Latest / The MillionaireByMorning‘s Podcast / The Journey of Making AI a Sustained Business Model
Transcript
- Rashad Thirlkill: Hello, hello, hello, and welcome back to the Millionaire by Morning Podcast Show. Today, we're joined by an inspiring leader whose journey is a powerful example of courage, innovation, and purpose. Esther Moise is a Houston-based entrepreneur, former ICU and utilization review nurse, and the founder of Frontline Nurse Staffing, a healthcare staffing company dedicated to connecting healthcare professionals with meaningful opportunities. She's also the founder of NJN Training and Consulting, where she helps small businesses embrace artificial intelligence in practical, human-centered ways. Esther is an Amazon best-selling author of Audacity is Required and a contributing author to AI in the field, the human side of AI. Whether she's empowering entrepreneurs, mentoring healthcare professionals, or serving underserved communities in Haiti. And across the United States, her work is rooted in faith, resilience, and a deep commitment to making a lasting impact. Today we'll explore her incredible journey from beside nursing to business ownership, her thoughts on AI and entrepreneurship, and what it truly means to lead with audacity and purpose. Esther, welcome to the show today. Esther Mois: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Glad to be here. Rashad Thirlkill: glad that you're here. You could have been anywhere in the world, but you are here with myself and my listeners. And so we are very grateful for that. So let's dive right in. Let's get into Esther's journey. Right at the beginning. What inspired you to become a nurse and how did that experience shape the entrepreneur you are today? Esther Mois: Yeah, so it all started well it really started as me wanting to become a teacher. Then my sister came up to me and said, You need to become a nurse, you need to go to nursing school and and she's done it and I said, Okay, maybe I shouldn't explore that. So because I love helping people, I love helping children. So then I said, Yeah, nursing is very similar to helping people, so I think I should check it out. so I did. I started my journey as going to an L VN school, which is a licensed vocational school nurse school. And it's pretty intense, more so than a registered nurse school, I would say in a sense that they there, you know, you you were having to be there every day and studying and you have tests almost twice a week compared to a registered nurse school where it's more like college, you know, you have a week, you know, a test every week or every couple of weeks or something like that. But that when I was going through my L VN school, I failed a class that it's more like a clinical class, which is the practical when you go into the hospital to practice. I failed not so much because of my own issues, but more because of you know, the way things were going with my instructor. And everything else, I had A's and B's in that class. And that broke me because at the time that I was going through nursing school, L VN school, I put like my life on hold. I literally had my son, he was six months, and I was still nursing him. I had to stop doing that so I can just pursue this nursing class. I mean this nursing program. And that just broke me. I was just crying on my way. and and I had to watch basically the the the colleagues the the who were going through the program to finish And I had to watch them graduate and I was still having to start back over. It was devastating. but you know, praying and, you know, asking the most high, what do I do in this situation? I've done all this and here I am I'm having to start over. there was a lady who just spoke to me and said, just go for your RN rather than going back for your L VN and I at the moment I thought that was that was so far re so far to reach and so I just took her advice and with the support of my husband, I I went back and I went for registered nurse and I got through the program. even those who passed me when I was, you know, doing LVN program, even those people didn't didn't even finish their RN yet. And so I I got through. I'm just saying that to show people that just because you feel like somebody else is passing you doesn't mean that you shouldn't just keep moving forward after a failure. So anyways, I kept going and because of that. you know, went through nursing. I did ICU. I did case management, worked for Unite Health Group. So I did utilization review, all these different positions in nursing to help shape like the things that I wanted to do. I always wanted to be entrepreneur to start my own business and work for myself. And so eventually I I just started you know, this staffing agency. I I worked through my lunch breaks, I work through night shift, I mean my in the evenings, I work on the weekends just to get my business started. And from there I was able to leave my job, my full time job, after I got my first contract. And so getting my contract was a huge deal because then I left my nine to five to really pour everything into the business. And so that's basically the start of the journey of my staff career. Then I went on to start two other businesses. One of them is NJN Training Consulting, where we help small businesses, you know, implement AI and business training and into their journey. And then as as well as I co-founded another company called Mobile Event Mad Solutions. or provide medical support at events like conferences and things like that. So so this is part of my career journey. I mean still working through it and trying to grow, but so far that's that's what I could say. Rashad Thirlkill: while so you didn't just take on one business, you actually took on three. Esther Mois: Yeah. Rashad Thirlkill: So Esther Mois: Yeah, wherever I saw the opportunity I took it. Rashad Thirlkill: Do those businesses work hand in hand? You know, do they do they cross Esther Mois: I would say Rashad Thirlkill: over or are they totally different? Esther Mois: So at least two of them work hand in hand for sure. So mobile event med solutions is stick, you know, I can still reach out to the nurses who are working as for frontline nurse staffing to go out and you know to event spaces, those who are interested and to go and work, you know, in events. So it does work hand in hand those two businesses, but the one for business and entrepreneurship, that one is passionate to me because I know the journey I went through. becoming an entrepreneur and becoming a business owner, I wanted to help others to do the same and to continue with that process and implementing AI into it was even like better and made it faster to show people how to start and launch their business and scale their businesses using AI. So it's somewhat you know I guess it can it it can all work together. but the the the two that really like interchange is is the the nursing, providing nurses for events and then of course for other healthcare facilities. Rashad Thirlkill: All right. So you transitioned from ICU nursing into entrepreneurship. What was the defining moment you say when you realized you wanted to build something of your own? Esther Mois: Yeah. Yeah. So thanks for that question. So as as I worked as a nurse, yes, that was my dream to become a nurse. there's burnout in a lot of things we do, right? So a as a nurse on the floor, there was burnout. you know, it's a lot of pressure. going through these hours of work, working overtime, working short staff. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to start a staffing agency as well. because I know how it feeled how it feels to be sent out to a place where there's only, you know, a few of you and there's so many patients and your short staff. So I know how it feels I I was in those shoes, right? So I know how to treat my my nurses, I know how to treat my employees because I was there. so as far as the I wanna go back to your question. But I I feel like I lost it a little bit. What was the Rashad Thirlkill: No Esther Mois: question? Rashad Thirlkill: you you were you were continuing. Esther Mois: why why I wanted to, yes. So why I wanted to go to business instead of staying as a nurse. I you know, I feel like we need to b give our best years to our own, you know, journey too, because we're just working for somebody else all these years and then at the end we're supposed to retire, right? So I feel like we need to at some point in our career, after we learn and gain all that experience in a job, we need to go out and do build something for ourselves and build a legacy for our family and our children to to to carry on. So that's one of the reasons I always wanted to have my own business because I feel like retirement from a job is just not going to be enough to pass on some to our children and grandchildren. So so once I came to that realization, I'll be honest with you, I tried many different other small businesses, you know, like the multi-level marketing, you know, and I you know, I was trying to find it and that's the that's the key as well. Don't just, you know, sit there and wait for the perfect moment or the perfect business. Try something, of course, do it with wisdom and understanding of what you're doing. but you gotta do something. Even if the first one didn't work out too well, then you try the next one. again, do it with wisdom, but you have to, you know, keep doing something until is is until it w something works, right? And so that's what I did. Like I did Primerica. Okay. And there I didn't I don't regret the the things I went through because you learn different things there. I learned leadership. I learned to at you know to be a go getter in Primerica. I learned I also did Malaluca, which is selling products and, you know, all these different things. you still get get something out of them. You you learn to have grit, you know, like to be a a good salesperson. And then after that, I I you know, I was start I started the process of looking for to buy an established business and that's another good idea. You don't have to start from scratch, but buying a an established business helps you to, you know, start getting profits, you know, s as soon as you buy it, right? So those are things that you know people can start and not just wait for the perfect opportunity, perfect business opportunity. and because you're gonna learn through that through that journey. So but for me, I went through these businesses and then I then I started the staffing agency. And from there, as I'm you know doing this and I I wanted to give back by that's when I started NJ and training consulting to help train other people in small businesses and things and to tell them about the journey and to show them how it's possible for them as well. And then from there, an another nurse who's also a business owner, she brought, you know, this at well actually we both talked about it. let's do something for events, you know, because they need nurses, they need people at these big events in case something happens. And so we came together and started that company. But I just knew that we had to do something. A job is not gonna be it for me. So I needed to do something to build something for myself while I'm still, you know, able, you know, so that's one of the reasons. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, all right. Thank you for that. With you being in the health healthcare industry, pretty much every industry, but because this is is yours, there's been so many changes and dramatic changes over the past few years in most industries. What are the biggest staffing challenges that you're seeing today? Esther Mois: one of the biggest staffing challenges is still the shortage of, you know, nurses and one of the other challenges that I would say is a contributing factor to this is the fact that the co these industries or healthcare facilities or leaders, they're basically working backwards. So they come one morning, okay, these people called out. then they're moving on to try to find scramble for people to come in to replace them rather than like being proactive about it. Okay, it's been a pattern that this many people call out on this particular day or, you know, do some kind of study to see what what the pattern is so they can prevent all this shortage, right? and also hiring people but and also helping with retention because a lot of times what what I saw even when I was a nurse, the leadership, you had different types of leadership. And there were leadership personalities that were basically make people leave because of the way they led people. And so it there's so many different factors that they need to focus on to help with the shortage on their own, you know, to keep to retain the people they have, the good people they have. and provide adequate you know I guess enough staffing to make sure people are not burned out, to help with the burnout, to address their the issues of the nurses. and so it's just a little like a cycle. So the more people, you know, the the amount of people that you have staffed will help those nurses who are coming in to make sure that okay, I'm not under we're not understaffed so we'll be able to do the work and go home safely. The patient's gonna be as safe. I won't be burned out. It's just a matter of just addressing all these issues, leadership, staffing ratios inside the facility. and then of course addressing the issues that the nurse are the nurses are you know, presenting to them. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, all right. So some business owners are excited about AI at the moment, while others are intimidated by it. What do you tell people who are hesitant? Esther Mois: Well, I one thing for sure is AI is not going anywhere. So we have to find a way. I I understand the trust issue and it's valid, totally valid. So we just have to find a way where we can actually use AI in a safe manner and just go from there because it's not going anywhere and we need to start implementing. And I I always think about of, you know, Microsoft Office or the internet boom. all these different things that came through in you know with technology and people who did not implement them right away, they were left behind. And those, you know, those who did not learn it at a early in the early stages, they they had a hard time finding a job because the all these different companies had to, you know, start using these technologies and then people had to, you know, figure out, okay, I need to learn Microsoft Microsoft Office so I can actually get this particular job that's a requirement now. So this is what AI is going to look like, I think, and it's already starting because a lot of companies are hiring based on are you, you know, ready to implement AI into your your tr your learning and your training or do you already know how to use AI and those are the people that is going to get the jobs first because this is what's coming. But as far as the safety, there are safety measures But it's not a hundred percent, just like, you know, the there's many things that are not a hundred percent. You can have a a big cybersecurity team and who's getting hacked, like huge companies are still getting hacked. So I don't know where that hundred percent security is gonna come from, but I just know that we we are using currently there's things we're using currently that are not a hundred percent secured even now. 'Cause even what Microsoft was compromised not too long ago. So and this is a massive company who's been around. And so that's what I would say can't wait for that hundred percent security. However, implementing AI slowly into your company would be helpful as well, because then it would, you know, put you one thing I can say as far as that what you're putting into AI is that if If it's easily available online, then you should be o okay to put it in Chat GPT. Like if anybody can pull it up on on Google or Facebook, then you should be fine putting it. Now, when it comes to your social security number, you know, your date of birth, all these sensitive information, that's when you gotta think twice and make sure what you're using is a paid a paid subscription and also secured. So Rashad Thirlkill: Definitely. Thank you for Esther Mois: That's what I Rashad Thirlkill: that. So, what is one AI tool every entrepreneur should explore today? Esther Mois: Yeah, so I would say if it has to be one, okay, so it I wanna say two, but I'm gonna let the people choose. So if it has to be one, Chat GPT is good. The only thing about Chat GPT is that, you know, with the whole security situation, right? So when anthropic Claude you know, they said no to a deal with the government for you know privacy reasons now chat gpt they they went with that that deal right so that makes you think okay what what did you just you know sell to the government what are you willing to sell to the government so that's the only thing I would say however as far as the work what chat GPT can do for you right now the is is is is really really good for instance if you have chat GPT of course the paid version I wouldn't do free and honestly it's worth it because the thing the work that these AI tools can do for you is worth thousands of dollars rather than I mean, and you're just paying about twenty bucks or fifty dollars a month. So that's why I say it's worth it. So ChatGPT has work. That's that's the version of that's co work version of Claude, and work can actually help you do a lot of those things. And they also have Codex, which is the version of code for Claude and they they can build things for you, apps and there's so many awesome things that you can help you can help build build your business using just Chat GPT co work, I mean work in Codex. So I would say Chat GPT. But if you want to have options 'cause they both do slightly different work, I would say Claude is the second one I would I would have on hand as well. Rashad Thirlkill: Now would you say a person would be able to do the paid version of Chat BT and the free version of Claude? Or do they need paid versions of both? Esther Mois: I recommend paid versions because like I said, the free version like there's it's not as secure as your own paid version. And now if you even have like a business v subscription, it's it's also more secure. So like I said it's it's worth The work that you can do, that's one of the reasons why if you're ready, you have your plan ready. Okay. So use the free version to get a plan together of what you're gonna build and what you're gonna put in place. And then spend that twenty dollars, spend that fifty dollars that month and get it all done. Right. So it's worth it because the stuff that you can do with these AI tools w are worth thousands of dollars. Rashad Thirlkill: Right, thank you for that information. Let's speak about you, you being an author, an author and a thought leader. Your book is titled Audacity is Required. Why is Audacity such an important quality for entrepreneurs? Esther Mois: Yeah, so audacity is required to to go out and and we need boldness. We need to just step out and do it. 'Cause a lot of us have these thoughts and ideas, amazing ideas and thoughts in our mind to to execute, but we lack that just go and do it, the executing part. And that's why I think audacity having the boldness to just take a step forward, even if you don't know what the entire, you know, journey is gonna look like. Just taking the those little steps. and as as you're taking these steps, it's gonna get clearer and clearer. Every step before you is gonna be more clear. So and and here's the thing too, people, you know, think are afraid of failure. But just because okay, you may fail doesn't mean that it's the end of the world. It just means that you learn something that you're not gonna do the next time. Or you learn this journal, this is not the right route, so you need to try a different route. So I wouldn't be afraid of failing. I would be afraid of not doing anything and waiting. That is that is really that's that's worse, I would say. Because the potential that we all have, especially now using AI to help us maximize on these potentials, is is massive. So I think we just need that audacity to just do it, right? Have the audacity to take that step, the next step, the next step, the next step. Rashad Thirlkill: I had a lady on the on this podcast that became an entrepreneur and got into sales, and she says, so now I am able to be a lamb and a lion. And so do you feel like that fits you as far as sales go? You mentioned sales earlier. Do you because you seem kind of soft-spoken? Do you do you feel like you have to have you have to be bold? You need to be bold and you have to put yourself, let's say, in another pair of shoes to become that salesperson that's needed. And the second part of that question is, how much of your business consists of sales? Esther Mois: Yeah, so I think we are we're able to do sales when we're passionate about what we're selling. because it's so natural. So for instance, when I was a nurse, you know, this I I would just I used to recruit for free. So I used to say, girl, there's a job, this place, go over there and and and and and get get a job. They're gonna hire you, you know, and just tell people about jobs. as soon as I know about an opportunity, I wanna tell somebody. And so you're basically selling for that company. You're selling for free for that company. So if you're passionate about where you're selling, then it should come easy, it should come natural because you know it works, you believe it works, and so I think that that part of it is a little easy. Now when when there's something that you're trying to sell or it's hard for you to put it out, that's when you actually hire an expert who's good at it. So it's in business, whenever you're not good at one particular thing doesn't mean you shouldn't do the entire business. It just means that you need to hire somebody who knows how to do that part to do it for you. And you focus on what you're good at. And so that's one of the reasons why you need a team. And and and those are the kind of investments you have to make, right? So you have to make that investment to have someone do the sales part for you if that's what's lacking in in your business. or, you know, whatever other avenue is lacking. Yes. So I don't know if that answered your questions. But let me know what I miss. Rashad Thirlkill: Definitely. it answered the first part. The second part is Esther Mois: Okay. Rashad Thirlkill: how much of your business or how much maybe when you first started, how much sales, what percentage of sales went into your business to, you know, get it going or even now you know, to Esther Mois: Yeah. Rashad Thirlkill: keep it afloat. Esther Mois: So it's more like networking and telling people what you do. And so w you have to go out and let people who you know who you are and what you do because not only they're gonna remember the more they see you as well, you know, develop relationship relationships, the more they see you, the more they remember what you do. And then so it's not like a one time thing. And then the next time not only they gonna know what you do, but they're gonna tell somebody else what you do. I know somebody who does this. So I think it's more like a organic type for us in our company. It was more like networking, you know, for me, because I was very interested in government contracting. So I was at these government contracting networking events, introducing myself to purchasers and all the people from the industry or companies that I was interested in doing business with. as well as l getting on their email list, you know, whatever event they're doing, you want to be there and showing up to so they know your face, what you do, and and they'll remember. so and then there's different programs also that they have, you know, for small businesses trying to help them do business with the government. this also help with networking, in these small groups, cohorts and things like that. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, all right, that's great information for anyone out there listening, great information. So how do you balance building success these successful businesses by staying focused on service and giving back? Did you hear me? Did you hear the question? Okay. Esther Mois: I apologize. Can you repeat the question? Rashad Thirlkill: Yes. How do you balance building successful businesses while staying focused on service and giving back? Esther Mois: yes. So I what I do is I'm part of a couple organizations. one of them is actually through my community and I am the chair of the health committee in one of the organizations that's here in Houston. And I'm also helping people who are what do call this? in the Haiti as well. So I help this a neighborhood with the orphans and and why am I can't think of it right now widows. All right. So I help this church community by helping them with resources to help with the children, those who are don't have, you know, moms and dads and help with their schooling and help with the widows as well. So those are the kind of things I do in the community. but as far as hands on, so the other ones is more like monetary, right? Sending money, but then the hands on work is more in the the local community where we have quarterly meetings for I think the last one was about eating healthier for those who have diabetes and high blood pressure and things like that. So so that's how I'm involved in the local community and as well as internationally. Rashad Thirlkill: What habits or routines help you to stay productive while leading multiple organizations, while you know servicing and giving back? What are your habits or routines? Esther Mois: my gosh. my habits and routines. I love using AI for a lot of things. So I'm building a lot of things for with using AI by solving problems. and I am absolutely love it. Like building web apps, several of those. one of them is actually for helping people write their own books. I build a well web app for small businesses, you know, from the process of starting with an idea all the way through launching and scaling a business. So I build a web app for that. So basically everything that short the issues that I had through my journey, I help build I I build something to help people through that journey because I know the pain points and so I try to address them in these web apps. And so those are the things I do. to me they're like hobbies, but I I work a lot. That's the kind of things I do and I I don't have like a lot of h other than maybe s going out to jogging for with my husband or walking with my husband or going to vacations, I don't really have a lot of hobbies. I just spend a lot of time on a computer and working with AI 'cause I just love it. So Rashad Thirlkill: You're one of the persons, the people that AI have sucked in. I'm kind of like that too. It's like I start and I just keep going deeper and deeper and deeper. So yeah, Esther Mois: Yeah. Rashad Thirlkill: I get it. So let's move on to the lightning round. So how this works is I will ask you a question and you can answer it with one word or one sentence. All right, you ready? Esther Mois: Okay, I'm ready. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay. Coffee or tea? Esther Mois: Coffee. Rashad Thirlkill: Morning person or night owl? Esther Mois: Night owl. Rashad Thirlkill: One book every entrepreneur should read. Esther Mois: Traction. Rashad Thirlkill: One AI tool you use almost every day. Esther Mois: Claude. Rashad Thirlkill: What's one word that defines your leadership style? Esther Mois: transformational. Rashad Thirlkill: What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? Esther Mois: I don't know. well I you said one thing, okay, so dear. I've been to Kenya. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay. What's the legacy you hope to leave? Esther Mois: The legacy I hope to lead is Audacity to to to launch your business or audacity to to do what you know you're supposed to do in this lifetime. Do s you know, do what you're called to do. And Yeah, being helpful to others. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, have the audacity, be bold in your journey. Esther Mois: Yes. Rashad Thirlkill: All right. Well, as we wrap up, if our listeners remember just one message from today's conversation, what do you hope it will be? Esther Mois: I'm sorry, can you say that again? Rashad Thirlkill: If our listeners remember just one message from today's conversation, what do you hope it will be? Esther Mois: have the audacity to to make the next move now. Not tomorrow, today. Rashad Thirlkill: Today, not tomorrow, today. That's an excellent message. Esther, thank you for sharing your inspiring journey, your insights on entrepreneurship and AI, and your heart for serving others. It's been a pleasure having you on the show. Esther Mois: Thank you. Rashad Thirlkill: We wish you continued success with frontline nurse staffing, NJN training and consulting, your writing, and the incredible impact you're making both here in the U.S. and in Haiti. And for everyone listening, Esther Mois: Yes. Rashad Thirlkill: thank you for joining us. If you enjoyed today's conversation, Esther Mois: Thank you so much. Rashad Thirlkill: one last thing, where can people find you if they want to work with you? Esther Mois: Okay, so you can go to my email, which is connect at frontlineurse staffing dot com. Should I put it Should I put it somewhere? In the chat. Rashad Thirlkill: I can get I will get it after the show and put it in the show notes. All right. And Esther Mois: Okay, perfect. And then can I can I add one last thing? Rashad Thirlkill: Yes. Esther Mois: And there is a free so through my web app for starting a your business, I have a free membership that they can go in and start their process. And I'd love to give that QR code for it for that. Would that be okay? Rashad Thirlkill: Yes. Esther Mois: Okay. Sorry. Taking a second to get it. Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, did you put it in the in the chat? If not, you can email Esther Mois: I I Rashad Thirlkill: me. Esther Mois: yes, I will certainly email you. All Rashad Thirlkill: Okay, all right. All right. Esther Mois: right. Thank you so much. Rashad Thirlkill: Thank you. And for everyone listening, I want to thank you for joining us today. And if you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little more audacity in pursuing their purpose. We'll see you next Esther Mois: Yes. Rashad Thirlkill: time. Thanks again, Esther. Esther Mois: Thank you.