In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert and entrepreneur Ramon Ray dives into three surprising and insightful stories: the Catholic Church’s embrace of influencers, the New York Times’ pivot to video, and a surprising mindset lesson from Jake Paul and Tyler Perry. Through each segment, Ramon connects these headline stories to smart strategies small business owners can adopt today.
Key Takeaways:
- The Catholic Church is using influencers—including fashion content creators and charismatic priests—to modernize its outreach.
- Influencer marketing isn’t just for big brands; it works for small businesses too—especially with micro or niche influencers.
- The New York Times is shifting toward short-form video, replacing some traditional writers with video creators. Video humanizes your brand.
- Both Jake Paul and Tyler Perry say they wouldn’t change their past mistakes—because everything contributed to who they are today.
- Your past experiences, even failures, may be stepping stones toward your biggest wins.
The Pope’s Influence Strategy: What Businesses Can Learn
Yes, you read that right—the Pope is turning to influencers. In a bold move, the Catholic Church recently invited over 1,000 content creators to the Vatican, encouraging them to become “digital missionaries.” Influencers with fashion platforms, lifestyle accounts, and even “hot priests” were part of this unique outreach.
What’s the lesson for entrepreneurs? Influence drives impact. If the Vatican can use influencers to grow its global message, your small business can too.
Here’s how to start with influencers:
- Align values: Choose influencers whose tone, content, and image match your brand.
- Size doesn’t always matter: Micro-influencers with small, loyal audiences can be just as powerful.
- Compensation varies: Some influencers want to be paid, while others may work for products, perks, or exposure.
- Watch for risk: Be mindful of what influencers post; you don’t want to be associated with messages that contradict your values.
Influencers can do more than post selfies—they can help you create authentic, engaging content and reach audiences you couldn’t reach on your own.
New York Times Embraces Video: Are You?
The New York Times is reassigning some of its veteran writers to prioritize creators who can produce compelling video content. They’ve recognized what many entrepreneurs still resist: video is king.
Why? Because video:
- Personalizes your brand.
- Builds trust faster than text.
- Boosts engagement on nearly every platform.
Even if you’re not a media company, your small business can benefit from the same shift. Start small: record product demos, go live for Q&As, or simply talk about your business journey. If the Times is doubling down on video, it might be time you did too.
Jake Paul, Tyler Perry, and the Power of Owning Your Journey
In separate interviews, both Jake Paul and Tyler Perry were asked what mistakes they’d erase from their past. Surprisingly, both said—none.
Not because they’ve never made mistakes, but because those mistakes helped shape their path to success.
This mindset shift—viewing setbacks as setups—is powerful for any entrepreneur. Every stumble is a lesson. Every misstep, a moment of growth.
Ramon reflects on his own journey, from small stages to hosting events alongside celebrity entrepreneurs like Marcus Lemonis and Robert Herjavec. Every gig, big or small, played a role.
Final Thoughts: Grow Boldly and Intentionally
This episode is more than a current events roundup. It’s a call to action:
- Use influencers strategically.
- Make video a part of your brand DNA.
- View your journey as preparation, not punishment.
As Ramon says, the world needs more inspiration and less division. Your business, your message, and your influence can help make that difference.
Visit ZoneofGenius.com to stay in the loop and grow your business the smart way.
Related
How To Hire an Influencer to Market Your Business(Opens in a new browser tab)
How to Use Social Analytics to Know What Works for Your Business(Opens in a new browser tab)