um God's
(18:55):
God's not the person that saysyou're not good enough.
That's the other one.
SPEAKER_01 (18:59):
That's exactly right.
SPEAKER_00 (19:00):
God loves you.
Yes, God speaks good words, likegood ones.
SPEAKER_01 (19:04):
Yeah, yes, yeah, and peace is a big one.
SPEAKER_00 (19:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (19:08):
Uh and you know, and understanding the principles of
the Bible, you know, I mean, hetalks that way.
I mean, so you know, definitelyreading the word has been a big
thing in my life andunderstanding stewardship.
And things that I'm I I areimportant to me are financial
stewardship.
So I've studied that.
And Proverbs, you know, I'vestudied it.
(19:30):
And I mean, the Bible is thevoice of God, one of the voices,
but a big voice of God for us.
So, you know, once we learnthose principles and the way
that he speaks about thosethings, we know that's part of
his talking, you know, and andpeace, he is a God of peace, his
wisdom comes through peace.
So, you know, do we have peaceabout this decision?
(19:51):
I mean, I have literallywritten, written like one column
about a tough decision, one ofthe of this way, and then a
column going that way.
You know what I mean?
Like two two different decisionsin the problem.
And praying over those decisionsand praying over those columns,
saying, Okay, where am I havingpeace?
Follow your peace.
(20:12):
Yeah, you know, it's Colossians3, 10, I believe.
Follow your peace, you know, andand and he he he's very faithful
in that.
So there's so many differentways.
You're right, very differentways.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
I find that um sometimes when I can't quiet
myself, I write.
And I just I keep writing untilI hear something.
Yes, and I feel good.
I I I don't know.
I I might my I struggle for thequiet time.
So if I if I write it, we alldo.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (20:41):
So that's so good.
Journaling is so good.
It's so good for somebody, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:46):
Oh, thanks for sharing that.
I I just I'd love to talk aboutit and see how other people.
Yeah, it makes me feel so good.
So um at Leader Impact, we'reabout leaders having a lasting
impact.
So as you continue to movethrough your journey, and it
sounds absolutely beautiful, um,have you considered what you
want your faith legacy to bewhen you leave this world?
SPEAKER_01 (21:06):
Oh, definitely.
Um, yes, I uh, you know, mybiggest thing is I would love to
be known for my generosity andfor wisdom and integrity.
Um, those three things, youknow, um the generosity of
heart, generosity of time,generosity of finances, a
generous person, you know, um,wisdom, and that wisdom comes
(21:30):
through the word of God forsure.
Um, just growing in the word ofGod, um, aligning your life with
these principles makes you wise.
Um, you know, determining whoyou hang around.
That's you know makes you wise.
And then integrity we alreadytalked about.
So those those are really thelegacy that I would really like
(21:52):
to leave.
Somebody asked me this questionjust two weeks ago, and I had an
opportunity to really thinkthrough it.
Yeah, and that is definitely thethree top things I feel like.
SPEAKER_00 (22:04):
Well, just listening to you and spending this last
you know 20 minutes with you, Iyou're living this right now.
So it's not, you know, it's sobeautiful because it's not
something I hope to leave.
I'm living it.
SPEAKER_01 (22:15):
Yeah, that's what we want.
SPEAKER_00 (22:17):
And I think that's an important question is yes,
great, when you leave, I wantpeople to do that, but are you
living it?
That's right.
And just that's exactly right.
You know, you talked aboutintegrity, talked about
surrounding ourselves.
So awesome.
So what brings you the greatestjoy?
That is my final question foryou.
SPEAKER_01 (22:35):
Oh my gosh.
I think generosity, honestly.
I feel I really do feel likethat.
I feel like when when you hearfrom God to meet it, uh when you
hear from God about something,meaning like when you're feeling
let.
Um like when you see a need andyou can meet that need, and you
know that it was God, becausethe joy comes when you're
(22:58):
obedient.
And the joy fills your heart andyour spirit and your soul.
And that's I think my greatestjoy.
I mean, honestly.
Um, I love, I love, I lovelistening.
Uh, I love being generous, and Imake a point of it, um, growing
growing in it, because I feellike it's someplace that people
(23:19):
can grow, grow, grow, grow,grow, grow into generosity.
I feel like there's a capacitythat you know that can just
build as we go.
And um, and that I feel like isprobably the thing that brings
me the most joy, honestly.
And that and a beach, you know.
But you know.
SPEAKER_00 (23:40):
Oh, I love it.
Laura, thank you for spendingthis time with me.
I know that you it was uh it'ssometimes we are so busy, so I
just so appreciate that you takea little bit of time on your day
to share with us and ourlisteners.
SPEAKER_01 (23:54):
Wow, it was a pleasure meeting you.
It was an honor meeting you,really.
Thank you for asking me.
Oh, well.
SPEAKER_00 (24:01):
I I show up here because I just I want to hear
the stories and I just want toshare them.
And it just makes me feel sogood.
So I I hope people walk awaywith you know more understanding
of their faith.
And that is it is a dailyintention to, you know, daily go
to the Bible, daily surroundyourself, daily act with
integrity.
(24:21):
Um if people want to find you,if they want to engage with you,
what would be the best way?
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
Um, they can definitely go to LinkedIn and
it's under Monica Richmond, andit's Richmond, uh, like the you
know, the city, Richmond with anO.
Um, yeah, you're welcome to goto LinkedIn and message me, you
know, and I'll check and yeah,no problem.
Anytime.
unknown (24:42):
All right.
SPEAKER_00 (24:43):
Well, thank you again for joining us, Monica.
SPEAKER_01 (24:45):
All right, thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00 (24:46):
All right.
Well, if you're part of LeaderImpact, you can always discuss
or share this podcast with yourgroup.
And if you are not yet part ofLeader Impact and would love to
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You can also check out groupsavailable in Canada at
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(25:07):
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Thank you for engaging with us,and remember, impact starts with
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Welcome to the Leader Impact Podcast.
We are a community of leaderswith a network in over 350
cities around the worlddedicated to optimizing our
personal, professional, andspiritual lives to have impact.
This show is where we have achance to listen and engage with
leaders who are living this out.
We love talking with leaders, soif you have any questions,
comments, or suggestions to makethis show even better, please
let us know.
(00:26):
The best way to stay connectedin Canada is through our
newsletter at Leaderimpact.ca oron social at LeaderImpact.
And if you're listening fromoutside of Canada, check out our
website at leaderimpact.com.
I'm your host, Lisa Peters, andour guest today is Monica
Richmond.
Monica is the proud daughter ofHungarian immigrants who fled
Budapest during the HungarianRevolution of 1956, seeking
(00:48):
freedom from Soviet occupation.
Growing up in a Hungarianhousehold, Monica was deeply
influenced by her parents'resilience, determination, and
courage.
Her frequent trips back toHungary allowed her to stay
connected to her heritage whilefostering a global perspective.
Her parents instilled in her thevalues of independence, hard
work, and perseverance, thequalities that would shape her
(01:09):
life and career.
In 1998, Monica embarked on agroundbreaking journey in the
financial credit card paymentprocessing industry.
That year she founded her owncorporation, a decision that
marked the beginning of aremarkable 27-year career.
Over the years, Monica has builtand managed multiple client
portfolios, representing over250 million annually in
(01:31):
transaction processing.
Monica attributes her businessgrowth and resilience to her
commitment to biblicalprinciples in business and
generosity, financialstewardship, and unwavering
determination never to give up.
Losing my voice, Monica.
Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (01:46):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (01:48):
Thank you.
In your bio, I I'm not where youreside, people would love to
know.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
Okay.
I I live currently in Atlanta,Georgia, in the United States.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (01:58):
Yeah.
Well, thank you for joining ushere today.
I'm excited to hear more.
Just being raised in Hungary, inHung in Hungary, having that and
keep going back.
And so I'm excited to begin.
So I'm I'm just going to start.
We want to hear about a littlebit about your journey.
And really we want to, you know,pack it down to those pivotal
(02:20):
moments because you know, weknow that those are turning
points in our lives, and we'dlove to hear more about yours.
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
Thank you.
Well, thank you for having me.
It's an honor to be on here withyou.
Thanks for asking.
So, yes, for sure.
Should I should I answer alittle bit?
Okay.
Well, basically, I do have aHungarian history, a very strong
one.
My parents did uh escape in 1956with the Russian Revolution when
(02:48):
the uh Soviets occupied Hungary.
There was a revolution in 56 ofthe youth in Budapest, and many,
many thousands were able toescape at that time, and my
parents were one of them.
So I was very grateful for thatbecause I was born here in 64
and went back many times tovisit my family, and all of my
family reside there even today.
(03:11):
Yes, and so I have credited mymy parents many times because of
their courageous, courageousnessto escape a country.
Um, you know, a lot of us wedon't even we can't even
conceive of that.
I can't even conceive of that.
And uh so I'm really gratefulfor and I'm proud of them for
(03:32):
having done that.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
Yeah.
And would you ever do you havesomething in your life, like I
mean, that is so big and that isa pivotal moment in your
parents' life?
Like, do you have something thatyou would even consider?
I mean, and it it's tough,right?
Because that's big.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
That's big.
SPEAKER_00 (03:48):
Yeah.
Is there anything in your lifethat has been pivotal in your
career that you look back?
I mean, in 19, was it 1998, youembarked on a groundbreaking
journey?
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (03:59):
Definitely.
Yeah.
Well, you know, I think for me,uh, what was the most pivotal is
losing my parents uh in in themid-90s.
And um, you know, I I did notmarry until later in life.
I actually stayed single until Iwas 50.
It was a big part of my story.
So my first marriage was when Iwas 50.
(04:20):
Um, but when I lost my parentswithin three years of each
other, that left me alone in theUnited States.
And that was 1992 and 1995.
And, you know, I kind of had achoice.
I was probably the biggestpivotal moment of my life.
I had a choice of what was gonnahappen to me at that moment.
(04:41):
You know, uh the world got verybig, much bigger than me.
You know, I ended up alone inthe United States, a country,
um, and because my family wasall back in the United States,
and that is when the most thebiggest pivotal time for me
began.
And in my career, my careerstarted in 1998.
unknown (05:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (05:03):
So, you know, I was just, you know, I don't have a
college degree.
Uh, I don't, I didn't have thatopportunity, you know.
I um really the success that Ihave, I have to say I have to
give, you know, the credit to myGod for that, and we can talk
about that a whole lot morethroughout.
Um, you know, but it was it wasuh a time where I feel like he
(05:27):
caught me and he headed me andpointed me in the right
direction, and I just chose togo that way, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (05:34):
So when when this happens and you're alone in the
country and your family is otherfamilies back in Hungary, who do
you who did you surroundyourself with at that point that
continued to uplift you?
Yeah, like who were thosepeople?
Because it the world is lonelyand leadership can be lonely.
SPEAKER_01 (05:51):
Very, very, very so at that time I moved from New
Jersey, because that's Rose Fromto Atlanta by myself.
And um, you know, that isactually the turning point of my
faith story when I moved here in1995, I guess.
(06:11):
Um, and I started to have reallygood community.
God put amazing people aroundme.
Um, and and that was through mychurch, you know, at that time,
and I just met fantastic friendsand they just started
surrounding me.
So it was there is a scripturein the Bible that says, you
know, God puts the lonely infamilies, and that's exactly
(06:32):
what happened to me.
So um I look back now, and uhthose people that I was
surrounded with were strong,very strong believers, and they
were very strong in theircareers.
And um, you know, they justburdened me up.
That they just they providedwhat I needed and surrounded me
with with we are so made forcommunity.
(06:54):
We are so not made for uh livinga life alone and on an island.
You know, we are definitely madefor community, even if we don't
know we're made for community.
So um, you know, I'm just youknow, that is my story.
I just felt like I just kind ofallowed myself to be surrounded
by people, and it helped.
SPEAKER_00 (07:16):
Yeah, great.
Thank you for sharing the powerof community, the power of
showing up people on both sides.
People will show up for you,show up for others.
Yeah.
Thank you for sharing that.
Uh I want to talk a little bitmore about principles of
success.
Um, if you have one and tell usa story that illustrates this.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Oh my gosh, there's so many principles of success.
I mean, they're really just notas one.
It's that was a hard question.
I thought, hmm, okay.
Um well, I think integrity is avery large principle of success.
I feel like um I feel like, youknow, through the years of a
career working with people, um,you know, even in personal
(07:58):
relationships, I I feel likegrowing emotionally, um, along
with spiritually, along withbusiness, um, along with
understanding um how to navigatethis broken world really, is
integrity.
And um, you know, for mepersonally, I felt I feel like
(08:20):
through the years and stilltoday, because I still manage my
portfolios with customers and Icare for them.
And um, you know, I I reallywatch and make sure that the
companies that I represent don'tgouge them, you know.
Um, I'm doing things in thebackground that they don't even
(08:40):
know I'm doing.
You know, they don't know howuh, you know, I watch their
accounts and I watch and makesure that they are um, you know,
being treated fairly, beingtreated well.
And uh I think that that line ofintegrity can go through so many
areas of your life, and I feellike that's probably the largest
(09:01):
principle, well, you know, oneof the largest principles, you
know, I feel like that I havegrown in through the years.
Because I feel like God honorsthat, you know, when you honor
truthfulness, really, in the waythat you work.
unknown (09:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:18):
Have you have you ever had a worst-case scenario
where you've had to pull andlike something bad happens,
something bad was gonna happen,you didn't trust you something
in your heart was sayingsomething's wrong.
SPEAKER_01 (09:30):
Many, many, many, many, many, many times like
that, yes.
Um and and you know, honestywith um with my customers have
been like one of my largestthings too.
So uh, and that's they follow meeverywhere because of that.
Yeah, you know, they realizethat if there is honesty, you
(09:51):
know, with me, they can trustme.
They don't even they don't evenpay attention to competitors.
I mean, there I have customersthat have been with me for 20
years.
Wow.
You know, and they just they'renot paying attention to
competitors because they knowthat I will have their back.
And that is so important, youknow, such an important
principle, for sure.
(10:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:12):
Too many times we get caught up in the the goal of
more money, more more you know,but take care of the ones you
have, yes, and you will you willgrow.
SPEAKER_01 (10:22):
Even if it's at a little bit of a loss to
yourself, and that that's thething.
I I think that you know, if ifyou if you make sure that you
are caring for your customers,and and not even customers, just
anybody you work with.
I mean, you can take this andapply this to any section of
business that you're in.
And even if you know that theremight be a little bit of loss to
(10:44):
yourself, but if it's the rightthing to do for them, you you
know, it will be made up ahundredfold in your own life.
You know, it's just calledsacrifice, you know, which which
we are able to do.
So, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:59):
Good comment.
All right.
Well, uh, our next questiontalks about our our failures,
and I think many of us know welearn more from our failures and
mistakes than our own successes.
So if you have one, you couldshare and a story that
illustrates it.
SPEAKER_01 (11:11):
Okay.
Um, you know, I think that thefailure, I would say, uh, you
know, I don't even know if Icall it a failure.
You know, I love the termfailing forward.
Um, you know, failing forward tome is is how you make it work.
I I feel like not being scaredof being making mistakes, making
(11:34):
mistakes, going forth, takingchances, you know, things like
that is is you know the key, Ifeel like, to growth.
And um, you know, and I thinkfor me, myself, um, you know, I
I built my business on coldcalling.
I mean, straight cold calling.
And I made so many mistakes, youknow, through that time.
(11:58):
And I had a lot of failure.
I mean, a lot of failure,rejection, you know, I I would
say that, you know, learningfrom all those mistakes on how I
communicated made me better, youknow, and the whole thing was
not quitting, um, because itit's really that.
(12:22):
It's like if if you go forth ona certain path and you
constantly are falling, wellthat, and you know that that's a
path that God has you on.
You you don't you don't sitdown, you know, you don't you
don't quit.
You you just keep going, youlearn what you just, you know,
what what you m made a mistake,okay, don't don't do it like
(12:43):
this, don't do it like that, youknow, don't beat yourself up in
it, yeah, and just keep movingforward, you know, because
eventually things break through,you know, with persistence.
So that's a big one for me.
If that, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (12:58):
That's awesome.
Sometimes we s we we sit in thesuck.
Yes, yes, well in it.
Yeah, yes.
Yeah.
Cold calling is so hard.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Oh my gosh.
Did it for 30 years.
I mean, you know.
Yeah.
Still today.
I mean, you know, and I feellike, you know, a lot of times,
uh, well, it it is one thing athing that is has a paper wall
in front of you of fear.
Cold calling is that that'sreally what it is.
Like every day you have to justkind of break through, you know,
(13:30):
and you know, and I don't evendo it every day.
I mean, yeah, I don't do itevery day anymore, but I used to
when I had to pay my bills andmake a sale and eat, make a sale
and eat, you know.
Um, but it is a paper wall offear that holds a lot of people
back from doing things that arethat they're called to do,
really.
SPEAKER_00 (13:48):
Did you ever surround yourself that did you
have a coach at the time whenyou were going through the cold
calling?
Because I mean it's you gottacall someone and just someone
needs to pump you up.
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yes.
And when you're in sales andyou're an independent contractor
like myself, it's a lonely worldout there.
There's no that, you know, ifyou have a team that's awesome.
If you don't have a team, you'reby yourself.
Um, you know, I always made surethat I had at least, you know,
uh people that that I wouldtrusted that I worked with
(14:20):
either they were co-workers thatthat did the same thing as I
did, or somebody further along.
I think it is so vital to havesomebody that's further along in
your career and spiritually andevery way that can that can be
there as a mentor for sure.
And so, yes, I had a lot of thatthrough the years.
For sure, I leaned a lot onthem.
(14:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:42):
Well, that definitely leads into my next
question about at Leader Impact.
We want to grow personally,professionally, and spiritually
for increasing impact.
So, um, and we're talking aboutteams, and that's that's one of
the things I love about uhleader impact is having a team
of people to surround myself.
But I'm wondering if you'rewilling to share an example of
how the spiritual makes apractical difference in your
(15:03):
life as well.
SPEAKER_01 (15:04):
Oh gosh, yes.
Um, I mean, gosh, I think theintegration of your spiritual
walk into the practical everysingle day is the key to a life
fully lived in your purpose.
Um, I think that eventually, Ithink people grow in it.
(15:25):
I grew in it, you know, I didn'tquite get that, you know, uh at
first, but I think that as yougrow in your life, you know, you
grow older, um, you havechildren, get married, stepkids,
so much, so many blended family.
I'm in a blended family.
So, you know, um it is it is itis vital to have a spiritual
(15:50):
relationship uh with yoursavior, uh with your God, to
help you make decisions thatneed to be made, you know, lead
you in the right direction uhwhen you don't know which way to
go.
I mean, that's uh promises inthe the word all through it.
And so um and he he shows up.
(16:11):
He totally shows up, and that'sthat's that's been beautiful.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Can't live without it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:18):
How do you I and I and I'm I ask this because I'm
just taking a a course, and it'speople from across Canada, we've
signed up, we go at noon,hearing God.
How do you know?
Um, because you say, you know,every day, and you grew into it,
and I I feel like every day I'min the word.
And what I mean by that is I I Itake this scripture, I'm I'm
(16:39):
diving in, I'm like, what doesthis mean for me, my leadership?
But for you, how are you hearingGod when you're in a situation
and you know, failure?
And it's like, but how do youhear God?
SPEAKER_01 (16:51):
Um, well, I pull myself aside, uh, for sure.
And uh prayer is the number onething.
Uh, I think the communicationand a relationship with God is
the number one thing,cultivating as you as you just
mentioned, you do, um, spendingtime.
I think his love line, I believehis love language is quality
(17:13):
time.
Um and um so I spent a lot oftime, you know, just definitely
pulling aside and you know,getting away from this, if you
can see it.
Oh no, she's right here.
Yeah, getting away from that,shutting that down, quieting
(17:33):
yourself, um, you know,surrendering, you know, your own
desires, your own thoughts, um,trusting him in all of your
ways, meaning not on your ownunderstanding, allowing him to
straighten your path.
Yeah, boy, that is a big thing,and and that takes practice.
And then he talks in differentways through different seasons
(17:55):
of our lives.
So we might have heard him oneway for many years, and then all
of a sudden he wants you to growin another area and he starts
talking to you in some otherway.
Yeah, and you have to reallytrust him again, you know, to
hear him in a new way.
Yeah, but he's always talkingand he's always speaking to us
because he lives in us.
(18:15):
And um, it's a matter of us justquieting our own minds and
connecting with him.
unknown (18:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
100%.
SPEAKER_00 (18:22):
I I think my biggest question was I don't know if
I've ever heard an audiblevoice, right?
And not everyone does.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (18:30):
You know, you'll hear it through, you know, going
to church.
Uh you might hear it.
You might hear it through a umuh the this the sermon that is
being shared.
You might hear it throughthere's so many ways that God
speaks to you.
And I think we think, or orpeople who may not have faith,
think, but I don't hear him.
I don't know.
Um and I I think uh one of thethings I think is uh um God's
(18:55):
God's not the person that saysyou're not good enough.
That's the other one.
SPEAKER_01 (18:59):
That's exactly right.
SPEAKER_00 (19:00):
God loves you.
Yes, God speaks good words, likegood ones.
SPEAKER_01 (19:04):
Yeah, yes, yeah, and peace is a big one.
SPEAKER_00 (19:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (19:08):
Uh and you know, and understanding the principles of
the Bible, you know, I mean, hetalks that way.
I mean, so you know, definitelyreading the word has been a big
thing in my life andunderstanding stewardship.
And things that I'm I I areimportant to me are financial
stewardship.
So I've studied that.
And Proverbs, you know, I'vestudied it.
(19:30):
And I mean, the Bible is thevoice of God, one of the voices,
but a big voice of God for us.
So, you know, once we learnthose principles and the way
that he speaks about thosethings, we know that's part of
his talking, you know, and andpeace, he is a God of peace, his
wisdom comes through peace.
So, you know, do we have peaceabout this decision?
(19:51):
I mean, I have literallywritten, written like one column
about a tough decision, one ofthe of this way, and then a
column going that way.
You know what I mean?
Like two two different decisionsin the problem.
And praying over those decisionsand praying over those columns,
saying, Okay, where am I havingpeace?
Follow your peace.
(20:12):
Yeah, you know, it's Colossians3, 10, I believe.
Follow your peace, you know, andand and he he he's very faithful
in that.
So there's so many differentways.
You're right, very differentways.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
I find that um sometimes when I can't quiet
myself, I write.
And I just I keep writing untilI hear something.
Yes, and I feel good.
I I I don't know.
I I might my I struggle for thequiet time.
So if I if I write it, we alldo.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (20:41):
So that's so good.
Journaling is so good.
It's so good for somebody, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:46):
Oh, thanks for sharing that.
I I just I'd love to talk aboutit and see how other people.
Yeah, it makes me feel so good.
So um at Leader Impact, we'reabout leaders having a lasting
impact.
So as you continue to movethrough your journey, and it
sounds absolutely beautiful, um,have you considered what you
want your faith legacy to bewhen you leave this world?
SPEAKER_01 (21:06):
Oh, definitely.
Um, yes, I uh, you know, mybiggest thing is I would love to
be known for my generosity andfor wisdom and integrity.
Um, those three things, youknow, um the generosity of
heart, generosity of time,generosity of finances, a
generous person, you know, um,wisdom, and that wisdom comes
(21:30):
through the word of God forsure.
Um, just growing in the word ofGod, um, aligning your life with
these principles makes you wise.
Um, you know, determining whoyou hang around.
That's you know makes you wise.
And then integrity we alreadytalked about.
So those those are really thelegacy that I would really like
(21:52):
to leave.
Somebody asked me this questionjust two weeks ago, and I had an
opportunity to really thinkthrough it.
Yeah, and that is definitely thethree top things I feel like.
SPEAKER_00 (22:04):
Well, just listening to you and spending this last
you know 20 minutes with you, Iyou're living this right now.
So it's not, you know, it's sobeautiful because it's not
something I hope to leave.
I'm living it.
SPEAKER_01 (22:15):
Yeah, that's what we want.
SPEAKER_00 (22:17):
And I think that's an important question is yes,
great, when you leave, I wantpeople to do that, but are you
living it?
That's right.
And just that's exactly right.
You know, you talked aboutintegrity, talked about
surrounding ourselves.
So awesome.
So what brings you the greatestjoy?
That is my final question foryou.
SPEAKER_01 (22:35):
Oh my gosh.
I think generosity, honestly.
I feel I really do feel likethat.
I feel like when when you hearfrom God to meet it, uh when you
hear from God about something,meaning like when you're feeling
let.
Um like when you see a need andyou can meet that need, and you
know that it was God, becausethe joy comes when you're
(22:58):
obedient.
And the joy fills your heart andyour spirit and your soul.
And that's I think my greatestjoy.
I mean, honestly.
Um, I love, I love, I lovelistening.
Uh, I love being generous, and Imake a point of it, um, growing
growing in it, because I feellike it's someplace that people
(23:19):
can grow, grow, grow, grow,grow, grow into generosity.
I feel like there's a capacitythat you know that can just
build as we go.
And um, and that I feel like isprobably the thing that brings
me the most joy, honestly.
And that and a beach, you know.
But you know.
SPEAKER_00 (23:40):
Oh, I love it.
Laura, thank you for spendingthis time with me.
I know that you it was uh it'ssometimes we are so busy, so I
just so appreciate that you takea little bit of time on your day
to share with us and ourlisteners.
SPEAKER_01 (23:54):
Wow, it was a pleasure meeting you.
It was an honor meeting you,really.
Thank you for asking me.
Oh, well.
SPEAKER_00 (24:01):
I I show up here because I just I want to hear
the stories and I just want toshare them.
And it just makes me feel sogood.
So I I hope people walk awaywith you know more understanding
of their faith.
And that is it is a dailyintention to, you know, daily go
to the Bible, daily surroundyourself, daily act with
integrity.
(24:21):
Um if people want to find you,if they want to engage with you,
what would be the best way?
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
Um, they can definitely go to LinkedIn and
it's under Monica Richmond, andit's Richmond, uh, like the you
know, the city, Richmond with anO.
Um, yeah, you're welcome to goto LinkedIn and message me, you
know, and I'll check and yeah,no problem.
Anytime.
unknown (24:42):
All right.
SPEAKER_00 (24:43):
Well, thank you again for joining us, Monica.
SPEAKER_01 (24:45):
All right, thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00 (24:46):
All right.
Well, if you're part of LeaderImpact, you can always discuss
or share this podcast with yourgroup.
And if you are not yet part ofLeader Impact and would love to
find out more about us and growyour leadership, find our
podcast page on our website atLeaderImpact.ca.
You can also check out groupsavailable in Canada at
LeaderImpact.ca, or if you'relistening from anywhere else in
the world, check outLeaderImpact.com or get in touch
(25:07):
with us by email.
Info at LeaderImpact.ca and wewill connect you.
And if you like this podcast,please leave us a comment, give
us a rating, or a review.
This will help other globalleaders find our podcast.
Thank you for engaging with us,and remember, impact starts with
you.
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