Pouur Decisions

What do you do when you lose your job… right when life is about to change? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Jen Prochaska shares how getting fired while pregnant forced her into entrepreneurship and ultimately led her to build a business that actually fits her life. What felt like a setback turned into clarity through relationships, networking, and real conversations. This isn’t a surface-level business conversation. We get into what actually drives growth for small business owners. Why most entrepreneurs struggle with marketing. Why your website probably isn’t the real problem. And how unclear messaging keeps you from attracting the right clients. If you’re trying to grow a business, find better clients, or make smarter decisions about your marketing, this is a conversation that will hit close to home.

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Ameerah Herbert, founder of Noire Wellness and Aesthetics, to break down what it really looks like to build a successful medspa from the ground up.This is more than just a medical spa conversation. It’s a real look at what it takes to go from nurse to entrepreneur, how to start a business, and the decisions that shape long term success in the world of medical aesthetics.Ameerah shares how she built her med spa business plan, started as a mobile aesthetic nurse injector, and grew into a full medical spa location while navigating real challenges like construction delays, legal issues, and maintaining cash flow. If you’re thinking about how to write a business plan step by step or looking for real examples of business planning in action, this conversation delivers.We also touch on marketing strategies for small business owners, including med spa marketing, LinkedIn marketing, SMS marketing, Instagram ads, and digital marketing strategies that actually help drive medspa growth and profitability. Whether you're focused on b2b lead generation, online advertising, or just trying to understand marketing 101, this episode gives you practical insight without the fluff.If you're in the medical spa space or exploring how to build a profitable medspa business, this conversation is packed with real-world experience, honest lessons, and actionable ideas.Topics covered include:medspa growth, medspa profit, medical spa business plan, nurse entrepreneur journey, marketing strategies, digital marketing, and how to build a business that actually works.Watch until the end for one of the most honest breakdowns of what it takes to succeed in the med spa industry today.

What does it actually take to turn a recipe into a real business? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Bianca Beach shares the story behind building Lamacita, from early kitchen experiments to navigating co-manufacturers, retail, and everything in between.This is an honest conversation about the decisions most people don’t see. From choosing the wrong ingredients early on, to trusting outside opinions over your gut, to figuring out how to scale without losing your product. Bianca walks through the real challenges of launching in the food industry and what she would do differently.If you’re thinking about starting a business or already in the middle of it, this episode is a reminder that progress rarely looks clean. It’s about starting, building the right relationships, and continuing to move forward even when things don’t go as planned.

What does it actually take to start a business when you don’t have a plan, a budget, or certainty it will work? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Stephanie Kluk, founder of Future Ink Graphics, shares how she built her business from years of experience in the nonprofit and creative space, and why relationships became her biggest asset. From launching during COVID to choosing a location inside a nonprofit-driven building, her path was anything but traditional. The conversation goes deeper into the parts most business owners don’t talk about, including legal challenges, navigating leases and contractors, relying on word of mouth instead of marketing, and learning through mistakes. This is a real discussion about building something from nothing and figuring it out as you go. 

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Kristen Hannie-Ducey, founder of Ducey Designs, shares how a lifelong passion for interior design turned into a real business after getting laid off at the start of COVID. What started as side work became the push she needed to build something of her own.The conversation goes beyond design and gets into what many business owners deal with behind the scenes: contracts, legal blind spots, hiring, insurance, taxes, process, and learning who is and is not the right client. Kristen talks honestly about the mistakes, lessons, and growing pains that came with building a company.If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, or professional trying to grow something the right way, this is a grounded conversation about trusting your process, building the right team, and learning as you go.

What does it really take to walk away from stability and bet on yourself? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, actor Derrick A. King shares the real story behind leaving a corporate career at Nestlé to pursue acting. From growing up in performing arts to navigating risk, uncertainty, and rejection, Derrick breaks down the moments that shaped his journey and the mindset it takes to keep going. This is a grounded conversation about relationships, financial awareness, faith, and the decisions that happen when no one is watching. Derrick also opens up about missed opportunities, trusting your intuition, and what it means to build a career without a clear path. 

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Sharece sits down with John Lahoski of Peninsula Hardwoods for a real conversation about what it takes to sustain a family business across multiple generations. From the founding of Terry Lumber in 1940 to the growth of Peninsula Hardwoods, this episode explores legacy, leadership, customer service, and the decisions that help a business keep moving forward.John shares how his grandfather started the business after being denied a raise, how the company survived a major flood with the help of the local community, and what it has looked like to carry the business into the next generation. The conversation also covers working with family, building a strong team, educating customers, handling business problems before they turn into bigger legal issues, and learning how to lead people well over time.This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, family business, community support, and the kind of leadership lessons that only come from real experience.

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Destiny Burns, founder of CLE Urban Winery, to talk about the real decisions behind leaving corporate life, coming back to Cleveland, and building a business from the ground up with no roadmap.Destiny shares how a 20 year Navy career and years in defense contracting led her to walk away from stability, design a purpose driven business, and navigate everything from SBA loans and alcohol regulations to COVID shutdowns and near breaking points.This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, legal realities, survival mode, and why mission matters more than money if you want to last. No hype. Just real lessons from nine years of building something meaningful.

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with SA Frell, founder of Olivia Rose Confections, to talk through the real story behind building a food business. It starts with culinary school, a moment that made her realize she could sell what she was making, and the surprising reality that sales do not equal profit.We get into the hard part most people skip: being undercapitalized, cutting marketing first, opening in the wrong place, and closing a bakery in six months. Then we follow the comeback through teaching, learning from customers, launching a subscription model the smart way, and making the leap to full time with an actual plan to pay herself.The conversation also goes into the legal and business side of growth: trademarks, what happens when a name is “too generic,” how competitors create marketplace confusion, and the two “poor decisions” she’s still recovering from: tying up cash in bulk inventory and writing everything off without thinking about future financing.

Bob Polk of Leisure Tours Cleveland joins Pouur Decisions to talk through what it actually takes to build a local experience business from scratch. What starts as bicycle tours turns into golf cart tours, but the real story is persistence: figuring it out when the city has no playbook for what you are trying to do.We get into the unglamorous parts most people skip, licensing, insurance questions when you have passengers, and how long legislation can take when something is new. Bob shares how he kept momentum by doing something for the business every day, even while waiting on approvals.This is a grounded conversation about decisions, setbacks, and building something in your city because you believe it should exist.

What happens when a creative side project slowly becomes the thing you care about most? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Erin Rudy of Milestone Home Design to talk about the real decisions behind leaving a stable corporate career to build a business that started almost by accident.We dig into what it looks like to grow a company without a perfect plan, how trial and error shapes confidence, and why many entrepreneurs underestimate the importance of contracts, boundaries, and protecting their time. Erin shares honest lessons about undervaluing yourself early on, learning to say no, and realizing when a promotion isn’t actually progress.This is a grounded conversation about risk, family, money, and choosing work that feels aligned even when it’s uncomfortable. No hype. Just real experience and real decisions.

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Venessa Motaabbed, a Cleveland based realtor with Cali Home Pro powered by eXp Realty, to talk honestly about what it really means to leave a steady paycheck and go all in on yourself.Vanessa shares her journey from retail to real estate, the fear of commission based income, and the personal moment that pushed her to finally take the leap. We talk through the mistakes she made early on by joining the wrong teams, why culture matters more than brand recognition, and how finding the right people can change everything.The conversation also goes deeper into legacy, succession planning, and why business owners need to think beyond today’s deals. This episode is for anyone questioning their next move, feeling stuck in a job that no longer fits, or trying to build a business that lasts. Episode Show NotesTransitioning from retail to real estateThe fear of commission based incomeWhat finally pushed her to go all inLessons learned from joining the wrong teamsWhy support and culture matter more than big brandsBuilding an investor focused real estate teamThinking about legacy and long term planningMistakes that shaped her growthNetworking, community, and what’s nextEpisode Keywordsbusiness podcast entrepreneurship real estate careers commission based work career change stories women in business business decisions small business growth leadership conversations real estate investing personal growth stories

Megan Robinson, founder of Blossom Flower Bar, joins Pouur Decisions to share how she walked away from a corporate career and built a thriving, multi-location business rooted in joy, community, and genuine human connection.Starting with flowers stored in a garage cooler, Megan talks about using influencer marketing before it was common, opening her first storefront with fear and faith, and learning tough lessons around systems, legal mistakes, and scaling. She also shares how building the right team, creating unforgettable customer experiences, and leading with care became the foundation of her success.This episode is an honest look at entrepreneurship without the highlight reel. It’s about hard work, learning as you go, and building a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Kaba’s African and Caribbean Market is more than a grocery store. It’s a reflection of the people it serves.In this episode, Aicha Kaba shares the story of how her family’s business grew alongside Cleveland’s Lee Harvard neighborhood. From its early days focusing on African products to becoming a multicultural destination for food, wellness, and skincare, Kaba’s Market expanded by paying attention to what the community needed most.Aicha also discusses working with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and how projects like the White Box initiative are helping bring new energy to the neighborhood, including a new restaurant opening in the original store location this spring.This episode is about listening first, growing with purpose, and staying committed to the people who support you.

Haditha “Butter” Khan, the creative force behind Ink Therapy Studio, shares her remarkable journey from artist to business owner. We talk about opening her studio in Bedford Heights during the pandemic, her experience as a Black female entrepreneur in the tattoo world, and why her art is more than ink on skin — it’s a form of healing and expression. Butter also offers advice to artists and entrepreneurs who are building their own path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends creativity and business insight.

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Sharece sits down with Tracy Burnett, Founder & Owner of Michi Lifestyle, a comfort-first home and lifestyle shop based in Lakewood, Ohio. Tracy opens up about transitioning from corporate travel to entrepreneurship, why designing for comfort matters, sourcing ethical small-batch products, and how a supportive community shaped her retail vision. She also reveals one financial decision she wishes she made sooner — so you don’t repeat it.We raise a glass to thriving through trial and error. Cheers! 🍷Visit Michi Lifestyle in Lakewood – Support Local!👉 Need legal templates to protect your business? Get attorney-drafted documents at PouurDecisions.com

From driving limos and passing out flyers to building a thriving lawn care company, Dave Petti shares how he turned Turf Pride into a service-driven success story. In this interview, Dave explains how focusing on customer experience, developing a strong employee training program, and hiring for character helped him scale sustainably without sacrificing quality.He also opens up about early challenges — including a legal dispute that taught him the importance of proper documentation and business structure. If you’re growing a service-based business or just getting started, you’ll walk away with real-world lessons and practical strategies you can use today.📌 Key Topics:• How to start a business while working another job• Mistakes new business owners make• Scaling a service business with systems• Building a positive workplace culture• Documentation and liability protection for service pros• Reducing turnover and retaining great employees👉 Get attorney-drafted legal templates for your business:https://www.pouurdecisions.com

Fashion designer and Project Runway alum Valerie Mayen shares her journey from juggling multiple jobs to building Yellowcake Shop, a slow-fashion brand rooted in empowerment and ethical craftsmanship. Valerie opens up about what slow fashion truly means, why she refuses to be part of fast fashion’s harmful cycle, and the mission to help women look strong, feel strong, and step confidently into any room.She also gets candid about the pressures of success after national exposure, the business mistakes she wishes she hadn’t made (hello, brick-and-mortar too soon), and how continuing education programs like JumpStart and 10KSB transformed her mindset as an entrepreneur.Valerie’s legacy is clear: build wealth, create options for more women, and prove that fashion can drive personal power. If you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or a woman ready to level up — this episode will light a spark. 👉 Need legal templates to protect your business? Get attorney-drafted documents at PouurDecisions.comConnect with Yellowcake Shop: yellowcakeshop.com instagram.com/yellowcakeshopTopics Covered: • Slow fashion vs. fast fashion • Building a creative business from scratch • Lessons from Project Runway • Ethical manufacturing and sustainability • Women building wealth and options • Business education + support networks • Empowerment through clothing and identity