Maestro on the Mic

Going viral is a fun idea, but it’s never going to be a good way to build a business. The algorithm is a creativity destroyer, and trying to chase it is the quickest way to ensure that your business has no lasting power. When you create stuff that you like—stuff that’s meaningful to you—you stick with it. And when you stick with it, you win.  Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mic, a podca...

I see a lot of people in the online business space feeling like they have a “weird relationship” to and with Instagram. Look, I love IG and the way it can help people build their dream future lives, so I’m always going to advocate for doing whatever it is you need to do in order to keep showing up. I’m also aware that you’re gonna do what you want to do, so if that’s the case, let’s get clear on w...

Sometimes you get hit with creation constipation. We’ve all been there. But just because your brain is dead, doesn’t mean your business is, and the show must go on. You gotta start with understanding the “why” you have nothing to day before you know which “how” you’ll need to fix it, but the good news is, you have options.  Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mic, a podcast that helps onlin...

I've got thoughts! It’s 2026 and somehow there are still people out in the world claiming that “traditional” gender roles are the only way. If those gender norms flip your pancake, then by all means, keep on keeping on. But I do believe that that the patriarchy screws everyone, every path is possible for everyone, and breaking the binary is a great start when it comes to solving the problems that...

There’s nothing wrong with having a corporate job or working for someone else for your entire career, but make no mistake, that isn’t always the “safe” option. When you work for someone other than yourself, there’s always a chance of losing your job for any number of reasons: downsizing, companies selling, companies going under, etc, etc. But when you’re self-employed, your livelihood is only depe...

If you’re not selling, you don’t have a business. So, if you hate launching, you’re either going to have to rely entirely on paid ads (which I don’t recommend) or you’re going to have to figure out how to make peace with running a launch every now and then. In my experience, people hate launching for one of two reasons. Once you can verbalize why you hate launching, you can figure out how to overc...

If there’s one thing you need to know in online business, it’s this: never wast your time and energy making something before you know that someone wants to buy it. Sure, strategy is sexy, but it’s meaningless until you can be sure of demand.  Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mic, a podcast that helps online business owners find their passion, deepen their impact, and build a life that th...

There’s nothing new on the internet, no secret strategy you’re missing that’s preventing you from having success online… and that’s a good thing. Every successful internet business owner is using the same playbook that everyone else is using. Maybe that seems nihilistic or negative to you, but I see it as a great thing. Once you have the basics mastered, all that’s left to do is keep going, keep t...

Everyone is always trying to sell you something. I get it, and I’m not always opposed to it—I sell things all the time—but sometimes I absolutely hate it. There’s no such thing as an “objectively” right or wrong way to do anything, and if someone is telling you so, all they care about is getting your monies. At the end of the day, you’re a grown up and you can do whatever you want. Buy things and...

If you’re lucky enough to stick with your business for a long time, inevitably you’re going to feel bored. My bestie, Jill, always says that your business isn’t here to entertain you, and she’s right. Your enjoyment of the things in your life will ebb and flow, so why would it be any different for your business? Losing some of the excitement you had at the beginning doesn’t mean there’s something...

No matter what kind of business you run, you need to be posting content. Content allows consumers to learn, relate, connect, and ultimately build trust with either you and your personal brand, or your business as an entity that has the solution they need. Content is how we stand out in a sea of AI slop, how we build trust with our audiences, and how we figure out exactly what it is that we stand f...

I hate being asked whether or not something is “worth it” because not only is worth subjective, but it’s situation dependent. What’s “worth it” for you may not be for me, or what’s “worth it” if you’re in pain might not be if you’re just trying to gain muscle, and on and on it goes. The question of worth is almost always followed by an answer of “it depends,” so let’s try to get ahead of that answ...

Somehow we’re back from our second trip to Gstaad, Switzerland to watch a volleyball tournament and each time has been incredible. I’m always looking at my life for things that could make great content, and lo and behold, this trip taught me a few things I wanted to share with you. Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mic, a podcast that helps online business owners find their passion, deepen the...

If you’re running a business of any kind—whether it’s in-person or online, or whether it’s just you or an entire team—you need a website. Pointing customers for social media when they’re looking for business information is not a great solution, and besides, nothing will help you get clear on how to structure your ideas faster. Your website will grow as you do, so it doesn’t need to be perfect. It...

Working on vacation doesn’t always mean that your job is ruining your life. The thing about entrepreneurship is that there’s always *something* you can be doing, and as long as you’re not miserable, I see no reason why you couldn’t bring some work with you. Personally, I’m trying to build the kind of life I don’t need a vacation from in the first place, so that when I do travel, working here and t...

There’s something to be said about the nostalgia we have for the past versions of ourselves. I would never in a million years do any of the same shit I was doing in my younger years ever again, but the fact that I did all that before feels like evidence of all the things that could be possible for me in the future. I hope when you look back at your past, you think, “fuck yeah I did that!” and I ho...

Life is hard enough for so many of us, so if you have any joy to spare, share it. There’s a quote I love, and you’ve probably seen me say it before, that says, “when you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.” It’s foundational to everything I aim to create in my life and business and it’s how we help each other survive in this time of late-stage capitalism. When life ge...

Sometimes your ideal clients starts to feel less than ideal. Running a personal brand often means that when you grow as a human being, you outgrow the avatar you used to serve. Not everyone will feel the itch to move on, but for those of us that have felt it, what options are there? Y’all already know I’m not a “burn the ships” kind of person, so my advice is to make the change one shift at a time...

Webinars aren’t dead. Nothing ever truly dies in the online space and more often than not, things come around again many times after they’ve already fallen out of favor. Right now, people want connection. The second best thing to seeing you in person is seeing YOU—your voice, your mannerisms, your quirks—without the confines of an Instagram post, reel, or story. What better way than with a webinar...

Bigger isn’t always better and sometimes brevity packs a punch. If you want to keep things simple, check this episode out. Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mic, a podcast that helps online business owners find their passion, deepen their impact, and build a life that they love. I'm your host, Dr. Shanté Cofield, aka The Movement Maestro, and I’m stoked to have you here. I hope this podcast in...

The internet is dead and we all know it. For the past decade, theories have been made that an increase in algorithms deciding the internet is run has lead to bots running rampant, and I whole heartedly believe those theories.  Of course there are still real people using social media, it’s just a lot less than you think it is. So those vanity metrics of followers, likes, views? Mostly bullshit...

It’s true that many people out there need some urgency and scarcity in order to buy from you, but that doesn’t mean you need to lie whenever you’re selling. Manufacturing false scarcity in order to make more money is the same kind of shit that the greedy fucks who make their money through exploitation do, and we’re building something better than that. You don’t have to lie to make money. When in d...

There are times for doing less, but I’d like to make a case that there are also times for doing more. I don’t know your life, so you’ll have to decide if it’s true for yourself and your life, but sometimes more to do means more structure, which is… well, more better. You don’t always have to back off when things get busy. If you thrive in it, lean in! Let’s chat. Welcome to Maestro on the Mi...

Let me save you some panic: AI is not destroying Instagram. I’m not anti-AI—I LOVE AI—but I do know that AI is pretty shitty at creating content, and the more social media gets flooded with AI-generated pictures and copy, the more people will be searching for actually good, human-created content. Use AI in whatever way is helpful for you in your business, but leave it out of your content creation....

Growth for the sake of growth is the mentality of cancer cells—so why are we running our businesses and economy the same way? I’m not against making good money and having a lifestyle you want, but there comes a point where having money turns into hoarding wealth, and charging money for your services turns into exploitation. Charge what you need to have enough, charge what you YOU would pay for a s...