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La escritura mesoamericana. Su poder, importancia. El caso de Teotihuacán. 2ª parte

from Serie: Teotihuacan a la mano

42m 23s

La escritura mesoamericana. Su poder, importancia. El caso de Teotihuacán. 2ª parte

The podcast features a mix of business tools, personal stories, and financial advice aimed at empowering small business owners and entrepreneurs. It highlights Chat GPT as a strategic tool for business expansion planning, AutoTrader for simplified car shopping, and Base44 for building custom software without technical expertise. Financial wellness is emphasized through Bank of America’s no-fee account options and Zero, a comprehensive platform for accounting and cash flow visibility. A central narrative follows Amy Barnett, a trailblazing media executive and debut novelist, whose story of resilience, career pivots, and cultural authenticity in the 1990s media scene underscores the importance of self-belief, community, and authenticity in success. Her novel, *If I Rule the World*, blends personal and cultural experiences to explore themes of power, identity, and gender in music and fashion. The show reinforces that real success isn’t just about ideas—it’s about being ready when opportunities arise, supported by tools, preparation, and a grounded, human-centered approach to ambition.

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This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human. When you're a business owner, interested in expanding to new markets, there's a lot to consider and countless questions to answer before making the call. The most important one being, are you ready? That's where chat GPT comes in. Give it a go. Add your files and ask it to help you map our different scenarios for the future of your business. So when growth is on the table, you got an expansion plan ready to implement. Get started at chatgpt.com. If car shopping feels like a whole thing, buying your car online on auto trader makes it way easier. Really? Shop tons of cars online, compare prices, check financing and trading options from wherever you are. Start online, test drive at the dealer and finish wherever it works for you. Your info stays with you so there's no starting over. Plus, you're working with local dealers with real people there to help. Buy your car online on auto trader, really. Making money isn't just about having a great idea. It's about being ready when people actually show up for it. With base 44, you can build a software your business needs just by describing it in your own words. A website, app, customer portal or tools, whatever you need. Start a base log in, back in and hosting are already built in and handled for you. When the opportunity arrives, your software can be ready too. Start free today and upgrade when you're ready. Visit base44.com. Wait, I came in for two things. How is this $47? Alright, we're going to need a plan here. Just start simple. With Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking, no overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25. Oh, that's actually really simple. Safe Balance Banking, one less thing to figure out. Learn more at vovay.com/simplebanking, terms and conditions applied Bank of America and A member of the SC. This is Levar Erington from Two Pros and a Cup of Joe. Running a small business means keeping track of a lot, but your finances shouldn't feel complicated. Let me tell you about zero. That's X, E, R, O. Zero brings accounting. Payments, payroll and analytics together, giving you one clear view of your business. With easy-to-read dashboards, you can see your cash flow and understand exactly what's coming in and what's going out. Zero's AI can save you time and provide insights to help you make smarter decisions while keeping everything simple and accessible. It's powerful enough for an accountant, but simple enough for you. Zero is the all-in-one to get business done. Learn more at zero.com. >> Hi, I'm Rachael McDonald. I host a weekly Monday Making Conversation Masterclass Show. The interviews and information that this show provides offer everyone. It's time to start reading other people's success stories and start living your own. Now if you want to be against on my show, Monday Making Conversation Masterclass, please visit our website, moneymakingconversations.com and click to be against button. Give you a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer or non-profit. Now let's get to show rolling. >> My guess made history is the first black woman to help a major mainstream US magazine and as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar. She's held senior leadership roles at Paramount, HERS, Disney, Timing and several independently owned brands. Now, she has a highly anticipated debate novel. If I rule the world, it will be published by Featherian Books in January of 2026. Please welcome the Monday Making Conversations Masterclass, Amy Duoys, Barnett. >> So nice to be here, Rachael, and thanks for having me. >> Well, first of all, I got the Du Boys, right? Correct. >> Yes, you did. WWE Du Boys is my name-sake, so that's what I'm saying. >> I got a dick there. Get there. It's on the book. I don't want people to be looking for Amy Barnett and Mr. G. See, right there. It's right, then, you type that in, it will come directly you because you're one of a kind. >> I appreciate you, sir, and I'm proud of my middle name again. I'm named after WWE Du Boys, so I'd like to use my whole name. >> Well, you know, I said some really amazing things, and I've known you over the years and followed your career, followed you through the injured leg and all that stuff. >> Well, I'm mercy. And, but you're very humble, but you've been in a very competitive industry. How do you balance that, Amy? >> I mean, I appreciate that, and that's a very kind thing to say, and it's interesting because it is one of the things that I talked to people that I mentor about, right? You know, I talked to people about the energy that you put back in the world and the way that that comes back to you, and the fact that, you know, all of it is sort of circular. And you have to really be intentional about the way that you walk through the world, right? So, I think that the way that you are treating people around you is the kind of energy that you're going to get yourself as it comes back to, and the other thing is, you know, I really spend a lot of time over the course of my career humanizing success, you know. I think that for a lot of people, you know, they look at, you know, those folks who have had certain kinds of professional accomplishments, and they think that these people are different, or they're somehow, I don't want to say better, but they just have a sort of different set of experiences or what have you. And, you know, my goal throughout a lot of my career has been to help people understand that we all make mistakes, like nobody is better than anybody else. You know, we are out here, flawed, and, you know, and just trying to find success, find love, find fulfillment, the same as everybody else. And that was actually one of the reasons why I started writing my editor's letters at Honey magazine. That was actually my first editor in chief job. So, when I started writing my editor's letters at Honey magazine, I decided that I wasn't going to do the normal editor's letters where you say, "Okay, well, on page 53 is a great QD story, on page 25 is a great fashion story." Instead, I chose to use that magazine real estate to talk about my own stories and my failures and the lessons that I've learned and the insights I wanted to impart. So, you know, it's just part of who I am, and it's part of what I want to leave with the world. What does Amy mean? Well, Amy, you know, it's really interesting because, you know, I was sick, I'm writer. Okay, I'm just saying that, not your, your level of writing because there's a different, there's different levels of writing out there, ladies and gentlemen, I would, the black, the black information pipeline seems to be under attack nowadays where, where we're being discouraged to identify ourselves and be proud and I'll be able to say I want to do this. When you hear these attack messages being put out there, I'm not going to direct it to anybody in particular. But I do read it, I do see it and I feel uncomfortable. How do you respond to that, Amy? Well, I, I, I think that it's incredibly important, especially in this political environment, right? Right. You know, that we find ourselves in in this country to retain as much authenticity as possible and to also be very clear about where we stand both personally, professionally, politically, with regard to social issues, you know, I just, I think that we are in a position right now where it's true, black voices, black people in this country are under attack, like across the board. I mean, I really believe that, you know, and, you know, black voices are under attack, black media is under attack, anything having to do with us is under attack. So, you know, we are going to have to remain strong, try to, you know, get together or, you know, solidify our community and, and remain authentic to our voices and to who we are so that we can express ourselves so that we can, you know, try to fight what's happening to not just our own individual, you know, kind of means of being successful, but also our voices and our media. I mean, we, you know, it is unfortunate that we are finding ourselves in this position, but I'm so grateful for those of us, you know, who have been able to also establish these independent platforms that have been authentic and have sort of resisted what's going on. We have people like Roland Martin, we have people like Joy Rhee, we have people like Dom Lemmon, you know, who are just incredibly great, we have people like yourself who are out here, you know, trying to, you know, create a pipeline of information, and I would just take that example, and I would extend it to everybody out there in our community and say, okay, be authentic, use your voice, stand together as a community, fight. Cool. Well, well, it's great because I feel as a transition to your novel, which is in a different period in the '90s, you know, you're entitled, if I ruled the world, is that correct? Yes. If I ruled the world. If I ruled the world, why if I ruled the world, you know, a song pops into my head when I hear that, if I ruled the world, why did you call it, if I ruled the world? That is the song that should pop in your head, that is, you know, I mean, so as you mentioned before, I do have a career in media, so I am a three time editor in chief, I was editor the initiative of Honey Magazine was. editor-in-chief of Team People magazine. And I was editor-in-chief of Ebony magazine. And I was deputy editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar. And so this particular novel has been in my head for years. And it is about a woman who works at a fashion magazine and eventually becomes the editor-in-chief of a, you know, Urban Women's Music and Lifestyle magazine called Sugar, somewhat similar to Honey Magazine, if you will. And so, somewhat similar. And, you know, initially, the book was called Sugar, right after the fictional magazine that my protagonist edits. But I was like, I don't know if that's really conveying what this book is about, because my protagonist is a complicated, ambitious, flawed woman who is trying to achieve her professional goals, who is trying to find love, who is fighting enemies, who ask, you know, complicated relationships with her friends, she's dealing with misogyny hip-hop. And so, she is really on a journey that is about finding herself coming into her own. And you really, you know, kind of understanding the world of which she belongs. And so, the title, I love the title of, obviously, the Nasong, right, so the title is, you know, really about, like, if I rule the world. To me, it was like a vocative of, like, the journey that my protagonist is taking. And then I was also thinking, well, who are the music artists who are popular, right, do I have time? I was saying Nas, right, and he is still popular. But in the late '90s and early 2000s, when my book is set, he was incredibly popular. And this song features Lauren Hill, who we all love and revere. And who was also a little sort of, you know, kind of low, you know, small reference. Coincidentally, Lauren Hill was the very first cover of Honey magazine back in the day. So there's lots of references happening. - So a lot of personal references. I think that makes for a great story. That means that you are more authentic. Like you stated earlier, when we were referencing black history and black information that's being denied by, to the general public, by a lot of sources nowadays. But I think that, you know, that's why, when I heard about the book, and it's on pre-order, right? - Yes, so it's available for pre-order now, wherever you buy books online, Amazon. - I was like, I don't know how to work. - I just didn't work now. And I think, I know that's important. I've been fortunate to be part of two bestseller, Steve Harvey's, act like a lead think like man, bestseller. Pre-orders played a major role in that. And Stephen A. Smith's Straight Shooter, which is a New York Times bestseller. Tell us why pre-orders are that important to your success of your book initially. - Yes, sir. Pre-orders are critical for all authors, but particularly debut authors. I'm not a debut author. I did write a nonfiction book, but I'm a debut novelist. And so what happens is that all of the orders, so for those of us, those of us who have, you know, goals of being on bestseller list, like, you know, for me being on the bestseller list is the, you know, would be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. - You know, mm-hmm. - Let's put it that way. - And my book officially goes on sale. I mean, it will start to ship January 27th, 2006, right? - Oh, wow. - In 2026. But all of the pre-orders that I get, so every time you guys pre-order my book between now and January 27th, all of those sales count toward the first week sales, right? And to get on bestseller list, you need to have between 5,000 and 10,000 sales that first week. And for debut novelists, it's incredibly difficult to get that level of sales in one week unless you have a really strong pre-order campaign. So that's why I'm super grateful for the support. My book has already gotten, and, you know, for all of the pre-orders, you guys, you know, make between now and when it actually goes on sale, it will count toward the books, you know, first week, and then it will drive the book towards success. So could not be more grateful for the support. - Well, I know that, I do want to get that out, because I've been fortunate to be a part of two amazing books. And I don't take that for granted. I know there's a lot of hard work in getting it to be New York Times bestsellers. I know the pre-sales play the major role in that, because once you appear on that, then they stamp New York Times bestseller on your book. And then that's like another stamp of, okay, you should buy this book, and it goes to another cycle of success that can go to months on a bestseller list. Now, now let's go back to this book, if I ruled the world novel, because I had a comedy club called The Hip Hop Comedy Stop, and I opened it in 1992, and music, you know, I just think about all the music hip hop and just really a, you know, Snoop Dogg and all, I remember a Snoop Dogg. Everybody was just Dr. Dre. Everybody was coming out. And so that music, I always tell everybody, time period was such an important time between good deaf comedy jam, used music. So I know it's a novel, but do you, are you able to sell the importance of music and media in your book? - Oh, absolutely. Well, I mean, in urban media, you know, we were completely intertwined with the music industry. You know, so I like to say, I mean, I've been music industry adjacent for 20 years now. You know, most of the artists that I feature, you know, earlier in my career were music artists. Most of my covers were music covers. I mean, Black Hollywood is, I would say it's new, but, you know, there's been a real rise of, you know, Black Hollywood in the past, I'm gonna say decade, but for so many years, you know, music really drove everything that media did from a celebrity perspective. And even today, I mean, music drives culture, you know, whereas Hollywood reflects culture. And you know how we love our music. So, you know, when you look at urban publishing, you know, you see magazines like, you know, Honey Magazine, right? You see vibe, you see double XL, you see the source. You know, these were all magazines that centered around music. And this book in particular is very reflective of the culture of the time. And what that means is that it's not just about this woman's journey. It's also has themes that talk about the music industry. So there's misogyny and hip-hop, for example. You know, we're seeing a kind of reckoning go on right now in the music industry. And this book reflects a lot of what female executives went through during that time. And so we're absolutely talking about that. I'm referencing a lot of music artists that were popular at the time. I also have fictional music artists, you know, that I'm, you know, talking about, you know, who also kind of go through things, you know, have a journey of themselves in the book. So it is very, very music-related. - Well, that's important, you know, the interesting thing about this Amy, 'cause you're always a planner now. (laughing) - You know, driven car stuff. - Because I know you know me, but you know, you think that would be for a long time. - You know, I go all the way back to, you know, you know, living single, but go all the way back there, okay, and you just come forward and magazine driven is a television concept, or a movie concept, part of the bigger plan of this release of "I rule the world." - Oh, absolutely, yeah. I mean, I'm like, oh no, no, no, no, no, no. You can't say, "Vishan, no, absolutely, absolutely." - Oh, yeah, no, I'm like, you know what I'll play about. You know, I don't play about my goal of "Vishan." You know, I don't play about my goals. I'm over here, manifesting big things, sir. So, yes, and I'm also a very visual thinker, a visual person, and so when I was writing the book, I was thinking visually, I was thinking about set pieces. I was just, I was thinking semantically. So, I absolutely see my book as a television series. And I'm working on that right now. - The mention is because when you write a book like this is kind of close to who you are, okay, kind of close through your, are you dropping kind of like a memoir type tone to it, or this is just so fictional. You just, because this is what you did for 11, you can keep it at create. - You know, it's interesting. Everybody, many people will think that it's a Romance acclaim, meaning that it's about me, but it's actually not my story. It's just based in a world that I know extremely well. That I know better than almost anyone else. And I have referenced certain aspects of my life and my journey, but it's not my story. - So, you know, it's something that I know intimately and organically enough to be able to really talk about and to have written about with a lot of authenticity, but it's just not my personal journey. - Stay with us. More money making conversation, Masterclass, comment up next. - With chat GPT, you can do more to get answers. You can get things done. When you're running a business and looking to expand, you need a clear view of the landscape before making any decisions. Chat GPT can help you prepare. Connect your Google Drive, point to relevant files and reports, and ask it to research competitors, industry forecasts, and market signals. It can turn the findings into a strategic deck and your team's template that you can review before presenting to your leadership team. Growing a business is ambitious, and chat GPT can help you do it with confidence. One thing that comes up a lot on this podcast is that making money is not just about having the idea. It is what happens when people start shit. your own up for it. You need to be ready for that moment when somebody wants to book you, buy from you, join your community, take your class pretty quickly. You need more than a link and a spreadsheet. You need software that works to where your business works. That is where base 44 comes in. 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Start at the dealer. Finish online. Your info stays with you so you're not starting the process from scratch. And unlike those other sites, you're working with local dealers so you've got real people helping behind the scenes. And when you're ready, you can pick your car up. I have it delivered. Really. So whether you know exactly what you want or you're scrolling trying to figure out if you want heated cup holders or more horsepower, auto traders got options to fit how you want to buy. Buy your car online on auto trader. Really. Gives me more when you have the power to give more. They can inspire more discovery, give more confidence and unwrap more of who you are. This black Friday give a gift that goes beyond the box. The Dell XPS 13 laptop. With a beautiful design and cutting edge performance, it helps you unlock more possibility. It's the thinnest, lightest, XPS laptop yet with touch screen, a backlit keyboard and a long lasting battery life to power you through your day. Built with a durable aluminum chassis, weighing just 2.2 pounds and Intel core processors. It's fast, reliable, and portable enough to keep up wherever you go. Visit Dell.com to explore the possibilities with XPS. While shopping, you also find perks like Dell rewards, fast free shipping, premium support, and financing with flexible payment options. Plus, you can find great deals on monitors and accessories. That means you can score a whole new setup now for less. This black Friday sale is one you don't want to miss. Head to Dell.com/deals. That's Dell.com/deals. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation Masterglass with me, Richon McDonald. I have to mention this, Amy, because there are a lot of talented people out there, like there's a lot of talented basketball players and athletes out there, but only a few breakthrough. What is your qualities or your skillset? Because I got to put you to skillset, you know, you know, it's a lot of people can dribble a basketball, a lot of people can dunk it. A lot of people can hit baseball over the fence, but they can't hit it consistently. What enabled your rise in this industry? Is it a writing style you achieved? What qualities, if somebody's listening, trying to get into this business, that they have to stick to in order to even be considered a possibility of achieving success in this business? That's interesting. Well, I think that this transcends media, transcends, you know, being an author. I think that, you know, the qualities you need to be successful are universal across basically any industry, sports, medicine, I mean law. I mean, you know, I think that it's not just about having the skills and the experience to do whatever, you know, job it is you're trying to do. There's a separate success skill set that I talk about that is really something different, right? And a lot of that is about the energy, like I was saying earlier, but the energy that you put forth, right? It's not just about doing your job, it's about doing your job with an energy that makes people want to be around you. It's about, you know, being, you know, very enthusiastic about what you're doing, finishing what you have, asking for more, doing that with a great attitude, you know, helping people around you, being collaborative, being kind, you know, like a lot of that is circles back to you in ways that you can't possibly imagine. You know, it's kind of part of networking. Networking is definitely, you know, intrinsic to that success skill set, but people think that networking is like going to these events and giving people a business card and that's not what it is. It's about building relationships, it's about supporting people. It's about asking people what you can do for them, right? It's about being kind, you know, you and I have known each other for a long time. You reached out to me for this, for which I am incredibly grateful, but that's because we have built a relationship over years, right? And that's something that people don't understand. It is, it is really about having the kind of energy that people want to be around, building relationships, and then supporting people in your community. And so much of it, and you just don't know, I mean, and you're not doing that because you think you're ready to get something back. You're doing that because that's how you authentically show up in the world. You're walking through the world in a way that is generating opportunities. And the other thing I will say is that in terms of success, the universe will not give you an opportunity that you don't think you deserve. It just doesn't happen. You know, so you have to believe that you deserve all of the opportunities. So manifesting, you know, when I talk about manifesting something, I'm not like cutting pictures out of, you know, magazines that I love so much and putting on poster boards, that's not what I'm doing. I'm envisioning a goal, right? I am trying to understand or I'm then being who I need to be in order to achieve that goal. I'm part of that is believing that I deserve that goal, right? And then I'm putting in the work, right? I'm putting in the straight up work, right? To achieve it. So it's, you know, sort of energetically being authentic and being kind. It's envisioning your goal and manifesting it by understanding that you deserve it and then putting in the work. Now here's something interesting. She said we've been friends a long time, which she's accurately. We met in 2012 when I was producing the Steve Harvey talk show at Chicago. And she was in the company and we used to meet once a week for breakfast. She's very proud. We got to meet once a week. She's very organized. We meet breakfast until we find the right place to eat, we meet. But you know, that was when print magazines mattered. Print magazines mattered. And now we in an era, I have a two-part question for you. Okay. You've seen the transition from new stand to digital. Explain to us the difference. What did it, the good, it brought to your industry and somethings you felt were bad. It brought to industry, especially black print. The tough one, Rashan. I mean, because it's true. I've been in both. I mean, I'm a magazine maker. I'm at core. I love magazines. I think that it's like creating a piece of art every month, you know. And I deeply respect, you know, what magazine making is. Because it's very dichonomous. It's textual and visual and being editor-in-chief. It's creative and business. I mean, it's, you know, in front of the camera, behind the camera. There's so many aspects to it that are complicated that you don't find as much in the digital universe. Now I have run digital brands. I ran the GRIO. I ran digital for BET. And, you know, what you do have in the digital world is an ability to put out a lot more information much more quickly. You know what I mean? I mean, so that is a good thing. I mean, you have their speed to it. There's a volume to it. I'm basically a limitless volume, you know, to the team information you can put out. But what you lose is that kind of careful, you know, thoughtful journalism that goes in creating something that's going to live forever. You know, a magazine, you know, once you have it, it exists. It lists forever. You know, when you put something online, of course there's great journalism on digital platforms. But there is a lot of journalists and that's much more rushed because you can change it. You know, you, it doesn't have to stay up forever. You can take it down. You know, people won't see it. You know, it doesn't, it's more a femoral. Whereas magazines have a permanence that made you incredibly careful. Everybody went into producing magazines, made us all incredibly careful with what we put forth. So, and I also miss the visual aspect of it too. I miss the photo shoots, I miss the cover shoots. You know, that's something that, again, you don't really get as much in the digital world. At least not to the same extent. You have video, which is fabulous. But you, you don't have those same kind of fashion shoots that really characterize magazines. I was speaking to Amy Dubois on net. She is in history, first black woman, to have a major mainstream US magazine. That's big, y'all, and as Deputy get it in chief of Harper's Bazaar. She held senior leadership roles at Paramount, Hers Disney, just the name of you. Just a lot. I met in Chicago when she was running the helm of Avenue magazine at the time. She has a new book out. It's called If I Rule the World. And I said book out means that you can go pre-order right now, prior to it being released. And that's why she's on the show. Tell us about that book, get the word out, get these pre-orders lined up. So guess what? She can be on the New York Times bestseller list, and we can see her show. He pitched it on television on the big screen. That's the end goal. But what did I do know about aiming? And I've been a part of her life for the last 13 years. You understand pivoting, you understand? And I talk about that a lot on my show. Because a lot of people don't know when to jump, or understand when opportunities in that current location is changing, they don't understand. They might devalue themselves and think it's all on them. Let's talk about pivoting and understanding how you can maintain a balance that is not about you, and you should continue to be successful because it is about you. - That's interesting. I mean, I have pivoted throughout my life, throughout my career, in my personal life. I've lived in 13 cities on three continents, but in my professional life, I actually started off my current finance. And then I spent some time in the fashion industry. And then I got a graduate degree in creative writing at MFA and started a 20-year proximate career in media. And even within media, I pivoted multiple times. I started off as the fashion beauty features editor for Essence Magazine. And then I pitched and eventually became the editor-in-chief of Honey Magazine. And then I became the editor-in-chief of Teen People, which was a pivot, right? 'Cause I'd gone from Essence and Honey, which were black and urban magazines to Teen People, which was a mainstream magazine. And that's why I became the first black woman to run a major mainstream magazine. That's the Teen People with the Teen version of People Magazine. - Now, let's not understate that, because people can like stereotype you, and I'd say, "Hey, now that's why I keep talking." You know, one thing I was no Amy, even when we met every week. You know, she said across from me, and I'm looking at this, I'm gonna just tell you, this brilliant person, tend to undersell herself. And I go, I don't get this, like she just went, "You know what, Shannon? I was always Essence and then with Honey, and then with the Teen People's magazine." Really, you went from black, black, white, like that. Black, black, black, white. And we just both picked that was just like normal, normal. You go, "White, white, white, black." But black, black, black, black, white. Not that, that's not, that's something that's happening there. So talk to us, Ms. Authentic. Okay, I ruled the world author. Okay, just be real now. There's some skill there. And not this casual conversation of being in the room and being even meet people and doing the hard work. You are at the hustle and you have to keep submitting. Come on now. - Ooh, oh, listen, that's why I was trying to talk to you about it in this sort of pivoting conversation because it was not just a pivot, but you're right. It was some, it was some work. So let's just keep it above, right? Let's just talk about it. So when I was editor in chief of Honey magazine, there was an organization and it still exists called the American Society for Magazine Editors. The acronym is As Me. And that is the most prestigious organization in the magazine and publishing and frankly, media world, right? You can only be a part of that organization if you are an executive editor or above. So basically the top two positions on a mass head of a respected magazine. That is the only way that you are admitted into this organization. They weren't admitting people in this organization from like vibe, the source, they were not admitting, maybe vibe, I guess, eventually people came in. I mean, eventually people they started opening up, but largely because I hustled and I formed relationships, you know, and I did what I had to do basically to get myself admitted to this organization. I had to volunteer for the events. I judged, you know, the, you know, the As Me. Again, that's their acronym for American Society of Magazine Editors. They had a reward every year called the LAs. I judged the LAs for them. And I proved myself time and again so that they eventually admitted me into the organization, right? And that opened up an incredible number of doors. So when I was admitted into the organization as the editor in chief of Honey, again, breaking ground because they were not letting in people from urban magazines at that time. So when I got admitted to the organization, at that point, I started to make, you know, not just do the work, right? Not just prove myself in these rooms with all these editors, which is by the way, I look scary, right? I'm in there with the editor in chief of the New Yorker, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, the editor in chief of the Washington Post, the editor in chief, do you see what I mean? The editor in chief of Vanity Fair. And me, the editor in chief of Honey magazine, judging the early awards, you're making commentary about the future of the industry. I had to prove myself, you know, to be a worthy colleague. And when I did so, that's when the people at time ink that at that time owned people magazine and team people magazine, that's when they took note. And they started to talk to me about coming on board to time ink because they recognized that I understood culture. They knew that I was a good editor. They saw that I could generate ideas and that I was strategic. But it took a lot of hustle and then a lot of proofing myself and a lot of being confident, too. I had to walk in those rooms with confidence, with the energy of somebody who belonged. If I walked in with the energy of somebody who felt unsure about, you know, what I was doing there, if I looked as scared as I felt, then I would not have gotten the respect of the people who then recruited me to be the editor in chief of team people. - There you go. She's Amy Bornet. Now, Amy, as we close out on an interview, let's recap. This fantastic book that's coming out, pre-orders are available right now if I ruled the world. Give us a recap on it and send the 90s. - Yes, so my debut novel if I ruled the world is set at the intersection of hip hop and fashion and magazine culture in New York City in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It's about a woman named Nikki who goes from, you know, being an editor at a high-end fashion magazine and not finding her voice there to eventually becoming the editor in chief of a magazine called Sugar, where she also struggles. She struggles to navigate the dangerous music industry where she's faced with a lot of misogyny and, you know, sexual violence. She's forced to navigate a publisher company and a team that doesn't necessarily believe that she can authentically do that job. She's forced to navigate her own romantic relationships while she's looking for love. She has front friendships that she's trying to figure out how to manage, you know, with her new job and in this new world. And she's also trying to become who she is. She's trying to figure out where she belongs. So it's a sexy story. It's a juicy story. There may be some anecdotes in there that I personally lived. And I think you guys are going to enjoy it. So it's called, if I ruled the world and it's available wherever you buy books online, pre-orders. Great. There was going to be my last question. But I'll be remiss because one of the people that we always spoke about in our breakfast sessions was her son. How is that young man doing my daughter now works for me in our company? She graduated with a digital media degree from the University of Houston with honors. So how is your son doing? Oh, I'm so proud of her. My baby is 19 years old. He is a rising sophomore at Drexel University in the music industry program. He's a music producer. He's a DJ. He is a brilliant, lovely young man. And right now, he is backpacking through Europe with a friend of his. I swear to God, he's in Vienna at the moment. So my child is doing really well. I appreciate you asking. It's kind of like his mama. We have adventures, though. What we not going to do, what we not going to do. Yes, he's incredible. I think I want to thank you for coming on show. I really would. Like I said, I saw this note. I would link them, link them. She used to use it. And that's why I found out about her book. And I said, hey, I want to come on, bring you on my show. Not just to talk to you again, big fan. I always a big fan of yours. And anytime I could use my gifts to promote your talents, I'm going to use it and you know that. So again, if I rule the world, it's available now. Go to any Amazon, any place you buy your books is available. Thank you, Amy, for coming on Money Making Conversations, Masterclass. I appreciate you, Rashan, as always. This has been Money Making Conversations Masterclass with me, Rashan McDonald. Thanks to our guests and our audience. Visit moneymakingconversations.com to listen or register to be a guest on my show. Keep leading with your gifts. Keep winning. Give it a go. If car shopping feels like a whole thing, Bye. Line your car online on auto trader, makes it way easier, really. Shop tons of cars online, compare prices, check financing and trading options from wherever you are, start online, test drive at the dealer and finish wherever it works for you. Your info stays with you, so there's no starting over. Making money isn't just about having a great idea, it's about being ready when people actually show up for it. With base 44, you can build a software your business needs just by describing it in your own words, a website, app, customer portal or tools, whatever you need. Database log in, back in and hosting are already built in and handled for you. Have free today and upgrade when you're ready, visit base44.com. How is this $47? All right, we're going to need a plan here. Just start simple, with Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25. Learn more at B of A dot com slash simple banking terms and conditions applied Bank of America and a member of DSE. This is Levar Harrington from two pros and a cup of Joe. Let me tell you about zero, that's X E R O zero is a financial management platform that loves giving small business owners the clarity to have the confidence in their numbers. It puts accounting payments, payroll and analytics all in one place. So you always have one clear picture of your business with visual dashboards. Zero makes it easy to understand your cash flow. You know exactly what's coming in and what's going out. So you can make smarter decisions that can help grow your business. Zero's AI can even offer insights to help you make your best move. It's powerful enough for an accountant and simple enough for you. Zero is the all in one to get business done. Learn more at zero dot com.

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. Chat GPT helps business owners expand by analyzing files and creating strategic expansion plans, including competitor research and market forecasts.
  2. AutoTrader simplifies car shopping with online searching, price comparison, and financing options, allowing users to start online and complete in-person test drives.
  3. Base44 enables users to build custom software (websites, apps, portals) simply by describing needs, with built-in hosting, login, and database management.
  4. Bank of America’s Safe Balance Banking offers no overdraft or monthly fees for users under 25, simplifying financial management for young entrepreneurs.
  5. Zero provides an all-in-one financial platform for small businesses, combining accounting, payroll, and analytics with AI-powered insights for clearer decision-making.
  6. Amy Barnett’s debut novel *If I Rule the World* is a fictional yet authentic story set in 1990s NYC, exploring gender, music, and media culture through the journey of a woman in the fashion industry.
  7. Pre-orders are critical for debut authors to achieve bestseller status, as they directly contribute to first-week sales and help build momentum for a book’s launch.
  8. Success in media and business requires authenticity, energy, relationship-building, and resilience—skills that transcend industry and drive long-term growth and opportunity.

Summary:

The podcast features a mix of business tools, personal stories, and financial advice aimed at empowering small business owners and entrepreneurs. It highlights Chat GPT as a strategic tool for business expansion planning, AutoTrader for simplified car shopping, and Base44 for building custom software without technical expertise. Financial wellness is emphasized through Bank of America’s no-fee account options and Zero, a comprehensive platform for accounting and cash flow visibility.

A central narrative follows Amy Barnett, a trailblazing media executive and debut novelist, whose story of resilience, career pivots, and cultural authenticity in the 1990s media scene underscores the importance of self-belief, community, and authenticity in success. Her novel, *If I Rule the World*, blends personal and cultural experiences to explore themes of power, identity, and gender in music and fashion. The show reinforces that real success isn’t just about ideas—it’s about being ready when opportunities arise, supported by tools, preparation, and a grounded, human-centered approach to ambition.

FAQs

ChatGPT helps business owners analyze market scenarios by reviewing files and reports, researching competitors, and generating strategic plans that can be shared with leadership teams.

With base44, you describe your software needs in your own words—like a website or app—and the platform builds it for you with built-in database, login, and hosting, ready to use.

AutoTrader makes car shopping easier by letting you search, compare prices, and check financing options from anywhere. You can start online and finish at a dealer with your info securely saved.

Zero combines accounting, payroll, and analytics into one platform with easy-to-read dashboards, giving business owners clear visibility into cash flow and smart insights to grow their business.

The book is a novel set in 1990s NYC that explores themes of fashion, music, and gender in media, reflecting Amy's personal and professional journey, with strong cultural and historical references.

Pre-orders boost initial sales numbers, which are critical for reaching a New York Times bestseller list—especially for debut authors who need strong early traction to succeed.

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