Black to Business

May 14 · 27m

People are watching your content, asking questions, requesting the link, and telling you they've been wanting to work with you for a while now…but somehow the sale still is not happening. That disconnect can be frustrating as a business owner because from your perspective, the interest is there. This week on the podcast, Monique breaks down why attention does not always turn into conversion and what may actually be happening between somebody discovering your business and deciding whether or not to buy.  This conversation gets into the small gaps that quietly affect sales, from unclear messaging and passive audiences to hesitation, trust, urgency, and buyer behavior. If people have been paying attention to your business but not taking the next step, this episode will help you look at your business from the customer's side and understand what may be slowing the buying decision down. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: What may be creating the gap between interest and sales Why people can enjoy your business and still hesitate to buy How messaging affects the way people respond to your offers What keeps audiences stuck in "I'll come back later" mode Why visibility alone does not automatically create buyers Small shifts that can help people move from watching to purchasing 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/304   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   

May 7 · 22m

Busy does not always mean productive. A lot of entrepreneurs are ending their days exhausted, feeling like they worked the entire time, but still looking up wondering why certain things in the business are still unfinished, still delayed, or still feeling all over the place. That's what this episode gets into. Some of the biggest time-wasters in business are not obvious distractions. They're habits that slowly eat away at your focus, your energy, and your time while still looking like "work." Checking things all day without taking action. Restarting the same tasks from scratch every week. Filling your day with little tasks while the important work keeps getting pushed back. Trying to mentally keep up with every moving piece in the business at the same time. Those habits add up. Monique breaks down the sneaky ways entrepreneurs lose time inside their business without even realizing it and explains why a lot of people are not dealing with a motivation problem or even a time problem. The bigger issue is often how the business is being managed day to day. This conversation will help you pay attention to where your time is actually going, what habits may be slowing you down, and how to stop spending so much energy on things that are not truly helping the business come together. During This Episode You'll Learn: Why constantly figuring things out from scratch takes more time than people realize How over-checking emails, analytics, DMs, and accounts can quietly drain your focus The difference between low-impact tasks and work that actually helps the business improve Why keeping everything in your head makes your workday feel more scattered How unfinished tasks continue taking up mental space even when you stop working Simple ways to create better habits, systems, and boundaries inside your business 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/303   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   

Apr 30 · 21m

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

Apr 23 · 20m

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

Apr 16 · 13m

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  

Apr 9 · 19m

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   

Apr 2 · 20m

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

Mar 26 · 19m

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

Mar 19 · 13m

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