Become Your Own Boss: Tips for Starting and Growing Your Own Small Business

On this episode I interview Steven Yates a business consultant and business owner with over 20 years of marketing experience. Steven enjoys helping small and medium sized businesses market their products and services domestically and abroad. His areas of expertise include marketing, import/export and professional services.  He is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and life-time member of...

In this episode I discuss a few of the things I wish we would have known when we started our first business. Much of the legalese that I did not understand or even know to expect at the time, I share in this episode.  If you are thinking about starting a business or you just started a side hustle, I want to help you get things set up correctly from the start. I am not a lawyer,  though I do recomm...

In this episode I share the last part of my interview with Jennifer Grayer of Lolli Bop Sweet Shop. Jennifer shares tips for aspiring and new entrepreneurs. I always ask for 1 tip or piece of advise for newish entrepreneurs from all of my interviewees, but Jennifer had several that she felt all new business owners should think about and consider as they start their business. Jennifer is taking a h...

I continue my conversation with Jennifer Grayer from the formally Atlanta based Lolli Bop Sweet Shop.  In part 3 of this series Jennifer discusses the one regret that she has and how that may have possibly saved her business. I go on to give insight as to why the 2 things that are typically not discussed prior to starting your business is so essential.  If you cannot see where you are going, ask s...

On this episode I bring you part 2 of my series with Jennifer Grayer, owner and operator of Lolli Bop Sweet Shop in Atlanta. After being in business for 5 years, Jennifer decided to close her doors this year. She has been gracious enough to share her lessons learned with the Stitched for Success podcast family. We discuss hiring employees and catering to customers. These are lessons that every bus...

On this episode I begin my first series. Jennifer Grayer, owner and operator of Lolli Bop Sweet Shop in Atlanta decided to close her sweet shop after being in business for 5 years. Over those years, Jennifer learned so many lessons about business from hiring to diversifying your offering and so much more.  She has been gracious enough to share her lessons learned with the Stitched for Success podc...

On this episode listen to my interview with serial entrepreneur, brand ambassador, and marketing guru Korey Felder.  Korey provides lessons learned having started his entrepreneurial journey with 8 friends out of their college dorm room at Clark Atlanta University.  Learn from his mistakes and challenges. Korey serves as Marketing Director of oAK Atlanta, Co-founder & CEO of HittSqua...

Is everyone exhausted or is it just me? On this podcast I discuss my past 2 weeks of exhaustion, excitement and how we can all aim to find positivity and excellence in this year of change, confusion, political drama, and crisis. Quote: Entrepreneurs have a mindset that sees the possibilities rather than the problems created by change. J. Gregory Dees. Follow me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess for...

You know what product or service you want to offer. You have determined your demographic and your target market or markets within that demographic. You are aware of your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You know what differentiates you from your competition. Now where do you get the money to start or grow your business. What are the funding options and where do you begin? Also bei...

In this episode I discuss 4 lessons that I have learned through a variety of mistakes made. Mistakes that if avoided will ensure your money is working for you and your business for the long term. Quote: Beware of expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. Benjamin Franklin. Following me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess

Join me on this podcast as I talk to Armaan Damani who wrote, played the violin and piano and musically engineered his first single at age 13. Learning the ropes of navigating school, basketball, networking, and marketing his tracks, Armaan is well on his way to making his own entrepreneurial mark. With four songs available on over 80 different streaming platforms, Armaan is set to release a new s...

This year has thrown us some doozies. I discuss how I have had to bob and weave to adjust to all that 2020 has entailed. This episode is here to help you embrace the pivots that you may have had to make this year or will eventually have to make in your business over time. Even just the different pivots in life in general. They are inevitable.  Quote for this episode: A pivot is a change in st...

This week I discuss determining your differentiating factors and how this will help you better market your products and/or services clearly. I also tell you about the ONE factor you don’t want to make your key differentiator because it can put you out of business...FAST.  Quote for the week: Every business is successful exactly to the extent that it does something others cannot.  - - Peter Thiel M...

This week I discuss one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes we made in our business. We were young, excited and very optimistic about almost everything in our early years. However losing focus of our core competency was a painful and costly lesson. I discuss 3 questions to ask yourself to determine your core competencies and ways to avoid this type of mistake by staying focused on yours. Qu...

This episode is part 2 of my discussion with Deidre Bembry, The Insurance Lady. Starting her business during the recession of 2008 Deidre learned some life long lessons that has helped her grow personally and grow her business over the years. In the midst of growing her business, Deidre's family receives some earth shattering news when their 4 year old is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor a...

On this episode I speak with Deidre Bembry, The Insurance Lady. Starting her business during the recession of 2008 Deidre learned some life long lessons that has helped her grow personally and grow her business over the years. A rock star in the insurance and financial services industry, Deidre has starred in a national ad for State Farm Insurance. She has owned and operated Deidre K Bembry Insura...

Whether you are starting a business or you're already in business, on this episode we discuss the questions you need to ask yourself from the perspective of one of my favorite exercises in my marketing classes. We talk about your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also known as your SWOT analysis. I walk you through completing one of these for your company and leave you with a ques...

On this episode I take you through an analysis of your competitors before starting your business as well as when you are growing and scaling your business. What questions do you need to ask yourself and what can you do about competition? Direct message me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess if you have any questions or want to discuss this topic further.

On this episode we talk about determining the target market for your products and/or services and how vital this is to the success of your business. Asking just 3 simple questions will help you determine the best way to market to your customers and help you save time and money. Also drilling down into the different segments within your customer demographic will help you better market and reach you...

Happy Anniversary to me! Reading an excerpt from my journal from 2005, I celebrate 15 years of being a full-time entrepreneur this summer. I share with you my thoughts and feelings the day prior to my last day of being an employee and just a few of my ups and downs since. 

My unintentional conversation with McBride, CEO of Vitalysys Technologies, after the interview gives alot more insight into mistakes made, lessons learned and long-term strategies for creating and growing a successful business.

After passionately stating that he could never see himself being an entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Vitalysys Technologies, McBride, sits down with me to discuss what brought him to the point of owning his own business and what he has learned after 10 years of being on his entrepreneurial journey. Vitalysys Technologies ®. #entrepreneur #sidehustle #startup #entrepreneurjourney

On this episode I discuss the importance of knowing your customer demographic. Discussing some of the controversy and critiques surrounding Rachel Hollis and her book Girl Wash Your Face, we learn more about demographics and how important knowing yours is to the success of your business.   Follow me on Instagram @stitchedforsuccess I would love to know more about your business and i...

On this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with my life partner and business partner, Ethan King. Ethan and I began our business almost 20 years ago, and we have had our fair share of challenges over the years. In this episode Ethan specifically give his perspective of challenges we faced in the early years and what we did to overcome them. He also discusses his new side hustle and passion pr...

On this episode I discuss what traits it takes to be a great leader. We all want our business to succeed and as leaders it all starts and ends with us leading our team to greatness. Discussing the current lack of true leadership in our country, we can draw parallels between what is happening in our country today and what our companies will look like tomorrow if we are on the wrong path of leadersh...