Episode 65

Episode 065: Is It All About The Money? End of Season 4 Message

Although this is the End of Season 4 message, Monique answers an incoming question from a listener: "Is it all about the money?"

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Transcript
Monique Mills:

Hello everyone.

Monique Mills:

And welcome back to the unpolished MBA podcast.

Monique Mills:

And I'm your host, Monique mills.

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Now, if there are any first time listeners today, just know that today.

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Marks the end of season four.

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Yes.

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Season four.

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So you got to go back and you got to go and listen to some of

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the blasts from the past, right?

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So this would be episode 65.

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And this is representing the end of season four.

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So there's tons of stuff from the previous seasons that I know you'll enjoy.

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And just with, just as with anything.

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Okay.

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It evolves over time.

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So some of the earlier episodes from let's say season one and season two.

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May feel different than the most recent ones from season four, because as

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you guys know who has been listening for a while, I switched things up.

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I'm like, Hey, I'm getting bored.

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Right.

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I'm getting bored with the same old way of doing a podcast.

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I mean, it's.

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It's time for me to remix and mix things up a bit.

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And so that's what I did.

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right in the middle of season four, one of the things that I used to do,

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if you listen to earlier episodes is I would ask people the same two questions.

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are you an entrepreneur or corporate employee MBA or no MBA?

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And that was important because I would get that's really the

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whole premise of this podcast.

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I would get so many questions from folks that were.

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want to be entrepreneurs.

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Or we're currently entrepreneurs and we're like, Hey, I'm just not doing this.

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Right.

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Like something must be wrong, is it because I don't have MBA?

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And I don't know the things that.

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Other people know, like I'm not really sure.

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And I'm just like, no.

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That is not it.

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I do not believe you need an MBA to be successful in business.

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What you need is to surround yourself with other people who

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have done it and who are doing it.

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And that's all of us that are on this podcast.

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And I talk about other things as well, I'm a mother, I'm a wife like raising

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kids, the craziest things, as far as like, things that they've been willing to do and

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just kind of go out there and take risks.

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And it's really because of what they see me doing, my husband doing a C us.

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Taking risks and things in our careers.

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And so one of the things that I mentioned in season four, and I actually have

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a episode with my daughter, she just randomly, it seemed random to me, but,

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And it wasn't random to her.

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She applied to Stanford university and got in.

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And so she completed a full semester as a she's still in high school.

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She was only a 10th grader when she decided she was going to apply, to take

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summer classes there for credits, in her.

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Aspirations to one day become a surgeon.

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So that's her, her school that she loves and all of that.

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And so she applied and then she told us later, after she got

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And then, we went through that whole thing where it's okay,

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how much is it going to cost?

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And so, but she ended up going, she got straight A's and, so

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she's completed a semester of college, one of the other Episodes.

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I talk about my son.

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And my husband almost making it to, top chef.

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Family version.

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So there was one time my, my son had asked if he could go to the

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auditions for master chef junior.

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And that's when he was maybe like 10.

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And he made it all the way through to the final round.

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And then they ended up canceling that season.

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So he didn't end up going on and it was like, no big

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Well, during a pandemic.

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we got a message from top chef.

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It's a different show on TV.

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And he was like, sure, why not?

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I know how to cook.

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I've been through this thing before, blah, blah, blah.

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And this kid along with my husband had to be his partner

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because this was a family edition.

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This kid.

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Ended up making it all the way to the pilot episode.

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So they flew him out to LA and they was at the studio, a secret location,

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like all of this crazy stuff.

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so I share those stories on the podcast because number one, they're interesting.

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And it's over to the regular mundane stuff and we're just regular people.

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And I always want to show people.

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Just what's possible.

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You just say what's the worst that can happen and just try stuff you, right.

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So I share, some of those things, does that are personal stories because.

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People have told me that it has impacted them in their lives and your kids.

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And that's why I'm continuing to do it.

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I do the podcast and I, for me, I do it so that I'm able to have

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an impact with other people.

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And so that's what we accomplish here.

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So I want you to go back and listen to some of the old episodes.

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And, I used to do this thing in season.

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For call Thursday thoughts.

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And those don't actually have episode numbers.

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it's just called Thursday thoughts and it's like, assess title.

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So if you're kind of interested in some of those like thoughts I have about things.

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real life situations, entrepreneurship.

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parenthood, whatever it is, being a working mom.

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Thursday, thoughts is really where it's at.

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So go back and listen to some of those.

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I can tell you that in season four, there were really very memorable guests.

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And I will just say, if you are like, kind of curious about some of the

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guests, just go ahead and Google them.

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Like, you know what I'm, you know how people say, Google me, Hey, just go

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ahead and Google some of these folks.

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But if we're not connected on LinkedIn, Then you probably

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wouldn't see that some of these people are actually my connection.

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So if we're not connected on LinkedIn, go ahead and search me up on LinkedIn,

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connect with me, and then you can connect and actually see in real life.

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some of these people and actually reach out to them as

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But there are some really interesting people just in the world.

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Right.

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And just doing stuff.

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And I just said, not too long ago on Twitter, I had posted something

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and I'm like, you know what?

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I woke up from a And this is going to come up on an app on an upcoming episode that

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we've already recorded for season five.

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But I'm just going to tell you this right now is that, I woke up

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out of a nap and, for some reason, Episodes of the hope or show.

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I was playing on my TV, like the YouTube channel.

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So we have a smart TV.

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you can play YouTube from it.

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And it was old episodes of the Oprah Winfrey show playing.

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When I woke up, I'm like, how'd that

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I know how it happens with the algorithm.

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And one thing leads into the, another leads into another.

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But I don't remember watching anything now was even a tad bit

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related to the Oprah Winfrey show.

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Needless to say.

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I woke up and of course I am watching now I'm watching the Oprah

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Winfrey show and I'm like, oh wow.

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I remember.

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this episode or this point that was made from this episode when I was a little kid.

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So I was thinking I'm like, wow, these are just regular people on her show.

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Like she would put out, calls for people, Hey, if you're having

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this problem or that problem, or if you've been in this situation,

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And people would respond to the call and show and be on the show and actually

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know a couple of people who were on the Oprah show when she was still on the air.

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And as I was watching it, it was just so much more interesting than

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constantly watching celebrities talk about themselves and all that stuff,

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which is what we get a lot now, like,

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So many celebrities have their own podcast and, Netflix, not Netflix.

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what's the other one, like YouTube channel where they recorded near show.

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and then.

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There are just like different little, networks where basically they're

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using their podcast or their platform.

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Just to really interview their friends and just spotlight themselves even more.

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And it's just like, all right, cool.

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Like I love Kevin Hart.

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He's funny.

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I love all the slavery's.

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Don't get me wrong.

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They're funny.

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They're great.

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But I'm tired of hearing about them.

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And if I want to hear about them, I can literally just go on Instagram

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and see the same version of them that they're giving on these podcasts.

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They are not.

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Besides, if you were into like a pop culture, if you know the one like

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podcast show called shrink champs.

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Like folks, for whatever reason they get on that show.

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And they like spill beans that they never really spilled before.

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Now I'm not doing an endorsement of that.

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I'm just trying to give you an example of one that's a little bit

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different, but for mostly everybody else is like celebrities viewing

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celebrity, interviewing celebrities.

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And this list enough is boring.

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So I actually miss.

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Hearing the stories and the insights and the feelings and

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thoughts of just regular people, because that's what most of us are.

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And the term regular doesn't mean that the celebrities are any better than us.

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Like, no, they're just putting themselves out there in a way

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that, they're using their.

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popularity.

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to, make money.

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Okay.

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That's cool.

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The rest of us, aren't doing it.

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Like we're actually trying to provide a certain type of value or service.

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two people in kind of a business sway or something like that.

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And we're not necessarily interested in everyone.

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Knowing our name, like, that's just not what we're about.

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And that's.

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That's I consider us regular people.

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We're living lives and we're taking care of families and ourselves, and we're

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going to the gym and hanging out with our friends and, going to our kids' games

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or, going to work, driving in to work.

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some people are back to doing that and have long commutes

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and things of that nature.

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And these types of podcasts, especially like mine.

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Like I'm hoping to just kind of give you some little.

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Like, Hey, there's other people that have done what you're doing right now.

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And, they have climbed to even a higher level than where you are,

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and this is how they've done it.

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And you can get that message in like 30 minutes flat or less.

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Right.

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And so that's what this podcast is about, but I'm just so

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thankful to like, make it to.

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Episode, this is 65 right now.

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And the next ones to come up are going to be equally as inspiring and

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thoughtful and things of that nature.

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So.

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If you guys want to text me a question, you also know you have

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that option and that's something new I added in season four.

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Right now I am going to answer a question that came to me today.

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and I know I don't put the answers to questions on every episode, but this

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one right here, it really kind of, I don't know, it was kind of like shade.

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I considered it a low shade.

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But that's the problem with written communication is you cannot discern.

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The intent of it.

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Like you read it in the voice that you think the other people,

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the other person may have.

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And.

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And I could be totally wrong in thinking that.

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this question was kind of shade because.

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If you guys, know a little bit about me, I'm focused on revenue for companies

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like my, I'm all about strategy.

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Of course.

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And the strategy leads to the revenue.

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Like if it's not going to lead to revenue in these businesses,

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then what is the point?

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Right.

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And so.

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You're in business to make money you're in business to employ

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people so that they can make money.

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And so that everyone can take care of their families.

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take care of themselves that they get sick, buy groceries, retire,

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whatever it is like, that's the way of our capitalistic society.

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So.

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Someone message and said, Why don't you focus so much on revenue?

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Is it all about the money?

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So at first I'm like, okay, I am a consultant.

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And I don't let just anybody book meetings with me and, take up all my time.

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Picking my brain.

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Like I don't give those kinds of meetings.

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So some people.

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Are offended that they.

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I don't, Just do complimentary calls and there is a fee.

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If you want to get any kind of advice.

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from me rather as career wise or business wise, like if you're taken away from

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me being able to do something else with my time that provides for my family.

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So if I decide to volunteer my time, I'll volunteer my time, but

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it doesn't mean it'll be with you.

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Okay.

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and I.

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I, I have the ability to choose how and when, and with whom I decide to do that.

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And so sometimes people get offended and be like, oh, she's just all about the

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money and is that's what I do for living.

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Hi, this is a business.

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TPM focuses a business and also have the acquisition company, focus

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innovation group, their businesses, and exists to make money, to hire people

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so that they can make money to take care of their families, X, Y, and Z.

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Right?

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All the things I just

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And so.

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Of course, because I get those kinds of messages and summit.

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Oh, sentiments is huh?

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Well, I just got a quick question.

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Like, first of all, when talking to me, there's no such thing as a quick question.

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Any of you who listened to this podcast or have worked with me or have met me

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in person or have done projects with me.

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There's no such thing as a quick question with me because.

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Everything is deeper than what you think it is.

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Right.

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And so your question.

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you may think is simple one, but there's so much more to it.

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Layers.

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To it.

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That I You know, I would be remiss to just overlook it and give

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you a very surface level answer.

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I'm not a surface level.

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Person.

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I'm an in-depth person.

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So be, I don't know how to turn it on and off.

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Maybe if I knew how to turn it on and off.

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It wouldn't be so bad, but there's no such thing as a, a question about

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business with me that takes, five minutes there, there is no such thing.

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There's so much more to it.

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so anyways, that question comes in.

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Why do you focus so much on revenue?

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Is it all about the money?

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So, you know what?

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I was like Listen, I'm focused.

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On the translation of innovation results to society.

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Okay.

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And that's that on that?

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I even put this on my LinkedIn.

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Feed today because I couldn't wait for the episode to be released.

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Answered.

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That question.

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So I'm like, okay.

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I can understand when someone says it's all about the money.

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you can take that a couple of ways.

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So I said I'm focused.

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Here I'm telling you I'm focused on the translation of

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innovation results to society.

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And the way results are shown in our capitalistic society is through revenue.

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Somebody has to be willing to pay for it; whatever it is that you're

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selling or whatever idea that you have.

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Now, this one may seem like a little bit of a clap back, but.

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It was really my response to that question.

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Right.

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So build a business.

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somebody has to be focused on revenue, and if it's not you as the

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CEO and the founder, You won't be in business for long and that's for sure.

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And also outside of that, just remember why you're in business.

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You're in business to have an impact, right.

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So if you don't focus on revenue and of course revenue is a complex thing.

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It includes serving people and having customer success and all of

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those things, marketing sales, like all of that is tied into revenue.

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Okay.

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It's all connected and it all needs to be in alignment in order for revenue to even

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be the result of all of those actions.

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So.

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If you're not focused on revenue, you won't be in business for

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And also with that.

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Your desired impact on society, won't be realized.

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My question to anyone who is listening to this and whoever submitted that question.

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Especially is what difference does it make?

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If your great idea.

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Doesn't do anything to improve, simplify or enhance the lives of others.

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Like what's the point in doing all of this then?

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Entrepreneurship is tough.

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What's the point in doing all of this?

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You have to know that the outcome of a business has to be revenue.

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most of the companies I work with are just starting to, or want to

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put a new innovation into the world or they want to enter a new market.

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And so basically both things they're starting from scratch.

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So with that.

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You may not be profitable at first.

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So I just want people to understand that.

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There's a difference between having revenue and having profitability

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to go list to have profitability.

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But when you're first getting started, you have costs that typically exceed the

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amount of revenue you have coming in.

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But I want to guarantee that revenue is not zero because I know way too

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many companies that could be great.

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If they follow through on some of the ideas and things that they have in a more

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strategic So that the company was able to generate revenue and sustain itself.

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So.

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I'm going to end this episode and thank you all so much for joining me for wow.

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65 episodes.

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And, Hanging in there through the breaks and a hiatus and the changes, and the

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balding, way that the podcast is set up.

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I really appreciate all of you who listen and who contact me to be on the podcast.

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that's the cool part.

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So all of you guys that have been on here and I've interviewed over

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the years, just thank you so much.

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And if any of you guys have a new message and you want to

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come back and share, other.

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Things that you're working on, feel free to do so because I have

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a good time talking to you all.

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So with that, I want to thank you all for listening to the unpolished MBA.

Monique Mills:

And I'll catch you on the next episode.

About the Podcast

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About your host

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Monique Mills

Monique Mills is a degreed electrical engineer turned serial entrepreneur. Though she has an MBA, she wants to debunk the myth that you need one to be successful in business, innovation, or entrepreneurship. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER GO TO MONIQUEMILLS.BIZ