Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast where faith meets entrepreneurship. Each episode, we uncover the strategies, stories, and spirit-led insights that help Christian business owners align their goals with God’s call. From practical tips to real-life testimonies, we explore what it takes to build a business that honours Christ, serves others, and impacts the Kingdom.
Episode Summary
Many families wait until they are exhausted before asking for help with senior care. In this episode, Rev. Lyle talks with Yvette Webb of Assisted Living Locators in northeast Dallas about how she helps families make difficult care decisions with compassion, patience, and wisdom.
Yvette shares how her business began after her husband lost his job, how a franchise coach helped them find a business that matched their values, and how God has used networking to connect her with the right people at the right time. Her story is also a reminder that networking is not about meeting everyone in the room. Sometimes it is about faithfully finding the one person you are meant to meet that day.
This conversation is especially helpful for business owners who want to serve people well, introverts who struggle with networking, and families who feel the weight of caring for aging parents. Yvette’s closing wisdom is worth carrying into both life and business: lead with love.
💬 Sound Bites From This Episode
🔹 Yvette Webb's Quotes
- “Lord, help me find the one person that I need to meet today.”
- “I wouldn’t have been able to help as many people if I had just stayed in my bubble.”
- “Family caregivers are on call 24/7, and that is too much for just one person, you need a team.”
- “You can’t hide yourself. You need to be who you are.”
- “Lead with love. If you’re doing it out of love, you’re going to be okay.”
🔹 Rev. Lyle
- “Some people go to networking so busy trying to pass out business cards, they forget to make real connections.”
- “When you come consistently to a networking meeting, you really gather a family around you.”
- “Introverts love people. We just refresh when we’re away from people.”
- “If you wear yourself out and you’re not taking care of your own health, then you can’t take care of their health.”
Episode Highlights
The Journey of Starting a Business: Yvette Webb's Story
Starting a business can be a daunting task, especially when it comes from a place of personal necessity. Yvette Webb's entrepreneurial journey began when her husband lost his job, prompting them to explore franchise opportunities. Through this experience, she discovered Assisted Living Locators, a franchise that aligned perfectly with their values and mission.
How Personal Experience Shaped a Business Choice
Though Yvette didn't have extensive experience in senior care facilities, her personal encounters with elderly friends and her grandmother's time in a nursing home inspired her to help others navigate the complexities of senior care. Her desire to make a difference became a driving force in her decision to start this business.
The Role of Coaching in Entrepreneurial Success
Transitioning from a regular job to owning a business can be overwhelming. Yvette highlights the importance of working with a coach who can guide aspiring business owners through this experience. Through personality assessments and discussions about personal goals, her coach helped her find confidence in her business decision. This mentorship was crucial in ensuring Yvette chose a business that aligned with her desire to serve others rather than just profit.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Purpose
Yvette candidly shares her struggles with leaving a comfortable but unfulfilling job. With a history of feeling unfulfilled in previous roles, she found that stepping into entrepreneurship allowed her to reclaim her purpose and passion. It pushed her out of her comfort zone, connecting her to a broader community and allowing her to help others in profound ways.
Networking: Building Meaningful Connections
Networking can often feel transactional, but Yvette emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships. She approaches networking with the mindset of finding one meaningful connection each day, which has led to numerous rewarding relationships. By focusing on quality over quantity, she has created a supportive network that enriches both her personal and professional life.
The Power of Faith in Business
Faith plays a significant role in Yvette's journey. She attributes many of her connections and opportunities to divine intervention, believing that God has guided her through her business decisions. This perspective fosters a deeper sense of purpose in her work and encourages her to see the value of each interaction.
Embracing Introversion in Networking
As an introvert, Yvette shares her journey of learning to engage with others in a business context. While she prefers smaller, intimate gatherings, she has found ways to thrive in networking situations. She encourages others to embrace their authentic selves, acknowledging that genuine connections often stem from sincere interactions rather than superficial networking.
Real-Life Impact: Helping Families in Need
Yvette recounts a recent experience of helping a family struggling to care for elderly parents. Through her business, she was able to provide guidance and support, showcasing the real-world impact of her work. This story not only highlights her commitment to helping others but also illustrates the profound difference that compassionate care can make in the lives of families facing challenging decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Starting a business can stem from personal challenges, leading to meaningful opportunities.
- Personal experiences and values should guide business decisions, particularly in the service industry.
- The right coach can help clarify goals and bolster confidence in entrepreneurship.
- Networking is about building genuine connections rather than merely exchanging business cards.
- Embracing one’s introverted nature can lead to deeper connections in business.
- Real impact comes from a commitment to serving others and addressing their needs with compassion.
Wrapping up
Yvette Webb’s story is a compelling reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about profit but about making a meaningful impact in our communities. By combining personal experience with professional guidance and a commitment to faith, she has built a business that truly serves others. Whether you're considering starting a business or are already on your journey, let Yvette’s insights inspire you to embrace your purpose and connect genuinely with those around you.
📝 Full transcript here
Rev. Lyle
Hello and welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. I'm here with Yvette Webb and she's gonna tell you about her business real quickly. But how did you get started in business, Yvette?
Yvette Webb
So it's kind of a interesting story. It happened because my husband had lost his job and then we started looking at franchises. And Assisted Living Locators was one of the franchises suggested to us by our franchise coach because of our personalities and our, you know, just our I guess moral background. so that was the best fit for us to go with. So
Rev. Lyle
And did you have family and facilities like that, or is that something you felt passionate about?
Yvette Webb
I had my grandmother was in a nursing home at the end of her life, but other than that, didn't have a lot of experience with senior communities. but I didn't had a lot of experience with helping older friends and just seeing how complex it was, all the things that they had to deal with, and I would help them because it was just overwhelming for them. So
that when I found out about the business I was like, good, there is actually help out there and I wanna be a part of it. So yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Right. That's great. And tell us a lot of people don't or have not worked with a coach before. What's it like working with a coach, especially in a franchise situation?
Yvette Webb
That was a really great experience because we he was able to he gave us some personality tests. He talked to us a lot about what our goals were, you know, what things, you know, kind of integrity type of questions, what we would want out of a business. And of course ours was like, Well, we wanna make a difference, we wanna help people, serve people. So
just a money making venture was not gonna be fulfilling for us. and so he really honed it in on three businesses that he thought would be a good fit. And then I assisted living locators was the best for us. And so it was great. He really helped to give us the confidence that we needed to make that step and he was a great coach. We really enjoyed him.
Rev. Lyle
Cool. And tell me, what was that step like for you coming from just a regular job, quote unquote, and into a business? What was the biggest thing you had to overcome?
Yvette Webb
Well, so f actually, I hadn't hadn't been working in several years. I kind of called myself retired because I was tired of working kind of nothing jobs. they weren't really career jobs and having to deal with other people. Their vision that didn't always match up with what I wanted. and so when I was able to
stop working, I was happy to leave that life. And then it was just a a time for me to I guess get myself back. And I so then it actually prepared me to be able to step into the business and really commit to it. Yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Good. And tell us what's God doing right now in your business?
Yvette Webb
So right now I have seen so many things where I can see his hand. I network a lot. I'm a part of so many different networking groups. And he has helped me connect with people that have just been amazing people just in my life personally and business wise. That and sometimes, you know, I'll go to a networking event and I might meet somebody there that I really connect with.
And that's the first time they've been there and they never come back to that meeting again. But I I feel that, you know, they were we were both led to be at that meeting on that day so that we could meet. and you know, one one person that I've met through networking, she's just recently come back from doing a TED talk and she's doing a a women's meeting this Saturday. And so I'm like, Thank and it was
It was a spiritual experience when we met and and got to know each other. So we're definitely connected forever now, I feel like. So yeah. It
Rev. Lyle
That's great. And yeah, that's the key is making friends. You know, some people go to networking and they're so busy trying to pass out their business cards, they forget to make those appointments and make those specific connections. we were had Johnny Wan on a couple of episodes back and he talked about he o he finds three people and makes specific connections with three people. That way you can hone in and focus and have those connections deeper, which I I appreciated.
Yvette Webb
Yeah. I I just pray that, you know, you know, Lord help me find the one person that I need to meet today. and if I find more, great. That's just a bonus. But every day I'm like, help me find the one person that I need to meet today, that they need me or I need them. So yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Absolutely. Yeah, we're part of a business networking together, and Steve heads our group, and he always says, if you don't need the meeting, the meeting may need you. And so it's important to have those consistency because when you come to those meetings, consistency it becomes family. If you're coming to the one office and you're trying to hit a thousand different meetings because you want to be in all the different meetings, you just miss the point. It's when you come consistently in a networking meeting that you really gather a family around you. And then people are like, yeah, that person, right? I know exactly what she does and exactly.
Yvette Webb
Exactly. Yeah. So it's it's been a great experience just and it's it it's helped me be able to get out of my shell more and be more comfortable talking to people that I don't know. I've always been kind of shy throughout my life and I'm still very much an introvert, you know. If I didn't have to leave the house, I wouldn't, but
Rev. Lyle
Yvette Webb
And that's the other benefit of having this business is that it it forces me to get outside of my comfort zone. And you know, I wouldn't have been able to help as many people if I had just stayed in my bubble and just continued as I was going. I really needed this push to get me out there to engage with the my community at large and not just not just my church family, not just my
biological family, you know, it's like there's a whole world out there that needs good people and good influences and I'm I'm happy to be a part of that. And to get me to meet people like you at Christian Business Networking. I think it's been a really great I was so glad to have learned about it and and go. And I'm always telling people, you need to come to this meeting. Once I know that they're Christian, I'm like, Yeah, you need to be at this meeting 'cause it's it's really good for you. So yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Yeah. A lot of people just
Rev. Lyle
Yeah, I I appreciate this meeting because you can stop and pray for people and they're not afraid to talk about their face. So many times we try to hide that and everything. So going to what you're talking about about introverts, what people don't understand about introverts, we love people. We just refresh when we're away from people. And so I think people think introverts, you know, you gotta hide in a closet or hide in a box and everything. But in reality we we love people. We just like deeper connections with people. We don't like the quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, let's meet everybody and have a million pe friends and then
Yvette Webb
Right. Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Yes.
Yvette Webb
Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Right.
Rev. Lyle
We don't know any of those friends. We want to dig deep into connecting those people.
Yvette Webb (07:42.59)
Yeah. Yeah, that good handful of close friends is way better, more important to me. And being in smaller groups instead of hundreds of people, that I don't I don't do well in those environments. Unless I'm on stage and then I'm like, I can do it because I'm not in the middle of trying to figure out how do I talk to this person or that person.
Rev. Lyle (07:57.68)
Mm-hmm.
Rev. Lyle
Yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Just let me talk to all of them at once and I'm good.
Rev. Lyle
That's one way to do it, isn't it? So tell us, is there a story that you could share with us about you don't have to use names or anything, about how you help somebody in your business?
Yvette Webb
Yeah.
Yvette Webb
gosh, there's so many. I would tell you about a family that I'm helping right now. and this was a woman that reached out to me, referred by one of those people that God put in my life. And she was just struggling so much because she had her parents living with her in her home and she wanted to take care of them. She wanted to, you know, we all feel like we want to do that. It's the right thing to do.
But it had gotten to the point where she ended up having to quit her job. She basically lost all of her social network. And she was feeling a little hopeless about the situation. And like she wasn't really able to take care of them the way that they needed. So I've been helping them to hopefully soon.
we'll be able to have a good resolution and and solve all the problems that they've all been facing. And it's just continuing to be consistent and persistent and just keep trying new things. because it's been very difficult for the whole family. So I think we're at the close of that journey pretty soon. And then
She'll be able to get her life back, they'll be able to get the care that they need. And I'll be super happy because then I'll know that I did a good job and they're okay now. Yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Yeah, and it's hard because we want to take care of our family, but there there's an edge there. There's a spot where you know that y somebody else is gonna help that person better, especially when it comes to like dementia or specific health care issues. 'cause if you wear yourself out and you're not taking care of your own health, then you can't take care of their health. And I think that's where that line is. Do you you have any insight on that where that line is for someone?
Yvette Webb
Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Mm.
Yvette Webb
Exactly.
Yvette Webb
Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Yeah, I mean, I think most people go over that line and they don't realize it. I do see a lot of burnout with family caregivers. And, you know, I I try to encourage them and just say, look, you're doing the best that you can. Just understand that most care, you know, like paid caregivers, they have a shift.
Rev. Lyle
Yvette Webb
And they clock in and they clock out, they get to go home. You are on call 24-7. And that is too much for somebody. I had one client who she was just confided in me that she felt so bad that she hadn't done something sooner for her mom. And I told her, you know what, you have done the best that you could at the time, and you're doing the right thing now. So just trying to give her that comfort to know that.
You know, she's not done anything wrong. She was doing the best that she could. And, you know, to be able to help her get help for her mom was so wonderful. It was definitely a case of dementia that had gotten way far more advanced than she realized. And it probably should have done been done sooner, but there was no way for her to know that until it got to the point where it was
Critical, right? So, you know. And I I try to help people with the guilt of it because, you know, like I said, we're all just trying to do the best that we can for our parents. Nobody's trained us how to do this. There's not really a lot of support out there and people feel like they're doing it alone. So I'm happy to help them to not be alone in that journey anymore. Yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Makes sense.
Rev. Lyle
That's great. So we're going to shift into our business growth concept and we've kind of already touched base on it. You said networking is very powerful in your business. Kind of talk to us a little bit about how you do networking and how you could help somebody else network better.
Yvette Webb
Mm.
Yvette Webb
Yeah, so for me networking was definitely a new skill I had to learn. I didn't know how to do it at all. And so it took me some time in the beginning just to even learn how to approach people. And for me, honestly, I I don't try to talk to everybody. I go with my feelings of where I'm led because
Some people you're not meant to talk to that day. and so if you spend time trying to talk to every single person, you may miss the person that you're really supposed to talk to. And they could leave. And then, you know, then you've missed your opportunity. So I try to focus on the people that I feel drawn to and, you know, have a conversation with them and and find out about them first. And, you know, just see,
if I feel like there's a way that I could help them. A lot of times I talk to people and it's just to help encourage them on how to network for themselves, for their own business. And so, you know, whatever it is, however I can help, I I look for that opportunity. and you you were saying earlier about it's about consistency and continuing to go to the ones and for me it's the ones that feel like
I belong there. Like this is a a good fit. We have similar you know, kind of like a similar mission in our business. And there there are some that I've been to that I'm just like, mm, not for me. This is not the kind of networking that feels good to me. So I I move on and I go to a different find a different group. but I really love
this area because the several Chamber of Commerce meetings that I go to feel really good. They're full of very good people and you know a lot of good Christian people, a lot of good moral people with integrity, and they're also very consistent. So those are the ones that I am drawn to.
Yvette Webb
that I want to keep going back to. And it's been great. but yeah, that's that's my message is to, you know, just go with the people that that you feel that are the right person that day. Not don't try to talk to everybody. That's that's not going to be productive in the end anyway. So and you never know.
You never know that person that you you end up talking to. You might not have thought that that was a person that that would be a good fit for you, but it turns out they were. So and trust your gut, because sometimes when you meet somebody, you know right away that it's like, this person it doesn't do business the way I do business. And it's okay to just kind of excuse yourself and go find somebody else to talk to. So
Rev. Lyle
Mm-hmm.
Rev. Lyle
Mm-hmm.
Rev. Lyle
Absolutely. And before the call, we talked about authenticity. You said that was very important to you. Can I share a little bit about that?
Yvette Webb
Yeah. So I think a a lot of my life, you know, just in the process of growing as a person, I tried to hide a lot of who I was to not, you know, not get in the way, try to make myself smaller and not let my personality out. And so through networking I I learned really quickly that you can't hide yourself.
You need to be who you are. and don't and not to be a fake version. I he I heard a lot in the very beginning, just fake it till you make it. I'm like, I don't know how to fake it. I don't know how to fake anything. I just have to be me. And if it it cr connects with people, perfect. If it doesn't, perfect. Because then that that tells you that you're not you're not each other's cup of tea, and that's okay. We don't have to be
everybody's you know, style or or what they like and so it's okay. And I'm not worried about that. So
Rev. Lyle
I'm glad you said that because we we talk about in our group is abundance. You know, our group is not industry specific, so we may have two or three insurance people or two or three financial people, but we know God's gonna work individually and different people in different ways. And so having those choices and having those ways that God can use different people and use their skill set, I think is very powerful. And like you said, authenticity. There's nothing wrong with not connecting to someone. I think people we would think as a Christian, we're supposed to connect to everybody.
Yvette Webb
Mm.
Yvette Webb
Yes.
Yvette Webb (17:31.53)
Right. That's true.
Rev. Lyle
But God has different purposes for all of us. And your purpose may be different this month than six months down the road. You know, I I may not need your services right now, but my dad's 80 years old. So at one point I may have to contact you and say, hey, what do you suggest here? You know, those kind of things. And that's part of the building this relationship and continuing the relationship and keeping it authentic. as we end up here, what is one tidbit of wisdom you'd like to leave us with? And how can we get in touch with you?
Yvette Webb
Yeah. Yeah.
Yvette Webb
Yeah. Yeah.
Yvette Webb
So I think I don't know how much wisdom it is, but I tried to live my life always leading with love. Whatever choices need to be made, ask yourself, are you doing this out of love? because if you're doing it out of love, you're gonna be doing okay. If you do anything out of fear or anxiety or you know, shame or grief.
Those choices are gonna lead you further down the that path. But if you focus on doing something out of love, then whatever happens, you will be doing what you're supposed to do. so that's that's my message, I guess. and that kind of goes along with what we were just talking about. It's like you can love everybody. That doesn't mean you have to be everybody's best friend. And so we can love everybody.
And do be kind. and kindness isn't equal to niceness. So sometimes we just have to be s firm and and say, nope, sorry, I don't I'm not interested. And you know, it and that's okay. so those nothing groundbreaking, like I was saying. I think it's the same with the gospel. It's like you've heard you know what to do, you you've heard the message, now you just have to do it. So
Rev. Lyle
Exactly. And how can we get in touch with you?
Yvette Webb
So do you want phone number, website, email? Yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Whatever you want to do, if you just wanna give us your name and tell us tell them to find you on social media, whatever is best for you.
Yvette Webb
Yeah, so my name is Yvette Webb. I'm on Facebook and LinkedIn mostly. I'm trying to figure out the other ones. my business is assisted living locators and my area is northeast Dallas. you can contact me if you need any advice or help. And that's what I'm doing. the certified senior advisor course that I just took.
helps us to be able to connect people with the services that that are appropriate for their needs because we learn about all of the different aspects of senior care. And so even if it's not for finding an assisted living for somebody, that's I do more than just that. So yeah.
Rev. Lyle
Yeah. Well thanks for being with us today. Thanks for sharing your story.
Yvette Webb
Thanks, Lyle. Thanks for having me.