Become Your Own Boss: Tips for Starting and Growing Your Own Small Business

By Monica AllenBusiness Entrepreneurship

Become Your Own Boss: Tips for Starting and Growing Your Own Small Business episodes

June 27, 2023 2 MINUTE TAKEAWAY - Demanding the Legacy you Want to Leave
On this episode Monica shares with you her takeaway not from a podcast episode, but from the movie Air...the story of Sonny Vaccaro, Nike and the beginning of the revolutionary partnership with basketball rookie Michael Jordan. Such an inspiring movie.
3 min
June 23, 2023 158 - Steps to Establishing Your Entrepreneurial Rhythm as a Couple in Business
Monica and Ethan King continue their conversation with Tommy Bettin and Maggie Small of Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Richmond, Virginia. Discussing adding children to the mix, determining roles and responsibilities and the internal secrets that make it all work successfully, this episode shares the second part to their conversation.
Episode Quote: Our relationships whether business or personal are nourished and shaped by the commitment we express through our actions. Dr. Steve Maraboli
Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond
https://www.facebook.com/fredastaireRVA
Tommy Bio
Tommy Bettin, a classical trained ballet dancer and ballroom and latin professional dancer, trained and performed throughout the United States and Mexico. Mr. Bettin started his own independent ballroom school, Maity Dance, in Richmond, Virginia which transitioned to become a part of the Fred Astaire Franchised Studios. Over the last 5 years, Mr. Bettin has launched the FADS Richmond location into one of the foremost performing in the franchise and has been awarded individually as “Top 40 Under 40” by Richmond-based publication, Style Weekly, for making a notable impact on the growth of the city by excelling in his genre.
Maggie Bio
Maggie Small, a native of Richmond, Virginia, danced as a professional ballerina with Richmond Ballet for 16 years and has earned a B.A. in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California. She has performed internationally in the United Kingdom and China as well as domestically in notable performance spaces such as The Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow and alongside Carmen Devallade at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Honors include a Dance Magazine cover story feature as Richmond Ballet’s “Homegrown Ballerina”, a “Hometown Hero” Award from the Links, Inc., Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40, Class of 2020 and the inaugural “Dancer of the Year” RVA Dance Award. Maggie retired from Richmond Ballet in 2019 where she remains as member of the Advisory Council. She also serves as a member of Richmond City’s Public Art Commission and works with her husband and business partner, Tommy Bettin, operating and growing Ballroom, Latin and Social Dance studio, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond.
Episode Sponsor - Zeus' Closet
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Join the ⁠Become Your Own Boss Community⁠
⁠Monica FREE ebook⁠
Get your⁠ Become Your Own Boss Planner⁠
Ways to reach Monica:
Instagram: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Email: [email protected]
23 min
June 20, 2023 2 MINUTE TAKEAWAY - Focus on Your Game
It is important that we know what the competition is doing, but we must ultimately focus on our game. Focus on our business!
3 min
June 16, 2023 157 - Dancing Through Life and Entrepreneurship as a Married Couple with Maggie Small & Tommy Bettin
Have you thought about working with your spouse? Are you considering starting a business with your significant other? Are you already in business together? On this week's episode, Monica hands over the mic to her husband and business partner, Ethan King as they talk with Tommy Bettin and Maggie Small about startup challenges, one of the biggest myths of owning your own business, working together and so much more.
Episode Quote:
There is only one thing you must remember in order to have a successful marriage. Always put your spouse first. ~Unknown
Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmong
https://www.facebook.com/fredastaireRVA
Tommy Bio
Tommy Bettin, a classical trained ballet dancer and ballroom and latin professional dancer, trained and performed throughout the United States and Mexico. Mr. Bettin started his own independent ballroom school, Maity Dance, in Richmond, Virginia which transitioned to become a part of the Fred Astaire Franchised Studios. Over the last 5 years, Mr. Bettin has launched the FADS Richmond location into one of the foremost performing in the franchise and has been awarded individually as “Top 40 Under 40” by Richmond-based publication, Style Weekly, for making a notable impact on the growth of the city by excelling in his genre.
Maggie Bio
Maggie Small, a native of Richmond, Virginia, danced as a professional ballerina with Richmond Ballet for 16 years and has earned a B.A. in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California. She has performed internationally in the United Kingdom and China as well as domestically in notable performance spaces such as The Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow and alongside Carmen Devallade at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Honors include a Dance Magazine cover story feature as Richmond Ballet’s “Homegrown Ballerina”, a “Hometown Hero” Award from the Links, Inc., Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40, Class of 2020 and the inaugural “Dancer of the Year” RVA Dance Award. Maggie retired from Richmond Ballet in 2019 where she remains as member of the Advisory Council. She also serves as a member of Richmond City’s Public Art Commission and works with her husband and business partner, Tommy Bettin, operating and growing Ballroom, Latin and Social Dance studio, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond.
Episode Sponsor - Zeus' Closet
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Join the ⁠Become Your Own Boss Community⁠
⁠Monica FREE ebook⁠
Get your⁠ Become Your Own Boss Planner⁠
Ways to reach Monica:
Instagram: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Email: [email protected]
37 min
June 14, 2023 2 MINUTE TAKEAWAY - What Could You Do with 700 hours?
Delegate! Delegate! Monica talks about the slightly over 700 hours she has saved in grocery shopping according to Instacart. As a business owner are you doing things that could be delegated to someone else so you can spend more time with your family or on your business?

2 min
June 09, 2023156 - Could Closing Time Determine Your Business' Success or Failure?
On today's episode Monica discusses her recent witnessing of a new business turning a customer away based on their "closing" time. Is this something that could ultimately cause a business to succeed or fail? What are you doing to make your customer's experience exceptional?
Episode Quote: It takes months to find a customer…seconds to lose one. Vince Lombardi
Episode Sponsor: www.zeuscloset.com
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Join the ⁠Become Your Own Boss Community⁠
⁠Monica FREE ebook⁠
Get your⁠ Become Your Own Boss Planner⁠
Ways to reach Monica:
Instagram & TikTok: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Email: [email protected]
Who is Monica?
Monica Allen grew up in a small town in Georgia with her single mom who had her at age 18, her grandmother and uncle. Living below the poverty line for all of her young life, Monica was determined to break the cycle. Being the first in her immediate family to attend a 4 year university, Monica worked in the field of insurance as a benefits broker for 8 years and earned her Masters in Business Administration.
Leaving to set out on her entrepreneurial journey in 2005, she is now a serial entrepreneur owning several businesses. She is co-founder of Zeus' Closet, stuff4GREEKS and Deuce Equity Group. She is the sole proprietor of Monica Allen Interiors and an Amazon Bestseller (The Fearless Entrepreneurs: Fear Less; Be More).
She loves equipping aspiring entrepreneurs, side hustlers and small business owners with tips to launch, grow and scale their business while avoiding the many pitfalls of entrepreneurship. She believes that being surrounded by positive people, believing in yourself, and having faith in God has led to her success.
Have some Feedback?
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends or fellow entrepreneurs. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pandora, Amazon or wherever you get your podcast to get automatic episode updates for "Become Your Own Boss!" And, finally, please take a minute to leave an honest review and rating on iTunes or Audible. This truly is what helps the podcast grow.
15 min
June 07, 2023 2 MINUTE TAKEAWAY - Show Up!!!
You want to know one of the biggest keys to success...show up...do what you say your are going to do. This is true for relationships, friendships and definitely your business.
2 min
June 02, 2023 155 - The Happy Entrepreneur: Designing Happiness in Your Business Journey with Kaitlin Cuevas
Are you living your happiest life personally and in business? Do you need to make some changes to be happy? On today's episode Monica speaks with Kaitlin Cuevas, the owner and founder of Think Happy, Co. Think Happy serves women who struggle with juggling ALL the things and want to create sustainable systems to help them simplify their lives AND allow them time to fill their own cup first.
Kaitlin is a lover of french roast coffee, Goldendoodles, and pump-up music! She believes happiness is something we each create for ourselves and that YOU are in the driver’s seat of your own life. Outside of work, she's a mom to Eleanor and James, wife to Oakley, and dog-mom to Guppy.
Episode Quote: Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. ~Jim Rohn
Episode Guest:
Kaitlin Cuevas
Website: https://thinkhappyco.com/
Email Address: [email protected]
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Join the ⁠Become Your Own Boss Community⁠
⁠Monica FREE ebook⁠
Get your⁠ Become Your Own Boss Planner⁠
Ways to reach Monica:
Instagram: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Email: [email protected]
Who is Monica?
Monica Allen grew up in a small town in Georgia with her single mom who had her at age 18, her grandmother and uncle. Living below the poverty line for all of her young life, Monica was determined to break the cycle. Being the first in her immediate family to attend a 4 year university, Monica worked in the field of insurance as a benefits broker for 8 years and earned her Masters in Business Administration.
Leaving to set out on her entrepreneurial journey in 2005, she is now a serial entrepreneur owning several businesses. She is co-founder of Zeus' Closet, stuff4GREEKS and Deuce Equity Group. She is the sole proprietor of Monica Allen Interiors and an Amazon Bestseller (The Fearless Entrepreneurs: Fear Less; Be More).
She loves equipping aspiring entrepreneurs, side hustlers and small business owners with tips to launch, grow and scale their business while avoiding the many pitfalls of entrepreneurship. She believes that being surrounded by positive people, believing in yourself, and having faith in God has led to her success.
Have some Feedback?
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends or fellow entrepreneurs. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pandora, Amazon or wherever you get your podcast to get automatic episode updates for "Become Your Own Boss!" And, finally, please take a minute to leave an honest review and rating on iTunes or Audible. This truly is what helps the podcast grow.

43 min
May 26, 2023 154 - 5 Indications that it is Time to Let “IT” Go
On this episode Monica discusses she and her husband Ethan's decision to close one of their store locations. Monica goes on to share the 5 ways to know when it is time to let go of something in your business as well as in your life.
Episode Quote: When things don't go as expected, trust the reroute. ~Lalah Delia
Helpful Entrepreneurial Resources from Become Your Own Boss
Join the ⁠Become Your Own Boss Community⁠
Episode Sponsor - Trifecta Toolbox
⁠Monica FREE ebook⁠
Get your⁠ Become Your Own Boss Planner⁠
Ways to reach Monica:
Instagram: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Email: [email protected]
Who is Monica?
Monica Allen grew up in a small town in Georgia with her single mom who had her at age 18, her grandmother and uncle. Living below the poverty line for all of her young life, Monica was determined to break the cycle. Being the first in her immediate family to attend a 4 year university, Monica worked in the field of insurance as a benefits broker for 8 years and earned her Masters in Business Administration.
Leaving to set out on her entrepreneurial journey in 2005, she is now a serial entrepreneur owning several businesses. She is co-founder of Zeus' Closet, stuff4GREEKS and Deuce Equity Group. She is the sole proprietor of Monica Allen Interiors and an Amazon Bestseller (The Fearless Entrepreneurs: Fear Less; Be More).
She loves equipping aspiring entrepreneurs, side hustlers and small business owners with tips to launch, grow and scale their business while avoiding the many pitfalls of entrepreneurship. She believes that being surrounded by positive people, believing in yourself, and having faith in God has led to her success.
Have some Feedback?
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends or fellow entrepreneurs. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pandora, Amazon or wherever you get your podcast to get automatic episode updates for "Become Your Own Boss!" And, finally, please take a minute to leave an honest review and rating on iTunes or Audible. This truly is what helps the podcast grow.
11 min
May 23, 2023 2 MINUTE TAKEAWAY TUESDAY - Set Expectations
On this episode Monica discusses the importance of know what to expect from a service provider and also letting them know your expectations as well. It is vital that everyone is on the same page.

Join the Become Your Own Boss Community.
2 min

About Become Your Own Boss: Tips for Starting and Growing Your Own Small Business

From the publisher's feed

Dive into entrepreneurship with Monica Allen, an entrepreneur with over 23 years of business ownership. This podcast is for you if you desire to start your own business & defy the odds of failure…