She Did It Her Way

Latest Episodes:

SDH187: Why You Should Focus on What Excites You with Steph Crowder Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

What is your driving force? The ultimate thing in your life that gives you direction and purpose?

For Steph Crowder, Head of Member Success at Fizzle.Co., her motivators are her 14-month-old daughter and Fizzle. Fizzle is a company that helps creative entrepreneurs build their businesses via online courses, and weekly articles, podcasts, and small business guides. Their ultimate goal is to set up individual business owners with every resource, and tool they need to feel supported by an understanding community of like minded individuals. It is because of their mission and morals that Fizzle has become Steph's north star and passion. She refers to herself as the 'Den Mama' of Fizzle because she is so invested in the company, and takes care of everything and everyone, from clients to coworkers.

Starting as a customer of theirs, she joined the company as a part-time customer service rep two years ago, and took a 60% pay cut from her previous job as head of a department at Groupon. Since she has become part of the leadership team, hosts Fizzle's podcast, as well as her own, Courage and Clarity.

When her daughter came into the world, her heart and dedication became split between being a devoted mom and an ambitious leader. She wanted her career and role at Fizzle to continue to grow and move at the upward pace it was, previously. But she needed to do so in less time, because she didn't want her daughter's life to be consumed by day care, and wanted to be an involved parent. She wanted to do it all, and compromise nothing, and felt she could do so with rigid scheduling and time management. She quickly realized that that was a no-go.

She began to see that this way of thinking and living was being reactive to her conundrum, but not actually proactive in changing anything. So she started delegating her work load, and saying no to things that were miniscual, and weren't what she wanted or needed to be doing; such as getting trapped in email jail, and handling Fizzle's social media prescence. By eliminating unneccesary tasks and distractions in her life and at work, she was able to be the mother that she wanted to be and spend quality time with her baby.

Stay tuned and hear more about how Steph worked her way up at Fizzle, how motherhood made her a better leader, and how her and her partners are evolving Fizzle with a fresh identity and purpose!

Also, check out Steph's original appearance on She Did it Her Way two years ago!

In this episode you will...

Be okay with not getting constant feedback on your performance as an entrepreneur
Learn how to merge skills as a mother into being a leader in your professional life
Know how to delegate certain tasks at your job, and projects so you can focus on your personal or family life
Learning other behaviors to increase productivity, as opposed to working harder and longer, and burning yourself out
Discover what your business or start up wants to evolve to once it's hit the 5 year mark
Not make your happiness conditional, and be happy with where and who you are at the moment

INSIGHTS

"There are a lot of lessons, and definitely a border between start ups and pregnancy, and also motherhood. You learn so much about business. I think business and entrepreneurship can teach us a lot about how to be the CEOs of our families. It's really cool to see how these two different systems can play together when you're doing both in your life." -Steph Crowder

"If I have an activity...or a project that I want to take on, now I just stop and I say, 'What would be the result of that? Is it going to reach my number one objective, which is growing Fizzle?' That is my north star...I really tried to put myself in the driver's seat.... I'm just trying to support myself and show my daughter an example of what meaningful work can be." -Steph Crowder

"Working harder, longer is not a strategy...if that's your sole strategy...you're going to hit a wall. I have not seen someone not burn out on that model, and I am an example of that. You will reach a point in your life where thatno longer becomes a viable strategy. It might work in the short term, but [when] you get to a point where your priorities change, it doesn't feel good to live from that place." -Steph Crowder

"It's challenging, as well as incredibly invigorating, to be in part of a company that's doesn't know what the answer is...everything in your business is a hypothesis...even when you're as far along as a business like this...we have to test and tweak and iterate, and it's really exciting to be on the precipice of, where are we going to go from here?" -Steph Crowder

"Get yourself in a place where...no matter what happens today I genuinely feel good...because inspired action is so much better and more effective...I feel like I'm doing more meaningful work...and that's a really new mindset for me to explore." -Steph Crowder

RESOURCES

Special Fizzle 5-Week Free Offer! (fizzle.co/courage)

Steph Crowder LinkedIn

Courage and Clarity

Steph Crowder Instagram

Fizzle Website

Fizzle Facebook

Fizzle Instagram

Fizzle Twitter

The Start Up Pregnant Podcast

Mimi Ikonn YouTube Interview with London Real Academy Part 1 of 2

Priming with Tony Robinson

Jess Lively Website

SDH186: How to Turn Obstacles Into Motivation When Quitting Your Job with Abagail Pumphrey and Emylee Williams Aug 28, 2017

Show notes

As you're tumbling along your road as a creative entrepreneur, don't you wish you had someone to look to that's tumbled down that road, too? And because of those ups and downs, and twists and turns, can offer you honest wisdom, clarity, and reassurance as you figure out what passion of yours can become a profitable and sustainable business?

Look no further than Abagail Pumphrey and Emylee Williams, the cofounders of Think Creative Collective! Referring to themselves as biz fairy godmothers, TCC offers a multitude of business courses and acts as a resource hub for creative entrepreneurs. The two met through a Facebook group centered around encouraging other creative entrepreneurs and supporting their businesses. They connected on helping entrepreneurs find the confidence to charge what they were worth, and begin building businesses around what they were passionate about. The two ended up hosting a webinar and co-selling a course together, and within two weeks of knowing each other, they decided to start TCC while brainstorming on the floor of Abagail's office.

The company started as a marketing and branding boutique in September of 2015. They offered photography, design, and marketing for creative small business owners. As of January 2016, it evolved into online course selling, and now features a blog, and a podcast called the Strategy Hour.

Another new addition to TCC's website is the course, 4 Days to a Sexy System. This system challenges clients to stay organized to increase productivity in their daily lives in order to drive their businesses and accomplish personal goals. By following this structure, Abagail and Emylee feel that it will create a productive system that will hold up throughout the year, and increase the sustainability of their business.

The challenge begins by asking clients where they keep their information and can they stream line it to one place. Day two consists of planning out their goals for the year, finding out what they have to do to reach them, and figuring out how those goals will lead to profit inside their business. On Day three, they break down those goals and set up achievable tasks, with day four pushing you into action.

The two are extremely dedicated to giving creatives an epicenter for advice and guidance by creating a community for new and tenured entrepreneurs. They want to be the mentors that they wished they had when they were building their business. They also know what it feels like to be a hot mess in an intimidating and scary time in your career, because they had a rocky take off themselves.

Originally, Abagail had a dream of living the corporate life and working for big national brands, with her degree in design and fine arts. After college she began working for a small agency and knew right away that she did not belong in that world. Like so many people with the heart of an entrepreneur, she simply couldn't work for another person or company any longer. She also had a lot of moral conflicts with the company because she felt that a lot of their practices were illegal. Her conscience was relieved when she was laid off, and with her husband's trust, she started her own company.

When she felt her layoff coming, she started a blog and a website within a weekend. She began blogging five days a week, and gained clients through networking and reaching out to people she saw needed her help. She dabbled in a little of everything and helped non-profits, start-ups, and worked on in-house design projects to build 8 foot banners, brochures, and full websites. You name it, she was your girl. She was also able to start with zero debt, and continue with no in-house expenses. Within 30 days she had replaced her income and was making more than he was!

Emylee, on the other hand, wanted to go into social work and eventually wanted to become a college professor. Two weeks before grad school started, she unenrolled and walked away from school. When she returned home she had a crisis moment in her nana's guest room, unsure about where she wanted to go in life. With a degree in fine arts and photography, coupled with graduating in a recession, there was absolutely no job to be had. However, she knew she wanted to be in control of something, and wanted it to be a passion. So she started her own photography business in Oklahoma and eventually grew it to obtain a five figure salary. She loved working with other creatives and collaborating on projects, but she also loved that she got to lead and give others constructive criticism on their businesses and inspiring entrepreneurial confidence.

Learn more about TCC's origin and how the two met and have grown their business in today's episode!

In this episode you will...

Find the support to take a risky career change
Learn how to not make excuses for yourself and drive your business
Figure out how to micro-tweak your business to where it fits what you want to be doing
Know how to solidify the sustainability of your business
Learn to get your ideas out of your head in order to create content for your business
Decide on how much of your income goes towards your business, staff, and yourself
INSIGHTS

"I didn't make any excuses for myself and I was willing to do anything to make it work, mostly because I felt like I had this timeline of [how] I have to prove it to other people...but I work well under pressure, especially when the pressure is outside of myself." -Abagail Pumphrey

"You have to see where these small opportunities are for you to maybe shift your business a little bit, just to try it, and see if that's even what you like doing...and seeing what that opportunity then opens up for you in the future." -Emylee Williams

"We truly believe that there's a formula, and there's a structure, and a system and a work flow for every single piece of your business...As long as they have a process and a system they're going to be able to actually get done...so you can really see the results of those things and know what to pivot and tweak in your business when you're faced with opportunities in your business." -Emylee Williams

RESOURCES

Think Creative Collective Website
Think Creative Collective.com/Community
The Strategy Hour
Think Creative Collective Facebook
Think Creative Collective Instagram
Think Creative Collective Twitter
Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Trello

SDH185: Why the She Did It Her Way Summit & What to Expect, solocast with Amanda Boleyn Aug 24, 2017

Show notes

Who is the summit for:

If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business but not sure where to start or let alone afraid and overwhelmed

Maybe you recently launched your business (and could be a side hustle) but uncertain if you’re doing all the right things to make it sustainable

What you’ll get out of it:

Confidence. And I don’t just say that to say that. If you think about fear and what inspires fear it is usually the unknown. So if we can get familiar and educate ourselves on steps and processes to go about launching a business, I promise you it will be less scary and you’ll have the confidence to take action.

Curated coaching circles. When you purchase your ticket you’ll receive a survey that will take roughly 20 minutes to fill out but what it’ll help us do on the back end is make sure we select coaches that will add value to you and your questions.

Speaking of coaches and speakers, all coaches and speakers have been hand picked for the summit. The reason why I did this instead of a call for speakers is because I’ve seen these women speak before and I know the value of content they deliver. I had specific requirements for them to fulfill. I wanted them to be able to deliver a workshop styled engagement, where it would be interactive and you as an attendee would actually put pen to paper vs. listening to someone speak for 45 minutes. I’m a firm believer in the doing in order to build confidence. I also know that these women have built their own sustainable business practice as well.

Topics include:

Finding your sweet spot - uncovering what truly lights you up and to let that guide you in your business that produces profits

Understanding the basics of marketing - who are you going after, who’s your ideal client, getting niched

Sales - understanding how to position your offering in a way that gets potential customers to convert

Power of Connecting - how to strategically and intentionally connect with others during events that will influence revenue

Accounting - what can be deducted, how to organize and what systems to use

Pricing - how to price your product or service to ensure there’s built in profit

Operations - maybe what some might consider the non sexy stuff - types of insurance you should have as a business owner (health and disability) and retirement options

Systems - all about hacking and organizing yourself to be productive and get stuff done

Goal setting - putting a nice bow on it at the end

Curated coaching circles - interacting in small groups with women who have launched their own business

Actual concrete steps and learnings. I’ve been to many events (including ones I was a part of) where the event itself didn’t have a strong purpose, we filled speaker slots for the sake of filling speaker slots. This summit is specifically designed with you as the attendee in mind.

Goal setting. Before we even get started and our first speaker, we’re going to take some time to reflect on why you’re at the summit, what brought you here and what you’re looking to get out of the day. Then before we wrap up we’re going to take time to map out immediate goals, 90 day goals and we’re going to dream about what life will look like in the next 1-3 years.

And I mean, how can you have an event without a sweet swag bag? It will be loaded with products made by female founders.

Why:

When I first stepped out, took the leap, quit my job I was 24 years old. Even though at the time I thought I had it “figured out” it hindsight I had no clue what I was doing. Haha I suppose that must have been my ego talking ;) When I was still working in corporate America I only knew a few people who worked for themselves and while I am so grateful for their inspiration and guidance that I had, it didn’t provide structure or a game plan when I did take the leap. I had no goals, no understanding of business banking, how to track expenses, no one asking tough questions to help me flesh through what I wanted. I built the plane as I flew it. And while that is part of entrepreneurship, the other part is seeking out mentorship, guidance and a plan.

What took me years to figure out, I want to serve that up to you in one day. So you can build and create faster and more sustainably.

I also know that launching a business can be scary and even scarier if you’re leaving a job that provides you a steady income. My desire is to have you know that you’re not alone and provide confidence in yourself to continue doing great things.

When I first shared with some folks the idea of an in person summit, they asked why not an online course or a virtual summit? And I got to say that in the world of technology and ability to be “online” so easily, actually meeting someone in person is a loss artform and I want to bring that back. Plus, I enjoy meeting people in real life :)

Recap:

Saturday, October 21st - one-day

Friday, October 20th - Welcome kick-off, early check-in

8 speakers

Curated coaching circles

Action plan

Confidence

A supportive community of women

Space is limited to help ensure that attendees get the most out of their time, energy and resources :)

SDH184: Turning Your Passion into A Paycheck with Ashlyn Carter Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

The adrenaline rush of hustling can be insatiable. The payoff even more satisfying. But how much longer can you go? Do you know when to take a step back?

Ashlyn Carter, founder of Ashlyn Writes, became very familiar with the adrenaline rush of hustle. Her previous career in corporate PR, and her type A personality, had always pushed her towards perfection. But when the stress from her job as a publicist, coupled with planning a wedding, led to her developing an eating disorder, she knew she had to make a career change.

She became inspired by Lara Casey's book, Make it Happen, during her recovery time, and was introduced to the online world of creative female entrepreneurs. Already in love with working in female dominated work environments, due to her time as a traveling leadership consultant for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, she knew she wanted to be surrounded by that positivity again. She also had a immense desire to help the careers of female entrepreneurs and get their feet off the ground, and the specialization of creative entrepreneurs online added an exciting twist to the mix.

However, when she returned to the work force after her leave of abscene, she went right back to her demanding job as a publicist. With her stress, anxiety, and depression on the rise just two months after coming back, her fiance gave her the extra push that she needed to leave her corporate job once and for all.

With a journalism degree under her belt and a talent for calligraphy, Ashyln Writes was born in February of 2016. In her role at Ashlyn Writes, she acts as a copywriter and calligraphist, and specializes in helping creative female entrepreneurs with launch pages, sequence mapping, and sales page copy; with her primary customer base being small wedding businesses.

When Ashlyn Writes first started, though, it did not have a specific direction. She was taking any work that she could get. From doing marketing work for corporations, ghost writing for people in Atlanta, writing editorial pieces, and calligraphy work, Ashlyn did it all. She loved the work that she was doing, but she soon got overwhelmed and her business struggled to find its identity.

What made her business into the polished organization that it is today was the Illume Retreat in Austin, Texas. The retreat was geared towards creative female entrepreneurs, and acted as a networking event, and helped them relax all while connecting, and learning from professionals in a variety of fields on how to grow their business with intention. They also learned to infuse their story and heart into their business's message and brand. It was here where she gained a lot constructive criticism from these seasoned professionals, and made the ultimate connection with Jenna Kutcher; a wedding photographer and blogger, artist, and educator.

Jenna became a significant impact on Ashlyn's business by asking her to design her launch copy and email sequence for her online course, and because of the great job she did, Jenna recommended Ashlyn Writes to almost everyone in her network. From there, Ashlyn became the go-to-girl for launch copy and all that her company specializes in today, and gained her niche audience which allowed her company to grow and mature.

One of the greatest lessons she's learned along her journey, though, is knowing when to step away from the hustle, and work from a place of rest. Since she naturally is a high strung person, who truely loves to work, she has to remember take that time away to regroup mentally so she doesn't run herself into the ground. Not only that, but making time for the priceless moments and people in her life fuels her genuine happiness, too.

Check out today's episode and listen to the tips and tricks Ashlyn gives on how you can polish up your launch copy, and more about her personal growth and road to finding joy in her workplace!

In this episode you will...

Find the value in whittling down your target audience
Know when to take a break from hustling so you can rest
Figure out a way to get face-to-face with experienced entrepreneurs in your market who can help you launch your business
Learn how to transition your customer service skills and attitude according to your market and clientele
Understand figuring out a price point for your services
Make sure your copy is eye-catching, but retains clarity and doesn't become overwhelming
Be able to find what differentiates your business from others in your market
INSIGHTS

"There's just so much value in going for one thing...and trying to find something in a space that's not being served...the more I wised up about being a business owner...stepping into that fully and calling myself that and rebranding...that's been the biggest change." -Ashlyn Carter

"If you let me, I would work 24/7 because it is so fun to me, especially being a business owner. You get to be the one who toggles the dials and switches things up, and tries things and I'm just kind of an addict to it at times." -Ashlyn Carter

"No matter what the service is that you offer giving that really elevated, high level experience with touch points, client magazines, gifts, [and] making sure that it feels just as luxurious as booking something else...[I saw] how that really gave a lot of value. It helps me command the prices that I knew were worth it." -Ashlyn Carter

RESOURCES

Ashlyn Carter LinkedIn
Ashlyn Writes Website
Ashlyn Writes Facebook
Ashlyn Writes Instagram
Ashlyn Writes Twitter
Illume Retreat
Paul Jarvis
Jenna Kutcher's Website
Make it Happen by Lara Casey
Design your Day by Claire Diaz-Ortiz
90 Day Year by Todd Herman

SDH183: Why You Should Keep Your Job While Building Your Business with Nagina Abdullah Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

What was the weirdest diet you've ever tried? What work out infomercial have you bought into recently? If not a super pumped infomercial, what workout trend have you gotten swept up into? How long did you stick to these? Did they even work?

Well today's guest, Nagina Abdullah, has been on the weight loss rollercoaster herself. Always athletic, and trying every diet from Weight Watchers to South Beach, she was never able to achieve the body that she wanted, or keep off any weight she did loose. More importantly, nothing she ever tried got her excited. And so, like every other method, her health and fitness motivation faded. However, her determination returned after she had two kids, and she found that adding certain spices to her healthy meals helped her loose weight without exercise! This eventually led to the creation of her weight loss program and blog, Masala Body.

Masala Body is all about helping women on the go find easy and healthy ways to loose weight, by using spices like cinnamon, tumeric, and cayenne in their meals. Growing up in an Indian household, Nagina was always exposed to meals loaded with a multitude of spices and flavors. She said the joy of life was in her childhood dishes, and by learning their health benefits and strategically adding them to her snacks and meals, she was able to loose 40 pounds in nine months!

After struggling with her weight for 35 years, she ended up being 20 pounds under her pre-baby weight, and had finally reached her dream body. Not only that, but she had gained an excitement in her new diet that she hadn't had before, which made her stick to her regiment and keep the weight off. She had to share her progress and her method with others, so she started her blog that has now evolved into a coaching business. Since its creation in 2013, Masala Body has helped over 500 women loose up to 40 pounds.

When Masala Body first started, she had no intention of monetizing it or really expanding it. The blog simply acted as an escape from her demanding job as a management consultant in New York City. It was when she hit an audience of 500 people that she got her first paying client, gained two more, that she knew she had a profitable business on her hands. She kept her full time job, though, for the income and stability. So she switched to a less demanding role at her company so she could invest time into her business and grow her blog.

Before she switches to her blog full time, she wants to increase its profitability, and match what she has to invest in Masala Body for its success. These expenses have included classes in becoming a perfect copywriter, learning different softwares, tips in increasing her blog's publicity, and hiring business coaches. But she has faith in her business and the power of her guidance, and with stats like hers and her own experiences with her diet, Masala Body's effectiveness goes without saying!

Hear more about the benefits of adding spices in your diet, how she juggles two jobs, and how Nagina makes loosing weight fun!

In this episode you will...

Learn to obtain profitability in your business so you can have the confidence to take the leap from a stable job to become a full time entrepreneur
Make a business out of a personal struggle in order to help others
Know what your key metrics are that signify growth in your business
Get comfortable with investing a large amount of money into expanding your business and becoming a CEO and founder
Figure out what elements in your life can be eliminated or cut down so you can focus on growing your business
Find the health benefits of adding certain spices in your diet
INSIGHTS

"I was just amazed and thoroughly thrilled that people were paying me to help them for something I did...I had always had a full time salary and that's just how I thought you made money. And so for me to actually pitch my services and coach women to loose weight, something that was so personal to me and help other women do the same thing, and see them go through that; it was completely fulfilling." -Nagina Abdullah

"There's multiple health benefits of adding spices to your diet, like high inflammation, less water rentention, increased fat burning, and decreased appetite...I lost 10 pounds in my first month without any exercise by changing what I was eating and adding these fat buring spices...and over the course of nine months, I lost 40 pounds." -Nagina Abdullah

"After a lifetime of struggle, to have my dream body after two kids...I couldn't believe it. I would look at myself in the mirror everyday and say, 'How could this have happened so easily when I struggled for the last 35 years,' and that's when I started my business." -Nagina Abdullah

RESOURCES

Nagina Abdullah LinkedIn
Masala Body Website
Masala Body Facebook
Masala Body Instagram
Nagina Abdullah Twitter
Sweet Spice Cheat Sheet (MasalaBody.com/Shediditherway)
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

SDH182: How to Successfully Transition to Entrepreneurship with Britney Kolodziej Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

How much longer are you going to represent a brand that doesn't fulfill you? When will you take the leap and showcase yourself as your own boss, with a business that encompasses your passions?

For Britney Kolodziej, founder of JAM Marketing Group, that moment came when she received the message that she was going to be a speaker at a blogging convention in 2016. As head of the marketing department at a fitness corporation, she had been dabbling in the blogging world personally, but primarily professionally as a marketing tool for the company. On a whim she decided to apply to be a speaker for the convention, but when she unexpectedly landed the gig, she began questioning if she wanted to use that platform to represent the company or herself. The opportunity had showed her what she was capable of achieving, and ignited her drive to start her own business.

She knew that her business would be marketing based, because she was in love with the concept of intentionally growing a business and building a business's worth; which she had done with her department at her previous job within two years. She decided her business would specialize in online marketing, and her clientele would be small businesses. However, she had a few more ends to tie up before the convention.

She began working on her business's minimum viable products (MVPs) , which are basic features that any start-up should have in order to adopt early consumers. Her MVPs were a company name, website, a few blog posts, at least one client, and an enticing factor in exchange for emails.

To focus on this, she realized she had to leave her corporate job once and for all, and gave them a four-week notice. After her last day, she shared her business with her peers on social media, and accomplished the goals she had set for her herself by the convention!

In order to effectively grow her business, while navigating life without a steady income, she had to set up a minimum viable income. By giving herself a budget that she could operate by comfortably, she was able to gain confidence in how she managed her business. This empowered her to make smart business decisions when entering into new contracts, pitches, and gaining new clientele.

Even though she was making great strides in her budding business, she was met with the loneliness involved in the early stages of entrepreneurship. One piece of advice she offers to new business owners is to never do it alone. She stresses the importance of finding a community of people like you to talk to or offer guidance. If you can't find your tribe, you could end up feeling isolated talking to people who don't understand the stage you're at in your life, or work yourself into a depression. So, she created her podcast, Marketing in Yoga Pants, to offer support for women like her who were just getting their foot in the entrepreneurial door, and needed to know what to do, and have a network of women to talk to.

Tune in and learn more about how Britney started her business and got it off the ground within 90 days!

In this episode you will...

Know how to represent yourself as the owner of your own company for the first time
When to let go of an old job to focus on growing your business
Be able to pull together your Minimum Viable Product when your building and presenting your business.
Determine and operate off of your Minimum Viable Income
Learn the importance of having a confidant in the early stages of being an entrepreneur
Make every move and decision intentionally
INSIGHTS

"This whole building a business world is much more of my thing...[it is] where my heart is...I got bit by the bug...I think I've always been destined to be my own boss...and it's...the best thing I ever could've done for myself." -Britney Kolodziej

"I took a hard look at my living expenses...and it was smaller than what I had even though it was, and that allowed me to kind of operate not out of a place of fear, but out of a place of empowerment, and I think that is what allowed me to succeed...I wasn't fearful that I wasn't going to make that money." -Britney Kolodziej

"Those...girls on our couch in our yoga pants, top knot tight, hunched over a MacBook, alone, trying to figure this business thing out...I am working to bring us together so we don't feel that isolation. So we can support each other while we're supporting ourselves, and maybe find a little place online...and in real-life to connect to each other, because I don't think you can do this alone." -Britney Kolodziej

"You don't have to have every single thing planned out...but [also] every single decision you haveto make, try to make it intentionally. Try to think it about what you're grounded in, and where this decision may take you, and that's where it becomes fulfilling. That's when you start making meaningful changes." -Britney Kolodziej

RESOURCES

Britney Kolodziej LinkedIn
Britney Kolodziej Twitter
JAM Marketing Group Website
JAM Marketing Group Facebook
JAM Marketing Group Instagram
Marketing in Yoga Pants Website
Marketing in Yoga Pants Instagram
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Search for Significance by Robert McGee
Man Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Asana
Acuity Scheduling

SDH181: Following your Heart when the Pressure is On with Alisha Byrd Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

What is causing you to not believe in your creative dreams? Is it practicality? Is it the fear of taking an entrepreneurial leap?

Alisha Byrd specializes in helping the creative woman dissect these questions and come up with a sound business plan to make their hobby or idea into a profitable business.
To her, there is nothing that a savvy person can't make money from, and works with clients from authors to dog lovers in monetizing their loves. With her website and blog The Alisha Nicole, she guides clients thoughts so they can gain clarity on their business venture, and acts as a support system so they can overcome their fears as new business owners.

She knows the hectic road all too well, through her experience with her first business five years ago. Coming from a job that pushed her to the point of an anxiety attack, she needed to express herself in a way that brought her joy. At the time it was creating jewelry, and it was a relaxing hobby that she knew she was good at.

Unfortunatley, she was soon confronted with the reality that she didn't know how to run a business. With no one to look to on how to save her struggling line, her business failed because she didn't know how to effectively market and brand her product.

She found herself on the floor of her living room overwhelmed by the lack of traffic of her business, and accumulating bills. Determined to see her business through, she went on intense Google searches, read as many business books as she could, and tried to learn from trial and error. She also began a blog as a place to vent about her life as a clueless business owner.

To her surprise, her blog began to attract a substantial following. She started receiving emails on how to turn an abstract idea into a business, and her blog content began to switch into a guidance platform. Feeling a shift in her priorities, she said she could no longer sit on the floor and create jewelry anymore. She knew she had to follow this path that was being laid before her, and do what her heart loved which was being mentor to other struggling entrepreneurs like herself.

Her first step was finding an appointment model for her coaching sessions and a price point. Initially charging $35 for hour long sessions, she realized she wasn't making enough money to reinvest in her business. She slowly started raising her prices and figuring out how to match the quality of her service to those price points.

As she raised her price points, she was also able to access a market that was serious and dedicated to working with her and starting their business. To manage her clientele she played with a few models, but has recently begun open enrollment time frames for block sessions, like her popular e-course 90-Day Blue Print. By allotting sessions in this manner, she is able to focus on herself, evolve the business further, and be more accessible and useful to clients.

Hear more about Alisha's story of letting go and starting new!

In this episode you will...

Find out how to take your idea or hobby as a creative person and turn it into a profitable business
Know how to match the quality of your services to a price point
Learn how to find a dedicated and enthusiastic clientele
Figure out how to manage your clientele volume
Identify the best ways to connect with you clients
Know when to let a failing business venture go and transition to your new calling
INSIGHTS

"I really love helping creative women ditch that fear around starting a business, and then helping them also to gain clarity to what they really want to do. And once they have that clarity, I help them to monetize that...but doing that from something that they truly love, and are truly passionate about." -Alisha Byrd

"I really think it'simportant to have someone...that just provides you with that guidance of figuring out the people you want to target, and the purpose behind why you want to target them." -Alisha Byrd

"I knew when I needed to transition into focusing on the blog and in coaching when honestly I wasn't as thrilled to sit down and make jewelry anymore...and I kinda walked towards what my heart was pulling me towards. And that was really just creating incredible content and working with people who started out just like me." -Alisha Byrd

RESOURCES

The Alisha Nicole Website
The Alisha Nicole Facebook
The Alisha Nicole Instagram
The Alisha Nicole Twitter
The Alisha Nicole Youtube
The Alisha Nicole Pinterest
Acuity
Asana
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

SDH180: When You're at the Top of Your Game, Go Higher with Michelle Dempsey Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

Was your entrepreneurial dream completely different than the careers you had two masters degrees in? When you decided to go for it, did your family hold an intervention to tell you that you were nuts?

Well when Michelle Dempsey quit her job as a teacher to become a blogger, this was exactly what she faced. Though instead of letting them act as deterrents, she used them as fuel to her fire and was determined to prove her family wrong, and her gut right. Now a successful and published writer, with a content marketing and brand consulting business (to name a few hats of hers); she provides lifestyle and career advice to readers with her blog, and helps clients rebrand or build their business.

Through her website, Michelle Dempsey Very Well Written, visitors can learn about some of the services she provides such as: brand storytelling, digital strategy, website design, as well as copywriting and content writing. Her blog and radio show also provide free tips on marketing and rebranding with posts like, '3 Things You Can do to Boost your Brand Before Summer (And Make More Money)', and 'The 5 Ways You're Screwing Up Your Marketing Plan'.

Initially, her blog and writing acted as outlet for her frustrations as a new mommy with a baby who was constantly sick, and trying to balance a career along with it. To her surprise, her blog gathered steam, and she was contacted by someone from high school who worked for Creative Child; a parenting magazine. They wanted to publish her work, and it showed her that she could make a career out of writing which had always been dear to her.

Due to a rough upbringing, writing had always acted as a way to express herself. She was fascinated by the art of using words to convey emotions, and her journal was attached to her hip. So after she saw that she could write professionally and get published, she went for it and took it up full time.

She set three publication goals for herself: be published by Elite Daily, Huffington Post, and Scary Mommy. Elite Daily was her first conquest, but Huffington Post and Scary Mommy proved to be a harder task. Nonetheless, she achieved all three goals within three months!

From her blog, her content and marketing business organically grew. People were impressed with how she used the media to market her blog and her personal brand, and started looking to her for her expertise. A year and a half later, she is considered the marketing guru of south Florida! She also uses her personal brand to empower women, work on personal development, productivity, and tackle the world of entrepreneurship.

Come join us for another episode and hear how Michelle owned her identity as a writer, and continues to expand her career!

In this episode you will...

Learn how to find your new identity as an entrepreneur
Know how to grow your personal and business brand
Figure out how to float financially in the early stages of entrepreneurship
Find ways to increase your website's SEO
Understand why you should invest in quality services that grow your business
Know when to dial up and down your drive in order to give yourself some rest
INSIGHTS

"Pride can be your worst enemy, but at a certain point it can really drive you...there was no way I was going to let myself be wrong. I had to prove everybody wrong...and I'm finding, as I connect with entrepreneurs, that's the attitude. You have to have this insatiable drive to prove everybody wrong, to make yourself successful, and if you really believe it, it's going to happen." -Michelle Dempsey

"I want to grow. I don't like being complacent...I like to think that if I made it this far, I can make it that much further...I had to make a name for myself and I think that comes from the lack of confidence and some of the things I dealt with growing up that now that the tables have turned, I want to go as hard and as far as I can." -Michelle Dempsey

"The second you get comfortable, I feel like the rug is going to be pulled from up under you. You have to just believe in your craft enough to know that you're good and you're desirable and you are offering something that people should have. But at the same time, know that there's 3,000 people at your heels trying to run you down. Nobody's ever at the top, everybody wants more." -Michelle Dempsey

RESOURCES

Michelle Dempsey Very Well Written
Michelle Dempsey LinkedIn
Michelle Dempsey Facebook
Michelle Dempsey Instagram
Michelle Dempsey Twitter
ProFemmes
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Trello

SDH179: Establishing Connections and Creating Careers with Sarah Boyd Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

Have you always been someone who promoted unity? Has being able to help others grow by sharing your wisdom and resources something that brings you joy?

During her years in fashion PR, Sarah Boyd's real passion was empowering other women, and helping connect newcomers with mentors or professionals who can help them maneuver through the industry. So she launched her brand Simply Stylist that features conferences and workshops that provide a platform, and space for women interested in the fashion and beauty field to come together. Through her brand, they are able to learn the nuts and bolts of the industry, and create and strengthen their networks. Simply Stylist also features Simply Digital Network, that acts as a management agency for celebrity bloggers.

The first leg of her brand began with the Simply Stylist conference in LA five years ago, when she quit her job at her sister's company. All she had was a concept, and absolutely no idea if it would actually work. However, she knew she that her time in PR had come to an end, and wanted to tackle her dream conference head on to see where it would take her.

She gave herself three months to get it off the ground, and worked her PR connections to get speakers and sponsors to participate and promote it. With panels full of established fashion editors, stylists, and up and coming bloggers, the conference was a hit with 750 attendees. The conference also showcased under-represented jobs in the fashion industry, in order to show newcomers that there were multiple opportunities and areas to explore.

After it's success, Sarah expanded the conference to Chicago, New York City, and Dubai; but attendees were still hungry for more of the valuable information and tools the conference provided. To meet this demand, she began launching monthly workshops in LA. The 3-hour sessions feature experts in the beauty and fashion world educating entrepreneurs on topics like utilizing social media for branding and advertising purposes, Photoshop skills, and monetizing their blogs.

Simply Digital Network takes monetization of blogs a step further by diving deeper into the concept with bloggers. The management agency provides one-on-one assistance in helping celebrity and new bloggers create a web team, digital strategy, content, and provides consulting tips to get them up and running.

Take a minute to learn more about the various ways Sarah helps build careers and give newcomers the savviness they need to become successful!

In this episode you will...

Know how to remain productive and on task with growing your business
Be able to locate your state's Small Business Association so you have guidance in beginning your start-up
Learn how to build a business worthy of acquisition in the long-run
Begin to develop a tangible takeaway and ROI from your business to promise to sponsors
Understand the benefits of having a business card when you're first starting out
Know how to effectively brand and market your business with an event
INSIGHTS

"I'm naturally that PR girl that's always trying to help other people and empower other women...I wanted to create a platform where I could do that on a larger scale. And also have all these amazing women I was connecting teach everyone their path to success and all of these different tactics that they've learned along the way...and I think it's helpful for them to use their voice and share with the influencers of tomorrow." -Sarah Boyd

"It's pretty surreal to see the growth and the support I've gotten in this industry, it's very humbling. One thing is that I've always been [is] kind and that's what we really pride ourselves in at our conferences...you can sit with us and let's empower each other...that's why I think I've found success." -Sarah Boyd

"...we've just got acquired two months ago by Nylon. The beautiful thing is I run it as I ran it before and I just have their support. They love my vision, my ideas, they're fully supportive of everything that I'm doing. I just have a 65 person team behind me now that's selling us and helping us with creative....and it' amazing, I'm so happy I did it." -Sarah Boyd

RESOURCES

Simply Stylist Website

Simply Digital Network

Sarah Boyd LinkedIn

Simply Stylist Facebook

Simply Stylist Instagram

Simply Stylist Twitter

Simply Stylist Pinterest

Simply Stylist YouTube

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**** by Mark Manson

SDH178: Stepping into your Power and Living your Truth with Jessica Zweig Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

How does your business evolve with you? Have you outgrown it? Is it time to start another one with a different direction, so it aligns with who you are today?

These were the tough questions Jessica Zweig, founder of the SimplyBe Agency, was faced with when she decided to end her first business, Cheeky Chicago, that had been running for 7 years. Launching in 2008, Cheeky Chicago was an online lifestyle magazine for women, and was of Chicago's first online destinations for the hottest socialite venues. It soon evolved to include content about dating, fashion, restaurants, buying your first home, and more.
At Cheeky's peak, they had 100,000 readers, and had sponsorships and partnerships with brands like Nike, BMW, and Bloomingdale's to name a few. Jessica gained a lot of these high-profile brand connections through Cheeky events, which she used to promote other female entrepreneurs and create strong networks among them. Cheeky events became the most buzzed about events in town and were a lucrative revenue for her brand.

With this soar in popularity, Jessica also became one of Chicago's first social media socialites. This was due to Cheeky's loud prescence online, and her extensive use of social media advertising and marketing in the early social media era.

She fully basked in the limelight of being Chicago's 'It' Girl, and loved the accolades that Cheeky was racking up. But her fast lifestyle and constant work schedule began to catch up with her, and she became physically and mentally exhausted.

In 2013, she began to get chronic sinus infections, and had nine of them within the span of six months. After visiting multiple allergists, acupuncturists, and EMTs, it was determined that she needed to have surgery. She was immobilized during the month of her recovery, and with her seperation from work, she entered into a deep emotional breakdown.

When she had enough of her dormant life, she went to a park by her house to meditate. However, she was overtaken by emotion and found herself crying because she had lost herself in her business and couldn't find her purpose without it. It was then when she glanced down at her wrist and saw the tattoo she had gotten years before. It read: 'Simply Be, Girls Can See it'. At that moment, the meaning struck her in a whole new light, and she whispered, 'I don't want to do this anymore.'

Cheeky Girl was no longer her source of happpines, and as she had gotten older, it was no longer who she was. On that grassy knoll, she knew she needed to walk away, and start fresh. She didn't know what her next venture would be, but she knew it was going to be titled: Simply Be.

It took Jessica a year and a half, and increased visits to her therapist, to shut down Cheeky Chicago for good; and in October 2014, the SimplyBe Agency was launched. SimplyBe Agency helps clients establish a powerful prescence online by defining their personal brand, and setting them up on multiple and effecive platforms to get their message out to the world.

Jessica firmly believesthat in order to build a successful business and empire, you first have to build your personal brand. As she said, "People fall in love with people," and SimplyBe aims to tell their client's story in a way that touches audiences on an emotional and moral level. This creates valuable equity behind their client's name that will have a lasting effect on their audiences and business partners, and will guarantee the growth and profitability of any business venture they have down the line.

Listen in to hear more about Jessica's career evolution!

In this episode you will...

Find out how to use innovative resources to promote your business
Learn how to cultivate audiences with a 360 branding approach
Prioritize your mental and physical health over your job
Figure out how to develop a strong personal brand along with your product
Begin to follow your own agenda
Put a price point to your value and worth

INSIGHTS

"I'm going to move on eventually...I don't know what it's going to be...but it will be called Simply Be, because it is a metaphor for being authentic and for being in alignment with who you really are today, and what you really want, and what makes you feel like yourself." -Jessica Zweig

"My biggest accomplishment was following my heart, and reinventing myself, and starting from scratch...my intuitution was screaming at me...I heard a voice say...'You need to be still and stop, and listen to what makes you happy." -Jessica Zweig

"I just love the hustle. I love being my own boss and running my own business. When you put [everything into it], you get it out. You see your own results, and there's no better feeling than that." -Jessica Zweig

"The world needs more humanity and more people stepping into their power, and telling their stories, and being thought leaders on what they know to better service the world." -Jessica Zweig

"I strive to be vulnerable in my content...in life...The world will be set free by people who are free...When you get honest and open, you give other people the permission to do the same for themselves...If we talk about it, that to me is the secret sauce." -Jessica Zweig

RESOURCES

Jessica Zweig LinkedIn
The SimplyBe Agency Website
The SimplyBe Agency Blog
The SimplyBe Agency Facebook
The SimplyBe Agency Instagram
The SimplyBe Agency Twitter
RoadJess Traveled Blog
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

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