It's Just Business with Lovie™

Lovie

Nobody talks about the days when business gets heavy. The decisions you're making alone. The pivots no one prepared you for. The seasons when you need to hear from someone who's actually been through it, not someone performing success on social media, but a real business owner who is in it just like you. It's Just Business with Lovie™ is the podcast for entrepreneurs who are done navigating this journey in isolation. Every episode features honest, unfiltered conversations with business owners from across the world who are scaling, rebuilding, pivoting, and building something that lasts. This is where lived experience shows up. Where strategy meets story. Where community replaces competition. Whether you're trying to grow your business, repair what's broken, survive a rough season, or you're just starting out and need to know the road ahead is possible, this is your room. Everyday business owner spotlights. Practical lessons you can actually use. Honest conversations that don't make the highlight reel. Community, accountability, and shared growth. Hosted by Lovie, business architect and community builder who diagnoses what's holding your business back and builds the systems to move it forward. Subscribe and join a community of owners who show up, share up, and grow together.

Episodes

  1. Aug 12

    Stitched with Purpose: How Petite Turned a Sewing Hobby into the TPC Online Shop

    Petite Code, a thriving TPC online shop owner, shares her journey from a sewing hobby to a successful business. She discusses the inspiration behind her products, her community involvement, and her approach to online engagement and growth. Lovie, the host, highlights the importance of consistency and community support for online business owners. The conversation covers topics related to the soap opera 'Beyond the Gates', the F&W business, business lessons, and the purpose behind the products. It also delves into the challenges of becoming a business owner and the importance of supporting and giving back to the community. Takeaways A hobby can become a business when you recognize that your skill solves a problem for other people.You do not have to start with a large budget. Petite used word of mouth, crowdfunding, vendor events, and online platforms to build TPC Online Shop.Growth should fit the business you actually want to run. Petite wants to expand while keeping the handmade quality and personal touch.Product quality can become part of your brand identity. Petite is intentional about materials, fit, design, and hair protection.Community can create opportunities, connections, and support that a business owner may not be able to create alone.Every business goal will not work out exactly as planned. Petite’s lesson is to look for the connection, lesson, or opportunity that can come from an experience that did not go as expected. Chapters The Journey from Hobby to BusinessCraftsmanship and Quality of Handmade ProductsExpanding Product Line and InspirationsBeyond the Gates and F&W BusinessSupporting Autism AwarenessBuilding Without a Huge Startup BudgetPetite explains how word of mouth and crowdfunding helped her purchase equipment and materials before she expanded into vendor events, a website, and TikTok. Purpose Behind the ProductPetite explains the story behind Boogie Speaks, a design named for her brother. Proceeds from those products go directly to him, turning a product into a way to give back. Growing Into BoutiquesOne of Petite’s next goals is getting TPC Online Shop into boutiques. She is beginning that process and learning that newer boutiques may offer different opportunities than more established locations. What's Next for TPC Online ShopPetite is considering new products, including lace nightgowns, while taking her time to find materials that meet her standards. She also wants to continue expanding her product line without compromising quality. Petite is the product creator and owner of TPC Online Shop, a handmade retail and e-commerce business launched in 2022. Her journey began years earlier when she learned to sew in middle school and started making practical items for her family. For detailed show notes visit our website https://realbusinesspro.com/episodes/stitched-with-purpose-tpc-onlinewww.tpconlineshop.com

    Stitched with Purpose: How Petite Turned a Sewing Hobby into the TPC Online Shop
  2. Aug 6

    Preserving Family Legacy with John H. Coleman Jr

    Black history is more than the names found in textbooks. It lives in our families, our communities, and the everyday people whose stories shape future generations. In this special episode of It's Just Business with Lovie™, Lovie welcomes her father, John H. Coleman Jr., author of A View from Church Hill: I Woke Up in My Right Mind, for a candid conversation about service, entrepreneurship, family, and legacy. John shares his remarkable journey from Hampton University to the United States Navy, followed by a distinguished career in law enforcement where he became known throughout Southeastern Virginia for his commitment to community policing and youth engagement. Along the way, he helped develop the nationally recognized Officer Friendly classroom program, mentored countless young people, launched multiple businesses, and demonstrated how leadership begins with serving others. Together, father and daughter reflect on lessons learned through business ownership, policing, faith, family, and perseverance. Their conversation reminds us that preserving our personal histories is just as important as celebrating the history found in museums and textbooks. Whether you're an entrepreneur, community leader, parent, or someone interested in preserving your family's story, this episode offers timeless wisdom about building a life About Today's GuestJohn H. Coleman Jr. is a U.S. Navy veteran, retired law enforcement officer, entrepreneur, mentor, and author of A View from Church Hill: I Woke Up in My Right Mind. Throughout his career, he has dedicated his life to public service, youth development, and strengthening communities through education, mentorship, and business ownership. He helped develop the nationally distributed Officer Friendly educational program, founded multiple businesses, and continues inspiring future generations through his memoir and lifelong commitment to service. In This EpisodeWhy every family has a history worth preservingGrowing up in Church Hill and the lessons that shaped John's lifeMilitary service and leadership in the U.S. NavyBecoming a police officer after experiencing racial profilingCreating the nationally recognized Officer Friendly programEntrepreneurship through multiple successful businessesMentoring youth and building stronger communitiesBusiness lessons every entrepreneur should knowThe importance of faith, service, and leaving a meaningful legacyConnect with Today's GuestLearn more about John H. Coleman Jr. and his memoir at thelegacyofjohncoleman.com. Stay ConnectedIf this conversation inspired you, don't let it end here. Subscribe to It's Just Business with Lovie™ for candid conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers who share the real stories behind building businesses, serving their communities, and creating lasting legacies. New episodes are available on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who would benefit from today's conversation.

    Preserving Family Legacy with John H. Coleman Jr
  3. Apr 21

    The Guide to Small Business Tools

    SummaryLovie breaks down the essentials of building a business tech stack, emphasizing how the right tools can save time, cut costs, and help small businesses compete with larger companies. She guides listeners through categories of business tools, from communication to finance, and offers practical tips for selecting and integrating the right software. Key  TopicsWhat is a business tech stack?Categories of essential business toolsHow to choose the right tools for your businessCost-saving tips for small business softwareIntegrating tools for seamless operationsChapters00:00 Introduction to Business Tech Stacks 02:51 Understanding the Importance of a Tech Stack 06:04 Core Components of a Business Tech Stack 08:02 Communication Tools for Small Businesses TakeawaysBusiness tech stackChoosing the right toolsAI Prompt to Get StartedResourcesZoho - Free option for Google Workspace that allows you to use your custom company URL.Connecteam - HR employee management, free for life option.HoneyBook - Cost contract, proposals and client portal.We Are Indy - Free for life option. Contract, Proposal & Client PortalHubSpot CRM - Customer Relationship ManagementCanva - Graphics toolWave - Accounting softwareFreshBooks - Accounting softwareContent 360 - Content scheduling tool AI Prompt to Get Started "I'm a [type of business] just starting to formalize my business. I'm currently using [list current tools]. I need help building a simple, affordable tech stack for: [contracts & invoicing, payments, accounting, file storage, and audience building.] Recommend beginner-friendly tools and explain why each one fits my situation." Follow UsYouTube - @ItsJustBusinessLovie Substack - lovieijb.substack.com Facebook - @JustBusinessLovie  TikTok - @tlc_Lovie  keywordsbusiness tech stack, small business tools, software integration, business automation, customer management, marketing tools, finance software, business growth sound bites"Your business tech stack is like your digital engine." "Canva is a versatile tool for design and social media." "Choose finance tools that are easy to use and integrate."

    The Guide to Small Business Tools
  4. Mar 6

    Let’s Talk About Growth Leadership and Maternal Care

    What Does Real Growth Look Like? Leadership, Nonprofits, and Maternal Care with Lakeesha Harris. Most people see the result. This episode is about the work behind it. In this episode of It's Just Business with Lovie, we sit down with Lakeesha Harris, Executive Director of Chicago Volunteer Doulas and founder of Duenola, to talk about what growth actually looks like when you are leading a nonprofit, advocating for mothers and building something meaningful while real life keeps moving. This is not a conversation about overnight success. It is about the kind of growth that is personal, spiritual and strategic all at the same time. We get into the critical role doulas play in maternal care, what it means to truly advocate for mothers during and after childbirth and why that support is more essential than most people realize. Lakeesha also shares what it takes to lead an organization with purpose, handle expanding responsibility and stay grounded when the work gets hard. If you are a nonprofit leader, a birth worker, a mother or someone building something that actually matters, this conversation is for you. In this episode we cover: What real growth looks like behind the scenes of nonprofit leadershipThe role of doulas in maternal care and why advocacy during childbirth mattersPersonal, spiritual and business growth and how they intersectHow to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the processDoula training, certifications and how to get started in the field Keywords: doula training, maternal care, nonprofit leadership, Chicago Volunteer Doulas, birth support, DUENOLA, postpartum care, women's health, nonprofit growth, purposeful business, It's Just Business with Lovie

    Let’s Talk About Growth Leadership and Maternal Care

About

Nobody talks about the days when business gets heavy. The decisions you're making alone. The pivots no one prepared you for. The seasons when you need to hear from someone who's actually been through it, not someone performing success on social media, but a real business owner who is in it just like you. It's Just Business with Lovie™ is the podcast for entrepreneurs who are done navigating this journey in isolation. Every episode features honest, unfiltered conversations with business owners from across the world who are scaling, rebuilding, pivoting, and building something that lasts. This is where lived experience shows up. Where strategy meets story. Where community replaces competition. Whether you're trying to grow your business, repair what's broken, survive a rough season, or you're just starting out and need to know the road ahead is possible, this is your room. Everyday business owner spotlights. Practical lessons you can actually use. Honest conversations that don't make the highlight reel. Community, accountability, and shared growth. Hosted by Lovie, business architect and community builder who diagnoses what's holding your business back and builds the systems to move it forward. Subscribe and join a community of owners who show up, share up, and grow together.