Underserved Economy

Who Actually Needs Your Business? How to Find Your Ideal Customer

If someone asked you right now who your business is for and your answer is "everybody" — this episode is going to change how you think about your business. Trying to serve everyone is one of the most common and costly mistakes entrepreneurs make. And it almost always comes from a fear that makes complete sense: when you have been told there is not enough room for you, narrowing down feels like closing a door you barely got open. In Week 7 of the 52 Weeks to Launch series, we break down customer segments in plain language — what they are, how to define yours without a marketing budget, and why your lived experience as a marginalized entrepreneur is actually your greatest competitive advantage when it comes to knowing your customer. 52 Weeks to Launch series on the Underserved Economy — a step-by-step business building series created for New Americans, minorities, women over 40, people with disabilities, and justice-involved entrepreneurs. New episodes every week. If this episode was useful, share it with someone who is trying to figure out who their business is really for. Subscribe so you do not miss Week 8. Let's build together!

The System Wasn't Built for Us. We're Building Anyway.

If you have ever been denied a loan, turned away from a program, or told — in a hundred quiet ways — that business ownership is not for you, this episode is specifically for you. Week 6 of the 52 Weeks to Launch series names exactly who the Underserved Economy is built for: New Americans, minorities, women over 40, people with disabilities, and justice-involved entrepreneurs. Not to define what you cannot do — but to be honest about what the system was designed to do, and to show you the data that proves your community is already building anyway.

Your Money Story: Why It Matters for Your Business & How to Change It

Discover how your money story—shaped by upbringing, culture, and financial experiences—impacts your business decisions and growth. In this episode, we explore financial trauma, behavioral money patterns, and the psychology of money to show why many entrepreneurs struggle with pricing, budgeting, and investing in their businesses. Using real U.S. data on income, wealth gaps, and economic status, we uncover how your beliefs about money influence your financial behavior—often subconsciously. Learn practical, trauma-informed strategies to rewrite your money story, make better financial decisions, and create lasting financial behavior change that grows your business. Perfect for small business owners, Black-owned businesses, and anyone ready to take control of their finances and entrepreneurial success.

Clarify Your WHY & Vision | Build a Business That Supports Your Life

In Week 4 of 52 Weeks to Launch, we slow down and get clear on one of the most important foundations of sustainable business: your WHY and your vision. If you’re building a business while navigating financial stress, burnout, or uncertainty—this episode is for you. Inspired by Start With Why and grounded in real-world financial realities, this session helps entrepreneurs: * Clarify their deeper purpose for building a business * Connect their WHY to money, lifestyle, and values * Create a vision that supports rest, stability, and long-term wealth * Avoid building a business that recreates survival model This episode is especially helpful for entrepreneurs of color, marginalized business owners, people starting over, and those launching later in life. You don’t need a perfect plan—you need clarity. ✨ Key Topics Covered: * What “Start With Why” really means for small business owners * How your money story impacts your vision * Why clarity matters before scaling or investing * Simple prompts to uncover your WHY 🔔 Subscribe for the full 52 Weeks to Launch journey—from idea to income, at a pace that honors your life, respecting where you are now.

How To Use the Business Model Canvas

Are you starting or rebuilding a business and feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? In this long-form lesson, I break down the Business Model Canvas in a way that’s trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and accessible for the underserved economy. The Business Model Canvas is a one-page tool that helps you clearly see: • Who you serve • What you offer • How money flows into your business • What you actually need to operate sustainably In this video, we walk through each section of the Business Model Canvas step-by-step, using a real-life example: A 60-year-old widowed Black educator who is returning to work and launching a tutoring business while raising her grandson. This lesson is for you if: ✔️ You’ve been told business “wasn’t for people like you” ✔️ You’re rebuilding after loss, burnout, incarceration, migration, or caregiving ✔️ You want structure without shame ✔️ You want a business that supports your life — not one that drains it. 📥 Download the free Business Model Canvas Worksheet https://4952096.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4952096/Insights%20-%20Gated%20-%20Content%20to%20Download/Business%20Model%20Canvas%20-%20Strategyzer.pdf [https://4952096.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4952096/Insights%20-%20Gated%20-%20Content%20to%20Download/Business%20Model%20Canvas%20-%20Strategyzer.pdf] 🧠 Topics covered in this video: • What the Business Model Canvas is (in plain language) • Business planning • Culture-relevant entrepreneurship • Customer trust and community relationships • Pricing, revenue, and financial sustainability • Turning lived experience into income • Business planning for older entrepreneurs and caregivers