E104: Using Facebook Live for Real Conversations on Important Topics | Sherman Merricks

Today on the show, Sherman Merricks of Dynasty CrossFit and Lasso Framework Marketing, joins us for an awesome conversation! He is a wealth of knowledge and we could have talked about so many things, but in this episode... we discuss whether or not brands should speak out (and whether or not they can stay neutral) during life-altering and world-impacting events, his Facebook Live skills and using the platform to have raw and real conversations, working toward and living a debt-free life, coronavirus impact on his businesses, and whether or not he felt the system was against him over the course of his career as a black entrepreneur. Let us introduce you to one of Gainesville's great business leaders!  

5:08 - Sherman's Story

8:37 - Did you have a passion for CrossFit or did you just see an opportunity?

9:53 - What was in about Gainesville that made you want to come here and stay here?

12:00 - You said you were glad things were going smooth with your marketing firm, did you not expect them to be for some reason?

13:00 - What do you attribute your ability to get customers right out the gate to (for the CrossFit Gym)?

14:49 - You are one of my favorite people to watch on Facebook Live, is that something you were always comfortable with? How did you really get into that?

19:57 - What have the conversations (on Facebook Live for you) been like right now? (because there's a lot of people talking about the George Floyd murder, etc.)

22:26 - What are people asking? What's been the primary topic of conversation?

24:24 - Is there a line you have had to tow between being transparent (on your Facebook Lives) and how it may affect your brand?

25:30 - Do brands now have a fear of "not speaking" and showing up on important subjects (like racism)? Are they feeling pressured? Should they speak up? Should it affect your brand?

30:26 - Do you think brands can stay neutral during important life events?

32:15 - Did COVID impact you professionally or personally at all?

32:29 - Did you do online classes? What's the process to get people back in the swing of things since everyone was gone for 3 months?

35:23 - Did you apply for PPP loans?

37:05 - Talk to me about the "no debt" stuff. Where did this come from? Are you debt-free now? Where should people start (top piece of advice)?

48:50 - When you finish making those debt payments, what's the first thing you're going to do?

49:55 - Are your kids naturally interested in getting the family finances or do you really have to force them to sit down and pay attention?

54:00 - When you sit down to put a budget together, how do you figure what percentage to allocate to different things (the stuff that is hard to put a price on)?

57:00 - Have you seen over the course of your career that the system was against you as a black entrepreneur?

106:10 - What is it that your businesses could use from Gainesville as a community?  



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CHECK OUT OUR LAST EPISODE:  E103: Learn the System Then Change the System | Paul Prusakowski | WHOA GNV Podcast https://youtu.be/Qfqk3kwlVoE  



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Sherman Merricks

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