Topics, tips and interviews for serious side hustlers and business owners to help you launch, grow, and scale your own business.

I have been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. In that time, I have learned a lot and have had the opportunity to speak to a lot of new and upcoming business owners. I took a $700 investment and turned it into a 7-figure business annually. I love entrepreneurship starting my 1st business in 4th grade. I want to be your biz bestie.

The Become Your Own Boss podcast helps you become the boss of your business by providing you with inspiration, business focused topics & tips, encouragement, and a community that helps you launch, grow and scale your business while also being the boss of every area of your life.

My listeners are small business owners, solopreneurs primarily in the creative business space.
 

After many years of speaking to people starting businesses in my retail store, I noticed many common themes that would ultimately hurt their business. I thought it would be great to start a podcast to help others avoid the mistakes that I have made in business and to bring them tips from other successful entrepreneurs.

I love listening to podcasts. I have been listening since I got my first Ipod in 2008.

The goal is to help early stage business owners and serious side hustlers be successful and have their business last for many years and not fall into the statistics of most small businesses.

I started in 2020 during the start of the pandemic. It took me a couple of weeks to release my first episode once I had made up my mind to start.
 

I release a new episode every Friday morning. I would say it takes a week to produce an episode that includes a guest interview and just a couple of days if it is just me on an episode.

I usually work on my podcast in the evenings or on Mondays when I take the day "off" from my business. I don't really find time...I have to make time. I love it though.

I currently fund the podcast myself. My goal is to change this in the next few months. I would say I spend less than $50 per episode if I don't add in my time.
 

I want to begin taking sponsorships in the next month or two. Currently one of my businesses is the sponsor of each episode.

I am not where I want to be download wise, but I continue to try to put my podcast in front of as many people as possible. I find the most difficult thing with podcasting is that you don't really know who all is listening. Outside of reviews or the comments I may get on Instagram, I have no idea who is listening, the current state of their business, or how I can better serve them. I would love to figure out a better way to get this information and connect with my audience.

Podcasting benefits me because it allows me to meet so many wonderful people through my guests. I have also had the opportunity to do a couple of podcasting workshops to enlightening other on the journey of podcasting or getting started. It has also brought business to my retail store as it is one of the sponsors of several episodes. I also just enjoy sharing my business knowledge.
 

I use Anchor and an editor on Fiverr that I love.

I find guests on Clubhouse, through my business network, and I often have PR firms reach out to me to pitch their clients.

I created a guest form that allows me to collect information that helps me get to know my guest prior to my interview and formulate my questions.

I interview via Zoom currently, but plan on setting up my own studio later in the year to interview people in person if they are local.
 

I use Instagram, Linked In Twitter, Facebook to advertise episodes. The podcast is on many platforms. I also give out business cards and flyers to customers.

I find social media to be the most useful.
 

First piece of advice would be to make a commitment to not give up. Commit to making at least 100 episodes. Things take time to grow.

I would also recommend having 5-7 episode recorded and ready to go prior to launching. This is something I did not do, but wish I would have. I also wish I would have created more of a buzz prior to launching.

I also like the simplicity of Anchor. I can record from anywhere. I recently recorded an episode at a conference in Mexico.
 

More about me: www.monicaallen.com (new website to launch by 4/22)
https://www.instagram.com/becomeyourownbosspodcast/
Email: monica@monicaallen.com
TikTok: @becomeyourownbosspodcast
Businesses: www.s4g.com, www.zeuscloset.com, www.monicaalleninteriors.com, www.becomeyourownboss.school
Donate link: paypal.me/MonicaA1209