Guarding The American Dream: Your Guide To Purposeful and Extraordinary Entrepreneurship

By Lisa L Bray

Are you tired of the "get rich quick" schemes and empty promises?

Do you dream of building a successful business that reflects your values, fuels your freedom, and makes a positive difference in the world?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa L. Bray
• Release date: Apr 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891098879

Lisa L Bray

Fueled by a belief in the power of good and a challenging upbringing that led to single parenthood and ultimate success, Lisa Bray isn't your average entrepreneur. She's a daughter of a Marine who understands the value of freedom and the importance of building strong businesses for a stronger America.This passion led her to write "Guarding The American Dream," a book challenging the "build fast, chase profit" mentality that burns out entrepreneurs and hurts communities. Lisa argues for a new model - one built on purpose, integrity, and humanity.With over two decades of experience working with both industry giants and rising stars, Lisa now dedicates herself to empowering small businesses. Her team provides practical frameworks and authentic advice, all rooted in the belief that every business deserves success while staying true to its values.From her Nashville home with husband Mike, Lisa continues to champion the entrepreneurial spirit and the pursuit of a dream that prioritizes both meaning and financial freedom.

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Title page

Copyright

Guarding The American Dream © Copyright 2024 Lisa Bray

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, including international, federal, state and local governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising, and all other aspects of doing business in the US, Canada or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the reader and consumer.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on behalf of the consumer or reader of this material. Any per­ceived slight of any individual or organization is purely unintentional.

The resources in this book are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the specialized training and professional judgment of a health care or mental health care professional.

Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for the use of the information provided within this book. Please always consult a trained professional before making any decision regarding treatment of yourself or others.

For more information, email [e-mail]

ISBN: 979-8-89109-886-2 (paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-89109-887-9 (ebook)

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Dedication

For those who dare to dream, for those who strive to make a difference, and for the unwavering guardians of the American dream—may this book be a guiding light on your extraordinary journey.

Contents

Introduction

Part One

Finding Your Freedom Map

Chapter 1

Audacious Beginnings

Climbing the Wrong Ladder

The Birth of a Mission: Nurturing American Dreamers

From Debt Collection to Business Consulting

The Space Between: The Entrepreneur’s Bottleneck

How to Keep Going: The Mastery of Perseverance

Building for Longevity: The Service Business Success Formula

Level 1: Building Your Base

Level 2: Leveling Up!

Level 3: Going Big!

Embracing Change and Owning Your Future

Chapter 2

CHOOSING LEADERSHIP, CHOOSING FREEDOM

Entrepreneurship Versus Higher Income: Sierra’s Revelation

Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Decision to Quit and The Career Dilemma

Exploring Alternatives: Changing Companies, Roles, or Negotiating Better

The Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship: From $11 to Six Figures

Your Business Can Only Be as Good as You Are

Leadership Every Day: The Entrepreneur’s Mindset

Choose the Path for You

Do It Your Way

Chapter 3

THE UNCOMFORTABLE JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY

Creating a Vision: The Essence of Entrepreneurial Success

Where Your Start Isn’t Where You End: Evolving Visions for a Fulfilling Life

Money as a Tool, Freedom as the Goal: Aligning Your Vision with True Wealth

Chapter 4

TOUCH THE DREAM

Learning from Serena Williams: Believing in Your Place

The Power of Immersion: Making the Unfamiliar Familiar

Lessons from Extraordinary Environments

Creating Incentives and Rewards to Bridge the Gap

From Visualization to Tangible Experience

Dream Excursions: Living the Dream Before It’s Reality

Set Daily Practices for Reinforcing Your Vision

Calculating the Cost (and Value) of Your Dream Lifestyle

Get Clear and Confident on Your Goals and Your Dream

Chapter 5

DESIGNING YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR LIFE

Lifestyle Goals: Your Entrepreneurial Foundation

Beyond Financial Independence: A Holistic Definition of Success

Customer Outcomes: Looking Beyond Products and Services and Selling Experiences

Unearth Your Unique Abilities: You’re More Than Meets the Eye

Listen to the Whispers of Your Ambition: Pursuing Your Dreams

Overcoming Initial Worries and Fears

The Pursuit of Freedom: Embracing Entrepreneurial Risks

Cutting Through the Noise: Facing Fear-Based Thoughts

Choosing Your Path: Focus for Success

Opportunity To Write: Crafting an Empowered Mindset

PART TWO

Building Your Legacy Brick by Brick

Chapter 6

THE PATH TO YOUR FIRST MILLION: MASTERING THE BUILDING BLOCKS

Lessons From Karaoke Hosting

Mastery Takes FOCUS (Follow One Course Until Successful)

The Focused Five Framework

Seeing the Power of One In Action

Stay In It To Win It: Focus To Win Your Next-Level Life

Chapter 7

YOU’RE MY PEOPLE. I’VE GOT YOU.

The Laser Versus the Lantern

The Power of Focus In Finding the Right Customers

How To Nail Down Your Right Client

Identifying Your Best Customer in Five Steps

Finding Enough of the Best Customers

Speeding Up the Process

Holding Back or Moving Forward?

Personal Authenticity and Branding

Rewriting Your Business Story

The Freedom to Serve Better

Chapter 8

CUSTOMERS COME THROUGH CONNECTION

Digital Landscape: Merging Technology with Sincerity

The Power of Value

Content Strategy: Choosing Your Content Medium and Making Genuine Connections Online

Types of Long-Form Content

Platform Selection

The Power of One in Messaging

Tapping Into the Power of Email

Elevating Your Email Game

Why Repeating Yourself is Great for Your Content

Navigating the Social Media Maze

Your Power, Your Narrative.

Understanding Social Media Metrics

Metrics That Provide Guidance (Show Progress but Aren’t the Main Focus)

The Real Metrics That Deserve Your Focus

The Art of Networking & Collaboration

Lean Into the Power of Collaboration

Strength In Nurture

Energy in The Right Direction for Better Conversions

Master the Dream 100 Strategy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Example: A Custom Jewelry Designer’s Dream 100 Strategy

Tips for Connecting with Your Dream 100

Sales as an Energetic Exchange

Chapter 9

THE BUYER TAKES CENTER STAGE

The Problem with Sales: Breaking Free from Sales Reluctance

The Three Beliefs

The New Way: Prioritize the Prospect Over the Sale

Empowering Your Prospects

Find Freedom by Detaching from Outcomes

Mastering the Art of Detachment Through Presence

Sales Conversations are A Two-Way Exploratory Experience: Uncover the Right Fit Together

Make an Offer Only When Your Client Is Ready to Buy: The Art of Timing

You Can’t Lose What Wasn’t Yours to Start With: Release the Pressure

Understanding the Digital Age Sales: Embracing the New Frontier

Understanding the Digital Trust Barrier: Bridging the Gap

Looking Ahead: The Jump to Level 2

PART THREE

The Freedom Dividend: Future-proofing Your Business and Creating a Lasting Legacy

Chapter 10

UNLOCKING BUSINESS POTENTIAL: BUILDING YOUR A-TEAM WITH TRUST

Shifting Perspectives: Prioritizing Who for Business Growth

Overcoming Overwhelm: The Power of Delegating Tasks

Task Delegation: Unburdening Yourself for Progress

Building Your Dream Team: Key Roles for Business Triumph

The Power of a Team of Teams Approach

Hiring the Right Team Members

Beth’s Story

What I Learned

Additional Thoughts

On Building a High-Performance Team

Onboarding Excellence: Setting the Stage for Success

Skills Assessment: The Key to Effective Hiring

Purpose-Driven Hiring: Aligning Your Team with Your Mission

Motivating Your Team: The Power of Incentives

Chapter 11

PREPARING FOR FUTURE GROWTH WITH AN EYE ON LEADERSHIP

Modern Leadership: Transforming Influence with Kindness

Leadership that Endures: The Measure of Great Leadership

Guiding Your Team: The Power of Visionary Leadership

Your Team Mission Statement

Leadership Self-Assessment: Discovering Your Strengths and Areas for Growth

Crafting Your Leadership Improvement Plan

Leadership Lab: Applying Skills Through Volunteering

Leadership in Action: How One Initiative Transformed a Company

Chapter 12

MAXIMIZING MONEY’S POTENTIAL IN YOUR BUSINESS

Seeing Abundance Everywhere: A Mindset Exercise

Cash Flow Mastery: Navigating the Business Lifeline

Electricity of Business: Visualizing Cash Flow Like Never Before

Money as a Force for Good

Understanding and Growing Your Finances

The Profit First Model

Truth In Numbers

Setting Clear Financial Targets: From Stability to Growth

Sales as the Lifeblood: The Ultimate Priority

Scaling for Long-Term Success

Leveraging Your Success: Diversification and Growth

End of Chapter Exercise: Fine-Tuning Your Product Portfolio

Chapter 13

GO PRO BY BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT SAVE TIME

Escape the Shackles: A Blueprint for Business Freedom

Decoding Systems: The Keys to Efficiency and Consistency

Document How You Do It

The Three-Step Systems Strategy

Mastering Time: The Rhythms of Effective Strategic Planning

Unlocking Efficiency: Leveraging Tools and Automation

Chapter End Recap and Action Plan

Action Plan: Regular Rhythm Review

Tools & Automations to Implement

Other Systems to Consider

CONCLUSION

FINDING YOUR FREEDOM

About The Author

Introduction

You’

rehere because the dusty old playbooks don’t speak to you, do they? The profit first, hustle harder mantra feels a bit hollow. While you want to make loads of cash, you also crave more than just a fat bottom line. You dream of building a business that matches your values, fuels your freedom, and leaves a lasting positive impact on the world. I do too. And that’s why I poured my heart and hard-won lessons into Guarding The American Dream. This dream resonates with the very ethos of America. Here, innovation, determination, and resilience have consistently paved the way for groundbreaking ventures. This book isn’t just a manual, it’s a handshake, a promise to walk alongside you as we navigate the complexities of modern business. With each do-good venture, we’ll rewrite the narrative of business, leaving a trail of positive impact one bold step at a time.

In May of 2020, I faced the uncomfortable truth that I had lost my way. Caught in the current, I chased a borrowed definition of success, its noise drowning out my own quiet convictions. The pursuit of profit overshadowed my belief that business can—and should be—a force for good.

When the world hit the reset button, so did I. I stopped merely going through the motions and returned to what I covet most: freedom. In this country, the land of the free and the brave, entrepreneurial abundance flourishes alongside personal fulfillment.

As unconventional as it may sound, my professional journey began in the mid-90s as a karaoke host on the side, belting out songs by Garth, Reba, and Shania in Nashville, Tennessee. This humble beginning set the course for my entire entrepreneurial journey. By 2007, I was deeply immersed in establishing a series of successful small businesses, each serving as a testament to the lessons learned and triumphs earned.

Guarding The American Dream is more than just a business book. It’s your roadmap to rediscovering your freedom and purpose, crafting a thriving business that reflects your values, and leaving a legacy that matters. Sales, marketing, and money...yes, it’s here too. But throughout this book, I’ll be your guide, equipping you with practical tools and strategies to create a business legacy defined by freedom, distinction, and a lasting impact

Get ready to deconstruct and rebuild. Our journey unfolds in three comprehensive sections, equipping you with the tools and strategies to craft a thriving, highly profitable, and values-driven business.

Part One:Finding Your Freedom Map: Explore how to define your unique purpose, turn your vision into reality, and balance your entrepreneurial pursuits with a fulfilling life beyond the business.

Part Two:Building Your Legacy Brick by Brick: Forget short-term grabs; we’ll craft a sustainable, long-term business that stands the test of time and paves the path to your first million (and beyond!).

Part Three:The Freedom Dividend: This section is your blueprint for future-proofing your business and creating a lasting legacy. Learn to build a foundation of freedom, purpose, and impact, ensuring your entrepreneurial journey isn’t just a fleeting success but a lifelong fulfillment.

This generation holds the power to change the narrative of business. We can move beyond the hustle and build ventures that express our deepest values and unleash our human potential all while increasing personal wealth. Guarding The American Dream is a pact between you and me, reader. It’s an exchange of ideas and wisdom that celebrates both the spirit of enterprise and the core values that define us. As you reevaluate your approach to life and business through this perspective, I pray you’ll find answers in the areas that matter most to you.

The most elegant solutions are often the simplest, but the frantic pace of the world can obscure them. I’ll be your partner in discovery, helping you uncover practical strategies to overcome challenges, gain insights for your next normal, and ultimately find the freedom you crave.

Welcome to Guarding The American Dream, where your values pave the path to extraordinary entrepreneurship.

With deep friendship and unwavering support,

Part One

Finding Your Freedom Map

Chapter 1

Audacious Beginnings

"In the face of adversity, audacity

can be your greatest asset."

- Robert Greene

I was a scrawny, scraggly-haired trailer park kid from the coal mining towns of Colorado. It takes a lot of audacity to think that someone like me would end up a multi-millionaire! I don’t have a college degree, nor have I been the recipient of any special favor. I wasn’t networked, or even knew somebody who knew somebody.

I was just stubborn enough to have a belief in something more. I started from nothing, but I was driven by a desire to discover freedom with a dash of boldness to chase it. As I unraveled God’s plan, I searched for the truths that would define the next chapter, for both me and this work.

I discovered that real, authentic advice is hard-won. Not many people are willing to share what it genuinely takes to establish a durable,