Built this way

Manon opens up about her upbringing in the south of France, growing up in a modest family, and watching her father dream bigger than the circumstances around him. That example plants the seed for her own hunger to create a different life. She shares how she starts working young, pursues real estate, and eventually realizes she wants more than stability. She wants freedom, creativity, visibility, and a life that feels fully her own.

From there, we follow her leap into content creation and the bold decision that changes everything. What begins as a social media opportunity in Los Angeles quickly becomes far more complex and painful than expected, and Manon speaks candidly about the trauma, isolation, and survival instincts that shape her next chapter. Instead of going back home defeated, she decides to stay, rebuild, and bet on herself with nothing but grit, instinct, and a refusal to quit. We talk about her first roommate situation in LA, finding work however she can, building her own network, reaching out to brands and creators directly, and slowly creating the career and life she once only imagined from afar. She reminds us that success rarely arrives in a straight line and almost always comes with setbacks, reinvention, and hard truths.

We also dive into social media, visibility, and what it means to be seen publicly in a way that is not always fair or complete. Manon shares her perspective on being portrayed on reality television, how she handles criticism, and why she chooses authenticity over trying to control everyone’s perception of her. At the heart of this episode is a powerful message: we do not have to wait for permission, perfection, or the right timing to start building. We have to trust ourselves, find our people, and keep going, even when the path looks nothing like we expected. This conversation is about resilience, identity, collaboration, and the bravery it takes to keep becoming who we are meant to be.

00:00 Welcome and why this episode means so much

00:00 Why this conversation matters

Instagram | TikTok: @manonberryman

Berry Brand Agency – www.berrybrandagency.com

Instagram | TikTok: @patriciamuellen @builtthiswaypodcast @pmuellenandassociates

P. Muellen & Associate  – www.PMuellenandAssociates.com 

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

Patricia shares why she reached out in the first place: she had high-quality equipment sitting there, collecting dust, representing a dream she wanted but felt insecure about. She had recorded episodes on her own, hated them, and didn’t feel confident enough to hit publish. That leads into the real takeaway of the episode: most people want a podcast, but the behind-the-scenes details, the self-doubt, and the lack of structure are what stop them. We talk through the pressure of being on-mic, the fear of judgment, imposter syndrome, and the difference between “verbal crutches” and authentic personality. The goal is not perfection, it’s connection.

Patrick shares his own story of how PJT Ventures started, from a 20-year radio career to a major run of setbacks: a construction business shutdown during COVID, losing his mom, multiple surgeries, and then a serious car accident. After getting ghosted in job interviews, he decided to bet on himself and build his own company. Patricia highlights what people often miss: success is rarely clean or linear, and it only takes one yes to change everything.

We wrap with practical podcast truths. Audio is king for connection, video is fuel for reels, and consistency matters more than quantity. Most podcasts die early, but if you build a cadence and keep showing up, you win. The bigger message is simple: if you’ve got something to say, you should start, and if you want it done right, get support so you can stay focused on your voice, your mission, and your audience.

www.pjtventures.net

00:00 Intro and “we’re back” energy

00:00 Welcome back and why this episode matters

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

We reflect on how nothing pauses. Bills do not pause. Clients do not pause. Deadlines do not pause. Leadership does not pause. We still have to show up. And when life gets loud, we either let it run us or we lean on the systems we have built. Planning, strategy, and preparation become the only reason we are able to keep our head above water. Because we plan ahead, communicate expectations, and lower the bar on non-critical tasks, we survive the week.

We talk about boundaries. It is not up to other people to enforce our boundaries. It is up to us. If we do not communicate them, we cannot expect others to read our minds. We acknowledge the tendency to people-please and the guilt that comes with saying no, even when capacity is gone. But protecting our peace, our business, and our family requires clarity and enforcement.

We also explore the need for tangible completion. In a business where nothing ever truly feels finished, we sometimes create projects just to experience the satisfaction of “done.” Whether it is building something, cleaning something, or finishing something physical, completion restores control when everything else feels open-ended.

We recognize the season we are in. Everything feels loud and demanding. But strength shows up in steady leadership, not just in pushing harder. Sometimes leadership means holding things steady instead of accelerating. Sometimes it means accepting imperfection, delegating, communicating clearly, and taking care of ourselves before we burn out.

We end by reminding ourselves that we are stronger than we think. Chaos reveals capacity. And growth often hides inside the weeks we barely survive.

Almost not recording

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

We return this week building directly on our last episode about strategy, and we start with a very real reminder that life is messy. We talk openly about hormones, health, and how easily the best intentions can get derailed when we are navigating personal change. From there, we shift into what this episode is really about: taking strategy beyond theory and into practice with someone who truly understands it.

Together, we dig into the difference between strategy and tactics. We emphasize that strategy is not the flashy part, but it is the part that prevents wasted time, wasted money, and chaotic decision-making. We talk about how businesses often chase short-term wins, shiny marketing trends, or vanity campaigns without stopping to ask what success actually looks like. We stress that real marketing requires planning, consistency, and understanding customer behavior, including different sales cycles and decision timelines.

We also discuss how digital marketing changes the game through trackability, A/B testing, landing pages, and sales funnels. We explain that a landing page is a decision page, not a full website experience, and that marketing is often about nurturing relationships, not forcing immediate conversions. We highlight that marketing is never truly “done,” and that the long-term investment matters more than quick bursts of activity.

Beyond marketing, we talk about leadership, humility, curiosity, and the value of dissenting opinions. We reflect on how diverse perspectives make strategies stronger and how uncomfortable truths are necessary for growth. We even touch on the importance of knowing when to fire clients, protecting both the professional relationship and the work itself.

Finally, we expand into mindfulness, coaching, and the personal side of business. We remind ourselves that success is not just task completion, but building a life and business that are sustainable, grounded, and meaningful.

Seth M. Avergon has over 25 years of experience, and has held key positions at Citizen, DENSO Automotive, Rain Bird, World Tableware, and RSI Home Products. His enthusiasm, leadership and creativity have been the driving force behind dozens of successful product launches and marketing campaigns.

Seth is an acknowledged expert in both B2B and B2C marketing strategy, and is the recipient of numerous professional accolades, including a Trailblazer Award. He is also a sought-after speaker and editorial source on brand and business strategy.

​​Seth holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree in International Studies from George Washington University with specializations in International Business and International Law.

00:00 Welcome back + real life behind the scenes
01:30 Introducing Seth Avergon
03:40 How relationships create opportunity
05:40 What Avergon Marketing Group does
07:30 Strategy vs tactics in marketing
10:50 Why clients chase shiny objects
13:30 Short-term wins vs long-term planning
16:20 Sales cycles and customer timing
18:50 Consistency beats chaos in marketing
25:40 Target story + digital marketing evolution
29:10 A/B testing and landing pages explained
32:15 Funnels, nurturing, and qualified leads
37:40 Using AI wisely in business content
46:00 Collaboration + dissenting opinions
52:20 Strategy must adapt as life changes
59:00 Biggest mistakes businesses make
1:04:30 Knowing when to fire clients
1:10:20 Seth’s coaching + mindfulness work
1:14:00 Meditation and breathwork as tools
1:17:00 Closing reflections + where to find Seth

Welcome back + strategy continuation
Meet Seth Avergon
How collaboration happens organically
Strategy over tactics
Marketing consistency and planning
Digital testing, funnels, and landing pages
AI as a support tool, not a replacement
Leadership, dissent, and better decisions
Budgeting and common business mistakes
Firing clients and protecting the work
Mindfulness and coaching for business owners
Final takeaway + guest links

Avergon Marketing Group – https://avergonmarketing.com

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

We share the story of how we learned real strategic planning through mentorship, municipal work, and economic development projects. We talk about cities as businesses and how intentional planning shapes communities, growth, housing, jobs, and long-term sustainability. We connect that same thinking to entrepreneurship and personal decision-making. Strategy is not about control. It is about creating a guide you can return to when things inevitably go sideways.

We break down what strategy actually looks like in practice. We talk about understanding your market, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, identifying opportunities and threats, and using honest data instead of guesses. We explain why KPIs, cost per lead, cost per acquisition, and budget awareness are not corporate fluff, but survival tools. If you do not know where your customers come from or what they cost, you are gambling, not marketing.

We acknowledge the reality that plans change. Life happens. Markets shift. Platforms evolve. What worked ten or twenty years ago no longer applies. The businesses that survive are not the ones that never change, but the ones that adapt without losing their core identity. Strategy must be flexible, reviewed regularly, and paired with reactive planning for unexpected disruptions.

We also get personal and real about mistakes. We share how even our own business plan changed dramatically, how services were cut back, how hiring support became necessary, and how this podcast itself was never part of the original strategy but evolved into a powerful long-term marketing tool. We emphasize that strategy does not guarantee success, but it gives you clarity, confidence, and a place to recalibrate when your business starts running you instead of the other way around.

The core takeaway is simple. Strategy saves money before it makes money. It is not about perfection. It is about intention, honesty, and giving yourself a framework to grow without burning out.

00:00 Why strategy matters more than people think

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

We come back to the mic after a long, unexpected break and explain why this season forced us to stop, breathe, and completely recalibrate our lives. We open in the middle of real life, talking through tech issues, production logistics, memory lapses, and the strange humor that comes with major surgery and hormonal shifts. We admit that for the first time in a long time, we could not push through by force alone. We had to pause.

We share what the last two months actually looked like. We walk through a hysterectomy that changed our body, our hormones, and our emotional landscape more than we ever expected. We talk honestly about how healing is not just physical, but mental and emotional. We describe driving ten hours two weeks after surgery, returning to work too soon, and pretending we were fine when we were not. We thank our surgeon by name and acknowledge how close we came to losing ourselves before this intervention gave us our life back.

Then everything changes again. In the middle of recovery, we accept another cross country move. We buy a new house in a new state. We leave mountain life for a quieter coastal season. We admit we told almost no one. We explain how our business paused, how our marketing stopped, and how we intentionally pulled back from the world to protect our mental health while our hormones and nervous system recalibrated.

We reflect on what it looks like when a business starts running the owner instead of the owner running the business. We explain how we finally chose to clear commitments, cancel weekly meetings, stop volunteering nonstop, and reclaim our time. We acknowledge that we had been giving our best creative energy to everyone else while leaving nothing for ourselves.

We talk about grief, cycles, and relationships that naturally end when growth happens. We honor the few people who stay. We say out loud that the person we let down the most was ourselves. And we commit, clearly and without apology, to never do that again.

We close this episode by naming this season for what it is. Not disappearance. Not failure. Under construction. A new chapter built on less is more, clarity over chaos, and peace over performance. We remind ourselves and our listeners that life is not about avoiding scars. It is about collecting them to prove we showed up.

And we promise to keep showing up.

Mayo Clinic – https://www.mayoclinic.org

00:00 Tech issues and producer talk
01:50 Surgery, hormones, and memory after hysterectomy
03:10 Fair weather podcaster guilt
04:45 Healing as therapy and helping others
08:40 Pricing advice and business strategy
11:30 Returning to the mic after two months
12:30 Surgery recovery and unexpected move
14:30 New home, new state, new season
15:40 Boat story and long season of loss
17:30 Business pause and mental health reset
19:45 Treating yourself like your own client
21:00 Clearing commitments and reclaiming time
22:35 Letting down yourself the most
24:00 Relationships, cycles, and ride or die friends
24:40 Final message and next chapter

00:00 Production setup and tech talk
01:50 Surgery, hormones, and memory
04:45 Healing and therapy through podcasting
08:40 Business pricing and strategy advice
11:30 Why I disappeared
12:30 Surgery, move, and recalibration
15:40 Boat, loss, and long seasons
17:30 Business transformation
19:45 Boundaries and self leadership
21:00 Less is more
22:35 Choosing myself
24:40 Final reflection

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

• Rediscovering your voice after burnout
• From bartending to bestselling author
• Why “balance” is a myth and grace matters more
• The power of authenticity in podcasting
• Faith, leadership, and speaking your truth
• How women can lead without losing themselves
• Real talk on politics, purpose, and freedom

🌐 Website: BrandenLaNette.com

🎧 Listen Bitch Podcast: Spotify

🔥 Faith & Fire Podcast: Spotify

📚 Once Upon a Time, Bitches: Amazon

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Everywhere you get your podcasts

Follow @builtthiswaypodcast,  @pmuellenassociates  and @pjtventures for new episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and future guest announcements.

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

• Rediscovering your voice after burnout
• From bartending to bestselling author
• Why “balance” is a myth and grace matters more
• The power of authenticity in podcasting
• Faith, leadership, and speaking your truth
• How women can lead without losing themselves
• Real talk on politics, purpose, and freedom

🌐 Website: BrandenLaNette.com

🎧 Listen Bitch Podcast: Spotify

🔥 Faith & Fire Podcast: Spotify

📚 Once Upon a Time, Bitches: Amazon

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Everywhere you get your podcasts

Follow @builtthiswaypodcast and @pmuellenassociates and @Pjtventure for new episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and future guest announcements.

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

Decide > dabble. Identity follows repeated action; commit through the quiet months.

Internal > external validation. Likes lag; impact often arrives silently (then all at once).

Consistency compounds. Thousands of small reps beat a handful of “perfect” posts.

Test & repurpose. Change formats, platforms, and angles; recycle messages for new seasons.

Repurpose yourself. Past roles still matter; let go to move to the next “bar.”

Support systems win. Accountability, mentorship, and (sometimes) paid help unlock momentum.

00:00 – Welcome back & why this episode matters
02:00 – Meet Erik: engineer, minister, coach, new dad
05:10 – Persistence, roots, and doing hard things
09:45 – Consistency on social: posting daily without the dopamine
13:20 – Lurkers hire later: impact without likes
16:10 – Decide vs. dabble: identity by action
18:50 – Algorithms, testing, and changing what isn’t working
22:10 – Shame, starts, and the choice to keep or quit
24:20 – Repurposing skills (and selves) for the next chapter
28:10 – Entrepreneurship triggers: bad bosses, big bets
31:00 – “Release the drafts” challenge & brand evolution
32:40 – Real beats perfect: why people want your messy truth
35:20 – How to work with Erik & closing thoughts

Erik Milligan Coaching – erikmilligancoaching.com

YouTube: Erik Milligan Coaching

LinkedIn: Erik Milligan

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com 

In this unfiltered episode, Patricia dives into the irony of preaching “just start”. After years of overthinking, imposter syndrome, and waiting for everything to be perfect, she finally does the thing — hits record and lets it roll.

Patricia opens up about her creative paralysis, the endless loop of buying gear, scrapping takes, and avoiding her studio out of fear. She’s brutally honest about the mental clutter that kills ideas and the way perfectionism “murdered” her process. We follow her through grief, health battles, and self-reinvention — including the “three H’s”: hips, Hashimoto’s, and hysterectomy — and how those challenges reignited her purpose.

This episode is part confession, part pep-talk, and all heart. Patricia turns personal chaos into a message for every entrepreneur and creative stuck at square one: stop waiting, stop doubting, and start building. Because progress beats perfection — and regret is worse than failure.

🔗 CONNECT WITH PATRICIA

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pmuellenandassociates
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/builthiswaypodcast

Built This Way, created and hosted by Patricia Muellen - story teller, entrepreneur, survivor, creator, marketing strategist, and owner of agency P. Muellen & Associates, LLC

Patricia spends her days helping businesses grow and having honest conversations about what it really takes to build something from nothing.

If you liked this episode, follow the podcast, share it with a fellow builder, and come connect with Patricia online.

Because around here we believe in hard work, real talk, and building things that last.

After all… some of us are just Built This Way.

@Patriciamuellen

@pmuellenassociates 

@builtthiswaypodcast

[email protected]

Pmuellenandassociates.com