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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #203, of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Trevor Lohrbeer, Founder and CEO of Day Optimizer, a desktop + mobile web service that helps you convert your daily todo list into a daily schedule, so you can accomplish more. Trevor joined us from Berlin, Germany.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan.

Our podcast is sponsored by our companies, Your Business Your Brand Creatively and Detroit Ink Publishing. You’ll hear more from our sponsors later in this episode, and we appreciate your support!

Please support our sponsor, the YB2C Pam’s Power Hours, providing customized one-hour business consulting to clients worldwide.

About Our Guest

Trevor and I met through podcast networking activities, primarily the recent PodmaxGlobal Virtual Conference. Trevor calls himself a serial entrepreneur, having started at least four companies over his career. His current business is Day Optimizer, designed to help people become more deliberate in how they plan their day. The purpose of Day Optimizer functions by showing people how to balance their time and their personal and professional priorities.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Trevor discussed the planning process used by Day Optimizer, that uses a three-step process when reviewing your daily or weekly tasks and actives: 1) Commit. 2) Allocate. 3) Schedule. The Day Optimizer web and the mobile app encourage the user to create “mindfulness checkpoints” to check in and ask: Is this the most important thing to do at this time? Yes: keep doing it. No: Push it aside for something else.

For creatives, Trevor recommends that we schedule our “live” tasks in hard time blocks, and then schedule and “optional block,” and then another hard block. Do not schedule a hard block right after the creative tasks, and try not to schedule creative tasks right before a set appointment.

Please support our sponsor: If you are a creative or solo professional, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking for education, motivation, community, and inspiration about branding and marketing specifically designed for you, you are invited to join the #1 Global Facebook Group, YB2C Premium!

Words of Wisdom

Trevor feels that everyone should have a chance to see how Day Optimizer can change the way people, and especially creative professionals, schedule their days and manage their time and their tasks. He is offering a free 7-day trial of the app at Day Optimizer.com.

Find Trevor Lohrbeer on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

What’s Next

Thank you for listening to this week’s episode! Please make sure to support our sponsors and to sign up for our email list so that you’ll be notified about all of the programs and services especially for you!

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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #202 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Our special guests this week are native Detroiters Michelle May and her sister, Dr. Angela May. They are excited about the relaunch of their consultancy, A.M. May & Associates, through which they provide customized coaching and consulting growth strategies for individuals and organizations worldwide.

Our podcast is sponsored by our companies, Your Business Your Brand Creatively and Detroit Ink Publishing. You’ll hear more from our sponsors later in this episode, and we appreciate your support!

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan.

Please support our sponsor, the YB2C Pam’s Power Hours, providing customized one-hour business consulting to clients worldwide.

About Our Guests

Michelle and Angela are both very talented and accomplished musicians, and both have performed on local and national stages. Both sisters teach music students at their private music studio, focusing on violin, voice, and flute. Additionally, Michelle performs and records regularly with her jazz and classical fusion music group, Musique Noir. Angela published a book, “Freedom: What Is the Experience of Living Without Negative Self-Imposed Limitations?” that is available on Amazon.

Michelle, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and Angela, who holds a Ph.D. in clinical and forensic psychology, are both also professional counselors and coaches. Michelle teaches at Oakland Community College and Angela is in private practice.

Michelle and Angela first started their private counseling business in 1996, and have now re-launched it as a virtual coaching consultancy, offering individual and group counseling, workshops, coaching, speaking engagements, and consulting, working primarily with creative professionals and entrepreneurs.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guests Talked About

Michelle and Dr. Angela strongly feel that they now have clarity about the services they offer their clients: diversity issues, self-care for caregivers, the African-American community, women, transitional issues for women and men involved in the criminal justice system, motivation, time and stress management, college survival techniques (undergraduate and graduate), and more.

Many people of all ages and stages in life are dealing with mental health issues, trauma, grief, and anxiety. The sisters strongly believe that talking through these issues with professional counselors help people to open up and be able to see new opportunities in spite of their trials and challenges.

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Words of Wisdom

Michelle and Angela want our listeners who are entrepreneurs currently questioning their choices to remember that the same sets of talents, resilience, strength, joyfulness, passion, and all those other things that built your business, that you may have lost, are still right there within you.

What’s Next

Join the YB2C Premium Facebook Group for Creative and Solo Professionals

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Welcome to the YB2C Podcast for Entrepreneurs, Season 4, Episode #201, featuring our special guest, Tisha Davis, the CEO of DesignJunkieTees, a graphic design and customized clothing company. Tisha recently took the leap of faith and transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan.

Please support our sponsor, the YB2C Pam’s Power Hours, providing customized one-hour business consulting to clients worldwide.

About Our Guest

Tisha has a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree, and a certification in entrepreneurship essentials from Harvard Business School online. Tisha says that when you work for someone else, you are helping them with their vision, but when you work for yourself, you are achieving your own vision.

Tisha is a graphic designer, a content marketer, a clothing designer, a speaker, a marketer, and a singer. Tisha was an entrepreneur, then into the corporate sector, then into the nonprofit sector, and then back to corporate, and now she is again a full-time entrepreneur.

Tisha’s father was an entrepreneur, and following his example, she now uses all of those skills and expertise with her own company.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Tisha believes that even during this pandemic, we have to be marketers because that’s what we do. Her business allows her to design—her favorite thing—and make her dreams come true.

Words of Wisdom

Tisha has a couple of words of wisdom: 1) Just get started and learn what you need to know along the way. 2) Connect with other people who are doing similar things and ask a million questions. 3) Get a team together and have your team members handle what you’re not good at.

Design Junkie Tees Website

Tisha on LinkedIn

Tisha on Facebook

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Welcome to the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, Season 4, Episode #200, featuring our special guest, Cheryl Herrick of Ponytail Racing and PTR Consulting and Coaching, of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan. This special episode was recorded as part of the PodMax Global July 2020 Virtual Conference.

About Our Guest

Through her company PTR Consulting and Coaching, Cheryl Herrick offers programs in business leadership, personal and professional transformation, tapping into your creativity. Cheryl’s Ponytail Racing company holds several different drag racing and Motorcross events. One of her signature events is “Racing for Warriors,” a series of events that offer a fun, safe day at the race track for U.S. Veterans affected by PSTD and other consequences of their service.

What Our Guest Talked About

Cheryl grew up in Michigan and started her entrepreneurial journey at an early age. Almost every time she said she wanted something, her parents would ask: “Well, how are you going to pay for that?” Cheryl decided that she would go out and do odd jobs (several different things, but not babysitting!) to get the funds she needed. Her mom was an entrepreneur and a role model for Cheryl’s later business ventures.

Cheryl always loved racing, and eventually, she found a way to incorporate her love of racing, along with her training in transformative coaching and business leadership into two viable companies that she leads today.

In this episode, Cheryl talks about what questions people should ask and what they should learn about themselves as they prepare to go into business or to change their business model.

Words of Wisdom

Cheryl reminds our listeners that they be sure that there is a market for their product or service, and then ask, “Is there any margin in that market?” Next, you have to have a method of delivery of your product or service that sets you apart from your competition. Finally, just keep going.

Contact Cheryl:

Website and Contact Form

Facebook

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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #199 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our special guest, Robert Grigore, all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia! Robert is a counsellor specializing in EMDR (Eye Movement and Reprocessing) therapy, and the founder and CEO of Grigore Counselling.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan.

This special interview was part of the recent July, 2020 PodMax Virtual Global Conference.

About Our Guest

Robert has a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and is a certified EMDR Therapist and approved EMDR Consultant through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). He opened Grigore Counselling in 2015. Robert has always loved helping people, and he can—faster and more deeply than he could have ever imagined possible.

What Our Guest Talked About

During our podcast interview, Robert discusses with EMDR is, how he came to open his own private practice after working for others, and the ups and downs, and successes and challenges of working for himself rather than for others. Like many entrepreneurs, he found that he wasn’t making enough money as an employee (and Vancouver has one of the highest global costs of living), and he just knew he could do better working for himself. He talks about overcoming the fear of stepping out on his own and following his dream.

Words of Wisdom

Robert believes that if you truly want to be an entrepreneur, you should cultivate your awareness and follow your heart. Be clear, work hard, get help, and trust yourself. It will all come together.

Contact Robert Grigore:

Website:

Robert’s Book: “You Need Therapy”

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You NEED Therapy.: EMDR: Real People, With Real Problems, Getting Real Help

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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #198 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! Our special guest this week, Tom Gaddis, is a 7-figure digital marketing specialist and hails all the way from Hawaii.

This special episode was recorded at the July 2020 Virtual #PodMaxGlobal Conference.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Historic Boston-Edison District in Detroit, Michigan.

About Our Guest

Tom says he always wanted to be self-employed and free from the butt-smooching of the corporate world. He wanted success bad enough that he struck out to follow the entrepreneur’s dream. Starting from zero, Tom embarked on building a local marketing consulting business. And promptly fell on his face!

But he persevered and learned from his mistakes. After achieving success with his local marketing, Tom leveraged his experience and knowledge to start teaching others online. Now through his new What’s the Secret Podcast, he shares exactly how he did it.

Tom also owns PS Direct Marketing, Hands Off Media, and is a co-founder of Offline Sharks. He lives in Kihei, Hawaii with his wife Miranda, two daughters Paige & Sophia, and their grumpy dog Patches.

A Typical Day in the Life

So I usually get up around six in the morning. If it's a workout day, I work out and usually I have about an hour of what I call it, personal development time in the mornings where I just focus on my goals, what I want to do, try to make myself a better person. Then I take the kids to school. I'm usually in my office between 8:30 and 9:00 am. setting down to work somewhere in between eight 30 and nine in the morning.

I do a lot of the creative activities in the morning and admin stuff in the afternoon after I pick up the kids from school. We also do a lot of live trainings and stuff online.

Words of Wisdom

Well, I'd say the biggest thing is never let failure go to your head. How you react to that, I think is what's going to determine your success or "not success." The next thing I would say is hanging out with likeminded people like entrepreneurs and people trying to grow a business. We think differently. We have a different view of the world and most of the people around us don't understand it.

Contact Tom

Podcast: TomGaddis.com

Digital Marketing: OfflineSharks.com

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Girlfriend, get rid of that “Hag in Your Attic” and keep on moving!~~Kim Boudreau Smith

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #197 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest from Michigan, Kim Boudreau Smith, founder of Her Bold Voice Speaks.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C), which provides branding, marketing, training, productivity, and copywriting services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Kim helps women learn to speak and communicate effectively on any stage of their lives, so they enhance their confidence, gain freedom, and stop leaving opportunities on the table.

She wants women to move from the written word to the spoken word, adding their actual voice to their marketing mix, along with their websites, blogs, podcasts, etc. Kim believes that effective speaking is an essential marketing tool.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Kim tells our listeners the story of how she started in business with an internet radio show and a blog, and eventually evolved to have a coaching business that uplifts women and enhances their confidence and self-esteem through maximizing their speaking skills. She now has several programs and a full curriculum that she uses to work with her clients in person and online.

If you are a creative or solo professional, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking for education, motivation, community, and inspiration about branding and marketing specifically designed for you, you are invited to join the #1 Global Facebook Group, YB2C Premium!

Words of Wisdom

Kim believes that your success will be enhanced if you are involved with a “tribe” that supports you and your efforts. She also believes that you should find a mentor, which is different from a business coach. Kim says you should have both. Finally, be careful of where and how you spend your time and your money.

Her Bold Voice Speaks

Phone: (248) 505-2075

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Fully devote yourself to being an entrepreneur, like you have no other option. That’s the only way to dive in and stay consistent. ~~Clarene Mitchell

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #193 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Clarene Mitchell, LinkedIn Specialist, business owner, author, and speaker.

See below for the FREE offer from our guest!

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Several months after her 20-year professional career unexpectedly ended, Clarene finally decided to start her own business, and now she cannot imagine having a “real” job again. She has found that being an entrepreneur to be the hardest, yet most rewarding career of her life.

Guest Info

Clarene states that in her former careers she was a print journalist and public relations professional, so she knew that communications was her strong suit. She transitioned the skills and experience she already had into a viable new business.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Although she signed up for a LinkedIn account in 2007, she found that like a lot of people, she was seriously underutilizing the service. Now she teaches individuals and groups how to effectively maximize their LinkedIn accounts and profiles. Clarene gave our listeners lots of great tips for using LinkedIn as their primary social media network as an entrepreneurial professional.

Words of Wisdom

Clarene has a FREE Offer for the podcast listeners: Text “Shine” to 414.344.8111 and you will receive a reference diagram with LinkedIn and other valuable tips.

TCM Communications, LLC

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To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be really passionate about solving a problem for someone, Rachel Newsome

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #193, of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Rachel Newsome of Crowns On Wellness Center, in Detroit, MI.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Rachel focuses on Afrocentric and holistic health and wellness. She uses ancient African modalities to help her clients with their healing and wellness journeys. Her goal is to create a sustainable lifestyle so they can continue on after they complete their customized program.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Rachel gave our listeners some wonderful tips and helpful and healthful recommendations for learning how to improve one’s health. For each of her clients, she customizes her programs that include plant-based nutrition, body movement, and herbs. Rachel is also a certified herbalist.

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Words of Wisdom

When you start a business, you want to make sure that it’s coming from an authentic place to help to heal the world, because that’s where your biggest abundance comes from.

You came into the world with these magical gifts and talents, but they’re not yours. They’re definitely for you to help somebody else to become better, feel better, or do better.

Crowns On Wellness

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To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be really passionate about solving a problem for someone, Rachel Newsome

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #193, of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Rachel Newsome of Crowns On Wellness Center, in Detroit, MI.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

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Words of Wisdom

When you start a business, you want to make sure that it’s coming from an authentic place to help to heal the world, because that’s where your biggest abundance comes from.

You came into the world with these magical gifts and talents, but they’re not yours. They’re definitely for you to help somebody else to become better, feel better, or do better.

Crowns On Wellness

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To communicate effectively in your niche market, your message should be comprehensible by the general marketplace.~~Wendy Meyeroff

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #191 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Wendy Meyeroff. Through her company, WMMedComm, Wendy works with her clients to turn complex health and tech copy into comprehensible plain language.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Wendy is a native New Yorker, now transplanted to Baltimore. She has been working in health and tech communications for over twenty years. Her projects include, eBooks, ghostwriting, and providing custom copywriting for the B2B and B2C markets.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides marketing services for published independent authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Wendy says that it is so important that people know what you’re talking about when you describe your health or tech product or service to the marketplace. So many times, people use “industry-speak” when they should be using plain language. Producing good copy that people can understand is so much more important than just writing for SEO purposes.

In this episode, Wendy details her journey from the 90s when most people weren’t thinking about how to talk to seniors about their health care to today, where she works with and for health care consumers, health professionals, salespeople, the media, and the growing senior marketplace.

Words of Wisdom

Wendy had one important word for our listeners: MARKETING! You need to know what marketing activities and social media outlets work for you; you need to set a marketing budget; you need to do marketing every day.

Wendy Meyeroff Website

Wendy Meyeroff LinkedIn

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The most transformational book you read is going to be the one that you write.~~Vickie Gould

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 189 of the #YB2CLive Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Michigan-based Vickie Gould, ‘The Words Lady,” a storytelling marketing and book coach.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Vickie works with clients to help them share their stories worldwide, create more impact, create a legacy, and turn their readers into clients.

Vickie talks about how she became an entrepreneur, partially because she refused to accept the usual hopeless ramifications of Lyme disease she contracted. She decided to mange her disease herself, re-brand her life and her business, and set about helping others to change their lives and the lives of others through the writing and marketing of their books.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

When Vickie works with her clients, she takes them from conception, through story structure, through putting their story together in the most impactful way, and then marketing their books, usually to best-seller status.

Words of Wisdom

Vickie says: “The life you save with the story you share nay very well be your own.” Just jump in and do it even before you’re ready.

Vickie Gould Website

Vickie Gould Facebook

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Figure out where you want to start sharing online and just start sharing!~~Tammy Pereira

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #187, of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Tammy Pereira, Michigan-based Facebook Ads Coach, and online marketing and tech expert!

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Tammy tells us that she has been in marketing for pretty much her whole career, starting in nonprofit marketing. She then worked in the corporate arena for a while, becoming a corporate consultant. Tammy says that she loves marketing; it’s been her passion since high school! When she started her own business, she put all of her marketing experience into building her own brand.

About Our Guest

Recently, Tammy decided to take her business online and decided to focus on Facebook. Through her company, Tammy coaches and consults with women entrepreneurs on Facebook marketing and Facebook advertising.

Tammy realizes that things are always changing on Facebook, and she is able to keep on top of all of the changes and help her clients navigate Facebook Land.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Tammy feels that it is important to put yourself out there every day, even if there are some days when you can’t do everything you wanted to do.

Tammy has developed a system for Facebook Ads marketing; she calls it her $5 a day System for marketing your business online organically and with paid ads. With this system, people can create one piece of content and from there create pieces to share with their audiences snd. market themselves and their businesses quickly and effectively for just $5 a day.

Words of Wisdom

Marketing is more than a full-time job for me. I live and breathe it all the time every day in the middle of the night.

Realize that it's all about if you want to be in business for the long run if you want to be in business and market your business for the long run, not like, hey, we're going to just do this get-rich-quick scheme.

Just figure out where you want to start sharing and just start sharing!

Tammy P Website

Tammy P on Facebook

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Black History Month is intended to highlight Black people and Black accomplishments. The annual celebration is not meant to reduce those components to just 28 days in a year.~~Jamon Jordan, Historian

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #185 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, noted historian Jamon Jordan, from Detroit, Michigan. We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Jamon Jordan is a noted historian, specializing in Black and African American history. He is the president of the Detroit chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). He is also the creator of the Detroit-based Black Scroll Network History & Tours, through which he provides lectures and walking tours about Black history in and around Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Jamon, an educator who is a featured repeat guest on this podcast, discussed the actual origin of Black History Month, including its evolution from “Negro History Week” founded in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the 2nd African American to graduate with a Ph.D. from Harvard. Jamon reminded us that Dr.Woodson chose the 2nd week in February for Negro History Week because that week included the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

In the 1960s, it was a group of Black university students that lobbied for the expansion of Negro History Week to Black History month within the African American culture, and in 1976, President Gerald Ford made the celebration of Black History Month official at the federal level.

That is why Black History Month is in February; nobody “gave” it to us and/or relegated the celebration to “the shortest month of the year.” Jamon also stated that of course we celebrate Black History all year long, but we highlight important historical figures, accomplishments, and events in February. His analysis included the fact that of course he loves his mother all year long, but celebrates her specifically on Mother’s Day.

You are invited to join the #1 global Facebook group for creative and solo professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, YB2C Premium. In the group, we concentrate on learning about "branding and marketing for the rest of us!"

Words of Wisdom

Jamon explained how he grew his passion for Black History into an actual business, and encourages everyone to learn about Black and African American history for themselves. There is so much more to know and appreciate than what is often taught in school.

In addition to the links above, you can also reach Jamon Jordan at 313.983.9216.

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Be Bold. Be Big. Be Bad. Invest in yourself and in your business as an entrepreneur.~~Vaneese Johnson

Welcome to Season 4, Episode #181 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Vaneese Johnson, the Boldness Coach, from the Bay Area of California. Vaneese works with women entrepreneurs and high-performing professionals in the corporate space to be bold, big, and bad.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Although she lives in California, Vaneese is a member of the Michigan Association of Female Executives (MAFE), which is she and I first met a couple of years ago. Vaneese explains that “B.O.L.D.” stands for “Becoming Out Loud Daily,” which translates into living, working, and thriving in your authenticity. She believes the genius in women includes identifying their innate gifts and creating revenue streams and opportunities that are branded and distinctive. That is how you can attract opportunities in every aspect of your life.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Vaneese believes that there are millions of people who are not in their space right now; they are shrinking violets and feel invisible. She helps them to find a way of giving themselves permission to step into their authenticity and become who they are meant to be. People need to first identify what they are really passionate about and what their calling in the world is about.

Vaneese knows that she has great energy and she loves to support people and contribute, so she decided to make a career for herself where she could manifest those qualities.

We invite you to join the #1 Global Facebook Group for creative and solo professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, YB2C Premium! We focus on branding and marketing for the rest of us.

Words of Wisdom

Vaneese feels that there are two very important things that entrepreneurs at any stage should do: 1) Take a business plan class. 2) Become a member of a business networking group of entrepreneurs that will elevate, motivate, and educate you.

Check out Vanesse, the BOLDness Coach on her website.

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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #179 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs with our special guest, Kent Langley, an instructor, speaker, advisor, and coach who joined us from San Raphael, California. We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Kent is a specialist in digital technology and works to empower people with the disruption of people who are bombarded with the explosion of technology today. Kent utilizes his extensive business experience and deep background in technology into projects around the world that help to educate, feed, and clothe people. Kent is also a faculty member at Singularity University, the co-founder of a blockchain accelerator, and the co-founder of a foundation with a mission to migrate society to abundance. Kent details his multi-faceted career on his website.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Kent helps people to realize that using technology effectively is not as hard as people think it is. Even if you stumble around at first, learning to break things into manageable pieces can help you use technology to reach your business goals. Everything you do starts out as an experiment, and it helps to start out with modest goals.

You are invited to join the #1 Global Facebook Group for Creative and Solo Professionals: YB2C Premium. We'd love for you to join us!

Words of Wisdom

Kent says that if you know it needs doing, just do it. Get it done. Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but it is really, really hard. But don’t quit, remember that your support system will make all the difference for you.

Kent Langley Website

Kent Langley LinkedIn

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Welcome to Season 4, Episode #177 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! As you may know, the acronym “YB2C” stands for Your Business Your Brand Creatively, the name of our company where we work with creative and solo professionals on their branding and marketing projects. Our special podcast guest this week is Diana Wu David, an author, strategist, and business transformation consultant, joining us from Hong Kong!

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Twenty years ago, Diana was working as a business consultant in New York City when she had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong, sponsored by the Henry Luce Foundation. She had planned to stay in Asia just a few months, but she met her husband there, started a family, and continued to build her career from Hong Kong, working with clients all over the world.

Diana moved in and out of corporate jobs over the years while having some entrepreneurial businesses along the way.

About two years ago, Diana decided to start a company that would incorporate all of her previous experience, as well as giving her the flexibility to pursue her own interests and spend more time with her family in Asia and in America.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Diana talked about seeing a need and filling it: Across Asia and the South Pacific, there were few opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies to work together to receive training and engagement programs, so she started her company to provide those services, especially with boards of directors and corporate clients.

As she discusses in her best-selling book, Future Proof: Reinventing Work in an Age of Acceleration, her focus is now helping people make sense of career disruption and reimagining a productive, profitable, and exciting future of work.

We invite you to join the YB2C Premium Facebook Group, the #1 Global Facebook Group for Creative and Solo Professionals.

Words of Wisdom from Our Guest

Diana states that she has a motto she lives by: “Don’t live the life you’ve been given; work hard for the life you want.”

Diana Wu David Website

Diana Wu David on LinkedIn

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Future Proof: Reinventing Work in the Age of Acceleration

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #173 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs featuring our special guest, Don Ferguson, co-CEO of Teeq Premium Tequila, a unique and upscale spirit meant for sipping, not gulping from a shot. Teeq Premium Tequila is one of only three Michigan tequila brands.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Before co-founding Teeq Premium Tequila, Don had no background in this industry whatsoever. Among other previous careers, Don was a divisional vice president for a major financial company for eleven years and one day! Although he was quite successful in corporate America, he decided that he wanted to do more in his life beside just sitting in a cubicle, look out of the window, and watch the world go by.

About The Company

Don set out to learn as much as he could about the tequila spirit, and he fell in love with the knowledge that it takes seven years just to grow the special agave plant used even before the production and distillation processes can begin. All agave plants are grown and harvested only in certain regions of Mexico.

Some of the benefits of tequila is that the spirit is low in sugar, keto friendly, and gluten free. A premium tequila is meant to be sipped, not gulped, and does not leave you with a nasty hangover.

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What Our Guest Talked About

The agave is part of the aloe vera plant family, and the distilling of tequila goes all the way back to the Aztecs. The plant is harvested by actual people and baked underground for up to thirty-five hours. The plants are then sent to a distillery in Mexico that uses the same wooden barrels used to distill whiskey, where it is age for eight months. The entire process is completed in Mexico under strict governmental regulations. The name “tequila” is actually trademarked by the Mexican government.

Once the tequila is ready for the market, Teeq Tequila transports it here to Kalamazoo, Michigan, which takes between eight and ten days. Then starts the process of getting the bottles into stores and ensuring that all liquor license regulations are followed.

All of that work, from the agave plant to the store shelves, as well as educating people about premium tequila, is what Don finds so interesting about working in his company.

Words of Wisdom

Don says that to start, grow, and manage a business successfully, an entrepreneur you must be passionate about your product or service, you must be consistent in your work ethic, you must be open to continually learning, and you must constantly market and promote your company and yourself as the CEO.

Don reminds our listeners that to find out more, just Google “Teeq Tequila” and everything about them will show up.

Teeq Premium Tequila Website: https://teeqspirits.com

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #171 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Stephanie Vaught, Founder and CEO of Detroit-based Social Money Finance, LLC.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Stephanie is an attorney and personal finance coach who is also a fellow graduate of the best high school in the country, Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Through her company, Stephanie specializes in financial education. Her target demographic includes busy professional working people and families. Stephanie helps them to build better money management systems for their households. Through the educational component of her company, Stephanie also helps people keep their finances organized and to really understand the importance of financial literacy.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Stephanie reminded our listeners that applying the financial knowledge you learn is just as important as receiving the financial education itself. Stephanie helps her clients to apply the information and education they receive to their specific situations. Stephanie then works on the “money mindset” of her clients, who she says must have a willingness to absorb what they are learning.

Stephanie also talked about how, in 2018, she made the move from corporate positions to full-time entrepreneurship. She detailed how her educational choices in high school and college prepared her for her entrepreneurial journey.

Words of Wisdom

Stephanie had several wonderful “Words of Wisdom” for our listeners:

Be open and be fluid to learning be open and be fluid to, you know, researching and learning your audience learning who your clientele is learning and knowing your subject and really being okay with or your product.
Get to know your clients and realize and really get a very intimate understanding of what their needs are so that you can meet those needs.
Stick through the seasons and that's why I say stay the course don't throw in the towel six months in even a year in two years in because these are your growing gears. You may suffer those growing pains, but you do get them, you get through them.
Stay motivated, stay encouraged, get around people who will motivate and encourage you, and consume very positive and inspiring information and continue to learn, learn, learn, learn.

Contact Information for Stephanie Vaught and Social Money Finance, LLC

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Social Money Finance Course

Email

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #165 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, graphic designer extraordinaire Sydnee Turner, Founder of the Sydgrafix Design Studio. Sydnee joins us from Detroit, Michigan.

We record this podcast every week from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Sydnee has been the primary graphic designer for me and for my various companies for many years. Originally from the Bay area of California, Sydnee has been in Detroit for over twenty-six years. She says she counts how many years she’s been in Detroit by the number of winters she’s been through here. After leaving the Army, Sydnee held several corporate jobs but then decided to focus solely on graphic design. She received a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook here in suburban Detroit and considers herself a provider of visual solutions.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Sydnee stressed that budding graphic designers need to learn both the basics of graphic design and how to implement a marketing strategy. When Sydnee started her business almost twenty years ago, all of her work consisted of graphic design for print, but now about 40% of her business is for digital projects.

Sydnee has several large and long-term clients, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the African World Festival. Sydnee really enjoys working with community-based projects such as the Wright Museum, which has been her client for over fifteen years. The Wright Museum is the 2nd-largest museum of its kind since the Smithsonian Museum of African American History opened. Sydnee also has several corporate clients who provide her with a regular source of income.

Words of Wisdom

Sydnee has some advice for graphic designer entrepreneurs: 1) Set aside time daily for quiet prayer or meditation and time to reflect before starting your day. 2) Make sure to contribute some of your time for pro bono work, especially for community-based people and organizations. 3) Always attend to the business side of your graphic design company.

Sydgrafix Contact Information:

Email: sydgrafix@gmail.com Phone: 313.272.6488

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #163 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Victor Ung of Seattle Washington. After several years in corporate America, Victor became a certified life coach and founded his company and podcast “Human Up” that focuses on teaching emotional intelligence skills.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C ), which provides branding, marketing, training, productivity, and copywriting services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Victor says that after spending several years in the areas of web development and product management, what he loved most was being the liaison between the business and the creative teams. He says that he had sort of a “quarter-life crisis” and found that the successful life and career trajectory he had just wasn’t “him” and he was losing his soul. That’s when he decided to make a clean break, get trained in life coaching, and become an expert in learning about and teaching emotional intelligence skills.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Victor is also an author and blogger at “The Good Men Project,” where he writes about all of the issues that keep people from understanding their own emotions and living their true selves. Victor also writes stories for Medium and publishes on Instagram and his YouTube channel.

Words of Wisdom

Victor believes that everyone has their own answer, but that answer just needs to be drawn out. He says that everyone should step into their own power and realize they have the ability to really do what works for them. Victor also explains the difference between being a coach and being a consultant.

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #157 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, e-commerce marketing expert, Viktor Smoilov. Viktor joined us all the way from Sofia, Bulgaria!

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

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About Our Guest

Viktor started his journey to full-time entrepreneurship very early in his life, registering his business documents about a week before he graduated from high school at age 19, the usual age of high school seniors in Bulgaria. Through his company, Viktor teaches his clients how to effectively and successfully market their products online. He named his company “Markademics” blending the terms “marketing” and “academics,” a type of marketing academy.

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Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Viktor joked that he is not a “morning person,” but starting his day about 9 am by walking his dog, and then getting to his office by late morning actually is good timing for his business.

From his location in eastern Europe, he is right in the middle of where most of his non-European clients are: North America and Australia. Doing his client work in the afternoon gives him the ability to communicate globally at the perfect time for everyone.

Viktor tells us how his older brother helped him become an entrepreneur as a teenager, at a time when entrepreneurship wasn’t a big thing in Bulgaria. He eventually decided that digital advertising for e-commerce was what he would focus on. Viktor enjoys the immediate ROI realized by the clients that work with him.

Viktor believes that his ability to start and grow a business at age nineteen, from Bulgaria, one of the poorest countries in Europe (a country he thinks many people haven’t even heard of), with no experience, no testimonials, no case studies, etc., is a wonderful role model for everyone. He says that if you can realize your value, handle objections and rejection, then you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Words of Wisdom

Viktor says that the way to build your confidence and grow a successful company is to just keep trying and to not be afraid of failing. Focus on what you have learned from your failures and do better the next time.

Markademics Website

Phone: +359 897 010117

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #155 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Jonny Cooper, founder of the highly successful “Jonny Hates Marketing” Facebook Group for Coaches and Therapists. Jonny, who joins us from the United Kingdom, works with his clients to find their ideal clients more easily.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C ), which provides branding, marketing, training, productivity, and copywriting services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Jonny got the idea and the eventual name for his company quite accidentally when he was a guest on a Canadian podcast. He and the host were discussing their disdain for much of the current internet marketing gurus, who, according to them, are no better than snake oil salesmen. Jonny’s company was originally called the “Success Party,” but after that podcast interview, he realized that yes, he really hated traditional marketing, and a new company was born!

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Because he also hates making sales funnels and watching sleazy webinars, he found easier ways to attract prospects and clients. Jonny found that a lot of people on Facebook and LinkedIn also hate marketing because they really don’t understand what marketing actually is.

Jonny developed what he calls the “Three Pillars of Marketing”: 1) Being able to describe what you do. 2) Thinking about and then finding your ideal client. 3) Perfecting how you deliver your product and services.

Through his company Jonny Hates Marketing, Jonny offers his clients three ways to build their coaching or therapy business: 1) The private, monthly-subscription members club, 2) the Client Attraction Academy, and 3) the Client Attraction Blueprint. More information about each offer is available on Jonny’s website.

Words of Wisdom

Jonny advises entrepreneurs, coaches, and therapists to look at the world through their clients’ eyes in order to develop the ability to see what they see and to understand what they want. It is important to enter the conversation through what’s going on in their heads already, and then to build a bridge from where they are to where they want to be.

Jonny Hates Marketing Facebook Group

Jonny Hates Marketing Website

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #153 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring Damon “First Born Art” Chamblis, a freelance visual artist, musician, and vlogger from Detroit, Michigan.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

I first met Damon when he was a teenager participating in the “Learn and Earn” program of the Mint Artists Guild, a non-profit organization that works with emerging teen visual artists to train them to develop their creative careers. (Disclaimer: I am on the Board of the Mint Artists Guild.)

Damon decided when he was in fifth grade that he wanted to be an artist, and he has worked to fulfill that goal ever since. When his high school art teacher found out about the Mint Artists Guild, he joined.

Damon also does several other creative activities, including designing cover art, writing and producing music, and building up his YouTube channel.

Guest info

Damon feels that he has benefitted from the “hustle and flow” he receives by living in Detroit. After a major scuffle with his mom in 2017, he decided it was time to grow up fast and become more focused on his goals.

In the last few years, he has learned to maximize internships, networking opportunities, and the learning experiences through the Mint Artists Guild and online courses to set himself up as a full-time visual artist and creative entrepreneur.

Damon recently started leasing space for an art studio and he continues to show his art in various venues. He has already set his vision and his goals to build his business and help other young artists who have his same drive.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

Words of Wisdom

Damon wants artists like him to realize that it is a long and hard road to bring your goals and dreams to fruition, but if you plan well and work hard, things will happen for you the way you want them to.

Find out more about First Born Art on Facebook

Email Damon

You can find out more about Damon at these links:

firstbornart.com

youtube.com/firstborn88

https://twitter.com/firstbornart

https://instagram.com/firstborn.art

https://soundcloud.com/damonfirstborn

https://soundcloud.com/firstborn88

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #151 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs with our special guest, Godwin Ihentuge, founder and chief chef of Yum Village, an Afro-Caribbean Restaurant in Detroit Michigan.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Godwin, the son of Nigerian immigrants, grew up in northwest Detroit and went to Wayne State University on a football scholarship. While at Wayne State, he got his first job working in the cafeteria, received several promotions, and finally ended up working the grill in the kitchen. That is when he discovered that he really liked cooking and working in kitchens.

When he decided to go into the food business, he went back to his roots and focused on Afro-Caribbean cuisine, a specialty that he says is not taught in traditional culinary schools. The name of his restaurant is drawn from the African cultural concept that we are all part of a collective village.

Godwin and his team started with popups, and then added catering, and finally jumped on the opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in a resurgent neighborhood in the City of Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Both of Godwin’s parents were entrepreneurs, although his father was also a software engineer with the State of Michigan. Godwin, who just turned 35 years old, says that he has had about 35 different jobs in his life, and he has learned something from each job that he now applies to his business.

Godwin strongly believes in the concept of “Cooperative Economics” (“Ujamaa” in Swahili), where businesses can share commercial space, share mutually beneficial opportunities, and grow and develop their businesses together. He wants his business to be a beacon and an example for others in the City.

Words of Wisdom

Godwin was happy to provide words of wisdom to our listeners: 1) Have the right attitude. 2) Write your goals down on paper, including your five-year and ten-year plans.

Contact Information

Yum Village Website

Email: yumvillage@gmail.com

Phone: 313.334.6099

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #149 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Cherri Harris, the founder and CEO of the Swint Logistics Group in Detroit, Michigan. Cherri’s first career was as a nurse, then she became one of only a few women long-distance truck drivers, and eventually opened her own full-service logistics company.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Cherri was a nurse living in Georgia when she decided to completely change careers and become a truck driver. Step-by-step she added various certifications and endorsements to her trucking resume’, and later, with fifteen years of experience behind her, started her own trucking business.

Although as a woman in a non-traditional industry for women, Cherri continued to grow her business, following her business plan, and finding areas in her industry that were lacking where she could fill in the gaps.

One of her expansions included starting a training center in less-known parts of the trucking arena.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Cherri discussed how she has successfully navigated growing her business to be in a position to receive larger, often multi-million-dollar contracts by establishing relationships, entering into valuable partnerships, doing her due diligence, and being prepared when the opportunities arrived.

Words of Wisdom

Cherri advises our listeners to keep the faith, have lots of cheerleaders in your corner, and to follow the mantra of “Nemo” in the famous movie and “Just Keep Swimming!”

Swint Logistics Group (313) 469-4954

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #143 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Jeff Large of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jeff, a former teacher, opened his web development, podcast production, graphic design, and digital marketing agency six years ago.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C ), which provides branding, marketing, training, productivity, and copywriting services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Jeff said that many factors led to his decision to leave teaching, but even though he and his wife were a single-income family, they had about six months of savings in the bank and together just decided he would go for it. No real “Plan B,” no “side hustle” first. Although as a former teacher, Jeff still misses his kids, he now has the opportunity to spend more quality time with his own kids by working from home. He and his wife homeschool their children, and over time, Jeff transitioned from full-time teaching, to full-time podcasting, to a full-time business teaching his clients

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Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

A large part of Jeff’s business, Come Alive Creative, involves working with businesses to produce, syndicate, and promote their B2B podcasts. Jeff and his team offer turnkey solutions for full podcast production, as well as podcast-related strategy and consultant plans on a per hour or per month basis.

Jeff helps his clients to realize that having a podcast that yields an actual return on investment takes a lot of work. He makes sure that they understand what they are trying to accomplish and that their goals line up the necessary process.

Words of Wisdom

Jeff says that there is so much to learn when you become an entrepreneur. His number one piece of advice for our listeners to look for help. Jeff’s second word of wisdom is to learn as much as you can about your target audience.

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Two Detroit sisters operate a successful catering company that honors their grandmother.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode #141 of the YB2C Live Podcast for Entrepreneurs. We record our weekly podcast episodes from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guests

Zella's Bakery, headquartered in Detroit Michigan, and founded by sisters Tolani Anthony and Maia Anthony, provides their customers with unique, enjoyable, sweet and savory treats prepared like their grandma!

As a child, Tolani was enamored by the baking skills of her grandmother, Rozella Jermaine, and learned as much as she could. Tolani recently graduated from the exceptional culinary program at Michigan’s Schoolcraft College and left jobs with the City of Detroit and Wayne County to pursue her dream of operating a catering company full time. Tolani primarily handles the creative side of the business.

Maia was already an entrepreneur, specializing in voiceovers, industrial commercials, and hosts a Detroit-based cooking show, “Eats in the D.” It was a natural expansion for Maia to become the business manager for the company, bringing marketing experience to the company.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guests Talked About

Tolani and Maia discussed the successes and challenges of setting up and running their business and how they complement each other with their unique skillsets. While Zella’s is still primarily a bakery, the sisters are working on adding more sweet and savory items to their menu. Maia adheres to a plant-based diet while Tolani does not; both options, plus several gluten-free items, are available to their customers.

In addition to catering, the sisters also do popups around the city and the surrounding area. In addition to the wonderful aromas and delicious menu items, the sisters emphasize that presentation is very important. They work very hard to ensure that everything looks and tastes the very best possible because their business is a representation of each of them separately and together.

Words of Wisdom

Tolani and Maia advise that anyone starting and running a business remember that they can’t do everything. Take the time needed to set up everything step-by-step and grow the business naturally and organically.

Zella's Bakery on Facebook

zellasbakery@gmail.com 313) 355-3539

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #139 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our special guest, awesome octogenarian Charlie Mechem from Cincinnati, Ohio. Through his books and his podcast, Charlie teaches people to be better speakers and writers.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C ), which provides branding, marketing, training, productivity, and copywriting services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Charlie has had at least five different careers over his long and exciting life. He’s been a lawyer, including serving as a captain of the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Charlie has also been commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the chairman of two different national broadcasting companies.

Charlie has also served on many boards of directors, including the Presidential Board of Advisors on Private Sector Initiatives.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

In this interesting episode, Charlie talks about each of his five careers, how he seamlessly transitioned from one to the next, and how and what he learned from one career to apply it to the next.

Charlie really enjoyed his time at the LPGA because he decided at age sixty-five after living with a wife for decades and raising two daughters that he was truly a gray-haired feminist.

Charlie believes that the game of golf needs to provide more opportunities for access for all demographics.

Words of Wisdom

Charlie has some words of wisdom for our listeners: 1) Never forget where you came from. 2) Always know what you don’t know. 3) Make everything you do about the people around you and those whose lives you can impact.

Charlie Mechem

Buy the Total Anecdotal Book

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #137 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Howard Berg, also known as the “World’s Fastest Reader.” Howard, who founded several web-based learning courses based on speed reading, joins us from his office in Texas.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Howard grew up in a violent area of Brooklyn, New York where he was mugged over one hundred times, and he eventually found a safe space in the local public library.

When he went to college at age 17, he majored in biology, but in his junior year, Howard decided that he also wanted to major in psychology. The dean said that in order to finish both majors at the same time, he’d have to complete all four years of his second major in one year. He taught himself how to read eighty pages a minute and did finish his second four-year major in one year.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Howard found a way to help people to very quickly master information at work and at school, and that has been his passion for the last 35 years. In addition to being a best-selling author, Howard also founded and manages Berg Learning, on online series of courses that he says will transform his class participants into learning geniuses.

Howard has been featured in numerous media outlets and currently has over 175,000 Genius Learners currently enrolled in his various courses.

In this episode, Howard gives the listeners a fun sample of his speed reading training.

Words of Wisdom

Howard’s vision for Berg Learning is to make a difference in the world so that business people and their kids and grandkids can be successful. He says that many people think that competition is the secret to success when it is actually learned cooperation that the world needs to find solutions for a better world for everyone.

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #135 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, featuring our special guest, Thai Ma’at Cromer from Stone Mountain Georgia; a children’s coloring book creator, a Kemetic yoga practitioner, and a life coach.

We record this podcast weekly from our studio in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Thai is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who calls herself an independent nomad, which is also the name of her blog dedicated to yoga, travel, and life mastery for Black culture. She is dedicated to uplifting the African and African-American culture, especially for children.

Her primary product for children is a coloring book named “Queenie’s Coloring Book” that she designed to showcase the beauty of Black women and girls with natural hair so that they can see themselves in a positive light.

Thai is also a Kemetic yoga practitioner; this yoga lineage hails from Africa, and from Egypt in particular. If you look closely at some of the paintings in the pyramids, you will see people in specific poses that are meant to energize the body and spirit.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Thai has a graphic design background that enabled her to draw all of the pictures in her coloring books from her memories of family members while using her imagination to accentuate certain features.

Thai discussed how she maximizes digital marketing, craft fairs, and her Etsy shop for selling her coloring books and other Afrocentric products.

Words of Wisdom

Thai recommends that all entrepreneurs know their vision and act on it consistently. Realize what resources you already have and work with them to grow your brand and grow your business.

Find out more about Thai Ma'at Cromer on Facebook.

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #133 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our special guest, Shayla Perry, the founder and CEO of BlackGrlBoss, which supports Black and Brown women entrepreneurs.

We record our podcast weekly from our studio located in the Green Garage Coworking Community in Midtown Detroit.

About Our Guest

Shayla has been a branding and marketing professional for over fifteen years, specifically working with small businesses. She helps them to build and strengthen their brands using social media.

Shayla started Black Girl Boss as a test on Instagram, using the hashtag #BlackGrlBoss, and built up a very large following. She then started the Black Girl Boss Facebook Group, to work with women of color around the world, and now works with that group full time.

Through BlackGrlBoss, Shayla provides actual resources, motivation, and education to the members that can be used for their businesses and that would also always be free.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services for writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Shayla’s motivation for #BlackGrlBoss is “Skills and Sisterhood,” and her focus is to provide a safe and effective space for networking and community. She still works with other clients on copywriting, branding, and marketing because she loves it so much, but now with #BlackGrlBoss, Shayla is also able to successfully juggle her Facebook Group, her clients, and her family, including her husband and children.

Words of Wisdom

Shayla advises other entrepreneurs to stay true to their vision and their mission, and stay focused on what you know you want for your business, even as you get ideas and input from others.

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Detroit-based Nonprofit Executive Director oversees programs that help female entrepreneurs.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode #129 of the YB2C Live Podcast for Entrepreneurs! Our special guest this week is Dr. Joyce Suber, the executive director of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative of the Michigan Women Forward, a division of the Michigan Women’s Forum. We rarely highlight nonprofit organizations on our podcast, but this organization is unique because of the programs it has to assist female entrepreneurs.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Dr. Joyce Suber is not an entrepreneur herself, but her organization offers a lot of help to women entrepreneurs, the fastest-growing business sector in the United States. In this episode, she explains that her nonprofit organization, Michigan Women Forward, operates on three fundamental pillars: 1) the youth program that works with girls aged 8 - 18, 2) social justice, including projects such as getting almost twelve thousand rape kits processed and seventy serial rapists prosecuted, and 3) the entrepreneurial initiative, that empowers mostly women, but some men, to start their own businesses, offering business loans, training, and other support services.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Dr. Suber gave some examples of the types of programs offered by the Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative, including statewide summits around Michigan, pitch competitions, courses in leadership and business planning, and training for the other skill sets that budding entrepreneurs need, especially “underground entrepreneurs” working out of their homes.

Her organization also offers microloans of as little as $1,000.00, although she prefers loans of $2,500.00 to $50,000.00. Since 2014, the Michigan Women Forward organization has loaned out over $2.8 million.

Words of Wisdom

Dr. Suber says she truly believes in the adage about being a “jack of all trades but a master of none.” She advises that entrepreneurs get their wins from the things that they master.

Michigan Women Forward

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Detroit Wife, Mom, and Entrepreneur helps Sisters rock their crowns with the perfect head wraps and accessories.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode #125 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! Our special guest this week is “Queen Yaya,” a Detroit-based businesswoman who specializes in helping her clients choose and wear beautiful and customized African head wraps and accessories through her company, My Royalty Wraps. Queen YaYa believes that women can create everything they desire through positive energy and tough love, and that being in charge is a lifestyle.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Queen Yaya is a young wife, mother, and businesswoman who believes that Black women should always remember that they are queens and embrace their royalty and carry and dress accordingly. She started her company less than two years ago and manages to balance marriage, a toddler, another baby on the way, and her business so that everything is going right in all areas. She creates head wraps, exhibits and sells at various events, holds head wrapping workshops, and produces video tutorials to help her clients look their royal best. Her product lines include head wraps and accessories for women and for babies.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Queen YaYa says that she was inspired to start this business by her mother and father, who reminded her that just because you’re from Detroit, it does not mean you are limited. You can expand your mind and do great things with your business and in your community.

Her mother-in-law is a designer and seamstress, so she is an inspiration and a perfect complement for the passion Queen YaYa has for her own creations.

A typical day and week for Queen YaYa involves integrating her family life and her business life to take care of business, but also to take care of family, and to have fun along the way. She answers emails, books events and workshops, sells her products from her website that she updates herself, and spreads positive affirmations to energy to her Sisterhood community.

Words of Wisdom

Choose wisely for your business, your business name, and everything about your business so they are a true representation of you and your values. Make sure to take time to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Work for balance between all that you have to do and want to do.

My Royalty Wraps Website

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #123 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! Our special guest this week in Lori Conerly, founder and owner of Leeanne’s Luxury Bridal Boutique, which helps women from Detroit, Michigan, and the entire metro area fulfill their dream about finding the perfect dress for their special day.

About Our Guest

Lori Conerly, founder and owner of Leeanne’s Luxury Bridal Boutique, has been in business for a little over a year and a half. Her full-service bridal and formal wear salon provides dresses, undergarments, and accessories for brides, bridesmaids, and mothers of the bride and is located in the Grandmont-Rosedale community in Detroit.

Lori started her business right after she graduated from college. While matriculating at Grand Valley State University, she worked in bridal shops and developed a passion for helping brides get ready for their special day. Her degree in advertising and public relations was a good foundation for starting her business very soon after she graduated; she researched and wrote the initial business plan while she was still in school.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

At first, Lori followed the career path that she thought she was supposed to follow, working a regular 9-5 job in her chosen field, but her boyfriend encouraged to instead follow her passion of helping brides. She knew that opening and operating her own business would be hard work, but she also knew it would be quite fulfilling.

She was determined to open her store in the City of Detroit, her hometown, and spent months finding the right location. She also knew that the name of her business would be “Leeanne’s,” her middle name, which she thinks sounds more like her vision of traditional weddings.

She found a manufacturing partner, secured her financing, and after a lot of very hard work, she was in business at the ripe young age of 23. Lori describes all of the ups and downs and successes and challenges of being a business owner in the city at a very young age but knowing this was exactly what she was meant to do.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear Lori Leeanne’s inspiring and motivational story of her entrepreneurial journey!

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #123 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! This week, our special guest is Dazmonique Carr, co-founder of Deeply Rooted Produce in Detroit, Michigan, a multidimensional local food distribution hub in Detroit Michigan. Her company focuses on providing holistic education and locally grown and locally manufactured food, with the goal if opening a mobile grocery store by the end of 2019.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Dazmonique is originally from a small town in New Jersey and was recruited to run track at Wayne State University in Detroit as an undergrad, and graduated with a bachelor degree in exercise and sports science. She eventually completed her master’s degree in community health and sports administration from Wayne State. Dazmonique originally was going to be a physical therapist but decided she really loved educating people about food and nutrition, using her experience dealing with food access and gardening as an undergrad at Wayne State.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Dazmonique’s experiences in finding outlets for fresh food as a student with only a bicycle for transportation helped her realize the need for additional services for fresh food for other people in Detroit with transportation issues, and that’s how her idea for a mobile grocery store came to be.

In this episode, Dazmonique tells us how she and her co-founders are working to continue to educate people about the benefits of fresh food while completing the arduous process of bringing their vision of a mobile grocery store to fruition, fulfilling a need to provide high quality, yet lower-priced foods to everyone in Detroit.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear the inspirational and motivational story of this recent college graduate and entrepreneur!

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #115 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! This week, our special guest is DeAndrea Byrd, a former hair salon owner who transformed her life and her business into a successful business consultancy and training program in Atlanta, Georgia.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

DeAndrea and I found each other in a Facebook group for podcasters and we both understand how important an active social media presence is to the growth of small businesses. A self-taught entrepreneur, DeAndrea first opened a successful hair salon with a business partner, but after her partner suddenly passed away at age 33, DeAndrea decided to take a closer look at her life and business. After opening and closing a second business, DeAndrea realized that her true passion in life is to help other people, so she started a business that teaches people how to create an online business, automate their business, and scale up to make more money.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Her primary offering is called the “Entrepreneur Accountability Squad,” which is a group coaching membership program. The program includes a workbook that helps people break down their goals month by month and give themselves a self-progress report. DeAndrea also speaks to students at colleges and universities about setting SMART goals. DeAndrea explains that her greatest business challenge was losing her business partner, and her greatest success is having her children watch what she is doing while still being able to have a life while building a business.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear DeAndrea’s motivational story of entrepreneurship!

DeAndrea Byrd

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #117 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! Our special guest this week, is Latricia Wright, the founder and owner of Olive Seed, a lifestyle center and cafe, opening in Detroit, Michigan. Latricia is a registered herbalist, youth fitness instructor, and nutrition educator.

About Our Guest

Latricia and I met a few months ago at an event in Detroit when she told me that she was a native Detroiter who loves to learn and is creative and passionate about health and well-being for herself and others. Latricia started making her own seed packets back in 2008 in memory her father, who was suffering from severe migraines and eventually died of a brain aneurysm. Later, her grandmother, with whom she lived in high school, died from complications of diabetes. By the time she was 17 years old, Latricia had lost two close family members to preventable diseases.

When she married, Latricia’s husband also started suffering from nosebleeds and migraines, and Latricia remembered that there was often no such thing as a “simple headache.” She was determined to find out more about natural health practitioners and how to correct health problems with quality food and supplements.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Latricia describes how she started her business in Las Vegas, and then came back to Detroit and started doing nutrition programs and setting up walking clubs, but wanted to help people realize that they can’t out walk or out exercise a bad diet. So she started offering monthly cooking classes. Latricia later studied to become an herbalist and making nourishing loose teas.

All of her previous education and experience led her to open a place where people could come to achieve better health and learn how to quickly and easily prepare nutritious food.

Latricia faced a lot of obstacles on the way to opening her brick-and-mortar establishment for her company, Olive Seed, but through hard work and perseverance, her vision is coming to fruition.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear Latricia’s educational and inspirational story of her entrepreneurial journey.

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #113 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! This week our special guest is one of my “edibuddiies” (editing colleague), Tenita Johnson, writer, author, playwright, editor, workshop leader, and publisher, and founder of So It Is Written writing and editing services in metro Detroit.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Tenita didn’t start out to be a full-time self-employed writer and editor. She received her degree in journalism and media arts and planned to work at a newspaper, but that was about the time newspapers were drastically downsizing their professional employees. So she worked in the corporate space for several years at different companies in corporate communications. However, in 2017, her last contract position was phased out, and instead of waiting for the “we’ll call you when we need you” call that never came, she decided to expand her writing and editing business that she had already started as a side gig.

Family considerations were another deciding factor, when her youngest child, her only daughter was a baby, she was in daycare from 6 am to 6 pm. Tenita decided that when her daughter was schoolbag, she wouldn’t be a “latch key kid.”

Because she already had a client base as a foundation, Tenita was able to step out on faith and go full-time with So It Is Written.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services including editing, publishing, and marketing, to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Tenita knows that her primary purpose is to help others step into their greatness, but in order to do that, and take care of her family, she had to make her business viable and profitable on a full-time basis.

She learned how to run her business successfully, and has expanded into hosting the Red Ink Conference for upcoming authors in several cities, writing and producing stage plays, and continuing to write and publish her own books. Her 10th book will be published this year.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear Tenita’s inspiring story!

Reference Links:

So It Is Written

Your Business Your Brand Creatively

Detroit Ink Publishing

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Welcome to Season #3, Episode #111 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Our special guest this week is Elizabeth Mays, CEO of MCS Multimedia and the 3rd generation of her family to run the multi-dimensional company that started as Mays Printing in 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. In this episode, Elizabeth tells us about her company, how the family succession plan worked seamlessly, and how she and her father now successfully run the business as full partners.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively provides branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Elizabeth Mays is the CEO of Mays Multimedia, a full-service media firm that specializes in image overview and branding for printing, marketing, and digital projects of all sizes. Elizabeth works closely with her staff to continuously master their craft and provide excellent service to her customers whose projects can last from just a few days to up to a year.

Although her father expected Elizabeth to take over the company one day, he made sure that she went to school to further learn everything she needed to know about all of the different services they provide.

Please support our sponsor: Detroit Ink Publishing provides an entire suite of services including editing, publishing, and marketing, to writers who wish to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Elizabeth advises entrepreneurs at any point to continually master their craft and improve (not perfect) their business systems. You should be able to answer any question a prospect may ask, especially if you are the business owner. Elizabeth also recommends that entrepreneurs and business owners master time management: seize the day and don’t “burn daylight!”

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear Elizabeth’s inspiring and educational interview!

MCS Multimedia

Elizabeth Mays

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Our special guest this week for Season 3, Episode #109 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs is Amy Anger, a business development specialist who recently started her own consultancy after working in the corporate environment for much of her career.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners

About Our Guest

During the last eighteen months of working at the last company where she was employed, Amy was moved to a division that focused on the independent worker. A firm believer in the “Law of Attraction,” Amy decided to become an independent worker herself and provide services that help businesses work more effectively with solo practitioners. At this time, Amy now consults for Kelly Services, her last employer, connecting with their clients about their needs and how they can more easily work with individual and solo service providers.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

In this inspiring and educational episode, Amy explains why it is so important for companies and individual business owners to know the difference between being an employee and an independent contractor, especially for IRS purpose.

Amy also talks about what it’s like to transition from being an employee for a company to becoming an independent consultant for that same company.

Amy also discusses why she prefers to work with people face-to-face rather than virtually, and why is so important not to let technology replace the personal connection and the four professional passions that get her out of bed every day.

Find out more about Amy and her company, Atrip Consulting at her website: https://www.atripconsulting.com/

YB2C Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

“Like” the YB2C Live! Page on Facebook for notifications and further information about all of our podcasts, and to submit your information on the Contact Form if you would like to be a guest on a future episode.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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The Detroit Heritage Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a 3-day celebration of the dramatic arts in Detroit. For 2019, the Festival will be held from Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, at several iconic venues throughout the City of Detroit. One of the scheduled events is a special showing and meet and greet for students of "Black Angels Over Tuskegee," the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, America's Original "Top Guns." The Tuskegee Airmen were an elite group of highly experienced Black pilots who escorted and protected the Allied bomber planes during World War II.

This event will be held at the Friends Auditorium of the Detroit Public Library and is a free event for students.

In this episode, Karen Chappelle, the founder of the Detroit Heritage Theatre Festival, and Dr. Brian Smith, president of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, discuss the importance of the theatre festival for Detroiters, and how the Tuskegee Airmen Foundation provides training in, and awareness of the various career options in aviation, especially for young people aged 14 years and older.

For more information about the 2019 Detroit Heritage Theatre Festival, click here.

For more information about the Detroit Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, click here.

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Welcome to Season #3, Episode #107 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Our special guest this week is Sarah Weckerle, the owner of the only official 26+2 hot yoga studio in the City of Detroit, Bikram Yoga Midtown Detroit. In this episode, Sarah tells us how she came to be a certified hot yoga teacher and eventually fulfilled her years-long dream of opening a successful studio in Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively, which provides branding, marketing, training, web development, and social media marketing services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners all over the world.

About Our Guest

I originally met Sarah several years ago when she was my yoga teacher at what was then the only official Bikram hot yoga studio in all of Michigan. She told me then that she would eventually open a studio in the City of Detroit. Sarah describes how she felt when she took her first class in the kitchen of the couple who later opened the first Bikram yoga studio: at first she wasn’t prepared for the heat, but later realized how good the practice made her feel and she decided to go to training to become a certified teacher herself.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of editing, publishing, and marketing services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Sarah explains what the original “26 + 2” hot series is about (26 postures + 2 breathing exercises) and how it is scientifically designed to enhance your breathing, expand your lung capacity, strengthen your joints, create longer and leaner muscles, and align your body and spine.

When it was time to open her own studio, Sarah received a great of assistance from her brother-in-law, a Detroit native and the owner of several businesses in Detroit. It took over two years, but finally the studio was open for business in an area of Detroit that is also home to other businesses, artists, students, and medical professionals.

Download and listen to the entire episode to hear Sarah’s entire inspiring story and Namaste!

Reference Links:

Bikram Yoga Midtown Detroit

Your Business Your Brand Creatively

Detroit Ink Publishing

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #105 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Our special guest this week is John William Gray, the founder and CEO of Done Right Carpet Care, and the author of an inspiring book, “Stop Spot Cleaning Your Life.” John joined us from Ventura, California.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

John was introduced to the carpet cleaning business and bad customer service at the age of 13 when the company that cleaned his mother’s carpet would not re-clean the carpet after the spots quickly reappeared. Later, when John was helping a friend who was a carpet cleaner, he decided he could build a successful carpet cleaning business himself, and also make sure to treat his customers right, the way he thought his mother should have been treated.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Later, John found that many of his clients were trading their carpets for hardwood floors because spots in the carpets seemed to always come back, ruining the fibers, and the customers just traded in their soiled carpets for something different instead of working to clear the spots once and for all.

When John realized that in life, people traded in bad relationships and bad experiences but like spots in carpets, the issues kept reappearing, he decided he found his purpose in life: designing a formula for people to get the bad spots out of their lives for good.

Eventually, in 2016, John wrote a book, “Stop Spot Cleaning Your Life: A Guide to Restoring Your Life To Radical, Clean Happiness in a World That Keeps You Chasing it.” John now speaks about his passion all over the country and has been a featured guest on all of the major networks.

Please download and listen to the entire episode to hear John’s inspiring story about how he changed his life for the better and helps others to do the same, all while running his successful carpet and home care business.

YB2C Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: editing, formatting, publishing, author marketing; helping writers become published authors.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Welcome to Episode #101 of the YB2C Live! Podcast

for Entrepreneurs!

In this episode, Pamela chats with Tyron Cutner, image coach and founder of Well-Dressed Academy, LLC. Ty shared his journey from frustrated bus driver to men’s image consultant with a powerful mission to change how men view themselves and interact with the world around them.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

What You'll Hear in This Episode
Ty shares how his own personal transformation from a frustrated bus driver to an image consultant and how he learned that fashion is critical to leveling up your mindset. Ty also shared how he learned to grow his original business to a bigger business by marketing through word of mouth and a growing Facebook community.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services including editing, publishing, and marketing, to writers who want to become published authors.

About Our Guest
Ty Cutner is a former bus driver turned image consultant who began his journey to upgrade his life by dressing in a more polished manner after a going through a difficult part of his life. After mastering the fundamentals of style and leveraging the opportunities that came his way, he began to teach other men how to do the same thing.

Important Reference Links

Well Dressed Academy Website

Well-Dressed Academy on FB

Ty Cutner on Instagram

FB Group: Dressed For Success: Men's Style for Sales, Dating & Influence

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Introduction

Welcome to Episode #99 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our guest, Reyne Brady, also known as “Mugzy” Brady, a full-time pop and hip-hop musician joining us all the way from Australia!

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively, providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Reyne says he “discovered” hip—hop in the early 2000s when he was a young teenager, and it helped him get through adolescence. This form of poetry was therapeutic for him, but he didn’t want to just take advantage of the culture. He wanted to learn more.

Even though the internet as we know it now was also rather young at that time, Reyne realized how universal hip-hop was, and he learned enough through self-education to evolve into an intellectual MC (master of ceremonies) and lyricist. To “Mugzy,” hip-hop is more than music, it is an art form.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, providing an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Reyne has been working in the Australian music industry for many years now, although he is still relatively young himself. At the time of this interview recording, he is working on his third album, and today he also works with younger people, teenagers, and very young adults to help them hone their skills in the studio and with concert engagements.

Words of Wisdom from Our Guest

One of the things that Reyne does is work on the production and distribution for himself and others, bringing the creative side and the business side together.

Reyne says that his greatest success is that people recognize him and respect his contribution to the music industry, especially the hip-hop culture in Australia.

He feels he doesn’t really have any challenges, because he works very hard to separate himself from the crowd.

Reyne knew early on what he wanted his brand to look like and sound like, and that is what he works on every day.

Find out more about Reyne and his brand, “Mugzy” at his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/OfficialMugzy

Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mugzy187

Download and subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Introduction

Welcome to Season 3, Episode #97 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our guest Tsufit, an entrepreneur, business consultant, coaching expert, and author.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively, providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Tsufit always wanted to be an actress and singer when she was a child, but her parents wanted her to be something more "practical", so she became a litigation lawyer, practiced for 10 years and had 4 babies. She had an "Is this all there is?" moment, and she decided to follow her dream, which was to be a singer, actress, and comedienne. She did stand-up comedy on national TV, was in a sitcom for 4 years as a comedically evil cafeteria lady, and she released a music album.

Through all of this, she learned how to promote and market herself, but she still asked herself: What else can I do with my talents? and her answer is how she came upon the idea of helping people follow their dreams and successfully market them too.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, providing an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Tsufit shared with us how she started coaching people and how she wrote a book called Step into The Spotlight, a Guide to Getting Noticed. The premise of the book is that all business is show business. In her book, she teaches how to get seen, get noticed, get heard, and get known.

Words of Wisdom from Our Guest

Tsufit says that some people tend to believe that if their book, their music, or any kind of work is good enough it will be noticed. Some people believe it is obscene to market their work, but she tells them that if others don't have the opportunity to appreciate it, is like that age-old question about a tree falling in the forest: if no one hears it, does it make a sound?

Download and subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

**Reference Links:**

Step into the Spotlight! 'Cause ALL Business is Show Business!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

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Our special guest this week on Episode #95 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs is 21-year-old wunderkind Marc Guberti, a best-selling author, blogger, digital marketing expert, and college student.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners

About Our Guest

Marc actually started blogging about his favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, but later realized that blogging was a great way to connect with people and engage them around a topic.

Marc eventually started a podcast about his other passions, helping people grow their businesses and personal development. He records three episodes a week for the podcast, “Breakthrough Success.”

But he wasn’t through yet. Before his 20th birthday, Marc wrote and published nineteen books, becoming a best-selling author in the process.

Marc has also hosted successful global virtual summits featuring other well-known entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

Our Guest Discusses His Businesses

Marc didn’t start out to become a world-renowned author, blogger, podcaster, and public speaker; as he said, when he realized he could monetize his passions while helping others at the same time, things just happened.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

In this inspiring and educational episode, Marc explains why you have to have realistic financial expectations when just starting out and that you have to work with what you have until you get what you want. Marc cautions people to keep up the passion and not let it die when times get hard, and they will get hard.

So where does Marc go from here: download and listen to the episode to find out!

Find out more about Marc at these links:

https://www.facebook.com/marc.guberti/

http://marcguberti.com

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/breakthrough-success/id1149458961?mt=2

YB2C Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

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Welcome to Episode #93 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. In this episode, Pamela chats with Jamon Jordan, well-known Detroit historian, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and founder of The Black Scroll Network History & Tours, L.L.C., located in Detroit, Michigan.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

In this engaging and informative conversation, Jamon and Pamela discussed the rise and fall of Black entrepreneurship in Detroit from its start in the 1700s up to the late 1950s. Jamon shared how national laws, businesses, and local politics negatively impacted Black businesses. Jamon also shared how community activism is crucial to continue making a positive change in the African-American community and supporting the legacy of our ancestors.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

About Our Guest

Jamon Jordan is a former teacher and current historian and speaker who lead historical tours around Detroit through his company, the Black Scroll Network History & Tours, LLC. Jamon also serves as president of the Detroit chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), nationally founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson (the “father” of Black History Month) in 1915.

Important Reference Links

Black Scroll Network, History & Tools https://www.facebook.com/BlackScrollDetroit/

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Introduction

Welcome to Episode #87 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our guest, Dan Johnston, an influential entrepreneur, business coach, and author joining us all the way from Prague.

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About Our Guest

Originally from Canada, Dan is an entrepreneur turned freelancer. He's lived in 7 countries and has published 12 books, included a series on personality types and personal development. He helps and coaches people to start designing the lives they want to truly live. He believes in working hard to achieve your dreams and being able to work in a location-independent way.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, providing an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Dan believes that you don't have to be location-based, everyone should have the freedom to work wherever they are. He leads with the life design approach, which is a free email training he has on his site, where he provides an overall approach to life, which he believes starts with figuring out about yourself.

In his project “Free Freelancer,” he covers different methods of marketing and how to have sales conversations. He mentions that the title Free Freelancers is not about doing your work for free but it's about having the freedom and time to choose what you want.

Words of Wisdom from Our Guest

Dan says that is crucial to decide what you want to do and what you want out of life rather than trying to choose from something that is imposed out of some kind of imagined fear.

That fear is a little bugger, it gets under our skin and can redirect us in many ways; but if you put in the effort, week after week, your business will grow. It's just inevitable. He recommends using the 70% rule, that works around the concept that we're never 100% sure what to do, so when you're 70% sure that is what you want to do, you go ahead.

Another piece of advice that Dan gives is for people who are already freelancers: he recommends allowing yourself to get more perspective and learn to think in the long term. Do things well, and over time, that's going to get you where you want.

Download and subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

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Welcome to Season 3, Episode #85 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Our guest today is a professional voiceover artist, Andrea Daniel from Detroit MI. In this episode, Andrea tells us what a voiceover artist is, and how she made a fulfilling career with her speaking voice.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

In addition to being a voiceover artist, Andrea is also an author, a singer, and a poet. Over the years, she has merged all of these skills and experiences into creating a voiceover career for herself. Andrea tells us about some of the other skills (besides having a nice voice) that are needed to be a successful voiceover artist, and why taking acting classes is important.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, which provides an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

Later in the episode, Andrea discusses the importance of learning and applying the “business side” of being a voiceover artist. Andrea is based in Detroit Michigan, and she reminds us that today, because of the internet, it is not necessary to move to the east coast or west coast to have a successful voiceover artist career. But it is very necessary to learn how to market yourself and to work with an agent.

Find Out More: Download the Podcast Episode

Andrea tells us all about how she started her career and how she manages it today. In this episode, you will hear some very interesting information that you may not have known about before about voiceover artists. Learn more about Andrea Daniel on her website.

Reference Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Introduction Welcome to Episode #83 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, with our guest, Trevor Twining, a professional and experienced podcast producer and editor from Niagara Falls, Ontario. Just what does a podcast editor and producer do? How can Trevor help you with your podcast?

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, training, social media, web design, and business coaching.

About Our Guest Trevor has been a freelancer for over twenty years, and besides producing and hosting his own podcasts, he helps other podcasters to use their podcasts to communicate the value of their own businesses to others. He also coaches freelancers to build a more stable income and satisfaction with their freelance journey. Trevor helps freelancers remember and understand why they became freelancers in the first place, and how to break the habit of keeping all of their income opportunities in one basket. Trevor advises his clients to look at their skill sets and prior experience and figure out a plan that leads to more independent and stable.

What Our Guest Talked About One thing that Trevor stressed is the importance of making sales and the sales process a priority in your business and marketing efforts. He mentioned that at first, he didn’t work on his sales processes as much as he should have. He also realized that most people don’t have a sales background, but they shouldn’t let that stop them from learning how to sell the value of their products and services.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, manuscript preparation, editing, formatting, eBook and print publishing, author marketing. Words of Wisdom from Our Guest Trevor says that the most important thing to do with your freelance business, which may or may not include a podcast, is to decide to do things deliberately and to be consistent with your sales, your marketing, and your delivery of your product or service.

Download and subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Reference Links: Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Introduction Stephanie Willis is a repeat guest on our podcast. In this episode, she is introducing her second major project, a consultancy that helps people to “REBOOT” part or all of their personal and professional lives. Stephanie has also written a companion workbook for her “I Need a REBOOT” program.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively, providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest Stephanie Willis has been an entrepreneur for several years. With one of her companies, she sells natural soap products that she blends and manufactures herself. You can find out more about G.H. Soaps in Episode #29 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Stephanie was going through a life transition herself, and that motivated her to notice that moving into a quiet space allowed her to see and experience life differently than she had previously. With REBOOT, Stephanie works with individuals, groups, and work teams to help people break through barriers and become their own personal best.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, providing an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About In this episode, Stephanie describes the REBOOT program in great detail, including the characteristics of the people she works with. They are not necessarily in a negative place in their lives, but they realize that it’s time to make some kind of transition or change in order to discover themselves. Her clients are seeking something new or different they can add to their lives, and her program helps them to find what they are looking for.

Find Out More in the Podcast With her REBOOT program, Stephanie offers speaking engagements, workshops, coaching, and consulting services. In this episode, Stephanie describes how she built this new company over a two-year period. You can find out more about the REBOOT program on the website.

Download Episodes Here:

Important Reference Links: Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Introduction Welcome to Episode #79 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs! We are happy to welcome our guest today, Dr. Ingrid Macron, an educator with the Detroit Public Schools and the owner of the Detroit Teachers’ Store, with educational resources for teachers, parents, community groups and scholars, and the store of its kind in the city.

Please support our sponsor, Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, training, and business consulting.

About Our Guest At the time of this recording, Dr. Macron just finished her Ph.D. within the past two weeks! Congratulations! Ingrid calls herself an “educational entrepreneur,” because she actually started her first educational company in 2015, a math games company. But as an educator, Ingrid also realized that parents also needed a place to go for products and services to help their children with their education. There were no stores of this type in Detroit, so Ingrid started one herself. She saw a need in the city and filled it! The store has items for all ages and grade levels, including hands-on materials for math, science, English, and the arts. Dr. Macron ensures that her materials reflect the needs and reality of the African-American students in the majority-black City of Detroit.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, Ebook and print book publishing, and author marketing.

What Our Guest Talked About Dr. Macron teaches GED students, so she realizes that there are so many students who just didn’t learn what they needed to learn during their former school experience, and her store is designed to help teachers and parents help students succeed before they drop out of high school. Ingrid discussed how she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, including how she wanted a cash register for a Christmas gift when she was only in the third grade.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode Ingrid details the journey she made from selling at sidewalk sales to opening her own brick-and-mortar retail location, and what her plans are moving forward.

Find out more about Dr. Ingrid Macron and The Detroit Teachers’ Store at the website here.

Download This Episode:

**Important Reference Links:**

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Introduction

When people, especially women, want to make lifestyle changes, who do they contact and how do they go about it? In today’s episode, we talk to someone who goes much further than just being a personal trainer or a nutritional advisor. Jay Kali helps women to make lifestyle changes that will last.

Please support our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively, providing branding, marketing, training, and social media services to creative and solo professionals and small business owners.

About Our Guest

Jay Kali is a lifestyle coach based in Cancun Mexico who specializes in helping women to make the substantive, positive, and permanent changes they desire for themselves and their families. Through his company, Kali Coaching, helps his clients implement the tools they will need to live their lives happily and with good without always being dependent on someone else telling them what to do and what not to do. Jay takes a different approach to his coaching because it is 100% online, which means he can work with women from all over the world. His business is not location-specific.

Please support our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, providing an entire suite of services to writers who want to become published authors.

What Our Guest Talked About

In this episode, Jay explains that he works with his clients to help them follow a customized, step-by-step, easy-to-follow program that focuses on a solution that is unique to them. By working with his clients online, Jay can free them from having to adhere to a strict schedule—especially important for very busy women who are usually wearing many different hats at once. Jay says his clients have found that working with him in this way is even more personal to them.

What to Listen for in This Episode

Jay further explains how he works with his clients, either one-on-one, through his group membership site academy, or via an app. Jay has a word of wisdom for our listeners: “Be fearless!”

You can find out more about Jay and Kali Coaching at his website.

You can also subscribe, download, and listen on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

**Other Important Links:**

Your Business Your Brand Creatively

Detroit Ink Publishing

Green Garage Detroit Coworking Community

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Introduction

Sofia Klettke is a totally engaging 11-year-old who not only loves animals but has decided she is good at sharing her knowledge of the animal kingdom via videos she makes herself.

She is building a business and Instagram community of other animal lovers while imparting her knowledge and networking with others.

Please visit our sponsor: Your Business Your Brand Creatively for branding, marketing, training, and productivity services.

About Our Guest

Since Sofia was born, she has enjoyed being outside. Her parents had always supported her curiosity for the world. Because she is homeschooled between Oregon and the Czech Republic, she’s had time to learn, wonder, and pour over educational films and documentaries. Sofia was only three years old when she made her first documentary about horned lizards for her family.

Sofia created “SofiasSpotlight” when she was just seven years old. She transferred her show to Instagram where she found her audience. Earlier this year, Sofia’s got her dream volunteer job at High Desert Museum, a Smithsonian’s affiliate, where she playfully educates visitors at the Living History. In the future, Sofia hopes to have her own full-length documentary show.

Please visit our sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, for editing, publishing, and author marketing services.

What Our Guest Talked About

Sofia discussed how she informed and educated other students in her homeschooling group and people in general before she went online. Sofia said that she’s very comfortable talking to groups, but when she went on her mom’s Facebook account, she found only adults. She moved her show to Instagram and found a community of like-minded kids closer to her age. People see and like and comment on her videos and Sofia is quite proud that she has organically grown her followers to over 600. Her goal is to have 1,000 followers by next spring.

Follow Sofia's Instagram Account: @sofiasspotlight

What You’ll Learn in the Podcast

When you listen to this informative episode, you’ll hear how Sofia makes and posts her videos, why she loves what she does, and how she is growing her business as a kidpreneur until she is old enough (in high school) to take things even further and start making full-length documentaries.

Please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Apple Podcasts.

This podcast is also available on Spotify.

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: http://yb2csystem.com

Detroit Ink Publishing: http://detroitinkpublishing.com

Green Garage Detroit: http://greengaragedetroit.com

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Introduction

Our guest this week started her career as a social worker, but quickly found out that social justice and social entrepreneurship were her true callings. So five years ago, along with two co-founders, she started a crowdfunding platform specifically to help develop the good works of Muslims from around the world.

About Our Guest

Amany Killawi is the 26-year-old co-founder of Launchgood, a global crowdfunding platform for Muslims. She and her company are the perfect examples of the paradigm “Find a need and fill it.” There were already several crowdfunding platforms already available, including Kickstarter and GoFundMe, but none addressed the particular niche and needs of the global Muslim community. Amany and her co-founders, Chris and Ahmad, not only wanted to develop this special platform, but their overall mission was to showcase the good works of Muslims to help combat the negative stereotypes so prevalent today. With a background in community organizing, Amany knew how difficult it is to get funding for grassroots projects in general. Amany stated that there are 1.6 billion Muslims around the world, and over 400 niche crowdfunding sites, but there was nothing available for her particular community. Building something from scratch has been incredibly difficult, especially for something so different from what was already available.

Important Points from Our Guest

Amany talked about some of the many lessons she has learned in the past five years of growing Launchgood:

In the first few months of your business, you have to give yourself space to have “awkward beginnings.”
Always keep your overall mission in mind: for Launchgood, it is Muslims doing good works in their community and beyond.
Using the business to change the narrative through crowdfunding and storytelling.

What You Will Learn in this Podcast

This episode will take you on a fascinating journey about how three very young people become social entrepreneurs and built a worldwide crowdfunding platform around a unique niche and special community.

Relevant Links

Launchgood: http://launchgood.com

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: http://yb2csystem.com

Detroit Ink Publishing: http://detroitinkpublishing.com

Green Garage Detroit: http://greengaragedetroit.com

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Mama Coo’s Boutique is a unique store located in Southwest Detroit that specializes in selling items by local artisans and also imported from Africa, Mexico, and Central America. The owner, Alana Rodriguez is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has a degree in political science from the University of Michigan. So how did she transition to opening and operating a retail store?

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Once Alana Rodriguez, who goes by “Lana,” decided she wanted to open a retail brick and mortar store, she was very strategic in choosing her eventual location but also taking the time to learn how to go into business. She took advantage of the several groups and organizations in Detroit that help new entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, and then “tested the waters” by holding popups and attending business boot camps. When it was finally time to open her store, Lana deliberately chose a location in the neighborhood where she grew up, to help keep that area stable and vibrant and to work closely with other retailers in the area.

Lana described how she navigated through all of the bureaucratic challenges encountered when opening a retail location, but also why locating in Southwest Detroit was so important to her.

Please support our sponsor: Detroit Ink Publishing, manuscript prep, book publishing, and author marketing.

She also elaborated on how her choice of items to sell in her store is a reflection of who she is as a person and an art history aficionado. She is very proud of the fact that she can immediately pay her artists instead of making them wait as they would if she sold items on consignment.

Lana said that what she is working on to continue her success is to learn how to be her own biggest cheerleader and get her own story out there. Other people’s success is not my failure, and I am responsible for my own happiness.

Find out more about what was discussed in this episode:

Mama Coo's Boutique: https://mamacoosboutique.com/

Green Garage Detroit: http://greengaragedetroit.com

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: http://yb2csystem.com

Detroit Ink Publishing: http://detroitinkpublishing.com

This podcast episode is also available on iTunes and Spotify.

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Introduction

A native Detroiter sees a need for nonprofits and small businesses in her city to have an opportunity to take advantage of creative marketing strategies that they may not otherwise have available to them, so she creates a company that helps those businesses and companies achieve their maximum positive social impact.

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About Our Guest

For Episode #72 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs, we welcome Kelsey Hubbell, an entrepreneur who has created socially conscious companies that celebrate Detroit while offering creative marketing services to businesses and nonprofit organizations. Kelsey is the founder and CEO of two businesses: “Detroit Up North” which plans and executes fun events in northern Michigan for Detroiters, and “Roots to Rise Detroit,” an event planning and marketing and communications consultancy targeting small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She considers herself a social entrepreneur with both of her companies. Kelsey specializes in working with businesses and nonprofits that want to give back to our community, but often lack the funding or the marketing knowledge to get the word out.

Our Sponsor: Detroit Ink Publishing, Manuscript Prep, Book Publishing, Author Marketing

Important Points from Our Guest

Kelsey does a lot of running around during the day for her companies, including client meetings and site visits. She keeps lots of lists in her notebooks and prefers pen and paper over digital task management apps.

She grew up on the east side of Detroit and attended Catholic school, but her entire family has always been involved in working with businesses and nonprofits in Detroit, so her entrepreneurial trajectory came naturally. Her entire family has been advocating for an equitable and sustainable city for as long as she can remember.

Words of Wisdom from Our Guest

Now that she is past her first year with her second company, Kelsey is looking forward to figuring what works and what didn’t work. She enjoys being informed and then helping to inform others about social entrepreneurship.

Resources:

Roots to Rise Detroit: https://www.facebook.com/rootstorisedetroit/

Detroit Up North: https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.hubbell.3

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Episode Summary:

“Getting started as an entrepreneur” comes in many forms. Sometimes, what you did as a young child accidentally exposes your natural gifts that you later make into a profitable business. Sometimes, not being good in school leads to later being excellent in business. Those were the entrepreneurial paths of this week’s guest.

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About our guest, Adil Amarsi:

Adil Amarsi is an entrepreneur, podcaster, author, and copywriter based in London in the United Kingdom. As a young teen, he would go to his father’s office after school and write stories. Later, when he had a one-hour commute to school each way, he continued writing more stories and writing poetry. Even later, he realized working for someone else wasn’t working for him, and he started his own copywriting company. He eventually became one of the best copywriters around. He added blogging, podcasting, and affiliate product sales to his repertoire and had his biggest successes writing ad copy for very large companies.

Please visit our Sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, Book Publishing and Author Marketing

Important Points Made by Our Guest:

If you follow your instincts to become an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid of failing
His podcast is one of his most favorite things to do; he automates the system and batches the recording sessions
It is more effective and efficient to plan the whole week than to just plan the day, especially if you have a specific set of tasks or a focus for each day of the week

Success Tips from Our Guest:

Take at least one full “day off” from your business. No client work, no email, no meetings, no nothing except non-business activities. Learn to let go and clear your mind and take care of other things in your life.

You Can Download, Listen, and Subscribe:

Resources Links:

Avil Amarsi: http://adilamarsi.com

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: http://yb2csystem.com

Detroit Ink Publishing: http://detroitinkpublishing.com

Green Garage Detroit Coworking Community: http://greengaragedetroit.com

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Episode Summary:

What does “Workplace Wellness” mean and why is it an important topic? Our guest for Episode #70 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs explains “Workplace Wellness” and how she formed a business consultancy that works with companies to improve the health of their employees.

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About Our Guest:

Vivian Acquah lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and her first career was as a Financial and IT Consultant. But after having her son, gaining a lot of weight, dealing with unhappiness, and missing her grandmother who died of diabetes type 2 in 2009, she found herself looking for a greater purpose for her life. During her quest to change her own feelings, to stop the vicious cycle of diabetes in her family, and to educate about using food as medicine, Vivian realized that she could fulfill her purpose and reach more people at their workplace where they spend a lot of their time.

Please visit our Sponsor, Detroit Ink Publishing, Book Publishing and Author Marketing Services

Important Points from Our Interview:

Our guest made these important points:

Healthy eating starts with making healthy food choices
Getting enough sleep is just as important as eating the right foods
Through her consulting work, Vivian rebranded herself as the “Workplace Wellness Advocate”

Success Tip from Vivian Acquah:

In the words of Dr. Maya Angelou, “You are a phenomenal woman.” Even though I am a 6’1” woman with purple hair, through my company I stopped trying to be invisible and started living my purpose and helping others live their best lives.

Listen, Download, and Please Leave a Review!

Resource Links:

Viva La Vive Company, Vivian Acquah: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viva-la-vive/

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: http://yb2csystem.com

Detroit Ink Publishing: http://detroitinkpublishing

Green Garage Detroit Coworking Community: http://greengaragedetroit.com

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Ellen Lyle and Pink Elephant Products and Events L3C want to bring you SAFE and NATURAL products for your home and everyday life!

Welcome to Episode #69 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Located inside the Green Garage in MidTown Detroit (just like us!), Pink Elephant Products and Events L3C is a social enterprise that focuses on making clean products. Clean for you, and the Earth!

Pink Elephant creates personal care products, cleaning products, and cosmetics - all of them are dangerous chemical free and NATURAL products!

They participate in a unique and innovative recycling program with Terracycle and other organizations that recycle difficult to recycle items in order to create their Earth-friendly products and recycle those items that may not normally be easily recycled.

It is Ellen and her organization's mission to help clean the Earth by “turning trash into treasure.”

Ellen has a large box in her office so that others that work at the Green Garage can recycle their plastic bags from the grocery store.

Pam and Ellen discuss the horrifying images that can be found in the media that demonstrate the dangers of plastic in the oceans. They also talk about ways to make items that cannot be recycled a little safer when they are thrown away: such as cutting up plastic can rings.

Pink Elephant all started with natural and safe deodorants. Ellen was inspired when cancer hit her family very hard, and decided to try to take a more holistic look at the products she bought, and eventually began producing. Ellen discusses the dangers of non-natural products and ingredients, such as chemicals like aluminum, which can be found in deodorants.

After listening to this podcast, you may be more conscientious about your product intake, and maybe try to be as Earth-friendly as you can, just like Ellen and Pink Elephant!

Connect with Ellen Lyle and Pink Elephant Products on www.pinkelephantproducts.com, LinkedIn, Blog, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Timothy Simpson has been an entrepreneur since he was 8 years old, today he offers youths and adults alike the tools to build their own business and earn their own fortunes!

Welcome to Episode #68 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Timothy talks with us all the way from South Carolina!

Timothy has been a businessman of sorts all his life! At 8 years old, in Oklahoma, he started a community based cleaning company for army families who were constantly moving. At 10 years old, in Germany, he started a babysitting business. At 12 years old, he started a lawn care service. By the age of 13 he’d already started three companies!

Timothy calls himself a “serial entrepreneur.”

By the age of 19 until today, he has owned 11 different businesses in 6 different industries. Everything from cleaning, tire and automotive, lawn care services, restaurants, digital marketing, payday loan companies. Today he is a business coach and consultant!

His business moves with him, he works all over the United States and the world. The digital era we live in has helped him bring his business straight to the global market.

He works to teach business tools; such as financial literacy, leadership, and personal development all over the world. Even in Ghana, Africa!

He believes anyone can become an entrepreneur, and stresses the importance of social media for every businessperson.

Timothy talks about his junior academy, where he teaches kids entrepreneurship and helps them launch their own businesses! Some of his students earn some $50 - $300 a week with their own businesses!

Timothy believes that high unemployment = high crime. That means, kids need options and opportunities to be employed and earn money so that they can keep to the right path and avoid a life of possible crime.

Timothy offers youths the options and opportunities to earn their own fortunes!

He advises our audience to “never give up on education!” Even if it is just self education, it is important to never stop exploring what you are interested in.

Pam and Timothy explore the many layers and forms of learning and education.

Timothy’s children’s book “No Training Wheels,” which he describes as a modern day version of “The Little Engine That Could.”

“No Training Wheels” is available on Amazon for FREE with Amazon Unlimited!

Timothy calls himself a “Business Mythbuster,” and explains that you do not need to have money to make money. You just need to have ambition.

While many potential entrepreneurs have amazing visions, they may not know how to turn that vision into a reality. Timothy offers multiple plans that can help entrepreneurs set goals for themselves and their businesses. Timothy is there to help you actualize your dreams, and make money on them!

Timothy reminds us: excuses and procrastination are the real dream killers!

Find out more about Timothy Simpson and his many businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities by connecting with him on his website www.timthemotivator.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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VISIT www.TomJackobs.com/storybook FOR A FREE OFFER FROM TOM!

Tom Jackobs made the bold decision to go into self-employment during the recession, and it’s safe to say that his work paid off! Tom offers us his tips on how to make it BIG while being your own boss.

Welcome to Episode #67 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

While LinkedIn is known as the hub for business relationship building, Pam and Tom met on Facebook! Since nearly everything is online based these days, you never know who you will meet, and what opportunities may come from them!

Tom has been an entrepreneur for 30 years. However, it all started when he was an ambitious sixteen year old with an idea to start a mobile DJ and string quartet business.

After running this business all through his teen and college years, Tom soon found himself wanting a more professional job. He completed a degree in Theater, but eventually found himself working in the oil and gas industry.

But once again, Tom began to feel ambitious, just as he did when he was sixteen. He caught what he calls the “entrepreneurial bug,” and decided to go into business for himself once again.

Tom realized that he needed to lose weight after working behind a desk for so long, and started working hard on his diet and exercise to get fit. Through this journey, he found he had a story to tell and started teaching people how to get fit, as a personal trainer

This all started in 2008! Right in the middle of the great recession.

It wasn’t long, just six months, until Tom realized running your own business wasn’t so easy as it may seem. Looking back, Tom notes that entrepreneurs need to recognize that they can ask for help, that they are not superhumans.

After almost failing in business, Tom invested in a business coach. Together, they came up with a sales process.

Tom realized he needed to sell the result, not the function. Afterall, no one wants to work out, but they do want to look fit! He learned to tell the solution to a problem, which is very important for any business.

Tom is able to apply his Theater degree in sales and for his talks and presentations. It’s all about presenting a sales pitch, by telling an elegant story.

Three stories:

Founders story
Sales stories
Objection handling stories

After 9 years, Tom sold his fitness business, which is doing well under new owners.

Tom calls himself the “impact pilot,” as he helps businesses develop their stories to develop their business and effectiveness of their business.

Tom has a gift for us and our listeners, which can be found at www.tomjackobs.com/storybook.

Traveling all around the world, Tom put on small group workshops on how to sell and manage businesses. In this he found great success, both for himself and his clients!

As of now, Tom’s main goal is to help small business owners, and show them that they don’t have to struggle. You don’t need to make the same mistakes as everyone else!

DON’T FORGET ABOUT TOM’S SPECIAL GIFT TO US AND OUR LISTENERS!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Find out more about Tom Jackobs at www.tomjackobs.com.

Email Tom at Tom@TomJackobs.com.

Call Tom at (713) 244-5351

Connect with Tom on Facebook and YouTube!

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Todd McKay Merchant Services ISO helps his customers manage and understand their credit card processing by providing great customer service and relationships long term.

Welcome to Episode #66 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Todd McKay provides merchant service credit card processing as an Independent Sales Officer (ISO) through his business TM Services Inc. Pam and Todd met at a Detroit Startup Week workshop of Pam’s called “It’s Never Too Late to Be Great!”

Todd started out in finance, at a bank, and slowly made his way up in the industry. Eventually he began working for First Data, but found that he wanted to offer customer service his way.

He became an ISO. ISOs can sell credit card processing independently from First Data. By working as an ISO, he is able to control things like fees for his customers, which can easily make or break relationships in the credit card processing industry.

Todd as been an ISO for 3 years. He has found that he is able to offer the best customer service for his customers, without the pressure to make a sales quota.

Merchant services is the process of helping a business owner accept credit card payments, Todd explains, and there are a few different ways to do this. Todd provides a few examples of how processing can be done. It can be done via Gateway, Face to Face, or a traditional credit card processing device.

Todd partners with other point of sales systems, and links to different companies in order to process emerging service credit card processing.

He works with a wide variety of customers, such as car dealerships, doctors, lawyers, retail stores, grocery stores—any type of business that may accept a credit card.

McKay’s services supply a more close and personal relationship that can help his customers understand their sales processes.

Emerging service credit card processing is very competitive, Todd explains, but he has found a special niche in the industry through his close relationship building.

Both Pam and Todd agree that credit card processing should be considered a business expense!

Todd explains all of the fees that go into processing a credit card: interchange fee, merchant service fee, and monthly fee. Todd would rather his customer service be the best that it can be for his customers, and as professional as it can be. He offers no setup fee, and no cancellation fee. He reminds us that his customers manage the relationship, he is there for them!

He is able to help you understand statements and manage your credit card processing. Should there be some kind of issue or dispute with your business and your credit card processing, Todd McKay is there for you!

Todd advises our listeners to have belief in their passions and create quality relationships to really invigorate their businesses.

Todd finishes our interview by providing an algorithm for credit card processing and management success!

Find Todd McKay through his website or by calling him at (248) 480-3545 or email him at todd@tmservicesink.com

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Professor Samiya Bashir is an artistic entrepreneur, winner of an Oregon Book Award, and a multimedia artist of poetry and spoken word, she is also YB2C Live! host Pamela Hilliard Owens’ daughter!

Welcome to Episode #65 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Poet, writer, spoken word artist, and professor of creative writing, and daughter to Pamela Hilliard Owens, Professor Samiya Bashir considers herself a “multimedia” artist. While she started out as a freelance writer, Samiya has worked all around the country and the world at writing workshops, and consulting and communication organizations. She also proudly worked on the Freedom to Marry campaign, which advocates for marriage equality in the United States. In her consulting work, Samiya focused on helping people think big picture about their business, just like what we do at Writing it Right for You and Your Business, Your Brand, Creatively. Like mother, like daughter!

Samiya’s most recent body of work called “Field Theories” is a collection of poetry that won an Oregon Book Award. The Oregon Book Awards are presented every year to the best of the best writers in Oregon—a prestigious honor. There’s been one black woman to win the oregon book award before in history, and only one black poet.

Samiya works all over the country, and world. She recently worked at a workshop in Ghana that focused on African writers all around the world. Today she focuses mostly on her work as a professor and a writer. Samiya teaches at Reed College, a liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon.

Being a writer isn’t about just being a writer, you have to have something to say, advises Samiya. She believes very strongly in writers working together to improve each others work, which is why workshop and consulting work is so important to her.

Samiya offers our listeners a few wise words of advice: She stresses the importance of networking and knowing who needs help, in order to break into freelance work and make a name for yourself. Community building is integral, you need to see what other people are doing with your work to improve your own work.

She also advises to ask yourself “why are you making the artwork?” You definitely don’t want to go into poetry writing for the money!

If you’re a writer, you need to spend more time reading than you do writing. Be a part of the dialogue and conversation, a part of the world, that you work in.

Finally, Samiya’s last words of advice is to remember your tool is language. Like being a runner, if you only run when it’s race time, you won’t be very good! Don’t be afraid of the things you don’t understand! Engage!

Engage with Samiya by visiting her website!

Find her on…

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud, and Tumblr!

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Brendan Ross, of Brendan Ross Photography, believes that photography is just writing with life. Through his freelance business he tells a story, not with words, but with photos.

Welcome to Episode #64 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Brendan Ross is a fellow business in residence located at the Green Garage in Midtown Detroit, just like us here at YB2C!

His interest in taking photos started out when he joined photo club in high school. In college, Brendan took pictures for the college newspaper and yearbook, and eventually became editor and chief for the yearbook.

While he studied writing and english, and later worked in advertising, he soon found himself taking pictures for the advertising company that he worked for. Soon enough he realized that photography was what he needed to do!

Brendan has been in the photography business for 47 years.

While he works almost exclusively with clients based in Detroit, he photographs a very broad range of things. From open heart surgery to underwater life, Brendan Ross photographs it all.

As a self-employed entrepreneur, Brendan knows that there is never a guarantee that he will be successful, no matter how beautiful or well-crafted his work is. Though, he admits, he has done well for himself and his family.

Brendan offers our listeners 5 tips for success in photography:

Shoot a bunch of really good photos, and call it your portfolio.
Get your work into a good form as a website
Talk to the people that you’d like to be your market, keep in touch with them through a blog or by (heaven forbid!) phone.
Enhance your portfolio.
Just keep going!

One thing you should NOT do, Brendan says is that you should never work for a**holes because, he promises, it isn’t worth it!

Learn more about Brendan Ross and his photography:

Visit his website!

Check him out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web Page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Michelle May is a musician-extraordinaire and 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow that took a leap of faith to found a group of women to perform “world jazz” music.

Welcome to Episode #63 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Michelle May has always had a deep passion for music, and very clearly has a talent for it as well. She has mostly focused on classical, gospel, and jazz music, but is interested in learning new and exciting things in music every day.

While she had, and still has, deep respect for all of the big names in music that she has worked with, she’d always wanted to start her own group. Soon enough Michelle May founded Musique Noire—meaning black music in French—which is an instrumental group of black women musicians!

Though she is a licensed professional counselor, she wants to assure all of her audience that this is not her “real job,” and being a musician is absolutely not just a “hobby.”

She has performed with big names such as Stevie Wonder!

Michelle May advises us that we should not wait until we’re “good enough.” We should just get out there and do what we want to do and what we are inspired to do!

She also advises that we should know our craft and do quality networking. No matter how much of an introvert you are, networking is so important! This is something Your Business, Your Brand, Creatively has always stressed. It is also important to have a good reputation. As well as to support fellow musicians, says Michelle, just as you should support your fellow business people in general in all types of business!

Michelle notes how important it is to never stop learning and to be sure to look into new ideas and concepts in your industry through all platforms: read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, etc.

Michelle May is one of the 2018 Kresge Artist Fellows! The Kresge Foundation is a Detroit based foundation that is interested in arts and cultures with a specific Detroit focus.

Michelle May and Musique Noire hope to expand their sound and their audience reach in the future and continue to grow as artists.

Listen to hear the amazing resources and support that The Kresge Foundation has given to Michelle May!

Michelle is the music director for a music series in both Pam and Michelle's neighborhood! There is a concert for each season, the Summer concert is coming up soon!

Find out more about Michelle May and Musique Noire:

www.michellemay.net

www.musiquenoire.com

Follow and “Like” Michelle May and Musique Noire on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Visit www.historicbostonedison.org for information on the music concert series that Michelle puts on!

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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Bako Rambini, a lecturer at a top fashion school in Paris, helps fashion designers and start-ups develop their brands and market their fashion businesses to empower their fashion brands impact!

Bako lectures in two classes for fourth and fifth year students in Paris, helping students from all around the world develop their fashion brands.

She helps her clients combine their art with their business. In order to help them in “building a bridge” between the two logics: business and art.

Bako comes from a financial background, and interacted with designers who asked her to help them develop their business plans. Bako launched her brand Fashion Cross Functional because she needed a way to combine the fashion and the numbers, building her metaphorical bridge.

Fashion can be a very unstable business, thus making it very hard for start-ups to get funding for their work. Bako found that she was able to identify the problems that the designers needed to face in order to get the funds for their projects because of her financial background.

Bako authored her book “The Fashion Business Plan” in order to assist fashion designers in launching their business plans.

From Germany to the United States to Madagascar, Bako travels all around the world, as well as working online, in order to interact with her clients worldwide!

Bako reminds us “invest in yourself!” and to "always stay true to your brand DNA!"

Find Bako’s book on Amazon!

Find Bako on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Visit Fashion Cross Functional.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Annie Holden is an Australian anthropologist and entrepreneur who wants to bring other travel enthusiasts a products made especially for travel, convenience, and safety.

Welcome to Episode #61 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Annie Holden, anthropologist and entrepreneur, is no stranger to travel and the inconveniences that one may face when they are on any expedition.

She recalls always being told that her bra was the best place to keep her money and other important small items, because she will never lose them there. This sparked Annie’s idea to develop a bra especially for travel. Appropriately, this product would be named the Travel Bra.

Annie spent six months working with a lingerie designer in order to develop the bra, and quickly patented her design—ultimately winning a design award for it!

While today the Travel Bra has made a bit of a name for itself, Annie has faced a lot of marketing ups and downs. At times Annie found herself to be too ambitious, and expecting too much from her product and sales, without really realizing how much work needed to be put into it. Soon, Annie was able to discover the importance of marketing and search engine optimization, which really helped her product in the long run.

In order to fund her product, Annie utilized a few different platforms. Among classic social media, like Instagram and Facebook, Annie also found herself a contestant on the show Shark Tank. However, sadly, Annie never even got featured on the show! She was left on the cutting room floor.

Kickstarter, a website used by many entrepreneurs to fund their products, is absolutely worth it, according to Annie. Annie shares her advice on how to make Kickstarter work for you, which she has learned through trial and error.

After finding that her product was not selling as well as she wished it would, Annie went in for a total redesign of her product. Soon, she reimagined her product, hoping that a simpler design would sell better and be more cost effective. Sadly, the Travel Bra just wasn’t selling!

She knew there was a need in the market for her product, so she slowly developed a customer base and was able to utilize these connections with her loyal customers to improve sales. Through loyal customers, as well as advocates such as travel bloggers, Annie is able to spread the word about the Travel Bra. Annie put her product on Amazon, and found this to be a great way to really get her product out there. Today, Annie sells around 50,000 Travel Bras a year!

Annie has worked to expand her product line, knowing each customer would probably only buy one travel bra, because there isn’t much of a need for multiple, once you have the one.

Today, Annie is developing a moisturizer made especially for when you’re flying—as Annie is no stranger to how dry a long flight can become, and how damaging it can be to the skin. Through a new brand called Love Everything Travel, Annie has begun developing the In Flight Magic Moisturizer, which is set to release soon!

Through the advice of mentors, Annie has been able to learn what is and is not important when marketing your products and breaking into the entrepreneurial world. We always say that having mentors and being a mentor is so important!

In addition to her product lines, Annie also develops a podcast, newsletter, and blog about women and travel entrepreneurs.

Annie has lost a lot in her journey in developing the Travel Bra, but she has discovered ways to supply her very unique and necessary product to other travel enthusiasts.

Annie’s best advice for entrepreneurs is: if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it.

Find out more about Annie Holden and her travel products by visiting The Travel Bra, Love Everything Travel, and by listening to her podcast and reading her blog!

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Marvin Lee is an artist, but not in a traditional paintbrush wielding way. He calls himself a “body sculptor” his art is in his personal training, as well as in his music.

Welcome to Episode #60 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Pam has known Marvin since he was 9 years old! He has been a personal trainer since 2008, when he played for the Great Lakes Macos and earned the nickname “The X-Factor” which is where he got the name of his company: X-Factor Personal Fitness.

Most often, Marvin does his personal training in a more personalized setting, with smaller groups. He finds that these smaller group settings tend to be more effective. However, he does also offer a boot camp, which is usually consisting of 20-30 people.

He has found that not many people take his career seriously, so he tries his best to present himself as a professional entrepreneur. He studied other companies that were successful and were not successful in order to alter his company and follow the correct path to success.

Marvin attended University of Cincinnati. Black and Red, the colors of Marvin’s college, are his company’s colors. He has found his brand in the “X” and these colors. When people see that “X” they know he is serious.

Marvin has also learned quite a bit about music and composing through his studies. His mother, an opera singer, inspired him to want to sing. His other business is in music. He is inspired by all different kinds of music. The current record he is working on, called “Forever,” is R&B and Dance inspired.

Being an entrepreneur and running every aspect of his business is what Marvin sees as the biggest struggle in personal entrepreneurship. Self-marketing can be hard, but Marvin explores different social media in order to reach different demographics.

Marvin finds his biggest success in the lives that he has been able to touch through both of his companies.

Learn more about Marvin and X-Factor Personal Fitness on his website, Facebook, or by phone at (313) 694-0607. X-Factor Personal Fitness is located at 22 South Main St. in Clawson, Michigan 48017.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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Keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur, Alison Vaughn founded Jackets for Jobs 18 years ago to empower individuals to enter into the workforce by supplying job seekers with professional clothing to get and keep jobs.

Welcome to Episode #58 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

Alison Vaughn is a triple threat advocate and inspiration: keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She founded Jackets for Jobs 18 years ago to help those who wish to make their way into the workforce, but don’t have the assets to to do so.

Today, Jackets for Jobs has supplied 25,000 Detroit job seekers with professional attire to open doors to new job opportunities.

Jackets for Jobs has two offices in Detroit, one on the eastside and one on the westside. In addition to these very accessible locations, Jackets for Jobs has become a global company; Jackets for Jobs also assists job seekers in Botswana, South Africa.

Jackets for Jobs’ mission relates to everyone, no matter your background. It is a fact that everyone needs some kind of income, some kind of way to support themselves and their families. Alison’s company gives individuals the ability to be self sufficient.

When someone looks good, they feel good, they feel confident. Jackets for Jobs has a partnership with TJ Maxx and as well as accepting clean, hung, in season donations.

Alison is also an author, she recently wrote the book “Miss Goal Digger.” This book is geared toward women, in hopes of inspiring women to set goals and make them attainable.

Alison hopes to be a positive role model through her speaking, authorship, and entrepreneurial engagements.

Alison Vaughn

Keynote Speaker

Author & Entrepreneur

www.alisonvaughn.com

www.jacketsforjobs.org

For appearances, speaking engagements and media inquiries, contact:

(313) 579-9160 or by email atalisonvaughnspeaks@gmail.com

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community

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An author. An editor. A Ghostwriter. A Master Wordsmith. Our guest this week looked at all of his skills and experience and opened his own freelance editing business four years ago.

Our guest this week is James Ranson. Author, editor, book coach, and ghostwriter, James has always had a love for words. He has always known that he wanted to work with words in some way and has managed to niche down his audience and clients through the years.

As an editor, James’ focus is on helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses with high-quality books by improving content, language, approach, and presentation in the text.

James describes his most recent book, what he calls his “second first book.” The book is appropriately titled “Don’t Write a Crappy Book,” which highlights all of the mistakes that entrepreneurs and writers make when writing books. These mistakes include not knowing one’s audience, wanting to get finished too quickly, or not hiring professional help. James’ book will be self-published and comes out October 1st.

Pam and James discuss their experiences early on in their editing businesses, and the complications that occur when one tries to handle everything themselves without hiring professionals to help. Just because someone is “self” publishing, does not mean they have to do everything themselves!

Financial struggles, unreliable authors, and misinformation can often cause problems between editors and authors. Many people don’t acknowledge the difference between editing and proofreading.

James gives quick tips to our listeners and his book recommendations to those who are searching for advice on changing paths and/or careers. You can find out more about James on his website.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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An academic and cultural preservationist starts a nonprofit to ensure that the rich and unique musical history of Detroit, Michigan is available for future generations.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

This week, for Episode #56, we welcome Dr. Carleton Gholz, an academician, a cultural preservationist, a researcher, and a lover of music history from Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Gholz is the founder and executive director of the Detroit Sound Conservancy.

Carleton was born and raised outside of Detroit, and during his formative years, he, like many of his contemporaries in the suburbs, was advised not to come anywhere near the seemingly dying and dangerous city.

After a stint at teaching at the university level, Dr. Gholz decided to come home to Detroit and pursue his real passion, musical and cultural preservation. Detroit has a very rich musical heritage, including the times before and after the famous Motown era. Of course, starting, growing, and maintaining a nonprofit includes its own set of challenges, but Carleton, as he prefers to be called, is ready, willing, and able to find, tell, and preserve the history of the music industry in Detroit.

Find out more about the Detroit Sound Conservancy on their website.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Welcome to this week’s episode of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs. Every week we discuss the entrepreneurial journey, including interviews with business owners of all sizes from Detroit and all over the world who share their stories to give you inspiration, motivation, and tips for overcoming challenges and achieving success for your business.

This week, for Episode #53, and in honor of Black Music Month, which is celebrated every June, we welcome John E. Lawrence, a master musician, visual artist, author, and business owner. John tells his story about when he decided to walk away from a good job in an auto plant outside of Detroit Michigan, and turn his musical talent into a commercially successful career for himself, making an income rivaling that of attorneys, doctors, and other professionals.

In this episode, John describes how he started playing the guitar at age 9, but thought he needed to have a “good job” to have a “good life,” and after high school, like many others, he went to work in an auto plant near his home. He was working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, from 1 pm to 1 am. Although he was making good money, John knew this was not how he wanted to live the rest of his life. He decided that he would figure out how to take his musical talent and make a new life and a new career for himself.

Along the way, John found some wonderful mentors who helped him and opened up other great opportunities for him, but all the time, he was building a business with his music, developing multiple streams of income.

John recently published a book that gives musicians just about everything they need to know to make a full-time career of their musical talent: Business Management for Musicians: Making Money Making Music, which was published in March 2018 by our company, Detroit Ink Publishing. The book is available on Amazon and through John’s website.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode. Our podcast and this episode are also available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes

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YB2C Live! Ep #52 CollabFeature with Marty Shea

This week, for Episode #52, we welcome Marty Shea, co-founder of CollabFeature, a very unique global filmmaking company headquartered in Detroit Michigan.

Marty explains that CollabFeature is a collaborative way for filmmakers around the world to make feature films, TV series, web series, and documentaries in a whole new cost- and time-efficient way. CollabFeature gives artists and writers from around the world a chance they ordinarily would not have to plug into the industry.

In this episode, Marty tells us how he got started in filmmaking in college after starting out with a completely different, non-creative major in advertising. While still in college, Marty met his co-writer and they worked with his art director, and the idea of collaborating and pooling resources took hold.

Today, CollabFeature works with a remote team all over the world to tell a story, and the most fascinating thing is that different filmmakers take one little part of the story to eventually make one feature film.

Marty continues our interview with his ideas about being a freelance entrepreneur and the freedom that gives him to work with a very diverse group of people from around the world, making his own schedule and designing and achieving his own goals for his company.

CollabFeature’s films have won several awards at film festivals and are available for viewing on Amazon Prime and Vimeo Vod.

You can find out more about CollabFeature, including their social media outlets, on their website and on Facebook.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode.

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Our podcast is brought to you by our two companies, Your Business Your Band Creatively, abbreviated “YB2C” and Detroit Ink Publishing. We invite you to click on the links for each company in the show notes and contact us to discuss all of your copywriting, publishing, branding and marketing, and business consulting needs.

This week, for Episode #49, we welcome Noura Ballout, the co-owner and manager of The Bottom Line Coffee House, located just a block away from our studio here in the Green Garage Detroit in Midtown Detroit. Noura is very committed to small businesses in Midtown, especially Black-owned businesses and businesses that offer “Safe Spaces” continue to operate, grow, and thrive. Noura, who was only twenty years old at the time, approached the owners of The Bottom Line, which at the time was closed temporarily, and offered to manage the shop and help to bring it back and brand it accordingly, including also as a creative space. Later, the owners offered Noura the opportunity to become a partner/co-owner in the business. Noura states the shop isn’t opened every morning wondering: “How much money can I make today?” Instead, the thought is: “How can I fulfill my purpose of creating an open, accepting, and safe creative space for the community?”

The Bottom Line Coffee House has a policy called “Suspended Coffee” that allows people to buy a cup of coffee for someone else for whom $5.0o or even $1.00 for a cup of coffee may be a challenge. The Bottom Line also has a sign in the window that says: “Black Lives Matter. Refugees Welcome.” The Bottom Line is LGBT-friendly and welcoming to all in the community. The Midtown area is also home to Wayne State University, so balancing the seasons when students are not here is a challenge that Noura meets by having different events to draw in customers. Being an artist and curator helps Noura to also help create space for other visual, musical, and spoken word artists.

Noura is opening a second, related business nearby: “Detroit Grinds.” Detroit Grinds is a lifestyle brand that celebrates the perseverance and hard work exemplified by Detroiters and by Detroit artists in particular. Detroit Grinds will also grind coffee!

Please download and listen to the episode to find out more about Noura Ballout and The Bottom Line Coffee Shop; a business that almost folded, but was brought back to life by the hard work of Noura and the other owners, thereby saving what has become a jewel in the Midtown Detroit Community. You can find out more about The Bottom Line Coffee House at their website and on their Facebook Page.

Please subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook and to submit your information on the Contact Form if you would like to be a guest on a future episode!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community here.

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This week, for YB2C Live! Episode #48, we welcome Karen Chappelle, a former deputy attorney in Los Angeles California who went back to school to get a Master’s Degree in Arts Management and moved back to her hometown of Detroit Michigan to start an arts management company, Casablanca Consultants.

Karen loved her law career; she was a practicing attorney for over 30 years. But she also loved the arts, especially the theatre, and spent a lot of time in California working with theatre groups and arts associations. After her husband died and her son moved to Broadway to find his own fame and fortune—which he did as a member of the original cast of “Hamilton—Karen, armed with her new Arts Management degree, decided to leave California and come back home where she grew up and where a lot of her family still lived.

Karen knows that the arts scene in Detroit has always been vibrant and robust, and she also knew that she wanted to be a part of it, and so she set about finding the help she needed to start her own arts management company, including working with SCORE, and then with me and my company, Your Business Your Brand Creatively.

Please download and listen to the episode to find out more about Karen Chappelle and Casablanca Consultants Detroit, including the amazing Detroit Heritage Theatre festival that Karen has put together that highlights playwrights who wrote 10-minute plays about Detroit.

You can find out more about Karen and her organization at her website and on her Facebook page.

Please subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Patronicity: Patronicity brings together local citizens and sponsors to support great initiatives in their communities through crowdgranting.

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on iTunes

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This week, for Episode #47, we welcome Mr. David Broner, a volunteer for SCORE, which is a part of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Through SCORE, David works with new and established entrepreneurs and business owners on all kinds of issues relevant to starting, growing, and maintaining their companies. Working with a SCORE volunteer is completely free.

Pamela Owens: This week, for episode 47, I'd like to welcome Mr. David Broner of SCORE. I want him to tell us first of all, in case you don't know what SCORE is. Tell us a little bit about SCORE, David.

David Broner: Okay, Pam. So, SCORE, we are the volunteers at the Small Business Administration. In the United States, there is over 300 SBA offices and out of each office, there's a contingent. In Detroit, we have 60 people for the tri-county area. In the United States, there are 11,000 volunteers.

Pamela Owens: Oh wonderful. So you're all volunteers?

David Broner: We're all volunteers.

Pamela Owens: Great. So, SCORE is from the Small Business Administration. Tell us, David, a little bit about your background before you retired.

David Broner: Okay, Pam. My background, before I retired, we own a wholesale distribution business, which is still, now in the fourth generation. My daughter and my son are managing and owning it.

Pamela Owens: Oh, that's great.

David Broner: We had two divisions. One of them, Broner Incorporated, provides hats and gloves to retailers all over the United States. Our other division is called Broner Glove and Safety and we provide anything that the worker would need on a job site or in a plant so that he does not get hurt.

Pamela Owens: Oh. So, all those safety clothing type things?

David Broner: Yeah, from goggles to respirators to boots and gloves, eyeglasses, anything that a person would have to wear in order not to get hurt. That's what we provide.

Pamela Owens: Oh great. So, you said it's a fourth generation. So, you ... ?

David Broner: My grandfather, originally with my father, in 1933-

Pamela Owens: Wow.

David Broner: -Began the business, right after the Depression. Not a good time, but they struggled and figured it out.

Pamela Owens: Oh great. So where is it located? Or where did it start?

David Broner: It started in Highland Park, Michigan.

Pamela Owens: Wow. Okay.

David Broner: And we moved to Detroit, bought a building on Linwood, across from Central High School.

Pamela Owens: Wow. Okay. That's my old stomping grounds.

David Broner: Mine too. That's where I grew up.

Then we moved to Ferndale. Then we expanded to Detroit, Michigan. For the last, I think, 18 years, the company is now in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Pamela Owens: Wow. That's some expansion. That's great. That's a great story, starting right there in the Depression.

I started my business in 2008, right smack in the middle of the Great Recession. Getting ready to celebrate my 10th year in business, so it is possible. It is possible.

David Broner: Takes work.

Pamela Owens: Exactly. Exactly.

Why did you decide, after you retired and everything, to become a volunteer for SCORE?

David Broner: As you all know, oftentimes family businesses can be complicated, and I observed many that didn't go well. I figured by the time, I only had one job, Pam, my whole life and that was helping and running the business, and I decided when I was 70, I was gonna let my kids own. We figured out how we could transfer ownership, so I could go find another career or another situation.

I read a book, which sort of inspired me, and it was sort of ... I think the name of the book was Rewire, Don't Retire.

Pamela Owens: Oh. Oh, I'll have to remember that.

David Broner: Very in depth. I thought she wrote the book to me directly. Anyway, I sort of took a lot of the ideas. Somebody asked me if I would like to go to a SCORE meeting, and I didn't know what it was, but this person and I went to the meeting and I learned what they were doing and I liked a lot of the people that were volunteers and I became pretty active.

Pamela Owens: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. So tell me what a usual day for you is when you're working with SCORE.

David Broner: Most of the appointments that we have are set, let's say at one of our offices. we have offices in Detroit Northwest Activity Center. We have an office in Ferndale, we have an office in the Federal Building, downtown Detroit. We have an office in Oakland County. We meet people at coffee shops or at libraries. We really sit down with people and listen to their stories. It's all about them and what they're trying to accomplish. Most entrepreneurs are lonely.

Pamela Owens: Yes.

David Broner: They can't go home and just talk to their husband or wife about it, or they don't want to tell their friends that they're having a challenge, but we understand because we were there. A lot of the things we've suffered, they suffer.

Pamela Owens: Exactly. Exactly.

David Broner: Anyways, we try to look at the opportunities and try to help them move their businesses or their ideas forward.

Pamela Owens: What resources do you offer people, especially people who are not as realistic as they should be, about what going into business is all about?

David Broner: Well, there's a reality out there, but we try to ... Because people need to dream, and I think, oftentimes, their dream can come true. But, if they don't have the capital to begin with, they may wanna wait. If they haven't really done the research, they may wanna wait.

So, the beauty of SCORE is that each one of our volunteers comes with a different set of talent, you could say. If it's somebody who needs help in marketing and I can't help them, I will bring another SCORE person in.

I didn't say anything about sales, but if you're not able to talk to people and build relationships, you're gonna struggle. If you think you can build a relationship just through email or just through social media, the best way is really eyeball-to-eyeball, where you can feel, and you can get all the vibrations from that client. The negative feedback is good too. You then know what to adjust, and some of the challenges, if you don't face them, you're gonna be kidding yourself in the long run. Making those sales efforts, whether you or somebody in your organization, needs to be doing that part of the work.

Pamela Owens: Right. Everybody needs, they have a problem or challenge that needs solving. That's what you do.

David, this has been absolutely wonderful. I so enjoyed it. For my listeners, David and I have known each other for several years. As David said, he goes around the city, meeting people in different places, but here at the Green Garage Detroit, that's one of his mobile offices. He's here several times a week. We really appreciate it, again, for the networking and for the introductions.

David Broner: Pam, can I just leave ... if somebody's interested in reaching out to SCORE, they would go on the web to Detroit.SCORE.org.

Pamela Owens: Okay, great.

David Broner: There's a place that you can click, that says, “I want to find a mentor” or even if you want to become a volunteer, you can click the tab that says “Want to be a volunteer?”

Pamela Owens: Okay, great.

David Broner: Thank you.

Pamela Owens: Thank you so much. All of the information will be on our show notes when we publish this interview, next Monday. Again. Thank you for being a wonderful, wonderful guest. Thank you for being a wonderful, wonderful person and doing this on a volunteer basis for companies who really, really, really need your help and individuals who really need your help. Thank you so much, David.

David Broner: That was fun.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Detroit Office of SCORE: click to volunteer or to find a SCORE mentor.

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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This week, for Episode #45, we welcome Dr. Tyson Franklin, an author, a podcaster, and business consultant all the way from Queensland, Australia. Dr. T talks about how he started out as a podiatrist, growing his practice to owning several podiatrist offices within the state of Queensland. His group of offices was so successful he was able to sell them and start building his business consultancy, targeting primarily podiatrists and others. He also started his podcast, “It’s No Secret with Dr. T.”

Dr. T and I also discuss how we met; he states that he regularly researches and listens to business podcasts from all over the world, and one of my recent podcasts caught his ear. He even produced a short video about that podcast, “The Happier Camper,” helping to spread the word for my podcast and for the company of my guest that week.

In this episode, Dr. T gives our listeners a lot of great advice for starting, growing, and maintaining their small businesses. His #1 piece of advice: “Listen to a lot of podcasts!”

You can find out all about the awesome Dr. Tyson Franklin, including signing up for his newsletter and following him on social media, on his website.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Find out more information about the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community.

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This week, for Episode #43, we welcome Sylvia Hubbard, award-winning author of over 40 novels, founder of the Motown Writers Network and the Michigan Literary Network, blogger, speaker, teacher, trainer, literary event planner, and writing coach. Sylvia has been an Amazon #1 Bestseller five times! How does she do it all?

Sylvia lets us know that the main reason she can do so much is that she LOVES writing, being a published author, and helping others to achieve writing and publishing success. Through her workshops and coaching, she helps writers find their voice, get that manuscript written, and navigate through the publishing process. Her workshops are always sold out, and her monthly Motown Writers Network meetings, featuring successful authors and publishers are legendary in Detroit.

You can find out more about Sylvia and her organizations at her website and on her Facebook page. Oh, did I mention Sylvia’s getting married in a few months and is planning her dream wedding?

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! Page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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This week, for Episode #42, we recorded a very special interview with Farrukh Naeem Qadri, an award-winning writer, social media strategist, TEDx speaker, and tech blogger from the United Arab Emirates. Farrukh and I have been friends for over 7 years although we had never met in person. We originally met during an online global webinar called “International Freelancers Day," sponsored by #EdGandia of High Income Business Writing. Ed is a previous guest on this podcast. Farrukh and I found that we had many similar interests, much more than our differences, we became instant friends. We consider ourselves part of the same family. During my recent business trip to Dubai, Farrukh traveled by bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on a Thursday evening, two hours each way, so we could finally meet in person. We talked for three hours; part of which is in this episode.

In this episode, Farrukh tells us about his freelance copywriting career, why he loves living and working in Abu Dhabi, his love of photography, chocolates, and motorcycles, his complete dedication to his Muslim faith, and why staying connected to global online mentors like #EdGandia is so important. You can find out all about my brother-friend Farrukh on his website, and see more on his Facebook page, including all of his social media sites.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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This week, for Episode #41, we welcome Melissa D. White, an author, public speaker, and founder of the nonprofit “Writing Our Wrongs,” which empowers youth to activate their voice through writing and speech. Melissa lives and works near Atlanta, Georgia. Melissa and I have known each other for over ten years, and in this episode, we discuss how she made the transition from a very successful corporate real estate professional to an entrepreneur following her passion.

Melissa also hosts a weekly radio show, “The Activation Hour,” as well as working with her full-time life coaching consultancy. You can also find out more about Melissa and try to keep with everything she does on her Facebook page.

Melissa details how she manages it all, including her daily schedule as a home-based multi-faceted business conglomerate. Melissa truly believes that she is fulfilling God’s purpose for her life.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

Detroit Ink Publishing: manuscript preparation, eBook and print book publishing, and author marketing services for nonfiction, fiction, and business books.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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This week, for Episode #39, we welcome Stephanie and Tyrone Dickey of Stef-n-Ty Boutique, a unique clothing store and coffee house located in the North End Neighborhood in Detroit Michigan.

Stephanie and Tyrone describe their 25-year journey of starting, building, and growing their company, which is known all over the world for its unique hat designs, as well as tell us about working a business as a married couple, also for over 25 years. For the most part, Stephanie is the designer and oversees the production of the hats and other clothing items available at their store, and Tyrone handles the business end of the business, including the marketing and social media.

Ty talks about how he often travels to different cities to have trunk shows, which he says are now known as “popups,” and Stephanie describes how she uses a creative mix of recycled textiles for her one-of-a-kind hats. They have built their brand to a point where when someone is wearing one of their hats, people automatically know that it is a “Stef-n-Ty” original design!

Our guest couple tells us how they’ve moved their business to various cities, including Baltimore and New York, and why they finally decided to make Detroit their permanent home. Even after moving to Detroit, Stef-n-Ty has moved their location several times but now consider the North End the perfect spot because of its location on Woodward and vibrant community of long-time residents and businesses, as well as newcomers to the Detroit creative community.

In addition to their store, Stephanie and Tyrone also offer sewing classes, shows for other designers, and a “come and shop” coffee bar, as they continue to integrate themselves and their business into the surrounding neighborhood.

Please download and listen to this informative and educational episode, and subscribe to the YB2C Live Podcast on iTunes and “Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook!

Stef-N-Ty on Facebook

9425 John R Street (1.05 mi)
Detroit, Michigan 48202 (313) 405-5759 stefntyfashion@yahoo.com Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers. The YB2C Live! Podcast Web page: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Welcome to Episode #37 of YB2C Live!, the podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers, brought to you by Your Business Your Brand Creatively, our company that works with the branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity projects with our clients locally and worldwide.

We record the podcast every Thursday from our studio in the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community in Midtown Detroit.

Our special guest today is Nefertiti Harris, owner of Textures Natural Hair and Skin Salon located in Midtown Detroit. In this episode, Nefertiti describes her journey to entrepreneurship, starting when she was a model, then working out of her home so she could care for her young son, and later, after being in two other locations, opening her current shop.

Natural hair care is big business, but Nefertiti tells us how she has deliberately designed her salon to be a quiet, intimate, and healing space. She offers a variety of services in her shop, and all of her stylists and estheticians are independent contractors, not employees. Nefertiti explains why that difference is very important for entrepreneurs to know.

Nefertiti expounds on the ups and downs of starting, growing, and maintaining a small business in a big city like Detroit, and how her business is dealing with all of the recent growth spurts in downtown and Midtown.

Textures by Nefertiti Salon is located right around the corner from my office in the Green Garage near Wayne State University and I was very honored and excited to have Nefertiti Harris as my guest for this episode. Please click the player link to download and listen to this wonderful and informative interview with a successful entrepreneur who has built an iconic business in Detroit:

Address: 4147 Cass, Detroit, MI 48201

Telephone: (313) 831-4771

Email: info@texturesbynef.com

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Your Business Your Brand Creatively(YB2C): branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

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“Like” the YB2C Live! page on Facebook for notifications and further information about all of our podcasts, and to submit your information on the Contact Form if you would like to be a guest on a future episode.

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Welcome to Episode #35 of YB2C Live!, the podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers, brought to you by Your Business Your Brand Creatively, our company that works with the branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity projects with our clients locally and worldwide.

We record the podcast every Thursday from our studio in the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community in Midtown Detroit. Our guests are scheduled using the Acuity Scheduling app(affiliate link thanks!), and the podcast is recorded using the Zoom app. (affiliate link, thanks!).

Our special guest today is Scott Lowell, co-owner of the Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant located in Midtown Detroit. In this episode, Scott tells us how he and his co-owners bought and enhanced the Traffic Jam restaurant and nurtured it through the “hard times” of the 1980s in Detroit, in the neighborhood once known as the “Cass Corridor.”

Scott tells us about all of the different options available at his restaurant, including the “Snug” part—I learned something new today!

Scott also tells us about the ups and downs of owning a restaurant, and gives us his thoughts about the seemingly new explosion of new restaurants in Detroit, and how his businesses are dealing with all of the recent growth in downtown and Midtown Detroit, especially for those businesses like his that have been here for decades. Scott reminds us that he is an unabashed “capitalist!”

The Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant is located right around the corner from my office in the Green Garage near Wayne State University and I was very honored and excited to have Scott Lowell as my guest for this episode. Please click the player link to download and listen to this wonderful and informative interview with a successful entrepreneur who has built several businesses in Detroit, including the now iconic Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant:

511 W Canfield St

Detroit, Michigan 48201

(313) 831-9470

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Additional Links:

Your Business Your Brand Creatively: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Welcome to Episode #34 of YB2C Live!, the podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers, brought to you by Your Business Your Brand Creatively, our company that works with the branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity projects with our clients locally and worldwide.

We record the podcast every Thursday from our studio in the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community in Midtown Detroit. Our guests are scheduled using the Acuity Scheduling app (affiliate link thanks!), and the podcast is recorded using the Zoom app. (affiliate link, thanks!).

Our special guest today is Ed Gandia, founder of High Income Business Writing, a copywriting and business consultancy in suburban Atlanta. In this episode, Ed tells us how he started his business first as a part-time gig while he worked his full-time job, and then, moving to copywriting and business consulting full time.

I first found out about Ed in 2010 when I read The Wealthy Freelancer the book he co-authored with two friends, Pete Savage and Steve Slaunwhite. As I always tell Ed, that book changed my professional life. Later, Ed also created a global online program for freelancers called “The International Freelancers Day.” It was through my participation in The International Freelancers Day that I met several fellow social media professionals around the world, many of whom I still count as friends, collaborators, and mentors.

Speaking of mentors, Ed is one of my top online mentors. In this episode, Ed details how he works with clients in his business and how he provides individual and group coaching. Ed is a strong believer in having several streams of additional income and explains how that is different from “passive income,” because you have to be present and work hard to make your additional income streams successful and profitable.

Through his B2BLauncher website and Facebook page, Ed has helped thousands of copywriters and freelance writers since starting his business over ten years ago. In this episode, Ed also describes how he has built his six-figure income while also balancing his business with his home and family, which is very important to him.

I was very honored and excited to have Ed Gandia as my guest for this episode. Please click the player link to download and listen to this wonderful and informative interview with a successful entrepreneur who has built a great business for himself by helping others—just like entrepreneurs everywhere.

Find out more about Ed Gandia and his companies at these links:

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Welcome to Episode #33 of YB2C Live!, the podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers, brought to you by Your Business Your Brand Creatively, our company that works with the branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity projects with our clients locally and worldwide.

We record the podcast every Thursday from our studio in the Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community in Midtown Detroit. Our guests are scheduled using the Acuity Scheduling app (affiliate link thanks!), and the podcast is recorded using the Zoom app. (affiliate link, thanks!).

Our special guest today is Liz Blondy, founder and owner of Canine to Five Dog Daycare in Detroit and Ferndale Michigan. In this episode, Liz tells us the story of how she, without a college education, without rich parents, and having never owned a business before, got the idea to start a dog daycare in Detroit. Hint: she is a very, very hard worker.

Liz was having dinner with friends in Midtown Detroit, and one friend who lives downtown drove 35 miles each every day to the suburbs for daycare for his dog. Liz thought to herself, why is there not a dog daycare facility in Detroit? That was in the fall of 2003 and by the spring of 2005, Canine to Five Midtown Detroit opened with Liz as its only employee. Liz has since expanded her business to two locations in Detroit and one in Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit.

Approaching her 13th anniversary of opening her business, Liz lets our listeners know that although being an entrepreneur is very hard work, it is totally worth it, and she believes that anyone can be an entrepreneur if they really make that decision. Canine to Five now also offers boarding, grooming, obedience classes for puppies and older dogs, and many community activities throughout the year. All of the information about all three locations, all of the services, and educational and informative articles are available on the website.

Liz talks about the happiness and excitement that goes along with owning her own business, and also about the challenges she’s experienced along the way. She also tells us how she finally got a dog for herself in lieu of an engagement ring!

Please click the player link to download and listen to this wonderful and informative interview with a successful entrepreneur who found a need and filled it—just like entrepreneurs everywhere.

I have been a customer of Canine to Five since it opened, and it was a pleasure for me to have Liz Blondy as my guest this week.

Canine to Five Dog Daycare Center

3443 Cass Avenue, Detroit MI 48201

(313) 831-3647

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The YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

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Welcome to Episode #32 of YB2C Live!, the podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers, brought to you by [Your Business Your Brand Creatively], our company that works with the branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity projects with our clients locally and worldwide.

We record the podcast every Thursday from our studio in the [Green Garage Detroit Co-Working Community] in Midtown Detroit. Our guests are scheduled using the Acuity Scheduling app, and the podcast is recorded using the Zoom app.

This week, our special guest is Baba Jamon Jordan, nationally renowned historian and president of the Detroit Chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which was established nationally in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History. Jamon is also an educator and the Tour Leader of the Black Scroll Network and co-founder of the Black Scroll Study Group. President at ASALH Detroit, Historian | Educator, Tour Leader at Black Scroll Network History & Tours and Co-Founder/Facilitator at The Black Scroll Study Group in Detroit Michigan.

The word “Baba” is a term of respect for adult males in Kiswahili, the second-most spoken language in Africa and in the African Diaspora. Kiswahili as a language is not connected to any religion or country in Africa but is the widely-accepted language used culturally in the Diaspora.

In this episode, Baba Jamon explains, as only an esteemed historian can, the history of Kwanzaa and its legacy and importance for African Americans and Africans in the global Diaspora. As president of the [Detroit Chapter of the ASALH], Baba Jamon also gives us the history of the organization founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who first established “Negro History Week,” which then ultimately led to the annual celebration of Black History Month every February.
Kwanzaa is not “Black Christmas,” but a week-long celebration of African culture and it highlights the 7 Principles of the “First Fruits,” which is what “Kwanzaa” means in Kiswahili. Kwanzaa is a time for people of African descent and others to come together every day as part of family and community to renew their commitment to the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa before the New Year; the last day of Kwanzaa is January 1st.

Kwanzaa is an excellent opportunity for creative entrepreneurs to design and promote their artistry, particularly handmade items that incorporate local and cultural elements. Kwanzaa is meant to be the antithesis of the commercialization that often accompanies Christmas.

You can listen and download this exceptionally educational podcast below. You can also subscribe to the YB2C Live! Podcast on [iTunes], and we would be honored if you could leave a review of your favorite episodes.

The relevant links for Episode #32 are below.

[The Association of the Study of African American Life and History: Detroit Chapter]
[Jamon Jordan and the Black Scroll Network Tours, Detroit Michigan]

[Your Business Your Brand Creatively]: branding, marketing, copywriting, communications, and productivity solutions for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creative and solo freelancers.

The [YB2C Live! Podcast Webpage]: review the Show Notes of all of our episodes here.

Subscribe to the [YB2C Live! Podcast] on iTunes

“Like” the [YB2C Live! Page on Facebook] for notifications and further information about all of our podcasts, and to submit your information on the Contact Form if you would like to be a guest on a future episode.

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Welcome to Episode 31 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners, brought to you by our company, Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C). We work with entrepreneurs, freelance business owners, solo and creative professionals, and small business owners on their branding, marketing, copywriting, social media marketing, and productivity projects.

Our special guest for today's episode is Timothy Price, manager of the Detroit location of the Happier Camper company. Timothy tells us all about his journey to this unique business, located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, which sells customized campers that are built for each customer right here in the USA. Timothy and I met at the Green Garage Detroit, a co-working community that hosts a weekly Community Networking Lunch.

Timothy describes his career journey from musician to freelance music producer, to sales and how everything he's done in his life has prepared him for this new exciting small business venture.

Timothy also discusses how and why social media marketing and face-to-face networking is so important to the success of his business.

Listen to this podcast for this interesting story of entrepreneurship and business ownership, including the importance of telliing your story and ensuring that you are always "out there" for prospects and customers.

You can find out more about Happier Camper on their website, where you can also find their social media links for Facebook and Instagram.

Happier Camper Detroit
1244 Beech St.
Detroit, MI 48226
M-F 10am-6pm
Make an Appointment

We record the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners from our studio at the Green Garage Detroit:

4444 2nd Avenue, Detroit MI 48201

All podcasts are scheduled and recorded using the Zoom app.

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Our special guest for Episode #30 of the YB2C Live! Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners is Miriam Pranschke, owner of BORO Resale and Consignment Shop in Detroit, Michigan. In this episode, Miriam joins us via the online meeting app Zoom to describe how she knew when she was still in college that she wanted to open a consignment store. After working for, and learning from other consignment store owners in Grand Rapids, Miriam and her husband decided to move to Detroit and open their own store downtown near the Eastern Market. Miriam talks about the benefits of living "above the store," living and working in Detroit, what the name BORO means, how consignment and resale works, how she obtains items for her store, and the process for opening a retail establishment in Detroit.

You can view and download a full transcript of this episode here.

You can find out more about Miriam and the BORO Resale and Consignment store on Facebook and at the BORO website. BORO Resale is also active on Twitter and Instagram: @bororesale.

Please make sure to "Like" the YB2C Live! Facebook page for more information about the podcasts, and visit the Your Business Your Brand Creatively (YB2C) website to learn about our branding, marketing, communications, and productivity services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners.

We would be honored for you to subscribe to the YB2C Live! podcast on iTunes to receive each week's podcast as soon as it's published.

The YB2C Live! podcast is recorded each Thursday from our studios in the Green Garage Detroit Co-working Community in Midtown Detroit.

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This episode of the YB2C Live! podcast is the third in this year’s February Black History Month “Legacy Entrepreneur” Series. Our guest this week is Sharon Madison, CEO of Madison Madison International. Madison Madison International is an engineering and architectural consulting firm, which was founded by her father, Julian C. Madison, and uncle in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. Her Uncle and Father themselves built on the legacy of their father, Robert James Madison, one of the first African-American architectural engineers in the United States.

Sharon tells the fascinating story of how her grandfather, her father Julian C. Madison, and her uncles, Robert and Bernard, grew the company into a prolific design firm working throughout the United States and internationally in the areas of airport construction, infrastructure, mass transportation, multifamily housing, office and church buildings, roads and bridges, and water and wastewater treatment plants.

Sharon took over the company in 1989 after the death of her father, becoming one of the few women owners of such firms, and the only Black woman to own her own building in downtown Detroit, the Julian C. Madison Building.

Expounding on her current projects and the continued growth of her company and the diversity of tenants in her building, Sharon’s reflects on the extraordinary growth of business in Detroit. Sharon’s story is an inspiring one that demonstrates the power of a legacy in Detroit.

For more information on Sharon Madison and Madison Madison International:

www.madisonmadison.com

Julian C. Madison Building

1420 Washington Boulevard

Detroit, Michigan 48226

P: (313) 963-6110

F: (313) 963-4290

info@madisonmadison.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode, Pam and Keith conference with Stephanie Willis, founder of G.H. Soaps and Body Truth Brand products.

G.H. Soaps was founded in 2014 through an urban gardening program in the west side of Detroit, and has since expanded into the Body Truth Brand.

G.H. Soaps and Body Truth Brand use true organic, natural, plant-based ingredients that nourish the skin.

G.H. Soaps found its beginnings through a community gardening initiative located on the west side of Detroit.
Stephanie explains how she left her corporate job in search of something more meaningful, and found it through prayer and meditation. That something meaningful was G.H. Soaps.
True and honest ingredients, Stephanie says, are all that go into her products. She believes that only natural ingredients, such as shea butter, olive and coconut oil, and essential oils, should be in our soaps.
Stephanie talks the vigorous process of creating soap and her beginnings in soap sales at a holiday market.
Stephanie warns about false promises of beauty and wellness advertised by many companies whose soaps are made of hazardous materials that can harm one of our body’s most important organs: our skin.
Community outreach remains an important factor in Stephanie’s work, and she hopes to create opportunities for individuals in her community, especially youths.
Stephanie is looking to manufacture and sell her soaps worldwide, and has already had multiple inquiries about doing so.

For more information about Stephanie Willis, G.H. Soaps, and Body Truth Brand:

Shoot them an email!

info@ghsoaps.com

Shop their site!

www.bodytruthbar.com

Visit their website!

https://ghsoaps.com/

“Like” them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/GHSOAPS/

Follow them on Instagram and Twitter!

https://www.instagram.com/ghsoaps/

https://twitter.com/ghsoaps

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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For the month of August, YB2C Live! will be focusing on entrepreneurs whose businesses promote health and wellness. For this episode, Pamela Hilliard Owens and Keith Owens sit down with Dr. Jesse Brown of Detroit Wholistic Center and Wholistic Training Institute.

Detroit Wholistic Center provides, natural solutions for common concerns. They focus on prevention and utilize herbs, cleansing, diet, and lifestyle change to help their customers. They believe that most of the problems people experience, including illnesses and even death, are directly related to diet and lifestyle.

Wholistic Training Institute is the only state-licensed naturopathic school in Detroit, and the only African American owned state-licensed naturopathic school in the country. At the institute, it is their goal to train a healer in every home, institution, and community.

Dr. Jesse Brown highlights the mission of Detroit Wholistic Center (DWC) and Wholistic Training Institute (WTI) as being focused on promoting understanding of health and wellness, and providing natural remedies for ailments of all kinds.
Noting his “87-year-young” mother, Dr. Brown explains how since he was a child he had a holistic upbringing, including remedies that utilized castor oil, cod liver oil, and enemas.
Dr. Brown emphasizes the importance of the early influences of parents on their children. Just as having a parent who smokes greatly increases a child’s chances of adopting the habit, so does having an active parent that has a balanced diet.
Dr. Brown explores a phenomenon called “Diet Delinquency,” which correlates diet to how people feel and how they respond and interact with others.
DWC will be celebrating it’s 30th anniversary on October 22nd, something that has never happened in the city of Detroit.
The 30th anniversary celebrations will feature three main events: a keynote speaker, Dr. Cass Ingram, a section on hair and health, and a conversation about food and behavior.

For more information on Dr. Jesse Brown, Detroit Wholistic Center, and Wholistic Training Institute:

_________

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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For the months of September and October, YB2C Live! Is focusing on urban farmers and agribusinesses. In this episode, Pam and Keith sit down with Malik Yakini of D-Town Farm.

D-Town Farm was founded by a collective of people all with a mission to create a comprehensive food policy in the city.

D-Town has a total of 7 acres, making it the largest urban farm in the city of Detroit, with solar energy, three coop houses, and 30 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs currently growing on the farm.

Malik did not start in the farming world, but he has always been food minded.
Malik describes his journey from running a school in Detroit to becoming executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, all leading up to his work with D-Town.
Negotiation with City Council played a huge role in founding D-Town, says Malik.
Malik talks expansion since founding D-Town, including the addition of solar energy stations, internships, rain water collection, and the addition of a number of crops and coop houses.
Malik believes everyone relates to food somehow, even if they aren’t sticking their hands in the soil.
D-Town participates in "agri-tourism" and holds tours and a harvest festival to keep everyone in the community involved.
Malik talks food politics and policy in Detroit, and why it’s important that something is finally being done about it.
Malik and D-Town are a part of the ever growing agriculture movement in Detroit.
D-Town is helping return balance to the community through food, activities, and jobs for the people of Detroit.

For more information about D-Town Farm and Malik Yakini:

Give them a call!

313-345-3663

Visit their website!

www.d-townfarm.com

Volunteer with D-Town!

www.d-townfarm.com/contact-us

Read their blog!

d-townfarm.blogspot.com

Find out about Detroit Community Black Food Security Network!

313-345-3663

www.detroitblackfoodsecurity.org

__________

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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For the month of September, YB2C Live! has been focusing on entrepreneurs who plant, grow, and harvest food, flowers and other live, natural items. In this episode, Pam and Keith sit down with Ryan Anderson of Acre Detroit.

Acre Detroit is an urban farm that was founded in 2012 by Ryan Anderson and Anna Clarke.

Acre grows a wide variety of crops. To name a few, Acre grows hot crops such as tomatoes, hot peppers, eggplant, and root crops like carrots, beets, and radishes, as well as Asian greens and herbs.

Ryan explains his journey from the desk to the farm, talks how Acre came to be, and how it has grown since its founding.
Ryan wants to make a positive effect on the world, and urban agriculture through Acre is his way of doing so.
Ryan talks wholesale and distribution of Acre goods.
Hyperlocal sensibility is something that is important in Detroit, says Ryan, buying local, selling local.
Ryan explains what it takes to operate a farm, specifically an urban farm, and talks about his weekly schedule.
Michigan has the second highest number of agricultural products in the country, says Ryan, which makes Detroit an ideal urban agriculture setting.
Ryan talks organic vs. certified organic, and what it takes to get organic certification.
Ryan hopes to see Acre, along with the urban agriculture movement as a whole, grow even more for many years to come.

For more information on Ryan Anderson and ACRE Detroit:

202-378-3474

ryan@acredetroit.com

“Like” ACRE on Facebook: @ACREDetroit

Follow them on Instagram: @ACREDetroit

_______

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode of YB2C Live! is keeping with the fall harvest theme of the month that focuses on entrepreneurs who plant, grow, and harvest food, flowers, and other natural items. Pam and Keith sit down with Jerry Hebron of Oakland Avenue Urban Farm.

Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is a non-profit, community-based organization that is focused on cultivating healthy foods and culture, as well as sustainability and engagement in the community.

Originally in the real estate business, Jerry moved on to other endeavours after the economic crash in 2008. Soon enough, the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm was in the works.
Oakland Avenue Urban Farm sprouted from Jerry and her mother’s concern for the community, which was riddled with drug and crime activity.
Oakland Avenue, says Jerry, was depressing, and was the perfect location for an urban farming project.
Jerry explains that with the help of organizations like the Greening of Detroit and Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative among others, and along with a lot of help from friends in the community, Oakland Avenue Urban Farm was able to become a reality.
Jerry talks bringing healthy products to a community with access to little beyond gas stations and liquor stores.
There is a need for community development in the north end, says Jerry, as she gives a little historical background on the area.
Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is a group of cultivators, they cultivate food, they cultivate people and they cultivate community.
Jerry explains their newest project called “The North End Storytellers” that will work toward creating a conversation of future development and cultural cultivation in the north end.

For more information on Jerry Hebron and Oakland Avenue Urban Farm:

Visit their website! www.oaklandurbanfarm.org

Email Jerry Hebron! jerry@oaklandurbanfarm.org

Give them a call! (313) 649-7756

9227 Goodwin St Detroit 48211

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode of YB2C Live! the fall harvest season is upon us. We are focusing on entrepreneurs who plant, grow, and harvest food, flowers and other live, natural items. Pam and Keith sat down with Sarah Pappas of Fresh Cut Flower Farm.

Fresh Cut Flower Farm is a flower farm in the Woodbridge neighborhood that grows and sells flowers of all types, providing services to customers, florists, and the community.

Sarah describes her involvement in the farming business for the past ten years, including work with non-profits.
Sarah talks the difference between gardeners of flowers, and gardeners of food.
Diversity is key in Sarah’s flower farm, she says.
Fresh Cut is not the only flower farm in Detroit, Sarah says, noting her competition in the city, as well as the other growers at a state level.
Sarah explains how she lives her life by the seasons, working harder in the summer so she can work less in the winter.
It’s not all fun and flowers, says Sarah, as she explains the business and administrative tasks she must handle for Fresh Cut.
Sarah outlines the services Fresh Cut provides, including services for weddings.
Sarah explains what it’s like to farm in the city, and how she gets the best of both worlds: her lovely farm life, and close proximity to the wonders of the city.
Sarah talks marketing strategies, and how she has utilized the visual aspect of her work to her advantage.
It is Sarah’s goal that Fresh Cut will help Detroit continue to get involved in the urban agricultural movement.
Sarah reminds the listeners that Fresh Cut Flower Farm is at the corner of Forest and Rosa Parks in Detroit, and they are open to the public every Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm during the season, May through October. No appointment necessary. No purchase necessary.

For more information on Sarah Pappas and Fresh Cut Flower Farm:

freshcutdetroit@gmail.com

313-731-2882

1764 W. Forest Ave. Detroit, MI 48208

Visit their website! www.freshcutdetroit.com

Find them on Instagram and Facebook!

@FreshCutDetroit

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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For the month of September, as the fall harvest season approaches, YB2C Live! will be focusing on entrepreneurs who plant, grow, and harvest food, flowers, and other live natural items. This episode’s special guest is Susan McCabe of Ribbon Farm Hops.

Ribbon Farm Hops is a business in residence at Green Garage in Midtown, Detroit — where YB2C Live! does its recording!

Ribbon Farm Hops grows and sells hops for beer making purposes, among other uses.

Susan gives a brief history of hops, which dates back centuries; historically, hops has been used in beer, and for medicinal and calming purposes.
Susan didn’t start out working in the hops business, she was actually a history museum curator for over 30 years. This experience, while seemingly unrelated, was very helpful in naming and forming her later business.
Her love for gardening, explained Susan, is what drove her into the hops business; she soon found that the business was starting to boom in Michigan.
Susan explains the process she took to get into the business, and how her friends were a great help through the operation.
The Michigan Women’s Foundation Entrepreneur YOU contest played a huge role in helping Susan write her business plan and get things started, says Susan.
Susan outlines the technical process of the hops business, and the cooperation of Batch Brewery in Corktown.
Ribbon Farm Hops has worked with Motor City Brewing, with Downey, in Detroit and in Dearborn, and Fort Street Brewery in Lincoln Park. They are now on their fifth season, and they continue to grow and teach Susan and the other Ribbon Farms Hops family new things constantly.
Ribbon Farm Hops is just one of many hops growers that helps make Michigan the fifth largest hops grower in the country.

For more information on Susan McCabe and Ribbon Farm Hops:

Visit their website! Ribbon Farm Hops

“Like” them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/RibbonFarmHops/

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www.yb2csystem.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode, special guest Nicole Braxton, founder of Around the World in 7 Days talks vegan pop-ups, cooking classes, non-profits, and tips on eating right!

Around the World in 7 Days allows its patrons to travel around the world one meal at a time. Around the World in 7 Days facilitates a healthier lifestyle by providing pop-up events and cooking classes that primarily focus on bringing internationally fused plant-based cuisine to the public to spread health awareness.

Nicole has worked to start up two non-profits: ROCK and TALK

ROCK (Restore Our Community Krew) is focused on restoring total wellness back into the community. Their main objective is to create opportunities for the community to grow, to learn different principles, and to help the community overcome difficulties.

TALK (Think, Analyse, Live, Know) is a geared specifically toward students.

Nicole explains how Around the World in 7 Days came to be thanks to a Shark Tank-like program through her university called the Hatch.
Vegan and plant-based cuisine was not always an interest of Nicole’s, but that all changed after meeting a French Chef named Chef Miguel Larcher, who Nicole trained with at his restaurant in Kansas.
Nicole’s love for the pop-up is centered around the unique experience. Each pop-up that Around the World in 7 Days coordinates is focused on a different country. Most recently, India and France.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be done “cold-turkey,” says Nicole, it can be done in steps. Nicole shares a few tips and tricks to eating right.
Nicole invites our listeners to visit their website for information on upcoming events, such as cooking classes and pop-ups, and ROCK events like “Diabetes Undone,” which will be hosted at the Redford Community Library on November 9th.
Nicole explains why she chose pop-ups over a traditional “bricks and mortar” restaurant, and where she sees Around the World in 7 Days going in the future.

For more information on Nicole Braxton, Around the World in 7 Days, ROCK, and TALK:

www.aroundtheworldin7days.com

(248) 270-2103

aw7days@gmail.com

Follow Them on Instagram: @aw7days

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode of YB2C Live! Pam and Keith sit down with Andrea Davis of Bikram Yoga Ferndale to talk about health and wellness.

Bikram Yoga is a form of Hatha yoga that is practiced through breathing exercises and a series of 26 postures. It's done in a heated room, on average 105 degrees and 40% humidity, which is meant to help the body detox through sweating. Bikram is a guided practice that does not change, no matter where in the world the class is held.

Andrea describes how Bikram is different from other types of yoga, such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa.
Because of the solidified unchanging practice, Bikram creates an atmosphere for diversity; even those who do not speak English can come and take a class at Bikram Ferndale successfully.
Pam recounts how her consistent Bikram yoga practice helped her recover from a very serious injury.
Andrea explains how she ultimately chose Ferndale to set up her studio, and how others can become certified instructors and start their own Bikram studios.
Andrea highlights the importance of family in her yoga journey, and tells a story about a family reunion that ended with a caravan to a Bikram yoga class.
Andrea explains the business side of a Bikram studio, and how she utilized business podcasts — much like our very own YB2C Live! — to learn as much as she could.
Bikram is for everyone, Andrea insists, for all ages, sizes, genders, and has innumerable benefits for the body and mind.

For more information about Andrea Davis and Bikram Yoga Ferndale:

Visit them at www.bikramyogaferndale.com

Follow them on Instagram and Facebook at Bikram Yoga Ferndale (@BikramYogaFerndale)

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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Our special guest this week is Audra Carson, “the tire nerd”, founder of De-Tread. De-Tread is a company based out of Detroit that dedicates its time to cleaning up the streets of Detroit by reusing and recycling the large mounds of tires that have been dumped around the city.

Audra explains that she didn’t choose De-Tread, it chose her. Audra attended college at Olivet, and originally pursued a career at MetLife as a business analyst before forming De-Tread.
Audra was inspired by HGTV to begin cleaning up the tires that were dumped in her hometown community.
In 2009, De-Tread was formed, focusing on health and safety in the communities of Detroit, as well as innovative new ways to use the excess of tires. Audra explains that “tread” is an acronym that stands for Tires Recycling Education Art Design.
Audra’s second company is Izzie Logistics and Distribution. Izzie focuses on strategic beautification.
Audra tells us that De-Tread is focused on people, profit, and planet. She hopes that through her work she will be able to create a sustainable and environmentally-minded business, that also creates jobs for the people.

For more information about Audra Carson and De-Tread:

(313) 444-5715

info@de-tread.com

www.de-tread.com

www.facebook.com/detreaddetroit/

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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Our special guest this week is Monica Morgan, a world renowned photographer, public speaker, and freelance entrepreneur based in Detroit, Michigan. Monica has a great story to tell about how she changed her own career trajectory from being a writer to becoming a premier photographer who has photographed so many people and so many events here in Detroit and all over the world, including Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela.

Monica describes how she realized that the photographs that accompanied the journalistic articles she wrote were more effective and more lucrative. She tells the story of how her mentors encouraged her to go to South Africa to cover Nelson Mandela when he was finally released from prison, and how that trip changed her professional life, even though she was just starting her photography business at the time.

Monica explains how her mentor was instrumental in the growth and development of her business, and how now she in turn mentors others on a regular basis.

What goes into photographing famous people and important events, Monica explains, is so much more than just “taking pictures.”

For more information about Monica Morgan and her photography:

Phone: (313) 259-7005

Email: mmpdet@aol.com

Website: http://www.MonicaMorganPhotography.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode, which is focused on the benefits of networking for entrepreneurs, our special guest is Kia Weatherspoon, Founder and President of Determined by Design a very unique and specialized architecture and design firm located in Washington D.C. Kia and I met last fall at a panel discussion on urban design; Kia was in Detroit for another purpose and she and Pam connected at the event. During the first part of today’s interview, Kia and Pam discuss the importance of networking, and how to attract and connect with people at events.

Later in our interview, Kia tells her exciting and inspirational story about how she originally studied dance, then went into the military (including several overseas deployments), and later went into architecture and interior design for both higher-end commercial clients and lower-end residential clients. Kia is full of passion, a ball of energy, and gives our freelancer listeners a ton of great ideas and tips.

To learn more about Kia Weatherspoon and Determined by Design:

(202) 440-4922

@DeterminedbyDesign

info@determinedbydesign.com

www.determinedbydesign.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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In this episode, our special guest is Dr. Paul Thomas, the founder of Plum Health DPC (Direct Patient Care) in Detroit Michigan. Dr. Thomas considers himself a “community doctor” and a resource for the community. After graduating from the Wayne State University of Medicine and completing his residency at a local hospital and medical center, Dr. Thomas realized that there were problems in our current fee-for-service health system, and started Plum Health to deliver high quality medical care while also giving back to the community.

Dr. Thomas believes that Direct Primary Care is a better and more patient-centered way to practice medicine by allowing more time with the doctor, a greater responsiveness to patients’ needs, and a restoration of the valued doctor-patient relationship.

Join us as Dr. Thomas details his journey from working in community health from the time he was in high school to opening his own special and unique DPC clinic - which there are only two such clinics in the State of Michigan!

For more information on Plum Health and Dr. Paul Thomas:

Plum Health DPC

Dr. Paul Thomas: (313) 444-5630

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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Here in the Detroit area, spring is in the air, and our thoughts are turning to outside activities—finally! Our guest today is Brian Allnut, one of the owners of Detroit Farm and Garden (DFC), a organically-focused landscape store and urban agriculture resource center with the mission to provide quality gardening, farming, and landscape resources to communities in Detroit.

Brian is an experienced writer, urban agriculturalist, and entrepreneur who shares with us his journey to opening Detroit Farm and Garden, including his thoughts on moving to Detroit, the urban farming movement, and opening a store and resource hub in Southwest Detroit, an historic and culturally diverse Detroit neighborhood.

For more information about Brian Allnut and Detroit Farm and Garden:

(313) 655-2344

1759 21st St

Detroit, Michigan

www.detroitfarmandgarden.com

www.facebook.com/detroitfarmandgarden

detroitfarmandgarden@gmail.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green

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In this episode Pam and Keith remind their listeners how important it is to conduct quarterly reviews.

Keith describes how future planning is done at a newspaper, especially a weekly newspaper like the Michigan Chronicle where many articles are pre-

planned, but the editors must be ready for late-breaking news. It is very important to create a sort of schedule that is flexible and can be changed at the drop of a hat. Quarterly reviews can keep these kinds of flexible schedules running smoothly.

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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This episode’s special guest is Ms. Fatima Omar Khamissa from Toronto, Ontario, Canada!

Pam first met Fatima last spring via a mutual friend in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and was a guest on her radio show last summer.

Fatima is a shining example of a woman entrepreneur who started her adult life one way, and due to later circumstances, totally remade herself and her life to the best it could be through hard work and dedication to her family.

Fatima’s story is so interesting, inspiring, and motivating.

Her family moved from South Africa to escape apartheid in the 1980s. She married into a wealthy and influential family, only to escape years later as the marriage became abusive. Fatima just left with her five children, including one child with cerebral palsy, and had to start her life all over again.

Fatima found herself on welfare, but with the goal of making a new life for herself and her children AND helping, counseling, and teaching other women, especially Muslim women, how they too can be spiritually, personally, and professionally fulfilled while still staying true to their faith and culture.

Today, Fatima is an internationally renowned and award-winning speaker and entrepreneur, and a best-selling author.

Fatima’s story is an inspiring one that demonstrates how even through the darkest of circumstances, one can always rise from the ashes!

For more information about Spiritual Biz Moms and Fatima Omar Khamissa:

www.fatimaomarkhamissa.com

www.facebook.com/fatima.omar.khamissa

www.twitter.com/fatimakhamissa

www.linkedin.com/in/fatimaomar/

Check out Fatima’s books on Amazon!

Watch her on Youtube!

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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This episode is the second in this year’s March Women’s History Month “Powerful Women Entrepreneurs” Series. Our guest today is Sharon Banks, the Founder and CEO of Bankable Marketing Strategies in Detroit Michigan.

Sharon made a leap that few would dare to make. She moved from a corporate career, and briefly working in the government and political arenas, to opening her own full-service marketing agency and working her business with her children.

This informative and inspirational interview includes the successes and challenges of being a woman and an African-American in marketing while growing a national and international company headquartered in Detroit. Sharon is building a legacy business with and for her children. She has worked hard to bring them into the business after they first worked in corporate jobs.

Listen now to hear about Sharon’s inspirational entrepreneurial journey!

For more information about Sharon Banks and Bankable Marketing Strategies:

400 Renaissance Center, #2600

Detroit MI 48234

(313) 989-4211

info@bankablemarketingstrategies.com

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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This episode features the story of Devita Davison, the first guest in this year’s March Women’s History Month “Powerful Women Entrepreneurs” Series. Devita’s personal story is one of grit, determination, and regrowth. She tells us about her journey from Detroit to Michigan State University to New York and the corporate world to her own food businesses in Brooklyn, and back to Detroit after Hurricane Sandy destroyed her home and businesses.

Devita detailed the founding and growth of FoodLab Detroit. She expresses her commitment to sustainable food access

for in Detroit and other cities in America. Devita also participates in Mustard Seeds, a community of professional women who mentor each other to success.

Our listeners will be sitting on the edge of their seats as they listen to Devita, the daughter and granddaughter of preachers, tell her story and advocate for food justice while living and working in both Brooklyn and Detroit.

Listen to Devita's story now!

For more information on Devita and FoodLab Detroit:

(313) 799-3468

www.foodlabdetroit.com

“Like” them on Facebook! www.facebook.com/FoodLabDetroit/

Follow them on Twitter! www.twitter.com/foodlabdetroit

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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Today’s podcast is the fourth in this year’s February Black History Month “Legacy Entrepreneur” Series. The guests for the previous three podcasts in this series featured descendants ad relatives of Black entrepreneurs of the 20th century. This week, our focus is on a Black entrepreneurial family that is building a legacy for the next generation: the Thomas Family, owners of Sweet Potato Sensations, a restaurant, store, and community center located in northwest Detroit.

The Christ-centered mission of Sweet Potato Sensations, according to Jeffery and Cassandra Thomas, is to continue the legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver, the son of Black American slaves who became an internationally renowned scientist and chemist, and discovered hundreds of uses for the sweet potato in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas started their business in their home thirty years ago, using family recipes and working at pop-ups and fairs before opening their restaurant selling their famous Sweet Potato Cookies. Today, Sweet Potato Sensations products are available in several retail locations, and offer dozens of sweet potato items, such as pies (of course), cakes, cookies, ice cream, and waffles. During the week, soup, sandwiches, and chicken and waffles are available, and on the weekend, the full savory menu awaits patrons.

This exciting, inspirational, and informative interview with the Thomases includes the story of the successes and challenges of growing their business over three decades and how they are working with their two adult daughters to build a business and a brand that will last for many decades to come.

Listen to learn more about Sweet Potato Sensations!

For more information about the Thomas Family and Sweet Potato Sensations:

www.sweetpotatosensations.com

17337 Lahser Road

Detroit MI 48219

(313) 532-7996

sweetpotato1987@aol.com

“Like” them on Facebook! www.facebook.com/SweetPotatoSensations

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The YB2C Live! Podcast is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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This episode of the YB2C Live Podcast is live! Listen to the ITunes recording by clicking the link below, and remember to subscribe to the podcast to be notified when each week’s show is published.

YB2C Live is brought to you by Your Business, Your Brand, Creatively our company that works with freelancers, entrepreneurs, and solo and creative professionals offering branding, marketing, training, and consulting services.

We are happy to present another exciting and fascinating podcast for you with a guest host, returning Mr. Jamon Jordan, president of the Detroit Chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History!

For the entire month of February, Black History Month, the YB2C Live weekly podcasts will highlight a “Legacy Entrepreneur”: someone who is a descendant of a pioneering entrepreneur of the early to middle 20th century.

This week, our guest is A’Leila Bundles, the great-great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker. Madam C.J. Walker was a Black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist, as well as the first female self-made millionaire in American History - also making her the first Black female self-made millionaire in American History!

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YB2C Live! is recorded at Green Garage in Midtown Detroit: Green Garage Detroit

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