This episode: From Struggles to Strength: Fenton Joseph’s Journey of Faith, Business, and Personal Growth.
Here’s what you’ll learn about:
Introduction and Initial Gratitude (0:13)
- Host Drew Deraney expresses excitement about having Guest Fenton Joseph on the show, mentioning a three-year wait.
- Drew thanks Oscar Capel for introducing them, highlighting Oscar’s role in connecting them.
- Drew discusses the concept of life being a linear path, contrasting it with the reality of life’s unpredictability.
- He introduces the idea of three types of men: those with blind spots, those who see adversity as barriers, and those who see adversity as opportunities.
Fenton’s Early Life and Struggles (3:21)
- Fenton Joseph shares his early 20s experience in the mortgage industry, living with his mother and brother after his parents’ divorce.
- Fenton describes his financial struggles and the emotional pain from his parents’ separation.
- He explains how he was not aware of his own hurt and anger, which manifested in his behavior and demeanor.
- Fenton introduces the three people who influenced his life: Pam, Mark, and Keyel, each providing a different perspective and framework for change.
Impact of Key Influences: Pam, Mark, and Keyel (5:39)
- Pam, a black woman, directly and lovingly told Fenton about his negative traits and the hurt behind his behavior.
- Mark, a happy and content person, showed Fenton that it was possible to enjoy life without being affected by external circumstances.
- Keyel introduced Fenton to Jesus, offering a spiritual framework for change and providing a sense of purpose and direction.
- Fenton describes the instant change he felt after accepting Jesus, finding a new sense of peace and purpose.
Transition to Music Production and Entrepreneurship (14:55)
- Fenton discusses his transition from the mortgage industry to co-founding a microphone company with his music production partner.
- He shares the challenges and lessons learned from starting and running a business, including the importance of cash flow and R&D.
- Fenton reflects on the impact of his business failures and the lessons learned from facing investors and managing debt.
- He introduces Olive Branch Digital, his current business, and explains its mission to help clients showcase their awesomeness through digital platforms.
Personal Growth and Business Lessons (26:34)
- Fenton talks about the importance of emotional intelligence and having difficult conversations.
- He emphasizes the need for men to be open to receiving help and support from others.
- Fenton shares his experience of learning to depend on others and the benefits of having supportive Relationships.
- He reflects on the journey of starting and growing Olive Branch Digital, highlighting the importance of perseverance and adaptability.
Advice to Young Fenton (26:54)
- Fenton advises young Fenton that his life is not his fault and that it’s okay to speak up for himself.
- He emphasizes the importance of focusing on one thing at a time and developing skills deeply before moving on to others.
- Fenton reflects on the need for men to go deep in their relationships and address core issues rather than just symptoms.
- Fenton encourages young Fenton to seek out close friends who will provide a safe space for vulnerability and support.
To learn more about Fenton’s mission, go to his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fentonajoseph/
or his website https://www.olivebranchdigital.com/
Fenton’s Bio: Fenton Joseph
Fenton Joseph is a full-time creative professional working at the intersection of music, web design, and visual media. With a passion for storytelling through sound and design, he brings ideas to life in ways that feel both intentional and effortless. Whether crafting immersive digital experiences, shaping brand identities, or producing music that resonates, Fenton’s work is rooted in Clarity, connection, and creativity.
He also never turns down a good brownie.
About your host: I’m Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I’ve been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.
In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.
I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.
I believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.
My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:
The Mindful Man Movement: men’s mindset and self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Purpose: I believe that every man has the right to write his own story. If you feel lost or disconnected from your true self, I offer Coaching that fosters self-discovery and personal growth. Together, we will uncover your authentic purpose and create a roadmap for your life.
The Caregiver Coach: community organizer, mentor, coach, connector and advocate for families with special needs, specifically autism spectrum disorder. For Caregivers: I understand the challenges faced by those caring for individuals with high-functioning autism. The support services landscape can be overwhelming, and I am here to provide clarity and guidance. My mission is to care for the caregiver, ensuring that you have the tools and support needed to thrive on this journey.
Business Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.
Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.
HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:
Website: https://profitcompassion.com/
Email: drew@profitcompassion.com
Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30
Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew
Drew Deraney now travels the world both to Live and Virtual Events showing mostly men the steps needed to strengthen self-identity and self-worth, to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and to build confidence while being authentic, maintaining boundaries and to transcend people pleasing skills to become the person they are destined to be. Drew challenges them to reach deep inside and make a lasting impact.
In a 9-month span, Drew experienced a grueling divorce, job loss, his son’s suicidal ideations, and his father’s death which devastated Drew emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a commonality for men to consider any challenge as a weakness as well as to show emotion and ask for help. While writing his book, Drew realized he was not the only man suffering in silence. With more clarity of purpose than ever, he began asking for help. Drew Deraney’s mission is to help especially men, release their inner greatness by showing vulnerability, keeping in integrity of their power, and making a great impact on the people in their lives both personally and professionally.
Drew Deraney was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he still lives to this day caring for his elderly mom and his 3 adult children Matthew, Nicholas, and Emma. Drew earned his B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Applied Psychology, and two psychology research publications while at Fairfield University; a scholarship from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and his M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. His hospital career spanned 24 years where he was co-chair of the Leadership Institute, spoke at JD Power, was one of three leaders interviewed by The Commonwealth Fund, received his Communicating with Empathy Trainer certification and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Four years ago, Drew founded Profit Compassion LLC, an entity to coach and empower mostly men to create resiliency and authenticity as Chief Resilience Officer. Drew is the podcast host of ‘From Caving in to Crushing It’ and recently became a best-selling author with his book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ - Memoir of a reformed People Pleaser.
