Author: Henry Murphy

I’m the one with the bullhorn on the street corner shouting: Foundation matters! Foundation matters! If you commit to the process, the fruit will follow.

You don’t get to shipping 200 or 300 packages a day overnight. And honestly? You wouldn’t even want it that way because the leaks in your business would be overwhelming. Trying to handle that kind of volume without the right structure in place would be chaos.

It all starts with the groundwork. You need to pour the concrete for your business by truly understanding it. I see people rush to “get to the bag,” but they end up losing it just as quickly. Why? Because they wanted the highlight reel, not the knowledge.

The investment of time, money, and learning is worth it. When you build your business the right way, from the ground up, you don’t just create a solid brand you create a blueprint. One you can replicate again and again for future ventures.

FOUNDATION MATTERS.Commit to the process. Build something that lasts.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

I hear it more than you know—people come to me, excited, saying, “Man, I have some amazing designs, and people are loving it. I’m ready to start my brand.” And trust me, I get it. I love seeing that passion and creativity. But as I listen, trying my best not to interrupt, I want to scream, “That’s good, but you need foundation. You must have foundation if you really want to build something!”

It’s like trying to lay the frame of a house before pouring the concrete—it just doesn’t work. If you want to build something that lasts, you need to focus on the basics first.

Let me break it down like this: consider these foundational principles before you take the next step. You can’t put the cart before the horse.

    •    Yo, why? (What’s your purpose? Why are you doing this?)

    •    Your brand story(What’s the narrative that connects people to your business?)

    •    Your name (Is it memorable, meaningful, and clear?)

    •    Your logo (Does it reflect your brand identity?)

    •    Business structure(How are you legally setting yourself up for success?)

    •    Business credit (Do you have the financial tools to scale?)

    •    Trademark protection(Is your intellectual property secure?)

    •    Your mission statement (What does your business stand for?)

    •    Your values (What principles guide every decision you make?)

When you take the time to lay a strong foundation, everything else starts to fall into place. But keep in mind, distraction follows intention. The moment you set your mind to building something great, adversity will come your way. That’s why your “why,” mission, and values are so important—they’ll keep you grounded and help push you through.

Remember, the strongest brands don’t just happen—they’re built.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.

When I was creating the custodial account for my granddaughter Arie, I couldn’t help but think about what I wish I had known when my kids were younger. It’s something I have to get over every time I think about it. I didn’t know, so I can’t beat myself up. But the only thing we can do, once we know better, is change what we can.

I woke up with these thoughts the other day, and I said to myself, “I’m going to pen this.”

If I could do it all over again, I would homeschool my kids. I would do my best to make it work. Yes, I’d still follow the stage requirements for education, but I’d also introduce them to different languages, cultures, and foods. I’d teach them about entrepreneurship. I’d teach them about the stock market. Many of their lessons would involve engaging with people. I’d teach them how to create a business plan, find the right people to put in that business, and then show them how to move that business forward.

I’d introduce them to the arts. I’d put them around street artists here in America and in different countries. I’d take them to Broadway plays. And I’d make sure they understood the importance of personal credit and business credit.

When it comes to God, I want to make something clear. I was young in my faith when I became a disciple of Jesus, so my wife and I shared our faith with our kids, but if I had to do it differently, I would teach them about the call to discipleship and what that truly means.

I’m a little older now, and the reason I’m writing this is because someone reading this might be in the place I wish I had been back then. I want you to know that you have the power to decide what your children learn. We don’t always know what we don’t know, but once we do, it’s our responsibility to share.

I’m by no means saying that we didn’t give our children anything good. We spent beautiful family nights together, and there was love in the home. But simply put, I taught them how to survive, not to thrive. And when I look back, I see the difference. We have the opportunity to put this thriving mindset into our children early teaching them not just to make it, but to succeed, grow, and live with purpose.

God Bless the Entrepreneur.

Have you ever wondered, “How did I get here?” If you’ve lived long enough, you probably have. Starting over is a part of life, and if you embrace it, you can turn those valley moments into something great. Often, those valleys are preparing you for what’s next.

Life is full of highs and lows, and sometimes we need a reset to get back on track. I’ve often wondered if sharing my vulnerabilities is too much, but I’ve realized that being open can give others the courage to do the same.

Resets are natural. I remember moving my family to my grandmother’s house when I was younger because I didn’t understand the importance of paying bills on time. During that time, I learned valuable lessons about responsibility, financial discipline, and resilience.

There was a time when I couldn’t pay off a card to save my life, but once I settled at my grandmother’s house, things started to shift. Suddenly, I was handling things that once seemed impossible. I learned that what I once couldn’t handle like paying rent for a small apartment was no longer an issue. I got a chance to move my family into a beautiful house in a fantastic neighborhood. It was another season to step up and rise to the challenge.

Every valley, every challenge, every reset has given me a chance to be better. When I look back, I see that the struggles I once thought were burdens were really opportunities to grow, learn, and rise higher.

Taking risks is essential. Life is short, and if we don’t seize opportunities, they may pass us by. We might face setbacks, but each reset strengthens us, preparing us for the challenges ahead.

Remember, it’s okay to start over. Every reset is a chance to build a stronger foundation for the future.

God Bless The Entrepreneur

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