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In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, Juming Delmas sits down with entrepreneur Kenneth Alexander for a thoughtful and sometimes intense conversation about business, personal success, and the mindset it takes to keep evolving. Kenneth shares his journey from working in corporate America while building multiple side businesses to owning ventures that ranged from a hair salon and an award-winning restaurant to his current barbecue food truck, catering business, and work as an author, writer, and speaker. 

Kenneth opens up about the hard lessons that came with entrepreneurship, including why he shut down a hair care brand after taking controlling interest in it and how a product line that was too broad made it difficult to compete with major beauty companies without serious capital. He also explains why he sees some of his closed businesses as successes, not failures, because they fulfilled the deeper purpose he had for them — from helping family members to creating opportunities and experience for the next generation. 

A major theme of this episode is how entrepreneurs define success for themselves. Kenneth challenges the idea that every business must be judged only by growth, scale, or longevity. He talks about intentionally stepping away from a thriving restaurant because he no longer wanted the full-time demands of brick-and-mortar ownership, and why shifting to a barbecue food truck and prepaid catering model gave him better margins, lower overhead, and more control over his time. 

The episode also dives into a bigger philosophical debate: is competition natural, or is it something society teaches us? Kenneth argues that too many entrepreneurs operate from a scarcity mindset, while Juming pushes the view that competition is built into human nature. The result is a compelling conversation about business identity, innovation, ego, and what “healthy competition” really looks like in entrepreneurship. 

This episode is for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, creators, and business owners trying to figure out how to build something meaningful on their own terms — and how to know when a pivot is not a loss, but the next right move. 

 #Entrepreneurship #SideHustle #SmallBusiness #FoodTruckBusiness #CateringBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #AbundanceMindset #Competition #BusinessGrowth 

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What does it really cost to run a childcare business — and is the freedom worth it? In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Janna Johnson, CEO of Just Like Angels in Tallahassee, FL — a childcare entrepreneur who has built a nearly million-dollar business from the ground up over 15 years. Jana breaks down the real numbers: bringing in $65K–$85K a month with 75% of revenue going straight to payroll. She gets raw about burnout, crying in her car, applying for jobs mid-business, and how COVID gave her the mental reset she desperately needed. They discuss the biggest mistakes first-generation business owners make — from failing to delegate, to running a business on emotions — and why nearly 600,000 businesses close every year in the US. If you're a solopreneur, childcare business owner, or self-made entrepreneur trying to figure out how to scale without losing yourself, this episode is for you. Topics covered: - How to grow a childcare business and manage payroll costs - Why delegation is the #1 struggle for first-gen entrepreneurs - Surviving entrepreneurship burnout and knowing when to reset - Building a million-dollar small business without owning the building - The true cost of running a business vs. working for someone else Subscribe to the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast for real, unfiltered conversations about the side hustle grind, building a business from nothing, and what it actually takes to make it on your own terms.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Highlights / Teaser
01:22 - Introduction
02:03 - Catching Up
03:08 - Business Financials and Scale
05:52 - The Importance of Delegation
09:22 - Entrepreneurial Mindset vs. Reality
11:57 - Overcoming Business Stagnation
13:56 - Black Business Ownership and Heritage
16:31 - Business Failure Statistics
18:03 - Personal History: Being Fired
22:43 - Why Businesses Close
25:51 - Persevering Through the "Drought"
29:11 - COVID-19 Impact and Reset
32:05 - Valuing the Business
33:52 - Location and Digital Presence
37:16 - Education and the "Basics"
45:34 - Early Intervention and Relationships
49:37 - Marketing and Partnerships
52:20 - Conclusion

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the host and guest and are intended for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. This content should not be considered financial, legal, medical, or professional advice. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.

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This video and its contents may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, or reuploaded without written permission from Juming Delmas Studios.

#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast #StartupLife #BlackEntrepreneurs #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Mindset #WomenInBusiness #Podcast

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Is obsession the secret weapon of every great entrepreneur — or a ticking time bomb? In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas goes head-to-head with tech entrepreneur and mentor Sylvester Thompson in one of the most unfiltered, no-BS conversations about what it really takes to build a business from nothing.

They dig deep into the difference between healthy obsession and addiction, why most startup founders fail before year five, and what authentic representation really means for Black entrepreneurs in the tech space. Sylvester challenges Juming on tunnel vision, people skills, and whether obsession can coexist with healthy relationships — and Juming fires back with case studies from Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan.

If you've ever been told you work too hard, care too much, or don't know how to switch off — this episode is for you.

Topics covered:
- Healthy obsession vs. addiction: what's the real difference?
- Why Black entrepreneurs are underrepresented in tech startups
- Authentic representation vs. performative representation in business
- The #1 people skill most entrepreneurs lack
- Consistency as the silent killer of small business growth
- Building a business legacy that outlives you
- How to integrate entrepreneurship with relationships and personal life

Whether you're a first-gen entrepreneur, a creative building a brand, or someone who's been told your obsession is a problem — tune in. This is the conversation nobody else is having.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast. Real talk. No filter.

#Entrepreneurship #FounderMindset #BusinessLeadership #StartupLife #BlackFounders #TechEntrepreneurship #FounderBurnout #WorkLifeIntegration #Leadership #Legacy

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What happens when a self-made entrepreneur who built a club empire from the streets goes head-to-head with a $36 billion corporate giant — and refuses to back down?

In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Tommy D, a New Jersey entrepreneur who started throwing house parties at 12 years old to survive, built one of the most iconic EDM and house music empires on the East Coast, and then spent 15 years fighting Live Nation in a legal battle that cost him everything — and still won't quit.

This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and hits on everything real entrepreneurship actually looks like: survival mode, street loyalty, corporate monopolies, and the difference between being a boss and being a leader.

Topics covered:
- How Tommy D went from homeless teenager to building a nightclub empire
- The Live Nation lawsuit: what really happened and why he refused to settle
- Survival mode as the ultimate entrepreneurial switch
- Why loyalty can be your biggest strength and your biggest weakness in business
- Boss vs. leader: why the best entrepreneurs are coaches, not bosses
- Why entrepreneurship is for people who know how to struggle — not people chasing money
- Building teams, trusting people, and knowing when to fight corporate America

If you've ever felt like the system was rigged against you, been told you couldn't build something, or fought for your independence against all odds — Tommy D's story is the blueprint.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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Nobody talks about the part before the six-figure business. The part where you've launched your website, posted on social media, told everyone you know — and heard absolutely nothing back.

In this solo episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas gets brutally honest about the hardest milestone every entrepreneur faces: landing that first paying client. No guests, no filter — just real talk from a CEO four years into building his own business from the ground up.

Juming breaks down the silent phase every new business goes through, why free work can hurt more than it helps, how he made cold calls from a hospital waiting room to land his first real client, and why your first client is the most important business decision you'll make.

Topics covered:
- Why getting your first client is harder than any other client you'll ever land
- The "silent phase" — what it really feels like when your business launches and nothing happens
- Why social media lies about how easy entrepreneurship is
- Free work: when it helps and when it kills your credibility
- How Juming cold-called his way to his first client from a hospital waiting room
- The difference between being good at your craft and being good at running a business
- Why over-delivering for your first client is non-negotiable
- How to price your services when you're just starting out
- Why one good client can lead to five more

If you're in that silent phase right now — no clients, no calls, no revenue — this episode was made for you.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast. Real talk. No filter. No courses to sell.

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Is entrepreneurship really for everybody? Is your brand worth more than your talent? And can David Shands actually beat Juming Delmas in Monopoly?

In this episode of the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with David Shands — podcaster, entrepreneur, and creator of the Social Proof Podcast and Hot Seat series — for one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking debates the show has ever had.

What starts as a friendly argument about Monopoly and spades turns into a deep conversation about entrepreneurship, personal branding, building something bigger than yourself, and why your brand will always make you more money than your talent ever will.

Topics covered:
- Is entrepreneurship for everybody — or just people built for it?
- Why your brand is worth more than your talent (the LeBron James breakdown)
- The difference between building a personal brand vs. building a business brand
- Why David Shands wants to build something bigger than his own name
- How to identify the right problem to solve before starting a business
- What the Hot Seat interview method reveals about entrepreneurs
- Why personal brands can't scale infinitely — and what can
- The mindset shift every new entrepreneur needs before launching
- Jim Rohn, E.T. the Hip Hop Preacher, and the mentors who shaped David Shands

Two podcast heavyweights. Zero filter. One real conversation about what it actually takes to win in entrepreneurship — and in Monopoly.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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He dropped out of high school. Got kicked out for disciplinary problems. Left home at 14. Then went back, got a certificate, an AA, a bachelor's in marketing from Flagler College, and a master's from Florida State University — graduating with a 3.9 GPA.

In this solo episode of the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas gets completely personal about his own winding path through education and entrepreneurship, then breaks down the real question every aspiring business owner is asking: do entrepreneurs actually need college?

Using case studies from Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos — one dropout, one who never attended, one who graduated — Juming makes the case that entrepreneurial success has never been about the credential. It's always been about mindset, execution, discipline, and risk.

Topics covered:
- Juming's full education story: from getting kicked out of high school to a 3.9 GPA at FSU
- Why college helped his business — and why it might not help yours
- Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos: three paths, one lesson
- The real cost of college vs. investing $50K directly into a business
- Why college is oversaturated — and what a degree actually signals today
- When college helps entrepreneurs and when it slows them down
- How to build business experience starting at 8, 13, or 30 years old
- Why experience always outweighs a degree in the business world
- Should you go to college, start a business, or work and learn skills first?

No agenda. No gatekeeping. Just the honest answer from someone who did it every possible way.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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Juming Delmas saw the betrayal coming in November. He told one person. It happened in February — not from one person, but multiple, all at once.

In this solo episode of the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, Juming gets more personal than he's ever been — talking about betrayal in both his personal and professional life, why fearlessness isn't about reacting, and what Nipsey Hussle, Tyler Perry, and Michael Jackson all have in common with every entrepreneur who has ever been stabbed in the back by someone they trusted.

This episode is about loyalty, discernment, protecting your circle, and staying grounded when everything around you is shaking. It's about the snakes in your garden — and how to let them reveal themselves before they strike.

Topics covered:
- How Juming predicted his own betrayal months before it happened
- Why fearless leadership means responding, not reacting
- How to identify snakes in your personal and professional circle before they reveal themselves
- Nipsey Hussle on fearlessness: lessons for every entrepreneur
- Tyler Perry and the loyalty test every successful person eventually faces
- Why people who move too fast and do too much upfront are often the ones who hurt you
- The difference between a true friend and someone who only shows loyalty when things are good
- Why gossip and nosiness are always early red flags in business relationships
- How to protect your mental, your team, and your business when betrayal happens
- Why betrayal is always the universe clearing your garden

If you've ever been betrayed by someone close to you — in business, in life, or both — this is the episode you needed to hear.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Be fearless. Stay loyal. Build anyway.

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Why do so many talented actors never make a living — and what does that have to do with entrepreneurship?

In this episode of the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Lydia Nicole — professional actress, producer, and filmmaker with over 45 years in Hollywood and 100K+ YouTube subscribers — to have the conversation the entertainment industry doesn't want you to hear.

Lydia breaks down why being an actor is being a CEO, what it actually costs to build a career in Hollywood, why Black creatives in particular are set up to fail by not treating their craft as a business, and how habits — not talent — determine who makes it and who goes home broke.

Topics covered:
- Why talented actors stay broke: the real business side nobody talks about
- How much it actually costs to launch an acting career (headshots, training, attorneys, teams)
- Why Black creatives don't invest in their craft — and how to change that
- The trap of paying agencies before you've booked a single job
- Will Smith, Denzel, Michael B. Jordan: what their brand-building teaches every creative entrepreneur
- Why you should start with what you're good at before chasing your dream
- How to build discipline and grit by doing hard work for little to nothing
- Atomic Habits and how building uncomfortable routines creates long-term success
- Lydia Nicole's documentary nominated against Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Quincy Jones — and how she competed with no studio money

If you're an actor, rapper, creative, or anyone chasing a dream with no roadmap — this episode is your blueprint.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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Motivation is unreliable. Feelings will lie to you. Your business doesn't care how you feel today. What actually moves the needle is form.

In this solo episode of the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas breaks down one of the most important concepts in entrepreneurship that nobody is talking about — getting into form. Not grinding harder. Not staying motivated. Form. The discipline, structure, and transformation that shows up when motivation disappears and life gets chaotic.

Using Kobe Bryant's story as the foundation, Juming unpacks what it means to be a transformer vs. a key in your business, why the right people in your circle matter more than any strategy, and why your business will never outgrow the team holding it back.

Topics covered:
- What "form" means for entrepreneurs and why motivation alone will always fail you
- Transformers vs. keys: how to identify which one you are and who you need
- What Kobe Bryant's father said that changed everything — and what it means for entrepreneurs
- Why your team's attitude can keep your business stagnant no matter how talented they are
- How to respond instead of react when your business hits a rough patch
- Fire fast, hire slow: the hard decision of letting go of even your best people
- Why business takes up 60–80% of your brain capacity and what to do about it
- Saving 15–25% of revenue as protection when clients leave
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things: what Juming learned from Ben Horowitz about leading through crisis

This is the episode for every entrepreneur who is exhausted, scattered, and ready to stop reacting and start transforming.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Form over feelings. Always.

Support the show

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