Unpolished MBA

Topics Discussed Include:

• The growth of the creator economy
• Grifting online
• The growth of the Blue check mark
• Rational thinking in B2B purchases

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Topics Discussed Include:

• Freedom Through Acquisition
• Going from W2 to Entrepreneur
• Buying a cash-generating business with an SBA loan
• How Eric is building a business while traveling across the United States in an RV with his family
• The importance of partner/spouse support in entrepreneurship
• Pepwave - the device used to get internet anywhere, no matter how remote you are
• Using Twitter to build a business pipeline

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyer4smbs/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/lawyer4SMBs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

Using the term "strategic" doesn't mean that what you're doing is strategic. Don't be fooled by fancy words used by coaches and consultants trying to earn your business. We break down how you can tell if the decisions you're making are strategic or not and how to have maximum impact on your business.

• The difference between plans and plans that are strategic
• Playing to win vs playing to play
• The book "Play To Win"
• Bernie Dixon of Launchpad2X in Atlanta, GA
• Forming your hypothesis for your business
• Strategic positioning
• The What, The Why, and The How in strategic business decisions

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Topics Discussed Include:

• To gate or ungate your knowledge--that is the question
• How people don't value what they get for free, but...sometimes they do
• How gating content decreases your visibility but may increase your perceived value
• The concept of 1000 True Fans
• Tabitha Brown and her evolution from Periscope to being an international brand

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

On this episode, we speak with Amerie Mills, Marketing Strategy Assistant for TPM Focus and Unpolished MBA. She has her pulse on the latest digital marketing trends and shares insights with the audience on understanding Tik Tok and how to become effective in using it.

Topics Discussed Include:

• The different "sides" of Tik Tok
• The importance of the "For You" page
• The different types of "adults" on Tik Tok
• The Tik Tok algorithm and EXTREME personalization on the app
• Steps to business success and effectiveness on Tik Tok
• The best way to approach Tik Tok if you want to attract your desired audience
• How physical attractiveness plays a role in getting views on Tik Tok
• What happens if Tik Tok gets banned?
• Why you need to own something outside of social media platforms for people to reach you

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Ryan Cox joined us on this episode to discuss his winding path to finding his purpose in entrepreneurship. Going from selling Jordans and Jerseys to being a support and accountability coach for fellow entrepreneurs has been quite a journey.

Topics Discussed Include:

• Communication and Influence in marketing
• The 4-day work week (not 4 hour!)
• How not graduating from college may cause a temporary detour on the way to your purpose
• Understanding privilege in today's society
• Celebrating your wins AND taking ownership of them

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleecox/

Company: Cox Coaching https://coxcoaching.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

Shieldvonda Haith joined us on this episode to talk about the Corporate politics around having/not having an MBA when seeking promotions. We also talked about her innovative healthcare startup.

Some Topics Discussed Include:

• How a person with an MBA doesn't have to first prove their competency to advance into high positions
• How an MBA and the network helps with promotions in Corporate
• The usefulness of an MBA in founding a tech startup
• Her game-changing healthcare startup
• Understanding the No Surprise Act (NSA)

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shielvonda-haith/

Company: https://brightpay.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Baker, entrepreneur and Growth Strategy Consultant, about burnout and balancing. We also touched on how using humor on social media can backfire.

Some Topics Discussed Include:

• What is burnout?
• How do entrepreneurs get to that point?
• Balancing competing priorities
• Extending grace to yourself
• Your jokes falling flat on social media
• How you need to read the room and know your audience

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhbaker/

Company: Kingly Consulting https://kinglyconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

This episode airs Monique Mills' interview on the Surf and Sales Podcast with Scott Leese and Richard Harris, entrepreneurs who set up and lead sales organizations for tech startups.

Topics Discussed Include:

• Working with engineers who want to be involved in sales
• How engineers think they know everything
• What will disrupt the future of sales
• How Monique's parents met (yep! of topic but on topic too)

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: hhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/scottleese/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rharris415/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

In this episode, we spoke with Richard Grove, the owner of a peg board manufacturing company who describes how he used influencer marketing to promote the business. This episode describes how influencer marketing can be used for just about anything B2B or B2C when done right. We also discuss how family businesses can work well with a cohesive plan.

Topics Discussed Include:

• How Anyone Can Be An Influencer (not necessarily those with thousands of followers)
• The Importance Of Audience Engagement With Influencers
• How Richard Used Influencer Marketing For Promoting His Manufacturing Company, Wall Control

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-grove-wall-control/

His Manufacturing Company -> Wall Control: https://www.wallcontrol.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com