How does the average person come to own a hotel? Did you know that 50% of the motels in the US as owned by Indian Americans? As a 33-year-old, today’s guest purchased a Hilton hotel. Until I met Davonne Reaves, I had never thought of purchasing a hotel as a business or even as an investment. You’ve probably guessed that she is in the minority as less that 1% of hotel owners are Black women. Davonne started her career working at the front desk of a Hyatt hotel at night while she interned for and eventually worked for a hotel investment group. Fast forward to today, she is a hotel consultant and investor on a mission to teach other Black women how they enter the hotel industry. If you're curious about what it takes to build your own hotel business, click play! Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * How to find hotel deals* Where to find capital to purchase a hotel* Best ways to keep a hotel profitable Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

I recently received an email from a listener who is thinking of starting her own video podcast and wanted to know how I went about creating my video podcast. So...In this episode, I'm sharing my entire video podcast production workflow. From the right software, equipment guest pitching processes, and more. Adding a video component to this show has really taken it to the next level! If you're interested in hearing how I do it, click play! Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * Podcasting eqipment that works for me* Video and editing software I use* How to find and pitch guests * Equipment mentioned: * Rode Procaster broadcast dynamic mic: https://bit.ly/RodeProcasterPodMic Focusrite Scarlett Solo Audio* Interface: https://bit.ly/Focusrite_Scarlett * InnoGear Microphone Arm: https://bit.ly/Microphone_Boom_Arm * Nikon D5200 DSLR camera: https://amzn.to/3Cuf9Qk * Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens (my favorite!): https://bit.ly/Nikon50mmLens Software mentioned: * Adobe Indesign: https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html * Adobe Premiere Pro: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html * Garage Band: https://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/ * Wavve: https://wavve.co/ Canva: https://www.canva.com/ Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

We all go through those times when we feel like we should be so much further with our businesses or feel like we’re not doing a good job.  In today’s episode, I’m sharing 7 Questions To Ask Yourself If You’re Struggling With Your Business. These questions will help you troubleshoot the challenges you’re facing. I’m also offering some action steps you can take if you find that the questions relate to you. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * 7 Questions To Ask Yourself If You’re Struggling With Your Business. Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

In today’s episode, we meet Rita Onyx, the CEO of multi-media company, Onyx Star Media. Along with her family, she has built a multi-million-dollar portfolio that includes original video content, books, games, music, apparel, and more. Two weeks after starting their YouTube channel, she quit her job as a nurse practitioner. Since then, their brand has consistently made six-figure months. Six years later, their portfolio has expanded to include a flagship animated series streaming on Amazon Prime and Peacock. During our conversation, Rita shares what it takes to build a successful multi-media company. From starting a YouTube channel with her children to getting brand deals, finding distribution partners, and everything in-between Rita is sharing the details of her journey with us. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * Taking the leap to becoming a full-time YouTuber* What it takes to create quality content* How to land brand deals* Ways to diversify your revenue (besides AdSense) Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

Have you ever wondered what it takes to host a virtual event? If you’re interested in learning how you can incorporate virtual events into your business, take out your notebook because today's guest, LaKisha Mosley is sharing her playbook with us. LaKisha is a virtual event producer and CEO of The LM Experience. The pandemic forced her to find ways to help her clients continue to get the word out about their products and services through events. During our conversation, Lakisha shares how she helps her clients plan profitable virtual events. She talks us through the admin, marketing dos and don’ts, the process of finding sponsors, speakers and so much more. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * Why virtual events are still relevant* The best platforms to use for virtual events...other than Zoom.* How to budget for virtual events* The best way to approach speakers* Email sequences to turn attendees into customers Resources Mentioned:  Join the Side Business lab waitlist today if you're ready to launch your own business. Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

Have you ever wondered what sets the Googles and Amazons of the world apart from the rest? Why are some companies more successful than others? What makes them great? It turns out these companies didn’t get to where they are by chance and researchers have been looking to their success for years. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing 9 reasons some companies achieve greatness while others are just…good. If you’re in the process of building a company, these 9 traits could help set your business on the path to a new level of success. Click that play button if you’re ready to follow the blueprint of these great companies to build your own. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * What sets visionary leaders appart* The best way to leverage your employees to grow great businesses* How great companies beat their competition everytime* The best kind of strategy to build Resources Mentioned:  Join the Side Business lab waitlist today if you're ready to launch your own business. Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

In today’s episode, I’m talking about the adjustments that new entrepreneurs need to make as they navigate the journey of running their own businesses. This topic isn’t talked about much even though we all go through it, which is why I’m breaking down the five things every new entrepreneur needs to know before they make the switch to full-time.  Click that play button if you’re ready to start your entrepreneurial journey off on the right foot using the tips and tools that helped me build a successful business.  Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * The importance of setting KPIs for your goals* How to stop comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs* How to maintain focus and execute what’s in front of you* Why you need a tribe for growth and mental health Resources Mentioned:  Side Business lab waitlist Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

In today’s episode, I’m offering a different perspective to some popular business advice we often see on beautiful Instagram graphics. While on the surface this advice may seem harmless, if not inspirational, I’m breaking down how this advice can actually be harmful to the growth of your business when you’re first starting out. Click that play button if you’re ready to double-check the business advice you've been following. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * How to think about the advice to "start where you are"* Being the face of your business as an introvert* Why you don't need to be a part of #teamnosleep* Why copying your competition could lead to a failing business Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

In today’s episode, I’m giving you my 5 best tips on quitting your job to start a business or go full-time in your current side business. It’s not an easy decision and certainly shouldn’t be made in haste. That’s why I break down how to determine if this is the right decision for you, why you need to get a realistic idea of what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur, and the importance of setting up a solid plan for when you actually follow through with quitting your job.  Click that play button if you’re ready to quit your job with a solid plan in place so you can do something more fulfilling or run a business that you’ve always dreamt of running full time.  Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * How to have a conversation with your employers about meeting your needs* Why what we see online isn’t the real story* How to use the Leap Tracker to calculate your savings* Three things you should do with your side business before you quit * Why you need to get comfortable with selling Resources Mentioned:  Leap TrackerSide Business lab waitlist Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab

In today’s episode, we meet Briaan Barron, the Creative Director, Strategist, and CEO of Grail, a streaming and social network platform that helps people of color source and share simple, how-to video tutorials for hair, skin, nails, and body care. After several mediocre experiences at her local salon, Briaan took beauty matters into her own hands and created an online destination dedicated to high-quality self-care rituals for people of African descent. During our conversation, Briaan and I talked about her journey from ideation of a melanin-friendly platform to raising funds that helped her build an early version of her app with beautiful original video content. Briaan also shares how to approach creating original, high-quality content, why patience is key to achieving your goals as a startup, and how her targeted platform, Grail, uplifts black and brown creators, brand owners, and consumers. Click that play button if you want to learn how to build a startup with a unique platform from scratch and raise the capital required to get it off the ground. Listen on Apple Podcast You’ll learn: * The idea behind starting an independent streaming platform * Ways to balance original content and crowdsourced content* How to approach financing when outside capital is required* How to raise grant capital and where to allocate it within your business* The user acquisition strategy behind the Grail platform Mentioned in this episode: Business Website: gotograil.comBusiness Instagram: @gotograil Ready to Launch Your Side Business?  Join the Side Business Lab - a guided blueprint for validating, building, launching, and landing your first online business customer. The Side Business Lab not only shows you exactly how to build your online business but also shows you how to repeatedly get customers WHILE working your 9-5. https://www.serwaaadjeipelle.com/SideBusinessLab