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#22: Three Tips for Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur

#22: Three Tips for Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur

There are a lot of folks out here who want to get creative with their careers. Nowhere is this more true than with academics. University professors are oftentimes perfectly situated to leverage the #sidehustlelife. You're doing research, already seen as an expert in...

#21: Why you need a tax ID number and how to get one

#21: Why you need a tax ID number and how to get one

So this won't be the most exciting episode of the Shontavia Show, but it definitely one of the most important for your business! The Internal Revenue Service (yes, the IRS) does not play about it's money, and I want to make sure we both stay out of trouble with...

#20: Finding extra time to start your business

#20: Finding extra time to start your business

If you've ever found yourself saying, "I'm too busy to work on this business idea!" or, "I wish I had more hours in the day to pursue that!," this episode of the Shontavia Show is for you. Life is a roller coaster and it can be incredibly  hard to keep up with it...

#19: How to Use Conferences to Build Your Business

#19: How to Use Conferences to Build Your Business

My little secret is that I’m a strong introvert that feels really, really awkward at conferences. Even so, my participation at conferences has been one of the single-best ways that I’ve honed my skills, grown my brand, and helped real people face-to-face. As...

#17: Copyrights 101 for Content Creators

#17: Copyrights 101 for Content Creators

Do you create social media posts? Write articles/blog posts? Record videos? Take selfies/other pictures? If you do any of these things, you have created work that might be protected by copyright law. If you create any of these things for your brand or business, it's...

#12: How to find a good intellectual property lawyer on a budget

#12: How to find a good intellectual property lawyer on a budget

Finding an intellectual property (IP) lawyer isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. The term "intellectual property" isn't all that familiar to people, and even if you know someone who knows a lawyer, the likelihood of that person being an IP lawyer is slim (it...

#11: Four steps to choosing a business name

#11: Four steps to choosing a business name

Choosing a business name is a bit like naming a child--you want to get it right the first time, because it is a hassle to change it later. Your business's name actually could have even worse consequences--like social media takedown notices, cease and desist letters,...

#9: From Employee to Business Owner with Dr. Nika White

#9: From Employee to Business Owner with Dr. Nika White

You CAN take what you've learned at work + what you're passionate about and turn it into a business. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This seems to be one of adults' favorite questions for kids, right? Interestingly, many adults are still wondering how to...

#8: Building a personal brand from nothing

#8: Building a personal brand from nothing

Building a personal brand from nothing is like building a house from the ground up. First, you have to decide you want to buy. Then, you have to find the right location. After that, you should take care of the legal stuff. Then, and only then, can you lay a foundation...

#7: Creating content that builds your personal brand

#7: Creating content that builds your personal brand

Have you ever had a day where you want to sit at home, kick your feet up, and chill? Me too. Our bodies and minds need this kind of rest. What DOESN'T need this kind of rest is your content---your blog posts, website, social media posts, videos, interviews, podcast...

#6: Thursday Thoughts: How to do better with social media

#6: Thursday Thoughts: How to do better with social media

Last year, I had the best of intentions with my social media. I was going to post more often, grow my following, and spend less time spinning my wheels about what to post. It was going to be beautiful--with videos, photos, and all kinds of amazing graphics. That ain't...

#4: Giving free advice vs. charging for it

#4: Giving free advice vs. charging for it

"Hey, I need to call you! I need your help with something!""Can I pick your brain?""I have a quick question about...." We all know these questions pretty well, right? On the one hand, you're glad people trust you enough to ask for help. But, on the other hand, when...

#3: Starting your business before you’re ready

#3: Starting your business before you’re ready

Starting your business before you're ready is terrifying. But, similar to parenthood, marriage, and adulthood in general, you'll never be 100% ready. Nobody ever has each and every detail worked out. Many of the greatest business owners and entrepreneurs began with...

#22: Three Tips for Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur

#22: Three Tips for Becoming an Academic Entrepreneur

There are a lot of folks out here who want to get creative with their careers. Nowhere is this more true than with academics. University professors are oftentimes perfectly situated to leverage the #sidehustlelife. You're doing research, already seen as an expert in...

read more
#21: Why you need a tax ID number and how to get one

#21: Why you need a tax ID number and how to get one

So this won't be the most exciting episode of the Shontavia Show, but it definitely one of the most important for your business! The Internal Revenue Service (yes, the IRS) does not play about it's money, and I want to make sure we both stay out of trouble with...

read more
#20: Finding extra time to start your business

#20: Finding extra time to start your business

If you've ever found yourself saying, "I'm too busy to work on this business idea!" or, "I wish I had more hours in the day to pursue that!," this episode of the Shontavia Show is for you. Life is a roller coaster and it can be incredibly  hard to keep up with it...

read more
#19: How to Use Conferences to Build Your Business

#19: How to Use Conferences to Build Your Business

My little secret is that I’m a strong introvert that feels really, really awkward at conferences. Even so, my participation at conferences has been one of the single-best ways that I’ve honed my skills, grown my brand, and helped real people face-to-face. As...

read more
#17: Copyrights 101 for Content Creators

#17: Copyrights 101 for Content Creators

Do you create social media posts? Write articles/blog posts? Record videos? Take selfies/other pictures? If you do any of these things, you have created work that might be protected by copyright law. If you create any of these things for your brand or business, it's...

read more
#11: Four steps to choosing a business name

#11: Four steps to choosing a business name

Choosing a business name is a bit like naming a child--you want to get it right the first time, because it is a hassle to change it later. Your business's name actually could have even worse consequences--like social media takedown notices, cease and desist letters,...

read more
#9: From Employee to Business Owner with Dr. Nika White

#9: From Employee to Business Owner with Dr. Nika White

You CAN take what you've learned at work + what you're passionate about and turn it into a business. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This seems to be one of adults' favorite questions for kids, right? Interestingly, many adults are still wondering how to...

read more
#8: Building a personal brand from nothing

#8: Building a personal brand from nothing

Building a personal brand from nothing is like building a house from the ground up. First, you have to decide you want to buy. Then, you have to find the right location. After that, you should take care of the legal stuff. Then, and only then, can you lay a foundation...

read more
#7: Creating content that builds your personal brand

#7: Creating content that builds your personal brand

Have you ever had a day where you want to sit at home, kick your feet up, and chill? Me too. Our bodies and minds need this kind of rest. What DOESN'T need this kind of rest is your content---your blog posts, website, social media posts, videos, interviews, podcast...

read more
#6: Thursday Thoughts: How to do better with social media

#6: Thursday Thoughts: How to do better with social media

Last year, I had the best of intentions with my social media. I was going to post more often, grow my following, and spend less time spinning my wheels about what to post. It was going to be beautiful--with videos, photos, and all kinds of amazing graphics. That ain't...

read more
#4: Giving free advice vs. charging for it

#4: Giving free advice vs. charging for it

"Hey, I need to call you! I need your help with something!""Can I pick your brain?""I have a quick question about...." We all know these questions pretty well, right? On the one hand, you're glad people trust you enough to ask for help. But, on the other hand, when...

read more
#3: Starting your business before you’re ready

#3: Starting your business before you’re ready

Starting your business before you're ready is terrifying. But, similar to parenthood, marriage, and adulthood in general, you'll never be 100% ready. Nobody ever has each and every detail worked out. Many of the greatest business owners and entrepreneurs began with...

read more