I recently sat down with my friend, Candace Joseph of Joseph Consulting Firm, for an episode of “Let’s Talk on Houston City Beat,” and our conversation was a powerful reminder of what it truly means to lead with purpose.
When I look at Candace, I see a CEO, a business guru, a chaplain, a podcaster, a motivational speaker, and an educator. I had to start by asking the obvious: How do you possibly juggle all of these roles and do them so well?
Her answer set the tone for our entire interview. She admitted it involves a lot of scheduling and “barely any sleep,” but she quickly reframed the entire concept. “I look at it like I’m juggling pieces of my heart,” she said. For Candace, every project is a “labor of love,” driven by a “servant attitude of life” and one core question: “How can I push everybody forward?”
This philosophy led us to one of her most passionate topics: entrepreneurship. I’ve heard Candace say she recommends it for everyone, and I’ll admit, I pushed back. I’ve always felt that the “grit” required means some people are better suited as employees.
But Candace offered a perspective that completely changed my mind.
She agreed that not everyone needs to be a full-time entrepreneur, but she believes everyone should try it. Why? To understand the “boss’s side” of things. It’s an education you can’t get anywhere else. You learn about the tough decisions, the complex knowledge of labor laws and OSHA regulations, the strategy, and the marketing. It builds critical skills, she explained, but more importantly, it gives you a profound “appreciation for the small businesses” that make our economy run. By the end of her explanation, I was 100% convinced.
So, how does she help these entrepreneurs find their own success? I asked her how she coaches clients to define that goal line. Her answer wasn’t about money; it was about mindset. She takes her clients through a process to “break free,” which, she explained, involves letting go of past mistakes and, crucially, forgiving yourself.
This sounded a lot like her work as a chaplain, but when I asked, she clarified. She told me she doesn’t “harp on the title,” which can bog people down. Instead, she focuses on the core principles: “faith, love, and peace.” Whether she’s coaching a CEO or advising a political candidate, her goal is to bring peace to the process and help people find the faith in their ideas and the love for their future clients.
This philosophy of “pushing others forward” has now led her to an exciting new role: teaching. Candace recently took a position as an audio-visual production teacher at a local high school—the very same class, she told me, that “is the reason why I am the way that I am.”
She sees it as her “give back to the youth,” bringing her real-world, hands-on experience in podcasting, radio, and TV production directly into the classroom. She’s not just an educator; she’s training her “replacements” and mentoring the next generation of storytellers.
From her business insights to her community-first heart, Candace Joseph is truly an inspiration. It was an amazing conversation, and I hope you’ll watch the full interview above.
