Each week, Reina + Christina bring you up close with the influencers you dream of meeting at conferences and workshops, but maybe don’t have a budget to attend yet. Sprinkled in between these are teaching episodes, and mentoring that walks show listeners through common problems with solutions during their early days of business.
Episode 220: Blogging as a Business, with Bree Pair - the Creative Empire podcast
Jul 12, 2018
Show notes
Today, Reina and Christina are joined today by Bree Pair, who began blogging in 2011. After three years of being part of being part of the blogging community, she saw the different areas where bloggers were in need of knowledge to turn their blogs into full-time businesses. She founded a conference called Thrive in 2014 on her passion for seeing others succeed. That passion has driven her to continue leading and growing the Thrive conference to reach and educate even more bloggers.
Main Takeaways:
What inspired her to take her business on the road [0:02:12]
How the day-to-day looks like for them as they travel + her favorite places [0:05:19]
How she is running her business from the road [0:07:53]
What some tools are to get ahead of schedule [0:10:21]
What the Thrive Conference is [0:14:31]
Who her teams consists of + most important member [0:20:40]
Where to get more eyeballs on your content + growing [0:25:18]
What trends + changes she has seen [0:29:46]
How her conference has grown organically [0:32:39]
Quarterly planning has been a game changer. It helps us to look ahead and say, ‘Okay. Where do we want to grow?’
What’s going to create that connection and make people keep coming back to learn from you is knowing a little bit more about you, and everybody is different.
— Bree Pair
Bio:
Breanna began blogging in 2011 and continued to blog because of the community. After three years of being a part of that community, she saw the different areas where bloggers were in need of the knowledge to turn their blogs into full-time businesses. Once Thrive was founded in 2014, her passion for seeing others succeed was fueled. That passion has driven her to continue leading and growing Thrive to reach and educate even more bloggers. Breanna is currently traveling around the country with her husband, Brannon, in their travel trailer. They’re enjoying working from the road and meeting bloggers and other entrepreneurs during their travels. You can follow her @breepair on Instagram.
Episode 219: Maximizing Efficiency with Systems, with Jordan Gill - the Creative Empire podcast
Jul 09, 2018
Show notes
Reina and Christina are joined today by Jordan Gill of The Kolada Group, she is also the host behind The System Saves Me podcasts. At the beginning of the episode, Jordan dives right in and talks about how the Kolada Group was started. She shares about how she transitioned from working a corporate job, to running her own business. The trio then chat about Jordan attending over 30 events last year and Jordan shares how she makes that happen and why in-person events are important to her. Lastly, they discuss systems that help make her wants a reality and what her triple-threat program is.
Main Takeaways:
What the Kolada Group is + how she started [0:01:40]
How Jordan attended over 30 events in 2017 [0:06:26]
How to find events + affording them with prioritization [0:14:04]
How systems have organized her enough to attend events regularly [0:21:36]
What the triple threat is + getting started [0:27:30]
I love pouring into people and I actually really like to meet people offline, which was kind of a struggle at the beginning of my business.
Clients will rule your whole world if you allow them to.
— Jordan Gill
Bio:
Operations Consultant, Founder of The Kolada Group, and Host of the Systems Saved Me Podcast, Jordan Gill takes pride in saving hours (even days) around time-sucking technology decisions and an untrained team. She has been on the stages of She's Building Her Empire, Creative CEO Conference, Success Without Sacrifice, Blog Like a Boss Brunch, and Vision Casting while also being featured in Belong Magazine! Jordan is known for her buzzworthy client onboarding experience for service-based business owners that only takes 5 minutes! She also teaches her P.R.E. process for onboarding team members to set your team up for success in 30 minutes. No more bad hires! Jordan lives in Dallas and loves to indulge in some true southern bbq. Learn more about Jordan at www.thekoladagroup.com
Episode 218: Batching + Focus, with Elle Drouin - the Creative Empire podcast
Jul 05, 2018
Show notes
Reina and Christina are joined today by Elle Drouin. Elle is a New York City based product stylist photographer and digital marketing strategist. After several years working as a director of marketing and digital strategy for ecommerce brands, Elle has launched her own business to focus on helping other women-build brands that are as profitable as they are pretty. At the beginning of the episode, we learn how Elle's background in finance has helped shape her and helped her in her path to her current business. Elle shares about the three main facets to her business and how she manages to fit them all together. The trio talk about stock photos and the fear of posting the same thing as others and Elle shares some options for making stock photos personalized. Lastly, Elle chats about how she stays focused by batching each week of the month differently in her business.
Main Takeaways:
How Elle's background has shaped her [0:01:54]
What brand opportunities include + lessons learned [0:07:18]
How to make multiple facets of business fit together [0:12:54]
What churn rate is + video stock [0:14:41]
How to combat the fear of differentiating your stock photos [0:18:58]
What creative ways she has seen her stock photos used [0:22:46]
What helps build her business + how she focuses [0:24:39]
What the weeks in her business look like [0:35:27]
I try to batch related tasks for all of the businesses at the same time.
During my content creation week, I’m very, very strategic in the way that I create contact because I’m creating so much content.
— Elle Drouin
Bio:
Elle Drouin is a NYC-based product stylist, photographer, and digital marketing strategist. After several years working as the Director of Marketing & Digital Strategy for e-commerce brands, Elle launched her own business to focus on helping other women build brands that are as profitable as they are pretty. In addition to creating custom imagery for beauty and lifestyle brands, Elle is the founder of the Styled Stock Society, a stylish stock photography membership for female entrepreneurs. Elle is also the social media director for her Instagram-famous dog @mochiandthecity (who is far more popular than she'll ever be). Elle and Mochi have been featured on Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and the TODAY Show and have collaborated with brands like American Express, Disney, Google, and The Ritz-Carlton. When she's not styling, shooting, or strategizing, you can find Elle binge-watching Bravo TV, hoarding gold office supplies, or eating her way through Brooklyn with her husband Zach.
Episode 217: Focus On Doing Less Better, with Ashley Gartland - the Creative Empire podcast
Jul 02, 2018
Show notes
Today, Reina and Christina are talking with business coach, Ashley Gartland. She works with women entrepreneurs who business is doing pretty well, but who feel like a hot mess behind the scenes. Ashley jumps right into the episode, chatting about how she found herself in the coaching world. The trio discuss intentional growth and the why behind business owners wanting fast growth. She shares why you have to define your own measurement of success and why staying focused will help you reach your goals. We hear about some timeless marketing stratgies to focus on and tools to help you stop feeling like a mess behind the scenes. Lastly, Ashley talks about how far holds us back as entrepreneurs and how to combat it.
Main Takeaways:
How Ashley got into the coaching world [0:01:43]
What the process of intentional business planning looks like [0:04:22]
Why people seem to want fast growth [0:06:28]
How to define what success or intentionality looks like [0:07:51]
How to stay on focus [0:12:36]
When should you be working on growth activity [0:15:28]
What some timeless marketing strategies are + tracking [0:20:44]
What some tools are to stop feeling like a hot mess [0:25:53]
How fear can impact our business [0:29:33]
Yeah, we take the big picture view and then we’d break it down into very small bite size goals that [you] can actually tackle week to week.
Ashley Gartland became an entrepreneur the day she graduated college and has been enjoying the perks of the lifestyle ever since. As a business coach, she works with women entrepreneurs whose business is doing well but who feel a hot mess behind the scenes - and they know it's holding them back from reaching the next level. She helps them simplify their business and build a stronger foundation so they can experience more growth and fulfillment in their work and more freedom in their life. Before launching her coaching practice, Ashley spent a decade working in public relations, magazine publishing, copywriting, digital publishing and event planning. As a writer, she contributed to high-profile magazines such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Runner’s World, Sunset and Prevention and honed her editorial skills at successful digital media brands including Tasting Table and PureWow. She is also a published author twice-over. Ashley is passionate about helping women drop the cookie cutter approaches and instead grow their business their way through the lens of simplicity. She is a Certified Life Coach who received her training through The Life Coach School. Ashley lives in Portland, Oregon, where she spends her time outside work trail running and raising two little girls.
Episode 216: Recurring Revenue, with Terra Dawn - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 28, 2018
Show notes
Today Reina and Christina are talking with Terra Dawn who is the owner of the Uncork Your Dork website and membership site. At the beginning of the episode, we hear about how Terra created Uncork Your Dork and what caused her to create a membership site. We learn all about recurring revenue and why it can be an important stabilizer in your businesses income. Terra shares ideas of types of recurring revenue and how tech ties into it. Lastly, the trio talk all about membership sites and learn the best sites Terra has seen work.
Main Takeaways:
How Uncork Your Dork got started [0:01:36]
Why recurring revenue is important + what recurring revenue is [0:03:23]
What some examples of recurring revenue is [0:08:30]
What putting something out into the world like this is like [0:11:51]
How tech + complex tech ties in [0:13:12]
Why recurring revenue through membership sites is the best [0:20:59]
What churn is + how to combat it [0:24:01]
What some membership sites Terra has seen work [0:28:14]
Sometimes you tend to fall in love with your hobby and your hobby shouldn’t become your business.
If someone is telling you that this is the only way to launch your membership site or to run your membership site, this is the only way your membership site will work, then you are listening to the wrong person.
— Terra Dawn
Bio:
Terra Dawn is the owner, operator and head dork over at the UncorkYourDork website! In addition to publishing frequent articles to the blog, she runs the Wham! Bam! Business Plan membership site to help show budding entrepreneurs the SIMPLE path to creating a dependable and recurring revenue in their small business. Whether memberships are up your alley or something slightly more simple...like paid newsletters or masterminds, Terra is dedicated to helping business owners leave the launch to launch mentality behind them.
Episode 215: Gaining Confidence With Video, with Trena Little - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 25, 2018
Show notes
Today, Reina and Christina are chatting with YouTube strategist, Trena Little. Trena helps online business owners create video content strategy that works for your business. At the beginning of the episode we learn how Trena got started in her business and what some of her tips are for starting to create video content. She shares what her workflow looks like for batching videos, plus gives us an idea of what having a YouTube strategy looks like. The trio discuss hangups of getting on video and we learn why YouTube is the most effective video content solution.
Main Takeaways:
How Trena got started with her business [0:01:32]
What her tips are for first starting videos + hang ups [0:03:32]
What some YouTube workflows look like + prepping for video [0:08:12]
What does it look like to have a YouTube strategy [0:13:33]
Why YouTube is more effective [0:15:01]
How to stay consistent with videos [0:18:18]
Who should be on YouTube [0:22:55]
What is the first thing to do to get started + accountability [0:25:56]
Why focus on YouTube [0:32:58]
The people you need to connect to, the people that need what you are teaching, will find you.
These first couple videos, let them be ugly, and at least you’re going ugly early and you’re getting them done. I should put more content out, those ugly videos will start to get buried under your older content.
— Trena Little
Bio:
As a video and Youtube strategist, Trena helps online business owners create a video content strategy that works for their business. Being a busy business owner herself, she understands the importance of making video simple and painless but effective and lasting. Her Youtube videos are her sales team and they do the heavy lifting for free! When she’s not in front of a camera, she’s in her “mom-iform” of yoga pants and a tee chasing her 2 kids around alongside her husband, her high school sweetheart.
Episode 214: The Rainbow of Sales, with Courtney Johnston - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 21, 2018
Show notes
Today, Reina and Christina are joined by Courtney Johnston, who is the founder of The Rule Breaker’s Club. She teaches women how to package and sell their brilliance. At the beginning of the episode, we hear all about how and why Courtney started the Rule Breaker's Club. She shares with us why you should be packaging your services and what her rainbow of sales concept is. The trio discuss engaging with your audience as well as getting clarity from them. Lastly, Courtney shares about sales pages and how to show some personality in your business.
Main Takeaways:
How the Rule Breaker's Club was started + what she does [0:01:31]
What a service package is + the rainbow of sales concept [0:07:11]
How to engage with your audience [0:13:39]
How to offer solutions for your audience [0:22:59]
How to craft your rainbow [0:25:46]
Why a sales page is important [0:29:52]
How to showcase your personality in your business [0:36:04]
You’ve got to find the language that (your ideal clients are) laying awake, frustrated, having anxious thoughts about, that’s the language that you need to show that you understand.
If you’re in newer stages of business should absolutely be offering services. It’s way easier way to start making money than products. Go ahead and do your products, but just know the services are the lower hanging-fruit.
— Courtney Johnson
Bio:
Courtney Johnston is the founder of The Rule Breaker's Club where she teaches women how to package and sell their brilliance. She’s pretty much the only person who can make writing sales pages fun (hint: it involves rainbows and pots of gold). Her work has been featured on Inc.com, FastCompany.com, CreativeLive, and the Huffington Post. She’s from Michigan, started her business in Paris, and currently lives in Vancouver, BC with her fiancé, Mohammed. Learn Courtney’s 14-part sales page recipe at www.RuleBreakersClub.com.
Episode 213: An Intentionally Designed Work Week, with Cailen Ascher - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 18, 2018
Show notes
Reina and Christina are joined today by Cailen Ascher who is a lifestyle design expert and the creator of the 3-Day Workweek. he mostly helps women bring intentional design into their lives and businesses that they can stop living by default and start creating success on their own terms. We start the episode with Cailen describing what exactly intentional design is and the mindset behind having a purposely designed life. She shares with us what her work week looks like and talks about the team that she has. Lastly, Cailen shares why it is important to give yourself time to pause.
Main Takeaways:
What intentional design is + the mindset behind a designed life [0:01:22]
What her team looks like + what her schedule look like [0:05:59]
How to make time for yourself [0:10:45]
How to get to a 3-Day Workweek [0:13:17]
What living by design vs. living by default is [0:18:38]
How to give yourself time to pause [0:23:36]
‘Why do I think the only way to be successful is to work 24/7, sacrifice my time with my new baby to build this business?’ It didn’t resonate with me.
We have to make what might feel like uncomfortable decisions in the moment, but ultimately can serve us better.
— Cailen Ascher
Bio:
Cailen Ascher is a Lifestyle Design Expert and creator of the 3-Day Workweek Program. Through her programs, products and coaching, she helps women bring intentional design into their lives and businesses so that they can stop living by default and start creating success on their terms. Cailen and her work have been spotlighted in Business Insider, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur on Fire, The Create Podcast, MindBodyGreen, Gary Vaynerchuk’s One-a-Day Q&A, and dozens of other podcasts and popular publications. During her 4-day weekends Cailen enjoys time with her two little daughters and husband. Get her free 3-Day Workweek Schedule at www.CailenAscher.com.
Episode 212: Handlettering By Hand, with Nicole Miyuki Santo - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 14, 2018
Show notes
Reina and Christina are joined today by Nicole Miyuki Santo, who is a freelance artist, graphic designer, teacher and now published author. We are so excited to talk to her about her book By Hand, which if you guys have not picked up a copy of this yet, it is the most gorgeous thing you have ever seen. Nicole started in the modern calligraphy scene fairly early and at the beginning of this episode we hear how that happened. Nicole shares about her book and what the creative process looked like for it, behind the scenes. She gets really vulnerable and talks about how the journey has made her have feelings that may not have always felt good, but also shares the exciting moments along the way. Towards the end of the episode, the trio discuss what happiness can look like in business and how that can differ for everyone.
Main Takeaways:
How she got started in modern calligraphy scene in 2015 [0:01:54]
Why she wrote a book + what the creative process looked like [0:04:40]
What encouragement she has for people to try handlettering [0:10:27]
What some exciting moments were along the book writing journey [0:13:03]
Why feelings can process after projects [0:21:21]
What having a different scale of success looks like [0:30:31]
What some happy things that are happening for her [0:36:04]
What’s cool was that hand lettering has shifted twofold from being this stiff calligraphic type of thing, to more of an approachable thing, medium and art form that everyone can do, and I fully believe that.
I had to learn to say no to a lot of things to allow space for the funkiness of the creative journey and the awesome parts of the creative journey to all happen.
— Nicole Santo
Bio:
Nicole Miyuki Santo is a freelance artist, graphic designer, teacher, and published author. Since 2015, she has taught in-person hand-lettering workshops empowering her students to tap into their creativity and develop their own unique voice. She is a kind spirit and truly believes that everyone, kids and adults both, can enjoy using their own two hands to create. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Martha Stewart Magazine, and she is the author of By Hand: The Art of Modern Lettering. Nicole lives in Los Angeles, California. Visit her online at nicolemiyuki.com and on Instagram @nicolemiyuki.
Episode 211: Journaling + Growth, with Cheryl Sutherland - the Creative Empire podcast
Jun 11, 2018
Show notes
Today, Reina and Christina are joined with Cheryl Sutherland, who is the founder behind PleaseNotes, a for-purpose company of affirmation-filled products, like journals, and notebooks and just everything stationary that makes our hearts sing. At the beginning of the episode, Cheryl dives in to tell us all about how PleaseNotes got started! She shares why taking time for yourself is important and what made her make the decision to have a physical product and not sell a service. We learn about how journaling can be useful and how to run a business that is driven by purpose. Towards the end of the episode, the trio discuss networking and why you need to do it well.
Main Takeaways:
How PleaseNotes got started + who is using her products [0:01:12]
Why taking time for yourself is a critical part of your business [0:05:33]
What made her choose a physical product over a service [0:07:20]
What does a PleaseNotes Journal offer you [0:09:20]
How to overcome business hurdles + stepping back [0:11:40]
Why journaling can help transition periods [0:14:00]
How her business is driven by purpose [0:19:23]
What her business days look like [0:24:18]
How the Law of Attraction works [0:27:15]
Why networking events can be a great place [0:32:35]
There are so many things and so many times that we just don’t take the time for ourselves where journaling, it’s so vulnerable you’re able to connect so honestly with yourself in that way where it’s so important.
The biggest thing that I’ve ever learned is how to listen to my gut and what certain feelings mean and what they feel like.
— Cheryl Sutherland
Bio:
Cheryl Sutherland is the Founder of PleaseNotes, a for-purpose company of affirmation-filled products. Creator Cheryl felt restless and underwhelmed at her 9 to 5. After spending over 1400 hours in learning and facilitating personal development, coaching, and reigniting her inner creativity, Cheryl created a company that inspires women to step into their own power by building confidence, clarity, and creativity. In 2016, Cheryl started her company with one item, the PleaseNotes Sticky Note, and fully launched the brand with a successful Kickstarter campaign. Since then, PleaseNotes has expanded to include a suite of products that cater to customers worldwide, including Spain, UK, Canada, Latin America and Asia. Each purchase contributes 10% of the profits to support women empowerment initiatives in her local community. PleaseNotes has been endorsed by renowned changemakers Les Brown and Monique Coleman with the words, “This is a gift, this is special and extraordinary and deserves to be shared with the world.” As a women's empowerment expert and entrepreneur, Cheryl Sutherland and PleaseNotes have been featured InStyle, Huffington Post, Fast Company, American Express OPEN Forum, Thrive Global, Youngry, and StandOut Publications. Cheryl resides in between Los Angeles and Toronto, Ontario.
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