We were lucky to catch up with Maurice Shingleton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maurice, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I can say that I am happier as a business owner than working the standard 9-5. I do find myself at times, wondering what it would be like to only work for someone and not for myself. The last time I had this thought was fairly recently. My grandparents health was beginning to decline while I was attempting to juggle 2 jobs, my business AND college. I made a decision that could ultimately keep me from over working myself and to keep the level of respect at the 2 jobs i was working for, I chose to focus solely on my businesses to ensure I was there for my family and to grow my company. I have learned that when we overwork ourselves, we tend to miss things in life and it damages us overtime.

Maurice, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After losing the 2020 Mayoral race in Huntsville, AL, I became more aware of the local music scene and the trials an artist has to go through in order to “make it” in the industry. With this in mind, I began researching how to become a one stop shop for an artists needs. When it came to music, some artists didn’t know or cared to understand the business side of their career and that’s where Mo-Vation began. In order for my business to be successful, I began college at Full Sail University in their Music Business program. As I began learning more in depth of what a manager or a record label needs for an artist, I started to look at what else my business could provide outside of just management. That’s when it hit me, I had the ability to do everything an artist needs. Whether it’s a music video, headshots, or a place to record, I wanted Mo-Vation to be the place where an artist could get everything they needed without the hassle. I am most proud of the effort that most artist put in when it came to giving them instructions in preparation for their career. I am even more proud of the connections I have made along the way and the knowledge that not only my mentors but my guests/customers give me. I can say it’s wake up everyday excited to be able to create a place for those to be themselves while learning how to grow into the version they see themselves in their career.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A time I had to pivot in my life was when I had to decide what I wanted my business to be. At first, I wanted my company to solely be artist management but after working with different artists, I noticed management wouldn’t be enough to make a difference in my or their lives. I began to learn how to do photography, videography, and graphic design to create a story for the artists. Once that door opened up, almost everything else came with it including editing, promotion, marketing etc.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There is one specific book that my mentor, Codie Gopher, introduced me to and that is “All You Need to Know About the Music Business” by Donald S. Passman. This book is not only for artists managers but also for artists themselves. I will also say that another method I used was DIY, Do It Yourself. With this mentality, I believe it prepares an individual or company to learn what it takes to accomplish a task and to know some knowledge of the task they are attempting to pay services for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mo-vationllc.com
• Instagram: @modavation1
• Facebook: Mo-Vation LLC
• Youtube: @modavation
• Other: Tik tok: @modavation1

Image Credits

Credits go to @maxx.supreme.pizza on Instagram for the picture of J-Town