Stop Chasing Leads, Start Building Lighthouses: Heart-Centered Networking with Mike Ashabraner

What if the best marketing strategy you'll ever use is simply being yourself? On this episode of The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, hosts Julie Lokun, JD and Dominick Domasky sit down with Mike Ashabraner, known as The Redneck Connecktor, the Louisville, Kentucky entrepreneur behind the Hounds of Business community. Mike is funny, blunt, and unapologetically real, and he's built something most entrepreneurs only talk about: a business ecosystem where people from every walk of life, every political stripe, and every stage of business actually want to show up for each other. Mike doesn't chase fish. He builds lighthouses. And in this conversation, he breaks down exactly how heart-centered entrepreneurs can grow a business without fast-food tactics, forced sales calls, or pretending to be someone they're not. What You'll Learn Why inner work is a business skill. Mike explains how doing your own inner work "removes the buttons" other people push, so you stop reacting to difficult personalities and start seeing the mask instead of the person. That shift changes how you show up in every room. The difference between connection and flattery. Flattery says you want something. Mike shares how genuine observation, like telling a stranger they seem to have fond memories of a place, opens doors that pitching never will. His warning: if you're performing to get money, it will expose you. The Costco sausage lesson. A 20-minute conversation with a sample lady (and five sausages he never planned to buy) became the blueprint for how Hounds of Business markets: let people test drive and sample what you do instead of persuading them. Why Hounds of Business is an ecosystem, not a networking group. It's not BNI, not an engagement pod, and not a media network. Mike describes it as a pack for "strays," the entrepreneurs who already move with heart but haven't found their people yet. Building lighthouses instead of buying lead gen. Too many entrepreneurs spend thousands on systems that promise everything because they lack the clarity to make any marketing work. Mike and Steve Woodruff, the "king of clarity," are tackling that problem head-on with clarity workshops. Who the Hounds serve. Newer founders who don't want to waste four years of time, money, and heart, and seasoned pros who succeeded faster than expected and now face a pile of new challenges. Members range from a Hollywood stuntman turned soul guide to a highly accredited wealth advisor spreading kindness worldwide. The business must fit the person carrying it. Borrowing Bruce Lee's "be like water" idea, Mike argues you should be the same person 24/7, define success on your own terms, and recognize that some tactics are either wrong for you or right at the wrong time. Jules Rules: Best Things to Do Outdoors In honor of Mike from Kentucky, Julie weighs in on the best outdoor activities. The crew lands on bonfires, pig roasts, hiking, kayaking, sun tanning, outdoor gun ranges, and camping (with glamping as Julie's preferred compromise), plus a very honest conversation about Julie's closet redneck and why the slower pace of the South lets her breathe. Memorable Quotes "How the hell can somebody push a button that you took off?" — Mike Ashabraner "Flattering says I want something." — Mike Ashabraner "Opportunity won't plop its ass on the couch next to you." — Mike Ashabraner "Mike doesn't chase fish. He is building lighthouses." — Julie Lokun Connect with Mike Ashabraner and Hounds of Business The Redneck Financial Coach (Website): redneckfinancialcoach.com Mike Ashabraner on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/redneck1 Hounds of Business on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hounds-of-business Hounds of Business on YouTube: youtube.com/@HoundsOfBusiness Mike's advice for reaching out: just say, "Hey Mike, you said reach out." You don't have to know what to say. The Hounds will take it from there. About Your Hosts Julie Lokun, JD is a media entrepreneur, podcast strategist, and brand consultant whose shows rank in the top 0.05% globally on Listen Notes and top 5 on Apple Podcasts weekly. She is the founder of The Mediacasters LLC, co