The Value

Have you ever taken the time to develop a business plan, and pitch your idea to investors?

Raise a virtual hand.

Awesome, were you able to win the investment?

Have you ever developed a business idea that needed funding to get off the ground, but never got around to meeting with potential investors? Maybe you were unsure of how to present it, maybe you were afraid, or maybe you just didn’t know where to find investors to fund your idea.

Ok, let’s cast a bigger net – have you ever wanted to become an entrepreneur but hit a mental wall when you think “How on earth am I going to get the money to do this?”

If none of this applies to you, I appreciate you for clicking through anyway 😊.

If you did raise a virtual hand, I am one of you - here's my story.

Articles for reference:

• Failing to Raise Money Can be the Greatest Thing That Ever Happened
• How To De-Risk Your Startup For Investors

Milène Paul is a business strategy coach and author of “Now It’s Time to Live My Best Life”,  Her mantra “If they don’t get it, you won’t get it”, pointedly reminds business owners that if you aren’t clear on your value, prospective customers won’t buy into your service. It’s about making sure that your audience gets the message so you can get the business.

We discuss three types of value; absolute, relative and added; and Milène offers 5 steps you should use to effectively pitch your value with more confidence.

Rooted in her 10+ years of experience in project management, grants compliance and international development strategy for SMEs in the Caribbean, she has met hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs. It is where she learned a valuable truth in business: “If they don’t get it, you won’t get it”.

Valuable projects have failed to receive financial support because of a lack of clarity and confidence. Convinced that she could do something about it, Milène decided to turn her experience into profitable expertise to fill this void. Now, as a business strategist for female entrepreneurs in the coaching and consultancy industry, she helps her clients pitch, profit and impact with more confidence.

Resources:

The Best Way to Communicate Your Value

Milène Paul YouTube Channel

I am proud to announce the rebranding of the Caribbean Power Lunch podcast to The Value and what to expect in future episodes!

This episode covers:

• The origin of the Caribbean Power Lunch podcast
• My decision to dive fully into entrepreneurship
• Become Investible, the brand
• What Value means to me
• The legacy I want to build
• An introduction of my framework for a valued business

Michael K. Jackson is a global keynote speaker, resilience expert and author.

Having overcome significant challenges in his own personal and professional life, Michael walks us through what it takes to Build Back Stronger.

This episode is a much-needed lesson on resilience, adversity, and hope as well as uncovering Michael’s P-L-A-N framework: a method for dealing with problems, difficulties, and conflicts on the journey to success.

In his time, Platinum Album selling and Grammy Award-Winning musician, Peter Tosh was well-known for his advocacy for equal rights and the legalization of cannabis. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1987 but his legacy lives on. 

“You can talk about things till you're blue in the face, but sometimes you just got to go through it,” says Niambe McIntosh, the youngest daughter of the legend on this episode of Caribbean Power Lunch. 

In our discussion, Niambe shares the tumultuous learning curve, challenges, victories, and growth she experienced as the administrator of her father’s brand and legacy.

As a formidable businesswoman and visionary, Niambe serves as

- The head of the Peter Tosh Legacy and Brand;

- Managing Member of Tosh Holdings LLC (IP);

- Board Chairperson for the Peter Tosh Foundation Ltd.; and

- The President of PT Capital LLC (Cannabis).

Listen in as she shares the thought-provoking realities of: 

- Crafting the direction of a legacy brand,
- Understanding the importance of dedicating time and resources to “fixing the past” to create a sustainable future, and 
- Why she needed to fire her entire team and the journey of building a new strategic team through networking.

A video of this interview is available here.

When it comes to raising capital for your venture, the first thing you need to know is that it is NOT all about your pitch. 

Preparing to speak to investors is about a lot more than a polished pitch deck. Business owners should also understand how to outline what makes their companies Investible, including how to identify who your customers are, what they need, and how are you are solving their problems.

In this episode, Zahra Alleyne walks through the process of developing an Investible business model and what to consider when preparing to present to potential investors.

Founding team Brian and Ingrid Jahra discuss the evolution of CinemaONE, the Caribbean’s first IMAX experience, the pioneering step of becoming the first SME IPO in T&T, and the challenges of building a sustainable, wealth-generating business, while also focusing on future growth and possibilities.

In this conversation, we unpacked:

• Importance of IPOs for SMEs
• How to get to the IPO? What Is the Process?
• What the Business Valuation process entails
• Marketing the IPO
• Evolution of CinemaOne
• Growth of the Brand/Success Story
• How to Develop the Customer Experience

For further insights, check out https://kevinvalue.com/are-you-ready-to-take-your-company-public 

At one point or another, we’ve all experienced the great inconvenience of car troubles. From car accidents to a blown tire or stalled battery - each one of these scenarios can seriously change the course of your day...right?

So how do you turn this everyday occurrence into a multimillion-dollar business? In this “Become Investible” feature, we take a closer look at Total Convenience Management Ltd… from a startup leasing and rental company to the group of companies it manages to date.

Every business has the potential to “become investible” - TCM grew its company by understanding the demand for its services and continuing to push the envelope in satisfying its customers. TCM is only one of many stories found right here in the Caribbean.

Can your business survive without you?

Did you know that 85% of failed business transitions occur because of poor communication, mistrust, and lack of planning?

Rochelle Clarke is a business advisor who specializes in keeping businesses in business with business continuity planning and transition preparation. Through her company, she ensures that retiring leaders, their incoming successors, and the businesses that support them are ready to move successfully to the next stage of their business’ lifecycle whether by succession or sale.

If the words: "Planning for the Unplanned'' ring clearly when she speaks, then "Be ready" echoes her sentiment.

Transitions may need to occur on any occasion and businesses must be adequately prepared for the change. 

The Founder of Succession Strength, and the platform Continuity Strength, International keynote speaker, lecturer, and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Rochelle is also the author of "The 5 Critical Succession Conversations: A Comprehensive Guide for the Family Business".

In this episode, we discuss:

• Business Continuity Planning,
• Business Transition,
• Succession Planning and Preparation,
• The difference between the entrepreneur and the family business owner, and 
• 6 tips for working with family and friends.

Succession Strength - Keeping businesses in business for generations.

Conferences, Cannabis, and Mushrooms.
These seem disconnected, right?
Well, actually, there’s one common factor…

“Five or six years down the line, if I do nothing… have I really been a good Caribbean citizen?” – Douglas K. Gordon.

Douglas is the founder of CanEx Jamaica Business Conference and Expo, an annual business event that connects top cannabis industry experts, and CEO of Silo Wellness, an alternative, and holistic health company focused on functional mushroom and psychedelic opportunities.

In this episode, Kevin Valley speaks with Douglas K. Gordon about the business of natural medicine business while addressing misconceptions and misinformation about cannabis and functional mushrooms.  

Controversial? Perhaps. Informative? Yes!

This conversation uncovers:

• Strategies used to create, manoeuvre challenges and expand a premier Caribbean event.
• The story behind the legacy collaboration with the Marley brand.
• The mind, body, and soul… Rest, resetting, and restoration through nature.

"Pain will find you, but you determine the length of its visit" - Jay Blessed.

Jay Blessed is an award-winning content creator and host of the In My Head Podcast which focuses on mental health.

In this timely episode, Kevin Valley and Jay Blessed have an open and frank discussion around:

• Silent suffering, especially among men,
• Dealing with pain, and
• The 12-step healing process.

When everyone you know is having the same problem, the solution might be a successful business. 

Kadion Preston, Co-Founder, and CEO of CaribShopper saw an opportunity to solve a common problem among Caribbean merchants and consumers by providing an easier way to buy goods from the United States.

When the original business model ran into challenges, the founders pivoted to solve another problem for their customers, now giving Caribbean merchants the opportunity to sell to overseas consumers. This shift, and the drive to find the investment capital to support it, came just before 2020, forcing even further innovation and evolution.

Kadion's journey is an example of the importance of embracing the opportunities presented, overcoming tragedy, and understanding that failure is a big part of the formula for success.