Financial Modeler's Corner
00:03:44 · Paul Barnhurst, Giles Male
[00:03:44] S0: I got there before about a year ago, and I wanna get back now that my injury is finally done. So that's on a treadmill, so add a minute to that. But, hey, I'll still take it. [00:03:52] S1: I've got some funny stories with you because, you know, we've done training together, and you are a sucker for stitching yourself up and booking training two in the morning your time, which I really appreciate, but you always stitch yourself up.
00:03:52 · Giles Male, Paul Barnhurst
[00:03:52] S1: I've got some funny stories with you because, you know, we've done training together, and you are a sucker for stitching yourself up and booking training two in the morning your time, which I really appreciate, but you always stitch yourself up. [00:04:05] S0: You know, I always try to be the one that's willing to take the difficult time, especially if I've asked the person, you know, as much as I can. But... Yes. So what Giles is referring to, and I'll get back to the rest of my week, usually, there's a training in there. Usually, there is a webinar or some kind of speaking event and a couple podcasts. So on average in a week, I'm probably doing some kind of speaking event, podcast training, or webinar 15 times a month, roughly, maybe 17. You know, sometimes I've done as many as five in a day. And then I'm probably meeting with three or four vendors during the week, either talking about a marketing collaboration or just wanting to see their tool and talk to them, whether it's a spreadsheet software tool, whatever it might be, giving advice. And then the rest of the week, I could be working on a digital training. I could be working on, you know, web page for affiliate. I could be doing something on LinkedIn. But that typically the week for me, I usually finish my work between two and 5PM, depending on whether I gotta go get my daughter from school and what's going on about 02:30 and five, but I'm often starting between three and four.
00:04:05 · Paul Barnhurst, Giles Male
[00:04:05] S0: You know, I always try to be the one that's willing to take the difficult time, especially if I've asked the person, you know, as much as I can. But... Yes. So what Giles is referring to, and I'll get back to the rest of my week, usually, there's a training in there. Usually, there is a webinar or some kind of speaking event and a couple podcasts. So on average in a week, I'm probably doing some kind of speaking event, podcast training, or webinar 15 times a month, roughly, maybe 17. You know, sometimes I've done as many as five in a day. And then I'm probably meeting with three or four vendors during the week, either talking about a marketing collaboration or just wanting to see their tool and talk to them, whether it's a spreadsheet software tool, whatever it might be, giving advice. And then the rest of the week, I could be working on a digital training. I could be working on, you know, web page for affiliate. I could be doing something on LinkedIn. But that typically the week for me, I usually finish my work between two and 5PM, depending on whether I gotta go get my daughter from school and what's going on about 02:30 and five, but I'm often starting between three and four. [00:05:09] S1: I think one of the things that I always observe about you is actually you're quite similar to Faye like this. You... Every time I speak to you, you've got a new idea or there's something else. It's another podcast or a... [00:05:20] S0: Yeah. Gotta be careful about I
00:05:20 · Paul Barnhurst, Giles Male
[00:05:20] S0: Yeah. Gotta be careful about I [00:05:21] S1: know. And I always think to myself, like, how do you find the hours in the day? So is that just your personality that you're constantly thinking of? What's the
00:05:29 · Paul Barnhurst
[00:05:29] S0: next It is little bit. I always have ideas going on and I have to step back sometimes. Can't do it all. I love being involved in a lot of things. Like, I've been told by many people, you need to scale back your business. You know, if you look at my business, I got three podcasts, which one, people think is crazy in and of itself. Then I have an affiliate business. I have a training business. I have a research and advisory that I do with software vendors, educational content, you know, doing digital and corporate training. And I will admit, for a few years, it has slowed growth. If I was more focused, I probably could grow faster. But I also... A lot of stuff I love, like, I've met with 400 vendors in those meetings. I haven't been paid for any of those initial meetings, but it allows me to build a brand that's unique. Like, if you look at others, they're usually very focused, which is probably a good thing. But you look at mine. Okay. Some people like, oh, he's an expert in modeling. Yeah. I debate that. You know, he's an expert in FP and A software. He's an expert in FP and A. And so they... Or he's an expert in podcasting. And so they see a lot of different things, and that can be hard from a business standpoint when you're trying to get people into a funnel. But it also is really nice in the sense of one area of revenue goes down. I have multiple other areas. And as I continue to grow, it creates, to me, a unique kind of business. What I've come to the conclusion has nothing to do with modeling. But when people ask what my business is, in many ways, I'm a connector. And what I mean by that, having talked to 400 guests on a podcast, having done... Talked to almost 400 software vendors, I am often contacted and I'm connecting people together and really helping them find the right resource. So almost like, hey. If you're in FP and A and you need a resource, even if I can't provide it, I can point you in the right direction. I can connect people.
00:07:14 · Giles Male, Paul Barnhurst
[00:07:14] S1: That's awesome. And you you mentioned the brand, and I have a question really going back to the start of this because I know you've been doing this for quite a few years now. But what was the spark? And I ask this because I think everybody that you and I speak to that we know who's kind of started a business, whether it's freelance or they've got people on their team, there's usually a thing that happens where they realize that they can't just sit in a salaried role anymore. So if you go back however many years ago that was pre beard, by the way, cause I know this was... You you were clean shaven before you set off on the FP and A Guy, but what was the spark and what was the kind of first steps of that journey? [00:07:54] S0: Yeah. So really where it all started, I'll say is 2016, roughly. I decided it was time to look for a new job. I'm working for American Express, and I'll ask you this, Giles. Have you ever bought a traveler's check? [00:08:06] S1: No. I don't [00:08:06] S0: even know what it is. [00:08:07] S1: I do know what they are, but I don't I don't think I've ever bought one myself. [00:08:11] S0: Okay. So it's 2016. I'm working in FP and A, and the product I'm supporting is the Travelers Check. Do you think that's a good opportunity to grow your career, to be supporting that product in 2016? [00:08:22] S1: Possibly not.