The Power of Choice in Business, Leadership, and Life: A Conversation with Patrick Francey

Episode transcript from the Communication Queens Podcast with Kimberly Spencer

[00:00] Staying True to Your Values

Patrick Francey:
And if there was a lesson that I wish I would have got earlier… it’s to stay true to your values. First off, discover what those values really are, and then stop tolerating a lot of things. When you’re in integrity, it changes the game.

Kimberly Spencer:
Welcome to the Communication Queens podcast for visionary leaders, speakers, service providers, and podcasters who are looking to stand out by sharing their story.

I’m your host, Kimberly Spencer, and today I’m thrilled to welcome Patrick Francey—CEO, entrepreneur, and host of the global Top 100 podcast, The Everyday Millionaire.

[02:00] The Origin Story of The Everyday Millionaire Podcast

Kimberly Spencer:
Patrick, welcome to Communication Queens! You have a global Top 100 podcast, but I heard that wasn’t even the intention. What was?

Patrick Francey:
You know, it’s interesting. Many years ago, people encouraged me to write a book, but it didn’t land with me. On vacation in Saint Lucia, I was on the beach with my wife Stephanie. We started reflecting on all the incredible people we’d met through coaching and business.

And the idea hit me: why not start a podcast? Ordinary people with extraordinary success. That’s how The Everyday Millionaire was born. Right there on the beach, I bought the domain and committed to the idea.

[05:20] Success Loves Speed

Kimberly Spencer:
I love how quickly you executed that idea. Success really does love speed.

Patrick Francey:
Yes—and that principle has carried into everything I’ve done. The real estate investment network I purchased already had infrastructure, but when inspiration struck, I moved quickly. I built the podcast plan out during that vacation and executed with speed and intention.

[07:50] Creating Space for Creativity

Kimberly Spencer:
One thing I noticed—you got your big idea on vacation. Do you find your best insights come when you create space?

Patrick Francey:
Absolutely. After 40 years in business, I’ve learned you must consciously create space for creativity. With my teams, we set aside hours just to whiteboard crazy ideas. No judgment, no bad ideas. It’s intentional creativity—and it leads to culture.

[10:30] Culture by Design

Kimberly Spencer:
Culture is everything. But how do you create culture if you’re a solopreneur?

Patrick Francey:
Even solopreneurs create culture—it’s in your relationships, your suppliers, your clients. With teams, I literally ask them to define the culture they want. No gossip, no blame, no complaining. We list it, agree on it, and everyone initials it.

The power of choice here is huge. When people choose their commitments, they self-police. And when hiring, my managers check for alignment with those values. That choice builds culture by design.

[16:30] High Performance Comes from Low Tolerances

Kimberly Spencer:
That buy-in is powerful. How do you handle culture clashes?

Patrick Francey:
We coach first—but if someone refuses to align, they’re out. One sales guy was 30% of revenue, but he was toxic. And here’s my philosophy: high performance is a result of low tolerances.

If you tolerate toxicity, you erode culture. Choosing not to tolerate misalignment ensures integrity.

[21:00] Stop Tolerating Yourself Out of Alignment

Kimberly Spencer:
What’s something you tolerated too long?

Patrick Francey:
Myself. I compromised my values for money and tolerated misaligned partnerships. That misalignment always ended badly. The moment I stopped tolerating and stayed true to my values—it changed everything.

[27:30] Discovering True Values

Kimberly Spencer:
How can entrepreneurs discern true values versus adopted ones?

Patrick Francey:
Look at where you spend money, what you talk about, who you surround yourself with. Often, people live “plagiarized programming”—values from parents or culture, not their own.

When I realized my true value was relationships, not suspicion or stoicism (which I inherited), it shifted everything.

[32:20] The Fork-in-the-Road Moment

Patrick Francey:
My wife called me out. I’d react harshly, and she asked, “Why do you do that?” I said, “It’s just the way I am.” She replied: “No—it’s a choice.”

That moment was a hammer between the eyes. I realized I could choose differently. That fork in the road set me on a lifelong path of self-discovery.

[35:30] The Power of Choice in Entrepreneurship

Kimberly Spencer:
Do you see choice as a theme among entrepreneurs you interview?

Patrick Francey:
Yes. The most successful ones understand their life is by design. They study leadership, commit to personal growth, and choose who they are being daily.

That’s the power of choice: creating life intentionally, not by default.

[39:00] Releasing the Past

Patrick Francey:
Here’s the thing—the past is gone. Trauma is real, but your memory is filtered through today’s lens. Own it, work on it, but don’t let it define you.

Your life is a reflection of your choices. Even not choosing is still a choice.

[40:45] Parenting and the Power of Choice

Patrick Francey:
Almost every successful entrepreneur I’ve interviewed had parents who were their biggest cheerleaders. Confidence is rarely owned—it’s borrowed. Parents loan their kids confidence until they can choose it for themselves.

[42:30] Vocation as Vacation

Patrick Francey:
When your vocation becomes your vacation, you’ll never work a day in your life. Love what you do—or choose to change it. That’s the ultimate power of choice.

Final Takeaway

This episode is a masterclass in leadership, integrity, and the power of choice. Whether you’re a solopreneur or CEO, your culture, success, and freedom all come back to one question: What will you tolerate—and what will you choose?

Ranked No.55 in the United States by Apple Podcasts for Marketing, within just one week of launching, and over 33,000 downloads in the first 5 months, the Communication Queen Podcast with Kimberly Spencer is on the fasttrack to becoming an industry GAMECHANGER, in supporting listeners to tell better stories, enhance their communication skills, and learn how to leverage getting booked on podcasts to grow their business.

From interviews with Top 100 Podcasters, to providing real-life storytelling coaching, and communication #quickies of bite-sized communication tips that you can start leveraging right away, to increase your authority and influence in your niche, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to level up their storytelling skills to serve + sell more in their business. To listen to any of our past episodes for free, check out this page.