Smart Hustle Media, founded by Ramon Ray, inspires and trains small business owners. Author, “Celebrity CEO – How Entrepreneurs Can Be Successful By Building Community And A Strong Personal Brand.” Ramon is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur and bestselling author.

In this interview we report on Ramon Ray’s journey, learn more about his journey and what drives him to be the successful entrepreneur he is.

What was the motivation to start Smart Hustle?

I’ve been creating websites and content for many years. My company before that was smallbiztechnology.com, so I wanted to move away from small businesses and get more into entrepreneurship. It was born out of my love and passion for helping small businesses grow.

About two years ago when COVID struck and many countries were locked down, it was impossible to travel and work. That’s when I thought of doing something big and daring. I’ve put together a five-hour summit to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. It’s a fun session with a lot of education through experience and entertainment.

Given the competition in the market, there are plenty of keynote and motivational speakers. So what makes you different from the others?

Based on what my customers tell me, there are three factors that my customers love about me.

Authentic high energy

Lots of people speak loudly but they just blow smoke. I bring authentic energy that inspires people.

Knowledgeable

Very few people have the wide range of information I have about the small business market. So I can answer pretty much any small business question about finance, marketing, leadership, technology, and innovation.

entertainment

So it’s not just a lot of energy, not just information, but I also have to bring some fun and entertainment into everything I do.

How has the pandemic affected your business and how has it grown over the past few years?

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the pandemic. It affected everyone in different ways. For some it was devastating and tore them apart. For some it was a great opportunity while others are still limping. I am blessed for myself and I thank God for the enormous possibilities.

Online production has increased in the events world, especially among the big tech companies I work with. it worked well.

Given that Smart Hustle has done well over the past few years, what is your plan for the future?

My goal for the next five years is to want a TV show. In addition, I want to influence as many people as possible and help people in my family. So, for the next five years, I’ll be focusing on steady growth, making smart decisions, and working with others.

You can go very quickly on your own, but you can go a lot further if you go with others.

Speaking of impact, who was a role model that influenced your life?

There are a few people I look up to. One of them is Seth Godin – the ultimate marketer. I love his jam and the way he vibes. Two is Glenn Lundy. He’s hosting one of the fastest growing podcasts ever, Breakfast with Champions, and I got to know him and who he introduced to our community.

Given the overall industry landscape in which you operate, are there any changes that you would like to see in the industry?

I think we will see more and more government interventions that try to restrict individual freedom and complicate our lives. But I think as individuals we should move on and move on, so I’m not very hopeful for the future, but on the other hand, I’m happy that the world will be in a better place.

What has been the greatest challenge for you as a manager in recent years?

My biggest challenge was “focus”. I think I can do a lot of different things and stick to the things that I want to do. But to get the job done, we have to use the resources money and time properly. For small businesses, it’s very similar as they scrape and scrape to get to the next level, but it’s tough and they just want to grow a bit more so I think this is the biggest challenge before the small business stand nowadays.

What do you think are the three most important skills to become an entrepreneur?

I think mindset is a crucial part of becoming a successful entrepreneur. An essential part of the mindset is also the ability to take risks. Another critical aspect of the mindset is knowing that you will fall and get up again. And thirdly, as Marie Forleo said in her well-known book “Everything is Determinable” – Everything is Determinable, do you have the ability to find out?

What advice would you like to give to all of the entrepreneurs out there?

You won’t make it; people will hate you. Life doesn’t do justice. Keep pressing.

Those were some inspiring words from the man himself. We wish Ramon the very best for the future and we will hopefully interview him again after his TV show.