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GSD Diaries with Angela Proffitt

Transforming Life & Business with Purpose, Passion, and Perspective Welcome to GSD Diaries (formerly Business Unveiled), where we share stories of transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of purpose. Join us as we travel the world, sharing insights from other cultures, highlighting wellness, and what it means to navigate the ups and downs in life and business. We'll uncover the truths behind living a fulfilling and impactful life. In this podcast, we highlight impactful leaders who have navigated change, wellness resorts and companies that prioritize health, sharing real stories of resilience and motivating you to create a balanced, fulfilling life. I'll sit down with industry leaders who have overcome incredible challenges, sharing their secrets to success and survival. Together, we'll explore how to shift perspectives, embrace healthy habits, and find true happiness in our work and lives. Hi, I'm Angela Proffitt, an entrepreneur disrupting the hospitality industry by shaking things up. As the GSD Girl who loves to Get Shit Done, let's dance around the world together, uncovering the 'first times' and the powerful stories behind them. Often, it's a near-death experience that wakes you up and pushes you to make a change. I've learned the hard way—if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others in hospitality. In this wellness series, I'll chat with some of my closest friends and fellow movers and shakers in the entrepreneurial community. Together, we'll explore meaningful ways to become more human and empathetic, and shift our perspectives for a better life and business. This is GSD Diaries—transforming the hospitality industry, one step at a time.
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Now displaying: March, 2023
Mar 30, 2023

Are you ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship? Are you looking for the signs to get started? Starting a business is an exciting journey that comes with its own set of challenges, but you have to remember that nothing is impossible!

I met today’s podcast guest recently at a 2 day workshop in Chelsea, Michigan at The Collins Off Main. Brennan Stanford is the owner of Premier Pour Bartending, the ultimate mobile bar and bartending service. He’s sharing how he made the decision to change paths and start a business and the journey that has gotten his business to where it is today. 

Main Topics:

*The turning point in business
*The importance of having policies and procedures
*How to identify life changing health factors

Key Takeaways:

*How to get started when building a business
*How to know when it is time to bring on team members to help
*How to make your business unique and set apart from others in your space

More About Our Guest:

Brennan is the Owner, Founder, and CEO of Premier Pour Bartending. While bartending in college at Bowling Green State University, he had the bright idea ???? to start this company! Outside of bartending, Brennan spends his time hot air ballooning, traveling, sailing, and playing with his super cute goldendoodle, Kona.

Favorite Travel Destination: British Virgin Islands and León, Guanajuato, Mexico
Favorite Color:
Cerulean Blue
Favorite Holiday:
4th of July
Favorite Cocktail:
Kentucky Mule with fresh grated ginger

Mar 23, 2023

We’ve all probably gone through a time when we feel like we want to change careers. The challenge is, how do you know if it's really time for a change? Change can be intimidating, and making a career switch can be daunting. However, if what you are doing isn't fulfilling your needs or providing value in your life, that just might be your sign that it’s time to jump into something new!

I’m so excited to share today’s podcast guests, Maddison Husted and Mallory Vredeveld, Owners of The Five Forks located in Jackson, MI. I recently met them at our two day GSD event at The Collins Off Main in Chelsea, MI and their story is amazing! After some unforeseen career shifts, Maddison and Mallory have grown a business, while utilizing their strongest personality traits to ensure growth and efficiency in their business. Listen in to learn more about their journey!

Main Topics:

*Remember to have fun while building a business from your passion
*The best results sometimes come out of the biggest challenges
*Defining what you have to do in your business and delegating the rest

Key Takeaways:

*Remember that change can be good
*Set boundaries, they work!
*Don’t be afraid to ask for help

More About Our Guest:

We are two sisters, Mallory and Maddison, who for different reasons both ended up becoming stay at home moms during COVID and wanted something we could do for ourselves!

We love making special treats for all different occasions and do most of our baking and creating after our five kids (the five forks!) go to bed! The oldest was born in 2014 and the youngest in 2020 - so we always have something going on!

The kids are our best taste testers and take their jobs very seriously!

Baking has always been a creative outlet for both of us - even as kids! Being able to create cakes for such special occasions inspires us every time to make our newest favorite design. From flavor testing, to design and color mixing then finishing with perfectly paired sprinkles or a custom topper - we love every step! Except maybe the dishes. 

Mallory is the older sister and is definitely the planner and task oriented one. With a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling, she spent 14 years in clinical and leadership positions in the mental health field before becoming a Stay at Home Mom and Small Business Owner. Mallory brings lots of creativity and outside of the box thinking to the business (and is also a strong advocate for family balance). Mallory and her husband Dan have three of the Five Forks, Emelia, Eloise and Elliot. Outside of cakes, Mallory enjoys other creative hobbies, traveling and spending time with her family and friends! 

Maddison is the perfectionist. With a Masters degree in Chemistry and a little over eight years working in biochemistry. Every single one of our recipes are written out with measurements down to the gram and baking times measured depending on the season all because of her left brain approach to the world. Maddison and her husband Keir have two of the Five Forks, Thea and Posey. While Keir doesn’t enjoy cake (who knows) Thea and Posey are happy to pick up the slack! Maddison loves trying new recipes and keeping up with current trends to always bring unique yet personal touches to all of our cakes!

Mar 16, 2023

Have you ever met someone who you immediately just click with? Well, that’s exactly how it went when today’s guest, Amy Collins, and I met at Wedding MBA in November 2022. Amy is the owner of Collins Off Main, a beautiful and unique venue in Chelsea, Michigan which is a city in the greater Detroit area. Since meeting we’ve planned and hosted a 2 day workshop at her venue where we shared the GSD Framework business owners from all over the country!

Opening a venue was definitely a shift for Amy and her family. Amy is an industry leader in event design with over two decades of experience. She and her family moved from California to Chelsea, MI and Amy was spending many hours traveling back and forth to continue working with her clients in the Santa Barbara area, however after months of this she decided there had to be a change. That’s when she and her husband decided to create something different, something new for the city of Chelsea, they brought their talent and knowledge together to create a space for everyone, The Collins Off Main, as well as, soon to open The Collins at the Clock Tower. 

By embracing change Amy has grown an amazing business and space that leaves a lasting impression on the guests who walk through its doors. Listen in to hear more about Amy’s journey!

Main Topics:

*Many times change is the pathway to growth, don’t let fear rule your path
*Time is precious, spend your time doing what matters most to you
*Growing a business is never easy, build a team who wants to see the vision through

Key Takeaways:

*Sometimes we don’t always know how to communicate with others until we dive deeper into their personality
*Learn from change and grow from it
*Knowing how to communicate with your team and vendors is key to success!

More About Our Guest:

Amy Collins is a nationally recognized and award-winning wedding expert who has been featured in US News & World Report, Bloomberg, Value Penguin and the National Association of Women Business Owners along with other leading news agencies.

She is an industry leader on event design and build-from-scratch weddings, events and festivals. With over two decades of experience her knowledge is sought heavily by industry peers and colleagues alike.

Over the last two years Amy has been opening two of Detroit’s hottest wedding venues, The Collins off Main & The Collins at the Clocktower; urban, chic, industrial venues for today's trendy client.

Amy is an avid volunteer and spends her time working to end human trafficking through legislative advocacy in Junior League along with helping to propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social, and political spheres of power worldwide by volunteering on two National committees for NAWBO.

Mar 9, 2023

As busy business owners and entrepreneurs we are running constantly. Am I right? We have our eye on the prize but sometimes our focus can be a little foggy. There are certain steps to the process when it comes to success, so are you focusing on the right things at the right time?

A common myth we hear from business owners is that “word of mouth is the only way to grow your business” or “all of my business comes from word of mouth, my website/digital presence doesn’t matter”. Well, we’re going to crush that myth RIGHT NOW. 

Your digital brand is so much more than throwing up a pretty website, and today’s guest Julie Novack is here to share with you all about her journey to growing a digital brand, and how you can too! Julie is CEO & Co-Founder of PartySlate, a platform that inspires people planning all types of events and connects them with the leading event professionals, vendors, and venues across the country and the world. She is going to share with us her top tips on how event professionals should prioritize their time to build a strong digital marketing program, while also saving time doing it. And y’all know what I say, time is precious and valuable, so make sure you are spending it the way YOU want to spend it!

Main Topics:

*How event professionals should prioritize their time to build a strong digital marketing program
*How companies can save time on digital marketing
*How small businesses can balance investing in social media vs. SEO

Key Takeaways:

*Breaking through the digital world requires great content
*How to leverage marketing assets to improve your digital footprint
*Breaking down the key areas of your digital footprint

Mar 2, 2023

Time moves fast and so do milestones. When was the last time you celebrated a milestone in your business? It’s so important to take note and take TIME to celebrate the journey. If you’ve been a listener for some time you may remember a very special guest, my brother, Robert Young, Owner of Covert Results. 

This year Covert Results celebrates 5 years! Most businesses don’t make it to five years.  Going from an undercover drug dealer listening in on wiretaps to an entrepreneur is a little different. You can’t do this alone. When something “bad” happens, there is always a silver lining.  Something better waiting for you. If there is a situation where you are forced to sit “still” there is a bigger reason. Could be you need the time (knocked on your ass) to reflect to make a bigger impact on your life and others lives.  If you want to go fast, get really clear. And if you want to go faster, go together. Speed is Clarity.

YEAR 1: Founded Covert Results, private investigations, armed security, cyber security company 

YEAR 2: Became a first time author with “The Good Line”

YEAR 3: Launched Online Course (online gun trainers) we didn’t mention this, but want to note it on the blog (this is more for me to document for future way to track years)

YEAR 4: Founded Operation Rose, non-profit to combat Human Trafficking
Passed a resolution (politics will play out) 

YEAR 5: Follow along on the journey!

 

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