In this episode, Brett and Laura share their journey of starting their own business after quitting their jobs and taking the leap into entrepreneurship. They discuss the fears, risks, and uncertainties that come with leaving the safety of a 9-to-5 job to pursue a passion for building something of their own. Reflecting on how they transformed failure into a learning experience, Brett and Laura offer practical tips and tricks for those considering how to become an entrepreneur. From identifying...
In this episode of "The Donkey and the Bee," Brett and Laura reveal how hiring mistakes—including one involving a criminal hire—nearly ruined their business. They share firsthand stories about trusting the wrong people, missing red flags, and the hard lessons learned from employees who nearly destroyed their company. Through these challenging experiences, they’ve developed strategies for protecting their business, from keeping critical areas like payroll and finances under their direct contro...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, Brett and Laura discuss the importance of keeping personal expenses low while growing a business. They share personal experiences on resisting lifestyle inflation—even in the face of business success—and highlight the long-term benefits of reinvesting profits back into the business instead of splurging on high-cost liabilities.They share practical examples, from choosing affordable housing to managing expenses like vehicles and vacations, and the imp...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, Brett and Laura Chotkevys get into the topic of escaping the middle-class trap and achieving financial freedom. They share two actionable steps that anyone can use to start building their financial future: budgeting like a business and increasing your income. They explain how treating your family finances like a business can help you keep track of your expenses, save more money, and avoid financial pitfalls that often keep people stuck in the middle ...
In this episode of The Donkey and The Bee, Brett and Laura Chotkevys tackle two major topics that most couples find difficult to discuss—sex and money. With 19 years of marriage under their belts, they get into the reasons why these two areas often become wedges in relationships and how open communication can turn them into strengths. They explore how to get on the same page with your spouse when it comes to sexual expectations, intimacy, and finances, even when it feels awkward or uncomforta...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, Brett and Laura explore the critical role growth plays in leading a fulfilling life. Drawing from a recent trip to a small town in Texas for a triathlon, they reflect on the contrast between individuals striving for their best and those stuck in a rut, often battling symptoms of depression. They dive into how stagnation affects happiness and why constant growth is necessary for living a fulfilling life. If you’re feeling stuck or unmotivated, this ep...
Welcome back to "The Donkey and the Bee" with your hosts, Brett and Laura Chotkevys. Today, we’re tackling the topic of setting huge financial goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them. If you’re asking yourself, what is a good financial goal or looking for financial goal examples to guide your journey, this episode is for you.In this episode of "The Donkey and the Bee," Brett and Laura Chotkevys dive deep into setting ambitious financial goals and the actionable steps to achieve t...
Welcome back to "The Donkey and the Bee" with hosts Brett and Laura Chotkevys! In this episode, we're exploring why now might be the perfect time to start your own business. Thinking about escaping the 9-to-5 or turning a passion into a profession? You’re in the right place.Curious about what it takes to transition from a stable job to entrepreneurship? We break down the reasons why today's environment is ideal for budding entrepreneurs, from unprecedented access to free resources to global h...
Welcome back to another episode of The Donkey and The Bee. Today we’re talking about the key to reaching true financial freedom: being obsessed with your goals. We’re not talking about a casual interest—this is about becoming a total freak for what you want in life.What does it take to be exceptional? To stand out and achieve the kind of success that others might scoff at? We break down how being obsessed with your goal, whether it’s financial freedom, building a business, or just becoming th...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee with Brett and Laura Chotkevys, we're discussing a topic that isn't talked about enough—what you need to give up to become wealthy and achieve financial freedom. We’re sharing our personal journey from over a decade ago when we made the commitment to transform our lives and our finances. But here's the real question: What are you willing to sacrifice to make your dreams a reality?Ever wondered what it really takes to break free from the conventional p...
Are you struggling to find success in your marriage, business, or finances? In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, we get into what it really takes to push through the ups and downs of life. How do you make those crucial decisions early on that will set you up for long-term success? Laura and I open up about the sacrifices we made, from cutting back on expenses to staying committed when the rewards seemed distant. We’ll explore why consistency is key and how you can keep going when it fee...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, we're getting into a topic that often gets a bad rap—stress. But is stress really the enemy? Or could it actually be a powerful tool for growth? We're exploring how stress plays a critical role in pushing us beyond our comfort zones and helping us succeed both in business and in life.Have you ever wondered if stress is trying to tell you something? Maybe you’ve questioned whether that overwhelming feeling means you’re on the wrong path. In this episo...
In this episode of The Donkey and The Bee, Laura and I tackled a crucial question: How can couples create a unified financial plan to get rich and achieve financial freedom together? If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to align your financial goals with your spouse, this episode is for you. We discuss the common disconnects between savers and spenders, and how these differences can prevent couples from reaching milestones like early retirement or even affording end-of-life care. Have you...
How do you ask for more sex in a relationship without feeling awkward or making your partner uncomfortable? This episode of The Donkey and the Bee gets into the sensitive topic of increasing intimacy in a marriage, particularly from the perspective of men. We explore common questions like: How can a man communicate his sexual needs without seeming demanding? What are the right words to initiate a conversation about frequency and desire? This episode is full of practical advice on how to appro...
How can you achieve financial freedom and create a life where you choose how to spend your time? In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, Laura and I share the eight essential steps to reach financial independence. If you're looking to surpass your active income with passive income and gain the freedom to decide when to work and when to relax, this video is for you.What does financial freedom mean to you? How do you set a realistic financial freedom number? We start by breaking down the con...
In this episode of The Donkey and the Bee, Laura and I explore a game-changing strategy: cutting out social media to achieve financial freedom. Have you ever wondered how social media might be impacting your finances? Are you curious about how a married couple can navigate the world of entrepreneurship and finances more effectively? We share our personal journey, explaining how we shifted from being passive consumers to active producers in social media. This decision not only boosted our prod...
Ever feel like something is holding you back from reaching your goals? How can you identify and break through those limiting beliefs? Join us in this episode of The Donkey and The Bee with your hosts, Brett and Laura Chotkevys, as we explore the power of overcoming self-doubt and pushing past mental barriers.What does it mean to have a limiting belief, and how is it different from just being insecure? How can surrounding yourself with the right people help you reach your goals? We talk about ...
Ever wondered how to turn financial struggles into a stepping stone for success? Join us on this episode of The Donkey and The Bee with your hosts, Brett and Laura Chotkevys, as we get into our journey from being broke college kids to achieving financial freedom. We want to tell you why it is okay to start poor.How do you build grit and resilience through tough financial times? What can early financial struggles teach you about budgeting and saving? We'll share our personal experiences of sta...
In today's episode, we discuss a very personal topic. Laura and I have met a lot of people and have built a lot of relationships. Sometimes, you outgrow these relationships and need to move on. Other times, these relationships can be harmful to not just you, but your whole family. We talk about what to do when you find yourself in these situations. How do you cut contact with someone that you were once friends with? What are signs and red flags in relationships that could lead to them ha...
Have you ever wondered why multi-millionaires and billionaires still work? They have all the money they could ever need, so why don't they just hang out on a beach all day? We used to think that was the end goal as well. However, as we continued to grow and learn, we discovered the answer to this question. In this episode, we aim to show you how to play the entrepreneurship game.What do we mean by saying that entrepreneurship is a game? How do you create your own game of entrepreneurship? We’...