Imani Ellis says CultureCon focuses heavily on the experience, customer feedback and retention. Her philosophy is simple: create something where people feel seen and naturally want to share their experience, and your customers can become one of your strongest forms of marketing.

You know you can help somebody. You know you have something valuable to sell. But you’re scared to tell anybody because you don’t want to look salesy, thirsty or cringe. Meanwhile, somebody with the exact problem you solve is looking for an answer. How much money is embarrassment costing you?

Everybody talks about chasing the dream. Nobody really talks about what happens when you realize the dream might not happen… and you still have a family, bills and a life to build. What did you do when Plan A stopped being the plan?

Deija had a job that paid enough to live, but after seeing what she could earn elsewhere, her perspective changed. She cut back, prepared for her next season and started building a business she believed could support her long term.

Dion used to give his job the hours, discipline and consistency it demanded. When he became an entrepreneur, he decided his own business deserved that same commitment.

Weston had a bachelor’s degree, but when jobs weren’t available, pride wasn’t going to stop him from working. Nightclub security. Cafeteria work. Whatever it took. At that point in his life, being able to feed his family, pay the bills and get his son a haircut again felt like success.

Imani Ellis says there’s nothing more dangerous than being with someone who is jealous of you. But where’s the line between jealousy, insecurity and simply feeling intimidated by a successful partner? Can a healthy relationship exist when one person feels threatened by the other person’s success?

Connect with Deija here: https://deijatheceo.com Connect with Dion here: https://dtduniversity.com When is it actually time to quit your job and bet on yourself? In this episode of Finance Fridays, we break down the financial reality of transitioning from a 9 to 5 into full time entrepreneurship. It’s not just about having faith in your business. You need a plan, a number, and the discipline to prove that your income can support the move. We talk about finding your “quit number,” preparing for months when the money may not come in, turning your skills into income, finding the right mentor, creating recurring revenue, and treating your business with the same discipline you gave your job. We also get into the fear that keeps people stuck. Fear of failing. Fear of losing security. Fear of what other people will think if it doesn’t work. If you know you’re capable of more but you’re trying to figure out how to make the transition without putting yourself in a financial hole, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more conversations about money, entrepreneurship, financial freedom, and building wealth.

Imani Ellis met a mentor after getting into a closing elevator. Someone else made a career-changing connection while standing in a food truck line. Not every opportunity comes from a perfectly planned introduction. Sometimes being in the room, being curious and starting a conversation is enough to change what happens next.

When Weston learned his mother had cancer, his first instinct was to leave college and come home. She told him no. She wanted him to stay, finish his education and make something of the sacrifices his parents had made for their children. Years later, Weston says the faith, discipline and sacrifice his parents taught him still shape the person he is today.

Before the strategy. Before the growth. Before thousands of people showed up… There was curiosity. Not “What do you do?” But “Who are you?” That difference helped turn networking into community.

What does it really take to go from making $500K to building a $5.5 million business? In this episode of the Social Proof Podcast, David Shands sits down with Weston to break down the journey behind building a multimillion dollar tax software business that has processed over 50,000 tax returns. Weston shares how years of consistency, failed webinars, discipline, and staying focused on one industry eventually created massive growth. They also talk about building a business using existing software, creating additional value through training and support, marriage and family, staying committed when nobody is watching, and why becoming successful starts with becoming the right person first. This conversation is a reminder that what looks like overnight success usually has years of work behind it. If you're building a business, trying to reach your next level, or wondering whether the work you're putting in today will eventually pay off, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the Social Proof Podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs who are building real businesses and creating real results.

$150K on ads had Imani SHOCKED. 😳 Her approach? Build trust, create a great experience, and let your customers do the talking. Would you spend $150K on ads if you were only breaking even?

Imani Ellis was building CultureCon while continuing to grow in her career. When the time came to leave, she wanted to walk away while she was still doing great work. The relationship didn’t end there. Bravo and NBC later became sponsors of CultureCon. Sometimes how you leave becomes part of what happens next.

David and Donni talk about something that can get lost in the pursuit of success: actually enjoying your own life. Money, access and opportunities can give you more options. But at some point, you still have to decide whether the life you’re building is one you actually want to live.

Before CultureCon grew into a massive event, Imani Ellis was learning in real time. She found a bigger venue, toured it by herself and signed the contract. Then someone from production walked in and immediately noticed two pretty important problems. Sometimes building something new means learning what you didn’t even know to ask.

When you’re always the thoughtful one, eventually you ask: Who takes care of me the way I take care of everybody else? That question can change a lot.

Imani Ellis opens up about pushing herself through three CultureCons in one year after leaving her job. The events sold out, but the pressure took a serious toll. It forced her to reconsider an important question: when the business is winning, what is the success costing the person behind it?