Black to Business

Hosted by Black to Business

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Episodes

308

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 11, 202626 min

308: What Entrepreneurs Misread as Failure

Entrepreneurship has a way of making us jump to conclusions. A slow response, a disappointing result, an offer that needs adjusting, or a customer who doesn't buy as quickly as we hoped can quickly turn into a story about what we think it means. Before long, we're questioning the business, questioning ourselves, and making decisions based on assumptions rather than facts. In this episode, Monique explores some of the most common things entrepreneurs misread as failure and why learning how to accurately assess what's happening in your business is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a business owner. From repetition and refinement to trust-building and business evolution, this conversation will help you separate facts from assumptions and avoid making permanent decisions based on temporary information. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why the story you tell yourself about a situation can impact the decisions you make next How to separate facts from assumptions when evaluating what's happening in your business Why repetition doesn't automatically mean your message isn't working How to view adjustments and refinements as part of the building process Why slow trust-building isn't always a sign that people aren't interested How to recognize the difference between outgrowing a role and outgrowing 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 blacktobusiness.com/308 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

June 4, 202627 min

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 blacktobusiness.com/307 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

May 28, 202628 min

306: The Business Responsibilities You Can't Outsource

A lot of entrepreneurs spend so much time thinking about what they need to delegate that they never really stop to think about what still belongs to them as the owner. Hiring help is important. Support is important. Systems, automation, delegation, all of those things matter. But this week on the podcast, Monique talks about the responsibilities that still require your leadership no matter how much help you get. This conversation gets into decision-making, leadership, standards, self-management, honesty, and the pressure that can come with being the person ultimately responsible for the direction of the business. If you've ever felt frustrated after getting support, overwhelmed by the weight of business decisions, or unclear about what still requires your leadership, this episode will give you a deeper perspective on entrepreneurship and ownership. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why support should not replace leadership The responsibility of deciding what kind of business you actually want to build Why entrepreneurship requires learning how to make decisions without perfect certainty How standards quietly shape customer experience and business reputation What self-management has to do with leadership Why honesty is one of the most important responsibilities in 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 blacktobusiness.com/306 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

May 21, 202627 min

305: The Questions Your Business Should Be Able to Answer Without You Explaining It

You ever notice how some businesses feel easy to understand? You land on the website, look around for a few minutes, and you already know what they do, who it's for, what problem they solve, and what you're supposed to do next. Then there are businesses where you leave with more questions than answers. This week on the podcast, Monique walks through a few questions your business should be able to answer without you stepping in to explain everything. Because sometimes growth is not about creating more content or getting more visibility. Sometimes the opportunity is making it easier for people to understand your business, trust your business, and know how to move forward. This conversation gets into clarity, customer recognition, trust, decision-making, and the small places where businesses accidentally create friction without realizing it. If people keep asking the same questions, getting interested but not taking action, or depending on you to connect the dots, this episode is for you. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: The questions every business should answer clearly What makes people understand and connect with an offer What helps people move from interest into action Small shifts that can make your business easier to navigate 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 blacktobusiness.com/305 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

May 14, 202627 min

304: Why People Are Interested in Your Business But Still Not Buying

People are watching your content, asking questions, requesting the link, and telling you they've been wanting to work with you for a while now…but somehow the sale still is not happening. That disconnect can be frustrating as a business owner because from your perspective, the interest is there. This week on the podcast, Monique breaks down why attention does not always turn into conversion and what may actually be happening between somebody discovering your business and deciding whether or not to buy. This conversation gets into the small gaps that quietly affect sales, from unclear messaging and passive audiences to hesitation, trust, urgency, and buyer behavior. If people have been paying attention to your business but not taking the next step, this episode will help you look at your business from the customer's side and understand what may be slowing the buying decision down. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: What may be creating the gap between interest and sales Why people can enjoy your business and still hesitate to buy How messaging affects the way people respond to your offers What keeps audiences stuck in "I'll come back later" mode Why visibility alone does not automatically create buyers Small shifts that can help people move from watching to purchasing 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 blacktobusiness.com/304 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

May 7, 202622 min

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 blacktobusiness.com/303 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

April 30, 202621 min

302: The Monthly Business Checkup Every Entrepreneur Needs

You ever get to the end of the month and realize… you were busy the whole time, but you can't clearly say what actually worked? Money came in, but you're not sure where most of it came from. You posted, showed up, did what you needed to do, but you don't really know what connected. A few things felt off, but you kept pushing through because the work still had to get done. Then a new month starts… and you just keep going. That's how a lot of business owners end up repeating the same patterns without realizing it. This episode is about breaking that cycle. Monique walks you through a monthly checkup you can come back to at the end of every month. It's not complicated and it's not meant to take hours. It's a simple way to sit down, look at what actually happened in your business, and figure out what needs your attention before you move forward. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: How to look at your numbers so you know what actually stayed in your business What your sales are telling you about how people are buying from you How to spot what feels messy and where you need more structure What to pay attention to when it comes to your visibility How to use what already happened to guide your next steps A simple way to choose one clear focus for the new month 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 blacktobusiness.com/302 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

April 23, 202620 min

301: Why You're Not Where You Want to Be in Your Business Yet

There comes a point in business where you really look at what you've built so far, not from the outside, but from your own experience being in it every day. Things can be working. You can make money, bring in clients, have moments where everything comes together. And still, it doesn't feel settled. It doesn't feel like something you can rely on yet. Too much still depends on you stepping in, figuring it out, and keeping it going. This episode speaks to that space. Monique breaks down the difference between a business that works and one that feels steady, and why so many entrepreneurs feel like they should be further along when the real issue is what hasn't been fully built out yet. She also gets into how your business is actually running behind the scenes, what happens when everything lives in your head, and why staying in "figuring it out" mode keeps things from coming together the way you want. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: What it means for a business to work versus feel stable What happens when decisions don't fully stick Why your business can feel like it's always in progress How to recognize what needs your attention right now 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 blacktobusiness.com/301 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist

April 16, 202613 min

300 Episodes Later: What I Know for Sure About Business

300 episodes. When you really think about that, it's a lot of showing up. A lot of recording. A lot of doing something over and over again, even on the days where the energy wasn't there. In this solo episode, Monique T. Marshall takes a step back to reflect on that journey. From starting this podcast with a USB mic in the Brooklyn Public Library to building something that has reached thousands of entrepreneurs, this has been built over time. There were no perfect conditions. A lot of it came from figuring things out while moving. In this episode, Monique breaks down what has proven to be true about business after 300 episodes. The lessons that came from actually doing the work and staying with it long enough to see what happens. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why consistency matters and what it actually looks like day to day What it takes to start before everything is figured out Why building something people want makes a difference How quality and intention shape how people experience your work What happens when you stay with something long enough to let it grow How business changes you over time This conversation is for the entrepreneur who is building, showing up, and doing the work, even when it feels repetitive or slower than expected. 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 blacktobusiness.com/300 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly

April 9, 202619 min

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 blacktobusiness.com/299 Thank you so much for listening! Please support us by simply rating and reviewing our podcast! Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktobusiness/ Don't miss an update! Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://blacktobusiness.com/mailinglist