Mogul Chix Chat Podcast: Recent Episodes

Adrienne Graham

Mogul Chix Chat is a cold water, in-your-face wake up call (part humor, part education, full on real talk) for women of color to get their mindsets ready to get a seat at the table, then go secure the block, the industry and the wealth. This podcast focuses on the unsexy stuff in business & the inner workings of making a company sustainable and profitable. We talk about building wealth, building companies, leadership, making Mogul Moves, & building legacy. This podcast is part blueprint, and part masterclass. You can hear valuable tips and advice from the host and hear from women who are blazing trails and kicking ass in their respective industries. It's a tell all on how to navigate and be successful as a woman of color in business.

Mogul Chix helps female founders of color grow and scale profitable, job creating companies, and eventually get their companies investment ready. We also help groom them into dynamic leaders and CEOs. Mogul Chix is a mindset, a way of life and a blueprint for Female Founders of color who want to build a legacy of wealth and a generational business empire. We provide Strategic Business Growth solutions, and a platform for resources, mentoring, networks and education. Our mission is to take your company from flat to profit generating to job creating and ultimately to investment ready. My personal mission is to help you build and run a better company, reimagine the way your do business, and build lasting wealth. .

Host Adrienne Graham is the CEO and proud founder of Mogul Chix LLC. She is a serial entrepreneur and self-made businesswoman who is a Strategic Business Growth Adviser, Published Author, Mentor and Investor.

Growing a company is not a cake walk. Sure, there are some people who make it look easy, and at some levels it is. But as you start making bigger goals and envisioning more success, things get tougher, decisions get more complicated, and you have to evolve at each level in business. Not necessarily in a bad way though.

Well you shouldn’t let that scare you. In fact, I want you to embrace it all fully. No business should remain stagnant. Some may see the word “stagnant” and say "well it's comfort. I stick with what works". That's perfectly fine if that is your intention. But if you're looking to build a massive brand and empire, it's going to take more than coasting.

Today I want to talk about Risk and Challenge. This episode should give you the push you need to push yourself to new levels in business. But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

1) What risks are you willing to take to build your empire?

2) And are you letting what I call “background noise” keep you from greatness?

Most of my life I relied on me. I didn't ask because people didn't offer.I was raised to never ask anyone for anything. And somehow, I became the person everyone went to to ask for advice, favors, help. I gave so much because I never wanted people to feel like I was untouchable. I had not yet learned boundaries. Because I had few boundaries, people took advantage. I positioned myself as a giver, I never allowed myself to be a receiver. I want to help you unlearn this toxic behavior so you can grow and prosper with ease and peace.

When you started a business, you threw yourself in head first, determined to make it work. After a while, you look up and realize your business has exploded...in a good way. Now, panic set in because you're overwhelmed and have limited you capacity to service clients. This would be a great time to start planning your team. Well, having a Staffing Plan in place would have allowed you to get ahead of it. But now, it's time to take action. Congratulations my friend. You are ready to hire!

In the beginning, it may look like you’re saving money by hiring a contractor. But over time, contractors cost way more than employees. There’s a mindset that hiring a contractor will save money. That's not the case in most situations. Small businesses may feel that contractors are the best solution, but it's a temporary one at best. And if done incorrectly, can cost you lots of money if the IRS comes knocking. Just ask Microsoft! Today I'm talking about building your team with little to no contractors and why it's a smart move to focus on hiring in-house employees.

Believe it or not, there is an art to networking and the secret ingredient is relationship building. Let's talk about how to network strategically so you can leverage those relationships to generate more revenue.

Networking CAN'T be business as usual. A lot of people are caught up in Facebook Groups, Linked In Groups, etc, and experiencing that as "real networking". It's not. Not 100% anyway. Covid shut down all in person contact, forcing us to rely on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet to come together, While the online world most times leads to real life (in person) collaborations, most people have grown uncomfortable and unsure how to make that happen again. But we're changing the game.

Mogul Chix® is changing the way women in business network, connect & do business.

I'm ready to kick off the in-person gatherings. Ready to start doing some real business as opposed to just talking about it. People want action, not instruction. People want to do business and MAKE MONEY, not just talk about it. In this episode I talk about the two networking membership Mogul Makers™ Club and Mogul Circle™ Club. If you're ready to shake up your networking, increase your business and build powerful, strategic relationships don't miss this episode.

Some people are thinking about raising their prices but are afraid to abandon the people that have always ridden for them. But in this game of business, you can't make important decision such as pricing based on emotion. Business is business, and I'll keep on saying that until the end of time. In the final analysis, good will is not going to pay the bills or allow you to retire. While it's OK to want to have a philanthropic heart, when it comes to your business, you need to do what's best for you, your team, your business and believe it or not, even your clients.

Today I'm going to relieve you of all of the hesitations, blocks and fears you have around pricing for profitability. But first, ask yourself two questions:

1) What does my business look like when I can't reach maximum profitability (what money and opportunities will I be leaving on the table)?
2) And did I really start my business to create a job for myself or to build a legacy for my family?

Let me say this. There is nothing to fear in hiring. Some of you stay in your own way and are tripping yourselves up on that path to growth. I know, you have tons of excuses of why you can't or shouldn't hire. But I'm here to give you reasons you should; especially if you're trying to grow a multi-million dollar company. You simply cannot do the same things you did at $100K, $250K or even $500K when you're moving towards or already have a multi million dollar company. It simply doesn't allow for it. In today's episode, I want to ease your mind and remove all doubts regarding hiring. Stop sitting on the fence because it is literally making you leaving money on the table. Plus, I'm addressing those bootleg recruiting practices! This podcast isn't for you if you're not looking to play bigger.

They always say "Network Up". But everybody isn't always ready or in position to do that.Some folks are about to be mad at me, but this won't be the first or last time. This is a timely conversation. We ALL have to start somewhere. In my early days, I had to jump out and learn how to network the old fashioned way. Going to events, mixers and meetings. I didn't have social media (this was 1994). So I had no choice but to learn how to network up at the time. Getting into rooms, faking it until I made it...the absolute WRONG way and a way to set yourself up for failure quickly.

If I had to start fresh and new from today, I'd do it differently. Don't get me wrong. I made powerful connections, learned a lot, did some business. But it was like a bootcamp experience for me. I didn't know what I didn't know. Had social media and the real internet (as it exists today) been around then, I would have taken a different approach in the beginning. I don't know if the internet and social media actually hurt or help because there's a false sense of security in networking on the internet. It almost makes you lazy. You see a profile, click, send friend request. And most times people leave it right there. But how do they build RELATIONSHIPS offline? Does it even matter? Of course it does.

There are levels to this thing. And how fast you progress up those levels is individual. Some will get there faster than others. It depends on your end goals.

I've always felt if real estate investors can get creative financing, business owners can offer creative compensation packages.

There was a time when companies would predominantly offer commission based roles to their sales teams. A lot of people loved this because it was mostly uncapped earning potential. If there were high ticket items being sold, a great Sales Specialist could make a killing in earnings. I know, because part of hiring salespeople for clients includes a look at past W2s.

But in a world of instant gratification and microwave living, how do you get people to accept a commission based role? Today I'll talk about how to make commission based roles work for your company, your budget and your employee.

In many Black & Brown communities, estate planning was not something we talked about as we were growing up. I mean, in MY family, estate planning was never a topic of conversation at the dinner table. None of my friends families were talking about it either. But my generation Gen Xers are talking about it. I started talking to my son about it when he was 14. Some people may say that a teenager isn’t interested in such talk. I say you’re wrong.

I don’t know about you, but the only time people in my family spoke about anything relating to an estate was who has insurance to cover the funeral. That’s sad. Well as an entrepreneur, a Mogul if you will, I want to make sure my assets are protected, but also that my son is 1) knowledgeable about my assets and 2) set to inherit them without a bunch of foolishness when I die. And don’t think estate planning needs to be a morbid conversation that’s left until you absolutely have to talk about it.

Today my guest and I will be talking about how to have the tough conversations and set your family up for an easy transition.

But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

- What happens if I die tomorrow, and my family is caught off guard?

- And, what does my estate plan look like?

When you're just starting out, growing and hiring people for your team can be a daunting task. But it's not impossible. As you grow and scale you need to be able to make smart decisions and make sound hiring moves in order to bring on the best people for your teams. A lot of small businesses struggle when it comes to hiring people for their team. There's a lot of sentiment that says, "hey, I can put an ad on Facebook or I can go to an indeed post or I can just put anything on social media saying, Hey, I'm hiring", and give some stipulations as far as applying for the position. But it's not that simple. A lot of people try to minimize the role of effective recruiting. Yes, we all need to hire the best talent. Yes, we want people that are going to be able to do the things that we need them to do at great prices. But as you grow, you have to be very mindful of how and who you hire. You have to look at your audience, your platform and your process, because it all matters. Today, I want to talk about the smart hiring decisions that you need to make in order to build out your team. But first ask yourself two questions. Am I making this job as appealing as I needed to be in order to hire the right people? And what does it take to be competitive in this market and be able to hire great talent?

Not everyone is at the same level in business. Some people are content with 6 figures, and that's OK for them. If you are them, this episode isn't for you. But if you're at 6 figures pushing for 7, or if you're at just about 7 figures and are stalled, this episode is for you.

Throughout my years in business, I went through cycles. In each cycle I learned valuable business lessons that carried me through to the next level. Not always comfortable lessons, but lessons nonetheless. I learned the universal lesson of what gets you here won't get you there, and it certainly won't KEEP you there.

There are some basic things every business needs to do as they're growing that are pretty much similar at each level. But what I learned was that while some things may be similar (staffing/hiring for example) they require different things to be effective.

I've never really gotten vulnerable about what I do, did, or didn't do. My podcasts are usually to inspire, motivate, educate and uplift (with the occasional dragging LOL). But while I talk about The Mogul Circle, I also give insight into my frustrations and growing pains. Hopefully you'll relate or at least gain some perspective. Enjoy.

And to apply for the Mogul Circle membership, please visit circle.mogulchix.com.

Make That Money! That's a long time mantra for any entrepreneur. But at what point do we go from thinking about sales and profits, to what we do with all of that profit? Sure we can invest it back into the business, and you know that investing in your own business is key. But we rarely think about real portfolio investment strategies. With so many resources on the market it can be dizzying to find what we need that meets us where we're at. But it doesn't have to be daunting. Today Keisha Bailey will be chatting with me about how women entrepreneurs can prepare themselves for building an investment portfolio, clearing out the mind clutter that comes with investing, and the steps you should take to get into investing.

Ladies, can we have some real talk for a moment? This is a long one! Women of color who are founders and/or entrepreneurs who are grossing 6 figures with their businesses, yes, I want to talk to you. This advice is applicable to almost anyone, but I want to talk to you!

I LOVE that there are so many women doing the damn thing. I LOVE that so many women of color are taking their fate into their own hands and are on this journey to build legacy wealth to pass down through generations. You're bold, courageous and talented. Pre-pandemic, we were out there making it happen. But something shifted during COVID that paved the way to so many new entrepreneurs (male, female, Black, Hispanic, White, multiracial, you name it). We were all faced with having to make it happen. And people were making money.

BUT can I ask a question? Girl, why are you limiting yourself? You are riding with the brakes on. I need you to take your foot off that brake and step on that accelerator.

Ladies look. Can we have some real talk here? We don’t start a business to create a JOB for ourselves. We create opportunities and provide solutions for our clients. We go into business for ourselves to make an impact, make connections and make money. And in the beginning, we’re fine with being everything for the business. Somewhere along the line though, we end up painting ourselves into a JOB. Yep, I said it. A JOB.

I don’t know about you, but I did not get into business for myself to be working by myself. I’m building COMPANIES. I am a CEO and that means that I’ve structured my companies in a way that supports a team and allows maximum work to get done for maximum profit while keeping some time to myself. But it wasn’t always like that. I used to think since it was my company and I knew what to do and how to serve my clients, that I didn’t need any help. HAH! I was so wrong. That wasn’t being smart. That was being driven by ego.

As I’ve matured as a business owner and I’ve learn to delegate and hire for maximum effect. I’ve freed up more time, serve my clients better and I truly call my own shots. I am a true CEO in every sense of the word. Wouldn’t you like to be one too? It’s time to slap life in the face and take what’s yours. It’s time to claim your rightful spot and BE a CEO. Today I want to just put it out there real and raw. Let’s talk about what it takes to delegate. Let’s talk about what it takes to get that mindset stuff together. Let’s talk about what it means to be in the driver’s seat while you build a dynamic team that can increase your profile and free you from the day to day…all while increasing your bottom line.

But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

What do I really want for my life?
And, what does my ideal team look like?

Whether you’re starting a company or knee-deep in one, EVERYONE needs an exit strategy. But I know that many of you aren’t even thinking that far ahead yet because you’re in the thick of growing your business. But I’m here to tell you that no matter where you are on the scale, you should always be thinking of your exit. Whether that looks like selling, stepping back and installing leadership or passing the business on to a family member, you should have a solid exit plan in place to avoid any hiccups or confusion. Your business is an asset that you have invested time, energy and yes, money into. It has revenue streams that support your salary, pays a profit and supports your employees. And if you’ve been doing it right, it is increasing in value year to year.

Planning your exit is the most commonly overlooked and the most difficult decision an entrepreneur has to make. It means you are transitioning into the next phase of life or business. Whether you’re leaving altogether or dramatically changing your role or involvement, it’s important for you to carefully evaluate your business plan, strategy and vision to determine what a favorable (and lucrative) exit looks like for you.

Today I’m talking with Sankeetha Selvarajah, and we’re going to break down the finer points of planning your exit. She’ll be talking about what an exit strategy is, how to plan for one, the vital components of the strategy are, and who should be included in the strategy planning.

But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

Have I thought about what life after this business looks like?
And, how can I make sure that when I walk away from it, I am sitting in a great financial position?

Ownership is so important. In a previous episode you heard me talk about compete ownership from content all the way down to the raw manufacturing. I never get tired of talking about this because just as it’s important to own your brand (trademarks, copyright, patents, etc) it is vitally important to own your platforms where you deliver your content, products and services. I am a firm believer in ownership and not many people even think about full ownership.

Yes we say we want the table, the building and the block and that’s good. But we need strategic ownership plans. Yes, many of us won’t own major TV network stations. But as you can see with Jay Z and Tidal, platform ownership is possible and we have to be willing to start somewhere. It’s not about music or online content or publishing (which it kind of is to a degree). It doesn’t matter where you start as long as you start.

Today I’m talking with Dr. Letitia Wright of Wright Place TV and we’re going to break down the opportunities that are out there for us, women of color, to start building platforms for the inevitable ownership plan. We’re talking about having your own streaming TV channel. That’s right. There’s a need for us to not just own the platforms but reclaim the narrative and images of us out there. When you think about it, even shows designed to give us a world platform denigrate us in some ways. Let’s look at the Real Housewives franchise. I love a good mindless entertainment. I even like Andy Cohen.

But let’s get real for a moment. With the exception of the fabulous Kandi Burress, no other housewife, black, Latina or other, has had the exposure or opportunities of a Bethenny Frankel. Love or hate her, she rose to a level far above the rest of them, with the exception of Kandi Burress. Kandi is doing the damn thing. She has multiple businesses but she does not own a true platform (I don’t think). Aside from them, Housewives has squandered the opportunity to showcase successful businesswomen properly. I ask you, don’t you think it’s time to own some shit?

I can go on and on about women of color who were given a platform and it turned into a shit show of fighting and cattiness. And may I add platforms that were lead by women of color but ultimately not owned by them, which gave them creative license to accentuate the drama. (Love & Hip Hop, Basketball Wives, etc). And there are Netflix and other streaming platforms who have given women of color an inch, but trust me when I say they are still on a tight leash. Hurray for small inroads. But I’m tired, done and fired up and so ready for this conversation. So ladies, do you want to own some shit? Let’s get it!

But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

Who are the people controlling our narrative and how can we take back control of it?
And, how can I create my OWN platform so I can fully control the content, narrative, message and reach?

I love networking. But I’m an old fashioned networker. It’s all about relationships and connection. I don’t do this new school social media connecting thing. You know where people follow and add thousands of people claiming it’s their network. Where they know maybe 1% of the people they connect with. Then there is the old supposed form of networking many of you try. You know, sign up to go to an event, meet a bunch of people who may or may not be aligned with you or your objectives. Exchanging cards. Sending the obligatory follow up email. And hoping that the relationship develops. Yeah, OK.

Fast forward to today and I network totally different than a lot of people. I’m more focused and selfish about my time. See back in the day, I had no plan, no real agenda, no direction. Back then they said “meet as many people as you can and get to know everyone. Eventually you’ll run into the right people. It’s a numbers game”. What they didn’t tell me was that all of that was a waste of time if you don’t know who and what you’re looking for. What they didn’t tell me is that without a networking plan, I was just meeting people for the sake of meeting them. What they didn’t tell me was that I needed a STRATEGY to identify who it made sense to connect with and focus on building THOSE relationships.

Ask 100 people what’s the best way to network and you’ll get 100 different answers. But I’m here to tell you if you’re strategic andz intentional about your networking and you develop a focused plan, you’ll be able to get what you want while helping other people get what they want. And I still say the best networking comes out of building relationships. You just have to build the RIGHT relationships.

Today I want to focus on real networking strategies that may seem a bit transactional, but when done right, can be lucrative, long lasting and mutually beneficial. Is there any other kind of networking? I’ll share my own tips and how I became a master networker mostly by accident.

But first, ask yourself 2 questions:

Who are the people that I need to connect with to achieve my networking and business objectives?
And, how can I maximize my relationships while helping others and getting the help I need to reach my business goals?

Is there is or is there ain't a Labor Shortage? The world has gone mad! Well, not really. The big to do in the news is the perceived labor shortage. One of my other companies is a recruitment firm (Graham Talent Group) and I’m telling you some of my clients are hiring up a storm. Yes, others are having a bit of a difficult time in finding talent, but after I counseled them on salary and remote or hybrid work, they’ve seen some improvements. But this episode is not about me or my clients. It’s about this seemingly out of control mass exodus.

Employee have seen during the pandemic that all work does not have to be done in the office or on site (something I’ve been saying since the late 90’s with even less technology than we have today). I get that companies want some sort of normalcy again and they want people back in the office. But what we’ve seen in 2020 was that 1) people, especially essential workers, are not paid enough, and 2) not everything needs to be done in office and micromanaged. So let’s talk about it. If you’re struggling to hire, maybe today’s episode can give you some insight on where you’re going wrong and how to make it right.

Let me start off with this disclaimer. I understand many women don’t want more than a 6 or 7 figure company. That’s cool. But this conversation, this episode is for the sisters who want to aim high and make mogul moves to grow 8 & 9 figure companies. And I make no apologies about it.

When I first started in business, I set my mind to accept making a high six figures. After about two years, I said f that! And decide to go for broke. First I started saying “I want to build a $10 million company”. A few years later, I started saying “I’m building a $100 million company…and people would give me the side eye. Not my problem. That’s their own insecurities and disbeliefs. And I’ll admit, allowing myself to say “I want to build a billion dollar company” scared the s out of me. I even told myself to say my potential is unlimited. That works for some people. But all it does is appease other people’s psyche.

Well I’m here to tell you I am normalizing wealth, successful companies and Moguls (Mogul Chix) who are on a similar journey as mine. I’m no longer afraid to want a billion dollar company…note I said COMPANY, not valuation! There’s a big difference and maybe I’ll touch on that later in this episode. For now, let’s normalize wanting to build value, wealth and long-term legacy.

Your intellectual property is an asset to your business. Whether it's video, audio, images, likeness, written word or anything you've created, it needs to be protected. On this episode of Mogul Chix Chat I chat with Radiance Harris, founder of Radiance IP Law. We talk about the benefits of protecting your brand and intellectual property. Radiance walks us through the process of filing for trademarks and also talks a little about international protection. Don't miss this informative episode. You could be leaving yourself vulnerable and money on the table by not properly protecting your assets.

In this episode of Mogul Chix Chat, I have a conversation with Karwanna Dyson-Irving about how small companies can get a piece of that government contracting pie. A lot of times, we leave money on the table because of fear, uncertainty, rumors about slow government payments or just not knowing. Karwanna demystifies all of the chatter about government contracts and tells you how you can get a piece of the action and grow your business well into 7 figures.

In today’s volatile political climate, it’s almost impossible to avoid the subject of politics in business. Political chaos can wreck havoc in a business, especially when you are vocal about your personal views. Business and politics, while often intersecting at certain points, should never be done if you can help it. It’s increasingly harder to remain apolitical these days. It’s as if we’re losing the ability to remain neutral and party independent when trying to serve our customers. At the slightest signal of disagreement, consumers are ready to boycott against a brand. And conversations have devolved into battle royales of epic proportions played out in real time in the media and social media with everyone sharing an opinion simply because they can. How do we defuse this environment and get back to the business of people first over politics? That’s the burning question.

My guest Sherry Heyl and I will talk about some of the issues many entrepreneurs struggle with when trying to avoid a proverbial landmine as politics.

It’s exciting to be that brand or company that EVERYBODY loves. I mean who wouldn’t want that kind of star power? Who wouldn’t want to be the next Walmart, Facebook or Nike where we can serve any and everybody, right? I mean, they say Facebook has over a billion users. Wouldn’t we all love to be in that situation, where millions of people are all excited about and using our products or services. Right? But hold on, slow down. That old saying, everything ain’t for everybody holds a lot of truth. Trying to be all things to everybody is the quickest way to burn out and not being effectively able to serve anybody. And if you are that brand, kudos to you! This episode is not for you. But you can still listen. There’s always a business lesson in everything I do.

Being a serial entrepreneur (because you know I always have a few companies running) I had to learn how to make sure I was targeting the right people.

I don’t want this episode to be judgey and lecturey (I know that’s not a word, just swing with me for a minute). But I want you to understand how to both simplify and elevate your company and alleviate the stress. I want you to see where you’re making things more complicated for yourself and figure out how to relieve (or prevent) burnout and of course make more money.

Welcome back to this special episode of Mogul Chix Chat. If you’ve been listening to me over the years, you know I rarely toot my own horn or do a hard sell on any of my offerings. But this is different. In this episode I want to talk about my upcoming CEO Mastermind and hopefully answer some of your questions along the way.

While there are tons of things out there for women in general (and I’m grateful), the offerings for women of color still lag. Do I whine about it? Nope. I do my best to give us shine and share as much as I can whenever I do see something for and by us. But it’s got me thinking in my self-imposed hiatus that we, women of color have a need and I can fulfill those needs.

I have created the Mogul Chix CEO Mastermind that I am hosting in Las Vegas in November. I am super excited to bring this special event to help groom Women of Color Founders to go from business owners to CEOs in every sense of the word, building scalable, sustainable PROFITABLE growth companies that can function (and make money) with or without them. In this podcast, I address what this Mastermind is all about and how beneficial it can be for any woman of color who is ready to achieve next level results and make power moves to build their legacies.

I hope to see you in Las Vegas! Let's get it.

For more information (and to register) visit https://mastermind.mogulchix.com.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a small, easy to manage business. Nothing at all. But there are people out there who want more.

There are people out there, like me, who are laser focused on growing companies that 1) build wealth, 2) provide opportunities, 3) create jobs and 4) create legacies for our families that will carry on long after we’re gone. I’m in that camp. A lot of you are in that camp. If you’re not, you can still listen to this podcast, but if you are, you NEED to listen to it. This is what I’ll call a “starter conversation”. In order to get to that legacy or empire building level, you must first stop thinking like a small business owner. What do I mean by that?

Well, today we're talking about growing companies and not blocking your money. Yes, a lot of us do this when we don’t want to do more than what’s comfortable. I’m about to make some of you uncomfortable because, well, that’s what I do. So, sit back and really take in what I’m about to say. The purpose of THIS particular podcast is to get you to stop thinking solo and start thinking company. To grow a COMPANY that frees you of the job you’ve created for yourself in this business. To stop focusing on the negative (managing a team, hiring people, and all of the unsexy stuff that comes with growing a company. Because all of that “stuff” will get you free from the day to day. Making more money, committing less time. Open your mind, be receptive, and let’s get to it.

But before you do, ask yourself two questions

What happens if you can no longer serve those in your business on your own?

And, how do I keep the money flowing (comfortably) and the business running ?

Episode 24: Spotlight- Joyce 'JoJo' Arias, Founder of Solsis Beauty. Today, I’ll be talking to the founder of an up and coming cosmetics company called Solsis Beauty. We'll chat about her beauty brand and how she made the decision to represent women of color through her brand. She'll share he journey to starting the company and shares tips that worked for her that other businesswomen can use. So sit back and enjoy the show.

The LAST thing on your mind right now is probably Succession Planning. Nobody wants to think about leaving their business, retiring and turning the reigns over to their baby.

All business is personal, but in order to build a thriving business that can work with or without you, you have to take the emotional attachment out of the equation.
Some people will disagree and that's ok. Planning for your successor is something that requires a logical, sensible mindset. Just because you own a company doesn't mean you have to be a slave to it.

Many people who have removed themselves from the company's day to day thrive post-business. They've put capable successors in place and either retired or moved on to other things. In some cases, they still have ownership of their company but they're not breaking their necks every day.

What's your endgame? Have you started planning for the next phase yet? Even if that is 10 years off, you have to start somewhere. In this episode we discuss the fundamentals of succession planning.

Running a business can come with its own set of unique challenges. But running a business with a partner can present a different set of challenges that you might not have been prepared for. I know. You dream of having a business with your best friend or your sister or your cousin or even that neighbor that has the same kind of mindset that you have. But it can be tricky. There’s no way to know how you and another person or persons will work together under pressure. and when the money starts rolling in, will personalities change? If you have it prepared properly and protected yourself you can minimize a lot of future potential problems.

Today we're talking about the real PPP and I want you to sit back and listen to this podcast and if you’re thinking of starting a business or joint venture with a friend, you need to listen to this episode.

Don't build a neurotic team! In order to grow, you need a team. In order to SCALE, you need the RIGHT team. Self imposed chaos (I know where everything is/how everything works) is fine for YOU. But you do your team a disservice when you throw them into your chaos without a blueprint on how to deliver results like you want them to. If you're lucky enough to get great talent, you should be doing everything in your power to make sure they can effectively contribute to your company's bottom line and growth. In this episode I talk about cultivating and grooming a winning team through feedback and systems.

Stop standing in the way of your own growth. Often times CEOs of fast growing companies are reluctant to hire. They may not be ready to delegate yet, fear they can't afford to hire, or are just plain stubborn about bringing outsiders into what they've built over time. But the reality is if you want to grow, you have to hire AND get comfortable delegating. In this episode I talk about getting ready to take the leap into hiring.

When you're a woman of color in the business world, you have to be twice as good, twice as professional and half as visible. Yeah, even today. In these times. In this podcast I give you some tips to navigate meetings and make sure you are respected and acknowledged for your magic.

The entire world is caught up in the COVID 19 pandemic. Everything has shut down and business has come to a grinding halt. If you are a planner, you're probably in good shape for the short term. But what if you didn't plan? In this podcast, I'll talk about alternative ways to generate revenue and things you can do to ensure you don't lose it all during the pandemic, and come out stronger when it's all over.

Angel investing can be part wealth building vehicle, part philanthropic endeavor. Many women entrepreneurs are seeking investment dollars, but find themselves coming up against brick walls. Many women investors want to help fund women entrepreneurs, but also want to build a wealth vehicle that will give them investments into thriving high growth potential companies. Without angel investing, both objectives would be harder to meet for women. Today my guest and I will talk about the benefits and challenges, the options available, and the smart ways to make angel investing work for you and help up and coming entrepreneurs.

You're past the startup phase and now it's time to shift into high gear. So why are you still functioning and making decisions as if you're in startup mode? Many high growth companies end up stalling out because they remain stuck in startup mode. There are a variety of factors that keep entrepreneurs from growth from the mental to the financial. What they often lack is solid strategy and execution. At each level, there are new requirements that replace previous requirements. What worked when you began may not work in year two or year five, or even year 10. So what's holding you back from growth?

Well today it’s all about the strategy, baby. Today’s topic is all about making that transition from startup to focusing on long term growth strategies and the importance of conscious awareness of each level of growth. My guest Janis Collins and I will talk about some of the roadblocks to growth, how to condition your mind (and your team) for growth, address some tips about handling growth at different levels and helping you set your path to rewarding growth for your business.

The slippery maze of Government Contracting is fraught with red tape, paperwork, and roadblocks. Although each administration says they seek to minimize the bloat in the process, it somehow remains frustrating. Between the amount of paperwork to the criteria for filing, to the waiting period, it can be enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Well today, we're going to talk about some strategies to make the contracting process less intimidating.

Tune in today to find out what documentation you should always have, how to prepare for the process, and how to avoid mistakes that will cause delays in the process. Our guest Stacy Vaughn will share her inside tips and cautionary tales to help put you on teh right path to succesfully getting government contracts for your business.

Listen live or catch the podcast replay on our Show page.

Many companies make the mistake of adopting the "business as usual" approach. Although they may have great success, eventually the new car smell wears off. Remaining popular, in demand or a top favorite brand with customers is not easy. So the savvy CEO knows that it's critical to always be evolving AND paying attention to external signals. Some of you favorite brands have miscalculated their longevity, misjudged market trends, and made assumptions that ultimately killed their business. Will you be like them? I hope not. Tune in today to find out what brand killers to avoid, how to keep your company in the front of customers minds, and how to avoid becoming obsolete..

We'll also talk about several headline makers about companies who were once viewed as promising rising stars, who experienced very real wake up calls, and how you can avoid the same fate for your company with smart decisions, careful planning and getting help where needed.

Listen live or catch the podcast replay on our Show page.

There’s an old saying that goes “don’t try to reinvent the wheel” meaning once you know what it is you want to do/sell/produce, find a company already doing it successfully, and try to improve upon it. Well, that can work for some. Look at companies like AirBNB who took on the hotel industry. Or Uber who took on the cab industry. In some cases, you can disrupt or improve on a product. But in worse case scenario, you end up with a company that’s a copycat “me too” in the eyes of customers. Your company ends up so commoditized that you’re seen as an option instead of the prize pick. Because so many playing fields have been mowed, raised and leveled thanks to technology and globalization, business owners have to constantly ponder how to make themselves stand out as the go to in their industry.

Ask yourself 2 questions:
- What are you doing better than your competitors?
- Why should customers choose your company over others that offer the same thing?

In this episode of Mogul Chix Chat I share my top tips on differentiating your company and keeping from becoming irrelevant.

Everyone wants to dominate a niche, because after all, if you’re the go to authority in a specific niche, you can literally write your own ticket. The sky really is the limit. The problem is, there are so many “me too” brands out there that it becomes frustrating for consumers and clients to make selections when they’re in a crunch. So they tend to go with convenience (ie who’s cheaper, closer, faster, easier). And sometimes an entrepreneur will talk themselves out of a niche for the opposite reason. They hear the chatter that nobody else is doing it, the time to educate consumers on a product or service presents challenges, or people may shy away from it because it’s untested or too new. But if we all sat back and let all of that gloom and doom talk get into our heads, we’d never innovate let alone launch anything.

Business is a great deal of trial and error, and the only way to learn if something will be a it is to get out and test the market. Entrepreneurs put themselves out on a limb every day. Those that try and fail AND learn, live to fight another day and introduce another product. Look at Elon Musk of Tesla. People thought he was insane trying to build these electric cars. Well guess what, there’s now a market for it. He never gave up even as competition joined the field.

My guest Marilyn Smolenski of Nickel and Lace and I talk about how to strategically bring your idea to market, set the standard for the category, and dominate your niche.

People often think once you’re known for something, you’re beholden to it forever. Actors are pigeonholed into characters they play. Restaurant patrons prefer their favorite eateries serve only what they’re used to and never deviate too far from that. Car buyers lean more towards their favorite model of car (like my mother who will never buy anything other than a Dodge minivan, but I digress). You don’t have to go too far back into history to see how ugly things get when brands make drastic changes without easing their core target into it (hello, Crystal Pepsi, New Coke, anyone remember those fiascos?). Well change is the only thing that’s certain in the world. And as you grow and expand your company, you have to learn how to strategically switch gears and refine your brand. You may lose some people, you may gain a lot more than you lose. But as the head of your company, you must make these decision if you plan to grow. Join my guest Amanda Littlejohn and I as we talk about allowing your brand to shift without losing your core message or audience.

Unless you're a money or numbers person, managing the financials for your company isn't fun nor sexy. Let's get real. If you plan on growing and seeking funding to fuel that growth, investors want to know that you have it all together. In order to be in business, the financials always need to be in discussion.

If your company isn't generating enough revenue, struggling with expenses, can't meet payroll, and worse, can't attract funding to grow, you will soon find yourself out of business. While the sexy fast paced world of the startup scene requires you to build fast and get to market, once the honeymoon phase is over, investors want to know that they have put their money into a company that has their stuff together. They want to be assured their investment isn't burning through money at a fast pace with no viable results or improvements.

Today we'll talk about several headline makers about companied who were once viewed as promising rising stars, to their fast crash landings. And how you can avoid the same fate for your company with smart decisions, careful planning and getting help where needed.

Retaining sound legal counsel for your company isn’t just for creating and filing documents or getting people out of trouble. The time to seek counsel, as you’ll soon hear, is before you actually need it. And it's a smart, strategic business move.

When you ask the average person about seeking legal counsel, the first thought that comes to their mind is “well I haven’t done anything wrong to need an attorney”. Or of course the obvious, “attorneys cost too much money and there are plenty of DIY sites where I can download documents and DIY”.

Next to hiring your employees, finding great legal counsel is an important piece of growing a great company. Those large companies with an entire legal team were once the smallest companies that started out with at least one attorney. And having that protective ally enabled them to make crucial decisions and take vital steps to grow and scale their companies.

In this episode, my guest and I talk about how to plan a legal strategy for your growing company.

Although the internet is a vital component for many companies to compete and succeed in the global economy, there's something to be said for having a bricks and mortar to give you face to face interaction with your customer. Pop up shops, while not a new concept, has seen a resurgence for a variety of businesses. A smart business, branding and marketing move, small businesses are taking adavantage of this strategy to build momentum for their companies. Today my guest, Melissa Gonzalez who is the founder of The Lionesque Group and author of "The Pop-Up Paradigm" will discuss ways to leverage pop ups and key tips to make them successful.

Failure isn't fatal or final. Failure doesn't make you less of a businesswoman. In fact, just the opposite applies. It is only through our failures that you can learn the skills that will change you and your company at pivitol moments. There's a stigma that anyone who fails at something, must not be very capable. But even the most successful business people have experienced a failure or two or twenty that set them on the path of being the great business leader they are today. In today's show, we'll talk with guest Angela Stalcup and break down how to turn a failure into a comeback.

Success and ambition don't take summer vacations. Look around you. Companies are being acquired for obscene amounts of money. (Some) startups are earning ridiculously high valuations. The most unsuspecting brands are dominating in their industries and public consciousness. Yet, you can't quite find your stride. What are you creating? How are you REINVENTING yourself, your brand, your company? Adrienne Graham (Founder of Mogul Chix, CEO of Empower Me! Corporation and former hostess of Views From the Top Radio Show) is back on the air. Tune in to hear her break down her 3 tips for owning your power & reinventing on your own terms, the latest in business news, what's to come for Mogul Chix, what she's been up to during her hiatus, and what #FemaleFounders and #WomenEntrepreneurs can do to open up more opportunities for themselves.