In this episode I'm joined by a fantastic friend of mine from my days at the University of Missouri. Wade Kiefer. Wade is currently an IBEW 124 Business Representative serving counties in our home state of Missouri as well as select areas of Kansas.

Wade and his family represent a critical part of the American economic ecosystem and what many would say is the bedrock of what makes this country tick. As a fourth generation union member his career path represents a strong lineage of the men and women who built our nation from the ground up… literally.

Wade had a small town, mid-american upbringing and really got his first taste of serious cultural exposure when entering his college experience. While he was there he studied political science, which was a decision that was partially motivated by his parents desire for him to work outside of the trades given his dad’s first hand experience with how physically strenuous that lifestyle could be.

However, as he neared graduation he felt himself at a loss for compatible job options and elected to more seriously pursue a life in his family's footsteps.

This decision has opened new doors and certain freedoms that many young people today aren’t as accustomed to. With sound advice from family Wade made his first home purchase at only 22 years of age, electing to build his equity rather than navigate to a downtown living lifestyle in Kansas City that many young people decide to pursue.

Wade has also dabbled in the political arena with positions on his local school board and a bid for State Representative.

As a Business Representative of his local IBEW 124 his primary objective is to advocate for the working rights of his brothers and sisters in union and his young and informed voice is helping one of the country's oldest and most revered sectors of our working ecosystem enter the digital age with more fluency.

I’m excited to share this conversation with all of your as we take some time getting to know Wade Kiefer.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of the Wealth of Self. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow our content.

Don't forget to check out our website: www.wealthofself.com/

You can support our creative efforts by donating to our Patreon www.patreon.com/wealthofself

Video Production and Editing by Jon Hambacker www.jonhambacker.com/

If you're interested in the tools and technical gadgets that make this operation work seamlessly I encourage you to check out my kit. I earn a small commission on any purchases that you make using these links at no additional cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated. kit.co/pinnaclecvs

Josh Foster is an advisory manager working in the DC metro area and even though he's in the early phases of his career, he is poised to do great things in the coming years. This is reinforced by his consistency and application of formative advice from family and mentors alike.

Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Josh had a front row seat to his dad’s entrepreneurial goals in the real estate sector. However, as with many big dreams, there were some sacrifices that had to be made. Josh distinctly remembers his family moving into a trailer park so his dad could continue the growth of the business. This experience and some of the peer pressure that accompanied such a move put a chip on Josh’s shoulder and created a competitive drive that he carries with him to this day. Josh's parents were incredibly supportive and encouraged him and all of his siblings to pursue their goals with truth and vigor, but maybe their greatest gift was teaching them how to be self-sufficient. This came in the form of cutting off financial support when Josh was in college and even though this required an adjustment, it forced him to understand the value of work, money management, and looking out for himself. He reflects on this decision as one of the best things that happened to him during that time of his life.

As Josh veered away from his love of basketball and college playing career, he began to more fully devote himself to identifying a fulfilling career path. However, as he concluded his college career and found an absence of available job opportunities upon graduating, he began to assist his dad with his real estate business.

This experience taught him the importance of perfecting your craft and the power of knowledge developed through repetition and consistent practice.

Josh has a long road ahead of him but his appreciation of the process, not skipping any steps, and his positive outlook for achieving his goals is an enlightening message that many can benefit from.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of the Wealth of Self.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow our content.

Don't forget to check out our website: www.wealthofself.com/

You can support our creative efforts by donating to our Patreon www.patreon.com/wealthofself

Video Production and Editing by Jon Hambacker www.jonhambacker.com/

If you're interested in the tools and technical gadgets that make this operation work seamlessly I encourage you to check out my kit. I earn a small commission on any purchases that you make using these links at no additional cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated. kit.co/pinnaclecvs

Kayona Ebony Brown joins us to discuss her journey to becoming an Emmy award winning writer!

Growing up as an only child to a single mom in D.C., Kayona wasn't raised to be a stereotypical girl. Her mom allowed her to be a child first and foremost, and let her curiosity and explorative nature guide her growth. This nonlinear rearing method provided Kayona with the flexibility to engage with a variety of subjects that she found interesting, but she often references her early interest in sports as a foundational element to the work she does now on many major sports related pieces of content.

It wasn't until Kayona identified her own ability to control her perceptions and reality that she began to truly flourish within the creative space. This allowed her to navigate away from some very dark roads and past failures, so that she was no longer operating from a place of fear, but a place of confidence and control.

She distinctly remembers reading Neale Donald Walsh's book "Conversations with God", which changed her life and her outlook on what was possible for her future during the beginning of the pandemic. This uncertain period made her ask, "why not" and was a catalyst for her to begin networking with other creatives more seriously than she had before.

Her embodiment of the phrase, "you'll see it when you believe it" reinforces her narrative about controlling her own reality, and is a guiding force in the routines and methodologies she employs in order to find success in her creative process.

Her writing has opened the door to working with high caliber talent, such as Viola Davis on some of the worlds, biggest stages such as the Super Bowl. It is an incredible honor to know and to have worked with Kayona in the creative space and her career trajectory is scaling at an impressive rate, which is to be expected when you're as talented as she is.

I'm glad you're along for the ride, so let's jump into this conversation with Kayona Ebony Brown.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of the Wealth of Self. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow our content.

Don't forget to check out our website: www.wealthofself.com/ You can support our creative efforts by donating to our Patreon www.patreon.com/wealthofself Video Production and

Editing by Jon Hambacker www.jonhambacker.com/

If you're interested in the tools and technical gadgets that make this operation work seamlessly I encourage you to check out my kit. I earn a small commission on any purchases that you make using these links at no additional cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated. kit.co/pinnaclecvs