EP 149 How to Successfully Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur

Over 4 million businesses were launched last year – a 24% increase from the year before and the biggest increase on record.

However, many of these newly minted founders struggled with the transition from being an employee to being an entrepreneur.

Our guest, Tina Wells, is an entrepreneur, business strategist, advisor, best-selling author, and the founder of RLVNT Media, a multimedia content venture serving entrepreneurs, tweens and culturists with authentic representation.

Tina dove into entrepreneurship at the tender age of 16 when she founded Buzz Marketing Group. For over two decades she built and led the brand with clients like Dell, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Kroger, Apple, P+G, Johnson & Johnson, and American Eagle.

She connected these large brands with her network of 30,000 buzzSpotters® and 7,000 “momSpotters,” all influential millennials and passionate end-consumers.

Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Tina has always been committed to helping other entrepreneurs succeed. She’s been recognized by Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business, Essence’s 40 Under 40 and more.

Tina’s board positions have included THINX, the United Nations Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council, The Franklin Institute and Young Entrepreneur’s Council. She has also served as the Academic Director for Wharton’s Leadership in the Business World Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tina has authored seven books, including the best-selling tween fiction series Mackenzie Blue, its 2020 spinoff series, The Zee Files, and the marketing handbook, Chasing Youth Culture and Getting It Right.

Learn more about Tina's remarkable work in the world here:

Join Tina's Elevation Tribe here: https://elevationtribe.com/

RLVNT Media: https://rlvntmedia.com/

Tina's tween fiction books at Target:

Zee Files: https://www.target.com/p/the-zee-files-target-exclusive-edition-by-tina-wells-hardcover/-/A-80880845
Honest June: https://www.target.com/p/honest-june-target-exclusive-edition-by-tina-wells-hardcover/-/A-82754654
McKenzie Blue: https://www.target.com/p/mackenzie-blue-by-tina-wells-paperback/-/A-81529108

Follow Tina everywhere she glows on social:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawells/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twells17
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinawells_/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinacwells

Buy The Art of Less Doing: https://amzn.to/2WVmmKx

00:00 - Meet Tina!
06:20 - launching a business at the tender age of 16
14:00 - becoming an advisor to 167 students forming 16 companies
26:25 - outstanding marketing advice for startup founders
29:00 - Tina's artistpreneur journey - she's the author of tween books Zee Files, Honest June and McKenzie Blue and she used her marketing brilliance to create the best stories for her "reader" segment
32:00 - a features and benefits exercise for your startup
35:25 - the best project management productivity tool for your startup
Tina's Elevation "4 seasons" approach to launch