May 1, 2025 • 28 mins
Jen Perez, the Leverage Maven AKA "The Spicy CEO", shares her journey from studying sexology to becoming a financial consultant, putting a unique twist on business finances with her upcoming book "69 Ways Money is Like Sex." She reveals how her personal financial struggles inspired her mission to help business owners handle their finances without feeling intimidated or embarrassed.
• Creating a different approach to finance by drawing parallels between money conversations and visiting a gynecologist - both involving emotion, embarrassment, and fear
• Building a business over nine years, transitioning from hands-on bookkeeping to consulting and assembling a trusted team
• Developing consulting packages that help established businesses scale and grow strategically
• Helping clients create personalized financial game plans based on their lifestyle goals rather than just focusing on numbers
• Addressing common business owner challenges like knowing how much to pay themselves and structuring operations for growth
• Leveraging people, time, and money as the key lesson she wishes she'd learned earlier as a business owner
• Implementing the simple habit of opening a "profit" account and allocating 1% of all deposits to intentionally drive profitability
Text MONEY to 469-829-7697 to join Jen's VIP list for early access to her book and bonus content, or attend her three-day Scalable Success Intensive in Frisco, Texas on September 11-13.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Storie (00:17):
Welcome back to Market it with Atma, where we share the
tips, tools and strategies tohelp your business be successful
.
Today, we have on the show avery special guest.
She is a consultant, speakerand author, ms Jen Perez, aka
the Leverage Maven, and I'll lether tell you a little more
about what she does and theareas you help our businesses
(00:40):
with.
Hello, Jen, hello, thanks forhaving me.
Thank you for being on the show.
I have never, ever, heard ofanyone putting a twist on
finance like this, but Iabsolutely love it.
Tell me more.
Jen (00:52):
So background, short story is I went to college first for
business, couldn't get into thebusiness school, and so I saw
all these classes for sociologyand decided, hey, I can minor in
human sexuality, so I wanted.
And then I saw a movie DrKinsey which is from the Kinsey
Institute.
I'm like I want to be the nextDr Kinsey.
(01:12):
So that's kind of why I decidedI wanted to be a sexologist.
Wow, Okay.
But my heart was I love numbers, I love people, I'm kind of
like an outgoing accountant.
Hey, that's right.
And so my.
I spent 10 years in hotels.
I spent another 10 plus inaccounting and I just always had
that question of how do you mixthose two without being weird.
(01:33):
Yeah or boring, or boring orattract the wrong person, or so
I just kept playing withdifferent things and thinking
about it and I kept being told Ihave to be creatively different
, because how many otherfinancial books are out there?
Storie (01:46):
Oh my goodness, so many.
And anytime you say financialbook, I think I instantly start
going to sleep.
Jen (01:52):
Right, I don't.
I love that, but I'm not my myclient.
Storie (01:57):
Right, I'm not, I don't need that help.
Jen (01:59):
I'm I'm.
Marketing is where mynon-expertise is.
Storie (02:02):
Right, if you needed help, you wouldn't be reading a
book about it, right?
Okay?
Jen (02:08):
So I kept being told be creatively different.
And it actually started with afriend of mine who's also a
client and I asked her.
I said I don't get it.
I do networking, I'm doing allthe things, I'm sending
referrals, getting to knoweverybody, making those
connections, but people aren'treferring to me.
Storie (02:28):
What's going on?
And she's like Jen, she's,you're like the first time
seeing a gynecologist.
I'm like, what are you talking?
Jen (02:31):
about.
That's a good friend, by theway.
It is, she is a very goodfriend.
I told her she's getting ashout out in my book, but we
she's like.
Well, when you go, there's alot of emotion, right.
When you're, you have fear,you're embarrassed, you're not
sure what they're going to seebehind closed doors, right?
Same thing with money andthat's.
We do get to see what's behindclosed doors and I get that.
So I am a very trans, I'm verytransparent, I'm very vulnerable
(02:55):
.
I tell people my mistakes andhopefully it's a lesson for them
to not make.
Storie (02:56):
That's a wonderful thought to remember too.
Jen (02:58):
And so then I just kept testing the waters on different
things and kept being told to becreatively different and
finally, september, I decidedyou know what?
I'm going to write a book.
I'm going to just do a quickbook like a quote book, 100 ways
, yeah.
And then I was like, wait, whya hundred?
So the numbers started definingthemselves Right, and so then I
had the idea that I'm going towrite this book, which is now
(03:19):
getting published.
It's called 69 ways.
Money is like sex.
I cannot wait to see the coverof that book, and and then I had
to have a like a secondsubtitle because, okay, well, is
this personal?
Is this business right?
So spicy insights forstreamlining your business
finances it's awesome.
Storie (03:37):
I love the creative aspect.
You just seem like a creativeperson, which is really hard to
do when you're an analyticalmind and very numbers driven, so
you're like the mesh of perfect.
So since you?
So?
You've been in corporateAmerica for many years in
different capacities.
How long ago did you decide?
You know what?
(03:57):
I'm just going to do it on myown.
Jen (03:59):
So nine years ago, um, actually, what is today Like
Friday?
Tomorrow, holy cow, we're there.
In a couple of days, tomorrow'sThursday, it'll be my nine year
anniversary of having thisbusiness.
Oh, congratulations, but, thankyou.
When I first started, it was me.
I was the bookkeeper.
I wore all the 14 differenthats.
I didn't know what I was doingother than the bookkeeping and I
(04:20):
would do networking.
And I started like people werelike oh, you know how to do
bookkeeping, can you do mine?
Sure, why not?
And so it just kind ofdeveloped.
Yeah, and I knew I always wantedto help people with money.
In my story, my dad lost ourhouse on 40 acres that we grew
up with.
That was our family home.
I filed bankruptcy in my 20sbecause nobody ever taught me
(04:42):
about money.
Sex actually was more of anopen topic at the table than
money.
So because of that, I wanted tolearn everything I could and I
really wanted to help thesepeople.
I was growing and thought, hey,what if I could actually help
people understand money in theirbusiness in a way that in words
, that they understand in theand not use all this accounting
jargon?
Yes, so in 2019, I decided, hey, let's focus on the consulting
(05:05):
side.
And then 2022 is when I and Ialso have transitioned to where
I now have a team that does theaccounting and bookkeeping, so I
can focus on what I love.
Wow, 2022 is when I leftcorporate for good and have been
doing this full time since.
Storie (05:20):
Oh my goodness.
So when you say full-time,sense what number one.
Where did you find this teamthat was?
Are they more the, the backend,like the actual black and white
paper numbers team, so you canbe the face of the business?
Or how does it work when yousay team?
Jen (05:38):
So the way I have it set up is we use I have 1099, so
they're not internal W-2, but tobe honest, I've been through a
lot of people, I've been througha lot of companies and just
trying, it took me a while tofigure out what worked for me
and what I wanted and how Iwanted to grow and scale the
company.
And then all of a sudden, I wasintroduced to this one lady and
(05:59):
she has been amazing and she'sour bookkeeping manager, Kristen
.
She does such a great job thatfor our bookkeeping clients I
basically help on board rightnow.
And she takes it over.
From there.
We have our weekly you knowmeeting and catch up and I don't
have to worry about anything.
She brings me in when I need toand I'm like oh my gosh, I need
like 10 million Kristen's inthe world.
(06:21):
So I yeah, I couldn't do itwithout her.
Storie (06:23):
Would you say that that trusting your team and really
vetting and knowing theirpersonality is something that's
was pivotal for you and beingable to scale your business?
Absolutely yeah.
Jen (06:35):
Because there's been companies I've used and then
when I go to check the work, I'mlike this is this should be
things that are super easy, whenI'm being told they have the
knowledge of a CPA Right andthey don't.
And it's just hard when theycome to me in August, when there
was a transaction missing inMay, why didn't you come see me
in May June worst case scenariowhen statements came out.
(07:05):
So it was just reallyfrustrating that I couldn't find
that team or that person tohelp who actually knows what
they're doing and what they'retalking about across the nation,
because we aren't just localright and then can see those
things too, like I did you haveto have that versatile
personality almost.
Storie (07:16):
You have to be able to not just see what you're told to
see, but what's not right aswell, which is hard for some
people.
I mean, a lot of people outthere don't even know they have
what's the number dyslexia.
I forget what it's called,calcula or something like that.
I don't know what it is.
I'm sorry, guys, y'all have tosend me an info sheet on that.
(07:38):
But they're running businessesand they can do all the talking,
they can do all the marketing,but they cannot get their books
straight.
And that's is that when someonewould come to you and say help
me, yeah.
Jen (07:52):
Okay.
Storie (07:52):
So tell me how that process kind of works for for a
new client coming on.
Jen (07:56):
Yeah.
So we've made a transitionwhere the bookkeeping and
accounting is more of anafterthought.
Now if someone's like, hey, anybookkeeping, sure we'll look at
that.
But a lot of times I haveconsulting clients that come in
because they want to scale thecompany.
They're not paying themselvesenough, if at all, or they're
like I just I don't even know ifI need you because I don't know
what my numbers are Whetherthat's they don't have books,
(08:17):
it's not current or they don'tknow how to read the financial
statements.
So we offer that service.
A lot of times our client, ourconsulting clients, come in,
let's just bring it all in house, or we see mistakes in the
books.
Either they're doing itthemselves or their bookkeeper's
not doing the job right, and wewant to make sure they have
accurate data, because we do usethat when putting game plans
(08:37):
together.
Storie (08:38):
Right, so you create a strategy for them, correct, and
a projected strategy of how longor is it variable depending on
what they want to look for.
Jen (08:47):
So when a consultant comes, we have three different ways to
work with us.
We have a group, we have aprivate consulting and then we
have a hybrid.
Okay, so, depending on that,how which package works for them
, they come in and all three ofthem we're going to assess what
you've been doing, because, nomatter what you've been doing,
you can't just start payingyourself 50% if you haven't been
(09:07):
paying, giving yourself apaycheck.
Storie (09:08):
Right.
Jen (09:09):
That's got to come from somewhere.
So we want to look at whereyou've been doing and making,
taking baby steps to helpimplement a game plan.
Now we look at the next one totwo years, knowing what your
goals are, what you want to liveyour life like, making sure
your business supports that.
Storie (09:23):
Oh, okay.
Jen (09:26):
But then also looking at okay, what have you been doing?
Let's take baby steps to getthere?
Also looking at different painpoints, so, while the process is
the same, it's all personalizedto the client, factoring in
their goals, factoring in whatkind of lifestyle they want wow
and how, where they're at todayit's literally taking all the
things like for me, for if I hadmy own business and then I have
a job, right, it's taking mypersonal.
Storie (09:49):
okay, I need to take my kids on vacation before they
become adults in three years,with the work side of it, which
I I'm very good at keepingseparate, right, and you kind of
just mesh them all together andgive them clarity.
Almost it sounds like.
So how do you?
You mentioned you not being amarketing person.
You're more analytical how doyou market what you have?
Jen (10:13):
So I'm in a transition right now.
Historically, it's been throughnetworking and referrals.
Storie (10:18):
Which is, I think, one of the best ways it is.
Jen (10:20):
That's how I probably 95% of my business has grown because
of that.
That's awesome, and so morerecently, I'm getting into more
digital space.
So the social media, thenewsletters, even sending
newsletters through LinkedIn.
Storie (10:32):
The automation side of marketing, the automation having
a lead magnet.
Jen (10:36):
Right, that's all automated Having content for nurturing
emails and whatnot, and thenalso marketing podcasts, getting
on stages, speaking, becausethe more that people see you and
hear you and see that you'rethe expert and hopefully have
that conversation and feel morecomfortable.
I have learned the hard waythat I have to build trust.
Yes, I have had someone tell meno.
(10:57):
I met her at a women's lunchand learn and we had great
rapport.
We went through a consult andthen we talked about the
proposal and the reason she saidno is that she just doesn't
quite trust me yet.
Storie (11:11):
So I mean, I guess my question would be to that.
That response is what part ofwhat you do would make someone
hesitate?
So if I go to see a financialadvisor, I don't know if I can
truly trust them.
I don't have a relationshipwith them.
If I go to see a financialadvisor, I don't know if I can
truly trust them.
I don't have a relationshipwith them if I go to a bank.
So I guess what was hervariance on that?
Jen (11:32):
Because it's not just it's affecting what we do.
I'm hoping you're in a businessthat you love, right, and you
want that to support your life.
So while we focus on business,we sometimes get to see the
personal too.
I get to see how much you'repaying yourself, or need to know
how much that is, so we canreverse engineer that and figure
that out in our plan.
So I do get to see how, whatyour spending habits are.
(11:55):
I get to see how much you'repaying your people as well as
yourself.
So I do get to see those thingsthat a financial advisor may not
have, all the like individualtransactions.
Storie (12:06):
Right.
I mean you have a great mindset.
Like I mentioned earlier,having both sides of your brain
constantly active is a very,very niche thing, very rare, I
would say.
So I think it's wonderful, butthen how do you make it not
scary for them?
So how would you overcomesomeone like that?
I mean, I completely understandif you've got some hidden
(12:26):
secrets in the back you don'twant anybody to see.
You can completely understand.
But what, what is thehesitation?
And how do you overcome thosewith with clients, cause it's
very personal?
Jen (12:36):
It is, and a lot of the times, to be honest, I've
probably been where they're atand I share that with them.
Storie (12:41):
Is that why you do this?
It is, it is.
Is that why?
Jen (12:43):
you do this, it is, it is and it's.
I do it because of what I'vewent through and nobody taught
me.
I'm self-taught on a lot ofthings that just at different
levels as I get to the nextlevel, right.
So I never had someone hold myhand and tell me what I needed
to do when it comes to money.
I had to wing it or guess it,throw spaghetti at the mall at
(13:06):
the wall, see if it's stuck.
And when you have somebody inyour corner that can not even
coach you on, oh, maybe youshould do this, but more.
Okay, I'm at the expert.
This is what you need to do,based on what you told me.
Your goals are what we'replanning to do here, but if you
don't, this is what could happen.
Storie (13:20):
Okay.
Jen (13:21):
And so that they feel better and more comfortable in
making that decision.
But ultimately they are theowner and I treat my clients as
partners, as if I'm in thebusiness with you and I get
affected as well if somethingdoesn't go right or something
goes wrong, and if so, I willalways own my own mistake if
something happens Right.
Storie (13:37):
But you take away the humility.
It feels like you don't makethem feel like they're alone in
this.
You're not going to drop theball and walk away and hope for
the best.
Jen (13:46):
Exactly, and especially if you don't have a partner, if
it's just you.
You're a solopreneur.
You don't have that board ofadvisors, you don't have support
team necessarily to help you inreaching your goals.
Storie (13:58):
That's.
That's very true.
Now I would honestly me myself.
I would say having a partnerwould be more difficult because
of different mindsets.
You know I mean differentstrategies.
So how do you work withmultiple partners in a business
and on what scale of businessesdo you typically help?
Are you helping up startups?
Are you helping people thathave been established and need a
(14:19):
new strategy?
Jen (14:21):
So I'm kind of helping in the middle.
So they're not quite startup,but they're more of.
They've gained traction,they're growing and they want to
scale.
But they're either they're notquite sure how to structure
operations, how to structuremaybe their packages, pricing to
align with that happening, howto afford to hire the next
person, whatever that might be.
So that's kind of where myideal clients sit.
(14:44):
Now.
I've helped at both extremes of, you know, startups making less
than six figures, those in themillions.
So I've helped all over.
But that's kind of the sweetspot because you've had enough
to struggle or to see reallywhat it's like to run a business
.
But I feel like I can help somany ways and helping them get
to that next level multiple, six, seven figures figures and
(15:06):
that's where my passion's at youlike seeing the success of it
all from them.
Storie (15:10):
So is that what your book is is primarily about is?
Is it your story, a biography,or is it more?
Of this is how you do it.
Jen (15:18):
Combination, okay, um it depends on what the so how the
book is structured is.
Each page has a way, and thenI'll write a paragraph or two
about that, focusing on thefinancial part.
Okay, so it can be somethingsmall, as communication is key,
right?
Storie (15:33):
Right, yeah, absolutely.
Jen (15:35):
Or foreplay matters.
Storie (15:37):
Oh, I love these.
I love these chapter headings.
That's actually I was going toask you about your spicy
analogies.
Okay, so you just leewayed meright into it, so tell me more
about that.
It keeps it interesting.
I see where you mixed it welland merged all the information
well.
Jen (16:02):
Now is it breaking it down for you on a deeper level in
this book, or is that where theconsulting comes?
Storie (16:06):
in you really break it down.
Jen (16:06):
For me it's really more on the consulting, so I do share
some stories.
I had a trademark infringement,for example, on my entire brand
name, so I had.
That's how the Leverage Mavenwas created, because I was
forced legally to change mybrand.
Storie (16:18):
We were talking about that earlier small world, how
you would meet somebody elsewith the same name.
Jen (16:22):
Yeah, so, and hers was a program, so I wouldn't have
necessarily known that, but itwas trademarked and three
attorneys told me she's 100% inthe right.
We do the same thing.
So I had to figure that out.
I didn't budget for that, Ididn't plan for that Okay right,
so had to kind of make thosechanges.
But I think things happen for areason and so now I always use
(16:43):
that.
My mistake again is your,absolutely.
So I have stories like that, butthen I also have things that
are more educational without thejargon Right.
Storie (16:52):
Okay, so they can really get something out of it that
they didn't have before.
Yeah, but then the consultingis very important.
It seems like how would youapproach something like that,
somebody that has a lot of thehumility, you have a lot of
confidence in what you do, sohow would you find me and help
(17:12):
me to say the networking eventsI know you're speaking at about,
how many are you allocatingthis year to do and what kind of
return do you see on that?
What type of audience are youseeing in those groups that
you're speaking at?
Jen (17:29):
so the groups can vary.
It can be a small like chamberof commerce, it can be a local
networking organization or itcould be a national conference
wow, and all in between so, um,it just really depends.
As long as they are an owner ofa business, okay Is really, if
they're more individuals, youknow, w-2 type of employees, or
(17:51):
they're all sales managers in aspecific that's probably not a
good fit for me Okay, but theowner is who I want to talk to,
because they're the ones thatmake the decisions ultimately in
the company, right, absolutely.
Storie (18:03):
So, what's next, what do you have coming up?
Jen (18:11):
absolutely so what's next?
What do you have coming up?
So the book, of course, and Ihave.
I also have a three-dayintensive.
Tell me more, it's called thescalable success intensive, and
if you have ever been toconferences, I feel like I've
been to a gazillion of them.
I couldn't even count right butyou go there and they're great,
you have great speakers, youlearn in for so much information
(18:34):
and then you go back tobusiness on Monday and 90% goes
out the door because lifehappens, business happens, you
forgot some of the things, youcouldn't take notes fast enough.
Whatever, that is right.
This is a very hands onworkshop style where when you're
learning things, you're doingit as you learn it.
Storie (18:45):
I love it.
Jen (18:45):
And so not only do you walk away with that personalized
game plan, but we work onmindset.
I'm bringing somebody in formarketing because I mean I know
enough to be dangerous, but I'mnot your expertise.
Storie (18:56):
Hint, hint, wink, wink if you need anyone, okay.
Jen (19:00):
So I want to make sure that they walk away with a plan.
So we look at their why, theirvision.
We focus on the mindset we lookat okay, now we're going to
implement and then we're goingto execute it, and so they're
going to have all that done inthose three days.
It's going to be very intense,yes, but it's going to be so
worth it, and if you knew whatvalue is like, just one of the
(19:22):
speakers is worth the ticket initself.
Storie (19:24):
Oh my goodness.
So at the end of the day you'recreating.
It's kind of like the build,launch, grow scale methodology
that we talk about here at Atma.
You have to have that buildphase because you can't build a
house on sand, right, I mean?
And you giving that to them.
And also, I'd like to point outsomething that I don't see a
lot of my guests do.
I don't see a lot of my guestsadmit that their weakness in
(19:49):
their business and that theybring other people in to
optimize where they're weak.
I think that's very important,because if you don't know where
you're weak and you don't have aprofessional that knows that
portion, how can you really bebeneficial people?
on an all over scale right.
Jen (20:07):
Yeah, I'm not afraid to say I don't know, but I'll find
someone who does.
Storie (20:11):
And you know what?
I would much rather someonetell me that than pretend they
know it and it fall through,right.
I mean, how many times has thathappened to all of us?
I think it's happened to methree times last week, yeah.
But is that?
Is that a reason why you havesuch a passion for this?
I know you love seeing helpingthem grow at the end of the day,
but is it because of your ownchallenges that really give you
(20:32):
the the sense of, I guess,positiveness that you are
delivering to the world?
Jen (20:38):
It is because, I mean, you've heard, you don't know
what you don't know.
And unless you're in thefinancial industry, unless you
have that background, you knowhow to be a plumber, you know
how to sell real estate, youknow how to run a marketing
agency, but you probably don'tknow how to manage the money
strategically in the business tomake sure you're reaching the
goals that you want.
And that's where I come in,because that's something that I
(21:01):
don't, it's something I have apassion for.
I'm very numbers driven.
I'm weird in that way.
I've always been interested inone plus one has to equal two
man.
Storie (21:12):
You know, the reason I am so intrigued by what you do
is because I go to all kinds ofnetworking events Weekly.
I go to networking events andanytime a financial advisor gets
up, I am engaged for the first10 seconds and then I try really
hard to stay engaged, but yourpersonality really, really helps
, bring a sense of comfort andhumility that I really
(21:34):
appreciate.
I don't know.
Thank you, I'm sure if you'vebeen in business for almost 10
years, then it's working prettywell for you and I love that.
You gave yourself the space toactually expand your mind and
allow yourself to try differentthings to to lead you to this
today.
So, with that being said, um, Iwanted to ask a few questions
(21:56):
about if someone today, um, orif you yourself today, could
tell your younger self one thingthat you wish you would have
known, or maybe two, um, whatwould those things be as a
business owner now?
Jen (22:14):
sooner than later.
Leverage, leverage, leverage.
You need to leverage otherpeople.
You need to leverage your timeand leverage your money.
When I left corporate world Ihad a good chunk of savings,
which is kind of why I felt alittle more comfortable making
that leap right.
Right, and if I would haveknown what I know now then and
that was just three years ago,my goodness I would have so used
(22:37):
that to leverage other hirequicker I mean hire slow.
I always believe hire slow firefast.
But I would have been able if Iknew that I would have been
able to leverage the money.
I had to hire the people to dothe things I either don't enjoy
doing or I'm not very good at ordon't want to do, and that way
I can grow and scale quicker.
That's smart.
Storie (22:58):
That's really good advice and I think, as business
owners especially, we all wishwe could go back in time at some
point.
But, man, to know other peopleare there with you.
It it's almost comforting.
It's sad but comforting, andluckily, people like you've
turned it into something that'sprofitable for both.
Right, so, um, at your speakingevent.
Where will it be held?
Jen (23:18):
tell me more about that it's uh, so this year it's
september 11th through the 13thnice it's going to be in frisco,
Texas.
Storie (23:25):
In Frisco, so you're local to DFW, right?
Jen (23:28):
Yes, that's awesome.
Storie (23:30):
But I heard you're also going to be just spreading your
brand all over the country herepretty soon right, oh yeah.
So you got a lot of podcastsscheduled to come up.
Jen (23:40):
Yep, I have an event.
I'm speaking tomorrow, anotherpodcast in a week, podcast in
May, and that's just what I'vescheduled in the last week.
Storie (23:47):
Oh, my goodness, gracious With my book coming out
.
Jen (23:50):
I've been kind of on a little kind of like a book tour
these days you really are.
Storie (23:54):
Your book tour can be on podcasts, yeah, so where is
your book coming out at?
So it's June, right?
Yep, then it'll be completelydone and open to the public.
Yep, where can they find thatbook or audience?
Jen (24:06):
So if you want, you can actually join the VIP list so
you get early access and somebonuses.
If you want to text the wordmoney M-O-N-E-Y right Yep To
469-829-7697.
I love the 69.
Storie (24:28):
And it's so funny.
Jen (24:28):
I actually had that number with my old brand Really, and
then I was like, oh, I haven'tused it since then, so I went to
use it and I was like, okay, Ihave to keep this number.
Storie (24:39):
That is hilarious.
So is it available on Kindleand in hardback or?
Jen (24:43):
no, it'll be a paperback.
It won't be a hardback, perfect, but as of right now, to be
honest, I don't know yet.
So my publisher is working onall those details.
That's why in June it's comingout, not right now.
Storie (24:53):
Story.
You can just tell me thatthat's okay.
So what's one habit or systemto wrap it up closer to the end,
what's one simple habit orsystem every business owner can
start today to handle, to helpthem handle their finances?
Jen (25:10):
So when I mentioned back in 2019, I started focusing on
more of the consulting, it'sbecause I had I was growing and
had the question of how muchshould I pay myself?
It's a good question.
Like you're making money, Iwant to be strategic with it,
and everybody told me to readthis book called Profit First,
and it's it's a cashflow methodthat I am now certified in to
(25:32):
help the clients in implementingthis.
But one easy step is that ifyou just go open up one more
bank account, nickname it profitand start allocating just 1% of
all your deposits into thataccount, and by doing that,
you're driving profitintentionally and getting into
that habit, because a lot oftimes we take what we make, we
(25:54):
pay all the bills, pay ourpeople what's left over.
We might be paying ourselveswith that, if there's anything
left over, right.
And then what you see in thebank doesn't match what's in
your financial statements either, and so you're all confused,
right.
So this is just a simple stepto get started and taking those
baby steps in not justimplementing profit first, but
honestly making sure you have aprofitable, financially healthy
(26:15):
company too.
Storie (26:16):
That is probably the most important in the long run,
97% of businesses don't last, sothe 3% probably need a strategy
and probably look into researchon how to do it, which is
exactly what you are right.
That's wonderful.
So you have virtual andin-person services, or it's all?
Jen (26:36):
virtual.
If I have someone that is localand there I have had a couple
clients that I need to be inperson.
I'll work with them withinreason.
So I'm not going to drive DFWsvery large, so I won't drive
across the metroplex necessarily.
I'm on the north side, yeah but, most part, and the reason why,
too, is sometimes we'll recordthings that's and then it's
(26:57):
easier for them to have accessto that.
I feel like wait.
What was it that Jen said so?
Storie (27:00):
man that is.
That's a great point for a lotof business owners.
I used to dislike Zoom calls,but having that recording to go
back and reference is invaluableto me now.
Jen (27:10):
And then you're also leveraging your time, so you
have to factor drive time thereand back and so being strategic
with that too.
Storie (27:17):
I am definitely going to have you come over to Nouveau
Desk, where we're hosting thispodcast, to speak to people,
because I actually had to remindmyself that this week is.
You can go to events and youcan.
You can meet all the people youwant, but if you're not doing
the follow-up to speak with themand really have those valuable
conversations after then it'sall pointless.
(27:37):
It really is.
I really appreciate your advicetoday, jen, and once you launch
the book completely, I wouldlove for you to come back on the
show and and tell us more aboutit and give us some more detail
on everything you're doing andplan to do Absolutely.
Jen (27:52):
I appreciate you having me.
Thank you, jen, thank you.
Storie (27:54):
And to all of our listeners out there.
We will put Jen's informationin the bottom of this transcript
and description.
If you're nervous about whatyou may or may not see in
finance, please reach out to her, because I know it's
uncomfortable, but when you'vebeen with someone who's been
there before, it's not so badand very beneficial.
(28:14):
Until next time.
Welcome back to Market it with Atma, where we share the
tips, tools and strategies tohelp your business be successful
.
Today, we have on the show avery special guest.
She is a consultant, speakerand author, ms Jen Perez, aka
the Leverage Maven, and I'll lether tell you a little more
about what she does and theareas you help our businesses
(00:40):
with.
Hello, Jen, hello, thanks forhaving me.
Thank you for being on the show.
I have never, ever, heard ofanyone putting a twist on
finance like this, but Iabsolutely love it.
Tell me more.
Jen (00:52):
So background, short story is I went to college first for
business, couldn't get into thebusiness school, and so I saw
all these classes for sociologyand decided, hey, I can minor in
human sexuality, so I wanted.
And then I saw a movie DrKinsey which is from the Kinsey
Institute.
I'm like I want to be the nextDr Kinsey.
(01:12):
So that's kind of why I decidedI wanted to be a sexologist.
Wow, Okay.
But my heart was I love numbers, I love people, I'm kind of
like an outgoing accountant.
Hey, that's right.
And so my.
I spent 10 years in hotels.
I spent another 10 plus inaccounting and I just always had
that question of how do you mixthose two without being weird.
(01:33):
Yeah or boring, or boring orattract the wrong person, or so
I just kept playing withdifferent things and thinking
about it and I kept being told Ihave to be creatively different
, because how many otherfinancial books are out there?
Storie (01:46):
Oh my goodness, so many.
And anytime you say financialbook, I think I instantly start
going to sleep.
Jen (01:52):
Right, I don't.
I love that, but I'm not my myclient.
Storie (01:57):
Right, I'm not, I don't need that help.
Jen (01:59):
I'm I'm.
Marketing is where mynon-expertise is.
Storie (02:02):
Right, if you needed help, you wouldn't be reading a
book about it, right?
Okay?
Jen (02:08):
So I kept being told be creatively different.
And it actually started with afriend of mine who's also a
client and I asked her.
I said I don't get it.
I do networking, I'm doing allthe things, I'm sending
referrals, getting to knoweverybody, making those
connections, but people aren'treferring to me.
Storie (02:28):
What's going on?
And she's like Jen, she's,you're like the first time
seeing a gynecologist.
I'm like, what are you talking?
Jen (02:31):
about.
That's a good friend, by theway.
It is, she is a very goodfriend.
I told her she's getting ashout out in my book, but we
she's like.
Well, when you go, there's alot of emotion, right.
When you're, you have fear,you're embarrassed, you're not
sure what they're going to seebehind closed doors, right?
Same thing with money andthat's.
We do get to see what's behindclosed doors and I get that.
So I am a very trans, I'm verytransparent, I'm very vulnerable
(02:55):
.
I tell people my mistakes andhopefully it's a lesson for them
to not make.
Storie (02:56):
That's a wonderful thought to remember too.
Jen (02:58):
And so then I just kept testing the waters on different
things and kept being told to becreatively different and
finally, september, I decidedyou know what?
I'm going to write a book.
I'm going to just do a quickbook like a quote book, 100 ways
, yeah.
And then I was like, wait, whya hundred?
So the numbers started definingthemselves Right, and so then I
had the idea that I'm going towrite this book, which is now
(03:19):
getting published.
It's called 69 ways.
Money is like sex.
I cannot wait to see the coverof that book, and and then I had
to have a like a secondsubtitle because, okay, well, is
this personal?
Is this business right?
So spicy insights forstreamlining your business
finances it's awesome.
Storie (03:37):
I love the creative aspect.
You just seem like a creativeperson, which is really hard to
do when you're an analyticalmind and very numbers driven, so
you're like the mesh of perfect.
So since you?
So?
You've been in corporateAmerica for many years in
different capacities.
How long ago did you decide?
You know what?
(03:57):
I'm just going to do it on myown.
Jen (03:59):
So nine years ago, um, actually, what is today Like
Friday?
Tomorrow, holy cow, we're there.
In a couple of days, tomorrow'sThursday, it'll be my nine year
anniversary of having thisbusiness.
Oh, congratulations, but, thankyou.
When I first started, it was me.
I was the bookkeeper.
I wore all the 14 differenthats.
I didn't know what I was doingother than the bookkeeping and I
(04:20):
would do networking.
And I started like people werelike oh, you know how to do
bookkeeping, can you do mine?
Sure, why not?
And so it just kind ofdeveloped.
Yeah, and I knew I always wantedto help people with money.
In my story, my dad lost ourhouse on 40 acres that we grew
up with.
That was our family home.
I filed bankruptcy in my 20sbecause nobody ever taught me
(04:42):
about money.
Sex actually was more of anopen topic at the table than
money.
So because of that, I wanted tolearn everything I could and I
really wanted to help thesepeople.
I was growing and thought, hey,what if I could actually help
people understand money in theirbusiness in a way that in words
, that they understand in theand not use all this accounting
jargon?
Yes, so in 2019, I decided, hey, let's focus on the consulting
(05:05):
side.
And then 2022 is when I and Ialso have transitioned to where
I now have a team that does theaccounting and bookkeeping, so I
can focus on what I love.
Wow, 2022 is when I leftcorporate for good and have been
doing this full time since.
Storie (05:20):
Oh my goodness.
So when you say full-time,sense what number one.
Where did you find this teamthat was?
Are they more the, the backend,like the actual black and white
paper numbers team, so you canbe the face of the business?
Or how does it work when yousay team?
Jen (05:38):
So the way I have it set up is we use I have 1099, so
they're not internal W-2, but tobe honest, I've been through a
lot of people, I've been througha lot of companies and just
trying, it took me a while tofigure out what worked for me
and what I wanted and how Iwanted to grow and scale the
company.
And then all of a sudden, I wasintroduced to this one lady and
(05:59):
she has been amazing and she'sour bookkeeping manager, Kristen
.
She does such a great job thatfor our bookkeeping clients I
basically help on board rightnow.
And she takes it over.
From there.
We have our weekly you knowmeeting and catch up and I don't
have to worry about anything.
She brings me in when I need toand I'm like oh my gosh, I need
like 10 million Kristen's inthe world.
(06:21):
So I yeah, I couldn't do itwithout her.
Storie (06:23):
Would you say that that trusting your team and really
vetting and knowing theirpersonality is something that's
was pivotal for you and beingable to scale your business?
Absolutely yeah.
Jen (06:35):
Because there's been companies I've used and then
when I go to check the work, I'mlike this is this should be
things that are super easy, whenI'm being told they have the
knowledge of a CPA Right andthey don't.
And it's just hard when theycome to me in August, when there
was a transaction missing inMay, why didn't you come see me
in May June worst case scenariowhen statements came out.
(07:05):
So it was just reallyfrustrating that I couldn't find
that team or that person tohelp who actually knows what
they're doing and what they'retalking about across the nation,
because we aren't just localright and then can see those
things too, like I did you haveto have that versatile
personality almost.
Storie (07:16):
You have to be able to not just see what you're told to
see, but what's not right aswell, which is hard for some
people.
I mean, a lot of people outthere don't even know they have
what's the number dyslexia.
I forget what it's called,calcula or something like that.
I don't know what it is.
I'm sorry, guys, y'all have tosend me an info sheet on that.
(07:38):
But they're running businessesand they can do all the talking,
they can do all the marketing,but they cannot get their books
straight.
And that's is that when someonewould come to you and say help
me, yeah.
Jen (07:52):
Okay.
Storie (07:52):
So tell me how that process kind of works for for a
new client coming on.
Jen (07:56):
Yeah.
So we've made a transitionwhere the bookkeeping and
accounting is more of anafterthought.
Now if someone's like, hey, anybookkeeping, sure we'll look at
that.
But a lot of times I haveconsulting clients that come in
because they want to scale thecompany.
They're not paying themselvesenough, if at all, or they're
like I just I don't even know ifI need you because I don't know
what my numbers are Whetherthat's they don't have books,
(08:17):
it's not current or they don'tknow how to read the financial
statements.
So we offer that service.
A lot of times our client, ourconsulting clients, come in,
let's just bring it all in house, or we see mistakes in the
books.
Either they're doing itthemselves or their bookkeeper's
not doing the job right, and wewant to make sure they have
accurate data, because we do usethat when putting game plans
(08:37):
together.
Storie (08:38):
Right, so you create a strategy for them, correct, and
a projected strategy of how longor is it variable depending on
what they want to look for.
Jen (08:47):
So when a consultant comes, we have three different ways to
work with us.
We have a group, we have aprivate consulting and then we
have a hybrid.
Okay, so, depending on that,how which package works for them
, they come in and all three ofthem we're going to assess what
you've been doing, because, nomatter what you've been doing,
you can't just start payingyourself 50% if you haven't been
(09:07):
paying, giving yourself apaycheck.
Storie (09:08):
Right.
Jen (09:09):
That's got to come from somewhere.
So we want to look at whereyou've been doing and making,
taking baby steps to helpimplement a game plan.
Now we look at the next one totwo years, knowing what your
goals are, what you want to liveyour life like, making sure
your business supports that.
Storie (09:23):
Oh, okay.
Jen (09:26):
But then also looking at okay, what have you been doing?
Let's take baby steps to getthere?
Also looking at different painpoints, so, while the process is
the same, it's all personalizedto the client, factoring in
their goals, factoring in whatkind of lifestyle they want wow
and how, where they're at todayit's literally taking all the
things like for me, for if I hadmy own business and then I have
a job, right, it's taking mypersonal.
Storie (09:49):
okay, I need to take my kids on vacation before they
become adults in three years,with the work side of it, which
I I'm very good at keepingseparate, right, and you kind of
just mesh them all together andgive them clarity.
Almost it sounds like.
So how do you?
You mentioned you not being amarketing person.
You're more analytical how doyou market what you have?
Jen (10:13):
So I'm in a transition right now.
Historically, it's been throughnetworking and referrals.
Storie (10:18):
Which is, I think, one of the best ways it is.
Jen (10:20):
That's how I probably 95% of my business has grown because
of that.
That's awesome, and so morerecently, I'm getting into more
digital space.
So the social media, thenewsletters, even sending
newsletters through LinkedIn.
Storie (10:32):
The automation side of marketing, the automation having
a lead magnet.
Jen (10:36):
Right, that's all automated Having content for nurturing
emails and whatnot, and thenalso marketing podcasts, getting
on stages, speaking, becausethe more that people see you and
hear you and see that you'rethe expert and hopefully have
that conversation and feel morecomfortable.
I have learned the hard waythat I have to build trust.
Yes, I have had someone tell meno.
(10:57):
I met her at a women's lunchand learn and we had great
rapport.
We went through a consult andthen we talked about the
proposal and the reason she saidno is that she just doesn't
quite trust me yet.
Storie (11:11):
So I mean, I guess my question would be to that.
That response is what part ofwhat you do would make someone
hesitate?
So if I go to see a financialadvisor, I don't know if I can
truly trust them.
I don't have a relationshipwith them.
If I go to see a financialadvisor, I don't know if I can
truly trust them.
I don't have a relationshipwith them if I go to a bank.
So I guess what was hervariance on that?
Jen (11:32):
Because it's not just it's affecting what we do.
I'm hoping you're in a businessthat you love, right, and you
want that to support your life.
So while we focus on business,we sometimes get to see the
personal too.
I get to see how much you'repaying yourself, or need to know
how much that is, so we canreverse engineer that and figure
that out in our plan.
So I do get to see how, whatyour spending habits are.
(11:55):
I get to see how much you'repaying your people as well as
yourself.
So I do get to see those thingsthat a financial advisor may not
have, all the like individualtransactions.
Storie (12:06):
Right.
I mean you have a great mindset.
Like I mentioned earlier,having both sides of your brain
constantly active is a very,very niche thing, very rare, I
would say.
So I think it's wonderful, butthen how do you make it not
scary for them?
So how would you overcomesomeone like that?
I mean, I completely understandif you've got some hidden
(12:26):
secrets in the back you don'twant anybody to see.
You can completely understand.
But what, what is thehesitation?
And how do you overcome thosewith with clients, cause it's
very personal?
Jen (12:36):
It is, and a lot of the times, to be honest, I've
probably been where they're atand I share that with them.
Storie (12:41):
Is that why you do this?
It is, it is.
Is that why?
Jen (12:43):
you do this, it is, it is and it's.
I do it because of what I'vewent through and nobody taught
me.
I'm self-taught on a lot ofthings that just at different
levels as I get to the nextlevel, right.
So I never had someone hold myhand and tell me what I needed
to do when it comes to money.
I had to wing it or guess it,throw spaghetti at the mall at
(13:06):
the wall, see if it's stuck.
And when you have somebody inyour corner that can not even
coach you on, oh, maybe youshould do this, but more.
Okay, I'm at the expert.
This is what you need to do,based on what you told me.
Your goals are what we'replanning to do here, but if you
don't, this is what could happen.
Storie (13:20):
Okay.
Jen (13:21):
And so that they feel better and more comfortable in
making that decision.
But ultimately they are theowner and I treat my clients as
partners, as if I'm in thebusiness with you and I get
affected as well if somethingdoesn't go right or something
goes wrong, and if so, I willalways own my own mistake if
something happens Right.
Storie (13:37):
But you take away the humility.
It feels like you don't makethem feel like they're alone in
this.
You're not going to drop theball and walk away and hope for
the best.
Jen (13:46):
Exactly, and especially if you don't have a partner, if
it's just you.
You're a solopreneur.
You don't have that board ofadvisors, you don't have support
team necessarily to help you inreaching your goals.
Storie (13:58):
That's.
That's very true.
Now I would honestly me myself.
I would say having a partnerwould be more difficult because
of different mindsets.
You know I mean differentstrategies.
So how do you work withmultiple partners in a business
and on what scale of businessesdo you typically help?
Are you helping up startups?
Are you helping people thathave been established and need a
(14:19):
new strategy?
Jen (14:21):
So I'm kind of helping in the middle.
So they're not quite startup,but they're more of.
They've gained traction,they're growing and they want to
scale.
But they're either they're notquite sure how to structure
operations, how to structuremaybe their packages, pricing to
align with that happening, howto afford to hire the next
person, whatever that might be.
So that's kind of where myideal clients sit.
(14:44):
Now.
I've helped at both extremes of, you know, startups making less
than six figures, those in themillions.
So I've helped all over.
But that's kind of the sweetspot because you've had enough
to struggle or to see reallywhat it's like to run a business
.
But I feel like I can help somany ways and helping them get
to that next level multiple, six, seven figures figures and
(15:06):
that's where my passion's at youlike seeing the success of it
all from them.
Storie (15:10):
So is that what your book is is primarily about is?
Is it your story, a biography,or is it more?
Of this is how you do it.
Jen (15:18):
Combination, okay, um it depends on what the so how the
book is structured is.
Each page has a way, and thenI'll write a paragraph or two
about that, focusing on thefinancial part.
Okay, so it can be somethingsmall, as communication is key,
right?
Storie (15:33):
Right, yeah, absolutely.
Jen (15:35):
Or foreplay matters.
Storie (15:37):
Oh, I love these.
I love these chapter headings.
That's actually I was going toask you about your spicy
analogies.
Okay, so you just leewayed meright into it, so tell me more
about that.
It keeps it interesting.
I see where you mixed it welland merged all the information
well.
Jen (16:02):
Now is it breaking it down for you on a deeper level in
this book, or is that where theconsulting comes?
Storie (16:06):
in you really break it down.
Jen (16:06):
For me it's really more on the consulting, so I do share
some stories.
I had a trademark infringement,for example, on my entire brand
name, so I had.
That's how the Leverage Mavenwas created, because I was
forced legally to change mybrand.
Storie (16:18):
We were talking about that earlier small world, how
you would meet somebody elsewith the same name.
Jen (16:22):
Yeah, so, and hers was a program, so I wouldn't have
necessarily known that, but itwas trademarked and three
attorneys told me she's 100% inthe right.
We do the same thing.
So I had to figure that out.
I didn't budget for that, Ididn't plan for that Okay right,
so had to kind of make thosechanges.
But I think things happen for areason and so now I always use
(16:43):
that.
My mistake again is your,absolutely.
So I have stories like that, butthen I also have things that
are more educational without thejargon Right.
Storie (16:52):
Okay, so they can really get something out of it that
they didn't have before.
Yeah, but then the consultingis very important.
It seems like how would youapproach something like that,
somebody that has a lot of thehumility, you have a lot of
confidence in what you do, sohow would you find me and help
(17:12):
me to say the networking eventsI know you're speaking at about,
how many are you allocatingthis year to do and what kind of
return do you see on that?
What type of audience are youseeing in those groups that
you're speaking at?
Jen (17:29):
so the groups can vary.
It can be a small like chamberof commerce, it can be a local
networking organization or itcould be a national conference
wow, and all in between so, um,it just really depends.
As long as they are an owner ofa business, okay Is really, if
they're more individuals, youknow, w-2 type of employees, or
(17:51):
they're all sales managers in aspecific that's probably not a
good fit for me Okay, but theowner is who I want to talk to,
because they're the ones thatmake the decisions ultimately in
the company, right, absolutely.
Storie (18:03):
So, what's next, what do you have coming up?
Jen (18:11):
absolutely so what's next?
What do you have coming up?
So the book, of course, and Ihave.
I also have a three-dayintensive.
Tell me more, it's called thescalable success intensive, and
if you have ever been toconferences, I feel like I've
been to a gazillion of them.
I couldn't even count right butyou go there and they're great,
you have great speakers, youlearn in for so much information
(18:34):
and then you go back tobusiness on Monday and 90% goes
out the door because lifehappens, business happens, you
forgot some of the things, youcouldn't take notes fast enough.
Whatever, that is right.
This is a very hands onworkshop style where when you're
learning things, you're doingit as you learn it.
Storie (18:45):
I love it.
Jen (18:45):
And so not only do you walk away with that personalized
game plan, but we work onmindset.
I'm bringing somebody in formarketing because I mean I know
enough to be dangerous, but I'mnot your expertise.
Storie (18:56):
Hint, hint, wink, wink if you need anyone, okay.
Jen (19:00):
So I want to make sure that they walk away with a plan.
So we look at their why, theirvision.
We focus on the mindset we lookat okay, now we're going to
implement and then we're goingto execute it, and so they're
going to have all that done inthose three days.
It's going to be very intense,yes, but it's going to be so
worth it, and if you knew whatvalue is like, just one of the
(19:22):
speakers is worth the ticket initself.
Storie (19:24):
Oh my goodness.
So at the end of the day you'recreating.
It's kind of like the build,launch, grow scale methodology
that we talk about here at Atma.
You have to have that buildphase because you can't build a
house on sand, right, I mean?
And you giving that to them.
And also, I'd like to point outsomething that I don't see a
lot of my guests do.
I don't see a lot of my guestsadmit that their weakness in
(19:49):
their business and that theybring other people in to
optimize where they're weak.
I think that's very important,because if you don't know where
you're weak and you don't have aprofessional that knows that
portion, how can you really bebeneficial people?
on an all over scale right.
Jen (20:07):
Yeah, I'm not afraid to say I don't know, but I'll find
someone who does.
Storie (20:11):
And you know what?
I would much rather someonetell me that than pretend they
know it and it fall through,right.
I mean, how many times has thathappened to all of us?
I think it's happened to methree times last week, yeah.
But is that?
Is that a reason why you havesuch a passion for this?
I know you love seeing helpingthem grow at the end of the day,
but is it because of your ownchallenges that really give you
(20:32):
the the sense of, I guess,positiveness that you are
delivering to the world?
Jen (20:38):
It is because, I mean, you've heard, you don't know
what you don't know.
And unless you're in thefinancial industry, unless you
have that background, you knowhow to be a plumber, you know
how to sell real estate, youknow how to run a marketing
agency, but you probably don'tknow how to manage the money
strategically in the business tomake sure you're reaching the
goals that you want.
And that's where I come in,because that's something that I
(21:01):
don't, it's something I have apassion for.
I'm very numbers driven.
I'm weird in that way.
I've always been interested inone plus one has to equal two
man.
Storie (21:12):
You know, the reason I am so intrigued by what you do
is because I go to all kinds ofnetworking events Weekly.
I go to networking events andanytime a financial advisor gets
up, I am engaged for the first10 seconds and then I try really
hard to stay engaged, but yourpersonality really, really helps
, bring a sense of comfort andhumility that I really
(21:34):
appreciate.
I don't know.
Thank you, I'm sure if you'vebeen in business for almost 10
years, then it's working prettywell for you and I love that.
You gave yourself the space toactually expand your mind and
allow yourself to try differentthings to to lead you to this
today.
So, with that being said, um, Iwanted to ask a few questions
(21:56):
about if someone today, um, orif you yourself today, could
tell your younger self one thingthat you wish you would have
known, or maybe two, um, whatwould those things be as a
business owner now?
Jen (22:14):
sooner than later.
Leverage, leverage, leverage.
You need to leverage otherpeople.
You need to leverage your timeand leverage your money.
When I left corporate world Ihad a good chunk of savings,
which is kind of why I felt alittle more comfortable making
that leap right.
Right, and if I would haveknown what I know now then and
that was just three years ago,my goodness I would have so used
(22:37):
that to leverage other hirequicker I mean hire slow.
I always believe hire slow firefast.
But I would have been able if Iknew that I would have been
able to leverage the money.
I had to hire the people to dothe things I either don't enjoy
doing or I'm not very good at ordon't want to do, and that way
I can grow and scale quicker.
That's smart.
Storie (22:58):
That's really good advice and I think, as business
owners especially, we all wishwe could go back in time at some
point.
But, man, to know other peopleare there with you.
It it's almost comforting.
It's sad but comforting, andluckily, people like you've
turned it into something that'sprofitable for both.
Right, so, um, at your speakingevent.
Where will it be held?
Jen (23:18):
tell me more about that it's uh, so this year it's
september 11th through the 13thnice it's going to be in frisco,
Texas.
Storie (23:25):
In Frisco, so you're local to DFW, right?
Jen (23:28):
Yes, that's awesome.
Storie (23:30):
But I heard you're also going to be just spreading your
brand all over the country herepretty soon right, oh yeah.
So you got a lot of podcastsscheduled to come up.
Jen (23:40):
Yep, I have an event.
I'm speaking tomorrow, anotherpodcast in a week, podcast in
May, and that's just what I'vescheduled in the last week.
Storie (23:47):
Oh, my goodness, gracious With my book coming out
.
Jen (23:50):
I've been kind of on a little kind of like a book tour
these days you really are.
Storie (23:54):
Your book tour can be on podcasts, yeah, so where is
your book coming out at?
So it's June, right?
Yep, then it'll be completelydone and open to the public.
Yep, where can they find thatbook or audience?
Jen (24:06):
So if you want, you can actually join the VIP list so
you get early access and somebonuses.
If you want to text the wordmoney M-O-N-E-Y right Yep To
469-829-7697.
I love the 69.
Storie (24:28):
And it's so funny.
Jen (24:28):
I actually had that number with my old brand Really, and
then I was like, oh, I haven'tused it since then, so I went to
use it and I was like, okay, Ihave to keep this number.
Storie (24:39):
That is hilarious.
So is it available on Kindleand in hardback or?
Jen (24:43):
no, it'll be a paperback.
It won't be a hardback, perfect, but as of right now, to be
honest, I don't know yet.
So my publisher is working onall those details.
That's why in June it's comingout, not right now.
Storie (24:53):
Story.
You can just tell me thatthat's okay.
So what's one habit or systemto wrap it up closer to the end,
what's one simple habit orsystem every business owner can
start today to handle, to helpthem handle their finances?
Jen (25:10):
So when I mentioned back in 2019, I started focusing on
more of the consulting, it'sbecause I had I was growing and
had the question of how muchshould I pay myself?
It's a good question.
Like you're making money, Iwant to be strategic with it,
and everybody told me to readthis book called Profit First,
and it's it's a cashflow methodthat I am now certified in to
(25:32):
help the clients in implementingthis.
But one easy step is that ifyou just go open up one more
bank account, nickname it profitand start allocating just 1% of
all your deposits into thataccount, and by doing that,
you're driving profitintentionally and getting into
that habit, because a lot oftimes we take what we make, we
(25:54):
pay all the bills, pay ourpeople what's left over.
We might be paying ourselveswith that, if there's anything
left over, right.
And then what you see in thebank doesn't match what's in
your financial statements either, and so you're all confused,
right.
So this is just a simple stepto get started and taking those
baby steps in not justimplementing profit first, but
honestly making sure you have aprofitable, financially healthy
(26:15):
company too.
Storie (26:16):
That is probably the most important in the long run,
97% of businesses don't last, sothe 3% probably need a strategy
and probably look into researchon how to do it, which is
exactly what you are right.
That's wonderful.
So you have virtual andin-person services, or it's all?
Jen (26:36):
virtual.
If I have someone that is localand there I have had a couple
clients that I need to be inperson.
I'll work with them withinreason.
So I'm not going to drive DFWsvery large, so I won't drive
across the metroplex necessarily.
I'm on the north side, yeah but, most part, and the reason why,
too, is sometimes we'll recordthings that's and then it's
(26:57):
easier for them to have accessto that.
I feel like wait.
What was it that Jen said so?
Storie (27:00):
man that is.
That's a great point for a lotof business owners.
I used to dislike Zoom calls,but having that recording to go
back and reference is invaluableto me now.
Jen (27:10):
And then you're also leveraging your time, so you
have to factor drive time thereand back and so being strategic
with that too.
Storie (27:17):
I am definitely going to have you come over to Nouveau
Desk, where we're hosting thispodcast, to speak to people,
because I actually had to remindmyself that this week is.
You can go to events and youcan.
You can meet all the people youwant, but if you're not doing
the follow-up to speak with themand really have those valuable
conversations after then it'sall pointless.
(27:37):
It really is.
I really appreciate your advicetoday, jen, and once you launch
the book completely, I wouldlove for you to come back on the
show and and tell us more aboutit and give us some more detail
on everything you're doing andplan to do Absolutely.
Jen (27:52):
I appreciate you having me.
Thank you, jen, thank you.
Storie (27:54):
And to all of our listeners out there.
We will put Jen's informationin the bottom of this transcript
and description.
If you're nervous about whatyou may or may not see in
finance, please reach out to her, because I know it's
uncomfortable, but when you'vebeen with someone who's been
there before, it's not so badand very beneficial.
(28:14):
Until next time.
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