Author: Henry Murphy

Embarking on a new endeavor often means starting off with less-than-stellar skills. Most talents are not innate; they require dedication, practice, and a willingness to endure initial struggles. The question that echoes in our pursuits is: Are you willing to start off bad?

As I pen down this blog, it’s a prelude to a journey of webinars – a realm I anticipate stumbling through initially. The vision of its potential fuels my determination. I recognize that mastery doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a process of growth and learning.

Not everyone possesses natural talent; almost everything demands honing. Surrounding ourselves with the right people amplifies our chances of success. It’s about building a team that supports and refines our skills.

So, I say this – do not fear starting poorly. Faith becomes the driving force in pursuing the next big thing. Overcoming the fear of failure, rejection, and investment is crucial. Remember, greatness often emerges from humble beginnings.

As I venture into webinars, I might not be a pro by the time you read this, but one thing is certain – I started with a willingness to be bad at it. Every journey to excellence demands that initial leap, and I encourage you: don’t be afraid to start on that path.

In conclusion, greatness is not about where you start; it’s about the commitment to grow and improve. Embrace the journey, start with faith, and let every stumbling block be a stepping stone towards greatness.

As I sit on the steps of the porch in my zip-up hoodie, cargo shorts, and Jordan Air Ones, the sun sends peaks of light through the trees. The grass is green, the birds are chirping, and the wind gently blows across my face. It’s one of those beautiful days in Atlanta, Georgia—the kind of day that gives you space to think deeply and reflect. My Starbucks blonde roast coffee warms my hands, and though it’s a little chilly, the hood from my hoodie keeps me comfortable.

In moments like this, I often wonder why God places certain things on my heart. For instance, why now does He want me to be a communicator in the marketplace? I think about it, but not too much—because if I do, I might start to wrestle with my value. I’ve come to understand that I’m valuable simply because God says I’m valuable. I don’t need to measure my life by anything else.

One of my daily prayers is, “Lord, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit.” I try to ask this every day, and though I sometimes forget, it’s not often. I’ve realized how much I need Him and can’t even imagine how I used to live without that awareness. Today, with the beauty of the world around me—the sunlight, the breeze, the sounds of creation—I’m reminded that everything God set in motion still exists. Just as He created the earth, He created me, and He created you. When I stop and reflect on that, it’s overwhelming in the best way.

And while I’m thinking about communication, God’s will, and reflection, I also feel a deep sense of purpose for the writing He’s placed on my heart. It’s part of this season of preparation that I’m in. I don’t want to overthink it. I just want to be faithful, to be great, and to move forward in the way He’s leading me.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

You ever take a saying and use it so often, but can’t remember where it came from? The title of this blog is one of those sayings. We all know what it means—or at least, most of us do. If not, here’s a quick explanation: it’s about taking what’s useful and leaving the rest behind.

I use this saying all the time, especially when I’m learning from others. Sometimes, people share insights that don’t fully resonate in the moment, or maybe there are parts I just don’t agree with. That’s fine—growth often requires discernment. Every book I read, I apply this principle. For instance, I love Think and Grow Rich. I don’t agree with everything in the book, but overall, it’s a solid resource. Myron Golden once pointed out something interesting about it—he said the book should’ve been called Think Long and Grow Rich, highlighting the need for deep, intentional thought. At first, I kind of understood what he meant, but as time passed, it really sunk in. We need to carve out more time to think deeply—about what we’re doing and how we want to execute it. More thought on the front end means better results when it’s time to act.

I’ve even set a daily event on my calendar that says Grow: Audible + YouTube + Podcast. This reminds me to invest in learning from other entrepreneurs every day, to constantly elevate my mindset. It doesn’t matter how you do it—just make sure you’re doing it. I used to love walking through Los Angeles with an audiobook playing in my ear. It was a game-changer—just walking through the fast-paced city, the sunlight breaking through the trees, while I absorbed valuable information that could take my life to the next level.

So every day, make it a priority to chew up the meat, spit out the bones, and add value to your life. When you do that, you position yourself to add value to others.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

I can’t believe the time is up. Ironically, I never realized there was a time limit. I guess I thought I’d be in California forever. I fell in love with the city, the culture, the people, and—honestly—the weather.

Three days before our flight, I started putting furniture and other items in the hallway with a “free” sign. My wife and I would laugh because every time we came back an hour later, everything would be gone. It was one of those moments that was funny, but bittersweet because it meant time was up.

It hit me hardest when a friend came to pick up my 75-inch Samsung TV. As it was coming off the wall, something felt heavier than the TV itself—the thought that I really had to leave California.

I struggled with it, but deep down, I know God has the final say. Every day, I surrender my will to Him, which means trusting Him completely. Once I embraced that, I began to see my time in California with new eyes—more mature eyes. We were there for a reason, and I believe we accomplished what we were meant to. My wife grew in so many ways, and so did I—too many ways to list in this blog, but just know, God ordained that season.

Now, as I sit in Atlanta writing this, it’s bittersweet. Atlanta has always been good to us, especially for business, and we have strong connections here. My prayer every day is, “God, order my steps,” because while I don’t fully understand why we’re back, I trust that He has a purpose for it.

If you’re going through a season that you don’t quite understand, know that it’s purposeful. He’s equipping you with what you need for the next season. And that next season might also come with things you don’t fully grasp, but trust that He’s preparing you for what’s ahead. He’s a God who goes before us, a God who loves and cherishes us. He’s with us through everything, and He will never leave or forsake us.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

Have you ever been in a season of life where you felt like you were absolutely killing it? I’ve had plenty of moments like that as an entrepreneur. But then, after taking a step back, I realized, “Man, I could have done a lot more. I could’ve been so much better.” Now, understand that I’m seasoning this statement with grace because I truly believe in giving yourself grace. But if you’ve ever read my book God Bless The Entrepreneur: The First Decade, you know I’ve been transparent about moving on to the next thing too quickly.

Looking back, I began to see that what I was doing should have been executed at 100%, but I was operating well below that mark. Money can fool you. Sometimes, when the cash is rolling in, you think that’s the only indicator that you’re killing it. But that’s not always true.

When I think about “deep work,” here’s what I mean. I’m giving you a glimpse because this really could be an entire chapter in a book, but I’ll try to keep it brief. I was working on the SMS text marketing journey for my customers and realized I could have put so much more effort into the copy, more into split A/B testing, and I could have synced social media with text marketing better. The fact that I grew my list past 10,000—back then, you couldn’t tell me anything! But in reality, that 10,000 should have been 50,000 with the right effort.

That’s when you know you could’ve gone deeper. You could’ve spent more time on the thought process and connected with your customers in a different way. And don’t even get me started on segmentation. I could have changed the game with better segmentation. As a brand owner, you’re often left with scattered sizes of inventory. Since we were doing so well with text marketing, I could’ve sent individual size updates directly to people who had purchased that size before. For example, if we had 20 smalls left, I didn’t have to leave that out there for everyone to see on the website. I could’ve hidden it and sent a direct link with a crazy discount to all the customers who had ordered smalls in the past. The public would’ve never known, and I would’ve cleared that inventory.

These are just a few examples from one segment of my business. The point is, don’t rush the process. Be willing to do the deep work. Start with your ‘why,’ then move to your brand story, your brand identity, and so on. All of it matters. All of it counts.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

In the journey of personal and professional growth, our capacity – the ability to receive, understand, and apply knowledge – plays a pivotal role. An open mind allows the flow of wisdom, fostering continuous learning and development.

Capacity refers to the mental or physical ability to absorb, comprehend, and utilize information effectively. It’s the reservoir that, when open, enables us to embrace new ideas, experiences, and insights.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is the ability to apply knowledge judiciously and make sound decisions. It’s not just about acquiring facts but understanding the deeper implications and nuances of life.

Being receptive to diverse perspectives and surrounding ourselves with wise individuals expands our capacity to understand, adapt, and thrive. Solomon’s insight, “there is safety in the multitude of counsel,” underscores the idea that wisdom grows exponentially when shared.

Don’t cap your capacity. Embrace the multitude of counsel, let wisdom pour in, and watch your life flourish with newfound understanding and productivity.

If you’re anything like me, there are moments in life when you feel like you’ve got this. Money is coming in, business is thriving, and everything seems to be on cruise control. In those seasons, we might think we’ve made it and that this is how life should be. However, as I get older, I’ve come to realize that this is just a very, very small portion of life; it is not the be-all and end-all. I believe we must face challenges to truly appreciate this perspective. I’ve been through my share of struggles, and I know more will come because my goal in life is to surrender my world to God every day.

If given a choice, we would likely opt for comfort. Let’s face it: nobody enjoys being uncomfortable. As I navigate my day—whether talking to potential clients, connecting with my network, or spending time with my wife—I’ve realized that while all these relationships are valuable, there’s nothing quite like my time with God.

I remember when I was younger, I often wondered how people could spend so much time with God. It seemed like a lot. But over time, I’ve come to understand the necessity of that connection. I feel like Charles Spurgeon, needing Him morning by morning and evening by evening. I take moments to pause, thank Him, and acknowledge how much I appreciate that my life is in His hands. Whatever He wants to do with it, I’m open to it because He is the Creator and Sustainer of life.

We all need a healthy reverence for God. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but I strive not to live outside of His will whenever possible. I enjoy spending time in His Word, as it offers both encouragement and conviction—I believe we need both.

I love how Lecrae captures this sentiment in his song: “I need Him from morning to morning. I need Him to fight the opponent. I need Him to get where I’m going, the power that moves every mountain.” It’s such a profound reminder. I don’t want to spend a day without Him.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

I’ll be honest: my passion for entrepreneurship is at a 13 on a scale of 1 to 10. I can be intense when talking about it. Even when I was at my lowest, when people said I needed to get a job, I was thinking to myself, “What I’m working on will produce more in two hours than what most college graduates with a master’s degree make in a month.” I know it looks crazy; heck, it might even look stupid. But in my heart, I know it will work. I’ve seen it work before. After dedicating over 20 years to working for someone else while raising my kids, I believe entrepreneurship is something God-given. It’s tough, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

You’ve heard me say this many times, whether in my blogs or on social media: you really have to push through adversity. Not everyone can handle that, and it doesn’t mean they are failures. It just means they have to be open to enduring the tough times that will come their way.

Listen, I’m the person who will tell you: if you really want this, keep your job and be faithful at it. But if you have a family, when the kids go to bed, you better dedicate four hours every day while they’re sleeping. Sacrifice that sleep so you can work on your business. I share this because when the opportunity for entrepreneurship arises, depending on what you do, you might be giving your job 8 to 12 hours each day. You need to create a rhythm that allows you to transition seamlessly into that role. Use that time wisely to build your business.

Some people dive in headfirst—I know because I did. At the time, my business was only making about $250 a month. Crazy, maybe, but it worked for me. However, I suggest having at least six months to a year’s worth of savings if possible. It takes time to get things going. But once you get it rolling and build that machine, you can accomplish something amazing.

It’s been over a decade for me, and honestly, I’m okay with being misunderstood. I don’t really care what people think about my passion because I don’t just talk about it—I live it. For me, this isn’t just a job; it’s what I love to do, and money is just a byproduct of my passion. I wrote this for those who may be pursuing entrepreneurship and feel unsupported by those around them. I’m cheering for you, along with other entrepreneurs around the world, letting you know that you can do this. If it’s burning in your heart, you need to pursue it.

You’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again: entrepreneurs are the backbone of society. We are the go-getters, the innovators, and the risk-takers.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

Maybe it was on the rooftop in Los Angeles overlooking the city, or perhaps it hit me on the plane from LA to Atlanta, or while sitting on the back porch of my daughter’s house, sipping coffee. Either way, the truth remains: I don’t have nothing to prove.

I recently relaunched my brand, Unapologetic, and that’s where it all started to resonate in my heart. I had some success with this brand, but I know I didn’t give it everything that was in me. I could’ve poured so much more into it. Before writing this blog, I thought about all the insightful things I wanted to do for the relaunch, and then it hit me.

I know it could have impacted people in a more significant way. I know it had an effect because people still ask me about it, and they continue to wear the merchandise.

I’ve grown in my faith, and I’m past the point of telling people to sit back and watch what I do. That mindset is elementary for me now. I shut down my business 2 ½ years ago, and while that might sound crazy to some, I believe in my heart that this was what God was telling me to do. In hindsight, I see why I had to do it, even if it didn’t make sense to me at the time. Obedience rarely makes sense in the beginning.

The first time I launched my brand, I faced doubts from people about concepts inspired by the Word of God. They didn’t feel it was something they could buy into, and I felt the need to prove myself. I wanted to show them that these ideas came from God and that they would work. I said, “You don’t believe me? Just watch and see.”

But I’ve grown past that mindset. I remember when one of the disciples told Jesus that they had seen some followers who weren’t part of their group and wanted to rebuke them. Jesus said, “Don’t rebuke them, for if they are not against us, then they are for us.” That’s exactly how I feel about the faith-based apparel business. If others are promoting God and believe this is what they’re supposed to do, then there’s fruit in that—or at least the potential to bear fruit. That’s the most important thing here.

So while I don’t have anything to prove to anyone else, I do want to prove something to myself. I want to show that I can focus, take an idea or concept, and make it so much more impactful. I want my clothing drops to inspire—not just to be clothing drops, but to encourage creativity and a life lived for God.

Since 2013, my mantra for Unapologetic has been “Faith and fashion for us.” This statement rings true, and if God gives me the grace and direction, I know it will be something amazing that impacts people for generations to come.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

When most people hear the phrase “tunnel vision,” they think of someone being laser-focused, blocking out distractions to accomplish their goals. And as an entrepreneur, having that kind of tunnel vision can be essential at times. But the type of tunnel vision I’m talking about is a bit different than what you might expect—I’m talking about being *legally blind*. 

Some days are tougher than others because some days, things are a bit blurrier. As an entrepreneur, my job revolves around being on social media, handling websites, emails, and an endless flow of text messages. Research and decision-making come with the territory of running a business, and most of that requires my eyes. 

I’ll never forget the day I was at the eye doctor, and she said, *“You don’t have vision in your right eye anymore. We can save the left eye, but you will be legally blind.”* I braced myself, thinking that hearing those two words—*legally blind*—would impact me negatively. But instead, I felt something unexpected: gratefulness.

Grateful that I could still see something, that I could still function and continue my work. And to be honest, people who are completely blind have accomplished incredible things. But for me, knowing that I had some degree of sight was a reminder to not use my condition as an excuse, but as an opportunity. Life had taught me a valuable lesson: when you come close to losing something as precious as your eyesight, it changes you. It makes you realize that every moment counts.

It’s not that who I was before wasn’t good enough—but losing sight, even partially, pushes you to become better. On days when I can’t quite make out people’s faces, even when I’m standing right in front of them, or when I’m watching TV with my wife and struggle to make out the characters on the screen—I remain grateful.

I’m not sharing this as a sob story, but as a reminder: don’t take anything for granted. Live life fully. Enjoy every moment and make sure you’re doing what you love, because life is fleeting. The Word of God says life is like a vapor. So, do something meaningful with the life you’ve been given.

God Bless The Entrepreneur