Black to Business

Black to Business

Join us as we chat with some of today's top entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders within the Black community as they share tips and resources to help start and grow Black businesses.

  1. 2D AGO

    302: The Monthly Business Checkup Every Entrepreneur Needs

    You ever get to the end of the month and realize… you were busy the whole time, but you can't clearly say what actually worked?   Money came in, but you're not sure where most of it came from. You posted, showed up, did what you needed to do, but you don't really know what connected. A few things felt off, but you kept pushing through because the work still had to get done.   Then a new month starts… and you just keep going.   That's how a lot of business owners end up repeating the same patterns without realizing it.   This episode is about breaking that cycle.   Monique walks you through a monthly checkup you can come back to at the end of every month. It's not complicated and it's not meant to take hours. It's a simple way to sit down, look at what actually happened in your business, and figure out what needs your attention before you move forward.   DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: How to look at your numbers so you know what actually stayed in your business What your sales are telling you about how people are buying from you How to spot what feels messy and where you need more structure What to pay attention to when it comes to your visibility How to use what already happened to guide your next steps A simple way to choose one clear focus for the new month   Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/302   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    22 min
  2. APR 23

    301: Why You're Not Where You Want to Be in Your Business Yet

    There comes a point in business where you really look at what you've built so far, not from the outside, but from your own experience being in it every day. Things can be working. You can make money, bring in clients, have moments where everything comes together. And still, it doesn't feel settled. It doesn't feel like something you can rely on yet. Too much still depends on you stepping in, figuring it out, and keeping it going. This episode speaks to that space. Monique breaks down the difference between a business that works and one that feels steady, and why so many entrepreneurs feel like they should be further along when the real issue is what hasn't been fully built out yet. She also gets into how your business is actually running behind the scenes, what happens when everything lives in your head, and why staying in "figuring it out" mode keeps things from coming together the way you want. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: What it means for a business to work versus feel stable What happens when decisions don't fully stick Why your business can feel like it's always in progress How to recognize what needs your attention right now   Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/301   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    21 min
  3. APR 16

    300 Episodes Later: What I Know for Sure About Business

    300 episodes. When you really think about that, it's a lot of showing up. A lot of recording. A lot of doing something over and over again, even on the days where the energy wasn't there. In this solo episode, Monique T. Marshall takes a step back to reflect on that journey. From starting this podcast with a USB mic in the Brooklyn Public Library to building something that has reached thousands of entrepreneurs, this has been built over time. There were no perfect conditions. A lot of it came from figuring things out while moving. In this episode, Monique breaks down what has proven to be true about business after 300 episodes. The lessons that came from actually doing the work and staying with it long enough to see what happens. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why consistency matters and what it actually looks like day to day What it takes to start before everything is figured out Why building something people want makes a difference How quality and intention shape how people experience your work What happens when you stay with something long enough to let it grow How business changes you over time This conversation is for the entrepreneur who is building, showing up, and doing the work, even when it feels repetitive or slower than expected. Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/300     Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly

    13 min
  4. APR 9

    299: What to Do When Business Stops Feeling Exciting

    There comes a point in business where the work feels different. Clarity is there. Direction is there. Nothing is necessarily broken. But the excitement that used to come with it does not show up the same way. What once felt new now feels familiar, and that shift can catch you off guard. That's usually when the questions start. You might find yourself wondering if something needs to change, or if you've outgrown what you're building. For entrepreneurs who are used to moving off ideas and energy, that drop in excitement can feel like a sign that something is off, even when it's not. In this episode, Black to Business breaks down what's really happening in that moment. This conversation gets into what it looks like when the newness wears off and the work becomes more about consistency than momentum. It also walks through how to handle that shift without immediately assuming you need a new direction. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why business can feel less exciting even when you're on the right path What's actually behind that "I'm not feeling it" energy How to tell the difference between being tired, bored, or out of alignment How this moment can influence your decisions if you're not paying attention What it looks like to stay with something long enough to see real results If your business has started to feel more routine than exciting, this episode will help you understand what that actually means and how to move through it with more clarity. Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/299   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    20 min
  5. APR 2

    298: The Quiet Season in Business (And Why It's Not a Bad Thing)

    There are seasons in business where everything feels visible. You're sharing, promoting, and it feels like people can see the movement. Then there are seasons where things are a little more low key. You're still working. You're still building. But it's not something you're talking about like that. And if we're keeping it real, that can start to mess with how you feel about what you're doing. You might start questioning if you should be doing more. If it looks like you fell off. Or if something just is not working. In this episode, Monique breaks down what the quiet season actually is, what it can look like, and how to move in it without rushing the process or switching directions too soon. Because just because it is not visible does not mean it is not working.   What You'll Learn in This Episode What a quiet season actually looks like in real time Why this season can feel uncomfortable even when you are doing the work How outside perception can start to influence your decisions What you should actually be focused on during this time The difference between building and just sitting in your head The mistake that causes people to restart instead of move forward Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/298   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    21 min
  6. MAR 26

    297: What to Do When You Keep Wanting to Shift Directions in Your Business

    You start something in your business, you feel good about it, and then not too long after… you're already thinking about doing something else. Now you're questioning if you made the right choice or if you should be going in a completely different direction. That back and forth can slow you down more than you realize, especially when you keep restarting instead of building on what's already in motion. In this solo episode, Monique breaks down what's actually behind that constant urge to switch directions. She shares a recent realization from being in two business programs where she noticed she was trying to do too much at once, and how that lack of focus was impacting her growth. This conversation walks you through how to figure out what's really going on in your business and how to make a clear decision so you can move forward without second guessing yourself. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why wanting to switch directions often shows up when the work starts requiring more focus and consistency How to tell the difference between misalignment, boredom, and unfinished work in your business What is actually causing you to second guess your direction A simple way to decide whether you should stay with your current direction or shift How doing too many things at once can split your focus and slow your progress What it looks like to simplify your business and go deeper into what is already working Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/297   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    19 min
  7. MAR 19

    296: How to Know What to Focus on Next in Your Business

    When you're running a business, there's never a shortage of things you could be working on. There's always something to fix. Something to improve. Something you've been meaning to get to. And when you're looking at all of that at the same time, everything can start to feel important. So you sit down to work, and your attention is everywhere. You touch a little bit of this. A little bit of that. And by the end of the day, you've been busy… but it doesn't feel like anything really moved. If that's been you lately, this episode is for you. In this solo conversation, Monique walks through how to actually figure out what to focus on next in your business without overthinking it or trying to do everything at once. Things You'll Learn During This Episode: Why everything can feel important and how to stop treating it that way How to figure out what your business actually needs from you right now The role friction plays in showing you where to focus Why trying to focus on too many things slows your progress How to choose one clear priority and stay with it Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/296   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    14 min
  8. MAR 12

    295: How to Spring Clean Your Business for the Next Level

    When we think about spring cleaning, most of us think about our homes. Closets get organized. Old items get donated. Spaces get reset so things feel lighter and easier to manage. But the same thing applies to your business. Over time, businesses naturally accumulate things. New offers get added. Systems get layered in. Marketing channels expand. Ideas that once made sense stay in place long after the business has grown beyond them. None of this usually happens overnight. It builds gradually as the business evolves. In this solo episode, Monique walks through what it really means to spring clean your business and why this kind of reset can be powerful as you prepare for your next level of growth. She explains why businesses naturally collect layers over time, the hidden places where clutter tends to build, and how founders can step back and make more intentional decisions about what should stay, what needs refining, and what the business may have already outgrown. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why businesses naturally accumulate layers as they grow The four areas that most often need a business spring cleaning How clutter in your offers, systems, and marketing can slow down execution A simple three question exercise to help you audit what is working, what needs to change, and what you may have outgrown Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at blacktobusiness.com/295   Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast!   Connect with us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/    Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

    18 min

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Join us as we chat with some of today's top entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders within the Black community as they share tips and resources to help start and grow Black businesses.

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