In 2015 I attended LaunchPad 2x and it was a life changing experience for me.  The program was started by Mrs. Bernie Dixon.  When I went into the program I was just an entrepreneur, but when I graduated I had the mindset of a CEO.  I met so many Wonder Women in the program who were doing some amazing things.  From tech to food to laundry to lighting just so many talented women.  Some of these women have become my friends and I want to thank Bernie for the opportunity to take part in such a great program

LaunchPad 2x 2018 Is Ready To Start A New Class.  
Atlanta-based Launchpad2X (LP2X) announces its final call for applicants to its 2018 highly successful entrepreneurship program designed to support women business owners. Women founders and CEOs will learn how to accelerate growth through intensive entrepreneurial workshops, mentor matching, and experiential exercises. The program also addresses a confidence gap that often exists with women entrepreneurs by presenting the facts about how women perceive their competence and how they actually outperform those perceptions.

“Having a network of other highly motivated and supportive women CEOs is a gamechanger,” says Futurus founder and CEO and LP2X 2016 graduate Annie Eaton. “Looking at my company’s history, I can directly track the ‘before LaunchPad2X’ and the ‘after LaunchPad2X’ point. While I was pushing along with my business, it lacked the structure it needed, and LP2X was the jump start to kick it into high gear and grow. Since the program, I have grown from two employees (founders) to a full-time staff of 10. I have increased my revenue by 400 percent year-over-year and I’m on track to do that again in 2018. I could not be more grateful for the resources and education, as well as the extremely valuable network that LaunchPad2X has given to me.”

“We call it ‘rocket fuel for women-owned businesses’ because so many of our graduates ‘take off’ following their Launchpad2X experience,” says LP2X Chairman and Founder Bernie Dixon. “We have over 120 graduates and 90 percent are still in business. The average growth rate is 200 percent a year and we’ve had six successful investment exits. This program works, starting with the intense three-day boot camp that challenges women to rise up to their potential, and then monthly master classes and networking among the alumni and advisors.”
Workshops at the boot camp are designed and delivered by subject matter experts who are passionate about helping women-led organizations gain critical business knowledge, boost revenue, and manage risk. Participants interact with local business leaders, venture capitalists, angel investors, and successful entrepreneurs who’ve built some of Atlanta’s most recognized brands. The application deadline is August 30, 2018. Twenty-five companies will be selected for the 2018 session, which takes place October 1 - 4.
Although women outpace men in launching companies, studies show that women-led and women-owned businesses grow slower and remain smaller than those of their male counterparts.

“Women have access to a scant few percent of the growth capital available, and that has to change,” says Dixon. “It shouldn’t be this hard for women to access what they need and deserve to grow their businesses. In fact, the current situation isn’t just destructive to women. It is destructive to our economy. We need the creativity and drive from women founders to grow impactful solutions and provide jobs. I am inspired by the women I have met through this program and I am passionate about arming them with the resources, confidence, and C-level business skills they need to grow and prosper.”

About the Launchpad2X 2018 Boot Camp 
The three-day LP2X program covers a range of developmental courses addressing business strategy, financial acumen, creating and managing a board of directors, how to deal with potential investors, and adopting a CEO-leadership style. The program concludes with an individual coaching and advisory session designed to provide one-on-one guidance and address company-specific issues. Following graduation, alumni are eligible for LP2X membership where they will have access to monthly workshops and a vast network of supportive professionals.

To apply, fill out the digital application at https://www.launchpad2x.com/3-day-core-program.
For questions, more information, or details about corporate sponsorship please email holly(at)launchpad2X(dot)com.

I'm not a Buddist, but I really liked this picture.  The strangest thing happen to me this morning.  I was sound asleep, when I heard a voice say to me "Believe".  I woke up because I was shocked.  It was around 6:40am right before my clock went off at 7.  I don't know why this word came to me, but I decided that Monday would from now on be motivation Monday and I would blog about a word or a quote for the day.  All day long I've been thinking about what this could mean.  Was it that I am not believing or is there something that I should be believing?  I don't know what it meant, but I do know that in order for you to achieve or accomplish anything you must first believe that you can.  There is an old saying that if believe can or if you believe you can't you are right.  In my case I am believing that I can.  I can do anything that I set my mind to.  There have been times when I was working on a project and my belief wasn't that strong.  I had made up these crazy stories in my head why people wouldn't support me or buy from me and guest what?  Because I believed that they wouldn't they couldn't and they didn't.  They couldn't because I would not even put myself, product or service out there, so they had no way of knowing that I even existed, so they couldn't support me or buy my product or service.  

Those days are long behind me.  Maybe the word believe came to me so that I could share it here.  I don't know, but because it's motivation Monday this your word for the day.  

BELIEVE accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.

I hope that you were inspired by this word and if you were leave me a comment below.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!​
Audrey

This short video was very inspirational.  It features Ms. Sheila Johnson who was one of the originals founders of BET and Mr. & Mrs. Brown of Brown Capital Management.  They share there thoughts on being a part of the 1% of Americans who are wealthy.  There aren't that many African Americans who are in this class as compared to Whites who are in this class.  I'm really proud of their accomplishments and I'm inspired to be in a position to leave generational wealth to my children and grand children.  

I hope this short video inspires you too.
Until Next Time 
Make It A Great Day!
​Audrey

You may or may not have heard of streaming media by now.  If you've heard of a little company called Netflix, chances are you know what streaming media is.  Streaming media is definitely an industry that is growing rapidly.  I launched my streaming media company HerTube 5 years ago and it is online, on Roku and on Amazon Fire TV.  We have over 90k subscribers to our Roku channel and we're in 52 countries around the world.  Over the past 5 years I've seen so many changes to the industry and so many new players.  Just last month Reese Whitherspoon launched her own streaming media company.  You maybe asking yourself why would she want to launch a streaming media company when she is already a mega movie star?  Well because she controls what content is streamed on her platform and how her company is run.  The market is open and powerful and you can own a company just like Netflix if you can get enough content to power your platform.

Just recently fitness cycling company Peloton decided to launch their own streaming company.  For those of you who don't know what Peloton is, it is company that manufacture a fitness spin bike and you can ride along with instructors who are live from around the world.  Peloton sees the benefit of live streaming, but it also see that just like Netflix they can charge a subscription fee to their members who want to ride along with global instructors.  They already reach millions of viewers around the world via live streaming, with their new platform they will now be able to also reach that on demand market who missed the 6:30 am class, but like the instructor and would like to take the class when they get home.  I must admit that just from the commercials that I see on TV I'm very tempted to join the Peloton community.

Streaming media is moving fast and my question to you is are you doing something that can be lived streamed and later put on demand for later viewing that could possibly add another revenue stream to your bottom line?

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!
Audrey

I decided to do a video today.  I haven't done one in such a long time.  In this video I give an update on what I've been up to and what I have coming up.  I talk about real estate and what I learned about the industry especially if you are looking at real estate as a career of business opportunity.  I'm really excited to be going into that industry and increasing my portfolio.  So check out the video and leave me a comment.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!
Audrey

I just love to read stories like these.  There is so much information out there to help you start a business.  Starting a McDonald's seems way out of reach for most, but not for the young lady you are about to read about.  28-year old Jade Colin from New Orleans has made history as the youngest Black woman to ever become a McDonald's franchise owner. While in college, she started her career as an employee working the night shift at a local McDonald's, and after years of earning promotions and awards, she decided to purchase her very own franchise.
​
Her inspiration
For as long as she can remember, Jade has been an independent spirit. She also had a good example to follow from her entrepreneurial parents who purchased their first McDonald’s franchise in 2010.

After graduating from the University of Louisiana in 2012 with a degree in business management, Jade decided to apply for the Next Generation program for children of McDonald’s owners.

After finishing that intensive two-year training program, she became a manager of her parent's franchise... and immediately began planning to open a franchise of her own.

Her philosophies

During a recent interview with TheBlackProfessional.com, Jade shared some valuable points, "Take the risk and know that it will be a lot of hard work."

"Network and have a core team of genuine mentors. You need people who are in your corner that will positively motivate you. I say 'genuine' because not everyone will have your best interest at heart," she added.

She also firmly believes in helping others, and she gives back to her community whenever she can. She even mentors her employees to finish high school and pursue entrepreneurship.

Jade concluded, "As an African American community, we need more men and women to know that it’s not just about right now, but it’s about the generations to come.”
Jade is living proof that you can do anything you put your mind to.  I don't even know her, but I am so proud of what she has accomplished at such young age.  I will keep following her, because this is only the beginning for this dynamic young woman.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!
Audrey
​

I recently got braces because I was so self-conscious about my teeth.  So much so that I used to do a video almost every day and I stopped because in my mind people would not hear my message, but instead pay attention to the spaces in my teeth.  Video is powerful, but because I had this thing with my teeth, I haven't done a video in a while even though I know video is such a great marketing tool.  I let my thoughts about my teeth become a block for what I was trying to create and make happen.  I new that I had to find a solution to this problem if I intended to use video to continue to help me grow my business.  I got the braces and although they hurt like hell because my teeth are moving, I will start to use video again to help market my business.  You will see more video blog posts here from me, because I like doing videos, I was just worried about how my teeth were affecting my brand.  In reality it might not have affected it at all, but that is the crazy story that I was telling myself and that was keeping me from moving forward.

So I have a question for you today.  What's blocking you from moving forward in your business, your life or your career?  Leave me a comment below.
Until Next Time 
Make It A Great Day!
Audrey

I've had a very interesting year so far.  I started a magazine, then shut it down.  I thought about selling my TV network, but decided to keep it.  I was just going through a moment of confusion about what I wanted to do next.  I really didn't feel like starting another venture only to discover I really did not want to do it.  Then I thought back to what I loved doing even if I didn't get paid and that was radio and podcasting.  I started on radio back in 2003.  I did a Saturday morning show every Saturday at 7:30 am and the crazy thing is I didn't make a dime, but I loved doing it.  Then in 2004 I started podcasting.  Every Tuesday morning at 9am I would go live on Blog Talk Radio and interview entrepreneurs and authors.  While I was doing that I started doing another show on local radio which I did for two years.  When I stopped doing BlogTalk Radio I had done over 200 episodes.  I started back doing podcasting in 2015, but I could not figure out how to make a living doing it, so I stopped to focus on my other businesses, so I could earn some money.  The funny thing is that none of what I was doing brought me joy the way that podcasting did. 

After some careful thought and reflection, I've decided that once and for all I'm going to do what I love and stop chasing money.  I will let God figure out the money part and I will do my part and line up some great guest and have them share their stories of inspiration, trials, tribulation and success.  That being said I will be back on the air in August, so stay tuned.  If you don't want to miss an episode be sure to sign up for my newsletter below to get my weekly updates.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day
Audrey