Black to Business

Join us as we chat with some of today's top entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders within the Black community as they share tips and resources to help start and grow Black businesses.

313: What Would You Sell If You Couldn't Create Anything New? 07/16/2026

312: The Small Things That Make a Business Feel Established 07/09/2026

311: The Work You Can Stop Doing 07/02/2026

310: The Questions People Need Answered Before They Buy 06/25/2026

309: The Business Decisions You Should Never Make Too Quickly 06/18/2026

308: What Entrepreneurs Misread as Failure 06/11/2026

307: The Business Problems You Keep Trying to Solve Too Early 06/04/2026

307: The Business Problems You Keep Trying to Solve Too Early Entrepreneurs are constantly thinking about what's next. The next goal. The next milestone. The next challenge. The next level of growth. While thinking ahead is part of building a business, it can also create a costly habit: spending time, energy, and resources solving problems that don't actually belong to your current season. In this episode, Monique explores why entrepreneurs often find themselves preparing for future challenges while overlooking the problems sitting right in front of them. This conversation unpacks how trying to get ahead can sometimes slow you down, why certain business lessons can only be learned through experience, and how every stage of business comes with its own responsibilities. If you've ever found yourself worrying about scaling before you've mastered selling, building systems before you've established consistency, or preparing for challenges that haven't shown up yet, this episode will help you recognize what your business is actually asking of you right now and why solving today's problems is often what prepares you for tomorrow's opportunities. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why entrepreneurs often spend time solving problems they don't actually have yet How to recognize when you're borrowing problems from a future version of your business Why some business challenges can only be understood through experience How overpreparing and overbuilding can create unnecessary complexity What your current season of business may be trying to teach you Why growth often comes from solving today's problems before chasing tomorrow's Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/41530915

306: The Business Responsibilities You Can’t Outsource 05/28/2026

305: The Questions Your Business Should Be Able to Answer Without You Explaining It 05/21/2026

304: Why People Are Interested in Your Business But Still Not Buying 05/14/2026

303: The Business Habits That Quietly Waste Your Time 05/07/2026

303: The Business Habits That Quietly Waste Your Time Busy does not always mean productive. A lot of entrepreneurs are ending their days exhausted, feeling like they worked the entire time, but still looking up wondering why certain things in the business are still unfinished, still delayed, or still feeling all over the place. That’s what this episode gets into. Some of the biggest time-wasters in business are not obvious distractions. They’re habits that slowly eat away at your focus, your energy, and your time while still looking like “work.” Checking things all day without taking action. Restarting the same tasks from scratch every week. Filling your day with little tasks while the important work keeps getting pushed back. Trying to mentally keep up with every moving piece in the business at the same time. Those habits add up. Monique breaks down the sneaky ways entrepreneurs lose time inside their business without even realizing it and explains why a lot of people are not dealing with a motivation problem or even a time problem. The bigger issue is often how the business is being managed day to day. This conversation will help you pay attention to where your time is actually going, what habits may be slowing you down, and how to stop spending so much energy on things that are not truly helping the business come together. During This Episode You’ll Learn: Why constantly figuring things out from scratch takes more time than people realize How over-checking emails, analytics, DMs, and accounts can quietly drain your focus The difference between low-impact tasks and work that actually helps the business improve Why keeping everything in your head makes your workday feel more scattered How unfinished tasks continue taking up mental space even when you stop working Simple ways to create better habits, systems, and boundaries inside your business Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/41200350

302: The Monthly Business Checkup Every Entrepreneur Needs 04/30/2026

301: Why You’re Not Where You Want to Be in Your Business Yet 04/23/2026

300 Episodes Later: What I Know for Sure About Business 04/16/2026

299: What to Do When Business Stops Feeling Exciting 04/09/2026

299: What to Do When Business Stops Feeling Exciting There comes a point in business where the work feels different. Clarity is there. Direction is there. Nothing is necessarily broken. But the excitement that used to come with it does not show up the same way. What once felt new now feels familiar, and that shift can catch you off guard. That’s usually when the questions start. You might find yourself wondering if something needs to change, or if you’ve outgrown what you’re building. For entrepreneurs who are used to moving off ideas and energy, that drop in excitement can feel like a sign that something is off, even when it’s not. In this episode, Black to Business breaks down what’s really happening in that moment. This conversation gets into what it looks like when the newness wears off and the work becomes more about consistency than momentum. It also walks through how to handle that shift without immediately assuming you need a new direction. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why business can feel less exciting even when you’re on the right path What’s actually behind that “I’m not feeling it” energy How to tell the difference between being tired, bored, or out of alignment How this moment can influence your decisions if you’re not paying attention What it looks like to stay with something long enough to see real results If your business has started to feel more routine than exciting, this episode will help you understand what that actually means and how to move through it with more clarity. Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/40782080

298: The Quiet Season in Business (And Why It’s Not a Bad Thing) 04/02/2026

297: What to Do When You Keep Wanting to Shift Directions in Your Business 03/26/2026

297: What to Do When You Keep Wanting to Shift Directions in Your Business You start something in your business, you feel good about it, and then not too long after… you’re already thinking about doing something else. Now you’re questioning if you made the right choice or if you should be going in a completely different direction. That back and forth can slow you down more than you realize, especially when you keep restarting instead of building on what’s already in motion. In this solo episode, Monique breaks down what’s actually behind that constant urge to switch directions. She shares a recent realization from being in two business programs where she noticed she was trying to do too much at once, and how that lack of focus was impacting her growth. This conversation walks you through how to figure out what’s really going on in your business and how to make a clear decision so you can move forward without second guessing yourself. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why wanting to switch directions often shows up when the work starts requiring more focus and consistency How to tell the difference between misalignment, boredom, and unfinished work in your business What is actually causing you to second guess your direction A simple way to decide whether you should stay with your current direction or shift How doing too many things at once can split your focus and slow your progress What it looks like to simplify your business and go deeper into what is already working Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/40625895

296: How to Know What to Focus on Next in Your Business 03/19/2026

295: How to Spring Clean Your Business for the Next Level 03/12/2026

294: How to Stop Overcomplicating Your Business 03/05/2026

294: How to Stop Overcomplicating Your Business Running a business often starts with a simple idea. You know what you do, who you help, and the results you’re known for. But as the business grows, something subtle can begin to happen. New offers get added. New platforms get tested. New tools and strategies start stacking on top of each other. Before long, the business that once felt clear and focused begins to feel more complicated than it needs to be. In this solo episode, Monique explores how that shift happens and why so many entrepreneurs unintentionally overcomplicate their businesses while trying to grow. She breaks down the hidden costs that complexity creates behind the scenes, from slower execution to unclear messaging, and why it can make even a successful business feel harder to run. This conversation also walks you through how to recognize when your business has become more complicated than necessary and how to simplify without feeling like you need to start over. Because growth doesn’t always require adding more. Sometimes it comes from refining what already works and focusing your energy where it matters most. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN DURING THIS EPISODE: How businesses gradually become overcomplicated while trying to grow The hidden ways complexity slows down execution and decision making Why complicated offers and messaging make it harder for people to understand what you do How overcomplicating your business can affect your focus, creativity, and momentum Why mastery comes from staying focused on one lane long enough to refine it How to simplify your business by strengthening what already works instead of adding more Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/40321845

293: How to Give Your Business the Focus & Attention It Requires 02/26/2026

292: How to Identify and Leverage the Hidden Assets in Your Business 02/19/2026

292: How to Identify and Leverage the Hidden Assets in Your Business When you think about growth in your business, the instinct is usually to look ahead. What needs to be built next? What needs to be launched? What needs to be improved? But what if the next level of growth is not about adding something new? In this solo episode, Monique walks through how to identify and leverage the hidden assets already inside your business. The proof you’ve collected but never fully analyzed. The patterns in how you think that you’ve never documented. The relationships you’ve built but haven’t structured intentionally. A lot of founders are excellent at producing. Delivering. Creating. Solving. But production and leverage are not the same thing. When revenue depends entirely on your energy, the business can feel like it resets every time you slow down. This conversation breaks down what actually counts as an asset in your business, why high-capacity founders often overlook their own leverage, and how to run a practical audit so you can start building from structure instead of constant effort. If you’ve been working hard but still feel like nothing is stacking, this episode will help you see your business differently and use what you’ve already built more intentionally. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What makes something an asset versus just more work How to tell if your business depends entirely on your output Why normalizing your own strengths keeps leverage hidden How proof can shape your positioning and pricing The difference between expertise and a repeatable process Five focused questions to audit and organize what you already have Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/40161255

291: What to Do When You’ve Fallen Out of Love With Your Business 02/12/2026

290: How to Make Hard Business Decisions Even When You Don’t Have All the Information 02/05/2026

289: When What Used to Work Doesn’t Work Anymore 01/29/2026

288: Why Business Feels Hard Right Now (And How to Get Through It) 01/22/2026

288: Why Business Feels Hard Right Now (And How to Get Through It) There are seasons in business where nothing is technically “wrong,” but everything feels heavier than it should. Decisions take longer. Progress feels slower. Motivation comes and goes. The work still matters, but the ease you once felt feels distant. This episode is for the entrepreneur who is still showing up and still committed, but quietly wondering why things feel so difficult right now. After more than a decade in business and hundreds of conversations with Black founders, Monique has noticed a clear pattern. When business feels hard, it is rarely because you are failing. More often, it is because something needs to be addressed, adjusted, or supported differently. In this solo episode, Monique breaks down what a business rut actually is, why it shows up, and how to work your way through it without burning yourself out or questioning everything you have built. This is not a “push harder” conversation. This is a grounding, honest conversation about choosing the right kind of hard and learning how to move forward with intention during demanding seasons. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why feeling stuck does not mean you lack discipline, vision, or ability What “hard” really means in business and how to define the kind of hard you are willing to work through The Rut Breaker Method and how to apply it in a realistic way How to strengthen what is already working instead of starting over Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts: Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/39821260

287: How to Build Wealth & Opportunity Without Displacing the Community You Serve w/ Logan Herring 01/15/2026

287: How to Build Wealth & Opportunity Without Displacing the Community You Serve w/ Logan Herring You can build something beautiful, grow it, scale it, and still protect the people and culture that made the community what it is. You’ve probably seen the opposite happen, a neighborhood gets “improved” and suddenly the folks who stuck it out through the hard years cannot afford to stay, local businesses get priced out, and the history gets wiped clean. That tension is real, especially when you are a Black entrepreneur trying to build with integrity, not just build for profit. This episode matters because wealth building is not only about money, it is also about who has access, who has voice, and who gets to benefit long term. Logan Herring Sr. joins the show to break down how to create wealth and opportunity without displacement, using lessons from real redevelopment work in Wilmington, Delaware, while keeping the conversation practical for entrepreneurs across any industry. Logan is the CEO of The WRK Group, which includes The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center. He shares how his team is replacing outdated public housing with high quality mixed income housing, creating pathways for education, health, and economic vitality, and doing it without pushing existing residents out. You will also hear how he thinks about capital, trust, and community partnership, plus the behind the scenes choices that make revitalization ethical and sustainable. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The three types of capital that shape wealth Why opportunity and access are not the same, and how outsiders often confuse the two How displacement can happen culturally and economically even when residents stay put What it takes to revitalize a community without repeating the harm that created the conditions in the first place Why Black entrepreneurs need collaboration more than control, and how sharing the pie can create real stability Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/39731890

286: How Black Founders Can Use Bartering to Stretch Resources & Build Stronger Businesses w/ Nicole Murphy 01/08/2026

286: How Black Founders Can Use Bartering to Stretch Resources & Build Stronger Businesses w/ Nicole Murphy If you have ever looked at your to do list and thought, “I know what my business needs next, I just do not have the money for it yet,” this episode will feel familiar. Stretching resources is not about cutting corners, it is about making smart decisions in a system where Black founders often have to do more with less. For many Black entrepreneurs, building a business means navigating limited access to capital, smaller margins for error, and the pressure to figure everything out on your own. That reality can slow growth and lead to burnout, even when the vision is clear. This episode speaks directly to that experience and introduces bartering as a practical way to keep moving forward without waiting on funding, grants, or permission. Joining us for this conversation is Nicole Murphy, founder of Barter Black®, a tech platform and community designed to help Black entrepreneurs exchange products and services using trade credits instead of cash. Nicole shares how the pandemic revealed just how fragile many Black businesses were when income stopped overnight, and why she believes collaboration and structure are essential to building stronger, more sustainable businesses. This conversation focuses on how bartering can be used intentionally to stretch resources, protect your value, and build support around your business in a way that actually works. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What bartering really means in a business context and how it differs from favors How Black founders can use bartering to stretch limited resources without lowering their value How to identify skills, products, or resources you already have that others need What to clarify upfront so bartering stays professional and respectful How to protect your time and relationships when exchanging value How to think through when bartering makes sense and when paying is the better move Don't miss out on the resources mentioned in this episode by checking out the show notes at Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: Don’t miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: /episode/index/show/blacktobusinesspodcast/id/39644435

285: The Audacity to Trust Yourself in Business 01/01/2026

284: Before You Plan, Pause 12/25/2025

Black to Business

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