In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to franchise guru Max Emma.

Max talks to us about Gaining your Freedom by buying a franchise.

Max Emma came from the former Soviet Union at the age of 18 without friends, money, or English and had to start his life from scratch. Supported himself through college and graduated with honors from SDSU with a degree in finance.

After 4 years of a corporate finance life (realizing that this is clearly not for me), I gave my 2-week notice and joined a family landscape maintenance business. Within a few years, I made it mostly a landscape construction firm and grew it from 3 to 96 employees, and it was going great until it wasn't...

I was so busy growing the company that wasn't at all paying attention to the financials of my own business (the irony was that I'm a finance guy), and then 2008-2009 came and the builders stopped building tract homes, and at the same time, we had all the equipment, vehicles, and loan payments due. So, bankruptcy was my only option.

That was when I told myself that my purpose would become to provide every business owner with financial statements on-time and on-budget, so they wouldn't repeat mistakes I made, and that's how BooXkeeping was born.

Now BooXkeeping is the Preferred Bookkeeping Provider for over 100 franchise brands in the US and has clients in all 50 states.

Being around other Franchisors, gave me the idea to become one myself, and so now we sell BooXkeeping Franchises to others empowering them to become entrepreneurs. We now have 12 franchisees in the US and the number is growing.

Recently I've opened my own franchise brokerage where I help individuals to pursue the American Dream by owning a franchise. With a choice of over 600 franchises, I'm proud to say that my services are COMPLETELY FREE TO ANY CANDIDATES!

When I don't work, I love travelling (44 countries and 26 US States so far and growing), reading, and spending time with my two kids. I also love live theater, working out, spending time with friends, and a good single malt scotch with a Cuban cigar.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to keynote speaker and author Dianna Kokoszka.

Dianna talks to us about not being held hostage by your thoughts.

Dianna Kokoszka is an Entrepreneur, keynote speaker, Author and Mentor and loves to invest in businesses and real estate. She has established herself as a prominent figure in the business world, developing many leaders during her longevity.

Starting in real estate she led the field with innovative ways, one of which was being the first to build a team to help with her business. Turning from success to significance she led, trained and coached others, allowing her to be recognized as one of the top 25 coaches in America, entrepreneur of the year four times, business woman of the year three times as well as numerous other awards.

Dedicating over 14 years as CEO of Keller Williams Realty International MAPS Coaching and Training she played a pivotal role in propelling in catapulting the company to unprecedented heights, transforming it into the largest and most profitable coaching enterprise in the industry. Under her leadership the company's revenues surged from zero to over $500 million, while also helping the company earn the distinction of being the world's number one training company for five consecutive years, placing them in the Hall of Fame for Training by T135.

She authored the program BOLD Business Objective a LIfe by Design in 2009, when the economyu and real estate industry were plummeting. Over 175,000 sales people, mortgage lenders and leaders attended, stating the course saved their careers.

Kokoszka is a NLP practitioner, certified John Maxwell Coach, certified E-Myth consultant, a member of Strategic Coach, a board member of John C. Maxwell Leadership Foundation, and owner of DK Businesses.

Kokoszka has been mentored by Dr. John C. Maxwell for over 38 years and travels alongside John and his team to numerous countries, engaging directly with Presidents and Prime Ministers incorporating value based training into their educational system. With numerous successful endeavors, schools across America are not in the process of beta testing the curriculum.

Kokoszka's new book Becoming More You Can't Get to Better Until You Get to Different gives the reader a model to follow to Become More growing from their current story into a new story, leaving a legacy they are proud of. Many are saying it is more like a manual than a book and is helping them realize they are the ones writing their own story and they are the ones choosing the character they play. They determine if they will be the victim, villain or hero of their own story.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to inspirational author Bill Potts.

Bill talks to us about his journey of writing a books.

Bill Potts is a 5 time cancer survivor, IRONMAN athlete. Successful entrepreneur and C-Level executive.

Author of "Up for the Fight. How to Advocate for Yourself as You Battle Cancer."

This book is like "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" - but for cancer.