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IAM773- Coaches Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Launch Podcast

Podcast Interview with Heneka Watkis-Porter

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

Transcript:

Intro 0:02
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.

Gresham Harkless 0:29
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 Watkis-Porter of The Entrepreneurial You. Heneka, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 0:40
Hey, Gresham is so nice to be here. I really am excited about having a little chat with you today.

Gresham Harkless 0:46
Absolutely. I'm definitely looking forward to it as well because you're doing so many awesome things. And, and before we jumped in, I want to read a little bit more about Heneka so you hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. And 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. Heneka, are you ready to be to the iamceo community?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 1:31
I am so ready.

Gresham Harkless 1:32
Awesome, let's do it. So they kick everything off. I wanted to rewind the clock a little bit here a little bit more on how you got started. Could you take us through what I call your CEO story? Why did you get started with all the awesome things you're working on?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 1:44
Alright, so in 2007 of us to be exact, I was you know, just sitting on one day from recovering from my surgery that I had done a man operation and the thought instead of resting, the thought just came to me Oh, I need to start a business. Um, and it's gonna be a T shirt business like, like that, you know, I've been thinking about business before, but particularly that day, I mean, after resting, giving it a break, because it was agonizing, agonizing over it for some time. But after giving it a break, he just came back on it because I was watching a poor one, which kind of, you know, reminded me of what, what I wanted to do my desire. And so I started looking for a name for a T shirt collection, which I wanted it to be purely Jamaican. So eventually, in about two weeks, I came up with a name patois 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, kind of expanding on our language, so it may compatible. And then in English actress interpretation.

Gresham Harkless 2:45
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 tore my Achilles tendon. And, and I always say, at least for me, like I needed to be I needed to slow down to have opportunity to do those things. Because a lot of times if I hadn't been kind of second beta recovering, who knows what I wouldn't have, I wouldn't have stopped enough to get the credit create anything?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 3:06
Absolutely. So sometimes those things, you know, you know, I remember even recently, just going through a brief process, my process of ill health, and one of the things that crosses slow down and live and you know, what's going through my daily bread, and it was just so pining for me that, you know, and it's in that slowing down, that we are usually our space where we can listen, we can hear what our next meal ought to be, because we're so on a treadmill, sometimes just going but going nowhere, when slowed down, when they're forced to because sometimes, you know, our spirit is nudging us, it's normal, we we keep going, but then sometimes are forced to slow down and when we are 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.

Gresham Harkless 3:48
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm the exact same way where I always felt like I could probably got a bunch of small signs that didn't pay attention. So I was like, here's your Achilles. Now you'll definitely have to stop and those forest pauses bring a lot of fruits and opportunities. So I know we touched on it a little bit when I read the bio, some of those fruit 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?

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Heneka Watkis-Porter 4:09
Okay, so what I've been doing predominantly out of the last three years or so out, just focusing on podcasts a whole lot more and so of course starting because I started my podcast the entrepreneur interview in 2017. And then after that a spin off so I started hosting leader has friend sees which you know, was thinking, am I ready bringing awesome content to my community? How can I up the ante a bit so through leader cast, which is the largest one, the leadership events globally, I started to bring that to Jamaica, through a live streaming. And in addition, I teach clients how to launch a podcast I coach them into it, I do courses and I also have the latest book is called podcasts for the Quick Start Guide to launching and leveling up your brand.

Gresham Harkless 4:54
Nice, I absolutely love that. And I love how you said you know bring it into because I think I always felt like knowledge is power and getting those opportunity energies that are out there that may 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 five guys as you're able to do in your books and also working on, huh?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 5:14
Yeah, so I've been, you know, and one of the things I've been doing is, well, I again, told you, I've been taking a break, I've been on a pause for a little while, 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 hope, in fact, I started my, my, my past as a radio show. And then, because I wanted to reach a bigger audience, which I know will reach people in 120 countries, and decided that it's 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, because they're, you know, getting excited of what a podcast can do for them how they can monetize, or they can meet people, or they can host events and teach and all of these various things, that having a podcast and you know, allowing you to be seen as an expert in your fields. That alone is priceless. So I love doing that I love encouraging my community, those that I work with my clients to leverage upon us and particularly know that the world is going through this craziness, right. But it's not all bad, you know, out of every bad situation comes good. And so here we are with, 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 want to do and also take advantage of the time that you have on your hand.

Gresham Harkless 6:35
Yeah, absolutely. And the power, as you said, a podcast and being able to kind of 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 masses. So now I wanted to ask you for what I call your secret sauce. And this could be for you personally, or your business. But what do you feel kind of sets you apart and makes you unique?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 7:04
Okay, so I'm at a point in my life, right now I'm actually revisiting my secret sauce. Because one of that I thought was art was just my constant going on my determination and resilience and all of that. But I'm, I'm kind of redefining what it even looks like for me for and what it means because having been somebody who never takes a break, I mean, even I consider myself taking a break, I'm still working. So if I'm traveling, I have my computer with me 24 seven, and then there's always something going on in my head, I'm coming up with a next activity and so on. So that was my secret sauce. I'm in the process of Nola 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, your why the Law of Diminishing Marginal return sets in done 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 going to be one of my secret sauces, but certainly for sure. What will remain constant for me is my 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 and it was that during my period of elf, right when it became very dark. For me, that was the only thing that keeps me going at times, you know, even though it was even slower and to even believe at times. But yeah, it was what keeps me going. So that for sure. remains my secret sauce.

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Gresham Harkless 8:40
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So I want to switch gears a little bit. And I want to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app or book or a habit that you have, or something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 8:51
consistency and time management, effective time management. So when I say seven o'clock, I mean seven o'clock. Now, I mean, after you know, effective time management, for me has been something that you know, and just holding myself accountable, being disciplined enough to honor my commitments. So when I commit to something, if I can't go through with it, then I'm going to tell you ahead of time, but usually if I commit to something, I'm going to do it so that for me, and just reading, reading a lot of and listening to videos like Les Brown, and that Rich Dad, Poor Dad and thinking grow rich and stuff. So just reading and you know, because success leaves clues and it's in those areas that you're going to find the clues that you're looking for to get to your next level.

Gresham Harkless 9:39
Awesome. So now when it asks you for what I call a CEO, nugget, and this could be a word of wisdom or piece of advice, it might be something you would tell a client or if you happen to a time machine, you might tell your younger self.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 9:50
You know what, um, one of the things I definitely tell myself, you know, my younger self is that it's okay to celebrate my victories enjoy the journey. Don't be in such Hard to get to the destination, the journey is what makes it so, you know, even I don't know, when when you're able to go through. And to me the thing that happens, right, you're you've got a bit of success here, you're able to say, Okay, I'm going to celebrate this or you've probably run into a disappointment. You're able to say, okay, you know, let's, let's stop thinking 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 10 years.

Gresham Harkless 10:34
Yeah, absolutely. The secrets of overnight successes, it takes 10 years. And you're absolutely right. I think we, we sometimes Rob ourselves of the present. And it's funny, I did a gratitude exercise to do one every night. And I did one yesterday and talk just about this, which is kind of crazy how that comes up. But it talked how we should definitely enjoy the present. And because a lot of times we reach a success, and that success, or the enjoyment we get from success is sometimes fleeting, because it's not really the goal is 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 in step that we take.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 11:09
Oh, yeah, definitely. I agree with that one.

Gresham Harkless 11:12
Awesome, awesome, awesome. And now I want to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And We’re all gonna have different quote-unquote, CEOs on the show, so hintikka, what's being a CEO mean to you?

Heneka Watkis-Porter 11:22
it means I have an opportunity to share and to who much is given much as 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, 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 humble enough to learn not to think that I know it all because I am eater, 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 you struggles as well as your wins, and be open to learn 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.

Gresham Harkless 12:17
Absolutely. And you know, as we kind of talked about, in the very beginning, that human aspect is huge, and especially as a leader, not only 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 and things that we go through. But at the same time, we understand that, as you said, in the very beginning to to want to something to some much is given much as expected. And a lot of times when we have those opportunities, we have these gifts that were 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.

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Heneka Watkis-Porter 12:50
Oh, yeah. Good. We'll come back down full measure running, you know, and all of that. So yeah, given its I said to somebody the other day that given is such a selfish, selfish act. I mean, it seems selfless. But it's actually it's selfish. Because when you do give it right back. Yeah. And then, you know, you also feel so good about sharing, like, every time I do something nice for somebody, I feel, I believe much better than the person themselves to be right here, as I'm saying, given and obviously, it's such a stuff jack.

Gresham Harkless 13:22
Yeah, absolutely. But it I love it. Because, you know, you create that that cycle. And when you have that cycle, again, 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 on so many different ways. And it's such a great level.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 13:36
Yeah. And and shoot, it's to whom you give sometimes are not necessary. It's not necessary from whom you will, Oh, it's such a cycle, as you said it, also, you give to, to you and perhaps some down the road who you would have given to or have given to you No, no, give even back to me or whatever, you know, whatever. It could be lead cyclical. And so we give because not because we're expecting anything in return, whatever that given is, what is 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.

Gresham Harkless 14:07
Yeah, absolutely. And everybody is at some point of not all the time in need. And I think that if we remind ourselves of that, and that humility that you kind of spoke to as well too. It definitely makes the world an absolute better place. So henyk I truly appreciate that definition. And I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do was passionate Mike, 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.

Heneka Watkis-Porter 14:33
Thank you, Gresham. For me. It's been a real pleasure reading, as I said before, and 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 into your space. And I just want to encourage your community just to take the time right now where they have some time to assess where they are what they want to 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 I sucks no shift sit and 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 that you can reach out to to help you to leverage those opportunities, by all means do it and can be encouraged. You know, all isn't lost. We are a great place. And I want to share that out for persons who want to learn more about podcasting. Sure. My new book Manny's his book, which was published in January, it's podcasts for the quickstart guide to launch. simply want to have me coach you or want you to, you know, maybe produce your product company, whatever it is, then you can reach out to me at henekawatkisporter.com. You can send me a WhatsApp directly icon on the page and it comes directly to my phone. Of course, I'm on social media, but then when you go to henekawatkisporter.com everything is right there. You can connect with me from whatever platform is your favorite. So thank you for tuning into this episode. And again, Gresham, thank you for having me.

Gresham Harkless 15:55
No problem. Definitely The pleasure is all ours. And what we'll do is we'll definitely have the links and information in the show notes just as well so that everybody can click through and follow up with you. But I appreciate that reminder as well, too, is that you know, even though this time may not be ideal is definitely a transformational time and a lot of disruption happening. We do have an opportunity to make lemons, make lemonade out of lemons, and when we have that perspective in that mentality and take those steps, and that's when awesome things happen. So I appreciate that reminder, and I hope you have a phenomenal day.

Outro 16:22
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 a www.CEOgear.co This has been the I AM CEO podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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Mercy - CBNation Team

This is a post from a CBNation team member. CBNation is a Business to Business (B2B) Brand. We are focused on increasing the success rate. We create content and information focusing on increasing the visibility of and providing resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners. CBNation consists of blogs(CEOBlogNation.com), podcasts, (CEOPodcasts.com) and videos (CBNation.tv). CBNation is proudly powered by Blue16 Media.

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