Why do we read the books that we read as entrepreneurs? That’s what we are diving into today, discussing and listing books that we have read and ones that have impacted us in one way or another. We love reading self-help books that make us better business owners not only because it helps us become better entrepreneurs but also because it’s fun for us!

We list off not only books that each of us have enjoyed reading but also books that both of us got something out of, especially Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David, and we agree that the best self-help books are the ones written by authors with open hands, showing and telling us everything.

You really should ask people whom you admire what they are reading because it can say a lot about them and what they actually know. If our list of books in this episode is helpful to you, we hope that you’ll consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share!

Time Stamps

[0:58] - Michele is currently reading three books.

[2:01] - What types of people like self-help books?

[3:22] - What has Michele been reading?

[5:49] - Michele discloses what she reads for fun.

[8:03] - Karamel had a total mindshift when she read The E-Myth.

[10:52] - Michele advises against withholding information.

[14:11] - Michele and Karamel both got something out of Your Next Five Moves.

[17:15] - We enthuse over the book We Should All Be Millionaires.

[19:01] - There are also books that we haven’t been able to finish.

[21:02] - Michele frequently revisits Rory Vaden’s book Take the Stairs.

[21:45] - Karamel goes back to Robert T. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad.

[24:19] - Michele explains why she loves Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed.

[26:09] - Michele did not expect to like Rick Ross’s book The Perfect Day to Boss Up so much.

[28:42] - You should ask people you admire what they are reading.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Join us today as we chat with a very special guest, Amber Delgado! Amber is the owner of AMB Accounting Services and started working with Karamel as her bookkeeper a couple of years ago, and who better to talk about why it’s a good idea to have a bookkeeper than a bookkeeper herself?

Amber dives into what she does as a bookkeeper and what the responsibilities of a bookkeeper are and are not. She also touches upon why she started her business to begin with and what her motivations were, why the handling of money tends to be an especially touchy subject within the Black community, how to identify your worth as a solopreneur, and so much more!

Amber is such a wealth of knowledge, and we really appreciate her time on the show! If you like what you have been hearing on the show, then please consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share!

Time Stamps

[0:33] - Michele and Karamel have a guest today, Amber Delgado!

[1:07] - Amber explains why it’s a good idea to have a bookkeeper.

[1:52] - Michele points out why she doesn’t have a bookkeeper.

[5:08] - Amber reveals what her responsibilities are as a bookkeeper.

[6:06] - How does Amber add value to what her clients do?

[8:15] - Why did Amber start her business?

[10:48] - Amber is willing to take on just about anyone as a client.

[11:48] - How long had Amber wanted to be an accountant?

[14:44] - Amber discloses what she did immediately after graduating college.

[16:00] - Amber offers some cautionary tales about auditing and identifying fraud.

[19:17] - Learn about good manipulation vs. bad manipulation.

[21:46] - Hear about an outreach that Amber has been developing.

[24:13] - What happened when Amber raised her rates?

[26:16] - Amber describes the evolution of her business.

[28:21] - What hopes does Amber have for the next five years?

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

AMB Accounting Services - Website

We have both hit a milestone in our businesses - five years! That has us thinking about time and how to manage it well. We talk about different components of time, such as not being able to own it, what it means to spend it, and how time is not infinite. 

We also offer up some helpful tips on managing your time wisely, including scheduling everything, avoiding procrastination, prioritizing and delegating tasks, the importance of automating, and so much more!

Time is precious, so we hope that this episode helps you manage yours effectively. If so, please consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share!

Time Stamps

[1:39] - Today’s topic is time.

[3:39] - Karamel refers to a quote about time not being free.

[7:02] - What does it mean to spend time?

[9:28] - Once time is gone, it can’t be retrieved.

[10:29] - Michele argues that we should schedule as much as possible.

[11:40] - Don’t waste time by procrastinating.

[14:40] - Karamel points to delegation as something helpful for her.

[18:18] - Karamel explains what CSV is.

[20:34] - Entrepreneurs have to consider who they trust with tasks.

[23:04] - Michele argues that your health is your wealth.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Beeketing - “7 Time Management Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs”

It seems like more and more people want to become entrepreneurs or business owners, but what does it actually mean to be an entrepreneur, and is it different from being a small business owner? We point out these distinctions and make cases for what makes an entrepreneur vs. what makes a small business owner.

We offer some personal experiences that we feel point out the differences between being an entrepreneur and being a small business owner, arguing, for example, that an entrepreneur isn’t just interested in expanding sales but is also interested in expanding their enterprise. Entrepreneurs also tend to be bigger risk-takers when it comes to money and don’t like the idea of a 9-5 grind.

These are just a few examples of the many distinctions that we point out on the podcast, and we really hope that this is helpful! If so, please consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share!

Time Stamps

[1:13] - Today’s show is how to know if you’re an entrepreneur.

[1:36] - Karamel explains the difference between a concept and a business.

[2:30] - Michele argues that an entrepreneur brings something new into the market.

[5:10] - You can wear different hats at the same time when it comes to these roles.

[8:26] - Entrepreneurs not only want to make money but also build their business.

[9:23] - Karamel does not want to trade her time for money.

[11:51] - Michele points out that entrepreneurs have high expectations.

[14:38] - Entrepreneurs tend to be brave risk-takers.

[18:20] - You have to believe that you can get the amount of money you need.

[18:48] - Michele points to three questions that can determine if someone is an entrepreneur.

[19:25] - Michele talks about three questions to determine if you’re a small business owner.

[22:37] - Entrepreneurs need to act on concepts.

[25:13] - Entrepreneurs like innovation.

[27:25] - Entrepreneurs have often been selling things for most of their lives.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

CEO Chronicles - “What am I??? Self Employed, Entrepreneur or Business Owner

Reading the room is best defined as understanding the state of a conversation so that your tone and subject matter matches that conversation. So what goes into reading a room as a presenter and/or entrepreneur? We are here to take that question on for you today!

We point to a helpful Harvard Business Review article that gives some tips on how to read the room prior to a presentation, including but not limited to observing, controlling how much you talk, and interpreting what you observe. We also touch upon the importance of being enthusiastic during a presentation because why is your audience going to be enthusiastic if you aren’t?

It’s also so important that you relate to and find common ground with your audience because the key to business is being able to relate to people. If you can’t relate to people, then they can’t relate to you. We hope that these tips are helpful for you, and if so, please consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share!

Time Stamps

[1:12] - The topic today is reading the room correctly.

[2:38] - What does it mean to read the room?

[5:26] - Michele points out that you have to identify your objective.

[8:43] - Karamel refers to an article about reading the room before a presentation.

[11:54] - If you sound bored, your audience will also be bored.

[13:48] - Michele argues that you should not focus too much on yourself.

[15:15] - Karamel is more of a storytelling type of speaker.

[18:04] - Reading the room is all about being observant.

[20:45] - Michele argues that the key to business is relating to people.

[23:35] - Michele’s entire career is built on reading people.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends & Influence People Rebecca Knight - “Tips for Reading the Room Before a Meeting or Presentation”

If you are an entrepreneur, are you primarily motivated by money, or are you motivated by something more intrinsic? There are various things that drive an entrepreneur, and most of them actually have very little if anything to do with money. Listen in as we dive into that very topic, sharing what motivates us personally.

Research shows that there are four common motivators for entrepreneurs: control, freedom, impact, and of course money. We walk you through each one of these, giving real-world examples from our own experiences and the experiences of entrepreneurs in general.

We do acknowledge, however, the difference between being motivated by money and being motivated by wealth. Wealth to us means not having to worry about money rather than being primarily motivated by it, but being primarily motivated by it can be a mistake because money ebbs and flows and comes and goes. True passion and enjoyment for what you do is here to stay.

What is your primary motivation? We hope that this conversation is insightful for you, and if so, please consider subscribing to the podcast (if you aren’t subscribed already) wherever you listen so that you never miss an episode! Please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share. See you next time!

Time Stamps

[0:52] - Michele declares that she isn’t motivated primarily by money.

[3:11] - There are four common motivators for entrepreneurs.

[5:47] - Karamel elaborates upon the idea of there being three days in twenty-four hours.

[7:53] - Learn why Michele doesn’t like to work from home.

[10:52] - Karamel opens the conversation around impact.

[13:43] - Michele gives examples of what impact looks like.

[15:51] - Karamel returns the conversation to being motivated by wealth.

[18:01] - Karamel touches upon extra money coming in so you don’t have to worry about it.

[20:23] - Hear what a whiteboard session is.

[23:15] - Karamel argues that motivations can shift and change over time.

[25:15] - Michele ranks the top four motivations in order of importance to her.

[29:01] - How does Karamel rank the top four?

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

We are so excited to have someone special on the podcast today, someone whom Michele has known his entire life! Michele’s brother Terrence Baldwin is the owner of T Baldwin Music and MEOW (Music Education on Wheels) Academy, and he comes on the show today to share his story of being an entrepreneur and how he got started.

Terrence touches upon various subtopics such as how he is making his business a family business, what it’s like working in a gig economy, how he defines success, and more. He also gives prospective musicians advice, such as not relying too heavily on your talent. 

Michele is so proud of her younger brother and all that he has accomplished, and both of us are so happy to have had him on the show. We appreciate Terrence’s time and hope that you enjoy listening to our conversation with him. Please consider subscribing to the podcast wherever you listen to us so that you never miss an episode, and please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share. See you next time!

Time Stamps

[0:40] - Michele is excited to have her brother, Terrence Baldwin, on the show today!

[1:28] - Terrence shares his origin story.

[2:34] - How did Terrence go from talent shows to business?

[4:42] - Terrence discusses the challenges of working in a gig economy.

[6:55] - How did Terrence overcome people who didn’t believe in him?

[10:42] - Terrence emphasizes the importance of having hope.

[14:02] - How did Terrence get started as an entrepreneur?

[16:47] - Terrence strives to make sure his work benefits his community.

[18:02] - Terrence explains how he stayed afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[19:16] - How did Terrence come up with MEOW?

[21:01] - Terrence reveals how he decompresses.

[22:03] - Don’t rely too heavily on your talent, Terrence advises.

[24:22] - What drew Terrence to the children with whom he works?

[25:34] - How does Terrence define success?

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

MEOW Academy - Website

MEOW Academy - Facebook Page

MEOW Academy - Instagram Page

Rick Ross - A Perfect Day to Boss Up: A Hustler’s Guide to Building Your Empire

We are so excited to have a special guest on the podcast today - Debórah Faith, host of The Xchange Place podcast! Deborah shares her tragic origin story with us and how she got into podcasting. She also discusses turning a passion into a business, why she decided not to have a co-host on her podcast, how she goes about networking, her plans for the future (including but not limited to making podcasting full-time), and so much more!

We love Debórah’s passion and enthusiasm for what she does and hope that you love listening to our conversation with her! If so, then please consider subscribing to the podcast wherever you listen to us, and please also feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below if you have anything you’d like to share. See you next time!

Time Stamps

[0:28] - Debórah Faith, host of The Xchange Place podcast, joins us today!

[1:04] - Debórah gives us some background information about herself and her podcast.

[2:49] - Learn that Debórah is a life coach and is in school to be a therapist.

[3:59] - Debórah wouldn’t change anything that happened to her.

[5:48] - How does one turn a passion into a business?

[8:10] - Debórah created an eBook to help people get started on podcasting.

[9:41] - What is Debórah’s approach to planning?

[10:09] - Why does Debórah host her podcast by herself?

[12:48] - Debórah does envision having a team eventually.

[14:22] - Michele asks Debórah about her plan to transition full-time into podcasting.

[16:06] - How does Debórah decompress?

[17:03] - Has it been easy for Debórah to find sisterhood as a woman of color?

[19:36] - Debórah chose not to listen to people who didn’t support her.

[20:43] - Trauma manifests differently in different people.

[22:23] - Debórah explains how she networks.

[23:42] - What does Debórah need to buy next in order to elevate the podcast?

[25:06] - Karamel reveals her mantra for 2023.

[25:38] - Debórah believes in time being currency.

[27:42] - How has Debórah learned when to give and when not to?

[29:39] - How can listeners listen to Debórah’s podcast and/or reach out to her?

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

The Xchange Place Podcast - Website

The Xchange Place Podcast - YouTube Channel

The Xchange Place Podcast - Instagram Page

The Xchange Place Podcast - TikTok Page

Debórah’s Instagram Page

Working with family and friends can create a sense of comfort and familiarity which can be a good thing, but it can also cause a business to suffer, so what are the pros and cons of working with family and friends in business? Michele, for example, discusses how working with her husband is somewhat of a challenge because of how her personal relationship with him is a bit different from her professional relationship with him.

When it comes to working with family and friends, we argue that working with a partner is different from working with a friend. Working with a friend can be trickier because not everyone is able to compartmentalize, but it doesn’t have to be a problem either way. Be sure to hold each other accountable and to communicate.

We hope that this episode is helpful for you and generates some helpful thoughts about working with family and/or friends, especially if it’s something you’re considering or are struggling with. Please reach out to us via one of the methods listed below, and subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!

Time Stamps

[1:10] - The topic today is the pros and cons of working with family and friends in business.

[4:32] - Karamel points to a Forbes article about working with family and friends.

[6:45] - Michele’s husband is now part owner but operates in employee capacity.

[8:30] - What does prosperity mean to Karamel?

[9:33] - Michele brings up the difference between an entrepreneur and an employee.

[11:06] - Michele loves having her husband be part of the business.

[13:58] - Michele explains why she made use of a joint calendar.

[16:39] - Working with a partner is different than working with a friend.

[19:37] - Michele talks about being able to relate to someone in the appropriate way.

[21:12] - Don’t leave the relationship undefined.

[22:30] - Michele argues that you need to hold each other accountable.

[23:11] - Karamel argues that you need to make sure information is interpreted correctly.

[24:09] - A Medium article points out that not all friends work well together.

[28:12] - Karamel shares a funny story about her husband.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Women Travel Abroad - Website

Forbes - “6 Tips For Working With Family And Friends”

Medium - “Is Working with Friends & Family a Good Idea?”

Karamel recently spoke at a trade show which we both attended, and that has us thinking about return on investment, or ROI. Karamel paid to have that booth, paid to speak, and paid for the swag that she gave out for free, all of which requires budgeting and an expectation that it will end up paying off.

Listen in as we explain what ROI is and discuss all that it entails. It’s not always just about numbers. It’s also about connection and branding. We talk about the importance of having an avatar, or an idea of an ideal client or customer, because it’s so much easier to determine ROI when you have a target audience.

We, as always, are hopeful that this episode is helpful for you. Feel free to reach out to us via one of the methods listed below! We also encourage you to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!

Time Stamps

[0:33] - Michele and Karamel just came back from a big trade show.

[3:32] - Karamel was a featured speaker at the trade show.

[4:26] - There are two ways that Karamel is going to get after the return on investment.

[5:21] - Michele sums up the topic of this episode.

[7:52] - Karamel explains the basic formula to measure ROI.

[9:17] - Hear an example of Michele having converted someone for ROI.

[10:23] - Michele and Karamel share some insight into a captive audience.

[12:37] - Has Karamel seen an uptick on her website?

[14:00] - Michele talks about anticipated ROI vs. expected ROI.

[17:21] - It’s important to have an idea of an ideal client.

[19:18] - Michele points out that branding doesn’t always result in an immediate ROI.

[21:08] - How many people does Karamel need to convert for a travel show to be worth it?

[24:40] - Michele discusses how she determines ROI has changed over time.

[26:53] - Karamel and Michele offer some advice to small business owners.

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Women Travel Abroad - Website