Author: Henry Murphy

There was a time at Unapologetic Urban Gear® when I was scheduling photoshoots almost twice a week. We had our own in-house photography studio in downtown Atlanta, and we stayed booked. We were locked in, pushing content like clockwork,  getting sharper and more consistent with every shoot.

On the cinematography side, we were regulars at Studio Space ATL — so much so, they knew me by name.

I was proud. It felt like we were finally doing it right , producing professional visuals, representing the brand well, and staying consistent. But then reality hit…

I didn’t own any of it.

That’s right,  I had paid for the photoshoots. I paid for the videos. But I had no copyright release agreements in place, and that meant none of it was technically mine. If I ever wanted to repurpose that content for ads, packaging, or long-term campaigns, I could run into serious legal issues. And that moment reminded me:

We don’t know what we don’t know, until it costs us.

It’s not just about photos. Cinematographers count, too. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the game for years, this is a non-negotiable: if you’re not getting a copyright release agreement from your creatives, you’re putting your brand at risk.

That’s exactly why we include a Copyright Release Agreement in the Ground Up Academy Proof of Concept Starter Kit , to help you start smart.

Here’s what you get with the Starter Kit:

•► A professional copyright release agreement

► Free brand mockups

► 3 months of Shopify for just $3

► And more foundational tools to help you launch with clarity and control

Don’t let your visuals become a liability. Learn from my early mistakes and build smarter.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®

I know what it’s like to be all over the place.

Man, I always had good ideas m, actually great ideas. and some of them, actually, most of them, did well. And when I say well, I mean six figures. So when you think about creating something from the ground up, six figures is not bad at all.

But think about what would happen if you put that same effort into one thing consistently.

I’ve created some amazing companies, ones I’ve laid the groundwork for, even got trademarks for,  but I had to leave them where they were for a season so I could focus on one thing.

Most people won’t tell you this, but multitasking isn’t a flex.

The people who build multiple brands successfully? Nine times out of ten, they get one brand going very strong, then build a team around it, and then they use that momentum to launch something else, with a new team backing that, too. Think about that for a moment.

If you know me, then you know I don’t talk to side hustlers, I talk to real brand builders.

If you’ve made the decision to start a brand, I’m proud of you. For real.

And if you’re still on the fence? That’s okay too. But when you do make that decision, focus on that one thing. Give it everything you’ve got.

You’ve got to show up every day and be consistent. This journey doesn’t reward half-effort.

Everything that’s in you can still be accomplished , but not all in one season.

So bring it in. Lock in. Let’s build.

Nothing but up from here.

God Bless The Entrepreneur ®️

Can you imagine what would happen if we just stay curious? If we really just wanna go deeper and ask, “What does this mean?” And then once I get it, how do I put it into practice? I didn’t always think like that. When I think about being an entrepreneur, it’s been well over a decade. And being a believer, well, that’s been over two decades. The first thing that comes to mind is that man, things take time,  nothing happens overnight. But sometimes you can get complacent just because you’ve been doing something a long time. That don’t mean much. But the question is, do you wanna get better? Do you wanna know more? Do you wanna actually do more?

In business and in your walk with God, ask yourself,  what does this scripture really mean? How do I put it into practice? What does this word mean in Hebrew? When it comes to business , and I’m speaking o e-commerce because that’s my wheelhouse,  how does my why connect to my customers? How do I get better at understanding my analytics on social media?

I was talking to my social media strategist the other day. We just finished 30 days straight of content and I think I put out 54 posts in those 30 days. I was proud of that. It was a lot of work, but I wanted to see how the numbers stacked up, what people were really looking for from me. Turns out, people on YouTube wanna hear me talk about God, faith, and entrepreneurship. But people on Instagram? They wanna hear about business. When she sent me her thoughts on it, the first thing I thought was, “Man, I gotta do more work.” But that’s what this journey is,  it’s all about the process. I had to remind myself to stay curious. To want to get better. When it comes to God’s word, I wanna know more, understand more, and actually live it out. So I think we gotta stay curious as entrepreneurs and believers. Don’t do things just to do them,  do things to get better at them.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

I know a thing or two about imperfection. I feel like everything I’ve ever started was never perfect. The more I did, the more I realized: if you wait on perfection, heck, you’ll never start.

So I started a lot of things, maybe too many things, but even the things I didn’t do my best at shaped me, molded me, made me who I am today. The reason I can even call myself a coach is because of what I know, what I’ve been through. Things I got right. Things I got wrong. I had to figure it out.

I think we’d do good to look at ourselves as flawed, but not in a negative way. It’s something you should know so that you don’t stop yourself from starting. The business plan won’t be perfect. When you first show up on social media, it won’t be perfect. The website won’t be perfect. How you communicate your why won’t be perfect. But here’s the takeaway: fall in love with becoming. Embrace the journey.

There is no “there” there. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy,  but I wrote a whole blog about that a while back. It’s not about reaching some magical destination of perfection. It’s about showing up consistently. It’s about showing up imperfectly, and still being impactful.

When I was starting my first business, Z180 Radio, let me be real with you, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I had this one show, and the goal was to build up to seven shows. I didn’t know where the DJs were going to come from. I didn’t know how we were going to broadcast it on the website. I didn’t really understand much of anything.

I remember thinking about the concept while driving back from Tennessee. When I got home, I went straight to Best Buy and bought some headphones that worked with my phone, just so we could start doing interviews. That was it. Just one step at a time.

And that’s what I want you to take away from this: it’s about starting.

You don’t have to wait until it’s all figured out. You don’t have to have every resource in place. You just have to be willing to start. Keep showing up. Stay open to becoming. Your imperfection doesn’t disqualify you,  it qualifies you.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

You’re gonna learn toda,  or better yet, you may ask what you’re gonna learn today. You’re gonna learn something about entrepreneurship.

See, entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You hear that all the time, but let’s keep it a buck l,  it gives before it takes.

It will kill the weaker version of you.

But in doing that, it’ll pull something out of you that you never even knew was in there.

Something amazing happens when you don’t quit.

When you don’t give up.

When you don’t walk away when everything in you is screaming for ease.

Yeah, you’re gonna feel it.

You might throw everything off your desk.

You might shadowbox the air like Tre from Boyz N The Hood.

You might even punch the wall.

Because this thing gets real.

I know it’s tempting to only tell the glorious part of entrepreneurship, the wins, the screenshots, the milestones, but that’s not the full picture. And this isn’t to scare you. This is to prepare you. To tell you the truth.

It’s hard for me to follow people who haven’t been through anything.

Because when adversity hits, I don’t know how they’re built.

Listen, if everything you do wins right out the gate and keeps winning?

That’s not the norm. That’s an anomaly.

The real journey feels more like an MMA fighter punching you in the face over and over again.

His weight class? About 230.

Yours? 145 pounds soaking wet.

That’s how it feels sometimes. But you keep going.

Because when discipline starts to build, 

When consistency kicks in, 

When diligence becomes your norm…

When you stay focused on who you’re here to serve (not just what you want to earn), 

That’s when it starts to pay off.

See, the money comes, it comes with the job.

But the real reward is becoming the version of yourself you were always meant to be.

The one who didn’t quit.

The one who kept building.

The one who focused on the mission.

So yeah, entrepreneurship will break you.

But if you let it , it’ll build you into something powerful.

Keep going.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

You’re gonna learn toda,  or better yet, you may ask what you’re gonna learn today. You’re gonna learn something about entrepreneurship.

See, entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You hear that all the time, but let’s keep it a buck l,  it gives before it takes.

It will kill the weaker version of you.

But in doing that, it’ll pull something out of you that you never even knew was in there.

Something amazing happens when you don’t quit.

When you don’t give up.

When you don’t walk away when everything in you is screaming for ease.

Yeah, you’re gonna feel it.

You might throw everything off your desk.

You might shadowbox the air like Tre from Boyz N The Hood.

You might even punch the wall.

Because this thing gets real.

I know it’s tempting to only tell the glorious part of entrepreneurship, the wins, the screenshots, the milestones, but that’s not the full picture. And this isn’t to scare you. This is to prepare you. To tell you the truth.

It’s hard for me to follow people who haven’t been through anything.

Because when adversity hits, I don’t know how they’re built.

Listen, if everything you do wins right out the gate and keeps winning?

That’s not the norm. That’s an anomaly.

The real journey feels more like an MMA fighter punching you in the face over and over again.

His weight class? About 230.

Yours? 145 pounds soaking wet.

That’s how it feels sometimes. But you keep going.

Because when discipline starts to build, 

When consistency kicks in, 

When diligence becomes your norm…

When you stay focused on who you’re here to serve (not just what you want to earn), 

That’s when it starts to pay off.

See, the money comes, it comes with the job.

But the real reward is becoming the version of yourself you were always meant to be.

The one who didn’t quit.

The one who kept building.

The one who focused on the mission.

So yeah, entrepreneurship will break you.

But if you let it , it’ll build you into something powerful.

Keep going.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

Sitting on the patio, looking at the landscape of downtown Los Angeles, I had a thought today:

I forgot what California taught me.

It taught me how to sit… think, reflect.

And today, that reality came rushing back in again.

It’s time to shift gears.

I’ve been building and building, and yes, there’s still more building to do, but now, it’s time to bring some attention to what I’ve been building.

As I wrapped up 30 days’ worth of social media content and started analyzing it, I realized not only does my content have to shift, my entire calendar has to shift.

I’ve done this before.

I just never noticed the transition so clearly.

Now I’m asking:

How do I build in the things I have to do every day that align with where I’m trying to go?

Because what goes on your calendar is your objective.

It’s what you’re doing consistently to reach your outcome.

And now that I’m paying more attention to it than ever, I know it has to shift again.

Some tasks need to be handed off.

Some responsibilities need to narrow.

And that brings me back to 10x vs 2x, shout out to Dan Kennedy and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

These times in entrepreneurship require ultra focus to get the best results.

That means eliminating multitasking.

That means locking in.

I’ve always been one of those people who hustled.

And honestly, I’m grateful for that seaso , I needed it.

But now that hustle is refined.

It’s strategic. Intentional. Focused.

That’s what makes me grateful for the journey.

If you’re not someone who regularly sits and thinks,  start now.

Take the time to be still.

Make sure you’re heading in the right direction , and doing the right things in your business.

Sometimes we have to take things off our plate.

Sometimes we have to slow down to speed up.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

It was about 11 PM on a Sunday night , patio door open, cool breeze flowing in, and the sounds of downtown Los Angeles in the background. Seinfeld was on the TV. I’ve seen this show so many times I usually start laughing before the punch line even hits.

But this time, one line caught me off guard.

In one of my favorite episodes, an older man looks at George and says:

“Life’s too short to be wasting on you.”

Now if you know anything about Seinfeld, you know George gon’ do what George do , overthink, complain, bring unnecessary drama. But that line right there? It hit different this time.

Life really is too short to be sitting around listening to pessimism.

I’m always down to encourage somebody. I’m always gonna give hope. But I don’t have time for constant negativity , not when I’m doing my best to move forward, build something meaningful, and stay in a posture of faith. That energy will pull you down if you let it.

Sometimes you gotta be bold enough to get up from the table.

“We’re not doing this today.” That’s what I say in those moments.

You gotta protect your peace at all cost, especially when you’re walking in purpose.

Stay focused on your assignment. Lock in on your goals. And surround yourself with people who are on fire too — people who challenge you, encourage you, and actually want to see you win.

Life is precious. And you don’t need pessimism tagging along for the ride.

Protect your energy. And keep building.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

Some days the blurred vision and endless screenshots weigh on me,
but the fire God placed in me won’t let me quit.

I write about this often, it’s my outlet. A way to release.
No matter how much progress I’m making, this weight shows up every day.
It doesn’t run my life, but it sure affects me.

I think of KB’s track “Doubts” from his 100 EP when he confesses:

“Come quickly, wish that You would come get me
This world is a passing joy, yeah, I feel so empty
If they only knew I’m such a weak dude
At the same time I see how much I need You…”

That verse hits deep. It’s raw and honest.

Then he moves into the Spirit’s reassurance:

“But then the Spirit comforts me, he comforts me
I ain’t gotta worry about this no longer
When I feel my grip about to slip
His grip on me gets stronger…”

That’s exactly what I feel sometimes, the Holy Spirit reminding me of who He is, who I am, and that I belong to Him. Even with my limitations, I’m still called.

A lot of the time I’m writing for you, hoping to encourage someone else. But today, this one is for me. Still, if someone else sees it and finds hope, I’ll gladly share this moment with them. Maybe they’re not dealing with blurred vision. Maybe they’re battling loneliness, doubt, or fear. I get it.

I live surrendered to a sovereign God, and He sovereignly allows me to steward what He’s entrusted me with. That’s powerful.

It’s not about chasing my plan. It’s about submitting it all before Him, so I can walk in the purpose He created me for.

In this moment I told myself:

Henry, don’t let your limitations limit you.

I’m laying my heart bare right now, giving it all to God so His peace can rule.
He’s called me to be an entrepreneur in the marketplace.
To tell people: He gives us power, not just to make money, but to build legacy in His name.
We can do nothing apart from Him.
And those big plans? Submit them to the Master, not just add Him in.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️

I don’t trust you, homie.

That’s what kept running through my mind.

I was talking with this guy who came highly referred. As we talked, he was answering all my questions with confidence. And I could tell he knew what he was doing. It even got me thinking: This dude could actually be an asset.

The timing was wild because I’d just started working on the same kind of framework he offered. I was doing it myself out of necessity. It was actually kind of cool to learn, but now here’s someone who could take it off my plate? Of course I was intrigued.

So we went over the numbers.

We talked about what he could offer.

Then I asked what felt like a simple, natural question:

“What’s your Instagram?”

You’re a professional. You offer a service. Now I need to see your face. I need to see your consistency.

And when I got there… nothing.

Your face is nowhere to be found. Yes, what you do is there but how do I know you’re real?

How do I know you’re not a scammer?

In 2025, Social Media Is the New Resume

There is no way no way in this day and age that you should be invisible on social media.

Think about it. You’re asking someone to trust you, and this ain’t face-to-face. I can’t hear your voice. I can’t look you in the eye. I don’t know your energy. I don’t know your track record.

At least if I saw your face and got scammed, I could say:

“Dang, they got me but I saw them, I watched their stuff, I just didn’t see it coming.”

But if I can’t find your face anywhere?

🚩 Red flag.

🚩 Red flag.

🚩 Red flag.

Real Talk: I Can’t Do Business With You

Unfortunately, I had to walk away. And I’ll give him this he was persistent.

But I don’t care how good the price is or how good the work might be. If I can’t trust you, I can’t turn you over to my network.

Even if you do a solid job for me one time, that’s not enough. Because when I recommend you to my students or clients, I need proof that you’re consistent.

Where’s your digital track record?

If I see you’ve been posting your face, your thoughts, and your value every week for the last 52 weeks, now we’re having a different conversation.

That’s credibility.

That’s consistency.

That’s currency.

Final Word: Show Up

Social media is not just for entertainment it’s for validation.

When people can see you, hear from you, and watch you show up over time, that builds trust. And if you’re offering a service in 2025 and your face is nowhere online?

That’s a non-negotiable.

If you want the business, you’ve got to show up.

God Bless The Entrepreneur®️