Latest posts

The Sharks didn’t see it. He’s betting Disney will. Kenyon Ross runs @thechristmascarolers . Yes, a real business. Singers in Victorian costumes, booked for parties, events, and brands every holiday season. Some Sharks laughed it off. “It’s seasonal.” “It’s only two months a year.” “Where’s the rest of the money?” So I asked him straight up. How did it feel when they doubted you? His answer surprised me. He said he’s sat across from investors a million times. Hearing no is just part of the game. Then he dropped the plan: → Grow so big Disney wants to buy him → Add new services to the brand → Possibly add Halloween next Think about that. The thing people call your weakness can be the exact thing that makes you different. Christmas is “only” one season. But it’s also the one season every company, family, and brand spends money to make magic. Most business owners would quit after one “no” from a Shark. Kenyon used it as fuel. So here’s my question for you. Who’s been

Instagram1 day
1:28

Five trillion dollars. One man. No backup plan. That’s what Wall Street woke up to this week. @nvidia CEO admitted to an affair. Reports tied it to a suspected Chinese spy. A second alleged affair came out. The stock slid as much as 8%. And now reports say he’s out. Some people think it’s a stunt. Bad press. Big attention. Stock bounces back. And yeah, @amazon and @google both grew huge after their founders’ scandals. But those numbers came from years of strong business. Not from drama. So what’s the real lesson? The biggest risk to most companies isn’t a scandal. It’s one person holding everything. Small businesses do this every day: → Only the owner can close a sale → Only the owner knows the process → Only the owner talks to clients → Only the owner can fix problems Then life happens. You get sick. A family emergency hits. You burn out. And the whole business stops. No sales. No delivery. No cash. That’s not freedom. That’s a job with your name on

Instagram1 day

The most expensive argument in R&B didn’t happen on stage. It happened backstage. While 70,000 people waited. Opening night of a record five-night run in Atlanta. Showtime: 7:30. Actual start: almost 10:00. Reportedly because two legends couldn’t agree on one call. Start now for the fans already inside? Or wait for the fans stuck in traffic? Pick your side in the comments. I already picked mine. But don’t miss what this says about your business. You have customers sitting in your seats right now. → Clients waiting on a reply → Projects waiting on a deliverable → People who paid and haven’t heard from you in a week And it’s easy to ignore them while you chase whoever’s next. New leads feel exciting. Current clients feel like work. But the people already in the room are the ones who decide if you get booked again. They’re the ones who refer you. They’re the ones who leave the review. Take care of them first. So be honest. Who’s been waiting on you this week? Drop “T

Instagram2 days

Three years ago today, the City of Montgomery did something I never expected. @stevenlouisreed proclaimed November 10, 2023 Gilberto Herrera Day. I was there to give the keynote at the Mayor's Young Professional Council gala. The theme was Paying It Forward. So I didn't go alone. I brought young men i work it. I wanted them to see what's possible up close. Here's what I've learned since that night: A title on paper is nice. What you do with it is what counts. Every client I serve. Every room I speak in. Every young person I mentor. That's the real proclamation. Thank you, Montgomery. Thank you, Mayor Reed. And thank you to everyone who has trusted me with your business, your team, or your stage. See the proclamation and the night: gilbertoherrera.com/gilberto-herrera-day S/O to @krishulaedwards17 for thinking of me to be the keynote of the night #GilbertoHerreraDay #PayingItForward #Leadership #Montgomery

Instagram3 days
0:04

There are 52 days left in 2026. Be honest. Is your business where you said it would be in January? If the answer stings a little, keep reading. Because I’m only taking one new client this month. Not five. Not ten. One. And I’m being picky about who it is. This is for you if: → You’re already making money and serving clients → You’re good at what you do, but growth still feels like guesswork → Some months are great, and some months make you nervous → You’re the marketer, the closer, and the delivery team all at once → You know 2027 can’t look like 2026 This is not for you if you’re still looking for the perfect time. The perfect time doesn’t exist. Here’s what we’d build together inside the Profitable Pro Accelerator. Your positioning, so the right clients find you. Your offer, so they see the value before you name a price. Your sales and follow up, so leads stop slipping through the cracks. Your systems, so the business doesn’t fall apart when you step away. That’s Th

Instagram4 days
0:11

Most people saw a plate of food yesterday. They didn’t see the two nights we didn’t sleep. Let me be clear. I’m not a chef. But when your community needs you, you don’t ask if it’s your job. You just show up. Here’s what went into yesterday’s @hica.alabama 6th Annual Pig Roast. → Months of planning → A full week of marinating → An overnight cook → Almost two days straight out there making sure everything was right All so that when families walked in, they didn’t have to think about any of it. They just got to enjoy it. And the best part happened on that stage. We gave away $20,000 in scholarships to students who are going to college to build something for themselves and their families. The most we’ve ever given. And we’re not stopping there. Our goal is to grow that number every single year. To our sponsors who made the whole day possible, thank you. A special thank you to @cahababrewing for partnering with us each year and allowing us to host it at your brewery! They ar

Instagram5 days
1:36

Most people quit after one no. Kenyon Ross heard no 17 times. That’s how many times he applied to @sharktankabc before they picked him. And getting picked wasn’t the finish line. He still had to pitch the producers 9 more times before he ever stepped in front of the Sharks. 26 shots. One yes. Now here’s the part I love. He didn’t just show up and hope. He used ChatGPT to prepare. He told it to act like a Shark. Then he let it grill him. → Tough questions about his numbers → Pushback on his pricing → Every “why should I invest?” he could think of So when the real Sharks started asking, he’d already heard it all. That’s the lesson. Persistence gets you in the room. Preparation is what you do once you’re there. Most people only bring one of those. What would you try again if you knew it might take 17 tries? And what are you not using AI to practice for yet? Sales calls. Pricing conversations. Your next big pitch. The full episode with Kenyon of @thechristmascarolers

Instagram6 days
1:58

Most people hear “Christmas carolers” and think it should be cheap. Kenyon Ross, owner of @thechristmascarolers keeps raising his prices anyway. And people keep booking. I asked him how on the Gilberto Herrera Show. His answer had nothing to do with the songs. It had everything to do with what happens between them. His carolers are trained to do what most never think about. → What to say when the song ends → How to keep a room engaged → How to make every guest feel part of the moment That’s the difference. Anybody can sing. Not everybody can create an experience people remember. And people will always pay more for the experience. Now think about your business. If you’re charging for the task, you’ll always be compared on price. If you’re charging for the experience, you’ll be chosen for the value. What’s the “in between the songs” in your business? The follow up. The onboarding. The little moments your clients feel but competitors skip. That’s where your pricing power

Instagram1 wk
0:19

The best plate of food in Birmingham this weekend comes with a story. And a whole pig. The lechón goes on the fire the night before. Seasoned. Slow roasted. For hours. By the time you walk in, it’s ready to fall right off the bone. That’s the @hica.alabama Birmingham Pig Roast. And if you’ve never been, here’s what you’re missing. → Juicy pulled pork and all the sides → A family friendly vibe with music and fun for the kids → The Lagerveza, a beer @cahababrewing makes just for this event → A chance to grab a picture with the pig before everybody digs in In a lot of Latino cultures, roasting a whole pig means one thing. Something big is being celebrated. This Saturday, that celebration is in Birmingham. And everybody’s invited. Here’s the part that makes it even more meaningful. We will also be giving scholarships to deserving college students Last year, this event helped feed nearly 500 people. So you’re not just showing up for a plate. You’re showing up for your com

Instagram1 wk
1:12

Every business has a @keith_lee125 Most of them just never make a video. They don’t post a review. They don’t call you out. They don’t argue with you. They just never come back. And that’s the part that should scare you. Keith Lee is loud. So when he has a bad experience, everybody hears it. But for every Keith, there are hundreds of quiet customers who felt the same thing and just walked away. No warning. No second chance. That’s why I’m not focused on who’s “right” in this @2chainz situation. I’m focused on what the market keeps saying. Ask yourself this today. → What do your last 10 reviews have in common? → What do clients ask about over and over? → Why did your last few prospects say no? → Who stopped buying, and did anyone ask why? The answers are already sitting there. Most business owners just don’t look. Or they look and get defensive. Here’s the shift. Complaints aren’t attacks. They’re free research. The businesses that grow are the ones that hear it, fix

Instagram1 wk
0:30

You gave a great presentation. They nodded the whole time. Then you said the line almost everybody says. “So… do you have any questions?” “No, I think I’m good.” And just like that, the call is over. No yes. No no. Just “let me think about it.” Then silence. That question feels polite. But it hands all the control back to them and gives them an easy exit. Here’s what’s really happening on the other side of the screen. → They have a worry they haven’t said out loud. → They forgot half of what they told you they wanted. → Nobody asked them to make a choice. So they don’t. People don’t ghost you because they aren’t interested. They ghost you because the call never got to a decision. The fix isn’t being pushy. It’s being clear. Find the worry. Remind them why they got on the call. Then give them a simple choice to make. Watch the video for the exact three moves. Then use them on your very next call. Be honest. How many times did you ask “any questions?” this week? Dro

Instagram1 wk
0:30

You’ve been saving posts. Watching videos. Comparing coaches. Taking notes you plan to use “soon.” And somewhere in the back of your mind, you already know you want to make a move in the next few months. You just want to be sure. That’s smart. So here’s what to look for before you pick who to learn from. → They’ve been in the room. Not just online. Real stages, real audiences, real business owners. → They teach a clear system. Not random tips that change every week. → They show proof from people who look like you. → They tell you what happens in week one, not just on the sales call. If someone checks all four, you’re not taking a risk. You’re taking a step. Most people stay in research mode way longer than they need to. Not because they don’t have enough information. Because they never set a finish line. So set one. Give yourself a date. Pick the person. Make the move. Ninety days from now, you’ll either still be gathering notes. Or you’ll be using them. If you’re get

Instagram1 wk
1:17

Nobody gets mad when a chef eats at their own restaurant. So why are people mad when @jayz wants to perform at the show he’s been running for seven years? Here’s what’s actually bothering people. It’s not that he picked himself. It’s that he had the power to. And most people have never built anything that gave them that power. Think about your own life for a second. Who picks you right now? → A boss decides your raise. → A client decides your price. → An algorithm decides who sees your post. → An event planner decides if you speak. You’re waiting in somebody else’s line. Jay reportedly spent seven years building a stage for other people before he ever stood on it. That’s not a shortcut. That’s the long way. And when you take the long way, you earn the right to make the call. Love him or not, this is the part worth stealing. Stop asking for a seat. Start building a table. Host the event. Start the show. Own the platform. Because whoever builds the room decides who ge

Instagram2 wks

The most expensive coach you’ll ever hire is the wrong one. Not because of what they charge. Because of what it costs you after. The months you lose. The confidence you lose. The money you were finally ready to invest, gone to someone who disappeared after the first payment. I talk to business owners all the time who got burned this way. And almost every one of them says the same thing. “The signs were there. I just didn’t know what to look for.” That is why I made this. Swipe through before you hire anyone. Be honest with yourself on #6. Most people ignore that one because the sales call felt so good. Here is what nobody in my industry wants to admit. Some coaches are better at selling coaching than actually coaching. And they are counting on you not asking the hard questions. So ask them. → Who have you helped that looks like me? → What happens in week one? → What happens if it doesn’t work? A real coach will answer fast. A fake one will change the subject. You wo

Instagram2 wks
0:25

How many people booked a call with you this month and never showed up? Now how many showed up and just wanted to “pick your brain”? That is not bad luck. That is what the word “consult” brings you. To a busy buyer, “free consultation” sounds like a sales pitch they have to sit through. To a tire kicker, it sounds like free advice. So the wrong people book. And the right people scroll. Here is how to flip it. Give your call a name that promises something. → Coach: “90-Day Growth Map” → Agency: “Client Pipeline Audit” → Consultant: “Profit Leak Review” Now it sounds like they walk away with something. Because they do. Make them answer before they book. Try these three: → What are you making right now? → What is the one thing stopping you from growing? → If we fix it, what is that worth to you? People who answer are serious. People who leave were never buying. Warm them up before you meet. A 60-second video. Who you are. What happens on the call. One client win. They sho

Instagram3 wks

Read your Instagram bio out loud right now. Would a stranger know exactly who you help and what changes for them? Or would they just know you are “passionate”? That one sentence might be the reason your DMs are quiet. Most business owners think they need more followers. More ads. More posts. But if the message is off, more of anything just means more people ignoring you. Here is how you can tell your messaging is costing you sales. → People like your posts but never reach out. → Prospects ask “so what exactly do you do?” → You keep getting compared on price. → Your content gets saved but nobody books a call. Sound familiar? It is not your talent. It is not the algorithm. It is the words. Swipe through and find the mistake you are making. I will be honest. Most people are making at least two. Fix your message and something shifts fast. The right people start raising their hand. The wrong ones stop wasting your time. And selling starts to feel like a conversation inste

Instagram3 wks
1:14

The person everyone recommends in your niche is not always the best at what they do. They just did these three things first. **1. They gave their work a name.** “I help small businesses grow” disappears the second someone reads it. A named method sticks. It turns your know-how into something people can repeat, share, and ask for by name. Pick a name for how you get results. Use it everywhere. **2. They became the host.** Guests get a seat. Hosts get the credibility. You do not need a stage or a ballroom. → A coffee meetup. → A monthly Zoom. → A free workshop at your local library. The person who brings the room together becomes the person the room looks up to. **3. They showed proof on repeat.** Not one testimonial from two years ago. Fresh wins. Every week. → A screenshot of a client result. → A quick before and after. → A short clip of a client in their own words. People trust what they see over and over. Do all three for the next 90 days. You will notice people sta

Instagram3 wks
1:35

Ever notice the $150 steak on a restaurant menu? Almost nobody orders it. It is not there to sell. It is there so the $45 steak feels like a smart choice. @teslamotors and @elonmusk just did the same thing with a car that flies. The new Roadster has rocket thrusters. It flips in the air. The top tier reportedly runs around $250,000. And it will not even be built until 2028. Most people will never touch one. But everyone saw it. And now every other Tesla on the lot looks like a bargain. That is called a price anchor. The most expensive thing you show changes how people feel about everything else you sell. Now look at your own business. If you only have one offer, here is what happens. → People compare your price to everybody else. → You get stuck explaining why you cost what you cost. → Your best clients have nowhere higher to go. → Your price feels high because nothing sits above it. Add one premium offer at the top and things change. → Your main offer suddenly feels re

Instagram3 wks
Google apps
Main menu