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Minding My Creative Business Podcast

Ron "Ironic" Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks

MMCB Podcast helps you embrace the business of creativity!

Every week, go with Ron "iRonic" Lee and ShySpeaks behind the brand of some of the most wildly successful creative entrepreneurs. You'll be sure to gain access to the strategy and structure that
turn creative arts into viable 6, 7, and even 8 figure businesses!

Trust us, you're not the only _____ (*insert your creative genius here*) that struggled with generating a full-time income from your skillset and passion.
But musician, photographer, designer, etc. all over the world have embrace the power of information, implemented business principles & systems, and moved from creatives to CEOs thereby turning their passion into profits.

Say this out loud: All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser-focus to Mind My Creative Business!

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  • 25 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 51 min
  • English

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  • S7 · E57
    October 19 · 42 min· Video

    The Biggest Lessons Every Creative Entrepreneur Needs

    We celebrate seven seasons of Minding My Creative Business and lead with the central message: creative entrepreneurs must build systems and clarity to scale sustainably. We recap conversations about pivoting from a product business into a marketing agency and about building one operational system at a time. We highlight the need for flexible thinking in branding and for defining what your name stands for beyond visual identity. We stress the importance of measuring growth with key numbers, tracking time, and understanding your service capacity. We explain how performers can create multiple revenue streams and why partnerships require clarity before chemistry. We invite listeners to join our Five‑Day Creative to CEO challenge to design a signature offer and make revenue more predictable. Seven seasons. 57 episodes. Countless lessons in creative entrepreneurship. In this special Season 7 finale, Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr. and Shai Speaks revisit the conversations, breakthroughs, and business strategies that made this season memorable. Recorded following a season that took MMCB to Dallas during the FIFA World Cup, this recap celebrates the podcast's evolution into a growing media company while highlighting the lessons shared by creative entrepreneurs throughout Season 7. From knowing when to pivot and building sustainable systems to evaluating business growth and creating strategic partnerships, this episode connects the ideas that help creatives move beyond simply doing what they love and start building businesses that last. What You'll Learn Why successful entrepreneurs must recognize when it's time to pivot. How systems and structure support sustainable business growth. Why measuring your progress matters more than guessing. How strategic partnerships can create new business opportunities. Why creative entrepreneurs need to think beyond individual services. How flexibility, problem-solving, and resilience contribute to long-term success. Key Takeaways 1. Entrepreneurship Requires Problem-Solving Building a business means constantly navigating challenges. The ability to adapt and solve problems is essential to creating something sustainable. 2. Know When to Pivot A change in direction doesn't always mean abandoning your vision. Sometimes a strategic pivot creates a better way to serve your audience and generate revenue. 3. Stop Guessing. Start Measuring. Understanding where your business stands today helps you make more informed decisions about where it should go next. 4. Build Beyond Your Individual Skills Creative entrepreneurs can expand their impact by developing signature offers, systems, and services that create value beyond one-off projects. 5. Strategic Partnerships Matter The right collaborations can open doors, expand capabilities, and create opportunities that would be difficult to pursue independently. 6. Growth Requires Resilience Consistency, adaptability, and intentional self-development are just as important as business strategy. Connect With MMCB Website: https://www.mmcbpodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmcbpodcast Ronald Lee Jr.: https://www.instagram.com/ronaldleejr Shy Speaks: https://www.instagram.com/shyspeaks Creative to CEO Challenge: https://www.creativetoceochallenge.com Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business." We mark seven full seasons and fifty-seven episodes with measured pride and a clear sense of purpose. I describe how we recorded part of this season on the ground in Dallas during FIFA, using our media credentials to expand MMCB Media beyond a podcast into a media company. I recount our early technical struggles and the lessons they taught us about troubleshooting and resilience. We celebrate entrepreneurial persistence and emphasize that business is fundamentally problem solving: find a problem, craft a solution, and exchange value for compensation. We narrate Sammy Bivens pivot from six-figure jewelry sales to founding a full-service marketing agency, using her story to underscore the need for systems before scalable growth. Her experience framed our discussion on operational readiness, and I urge listeners to build one high-impact system now rather than attempting wholesale automation at once. We then summarize a series of high-value conversations with Dallas-based creatives and strategists. I highlight Noelle Laveaus warning against rigidity and the difference between conviction and stubbornness. We describe Scotty Riders guidance on converting gigs into sustainable contracts and recurring revenue. We close by inviting our audience to revisit these interviews, to subscribe, and to apply the strategies we discussed. We end with our season mantra and a firm encouragement to pursue intention, consistency, and laser focus as the pillars by which we mind our creative businesses. Takeaways: We recommend building one key system now, such as lead capture or project management. I explain that pivoting from a product to a service can preserve and grow your revenue. We urge creatives to track revenue, profit, leads, conversion rates, client retention, audience growth, and time. I warn that rigidity kills opportunity; we must stay flexible and adapt business methods. We describe that partnership success requires clarity before chemistry, with clear goals, roles, and decision rights. I advise clarifying money matters and exit plans before entering any partnership or joint venture. We teach that artists must build multiple revenue streams by packaging talent into events, sponsorships, and products. I state that strategic collaboration is a growth tool only when it has structured roles, measurable outcomes, and written agreements.

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  • S7 · E56
    September 28 · 39 min· Video

    How to Structure a Creative Business Partnership (Referral, Co-Creation & Platform Deals Explained)

    Episode Summary Ron and Shy break down the topic listeners have been asking for: how do you actually move from "let's collaborate" to a real, structured business partnership? Drawing on their own 50/50 partnership building MMCB, they walk through three distinct partnership models — referral partnerships, co-creation partnerships, and platform partnerships — with real examples covering photography, videography, event spaces, custom jewelry, and their own upcoming platform partnership plans. This episode is a practical framework for any creative entrepreneur who needs more hands on deck but can't afford to hire. What You'll Learn (Timestamped) 00:00 — Why collaboration sounds good in theory but breaks down in practice, and why most partnerships need real structure, not a handshake. 03:45 — The three primary partnership types for creative entrepreneurs: referral partnerships, co-creation partnerships, and platform partnerships — introduced as a spectrum from lowest to highest commitment. 04:31 — Referral partnerships explained: two businesses (or a business and its own clients) send each other leads. Without structure, referral relationships get murky fast — one side can end up giving 50 referrals for every 2 they receive. 07:28 — The difference between an ambassador, an advocate, and an affiliate. An ambassador refers out of love for the brand; an affiliate gets paid a flat rate or commission for every referral that converts. 08:40 — The "triangle referral" model for service businesses — how a photographer, brand strategist, and web designer can refer clients to each other in a loop, with regular check-ins to keep it balanced. 10:53 — When a referral relationship naturally evolves into co-creation — the moment two businesses realize they should stop trading referrals and start building something together. 11:33 — Co-creation partnerships explained, using Ron and Shy's own MMCB partnership as the example: combining separate-but-similar skill sets into one offer instead of sending clients back and forth piecemeal. 12:35 — The equity conversation in co-creation — why some partners split equal thirds, why Ron and Shy chose 50/50, and why an uneven split (like 60/20/20) can still be fair when workload isn't equal. 14:31 — How ego shows up in partnerships — and why finding a partner who doesn't need to always be "the front person" makes collaboration dramatically easier. 17:19 — Co-creation without giving up equity at all: bringing someone on for a small percentage (like 10%) in exchange for funding or operational help, without it becoming a full ownership stake. 17:50 — Profit-sharing as an alternative to equity — the restaurant-and-promoter example, where someone helps run or grow a business and shares in the profits without ever becoming a legal owner. 19:05 — A real example: turning a contracted videographer into a profit-share partner instead of paying a flat rate per project, so the collaborator is incentivized to help promote the work, not just deliver it. 22:36 — Why lack of capital — not lack of talent — is what actually holds most creative entrepreneurs back, and how offloading tasks through partnership frees up energy to keep creating. 25:21 — Platform partnerships explained — the third and most leveraged model: partnering with an entity that already has an audience, so their service becomes embedded in what that audience already receives, instead of being an outside referral. 25:31 — The Build Institute example: how a co-working space could embed a funding partner (like Credit Savant) directly into its member onboarding instead of just referring members out. 28:54 — The 360 photo booth example: partnering with event spaces so the booth is quietly built into the venue's own pricing sheet — the client never needs to know a third party is involved. 31:38 — Why platform partnerships feel "guaranteed" — the audience already exists, so there's no extra marketing or client-acquisition work required from either partner. 32:37 — Where to actually find partners: getting into community with other creative entrepreneurs is the real unlock, since none of these three partnership types can happen in isolation. 35:07 — Platform partnerships are coming soon for MMCB itself — teased using the university tuition-and-fees model as the mental image: a service so embedded, it's just included in the price. 37:22 — Closing takeaway: a partnership doesn't have to be 50/50, and it doesn't even have to involve equity — referral, co-creation, and platform partnerships all give creative entrepreneurs a way to structure collaboration instead of leaving it "up in the air." Key Quotes "Collaboration sounds good in theory, but not in practice." "Instead of me going to find 500 people, let me find the one person that has 500 people." "You don't have to do 50/50. You can do 30/30. You can do 60/40. It does not have to be even." "They would rather own a little piece of a watermelon than a whole [grape]." "The essence of partnership is everybody wins." "Let's come together like Voltron and be the mega robot, opposed to being these individual lions." Resources Mentioned Creative to CEO Challenge (creativetoceochallenge.com) Credit Savant (creditsavant.io) Build Institute (Detroit co-working space) Civilized (artist platforming initiative referenced by Shy) Connect with MMCB Website: mmcbpodcast.com Creative to CEO Challenge: creativetoceochallenge.com Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S7 · E55
    September 21 · 53 min· Video

    From One Talent to Three Businesses: Building a Performance Empire with Lala Johnson

    Episode Summary Ron and Shy sit down with Lala Johnson — singer-songwriter, actress, vocal instructor, live performance event producer, and CEO of LWM Group — for a deep dive into what it actually takes to turn a single talent into a full performance business. An Army veteran and 13-year soprano background vocalist for Erykah Badu, Lala now leads three distinct ensembles: the all-woman Tina Turner tribute band I Tina, the multi-diva tribute show Three American Divas, and the band Lucy — plus Tina Fest, a growing Dallas festival marking the 50th anniversary of Tina Turner's reinvention in the city. This episode is a masterclass in pricing, booking, team-building, and the mindset shift from performer to producer. What You'll Learn (Timestamped) 00:00 — Dallas has a hidden Tina Turner story. The episode opens on this idea: millions visit downtown Dallas for its JFK history, unaware that one mile away is where Tina Turner rebirthed herself by leaving Ike — the true origin of Tina Fest. 04:54 — The pivot point from performer to producer. While in the Army full-time and singing in a party band on weekends, Lala had an epiphany during a band rehearsal: stop being paralyzed by what you don't know, because every expert started as a novice. 07:48 — Coordinating a 12-member band is "herding cats," solved with structure. Lala uses WhatsApp communities split into sub-groups (general, section-specific, new members) so she only reaches who she needs to, when she needs to. 10:27 — "Being the producer means being the bank." Three American Divas started as a joke between friends, but Lala learned fast that producing your own shows means personally covering costs when ticket sales fall short. 12:06 — The sponsorship epiphany. After repeatedly covering shortfalls out of pocket, a conversation with a business friend reframed her plan to combine three diva tributes into one show — creating a unique value proposition no one else in Dallas could easily copy. 21:00 — Pricing is part market research, part direct feedback. Lala builds mailing lists from ticket sales, surveys past attendees, and uses social media polls to set ticket tiers — landing on $20 presale / $35 door general admission and $50–75 VIP for her first Three American Divas run. 25:22 — A performance business is not just the performance. A tip from her father — always have merch ready — became a lasting lesson: audiences want something tangible to take home, not just a memory. 31:30 — Her first booking price was based on real production costs (~$7,000–7,500) — and cities laughed at the number at first, forcing her to learn real negotiation. 32:31 — The all-inclusive pricing lesson. Team pay, photographers, assistants — every cost has to be built into the quoted price up front, or clients will try to negotiate each piece down separately. 36:12 — Tina Fest was born from a single booking inquiry that went quiet — Lala followed up herself, while on tour with Erykah Badu, and turned the opportunity into what's now an annual festival. 38:53 — The core lesson on value and revenue: you're still singing either way, but producing, styling, and packaging the full experience is what actually increases what you can charge — revenue without increased value simply doesn't happen. 45:34 — Tina Fest 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Tina Turner leaving Ike, expanding from a one-day event into a month-long celebration (July 3–31) at the Women's Museum, with activation zones, talent contests, and a celebrity look-alike contest. 47:28 — Her production team structure: a core team of four, backed by a larger flexible team and event-specific volunteers as needed. 50:14 — Closing advice to her younger self: trust yourself, show up for yourself, and stop letting what you don't know paralyze you from starting. Key Quotes "All over the world, people come in from Dallas to take a picture with a patch of grass in downtown Dallas. Those same people don't know that literally one mile up that same road is where Tina Turner actually rebirthed herself here in Dallas." "Being the producer means being the bank." "Show up for yourself. You got to show up for you because if you don't show up for you, who else can you expect to?" "Stop allowing yourself to be paralyzed by the stuff you don't know, because every expert started out as a novice." "People are looking for an increase in revenue without increasing value, and that's just not going to happen." "As a creative for a living, you have to create your means for a living." Resources Mentioned LWM Group I Tina (Tina Turner tribute band) Three American Divas The band Lucy Tina Fest (Women's Museum, Dallas — July 3–31) Credit Savant (creditsavant.io) Connect with Lala Johnson LWM Group Tina Fest Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S7 · E54
    September 14 · 1 hr 4 min· Video

    Graphic Designer or Brand Strategist? The Difference That's Costing You Clients, with Devin Wilmott-Johnson

    Ron and Shy sit down with Devin Wilmott-Johnson — brand strategist, event producer, keynote speaker, event host, and founder of DWJ & Co. and the Girls Trip Society — for a wide-ranging masterclass on what separates creatives who plateau from creatives who scale. A recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at 29, Devin built her first six-figure business in college and now runs a boutique agency offering fractional CMO and COO services to franchises, small-to-medium businesses, and civic clients. She draws a hard line between graphic design and brand strategy, breaks down why most creatives lose clients over storytelling rather than skill, and lays out exactly what sustainable, long-term business ownership actually requires — starting with knowing your exit before you ever open your doors. What You'll Learn (Timestamped) 00:00 — Build a system people actually want to stay in. The episode opens on this idea: you have to give collaborators and clients real reasons not to just copy your blueprint and walk away. 04:36 — Devin received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at 29 — a philanthropic honor she mentions almost in passing, setting up just how much she's built at a young age. 05:44 — Her origin story. Devin started her first business in college — a six-figure business within six months — while simultaneously leading five student organizations and taking 18 credit hours. 08:07 — There's no such thing as work-life balance, in Devin's view — just one life, lived in seasons, where priorities shift and it's okay to lean on support (including a nanny) during high-output periods. 10:07 — "You can have it all, but not all at once." A piece of advice from her mother that reframes the pressure many creatives put on themselves to do everything simultaneously. 12:38 — Consistency — or "stick-to-itiveness" — is the biggest thing missing from most creatives, more than talent or vision. Chasing validation and quitting when it doesn't come fast enough is the pattern she sees most often. 15:45 — Capacity is built through outsourcing, not endurance. Devin describes "duplicating yourself" into a trained team as the only sustainable way to scale past what one person can carry alone. 20:11 — Protecting your name matters more than any single payday. Devin's father's advice — you only get one name and one of something else, and you can never get either back — shapes how she handles conflict, even when it costs her short-term. 23:57 — "Success is nothing without a successor." Team members stay loyal when they can see a real path — either toward leadership inside your company or toward launching their own thing with your blessing. 26:11 — The real difference between a graphic designer and a brand strategist. Branding is the strategic nucleus behind marketing, PR, design, and messaging — not the visual output itself. 32:45 — The test for spotting a fake brand strategist: if they can't explain why they chose your colors, fonts, or logo elements, they're a graphic designer or art director, not a strategist — regardless of their title. 38:53 — The gap she fills across every industry, regardless of size or category: clients who can't communicate their own story effectively, not clients who lack visual assets. 45:20 — Photographers and videographers are losing ground to AI and DIY culture because too many stopped adding strategic value — storyboarding, posing direction, lighting for a specific outcome — and clients have noticed. 51:29 — Three types of mentors every creative CEO needs: a personal-life mentor, a financial/business mentor who can show real numbers and real results, and a spiritual mentor — without all three, growth stalls. 55:13 — Never start a business without knowing your exit. Devin had an exit plan for Girls Trip Society before it even launched — without one, she argues, you're just working for the next check indefinitely. 56:33 — The real shift from creative to CEO is partnering with someone who has the complementary side of the brain — pairing creative instinct with operational and analytical strength is what actually moves the needle on revenue. Key Quotes "There's a lot of silent L's I've taken, but they have preserved my name, and that was more important to me than the money in my account." "Success is nothing without a successor." "You can have it all, but not all at once." "Steve Jobs never built a computer." "You should never start a business and not know how you're going to exit." Resources Mentioned DWJ & Co. (thedwjco.com) Girls Trip Society (girlstripsociety.com) Project Takeoff Incorporated (nonprofit) Credit Savant (creditsavant.io) Connect with Devin Wilmott-Johnson → Book a consultation: thedwjco.com → Girls Trip Society: girlstripsociety.com (all platforms) Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S7 · E53
    September 7 · 1 hr· Video

    Why You're Only Getting One-Off Gigs (And How to Fix It) | Scottie Rodgers

    You Are a Brand: What It Actually Takes to Get Hired by a Corporate Client with Scottie Rodgers Episode Summary Part of MMCB's ongoing Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs series, this episode brings in Scottie Rodgers, Vice President of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, with over 30 years of communications experience and 32 years working in college athletics. Scottie sits on the other side of the hiring table from most of MMCB's audience — he's the person deciding which creatives get the contract — and he breaks down exactly what separates a creative who gets hired once from one who gets staffed in permanently: presentation, follow-up, business paperwork, and understanding that every piece of content is an asset with a value that has to be actively built, not assumed. What You'll Learn (Timestamped) 00:00 — You are a brand as a creative. The episode opens on this line: Scottie explains why he actively avoids purely transactional vendor relationships in favor of "partners" — language and framing that changes how a relationship gets treated. 02:56 — Meet Scottie Rodgers. VP of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 32nd year working in college athletics, and a self-described "small town kid from Alabama" whose path into sports came through journalism, not athletics. 05:43 — His actual role is strategy, not creation. Scottie is upfront that he doesn't design, shoot, or edit — his job is recognizing creative talent and matching it to the right team, using a sports analogy: he's the GM, his content lead is the head coach. 08:54 — The three things he looks for before partnering with any creative: good follow-up, consistency, and knowledge of the space — talent gets you in the door, but these three keep you in the room. 12:50 — It's not just social media. Streaming graphics, internal company communications, YouTube channels, and owned platforms are all underexplored areas where creatives can get hired — most creatives only think about the external, social-facing side. 23:31 — What "follow-up" really means. Meeting deadlines is the floor — the real differentiator is checking back in after a project wraps, which is how one client turns into three through referrals. 26:25 — "Every creator is a communicator. Every communicator is a creator." Scottie learned this the hard way after years in a traditionally siloed college athletics communications world. 27:45 — You have to be able to sell your own work. Great content doesn't matter if it can't be packaged into a proposal that a VP can confidently take to leadership for budget approval. 33:48 — The hard skills creatives skip. LLC paperwork, W9s, clean invoicing, and professional-looking proposals are non-negotiable if you want a corporation's finance department to actually cut you a check. 39:21 — Presentation has to match the work. Ron shares his own story of a nonprofit losing credibility over a poorly branded folder — proof that packaging communicates value before the content ever gets seen. 40:26 — How contractors get staffed in permanently. When a company keeps coming back to the same freelancer, that's the exact moment someone internally can pitch creating a full-time creative role built around them. 45:34 — Content built around sponsors has measurably higher value. Scottie walks through a real example — a "Taco Tuesday" style content series built around a sponsor — that can directly justify a bigger renewal check. 52:47 — What he's had to unlearn. Scottie can't out-create most of the creatives he works with, so his real skill is scouting talent at events and pairing complementary skill sets, "Justice League" style, to win bigger contracts as a team. 56:26 — Community leads to collaboration, which leads to cash. Shy connects Scottie's team-building point directly to how MMCB itself was built — through a paid creative community, not a cold pitch. Key Takeaways Talent gets you in the door — follow-up, consistency, and business paperwork keep you in the room. Every piece of content is an asset with a value you have to actively build. Presentation and packaging communicate value before your work ever gets seen. Being a "partner" instead of a vendor changes how a relationship gets treated. Complementary skill-pairing can win bigger contracts than going it alone. Key Quotes "You are a brand as a creative." "If it's just transactional, then we ain't gonna get any relationship in it. So we want partners." "Every creator is a communicator. Every communicator is a creator." "No one's gonna know if you do your job well if you can't communicate." "Just because it's good doesn't mean it's good." "You might be Superman in your thing, but you might need you a Batman... y'all got to superpower this thing together sometimes to get the client." Resources Mentioned Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Medium Giant (creative agency partner) AT&T Stadium College Football Playoff Credit Savant (creditsavant.io) Connect with Scottie Rodgers Vice President of Communications, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Connect with MMCB Website: https://www.mmcbpodcast.com Join the Creative to CEO Challenge: https://www.creativetoceochallenge.com Subscribe for weekly conversations helping creative entrepreneurs build businesses through strategy, structure, and self-development. Comment below: What's one piece of "business paperwork" you've been putting off? Tags: creative entrepreneur, get hired as a creative, corporate client, proposal writing, content strategy, college athletics, sponsorship content, personal branding, freelance to contract, Minding My Creative Business, Cotton Bowl, communications strategy Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S7 · E52
    August 31 · 27 min· Video

    Where Are You in Your Creative Journey? A Mid-Year Check-In for Creative Entrepreneurs

    Takeaways: Transitioning from a W2 job to full-time entrepreneurship requires careful planning and commitment. Diversifying income streams is essential for creative entrepreneurs to achieve financial stability. Embracing AI technology can enhance creativity rather than replace it, as it offers valuable tools. Collaboration among creative professionals can lead to shared resources, reducing individual burdens and increasing opportunities for success. Participating in structured challenges can guide entrepreneurs toward predictable income and business growth. Understanding one's current position and future goals is crucial for successful entrepreneurship and navigating challenges. Links referenced in this episode: Credit Savant IO Companies mentioned in this episode: FIFA Mind of my Creative business MMC Creative to CEO Credit Savant

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  • S7 · E51
    August 24 · 54 min· Video

    Rigidity Is the Death of Opportunity: A Brand Strategist's Guide to Getting the "Yes"

    What if being creative had less to do with what you make and more to do with how you build your life and business? In this episode of Minding My Creative Business, Ron and Shai sit down with brand strategist, marketing leader, creative entrepreneur, and North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee CMO Noelle LeVeaux for a conversation about what it really means to think like a creative entrepreneur. With more than 30 years of marketing experience, Noel shares how a background in mathematics and analytics shaped her approach to creativity, why flexibility creates opportunities, and how creative entrepreneurs can stop thinking only about deliverables and start solving bigger client problems. The conversation also explores how Noel assembles teams, gives people autonomy, evaluates high-profile opportunities, manages capacity, and keeps her personal values aligned with the brands she represents. What You'll Learn In This Episode Creativity Is Bigger Than Your Craft Being able to create something doesn't automatically mean you're approaching your life creatively. Noel challenges creative entrepreneurs to apply the same imagination they bring to their craft to how they find opportunities, build careers, solve problems, and structure their businesses. Sometimes the opportunity isn't through the obvious door. Creativity means being willing to find another way in. Flexibility Creates Opportunity Rigidity can quickly turn a potential opportunity into a "no." Whether you're presenting creative concepts to a client or navigating your career, being too attached to one solution limits what can happen next. Instead of taking an idea too far before receiving feedback, Noel recommends creating room for collaboration early in the process. Stop Selling. Start Solving. Clients aren't talking to you because they want another sales pitch. They have a problem. The job of the creative entrepreneur is to listen closely enough to understand that problem and then demonstrate how they can solve it. Sometimes the solution goes beyond your own expertise, which is why having trusted collaborators can dramatically increase the value you bring to a client. Build the Solution, Not Just the Asset A beautiful logo, video, website, or campaign asset isn't necessarily valuable if the client doesn't know how to use it. Creative entrepreneurs can create more value by thinking beyond the deliverable. Who else needs to be involved? Where will the creative be used? How will it be promoted? What actually needs to happen for the client's objective to be achieved? By assembling the right partners, a creative can move from delivering one asset to providing a much more complete business solution. Build Teams That Can Own the Work Noel doesn't stay organized simply by adding more project management tools. She builds teams around people who can take ownership. Her approach is to give capable team members autonomy and empower them to make decisions without constantly waiting for approval. Instead of every decision flowing through the founder, each person can operate almost like a "mini CEO" over their area of responsibility. Don't Let Specialization Become a Limitation Expertise matters, but defining yourself too narrowly can close doors. Noel values people who have a primary expertise while still being capable of operating across different responsibilities when necessary. Knowing exactly what you do is useful. Constantly telling people what you don't do can become a limitation. Capacity Is a Strategic Decision More business isn't automatically better business. When Noel accepted the opportunity to work with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, she knew it would require significant capacity. That meant intentionally scaling back other client work. Sometimes a strategic opportunity may even produce less money in the short term while creating credibility, experience, and access that can open much larger doors later. How Noel Evaluates Opportunities Not every opportunity should be evaluated purely by its paycheck. Two of Noel's biggest considerations are: 1. Brand and exposure Does the opportunity create meaningful positioning, experience, or access? 2. Alignment Does she actually believe in the organization, product, or mission she's being asked to represent? If an opportunity conflicts with her values, a large paycheck isn't enough to make it worthwhile. Your Mission Makes Saying "No" Easier Mission statements aren't only for nonprofits. Knowing what your business stands for creates a filter for opportunities. When money is attached to something, saying no can become difficult. A clearly defined mission helps determine which opportunities actually belong in your business. Personal Brand and Business Brand Aren't Completely Separate In a world where clients, employees, audiences, and partners can see more of our lives than ever before, maintaining completely separate identities becomes difficult. Noel's advice is simpler: Find one version of yourself that feels authentic in both spaces. Your topics and environments may change, but the underlying values should remain consistent. People need to trust the person behind the business because they're trusting that person with something important to them. Key Takeaways Creativity should shape how you approach business, not only what you create. Flexibility creates opportunities that rigidity can destroy. Listen for the client's actual problem before proposing a solution. Build partnerships that allow you to solve problems beyond your individual skill set. Strong teams require autonomy, ownership, and trust. Specialization shouldn't become an excuse for unnecessary limitations. More clients aren't always better if your capacity can't support them. Some opportunities are worth accepting for strategic positioning, even when they require short-term sacrifice. Brand exposure, values, mission, and financial runway should all influence major business decisions. Your personal reputation affects how people perceive the businesses and brands you represent. Quotable Moments "If you are not being creative in the way that you shape and form your life and you're just thinking about it in the tools that you use, then you are not a creative." "Rigidity in creativity is, to me, the death of the great opportunity." "A lot of people want to go in and sell what they want to sell versus solving the problem for a client." "Everyone becomes kind of a little mini CEO in my business." "For a lot of entrepreneurs, we think more is always better." "There has to be strategy in every decision that you're making." "You can't be a whole different person at work than you are at home." About Noelle LeVeaux Noel Lavau is a marketing leader, brand strategist, creative entrepreneur, and lifelong learner with more than 30 years of experience in marketing. Her career bridges analytics and creativity, with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in digital communication analytics. At the time of this conversation, Noel serves as Chief Marketing Officer for the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, helping lead marketing and communications surrounding Dallas' role as a host city. In This Episode Creativity beyond your craft Mathematics, analytics, and marketing Why marketing metrics can be misleading Finding unconventional ways into opportunities Creativity vs. simply creating Why rigidity hurts creative entrepreneurs Listening to clients before selling Solving problems instead of delivering assets Building collaborative teams Giving team members autonomy Specialists vs. "jack of all trades" Noel's work with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Managing capacity and high-profile opportunities Strategic sacrifice and financial runway Creating a framework for saying yes or no Mission, integrity, and brand alignment Personal brands vs. business brands Authenticity in professional environments What's next for Noel Closing Mantra All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business. Links referenced in this episode: creditsavant.io Companies mentioned in this episode: AT&T FIFA Credit Savant

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  • S7 · E50
    August 17 · 46 min· Video

    How She Built a Marketing Agency from Scratch | The Systems Every Creative Business Needs

    What does it actually take to grow from a solo entrepreneur into a real business owner? Many creatives start with a skill, some turn that into freelance work — but only a few build a company that can run beyond themselves. In the Season 7 premiere of Minding My Creative Business, Ron and Shy sit down with Sammy Bivens, Founder and CEO of Digital Marketing Maven & Associates, to trace her path from selling handmade jewelry to leading a full-service marketing agency — and why systems, relationships, adaptability, and continuous learning became the foundation of her success. What You'll Learn Your first business doesn't have to be your forever business — Sammy's jewelry company taught her customer service, marketing, and confidence before the agency ever existed. Stop waiting until you "need" systems — documentation for onboarding, delegation, and quality control has to exist before growth creates chaos, not after. Discovery comes before strategy — her team never leads with tactics (social, website, ads) until they understand a client's goals, audience, and capacity. Digital marketing is bigger than social media — SEO, email, CRM, Google Business Profile, analytics, and automation are all part of the ecosystem most creatives ignore. Relationships still win — networking, partnerships, and community have driven more opportunity than any platform or algorithm. AI doesn't replace marketers — it improves efficiency and workflow, but not critical thinking or strategy. Build a business that can pivot — algorithms change, platforms disappear, and the businesses that survive are the ones willing to adapt. Hiring isn't about replacing yourself — it's about protecting quality while the business grows past your personal capacity. Community creates confidence — no entrepreneur grows completely alone. Leadership requires continuous learning — Sammy still invests in programs like Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses, even years into running her agency. Key Quotes "Start how you want to finish." "You don't know what you don't know." "Community has been one of the biggest contributors to my growth." "Social media is only one part of digital marketing." "If I don't pivot, my business won't survive." "AI is a tool — not the strategy." Links referenced in this episode: digimarketingmaven.com creditsavant.io Website: https://www.mmcbpodcast.com Join the Creative to CEO Challenge: https://www.creativetoceochallenge.com Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S6 · E49
    August 3 · 42 min

    Season 6 Recap: The Biggest Lessons Every Creative Entrepreneur Needs to Hear

    This podcast episode serves as a comprehensive recap of Season Six, wherein we delve into the transformative journeys of creative entrepreneurs who are determined to shift from mere survival to thriving within their craft. Central to this discussion is the invitation to engage in the Creative to CEO challenge, a five-day live coaching experience designed to cultivate a mindset that fosters both purpose and profitability. Throughout the season, we have highlighted the significance of collaboration over competition, emphasizing that true success often emerges from partnerships that elevate all involved parties. We reflect on inspiring conversations with notable guests, including those who have exemplified the power of community and innovative thinking in their respective fields. As we conclude this season, we encourage our listeners to revisit the episodes that resonated most deeply, ensuring they glean the invaluable insights shared by our esteemed guests. Six Episodes. Six Experts. One Clear Message. Season 6 of the Minding My Creative Business Podcast wasn't just another season—it became a blueprint for creative entrepreneurs looking to build businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and scalable. In this special recap episode, Ron and Shy revisit the biggest insights from every guest and every solo teaching episode, connecting the themes that defined the season: Collaboration over competition Learning through rejection Building businesses with character Eliminating revenue leaks Becoming media ready Creating scalable offers If you've missed any episode—or simply need a refresher—this recap ties the entire season together. What You'll Learn In This Episode Episode 42 — Collaboration Is Your Competitive Advantage The season began with one powerful mindset: Everybody wins—or nobody wins. Featuring Ramon Ray and Dominique Damas, the conversation challenged creatives to stop viewing collaboration as competition. Key lessons: Collaboration multiplies opportunities. Advisors are valuable collaborators too. The biggest limitation in your business is often how you view partnerships. Protect your ideas—but don't isolate yourself. One quote summarizes the episode perfectly: "Alone we can do so little." Episode 43 — Rejection Is Market Research Isabelle Bora completely reframed rejection. Instead of chasing "yes," she intentionally pursued 100 no's because every conversation helped her refine: pricing positioning niche messaging Rather than seeing rejection as failure, she treated it as customer research. Her persistence eventually helped her build a premium bridal business charging thousands of dollars for specialized services. Lesson: Every conversation is data. Episode 44 — Character Is Part of Your Business Strategy Cindy Beasley shared how witnessing toxic leadership in Hollywood pushed her toward entrepreneurship. Instead of accepting the industry's culture, she decided to build something different. Key ideas: Leadership creates culture. Character becomes part of your business model. Build the table instead of waiting for a seat. Communities create opportunities faster than individuals. Her work with Creative Cipher and XL Fest shows how ecosystems help creatives grow together. Episode 45 — The Hidden Places Your Business Is Losing Money One of the biggest takeaways from Season 6: Most businesses aren't losing money because of poor marketing. They're losing money because their client journey is leaking revenue. Ron and Shy explain seven stages where businesses commonly lose profit, including: slow inquiry response onboarding fulfillment referrals customer experience Every stage should intentionally move customers toward greater value. Episode 46 — PR Doesn't Create a Brand With Brianna Gatling (Swank PR), the conversation focused on a common misconception: PR is not the foundation. PR amplifies the foundation. Before investing in publicity, businesses need: a clear message consistent positioning systems offers that actually work Visibility only accelerates what's already there. Episode 47 — Branding Is More Than Aesthetic Ray Christine explained that beautiful visuals don't automatically create memorable brands. Real brands are built through: strategy positioning research consistency customer perception She also demonstrated how turning her own strategic process into a framework allowed her business to scale beyond one-on-one client work. Episode 48 — More Clients Won't Fix a Broken Offer Perhaps the biggest lesson of the season. When revenue drops, creatives usually think: "I need more clients." But that's often the wrong diagnosis. An unclear offer only creates: more confusion more delivery problems more unhappy clients more burnout Instead, creators need offers that are: clear repeatable scalable valuable The episode also introduces MMCB's CRAFT Method, a framework designed to help creative entrepreneurs build signature offers that can grow with their business. The Biggest Themes Across Season 6 Although every guest came from a different industry, they all reinforced similar principles: Collaboration beats competition. Rejection creates clarity. Character creates trust. Systems create scalability. Visibility follows preparation. Better offers beat more clients. Together, these ideas form the foundation of building a sustainable creative business. Quotable Moments "Collaboration isn't competition in disguise." "Every conversation is data." "Character becomes part of your business model." "Your business may not have a marketing problem—it may have a client journey problem." "PR isn't a shortcut." "Are you building a brand—or just an aesthetic?" "More clients won't fix an unclear offer." Resources Mentioned Creative to CEO Challenge Learn the CRAFT Method and develop your own scalable signature offer. Website: https://creativetoceochallenge.com MMCB Podcast Website: https://www.mmcbpodcast.com Closing Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business."

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  • S6 · E48
    June 29 · 29 min· Video

    More Clients Won’t Save You: The Offer Problem Creating Chaos in Your Business

    Your revenue didn’t drop because you need more clients. It dropped because your offer is broken. In Episode 48 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron break down one of the most dangerous beliefs in the creative space: “I just need more clients.” But the truth is: More clients + unclear offer = more chaos. This episode dismantles the “volume trap” and replaces it with a system that actually scales — the CRAFT Method, a framework designed to help creatives turn scattered services into structured, profitable offers. If you feel stretched, underpaid, or constantly chasing leads… this isn’t a marketing problem. It’s an offer problem. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The Volume Trap: Why “More Clients” Makes Things Worse Why Unclear Offers Destroy Your Business The CRAFT Method (How to Build a Real Offer) Why High Value > High Volume How to Turn Scattered Services Into One Offer Why Custom Work Is Killing Your Scalability Why Pricing Must Be Defined (Not Flexible) Quotable Moments “More clients plus an unclear offer equals more chaos.” “Doing more feels productive — but it’s reactive.” “You don’t need more clients. You need a better offer.” “Freelancers ask what to charge. CEOs define the outcome.” “High value beats high volume.” “Clear offer equals better clients.” Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com You Have the Creativity. Now Build the Business Around It. Every creative has a story — but talent alone is not the business. Structure is what turns ideas into income, consistency into growth, and creativity into something sustainable. That is the work behind the Creative to CEO Challenge. In five days, Ron and Shy will help you clarify your signature offer, price it with confidence, and build a 90-day plan that gives your creative business direction, focus, and momentum. If this episode reminded you that your creativity deserves more structure, this is your next step. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com Build with intention. Create with heart. Turn your creativity into a business that lasts.

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  • S6 · E47
    June 22 · 53 min· Video

    Why You’re Not Ready for PR (Yet): The Systems, Positioning & Truth Most Brands Ignore | Rae Christine

    You don’t need PR — you need to get your foundation together first. In Episode 47 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron sit down with Rae Christine, a 20-year PR veteran and brand architect, to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in the creative space: people think they need PR… when they’re not even ready for it. This episode goes beyond branding theory. It exposes: what actually drives revenue in a PR agency why most brands are just “shells” how positioning vs aesthetics changes everything and the uncomfortable truth about readiness Because visibility doesn’t fix broken brands. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why Most Brands Are Just “Shells” (And People See Through It) Brand Positioning vs Brand Aesthetic (The Real Difference) The Biggest Branding Mistake: Overcomplicating the Message How a PR Agency Actually Generates Revenue Why the Framework Is the Real Product The Hard Truth: Not Everyone Should Hire PR The Role of Integrity in High-Level Services How to Protect Your Time as a CEO Why Most Creatives Underprice (And Realize Too Late) The Hidden Lesson: You Might Not Need PR Yet Quotable Moments “If your foundation isn’t real, people see right through it.” “Sometimes you just have to tell the truth.” “PR is not a shortcut — it’s an amplifier.” “If it’s outside scope, say it.” “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” “What are they managing if nothing is built yet?” Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com You Have the Creativity. Now Build the Business Around It. Every creative has a story — but talent alone is not the business. Structure is what turns ideas into income, consistency into growth, and creativity into something sustainable. That is the work behind the Creative to CEO Challenge. In five days, Ron and Shy will help you clarify your signature offer, price it with confidence, and build a 90-day plan that gives your creative business direction, focus, and momentum. If this episode reminded you that your creativity deserves more structure, this is your next step. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com Build with intention. Create with heart. Turn your creativity into a business that lasts.

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  • S6 · E46
    June 15 · 58 min

    18 Years in PR: The Real Systems, Sales & Strategy Behind High-Ticket Clients | ft. Briana Gallen

    You want bigger clients… but you’re not operating like someone who can handle them. In Episode 46 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron sit down with Briana Gallen, founder of Swank PR, to break down what it actually takes to run a high-level PR business after 18 years in the game. This episode is not theory. It’s not “motivation.” It’s real execution — from onboarding systems, to pricing structure, to pitching at scale, to managing client expectations. If you’re still freelancing without structure… if your income is inconsistent… if you want $30K–$40K clients… This episode shows you exactly what needs to change. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why High-Ticket Clients Require Structure (Not Just Talent) The Real PR Workflow (Step-by-Step) Why She Gets Paid 45 Days Ahead (And Why You Should Care) The Truth About PR: It’s NOT About Making You Money What “Media Ready” Actually Means Why Systems Beat Custom Work Every Time The Metrics That Actually Matter in PR Why Most Creatives Undervalue Their Work Why You Can’t Depend on One Client Quotable Moments “My job is visibility — not your revenue.” “If you want high-ticket clients, you need high-level systems.” “You plant seeds everywhere… they grow when they’re supposed to.” “You can’t depend on one client.” “If your cup is empty, you can’t serve anyone.” “Not everyone is meant to be a CEO — and that’s okay.” Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com You Have the Creativity. Now Build the Business Around It. Every creative has a story — but talent alone is not the business. Structure is what turns ideas into income, consistency into growth, and creativity into something sustainable. That is the work behind the Creative to CEO Challenge. In five days, Ron and Shy will help you clarify your signature offer, price it with confidence, and build a 90-day plan that gives your creative business direction, focus, and momentum. If this episode reminded you that your creativity deserves more structure, this is your next step. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com Build with intention. Create with heart. Turn your creativity into a business that lasts.

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  • S6 · E45
    June 8 · 44 min· Video

    You’re Not Broke — Your Client Journey Is Broken: 7 Hidden Leaks Costing You Thousands

    You’re getting inquiries… but the money still isn’t consistent. Why? In Episode 45 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron break down one of the most overlooked reasons creative entrepreneurs struggle to scale: a broken client journey. You’re getting messages. You’re booking clients. You’re delivering work. But something still feels off. That “off” feeling? It’s profit leakage happening across your entire process. This episode walks you step-by-step through the full client journey — from first inquiry to repeat purchase — and exposes exactly where creatives lose money, time, and opportunities. If your income feels inconsistent, this is not a marketing problem. It’s a systems problem. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What a Client Journey Actually Is (And Why Most Creatives Ignore It) Phase 1: Attraction — Where Most Money Is Lost First Why Qualification Isn’t About Rejecting People Phase 2: Activation — Where Structure Creates or Kills Trust The Hidden Cost of Poor Onboarding Phase 3: Fulfillment — Where Most Creatives Guess Instead of Systemize Why You Need SOPs (Even If You Hate Systems) Phase 4: Ascension — The Most Ignored Revenue Opportunity The Real Reason You Feel “Busy But Broke” Quotable Moments “You’re not broke — your client journey is broken.” “If you don’t respond, you already lost the sale.” “Don’t reject — redirect.” “If it’s not documented, it’s not scalable.” “Busy doesn’t mean profitable.” “Your job isn’t just to deliver — it’s to guide the journey.” Resources & Links Join the Creative to CEO 5-Day Challenge 👉 www.creativetoceochallenge.com Business Credit Support (up to $150K): 👉 creditsavant.io Connect with MMCB: 🌍 Website: www.mmcbpodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @mmcbpodcast “All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business.”

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  • S6 · E44
    June 1 · 54 min· Video

    Character Is the Business Plan Nobody Talks About ft. Cindy Beasley | Morally Simple Productions & Creative Cipher | Chicago

    Episode Summary: Cindy Beasley didn't take the Hollywood route — she watched what happened to people who did, decided it wasn't for her, and built her own table instead. Now she's the founder of Morally Simple Productions and the newly appointed President of Creative Cipher, a Chicago-rooted creative ecosystem that hosts the XL Film Festival, attracts AMC executives, and is being built into the next Viacom. This conversation goes deep into what it actually takes to survive and scale in entertainment — and it starts long before you ever pick up a camera. What You'll Learn: Why vision has to come before team, software, or strategy — and how skipping this step is the fastest way to build something that collapses under its own weight What separates a creative who lands big deals from one who stays stuck — and why grit, resilience, and character aren't soft skills, they're your most bankable assets in entertainment How to build a creative ecosystem that generates revenue from multiple directions — ticket sales, commission fees, partnerships, and beyond — without losing the community-first mission that makes people care The real metric Cindy uses to measure financial success that has nothing to do with your revenue number — and everything to do with how you treat the people who help you build How to position yourself so that your best opportunities find you — instead of spending your life applying for rooms that were never designed to let you in Key Quotes: "There's no need to go ask for permission to sit at the next table — when you got this table right here that we built for us." — Cindy Beasley "If you want to not just sustain but grow and elevate, it has to be in you. The 'fake it till you make it' mask is going to come off at the maximum point — every time." — Cindy Beasley "My best opportunities — I never interviewed for. They found me. That's what character does over time." — Cindy Beasley Resources + Links Mentioned: Creative Cipher — https://creativecypher.org/ XL Film Festival (Annual — Hyde Park, Chicago — every third weekend in August) — https://filmfreeway.com/XLFest Morally Cinful Productions — https://www.morallycinfulproductions.com/ MMCB Creative to CEO Challenge — www.creativetoceochallenge.com Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com Your Vision Is the Strategy. Now Let's Build the Structure Around It. Cindy didn't build Creative Cipher by waiting for someone to hand her a blueprint — she started with a clear vision and figured out the rest from there. That's exactly what the Creative to CEO Challenge is designed to help you do. In five focused days, Ron and Shy will walk you through identifying your signature offer, pricing it with confidence, and laying out the 90-day structure that takes you from creative to CEO — for real this time. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — www.creativetoceochallenge.com All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus — to mind your creative business.

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  • S6 · E43
    May 25 · 37 min· Video

    She Went for 100 Nos on Purpose — Here's What Happened Next ft. Isabel Bora

    Episode Summary: Isabel Bora didn't wait until she was ready — she started in her bathroom, pregnant, modeling wigs at night while her baby slept, and reaching out to 40 companies before she got her first yes. In 14 months, she built Sugar Bridals into a premium bridal hair brand serving brides of color, closed 62 brides in year one, assembled a 5-person team, and used her creative business income to buy her first real estate investment. If you've been sitting on a skill, second-guessing your prices, or wondering how long it's supposed to take — this episode is the answer. What You'll Learn: How to find and own a niche that the market is ignoring — and why underserved audiences often become your most loyal, highest-paying clients The counterintuitive truth about pricing: why charging too little kills your credibility faster than charging too much, and how to raise your rates with confidence even when you're still building How to build a backend system that runs without you — from rotating VA schedules to human-first communication strategies that beat automation every time The difference between tracking revenue and tracking profit — and why confusing the two is the fastest way to look busy while going broke How to take the income from your creative business and turn it into a real asset — Isabel's exact path from $25,000 in business profit to her first real estate property Key Quotes: "I went for the first 100 nos. That's the mindset. After 20 nos, I take 24 hours, check my email, ask myself what I'm writing wrong, reposition — then I try again." — Isabel Bora "Drop the price. Then go silent. The first one to speak loses. If you start explaining why you charge what you charge, you already lost the power." — Isabel Bora "Don't get carried away with doing 80 people a day. Big companies make $60 million and close tomorrow. Track the profit — that's what keeps the lights on." — Isabel Bora Resources + Links Mentioned: Shugar Bridal Hair (Isabel's company Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/shugarhair/ Isabel Bora's contact / email — sugarhair1@gmail.com MMCB Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com Credit Savant (Business Funding) — www.creditsavant.io Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com You Have a Skill. Now Build the Business Around It. Isabel started with a wig, a bathroom mirror, and a mindset that refused to quit. What she built in 14 months didn't happen by accident — it happened because she got clear on her offer, built structure around it, and stopped treating her talent like a hobby. If you're ready to do the same, the Creative to CEO Challenge is where that work starts. In five days, Ron and Shy will help you name your signature offer, price it with confidence, and build the 90-day plan that turns your creativity into a real business. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus — to mind your creative business.

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  • S6 · E42
    May 18 · 32 min· Video

    Everybody Wins or Nobody Wins ft. Dominick "Dom" Domasky & Ramon Ray | Live from CreativeCon Chicago

    Episode Summary: Most creatives are still playing small because they think collaboration is competition in disguise — this episode dismantles that lie in real time. Recorded live at CreativeCon Chicago, Ron and Shy sit down with bestselling author and Motivation Champs founder Dominick "Dom" Domasky and small business powerhouse Ramon Ray to unpack what it actually takes to build events, publishing companies, and creative communities that outlast the hype. If you've ever wondered whether your idea is big enough to become a movement, this conversation will show you the blueprint — and remind you that you were never supposed to build it alone. What You'll Learn: How to redefine yourself as a "creative" — even if you're in real estate, landscaping, or any industry that has nothing to do with the arts — and why that shift changes everything about how you market and grow Why every business you build has an invisible ceiling when you're the only one holding it up — and what to do before it stalls you out The three non-negotiables of a successful event-based business — and which one will sink you faster than the other two combined if you ignore it How Dom and Julie Laughton merged separate communities into a thriving live event — and how to apply that same strategy to your next launch The "everybody wins" framework for building collaborations and partnerships that don't leave anyone holding an empty bag Key Quotes: "In 2026, if you're a real estate agent, a podcaster, a landscaper — you should be using video, podcasting, AI. When we say 'creative,' it's not just rah-rah. It's using the tools that all businesses should be using." — Dominick Domasky "Alone, we can do so little. My dad's business would only grow to what my dad could control. You bring in the right people — people who've done it, who want to add value — and two plus two stops equaling four." — Ramon Ray "Your message isn't my message. But that doesn't mean someone can't receive yours. Once I realized that, I stopped seeing competition and started seeing community." — Dominick Domasky Resources + Links Mentioned: CreativeCon Event — https://www.cre8tivecon.com Motivation Champs Publishing / Dominick Domasky — https://www.motivationchamps.com Celebrity CEO by Ramon Ray — https://www.ramonray.com MMCB Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com Credit Savant (Business Funding) — www.creditsavant.io Connect with MMCB: Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minding-my-creative-business-podcast/id1724893043 Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uo7amHW0dR2tBd3gMgOV4?si=511ddd99b115418b YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmycreativebusiness Website: www.mmcbpocast.com Ready to Stop Building Alone? If this conversation hit home, the Creative to CEO Challenge is your next move. In five days, Ron and Shy will help you identify your signature offer and build the 90-day structure around it — so you stop spinning and start executing. Less than $100. One hour a day. Join the Creative to CEO Challenge — https://creativetoceochallenge.com

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  • S5 · E41
    May 4 · 1 hr 5 min· Video

    Season 5 Wrap-Up: Creative Courage, CEO Mindset & the Systems That Scale

    Episode Description Two years in. Five seasons deep. And we are just getting started. In this Season 5 Wrap-Up episode of Mind My Creative Business, hosts Ron Lee Jr. and Shai Speaks take you on a full-circle journey through one of the most powerful seasons yet — recapping the game-changing conversations, frameworks, and strategies shared by this season's guest experts. Whether you are a creative entrepreneur just finding your footing or a seasoned CEO ready to scale, this episode is your master class in one. We are also celebrating a major milestone: two years of the Mind My Creative Business podcast. To mark the occasion, Ron and Shai officially launch the Creative to CEO Challenge — a free five-day live coaching experience designed to help creative entrepreneurs stop hustling and start building a business of purpose, profit, and peace. What We Cover in This Episode Creative Courage with Jalia Davis (Iconic Television) Jalia Davis did not just climb the ladder — she bought the building. Starting as an intern, Jalia's relentless work ethic and unshakeable character led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire Iconic Television, a 24-hour network, for pennies on the dollar. The lesson? Your reputation is your greatest business asset. Creative courage is not just about talent — it is about showing up with integrity every single time. High Performance and the PGR Framework with Terry Williams Mindset coach Terry Williams introduced his signature PGR Framework: Purpose, Growth, Rest — a three-part system for high-performing creative entrepreneurs. Terry's concept of "ustress" (intentional, productive stress) reframes discomfort as a growth tool. His most powerful analogy: your body is like a phone. If you never charge it, it dies and becomes useless. Rest is not a reward — it is a requirement. Niching Down for Impact with Shadera Naymith (Stacked Up Academy) Shadera Naymith, founder of Stacked Up Academy, proves that serving fewer people better is the path to greater impact. Her nonprofit uses creative products to teach technology and coding to youth — and her success comes from a disciplined commitment to niching down and building tiered programming that meets her audience where they are. Strategic Positioning with Tolu Berry (T-Berry Films) Photographer and filmmaker Tolu Berry dropped one of the season's most quotable truths: talent alone will not get you to the next level. Tolu's journey from charging $50 per shoot to landing five-figure brand campaigns was built on professional reliability — showing up on time, having clear delivery systems, and creating an experience that makes clients feel safe and valued. Your skill gets you in the room. Your professionalism keeps you there. Data-Informed Decisions with Kira Dodson AI and data expert Kira Dodson brought the season's most clarifying insight: internal clarity creates external authority. When you know your numbers — your KPIs, your conversion rates, your audience data — you stop making decisions based on feelings and start leading with confidence. Kira's framework challenges creative entrepreneurs to build data literacy as a core business skill. CEO Strategy Deep Dives Meeting Rhythms: The 4P Framework Unproductive meetings are one of the biggest hidden costs in a creative business. Ron and Shai break down the 4P Framework for Effective Meetings: Purpose (why are we meeting?), People (who actually needs to be in the room?), Process (what is the agenda?), and Payoff (what decision or deliverable comes out of this?). Every meeting should produce something tangible — or it should not happen. Automation: Doing More by Doing Less The hosts challenge the "I'm overwhelmed because I'm growing" mindset and replace it with a more empowering truth: "I'm overwhelmed because I haven't optimized." The solution is a workflow audit — a systematic review of every task you touch to identify what can be automated, delegated, or eliminated. Ron shared a personal story of running his own workflow audit and discovering that nearly every task he touched was flagged red — a wake-up call that led to a complete operational overhaul. Team Leadership: Hire Slow, Fire Fast In response to a live audience question about team management, Ron and Shai offered a framework that every creative CEO needs to hear. Before you blame a team member for poor execution, ask yourself: Did I communicate the vision clearly? Did I give them the keys they needed to succeed? If the answer is yes and execution still fails — hire slow, fire fast. The Creative to CEO Challenge This season's biggest announcement: the Creative to CEO Challenge is officially open. This is a free five-day live coaching experience where Ron and Shai will walk you through building your 90-day profit plan, developing the habits of a high-performing CEO, and creating the systems that generate consistent cash flow — without burning out. VIP Upgrade available for those who want daily behind-the-scenes Q&A and bonus coaching sessions throughout the challenge. Partner Spotlight Credit Savant — Helping creative entrepreneurs access up to $150,000 in business credit to fund their growth. www.creditsavant.io Savant CRM — The CRM and sales automation platform built for creative businesses. Manage your funnels, automate your follow-ups, and close more deals. https://systems-savant.com/ Connect with Your Hosts Ron Lee Jr. | @ronaldleejr | www.ronaldleejr.com Shai Speaks | @ShySpeaks | www.shyspeaks.com Subscribe, Rate & Review — If this episode added value to your business, leave us a five-star review and share it with a creative entrepreneur who needs to hear it. Show Affirmation "All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business." creative entrepreneur podcast CEO mindset creative to CEO small business strategy podcast for creatives business automation creative business growth black entrepreneurs entrepreneur podcast 2025 creative business systems how to scale a creative business mindset for entrepreneurs business coaching podcast workflow optimization creative economy

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  • S5 · E40
    February 16 · 32 min· Video

    Automate to Elevate: Scaling Your Creative Business

    The central theme of our discussion revolves around the imperative of automating mundane tasks to liberate oneself for pursuits of greater significance. We delve into the concept of a workflow audit, a critical exercise designed to identify areas of inefficiency within one's business processes. By implementing strategies to automate, delegate, and eliminate repetitive tasks, we can subsequently elevate our creative endeavors, thereby enhancing both productivity and satisfaction. We invite creative entrepreneurs to consider the profound benefits of this approach, particularly as it pertains to achieving a work-life balance that fosters innovation and growth. Join us as we explore actionable insights, aimed at transforming your routine into a framework that supports your aspirations for a flourishing creative enterprise. Episode Chapters 00:00 Automate to Save Time 04:31 Streamlined System for Productivity 09:02 Free Lunch Fridays Partnership Story 10:29 Workflow Audit Explained 14:24 Finding Balance and Delegation 18:15 Carving Out Creative Time 21:27 Workflow Audit for Less Hustle 25:20 Share & Support Creative Journeys 28:12 Speaking Shapes Beliefs and Actions Takeaways: The importance of automating routine tasks is emphasized, enabling one to concentrate on extraordinary endeavors. Creative entrepreneurs can benefit significantly from a workflow audit to streamline their processes effectively. By reducing the number of times we handle tasks, we can identify opportunities for automation and delegation. Participating in the Creative to CEO challenge offers a structured environment to develop necessary business skills and mindset. 🔗 Links & Resources: • Creative to CEO Challenge: https://creativetoceochallenge.com/ – gain clarity, confidence & strategy to turn your creative gifts into consistent income. • Business Funding: https://creditsavant.io/ – secure funding for your creative business. • Creativepreneur Gear: https://whatstheirony.com/ – apparel for the creative entrepreneur. • Creative’s Corner Newsletter: Sign up at https://mmcbpodcast.com/ for monthly tips & mindset shifts in under 5 minutes. 👍 Join Our Community • Listen to the show: https://feeds.captivate.fm/mmcbpodcast/ • Website & inquiries: https://mmcbpodcast.com | hello@mmcbpodcast.com • Follow us: • Facebook: @mindingmycreativebusiness • Instagram: @mindingmycreativebusiness • TikTok: @mindingmycreativebusiness We’re Ron & ShySpeaks, creative entrepreneurs turned business mentors. Each week we share strategies, mistakes and insights to help you build and scale your business like a CEO. Comment with your biggest takeaway, like if you got value, and subscribe for more creative entrepreneur tips!

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  • S5 · E39
    February 9 · 59 min· Video

    AI Isn’t Replacing You, But Creatives Who USE AI Will: Data, Tools & CEO Mindset

    AI isn’t replacing creatives, those who embrace AI are. In this eye‑opening episode of Minding My Creative Business, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks chat with Kierra Dotson, an AI engineer, data conversationalist and entrepreneur. They explore how creative business owners can leverage data and AI to work smarter, not harder. A 2025 survey found that AI adoption among small businesses jumped from 39 % to 55 % in a year, with 80 % of users saying AI is essential for reaching new customers. Kierra explains why now is the time to join that movement and build AI into your workflow. You’ll learn how both product and service‑based businesses can collect, analyze and act on data to boost sales and customer engagement. Kierra shares her favorite AI tools—from generative design platforms like Adobe Express and Descript to customer‑service bots like Freshdesk and CRM assistants like Salesforce’s Agentforce Assistant—that make marketing, inventory management and video editing easier. She also highlights ethical challenges such as algorithmic bias—like how past AI systems have favored male résumés or misidentified women of color and offers strategies to ensure fairness through diverse data and oversight. The conversation covers advanced topics like generative AI SEO and “AI Overviews,” which now appear in nearly half of search results, why only a few companies are realizing extraordinary value from AI and how a disciplined, top‑down strategy can unlock transformation; and how to adopt a CEO mindset by reviewing your metrics, systematizing creativity, and embracing PGR (Purpose, Growth, Rest). Whether you’re a boutique owner or a videographer, this episode will help you harness AI and data while staying human at the core. 🕒 Episode Chapters 0:00 – Empowering early AI adoption 4:49 – Everyday AI applications explained 9:18 – AI ethics: inclusion and bias 12:55 – Data drives business success 14:56 – Leveraging data for business insights 16:43 – AI for R&D and growth 22:29 – Optimize captions & analyze insights 26:20 – Optimizing service businesses with data 29:09 – Creative event planning tips 32:46 – Understanding metrics and traffic insights 34:27 – AI‑adapting job descriptions 39:18 – Using AI for trend analysis 41:08 – Creative ideation and event planning 45:24 – “Loable”: fast, secure startup tool 48:49 – Personalized shopping simplified 50:40 – Strategic AI development framework 53:54 – AI, business, and transformation 🔑 Key Points • Why AI matters now: A 2025 survey found AI usage among small businesses surged 41 % in a year, and 80 % of users say it’s essential for customer growth. Companies implementing AI wisely are seeing savings of 20 + hours per month and $500–$2,000 monthly • Make AI work for you: Tools like Adobe Express, Descript, Freshdesk Freddy AI Copilot, Salesforce Agentforce Assistant and Microsoft 365 Copilot help creatives design marketing assets, edit videos, automate customer service, and analyze data without technical expertise • Data ethics and inclusivity: Past AI systems have reinforced bias (e.g., Amazon’s hiring algorithm favoring male résumés and image recognition misidentifying women of color). Kiara discusses building inclusive data sets, diverse teams, and responsible AI frameworks. • AI‑driven search & SEO: AI Overviews appear in nearly half of search results. Optimize content for conversational queries and generative engine optimization. • CEO mindset: Move from creator to CEO by setting clear goals, measuring what matters, and adopting a PGR framework (Purpose, Growth, Rest). A top‑down, disciplined AI strategy and focused workflows are key to transformative value. 🔗 Links & Resources: • Creative to CEO Challenge: https://creativetoceochallenge.com/ – gain clarity, confidence & strategy to turn your creative gifts into consistent income. • Business Funding: https://creditsavant.io/ – secure funding for your creative business. • Creativepreneur Gear: https://whatstheirony.com/ – apparel for the creative entrepreneur. • Creative’s Corner Newsletter: Sign up at https://mmcbpodcast.com/ for monthly tips & mindset shifts in under 5 minutes. 👥 Connect with Kierra • Facebook: @KierraDotson • Instagram: @iamkierrad 👍 Join Our Community • Listen to the show: https://feeds.captivate.fm/mmcbpodcast/ • Website & inquiries: https://mmcbpodcast.com | hello@mmcbpodcast.com • Follow us: • Facebook: @mindingmycreativebusiness • Instagram: @mindingmycreativebusiness • TikTok: @mindingmycreativebusiness We’re Ron & ShySpeaks, creative entrepreneurs turned business mentors. Each week we share strategies, mistakes and insights to help you build and scale your business like a CEO. Comment with your biggest takeaway, like if you got value, and subscribe for more creative entrepreneur tips!

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  • S5 · E38
    February 2 · 57 min· Video

    Talent Isn’t Enough. VALUE Yourself.

    Talent alone won’t build a thriving business—you must value yourself and your craft. In this episode of Minding My Creative Business, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks sit down with acclaimed photographer Tolulope Berry (T Berry Pictures) to explore how he turned a gift from his mother into a flourishing photography empire. The conversation covers valuing your work, building sustainable systems, and adopting a CEO mindset. In today’s creative economy, passion isn’t enough: a 2025 report notes that design services remain in high demand but that agencies must embrace new tools and strategic pricing to stay competitive. Another 2025 article warns that designers often underprice their services and need business literacy to defend their worth. You’ll hear how Tolulope transitioned from hobbyist to professional by investing in his skills, pricing based on value, and creating clear client processes. He shares systems for client on-boarding, contracts, and file delivery that help maintain integrity and reliability. The hosts also discuss why “slow motion is better than no motion,” how networking and signature edits attract premium clients, and why building a team (re-toucher, manager, assistant, lawyer) is essential for scaling. The conversation highlights the broader industry context: as digital transformation opens doors, competition intensifies and creatives must balance artistry with business strategy. Studies show that 36 % of businesses hired freelance designers in the past year and that thriving agencies integrate strategy consulting (81 %), copy writing (77 %) and AI tools to remain relevant. Embracing this mindset will help you build a sustainable, scalable and enjoyable creative career. 🕒 Episode Chapters 0:00 – From hobby to photography business 4:44 – Learning photography through experimentation 8:38 – Valuing myself and my craft 11:22 – Reaching a sustainable salary 15:59 – AI revolutionizes networking efficiency 1 9:20 – Client experience and workflow process 21:42 – Photo rights and editing process 23:23 – Integrity in client experience 26:32 – Favorite editing & upload tools 30:29 – Talent vs. intangibles balance 33:04 – Vibes matter in creative work 37:31 – Teamwork gets the job done 39:48 – Creative to CEO challenge 44:56 – Embracing growth through discomfort 49:39 – Training & duplication insights 52:03 – Creative to CEO challenge 53:22 – End with self and mantra 🔑 Key Points Value and pricing: Too many designers undercharge for their services, undermining themselves and the industry. Tolu shares how valuing your time, skill and learning lets you attract higher-paying clients and why value‑based pricing beats hourly rates. Business literacy and mindset: In 2025’s digital landscape, creative professionals need business skills to survive. Tolu emphasizes systems—contracts, SOPs, clear communication—and the importance of treating your craft like a business. Industry trends: The creative economy is dynamic and competitive; 36 % of businesses hired freelance designers in the past year, and agencies are adding strategy consulting and copy writing to meet demand. Embracing AI and efficient tools is essential, though 35 % of agencies worry about AI compromising creative quality. Balancing talent with intangibles: Technical skill matters, but so do communication, reliability and positive energy. Building a team and investing in relationships turns good work into great business. 🔗 Links & Resources: Creative to CEO Challenge: https://creativetoceochallenge.com/ – gain clarity, confidence & strategy to turn your creative gifts into consistent income. Business Funding: https://creditsavant.io/ – secure funding for your creative business. Creativepreneur Gear: https://whatstheirony.com/ – apparel for the creative entrepreneur. Creative’s Corner Newsletter: Sign up at https://mmcbpodcast.com/ for monthly tips & mindset shifts in under 5 minutes. 👥 Connect with Tolulope Facebook: @officialtberrypictures Instagram: @iamtberry Website: tberrypictures.com 👍 Join Our Community Listen to the show: https://feeds.captivate.fm/mmcbpodcast/ Website & inquiries: https://mmcbpodcast.com | email: hello@mmcbpodcast.com Follow us: Facebook: @mindingmycreativebusiness Instagram: @mindingmycreativebusiness TikTok: @mindingmycreativebusiness We’re Ron & ShySpeaks—two music industry creators marching to the beat of entrepreneurship. Each week we share insights, mistakes, and strategies to help creative professionals build small businesses and scale like CEOs. Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, like if you found value, and subscribe for more creative entrepreneur tips!

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