Let’s Start a Business

Let’s Start a Business – Ep. 7 Local Gems of New Orleans: Creativity, Culture, and Small Business Magic

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of four unforgettable small businesses I visited in New Orleans — each one built on passion, purpose, and serious creativity. From handcrafted jewelry to eco-conscious shoes and retro fashion, these founders are shaping culture in the French Quarter.
🎧 Listen in if you’re building something of your own — or just love discovering unique, soulful spots run by bold entrepreneurs.
✨ Featured Businesses🥿 Head to Toe – Unique shoes + accessories📍 816 Decatur St | headtotoeno.com
💍 Beatrixbell Handcrafted – Sustainable jewelry & artist workshops📍 831 Chartres St | beatrixbell.com
👠 ShoeBeDo – Eco-conscious high fashion footwear📍 324 Chartres St | shoebedousa.com
👗 Trashy Diva – Retro-inspired clothing, modern twist📍 537 Royal St | trashydiva.com
🔗 Episode link in comments!💬 Let’s connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megefficiencyedge
#LetsStartABusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #ShopLocal #WomenInBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneurs #FrenchQuarterNOLA #SoloEntrepreneurLife #SustainableStyle #MegEfficiencyEdge

Episode 6: Inspired by New Orleans – Embracing Creativity, Setting Bold Goals, and Letting Go of Perfection

Just got back from New Orleans—and let me tell you, that trip lit a fire in me. 🔥🎶✨
The music, the food, the art, the energy… it made me reflect on how much pressure we put on ourselves as solo entrepreneurs to do everything perfectly. But perfection isn’t the goal—authenticity and creativity are. 💡
In Episode 6 of Let’s Start a Business, I dive into:
🎯 Why I'm setting a scary-but-exciting new goal: my first public speaking engagement
📅 The importance of defining both short-term AND long-term goals
🛠️ What I’m building toward with my May 14th workshop
💬 How real conversations and travel can help clarify your direction
If you’re building a business from scratch, feeling overwhelmed, or just trying to do it your way—this episode is for you.
And if something resonates, I’d love to hear what goals you’re working toward this season.
#LetsStartABusiness #SoloEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #AuthenticBranding #CreativeLeadership #BusinessStrategy #SmallBusinessTips #ApplePodcasts

FREE Tools & Resources for Solo Entrepreneurs | Mentorship, Planning Help & More

Are you a solo entrepreneur trying to do it all yourself? In this episode of Let’s Start a Business, I break down some of the best free tools and resources that will help you organize your business, streamline your workflow, and find expert mentorship — even if you're on a tight budget.
Whether you're a content creator, coach, freelancer, or small business owner, this guide will give you the practical tools to start and grow your business with clarity and confidence.
✅ Resources Mentioned:
SCORE.org – Free business mentoring & templates
SBDC – Local small business consulting
WBC – Support for women entrepreneurs
VBOC – Veteran-focused business resources
MicroMentor.org – Find a free business mentor
SBA Learning Platform – Free online courses
CO by U.S. Chamber – Templates, articles & guides
Google Drive – File organization & collaboration
Otter.ai – AI transcription for meetings
ChatGPT – Research, brainstorming, and writing help
Canva – Graphic design for social & branding
Figma – UI/UX and collaborative planning
ClickUp – Project and task management
All of these tools either have completely free tiers or free versions to help you get started without the overwhelm.
💼 Let’s Work Together:If you’re looking for help building systems or organizing your business, connect with me on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/megefficiencyedge/
🗓️ New episodes every Friday.
solo entrepreneur, free business tools, project management, small business resources, business mentor, SCORE, startup tips, business coaching, women in business, productivity for entrepreneurs, small biz systems

Episode 3: What I Do & Where I’m At – My Journey to Building Systems That Work

In this episode, I’m sharing something a little more personal with you. As a business strategist and project management expert, I help businesses optimize their processes and implement systems for growth. But building systems for my own business? That’s been a journey!
I talk about:🔑 What I do for my clients and the services I offer🔑 The challenges I’m facing as a solo entrepreneur building my own systems🔑 What’s working for me and what isn’t as I streamline my business
If you're also on the journey of getting your own systems in place, this episode is for you!
Join me as I reflect on where I’m at and the lessons I’m learning along the way.
Follow Me:🔗 LinkedIn: Megan McDonell – Business Strategist & Project Manager🎥 YouTube: MEG'S EFFICIENCY EDGE

🎙️ Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Building Strong Collaborations | Let’s Start a Business Ep. 2

🚀 Ever felt like you’re not good enough? Like you don’t belong in the space you’re trying to grow in? That’s imposter syndrome, and in this episode of Let’s Start a Business, I’m getting real about how it hit me hard this week.
I’ll share how I pushed through self-doubt, what I’ve learned from collaborating with others, and the systems I use to stay organized while networking and building meaningful connections.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:✅ How I dealt with imposter syndrome and got back on track✅ The biggest mistakes & lessons I’ve learned from collaborations✅ My process for reaching out and building trust with potential partners✅ How I keep track of collaborations with an easy-to-follow system
🎯 If you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode is for you!✔ Learn how to silence self-doubt and take action✔ Build relationships based on trust and authenticity✔ Stay organized and track your networking efforts for growth
👉 Let’s Connect!💬 How do you handle imposter syndrome? What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from collaborations? Drop me a message!
📩 Find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megefficiencyedge/
🔔 Don’t forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you never miss an episode!
#ImposterSyndrome #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #CollaborationTips #SmallBusinessSuccess #NetworkingTips #Freelancer #LetsStartABusiness

Episode 1: Welcome to the Journey

Let’s Start a Business is your go-to podcast for real, unfiltered insights into building a business from the ground up. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, small business owner, or just thinking about taking the leap, this podcast is packed with actionable strategies, honest lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories.
🚀 What You’ll Get in Each Episode:✅ Practical business strategies to help you grow✅ Real talk on the challenges and wins of entrepreneurship✅ Productivity tips and systems to streamline your workflow✅ Inspiring interviews with fellow entrepreneurs
Starting a business can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. New episodes drop every Friday morning!
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-start-a-business/id1801802691Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vdikb-183dc10
Let’s build something amazing—together!

Let’s Start a Business: My Journey to Building a Brand

Let’s Start a Business: My Journey to Building a Brand is your front-row seat to the ups and downs of starting a business from scratch. Hosted by me, Megan, this podcast documents my personal journey as I turn my entrepreneurial dreams into reality. From setting up systems and tackling roadblocks to celebrating the small wins, I’ll share the lessons I learn along the way. If you’re ready to dive into the real side of entrepreneurship, whether you’re just starting out or working through your own business hurdles, this podcast is for you. Let’s build something amazing—together!