Aphesis featured in Inc. Magazine

You might remember a while back I mentioned that I had the privilege to receive one on one advice from Norm Brodsky, “Street Smarts” columnist and senior contributing editor for Inc. Magazine  (read about it here) .  Shortly after our conversation I was asked if I would be ok with this being featured in April’s issue of Inc. Magazine. My first initial thought was, “I don’t want anyone to know about the mistakes I’ve made with Aphesis, and if I were to ever be featured in Inc. Magazine I want it to be for my accomplishments, not my mistakes.” Then I was reminded that Aphesis is not  all about me or my name, and if my mistakes can steer someone away from making the same mistakes, then so be it.  Just like there’s been many successes with Aphesis, there’s also been many mistakes, and this is one of them.

With that being said, check out this month’s “Street Smarts” column, featuring yours truly.

Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham

So on Monday I was browsing Inc.com, which is the website for Inc. magazine, one of the largest business magazines out there.  I love this magazine because of the great articles and amazing business advice they offer for entrepreneurs of any level. One of the sections of the site that  I love is Street Smarts by Norm Brodsky, which was the feature on the main page that day.

After taking in the great advice Norm had to offer for the day, I noticed something that I seemed to overlook in the past.

I thought, “Why not, I’ll send in an email explaining where I find myself with Aphesis right now and see what happens.”

Shortly after I received an email from a man named Bo, asking if I would be interested in talking to Norm over the phone. I was expecting an email conversation, but over the phone?! The first thought that ran through my mind was, “I’m not some big entrepreneur, I might be wasting his time when he could be talking to someone who has a huge business.” But immediately it was as if God straightened up my back bone and I replied and an appointment was made for Thursday at 10am.

Thursday came around and as the time passed and 10 o’clock was approaching, I felt the opposite of what I thought I would be feeling. I felt confident,excited, and thought, “These are doors God is opening for a reason.” 10 o’clock came and my phone rang. I stepped into the conference room at my workplace with a pen and paper and was welcomed over the phone by Bo, the person who originally contacted me through email. Shortly after I was brought into a conference call with Norm and Bo. I later found out that Bo is an editor at large at Inc. magazine!!

I don’t want to bore you with all the small details, but this was a very beneficial conversation, to say the least. Both Norm and Bo took time to ask me detailed questions about Aphesis and followed it by some very valuable advice.

You know it’s amazing the people who God will put on your path to help you get to where you are destined to be. Here I am getting free advice from two men who are very knowledgeable in business, both who are valuable in the eyes of many entrepreneurs, Inc. magazine, and someone who took a business from 0 to 112 million in 8 years, and then back to almost  nothing in 8 months.

If there’s one thing I learned from this experience, it’s that God has greater plans for Aphesis, and for my life, than my mind will ever be able to comprehend. I have to remove all limits and believe the following:

Joshua 1:5-9

 5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous ; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous ! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

ADDITIONAL INFO:

–Bo Burmingham is also the author of  “Small Giants” and co wrote “The Knack” with Norm Brodsky.

–Norm Brodsky is the owner of CitiStorage and author of “The Knack”