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NEW! SOB Podcast: The Creative Business of Fine Artist Carole J. McCoy

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The Creative Business of Fine Artist Carole J. McCoy

Fine Artist Carole J. McCoy drops in to speak about her journey into art, what has inspired her work and creativity, and what upcoming goals and accomplishments she is gearing her career towards.

Summary:
In this 35th episode of SOB: Style of Business podcast, Keetria interviews the Los Angeles-based fine artist, sculptor, painter, and arts advocate Carole J McCoy. She shares her journey into art, what has inspired her work and creativity, and what upcoming goals and accomplishments she is gearing her career towards.

Show Notes:

  • Carole is inspired by Los Angeles, which she was drawn to through modeling and acting.
  • She is an arts advocate, she paints, sculpts, draws, writes, and restructures found objects.
  • Tracing images on television as a child was a start, along with being scouted to model and traveled the world with modeling.
  • Carole’s creative process is that she allows herself to be an observer of life, acknowledging that everything was already here, and she needs to co-create with the ultimate creator: God.
  • Creativity = Observation. Appreciation. Curiosity. Intuition. Desire. Creation.
  • An artist’s responsibility is to tell our stories for future generations to learn from.
  • “Bliss on a Arrival” is a piece she created after a Greek Goddess exhibit, and has been intrigued by the body and form. Klimt is an artist was an inspiration also.
  • “Infinito” is defined by Carol as sculpture on canvas due to the multiple layers of paint involved. The spiritual book called: “Infinite in All Directions” provided some of the inspiration.
  • Nature is Carole’s biggest form of inspiration.
  • She did an “inspirational tour” of NY, where she lived previously in the past but had not been to since 1998.
  • Embracing African American ancestors’ endurance and contributions to society.
  • Romance your mind, body, and soul creatively by traveling, observing, exploring, and allowing yourself to be inspired. Figure out what you want to contribute to the world.
  • “Queen Ancestors” concept came to Carole in her dreams. Pulling from the legacy and energy of strong women.
  • Women of color have experienced a harder climb up the mountain of success in the art world.
  • Carole has experienced people not taking her art seriously as being looked at as attractive.
  • Art is Carole’s “high” never drugs. She feels uplifted from creating and expressing herself.
  • Keeping a journal physically everyday with a pen and paper unlocks ideas and refocuses her. “The Artist’s Way” is a book that she appreciates to understand her purpose and avoid the pitfalls.
  • Carole submits for things at least 10 times a week, even if she doesn’t fit what they are looking for in case her work might fit for what they do in the future.
  • Create from a place from your soul being fulfilled, not for money or for competition.
  • Carole supports other artists she enjoys by giving it exposure through social media.
  • “Art Stories” is a book of illustrations and short stories that Carole is working on allow with new projects, shows, and commissions.
  • “Follow your heART.”

3 Key Points:

  1. Carole’s Recipe for Creation: Observation. Appreciation of beauty she witnesses. Curiosity about that beautiful thing. Intuition and instinct. Desire to create. Implementing creation.
  2. Nature is Carole’s biggest form of inspiration.
  3. Romance your mind, body, and soul creatively by traveling, observing, exploring, and allowing yourself to be inspired. Figure out what you want to contribute to the world

Tweetable Quotes:

–   “L.A. is like a geographical muse of mine for the moment.” – Carole J McCoy.

–   “I have like this recipe for creativity. One is observation. Two: appreciation of what is beautiful that you see. Three is curiosity…Four is intuition…Five is desire…Six is creation.” – Carole J McCoy.

–   “My biggest form of inspiration I would say is nature…Anything you want as an artist is in nature.” – Carole J McCoy.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Website – Keetria’s website for the podcast.
  • LinkedIn – Keetria’s LinkedIn page.
  • Instagram – Carol J McCoy’s Instagram.
  • Facebook – Carol J McCoy’s Facebook.
  • Twitter – Carol J McCoy’s Twitter.

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NEW! SOB Podcast: The Importance of Hitting the “Reset Button”

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The Importance of Hitting the “Reset Button”


In this 34nd episode of SOB: Style of Business podcast, instead of conducting an interview, Keetria has a short and sweet discussion about the many benefits that can be achieved when we hit the reset button and include moments of relaxation, self-expression, and socializing into our daily grind. Whether you are feeling overworked trying to balance a business and a side job, or starting a company and taking care of your family – Keetria offers easy options to unwind and re-focus.

Show Notes:

  • Hitting the reset button is important when you feel exhausted or burnt out.
  • Most people probably work more than 40 hours a week.
  • Keetria recently hit her own reset button to unwind from her multiple projects.
  • What is important to me?
  • The reset buttons keeps our lives moving smoothly.
  • Working out, wine, happy hour, reading, painting, yoga, art, and meditation are all reset buttons.
  • There is great value in resetting yourself often – even daily.
  • Maybe pushing to get 150% is too much.

3 Key Points:

  1. If you aren’t satisfied with what you are doing, you can’t be any help to anyone else.
  2. Reset buttons include: meditation, yoga, exercise, wine, happy hour, reading, painting, and art.
  3. Are we trying too hard to push beyond our limits?

Tweetable Quotes:

–   “There comes a time to where you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall, or you just get exhausted…or sometimes it’s just complete burn out.” – Keetria.

–   “40-hour work week is at minimum…probably the minimum for the majority of folks.” – Keetria.

–   “What is important to me?” – Keetria.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Website – Keetria’s website for the podcast.
  • LinkedIn– Keetria’s LinkedIn page.

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NEW! SOB Podcast: Meagan Copelin of Maize Consulting

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Meagan Copelin of Maize Consulting

A great interview with Meagan Copelin, the CEO of Houston area human resources management agency Maize Consulting.

-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode 33:

Summary:

During this new episode of Style of Business (SOB), Keetria interviews Meagan Copelin, the CEO and founder of Maize Consulting, a human resources management company based in Houston, Texas. Meagan passionately walks listeners through her inspiring transition from New Orleans to Houston where she overcame adversity and not only educated herself, but built up her human resource business from the ground up. Learn more about the human resource industry, what it takes to build your own business, and advice on how to grow.

Show Notes:

  • Meagan fills in her background, which includes working in human resources since 2005 and starting Maize Consulting in 2015.
  • Maize Consulting provides multiple human resource services for start-ups and medium-size businesses.
  • Maize is able to help businesses with reducing risk, becoming legally compliant, removing burden, increasing profit, hiring, termination, training, conflict resolution, performance management, policy and procedure handbooks, and more.
  • Meagan spends time with her clients to get to know their business intimately and to be more effective for them.
  • It is a misconception that HR is just a “yes person” for management.
  • Meagan moved to Houston for a job in 2013 with $500 for her name – and they rescinded their offer. She had to live in her car for 6-7 months.
  • Aside from extensive learning, Meagan surrounded herself with positive people that wanted her to succeed.
  • Meagan measures productivity by prioritizing, eliminating distractions, using her time wisely, and forgiving herself for mistakes.
  • Some of the courses Meagan is developing include subjects like talent strategies, reinventing yourself, intentional and exclusive leadership, and building world-class cultures.
  • Books that Meagan Copeland is reading are “Fasting for Breakthrough and Deliverance,” “Think and Grow Rich,” and “The Power of a Praying Woman.”
  • It is ok to cry and it is important to focus and get rid of distractions.
  • Don’t compare yourself to other people because you don’t know their struggles.

3 Key Points:

  1. Meagan spends time with her clients to understand their business better and to be more valuable to them.
  2. Meagan judges her productivity by who well she did at prioritizing, eliminating distractions, using her time wisely, and forgiving herself for mistakes each day.
  3. Meagan is developing courses for talent strategies, reinventing yourself, intentional and exclusive leadership, and building world-class cultures.

Tweetable Quotes:

–   “This is the definition of human resources, is the organizational function that deals with people and issues related to compensation, hiring, performance management, training, employer retention, employer relations, etc.” – Meagan Copelin.

–   “I’m really, really hands-on. I want to make sure that when I am working with my client I want to be strategic, and I want to know everything there is about my client.” – Meagan Copelin.

–   “It is ok to cry.” – Meagan Copelin.

Resources Mentioned:

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NEW! SOB Podcast: Laughing Matters with Comedian Deveron “D” Dennis

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Laughing Matters with Comedian Deveron “D” Dennis

In this 32nd episode of SOB: Style of Business podcast, Keetria interviews stand-up comedian Deveron “D” Dennis from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

-Podcast Show Notes-

Summary:

In this 32nd episode of SOB: Style of Business podcast, Keetria interviews stand-up comedian Deveron “D” Dennis from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This young comic embraces his authentic voice and speaks his truth, while incorporating his observations, without being afraid of expressing vulnerability and self-deprecation. Deveron shares with Keetria how he discovered his passion for performing comedy, his methods of generating new material, how technology has benefited his career, and the importance of honesty on stage.

Show Notes:

  • Deveron “D” Dennis first found comedy first by being a 16-year old rapper called Young Cupid.
  • Deveron’s comedy is observational, self-deprecating, and offers meaningful opinions.
  •  Authenticity, honesty, and getting people to think is important to his comedic material.
  •  “Talk that Talk” is Deveron’s podcast that faces taboo topic discussions for healing and uplifting purposes.
  •  The steps that Deveron took to get started with comedy are realizing he could do it, watching comedian Kevin Hart, studying stand-up comedy, and then he started writing and trying it out on stage.
  • The first time Deveron competed with stand-up comedy in a talent show, he came in second place, and fought back against his nervousness.
  • He experienced the feeling of failing on stage once later in his career, after going on feeling confident beforehand – but he has never been booed yet.
  • Creating new material often comes from conversations and when he is cleaning his house.
  • Deveron’s writing process includes jotting down concepts that he finds funny then later freestyling them into a recorder to see how the humor comes naturally out of him to craft the best parts into a set.
  •  Recording his own comedy special material has helped him challenge himself.
  •  Technology has made it easier for club promoters find him, but he doesn’t want to share too much of his work online to prevent it from being stolen.
  • Being true to himself has made Deveron appreciate his comedy work even more and to tackle topics that are meaningful to him.
  • He finds being an entrepreneur scary, but he finds it inspiring and motivational.

 

3 Key Points:

  1. Honesty, and getting people to think are important to Deveron’s comedy.
  2. Conversations are a golden source of comedic material.
  3. Follow your dreams, but don’t ignore your realities.

 

Tweetable Quotes:

–   “Knowing that I am brightening somebody’s day. I think that is so powerful.”           – Deveron D” Dennis.

–   “Every time I’m on stage, I’m conveying the truth. I’m making people think.”
– Deveron “D” Dennis.

–   “A lot of material comes from conversation.” – Deveron “D” Dennis.

–   “The best piece of advice I have ever received was – don’t fake it.”
– Deveron “D” Dennis.

–   “Everyone needs to follow their dreams, and make sure that they are dealing with their reality – while following their dreams.” – Deveron “D” Dennis.

 

Resources Mentioned:

  • Twitter – Twitter page for Deveron “D” Dennis
  • Facebook – Facebook page for Deveron “D” Dennis
  • Podcast – Deveron’s “Talk that Talk” comedy podcast

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NEW! SOB Episode: Kalyna Miletic – Career Coach & Founder of KickStart Your Work

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Kalyna Miletic - Career Coach & Founder of KickStart Your Work

-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode 30: Kalyna Miletic

How to Design the Career You Truly Desire

Summary:

During this new episode of (SOB) Style of Business, Keetria interviews career transition coach, human capital developer, and founder of KickStart Your Work – Kalyna Miletic. As a passionate career coach, Kalyna assists clients in reaching their career goals and has helped organizations increase overall team performance in multiple countries including Canada, United States of America, India, Brazil, Australia, Colombia, Nepal, and others within the European Union. Today, Keetria finds out more about Kalyna Miletic’s achievements and strategies that have benefited educational institutions and corporate environments to maintain their motivation, engagement, and performance.

Show Notes:

  • Kalyna studied business in university, didn’t enjoy corporate world during her first internship
  • Started her own company at age 20 doing digital strategies doing website content
  • While running her own business she lived in Europe and the Caribbean but she ended up still feeling something was missing
  • While living in Brazil her biggest client gave her 30 days notice that they were ending her services
  • Kalyna transitioned into coaching: it focused on helping people solve problems
  • Kalyna got certified in coaching and has clocked in over 1000 client hours with people in 17 different countries
  • Vision behind KickStart Your Work: came from struggle with jobs and running digital strategy business and feeling alone, knew she needed to be helping recent graduates and inexperienced young professionals (18-34)
  • Group element of career coaching started with teaching her toy dolls, and now she gives people actions, steps and a plan without settling
  • Seeing the final completion of clients get their end results is what Kalyna enjoys the most about career coaching
  • Clients with alternative careers like singing can learn how to make an income doing what they love
  • Not everyone knows what they love to do and have the skills to make an income with: What you are good at + What you love to do + What you can get paid to do + What are your core motivators (what puts you in your element and what impact you want to make)
  • Mash together your core interests to create a career that is a hybrid that keeps you excited and motivated
  • Types of audiences she speaks to for speaking engagements: high schools, college students, business settings
  • Kalyna does most 60 minute and 2 hour speaking sessions that are interactive, similar to workshops, that includes a package that involves the audience asking questions and translating the information into their life – not just talking about her life
  • Always learning or optimizing is what Kalyna enjoys and entrepreneurship
  • Age plays a roll to tailor her content to the audience for career design
  • Talking and sharing and interacting is important – but doing is vitally important
  • Her speaker topics include: finding your genius niche, designing a career that you love, who do you want to be, choosing your work environment, having a vision, making an impact, taking perfect action now, leadership
  • Most of Kalyna’s social media is done through her name Kalyna Miletic: website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
  • Keys to Entrepreneurship: Resilience/Determination: it’s not about if, but when & how. Being Open to New Things and Learning
  • Mentorship and Community is key to success in business

 

3 Key Points:

1.What you are good at + What you love to do + What you can get paid to do + What are your core motivators (what puts you in your element and what impact you want to make)

2.Kalyna does most 60 minute and 2 hour speaking sessions that are interactive, similar to workshops, that includes a package that involves the audience asking questions and translating the information into their life – not just talking about her life

3.Keys to Entrepreneurship: Resilience/Determination: it’s not about if, but when & how. Being Open to New Things and Learning

 

Tweetable Quotes:

-“Is this really what the rest of my life is going to look like after school? Where, I look forward to, two weeks of vacation and lunch breaks and coffee breaks?” – Kalyna Miletic.

-“Where am I at? Where do I want to be? How do I close that gap?”– Kalyna Miletic.

-“Talking is important, but doing is also critical.” – Kalyna Miletic.

– “Just because you are good at something, doesn’t mean you should be doing it.” – Kalyna Miletic.

 

Resources Mentioned:

You might be interested in

NEW! SOB Episode: Nancy Shone – Founder of Photo Sharing App Pingster

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Nancy Shone - Founder of Photo Sharing App Pingster

-Podcast Show Notes-

Pingster: The App That Mixes GPS With Photo Sharing

Episode – 29

Summary:

Today, on SOB: Style of Business, Keetria conducts an interview with Nancy Shone, an electrical engineer, digital marketer, and the creator of the photo sharing app Pingster.Keetria and Nancy discuss Nancy’s journey in the business world as a woman and her chosen strategies for entrepreneurship. Nancy Shone explains how she witnessed the technology world make a drastic shift from hardware to software, and how she has participated in both phases of tech. Also, Nancy Shone discusses how and why she came up with the new photo sharing app Pingster, and the ways in which it will add value for users as it expands.

Show Notes:

  • Keetria gives an overview of Nancy Shone
  • Nancy Shone gives a summary of her background

o Nancy went to North Eastern University for electrical engineering

o Equal opportunity for women drove Nancy towards electrical engineering

o The need for hardware in the 1980s drove success in the industry, now software solutions have changed that

o Nancy’s career has taken her from the semiconductor industry designing integrated circuits/hardware chips for everyday electronics to then having kids and becoming a freelancer and entrepreneur at home

o More recently working as entrepreneur and video and digital marketing specialist

  • Nancy defines her video marketing/production as “Moving digital art through the use of a software program.”
  • Nancy’s mission for her app Pingsteris to make lives easier and level the playing field of popularity required to get photos seen online
  • Nancy explains what make makes Pingster different
  • How Pingster works, every location on the globe will have a story
  • “Pingites” are people adding photos to locations, Pingster will first launch on iPhone then Android, website: Pingster.info
  • Pingster is great for people that travel, are looking for places when they travel, hiking, investigating beautiful landmarks, connect with people locally
  • Pingster will be a social media app, people can enable the chat feature to communicate
  • It’s a geo-tagged imagery location-based app, so when images get uploaded to the cloud the app can direct people where the picture was taken
  • Nancy didn’t completely come up with Pingster alone, she bounces her ideas off of others
  • Real success with apps comes down to having users
  • Nancy measures success by creating something from nothing, finish what she starts, entrepreneurial success is when you create value
  • “Never stop trying and never give up.” – Nancy
  • Nancy’s contact information

3 Key Points:

1.Tech moving from hardware to software.

2.Pingster began with Nancy feeling that phot sharing apps are mostly popularity contests.

3.Pingster mixes GPS with photo sharing.

 

Tweetable Quotes:

-“If you or your business is not connected to the internet, then you will be left in the

dust.” – Nancy Shone.

-“Photo sharing apps, it’s all based on followers, and being followed by others. It’s more

like a popularity contest.” – Nancy Shone.

-“It’s all about capturing nature and culture through GPS.” –Nancy Shone.

– “It connects people physically through imagery.” – Nancy Shone.

-“Never stop trying and never give up.” – Nancy Shone.

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

You might be interested in

NEW! SOB Episode: Miesha Robinson – Founder of Ucrowd

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Miesha Robinson - Founder of Ucrowd

On this episode of Style of Business, Keetria speaks with the founder of Ucrowd, a new ticketing platform for events and entertainment, Miesha Robinson. The company is based in Los Angeles. Miesha talks about her journey, her new platform and gives advice to aspiring entrepreneurs about how to be prepared for investors and ways to stay motivated.

Style of Business
-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode – 28

Summary:

On this episode of Style of Business, Keetria speaks with the founder of Ucrowd, a new ticketing platform for events and entertainment, Miesha Robinson. The company is based in Los Angeles. Miesha talks about her journey, her new platform and gives advice to aspiring entrepreneurs about how to be prepared for investors and ways to stay motivated.

Show Notes:

  • Miesha started working on Ucrowd in college.
  • She graduated in 2014 from Cal State Dominguez Hill with a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing.
  • She was involved in a few different companies where she helped with sales, merchandising, and management.
    • Kellogg’s, Target, Hertz Rental Cars
  • Has an extensive background in sales and marketing and helped her launch Ucrowd, an online ticketing platform.
  • Took a computer information systems class in school where she had to create a blog about one of the projects they created.
    • She came up with the idea of creating a blog about events that were free with in a 10-mile radius of where she lived.
    • She couldn’t find a platform that combined all of the information about free and affordable events in the area.
    • She created Ucrowd to fill this need.
  • Ucrowd is an online self-service ticketing and registration platform for events.
    • Ucrowd focuses on bringing people together offline while simultaneously redefining the ticketing industry.
    • Not only is it a ticketing platform, it’s also a social platform.
    • Ucrowd is bridging the gap between social and ticketing industries.
    • You can go on the site and filter by distance, category (such as music and theatre).
    • You can create your own event or register for an existing one.
  • Miesha’s tech experience.
    • Miesha had little tech experience but used YouTube to understand how to build her website.
    • She created Ucrowd’s website from scratch choosing look, feel, and flow.
    • You can find so many things online to help you do all the tech stuff for your website.
  • When it comes to a business plan, it’s important to link up with someone who knows more than you.
    • A business plan is a blueprint for your business.
    • It took about a month to lay out everything she needed for her business plan.
  • When she was looking for events, it was hard to find ones that weren’t really expensive.
    • A. has events going on constantly, but Miesha has to find events that fit her niche market.
    • She wanted to take her experience at live events and put it into one particular app or tool to find things to do during the week.
  • Ucrowd is different from other platforms because of pricing.
    • Other ticketing platforms focus on adding fees to the event price
    • Ucrowd focuses on making event booking affordable so you get your money’s-worth.
    • They have straightforward pricing so you know exactly what you’re getting and there’s only one fee associated with the purchase.
    • Ucrowd uses social buying – there is a direct button on social so people can buy tickets directly from social media.
    • The event organizer can share pictures from the event and people can comment on them.
  • What was the strategy for launching Ucrowd?
    • Creating a business plan.
    • Creating a pre-launch and post-launch marketing plan.
    • Miesha had a great professor that took time to go over her business plan with her and helped her map out:
      • Where she wanted to go
      • How she wanted to get there
      • Who she needed to connect with.
    • Used the SBA (Small Business Association) who helps entrepreneurs get from point A to point B.
    • She funded her own processes, such as the Trademark process.
    • Miesha encourages entrepreneurs to use their day job as a stepping stone to get to their dreams.
    • She put away money from each check to fund her dreams and make Ucrowd work.
  • People are afraid to move forward and act on their vision because they listen to outside voices other than their own
    • Instead of embodying our confidence we listen to the detractors.
    • You have to encourage yourself through the entire journey.
    • If you listen to others opinions, it will discourage you and deter you from bringing your ideas into fruition.
    • Take time, plan everything out, if you don’t know something reach out to someone who knows more than you do.
  • The evolution of the event industry over the next 5-10 years.
    • Miesha believes there’s going to be a merge between purchases and social media more than it is now.
  • Miesha enjoys the independence that comes from her entrepreneur journey.
    • Through entrepreneurship, unless you have a day job, you’re not sure when the next time will be that you make a big sale.
    • She likes working on a project where she gets to be creative and can push herself.
    • She likes to help other people create opportunities within business and encourage them.
  • What challenges has she faced as an entrepreneur.
    • For Miesha, the main challenge has been financial resources.
    • Raising funds for your business out of your own pocket can be straining.
    • It’s hard to raise funds and convince the investor that it’s worth their while.
      • You have to be able to get other people to understand your vision.
    • Before presenting to investors in an incubator situation, you need to make sure you have a pitch deck and business plan. You need to be ready for presenting.
      • She went to a luncheon for an incubator and was asked on the fly to pitch her idea.
        • Thankfully she was prepared and invited back to do a full presentation.
      • Did 10-15-minute presentation for investors.
      • You must know your numbers, your marketing plan and your ROI.
      • You need to know your business like the back of your hand.
    • Miesha stays motivated through prayer and circumstance and expectation.
      • She did not have a wealthy upbringing and in moments where you have to stay motivated.
      • When you pray, you expect God to move and change things.
        • Personal mantra: Faith without works is dead.
      • She prays herself through any circumstance.
    • The best advice someone has given her is to believe in herself and continue to move in love.
      • She focuses on what’s important to her: being creative and helping others.
    • Another key piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:
      • Don’t become a slave to your circumstance. There’s a lesson in failure, use it as a stepping stone.
    • Working on an online talk show for entrepreneurs.

Tweetable Quotes:

  • “I encourage entrepreneurs to use their day job as a stepping stone to get to their dreams.”
  • “You have to encourage yourself through the entire journey.”
  • “Faith without works is dead.”

Resources Mentioned

Styleofbusiness.com – Podcast website

Ucrowd –Miesha Robinson’s company – Website will be available next year.

Cal State Dominguez Hill – Miesha Robinson’s Alma Mater

Social Media Handles: @iammiesha; @officialucrowd

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NEW! SOB Episode: Charlynda Scales – CEO of Mutt’s Sauce

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Charlynda Scales CEO

On this episode of SOB (Style of Business), Keetria interviews Charlynda Scales, the CEO of Mutt’s Sauce. Charlynda is an Air Force veteran who took her grandfather’s sauce recipe and turned it into a business.

Style of Business
-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode 27

Summary:

On this episode of SOB (Style of Business), Keetria interviews Charlynda Scales, the CEO of Mutt’s Sauce. Charlynda is an Air Force veteran who took her grandfather’s sauce recipe and turned it into a business. Mutt’s Sauce was created because Charlynda’s grandfather strongly disliked condiments and wanted to create a sauce that could go on anything. Charlynda talks about becoming an unlikely entrepreneur, how she manages her time, what motivates her, and what she’s learned as a business owner. She also advises other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Show Notes:

  • Host Keetra introduces Charlynda Scales, CEO of Mutt’s Sauce and former Air Force veteran.
  • Charlynda gives a brief introduction of herself.
  • Background of Mutt’s Sauce:
    • Charlynda grew up in the country with her extended family.
    • Her grandfather came up with a recipe for a sauce because he hated condiments.
    • He wanted to make one sauce for everything and came up with Mutt’s Sauce through trial and error.
    • The final recipe was created in 1956 and stayed with the family for years.
    • Charlynda’s grandfather left the Mutt’s Sauce recipe to her.
    • Charlynda turned the recipe into a business.
  • The Mutt’s Sauce business began as a gift to family and friends and grew.
  • It took four months to turn the Mutt’s Sauce recipe into a business.
  • Used org for mentorship as she was a budding startup.
    • org builds you a checklist to get to a final product.
  • Created the product while she was on active duty in the military.
  • What makes Mutt’s Sauce stand out?
    • “Tasting is believing.”
    • It has a flavor that’s unlike anything anyone’s ever tried.
    • It’s sweet and tangy with a little bit of heat.
    • Not like anything on the market in terms of flavor and consistency.
    • It’s not like mumbo sauce because everyone has a different version of mumbo sauce.
  • The number one question people ask about Mutt’s Sauce is if they can drink it.
    • Someone created a cocktail called The Bloody Mutt.
  • Types of market research for brand positioning and making sure that the products stand out.
    • The BBQ sauce market is flooded, Mutt’s Sauce is a specialty sauce.
    • Lab testing has to be done before you can get into stores.
      • Worked with university labs to test the pH and shelf life of the sauce.
      • Safety and preservatives need to be tested.
    • You have to apply to stores to get your product on the shelves.
  • The launch process.
    • She joined the local chamber of commerce.
    • The chamber of commerce helped her to a launch event.
    • The first production was by an Amish family in Wellston, Ohio.
      • 700 bottles were hand poured.
    • Great turnout at the launch event, all 700 bottles were sold.
    • Launch event members connected her to local stores to get Mutt’s Sauce on the shelf.
      • Her first client was a hotel, some farmer’s markets, and some local vendors.
    • What time management looks like.
      • Learned about time management in the military.
      • You need to be efficient choose your top priorities and be realistic about what can be done.
      • Get your top two critical things done each day.
    • Helpful books on business management and entrepreneurship.
      • The Power of Broke by Daymond John.
        • Charlynda is a VIP ambassador for Daymond John’s new book Rise and Grind coming out next January.
        • Talks about his journey with FUBU.
        • Hear about testimonials from people with humble beginnings.
      • Charlynda’s interests when she was younger-
        • Charlynda wanted to be a doctor and had an interest in anatomy and the human body.
        • Never aspired to own a company but like to work with people.
        • Naturally inquisitive about how people operate and want to know what motivates them.
        • Majored in business and got an MBA.
      • What she enjoys most about her entrepreneurial journey.
        • The people she’s met and the friends she’s made have made the journey worth it.
      • What are the challenges of entrepreneurship?
        • Not having a partner to help.
        • Entrepreneurship can be lonely and networking can help.
        • Trying to explain to people who aren’t entrepreneurs why you’ve chosen to run a business and make sacrifices.
      • Understanding that the business is bigger than her is what keeps her going each day.
      • She considers herself a servant leader of the people who have made Mutt’s Sauce a part of their lifestyle.
      • The best life advice she’s ever gotten is to believe in something bigger than herself and stay humble.
      • Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: If you’re thinking about doing something, there’s a reason why you’re having that thought and it’s tied to a purpose.
        • Just have faith, do it, and realize it’s not as scary as you thought.
      • All social handles are @muttssauce

Tweetable Quotes:

  • “Entrepreneurship is to embrace the unknown.”
  • “Opportunities stop when humility is gone.”
  • “Even when you hit it big, you operate like you did when you were broke.”

Resources Mentioned

Mutt’s Sauce – Charlynda’s product website

Charlyndajean.com – Charlynda’s personal website

Score.org – Mentorship site

The Power of Broke – Book by entrepreneur Daymond John

Rise and Grind – Book by Daymond John and Daniel Paisner

FUBU – Daymond John’s clothing company

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NEW! SOB Episode: Rob Aurelius – Co Founder of A&R Collective Group

Published on
Rob Aurelius - Co Founder of A&R Collective Group

Check out the latest episode of the SOB Podcast! I had a great chat with Rob Aurelius who launched his career in the entertainment/sports industry by taking a chance on himself and stepping into opportunity.

Style of Business

-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode 25

Summary:

In this episode, Keetria interviews Rob Aurelius of A&R Collective group, a New York based organization providing promotional services. Starting in 2013, this organization co-founded by Rob has managed to add the iconic WWE to its client roster. Learn how Rob managed to leverage Twitter to effectively network with WWE wrestlers like Prince Nana and The Brooklyn Brawler. Rob also shares the impressive initiatives made by the WWE community in the fields of pediatric and breast cancer. Tune-in to learn more about this passionate and socially responsible entrepreneur whose militant FOCUS helps him to provide his clients the BEST service possible.

Show Notes:

  •     Rob is the co-founder of A&R Collective Group

          o      Started in 2013, they provide varied services such as entertainment, marketing, consulting, advertising, promotions, event planning, event management and social media management

          o      Caters to the music industry and competes with the likes of Sony and Viacom; being a boutique firm, they have the ability to connect with their clients

  •     Rob shares how they got involved with WWE

          o      While helping out a friend with her social media campaign, Rob got acquainted with former wrestler, Gene Snisky who introduced him to many other former wrestlers

          o      Got in touch with Prince Nana of Ring of Honor fame via Twitter; Prince Nana agreed to help out Rob if Rob helped him to get verified on Twitter

          o      Networked with former WWE wrestlers who are now associated with NBC, the local wrestling outfit

          o      Not happy with WWE managing their careers, a lot of wrestlers were looking for an outside backstage agent

          o      Got in touch with Steve Lombardi aka “The Brooklyn Brawler” via Twitter; Steve introduced him to many WWE wrestlers who needed help with promotion

  •     Admires that fact that WWE community leverages the power of its brand to address social issues

          o      Organizes school visits and even conducts free shows for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

          o      Connor’s Cure, a WWE community initiative focuses on pediatric cancer

          o      Susan G. Komen is another prominent program that works for the eradication of breast cancer; having lost a close friend to breast cancer, Rob is really passionate about this cause

  •     Rob shares how he got HOOKED onto kickboxing

          o      Growing up, Rob idolized Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali; he admired Ali for raising his voice against racism

          o      Encouraged by Steve Lombardi to work on his fitness, Rob took on kickboxing; keeping his 2017 New Year’s resolution, Steve joined iLoveKickboxing

          o      It is NEVER too late to take up something new!

  •     What FUELS Rob to keep on working

          o      Being a third-generation immigrant, Rob realized the value of hard work; feels blessed to be born in America, the land of opportunities

          o      A spiritual person, Rob believes that his giving personality is ideally suited for his kind of business where he can genuinely help out people

          o      Wants to be a source of INSPIRATION for the youth

          o      Loves working for WWE since it has given him visibility and a chance to build a SOLID reputation

  •     Not a big fan of Apps, Rob uses tools like Buffer to schedule his Tweets; being a small outfit with just 3 people, Rob uses such tools to downsize his work
  •     Rob shares his experience with various social mediums

          o      Has a strong presence on Twitter with 190K followers; uses it to get feedback and voice his opinion

          o      A big proponent of using Twitter Ads

          o      Is active on Facebook and Instagram as well; uses Facebook for networking and posts pictures of beautiful Brooklyn on Instagram

  •     Rob wants to ensure that his parents have a stress-free and comfortable life in their later years

          o      Rob’s mother had a difficult time raising four children; his father is still working and refuses to retire at 67!

          o      Hopes that his parents get their benefits and can retire with the right insurance plan

  •     If you are passionate about something and want to bring it to life, go out there and make sure you do it!
  •     WCW or WWE?

          o      WWE bought WCW years ago; years ago WWE and WCW had an epic battle going on

          o      Back in the day, icons like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Ric Flair joined WCW

          o      Always loyal to WWE, Rob respect Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE

          o      WWE has evolved from a wrestling organization to a global promotions company

3 Key Points:

  1.       Use the POWER of social media to network with prospects and attain greater visibility.
  2.       Aim to genuinely HELP your clients and the greater community at large by concentrating not just on the work, but also on social initiatives.

3.       PASSION will help you find your internal voice—this voice will push you to go out there and just do it!

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NEW! SOB Episode: Stephanie Caudle – Owner & Founder of Black Girl Group

Published on
Laughing Matters with Comedian Deveron “D” Dennis

Here’s the latest episode of SOB – I’m speaking with Stephanie Caudle about her new micro job site venture and her continuous journey in the tech industry!

Style of Business

-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode 24

Summary:

In this episode, Keetria interviews Stephanie Caudle of Black Girl Group, a micro-job site and organization helping connect African-American freelancers to companies who are struggling to hire diverse, freelance talent. Listen as Stephanie shares the various struggles she has faced on her entrepreneurial journey. She shares about her noble vision of creating a platform aimed at helping African American women earn extra income as well helping the US marketplace become more culturally diverse and inclusive. Tune-in as she discusses the key factors that contribute to her success and the value of stepping out and taking that LEAP of FAITH.

Show Notes:

  •     Keetria introduces Stephanie to the show
  •     Stephanie is the founder and CEO of Black Girl Group, a micro-job site

o      Similar to Fiverr and Upwork, but caters solely to African American women

  •     The Origins of Black Girl Group

o      Was launched in November 2016

o      As a PR agent at Tom Ford, Stephanie was handling 45 clients and was totally burnout

o      Was laid off from her job immediately after registering her site; been working full-time on Black Girl Group ever since

  •     Stephanie has a two-fold mission:

o      1. Help women increase their load

o      2. Increase diversity

  •     Coming from a publishing background, was terrified of entering the tech industry; only 1% of women receive funding in the tech industry

o      Admits that her misgivings for the tech industry were unfounded; was recently accepted into an incubator program promoted by Google

o      Has received resources that have allowed her to grow as a freelancer and a startup founder

  •     Wants to leverage on the fact that African American women are the fastest growing entrepreneurs in the United States
  •     Realized the immense NEED for African American talent when she saw a Twitter ad for an African American writer placed by an influential CEO

o      The CEO was specifically targeting African American buyers, the race that spends the most money in America

o      The only way to get in front of African American audiences is through hiring African American talent

o      For hiring African American talent, you need to go to a platform such as Black Girl Group where you can find all this talent in one place

  •     Offers a variety of services such as virtual assistance, writers, web designer, developers and much more
  •     Learn how Stephanie’s marketing background has helped her

o      Graduated from North Carolina AT&T with a concentration in public relations

o      Is able to handle her own media outreach and pitching to gain visibility

o      Is able to create targeted content that resonates with viewers; recently created a blog post titled, “How do you make money as a freelancer without going broke”

o      Digital marketing experience helps her in keyword searches through which she zeros in on the right topics

  •     CHALLENGES encountered

o      Getting funding for her venture has been Stephanie’s biggest challenge; has received pushbacks because of the name of her company

o      People think that her business model is divisive

o      Many emotional challenges as well

  •     Stephanie’s shares how she kickstarted Black Girl

o      Writing for Huffington Post was her side hustle while she had a full-time job

o      In the midst of losing her job, took up freelance writing as a fulltime profession

o      Her experiences as a freelancer has equipped her to deal with the ups and downs of business

  •     The things she ENJOYS the most about being an entrepreneur

o      Being a mom, she values the flexibility that her profession offers

o      Wishes to help African-Americans succeed by giving them access to valuable information

  •     Shares that the Google Incubator she is associated with is especially designed to help startup founders of color; has received help in the form of legal fees, website development and staffing
  •     RESOURCES to help you manage your startup

o      Attended the 2-day internet summit focusing on digital marketing and broader technology

o      Has checked out the Blavity conference online

o      Recommends Medium to anyone looking for information about startups; this is where she got she found Google Incubator

3 Key Points:

  1.       It is always good to have a side-hustle which will fetch you some extra money. In the event that you lose your job, this can develop into your main source of income.
  2.       Finding a good incubator is a great way to kickstart your startup; there are incubators who focus solely on helping startup founders of color.
  3.       Be bold, go ahead and just take the LEAP of FAITH; the only reason we have 9 to 5 jobs is because someone decided to do just that!

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