Rigidity Is the Death of Opportunity: A Brand Strategist's Guide to Getting the "Yes"
What if being creative had less to do with what you make and more to do with how you build your life and business?
In this episode of Minding My Creative Business, Ron and Shai sit down with brand strategist, marketing leader, creative entrepreneur, and North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee CMO Noelle LeVeaux for a conversation about what it really means to think like a creative entrepreneur.
With more than 30 years of marketing experience, Noel shares how a background in mathematics and analytics shaped her approach to creativity, why flexibility creates opportunities, and how creative entrepreneurs can stop thinking only about deliverables and start solving bigger client problems.
The conversation also explores how Noel assembles teams, gives people autonomy, evaluates high-profile opportunities, manages capacity, and keeps her personal values aligned with the brands she represents.
What You'll Learn In This Episode
Creativity Is Bigger Than Your Craft
Being able to create something doesn't automatically mean you're approaching your life creatively.
Noel challenges creative entrepreneurs to apply the same imagination they bring to their craft to how they find opportunities, build careers, solve problems, and structure their businesses.
Sometimes the opportunity isn't through the obvious door. Creativity means being willing to find another way in.
Flexibility Creates Opportunity
Rigidity can quickly turn a potential opportunity into a "no."
Whether you're presenting creative concepts to a client or navigating your career, being too attached to one solution limits what can happen next.
Instead of taking an idea too far before receiving feedback, Noel recommends creating room for collaboration early in the process.
Stop Selling. Start Solving.
Clients aren't talking to you because they want another sales pitch.
They have a problem.
The job of the creative entrepreneur is to listen closely enough to understand that problem and then demonstrate how they can solve it.
Sometimes the solution goes beyond your own expertise, which is why having trusted collaborators can dramatically increase the value you bring to a client.
Build the Solution, Not Just the Asset
A beautiful logo, video, website, or campaign asset isn't necessarily valuable if the client doesn't know how to use it.
Creative entrepreneurs can create more value by thinking beyond the deliverable.
Who else needs to be involved?
Where will the creative be used?
How will it be promoted?
What actually needs to happen for the client's objective to be achieved?
By assembling the right partners, a creative can move from delivering one asset to providing a much more complete business solution.
Build Teams That Can Own the Work
Noel doesn't stay organized simply by adding more project management tools.
She builds teams around people who can take ownership.
Her approach is to give capable team members autonomy and empower them to make decisions without constantly waiting for approval.
Instead of every decision flowing through the founder, each person can operate almost like a "mini CEO" over their area of responsibility.
Don't Let Specialization Become a Limitation
Expertise matters, but defining yourself too narrowly can close doors.
Noel values people who have a primary expertise while still being capable of operating across different responsibilities when necessary.
Knowing exactly what you do is useful.
Constantly telling people what you don't do can become a limitation.
Capacity Is a Strategic Decision
More business isn't automatically better business.
When Noel accepted the opportunity to work with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, she knew it would require significant capacity.
That meant intentionally scaling back other client work.
Sometimes a strategic opportunity may even produce less money in the short term while creating credibility, experience, and access that can open much larger doors later.
How Noel Evaluates Opportunities
Not every opportunity should be evaluated purely by its paycheck.
Two of Noel's biggest considerations are:
1. Brand and exposure
Does the opportunity create meaningful positioning, experience, or access?
2. Alignment
Does she actually believe in the organization, product, or mission she's being asked to represent?
If an opportunity conflicts with her values, a large paycheck isn't enough to make it worthwhile.
Your Mission Makes Saying "No" Easier
Mission statements aren't only for nonprofits.
Knowing what your business stands for creates a filter for opportunities.
When money is attached to something, saying no can become difficult. A clearly defined mission helps determine which opportunities actually belong in your business.
Personal Brand and Business Brand Aren't Completely Separate
In a world where clients, employees, audiences, and partners can see more of our lives than ever before, maintaining completely separate identities becomes difficult.
Noel's advice is simpler:
Find one version of yourself that feels authentic in both spaces.
Your topics and environments may change, but the underlying values should remain consistent.
People need to trust the person behind the business because they're trusting that person with something important to them.
Key Takeaways
- Creativity should shape how you approach business, not only what you create.
- Flexibility creates opportunities that rigidity can destroy.
- Listen for the client's actual problem before proposing a solution.
- Build partnerships that allow you to solve problems beyond your individual skill set.
- Strong teams require autonomy, ownership, and trust.
- Specialization shouldn't become an excuse for unnecessary limitations.
- More clients aren't always better if your capacity can't support them.
- Some opportunities are worth accepting for strategic positioning, even when they require short-term sacrifice.
- Brand exposure, values, mission, and financial runway should all influence major business decisions.
- Your personal reputation affects how people perceive the businesses and brands you represent.
Quotable Moments
"If you are not being creative in the way that you shape and form your life and you're just thinking about it in the tools that you use, then you are not a creative."
"Rigidity in creativity is, to me, the death of the great opportunity."
"A lot of people want to go in and sell what they want to sell versus solving the problem for a client."
"Everyone becomes kind of a little mini CEO in my business."
"For a lot of entrepreneurs, we think more is always better."
"There has to be strategy in every decision that you're making."
"You can't be a whole different person at work than you are at home."
About Noelle LeVeaux
Noel Lavau is a marketing leader, brand strategist, creative entrepreneur, and lifelong learner with more than 30 years of experience in marketing.
Her career bridges analytics and creativity, with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in digital communication analytics.
At the time of this conversation, Noel serves as Chief Marketing Officer for the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, helping lead marketing and communications surrounding Dallas' role as a host city.
In This Episode
- Creativity beyond your craft
- Mathematics, analytics, and marketing
- Why marketing metrics can be misleading
- Finding unconventional ways into opportunities
- Creativity vs. simply creating
- Why rigidity hurts creative entrepreneurs
- Listening to clients before selling
- Solving problems instead of delivering assets
- Building collaborative teams
- Giving team members autonomy
- Specialists vs. "jack of all trades"
- Noel's work with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee
- Managing capacity and high-profile opportunities
- Strategic sacrifice and financial runway
- Creating a framework for saying yes or no
- Mission, integrity, and brand alignment
- Personal brands vs. business brands
- Authenticity in professional environments
- What's next for Noel
Closing Mantra
All it takes is intention, consistency, and laser focus to mind my creative business.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- AT&T
- FIFA
- Credit Savant
Transcript
A lot of people want to go in and sell what they want to sell versus solving the problem for a client for a period of time. You might make less money, but you know that that's going to open doors that may not have opened to you.
ShySpeaks:We're thinking, what tool can I get? What system can I give? Actually, how I stay organized is because I bring in people who can own the thing themselves.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:So I think a lot of times creative entrepreneurs and just people in general, they miss out on opportunities because it's like, no, I'm only going in through this way.
Noelle LeVeaux:You need to find one person that you be that feels like yourself. You can't be a whole different person at work than you are at home. Rigidity and creativity is the death of the great opportunity.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Based on you listening to this podcast, you're probably a creative entrepreneur who's ready to stop hustling for clients and start building a business that runs on purpose, profit and peace.
ShySpeaks:If that's you, we want to invite you to join the Creative to CEO challenge. A five day live coaching experience designed to help you shift your mindset and develop the habits to turn your creativity into consistent cash flow.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:It is all happening live on Zoom inside a private community of ambitious creative entrepreneurs just like you. People who are done guessing, done grinding, and ready to build with clarity and confidence.
ShySpeaks:By the end of the challenge, you will have a crystal clear direction on your next 90 days. A profit plan that fits your lifestyle and the framework to start earning 10k plus months doing what you love without burning out or selling out.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:So if that sounds like what you need, then tap the link in the description or scan a QR code if you're watching this on screen. And do not forget to upgrade to VIP for bonus coaching and behind the scenes Q and A every day of the challenge with me and Shy.
ShySpeaks:We can't wait to help you unlock CEO mode and the freedom you've been wanting. For now let's get back to the episode. What's up and welcome to the Mind and My Creative Business podcast.
The number one podcast for creatives to learn strategy, structure and self development, sustainability all in the same place. And not just creatives, we mean creative entrepreneurs. I am your co host Shot Speaks.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:And I am your co host Ron ironically. And we are here with another phenomenal episode that I know that yeah, it's gonna be my favorite.
ShySpeaks:You know I say this on every episode, that this one's going to be my favorite. This is why he's teasing me. But this one is probably quite literally Going to be my favorite.
I was sitting here preparing for this conversation, talking all humbly and all whatever. Then I'm like, I'm excited because we have. Matter of fact, I'm too excited to introduce.
So let me let you bring the guests in with the proper audience.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:So we, within our presence, within our midst, we have brand strategist, marketing powerhouse, and creative entrepreneur, Noelle Laveau.
Noelle LeVeaux:What's up?
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:What's up? What's up? What's up? So that's how we introduce you.
Noelle LeVeaux:I like it. I dig it.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:How would you introduce yourself?
Noelle LeVeaux:Oh, gosh. How would I introduce myself?
Mother of two phenomenal black women, lover of people, constant learner, and hopefully avid supporter of those who want the best for themselves.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:I love it. I love it, I love it.
ShySpeaks:She said, I want the best for you if you want it for yourself. Now, if you don't want the best for yourself, not wasting time on that, I'm not gonna get in the way, you know?
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:I love it.
ShySpeaks:I like that. Okay, okay, okay, okay. So. So all of these things, all of these, what you would say, titles or roles or. And I love the way you put it. So it was.
It was better than what we said. But we, you know, we like to talk about the creativity that's there within you. And so how did you.
Let's do a quick origin question before we tap into all of the things. How did you develop or know that you had this knack for marketing like this, that your brain worked in that creative way?
Noelle LeVeaux:That's a really good question, because there are a couple things that people find kind of odd about, like, the juxtaposition of things about me. So I have a bachelor's in math from Spelman College. I have a master's in digital communication analytics.
So you don't immediately think that person is a creative. Right. Or in marketing and communications. I always wanted to be in communications.
I wanted to be a broadcast journalist, but I needed a scholarship to go to college. So I scored higher on math than I did on English, even though I was really into English and public speaking and all that kind of stuff.
I always loved numbers. I really did. So I ended up majoring in math.
I actually started out dual degree math and electrical engineering, and I interned at AT&T because I was on scholarship with them every summer. And I drove around in a car with an electrical engineer testing how the technology sounded.
Going 35 miles per hour, you know, with the windows down, with the radio on. That was Bluetooth technology in the early 90s. I, of course didn't know what it was and thought I was.
It was so boring because that's not really what I wanted to do. But like I said, so.
So it's not an immediate connection for people, but I tell people all the time, you know, some people are right brain, some are left brained. I guess I'm whole brained. Right. And so. And I think that math, science, music, I mean all of it actually revolves around kind of the same thing.
And so I think what I always knew is that I wanted to be around people. I wanted to do something that, you know, could publicly move people in certain ways. And so I didn't know I wanted to be in marketing.
I would never say that, you know.
And so I say that because young people now, like we wanted to like put them in a box so early, you know, we wanted to put them in architectural high schools or, you know, and I'm like, wow, I had no idea what I was going to do. People ask me now like, hey, what are you going to do next in regard to like the big project or the. And I said, I don't know.
I never would have said I wanted to go work on FIFA. So I mean my role has always been keep your options open and your eyes open.
And then I think that you fall into the things that hopefully you are most gifted in. And I think it's worked out well for me in marketing.
ShySpeaks:Yeah, see when we introduced her, we didn't drop in the FIFA. We just wanted to wait. So easy. Then those of you guys who are still rocking with us. Yes, that's why I'm saying I was excited.
That's why I couldn't do the introduction. But I want to go back and say I'm probably a lot more like you. I enjoy math and science and reading and English. I enjoyed them all equally.
But I think I had, I was drawn more to math and science, technically math. And I was an electrical engineer major with computer science and electrical engineering.
And it wasn't until a while, like literally into my college career, almost out that I realized like I was drawn to that because that's the most creative aspect of what you would think of when you think of like engineering because you have to people, we don't. Yeah, I like what you're saying. It's a creativity to a lot of what we do.
And so I like that and also want to say the numbers because I can hear how the numbers, the digital, the digital analytics and the numbers came to come to be and there's a great deal of that with regard to marketing, oftentimes we talk about the. The psychology of it all, but there is also math involved with marketing. And so I think it's very interesting that you do what you do.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah, yeah. I think the most interesting part about math and marketing, though, especially in the digital, you know, world.
And of course, I've been in marketing before there was email, Internet, websites, social media, right.
I tell people all the time, like, yeah, if you tell me the Facebook algorithm changed, now the name has changed, it doesn't bother me because I was marketing before any of that existed, but because now there's so much in digital space, there are a lot of numbers that are associated with marketing. And what I would say the biggest concern is is how people use them inappropriately to prove something that is not true. Right?
And so, you know, you have to be really careful.
And oftentimes people are surprised when the marketing person is the one that's like, hey, so I'm going to need the whole number because that percentage doesn't mean anything to me because I don't know if there were 10 people and 10% is one person, or if there were 2 million people and 10% is 200,000 people, like that makes a really big difference in that you're doing. But people will oftentimes use numbers and math to kind of, you know, do a little bit of that magic, you know, or the smoke and mirrors piece of it.
And so for me, my.
Even my master's thesis was on sentiment in social media because a lot of the algorithm is based on quantity of numbers, how many times a video was watched or sent to someone. I always use Charli d' Amelio as the example, right?
Because in actuality, and I had young girls at the time, a lot of people were passing her stuff around to make fun of her, but the algorithm just saw it being shared, right? And that continued to get popular based on quantity, not necessarily on sentiment.
So what actually needs to continue to improve in the digital space is the ability to understand sentiment and comments and, you know, obviously other things, sharing and those kinds of things. So numbers in marketing really matter because some people are using them in ways that actually do not tell you what you think they tell you.
ShySpeaks:See, this is why I'm excited. Come on. The Masters. This is. It's. So I just saw you use what we like to call our whole brain, just even in that explanation, right?
Like, seriously, because it's like, you have to. Man, that's. That's really good. And, and then we, we went on into the FIFA and we didn't talk about it. I'm. Get off of it. Run.
Go ahead, you got something.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:But no, I mean, first I. Once again, something that just stood out to me as she was speaking and as she was saying.
It's like she wanted to go to college for one thing, but she got in the door. Right. The math part got me in the door. I ain't want to. I wasn't trying to do nothing with math, but it got me in the door.
So I think a lot of times creative entrepreneurs and just people in general, they have missed out on opportunities because it's like, no, I'm only going in through this way.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right, Right.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:But you was like, okay, I know where I'm trying to go, where I'm trying to get to, and if this allows me to get in the door, I'm going to go this way.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah. I mean, I think if you are creative, you shouldn't just think you're creat creative in the space that is your skill or your craft.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Like be creative.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Like find a way in.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yes.
Noelle LeVeaux:Find a way to get engaged with something that maybe you are. You can't find a job there, but you could find a way that you could volunteer at an event.
I mean, to me, if you're not being creative overall in the way that you frame your life, you're just being creative in like the tools that you use, then you're not a creative. Right.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Can you say that? That's your camera right there. Can you say that to your camera, please?
Noelle LeVeaux:But really, if you are not being creative in the way that you frame, shape and form your life and you're just thinking about it, I guess, in the tools that you use, then you are not a creative. You have to be creative in all of that. You make your own life happen. Right.
And so, I mean, that is something that I do think is really important for people. Like, be creative at every step of the way. I mean, life is one thing. It's not.
This is my professional life, this is my personal life, this is my family life. Like, that's totally gone now. Right. So if you are creative, be creative in all of it.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:I love, I love that. No, go ahead. So important.
ShySpeaks:Because the part of the reason why we wanted to do the mind in my creative business podcast is because people, we believe that creatives make some of the best business people. But if you ask some of them, they'll be like, I don't like the business part. I need a manager.
I need somebody to be my admin like, and they're not saying it because they literally need. You do need people to manage things, and you need people to be admin of things. That's not where they're saying it from.
They're saying it because they don't think that they like this aspect of doing something.
But to me, we want you to mind your creative business and in a creative way, take that same creativity that you do to visualize and do all the things you do, and you can do that with the business aspect of it as well. And you'll find yourself probably liking it more and being successful to get these types of contracts and clients that you're actually looking for.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:So what I'm hearing is there's one. There's a difference between creating and being creative.
Noelle LeVeaux:Absolutely.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:And a lot of people can confine it to. Or they combine the two where it's like, okay, because I'm creating, that makes me a creative. Not necessarily. Right, right.
Or like you said, you're limiting yourself or putting yourself in a box. But no, if you take them in the mindset that I'm a creative and I can create worlds out of nothing, I can create whatever.
ShySpeaks:Right, right.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Then I can take this in different modes and different aspects and create the life that I want. I love that. Like, that. That is like, like you said, the premise of while we're doing this whole thing. So for you to speak to that. That definitely.
That got me going. Like, I was excited and I was excited, but now I think I got goosebumps over here. So, yeah, that's.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah. I think it's also that part of, like, before, you have got to be flexible.
Rigidity and creative in creativity is, to me, like, the death of the great opportunity. Because I know that I've worked with creatives that are like, you know, they're bringing me one version of a cover.
I mean, well, if I don't like your cover, it's a no.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:If you give me two or three options, I might say, okay, I can work with something here.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Like, you find you can find yourself as a creative really quickly to a no. If you are rigid, if you're like, hey, no, this is how I see it, and this is what I created. Right. And there's no flexibility there.
When you're working with other people, you have to create space for them to have a response that doesn't end up with a no to you.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:And so I know that creatives, a lot of times when I say like, but, no, but this is the vision that I Have, unfortunately, they are putting themselves into a box that is a faster chance to get a no. Right. And so I used to have to make rules, like with creatives that I work with, that said, hey, I need two or three, whatever it is.
And one thing is, just don't get too far down the road. I think sometimes with creatives, you get so far down the road with a concept or an idea that you're, like, locked in. Right.
I always tell people, create a storyboard, like, show me what direction you're going in. Because creativity takes collaboration.
I mean, you think you're delivering a product to a client, but that client probably has some vision in their mind as well. And sometimes if you get too far down the path and it's too far away from what was in their mind, it's very hard to come back and meet in the middle.
ShySpeaks:Yeah. You know that I want to actually ask you a question on that note.
When you talk about the client and client satisfaction and the people that, that are working with you, that are maybe contractors and employees, and what you're telling them on how to. How they can better get a yes out of you.
But also we talk to you about, you know, how you got into marketing, and you're like, well, actually, my desire for this and this. And we talked about that part, but we also said you're. You yourself are an owner of a company. So let's talk about Noel Laveau. Right?
So when you talking. When you're talking about getting clients, for example, how did you know, how do you want to position yourself? Right.
So we knew you, you weren't rigid.
You had that flexibility about yourself, but you can't be too flexible to where you're like, I'm going to serve these people and these people, and I'm offer this price and I'm offer this.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Right.
ShySpeaks:Like, how did you say, how do you know where you want to position yourself? How you go about doing that pricing, offer, all of those things.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah, I mean, I think you have to stay, you know, true to it. Right. You know, I'm not new to it. I'm true to it. That's like. Like, for me, I've been in marketing for over 30 years in Dallas. Right.
So a lot of my work has been seen by people. So they have their own perception of what I bring to the table. That's part of it.
And I find that if you try to depart too far from that, it's difficult for you to be able to convince someone that you can do something else. Right. Not that you can't.
But if you have a reputation or if you have work that is out there, the first thing I would say is, you need to lean into that when you get in. Just like we were talking about creativity. When you get in there, you might say, hey, I also do this. But it's always about how do you get the gig?
Have to focus on how do you get the business. And some of it is that you. You are convincing people to some degree.
Trying to convince them of something that is totally different than what they maybe perceive you as is a challenge.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:And it's not necessarily the direction I would tell people to go. So one thing is that there are things that I am known for and I can listen to someone.
So the first way that I get clients is I absolutely, in any first meeting, I am listening to them. A lot of people want to go in and sell what they want to sell versus solving the problem for a client.
I tell people all the time, hiring is the most tiring thing you will ever do. Interviewing people like you. The interviewee thinks that they're like, nervous or whatever. It's exhausting as the person who's interviewing, Right.
So I tell people all the time, I would never hire if I didn't have a problem to solve. Right. So when you think about, like, if you're going in to a client, you have to think about the fact that they are doing this.
They are talking to multiple people, getting proposals and everything else only because they have a problem to solve. This isn't just like fun. Yeah, Right.
And so the best thing to do is understand what their problem is and then show them how you can solve it for them. I think that is period, end of story. That is what you were doing when you were trying to get business.
The client is only trying to solve a problem, so you have to show them how you can solve their problem. Right. And sometimes maybe as a creative, it's not just you.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Like, you might have a certain expertise, but if you listen to that person, that client, and you find out, well, they actually really need web development. Like, I've got some creative things that I can do. I can help them with their logo.
But as I'm talking to them, they're really talking about, you know, how do I make sure I have a digital presence and some of these other things, that's where I think collaboration comes into play too. Right. Like, as creatives, I think you should have partners in all kinds of different spaces. Because most people don't just need assets.
They want to know where it should go, how it should be promoted, you know, what should my media spend be? They want to know all these other things.
So if that is not your expertise, like you're making assets, you should have other people that you collaborate with that you know, they've got good work that you can say, hey, here are some people and here's some of the work that they've done that I think we could take your creative and really accomplish the things that you want to accomplish or answer the questions that you have or solve the problem that you have. Right. So, I mean, I think sometimes as a creative, you sometimes think you're just delivering a product.
In marketing, that thing can sit on the shelf.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:If you just give someone a beautiful asset and they don't really know what to do with it, then have you really helped them?
ShySpeaks:Noel, so you, you just said something that was like pretty subtle but profound in the sense of most people say listen to people for the problem, but you talked about collaboration in a way that I didn't hear it. And so you didn't even say that's one of your skill sets.
But when you were talking, I saw you being like, what, like, what's the guy, the Dr. X or whatever, he, he assembles the Avengers. Professor X. So you're listening? I'm listening because I realize, okay, this is something that they need.
And I'm in my, in the back of my mind thinking about all the partners that I have. And when I come to the proposal, it won't be just what I'm. What I can do.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right.
ShySpeaks:I can present a proposal based on what you need solved and I will have assembled my partners to get it done. And now I'm presenting something that's more dynamic. If you missed that, I just brought it back for you because that is, that is a major, major key.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:And, and adding on to what you just said. And that adds perceived value. Right?
So now I can add value, increase what I charge, because you know what I'm saying, it's like without you doing more, like you said, absolutely. I'm not doing all of this. However, though I'm the one that's providing this.
But I have other partners that I'm collaborating with that's going to do the work.
But now maybe it was something that was always going to charge 20,000 for now we can charge 50 because of the added value based off what it is that you need. Because I took the time to list and assess.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah, and creators are in that position because most people will respond to what they've seen.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:So there are a lot of other things that happen behind the scenes in marketing, obviously, like I said, with media spend and all those kinds of things. But what people see is the asset. So clients oftentimes will respond to something and say, oh, I think I would love to have something like that. Right.
And so you end up thinking, oh, I need a graphic designer. I need somebody in that creative space.
But like I said, if you don't have a plan to use that in different vehicles, then they're never going to really accomplish what their goal is. They want. Want that nice piece, that commercial, that advertisement, that logo to do something with it.
The first thing they started with was the creative piece. So if you can assemble that team right, then like you said, that's how your business really starts to grow and to flourish. Right.
Is bringing those different people together so that you can take that one piece of business, which was create a logo for us, and show them kind of the different ways that that asset can be used to really accomplish their goals.
ShySpeaks:So is that Noel Levo? Have we summed it up quite nicely? This is what you do. You just assemble the teams. Speaking of us. Is that right? Is that.
Noelle LeVeaux:I mean, it's a part of it. You know, it's a part of it. Because no one person can do it. All right. You really can't. Yeah.
ShySpeaks:Speaking of assembling the team, we've. We've said the word FIFA a couple of times. What we're doing is we are filming another season of the Mind of My Creative Business podcast.
We have taken this podcast to different cities. The last city we were in was Chicago, and we sat down with some of the best and the brightest. Right now, we are in Dallas. FIFA is hosting.
Dallas is hosting FIFA. And Noel, please tell them, what is your actual role with assembling the team while all these FIFA soccer teams are here?
Noelle LeVeaux:Sure. So I serve as the Chief Marketing officer for the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.
So there are 16 host cities across the three countries, 11 in the US and all of them have an organizing committee.
Dallas is hosting nine matches, which is more than any other host city, which was like a humble brag, you know, months and months and months in the making. And then we got here, and I was like, oh, my gosh, we have how many more matches to go? Because it is a lot, but we're really proud of that.
And so in my role, we're doing all kinds of different things, obviously working with the teams when they come here, whether they want to do a Fan meetup, fan marches, all of the website communications, the fan festival that's held in Fair Park. There are a lot of aspects to this gig, and really the most interesting part has been everyone's learning as they go. Right?
I mean, World Cups come around every four years.
The last two were in Russia and Qatar, which are horrible comparison, you know, comparative cities in regard to what's happening in the U.S. also, being across 16 cities makes it very different. So you find that there's a learning curve that everyone is on, those at FIFA as well as those in the host cities.
And so talk about having to be creative.
I mean, we're finding out things day by day that we have to respond to, and then obviously, hopefully come up with something that will be effective not only for FIFA and the World cup, but also for the city and for the region. Because when a city decides to host something like this, it's an expensive venture, it's taxing on the people that live here.
So you want to make sure that you can get the most out of it. That's positive and beneficial to the region as well.
ShySpeaks:One of the things you just said is there are a lot of aspects to things. So first of all, shout out to Noel for that. But I just wanted to. I kept teasing you with the FIFA. I have to let you understand.
But one of the things you said that there are a lot of aspects to FIFA, but you, you know, you have a company. Your, your, your company is covering so many different aspects all the time.
Sometimes there are events that are going on, there are other clients that you are. You're serving, sometimes like multiple events all at the same time. I want to ask you a structure question.
What is something that you use to organize yourself across all those facets and aspects that you were talking about?
Noelle LeVeaux:So, I mean, obviously there's a lot of, you know, technology, project management tools, you know, whether it's asana or, you know, creatives use a lot of these different tools. And I do think that's extremely helpful. Helpful to try to organize yourself using technology.
You know, the issue that you often will run into with that is that if you're working with an organization, they may have their own tool. Right. So sometimes it's about the intersection of those things, and then other times it's about the complete separation of them, in my opinion.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:So that's, that's one piece. The other part is I do believe that certain people are gifted in certain areas.
So when I think about assembling a team again, you know, I think about the type of work that we're doing.
So if it's events, if it's heavily event space, you know, really having that leader who knows how to run events, who knows how to organize multiple events at one time, like, for me, I'm kind of quarterbacking. Right. But everybody has to be an expert in their own space. And that's something that I really push on quite a bit. Right.
Is that when I try to assemble a team, I know that people are going to need to have autonomy.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:And I'm a big believer in autonomy. So when I try to build teams or the people that I look for, I need to know that they feel like they have the right to make the decision. Right.
And I say it that way because that's what I really mean.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:You have to believe and be empowered that you are empowered to make a decision.
Obviously, I expect them to have the capability to make that decision, but those two combined are extremely important because you can't be waiting on me. I have too many things on my plate. Like, sometimes you have to decide that you're going to make a decision.
So you have to believe that you have the right to make the decision. So that's important to me when I'm putting a team together.
I like people who are Jack of all trades because sometimes you have no idea what's going to come. Right, Right.
So you might be an expert in events, but I also need to know that you've also done projects where you've done the marketing, you've done, you know, the different collaborations you've done, volunteer management. You know, so there's certain areas like events that oftentimes has a lot of different assets and aspects to that.
And I know that that person probably has a greater skill set that when I say, hey, okay, so I'm going to need you to do all of that now. We're going to need to do a social media campaign for that event. They're like, okay, I got that too.
And so I know a lot of people steer away from Jack of all trades and a lot of times creative. We want to be like, really? Like, no, this is what I do.
And I think that some of the younger generation, back to what we were talking about, about like getting them into a lane too early, they think that way too. And that's just not the way the world goes round. Like, I have to be able to make one phone call and you'd be able to say, yeah, I got it. Right.
So some of the organization of these different pieces is about who you put on the team. Right. And. And each one of us have to know that. You cannot say, well, I just write copy.
ShySpeaks:Right, right.
Noelle LeVeaux:That again, fastest way out of a job is to tell me your limitations. Right. Which people love to do. You know, I only do this like that. Those are the worst words for me.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah.
Noelle LeVeaux:I mean, honestly, I mean, it just is. And I understand you have an expertise in something. Right. I get that part of it.
But the second you start talking about your limitations and what you have to offer, I start limiting my ideas of what you can do on my team.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right. And so I think that when you talk about the organization, the structure of it, it really is about the team members.
Who can I assign to this that I know can handle all? But everyone becomes kind of a little mini CEO in my business. Right. Because I have to be able to hand off this piece of business or this.
ShySpeaks:This aspect.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah, this aspect. Or like this category. Right. Of business.
So whether it's sports or it's fashion or if, you know, you've got to decide that you're going to organize in a certain way.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah. Now, speaking of this team, like you said, okay. I like to have everybody that's kind of like committee own, like CEO.
Are they coming already like that, or do you have it set up somewhere within your company structure and business to where you're developing people into that? How does that work for you?
Noelle LeVeaux:That's a great question. I try to start with someone who.
I've either seen them demonstrate that and maybe it's a little bit of coaching up to get rid of any kind of imposter syndrome that they might be living under. I would say that it's. It's. You have to at least have shown it.
Because I will struggle with someone who, you know, is really having a hard time being the one making decisions, you know, knowing how to collaborate with other people. There is also something very reputational for my business. Right. Because my name's on it. My experience is what people oftentimes hire me for.
And so I have to have people that reflect that at all times. Right. And so if they're thinking they're getting me, I have to be able to say this person basically is my proxy.
And they are going to move in the same way that I. That I would move. And you can trust that from them. Right. And so. And those people still need development. I mean, there's always.
Everything is developmental. Listen, I got two kids. They'll tell you, I'm always coaching.
Could you please just listen and not like, coach me on this one, I'm probably always coaching and developing because I do love to work with people that I can, even if they're not there yet, that I can see the potential that they have to get there. And sometimes they're their biggest enemy in getting there.
And if I can move themselves out of the way and, and oftentimes it takes someone else to do that. Right. That's a, that's a mindset thing. And you need, sometimes some, somebody needs permission to do that.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah.
Noelle LeVeaux:And I, I like to give that.
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Well, head over to Credit Savant IO that's Credit Savant IO and tell them MMCB sent you. One of the things that I appreciate about what you said is you consider the way you hire and staff roles as a part of organizations.
I know it's really like organizational behavior. If you into human resources, then you know what she's talking about.
But oftentimes when we're thinking about it from a business perspective, we're thinking, what tool can I get? What system can I get? What, what, what, what? How can I automate this?
And you're like, it's actually how I stay organized is because I bring in people who can own the thing themselves. I, I really think that that's a, that's a jewel there.
One of the other things that I want to, I want to ask you about is putting together a team in the sense of like, are you always, are you staffing? And this is somebody who wants to aspire to be in the position that you're in.
Like in the sense of being able to be at FIFA, being a Part of the magazine, one of the bigger magazines like these, all these type of really cool. What you would consider high profile clients and opportunities and things like that. Is there a core team that you have or are you.
Do you think it's best to staff teams based on the projects that come?
Noelle LeVeaux:So it's a little bit of both. I mean, I have to have somewhat of a core team because of what I just talked about in regards to like culture and expectations. Right.
So, I mean, I do expect people to move in a certain way and. And the great thing is that I find those people in different places and spaces every time I work on a new job or anything else.
I mean, we were just having this conversation yesterday. I was like, oh, yeah, she could be on the team. I'm always looking out for the people that I think could be on the team. Right.
They also have to know how to work with me.
I mean, you know, some people say I'm kind of a tough cookie and I kind of am, you know, but I'm just, I'm super direct because I don't think that there's any reason for us to, you know, be messing around, wasting time. Right. It's always out of love and my understanding that we have the same goal. Right. Like, so I am super direct.
Like I said, some people will say, you know, she's kind of tough.
I tell people all the time, if you get someone who's like, oh yeah, she's really hard to work with, that's cheat code for they don't want to work that hard, you know, because, I mean, I do have a certain level of expectation for people.
ShySpeaks:So how many people are on your core team?
Noelle LeVeaux:You would say, yeah, so I would say core team. And that means that, like, I might be tapping you. Like, you're not.
Like, it's not always this team, but I'd say there's probably a good four or five people that I would say I would bring along on any project.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Okay.
ShySpeaks:And then once you get to the project, the project, then you can assess the. Well, we're going to need 20 more people or 30 more people. This may be bleeding into Ron's category.
When I say category, he likes to ask the strategy questions. I like to ask the structure question. But I feel like it's in my wheelhouse too.
Everybody wants to grow and get to the next opportunity, but there is a such thing as capacity. Is there a project that you're like, I won't take because it's going to have to make cause me to have a team of 100 people.
And we don't do that because we still have all these other clients to serve. Or is there some type of. Of like a. A limiter, even a diesel truck?
A diesel truck can go as fast, and this is one of the most powerful vehicles on the road. But there's a such thing as a limiter on it. For the sake of your success, do you have something like that?
Noelle LeVeaux:Well, I think you're right in regard to structure and strategy being intertwined in this conversation. Right. Because there might be a strategy reason to take on something that forces you to build capacity. Right. Something like a FIFA World Cup, Right.
Where you say that's going to be a lot, but it can also open a lot of doors later on. Right. So there were definitely decisions that I had to make to say we can't take on any more clients right now if we're working on FIFA.
That's a decision that you make.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:And for a period of time, you might make less money, but you know that that's going to open doors that may not have opened to you. So I think that when you're running your business, there's always like this.
This, like, start, stop, run fast, slow down, kind of, you know, business that you're in when you're running your own business. And you do have to find times when you're not always chasing, you know.
So when I think about, like, structuring your business again, I think it's holistic. Right. Like, you cannot kill yourself all the time.
ShySpeaks:Yeah, right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Because eventually you're no good for any other business. Right. So I do think that, like, some of the decisions I've had to make is, okay, we're gonna have to pull back here.
You have to think about your capital, you know, the money that you have, how you can keep your business running if it's going after something that strategically makes sense and that, you know, will give you an opportunity to grow maybe later and bigger based on that one opportunity. Right. I mean, that's, I think, the hard decision that we make. I think for a lot of entrepreneurs, we think more is always better.
And I mean, you do have to think about the quality aspect of it. So, like I said, so I had to scale back.
I had several other clients, you know, before I took on FIFA, and I had to kind of roll those off because I knew that the bandwidth wouldn't be there. And then you risk actually not delivering for those other clients, and then you have a negative impact on your business. Right.
So there's math in that. Right, right. Like back to the math question.
There's math in that, like you are constantly, to me, building out the equation that in the end equals to success.
And sometimes there are inputs and outputs, you know, the plus and minuses that you have to take into consideration to ensure that what you can still be is successful.
So I know that's kind of a roundabout way, but the truth is, is that there has to be strategy in every decision that you're making, not question about that.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Right. So you just talked about that's a major decision. Right.
So as a CEO of your company and your brand that you are building and you have to protect, do you have a decision framework?
Because a lot of times, you know, you know, we have frameworks and we, we have these decisions, but as CEOs sometimes I've heard of some that have decision making frameworks.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Do you have a framework per se for your decision making?
ShySpeaks:Like in the sense of like, okay, if it checks this, yes, this and this.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right.
ShySpeaks:Is it yes. If it doesn't do this, this, that and the third, it's a no. Do you have something like that or is it it like more nuanced for you?
Noelle LeVeaux:I don't have something like that. You know, I'm an Aquarius. I'm a little, you know, I'm a little, I can be a little loosey goosey, but I'm extremely decisive. Right.
So there are certain things that I know and I've worked long enough to know there are certain things that have more cachet than other things. Right.
And because I don't think it's always just about the money, I would argue that brand and exposure are probably always going to be my first consideration. Right. So you know FIFA.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah.
Noelle LeVeaux:Okay, I'll look at that.
ShySpeaks:Right, right. Once in a life that's, that's literally a once in a lifetime.
Noelle LeVeaux:Probably a once in a lifetime opportunity.
ShySpeaks:They only the last time they were here was like 30 years ago or something like that. So another 30 years will I even be doing? So it's like a once in a lifetime opportunity and that comes up. Okay, so I got you on that.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right. So like, there are some things that are like you would always look at. Right. So I think that's probably kind of the, the first thing.
And then the other part for me that's always been the case is like, do I believe in it? You know, I mean, I am not. I can't. You can have a brand, but I mean, I saw a job for Playboy the other day. No, Right.
I mean, huge brand, would that have a lot of cachet? Absolutely. Could I be out there, you know, stumping for that? Nope. You know, like, no offense, playboy, but offense.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:You know what I'm saying? Like, I got two girls, too. I mean, like, just in general. Right. So I will say that's probably the first thing is that look at the brand.
Is it something that I think that, you know, has the cachet that I would want to be involved with. And the second thing is, does it align with my morals, my beliefs and integrity?
Because when you are in a marketing role and you will become, particularly at my position, the spokesperson for it, I have to be able to believe in it. I have to be out here talking to people with passion.
You know, my sister always says, whatever you have been selling, which I don't think of myself as a salesman. She's like, I always believe it. She's like, you sell it like you believe it.
But the truth is that that is actually absolutely the second decision for me.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:If I cannot believe in it, if I don't think it's going to be fruitful for people, I can't sell that. I just can't. So I think that starts my framework every time, and then we get into the other pieces.
But those two things will rule a lot of things out, right? It will rule a lot of things out. I do believe that organizations should have their own mission statement.
You know, we think about mission statements a lot of times for nonprofits. I've done a lot of work in the nonprofit space, you know, personally and then also professionally.
And I love mission statements because I always say it's the easiest way to help you understand when you should say yes and when you should say no. And sometimes it's hard to say no when there's a dollar, a price tag that you want to see aligned with it.
So you have to understand your mission, like, what your real goal is. And like I said, I learned that from nonprofits.
I worked with a nonprofit that really helped women that were oftentimes coming out of difficult situations. A lot of that often dealt with addiction. And so we did not accept money from liquor companies. Right.
Because that was a big part of what our women were dealing with. Alcoholism. Right. And yeah, they have a lot of money oftentimes to be spending in spaces.
So that could be a hard no unless you know what your mission is and know that it doesn't align.
So I would tell business owners, you need to have your own, even if it's not in writing, which I think you should put it in writing, but it should also be written on your heart. Right. It's very easy for me to tell you what things I would not get involved in.
ShySpeaks:Yeah.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right. And even if there's a really big price tag assigned to that, that's not going to move me.
ShySpeaks:I appreciate the, the moral value that you provide in your answer to him about decision, opportunity. Do I believe in it? Then the other things.
And you even say that other things are money, but the money is among some of the other things and, and putting it where it goes because it's not really the highest form of currency as the way people think it is.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right.
ShySpeaks:But I would like to. I would probably even add to that when it.
When you do get down to the money aspect, one of the things that she said is you have to see, can I afford to take on this opportunity? And when we say afford to take it on, let me just make it clear.
Do you have enough Runway in the bank to where if you say your clients are typically bringing in $200,000 a year, I'm going to move those off the table to take on just one client. That's this amount of money. Do I have enough Runway to sustain me for this period of time while I'm serving this client?
Because if I don't financially have enough Runway, it's a cool brand opportunity and I really believe in it. But everybody gone collapse. Right. I won't have a sustain. I won't be able to have the finances there. I won't. So that does have to come into place.
But I would just say, because I. I have to ask this. Answer this question. When people ask me, how do I know when it's time for me to leave my job? Because I left my job a long time ago.
And you have to have enough Runway. Right, Right. To sustain the fact that there's going to be some ebb and flows, income may not be consistent.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right.
ShySpeaks:Et cetera, et cetera. So make sure you have kind of have enough Runway to sustain your life and along the way. So I. I would add to that part, but I also want to.
And I want to ask you this question before we bring it to a close. I don't ever want to bring it to a close. I can talk to Noel.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:No, no, no, no. Like I said, this is. This has been a dope interview. So.
ShySpeaks:Yeah.
But no, someone who is inspiring to do some of the things you do as a creative entrepreneur yourself in the, in the lanes that you run in from anything from publishing to chief this and all of those Things, having your own core team, different projects, et cetera.
When we live in this world of I run a company, but then there is my personal brand, so there's, there's the business brand and then there's a personal brand because oftentimes we're relying on these people, like you said, a spokes spokesperson for business. But then I still have to be the spokesperson for my business and then I'm just still me.
How do you, do you have a tension there with, you know, protecting your. Differentiating your personal brand from your, from the business brands and then the other business brands that you're representing?
Is there something you can share with us that helps us help you navigate that?
Noelle LeVeaux:So I don't think there's any separation, right? Like you can think that there is, but you're wrong. You know, it's just, you know, they're too hard.
You can't be this person over here and this person over here, right. It just doesn't work that way. We're, we're were so involved in people's lives at this point, particularly with like social media and everything else.
I think about celebrities, right, and think about what we knew about celebrities back in the day versus what we know about them now. So it is the same way. Not only that, but people work with people they like and, and, or respect. Right.
And, and those can be, for me, they're, they can oftentimes be two things that are the same, but different. Meaning that I don't have to want to hang out with you, but I do have to respect your expertise and something.
And so there's a likability in that for me of that person. Right.
I might not want to be like hanging with you later or even necessarily, you know, have too many cocktails or coffee with you, but if I respect you, you know, in that way. So that's always going to be an element of doing business with someone.
So who you are as a person, which oftentimes then is the reflection of your, in your brand matters, especially if you're running your own business, right? People have to feel like their business is safe with you, that you'll take care of it. Right.
So if you're over here in your personal brand wiling out, I mean, that impacts the way they see you and what you'll do with their brand. They're just not separate. And I know people don't love that answer.
Yeah, I know, you know, particularly in certain races and groups, there's this, this whole like code switching thing and that kind of stuff. My advice People has always been. You need to find one person that you can be that feels like yourself most of the time. Right.
You know, so it's like you can't be a whole different person at work than you are at home. Right. That you just. That's exhausting.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:You know, that's exhausting. And I tell people that, and I often. I have to tell them, don't look at me and say, oh, well, you know, then I'll be like that. No, like, it's you.
Like, the closest thing that feels like your authentic self in both places is what you have to aim for.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Because you're never going to hide whoever that other person is, whether it's your brand personality or your work personality. There's only one you.
ShySpeaks:Right?
Noelle LeVeaux:There's only one you. And people work, people do just the same thing we say about who people give money to, like investors.
They want to know who you are because they are putting their baby, their business, their success, their bottom line into your hands.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right. So.
ShySpeaks:And I'm. And I'm happy that you went that direction with the. With the answer as it relates to, like, just be one, you know?
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
ShySpeaks:I guess I was more so asking because, you know, when is error where Noelle is being booked to be a speaker? Noelle is being booked to be on the podcast. Noelle, like you, the person, the individual.
And so, so many people are like, this new advent of, like, my personal brand, and they're like, and I own a company and so forth and so on. And I do think there are certain companies that, like, we don't know, especially when the company becomes more renowned.
Yeah, we don't know who owns Sony. I'm not investing in Sony cameras because I like that person. I like what it delivers. So there can be a.
There can come a point where the business brand is so notable that people book this company because they know what the output is and it's not so contingent upon the key person. And so I was thinking in a sense of like. Like, how do you, you know, developing that? But I still see what you're saying is cohesive.
It's like, either way, go, even if you're talking about investors and we're talking about the higher level and they're going to back it at that level, they still want to know who's behind it.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah. I mean, even a big brand like you just mentioned, like, if you are doing business with me for Sony. Right.
You are a reflection of that brand and it doesn't matter. Especially because everybody has a megaphone now. So if I'm. If I'm doing some event with you, you're the event planner.
It's a Sony event, and you do something that I think was unprofessional, who do you think I'm tagging in that post? Sony.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:You know, I mean, and so that's. I think people forget that. Right. Because you think like, oh, I'm this little person doing photograph for this event, you know, and.
Yeah, it's a Sony event. It's a, you know, name any large brand, but the person here locally that works at an agency hired me. So you've made it, you know, separate.
ShySpeaks:Separate.
Noelle LeVeaux:Right. But if something goes wrong, I'm sorry, but they're going after the biggest name in that situation. Right.
And so, I mean, I think that's the way people have to think about it. Right. And I get like the whole, like, I'm building my own brand, I'm writing books. I'm.
I mean, I would tell you that my personal stuff still aligns with how I am at work.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah.
ShySpeaks:Right.
Noelle LeVeaux:There's still the same things, like, and they might be different topics, but the underpinning are the same beliefs and values that I bring there, that I bring to my personal stuff, you know?
ShySpeaks:Yeah, that's. That's the kind of. I'm actually with it. So I. I appreciate that. I know that I could keep going. Ron, you have something else. Because I want to.
We want to bring it to an end. This is me stopping myself because I love. There is no separate. Be one. Let's go ahead and work on being one. Let's do all the things she said.
Let's be like she and I, we're both left brain and right brain. Let's be whole brain. I'm with it and I can keep going, but I'm not.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:I'm gonna go ahead. No, no, listen.
And I want to keep going as well, but I know that, you know, we are coming close to our time because we didn't even really get a chance to talk about the book that you published. Right, right.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:We didn't get a chance to talk about you being a cancer survivor.
Noelle LeVeaux:True.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:We're going to have to have you back.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
ShySpeaks:I'd love to open the episode talking about being a mom and just kind of navigating that space with a single mom.
I'm pretty sure there's some nuggets even there as it relates to, like, creative entrepreneurship and still being a parent, even as a single parent to some degree for those. So I know that there are still some nuances that we didn't unpack because there's just so much to you.
And so we're grateful for this opportunity that we've had with you in this one sitting. But if the stars could align properly, we would love to have another whole conversation.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Before we. Before we, you know, kind of transition and wind down.
I do want to ask you because, and you said it earlier, it was like somebody asked me, what's next?
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:You know, but I'm still gonna ask.
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:So, right.
ShySpeaks:So this is why.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah. Like, okay, you may not necessarily know what's next, but what do you desire? What are your, what are your intentions for.
What's, like, what's next for you?
Noelle LeVeaux:Yeah. So, I mean, this kind of weaves in some of the things that you mentioned that we, you know, won't get to today.
But my daughters are 18 and 21, so I have one more year of a child at home with me, so I'll be an empty nester soon. Also means that, you know, I've been tied to Dallas for a very long time because I am a single mom.
So ensuring that, you know, family and the girls could have, you know, relationships and those kinds of things, you know, so it'll be the first time, really, that I'll have the ability to maybe be somewhere else. And I love Dallas and Dallas has been exceptional to me.
But really, I think in a broad sense, national, you know, probably definitely something national. Again, big name. Big name brands, you know, are definitely the things that I'm looking for. And then the last part is, I don't know.
And I'm open to the opportunity. Like I said, if I. I had no idea I would ever want to work on, you know, FIFA. I didn't know a whole lot about football.
But I also really believe in being a lifelong learner. And I really believe that as we get old, I think we have to force ourselves to learn new things because I think that's how we stay sharp.
I think it's how we hold off things like dementia and things like that. And so I'm excited to see what the next thing is going to be that I know nothing about right now that I'm going to learn in that process.
But I think I'm opening my doors a little bit wider because now I'm not necessarily going to have to be in one place. And so, yeah, I think it's really exciting. I can't wait. I can't wait to see what's next. People ask me, I'm like, I don't know, let's go.
ShySpeaks:No. Will Lavo coming national soon?
We technically even doing this has propelled her for that because this is an international thing that you just took on. So you actually going to skip for you say tethered to Dallas, local scene. You went international and skipped right on over there.
So, yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing, I'm looking forward to being able to be involved. Maybe we'll pull up to the city that you're in and making, moving and shaking in and just say, hey, come, let's have that second conversation.
So thank you so much for everything that you shared, all the gems, the tools, the nuggets, the wisdom. I really, really appreciated myself. I also want to say thank you to you for tuning in all the way up into this point of the conversation.
We just really, you know, appreciate you listening. I have something I want you to say in a minute, before I ask you to say anything, let me do a low stakes type.
You know, tap the like button, do that, do that. Just that simple. You know, it's a simple ask.
I want you to, you know, matter of fact, while you right there and you click and just slide on over, hit the subscribe. It's okay, it's easy, you know, and then we'll ask you something else later. But I seriously just wanted to say thank you for, for being here.
Ron, you have anything?
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Yeah, you already asked him to, like, you have asked him to subscribe. You can comment as well.
Share it with another creative entrepreneur, another creative who, you know, would benefit from these conversations that we're having. Right. This is season seven. Right.
So we have, have six other seasons that we have other phenomenal conversations that I know that will bless you in your creativepreneur journey. So, yeah, don't hoard the, the blessing. Share it.
ShySpeaks:Yeah. And if you're like, man, I really want to tap in. I'm hearing what you guys say, and I want to grow in that way.
I want to go from that, just that creative that we were talking about, I was creating. I want to be a creative and I want to go from creative to CEO.
Then we actually have a creative to CEO challenge that we would invite you to be a part of the next, next challenge.
So please tap somewhere around this video and be a part of the next challenge so you can go from creative to CEO and help you build out that structure so you can have that revenue and all that Runway you need and all these clients that we're talking about. So really, really truly tap in. Now. I said I was gonna have him to do something. Yeah, I actually do simple things like, you know, tap.
He wants you to come in and write and all that. You see what I'm saying? I want you to say something and I want to invite you to say it with us as well. We end every episode with a mantra.
That mantra gives us an opportunity to tap into that self development. When it comes to strategy, structure, sustainability, self development. Part of that is being able to speak well to yourself about yourself.
So we end every episode the same. So I want everybody in here to say this out loud with me. Here we go. All it takes.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:All it takes.
ShySpeaks:All it takes is intention. Intention, consistency.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Consistency.
ShySpeaks:And laser focus.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:And laser focus.
ShySpeaks:To mind my creative business.
Noelle LeVeaux:To mind my creative business.
ShySpeaks:And on that note, we're out.
Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr.:Peace.
