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Episode 065: Is It All About The Money? End of Season 4 Message
Episode 657th October 2022 • Unpolished MBA • Unpolished MBA
00:00:00 00:18:47

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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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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/

Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/

TPM Focus - Revenue-Focused Strategy for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

Transcripts

Monique Mills:

Hello everyone.

Monique Mills:

And welcome back to the unpolished MBA podcast.

Monique Mills:

And I'm your host, Monique mills.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Marks the end of season four.

Monique Mills:

Yes.

Monique Mills:

Season four.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

the blasts from the past, right?

Monique Mills:

So this would be episode 65.

Monique Mills:

And this is representing the end of season four.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And just with, just as with anything.

Monique Mills:

Okay.

Monique Mills:

It evolves over time.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

I mean, it's.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And so that's what I did.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

whole premise of this podcast.

Monique Mills:

I would get so many questions from folks that were.

Monique Mills:

want to be entrepreneurs.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And I don't know the things that.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And I'm just like, no.

Monique Mills:

That is not it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

What you need is to surround yourself with other people who

Monique Mills:

have done it and who are doing it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

just kind of go out there and take risks.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Taking risks and things in our careers.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And it wasn't random to her.

Monique Mills:

She applied to Stanford university and got in.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

summer classes there for credits, in her.

Monique Mills:

Aspirations to one day become a surgeon.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

how much is it going to cost?

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

I talk about my son.

Monique Mills:

And my husband almost making it to, top chef.

Monique Mills:

Family version.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

auditions for master chef junior.

Monique Mills:

And that's when he was maybe like 10.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And then they ended up canceling that season.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Well, during a pandemic.

Monique Mills:

we got a message from top chef.

Monique Mills:

It's a different show on TV.

Monique Mills:

And he was like, sure, why not?

Monique Mills:

I know how to cook.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

because this was a family edition.

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This kid.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

like all of this crazy stuff.

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

Monique Mills:

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.

Monique Mills:

Just what's possible.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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.

Monique Mills:

And so that's what we accomplish here.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And, I used to do this thing in season.

Monique Mills:

For call Thursday thoughts.

Monique Mills:

And those don't actually have episode numbers.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

real life situations, entrepreneurship.

Monique Mills:

parenthood, whatever it is, being a working mom.

Monique Mills:

Thursday, thoughts is really where it's at.

Monique Mills:

So go back and listen to some of those.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

guests, just go ahead and Google them.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

ahead and Google some of these folks.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

some of these people and actually reach out to them as

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

And just doing stuff.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

and I'm like, you know what?

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

we've already recorded for season five.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

So we have a smart TV.

Monique Mills:

you can play YouTube from it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

I know how it happens with the algorithm.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

related to the Oprah Winfrey show.

Monique Mills:

Needless to say.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Winfrey show and I'm like, oh wow.

Monique Mills:

I remember.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

constantly watching celebrities talk about themselves and all that stuff,

Monique Mills:

which is what we get a lot now, like,

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

and then.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

using their podcast or their platform.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Like I love Kevin Hart.

Monique Mills:

He's funny.

Monique Mills:

I love all the slavery's.

Monique Mills:

Don't get me wrong.

Monique Mills:

They're funny.

Monique Mills:

They're great.

Monique Mills:

But I'm tired of hearing about them.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

They are not.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

podcast show called shrink champs.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Now I'm not doing an endorsement of that.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

different, but for mostly everybody else is like celebrities viewing

Monique Mills:

celebrity, interviewing celebrities.

Monique Mills:

And this list enough is boring.

Monique Mills:

So I actually miss.

Monique Mills:

Hearing the stories and the insights and the feelings and

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

that, they're using their.

Monique Mills:

popularity.

Monique Mills:

to, make money.

Monique Mills:

Okay.

Monique Mills:

That's cool.

Monique Mills:

The rest of us, aren't doing it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And we're not necessarily interested in everyone.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And that's.

Monique Mills:

That's I consider us regular people.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

or, going to work, driving in to work.

Monique Mills:

some people are back to doing that and have long commutes

Monique Mills:

and things of that nature.

Monique Mills:

And these types of podcasts, especially like mine.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

and this is how they've done it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

thankful to like, make it to.

Monique Mills:

Episode, this is 65 right now.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

thoughtful and things of that nature.

Monique Mills:

So.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

I considered it a low shade.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

The intent of it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

the other person may have.

Monique Mills:

And.

Monique Mills:

And I could be totally wrong in thinking that.

Monique Mills:

this question was kind of shade because.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

like my, I'm all about strategy.

Monique Mills:

Of course.

Monique Mills:

And the strategy leads to the revenue.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

then what is the point?

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

And so.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

people so that they can make money.

Monique Mills:

And so that everyone can take care of their families.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

So.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Is it all about the money?

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Picking my brain.

Monique Mills:

Like I don't give those kinds of meetings.

Monique Mills:

So some people.

Monique Mills:

Are offended that they.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

If you want to get any kind of advice.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Okay.

Monique Mills:

and I.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Hi, this is a business.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Right?

Monique Mills:

All the things I just

Monique Mills:

And so.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Oh, sentiments is huh?

Monique Mills:

Well, I just got a quick question.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

in person or have done projects with me.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Everything is deeper than what you think it is.

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

And so your question.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Layers.

Monique Mills:

To it.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

you a very surface level answer.

Monique Mills:

I'm not a surface level.

Monique Mills:

Person.

Monique Mills:

I'm an in-depth person.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

There's so much more to it.

Monique Mills:

so anyways, that question comes in.

Monique Mills:

Why do you focus so much on revenue?

Monique Mills:

Is it all about the money?

Monique Mills:

So, you know what?

Monique Mills:

I was like Listen, I'm focused.

Monique Mills:

On the translation of innovation results to society.

Monique Mills:

Okay.

Monique Mills:

And that's that on that?

Monique Mills:

I even put this on my LinkedIn.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Answered.

Monique Mills:

That question.

Monique Mills:

So I'm like, okay.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

you can take that a couple of ways.

Monique Mills:

So I said I'm focused.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

innovation results to society.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

selling or whatever idea that you have.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

It was really my response to that question.

Monique Mills:

Right.

Monique Mills:

So build a business.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

It includes serving people and having customer success and all of

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Okay.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

be the result of all of those actions.

Monique Mills:

So.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

And also with that.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Especially is what difference does it make?

Monique Mills:

If your great idea.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

Entrepreneurship is tough.

Monique Mills:

What's the point in doing all of this?

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

So with that.

Monique Mills:

You may not be profitable at first.

Monique Mills:

So I just want people to understand that.

Monique Mills:

There's a difference between having revenue and having profitability

Monique Mills:

to go list to have profitability.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

amount of revenue you have coming in.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

many companies that could be great.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

So.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

65 episodes.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

balding, way that the podcast is set up.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

that's the cool part.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

the years, just thank you so much.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

come back and share, other.

Monique Mills:

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

Monique Mills:

a good time talking to you all.

Monique Mills:

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.

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