She Did It Her Way

Latest Episodes:

SDH137: Creating Community and Overcoming Fear with Cordova Pleasants Mar 09, 2017

Show notes

Here we are! Can't believe we are on the 6th and final episode with Cordova!

Are you wondering if you should start a business? Curious as to what the first 3 months in of launching a business looks like?

As we head into another check in with Cordova Pleasants, owner of Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle, she shares with us her experience attending MAGIC and how she selects the styles for her online boutique, how having proven track record of her business helps open doors to other vendors, and what the future holds for her company.

In this episode you will...

Hear Cordova overcoming her fear
Process she goes through when selecting styles for her business
Steps she's taking to build a community with her brand and how you can too
Why it is important to give back
INSIGHTS

"You know what we're going to do today? We're going to try and take over the world. I feel like Pinky and Brain is so the goal. We're going to try and take over the world."

RESOURCES

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Pinterest

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Youtube

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Instagram

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Facebook

SDH136: February Goals Accomplished (and NOT) + March's Focuses Mar 06, 2017

Show notes

Let's dive in. I'll be honest, February I didn't reach majority of the goals I set but that is okay. I always say that whether we're moving an inch or a mile the goal is to be moving forward. And that happened.

I blocked out 9 areas for February (similar to last month - see HERE): Income, Email List, Instagram, PR, Facebook Live, Her Way Challenge Email, Listenership, Operations, Marketing/Content.

The ones highlighted in BOLD are the ones that were accomplished.

Below I'm going to highlight some areas based on what I learned:

Facebook Live: These give me a ton of energy because I am able to meet the people I interview in person and I LOVE that. It also allows me to repurpose content for later use, like a podcast episode!
Growing the email list: Almost finished with my first true lead gen: 5 Things You Must Know Before Launching a Business. I'm super excited for ya'll to see it! Will be sending it out no later than Thursday so sign up for the email list HERE! :D
What I realized after reflecting was that instead of look at each area as MUST to focus on, instead focus on the 2-3 areas that produce results for the rest of the areas. Similar to the pareto effect: focus efforts on the 20% that will produce 80% of the results.

Alright, now for part deux of today's solocast:

How to look at your to-do list and get more of the right stuff done to move your business forward.

Last fall I saw Steve McClatchy, author of Decide speak at event I was at. I just started reading his book (which I wish I would have started sooner!) and oh. my. gawd. #gamechanger

I hope to share more bits and pieces that I'm learning from the book as I move through it. Okay, I'm going to dive right in... (and everything I'm sharing I took from Steve's book FYI!)...

When it comes to anything that we do in life it is either a Gain Task (GT) or a Prevent Pain Task (PPT)...anything and everything!

Characteristics of each:

Gain Task
produce more positive results than PPT
typically never urgent
you could technically never complete the task
the result of a GT is achieving some form of leadership
you can't delegate a GT
Prevent Pain Task
something that never goes away, you check it off your list and it shows back up!
paying bills, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping
Look at your to-do list and see which ones are PPT vs GT. If we only cross of PPT's, then we never move forward in business and/or life....it is called maintenance.

You want to have a balanced to-do list...doing only PPT's lead to burnout. Our default is to do the PPT's because they are 1) easier to do and 2) they give us a jolt of satisfaction of accomplishment but they don't sustain us.

Okay, so for this week.....be mindful of your to-do list: which tasks are GAIN TASK and which ones are Prevent Pain Tasks.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Keep rocking and moving towards your goals!

xo,

Amanda

SDH135: How I handle my inner critic + 5 Actionable steps to start a podcast + Reflection on my first 6 week online course, Solocast with Amanda Boleyn Mar 02, 2017

Show notes

Hi friends! Today is another solocast and I can't wait to share it! I'm currently writing this from Barcelona with a glass of red wine in hand right before heading to bed for another rewarding, intense day tomorrow. More about that later!

In today's solocast I hit on a various set of topics including:

How I handle my inner critic
Learn the meaning of DGAF (don't give a F**k!)
Initial steps to start a podcast (I promise you, it is easier than you think!)
How I noticed I used eating as a way of procrastination
Why not having buffers in your schedule can make you feel overwhelmed
Recap of my very first online course
What went well
What didn't go well or better yet, what I learned from launching it
What I might change for next time
Be sure to stay tuned for next Monday's solocast....I'll be recapping my monthly goals I set for February, going over the ones I made, changes I plan on making for March and how my mindset has shifted even more so than last month.

Thank you guys for tuning in each week! I am so grateful for each and everyone you for tuning in and follow along.

XO,

Amanda

SDH134: Q&A - The Ups and Downs of Building a Business Pt5 with Cordova Pleasants Feb 27, 2017

Show notes

Do the haters got you down? Are you doubting whether you should have invested your time and energy into building your business? How do you keep a level head? Are you becoming your worst enemy?

As we head into another check in with Cordova Pleasants, owner of Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle, she encourages listeners to follow their passions and take note of what has always been a source of joy in their life. Once you've started down your path of entrepreneurship, she stresses that you need to look past your haters, which can even be yourself, and know that you are in a state of development. Everything you do will not be perfect, and there may be times when you fail, but that's part of the game. Just keep your head up and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Join us for the latest update with Cordova!

In this episode you will...

Know how to spot signs you're on the right career path
Find out what you need to do to stay focused and be the best boss you can be
Learn how integrateyour work with your personal life
Generate the confidenceto say ’No’ sooner, rather than later, in your career
Figure out tactics and platforms that drive the most sales
Know how to focus on the positive individuals in your life, and silence the haters and your inner critic
INSIGHTS

"Look at what keeps coming back, no matter how many different angles you come back to it. Also listen to what other people are saying that you're good at; [things] you don't even think about...keep your ear to the ground." -Cordova Pleasants

"You can say 'yes' to be polite, but you're not doing anyone any favors; especially not yourself. Just be honest." -Cordova Pleasants

"I am on a personal level to my subscribers. I am very open and honest with them about what's going on in the business and I think they really appreciate that; and therefore they become really great customers because we have such a good rapport." -Cordova Pleasants

"Even if your sales are down, you haven't made any new clients, or you're just having a bum week; hold your head up high and do something for yourself...it's going to get better." -Cordova Pleasants

"You keep building off of what you already have and keep it going...anything that you do is basically a rough draft, but the point is you have to do it; and then you can improve on it." -Cordova Pleasants

"Giving yourself peace and just knowing that it's okay if it didn't work because you can improve on it and it's going to get better." -Cordova Pleasants

Resources

Facebook Live

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Pinterest

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Youtube

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Instagram

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Facebook

World of Wearable Art

SDH133: How to Write a Marketing Plan that Works, Pt4 with Cordova Pleasants Feb 23, 2017

Show notes

Do you know how to generate clientele in an e-commerce business? Who is your clientele? Where are they located? How do you reach them? How do you know how to develop an invested and loyal customer base? Did you ever think of mentioning chocolate?

Well Cordova Pleasants did, and found chocolate is a successful trigger tactic for most female audiences, because who doesn't love chocolate?! Besides the chocolate, Cordova has incorporated other elements into developing her marketing strategy for her online store, Resolute Boutique and Lifestyle, such as fashion, adventure, and family. This is an important step for entrepreneurs and allows you to speak directly to your target customer, generate excitement around your brand, and establish what your brand is about.

Join us as we continue to follow Cordova on her journey as a new entrepreneur with a focus this week on the best way to spread the word about her business!

In this episode you will...

Learn how she developed a marketing plan for her online store
Get your target audience interested in your core offer
Discover what advertising avenues work best for your business
Figure out what marketing elements trigger your target audience
Drive traffic by engaging your target audience
Establish standard operating procedures when handling business collaborations
INSIGHTS:
"Having a higher frequency is important. If someone sees your ad once [they'll] keep scrolling by but if they see it three or four times, they might remember the logo, or the image." -Cordova Pleasants

"When you spend the time to create your custom audiences, you're serving your ad up to people who actually care about it and want to see it." -Cordova Pleasants

"I like the details because they point me in the direction of what I see is working, but I also find I can take a step back and look at it objectively and keep focusing on my big picture goal." -Cordova Pleasants

"I will have a heavy use of social media and I'm going to be using the 80/20 rule, 80% is useful information and 20% is sales pitch. Relevant information includes: fashion, food, travel, adventure, pets, family and chocolate." -Cordova Pleasants

"Chocolate is one of those topics that women just love so when you combine chocolate with one of your other topics, you're hitting two points and people gravitate toward that." -Cordova Pleasants

Resources
Co-Schedule
Resolute Boutique and Lifestyle PinterestYoutube, Instagram, Facebook, Blog XtraTuf Boots
Shopify
Online Marketing for Small Businesses by Julia Doherty
Woo Box, and Pagemodo
Alaska Dispatch
Travel Juneau
Travel Alaska
ResoluteBoutique.com/she
Screw the Nine to Five

SDH132: 30 Day Business Report Card, Pt3 with Cordova Pleasants Feb 20, 2017

Show notes

So now that your business is up and running, how do you know how well you're doing?

Do you have immediate access to your analytics? And once you get those numbers, what and how do you adapt?

Have you figured out what works best for your business operationally?

You've finally become the boss, but maybe you're facing unanticipated challenges?

Well, you're not alone, and Cordova Pleasants, owner of Resolute Boutique and Lifestyle, understands as she progresses with her new business as well.

In her first 30 days of business, she's discovering how to brand her boutique and blog simultaneously, what practices and customer service tactics respond well with customers/clientele, and much more.

Listen in as we help you fine tune your business once the doors are open!

In this episode you will...
Find avenues to gain business analytics and adjust operations accordingly
Know what platforms work for your business and you
Learn to not let your mood and personal life be influenced by the day-to-day numbers
Become adept to spotting areas of opportunity
Balance your business with your personal life
Incorporate elements of what you love into your business

Quotes
"I was letting my mood be influenced by everyday numbers...there was nothing for like a week and I was all low...I really had to tell myself it's okay and you do not need to get all worked up or let your mood be influenced by the day-to-day. You're in it for the long haul. You're in it for the big picture and you need to expect that."-Cordova Pleasants

"Listen to what other people tell you you're good at. Go with it , investigate and see if you could make a business out of it."-Cordova Pleasants

"I am no longer the ambassador I am the owner."-Cordova Pleasants

Resources

Shopify

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves in Winter

Resolute Boutique

Resolute Blog

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Facebook

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Pinterest

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle YouTube Channel

SDH131: Transforming your Passion into a Business with Corielle Laaspere Feb 16, 2017

Show notes

What do you do when you have a huge idea, but are clueless on the execution? How do you figure out how to segment your target market? Is there even a place for your dream in the marketplace?

Our guest today, Corielle Laaspere, had the same questions when starting her own marketplace, Lift Uplift. Corielle always had a fire inside of her fueled toward uplifting women. She never knew what to do with her fire, until she heard a story of a 19 year old computer science entrepreneur, Afreen Rahman, and a reflective walk with her dog. She decided to create an online network for women to come together and help each other prosper.

Stay tuned as we find out how Corielle became the head of her very own alliance of powerful women!

In this episode you will...

Find a way to hone your big ideas without giving up a fundamental service
Learn how to recognize and act on your ambition to lead
See how to spot a need for a business in an industry
Know when to take the leap into entrepreneurship
Be aware of what to consider when starting an ecommerce business
Understand what technologies work best for your new business
INSIGHTS:

"If there were more female perspectives in consumer culture growing up, I would have had a much more empowered view on myself as a woman and a girl."-Corielle Laaspere

"The time was right. I hadn't really been financially preparing to become an entrepreneur. I was sort of overwhelmed by passion. I was really so enthusiastic about this and felt like I was doing what I was meant to do with my life and I haven't regretted it."-Corielle Laaspere

"It's an alliance of powerful women, it's not just women entrepreneurs. We've created something that is bigger than the marketplace...so it's this very complex global and local system of women combining their power in a way that uplifts them and their communities."-Corielle Laaspere

Resources
LiftUPlift Website

LiftUPlift Worldwide

LiftUPlift Facebook

LiftUPlift Twitter

LiftUPlift Instagram

Ms. Tech

SDH130: Learn to Love Your Problems with Cordova Pleasants Feb 13, 2017

Show notes

Did you take the first steps in starting your business only to have them fall through? Or were you able to make some headway only to be confronted with the overwhelming reality of what it means to be your own boss? Regardless, did that fire in your soul and the determination in your heart ever die?

We didn't think so!

And even if your confidence was shaken, we've got just the cure you need. We check back in with Cordova Pleasant, owner of Resolute Boutique and Lifestyle, and she chronicles the major problems she's faced as her online store takes flight. She reminds aspiring entrepreneurs to find joy in their discouraging and stressful times when starting out, because those problems are born out of being the boss and dictator of your own business.

Join us as we give you tips on how to enjoy your lemonade when life hands you lemons!

Takeaways: In this episode you will...

Learn to develop the mindset of an effective problem solver as an entrepreneur
Take rejection as a learning experience and grow from it
Know how to conduct business relationships and partnerships and become business savvy
Be encouraged to stand your ground when dealing with business negotiations
Make sure you know the ins and outs of your business
Find the courage to start your business by yourself
How to generate content for your business yourself and on a budget
Remember to do your research when coming up with a trademark
Insights:

"When you're working for other companies...you don't really care about it...but when it's your own business...you can do a happy dance because your problems are exactly what you want to be dealing with"

"I had received such support from female entrepreneurs and people wanting to collaborate...it's been such a great experience so far. Everyone wants to help each other out"

"Content generates itself as long as you put in the work"

"If you're somebody who's listening right now and you're on the fence...if you do one thing a day...you will be so much further ahead."

"I love my business problems! Take a step back and look at your problems and analyze them. Are they the kind of problems that you're okay dealing with or are they not? If they're not, maybe you need to readjust and move and find problems that you like to solve."

SDH129: 10 Things No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship Solocast with host, Amanda Boleyn Feb 09, 2017

Show notes

Hi friends!

Another solocast today and I'm so excited to share these 10 things. I've rounded up some of the things I believe no one tells you about entrepreneurship plus I reached out to other female entrepreneurs in my network as well.

I hope you're finding these solocasts helpful! Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback as well. You have no idea how much I appreciate y'all for tuning in each week too. :)

Real quick, real talk. Went to Hamilton the musical Tuesday night this week. Absolutely amazing. Officially on the Hamilton train - woot woot!

Okay, now back to regular programming ;)

Here are the 10 things no one tells you about entrepreneurship:

You eat what you kill. You've heard me say this before but a friend of mine took it a step further.
You only get what you ask for.
It can be insanely lonely.
You're constantly in experimenting.
You watch your bank account like a hawk
You must get out of your own way.
Be patient.
Make money is a good thing.
You get really good at solving problems.
You will be emotionally tested.

Don't forget to tune in Monday for Cordova's journey, part 2. Also, we are having a LIVE Q&A at 7pmCST with Cordova on Monday, February 13th on the She Did It Her Way Facebook page. If you can't make it, don't worry, we're going to make an episode out of it!

As always, thank you guys for tuning in!

With gratitude,

Amanda
Text

SDH128: Cordova's Journey: How to Write a Business Plan Feb 06, 2017

Show notes

Are you ready to take the leap but don’t really know where to start? Maybe you’ve heard parts of entrepreneurs stories that inspired you and pushed you in the right direction, but what comes next? Most of the time, you aren’t able to follow someone’s journey from day one to the successful spot they end up in.

We’ve changed all of that.

Now, you are able to follow a lady boss on her journey as a owner of a lifestyle boutique in Alaska!

Starting this week, we will have a series of episodes with Cordova Pleasants, owner and creator of Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle . Day one we talk about how she started her journey and get into the nitty gritty details of her business plan outline.

Listen in so you can get organized and use Cordova’s journey as tool to embark on your own entrepreneurial voyage. Also, Cordova has created a special place for She Did It Her Way listeners can take advantage of on her site. Click HERE.

Some topics we explore in this episode…

Customer pains
Marketing
Product sourcing
Avatars
Financial Projection
Budgeting
RESOURCES:

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Facebook

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Instagram

Resolute Boutique & Lifestyle Pinterest

Cordova's LinkedIn

INSIGHTS:

"If you love it that much, and you’ve got that passion behind it, I don’t think it’s going to be difficult.”- Cordova Pleasants

"You have to outline exactly what you’re going to do and make it happen.”-Cordova Pleasants

“Create the plan. Make it happen. Before you know it, you did it.”-Cordova Pleasants

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