Author: Henry Murphy

In the poignant lyrics of KB, “called by every name that your momma never gave you,” lies a sentiment that resonates deeply with those who have faced cruelty from peers or even their own family. Negative self-talk often traces back to our upbringing, where affirmations were scarce, and positive influences were few. However, our past should not dictate our potential.

Life can be challenging, especially if we didn’t receive the encouragement we needed. Yet, this cannot be an excuse to hinder our personal growth. Despite the cliché, the truth remains that each of us has a purpose. The weight on your heart reflects the undeniable truth of this statement.

Our mindset is an ever-evolving process, and the first step towards change is acknowledging the existence of an issue. To break free from self-sabotage, we must recognize and admit our negative self-talk, acknowledging that it contradicts the path that God has set for us.

Identifying the traps of self-sabotage is crucial. Regardless of what others may have told you in the past, the truth is that you were made for more. Starting today, when negative thoughts arise, confront them head-on. Stop them in their tracks and declare, “That is not me!” Then, affirm who you are, beginning with the powerful words “I am.”

This process is not a one-time event; it’s a continuous journey. The more you repeat these affirmations, the more you’ll believe in them. Repetition builds intention, and as you get your mental “reps” up, you’ll find yourself embracing the person you were truly meant to be. Break free from the shackles of self-sabotage and step into the boundless potential that awaits.

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, whom I mentor, about his brand’s growth journey. His brand is growing because he’s unique in his wordplay and design style. People are starting to notice and appreciate the hard work he’s been putting in. He’s done incredibly well online, figuring out all the different aspects of running a brand. I like to think of it this way: through all the mistakes he’s made and the deep work he’s put in to improve, he’s starting to scale.

Now, he’s stepping into something unfamiliar—being a vendor. He was overthinking the situation, which is understandable because you don’t know what you don’t know. He has this amazing shirt with the phrase “Smile, You’re My Favorite Hater,” and his brand, called Verb Society, has been doing really well with it. The tee has been a hit online, with most of the stock selling out quickly. He was planning to take the remaining shirts to an out-of-town event but wasn’t sure what to do. He had to fly out the next morning, and time was running out.

I simply told him, “Don’t overthink it. Sell all the T-shirts except one, and keep that one on a mannequin. Use a QR code to send people to your website to buy more. Make sure you’re collecting everyone’s email and phone number.” You always hear me say, “Own the data.” Data allows you to take customers on a journey and turn them into lifelong customers. The great thing about being a vendor is that you get to meet people face-to-face; they get to see your charisma and who you are. He was in the same position—unsure but eager. Don’t overthink it. You’re going to make some mistakes, but like anything else, you’ll get better with time.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

Let me be direct with you: there was a time when you had to physically go out, shake hands, and make face-to-face connections to grow your network or build a business. But these days, you have access to platforms that allow you to connect with millions of people from the comfort of your own home, and the best part? It’s for free.

I cannot stress this enough: we often take for granted the incredible opportunity that social media platforms provide us. Imagine hosting an event where 500 people showed up. You’d be ecstatic, right? You’d be telling everyone how successful the event was. Now, think about this—on social media, you can reach 500 people, or even thousands, every single day if you put in the work.

Just look at the numbers: Instagram has 500 million daily users, TikTok has over 1 billion, Snapchat has 383 million, X (formerly Twitter) has 237 million, and Facebook and YouTube both have around 2 billion daily users each. These are massive audiences, waiting to hear your story, see your products, or learn about your services. Are you taking advantage of this?

If you’re already putting in the work on these platforms, I salute you. You’re leveraging free platforms to build your brand and grow your business. But if you’re not, I challenge you to start today. Get over whatever is holding you back. If you don’t want to get behind the camera, let me tell you—get over yourself! Your ‘why’—your purpose—should push you to get in front of that camera. This is your opportunity to tell the world who you are, what you can do, and what you offer, all on a platform that costs you nothing.

Think about it like this: if your local grocery store started giving away ribeye steaks for free, you’d be the first in line. Well, these platforms are allowing you to promote yourself and your brand for free—so take advantage of it! Put out organic content, see what people are drawn to, and double down on those things. Eventually, you can invest in ads, but for now, focus on the free opportunities you have.

The marketplace will let you know if your message resonates. This is your chance to get better, to refine your voice, and to be heard. Go out and get it done today.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

When I first began creating content and engaging with entrepreneurs, I was still figuring out who I was speaking to. In the beginning, it’s natural to take some time to identify your ideal audience. For me, it meant understanding who my content was for and who it wasn’t.

My content is not aimed at those with side hustles. I believe in building businesses the right way, having learned from my own mistakes. I’ve faced the challenges of managing business structures, taxes, and legal issues, and I want to help others avoid those pitfalls. I want to speak to individuals who are ready to trade in the side hustle mentality for a true business mindset—those who understand the importance of strong values, which guide every aspect of their business, from hiring to company culture to trademarking.

Trademarking is crucial, yet many companies never reach that stage because they lack understanding of business structure and tax planning. My goal is to work with those willing to commit to building a business that can be sold or passed down through generations. I want to connect with people committed to long-term success and willing to put in the daily discipline to create something remarkable.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

So, I was going through my notes and came across a text I sent myself with just the date and a vague idea about “forced focus.” I had a good laugh at how rushed my thoughts were, but it got me thinking about the real power of journaling.

Journaling is one of those practices that can truly force you to focus. Why? Because it shines a light on your consistency—or lack thereof. If your journaling is inconsistent, it’s a clear sign you need to tighten up and improve. But when you’re consistent, you see what you’re doing right and where you can enhance your efforts.

Whether you’re using a traditional notebook or the Journal app on your iPhone, journaling helps you track your progress and reflect daily. It also gives you a chance to jot down what you’re grateful for. Despite the current blur in my vision as I await surgery, I’m thankful for the ability to write, to speak into other entrepreneurs’ lives, and for the opportunities that come my way.

Journaling isn’t just a habit—it’s a practice that produces a tool capable of changing your life. I encourage you to make it a part of your routine. It’s a habit that will lead to profound transformation.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

In a captivating sermon, a preacher once delved into the profound conversation between God and Moses at the burning bush. Moses, like many of us, found himself listing reasons why he was not qualified for the tasks God had in mind. It’s a familiar scenario—questioning our Creator’s design and struggling to see the potential He sees in us. Ultimately, it all boils down to belief.

God’s question to Moses, “What do you have in your hand?” is a powerful reminder that each of us possesses something unique. Moses, a simple shepherd in the desert, had a staff, and God used that ordinary tool to perform miracles. Similarly, we all have a role to play, along with gifts and talents that are uniquely ours.

The trap lies in comparing our gifts to others and feeling inadequate. Every gift is distinct, and the attention one receives doesn’t diminish the value of another. What matters most is our faithfulness to God. Keeping the perspective that our journey is between us and God helps maintain focus.

When excuses arise, and we doubt our ability to fulfill God’s calling, remember the question: What do you have in your hand? Spending time with God, staying connected, and allowing His Holy Spirit to pour into us reveals the very purpose He has called us to. Embrace your uniqueness, discard comparisons, and move forward in the path that God has uniquely laid out for you.

I once underestimated the power of that line. But the truth is, every time we read a book, scroll through TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, every tweet, every podcast, every conversation—it all affects us in some way.

The impact can be either positive or negative. I love comedy—really, I do. The sarcasm in shows like Frasier and Seinfeld has always been a favorite, and I grew up on much edgier stuff like Eddie Murphy’s Delirious and Raw. Harlem Nights and other films like it were my go-to. But as I got older and grew in my faith, I realized that every thought spawns another thought. I had to start watching what I consumed.

It’s like eating a greasy burger every day; sooner or later, a heart attack is inevitable because what you consistently put in your body affects you. But if you’re eating lean protein and veggies, your body reacts differently. The mind is the same—what you feed it is what you’ll get out. So I began to change everything around me. I unfollowed anyone on social media who wasn’t speaking life into me in some way. Relationships that were negative? I don’t have them anymore. I need more positive thoughts in my life to cultivate deeper thoughts. I no longer want to consume just anything.

When I hear a speaker say something thought-provoking, it elevates my mind. In turn, it helps me provide more thought-provoking content to those who follow me.

If this message resonates with you, I encourage you to take action today. Follow those who speak life into you and unfollow those who don’t. Don’t hold any grudges—you’re simply maturing and seeking something different in your life, and that’s okay.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

I used to say that God called us to a specific thing. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that language, but I’ve come to realize that God has called us to Himself. He’s bestowed on us gifts and talents that we are meant to use for His kingdom, to impact the world for Him.

This is why it’s difficult for me to talk about business without mentioning God. I often say that God gives us the power to get wealth, that He blesses the work of our hands. So how much credit can we truly take if this is the case? The best thing we can do is submit our plans to God.

He called us to be light. I used to find that scripture almost sarcastic—when He says, “Do you put a lamp under the nightstand?” Of course not! It’s absurd to hide a light where it can’t serve its purpose. That brings me to my point: if He called us to be light, why are we still in the shadows?

There are a few things we need to consider every day. We don’t know how much time we have, and we know that death is certain. Therefore, everything in between matters. Once we understand these truths, we must be intentional about being light in the world through our gifts.

People often say that each person is unique. If that’s true—and I believe it is—then you must hold onto that truth with all your heart. If you don’t, you might miss what God wants to do through you.

Darkness, by definition, is the absence of light. If God has called you to Himself and equipped you with gifts, then why are you still in the shadows?

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

I am an entrepreneur, but I’m a believer first. I really love saying that. It’s my segue into my content when I talk about God. Since I’m not always sure if people find me through my entrepreneurship or my faith, I like to use that segue to let you know I’m about to delve into something about God.

The concept of humility always stood out to me when I would read Proverbs, and once I saw it there, I started seeing it all over the Bible. Humility should begin with our relationship with God—loving Him, respecting Him, and serving Him for who He is. God detests pride because He is the epitome of humility.

My dad used to make me recite the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. Honestly, I used to hate memorizing and reciting things—it really got on my nerves. But now, I appreciate those things he made me do that I didn’t care for back then. One particular verse from the poem resonates with me deeply, especially when I walk around Los Angeles and have conversations with the homeless:

“If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much…”

When I see the homeless and engage in conversation with them, it reminds me of that line, “walk with Kings but still have the common touch.” I have friends who are millionaires, and our conversations about business and future planning are invaluable. I believe you should have those kinds of relationships in your life. But it’s equally important to be able to communicate with someone who has less than us and treat them with the same respect and kindness. They are real people, with real stories, and real struggles.

This was on my heart today: Walk with kings, but keep the common touch. I want to leave you with one more thing—if you’ve been blessed and you’re reading this, remember this proverb: “He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord.” That is so powerful because, at the end of the day, we can’t really repay God if we belong to Him. Never lose the common touch.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

You have to be willing to start, and you have to be willing to fail. There’s no other way to know what the next step is without both.

When it comes to running a business, planning is essential. I’m not saying you should dive in haphazardly—I believe in risk, but I also believe in calculated risk. You can plan until the cows come home, but if you never actually start, that plan means nothing. Not only do you have to be willing to start, but you also have to be willing to fail.

Start and Embrace Failure

You have to be willing to start, and you have to be willing to fail. There’s no other way to know what the next step is without both.

When it comes to running a business, planning is essential. I’m not saying you should dive in haphazardly—I believe in risk, but I also believe in calculated risk. You can plan until the cows come home, but if you never actually start, that plan means nothing. Not only do you have to be willing to start, but you also have to be willing to fail.

Failure often gets a bad rap, but it shouldn’t. You learn so much from failure. It’s all about perspective—failure is full of lessons, not losses. It’s nearly impossible to see the next step if you’re not willing to start or to fail. These two are synonymous.

James in the Bible says, “Faith without works is dead,” which means if you believe but don’t put any action behind that belief, it’s as if you didn’t believe at all. Take that step and embrace failure, I promise it’s worth it.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.