BEE 561 Built on Purpose: Becky Stonebarger and The Beacon Center ~ Innovative Thinker

Summary

Podcast Summary: Black Entrepreneur Experience

Episode 561 – Built on Purpose: Becky Stonebarger and The Beacon Center ~ Innovative Thinker

Release Date: August 12, 2026
Host: Dr. Frances A. Ince
Guest: Becky Stonebarger, Owner, The Beacon Center

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Frances A. Ince interviews Becky Stonebarger, an innovative entrepreneur and founder of The Beacon Center in Las Vegas. Becky shares her journey of creating inclusive, affordable meeting and event spaces, her passion for community impact, and the unique lessons she’s learned over ten years in business. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, resilience, giving back, and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Becky's Entrepreneurial Journey (01:25–07:33)

• Origin of The Beacon Center:
  Becky launched The Beacon Center over ten years ago, aiming to provide affordable, all-inclusive meeting and event spaces. The venue began with business meetings and quickly expanded to host a variety of social gatherings.

• Community and Compassion:
  The venue is especially notable for hosting Celebrations of Life events, offering families a non-traditional, supportive space during emotional times. Becky’s approach centers on personalization, compassion, and stress-free experiences.

• Business Model:
  The Beacon Center operates two venues side by side (one at $50/hr, the other at $75/hr), offering walk-in ready services with a three-hour minimum, setup/cleanup, and included amenities (tablecloths, TVs, décor, etc.).

• Giving Back:
  Becky is active in the community, serving as a Vegas Chamber ambassador and relentlessly connecting fellow entrepreneurs.

“I just have a goal to be able to connect at least three connections a day if possible among people that I know.”
— Becky Stonebarger (03:45)

---

2. Path to Entrepreneurship & Influences (04:12–08:39)

• Early Entrepreneurial Spirit:
  From selling flowers as a child to participating in network marketing, Becky attributes her drive to growing up in a business-owning family.

• Founding Beacon Center:
  As a networking group organizer facing steep hotel rental fees, Becky created her own space, which solved her own need and expanded into a broader community resource.

• Female & Veteran-Owned
  Becky highlights her background as a woman and wife of a disabled veteran, emphasizing diversity and service.

• Inspirational Figures:

  • Personal: Her best friend Nancy, a family mediator—cited for her ability to truly listen and stay present.
  • Famous: Princess Diana, admired for compassion and service.

---

3. Philosophy & Advice (09:22–13:22)

• Advice to Her Younger Self:

  • Savor youth and experiences before settling down.
  • Practice self-care and mental health management.

• Legacy Workbook Initiative:
  Becky recently launched a free Legacy Workbook to help individuals capture their stories and memories for loved ones, which is being adopted by hospice and pre-planning services.

“It’s a workbook that can be used for people to write down their memories, who they were named after, childhood memories, their favorite teacher.”
— Becky Stonebarger (11:30)

• Kindness & Collaboration:
  Becky advocates for more kindness, empathy, and collaboration in both business and daily life.

---

4. Lessons from Business (16:18–18:00)

• Costly Mistakes:
  Underestimating the importance of vetting digital service providers (web designers, SEO experts, etc.) led to nine unproductive partnerships over ten years.

“That’s probably one of my biggest, most costly mistakes is not understanding you got to spend money to make money in that area and betting some of them.”
— Becky Stonebarger (18:00)

• Service Contracts:
  Learned the value of formal agreements and contracts for business services.

• Surprising Realities:

  • The odd prevalence of upside-down footprints on venue walls.
  • The lower-than-expected use of hand soap in men’s restrooms.

---

5. Recent Wins & Self-Care (19:19–22:42)

• Biggest Recent Win:
  Launching the Legacy Workbook program and expanding her referral network by over 75–80 new contacts in one month.

• Celebration Style:
  Prefers quiet self-care (flower arranging, haircuts) over material rewards.

• Mental Health:
  Becky emphasizes the ongoing challenge of balancing business drive with mental wellness.

  • She advocates for therapy and routines that promote mindfulness and relaxation.

“There’s nothing wrong with getting a professional to talk things out. And to me, it’s a day and night difference.”
— Becky Stonebarger (22:20)

---

6. Business Inspiration, Risk, and Resilience (16:28–27:43)

• Admired Innovative Brand:
  Boxabl, a modular home startup in Las Vegas, for their scalable, community-impactful housing solutions.

• Why She Keeps Going:
  The appreciation and gratitude from clients post-event is her greatest motivation.

• If She Had to Start Over:
  Preferential focus now on personal retirement and family’s well-being over starting a new business; encourages others to follow passions over profits.

• Purpose & Neurodiversity:
  Becky shares her experience as a high-functioning autistic entrepreneur. She credits her neurodivergence with unique visionary skills and a talent for “thinking backwards” to problem solve and innovate.

"That’s my purpose in life...to be a visionary, to start things up and then pass it on to leaders to carry on.”
— Becky Stonebarger (25:53)

• Biggest Bet That Paid Off:
  Her leap from stable employment to business ownership; the day she signed the lease for The Beacon Center was her largest, most worthwhile risk.

---

7. Reflections, Mindset, and Legacy (27:43–29:45)

• Advice to Younger Becky:

  • Maintain tenacity; don’t overly worry about the opinions of others.
  • Prioritize heart-centered goals, self-care, and family connections.

• Toll on Wellbeing:
  Becky notes the demands of networking and community involvement as both a positive and a negative—rewarding relationships, but also energetic, time, and emotional commitments.

“It can take a negative toll, but it can also take a wonderful positive toll.”
— Becky Stonebarger (28:53)

• Core Differentiator:
  Her care, compassion, confidentiality, and reliability set her apart in both business and life.

---

8. Rapid Fire (31:21–33:27)

A lighthearted Q&A revealing fun facts about Becky:

• First Job: McDonald’s
• Relaxation: Hot tub
• Favorite Singer: Elton John
• Favorite Comfort Food: Potato chips
• Favorite Month: April

---

Notable Quotes

• “Circle yourself with people that are like minded… There’s the saying that you are like the five people you spend the most time with.”
  — Becky Stonebarger (14:07)

• “Money’s not going to take care of that mental wellness.”
  — Becky Stonebarger (24:52)

• “The best sermon I ever attended at church was when the pastor said, if you can’t do it, don’t want to do it, don’t know how to do it…you need to hire it.”
  — Becky Stonebarger (30:40)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Becky's Business Philosophy: 00:23–04:12
• Entrepreneurial Background: 04:12–07:33
• Inspirational Figures & Gratitude: 07:33–09:22
• Legacy Workbook & Collaborations: 09:22–13:22
• The Value of Kindness in Business: 13:22–13:51
• Biggest Business Lessons: 16:18–18:00
• Recent Wins & Networking: 19:11–20:21
• Self-Care and Therapy: 21:19–22:42
• Purpose & Neurodiversity: 25:25–26:30
• Advice to Younger Self: 27:43–28:21
• Personal Toll of Business: 28:21–29:05
• Rapid Fire Round: 31:21–33:27

---

Connect with Becky Stonebarger & The Beacon Center

• Website: thebeaconcenter.com
  • For the Legacy Workbook: /legacy
  • To Become a Partner: /partnership
• Social Media:
  • Instagram: @thebeaconcenter
  • Facebook: The Beacon Center
  • LinkedIn: Becky Stonebarger
• Contact: Use the website’s contact form for calls or email.

---

Final Takeaways

• Tenacity, kindness, and connection: Becky's story highlights the impact of resilience, compassion, and a strong community focus.
• Leave a legacy: Becky's workbook initiative is a testament to leaving lasting, meaningful contributions for others.
• Wellness is essential: Sustained success requires balance, self-care, and support networks—both professional and personal.
• Business with purpose: For Becky, entrepreneurial efforts are about community impact, not just profits.

This engaging conversation is a resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, community builders, and anyone seeking meaningful business insights rooted in purpose, empathy, and innovation.

Transcript

[Becky Stonebarger]

Foreign.

[Podcast Announcer]

Welcome to the Black Entrepreneur Experience podcast. Inside the business buzz and brilliance of Black entrepreneurs. Here is your host, Dr. Francis Arlene.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Innovative Thinkers, episode number five six 61 Innovative Thinker. Thank you for joining us as we elevate the black entrepreneur experience by interviewing CEOs, thought leaders, innovative thinkers and black entrepreneurs across the globe. I'm your host, Dr. Frances Arlene. Becky Stoneberger isn't just creating spaces. She's creating opportunities for connection. As an owner dedicated to offering affordable options for meetings and social events. And Becky is helping individuals, families and businesses bring people together without breaking the budget. Today we'll hear how her passion for community, accessibility and meaningful gatherings is making a real impact. Welcome Becky.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Thank you for having me Dr. Francis. I really appreciate it.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

I am so grateful that you're here. I've given our audience such a brief bio. Why don't you fill in the gaps and share with our audience what you would like them to know about you and your business.

[Becky Stonebarger]

We are currently 10 years old, little over 10 years old. We've opened in Vegas. We're over near Allegiant Stadium. The idea behind the Beacon center, which is venue space that that I own is I wanted to offer an hourly affordable meeting space that it has was totally equipped with everything that you needed when you walk in the door and it was not nickeled and dimed to the clients. So I created a space starting off with business meetings like you see the room set up behind me and offered the space for an affordable hourly rate. One thing grew into the next. I started receiving phone calls. Can I do a baby shower there? Can I do a birthday party? Can I do weddings? And the, the one that touched me most that that continuously came in was Celebration of Life's. So we've came a the go to person or the go to venue for the celebration of Life, the luncheon afterwards or the those who don't want to do a church type celebration or speakers and eulogies so they can do that right there in our venue. And so we've grown from there over the last 10 years into being able to offer stress free packages where the, the host, the hostess or host can offer. They can take their time working with their, their loved ones, their guests, their, their fine details and we can take care of the decor, the setups, the cleanups and the personalization that's needed. And then we work closely with them. In the case of Celebration of Life, that's our number one as far as our social events that is rented from our space. It's just really Hard when people are sitting across the table and they're very emotional and they're trying to come up with what they. How they want to remember their loved ones. That is, I'm very passionate about that and being that safe place and arms for them. But it's tough because you're having to ask some pretty simple questions like their favorite hobbies and things like that during a really emotional time. And it's tough on the family. I've really taken a heart to that. We're veteran disabled veteran. My husband is a disabled veteran. So we're veteran owned women owned. Been like I said, been serving the community for 10 years now and love being able to give back to the community. Also very active in the Las Vegas big the Vegas Chamber. I'm actually an ambassador for the Vegas Chamber. So I get out there and help connect other business owners in the community as much as I can without anything, no ask in return. I just have a goal to be able to connect at least three connections a day if possible among people that I know. So just a goal and I try hard to do.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Becky, let's step back. You have the meeting space for 10 years. How did you get into entrepreneurial ship? Is this your first venture?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Actually, from the time I was. I was 19 when I got married, I did things of network marketing, you know, the Tupperware, the Avon, those type of things to try to be an entrepreneur. But if I go back even farther than that as a young child, I'd pick flowers out of. Out of the garden and then go knocking on doors and selling flowers. I would put. Use the bubblegum machines and find nickels and, and get prizes out of the bubble gum machine and then put on a backyard carnival for all the neighborhood kids. So entrepreneurship and then I was raised. My father owned an insurance agency, so he owned his own business. So it was kind of a. A path that I was set on from very young age of understanding that I was in charge of my own destiny and so have to set my goals and, and work for them and but as far as that's kind of where the entrepreneurship came as far as the birth of the Beacon Center. I currently even work with clients that are needing business strategy coaching. So I'll work with different companies and overcoming different strategies that they have. And I had started a networking group a while back in 2012 that grew and grew and I needed space. So the Beacon center became a solution to my own problem because I was renting hotel space in order for everybody to meet. Think of, think of a, any Local networking group that you can, that you can come up with. I don't want to plug any certain one but it modeled very similar and on a weekly meeting of business professionals. And so it grew into to the Beacon center. And at one point I was enjoying the Beacon center so much better and it was a multiple stream of income that exceeded what my need was at the time. And it kind of phased out where my. I, I can now only just take on five strategy clients at a time. So kind of pared me down from working with 60 people to working with five and then having the center as, as the extra. And that's my give back because venue space for meeting space is so expensive and I have the philosophy that I would rather have it rented and make something versus having it empty and make nothing and, and actually lose because I have of course the overhead expenses on, on every hour that I, that I own the venue. So I, I price myself. I have two venues side by side with a connecting door. So one of the venues is just $50 an hour and the other is a 75 an with a small setup and cleaning fees on top of that but three hour minimum. So it's really nice and simple. Everything you need for a successful meeting. Tablecloths, table shares, business meetings. We've got everything hook up 70 inch TV on the wall. It's really walk in ready.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

I want you to have a monologue, Becky and I want you to name this person, living or not and they've inspired you so much. Who is that person and what are you saying to that person?

[Becky Stonebarger]

You know, the person who inspires me the most actually happens to be my best friend Nancy. She's a divorce and family mediator and owns her own company. Mediation around the table. And I go to her for advice and strength and ideas. But you know, I have a lot of people as far as famous, probably Princess Diana is somebody who I really, really admired. Her strength, her courage, her tenacity, how she gave back to her community and the world. She's somebody that has always had an impact on, in what she's doing and it's been a role model for me. So I would say personal wise would be my best friend Nancy and famous wise would be Princess Diana.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

And what are you saying to Nancy? She's inspired you. What would you say to Nancy?

[Becky Stonebarger]

There's nothing I can't say. It's a true best friend situation. So there's nothing that I can't say to her. But when I'm down, she has the right words. When I'm up. She's got the right praises. We have good habits of listening to one another, putting the phones away and plugging ourselves into each other and asking questions of each other. And all that inspires me when I'm working with other people is to be plugged in and present. And she's a beautiful example of that to me as far as somebody who can can just truly engross into the conversation and block out the rest the clutter that that goes on. So I look up to her for that tremendously.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Advice you wish you had followed besides

[Becky Stonebarger]

pick a career that would have made me hundreds of dollars an hour. I wish that I would have enjoyed my youth a little bit. My young adult when I entered in. I got married when I was 19. So a lot of that seeing the world, traveling, doing the experiences. I went right into having a family, you know, four years after I got married. So I wish that I had listened to wait a little bit longer since I was only 19, wait a little bit longer to have the family and for my husband and I to do some of the things that being a sandwich generation at this point, it makes it a little bit harder to do those fun things. And then you feel bad that you're just waiting for the time that you can get that time to do it and hope that you're not too old for it. So again, that goes right back into that compassionate side. Why I I love doing the celebration of life is because somebody's not going to be here for very long. But there's a lot of pressures behind it to the fact that I created actually a workbook that I give away to anybody who wants it. It's a PDF download. Anybody can partner with me and use it for their own marketing, for registrations and you know, all those we're always out there looking for a sign up for this and get a free PDF. So if somebody wants to partner with me and share this legacy workbook. So it's a workbook that can be used for people to write down their memories, who they were named after, childhood memories, their favorite teacher at school. So it's a question, a literal workbook. And people are using it in different ways. Partners that I'm working with, hospice cares, they're using it to decrease the number of complaints that they get of nurses that might be sitting on watching television or on their phones. They're using it where it's more this needs to be done with your particular this patient within X number of visits. And they're using it for more interactive and letting the Healthcare worker. Fill it out. It's being used by pre planning. I have a pre planning sales company that is using it and giving out to their clients as part of their pre planning meeting. Set up and get this free PDF. So somebody who wants to look at partnering with me and being able to use this free workbook, free resource just needs to go to my website thebeaconcenter.com and and then at the back put slash partner and partnership, I'm sorry partnership and then they can download the workbook themselves or they can go directly to the workbook and put in slash legacy. So either partnership or legacy will get you there. The legacy is more for the client facing the link that, that you would give out to your clients. The partnership is to get yourself set up. We're going to have a directory. There's all kinds of things. We just got the first rollout of the, of the site up last night so it would be ready for this, this podcast. So it's a work in progress. We're going to be adding a partnership directory to it of people who are actively giving out the link and sharing it and feel the same way about being compassionate and leaving people being able to leave their legacy behind. We want to partner with as many people, so go into that. TheBeaconCenter.com partnership will start the process. We'll be able to collect your contact info to put onto the directory, giving you SEO and backlinks, keywords, all that kind of stuff. So it'll also be a one stop directory for those who you serve to be able to go and look for other reputable vendors that are vetted and they can feel trusted in selecting them. So it'll have a directory available also to end users, the seniors, or doesn't even have to be senior.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What problem exists in the world today that you'd like to solve? Becky?

[Becky Stonebarger]

I think right now I would like to see more people acting based on kindness and treat people like you want to be treated yourself. I think that we've maybe backslid on our focus on kindness and I would, I'd really like to see more kindness in the world and collaboration people working together instead of against each other.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Absolutely. Someone's listening to this podcast interview. What do you want their biggest takeaway to be from your being on the podcast?

[Becky Stonebarger]

My biggest takeaway is that especially if you're a small business and you're, you're trying to develop something against all odds, you have to have you keep that tenacity, circle yourself with people that are like minded People that can help you achieve your goals, like a best friend who's going to encourage you. There's the saying that you are like the five people you spend the most time with. So circle yourself with those kind of people. My biggest takeaway and my biggest offering that I feel that I contribute to my community is collaboration opportunities. I'm always looking to connect people, to help people out, to share experiences and to listen to their experiences and grow because it doesn't matter how old we get, we're still always learning. So sticking it out through no any I've since opening my, my business, I've, I've, I've gone through cancer. I've gone through several major surgeries where didn't know the light at the end of the tunnel and just staying determined. And mostly I personally, I put a lot of faith in my God. That's my end. All be all is being on my knees in prayer and not forgetting that portion of it.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What is something that we as consumers don't know about the event rental space business that we should know?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Okay, I'll give you a funny one. I can give you two actually if you own a venue space. The one thing that really shocked me that I would have never guessed was how many upside down feet prints I would have on my walls to clean off. And the reason being if you let that sit in for a minute now, I'll tell you, people will lean against a wall and hike their foot up on the wall. Well, somebody has to clean it. That one is probably my number one aha. Moment of wow. How many times have I personally done that in my youth and in my growing up of my life and who the heck cleaned up after me? So that's probably my biggest one. The other one deals with how much hand soap we go through in a men's bathroom. So I like that it's not as much as you would hope.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Becky. There are so many brands and businesses. Talk about a brand or a business that's dominating that you admire and why.

[Becky Stonebarger]

You know, there's a company right now that I'm really, really. They're really picking up speed and and I admire what they're doing and if I was younger I would so be. So instead I just had to invest in them. It's a company called boxabl. They make little small homes. They pull them up, unfold them, seal them up together and. And you have your home. You just provide the foundation and the utilities all ran to it and it's hooked up and you have a home in a day and it's a small, it's a mini home. But what they're doing, especially here in Las Vegas, the number of factories that they have, I've done a tour over there. They're also a member of the Vegas Chamber. So I've had an opportunity to ride their little go kart or cart and do a back behind the scenes tour. What they're doing and how they're reaching out with communities and I think about the homeless communities and things like that that our government and our cities could so invest in these small home type solutions. So I really admire what they're doing and the journey that they're doing and the tenacity that it takes for what they're doing. And I hope they're successful. I really hope they're successful. I've been watching them since they started and we, you know, were one of the beginning stock buyers of it. It's been an interesting journey that I've watched. So I would say that would be the company.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Thank you for that. There are so many rewards and risk in business. Talk about one of your most costly lessons in business and what was your takeaway?

[Becky Stonebarger]

My most costly would be not vetting. They all call themselves different digital companies, website designers, graphic SEOs, companies that you entrust that they're behind the scenes doing your Google Ads, doing your that type of back end stuff. In ten years I had nine different web designers. Some produced, some did not. So don't skimp on that. Just because the person down the street does builds websites doesn't mean that they're building ones that Google's going to recognize and it's going to get you the traffic that you need. That's probably one of my biggest, most costly mistakes is not understanding you got to spend money to make money in that area and making and betting some of them. I didn't even have a contract. I mean it was just, you know, learning, growing as you grow. As a business owner, I learned the value of the service contract and the importance of a contract. And I wish that I had learned that a lot earlier in my years. I wouldn't have spent as much money on services with no result.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Let's take a snapshot of the last 30 days. What was your biggest win in the last 30 days?

[Becky Stonebarger]

My biggest win in the last 30 days is launching the Legacy Workbook program. That was a huge goal for me because it's not something that I'm that it's going to get me like this ROI right now. It's something that I'm doing For my community that was probably my largest win is the reception that I have of people who get it and they want to get on board with offering something that is all about leaving legacy behind. The standard of getting some bookings for my venue, those type of things. Those are always wins every week, every month, every time that they happen, every day. But I have been able to expand my network over the last 30 days. Probably close to 75 to 80 people new that I hadn't met before over the last 30 days, which to me is a huge win because that's, that's 75 to 80 people I can refer somebody else to and make a connection between. That would probably be my biggest for the last 30 days.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

And how did you celebrate your wins? How do you celebrate your wins?

[Becky Stonebarger]

I'm not one of those traditional go out to eat or buy sweets and that kind of thing celebrate. I am honestly a quiet time, reflection, get my hair cut, go get my for big wins treat, pamper myself. Because self care is something I neglected for several years and I've paid the price for neglecting the self care. Just this morning I went to a flower arranging class at the senior center. Why not? It's something for myself and a beautiful arrangement here at my house that would have cost me hundreds of dollars or more to have on display in my home. And I got to create it myself with my own hands, with other seniors and supporting a nonprofit on top of that of the community center. It's just a whole trickle down of that. But I do a lot of that type of thing is, is to register to myself for self care type things.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Speaking of self care, talk about mental wellness and entrepreneurial ship.

[Becky Stonebarger]

It takes a balance and I have to say I'm still working on it. I think we're always working on that balance. There's no magic pill, sadly. But realizing the importance of it, I pushed, like I said before, I push self care, mental wellness, all that kind of stuff for the drive for the business. It was the drive of the build or the drive of just achievement. And looking back, I neglected the self care and that wasn't doing myself any service. It wasn't teaching me to balance things. It wasn't sending good messages to the family, just the trickle down that you don't think about if you don't create that balance. But finding a way, honestly getting a therapist, talking to somebody that is licensed in the mental side of things. One of the best things that I did that was like 18 months ago I finally said that's it. I'm Getting a therapist who's the one who recommended the flower arranging classes because self care was the thing that was lacking the most is I was feeling like I was invisible. And there's nothing wrong with getting a professional to talk things out. And to me it's a day and night difference and I'm glad that I followed that advice again from a best friend.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

And Becky, what inspires you to keep going, to keep doing the business each and every month?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Honestly, it's my clients, the appreciation that I get from them after the event, the wows. I'm so glad I went with you. You had everything under control. There was no red tape. It was easy, stress free. All those buzzwords that are all over my Google reviews, that is my biggest inspiration is honestly, it's the thank you. That's all I look for. I don't look for anything other than that thank you and the honor of being able to take photos and show off their event to other people to inspire them in that way that I give back on. That is we have a decor room that has every kind of decoration you can think of. Over 10 years, people have just donated their centerpieces and their charger plates and their different decorations that they no longer need or needed to use. At this point, somebody can literally come in, tell me their colors that they want and we can put together a unique, beautiful event. Because I've got all that foundation already and it doesn't nickel and dime them. They're not running out getting boxes to put the greeting cards in or, or signages or any of that. So that's my give back also to my clients is that compassion. And I even put digital cameras on the tables and let people so people can take photos again. Legacy memories. It all circles back to where your core is of the core person that you are is what's going to inspire you and your behavior.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Becky, if you lost everything and you had to rebuild in 30 days, in what industry and why?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Honestly? See, I'm, I'm right now very focused on retirement. So I wouldn't rebuild. I would set myself up so that my children do not have to, to do anything for me. They don't have to take care of me and be my, my caregiver. That's very important to my husband and I is that we're in a position where we don't have to do that, rely on our kids. I've always said that I would look for, to be a brand ambassador for something. I would not set up a company at this point just because of My age. Not to say that I wouldn't inspire other and encourage other people to set up a business, but if I was, when I'm encouraging others to set up a business, I encourage them to look at their own passion and find a business that they are passionate about rather than they feel like it's going to make them money because money's not going to take care of that mental wellness. I myself personally though am looking forward to the five more years in retirement.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

But yeah, and let me ask you this. When you talk about making a difference, what is your purpose? Why are you here?

[Becky Stonebarger]

I feel like I was put here to be a visionary and to be transparent. I'm, I'm high functioning autism. So I'm on the spectrum of neurodivergent and I think that that is a blessing because to be a good visionary you have to have a good skill of thinking backwards and going into things from looking started, start with the end. And I think that that was my purpose was to be able to help streamline others that are needing the help to be streamlined or just wishing for advice on streamlining. I'm a very good confidant of hey, I have this struggle. A lot of people will come to me with their, with their struggles and see if I have some perspective that they hadn't thought of. That's my purpose in life was why I was put here, was that's why God put me here was to be a visionary is to start things up and then pass it on to leaders to carry on.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What was your biggest bet that paid off in life or business for you?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Starting my own business, not having to work the job and under somebody else's rules. And that was a risk. It was a huge risk. Quitting the corporate job, doing what you had to do as a mom with young children to start with, babysitting, making, you know, selling the network marketing type things to make ends meet, but then not losing sight of the entrepreneurship in me. And that was the biggest gamble that I did was opening my own company, signing that lease. I remember the day of signing the lease on my venue space that you know, I've been there, now I'm getting ready to sign another one. So I've been there 10 years now. That was probably the largest drop in my, my stomach while I was signing the papers over and beyond even buying a home or a car. It was just total leap of faith and inspired simply because the hotel doubled their price on me that I was holding my events on. And I was like now at this point I can Rent my own place. And six weeks later we had moved into, had a grand opening of our own venue space. Yeah, that was my biggest leap.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Talk to a younger you. What advice would you give to a younger Becky?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Stick with it again, tenacity. Don't worry so much about what other people think because that will shape you. If you try to live to other people's expectations. Don't ignore yourself that biggest your own mindset, your own self care. And I can't mention that enough. Leave a legacy behind of some kind and love on your family. You only have one really. It's more the heart centered things. I'm very driven by being heart centered.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What is the toll that your business has taken on your soul?

[Becky Stonebarger]

I would have to put some more thought into that. There's a couple ways of reading that question. Toll in a negative way, obviously health, not caring for myself. As far as in a positive way. It's been my outreach, my connections with so many people in this community, so many other business owners in this community. And that takes a toll. It's a commitment of I network a lot. I attend a lot of networking events and shaking a lot of hands and meeting a lot of people. And it can take a negative toll, but it can also take a wonderful positive tool.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Becky, if you conducted this interview, what is the one question you would have asked yourself? I want you to ask the question and give an answer.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Wow. I've kind of covered most everything as hopes and dreams and where I come from. Probably what sets me apart from other people. Just somebody you meet on the street. And honestly my, my answer to that is because I care. Because I'm compassionate or confidential, trustworthy. I always make appointments. Unless it's some extreme fire, people can trust me. I'm very trustworthy.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What keeps you up at night, if anything?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Again, this is something that goes right back to that self care. Because the more I did self care, the less I'm kept up at night because it used to be things like my bookkeeping is not done. My website has this issue. I need to create this, I need to do that. It was all business stuff and so I wasn't able to let my mind wind down. And now I've created a procedure of hot tub in the evenings and that type of thing to make sure that I'm relaxing. But keeping me up at night is probably that family as far as what can I do to keep the family connected? Doing my part. Am I doing enough? Am I, you know, making phone calls? I just recently lost my brother, so that's been pretty heavy on me is is that connection that this shouldn't be there that's been weighing on my mind a lot at night. As far as business, I've streamlined now over the 10, 11 years and gotten enough confident service providers for the things like bookkeeping and taxes and that kind of stu. The best sermon I ever attended at church was when the pastor said, if you can't do it, don't want to do it, don't know how to do it or you can't do it, you need to hire it. And that was my first bookkeeper was going out and hiring a bookkeeper. So yeah, it's family bridging any holes that might be missing and you don't see them until it's too late sometimes, sadly. And that's where I'm sitting right now. It's important to do that.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

And our sincere sympathy for the passing of your breath.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

We've come to the part of our interview. It's called the rapid round of fun. I'm going to ask you a series of questions and I'd like you to give me very quick answers. If there's something that you desire not to answer, feel free to say pass. Are you ready for the rapid round of fun?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Okay, let's go.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

All right. What was Your first job?

[Becky Stonebarger]

McDonald's.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

The last movie you saw, some cartoon

[Becky Stonebarger]

or Disney thing, I'm not sure the name of it.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Swapped you relax. Doing what?

[Becky Stonebarger]

Hot tub.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Your favorite singer, Elton John. Your favorite dance song.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Two tickets to paradise.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

What food you eat every week, no matter what.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Fried potatoes and onions.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Your favorite comfort food, potato chips. Your favorite month, April. Becky, thank you so much for joining us on Black Entrepreneur Experience podcast. Before we let you go, share with our audience the best way for them to connect with you to do business with you. Feel free to leave all your social media handles and any information you want them to to know how to get your legacy book. How to connect with the Beacon Center. Feel free to share.

[Becky Stonebarger]

Okay, first of all, our website, thebeaconcenter.com and then you can put in slashes slash legacy for the workbook slash partner partnership to become a partner for the to be able to utilize the legacy workbook. My social media is the Beacon center on Instagram, LinkedIn and on Facebook. I'm very big on LinkedIn. Becky Stonebarger s T O N E B A R G E R on LinkedIn. So connect with me on LinkedIn. I'm very big on that. That's the best way to get in touch with me. If you need to call me, email me any of that, you can go to the website and click on the contact us button at the very bottom.

[Dr. Frances Arlene]

Thank you, Becky. That's a wrap.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thank you for listening and subscribing to Black Entrepreneur Experience. We would love for you to leave a review and rating on itunes and share with your friends. For show notes and more episodes, go to www.beepodcast.com. join us next Wednesday. And remember, green is the new Black, so keep your bank accounts and your business in the black.