Breva?

Your Fire Is Still Burning. Even If It Feels Low. Feeling low energy? Imposter syndrome creeping in? Not where you thought you’d be in 2025 yet? Here’s your Monday morning reminder: Even low flames are still hot. And even the smallest fire can spark something massive. You are one conversation, one email, one moment away from your breakthrough. Keep putting in the work. The fire is still burning.

A small business needs to run on trust. Without it, everything slows down. That’s why the most important thing I can do as a leader is build a team I trust and make sure they trust me, too. So when your team says: “I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.” “I’ll be picking up the kids later.” “I’m heading out for lunch.” “Just taking the dog for a walk.” Unless they are going to miss something important, you should make it clear that they don't need to tell you these things. Why? Because you want them to stop asking. You should make them feel like you trust them to get their work done. You trust them to manage their time. You trust them to take care of themselves. In a small business, every person matters. If the owner doesn't trust each team member, they waste time second-guessing, micromanaging, and slowing things down. That’s not how we operate. We don’t track time. We track results. And trust? That’s what makes results happen. What do you think?

Most entrepreneurs are addicted to effort instead of outcomes. Being the hardest worker in the room is not the flex they think it is. Building a business that thrives without you grinding 24/7 is the new flex. So why do so many entrepreneurs insist on making business harder than it needs to be? I'm trying to build something that grows without grinding me down, so I'm focusing on these things: 1. Learn: I'm leveraging the best of what others know Passion isn’t enough. The best leaders don’t waste time reinventing the wheel, they actively seek wisdom from advisors, peers, and books. Smart leaders don’t just learn from their mistakes, they learn from everyone’s mistakes. 2. Lift: I work everyday to teach and empower others Once you learn something valuable, pass it on. Businesses thrive when knowledge flows, not when it’s hoarded. The best leaders don't just build businesses, they build people. If you want more impact with less effort, make it your mission to create other leaders. 3. Automate: We don't repeat what can be systemized The most valuable resource in business isn’t money it’s time. Yet too many leaders refuse to automate simple tasks, choosing effort over efficiency. Automation isn’t about eliminating jobs, it’s about eliminating waste. Growth happens when you free yourself (and your team) from the repetitive, low-impact work that technology can handle. 4. Trust: I'm building a team that can thrive without me If you’re doing everything yourself, you don’t have a business, you have a bottleneck. The best leaders aren’t the busiest. They build teams that are engaged, empowered, and capable of winning without micromanagement. The goal isn’t to do more. It’s to create a system where things get done even when you’re not in the room. 5. Prevent: We solve problems before they happen The best leaders don’t spend their time putting out fires, they design businesses that prevent fires from starting. They focus on strategy, anticipate change, and solve problems before they escalate. Proactive beats reactive. Every time. The truth? Business doesn’t have to feel like an endless struggle. The most successful people don’t just work harder, they work differently. They build systems that amplify their impact, surround themselves with the right people, and trust that real success comes from clarity, not just effort. So ask yourself: Are you making your success harder than it needs to be?

Friday reminder that: You are abundant. You have everything you need, to do and be whatever you want, to do and be. Your journey from here to there, simply starts with being grateful for the fact that, you are abundant and you have everything you need.

I'm working on a new project. It's core to what we do at Breva?. The theme is resilience. Resilience is one of the most important traits an entrepreneur/business owner can have. What keeps you from giving up? How do you push forward when you have nothing left? Short stories featuring our customers, grant recipients and special guests discussing moments when they faced an existential challenge and what helped them keep going. These are the stories we all need to hear. What do you think?

Reach beyond… The goal has always been to go way beyond curriculum - to be transformative - far more than informative. Our new 53 Foot - Mobile AI Studio is bringing the latest in automation, robotics and advanced manufacturing to neighborhoods and communites across the state. EXPOSURE - has the power to spark imagination - launch innovation - and live at that nexus where the Genius that exists in the minds of those in forgotten spaces - can meet the ACCESS and OPPORTUNITY required to create MAGIC! This is exciting work!!! Cheers to our partners Georgia Institute of Technology, The University of Georgia, Technologists of Color, KITT LABS as a part of Georgia AIM Project 3 - all collaborating to make a difference. Powerful things occur when community comes together. We are building…TOGETHER. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO - COOL STUFF! Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs

Everyone suffers from this, regardless of your background. There’s a lot of controversy today around equity, mostly because people misunderstand what it means. Most people will tell you they want everyone to succeed. But what they often leave out is that they don’t want you to do as well or better than them. That’s scarcity thinking. And it’s limiting. Everyone suffers from this, regardless of your background. The truth? There is enough for everyone. Success doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. When we shift from scarcity to abundance, we stop wasting energy on what others are gaining and start focusing on how we can grow together. And here’s the crazy thing: The numbers prove it. - Doing good leads to doing well. Companies that prioritize social responsibility and inclusivity see higher profitability and stronger long-term growth. - Lifting others up creates more opportunity, not less. Research from the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that such proactive measures could lead to a one-percentage-point increase in annual productivity growth. In the U.S., this translates to an additional $3,500 in per capita GDP. - Business success isn’t just about competition, it’s about contribution. The more people you help, the bigger your potential market, the more innovation you drive, the more customers you create and attract. But this isn’t just about business. It’s about how you think about your own success. Do you measure success by how much you have compared to others? Or by how much value and impact you create? The fastest way to grow your business, career, and opportunities is to shift your mindset from competing to contributing. There’s room for everyone. And when you embrace that, you’ll realize, your biggest competition isn’t other people. It’s your own limiting beliefs. The focus on equity becomes irrelevant. Do you agree? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear them. ?? Repost to see what others in your network think about this issue.

I used to think that success meant: - Being promoted - Having a lofty title and a big team - Winning made-up company awards - Working long hours, nights and weekends Then I looked closer at the people around me getting/doing these things. Most of them were unkind or did not lead with empathy. They selfishly put themselves first, because they were afraid of either losing all they had worked for, or of missing out on gaining wealth for themselves, or their family. This caused them to be inclined to lie or withhold information from their teammates, or actively work to undermine, or refuse to make room for anyone they saw as a threat. They were also usually unhappy. And I started to realize that actually, success means: - Being kind - Leading with empathy - Being in a space where you can be authentically you - Asking how you can help others vs how you can help yourself - Having a sense of humor - Putting the team first, ego second - Being happy Being authentically you, building real relationships and giving more than you take is your gateway to success. What do you think?

In our Entrepreneurial Finance class as part of the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship program, Andrea and I recently taught our students the Build-Measure-Learn cycle, an iterative process that drives innovation and continuous improvement. And, as this is the inaugural Entrepreneurial Finance course at Duke University, we're not just teaching our students, we're applying what we are teaching to our own course, and the students are participating! For example, central to our approach this semester is the Build-Measure-Learn cycle. In our course, we've established a real-time feedback loop. At the end of each class, students scan a QR code to provide immediate insights on our sessions and guest speakers. This constant stream of feedback has been invaluable, enabling us to adapt and enhance the course dynamically. And, our results so far? This responsive approach has yielded tangible benefits. Our class size has expanded beyond the capacity of our original room, prompting a move to a larger venue to accommodate the growing interest. Here is the Build-Measure-Learn Cycle Simplified: Build: Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or concept. Measure: Collect data and feedback on its performance. Learn: Analyze the results to inform necessary adjustments. This cycle fosters agility and responsiveness, essential traits in any environment. Your Turn! The beauty of Build-Measure-Learn is its versatility, it applies beyond startups to any context where growth is desired. See above. What aspect of your work or life could benefit from this approach? Share your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to support your journey.

Ignore the AI drama. It's not going to matter in the end. The headlines are hard to ignore: Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, OpenAI power struggles, billion-dollar offers and lawsuits. It’s the kind of tech drama that dominates the news cycle. But none of this will matter in the long run. The real AI revolution isn’t about corporate power struggles, it’s about agents. And, AI agents are quietly transforming everything. Using agentic AI in small business finance, not just for entrepreneurs but for funders too, is the best use case of this technology for our economy. Small businesses have struggled with complex, time-consuming financial management that keeps them from focusing on growth. Funders, meanwhile, face challenges in assessing risk and supporting the businesses they invest in. That’s changing. AI agents are reshaping the financial landscape in ways we’ve never seen before, and Ask Bre? is leading the way. For Small Business Owners, Ask Bre?: - Provides real-time financial insights: No more waiting weeks for reports. Ask Bre? analyzes cash flow, tracks expenses, and forecasts revenue instantly. - Automates bookkeeping and compliance: It eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors, and ensures tax compliance without human intervention. - Finds smarter access to capital: Ask Bre? fairly assesses risk and connects small businesses with the right funders at the right time, while also identifying grant opportunities entrepreneurs might otherwise miss. For Funders & Lenders, Ask Bre?: - Enhances risk assessment: It provides real-time visibility into a business’s financial health, helping funders make smarter, data-driven decisions. - Supports borrowers proactively: Instead of reacting to financial distress, lenders can intervene early by identifying businesses that need guidance before problems arise. - Strengthens portfolio growth: With deeper insights, funders can confidently invest in businesses that are truly funding-ready, reducing defaults and increasing ROI. At Breva?, we’re building AI tools that don’t just automate tasks, they provide intelligence and help small business owners take control of their finances and empowers funders with data-driven insights to make better decisions. We're changing how capital flows, how businesses grow, and how funders and entrepreneurs work together. So, while the world is distracted by tech power struggles, the real revolution is already here. Want to experience Ask Bre? for yourself? DM me, and I’ll give you her number and you can try her for free. ?? Repost this for anyone in your network that needs funding support!