Welcome to Cloud Media and Management.

Hello, my name is Shannon, and I am the founder of Cloud Media Management. Starting a business is something that I have always wanted to do. Just like any business, you should always think about what problems you are solving with your business. There were so many variations of my idea before I landed on my current business model. I feel like when you first get an idea, you get so excited, and you have so many ideas that it can be hard to narrow down you idea. Keeping it simple is the best strategy. When you start a business you have to ask yourself two questions what problem am I solving and how is my business going to stand out to my competitors.

Solving the Problem

I am someone who is truly obsessed with businesses. I think about it a lot; I come up with a lot of business ideas and mock up business plans. Entrepreneurship has always been a passion of mine. When starting Cloud Media Management, I wanted to help other businesses thrive. I took a deep look into what really affects businesses, the first being not having the right people for the right roles. So I’m solving this by introducing Cloud Talent, where I help businesses connect with the right people. I am also helping freelancers improve their skills and find opportunities.

The other issue that a lot of business owners face is that they try to do too much too soon. I wanted to create a membership program where business owners can email me at any time and ask me questions. I wanted to truly be like a therapist for businesses—understanding the problem and finding a root cause to fix it. People underestimate the power of networking, and I want to create as many opportunities for people to be able to network and talk about growth strategies. The final problem that I want to help people solve is learning how to be an effective leader, which includes improving soft skills. Soft skills are communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and, most importantly, adaptability. Being able to adapt quickly can save businesses by allowing them to pivot.

I think the best example is the CEO of Blackberry. Right when the iPhone came out, everyone told Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin that they needed to adapt to the change in technology. They were convinced that no one wanted a smartphone. Because they didn’t pivot, the business went under. They lost so much money and customers to the iPhone. This is just one example of a business not pivoting and adapting to changes.

Just like any business, I am excited to get started. I’m excited to see what will come of this chapter in my business. Nothing is ever guaranteed. You will never know if your business is going to be successful unless you try. All business is a risk, but after watching a Netflix documentary called "Shark Whisperer," Gordon Ramsay had an interesting quote that I really liked. He was talking about sharks, but what he said was, "Accept the risk, acknowledge them, and move on." I feel like that can be used in all aspects of life, but especially in business. Right now, I am accepting the risk, and I’m hoping for a good outcome.