Entrepreneurs have fascinating, dynamic stories. They are all different. What is similar is their Entrepreneur Factor. Their "E-Factor." Experience their candid stories with us.
September 15, 2025
“Once you find something that works, you go all in on it.” -Francis Baalman
Francis Baalman is an entrepreneur. Even if he didn’t know what that word was as a child he knew he wanted to create a market and solve a problem for a profit at a very young age.
Francis wanted to be an entrepreneur so badly that he went to college and then he went to law school ,just so he could fund his future endeavors as an entrepreneur!
Francis owns real estate, he manages, he develops, he speculates, he provides lending solutions. all to bring value to other people while creating value for his family, his businesses and his future. And he wants you to know how to do it. Check out his podcast Property Pulse.
Francis shares how he created his orchard by planting one tree at a time. You can’t do this without sacrifice. So get started now.
September 6, 2025
Economist Michael Austin answered the call to solve a problem. The request came from Councilman Dalton Glasscock, "What are some things we can do to shore up Wichita's budget shortfall?"
You can Lead in public service. It doesn't require you work for the government or you are an elected official-- Lead because it's the right thing to do for your community.
Michael Austin isn't even a resident of Wichita. His Leadership in understanding economic issues throughout the State of Kansas has created positive outcomes. And Michael took a look at the Wichita budget shortfall, created a coalition of talented people with suitable backgrounds to work on this problem, and they took action.
The result:
FINDING A BETTER WAY
A Citizen-Led Review of Wichita's Budget and Efficiency Opportunities
August 26, 2025
"Don't Gatekeeper what you know."
Taking action in life creates experiences. Experience creates personal growth. We need to promote more growth rather than change.
Wichita By EB is all about experiences and he is sharing his with us every day on his social media platforms, his website and in his blog, Wichita By EB.
He’s an interesting person. He is a talented person. He’s really just a good person and he’s asking you to start to take action to create your own experiences.
The good news is he’s giving you plenty of ideas and opportunities to engage with life @wichitabyeb
August 16, 2025
"Dear Megan, You Got This!" -Megan Bailey
Rainbows United is an extraordinary organization that helps families and kids who need a little bit more guidance on helping through potential developmental difficulties. My friend Michelle Eastman spent her career thus far, dedicated to these families and these children. It is because of her that I’ve had the opportunity to experience what they do for people and how their lives are always changed for the better.
Megan Bailey is the beneficiary of Rainbows United. Now she is a 24 year-old young woman who graduated Magnum Cum Laude from the Wichita State University. She wants to share her story. She wants to share her voice: My life with a disability.
It is my distinct honor to share with you, Megan Bailey. She is full of joy and she communicates it in a magnificent way. This is Megan’s voice.
rainbowsunited.org
August 14, 2025
"The Declaration [of Independence] was a promissory note to Americans." -James Franko
The Kansas Policy Institute spends all of its time in deep research to hold the government and the legislators accountable. A free society is one that gives its citizens the greatest opportunity and the policies should match (or the lack of policies and laws should match).
Along with the Kansas Justice Institute, the Kansas Policy Institute seeks to provide knowledge to the people so they can hold governement accountable for its actions.
A self described optimistic curmudgeon, James has dedicated his career to both social and economic freedom for all. And he's one of the most affable and intelligent people to have a conversation with-- thanks for your work.
Please visit Kansaspolicy.org and join them at their next function September 16, 2025 with their distinguished guest Kimberley Strassel, Wall Street Journal.
August 12, 2025
"Not a whole lot changed, it was more Mindset." -Noel Torres, Founder Wichita Training Center
The intensity of combat sports requires that you have discipline. The costs are too high to not prepare every day. If you are not-- your opponent is.
Noel Torres is an NCAA Division II National Champion, former member of the Mexican World Wrestling Team, a Teacher, A Coach, Father, Husband and all around good human being.
He is disciplined.
Noel discovered that his discipline in training for his wrestling career transcended sport and those lessons are applicable to life. He now has a micro-school developed out of his Wichita Training Center-- The Wichita Training Center Academy. The principles he lives by are taught every day to young kids. He is preparing them for life. When you can do hard things, every day, and keep showing up, you can win in life.
Noel helps create winners in life.
August 4, 2025
"I played the game different because I had to. I only knew one way." -- Matt Baty, former Div. I athlete and Entrepreneur
The NCAA ruled college sports with an iron fist for decades-- it was unconstitutional.
NCAA wants control.
"The student athlete -- to me, the regulations need to be around the student“ states Matt Baty, former Senior Associate Athletic Director for the University of Kansas.
It’s clear that the NCAA wants control. In June 2021 the Supreme Court ruled 9 to 0 in the NCAA v. Alston that the NCAA rules violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.
And the term NIL was born! (and for some reason, Name Image & Likeness is confusing the hell out of people)
It’s also giving athletes opportunities to profit and through those profits they create opportunities for many more people.
Matt Baty was a student athlete at the highest level. He worked for one of the greatest programs in college athletics at the highest level. He coaches kids of all ages to get the best out of each one of them so that they can improve their lives.
And congratulations Coach on your first Kansas State baseball Championship at Trinity Academy.
If you really want control, teach an individual the disciplines so that they can go on and become successful in their own life.
July 28, 2025
Growing a national technology and remaining connected to your customers is daunting. However, it is what has made Co-Founder Steve Werner stay connected to the point of service, allowing Lawn Buddy and Blue Ox to iterate in real time. Improving your product and service through customer conversations is what makes their technology optimal for other Entrepreneurs to scale.
And Steven Werners commitment to optimizing Entrepreneurs' opportunity is inspiring.
July 21, 2025
"I am thinking "these are the boots that I have to fill?" -- Matt Sain, CEO
An unfair opinion from society is that if you have inherited a business, all the work has been done and business is easy. It is one of the greatest myths and family business.
Matt Sain Is second generation for central body RV collision. They have six locations across four states. Matt started with one. And his roots and his family business go back to him sleeping on a cot in a small space above the shop floor.
No business is easy. You have to work in it before you can ever scale to work on it. Matt remembers telling himself "dad weathered hard storms like this." And after working in it, things can and do turn. He standardized excellence. This is his story about focus and those who helped to get him where they are today.
July 14, 2025
Michael and I met many years ago at a conference. He was speaking about conflict resolution. One of the 12 books he has authored, Collaboration Effect, is what drew me to him.
Entrepreneurs collaborate. Large scale Institutions lead to collectivism. We are better people when we collaborate.
Mike Gregory is a successful Entrepreneur becuase of his discipline. After 28 years working in the Internal Revenue Service and with the United States Treasury, he had every opportunity to take those skills to a lucrative career with a large Corporate Accounting firm.
He chose himself over a guaranteed healthy salary. He made the right choice.
Michael has influenced tens of thousands of lives through his Consulting work. He has spoken to CEO's and leaders of Fortune 500 Companies multitudes of times. He had a common message-- you can resolve human confflict and improve lives through decency, respect and a willingness to be human.
Congratulations Michael. And I wish you all the best in your next chapter in life.
Brandon has been working with entrepreneurs his entire professional career. An entrepreneur is not easily defined. They come from any background. Their path to success develops outside of traditional paradigms. This is why their stories are so intriguing. This is why we are all fascinated by their stories. what is consistent with all entrepreneurs is the unshakable belief in their desired goal and the will to just get it done.