On this episode of Get Business Smart, Tony Bradshaw talks with Melanie Cox, author of You Have to Know and CEO of EMC Property, about the power of words, building wealth through real estate, and the purpose behind her 4,000 acre animal rescue.

Melanie shares how a health crisis pushed her to write her book, how she approaches multifamily investing, and why she believes business, faith, and stewardship all belong together.We discuss Melanie’s background, her investing frameworks, and the stories behind Blue Oak Rescue, including Bear, the wolf dog who became a ranch guardian. Tony also shares his own lessons on debt, diversification, and raising a large family.

Key topics

• In this episode, Melanie explains how You Have to Know began as a letter to her children during a season of thyroid cancer, exhaustion, and reflection on what her kids needed to survive and thrive in life.
• She describes the book as a practical, faith-based guide built around mindset, truth, and the words people speak over themselves, combining personal stories, Bible references, and supporting studies.
• Tony and Melanie discuss manifestation, but frame it through faith and spiritual alignment rather than a generic self-help formula.
• Melanie shares her belief that words have real power, citing the Bible’s emphasis on speech and the idea that aligning your words with God’s will matters in daily life, business, and purpose.
• Tony reflects on his own experience giving time instead of money during lean years, including free work and his service on the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce board.
• Melanie outlines EMC Property’s focus on larger projects, especially multifamily, commercial, and select single-family opportunities, with most projects sold to investors rather than held as rentals.
• She explains that she occasionally keeps properties when they connect to a deeper purpose, including a 45-unit building in Palm Desert that was repurposed to serve veterans needing alcohol and mental health support.
• Melanie breaks down her broader investment approach, including stock income, triple net leases, tax-advantaged purchases like car washes, single

CONNECT WITH MELANIE COX at https://melaniecox.org/

HIGHER PEAK BUSINESS COACHING
Feeling lost, stuck, or confused in your business?

Wearing too many hats? Stretched too thin? Not sure if you've got the right people in the right seats? Sound familiar?

Through Higher Peak Business Coaching, Tony works with business owners doing one million to fifty million in revenue — helping them turn chaos into clarity, and clarity into growth.

Ready to unlock your full potential? Book a call today at tonybradshaw.com.

In this episode of the Get Business Smart Podcast, Tony talks with John Hewitt about his entrepreneurial journey from founding Jackson Hewitt to Liberty Tax and the leadership, purpose, and systems that helped him build scalable, long-term business success.Discover how John built billion-dollar franchise brands by focusing on mission, values, and execution. He shares practical lessons on perseverance, building strong teams, creating systems that scale, and using franchising as a path to sustainable growth.In this episode, you’ll learn:

TAKEAWAYS

• Build around a clear purpose and let it guide your decisions
• Create systems that make growth repeatable
• Hire for complementary strengths, not just similarity
• Encourage honest communication so problems surface early
• Focus on long-term value, not just short-term wins

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Finding Purpose Beyond Business
05:59 Education and Entrepreneurship
11:30 Leadership Lessons from Experience
17:32 Hiring for Success
23:24 Franchising vs. Small Business

CONNECT WITH JOHN HEWITT AT john@loyaltybrands.com or loyaltybrands.com.

HIGHER PEAK BUSINESS COACHING
Feeling lost, stuck, or confused in your business?

Wearing too many hats? Stretched too thin? Not sure if you've got the right people in the right seats? Sound familiar?

Through Higher Peak Business Coaching, Tony works with business owners doing one million to fifty million in revenue — helping them turn chaos into clarity, and clarity into growth.

Ready to unlock your full potential? Book a call today at tonybradshaw.com.

On this episode of Get Business Smart, Tony talks with Kraig and Desiree Bougher about building a kingdom based business. Embracing Faith and Recognition in Christian Business Leadership: Insights from Kraig and Desiree Bougher

Learn how faith, recognition, and strategic business practices intertwine in this inspiring conversation with Kraig and Desiree Bougher. Discover how applying biblical principles can transform your approach to leadership, recognition, and marketplace influence.

TAKEAWAYS

• The importance of recognition and appreciation in building culture and relationships
• Integrating faith into everyday business practices without being pushy
• The power of prayer and boldness in workplace settings
• Strategies for promoting Christian conferences and fostering marketplace presence
• The significance of unity among Christian business leaders and churches
• The story of Joseph as a model for connecting people with solutions, regardless of background
• Practical ways to incorporate biblical concepts into business operations
• The upcoming Ignite Kingdom Conference in Nashville and its lineup
• The rising trend of Christian organizations unapologetically engaging in marketplace influence

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction to Craig and Desiree Buyer & their business journey
02:38 - How recognition strengthens client relationships and company culture
04:15 - Incorporating faith and prayer into business interactions
05:53 - Managing recognition and praise to retain employee engagement
10:20 - Range of promotional products and their strategic purpose
12:50 - Creative recognition examples impacting team morale
14:15 - The significance of recognizing employees' unique contributions
15:40 - Details on the Ignite Kingdom Conference in Nashville
16:39 - The importance of marketplace influence for Christian leaders
18:12 - Addressing church division and opportunities for citywide transformation
20:48 - The Joseph story as a blueprint for divine connections
22:47 - Tapping into the power of networked influence and unity
25:05 - Key speakers and program highlights of the upcoming conference
27:10 - How Christian entrepreneurs are boldly displaying their faith in business
30:37 - The necessity of unity among churches to transform cities
36:44 - Practical steps for stewardship and wealth-building aligned with biblical principles
37:19 - How to connect with Craig and get involved in the Ignite Kingdom Conference

Connect with Craig and Desiree Bougher at Ignite Kingdom Group or xtremerecognitionshop.com

HIGHER PEAK BUSINESS COACHING
Feeling lost, stuck, or confused in your business?

Wearing too many hats? Stretched too thin? Not sure if you've got the right people in the right seats? Sound familiar?

Through Higher Peak Business Coaching, Tony works with business owners doing one million to fifty million in revenue — helping them turn chaos into clarity, and clarity into growth.

Ready to unlock your full potential? Book a call today at tonybradshaw.com.