MAC Moments™

Eight people. Eight very different conversations. But when Melissa Chavez looked back at her recent conversations on MAC Moments™, the same themes kept appearing. Focus. Relationships. Courage. Integrity. Knowing when to say yes. Knowing when to say no. And being willing to define success for yourself. In this solo episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa reflects on conversations with Christy Dunn, Cryst...

What happens when someone says yes before they've figured everything out? In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa Chavez sits down with Courtney Willoughby, owner of MAVE Marketing, to discuss entrepreneurship, marketing, relationships, growth, and building a business that aligns with your values. From landing her first client before having a company name to growing a marketing agency serving...

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next step is overthinking? In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa Chavez sits down with Dianne Churillo, founder of Lunar Womb Chattanooga, to discuss entrepreneurship, authenticity, self-leadership, and the courage to start before everything feels ready. From building a holistic wellness hub to creating systems, processes, and community, D...

Tonya Ross had the idea for Southern Kitchen & Home more than 20 years before she opened the doors. The dream stayed with her through different careers, moves, raising children and major changes in her personal life. Then came the question: What’s next? In this episode of MAC Moments™, Tonya joins Melissa Chavez to talk about finally starting the business she had imagined for decades and every...

What if the business you are building is not aligned with the life you actually want? In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Joe Martin, founder of Relentless Positivity, to discuss the connection between business ownership, health, and long-term success. From discipline and consistency to mindset and accountability, this conversation highlights how the same principles apply to bo...

In this week’s MAC Moments™, I sat down with Adam Chalmers, and what stood out most was not what he is building…it is how he is building it. Most people rush to launch. Most people feel pressure to prove something quickly. What we talked about instead is restraint. Taking the time to build something before announcing it. Making decisions without needing constant validation. Understanding that lead...

From the Yellow Pages to AI, marketing has changed dramatically over the last three decades. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa Chavez sits down with Bruce Olinger, co-owner of Big Three Marketing, to discuss the evolution of marketing, websites, search, branding, and customer service. Bruce shares lessons from more than 35 years in the marketing industry and explains why quality, responsive...

There is no shortage of content today. The problem is that most of it looks exactly the same. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with brand strategist Crystal Dufour to discuss what is happening in marketing, design, and content creation in a world heavily influenced by AI. From overused templates to copy-and-paste messaging, they unpack why many brands are losing credibility and w...

Building a business can feel isolating, even when you are surrounded by people. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Christy Dunn to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, from the loneliness that comes with growth to the importance of having the right support system in place. They discuss the value of coaching, collaboration, and community, as well as the level of commit...

After months of conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and community builders, Melissa Chavez noticed a pattern. While their businesses looked completely different, the lessons they shared were remarkably similar. In this solo episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa reflects on the recurring themes that surfaced throughout the season: Why relationships create opportunities How action...

Some of the most valuable assets in business are not systems or strategies… they are relationships. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Glenn Bushell, joining from the UK, to discuss how relationships, passion, and experience shape long-term success. From traveling the world to working across cultures, Glenn shares how building strong connections has impacted his career and bus...

Building a business is challenging. Building one as a couple adds an entirely different layer. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Ron and Sheena Hicks, franchise owners of Pool Scouts of Huntsville, to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, partnership, and maintaining a strong relationship while growing a business. From defining roles to navigating stress, communication,...

Starting a business can feel overwhelming, especially when you feel like you do not have everything figured out. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Allie Pennington, founder of Pennington Design Studio, to discuss what it looks like to build a business from the ground up. From preparing behind the scenes to showing up consistently in the community, this conversation highlights...

Not everything in business is about growing fast… Sometimes it is about building it right. I had a great conversation with Trent Heard about what it really takes to build a business with intention… Focusing on value instead of just price Building a brand that stands out And taking growth one step at a time One of the biggest takeaways… If you rush the process or try to compete on price alone, it w...

One of the hardest realities of business ownership is learning that you cannot control what people think, say, or believe about you. In this solo episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa Chavez discusses reputation, criticism, leadership, and the emotional challenge of managing opinions as your business grows. She explores how to evaluate criticism, when to learn from it, when to let it go, and why spendi...

Most business owners are building. Very few are protecting what they have built. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Amanda Foster, CFP and founder of Practical Financial Solutions, to talk about the financial blind spots that quietly cost business owners more than they realize. Amanda has been a financial planner for nearly 30 years. Her approach is not about spreadsheets. It...

It is easy to confuse activity with progress. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Julie Kuetemeyer, a real estate professional and team leader, to discuss the difference between being busy and actually building a business. From managing a growing team to implementing systems and setting boundaries, this conversation highlights what it takes to move beyond daily tasks and focus...

Many business owners are not lacking experience. They are limiting how they use it. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Bryan Clark to discuss how clarity, systems, and full utilization of skill sets impact business growth. From manufacturing and operations to marketing and strategy, this conversation highlights what happens when you stop isolating your expertise and start appl...

Most business owners do not start their business to analyze financial statements… but avoiding them can cost more than you realize. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Veronica Cram, founder of Insight Strategic Solutions, to discuss how understanding your numbers can transform the way you run your business. From pricing and profitability to forecasting and hiring decisions, th...

Starting a business is one thing. Sustaining and growing it is another. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Dylan Bishop, founder of Alabama Arbor, to discuss the realities of early-stage business ownership. From hiring a team to managing growth and making strategic decisions, this conversation highlights the difference between growing quickly and building something that is sta...

Every business starts somewhere… but not every business is built with intention. In this solo episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa Chavez shares the story behind MAC Global Promotions® and MAC Growth Partners™, and how both were built with a long-term vision in mind. From leaving corporate to entering a new market, this episode highlights the importance of relationships, strategy, and understanding th...

Most business owners focus on building. Very few focus on protecting what they have built. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Tanya Hendrix, estate planning attorney and business owner, to discuss the often-overlooked side of entrepreneurship: structure, protection, and long-term sustainability. From trademarks to succession planning and systems, this conversation highlights w...

At some point in business, every owner faces the same realization: no one is coming to do the work for you. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Jason Fish to discuss accountability, ownership, and the decisions that shape long-term success. From franchise ownership to pivoting into new ventures, this conversation highlights what it takes to evaluate what is working, recognize w...

Growth is not always about expansion. Sometimes it requires stepping back to move forward. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Samantha Brinkley, founder of Rocket City HR Consulting, to talk about the realities of building and sustaining a business over time. From hiring decisions and team dynamics to navigating remote work and personal challenges, this conversation highlights...

Success is not always built on strategy. Sometimes it is built on the relationships you are willing to create. In this episode of MAC Moments™, Melissa sits down with Stephanie Nielsen to discuss what it looks like to step into new opportunities through connection, consistency, and trust. From relocating to a new city to transitioning careers, this conversation highlights the power of showing up,...