In this episode of the SoloCEOs podcast, hosts Terra and Marilyn welcome Starr Hall, a seasoned PR expert and solopreneur. Starr shares her journey from a young age in PR, influenced by her grandmother, to navigating the challenges of solopreneurship, including mental health struggles and the importance of resilience.
The conversation delves into the evolution of PR in the digital age, the significance of authenticity in building connections, and the necessity of setting boundaries for self-care. Starr emphasizes the mindset shift from viewing 'no' as a rejection to seeing it as an opportunity for growth.
What You’ll Learn:
How to create boundaries in business and life that protect your peace and profit
Why visibility isn’t vanity — it’s survival for solopreneurs
The "Holly Grant" method to becoming your own publicist
How to stop giving your brilliance away for free — even to friends or partners
Reclaiming your confidence after personal and professional setbacks
If you’re ready to reclaim your voice, value, and PR power — this conversation will light the spark.
Listen now and share with someone who needs this!
Guest: Starr Hall, Starr Hall & Partners
Website: www.starrhall.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/starrhall
Instagram: @prstarrhall
00:02:31 Starr Hall's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:06:17 The Ups and Downs of Entrepreneurship
00:10:26 Rebuilding After Setbacks
00:14:20 The Evolution of PR and Media
00:18:35 Authenticity in Content Creation
00:22:23 The In-Between Journey of Success
00:25:15 Working Smarter, Not Harder
00:26:04 Embracing Flexibility in Work
00:27:55 Redefining Success and Work-Life Balance
00:30:14 Transforming Rejection into Opportunity
00:35:02 The Power of Community and Support
00:39:58 Celebrating Wins and Building Confidence
00:42:43 Maintaining Boundaries in Business Relationships
00:47:17 Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:51:26 Becoming Your Own Advocate
00:54:32 The Importance of Connection and Community
keywords: entrepreneurship, PR, storytelling, resilience, community, boundaries, mindset, personal branding, authenticity, self-care, soloCEO, solopreneurship
Are you a solopreneur feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive deep into the often-confused concepts of motivation and determination.
Discover how motivation can be your initial spark, igniting your entrepreneurial journey, while determination is the relentless force that propels you forward when the going gets tough.
As a solopreneur, you'll experience the ebb and flow of both, but it's your determination that truly becomes your secret weapon. Join us as we explore how to harness this powerful force to soar above challenges and achieve your business goals.
We find ourselves a month into 2024 – and let's be honest, how are those resolutions holding up? Yep, we stopped making them, too. However, this is an opportune moment to take stock of how you're navigating through the year. Have you unknowingly carried along some less-than-ideal habits from the past? Caught in the loop of old patterns that no longer serve you? Well, it's time to put a stop to it – it's time for a reset.
Join us in this episode as we delve into the art of reflection and explore the power of hitting the reset button. Discover actionable insights to break free from unproductive cycles and set a course for a more fulfilling path ahead. Don't let those lingering habits hold you back; it's your time to redefine and reclaim your journey. Tune in and let's embark on this journey together – it's Time for a Reset.
Join us for a special year-end episode of The SoloCEOs as we unpack the highs, lows, and pivotal moments of 2023. From personal experiences to shared insights within our solopreneur community, we explore resilience, lessons learned, and the importance of connection.
As we set our sights on 2024, our hosts discuss goals and strategies for success in the ever-evolving solo business landscape. Discover the power of The SoloCEOs community in overcoming challenges and celebrating victories together.
Whether you're a seasoned solopreneur or aspiring to join the ranks, this episode offers motivation, shared wisdom, and a sense of camaraderie. Tune in as we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome the exciting possibilities of the new year.
Here's to resilience, growth, and a thriving community in 2024!
While listening to Crystal’s solopreneurial experiences, one can only think that This Girl (lady) is on FIRE. Crystal takes us through her ups and downs in building and closing several business ventures. Her conversation with Marilyn and Terra is a no holds barred chat about the wisdom she has gained over the years and what keeps her going. She even brings her mama into the conversation! If you ever wonder how or why people never give up on their dream of becoming a solopreneur or entrepreneur do yourself a favor and listen to Crystal’s story, but be warned that this is NOT a PG conversation.
Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heycrystallove/
Terra and Marilyn are excited to introduce the world to their “Sunshine”, aka LaToya Williamson. As a major supporter of all things SoloCEO, LaToya has dished out many hard truths and I-Told-You-So’s to our fearless founders. As an entrepreneur, she’s a force to be reckoned with a long track record of helping executives excel. So, lean in and take notes as LaToya shares her knowledge and insights. Her moxie is sure to leave a lasting impression!
Can you believe that it’s the end of the year already? Join Terra and Marilyn for one last loving look at the year that was 2022, with all of its ups and downs.
Ramona’s entrepreneurial journey was anchored in her love to create mouthwatering chocolate creations and to serve others. Her candor about every stage of her business growth is eye-opening and a reminder of what we cannot lose sight of while running our businesses.
Running your business is one thing but possessing the swagger to truly be “large and in charge” is a deliberate action. For some becoming the CEO or their company is easy, but for others it takes time. Listen and laugh with us as we discuss how we manage to switch between our CEO hat and our chief bottle washer and cook hat.
Ever met someone and said, “they get it”? Well, meet Nyasha Nyamapfene, Managing Director of Transcend Health Media and Founder of the Gospel Run. Nyasha is proof that you can turn your passion into a successful business. Her story of taking her passion to the next level and letting it guide her on the best way to build it out is truly inspiration and a teachable moment.
About Nyasha...
Nyasha Nyamapfene is a social innovator with a lifelong commitment to equity, social change, and service. She is an advocate for health, human flourishing, and changing the narrative in urban communities.
Nyasha is Founder of Transcend Health Media, a health communications platform that advances equity through health literacy, public health campaigns, and breakthrough health experiences.
For over a decade, Nyasha and her team have produced public health innovations
In 2013, Nyasha created Gospel Run, a nationally-recognized public health platform that inspires a culture of prevention and possibility in urban communities facing the most challenging health disparities. Gospel Run uses faith-based and culturally-resonant strategies to foster physical activity in medically underserved populations, provide social support around protective health behaviors, and facilitate local capacity building by developing community-based health leaders.
Since its initial launch on the south side of Chicago, Gospel Run has inspired thousands of sedentary families and individuals to get active and believe they can be disruptors in their own health lives. Its signature event platform, the Gospel Run 5K, is the first and largest health event experience of its kind in the United States.
As solopreneurs, we take our business serious, but unfortunately not everyone shares that same sentiment. We have been asked to do some crazy things, all kinda legal but still shady, by unnamed folks to further THEIR cause. Of course, we declined all requests, but that doesn’t stop the side-eyes, thoughts of violence and laughter. No matter what, we know that everything we do impacts our brand which is all we have at the end of the day. Over 20+ years in the game and we remain steadfast in our commitment to be the best solopreneurs around.
Many entrepreneurs begin their journey as a solopreneur. While some of us are solopreneur lifers there are a few that the leap into building multi-human empires. We happen to have found one of the most creative and talented people who will most likely forge ahead into entrepreneurship, but at the time of this interview he is building a solid foundation on his own. We are excited to speak with Nigel Smith, Founder and President of Zurena, LLC. Learn how Nigel is developing his product (Zurena, a FABULOUS drink mixer) for the B to C market.
Visit myzurena.com to learn more about Zurena and get your own bottle to enjoy.
Use code:soloceos to get 20% of your purchase through the end of this year!
As solopreneurs we can be the master of many things but from time to time, we need the assistance of an expert or two or three. Over the years we have learned the importance of sourcing the best talent to help our solo businesses stay afloat and prosper. Learn from our OMG WT* to our “Where Have You Been All My Life” moments. There’s strength in numbers, even as a solo business owner. Time to shore up your bench of supporters.
Do you have a guy? Reach out and let us know!
Connect with the SoloCEOs...
www.thesoloceos.com
IG: @soloceosummit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoloCEOSummit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesoloceosummit/
Where to find Terra....
IG: @terra.winston
Twitter: @Terra Winston
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terra.winston.12
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terra-winston-91415/
Where to find Marilyn...
IG: @marilyn.h.j
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.johnson.33
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynjohnson1/
Meet our friend Buck of Buck Davis & Company (https://buckdavis.com/). Buck shares his solopreneur journey, including the highs and lows. Like us, he believes in sharing his knowledge to help others tip toe around some pitfalls and happy dance at the victories of solopreneurship. Buck shares how he has succeeded through uncomfortable times, and the adjustments he has made over the years to remain relevant.
Connect with Buck...
IG: @buckdavis
Twitter: @talktobuckdavis
Get a u_mttr t-shirt: www.shopbuckdavis.com
We often hear aspiring solopreneurs and entrepreneurs state that they want to be their own boss. We wish we had a dollar for every time someone said, “I want to be my own BOSS. I don’t want to answer to anyone”. Welp, we unpack those statements and discuss the real deal on who’s the BOSS of you. You may be surprised at what over 35 years of combined solopreneurship has uncovered.
This is one of the most common questions people want to ask but rarely do. Well, we share our process of pricing our work. It’s definitely not rocket science. More like a spreadsheet on steroids with a lot of head tilts and shoulder shrugs. We want to help save you the time of figuring out this artsy science. No matter what, you never want to leave money on the table.
Welcome to our podcast! The SoloCEOs is a partnership between two fabulously honest solopreneurs; Marilyn Johnson, founder of MHJohnson & Associates, and Terra Winston, founder of inTerractions. As solopreneurs with over 35 years of successfully navigating the business world, Johnson and Winston have amassed a playbook of lessons that are critical for success when going it alone. The SoloCEO podcast is our opportunity to share knowledge from some of the best and brightest solopreneurs in the country.
