IAM773- Coaches Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Launch Podcast

Heneka Watkis-Porter is an entrepreneur, coach, 5x author, international speaker and host of The Entrepreneurial You Podcast who has interviewed Richard Branson, John Lee Dumas, Paul Carrick Brunson, Seth Godin and many other influencers. She is the founder and CEO of Patwa Apparel. Heneka is also the creator of the Caribbean’s first virtual conference and expo: The Entrepreneurial You Virtual SME Conference & Expo.

Heneka hosts Leadercast events in Jamaica and writes for the Leadercast blog and Thrive Global.

• CEO Hack: Consistency, effective time management and reading
• CEO Nugget: It is ok to celebrate your victories and remind yourself that success takes time
• CEO Defined: Have an opportunity to share your knowledge and be open to learn from others

Website: http://henekawatkisporter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/henekawatkisporter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheEntrepYou
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heneka_watkis_porter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henekawatkisporter

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[00:00:02.20] – Intro

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

[00:00:29.80] – Gresham Harkless

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast, and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Heneka Watkiss Porter of The Entrepreneurial You. Heneka, it's awesome to have you on the show.

[00:00:40.50] – Watkis-Porter

Hey, Gresh. It's so nice to be here. I really am excited about having a little chat with you today.

[00:00:46.50] – Gresham Harkless

Absolutely. I'm definitely looking excited about it as well because you're doing so many awesome things. And, before we jump in, I want to read a little bit more about Heneka so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Henneke is an entrepreneurial entrepreneur, coach, five-time author, international speaker, and host of the Entrepreneurial You podcast who has interviewed Richard Branson, John Lee Dumas, Paul Kerrick Brunson, South Godin, and many other influencers. She's the CEO and founder of Patois Apparel. Heneka is also the creator of the Caribbean's first virtual conference and expo, The Entrepreneurial You Virtual SME Conference & Expo. Heneka hosts Leadercast events in Jamaica and writes for the Leadercast blog and Thrive Global. Heneka, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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[00:01:31.20] – Watkis-Porter

I am already. Awesome. Let's do it.

[00:01:35.09] – Gresham Harkless

So they kick everything off. I wanted to rewind the clock a little bit and hear a little bit more about how you guys started. Could you take us through what I call your CEO story? We'll let you get started with all the awesome things you're working on.

[00:01:44.20] – Watkis-Porter

Alright. So in two thousand seven, August to be exact, I was, you know, just sitting on one day from, recovering from my surgery that I had done in my operation. And the thought instead of resting, the thought just came to me. Oh, I need to start a business, and it's gonna be a t-shirt business like that. You know? I've been thinking of business before, but particularly that day, I mean, after resting, giving it a break because I was agonizing agonizing over it for some time.

But after giving it a break, it just came back on me because I was watching a program which kind of, you know, reminded me of what I wanted to do, my desire. And so I started, looking for a name for a t-shirt collection, which I wanted to be purely Jamaican. So, eventually, in about two weeks, I came up with the name Pato Apparel, and it was based on, you know, how people around the world pretty much have an affinity for Jamaican culture. And I wanted to have that as a piece of the offering, kinda expounding on our language. So it has the Jamaican patois, and then in English, it has its interpretation.

[00:02:45.30] – Gresham Harkless

Nice. I absolutely love that. And I don't know if you're anything like me. Funny enough, when I started all this blog and podcast, actually was stuck in bed, and I had torn my Achilles tendon, and I always say, at least for me, like, I needed to be I needed to slow down to have the opportunity to do those things because a lot of times if I hadn't have been kinda second bed recovering, who knows what I wouldn't have I wouldn't have stopped enough to get the car to create anything.

[00:03:06.59] – Watkis-Porter

Absolutely. So sometimes those things, you know, you know, I remember even recently just going through a brief process well, a process of ill health. And one of the things that that crosses slow down and live and, you know, was going through a daily bread, and it was just so poignant for me that, you know and it's in that slowing down that we are usually, a space where we can listen. We can hear what our next move ought to be because we're so on a treadmill sometimes just going, but going nowhere. When we slow down, when we're forced because sometimes, you know, our spirit is nudging us to slow down, but we keep going. But then sometimes we're forced to slow down. And when we're forced to slow down, then good things come out of that. So it's all about how the perspective that you bring to bear, on your situation.

[00:03:48.50] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I'm the exact same way where I always felt like I probably got a bunch of small signs that I didn't pay attention to. So it's like, here's your Achilles. Now you'll definitely have to stop, and those forced pauses bring a lot of, fruits and opportunities. So, I know we touched on it a little bit when I read Devial, some of those fruits, some of those awesome things that you're working on. Could you take us through a little bit more on the different ways in which you serve the clients you work with?

[00:04:10.00] – Watkis-Porter

Okay. So, what I've been doing predominantly, for the last three years or so, just focusing on podcasts a whole lot more. And so, of course, because I started my podcast, The Entrepreneurial, in two thousand seventeen. Then after that, a little spin-off. So I started hosting, leader cast conferences, which, you know, I was thinking, I'm already bringing awesome content to my community. How can I, up the ante a bit? So through Leadercast, which is the largest leadership event globally, I started to bring that to Jamaica Jamaica through, like, life dreaming. And in addition to that, I teach clients how to launch a podcast. I coach them into it. I do courses, and I also have the latest book called Podcast Power, the quick start guide to launching and leveling up your brand.

[00:04:54.10] – Gresham Harkless

Nice. Absolutely love that. And I love how you said, you know, bringing it too. Because I think I always feel like knowledge is power in getting those opportunities, that are out there that many people may not be you know, they might even be aware of it. They may not even be aware of it. But if they are, how exactly they can leverage it, how exactly they can be powerful with those podcasts that you're you're able to do in your books and all the aspects you're working on?

[00:05:13.50] – Watkis-Porter

Yeah. So I've been you know, and one of the things I've been doing is well, I again, I told you I've been taking a break. I've been on a pause for a little bit, but I am slowly easing back into what I love to do. And so, you know, I just kind of when I share my story of how in fact, I started my podcast as a radio show. And then because I wanted to reach a bigger audience, which I know reaches people in a hundred and twenty countries, I decided that it was time to do a podcast. And, you know, just sharing the benefits of that to my community. And when I see their eyes light up or their voices kind of, you know, change a bit because they're now getting excited about what a podcast can do for them, how they can monetize, how they can meet people, how they can host events and teach and all of these, various things that have a podcast and, you know, allowing you to be seen as an expert in your field, that alone is is priceless.

So I love doing that. I love encouraging my community, those that I work with, and my clients to leverage a podcast and particularly know that the world is going through this craziness. Right? Mhmm. But it's not all bad. You know, out of every bad situation comes good. And so here we are with more time on our hands, some of us, that we can know, get into the things that we've always wanted to do, maybe five years ago. Maybe a podcast is one of those things that you wanna do now. So take advantage of the time that you have on your hands.

[00:06:36.10] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. And the power, as you said, of the podcast and being able to kinda showcase yourself as an expert in whatever it is that you do. And a lot of people don't know exactly how to bridge that gap, how to get their name out there. So definitely appreciate you for empowering so many of these, creatives, these people that have really phenomenal solutions and things that they can do on how exactly they can reach the the masses. So, now I wanted to ask you for what I call your secret sauce. This could be for you personally or your business, but what do you feel kinda sets you apart and makes you unique?

[00:07:04.89] – Watkis-Porter

Okay. So, I'm at a point in my life right now where I'm actually revisiting my secret sauce because one of that I thought was or was just my constant going on my determination and resilience and all of that. But, I'm kinda redefining what that even looks like for me moving forward and what it means because having been somebody who never takes a break I mean, even when I consider myself taking a break, I'm still working. So if I'm traveling, I have my computer with me twenty-four-seven, and I'm there's always something going on in my head. I'm coming up with the next activity and so on. So that was my secret sauce. I'm in the process of Noah's self-evaluation.

And for me, I can see this will be replaced with all of that is moments of rest, moments of intentional rest, not when I'm forced to rest, but intentional rest because we underestimate, you know, you know, the still while the law of diminishing marginal return sets in, then even though you're putting in more, you're not necessarily getting more out because, you know, because you're actually, getting tired and weary, and so you can't be as effective. So rest is gonna be one of my secret sauces. But, certainly, for sure, what will remain constant for me is the foundation on which I stand, which is faith, faith in Jesus Christ. That will never change because I don't know where I'd be had I not, you know, been so grounded. Because in the moments when it became very dark for me, and it was that during my period of ill health. Right? When it became very dark for me, that was the only thing that kept me going at times. You know? Even though it was even slower to even believe at times, but, yeah, it was what kept me going. So that for sure, remains my secret sauce.

[00:08:40.29] – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit, and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an Apple book or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

[00:08:51.79] – Watkis-Porter

Consistency and, time management. Effective time management. So when I say 07:00, I mean 07:00, not a minute after. You know, effective time management for me has been something that, you know just holding myself accountable, being disciplined enough to honor my commitment. So when I commit to something, if I can't go through with it, then I'm gonna tell you ahead of time. But, usually, if I commit to something, I'm gonna do it. So that for me and just reading, reading a lot of, and listening to videos like Les Brown and, Rich Dad Poor Dad and, Think and Grow Rich and and and stuff. So just reading and, you know because success leaves clues, and it's in those areas that you're gonna find the clues that you're looking for to get to your next level.

[00:09:39.39] – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. So now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. And this could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something you would tell a client, or if you hopped into a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

[00:09:50.79] – Watkis-Porter

You know what? One of the things I definitely tell myself, you know, my younger self is that it's okay to celebrate my victories and enjoy the journey. Don't be in such a hurry to get to the destination. The journey is what makes it so, you know, even I don't know. When you are able to go through and to every little thing that happens. Right? You've got a little success here. You're able to say, okay. I'm gonna celebrate this, or you've probably run into a disappointment. You're able to say, okay. You know, let's let's stop, think about it, assess, and move on. But don't get frustrated because you're not achieving what you want to achieve, immediately. It takes time, and overnight success takes ten years.

[00:10:34.79] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. The secret to overnight success is it takes ten years, and you're absolutely right. I think, we sometimes rob ourselves of the present. And it's funny. I did a gratitude exercise. I do one every night, and I did one yesterday. It's all just about this, which is kinda crazy how that comes up. But it talked about how we should definitely, enjoy the present. And because a lot of times we reach success, and that success, the enjoyment we get from success is sometimes fleeting because it's not really the goal, it's the journey of the goal. So if we rob ourselves of the present moment of what we're doing to reach whatever goal we might have, that's the real gift of everything and steps that we take.

[00:11:09.70] – Watkis-Porter

Oh, yeah. Definitely agree with that one.

[00:11:12.29] – Gresham Harkless

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And now I wanted to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different quotes, unquote CEOs on the show. So, Heneka, what does being a CEO mean to you?

[00:11:22.60] – Watkis-Porter

It means I have an opportunity to share, to who much is given, much is expected. So it's not just about, my accomplishing my own, you know, goals or, you know, vision, whatever it is. It's about helping people along the way with a team of employees or team of volunteers or, you know, just persons who need me and are in a situation in a position that they can learn from me. So it is about, you know, sharing sharing my knowledge, sharing my expertise, and learning from others as well. You know, be humbling to learn not to think that I know it all because I am Peter, but to learn from others and be humble enough to learn and be vulnerable as well. You know? Be vulnerable to be open. Openly share some of your struggles as well as your wins, be open to learning from others, and be open to say, I don't know. You know, I don't have the answer. Right? And so others can share with you and you can learn.

[00:12:18.10] – Gresham Harkless

Absolutely. And, you know, as we kinda talked about in the very beginning, that human aspect is is is huge. And especially as a leader, not only, do sometimes we think that it will push people away when in reality, I think it brings people closer because it brings out that humanistic part. It lets us know the struggles of things that we go through. But at the same time, we understand that as you said in the very beginning, to want to come to some much is given, and much is expected. And a lot of times when we have those opportunities, we have these gifts that we're given. We're expected to really do it to really make the world a better place. And I think that when we do that, we're reminded of that. That's when things go to another level.

[00:12:50.79] – Watkis-Porter

Oh, yeah. Giving it will come back, press down, full measure, running, you know, and all of that. So yeah. Given it's it's I I said to somebody the other day that giving is such a self, selfish act. I mean, it seems selfless, but it's actually it's selfish because when you do give, it comes right back. And then yeah. And then, you know, you also feel so good about sharing. Like, every time I do something nice with somebody, I feel I believe much better than the person themselves to be. Right? Sure. That's something I'm saying, giving an of yourself is such a self-check.

[00:13:22.70] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. But it is I love it because, you know, you create that cycle. And when you have that cycle, again, it's it's hard to tell, you know, if you're giving so much. It's hard to tell, oh, it came from this or it came from that because you're giving so much of yourself Mhmm. In so many different ways and at such a great level.

[00:13:36.89] – Watkis-Porter

Yeah. And and truth is, to whom you give sometimes is not necessary it's not necessary from whom you will oh, it's such a cycle. As you said, it's typical. So you give to you and perhaps, somebody down the road who you would have given to or would have given to, you know, no give back giving back to me or whatever, you know, whatever it is. We're cyclical. And so we give because not because we're expecting anything in return, whatever that given is, whether it's your time, your resources, your money, whatever. But we give because, you know, it's the right thing to do, and it comes right back.

[00:14:07.29] – Gresham Harkless

Yeah. Absolutely. And everybody, is at some point, if not all the time, in need. And I think that if we remind ourselves of that and that humility that you kinda spoke to as well too, it makes the world an absolutely better place. So, Heneka, truly appreciate that definition, and I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know, and, of course, how best they can get a hold of you, subscribe to the podcast, and hear all the awesome things that you're working on.

[00:14:34.00] – Watkis-Porter

Thank you, Gresham. For me, it's been a really a really pleasure, as I said before, when I opened, you know, to talk with you and to share with your community. So I'm grateful for that. Thank you so much for allowing me to your space. And, I just wanna encourage your community just to take the time right now while they have some time to assess where they are, and what they wanna accomplish. Don't be hard on themselves. If it is that you've been, oh my gosh, you know, this is I'm just here and life sucks. No. Shift your mindset look at the opportunities that are in front of you right now and see how you can leverage those opportunities. And if there are people people that you can reach out to to help you leverage those opportunities, by all means, do it.

So, encore be encouraged. You know, all isn't lost. We are at a great place. And I wanna share that, for for persons who want to learn more about podcasting, sure. My new book, my latest book, which was published in January. It's podcast for the quick start guide to simply want to, have me coach you or want you to, you know, maybe produce your podcast whatever it is, then you can reach out to me at Henneke watchers porter dot com. You can send me a WhatsApp directly, the icon on the page, and it comes directly to my phone. Of course, I'm on social media. But then when you go to Heneka Watchesportia dot com, everything is right there. You can connect with me from whatever platform is your favorite. So thank you for tuning in to this episode. And, again, Gresham, thank you for having me.

[00:15:56.00] – Gresham Harkless

No problem. Definitely, the pleasure is all ours. And what we'll do is we'll definitely have the links and information that Sean Ochez says well so that everybody can click through and follow up with you. But I appreciate that reminder as well too that, you know, even though this time may not be ideal, it's a transformational time and a lot of disruption happening. We do have that opportunity to make lemons, to make lemonade out of lemons. And when we have that perspective and that mentality and take those steps, then that's when awesome things happen. So I appreciate that reminder, and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

[00:16:22.70] – Outro

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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