Meet The Celebrity Photographer Behind The Cover Of The February 2023 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Pedro Virgil

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Pedro Virgil is an Australia-based photographer, reality TV show personality, and engineer. He is best known for his participation as a judge and photographer on the reality show Caribbean’s Next Top Model, a guest photographer on Australia’s Next Top Model, and Project Runway Australia seasons 1 & 2. His photography has been featured in several magazine covers and editorials, including Inside Sport, Men’s Health, GQ, Sports Illustrated, Gay Times, DNA Magazine, and FHM.

Pedro’s work can be recognised on major billboards from high-profile brands such as Rolex, Sony, Adidas, Sony Ericsson, Van Heusen, underwear campaigns such as Calvin Klein, and hit television shows: Australia’s Next Top Model, Project Runway seasons I & II, Football Superstar, Caribbean’s Next Top Model and Australian Idol. He was also commissioned for the global advertising campaigns for Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier in Australia, the United States, Europe, and Asia.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Pedro to discuss his journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

My entrepreneurial flair first revealed itself when I wanted to create projects to give back to the community. In particular, this was a project called “Gods of Football” which involved photographing first-grade Rugby League and Aussie Rules players in the buff, to raise money for people with Breast Cancer in alignment with the McGrath Foundation of Australia. I set out to brainstorm a project that was both bespoke and possible to manage small scale and be economically viable. At the same time, in the end, it can raise a substantial amount of funds for charity. This meant starting from the ground up with preproduction, sponsorship acquisitions, negotiations with prospective clients, employing individuals, meeting with sporting managers/agencies, understanding business law, managing finances, and so on. Thus an entrepreneur emerged.

How did your life look like before being a photographer?

My life before I was a photographer was extremely busy. I have always worked in the arts and entertainment field as a make-up artist, special effects artist, set designer, location scout, location manager, artistic Director, visual merchandiser, etc. I also worked as a professional entertainer in the music industry, performing in bands, musical theatres, recording sessions, etc … So I had a lot of overall experience from working in many different facets of the industry.

As a photographer, what is it that motivates and drives you?

As a creative person, I am motivated by my desire to constantly better myself, to better my creativity, and to find new ways of storytelling, capturing moments, and depicting scenarios, scripts, or stories. As a photographer, I am constantly stimulated by anything visual, which creates the need to analyze it, dissect it, try to make my own interpretation, and eventually produce a visual depiction that is uniquely my own.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.

Unpredictable. Why?? Because life always has a new turn for you at any given moment. A new chapter, a new journey, and one must always be prepared for changes, challenges, and constant change. I believe to be successful in business, you need to be extremely adaptable, versatile, and willing to try new things and take risks. All these factors have one common thread: the thread of unpredictability.

What were your top three motivations for starting your photography business?

My creativity was a huge motivation in the sense that I never seemed to run out of creative ideas even though I’ve been doing this for so many years. I believe that life is constantly throwing influences at you, new experiences, new lessons, and new visual stimuli, which thereby, when absorbed by your creative mind, then processed by your creative spirit, get channeled into new creative ideas. The second motivation would have been wanting to have a unique style of my own, making my own creative rules, and working my own hours at my own pace. I would say my third motivation for starting my own photography business was the desire to leave some legacy or artistic footprint on this world that I can say was my own, from the “conceptualization” right through to completion.

What do you put your success down to?

Hard work. Not listening to too many people. Always be true to one’s creative spirit and not be afraid of taking risks, creatively and financially.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a photography business?

Definitely, knowing what the industry is about, first and foremost, is extremely important. By that, I mean not just what photography is but how and where photography falls into the whole ecosystem of the fashion/media/arts/advertising/marketing industry.

Understanding the law and also understanding that the images you create are not just pretty pictures; they are tools for marketing, advertising, developing brands developing products, developing people developing celebrities, creating lifestyle choices, and influencing the population. Photography, therefore, is a very responsible and influential career because you’re creative and can influence generations! My intellectual property and corporate branding are extremely important to me. Secondly, I would say that it is important to understand the financial layout that it takes to begin a photography business. Studio equipment, lighting gear, camera gear, Camera accessories, lighting accessories, computer accessories, data drives, editing equipment, props, transport, editing suites, and the list goes on and on. Before you know it, it becomes an extremely expensive layout. Thirdly, it’s very important to understand how photography fits into the spectrum of brand development, advertising, and marketing. How your creative flair can take a boring product that may not be highly coveted initially on the market to become extremely aspirational; simply through your creative processes.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the photography business, and how did you overcome them?

The three biggest challenges I have faced during my photography tenure are, firstly, finding good and reliable returning clients. This generally eventuates from good word of mouth, forming strong and trustworthy relationships with agencies, clients, industry professionals, etc. This process allows you to gain more clients. Another challenge has been the ongoing equipment cost and the constant need to update gear due to infrastructure improvements, new software technology, and the ever-changing hardware in the technology market. This obviously incurs more ongoing costs, not to mention the cost of repairs if any equipment gets damaged or general depreciation. I would say that the third challenge faced in this industry is to break free from the stigma attached to photographers being that sometimes people assume photographers are sleazy or only interested in sleeping with their clients etc. Of course, in any industry, a few people engage in that sort of behavior, but that is not always the case. So it’s always important to show your clients that you are trustworthy, that you have integrity, and that you fiercely care about your career and reputation.

Does the loneliness of the entrepreneur really exist?

That depends on how you define the word loneliness. If you mean not having people around you, that is not true because they are constantly people around you as a photographer. You always have people wanting something, or you always have something to deliver to somebody, or you always have meetings for preproduction, post-production, marketing discussions, etc. Suppose, however, you mean loneliness in the sense that not many people “get you” or understand “you.” In that case, that could be true because to be focused on your business/career, to be absolutely dedicated to it, means that you have to miss out on a lot of things, such as developing friendships outside of your work, finding people who totally get you based on your passion. The “art lifestyle” often conflicts with people who are generally academic because academia and art rarely share similar lifestyles. Loneliness in the sense of not having like-minded people around you is possible. I grew up as an only child with a single parent, so being alone is not an unfamiliar situation to me. In fact, I’m quite comfortable with being alone a lot of the time. However, I think this question’s importance is really about whether loneliness can affect somebody. That answer would be subjective, but I feel that it’s important for anyone to take a moment to reflect, meditate, and relax in their spare time, downtime, or alone time. I do not see loneliness as detrimental. It is a time to be able to reflect, reassess, and to re-energize myself.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important lessons you have learned?

I have learned that in business, Not everyone plays fair. I learned that through business deals gone wrong, through former business partners cheating me out of money, etc., but I do not take it as an overall bad thing: a lesson learned is a good lesson, and it’s an opportunity for me to grow and to learn from my mistakes. I’ve learned that you cannot trust everybody, but at the same time, you cannot distrust people completely because there are good people out there. It is up to us to monitor ourselves and those we interact with and spot any early red flags to avoid future problems. I’ve also learned that there are many times when you’ll be faced with” no” instead of “yes.” Sometimes, someone may only partially agree with your preference in terms of artistic direction. Art is a very subjective field. There are many opinions and as many perspectives as there are people, so I’ve learned never to take things too personally and to focus on my craft to try and make it as good as possible. That will lead to people gravitating toward me and my work.

What do you hope to see happen in the near future for small businesses all over the world?

The future allows small businesses to recover from the many losses they suffered during the Covid epidemic. This, unfortunately, was uncontrollable and unpredictable, as is the future. One can only hope that the spread of wealth in this world evens out, that the rich are not constantly getting richer and the poor are not getting poorer. I hope that the future brings much more fairness in the economy in all parts of the world. I also hope that ART continues to have a greater significance, appreciation, and value in all platforms, all industries, and faculties worldwide.

The Life Of An Entrepreneur: One On One With Lisamarie Monaco

Lisamarie Monaco is a National Independent Life Insurance Agent. She’s a successful entrepreneur who started with very little. She currently co-owns her business (Insuranceforburial.com) – and is a “Family Protector.”

Monaco helps seniors daily, and she ensures their loved ones are protected from financial burdens when they pass away, ensuring they receive a lump sum check at the most difficult times in their lives. We recently caught up with Monaco to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, and here’s what went down:

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

A little about me and my background: I grew up on Long Island, New York. I worked at a Level One Trauma Center for 18 years. I have raised four children. I lived through a divorce and was unsure where life would bring me. I knew I needed to make some decisions and decided to take a leap of faith. I moved to Florida a few years ago and married my now husband, Danny Ray. We founded our company together. Although he has been in this industry for over 27 years, I have not. I was starting my life over and knew I wanted to do something meaningful and decided I wanted to help our seniors protect their loved ones from financial burdens when they pass away. That is when I became “The Family Protector.” Insuranceforburial.com was born shortly after.

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

I am currently working on preparing for Medicare open enrollment to ensure our clients have everything they need in coverage and to be certain they are in the right plan and not overpaying by even a penny. We also want to ensure they do not have any gaps in their coverage.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

Search Engine Marketing and Social Media Marketing. These are great ways of building our business through the years.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?

The social media platforms we use the most are Facebook and Instagram. Everyone today is on Social Media. People use Facebook probably the most and not only socialize, but shop and have found us via Facebook and have reached out to us to help them obtain life insurance.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

The toughest decision in the last few months has been implementing more automation in our business. We have hired people to be administration assistants, but we have not had luck finding the right fit. I have decided we will utilize automation as much as possible, and in addition, I take on Administrative roles two days a week to keep up with the daily routine.

How has your business been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the business has increased even more than ever. We are a National Telesales Agency, licensed in every state, and have clients in every state. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more people have appreciated the ease and simplicity of the online application process and voice signature application process for their life insurance needs. Our seniors can get an active policy from start to finish in 20 minutes and never have to leave their homes or have anyone come into their homes. They are safe and have their family protected by the end of that call with an approved policy!

How have you adapted your business operations in response to COVID-19 and its associated impacts?

Since Covid-19 we have adapted by keeping distance and working from our home offices. We have a few in-house agents and several remote agents that have been wonderful throughout the pandemic.

What have been some of the most important lessons you have learned because of this pandemic?

Some of the most important lessons I have learned since the pandemic is to appreciate our current clients, our clients to be, and to appreciate the business we are in. I find it an honor and a privilege to do what I do, especially with such uncertainty over the last two years. Knowing I have helped so many of our seniors get through this and help them reach their goals of final expense insurance and protect their loved ones leaving a legacy for their children and grandchildren. It is a tremendous honor on every level.s

What do you hope to see happen in the near future for small businesses all over the world?

I hope to see small businesses continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the near future all over the world. I hope for this because small businesses are people’s dreams, their creativity, desire, grit, and passion for what they do. Seeing that come to life is a beautiful thing.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up a new business in this pandemic?

Don’t overthink anything. Write out your goals. Set up a plan. Create a vision board of everything you want to achieve and take that leap. You will have sleepless nights; you will have feelings of failure at times or make mistakes; takes those as your stepping stones to greatness, and never give up. Take it from this small-town Long Island girl who started out with $58.00 in my checking account and eating Triscuit crackers. I am an example of anything, and everything is possible. Take your leap!

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The November 2022 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Ben Giroux

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He voices the lead character in the Nickelodeon animated series that premiered on Paramount+. The show, based on the books of the same name, follows 11-year-old Nate Wright, a rebellious sixth-grader with a never-ending need to prove his awesomeness to the world. Whether he’s dealing with disasters at home or detention at school, Nate is no stranger to a challenge. Luckily, he’s able to express himself through the cartoons he creates. The cast also includes Dove Cameron, Rob DelaneyCarolyn Hennesy, and special guest star Jack Black to name just a few.

Giroux is best-known for his portrayal of The Toddler, the main and original villain on the hit Nickelodeon series Henry Danger. After a five-season run on the show, he brought his popular character to the spin-off series Danger Force. Since its inception, the “Dangerverse” has become one of Nickelodeon’s most successful and longest-running franchises of all time.  To date, Giroux has showcased his talent on over 100 episodes of television, including a recent recurring role on the Netflix sitcom The Big Show Show as the comedic nemesis of WWE star Paul “Big Show” Wright. Other appearances include Will & Grace, NCIS, Bones, Psych, and House, M.D. to name a few. He has also made a name for himself with an extensive resume of voiceover roles. Notable credits include Bunsen is a Beast, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, DC Superhero Girls, and The Loud House, among many others.

With his huge fanbase, Giroux has built an impressive social media presence and is verified on all platforms. He launched a very successful TikTok channel with over 113 million likes and over 4 million followers where he posts hilarious content including Dumb DubsMostly Good Advice, and Ruin A Toon.  He has also established a loyal following on Instagram with over 192,000 followersFacebook with over 168,000 followers, and Twitter.

MoneyCentral International recently caught up with Ben to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

1. Can you tell us more about yourself? How did you get started in the entertainment industry? 

Hey! I’m a comedic actor/director currently starring on Nickelodeon’s “Big Nate” on Paramount+. I’ve also played The Toddler on Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger” franchise for the past decade in addition to directing, producing, and writing commercials, music videos, and TV pilots via my production company, Small Red Cape.

2. What do you like most about acting? 

On a deeper level: with the world in a pretty funky spot right now, my imprint on the universe is adding a little bit of levity. Acting allows me to create and consume comedy and laughter—I’m obsessed with collaborative creativity. On a shallow level: there are really tasty snacks on set.

3. How different is it to act in front of the camera vs. voiceover acting? And which one do you prefer? 

It’s all comedic storytelling—just through different mediums. I love being in front of the camera and behind the microphone equally. That said, voiceover affords me a wider range of roles I’m applicable for; Nate Wright is a 6th-grade kid, but I can also play a creature, a superhero, and a robot in the same episode.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nickelodeon

4. What are your weak points when it comes to acting? How do you try to improve them? 

Sometimes I overthink things and get a little too “in my head.” Over the past few years, I’ve been focused on owning my inner confidence and trusting my instincts.

5. What are your strong points as an actor? 

Improv, improv, improv! I think the key to a career in comedy (and really, life in general) is embodying the spirit of “yes, and….” Most of my television roles have allowed me to riff, improvise, and add my own flair. “Big Nate” is a great example; I’d say about 10% of our show is entirely improvised. Those little moments of unscripted magic are something I pride myself on.

6. What have you learned from the directors that you have worked with throughout your career?

80% of good directing is casting. I really enjoy working with directors who let their cast explore, color outside the lines, and elevate a script with their own unique spin. The cast has been hired for a reason, so I love directors who give their cast a safe, free environment to try outside-the-box choices. Every time I work with a great director, it inspires me in my own directing career.

7. What are some of the difficulties of the acting business? 

When you begin a career in entertainment, you’re signing up for a life of 99% rejection. As an actor, you’re essentially a professional job interviewee—constantly auditioning for opportunities where the odds are stacked against you. But all of that hard work pays off when you land a role; it makes the constant rejection and close calls well worth it. You must be relentlessly driven, never getting too pumped up or too discouraged.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nickelodeon

8. What’s challenging about bringing a script to life? 

The biggest challenge about bringing a script to life is finding cohesion between a lot of disparate things: making the character feel authentic, making the character specific to your own point-of-view and skillset, making choices that are consistent with the director/showrunner’s style—there’s a lot to consider. But filmmaking is the ultimate team sport and that collaborative energy is what ultimately brings a script to life.

9. What do you do when you’re not filming? 

I’m really into fitness! I go to the gym almost every day —it’s a great way to disconnect. I also travel around the country competing in Spartan Race obstacle course races. I love challenging myself physically. I’m also obsessed with watching NBA basketball. Go Suns!

10. What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far? 

I have so many awesome memories from my career, but one of my favorite experiences was creating a parody music video called “Back to the 90s” in 2017. In it, my team celebrated all sorts of ‘90s pop culture and music genres. When we released the video, it went mega-viral, charting on Billboard, amassing 100 million views, and landing us all in Las Vegas with The Backstreet Boys. Truly a surreal experience and one that opened up so many great opportunities thereafter.

Photo Credit: Adam Hendershott

11. Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far? 

I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with so many amazingly talented people over the years. I loved working with Christopher Guest on his HBO series “Family Tree,” Charlie Sheen on the FX series “Anger Management,” and even Chevy Chase in a Lifetime Christmas movie.

12. If someone is going to make your life into a movie, who would play you? 

The Rock, obviously.

13. What are your future plans–inside your career or out of it? 

To continue making funny, cool, creative content with my friends whether that’s on or off-camera. I’m also actively pitching original TV series with my writing partner, so hopefully, I’m running my own show very soon.

The Life Of An Entrepreneur: One On One With Serial Entrepreneur Gila Kurtz

Gila Kurtz is a #1 international best-selling author and serial entrepreneur who found her deepest passion in working with dogs and their people. Following a career in education, she built a successful dog training business and then co-founded the award-winning, highly recognizable lifestyle brand for dog lovers, Dog is Good. Along with her husband, Jon, Gila took the Dog is Good brand from start-up to a seven-figure company.

She is the recipient of several business awards, including recognition as one of the top 25 women of influence in the pet industry, Woman of the Year by the Women in the Pet Industry Network, and was featured in Success Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and on the Grow Wire Show.

Author of Fur Covered Wisdom…A Dog Can Change the Way You See the World, Gila’s dog-centric approach to life, leadership, and relationships is authentic and immediately relatable. She utilizes her skills as a canine expert and compelling teacher to engage audiences in “muttnificent mastery” and inspires individuals to “fetch a life worth barking about.”

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Gila to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

After marrying an “officer and a gentleman”, I quickly realized that maintaining my chosen profession as a teacher would be challenged by the moves that occurred every two years. I decided to launch a business selling lingerie at home parties. As I experienced success, I began looking for other businesses that I could easily transport from move to move. As often happens, with every experience new doors open and those doors opened to the roads which paved the way to where I am today as an entrepreneur.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

My life did not look that much different. I am a lifelong learner and have always spent time focused on personal growth and development. I have always focused on delivering more than expected. I have always made my health and values a priority.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

The desire to make a difference and have a positive impact on the world and community around me.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.

Magnetic: I attract what I focus on …and I focus on attracting only good people into my life, only good opportunities to align with, and I stay committed to my vision to change lives one dog at a time.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

Create something stylish and meaningful that highlights the dog-human bond.

Build a family business.

Make a difference.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

– Take time to identify the bigger picture vision and get clear on why you want to create your business.

– Identify and focus on revenue-generating activities

– Align with people who share your core values

– Never worry about the “how”…Identify the “ who”

– Ask for help

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

– Costly manufacturing disasters: found new manufacturers, shifted strategy on growing sales.

– COVID: regrouped, assessed core verticals, and leaned in on what was working.

– Team: early on we did not have the right people in the right places…learned to hire for values and work ethic.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

Word of mouth, b2c conversations, email marketing, and Facebook.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?

I am a bottleneck for growth if I don’t empower others around me. Lead by example, empower others, trust but verify. I hold the vision – but I don’t know everything…learn from the experts I bring to the team.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Focus on where you are going…not on where you are at.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

Know where you want to go and who you need to help get you there. Get a mentor, fast.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Find Out More About Taylor Lou

Multi-six figure entrepreneur, Taylor Lou Dixon is a certified Image Consultant, and Business Mentor who’s helped hundreds of women stand out in a crowded market by sustainably scaling their online businesses through her reinvention process – finding their “It Factor.”

Taylor Lou has been an online entrepreneur since 2014 and started two successful online businesses before the age of 25. Understanding that entrepreneurship can take us down a road of self-discovery, she uncovered her authentic self and integrated this type of journey into her mentorship programs. Her special sauce is through her identity mapping process which taps into her client’s “It Factor”s through self-discovery practices and strategy. This allows them to utilize their gifts, strengths, passions, and purpose in their businesses to ultimately attract more growth and success for their brands.

In her process of personal, brand, and business reinvention, she guides her clients to become thought leaders in their industries by gaining clarity on their most Natural Essence (special qualities that make us stand out), Convicted Message (a message that we can share with confidence) and Embodied Medicine (a contribution that we can share, create and/or teach that’s deeply unique to us); which together becomes their “It Factor.” Through this method, Taylor Lou has helped female entrepreneurs make more money and skyrocket their impact across many different online industries. She offers online courses, workshops, high-level group programs, private mentorship, and 1:1 immersions. Taylor Lou is a master-level trained NLP Practitioner, Certified Life and Success Coach, and Hypnotherapist with a passion for personal growth and spirituality. She offers online courses, workshops, high-level group programs, private mentorship, and immersions.”

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Taylor Lou to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

Our #1 focus is always continuing to add value to our current customers and offerings. In addition to our ongoing organic social media marketing efforts, our business continues to grow through referrals and returning customers because of this commitment to create a quality and “rave-worthy” customer experience. We have also built simple funnels to move our customers up the value ladder of what we offer. It’s really easy for someone to get started with one of our entry-level products, see immediate value, and then feel ready to invest in our supportive services at a higher level.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?

Instagram is the main platform we use to connect with our customers. We also use Facebook and Pinterest as supporting platforms.

What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content campaigns? Does it work?

Our team just started preparing paid advertising campaigns for one of our signature products, The Content Creatrix Bundle. Previously, we’ve been able to scale to multiple six figures using all organic social media marketing and word of mouth.

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand? How did your business stand out?

Magnetic personal branding and consistent social content marketing are our creating channels for business growth. Personal branding is one of the best ways to create a community online, make money by solving your community’s problems, and feel creatively fulfilled. Relationship marketing is so powerful when utilized through social media. People are craving authentic role models and guidance online. Because of this, I’ve created a methodology called “The ‘It-Factor’ Method” to help online business owners understand their inherent magnetism, message, and gifts so that they can stand out online and make money doing what they love.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

Organic social media marketing has generated the overwhelming majority of new leads in our business. Consistently showing up giving value to my audience, sharing my life and expertise, and inviting them to be a part of the magic within my paid communities. I’m so passionate about helping fellow business owners understand their “It-Factor” because it’s been massively crucial to helping me scale my own business in a way that feels authentic.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

The last few months in business have brought about some big (and at times) difficult changes for our team. We have decided to simplify our product suite and business plan as much as possible- which means releasing things we used to offer, cutting things out of our marketing plan, and hitting the pause button on future new projects. This decision was made with the intention of working smarter, not harder, and creating deeper refinement and mastery with our signature services. As a creative, this was a difficult decision because I always have so many ideas and projects that I want to take action on right away. However, this can often create overcommitment and undue stress on our small team.

What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

The biggest struggle I’ve had in my coaching business with money is a tendency towards overgiving and undercharging. Especially in the beginning of running in-person events and retreats, it was so easy to go over budget because I love showering my clients with the best of the best! It’s really important to understand your numbers and understand that you are running a real business. Overgiving and undercharging leads to resentment and disruption over time.

What new business would you love to start?

I would love to start a business designing high-quality, “on-brand” physical backgrounds for video calls. As a branding expert, I love helping people to curate the experience of their brand- whether it be through their clothing style, online presence, or even home decor. I think this would be a huge hit, especially among the female entrepreneur crowd!

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I would put less pressure on myself to be an “overnight” success. I would give myself so much compassion and view the entrepreneurial path as a marathon, not a sprint. This probably would have led to less burnout, stress, and overwhelm in the beginning.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Your genius is where you’re always in flow’ is a quote from my business mentor, Katerina Satori. It took me a long time to realize the more I focused on my true zone of genius, the more successful my business would become (and the more fulfilled I would feel). I always considered myself a “jill-of-all-trades” in the online business world. I have a wide range of interests, passions, and expertise. After a while, I started to realize that this was holding me back in a major way. I was spending a lot of time in roles and projects that weren’t aligned with the things that come the most naturally to me. Once I began to specialize more in my business, I saw huge jumps in income and a deep passion for my work.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

GET SUPPORT! There are so many amazing resources out there for people wanting to start their own business. You do not have to do this on your own. Find a support system of people who really want to see you succeed and have the experience and resources to help you get where you want to go. Trust me, you will be so thankful you have a roadmap, even if that means investing early on. It’s 100% worth the time you’ll spend trying to figure out everything on your own.

Meet The Woman Behind The Cover Of The July 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Sue Turner

Photo Credit: Tony Palliser (Studio 49)

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Susan (Sue) Turner came from a wonderful family with a mother who was a head nurse and a beauty queen; her father loved to sing at weddings and was also known as an unbeaten famous boxer as well as a long-distance runner.

Sue has been married to Steven Turner for 31 years and together they have eight children who have grown up to be amazing adults. She’s also a proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren and has been a French bulldog breeder for 15 years. Her main profession is in the beauty industry – she runs her own beauty salon.

When Sue was only seven years old, she won the little miss MS multiple sclerosis pageant; this started her journey towards her passion as a beauty queen. From there, she worked tirelessly with her mother in many charities. In fact, her charity hours amount to around 60.000 hours and she has raised over $100,000.00 in 2018/2019 through various car shows. Some of the charities she supports include Domestic violence association Sydney, MS multiple sclerosis, Child’s vision Australia, Breast cancer foundation, Wesley mission, Salvation Army, Cystic fibrosis foundation, Starlight foundation, and Destiny Rescue.

She is the director for the “I hear voices” parent support form for addiction and has worked alongside the justice system to help prevent criminal activities. She also has her own show car – a Subaru WRX my05. This car has been used in the event to raise much-needed money at various car shows around Australia.

Sue is a global mentor within the pageant industry to all beauty queens worldwide as a featured public figure influencer. She has also won many awards as a beauty queen including Mrs. Earth Air Australia 2017, Mrs. International Global Australia 2018, Mrs. international Global Australia 2018, Humanitarian International 2018, Woman of the World 2018 and AGSA’s International Beauty Queen of the year 2019.

Sue’s passion has led her worldwide, seeing firsthand many disturbing events such as famine and disease. Because of that, she helps many other situations around the world. Sue is currently the CEO of GEQ (Global Elite Queens) magazine and her vision is to give voice to those who inspire to become the best they can in their industry. MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Sue Turner to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

As a young girl, I grew up in the outback of Western Australia in 1979. My father as a youngster was a barber in the army and my mother was a nurse and an outstanding figure in her community. After school I was offered a part-time job, working in a hair salon. On weekends I worked at the local vets. I then decided after a few years that a job in the beauty industry would be my call. My parents then sent me to Victoria and set me up with an apprenticeship in hairdressing where I gained work at one of Victoria’s most prestigious hair salons then later at Bogart’s. At the time, Bogarts became my doorway to runway modeling. And then by accident, we were short of models at a fashion event in St Kilda Melbourne so I was asked to fill in, and this led to an exciting new venture into glamour and fashion.

For many years I enjoyed the limelight until I decided to take on another degree, a university degree in skin therapy. This led to an opportunity to run my own business in the beauty industry. My degree is grade 1 level esthetician skin therapist. For 22 years I owned my business growing and building a foundation with an outstanding perspective in the beauty industry. I maintained my business by being a leader in my field and also in a growing dominant industry by developing and growing my brand and sharing my platform to create a future I have passed onto my 2 daughters.

My business has reached its target in achieving what I’d set out to do and that’s to be able to share this wonderful opportunity with my own daughters giving them both the strategies and the opportunity to support their own business in the future with absolute success.

My daughter Alycia is now an internationally recognised Sfx makeup artist with her own brand and my youngest daughter became an international beauty queen also giving her the incentive to become a partner in the beauty industry.

Why do you think social media is important in business?

Being active in social media can lead to attracting customers, allowing you to get customer feedback and building customer loyalty. It can also help increase your market reach, including international markets and increase revenue by building customer networks and advertising.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

As we all are suffering at the hands of the pandemic, we all have had to make a few changes in the way we run our businesses. Sadly there have been drastic changes in our industry with a loss in revenue. This has been the hardest decision I’ve had to face in over 22 years. Many people are in the same situation as me and these are tough times ahead for us all.

What new venture would you like to start?

I’m looking at expanding my horizons on a new venture working with missing persons. I have a current platform with crimes against humanity missing persons in Australia. This platform will enable me to work with the crime task forces in seeking closure for many families. Recently, last November, I was awarded the Mother Teresa award at the Australian parliament for her work with missing persons.

If you could go back in a time machine what would you do differently?

I love who I am so I do not think I’d do anything different. I’ve succeeded in the pathway I chose based on a future I envisioned for myself. I basically accomplished what I feel is a successful venture from a woman’s point of view. My target was to pass on my legacy to my children and in saying that, I’ve successfully done just that. Mission complete.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To never say never and always be one step ahead. Follow your heart and your dreams and it will eventually work out. Stick to your plan and do not look back because the future is yours. My advice to others ia be to remember who you are – no one can do or appreciate what you yourself has to offer. Be yourself and be content In who you are.

What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

If you have a dream, follow it and do not be afraid as fear can take over so many baby steps one step at a time. Be vigilant – my all-time favourite saying is to be your own kind of beautiful.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Find Out More About Fashion CEO Brittany Benton

Fashion CEO Brittany Benton is about to launch an online series called “The Boutique Secret” aimed at helping new Entrepreneurs

Today, 54% of Gen-Z want to be an influencer according to a study by Morning Consult. That number is sure to rise, which means that a lot of people will be forgoing traditional careers and turning themselves into a brand. While thousands of content creators are making fortunes selling products and running their businesses on social media, there are far more who have lost fortunes.

Brittany Benton has launched an online series called “The Boutique Secret” aimed at helping young entrepreneurs and brands avoid common career-ending pitfalls, and learn how to get a business started far more successfully.

Brittany Benton, CEO, and founder of the hot new fashion line Benton1988 has persevered through immense obstacles and took massive risks but still triumphed. Since their launch in 2019 Benton1988 has sold millions of dollars of clothes and has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

After spending years running every aspect of her business from her living room, with no employees or financial security to back her up in case it didn’t work out, Brittany has gained experience that she knows will be very valuable to anyone else thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.

Brittany’s online series of videos found here are a series of “how-to” videos designed to walk entrepreneurs through a variety of topics they need to know before they get started. Topics like how to start a business with little to no money, how much money to spend on Facebook ads, a vendor list in LA and abroad, and several other extremely helpful resources.

“The fans of my brand have been so supportive this entire journey and our team has heard from so many of them who want to run their own businesses like me one day. It’s inspiring and pushes us to reach a higher standard every day, so we can show these people that they can make millions of dollars doing what they love as well.” Brittany said when reached out for comment.

According to our sources, several massive influencers and models in Hollywood have reached out to Brittany about potential collaborations for global campaigns with her fashion line, because they see her product as an easy sell. In a relatively short time span Benton1988’s bold styles, empowering outfits, and Brittany’s captivating personality have convinced the fashion industry and fans online that her products are the next big thing.

You can follow Brittany on Instagram @the.brittany.b and Benton1988 @benton.1988 to learn more about their upcoming announcements and high-profile collaborations.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The June 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Aaron Villa

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Aaron Villa is a crypto analyst and a self-made millionaire – he’s the founder and CEO of A1PHA Trading & Investing. He is a cryptocurrency trader and blockchain expert, certified by the blockchain council. He has been a crypto coach since 2017 and is deeply knowledgeable. He has created multiple courses, formed mastermind groups, and shared a lot of informational tools and tips regarding cryptocurrency.

MoneyCentral magazine recently caught up with Aaron to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

I first realized my entrepreneurial flair when I was in college, I got involved with a lot of networking businesses. Also, I watched my parents build and grow their business as a child which influenced me to become an entrepreneur. When I became a Registered Nurse in the USA two years into my career I realized that it was not for me and that I did not want to work for someone else. I wanted my freedom and to be able to do the things I want to do whenever I wanted.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

Before becoming an entrepreneur I was working full time as a Registered Nurse. I did 12-hour shifts 3-4 times a week. On top of that, I also began my MSN degree to become an Acute Nurse Practitioner. And on my free time, I worked on learning and educating myself everything about investing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

As an entrepreneur, I am motivated to prove to myself constantly that I can be successful in all aspects of life. Achieving those goals and growing as a person.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.

Exciting. My life as an entrepreneur has been exciting because every day I wake up knowing that I am going to do something I love and am passionate about. I get excited to create new things, connect with new people, see new places, and learn along the way. It also excites me to know that I can also spend more time with my family more as I pursue these things.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

1. Freedom to be able to handle my own time.

2. Passion, which allowed me to work day in and day out without getting tired.

3. To be able to create my own future by following my own timeline and pursuing all the goals that I set out to do.

What do you put your success down to?

My success is because of my passion, dedication, and consistency. Also having the right mindset and the right partner (my wife) who constantly guides me throughout my journey.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

The three elements to running a successful business are first of all loving what you do, valuing relationships with people, and remembering your why. I also believe that the more you give, the more opportunities and blessings that come back to you. So giving back to your community is also important.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge at first was lack of time and dealing with uncertainties.

When I started A1PHA trading and investing I was also still working as a Nurse. I enjoyed teaching clients about cryptocurrency but I didn’t put much time in. Instead of focusing on doing what I wanted, I had to fulfill my responsibilities at my job. I was a bit uncertain about going all-in with my business because I was used to having a steady income coming in monthly as a Nurse. But as soon as I took that leap of faith to grow and really focus on my business, that’s when I realized that I could actually do this and quit my job. And so far I don’t regret my decision and I never looked back.

Does the loneliness of the entrepreneur really exist?

Yes, it can be lonely at times, but being alone while doing what you are passionate about can be addicting because I can spend countless hours doing what I love without any distractions.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?

Leadership lessons that I’ve learned are to delegate by outsourcing, managing your time wisely, and learning how to take breaks.

I want to see more small businesses being started and being successful because I myself support small local businesses. I find that in a way, I am contributing to my community and helping another individual no matter how big or small.

You can follow Aaron on Instagram via these links: Alpha Trading I Aaron Villa

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Find Out More About Bestselling Author And Speaker, Midori Verity

Midori Verity helps driven professionals break through the mental challenges that have slowed them down, and unlock their potential. She’s a best-selling author, speaker, and show host.

She has a degree in Communications and Sociology from the University of California, Davis. Midori is also a Certified Behavioral Specialist. She’s proud to be an Advisor for the global organization, Women Network, and an active board member for Child Parent Institute in Santa Rosa, CA. Midori’s been featured on FoxNews, CBS, Martha Stewart Weddings, Thrive Global, and many other media.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Midori to discuss her journey in the industry and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

My mom had a flower-arranging business. She was incredibly gifted, but she was more focused on giving her products away. I remember wanting her to become successful. However, she was happier doing beautiful flower arrangements and sharing them with the world.

This experience probably was the igniter to my entrepreneurial path. I so greatly wanted to see her receive the financial value of what she produced.

How did your life look before being an entrepreneur?

I started working at around 14 years old. I always had the drive to learn all I could at every job I had. One of my first jobs was at Heller’s Baby News. I made the manager train me on closing out the books at night. I also soaked in all he told me about merchandising, pricing, and Mr. Heller’s business success.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

I love the adrenaline of creating something of value and raising it to success. It’s really my only hobby and what I’m good at (laughs)!

I’ve learned to align my core values, motivations, and Zone of Genius (natural gifts) with my businesses. That has been a huge game-changer in my success.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.

Exhilarating.

As an entrepreneur, my brain never shuts down. I’ve learned to think bigger and push myself past boundaries. The thrill of the journey is what makes my life exhilarating.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

I’ll talk about my Mindset Coaching business because it was the first business I made sure was in complete alignment with my Personal Mission Statement, which states “My journey through life is uplifting and fun while using my optimism and skills to inspire others to achieve their potential.”

Core values: I help people breakthrough mental challenges and rewire their mindsets to unlock their potential

Passion: There’s nothing I love more than watching people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or even depressed step into a more empowered and happier version of themselves.

Zone of Genius (natural talents): Inspiring others and showing them how to transform their minds and therefore transform their lives is a second sense for me.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

Test, test, test! Make sure your concept is something that’s needed before launching. You can test it by simply going to where you think your clients hang out and ask them.

Make sure you factor in confirmation bias, which means that we often twist things around to confirm what we want to believe.

The second most important element is to get professional help in creating the foundation of your business. You can waste a ton of time, money, and sleep if you don’t have a solid business plan.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

Finding clients. I had to do a lot of trial and error before I found what worked. Once again, learning my Zone of Genius was of incredible value because it taught me to focus on what I’m good at and avoid what I stink at!

Closing sales. I had sales scripts and went to expensive classes. All it did was stress me out. Once I threw the scripts out and started listening only with my heart did everything change.

Shiny objects. I’ve disciplined myself to stay uber-focused on my 90-day goals. I even use a system that Google, Intuit, and Bill Gates Foundation uses called OKR’s – objectives and key results, which has been a massive game changer!

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

Word of mouth and live interviews. People get to see my authentic personality when I’m speaking on camera or a podcast. Then they know if they want to work with me, or they can’t stand me.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?

Have a clear mission and vision statement that your entire organization knows and lives by. I train my leaders to consistently question if new ideas are in alignment with our vision and mission.

Big Fat Hair Goals. This creates excitement for my team. We implement the OKR system to make this all work.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Delegate all that you are not gifted at or slows you down. Spend 80% of your time working on the most important elements of your business that you love doing.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

This goes back to my earlier answer of test your concept and get a mentor.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Find Out More About Andrea Franco

Andrea is an Intuitive Business Mentor and Coach that helps female entrepreneurs create wildly successful online companies through organic and strategic approaches. Her entrepreneurial journey started in my mid-20s when she built a successful media company. While running this business, she knew that my purpose as an entrepreneur was much bigger than being behind the scenes. This was when the Intuitive Boss Babe brand was born. Since my launch in early 2020, she has generated over $500,000 in cash and helped women scale their businesses to their first six-figure and multiple six-figure years. Thus far, she has served thousands of women to grow their confidence, gifts, and businesses.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Andrea to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

I created a Twitter that ended up receiving 175,000 followers from my desire of wanting to help women from around the world. I helped women with their relationships and even screen-printed t-shirts. Each shirt was sold through my Twitter, where I would get checks in the mail per purchase! From there, I saw how easy it could be to build a company when you put your time and energy into it. Little did I know that this experience was just the start of my entrepreneurial journey.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

My life before becoming an entrepreneur included college classes and waiting tables. I started my journey going after my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology which wasn’t achieved, however, the path I decided to go down led me towards more impact, income, and magic than I ever thought possible. I worked so many jobs trying to find my purpose and passion and quickly realized that it was never going to be working for someone else. Going to EMT school, and then going to school for psychology helped me step into my own path of changing lives, and showed me that I could create it all on my own.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

What motivates and drives me is the inner knowing that I was put on this earth to change people’s lives. I love coaching, and I love watching what happens when someone fully commits to themselves, their visions, and their goals. I believe that an impact-driven business creates a timeless brand and business. I know what it feels like to be broken, wounded, and unsure of the next steps, and I know for a fact that I am here to help women streamline that process as well as call in more ease at a rapid rate.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.


Transformational. When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, my life looked completely different. Watching the impact of my business on people’s lives, and how transformational the work we do together is, will never cease to amaze me. And not only has it transformed other’s lives, but it has completely changed my life forever. I now get to run a company that has my heart and soul in it, while changing the world every single day. I have the honor of supporting incredible humans who are doing life-changing work in their entrepreneurial journeys.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

My top three motivations for starting my business were impact, transformation, and growth. I knew that I could impact millions with the business, and the intuitive approach that I take, to help create successful brands. I also knew that I could help people grow their wealth, abundance, and overall happiness through the mindset and transformational work that we do together which is why I include that in everything I create.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

I would say the key element for starting and running a successful business is creating a solid foundation first. When you start from a foundation that is filled with clarity, impact, and drive, you create a long-standing brand and business. Make sure you have a clear onboarding system and growth plan, and you will be off to an amazing start. If you ever need support, hire a mentor or coach to support you. When you commit to your business, there are going to be moments when you feel terrified of the next steps, like those big investments. Always trust yourself.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

First, would be the opinions of others. I grew up in an old-fashioned Italian family around a lot of people who were not in entrepreneurship. So, when I decided to go for it and spend the money that I didn’t have, for a dream that no one but me believed in, it seemed crazy to everyone around me. I felt extremely alone. But I persisted, and now I am more successful and happy than I’ve ever been.

Second, would be organization. When I first started my business, things were messy. It was hard trying to find the flow of things. The back end, the links, the programs, the diversifications can get overwhelming to do on your own. My Online Business Manager was someone who changed my life and really helped add structure and organization to my business. I couldn’t do it without my support and team, but this obstacle definitely lit a fire under me to work on my own flow and be the CEO of my business.

The last would be to surrender. In this industry, it is taught that we should always be going bigger and bigger, but the truth is that business is sometimes ebbs and flows. You have to surrender to the ebbs and flows and know where you are in your own journey. Sometimes I am in a massive creation and planning mode, and other times I’m on fire selling non-stop. Learning my unique personal flow and business flow has changed everything for me so that I can surrender to continue to catapult my income, as well as manage my energy properly.

What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

The best form of marketing I have found since starting my online business is organic marketing on social media. I love creating a community through my private Facebook group, The Intuitive Boss Babe. I have grown this group to over 4,000 members that I attribute to the majority of my half a million dollars profit in 2020. Organic marketing is also a great way to get started and call in those soul-aligned clients. Providing value and connecting organically has proven successful for me time and time again.

As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?

The most important leadership lesson that I’ve learned is that you should set your boundaries early. You should be “filling up your cup” as much as you pour out when it comes to leadership because an over-exhausted leader can quickly burn out. In my opinion, we need more leaders who care about themselves, as much as they care about everyone else. When we give from an empty cup, it is easier to get overwhelmed. The more that you care for yourself, and are really aligned with your bigger vision, the more momentum you have to go further in your business. In order to grow your brand, boundaries with everyone in your life are critical, whether it be personal or business-related.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

The best advice I have ever received was to never listen to the opinions of others, and do what makes you happy. When I started entrepreneurship, it caused some of my close family members and friends to try and talk me out of following my dreams. If I had listened, I would have never gotten here. Even though the journey may have looked different than what others expected, I would have never found the success that I have today if it wasn’t for me trusting myself and following my own personal happiness.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

Focus on creating free value, and being consistent so that your audience can get to know and trust you. When working in an industry that is mainly run online, creating brand awareness and trust should be one of your first focuses as a new entrepreneur. Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. When you don’t give up, and instead learn from your mistakes and successes, your business becomes limitless. Hold the vision and commit to your evolution.