In this episode, I’m excited to flip the script and have my fellow mastermind members interview me. JD Roth and Amberly Grant have been helping me stay accountable, think outside the box, and get started on the right foot through their experience, excellent questions, and valuable insight. Get your popcorn! Despite not being exposed to entrepreneurship growing up, I knew I wanted direct involvement in business. I followed what society dictates and checked off boxes. I attended college to earn a degree in Economics and began my career in retirement services. After a few years, I returned to college to study law. Now I get to pursue my passion in creating a business where I get to help support entrepreneurs as they achieve their dreams. While SBA loans aren’t guaranteed, they can aid entrepreneurs during times of growth and I can help educate new and established business owners along the way. Start-ups and businesses in their early stages may apply for a loan, and the bank may view them as a high-risk proposition. However, I view it as my duty to help shed the best light possible on those businesses, help the business owner understand how the bank assesses risk, and reassure those individuals about potential reward associated with being awarded a business loan. When you’re considering starting a business but aren’t sure what to do, you need to determine your passion. Would you be comfortable and content spending a significant amount of time on what you’re pursuing? There is a widespread notion that when you start a business, you work less than you did during your 9-5, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Especially as you start out, it’s likely you’ll pour even more hours into your business. Entrepreneurship is not simple; it requires patience and persistence. Before businesses approach the loan application process, it’s important they have access to educational materials and real, actionable resources about the SBA loan procedure. I love to start at square one with entrepreneurs where I teach them how to develop a business plan as the first step. In this episode, listen for: Education is critical, regardless of how it is obtained A business plan is critical for more than just lenders The difficulties associated with securing a loan for start-up businesses and why they may be considered high-risk Must-listen Moments: [8:28] Why I continued returning to school in pursuit of higher education [15:15] The top tips for starting a business [17:21] What I recommend over a book or course for a business plan and why Follow me @yoursmallbusinessbanker on Instagram And visit https://www.yoursmallbusinessbanker.com/ for more information and education on small business loans Learn more about JD Roth at https://www.getrichslowly.org/ Learn more about Amberly Grant at https://www.amberlygrant.com/meetamberly