Miranda Mounts Interview | Influencer behind Where To Eat Charlotte
Bobby Starks:
Thank you for tuning in again for Starks Media Podcast. Today's guest is Miranda Mounts. She is the owner and the face behind Where to Eat Charlotte. Let's get straight into it. What was the motivation behind starting Where to Eat Charlotte?
Miranda Mounts:
The motivation was in Wilmington. I was always asked... That's where I used to live, on the Coast, about three hours from here. I always used to get asked where to eat in Wilmington, because I was everyone's kind of go-to guide, because I was working for a seafood company at the time. I thought that I was like, you know what? I get on Yelp and I see these restaurants on there that I've been in the kitchens and I've been in the back doors and I wouldn't recommend them for certain things.
Miranda Mounts:
Yelp wasn't reliable to me. That's why I was like, when I move to Charlotte, I want to start a Where to Eat Charlotte, because everyone used to ask me like, "Hey, where do I eat in Wilmington?" I knew I was moving to Charlotte, so it was a little late to start that in Wilmington. I was like, I'm going to start it in Charlotte and just see what happens.
Bobby Starks:
In that case, what was your motivation behind food then? You're like, "Hey, I'm a foodie."
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, I am a foodie. I grew up on fast food. End of story. I used to Arby's, Subway. It was always going from practice to practice. My parents didn't cook. A lot of people say, "Oh, did you come from like this family background where your parents used to cook?"
Bobby Starks:
So you were in sports?
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, I was in sports. I played volleyball, and I played volleyball in college too. That's always funny for people to hear, it was like I didn't grow up with these elaborate meals. When I stopped playing volleyball after my second year at school, I went into serving. Because my parents cut me off and they were like, "Hey, you got to pay your own bills," and I was like, "All right, here we go. What's the best way to do that? I started serving at Kickback Jack's. That was my first serving spot.
Miranda Mounts:
And then I started serving at K38, which is the most popular restaurant in Wilmington essentially, and I was just thrown into the pits with serving and basically learning everything about food. I gained my knowledge from those two years of serving in probably like six or seven different restaurants all in Wilmington. I loved dining out. It was my favorite thing. I worked really hard in the gym, and then I was always looking forward to these meals out with my ex.
Miranda Mounts:
We would go out to eat probably four to five days a week. I'm not kidding. It was a lot.
Bobby Starks:
Really?
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah. We went out a lot, and we would travel a lot too. When we would travel, I would always plan around food. I'm sure a lot of people do that, which is so fun. Like, "Hey, where are we going to eat?" I planned around food, and then he's like, "Hey, it's clear that you love food. You plan these vacations around food. Why don't you start working with my dad for Inland Seafood as an inside sales rep?" He covered the Myrtle Beach area. So I was covering the Wilmington area.
Miranda Mounts:
I would just call up chefs every day and be like, "Hey, chef, like what seafood do you need?" And actually they're based out of Charlotte. I used to travel back and forth to Charlotte to train in the fish house, because I didn't really know that much about food as far as like... I was like mahi? What's a ma look? I don't know how much like filet is for mahi. I had to learn all of that. Oysters. We sold beef. We sold crab, lobster, caviar, cheese, all of those things.
Miranda Mounts:
I really dove in then. When I was traveling to Charlotte, I would dine in the restaurants when I was there visiting. I already had a little bit of a knowledge of like the Charlotte restaurant.
Bobby Starks:
You got to learn about the backend stuff too.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah.
Bobby Starks:
That's pretty interesting.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, it's different. It's a whole new world.
Bobby Starks:
Did it start as a hobby? Did you like think it was going to turn into the platform you have now?
Miranda Mounts:
No. No. Literally no. I didn't know what it was.
Bobby Starks:
Were you proactive on getting your first client or di a restaurant reach out and be like, "Hey, we're going to pay you to do this?"
Miranda Mounts:
Well, first, I didn't even think I was going to get free food. I was like free food is like the coolest thing ever. I remember a restaurant sent out a meal or they saw me and they recognized me and they sent out a free meal and I was like, "Oh my God!" Or they're like, "Hey, I know you're doing a post for us. I'm going to comp the meal for you." I'm like I'm doing this... Not only am I posting about this, I'm doing it in exchange for food. That was everything.
Miranda Mounts:
But when I started doing it more consistently and putting out content more consistently, restaurants would reach out and be like, "Hey, can you come into our restaurant?" And then I remember being like, I'm going to see if I can charge them because I'm getting reached out to more frequently. I charged them like 150 bucks, and I went in and like did the whole thing. I remember it was like cash. It's like, "Hey, pay me cash." It all started like cash, Venmo. You know how that goes?
Bobby Starks:
Yeah.
Miranda Mounts:
Evolve. Keep going. And then I ended up sending all of my stats and analytics. I was like, "Ooh, let's get into some numbers." I have 3,000 followers. I reach this many people, and I would send them to restaurants. And then they'd be like, "Hey, I don't even know what you're doing. We don't have a budget for this," whatever. I would just keep doing that. I would reach out to the restaurants until they'd be like, "Yeah, let's do it. 150 bucks. Let's go." So it evolved from there.
Bobby Starks:
Nice.
Miranda Mounts:
It was a big moment that I remember when I got paid like a big check. Not like a big, big check, but it was a check, to me it felt really big right, of a package of posts. And I remember I was like... Because I was starting to sell them in packages instead of just doing one, I saw them in like fours or sixes. It made more sense. And then I just remember getting in that check and I was like, "I should have framed it. I should've framed it."
Bobby Starks:
Oh wow. It's the small little victories.
Miranda Mounts:
Oh yeah.
Bobby Starks:
That's awesome. So now you're an influencer. I guess you would call yourself...
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, I would call myself more of an influencer.
Bobby Starks:
Do you call yourself an influencer? Because I know like some influencers are like, "I hate that."
Miranda Mounts:
I don't hate it. I used to say that I hate the word influencer, but I kind of have taken it on, because I'm doing a little bit of outside of food right now. I truly am influencing people to do something. I think it's really cool. I think it's a trust thing. I like the word. I think it works. I don't know what like follower count you have to hit to be considered an influencer, but I don't think it's based off of numbers.
Miranda Mounts:
For me, it's based off of people actually making action when I post things and they do. They make really massive action and it's really cool, because the businesses tell me. That's how I consider myself an influencer.
Bobby Starks:
Let's get into some of the stress of it a little bit.
Miranda Mounts:
No stress. Never stress.
Bobby Starks:
But you know when you're growing your account, you're always going to have like people that either jealous and you call them haters or whatever. How'd you deal with probably people putting negative comments on you or sending you like weird DMs? How do you deal with that?
Miranda Mounts:
The pages evolved. The pages have grown and I have grown. That's been really cool. I didn't know this was going to be a thing along the way. I was just kind of no filter. And like I said, I've grown. I was getting a lot of hate at one point, but I've learned from it. Like I said, I've grown up. Dealing with that was really hard because I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what this game was. I didn't know the influence I had. I didn't know how many eyes were on me.
Miranda Mounts:
I was just like living through this blog, thinking that I'm like a food critic or whatever. Not the situation, I'm not a food critic, but it was hard. I remember feeling really alone for a little bit when I was getting a lot of hate like on Twitter and a lot of hate from just a lot of Charlotte, like people that have been here for a while. Because I'm doing something different and I didn't know what I was doing.
Miranda Mounts:
As time went on, I had to shape and mold who I was and just be more aware and listen, instead of thinking that I know everything because I didn't know anything. It was hard, but I've come a long way with it. And now I don't really get any negativity, which is really, really amazing. Because I think that when you put out positivity, you get positivity back. Some times I was putting out negativity. "Oh I didn't like this dish. It had too much of this," blah, blah, blah. Like I said, I'm not a food critic.
Miranda Mounts:
So now that I put out positive videos and only highlight people that I want to and the businesses that I want to, it's been a game-changer for me and my followers.
Bobby Starks:
You don't work with everybody?
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah. I just did a question box yesterday actually, and I had that question like, "Hey, how do you get paid, or do you post about every brand?" I get reached out to by brands now, which has been like really interesting, like food product brands. You want to say yes, because it's like, "Oh it's money," but I have to stay authentic and true to things that I'm actually using. I will not post about a service or a product or something that I don't use. End of story.
Miranda Mounts:
If I do, I'm going in to like sample the service, or I'm going in to, excuse me, try the food. That's step one. A restaurant reaches out. I'm like, "Hey, I've never been there." A lot of the times I have, so I know right off if it's going to work or not. But if I haven't been there, then I set up a time to go in, meet the owner, try the food. That's when I'm actually like eating the food. People don't see that. I'm not in there.
Miranda Mounts:
Like, "Hey, what's up? I'm eating the food." If it goes, well, if the food's good, then they're like, "Hey, we want to buy a package of posts," then that's when I go in for the shoots. And a shoot is when I'm literally going in and capturing content. I don't eat the food or I'll take a bite of it, but I usually give it back to the staff or do something with it because I'm not going to sit there and eat all the food.
Miranda Mounts:
I think people get really like... They want to know like, "Is she dining in these photos? Is she eating the food? What's really going on?" I think that's a big question I get, because like I said, who else is really doing this besides other influencers in other cities? That's been interesting to share the whole like what it is.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah. You're always taking these pictures and you have the smorgasbord of just food all over you.
Miranda Mounts:
Spreads.
Bobby Starks:
Sometimes I'm like, okay, she has to be working out because you're... That's like 10,000 calories just sitting in front of you. You're not eating everything there? Maybe just one bite you said from each plate?
Miranda Mounts:
If I haven't had a dish and chef's like, "Hey, you got to try this dish," I'll try it. I'll take a bite. But sometimes I'll have like three of those shoots a day and I'm not going to sit there. I went to New York Butcher and he sent out like some big hunks, you guys probably saw it, of brisket and ribs and chicken and stuff like that. That was stuff that like was going to be sold to customers and I was kind of using it. It depends.
Miranda Mounts:
Usually the foods given to me, I'll literally be like, "Hey, staff. You guys can have it. I know you guys are hungry." It'll be a spread. But like I said, I'm just getting pictures of it. By the time I take the pictures, it's cold. And I've typically already had all the dishes or I've had the main... You know what I mean?
Bobby Starks:
Yeah.
Miranda Mounts:
We highlight the most popular dishes and I've typically already had them. Does that make sense?
Bobby Starks:
Yeah. Do you have a photographer behind the scenes, or do you just here's my phone and somebody just... Hopefully they composition it well and they just get these good photos.
Miranda Mounts:
I was teetering back and forth between using a professional photographer and doing it myself. Sometimes I need a photographer. Sometimes I'm like, "This is a brand. It's wine water. I really want to capture the branding of the wine water. Let's use a photographer." But most of the time I will say, I think people like the real feel of the iPhone. I use a tripod and I do it myself. I know what angles work for me, I know lighting pretty well just from doing this for so long with an iPhone.
Miranda Mounts:
I don't know how to really use a camera. I feel like I could, but I don't have one. I use an iPhone and typically I do it by myself. Most of the time the shoots are just me.
Bobby Starks:
Do you ever feel awkward like setting up a tripod, people are around and you're just like...
Miranda Mounts:
Never.
Bobby Starks:
You do your branding where the smile and your mouth is a little open.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, that's my signature.
Bobby Starks:
Exactly.
Miranda Mounts:
Holding like two things like this with the food in front. Yeah, it's like my signature thing. No, I really don't ever feel awkward. A lot of people that's their biggest fear is like being seen or feeling awkward to me. I'm doing something different. And yeah, people are going to stare. Of course, I'm holding a freaking thing of brisket. I would stare and be like, "What's she doing?" People would be like, "You're so entertaining."
Miranda Mounts:
I went to Davidson Wine Bar and there was four tables, and I'm doing my thing over here. And they're all watching because they want to be enter. I'm like, yeah, this is wild, right? This is fun. For me it's fun. And I know that at the beginning it was hard because no one understood what I was doing. But now people understand and I'm promoting businesses and making impact on businesses. For me to sit there and get embarrassed doesn't make sense for me.
Bobby Starks:
Probably a good way to almost brand yourself. You're like, "Hey, just follow me on Where to Eat Charlotte?"
Miranda Mounts:
Oh, literally.
Bobby Starks:
And they'll be like, "Oh yeah, we'll definitely check it out."
Miranda Mounts:
That's all I do is literally shout it from the mountain top. I'm like, "Yeah, where to eat? You're going to see this picture up tomorrow." The post did really well, so I was really excited. It was like me holding a cheeseboard, and then I literally gave the cheeseboard. I'm not going to sit there and go in on a full cheeseboard by myself. I literally gave it to them and they took it home. They got to enjoy it. That's kind of like the things that work. I'll be, "Hey, do you guys want some of this?"
Miranda Mounts:
And I always tip and I want people to know that too. That when I go in... I have a server still and they're usually bringing out a spread or the owner will kind of bring out food. But if a server's involved, I always tip and do a penny tab on what the food would cost or how much they like the service. I think that's a stigma that influencers get too like, "Hey, they don't tip. They want everything for free." That's not how it goes.
Bobby Starks:
I think a lot of influencers are that way.
Miranda Mounts:
Maybe. Yeah. Well, I think the serving background really, really helps.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah. Obviously you are eating some of this food.
Miranda Mounts:
For sure. Yeah, I dine out all the time. People see that. I dine out all the time.
Bobby Starks:
Let's get into that. Do you work out? You have to, because obviously you would be 200 pounds.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, I do work out. I go to Hive, but I'm going to be transparent. I used to work out a lot back in the day. I don't work out as much as I used to. Everyone's laughing because I'm like just getting back into Hive. I've been traveling a lot. I'm really focused on just getting in movement. Every day I try to get into some movement. I know it sounds silly, but walking is like super powerful. I'm just really aware of my body just from like coming from a really heavy gym background.
Miranda Mounts:
I used to track macros, so I'm aware of calories in and calories out. I love eating healthy. It's my favorite thing in the world. I don't even crave really bad food, and I'm around food all the time that it's like food is so beautiful and so great. But like imagine being around some of the best dishes, super grateful, all the time, it's like I don't feel the need to indulge because it's at my fingertips at all times.
Miranda Mounts:
Back when I was a fitness junkie, when I would say, "No, I can't even have a latte. I can't even eat a brownie. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope," when you say no over and over in your head, your brain says, "Oh, I can't have these things? I want them more. I want them more." So now that I don't tell myself no, I had a brownie yesterday. I went to Green Brothers. I got a smoothie. Normally I would never get back in the day, never get one of those brownies. Got a brownie.
Miranda Mounts:
I sat there and I was like, "This is going to be so good," and I ate it and it's what I wanted. I think that has really helped me in my mindset with food is that I am around it all the time. That's been kind of wild. But yeah, I work out. I go to Hive. I do a lot of incline walking, and then I do lifting on my own. I'll hop in a class every once in a while.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah, those classes are pretty good.
Miranda Mounts:
They're really hard. They're really hard. I've been a little like ugh. Because I've been out of the gym for a minute, I'm like, they're hard. I've never gotten sick from a class before and I got sick one time. Granted I was coming back from Napa. It was the day after, so I think that's why.
Bobby Starks:
A little hungover.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, just a lot of wine.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah, it's okay. It happens.
Miranda Mounts:
But yeah, those classes are really intense. Hive's awesome.
Bobby Starks:
I like doing the full body stuff. It's better on the joints and all that.
Miranda Mounts:
For sure.
Bobby Starks:
Do you eat breakfast?
Miranda Mounts:
It depends. I read my body. I don't keep a lot of food at my house, because I am dining lot. I literally keep veggies. I'm so weird. For breakfast, I'll get up and literally air fry veggies. I just love it. When I say, "I just eat veggies," I freaking love it. I'm a volume meter. I like eating a big portion of things. I'll air fry veggies. Throw some egg white on it, avocado, sriracha seasoning. Sometimes I eat breakfast. Sometimes I don't. I haven't eaten yet.
Miranda Mounts:
Probably why I have so much energy, which reverse. When you're fasting, you have more energy. People know that.
Bobby Starks:
Air fryer. You 30 yet?
Miranda Mounts:
The air fryer is life. I remember my followers. I didn't have an air fryer. And I was like hey. My followers kept mentioning an air fryer, and I was like, "Oh, all right, I'm going to see what this is about."
Bobby Starks:
Life changer.
Miranda Mounts:
Pretty much.
Bobby Starks:
Since you're influencer now.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, that's my title.
Bobby Starks:
Guess it is kind of your title.
Miranda Mounts:
It's my title.
Bobby Starks:
How is dating like then? Do you go on dates? Do people reach out to you? I mean, obviously what do you have? A little over 40,000 followers?"
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, it's growing up real fast. Real fast.
Bobby Starks:
The majority is probably in Charlotte?
Miranda Mounts:
Yep. Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Bobby Starks:
You probably go out all the time and people notice you?
Miranda Mounts:
A lot.
Bobby Starks:
How does that scene work out for you?
Miranda Mounts:
It's funny. Like I said, I just put up a question box and it was a lot of these questions that you're asking. People are very curious about these things. I haven't been in a relationship since I moved to Charlotte in 2018, and I really haven't been on that many dates. I don't know. I just feel like I'm like super locked in right now. Guys will come up to me and be like, "Oh, you're the Where to Eat Charlotte girl." It's more not like a, "Hey, do you want to hang out?" They're not hitting on me.
Miranda Mounts:
It's more like, "Hey, I really appreciate your page. My wife uses it all the time. Our family loves your page." I don't get a lot of guys walking up to me that are single and they're like, "Hey, let's go to dinner." I don't know if they're intimidated. I really don't, but people think that I get that all the time. I don't. I really don't. I'll get the DM slides for sure. Like, "Hey, put myself out there. Would you like to go grab dinner?" I don't really do dinner. I would, but dinner is number one.
Miranda Mounts:
Can you imagine? I'm doing dinners all the time? All the time. It's like I don't even want to go to dinner with someone, because I'll literally be like talking to Jamie at Barcelona the whole time.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah, exactly. Somebody that goes to restaurants all time. I think you would actually... If I was approaching you, I'd be like, "Hey, let's go on a hike or something instead."
Miranda Mounts:
Thank you. Yes. Yes.
Bobby Starks:
You have to.
Miranda Mounts:
That's what I want. Some activities.
Bobby Starks:
I'm like, you can't take somebody that's an expert in the field and you'd be like, "Hey, let's go get a steak."
Miranda Mounts:
Food is beautiful and it's great, but like exactly. We go to Barcelona Wine Bar. Jamie, the manager's, there. I'm going to be chatting her ear off. We're going to be chatting. It's going to interrupt the date. I know the servers. I know a lot of people in the restaurant industry who are working. I don't want that to take away. Typically, I do coffee. I'll be like, "Hey, let's get coffee," because also dinner's a time investment.
Miranda Mounts:
Some people really look forward to dates and dinners, but with what I do, I'm like that could be like a three-hour time investment. I'm like really trying to be adamant about where I spend my time. Because usually I'm like, "Yes! Yes! Yes," like yes girl. Let's do this. Yes. Yes. I give a lot of energy, and I want that energy back. I'll feel drained if I go into situations where I'm giving all this energy and I'm not getting the energy back.
Miranda Mounts:
It sounds kind of cutthroat, but I truly just believe in mutual value and good energy exchange. Coffee works for me with dating, but I don't do it often.
Bobby Starks:
I mean, that totally makes sense.
Miranda Mounts:
My friends say it's because I'm picky, but whatever, picky, that's bullshit. Literally I have high standards, but I'm not going to ask anything that I'm not willing to bring myself. That's like my thing.
Bobby Starks:
That's fair.
Miranda Mounts:
It seems fair.
Bobby Starks:
Don't don't date until you're 30.
Miranda Mounts:
Right. Exactly. There you go. I'm just busy. I'm trying to do this thing. There's this thing that I have and I want to bring it to the world. I know I'm a very all-in person. I love relationships. It's like I really enjoy them. I love being a partner. I love supporting. I know if somebody comes in, it's going to be quite the distraction. So I'm like I think this is happening for a reason. I think no one's coming in for a reason, so I can stop messing around and do this.
Bobby Starks:
Focus on you.
Miranda Mounts:
Right.
Bobby Starks:
Nice.
Miranda Mounts:
Not me. Focus on the business essentially.
Bobby Starks:
On your brand business.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, for sure.
Bobby Starks:
Let's do a couple rapid questions.
Miranda Mounts:
Okay.
Bobby Starks:
First date location, where would you recommend?
Miranda Mounts:
Ooh, it's a good one. Honestly, Barcelona Wine Bar because I'm very adamant about bar space. It's one of the only... Not one of the only, but one of the only bars in Charlotte that has a bar where you can see everything. I know you should be like locked in on your date, but first date I want to be in a buzzing atmosphere. Barcelona's buzzing. It's always buzzing. It's always a good vibe. That's what I want on a first date. I say Barcelona and in small plates, so you can kind of pick and choose.
Bobby Starks:
Where would you get wine?
Miranda Mounts:
If I were to get wine, one place?
Bobby Starks:
Yeah. You could only have one glass.
Miranda Mounts:
Oh man. That's such a good question. Am I on a date, or I'm just going for a glass of wine?
Bobby Starks:
Just going for a glass. Say a girl just like, "Ugh! I had a long week." It's a Thursday and she's like, "I just need one glass of wine." Where'd she go?
Miranda Mounts:
Oh man. That's a really good question. I would say Dower Tasting Room does a really phenomenal job. Or I love Italian wine, so I'd go to in Indaco and sit at the bar. They have a good Italian wine list. I love Italian wine, and they're cool about tastings and samples and stuff.
Bobby Starks:
All right. Ice cream after dinner.
Miranda Mounts:
Ice cream after dinner. Well, I don't know if this counts as ice cream, but Paletas Morelia. It's a place I've been highlighting. It's new. It's behind Stir. It's like ice cream, but it's like a Popsicle essentially. Fantastic. The ingredients are like 10 out of 10. You build your own little Popsicle ice cream thing. Some of the best dessert I've ever had. If we're doing ice cream ice cream, I'd say like Two Scoops. Jenny's is good, but I mean support local. So Two Scoops.
Bobby Starks:
Favorite new restaurant that has opened up probably within the last two months.
Miranda Mounts:
Well, I just mentioned it. I'd say Supperland. Doing a really good job. Jamie is a boss babe. She's the owner and it's like her baby. I got to chat with her and I really look up to her. I think she's super empowering. Just like creating that, it's cool. Supperland.
Bobby Starks:
Where do you meet people, because there's always people moving here to Charlotte?
Miranda Mounts:
That's been hard for me to tackle, because I'm out and about all the time so I don't do a nine to five from my computer, so it's a little hard. Because like I said, I'm out and about and I'm very social, outgoing. I would say a gym community. I would start there. Hive. There's other gyms that are as community driven as Hive, but it's just set up for talking. And not like talking a ton, but just being like, "Hey, what's up," right before the group training in the middle.
Miranda Mounts:
Just being like, "Hey, what's up?" You know, you've been there, or sitting at the smoothie bar. I've met more people at Hive just even saying hey like not getting a beer after or anything. Just being like, "Hey, I'm aware of you. You work hard. I have a respect for you," because we both have mutual interests. You love working out. I like working out. I've met a lot of people at the gym and I typically don't meet a lot of people at the gym because I'm like very head down.
Miranda Mounts:
It's a really great space for that. I would say find a gym where you really like the community and culture.
Bobby Starks:
Do you have headphones in? Are you one of those?
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, yeah, I have headphones in, but I was doing the group classes and now I'm lifting on my own. I missed it. But yeah, I'm not like a go tap someone while they're lifting kind of person, as much as I want to sometimes. There's a guy in there and I'm like, what do I do?
Bobby Starks:
Shoot my shot.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah. I've written notes before. I swear.
Bobby Starks:
What?
Miranda Mounts:
I never forget. I wrote a note. I said, "Hey, my name's Miranda. Don't want to interrupt your workout. If you want to grab coffee or a drink sometime, hit me up." Literally handed it to him as I walked out, gave intense eye contact, and then dipped.
Bobby Starks:
Wow! Good for you.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, thank you.
Bobby Starks:
People will never do that.
Miranda Mounts:
My mom's like, "Miranda you're too much. You're scary." I'm like love that.
Bobby Starks:
All right. Who do you want to inspire, either through just you as Miranda or through Where to Eat Charlotte? Is there any specific?
Miranda Mounts:
Like I said, I'm changing so much. Just like the past two years, I'm just changing as a person. I used to be like me, me, me, and now I feel like the more that you focus on providing value and the more that you like get out of this, me, me, me mindset, instead of what can I give and not expect anything in return, I feel like that's when you really see things come together and opportunities come together. I just really want to keep focusing on, hey what do my followers want, and bring that to them.
Miranda Mounts:
I want to inspire people to, number one, get out of their comfort zone and just do something. I didn't know what I was doing, and I think you meet a lot of entrepreneurs who have it together. I just came back from an event last weekend. All of them is super successful. All of them said the same thing. "I didn't know what the I was doing." I want to implant that in people's heads and think, "Oh, she just had it all together. Her story was so perfect. It aligned perfectly and that's the journey of Where to Eat Charlotte. So beautiful."
Miranda Mounts:
Nah. No, dog. No. It was not like that. It was a mess. A hot mess. You can ask anyone. I think I want to inspire my followers. We're literally only here one time. Not to get all cheesy, we're here like once. Do what you love doing. Even if you're not trying to turn into your full-time, do it every day. That's what it's about. And then give others in the process. The more that I realize that I give to people, the more I feel like I get back. And my parents are very good about that.
Miranda Mounts:
I'm more like, well, I don't want to me, me, me. The more yo center it on me, the more the universe isn't going to give to you. It's true.
Bobby Starks:
The coolest thing I think I did that opened me up, we had this project to do in high school and I volunteered at this old folks home. I did it for like a month, but all the stories they would tell... All the old people. It doesn't matter, men or women. They were just like, "Young man just do what you love. I wish I did all this wish." Wish, wish, wish, wish. I did that throughout the rest of the year, because I just like sitting down and listen to all the stories.
Miranda Mounts:
How much value did you get from that?
Bobby Starks:
It was great. It was fantastic.
Miranda Mounts:
I bet.
Bobby Starks:
It's like almost a lost art because these older people, even when I was young, I was like 15, 16, they were like in their eighties. It was almost an art how to tell a story so well. You could just like almost feel like you're in that room with them when they're telling these certain stories. I almost feel like I picked up on some of that, because I feel like I almost am a good storyteller sometimes. Not all the time.
Miranda Mounts:
It's a skill.
Bobby Starks:
It is a skill for sure.
Miranda Mounts:
It's a skill for sure. That's really cool.
Bobby Starks:
But going back to what you said, yeah. Just do it, even scares the shit out of you.
Miranda Mounts:
It's uncomfortable. And being uncomfortable is uncomfortable. It is. I get it.
Bobby Starks:
But then you could look back and then it's like, why was I so scared then?
Miranda Mounts:
Once you just keep getting past that little barrier and just push a little more every day, I know it sounds... Like I said these, some of these lines sound cheesy, but they're so true. Going to that event over the weekend and talking in front of 70 women, I've never done that. I was scared for a minute. I was like shit. Like I was up there and I was like you have two decisions. One, you can get nervous and clam up, or two, take control. It's like mental mindset. It's mental.
Miranda Mounts:
Pushing past and getting just a little uncomfortable every day really does add up. Atomic Habits is one of my favorite books. The little things, they really do compound. Consistent little tiny things.
Bobby Starks:
Yeah, that's a good book.
Miranda Mounts:
That's a good book.
Bobby Starks:
I don't want to say it's like groundbreaking. I think Atomic Habits is like the things that you already know. It's just like almost a really good reminder.
Miranda Mounts:
It is. But habits are like... Literally that's why I'm a habit, because habits are who we are. They're what shape us. It's so important to me. Oh, they're just habits. No! You're morning routine, your habits, that's who you are. The things you do every day, the way you talk to people, that's your personality. And that's built off of habits. And you can change it too. That's the cool part about the whole thing.
Miranda Mounts:
Just because I was somebody two years ago in Charlotte who I'm not proud of, I really look back and I'm like, "Dang! She was selfish. She was always late working on that." But you don't have to be that anymore. You can change. It's adding up the little tallies I think to become the person that you want to be. I love that line in there.
Bobby Starks:
You have to want it though.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah.
Bobby Starks:
You have to want it first.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah. I don't know if that's like a gene, like some people have or some people don't. I don't know because those girls at the event, and I know I keep bringing it up, but they have something in them that says, "I'm not cool with just be in this version of me, or I'm not cool with being here." It truly is. And we're kind of getting off food a little bit, but it's not for me. I can say this honestly, I don't look at anyone else's stuff and I'm like, "Ah, that should be me. That needs to be me."
Miranda Mounts:
I really don't compare. I'm super grateful. I'll get wrapped up for like five minutes in it, because it's a big compare game out there. But I compare myself to me. That's the only person that I compare myself to because to me that's the only person that matters. I'm in my own lane. And I think we get caught up in really looking at other people's lives. So hard not to, but look at the celebrities out there. They say it all the time. The people on Instagram, the people in the light, it's not what you think.
Miranda Mounts:
The relationships on Instagram, it's not what you think. Not all the time, but everyone struggles with something. You don't see what they're going through because they are putting out their best. Compare yourself to you. Stop comparing yourself to your explore page because that thing is beautiful, but I get wrapped up. I'm like, "Dang! Does everyone's house look like this? Does everyone have this? Is everyone dating this hot man? Is everyone this tiny?"
Miranda Mounts:
I'm just confused. It's truly like, "What? Is this real?" I get wrapped up in it for like five minutes. I'm like, "Nah, that doesn't serve me. I'm out." Being aware.
Bobby Starks:
Let's go back. You're talking about being scared. Let me see if this scared you. When Instagram, Facebook, and all that shut down-
Miranda Mounts:
You would it them up.
Bobby Starks:
...how'd that... Did it mold you? Like, holy crap! Do I have to do other things?
Miranda Mounts:
For a minute, I was like, you know what? At first, I was like, dang, if this shuts down, like what? It was scary, because I'm not on other platforms right now. I'm not on TikTok. I kind of quit with that. I was starting YouTube, but I was like ah. It's like analysis by paralysis. I want to be out there and doing these things, but I'm like, which one do I put my eggs in? I'm actually manifesting... I am manifesting a mentor in my life.
Miranda Mounts:
Not saying I need someone to come and save me or I need somebody that can tell me what move to make. I don't want to make 50,000 moves, and then back pedal. I really don't. I want to make the move. I'm not scared, but I want to make the right move. So yeah, it was scary. Because I was like, "Dang! I haven't made the move to be on YouTube." I don't have that following there. If my Instagram following is gone, I have no following besides Miranda. You know what I mean?
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, it was scary, but I was like, I know that I am value and that I'll make money no matter what, because I believe in myself because I do the work, not because I'm some special fricking person. I get up and read and try to gain this knowledge. It's work. I think people think that. They're like, "You have this thing." It's like no. You do the work. You see people into self-development. They read. They want to be better about something. They journal. They reflect. It takes more time.
Miranda Mounts:
But yeah, I knew I'd be okay because I'm like you figure it out. You always figure it out. You can go back to serving. You can do whatever, but it was definitely a wake up call like, it's time to get on those platforms and the time is now because it's time.
Bobby Starks:
Let's ask you last question, what does the future look like for you and Where to Eat Charlotte? Where do you want to go? Where's it taking you?
Miranda Mounts:
This has been one of the hardest questions because at first I was like, I'm going to be a, so funny, solopreneur where it's going to be me because I do everything and I only like the way I do it. You know how that goes. Don't want to hire because no one can do it like me. Bullshit. A girl was talking about this over the weekend. You're not that special. I'm not that special. This whole solopreneur thing, that's just like limited mindset.
Miranda Mounts:
What I'm thinking and it's changed and I've said this a thousand times on my platform because it's truly like I had this moment a couple months ago where I was like, this is my purpose here. My purpose is to have a platform and to have this personality that I have, that I connect with people, to showcase businesses and people that do a good job at their craft and who are bringing their gifts to the world. You, for instance. You do videography. You do this. These are the gifts that you bring to the world.
Miranda Mounts:
You may not really want to be on social. You're like, "Hey, this is what I'm good at, but I don't know how to project that out there. I don't know how to spread the word." You're just good at your craft, and you're like, "I love my craft." I love that you love your craft, and I want to bring your gifts to the world on my platform. I want to have the voice to showcase what you do, because that's cool. I'm like the middle man. I'm like the, hey, you guys need something.
Miranda Mounts:
I am the one who's going to spread the word and yell it from the mountain tops. And then you have this service or business that's bringing these amazing things, which could be bread, which could be cupcakes, which could be videos, facials, whatever. I see people who love what they do, and I want to be the person that brings that to the world. What does that look like? I think I need to.
Miranda Mounts:
I want to expand, and I want it to be essentially a Charlotte brand that people rely on and they trust to get the best of Charlotte or the best of North Carolina or whatever it may be. I want to highlight more businesses. Instead of, hey, I go to one hair lady. She's great. Yeah, she is great. But let's tap into more hair ladies who are really good, or let's tap into more people that do massages.
Miranda Mounts:
The only reason I was sharing those things is because people were asking and I'm like, yes, that's where I get my hair done. She's fantastic. Then it turned into this thing of people asking me recommendations. You're an influencer now. I'm like, dang, food's important and that's my whole bulk of my brand, but I want to showcase people that do a good job with their craft.
Bobby Starks:
Nice.
Miranda Mounts:
Hopefully email. We need email subscription. We need YouTube. People are very visual. People like visuals. I've noticed that. I make these cool lists, which are helpful. People want to see things. They want to see things. They want to hear. That's why reels are really powerful right now. Yeah, that's what I want to do.
Bobby Starks:
I know I said that was your last question.
Miranda Mounts:
That's okay. Clearly I love talking.
Bobby Starks:
If you had to start over again, is there anything you would do different?
Miranda Mounts:
No. Nope.
Bobby Starks:
Just ride the course as it was?
Miranda Mounts:
Ride the course. Yeah, I just got to ride the course. Looking back I'm like, "Oh, what if I would've done this in this relationship? Or what if I would've done this in this situation?" I think about it all the time. What if I would've not been stupid and texted this guy on my birthday? Whatever. Whatever/ it doesn't matter, because it's in the past. I don't live in the past. The past is not me. I'm here. I'm present. There's only two options now. You learn from the past.
Miranda Mounts:
You move forward. It's gone. You're here. This is me today, and then there's the future of me. That's it. That past shaped me for here. No, I don't. I don't look back. I mean, I look back on the past and I'm thankful for it. I learn from it. That's all you can do. You can't like live in the past. That's romanticizing the past. I don't want to romanticize any of that. I want to be thankful for it, and then I want to focus on future. Romanticizing is a good word, because people romanticize the past all day.
Bobby Starks:
That's depression.
Miranda Mounts:
Like my dad. He's older, whatever. But remember when we did this great vacation that I'm actually playing up in my head that wasn't that great, because I'm romanticizing the past. It's like, yeah, it was great. Cool. Now what are we doing? I think a lot of people get caught up on the past.
Bobby Starks:
Sounds like a good memory for him though.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, he's great. I love him. I want to create more... My goal, take them to Greece.
Bobby Starks:
Oh, nice.
Miranda Mounts:
Yeah, that's my goal.
Bobby Starks:
That'll be a good trip. Well, it can't end any better than that. If you guys want to get in contact or actually see all of Miranda's cool stuff on Where to Eat Charlotte, Instagram is probably the best, right?
Miranda Mounts:
Yup, until I hop on those other platforms. But yeah, Instagram for sure.
Bobby Starks:
Where to Eat Charlotte.
Miranda Mounts:
It's grown quick.
Bobby Starks:
Anything else people could find you at?
Miranda Mounts:
No. Nope. Just Where to Eat.
Bobby Starks:
I'll put all the other links in the description and all the other platforms so you can find them there, but thanks for joining us and we'll talk to you soon on the streets and...
Miranda Mounts:
No, I'm out. You'll see me. You'll see me. I want to leave everyone with this one line, because I feel like this is my quote, which I just... I don't know. It hit me one day. I was like I love this quote. Live a life true to yourself and not a life others expect of you. That's really resonated with me. If you're living a life true to yourself, that's what it's about. Thanks for having me on. This was fun.
Bobby Starks:
Boom. Done.
Miranda Mounts:
Boom.
Audio:
[Singing 00:37:06]