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How does a single mother of six become a funeral home owner? In this episode of *Insure Your Success*, Ortez Wells talks with Zakiyah A. Lewis - Muhammad, co-owner of Eppinger and Lewis Funeral Home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, about the years of persistence behind her business.Zakiyah shares why an 18-month funeral service program took her nearly 10 years to complete, how she found a mentor in the funeral profession, and what it took to open a funeral home with business partner Reggie Eppinger. They also discuss faith, motherhood, the responsibilities of ownership, and serving families and the Stone Mountain community.If you are building a business while facing setbacks, this conversation is a reminder to keep moving.What part of Zakiyah's journey stayed with you? Share it in the comments. Subscribe to Insure Your Success for honest conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a lasting business.

What separates successful entrepreneurs from everyone else? In this episode of the Insure Your Success Podcast, entrepreneur and agency owner Ortez Wells shares the 9 success principles that have guided his entrepreneurial journey over the last decade. These principles were learned through personal experience, mentorship, and timeless success books such as Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice by Dr. Dennis Kimbro. Whether you're starting a business, building an agency, growing a side hustle, or pursuing financial independence, these principles can help you develop the mindset, discipline, and focus required for long-term success. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ How to develop a definite purpose ✔ Why purpose must be bigger than money ✔ The importance of prayer and applied faith ✔ How taking initiative accelerates success ✔ Why successful entrepreneurs go the extra mile ✔ The power of mastermind groups and mentorship ✔ How cooperation creates business growth ✔ The importance of discipline with time, money, and thoughts ✔ Why a positive mental attitude is critical for leadership ✔ How focus helps you achieve your goals If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, insurance agent, salesperson, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. Subscribe for more conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, mindset, sales, personal development, wealth building, and success. #Entrepreneurship #SuccessMindset #BusinessOwner #EntrepreneurLife #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #ThinkAndGrowRich #SuccessPrinciples #Discipline #Mindset #SmallBusiness #AgencyOwner #Motivation #BusinessGrowth #InsureYourSuccess

What if the smallest coin in your pocket carried one of the biggest lessons in entrepreneurship? In this episode of the Insure Your Success Podcast, I share my personal “penny story” — a journey through difficult seasons where saving pennies helped me buy gas, eat, and survive while building toward something bigger. Many successful entrepreneurs have a season nobody sees. A season of sacrifice, struggle, discipline, and belief. This episode is about learning to value every dollar, respecting the process, and understanding that financial discipline often starts long before success arrives. Every time I see a penny on the ground, I pick it up — because it reminds me where I started and how far I’ve come. If you’re building a business, chasing a dream, or going through a difficult season financially, this conversation is for you. This episode will help aspiring entrepreneurs understand: The mindset required to survive difficult seasonsWhy financial discipline matters in businessHow small habits build long-term successThe hidden struggles behind entrepreneurshipWhy humility and gratitude are critical for growthSubscribe to the Insure Your Success Podcast for more conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, mindset, insurance sales, and building long-term success.

What does it REALLY take to succeed as an entrepreneur? In this powerful episode of the Insure Your Success Podcast, Ortez Wells sits down with longtime friend, business partner, entrepreneur, and insurance professional Coach Bruce Rouse to discuss the REAL journey behind entrepreneurship, leadership, insurance sales, and building generational wealth. From growing up in North Philadelphia… to losing his father at a young age… to struggling financially while chasing entrepreneurship… Coach Bruce shares the emotional “Pennies Story” that almost broke him — and how persistence ultimately changed his life. f you are an entrepreneur, insurance agent, aspiring business owner, or someone chasing success through difficult seasons… this conversation is for you.Follow Coach Bruce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coach-bruce-778b15127/Go, purchase Coach Bruce book Momma said...: #100 Life Guiding Quotes From A Wise Mother on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0admvhme

Are you stuck in "hustle mode"? In this episode of the Insure Your Success Podcast, Artez sits down with his mentor, author, and industry titan Brandon Clay, to discuss the exact systems that helped Artez’s agency clear $916,000 in gross revenue. Brandon shares his 32-year journey—from processing 2 million claims to becoming the Chief Brand and Industry Officer for EnrollHere. We dive deep into the "Brandon Clay System," the importance of product diversity (Medicare, Final Expense, and Ancillary products), and why the "democratization of technology" means you can no longer afford to ignore AI and digital tools. What you’ll learn in this episode: The Origin Story: How Brandon turned "mud between toes" into a 30+ year career. The Struggle to Success: Why most agents fail to transition from "Order Taker" to "Cultivator". Sales Crimes & Six Figures: Insights from Brandon’s books on building a recurring income stream. The Future of Medicare: How to survive the "Medicare Shake-up" through cross-selling and hybrid digital models. Mentorship: The real reason Artez considers Brandon a "God-sent" pivot point for his business. Find Brandon Clay’s books on Amazon: Six Hours to Six Figures and Sales Crumbs

This episode is the follow-up to How It All Started. In this episode, I share my current journey as an entrepreneur — what this phase of business looks like, the lessons I’m learning now, and how entrepreneurship continues to evolve over time. From humble beginnings to building a business, every season requires a new mindset, new growth, and new leadership. If you are building something meaningful, this episode is for you. 🎙️ The Next Phase of My Entrepreneur Journey Comment below:What phase of your journey are you in right now?

Every entrepreneur has a beginning.This is mine. Long before I owned an insurance agency… before the business, the leadership, the success, and the lessons that came with it… I was just a young boy trying to make a little money after church. At 10 years old, I started selling my grandmother’s pies and pralines. For every one I sold, she gave me a quarter. Back then, I had no idea what she was really teaching me. I didn’t know I was being introduced to sales, value, work ethic, and commission. I just knew I liked the feeling of earning something for myself. What I didn’t realize at the time was that those small moments were planting the seed for the entrepreneur I would later become. That early spark led me into a journey filled with side hustles, opportunities, risks, wins, losses, and a lot of lessons learned the hard way. I’ve tried different things, made mistakes, experienced failure, and had moments where I could have easily given up. But looking back now, I can honestly say this: Many of the greatest lessons I learned came through failure. The setbacks didn’t stop me.They shaped me.They taught me.And in many ways, they prepared me for the success I would later build. Today, I’m blessed to own a successful insurance agency, help families protect what matters most, and train others to build businesses of their own. But none of this started where most people see it now. It started with a pie, a praline, a quarter… and a spark. This episode is a personal look into how it all started—the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, the mindset that was formed along the way, and the foundation that helped shape who I am today. And the truth is…I believe I’m still in a new phase of that journey. One that I hope to continue sharing with you in future episodes. If you’ve ever had to start small, fail forward, rebuild, or trust the process—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Insure Your Success, I share my experience attending MedicareCon—a powerful event designed for insurance agents looking to grow and scale their Medicare businesses. For years, I avoided conferences like this due to watered-down content and sales-driven agendas. But this event changed my perspective.You'll learn: ✅ Why being in the right room matters more than just attending events✅ The importance of researching speakers and mentors before investing✅ How free value builds trust—and why it should come before a sales pitch✅ My top 3 takeaways that can help you elevate your businessWhether you're an agent, agency owner, or entrepreneur—this episode will challenge you to think bigger, step outside of your comfort zone, and surround yourself with winners.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on entrepreneurship and the insurance industry.📩 Let’s connect: LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ortezwells

As an entrepreneur, growth isn’t just about working harder but working smarter. One of the most effective ways to level up your business and income is by attending industry events, conferences, and networking meetups. Yet, many professionals overlook the power of stepping away from daily operations to focus on personal and professional development. www.ortezwells.com

What makes a successful entrepreneur? It’s NOT about where you come from, your age, or your background. After 25 years as a full-time entrepreneur and learning from some of the best in the game, I’ve discovered that success comes down to three key traits: 💥 Burning Desire – The drive to change your situation. 👀 Vision – A clear picture of where you’re headed. 🚀 Action Plan – The willingness to put in the work—no shortcuts. In this episode of Insure Your Success, I’m breaking down the DNA of a successful entrepreneur and how you can apply these traits to your own journey. 👉 Tune in now on Spotify and YouTube! Let’s unlock the keys to success together. 🎯 #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #Mindset #SuccessDNA #InsureYourSuccess #podcast https://www.youtube.com/@insureyoursuccess

In this episode of Insure Your Success for Entrepreneurs, we dive into cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset. We always hear that success starts in the mind, but what does that mean? Join us as we explore three key elements to build a mindset that drives growth, resilience, and success in any venture. www.ortezwells.com

Welcome to the very first episode of my podcast! Today, I’m sharing my journey as an entrepreneur—how I got started and what inspired me along the way. This episode is unscripted and unfiltered, so bear with me for any filler words like "um"—you know how it goes! I’m excited for us to grow together on this entrepreneurial journey. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to share this with others! www.ortezwells.com

Why Don't We Feel Empowered? Despite the potential for empowerment, many of us struggle to feel empowered in our daily lives. Here are some common barriers: Lack of Education: Without the necessary knowledge and skills, it’s challenging to make informed decisions and take decisive action. Lack of Resources: Resources, including financial, physical, and informational, are critical in enabling us to pursue our goals. Lack of Support: Support from family, friends, and the community can provide the encouragement and assistance needed to persevere. These barriers can leave us feeling stuck, but they are not insurmountable. By understanding and addressing these challenges, we can begin to reclaim our power.

Definition: What one intends to do or bring about an aim or plan  Root Word Meaning: Comes from the Latin word “Interdere” which means to stretch or purpose. Ortez Definition: Your intentions are your thoughts. That brings about an action to achieve a purpose. “Our intentions create our reality” Wayne Dyer How do our intentions create our reality: Our thoughts  Our actions Our outcomes How can  our intentions bring about success: 1. Define your purpose in life. Write it down and read it daily. 2. Make sure your actions are in accordance with your purpose. 3. Each night before you go to bed and wake up in the morning. State what you intend to do that day. To achieve a goal or work towards your purpose.  4. Make sure your outcomes are aligned with your purpose and actions. 5. Monitor your thoughts and emotions daily. “Your energy flows where your intentions go” Author Unknown  www.ortezwells.com

Definition: One who works or studies excessively Root meaning: steady, hard, and tedious work Ortez Definition: In order for you to attain any type of success. You must be willing to work hard. Remain steady through all difficulties and obstacles. What does it mean when hearing a person say I’m grinding: They possess a burning desire to achieve something great. They have a vision of where they see themselves They set goals and focus on daily actions to achieve those goals.  They are mentally prepared to deal with any difficulties, challenges, or obstacles that come their way. They don’t stop until they have reached their destination. “To perform repetitive actions over and over in order to attain your goal” For more information visit my website www.ortezwells.com