5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A Founder with Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis is a Visibility and Publicity Expert who helps established entrepreneurs discover their unique online identity, shape their pitch plan and start landing press quickly.

Co-Founder of The Publicity Place™ , Michelle Lewis is a leading authority on color psychology, brand positioning and publicity strategy. She's helped thousands of entrepreneurs land their dream features and impact their ever-expanding audience with her techniques.

Michelle's journey began in 2016 when she left Hollywood and started with her first e-book, which became an e-course, which became a steadily growing brand.

She currently lives in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho with her husband, pug, and three ducklings - and can't be parted with her garden or fresh brewed iced tea.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I had zero plans to work in PR, but thinking back on it, I’d always had my hands in it. Working with actors, directors, and producers, I was always assembling reels and drawing up press pages as a friend to help them get their names out there. And when we were pitching a tv show I had written and produced, I had to get the word out there about it myself. We ended up premiering at the Gary Marshall theatre and getting a write-up in Hollywood Magazine. Little did I know that - years later - I’d get into entrepreneurship. That led to meeting Kristin Marquet, a renowned publicist that co-authored “Publicity Jumpstart” with me. And now we’re launching a PR business together to help entrepreneurs get their own press.

Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey?

Finding what specific talents you offer in the online space is staggeringly hard. I think we’ve all fallen victim to course-buying fever and thinking our success is dependent on what programs we purchase or masterminds we join. That was my biggest struggle. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to shut it all off and just go with my gut. That was my best advisor.

Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard?

I’m a stubborn lass. And I’ve had a lot of careers that didn’t work. I think most entrepreneurs have. And, for some reason, I refused to let go of this one. Every day I’d do at least one thing to move my business forward. And I think that persistence is the only reason things have grown to where they are today.

So, how are things going today? How did grit and resilience lead to your eventual success? 

Trying was my key. I just refused to stop. That led to me booking TEDx, getting on some major stages like Heart Behind Hustle, Epic Mastermind San Diego, and even BossCon. Behind the scenes, I was always working, tweaking, and testing my products and funnels. That persistence helped me grow slowly but steadily to this point, where my programs run pretty hands-free. And that gave me the opportunity to partner with Kristin with PR.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

There have been so many! I remember going to Melissa Pharr’s event in New York City. I was taping her event and had gotten food poisoning on the plane. Trying to get to her house at 5 am on the train system...well, it’s a miracle I made it. She graciously let me sleep at her place and got me to the event’s hotel so I could rest in my room. Talk about embarrassing! But I gave the event my best and she ended up with some really great footage she used for future events. I think I learned that full transparency and vulnerability are okay. You just have to do your best despite your circumstances!

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

I’ve seen a lot of PR programs or done-for-you services over the years. And I get pitches for my podcast every single day. Honestly? There’s something missing in how people are approaching PR. I see people getting frustrated because either they’re not booking what they want to book or they don’t take action because everything feels too overwhelming.

I think The Publicity Place™ stands out because Kristin and I have a lot of experience working with clients. Kristin has done some of the biggest PR for people worldwide. And I’ve spent a ton of time inside of teams helping them build their PR strategy from within.

That experience has helped us create actionable and easy-to-understand strategies that really work.

For example, I worked with Laura Rike recently within her team. We were able to build up the PR leg of her business and her features just skyrocketed. Podcasts, blogs, publications, she has booked an incredible amount of press. Nothing complicated, just actionable strategies that work.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
I think finding your productivity curve. Coming from Hollywood, I was used to working 15 hour days. So, when I launched my online business, I put in that same work time. What a mistake! It took me a long time to learn to stick with the times I’m most productive. Personally, that means working from 9 am-12 pm. Then, if I need to create some new content or a new program, I do that in the afternoons from 2-4 pm. Sticking to 4-6 hour workdays and batching my tasks has made a huge difference with burnout. Don’t be afraid to shorten your workdays!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I’m grateful for my partner in The Publicity Place™ Kristin Marquet. We co-authored a book together early in my career and I honestly have no idea what she saw in me! But we launched that to Amazon bestseller status and she has always been such a huge support. She was the one that pushed me to get into publicity and now we have this incredible brand. I remember booking my TEDx talk in New York and she instantly said I had to stay with her. Since I was recovering from a back injury, having that kind of friendship meant the world. 

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?  

I’d like to think so! Every month, I have my students choose the cause to donate to. I give to the company Samaritan's Purse, which helps people all over the world. Some months it’s hurricane disaster relief, others are supporting low-income families. It’s a huge passion of mine and something I try to instill in every student. If you’re burdened to lead a business, then I believe you’ve been given a unique burden to help the world in some way. Tapping into that, even if it’s just $1 right now, is so key to helping the planet.

What are your "5 things I wish someone told me before I started leading my company" and why? Please share a story or example for each. 

1. Get unique. There are so many people out there doing exactly what you do. What I do. The best way to differentiate yourself is to pick the very unique part that only you teach. For me, it was color psychology. I had a very different perspective with branding and that’s what booked stages, publications, and podcasts. So get that differentiator as quickly as you can.

2. Keep it small. I think there’s a lot of pressure to grow fast and build a team quickly. I certainly got into the hamster wheel of hiring and outsourcing. For me, it was too much work! It took some time to figure out that all I needed was an amazing VA and a Pinterest manager. That’s it! Figure out what you really need taken off your plate and hire from there.

3. Turn off your notifications. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get any work done if emails, texts, and social notifications are going off constantly. Turning everything off gives me laser-focused time so I can get more done. Nothing is truly an emergency online, right? So I’m not afraid to get back to people on my timeline so I’m less frantic and more focused.

4. Focus on your value ladder. We’re tempted to build out too many products, too many offers, too many opt-ins. I wish I would have sat down with one opt-in, email sequence, and offer earlier on. I beg my students to do this first so they have a very clear path to start with. Because, once it’s built, all you have to focus on is traffic.

5. Focus on visibility, then publicity. There’s a huge misconception in our industry that these terms mean the same thing...they don’t. Visibility is on your own platforms. It’s what you’re doing to attract traffic, subscribers, and customers. Publicity is the next step in sharing your message on other people’s platforms. So I shout this from the rooftops. Get your visibility plan locked in first, then work on your publicity.

Can you share a few ideas or stories from your experience about how to successfully ride the emotional highs & lows of being a founder”? 

There are going to be wonderful moments, then there will be moments of despair as a founder. And there’s honestly equal value in each. I think the best advice would be to not take things personally and not attach too deeply. I think you have to really analyze your personality type. Some people really need support and mentorship. I’m not that way at all. I’m much happier if I’m doing things on my own. Most people around me don’t even know what I do outside of work - I like it that way. Unplugging and getting in my garden or to the lake keeps me balanced and happy. So you have to find what gives you those moments of fresh air. 

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Giving back. There’s too much focus on what we are buying ourselves on social media. If that shifted to where we were giving to help the world, I think that would be much more powerful. More attractive to our customers. And more inspiring to the next generation. If we stopped caring about what our income could buy the US and how it could change OTHERS for the better, that would be the movement I’d want to join.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

You can find us at thepublicityplace.com

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

"If you truly believe in yourself, your idea, and your team, don’t quit just because there are roadblocks" with Madison Catania

Madison Catania is the CEO and Co-Founder of Wildcast, Inc. (gowildcast.com), a patent-pending podcast platform that connects those within the industry through guest and podcast discovery, booking, messaging, and calendaring. The Wildcast marketplace launches in late August/early September 2020 to the public after having soft-launched to early users, including top-charting podcasters and well-known guests in various industries. Madison recently earned her MBA at the Rady School of Management at UCSD (San Diego, CA) and served as a lead producer at a podcast network prior to founding Wildcast.

Can you tell our readers about your background?  

I graduated from Villanova University in 2014 and since graduating, I’ve explored various industries while working in the marketing field, from a tech startup and popular magazine in New York City to hospitality in San Diego. For the past several years, I’ve been a huge fan of podcasts including true crime, pop culture, and current events. I realized the podcast industry was something I wanted to explore professionally, even though it was completely outside of my past experience! I figured why not reach out to some of my favorite podcasts, and by doing so I met a woman in the industry who ultimately led me to where I am today.  

What inspired you to start your business?  

After having worked as Head of Production at a small podcast network, mainly working on top pop culture and reality TV podcasts, I realized there was still so much to do to streamline the podcasting space for those within the industry; the podcasters, producers, guests, and sponsors. Right after finishing my MBA program, my co-founder (who also happens to be my godfather!) and I decided to form Wildcast together. Wildcast is a patent-pending networking platform and marketplace for those within the podcast industry who are looking to connect with new talent, get their messages heard by a new audience, and promote their podcasts. We hope to end the chains of pointless emails and irrelevant pitches by introducing our platform that includes custom calendaring, messaging, and networking abilities to streamline the podcasting industry from within.   

Where is your business based?

We say San Diego because that’s where I am, but my cofounder is on the East Coast and we also have a couple of partners in Los Angeles and Canada. We’re all over the map!  

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I was in an MBA program when I decided to start my business so luckily, there were a lot of resources and tools I was learning in the classroom that helped. I began by making some awful yet useful wireframes to map out what I wanted the final platform to look like. Of course, it looks nothing like that now! We also focused a lot on name, branding, and high-level goals to begin.  

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

In the beginning, our efforts were really just focused on reaching out to those within our personal and professional networks, but as we grew, I turned to social media, particularly Instagram, to connect and discover potential users. We’re also in the process of teaming up with a PR and digital media agency to really push once we’ve launched. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?  

My biggest challenges thus far leading up to launch, have been encountering competitors, copycats, and negative feedback. While it’s of course important to be mindful of others in the space as well as constructive feedback, it’s equally – if not more – important to pursue what our team believes is the best course of action. My co-founder has been critical in getting me through the times when I feel extremely discouraged. If it were not for him, we definitely wouldn’t be where we are today.  

How do you stay focused?

It’s definitely hard to stay focused when there are so many moving parts. I like to break goals down into actionable items that I can cross of a list and really pursue one step or move at a time – otherwise, I tend to get overwhelmed.  

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Because I’ve worked on several podcasts as a producer, we had the first-hand experience of what those within the industry would look for in a platform such as ours. We’ve really been focused on providing the best user experience, branding, and most qualified and quality guests and podcasters. We’re focused on giving our users exactly what they want, so we’ve implemented features based on feedback immediately and plan to continue to do so moving forward.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?  

I love partnering with other businesses or individuals who are aligned in some way, whether that’s through the podcast industry or with those in PR. Finding people who have similar goals is so critical. In that way, you can support each other in a way that makes sense for both parties.  

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

If you truly believe in yourself, your idea, and your team, don’t quit just because there are roadblocks. No one ever had an easy road to meaningful success.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is Canva. I’ve been obsessed with Canva for a VERY long time now. I have no experience in the design whatsoever, but I feel like their site has made it easy for someone even with my lack of experience to create something really compelling.  

My favorite blog at the moment is Hot Pods to keep up with news and resources within the podcast industry.

My favorite book I’ve read recently is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I found myself highlighting new quotes and insights every few pages.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why? 

There are so many but recently, I’ve loved using Wavve.co to build custom content for the podcasts I work on. They make social media promotion simple and beautiful.  

Who is your business role model? Why?

Two women who inspire me in business and beyond are Brene Brown and Michelle Obama. The book, Daring Greatly, has changed my perspective on vulnerability and creating meaningful connections. Both women inspire me to be the most authentic self I can be.

How do you balance work and life?

I make sure to prioritize the things that bring me joy. I find that when I constantly focus on work, I’m actually less productive because I haven’t taken time for other things I enjoy and given myself a chance to recharge. My husband and I always make time for dinner together and take an hour to watch our favorite show or read at the end of the day. I also love going on one-night weekend getaways when possible. Even though it’s only 24 hours away from home, it can still feel like a vacation. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Honestly… listening to podcasts! Some that I listen to involve my full attention but others just feel like you’re hanging out with friends. I also love going for walks with my two dogs, but I have to admit I’m probably listening to podcasts while doing that as well.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

We have some incredible early adopters but we’re focused on scaling over the next six months. We want to make sure to include those from all categories of the podcast space as well as a very diverse range of guests.  

How can our readers connect with you?

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook @gowildcast, and visit our website at gowildcast.com! Please feel free to email me directly at madison@gowildcast.com as well.

"Don’t give up. No one wants to waste time on a failing business, but there is no such thing as an overnight success" with Amber Milt

Amber Milt has decades of experience reporting and producing on-air and digital content for major networks and publications including Fox News Channel, Lifetime Television, BusinessWeek, New Beauty Magazine, and News Channel 12 Bronx/Brooklyn.  Her passion to develop innovative and compelling content – that was not driven by ad dollars and “pay-for-play” ­– led her to create the Art Beauty Podcast.  The weekly show explores the wonderful and wacky world of skincare regimens and rituals, plastic surgery breakthroughs and busts, and how to reinvent yourself one eyelash at a time.  

What inspired you to start your business?

I’d call my podcast more of a passion project.  Having been in the world of content production for magazines, TV, and digital, I was all too familiar with producing branded content and pay-for-play.  And while I don’t doubt that many of today’s editors and influencers are being honest in their reviews, I wanted to create a platform where people could hear the real truth about everything from plastic surgery procedures to the latest developments and technology in beauty products.

Where is your business based?

My living room (New York City) 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Well, I had experience with video production and editing but had zero experience when it came to audio editing.  So, I had to learn the basics of Adobe Audition the good old-fashioned way – YouTube.  Let’s just say the first month was brutal.  I also researched the best audio equipment and podcast setups and purchased what I needed to get started.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The podcast market has become so saturated with content, but luckily, also with listeners.  I wish there was some easy way to get noticed but I think it’s just been a long road of meeting people, sharing on social, and having my guests also promote. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Breaking up with my co-host.  We had started on a journey together but about a year in, his life demanded his attention in other areas, and it was clear that we needed to part ways.  I had done all of the booking, production on the podcast, and most of the weekly tasks of promoting on social and editing the website but finding the courage to continue to produce a show alone was definitely a struggle.  My co-host was not only the ying to my yang, but he added a lot of color and comedy to the show.  There was definitely a lot of wondering if people would simply stop listening to a show without him.  But luckily, the drop-off wasn’t too severe and while I miss working with him dearly, it’s been incredibly rewarding to have guests and listeners write in and tell me how fun and funny they think I can be, too.

How do you stay focused?

I’m a type-A Virgo.  I don’t know anything else.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I think that podcasts are so deeply personal – you either like the host or you don’t.  So, I try to not focus too much on what the competition is doing and instead focus on guests and topics that I find interesting.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

NOT GIVING UP.  About 50 episodes in I was feeling so down that I wasn’t getting a million listeners a show.  And then I had the very lucky opportunity to talk to a friend-of-a-friend who happened to have a very successful podcast, and he said to stick with it.  That it wasn’t until hundreds of episodes in that he was getting such high numbers.  Lately, I’ve been getting emails from strangers who have heard the show and want to recommend a guest or come on the show themselves – it’s the best!

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?  

Don’t give up.  No one wants to waste time on a failing business, but there is no such thing as an overnight success.  There can be an overnight one-off for sure, but success takes time, finessing, and the ability to stick with it.

What’s your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? 

Rent-the-runway.  Even when I don’t need something the idea that I can “shop” an unlimited closet prevents me from wasting so much money on things that I only wear or use once.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I belong to this collective of women entrepreneurs (Dreamers and Doers) and I find that the collective wisdom and willingness to help is priceless. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

My father.  At 77 years young he is still coming up with new business ideas – and actually executing on them.

How do you balance work and life? 

Life comes first.  There’s plenty of times that work is going to demand my attention (and win), but I’ve seen too many people who have sacrificed everything in their lives for their business, and to be honest, they don’t seem really fulfilled.  I guess I live by the “work hard, play harder” motto. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?  

Travel.  I love New York City, but I literally need to leave it to calm down. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life to be able to see a great deal of the world, and this has been a particularly challenging year with Covid-19 and the fact that I couldn’t hop on a plane and getaway.  Also, Homescapes and Gardenscapes. Between the two apps, I’m on level 4,000.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I’ve got guests booked for the next 6 weeks (which is the most I’ve had in a while).  I’ve also planned a few local getaways.  But I don’t really have a plan and I’m okay with that because it works for me.  Plus, everyone who answered this question in late 2019 got it wrong. 

How can our readers connect with you?

Of course, I would love for them to listen and subscribe to the show.  The Art Beauty Podcast is on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and YouTube.  They can also feel free to write me at hello@artbeautypodcast.com ­– I love hearing what they like, and also what they don’t like (so long as we spark a conversation, not a fire).

"I underestimated my value and so did my audience" with Debbie Arcangeles

Debbie is a remote entrepreneur and host of The Offbeat Life. A podcast where she interviews individuals who are location independent and remote entrepreneurs. She is an expert at turning hobbies into profitable businesses and monetizing podcasts. Debbie is also the founder of Howtocreateapodcast.com, an all in one resource for learning how to start and take your podcast from hobby to profitable business.

Can you tell our readers about your background? 

Hi, my name is Debbie Arcangeles and I am the founder of The Offbeat Life, a website and podcast that helps people how to become a remote worker and entrepreneur. I am also the founder of Howtocreateapodcast.com, a site where I share helpful resources on how to start, grow, and monetize a podcast. Before I started my podcast, I was unhappy with my 9–5 and wanted to find a way to gain more freedom through location independence. A year and a half after I started my show, I was able to leave a full-time job to become a full-time content creator. This new path has allowed me to work from anywhere, travel the world, and learn how to turn my hobby into a profitable business.

What inspired you to start your business? 

I started my business from my personal need to be able to leave my 9-5 and create freedom for myself as a remote entrepreneur. I knew that if I had this issue, others would have it too, so in order to help myself and others like me, I created a site and podcast that helps others learn how to become remote workers and entrepreneurs. Little did I know it would grow into a sustainable business and would help thousands of people transition to a life they truly want to live. 

Where is your business based?

I am usually based in NYC, but you can find me anywhere in the world at any given time since I am location independent! 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The first step I took was to figure out my niche and to understand my ideal audience so I can provide valuable information.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business? 

I have found that the most effective way of raising awareness for my business is by getting exposure from other creators and doing collaborations. It is a great way to tap into other people’s audiences that are similar to mine in a short amount of time. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Before starting my current business, I had already failed three. One of the biggest challenges that I had to overcome is wanting to make everything perfect. The website had to be perfect, the logo, and everything else. I kept waiting to launch and it stopped me from going forward and making a profit.

Another obstacle that I faced was being afraid to ask for money and thought that giving valuable information was more important. Although giving valuable information is definitely crucial, asking to get paid for your expertise is just as important. I underestimated my value and so did my audience. As time passed, they expected all my content to be free, which made it harder for me to sell my products.

With my current business, I have been able to learn the balance between free content and paid so that my lifestyle and business will be sustainable and profitable.

How do you stay focused?

It can definitely be hard to stay focused every day. But what I found to be helpful in creating a solid routine for myself and to make a daily checklist that I need to accomplish. This allows me to stay on task and be more accountable for my actions. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

There will always be another person out there who will do something similar to your business. But what makes my business different is me. My experiences, my capabilities, and my personality. Aside from myself, I also run a business that shares tons of proven methods and strategies that my audience will be confident to use because it has been tried and tested by myself or other experts!

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

One of the most effective marketing strategies that I have used is to collaborate with other creators in a similar niche. It has been a great way to tap into other people’s audiences and get brand awareness that is more organic.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Stay persistent, focused, and trust your instincts. It can be easy to get distracted and give up when things are not going well, but persistence and focus is the key to longevity in any business. Instead of giving up, think of ways to change the strategies that are not working for your business, ask for help, and always trust your gut.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

The books that I absolutely love are “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss, “Secrets of a Millionaire Mind” by T. Harv Eker and of course “4 Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferris.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

The tools that I have used to help me are Evernote, Trello, Google sheets/docs, and Gmail. I use these tools every day to create my checklist and communicate with my team.

Who is your business role model? Why?

A few of my business role models are some of my closest friends such as Esther Julee and Jacob Fu who are the founders of LocalAdventurer.com. Another business role model I have is Marissa Anwar who is the founder of DarlingEscapes.com. They have taught me so many valuable lessons about a business that are crucial to my success.

I am also very much in awe of Melanie Perkins who is the founder of Canva. Not only is her idea genius but everyone I know uses that amazing tool!

How do you balance work and life?

Balancing life and business can be extremely hard but I have learned the hard way that success does not amount to much if you do not have the people you love around you. So, I always make it a priority to connect with close friends and family several times a week and do date nights with my fiancé every week. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I love binging on Netflix shows, read a good book, or just take naps.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

In the next 6-months, my team and I are systemizing and marketing our digital products and virtual offerings to our audience that will help them land remote gigs, and start podcasts.

How can our readers connect with you?

I would love to connect with everyone on Instagram @theoffbeatlife, Facebook @theoblife

If you want to find remote gigs and listen to my podcast you can visit theoffbeatlife.com

If you want to learn how to start a podcast visit howtocreateapodcast.com 

Feel free to say hello, I’d love to connect with you!