Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Simone The Mastermind . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Simone, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

At the time that I established my business, Simone the Mastermind wasn’t created just yet. It wasn’t until about four or five years in actually.

I always noticed that when people came to me about their business challenges or ideas, that was normally all they had. However, I have this ability to take that challenge and damn near immediately map out a potential solution. Or take that idea and draft a plan to bring it to fruition. Never really realized how well I was with this until everyone’s immediate response was something along the lines of, “wow you are a mastermind”. People continued to affirm in me that yes, I am the mastermind. The way that I am capable of strategizing and producing results is–well, it is surely something to be proud of.

So at the end of 2018, Simone the Mastermind was created.

Simone, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, everyone! I am Simone the Mastermind, your number one business development strategist and secret scaling weapon. Underpaid and under pressure CEOs turn to me to eliminate the 24/7 grind of business. Working around the clock is not the key to success. Turning more of a profit that requires LESS of your presence is.

I am here to show you just that through passive income streams, effective social media marketing, and automation. The time is now to eliminate the round-the-clock grind and get back to your freedom of doing things you want to do, and not just the things you feel you must do.

I left corporate America in 2014 when I saw that sacrifices and working hard to exceed company goals meant absolutely nothing as a woman. It is only so far up they will promote you. I left to establish my own firm, Akamai Enterprise, where I provide products and services that assists individuals with establishing and scaling their businesses.

What sets me apart from others and what I am the most proud of is that I am being my true, authentic, unapologetic self. I’m not out here acting like a Michelle Obama if I know I am really a Glorilla. I take pride in my work/play balance and I am very transparent about the downsides of entrepreneurship. That’s the stuff that people need to see but there are so many CEOs afraid to show it. There may be a post of seeing me do the latest TikTok dance on a video or there may be a post of me telling you how to grow your Instagram followers. I am well respected for being myself and still being able to close contracts, acquire clients, get brand collabs, and be in spaces that I have only imagined I would be in. Because of this, I like to stress how it’s so important to be yourself with brand building. Your knowledge, skills, and expertise are attached to a person with a beautiful personality and radiant character. We want to see that.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing your clientele is to stop skipping the most important step–brand awareness.

People are establishing businesses because they are great at something or maybe had an experience that led them to a business venture but one thing is key : no matter how great your product or service is, people don’t purchase from who they don’t know. People do not purchase from those they do not trust. If you are struggling with securing sales, it is because you haven’t taken the time to connect and nurture your audience.

Posting everyday isn’t marketing and shoving sales posts down their throat with subtle guilt trip tactics will not open their wallets.

If you want to grow your clientele, get back to the foundation. If you need help with this, then send me an email.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that working hard and around the clock was the key to success. It is not. In fact, it is the exact opposite. It is all about adopting the right mindset.

Back in my corporate days, I worked 10-12 hours a day, was a single mom of one, caregiver to my grandparents, and still was trying to squeeze a social life in where self-care was nonexistent. I was mentally constantly in a “grind” mode or a “sleep when you dead” mindset. You know, that unhealthy, limited mindset thinking that some business and motivational gurus spew.

Working around the clock does not make you successful. It causes burnout, resentment, and most importantly–horrible performance and productivity.

Shifting my mindset changed my life, both personally and professionally. I now take pride in my 13-hour work weeks and assisting others on how to do the same.

The time is now to stop working your business as the best employee and start serving as the CEO.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.simonemastermind.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/yellabizbae
• Linkedin: Simone the Mastermind
• Twitter: www.twitter.com.com/yellabizbae
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yellabizbae

Image Credits
Jacorri Washington | Clouded Visuals Photos and Phases