Today we’d like to introduce you to Ambir McMillan.
Hi Ambir, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It’s a funny story. The Biz Bar was born from a petty comment on Facebook. The year was 2020, PPP loans were popular, and there was a lot of misleading/fraudulent information floating around.
Because the majority of my Facebook friends were established business owners, I posted the question, “How are yall getting these loans legally?” I had tons of people who helped.
But as I was strolling my timeline, I saw someone mocking my question. People who were mutual “friends” were in the comments laughing, egging it on, saying things like, “Girl, I saw that; I just laughed and scrolled.” “How hard is it to research info?”, “That’s sad she asked that.” It really upset me.
And then it hit me; this is why new business owners don’t ask for help. Many of them would rather fail over and over again than to ask for help. That’s mainly because they don’t have a safe place to learn without being judged, misled, or left behind.
I decided at that moment, “I’m about to change this now.” I worked on my concept and officially launched The Biz Bar a few months later.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey of launching and growing The Biz Bar was far from straightforward. This is my fourth entrepreneurial venture. In 2017, I experienced a lot of big life changes at once and I didn’t adjust well. I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety on top of lifelong health complications.
I started therapy and my counselor suggested investing time in a hobby unrelated to my usual roles (mother, wife, sibling, etc.). I decided to design websites, which eventually shifted into brand strategy.
Looking back, I wasn’t mentally prepared to run a business. Minor setbacks would trigger 3 month long shutdowns, my first coach burned me, and there was a period when I had to step back because my content and work were being stolen and shared without credit. It was tough to deal with. (Especially if they are a big content creator.) I didn’t have a “bounce back” plan. I didn’t know how to cope with any of it.
The biggest lesson came later: understanding that my business couldn’t outgrow me. It made me focus on personal development, and the journey has shaped The Biz Bar into the empowering platform it is today.
We’ve been impressed with The Biz Bar, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
I love this question! The Biz Bar isn’t just a brand agency; it’s a resource hub and an online community designed for women-led brands looking to shape the world with their identity, passions, and products.
We combine strategy, design, and education to provide our clients with everything they need for a solid brand foundation. Everything we craft, from our services to our products, is aligned with the needs and interests of our clients.
Brand-wise, one of our proudest moments is launching The High Rollers Club, our monthly business class subscription.
It feels great to see the things we create – help our clients thrive.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Apps that help me thrive:
- Acuity/ calendar – I use these to keep up with client appointments. If it’s on my calendar, it will get done.
- Novo – Banking
- ClickUp – My favorite project manager and organizer. It’s perfect for everything.
- TikTok – keeping up with current events in 1 minute or less, content ideas, and business rabbit holes.
- Brand Foundations Book: https://bizbar.co/product/
position-or-be-positioned- physical/ - The High Rollers Club: https://thebizbar.
vipmembervault.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bizbar.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizbar.co
