Author: Henry Murphy

Have you ever heard the phrase, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”? Thinking is foundational. Positive thinking, in particular, becomes a breeding ground for faith and hope. But there’s something even more powerful than thinking hearing. Hearing your own thoughts, your own goals, spoken out loud.

As entrepreneurs, we sometimes find ourselves in seasons of planning where we don’t have anyone to share those plans with. Maybe you haven’t yet built a community of like-minded individuals who share your vision, your drive, or your way of thinking. And that’s okay hese connections take time.

Even when you have a strong circle, they might not always be available. Some of my closest friends, who are thriving in their own businesses, are often busy. Even my wife, who is my greatest supporter, can’t always lend an ear when I need to get my thoughts out. That’s where my iPhone Voice Memos come in.

Voice Memos have been a lifesaver for me. They allow me to record my thoughts and hear them out loud. Just the other day, I recorded one of my longest memos yet—20 minutes of unfiltered ideas and goals that had been swirling in my mind. I needed to let it flow, and hearing it back gave me clarity and focus.

In fact, I plan to schedule time this week just to listen to it again. Because the more I hear it, the more I build my faith. The more I build my faith, the more I keep going.

The entrepreneurial journey can feel lonely at times. But you first have to believe in your vision. You have to own it. Confidence is key—confidence that what you’re building will come to pass. And above all, submit your plans to God, and trust that He will bless the work of your hands.

Be encouraged. The grind may be lonely, but your vision is worth it.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

Why Knowing E-Commerce Terms Matters
Yesterday, I was contemplating a post for Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). I wanted to reach out to people interested in starting their own brands. While many follow me on my personal Facebook page, I realized that my audience there isn’t my target group for e-commerce.

The post I had in mind was this: “If you know the stats of your favorite sports team and players but don’t understand these 19 e-commerce terms, maybe your priorities are in the wrong place.”

As I thought it through, I decided to focus on what truly matters crafting value for my students at The Ground Up Academy. These are the ones who are serious about building their e-commerce businesses.

Here’s the thing: You might not use all these terms immediately when starting out, but understanding them will set you up for success. When it’s time to build your team, review your numbers, or communicate with experts, you’ll have a solid foundation to work from.

The 19 Essential E-Commerce Terms
To help you grow as an entrepreneur, here are the e-commerce terms every brand builder should commit to memory:
    1.    AOV (Average Order Value)
Tracks the average amount customers spend per order.
Formula: Total Revenue ÷ Number of Orders
    2.    CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization)
The process of improving your website to turn visitors into paying customers.
    3.    ROI (Return on Investment)
Measures the profitability of your investments.
Formula: (Net Profit ÷ Investment Cost) × 100
    4.    CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)
The cost of acquiring a new customer.
Formula: Total Marketing Costs ÷ New Customers Acquired
    5.    LTV (Lifetime Value)
The total revenue a customer brings over their lifetime relationship with your business.
    6.    CTR (Click-Through Rate)
Measures how many people click on your ads or links.
Formula: (Clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100
    7.    SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The practice of optimizing your site to rank higher in search engine results.
    8.    PPC (Pay-Per-Click)
A paid advertising model where you’re charged each time someone clicks on your ad.
    9.    SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
A unique identifier for each product in your inventory.
    10.    CPM (Cost Per Mille)
The cost of 1,000 ad impressions—a key metric in display advertising.
    11.    CR (Conversion Rate)
The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, like making a purchase.
Formula: (Conversions ÷ Total Visitors) × 100
    12.    CPC (Cost Per Click)
Tracks how much you pay for each ad click in your campaigns.
    13.    RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary)
Analyzes customer behavior: how recently they purchased, how often, and how much they spend.
    14.    KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
Metrics that measure progress toward specific business goals.
    15.    ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Software that integrates and manages business processes like inventory and accounting.
    16.    API (Application Programming Interface)
Tools that allow different software to connect and share data.
    17.    SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
Ensures secure, encrypted data exchange on your website, building trust with customers.
    18.    RTM (Real-Time Marketing)
Responding instantly to current events or customer behavior with relevant marketing.
    19.    POS (Point of Sale)
The system or location where customers complete their purchases, whether online or in-store.

Why These Terms Matter for Your Business
These terms aren’t just buzzwords they’re essential tools to help you communicate effectively, strategize better, and understand your business metrics. The sooner you become familiar with them, the more prepared you’ll be to grow your brand and work with a team.

Final Thoughts
If you’ve got big dreams for your e-commerce business, make learning these terms part of your foundation. Don’t just focus on external distractions or irrelevant stats. Focus on what truly matters building a brand that lasts.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

After one of my podcast episodes, Charles hit me up and said, “Make sure they don’t fall off with the blogs because your outro promises it.” That sparked something in me. I took the challenge head-on and wrote a blog almost every day until I had enough for a year.

I remember challenging a young lady I was coaching to do the same and she did it! My next challenge to myself was to write a blog every day, and now I’m about three months ahead.

I share this to say: make sure you’ve got people in your life who challenge you not just in business but in every area. WHO’S CHALLENGING YOU to be a better spouse, a better friend, better with your time, better with your money, and a better follower of Jesus?

Iron sharpens iron. Surround yourself with people who push you forward. 

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

I’m not sure when you will read this blog, but I can assure you that what you’re reading reflects a very real season in my life. As I turned over in bed this morning, a thought hit me: This is like a dorm room.

The reason I said that is because my belongings are currently confined to a storage unit and what’s inside this room. The university? It’s the internet, if you will. I’m learning from authors, entrepreneurs, financial podcasts, credit experts, and webinars. This has been a season of relentless learning and growth.

The confinement is real because when my wife and I moved from Los Angeles, California, we came back to Georgia without a car. It was the right move when we were in Cali because we lived in downtown Los Angeles and didn’t need one. Every trip now is an Uber ride, costing about $40 out-of-pocket. No complaints here it’s just part of the scenario.

Some days, it can get to youthinking that your whole life is contained in one room. But the truth is, it’s not. It’s just where my body happens to be right now. My mind and imagination are firmly set on the future.

I’m not just writing goals down; I’m doing the deep work to understand:

    •    Where I’m going.

    •    What I’ll do when I get there.

    •    Who I’ll serve.

    •    What problem I’m going to solve to make it all happen.

I’m submitting all my plans to God, remembering James’ words: “If the Lord wills, we will do this or that.” Even as I plan, I’m making sure to surrender those plans to Him.

Although this season gets tough, I’ve chosen to embrace it. One day, I’ll look back and say:

    •    This is where I grew the most.

    •    This is where humility was forged.

    •    This is where gratefulness took root.

    •    This is where I learned the art of budgeting.

It all happened in a “dorm room” at my brother’s house.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

While recording a voice memo on my iPhone about what I’m looking for in an administrative assistant, I found myself questioning something critical: should the person managing email flow and reporting also be responsible for leading the social media department?

It’s tempting to hire people with broad skill sets who can do a little bit of everything, but here’s the bigger question: Will we get the most impact out of them this way?

This thought led me to reflect on the importance of mission statements and values. Whoever runs social media for my business must fully grasp these principles. A clear mission statement ensures that everyone from administrative staff to marketing teams understands the direction of the business and how to make decisions that align with it.

I’m not against trends. In fact, I love incorporating trendy music, colors, and designs into our branding. But trends can’t come at the expense of the values we’ve built the company on.

For example, I love exploring new ideas and embracing technology, but I can’t allow a trendy song that conflicts with our core values to represent us on social media. The person in charge needs to understand that the mission and values always come first.

If you’re an entrepreneur, this should be your question too: Does my team understand and embody the mission of the business? If not, how can they effectively represent you?

A lot of people might not see the importance of this, and that’s okay. But if you want your company to move in a solid direction where everyone is aligned, you must have a mission statement and values in place. These tools will not only guide your decisions but also help your team stay consistent as trends and technologies evolve.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

There was a great shift in my life when I turned 48. I wanted to learn more not because I didn’t enjoy learning before, but because I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to understand more about business success, spend intentional time studying the Bible, and really focus on personal growth. I came across Rabbi Lakin’s book, 40 Biblical Truths for Business, and his teachings sparked something in me.

I heard Rabbi Lakin say something that hit me hard: “Stopping what to do is more important than your to-do list.” That simple statement has been echoing in my spirit for years. The same message is shared in 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Hearing it again reassured me because it’s exactly what I’ve been working on learning to simplify and prioritize.

I started looking over my schedule and focusing on what was really important. As I made progress, I began to notice the things I needed to remove from my calendar and it felt freeing. I couldn’t believe I had missed this before. But let me tell you, this process isn’t easy, especially if you’re an entrepreneurwhose income depends on your work. Cutting things out can feel risky because it might impact your livelihood.

Even so, I started looking at how to simplify further. I worked on budgeting better and living on less. I figured that if I could get used to living on less now, when more money starts coming in from my focused efforts, I’ll be in a better position to invest or give away the extra. It’s all about learning to focus on lessnow so I can do more later.

I won’t lie it’s hard. But it’s necessary. The books I mentioned earlier can help, but even after reading them, you’ll need to put these principles into practice every single day. I believe in you, and I promise that when you focus on less, it will change your life and business.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

I remember standing on a corner in California, speaking into my phone camera, recording a message for Instagram and TikTok. I said, “This is not the time to shrink back. This is the time to push forward. Your new beginning can start today.”

What I was saying to others, I was also speaking to myself. It was a reminder that we have to fight for what we believe in and for what we want out of life. Nothing will be handed to us on a platter. Success requires effort, persistence, and a willingness to press through challenges.

For me, that fight begins with faith. I stay grounded by staying in the Word of God. Exercising my faith is essential because the enemy often attacks the mind. Satan plants seeds of doubt and fear, but we have a weapon the Word of God—and we have to use it. Without it, we risk being overtaken by the weight of life. But with it, we can stand strong and push forward.

I also fight for my business. I believe that God blesses the work of my hands when I submit my will to Him. By doing business with integrity and a heart to serve, I know He’ll guide me in the right direction. Fighting for my business means constantly learning, growing, and understanding more about my craft, my audience, and what they truly need from me.

When I design clothing or create ad concepts, I think about the people I’m serving. I ask myself, “How can I best represent them? How can I serve them well?” That mindset fuels my work ethic and inspires me to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.

The Bible says we must encourage ourselves. David reminds us in Psalms to strengthen ourselves in the Lord. When life feels overwhelming, that’s exactly what I do. I remind myself to keep going, to keep fighting. And as I fight, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Whatever your dreams are, don’t shrink back. Don’t let fear or failure stop you. Fight for what God has placed on your heart, and trust that He will bless your diligence.

Keep going. Keep fighting. Your fight will inspire others to step into their calling.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

There’s a saying that you never truly know what someone is going through, and in my experience, that’s been so true. It’s one of the reasons I feel it’s important to talk about pain in this blog—because, in the end, we all experience it. Your story might be different from mine—maybe not as serious or maybe way more serious—but one thing I’ve learned is that we all have our struggles. It’s not always visible to others, but it’s real.

I’m in one of those seasons right now. It’s been a tough one, but full of grace. And I want to be transparent about it. At this point, my wife, Shay, and I are technically homeless. We’re staying with my brother right now, and that part of the journey is tough. I remember when making $2,000 a day was a bad day in our business. That seems so small compared to what we’re facing now.

But no, this is way deeper than money. We found ourselves in a place where my wife, Shay, could barely make it around. The walker was barely helping her. Her blood was dangerously low, and she needed a transfusion. She’s also dealing with perimenopause, and at the time, we were in California pretty much alone, trying to figure things out. And I’m dealing with my own issues—my eyesight is only about 40%, and I’m still doing all the grocery shopping, washing clothes, and keeping the house in order. Man, it’s been tough.

I don’t want to overwhelm you with all the details, but I’ll share this: I grew weary. I don’t know if I ever fully reached the point of giving up, but I was circling around it. It can make you feel hopeless. But here’s the one thing I’ve learned to hold onto: Hope. The scripture says, “Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”(Galatians 6:9)

We have to keep going because we have a purpose. And I always remind myself that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. That truth is so powerful. Think about it: we don’t have to be strong. God doesn’t expect us to carry the weight alone. He reminds us not to grow weary, to keep going, to lean on Him, and to put our burdens on Him. That’s how I’m able to keep going, and my hope is that this will help you, too. You have a purpose. You have a mission. You’ve been called to complete it.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

It’s one of those things where you tell yourself, “I’ve got this down.” And in that moment, on that day, in that week, in that season, it can be true for your life. However, you might be reading this and not even know how to recognize a self-sabotaging thought.

I’m not a very deep person. I’m a practical one, so I’ll say it like this: when you start setting goals for your life, for your entrepreneurial journey, anything that comes against those goals in your mind is a self-sabotaging thought.

These thoughts come so quickly—almost in an instant—and a lot of times, they appear when we’re feeling low. Let me tell you something: sometimes it feels like someone is throwing 10 rocks per second at your glass house, which is your mind. You have to protect it. You have to protect yourself.

Let’s look at something practical, like writing blogs. I can write a few blogs a day, schedule them, and write a few more the next day and the next. But then, a thought might cross my mind: Why are you doing this? This is pointless. No one is going to read that.

That’s what I call a foreign object in my mindset. It doesn’t belong there. It doesn’t go with my plans. It doesn’t align with me being obedient to God and why I am supposed to be writing. It just doesn’t belong.

I love the scene from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (yes, I’m referencing it). You just knew that red cup didn’t belong. It was so out of place, so jarring. And that’s how you have to look at self-doubt, unbelief, negative self-talk when it pops up in your head. Cast it down. It doesn’t belong there.

I don’t know if you follow Jesus, but I believe in the Word of God, and I cast down every thought that doesn’t belong there, just like the scripture says:

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”— 2 Corinthians 10:5

I hope this helps. I just realized this: it’s going to take practice. It’s going to take consistency just to notice it. But when you notice it, you’ve got to do something about it. My hope is that you stay on task with your plans and keep going.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

It’s one of those things where you tell yourself, “I’ve got this down.” And in that moment, on that day, in that week, in that season, it can be true for your life. However, you might be reading this and not even know how to recognize a self-sabotaging thought.

I’m not a very deep person. I’m a practical one, so I’ll say it like this: when you start setting goals for your life, for your entrepreneurial journey, anything that comes against those goals in your mind is a self-sabotaging thought.

These thoughts come so quickly—almost in an instant—and a lot of times, they appear when we’re feeling low. Let me tell you something: sometimes it feels like someone is throwing 10 rocks per second at your glass house, which is your mind. You have to protect it. You have to protect yourself.

Let’s look at something practical, like writing blogs. I can write a few blogs a day, schedule them, and write a few more the next day and the next. But then, a thought might cross my mind: Why are you doing this? This is pointless. No one is going to read that.

That’s what I call a foreign object in my mindset. It doesn’t belong there. It doesn’t go with my plans. It doesn’t align with me being obedient to God and why I am supposed to be writing. It just doesn’t belong.

I love the scene from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (yes, I’m referencing it). You just knew that red cup didn’t belong. It was so out of place, so jarring. And that’s how you have to look at self-doubt, unbelief, negative self-talk when it pops up in your head. Cast it down. It doesn’t belong there.

I don’t know if you follow Jesus, but I believe in the Word of God, and I cast down every thought that doesn’t belong there, just like the scripture says:

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”— 2 Corinthians 10:5

I hope this helps. I just realized this: it’s going to take practice. It’s going to take consistency just to notice it. But when you notice it, you’ve got to do something about it. My hope is that you stay on task with your plans and keep going.

God Bless The Entrepreneur