If you’re like me, you’ve put a lot of time and energy into building your business. But do you know if your business is protected legally? Protecting your business through contracts between you and your clients is as important as the actual work you do, especially when you are just starting out. It can be challenging to know where to start and what steps to take first.
Contracts are one of the most important legal documents in a business. They protect both parties with terms and conditions, and create expectations for how each party will behave. When you sign a contract with another company or individual, you're agreeing to abide by the specific set of rules outlined in that contract.
I’m so excited to share our guest Rob Schenk, founder of Wedding Industry Law. Rob is an attorney representing wedding and event industry professionals. He is sharing with us all about how to navigate the legal waters of business, what types of contracts are common in an entrepreneurial and event setting, why they're necessary, and how to use them effectively.
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What would you do if you had a chance to live your dream life? Would you go for it, or play it safe and stay where you are? Sometimes the fear of stepping outside of our comfort zone and taking risks can keep us from achieving what we truly desire in life.
Risk-taking is the essence of entrepreneurship and business. When you take a risk, there's always the chance it won't work out in your favor. But taking risks can be one of the most rewarding things you do for yourself and your business. The key is to minimize risk by preparing thoroughly and being confident in what you're doing.
I’m so excited to share with you our guest Erika Rothenberger, Director of Performance Systems at Henkels & McCoy, Inc. She’s going to share with us some tips on how we can take risks as business owners and entrepreneurs that will lead us closer to our dream life.
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You want to start a business. You've been thinking about it for a while, you have an idea that is going to change the world and now you're ready to make it happen. But you want to make sure that the timing is right.
In the world of entrepreneurship, there are no shortcuts. It takes a lot of hard work to get your business off the ground and running successfully. That's why it is important to know you're not alone in this journey and sometimes the best timing is right now!
Today I’m chatting with Angela Mastrogiacomo, who teaches new agency owners how to start and scale their online agency. Angela and I chat about what she says is her secret sauce to success: Conversations and Connections.
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Key Takeaways:
We are all on a journey. The business world can be one of the most challenging journeys to navigate. It can take an emotional toll and at times lead you down paths you never thought you would discover. In our fast-paced world taking time for ourselves so that we can reconnect with who we are as individuals allows us to better understand how our values align with our business.
Think of it this way: The spirit is your energy. Your energy is what you put out into the world. If you want to grow and expand in any area, then you need a strong spiritual foundation because that's where your "energy" comes from. When you have a strong spiritual foundation, good things happen - lots of them! You'll attract more clients and customers by presenting yourself as someone who understands how to find solutions for others. When we are on top of our spiritual game, we feel more connected to ourselves, other people, and the world around us.
I’m so excited to share with you our guest, Adi Shakti, founder of, Soulwork, who shares with us how spirituality and business are connected and why spiritual inquiry is the foundation of worldly success and impact.
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If you are a business owner starting out, or an established entrepreneur who is looking to update your website, this episode is for you! Websites are an important part of any company's marketing strategy. They're the first impression people get when they visit your site and can be used to promote products, services, or events. But what if you don't know how to create one? There are so many options when it comes to building a site for your business, but how do you know you are utilizing all of the tools and optimizing the experience to the fullest potential?
I'm so excited to share today's guest, Gabriella Cruz, as owner of G'sign Studios she is a brand designer, website expert and the biggest cheerleader for her clients! Her passion is cheering on entrepreneurs to build their dream businesses by helping them uncover the practical and essential steps towards creating their business.
Tune in as we share tips on how to make a website for your business that will not only look great but also convert visitors into customers. Gabriella will walk us through all of the steps from start-to-finish so you can build the best website for your business!
Main Topics:
How to find your passion/dream business
How to know it’s possible
What actions to take to get started
Key Takeaways:
You have a purpose beyond that job
Your dreams are possible and attainable
You’re in charge of your life and your happiness
If you’re a creative professional who is serious about making big changes in your career or business, this episode is for you! Building your business on a strong foundation is the key to success.
Our guest today is Mark McGuinness, a poet and creative coach and we are talking all about the importance of creating assets for your creative career or business.
Mark's background as a psychotherapist with clients such as actors, writers, directors and creatives, inspired his decision to create a specialist coaching service for creative professionals dealing with the ups and downs of the creative industry and how they can overcome those challenges.
He created a course for creative business professionals to guide them to success and outlines how they can thrive as 21st Century Creatives. His books, Productivity for Creative People and 21 Insights for 21st Century Creatives are popular with artists of all kinds because he provides emotional sustainability whilst also addressing professional and financial sustainability.
Main Topics:
Forget the career ladder; start creating assets
What is Emotional Sustainability for your career/business
How to create Professional and Financial Sustainability for your career/business
Key Takeaways:
*The crucial strategy for creative professionals in the 21st century.
*Why creating assets provides emotional sustainability because you are working on projects that fulfil you
*How creating assets also provides professional and financial sustainability, by attracting more opportunities and income (with less effort) as time goes by.
If you have a business, which I know pretty much all of you who are listening do, then you’ll be learning from an expert about how you creatives can get yourselves together! Our guest is attorney Girija Patel, and she is going to teach us all about contracts, something that is absolutely necessary in any business. You creatives may not always think about the law side of things, but doing this stuff correctly gives you the time to focus on creating.
One of the things you must understand about a contract is that it not only protects your client but also you. To protect yourself, you need to have contracts and understand them. Make sure that you know your contracts so well that you can answer any questions on them. Also, make sure that your terms are extremely detailed and that you have a moral clause. Your moral clause will give you the security of withdrawing from any transaction that is not in line with your business standards. Your contracts create legal protection for your business.
Because of that crazy thing we like to call the pandemic, we all had to learn things about flexibility. Some businesses were not flexible at all, but some were. Flexibility can be really great, especially during a year like 2020, but it still causes stress and pain. To instill a little bit of flexibility in your contracts, try including a waiver clause. Remember, however, that flexibility does have a cost.
Girija and I talk about intellectual property, specifically photos. You may want to use photos from your clients or photographers for advertising. This can get messy because the photographs are actually the property of whoever takes the picture. If you contract a photographer, you can only use their photos if they give you ownership. To avoid that problem, you may want to consider having a photographer as an employee on your team.
There are so many ways in which your contracts affect your business, and they can really make or break business interactions. Start to consider contracts as legal strategies that are part of your business processes. As you solidify that process, the legal stuff will become the easy stuff so that you can focus on doing the things you love. If you want even more contract advice, check out the podcast!
Main Topics:
How to protect yourself in a contract
How flexible things are now
All about intellectual property
Key Takeaways:
“With law we need to change the narrative a bit and not make it so reactionary but more so preventative and proactionary.”
“You have to, at the end of the day, kind of curate the contract for your business.”
“That one (bad) client is what makes you want to have all of those clauses in there.”
What is your communication style? How do you communicate with others? What communication challenges would you like to overcome? Setting clear communication expectations and understanding why others interact the way they do is so important to the success of a team. Today we are talking with Lauren Sikes, Founder and CEO of Truth Collecrtive all about how honest conversations save us time, energy, and heartbreak.
Lauren is a learner and a teacher. But ultimately she is a dreamer and always has been. However, somewhere along the way, she stopped dreaming. As a kid, her joy came from sports and she was a gifted young athlete and nationally ranked. However, as the accomplishments mounted, her dreams became clouded by other people's expectations, comparisons, and timelines. Thus began a decades long journey of perfectionism and fear of failure that had her playing small, underperforming, and stuck in a rut. She carried this mentality into her professional career, all to one day realize, she was tired of it all -- tired of not showing up authentically.
Little by little, she began to reconnect with the dreams inside of her. As she sat around the table with her family at home and around the table with her coworkers at work, there were so many untold stories, emotions unchecked, dreams unrealized. She realized we were all fearful of our own potential and possibility. What if we started believing and started cultivating the courage to be less of what has always been and more of what could be? What if we had honest conversations?
So she did something she was not in the habit of doing, she asked for an opportunity rather than waiting for one to come to her. She asked her boss to start a program for teachers and that small program turned into what is her business today.
She created something that she needed. Lauren created a place where people could have honest conversations with ourselves and others. A place where people connect with their potential and possibility both individually and collectively. What she didn’t realize at the time and knows now, having honest conversations transforms the way we live and work. It is liberating and empowering. She knows this because once she started having these conversations — imperfectly no doubt — her life started to shift. Thus began the journey of tapping into potential and possibility through honest conversations and now she gets to teach others to do the same. Lauren is the CEO and founder of Truth Collective, a leadership and culture company that helps leadership teams have honest conversations that transform the way they work.
Main Topics:
Honest conversations save you time, energy, and heartbreak.
Barriers to having honest conversations.
Getting this started in your workplace.
Key Takeaways:
How did you find your way into teaching people to do this and why do people struggle with honest conversations?
What is your process for helping people have honest conversations?
How do honest conversations save time, energy, and heartbreak?
If you’re a business owner who feels like you’ve lost your power, our guest today is going to come in and shatter all of your doubts. She’ll help you embrace your genius and own your success! She’s really going to be your personal wrecking ball, pulling down all of the fears that are keeping you from the life you want. Our guest is Jen Coken, an expert on imposter syndrome, and we’re talking about how you can get out of your own way and gain the success you want!
I’m sure you all know what imposter syndrome is, but maybe it’s difficult to see it in your own life. There are a few different types of imposter syndrome that Jen talks about, which may help you figure out if and how you are affected by it. What they all have in common is this moment in your past, usually a small experience, that made you feel like you weren’t enough. Unfortunately, this little experience may still be stuck with you and affecting your mentality. To overcome this, you’ll need to examine this experience and how it is affecting you and move past it.
If you’re a high achiever, (and I know you are because you are even reading this) then imposter syndrome may be a bigger problem for you than for most people. The more you want, the more you have to overcome. You’ll face more doubts because you have a lot more that you are working towards. So if you have lots of goals and lots of doubts, don’t worry! It’s natural.
The type of people that don’t get pulled down by their imposter syndrome are the kind of people who love solutions. We’re the solution people, the people who make things work even when they aren’t going our way. So if you’re struggling with doubts, focus on solutions. You’ll get somewhere, I promise, and it will be good.
Imposter syndrome is a big problem for a lot of you because I hear you talking about it all the time. From both Jen and I: we know you can be the powerful and successful women that you want to be. Don’t get in your own way! Take the success and profit you want! If you want to hear more on this topic, listen to the podcast! Watch out for another episode in the next few days!
Main Topics:
Imposter Syndrome
Why High Achievers feel more doubt
The type of people that overcome Imposter Syndrome
Key Takeaways:
“We’re always trying to be like other people, fit into other people’s idea of who we should be, fit into some other mold. You know what: do it your way because when you’re doing it your way, people are attracted to you.”
“If you don't have imposter syndrome, you are not playing a big enough game.”
“The only person in your way is you. So get out of your dang way!”
In the past, we have talked about content and how it can make or break your business. Today, we are going to talk about personality types and how they affect your content creation process. Understanding who you are - and those around you - is key to creating content that is tailored for specific personalities; this will take your business from surviving to thriving!
Once you understand how other people think and process information, it feels like the missing puzzle piece that completes the big picture. But at GSD Creative, we don’t think of that understanding as the missing piece, but instead as the foundation for everything.
In this episode, I am diving in and sharing about each of the four personality types that make up the psychology methodology we use, and how it has become the foundation of everything we do - from team communication to how we assign tasks. We even use this methodology to help us serve our clients more effectively.
If you want to know more about how this foundational part of Angela’s business works, she walks you through everything you need to know in GSD Academy. Click here to learn more about how this step by step program helps you build and grow your business.
Main Topics:
Understanding team members
Communication methodology and framework
Key Takeaways:
Sometimes when unexpected things happen in your business - especially when communication with other team members or clients is involved - it may help to have a system to understand how others think and what they value most so you can meet them where they are.
When you’re being asked to make big decisions with limited time, having a foundational system like our psychology methodology allows you to make decisions with confidence.
Today, we’re pulling back the drape and sharing some deep, deep stuff with you guys. We are definitely not holding back today, so you are in for a treat! Our guest is Eva Kaszychki, and together, we are talking about freedom and passion and inspiration. We are talking a lot about how much we all need a sense of purpose, so if you’re feeling a little lost right now, this is the episode for you.
When you’re searching for a sense of purpose, the first thing you should listen to is your intuition. Most of us spend our entire lives in our head, but life isn’t always logical. It doesn’t always make sense on paper. You have got to connect to your spirit and heart to really understand what you should be doing. Also, you may think that you have to search outside of yourself for your purpose, but the truth is, your purpose is already within you. You’ll find out what it is when you learn to reconnect with yourself.
Going after your passion or your purpose is scary, but you have to get over your imposter syndrome. If you don’t, nothing will ever get done. Don’t buy into the idea that there isn’t enough success out there for you or that you’re not worthy of your dreams. You’ve got to believe that the success you want is available for you and that you are worthy of it. Once you have your mindset correct, things will go a lot more smoothly.
As you find your passion, you’ll learn that you attract not only your dreams, but also the right people into your business. You’ll learn to say no to the people that will have a negative impact on your life. And when you truly love yourself, you’ll truly be yourself, and people will be drawn to you if they are compatible with you. By taking care of yourself, you’ll get the clients you want and need.
As you find your purpose, you’ll have to get over yourself, but you’ll find the people you need in your life as you do. Before you can worry about your productivity, processes, profit, and people, you’ve got to know the reason behind everything you do. Having a purpose makes the rest of it so much easier. There’s so much to learn from this podcast, so I hope y’all will give it a listen and join us again next week!
Main Topics:
Finding a purpose
Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome
Attracting the right people
Key Takeaways:
“The most powerful thing we have is our intuition...but most of us spend our entire lives in our head.”
“I can guarantee you that if you start listening to silence and just quiet your thoughts, you are going to start feeling.”
‘Your feelings are powerful because they are a compass to get you where you need to go.”
When it comes to growing your business, one of the things I’m asked about most often is creating content. Content is one of the most important things you can use to grow your business. But it can’t just be any content: it has to be good content that will actually help grow your business and brand. You can’t create great content by accident. You have to have a process. To create social media and other content that will actually help grow your company and brand, you have to be clear about the problem you solve and about what sets you apart from competitors who offer similar services or products. For this to happen, you need to have clarity and consistency.
Let's talk about what I mean by clarity first. When I look at your website, social media pages, and images, do I know what you do? Do I feel led to learn more about you? If not, then you have some work to do. Start getting clear on the problem you solve. When all of your content clearly conveys your role, then you have the right content. The right content is a magnet for your ideal customer. It attracts them like a homing beacon to find you, and they know they're in the right spot when they see you being clear and authentic through your content.
The next thing you need to make sure you’re hitting is consistency. Consistent content is made up of two parts: 1) remaining true to your visual brand and the clear message you've already figured out and 2) making sure you're showing up in a consistent way. You've got to figure out how to show up to communicate and to be social and to share content with your customers on a regular basis, and that takes productivity and systems. Clarity and consistency: both matter when it comes to creating content that will grow your brand.
If you try to make your content a little more clear and a little more consistent, you will gain followers and clients. In the long run, you will find the productivity, profit, and peace you crave. So try it out this week and let us know how it goes! Join us again next episode for even more exciting tips and tricks!
**Key Takeaways:
- “Start getting clear on the problem you solve. If someone asks what you do, do you answer with your job title only? Or, can you enlighten the person with the problem you solve?”
- “If you're wondering what the difference is between you and the successful business people you follow online, it's probably this: they're consistently creating, and you're scrolling and consuming.”
If you’ve already looked at our guest today, you might be thinking this is my sister because we share the same last name. Well, she is not my sister. I didn’t even know she existed until just recently, but I’m so glad I know her now! Her name is Krystal Proffitt, and she knows so much about podcasting from her experiences helping people create their own. So if you are interested in starting a podcast, this episode is for you!
The podcast world has really taken off, so you may wonder if it’s too crowded for you to join in. Though there are so many talented people doing podcasts, it’s not as crowded as you may think. If you choose a topic for your podcasts that is too broad, then yes, it will be over-crowded. If you get very specific, however, there will be an audience for you and, surprisingly, more success. Speak to a very specific audience, and you’ll find that that audience actually exists outside of your mind.
Getting started is always the hardest part. There are two things that people usually get hung up on. One of them is that they are afraid that they’ll sound stupid. This is natural: no one likes the sound of their own voice. Krystal suggests that you practice talking to yourself so that you can get comfortable with your own voice. The other issue people have is that they don’t have a plan. Nothing gets done if you don’t have a plan! So to get started, practice speaking and start planning.
Sometimes you might not even know what to talk about, but Krystal has some brainstorming ideas for you. Start with answering the questions you get asked the most. Then, create podcasts on all of the stuff you already know. Get that easy stuff out of the way first before you start diving into research topics. As you get established, choose topics that will lead you towards your goal, whatever that is.
Podcasts are a great way to connect with people. If you, like me, want to make a difference in the lives of other people, then a podcast is a great place to start! It’s amazing how much influence your voice can have on your audience. It can be a point of connection between you and your audience. If you want to know more about podcasting, listen to this episode. Check in again next week for even more tips and tricks!
Main Topics:
Is the podcast world overcrowded?
Getting Started
Brainstorming Ideas
Key Takeaways:
“Just keep trying, keep exploring those voices that say ‘Hey! Try me!’...because you’ll be very surprised at what you’ll find out about yourself.”
“The most important thing is to figure out who you want to talk to.”
“There is nothing wrong with your voice. You sound just fine, and there are people out there that need to hear the messages that you have.”
How do you know if you're a leader? I think that real leadership starts with having a vision and a plan for your life and business. You have to know where you want to go, what success looks like, and how you'll get there. That’s the only way you can lead a team to make your vision come to life and the only way you can decide what to focus on with so many things competing for your attention. Today, we’re talking about the need for vision in leadership. Now, my vision isn't going to be your vision. You've got to find your own. But where do you start?
I recommend that you start by doing a vision board. If you're not familiar with this, it's something where you cut out images from magazines and glue them to poster board or cardboard in order of importance. When they're all put together in one place, your entire focus is clear right there for the world to see. Doing an exercise like this makes your goals and your vision visible.
The next thing to do is to start working on the steps that will get you there. You can't just allow your vision to be a dream: it has to have actionable items in it, things that are doable and specific for you as an individual. When you know what those actionable items are, you need to block off time in your calendar each week to get those things done! If the time to complete the task isn't blocked off on your calendar, it isn't going to happen! Eventually, week by week, that vision on your vision board starts to become real.
If you want to be a good leader or if you want to be profitable and productive, you need to have a vision for your life and business. You've got to know what you want your life to look like, and you've got to treat this like a business that supports that life. So my challenge for you this week is to take a step back and consider where you're headed. What is your vision for yourself as a leader in your business? What is your vision for your life five years from now? Ten years from now? If you decide to make a vision board, let me know! Share your experience on social and tag me @angelaproffitt and we can all work toward these goals together!
If you’re like me, you might not have any experience with franchising. You might even be a little confused about what counts as a franchise because some people claim their business is a franchise when it really isn’t. Franchising is a lucrative practice, but you’ve got to know what you’re doing. You’ve got to do your homework. Our guest today is franchising expert Lance Graulich, and he’s going to teach us everything you need to know about franchising.
If you’re like me, you might get lots of people reaching out to you about franchising, and you might be wondering why this happens and if it is normal. According to Lance, it is super normal. If you’re an experienced entrepreneur, people know that you have what it takes to be a franchisee, and that’s why they all want you!
2020 showed us just how weak our businesses can be and how important it is to make good investments. When you’re looking into franchising, there are definitely franchises that are more recession-proof than others. For example, let’s look at restaurants. During the last year, big box restaurants did not do too well because no one could come to their locations. Small restaurants, however, did very well because their take-out business increased. When you’re looking for a good franchise that will weather the storm, invest in the ones that people will always need, even when there’s a pandemic.
There are so many really great things about franchising. One of them is that it gives you the freedom you crave with the support of the corporate company. There are so many things you don’t have to do because corporate takes care of it, giving you the time you need to really focus on making your part a success. Also, you can talk to other franchisees about the franchise to make sure that it fits your lifestyle before even investing. You don’t build from the ground up: you use the already existing platforms and processes to create success.
Franchising is so fascinating, and entrepreneurs do really well with it. It can be a great wealth-building tool and lead to incredible profitability. Profitability is, of course, important to me, and this is a great way to go about increasing it. If you want to learn more about franchising, listen to this podcast or connect with our guest!
Good leadership starts with good communication. As you build your team and start to delegate and to give your team members tasks, the ability to communicate clearly is critical. The problem is that we all communicate so differently, and if we don’t have a system for communication, it can become one of the biggest time-sucks in our business.
The first thing you want to keep in mind is that your team members cannot read your mind. YOU are the leader. It is on you to be clear. It is on you to communicate. And if you can communicate in a way that honors your team members and how they process information, even better. But where do you even start with that? Last episode, we talked about finding the best apps for your business. Today, I am talking about three apps my company is using to communicate.
Right now, we are using Todoist, Marco Polo, and Loom. Each of these apps works a little differently, and they help us communicate in unique ways. I find that using more than one tool to communicate increases clarity and gives us versatility. I don’t force my team members to communicate in the exact same way as me. Instead, we find ways to communicate together, and this increases our productivity and creates bonds of trust. Using these apps has helped increase positive communication.
All of these apps and tools have free versions, so if you think they’ll be a good fit for you and your business, give them a try! As you increase efforts to communicate, you will see so many productive rewards! If you want detailed information on all of these apps, listen to the podcast! I hope you’ll be back again next week for even more tips and tricks!
Key Takeaways:
“Your team members cannot read your mind, and YOU are the leader. It is on you to be clear. It is on you to communicate. And if you can communicate in a way that honors your team members and how they process information, even better.”
“Many of the business owners I’ve worked with over the years are incredible people. However, they can also be intense, especially when there is stress involved! That intensity oftentimes means that they are reacting and not always creating a team environment that allows people to thrive.”
Today, we’re talking about one of my very favorite things in the topic of productivity: technology. I tell people all the time that if I could just set up people’s offices with Apple technology so that they could be paperless and wildly productive, I would be in heaven. Technology is an amazing tool if used properly, but it can get out of hand when you end up with more apps and technology than you could ever use and when you end up spending more time and money on apps and tech than you’re saving. When you’re looking at using technology to increase your productivity, there are three things you want to ask yourself:
First, what is the job that needs to be done here? You have to know what you're doing before you figure out how to do it or else you may spend much more time on a simple task than you should. Sometimes we get so set in our ways of doing things that we don’t take the time to think through processes and the steps it takes to get something done. So before you pull in technology, double check and make sure you’ve got solid processes in place, then use the technology to help things go faster.
Next, ask yourself “Is this app going to save time or money?” When I’m looking at a new tool or app to pull into my business, the thing I’m always thinking about is whether or not this is going to save me time. If something is going to save me 5 hours in a week, it’s a no brainer. Also, hiring an app or a piece of software to do a job is so much less expensive than paying a person (even yourself) to do it.
Finally, you need to ask “Will this app fit into the way I like to do things?” Consider if the app will be something that will play to your strengths and be something you will actually use. For me, I communicate better through videos than through messaging, but that’s just a personal preference. Just because I do it one way doesn’t mean that you’ll want to do it that way. You have to make sure that the technology you use fits your style.
These questions may seem overwhelming, but this week, I want you to take some action. Take a look at the technology you’re using during the day. Do you know how to use it all? Are there things you’re not using right now? Are there things you need to learn? Are there new apps you need to consider adding to your stack? Asking these questions will help you answer the big questions we’ve talked about today. Getting your time back by using technology is a no-brainer, but you have to actually commit to trying new things and to using the things you have if you want to increase your productivity.
Key Takeaways:
“It doesn’t matter if everyone is using a piece of technology if it doesn’t fit with who you are and how you like to do things.”
“We want these tools and technology to be a permanent part of how you think about productivity in your business.”
Pay attention, new business owners. Our guest today has something that I needed to know ten years ago, and it can fast track you as an entrepreneur. Even if you’re a seasoned business owner, you might learn something new today. Our guest, Sylvia Inks, is a finance expert, and we are talking about the five tools that every business owner needs. These tools are so helpful, and they lead to increased productivity and sanity of mind, so I know that you’ll get so many good nuggets today!
As all of you small business owners know, there’s a lot to invest in when you are first starting out. Sometimes, you don’t have the funds to get it all. Out of Sylvia’s five basic tools, there is one that she suggests investing in first: a scheduling tool. Scheduling tools will arrange your appointments for you and will save you from time-consuming emails as you try to schedule appointments. Sylvia’s preference is booklikeaboss because it offers multiple appointment types. Whatever tool you use, it will definitely have a positive impact on both you and your clients.
Once you have the first tool, there are 4 other tools you should get as you’re starting your business. You will want a contract signing tool because it helps you get things signed faster, and that increases your productivity so that you can start working instead of waiting for something to get signed. Sylvia also suggests getting freshbooks to keep track of invoices and payments. This next one is so important: get a cloud system. You’ll never have the pain of losing important documents if you have them in a cloud. Sylvia suggests using Microsoft 365 because you are the undisputed owner of all documents you upload. Finally, make sure you have at least one business bank account. You can have multiple business accounts that serve different functions, but make sure that your business accounts are completely separate from your personal accounts. These five tools that we talk about are essential for every new and seasoned business owner.
I absolutely love Sylvia’s five tools because they will increase your productivity, something that I am passionate about. Many of these tools simplify your processes so that you can make more money and have more time doing the things that you love. If you want more details on these tools so that you can increase your productivity, I invite you to listen to the podcast!
Main Topics:
#1 tool business owners need to invest in
5 tools business owners should start out with
Key Takeaways:
“People don’t realize that if you don’t have a scheduling tool, and it takes 3-5 emails to get an appointment time with you or a consultation call with a prospect, you could potentially lose a sale.”
“If a prospect is excited and wants to work with you, get them committed. Once they sign the contract, they’re even more committed.”
If you’re like many of my clients, you might be sitting at your desk right now surrounded by piles of post-it notes or notebooks full of to-do lists. There’s so much we need to get done in a day, and I don’t know about you, but in the past, I used to look up and wonder where the day had gone. I was in meetings all day, and then I would realize I had a to-do list that was full of things to do and no time to do them! Today, I will be teaching you about time blocking, a practice that is foundational to my massive productivity. If you do it consistently, it will get you closer to your goal of having the balance and the peace of mind you crave.
Time block is not time tracking. Time tracking is when you figure out how long something will take to finish. Time blocking, on the other hand, is when we block off the time in our calendar to get things done. We’re removing that disconnect between writing things down on the to-do list and actually making time to accomplish those things. When you block off time to complete tasks on your calendar - even 15 minutes at a time - it changes the game.
I’m going to walk you through how to do this real quick. The first thing you’re going to do is block off the things that you need to do for yourself and for your family. As an entrepreneur, you are the machine that keeps the business running, and if you don’t take care of yourself, if the machine breaks, the whole thing falls apart. You might need to block off time to eat or to exercise. You might even need to block off time to sleep. Make sure you block off these essential things first.
The next thing you’re going to do is block off the meetings and appointments you need to attend on your calendar. Make sure that all this time is accounted for, including the time it takes to drive to the meeting or appointment. Then, with the time you have left, look at your to do list and allot time to complete those tasks on your calendar. If you’re not sure how long it will take you to complete something, make your best guess. You can always add a block of time later. Add the list items to your calendar until everything has a time assigned to it. Now your mind doesn’t need to be anxious! You can just move from thing to thing on your calendar and know that you aren’t missing anything and that you have time to get everything done. It’s so freeing!
I know that if you try this, it will make all the difference in the world. This habit, this practice is what allows me to show up in all the areas of my life present and focused and with the confidence that I’m getting shit done. My challenge for you is to give this a try! Plan some time tomorrow to block out next week. You can be present and balanced and have a great weekend if you give this a try!
Key Takeaways:
“When you block off time to complete tasks on your calendar—even 15 minutes at a time—it changes the game. You know that you have allotted time to complete the tasks you need to complete.”
“Time blocking is the foundational practice and habit that turns your frustration into freedom.”
If you’re in branding, this podcast is one you’re going to want to listen to because we’re really going to dive into how to decode your story brand. Now, before you think that you know all of this stuff already, you should know that you probably don’t. Even though I work with these ideas all the time, I am always learning something new from every single person that I talk to. Our guest today is Aleya Harris. Aleya is a StoryBrand certified guide, so she has so much wisdom to share on branding.
Something you may not realize is that your brand story is not about you. It’s all about your client and how you can help them. Your client is the hero, and you are their guide. This concept comes directly from Campbell’s hero’s journey. It works so well because people naturally see themselves as the heroes of their own stories. What they need is not another hero to compete with, but a guide that can help them overcome obstacles. You want to make sure that your role as a guide and the problem that you will help your hero overcome are very clear to your clients.
Your role and the problem you solve are essential parts of your brand, and that brand must be in everything you do. Your brand story should be in your social media posts, podcasts, blogs, and emails. Remember that everything you do should contribute in some way to your overall story. If something doesn’t align with your brand, you need to change it or get rid of it.
Something you must understand about your brand story is that it is always evolving, so don’t be afraid of change! You will need to adapt your story to new problems as the needs of your clients change. As you make these pivots, be absolutely certain that you are consistent. Make sure that you update all of your content as soon as possible because different stories in different places just creates confusion for your clients.
I love the StoryBrand Framework so much, and I love getting to talk to passionate people like Aleya about it. Having a brand story is foundational for everything you do. It is a basic framework that you can use to drive your processes over and over again. It also helps you connect with people because your focus shifts from you to them. In the end, it leads to more productivity and profitability. If you want to learn more about story brands, please listen to this podcast!
Main Topics:
What is a brand story?
How to incorporate your brand story into everything you do
How to let your brand story evolve
Key Takeaways:
“You need to package yourself, and the first part of your package is the problem that you solve.”
“Your brandstory should be in every word you write, regardless of where it is.”
“You don’t need to hold on to everyone...You have to realize that people are not always meant to be in your life forever.”
Even though I had to wait a few months, this guest was worth the wait. You all know how to wait for good things, and today, the wait is finally over! I know that all of you are a leader in some way, but just because you call yourself a leader doesn’t mean you’re actually livin’ it and doin’ it. And even when you’re not leading, you need to be following the right leaders. You’re definitely going to want to listen to this podcast because we are going to be talking about the qualities of leadership that you can build in yourself and that the leaders you should follow have inside. Our guest is Tim Spiker, founder of The Aperio, a leadership development brand. Tim has over 15 years of experience in leadership, and he has some real truth to share.
One of the biggest things you should take away from Tim is the “who not what” principle. Tim says that leadership is not about what people do, but about who they are. How do people feel when they are around you? You can’t expect to lead people who don’t like and respect you as a person. Think about a big, beautiful tree: you don’t see the roots, but the roots are what make the tree what it is. Leaders, like beautiful trees, are grounded below the surface, and that’s what makes them successful.
Leaders are made up of two main qualities: they are inwardly sound and others-focused. They are inwardly sound because they are not easily thrown off course. Their stability encourages people to trust them. When you are trustworthy, the engagement of those around you increases, which leads to better results. If you wonder how you can build people’s trust in you, ask yourself how you can become more trustworthy first. Again, your ability to lead has everything to do with who you are inside. Remember also that good leaders are unselfish. They want others, especially those in their charge, to thrive.
If you are looking to build the qualities of a leader in yourself, start with focusing on others. Develop genuine curiosity in the lives and perspectives of other people. Ask them follow-up questions. Then, focus on improving yourself by asking for feedback from others on what you could do better. This takes courage, and keeping yourself from becoming defensive is so hard, but you’ll learn so much if you do! If right now you are looking for leaders to follow, make sure that they are others-focused and inwardly sound. There is so much more to learn about leaders worth following, so I hope you’ll join us by listening to the podcast!
Main Topics:
The “Who not What” principle
Aspects of a well-developed leader
Tips on developing yourself as a leader
Key Takeaways:
“We have to work on who we are if we want the part of leadership that everybody sees and follows to be big and strong and healthy.”
“When we get inwardly sound and others-focused, we become more trustworthy.”
“The best leaders are self-aware, and they create space for genuine feedback from the people that they are leading so they can understand where they’re doing well and where their shortcomings are.”
If you’re wondering how to drive your revenue and how to do work that actually makes you proud, then you’re going to love our podcast today! Some people think that you have to sacrifice your sense of purpose to make money, but they are so wrong! You can be fulfilled and successful at the same time. In fact, doing what you feel called to do can make you even more successful. Today, we’re bringing in Lisa McLeod, the global expert on selling with purpose. Together, we’ll talk about your noble purpose and how it can be a huge asset in your career.
Purpose, profit, and productivity are all connected. According to Lisa, the top performers in sales are usually the ones who have a purpose. These are the individuals who care about more than just the money. They care about the individuals. We’ve all had experiences with slimy car salesmen, and let's face it, none of us have enjoyed them. Those people don’t care, and we can tell. These people are not the top performers, but we associate them with everything sales. The real salespeople are the ones who care about their jobs and customers, and they are the ones who are truly successful. Their sense of purpose gives them a competitive edge that leads to greater success.
A purpose can be a hard thing to find and maintain, and there are a few things we do that make these things even harder. Even though we are wired to want to make a difference, we get caught up in numbers or money instead. We focus too much on closing a deal and not enough on helping someone get what they need. The more we focus on making a difference, the better we are doing at accomplishing our purpose.
One thing you absolutely need to have in order to fulfill your purpose is empathy. Most of us women have an easier time tapping into it, but men can do it too. You may use stories to encourage empathy because stories help us connect with each other. Stories generate emotion in listeners and in tellers. They will help customers, clients, and even you feel connected through empathy. Empathy can turn your purpose into impact. If you would like to share our journey as we discuss the power of purpose, please listen to the podcast!
Main Topics:
The link between purpose and profit
Things that get in the way of our purpose
How to tap into empathy
Key Takeaways:
“When you have that sense of noble purpose in your heart, you can translate that to your customers, and you will actually drive more revenue.”
“Your passion for making a difference to customers is your competitive edge.”
“You want to take the emotion out of the money and put the emotion into making a difference to your customers.”
I hope that y’all are ready to get the rundown on how to really become an entrepreneur because, if you’re listening, and something is holding you back, we’re going to change that today. Our guest is Sean Castrina, a serial entrepreneur. I know you hear of serial entrepreneurs a lot, but Sean is different. He has started more than 20 different companies in the last two decades, and he still looks to launch a new venture annually. Because of all this experience, Sean really understands where and how good businesses start, so that’s what we are talking about today.
You all know that the small business world is risky and that so many small businesses fail. Why is this? To Sean, it probably starts with the initial idea. Some of us get so excited about our ideas that we don’t stop to think if they’re even good ideas. Bad ideas don’t work. It is hard to tell which ideas are bad or good when we’re just so eager. Because of this, we need outside input. Start asking people if your ideas sound good. There is nothing wrong with testing the market with your ideas before they become a reality. In fact, this will save you time and money because you’ll know if there is any demand for your idea.
As you make your good ideas a reality, you should really follow some kind of business plan. If you can’t build a home without a blueprint, then how do you expect to build a business without a plan? Every plan has critical components, and there are questions you must ask yourself to get started. Sean has his own list of good questions, but the more questions you ask, the more you will know.
Even though you’re beginning as a humble small business, you can still think like a Fortune 500 company. Think big, dream big. You got this. Once things get rolling, don’t allow your business to stop growing. You’ve got to keep feeding it. Eventually, things will grow, so don’t be afraid to have confidence in your vision from the start. There is so much more to learn from Sean, so if you entrepreneurs are looking for even more amazing beginner’s advice, start here with our podcast!
Main Topics:
- Why so many small businesses fail
- The necessity of a business plan
- How to think like a Fortune 500 Company
Key Takeaways:
- “An idea that is untexted has no value because you don’t know how well it’s going to be received.”
- “It’s never going to be perfect. You’re never going to have everything perfect, but a business plan has some very critical components that you need.”
- “Get the survival mode out of your mind and start thinking about how you are going to grow.”
If you’re a small business owner or if you’re thinking about opening a small business, understanding financing and credit are so important. It is crucial that you understand what you are doing when you are running or thinking of running a small business. Our guest today, Gerri Detweiler, is an absolute expert on all of the things that you need to know. Even though these are the not-so-fun things about running a business, Gerri actually makes it fun and enjoyable to talk about them. She and I are talking about some of the things you need to know about credit and financing.
If you’re in need of financing, there’s a few things you should know. 2020, crazy year that it was, changed a lot about financing. The usual processes are taking much longer, and lenders are much stricter with their requirements. They are asking for higher credit scores, higher revenue levels, and more time in business than they did previously. You should know that they will look at your business credit scores, and in some cases, your personal credit scores too. Be aware of these things and make decisions with them in mind.
So many of you have wonderful dreams, and you give up so much for them. When you want to fund these dreams, there are other ways to go about it besides second mortgaging your house. Before you do anything crazy, make sure you have a business mentor that you can talk to about your ideas! An easy thing you can try is crowdfunding. There are a lot of other options too, and you should definitely look at all of them before acting.
When handling your finances, you need to keep them clean and organized. Get a separate business bank account and credit card and do not ever use them for things other than business. Keep your personal and business finances separate. Trust me, it will save you from huge headaches. Also, try not to use your account overdrafts. Lenders may look at your accounts and see overdraft usages as risky behavior.
You should try to look at your finances at least once a month. Take time to reconcile, or ensure that your records are accurate, every month. Checking your accounts every month is super beneficial because it helps you learn a lot about your business and what has happened to it on the financial side. If you don’t take time to look at it, you could miss lots of opportunities or problems. All of this stuff is so important, so I hope you take time to listen to the podcast to learn even more!
Main Topics:
What to expect when applying for financing
Ways to fund your business
How to position your business for financial success
Things you should look at consistently
Key Takeaways:
“As soon as possible, you want to set up the systems so that you can build credit and use credit in the name of your business and move away from the personal financing of your business.”
“I never try to shame people because you don’t always know what you don’t know.”
“I recommend that business owners make sure that they stay on top of both their business and personal credit.”
I hope y’all are ready for some nerd talk today! It’s going to be so much fun and so helpful for all of you who are looking to scale your businesses. Our guest today is Ravi Abuvalla, CEO and founder of Scaling with Systems, and he may be as much of a data nerd as I am. You guys have no idea how refreshing it is for me to be talking to someone else who actually geeks out about this stuff. Together, we’ll be talking about a few things you can do to drive your online sales and scale your business.
You may be worried about how to scale your business because you have no start-up capital, but that actually might be a benefit for you. Having no money in the beginning helps you to learn super fast because you have less room for mistakes. You can start by networking with those who know you. This may seem daunting because you don’t want the people you love to invest in you before you know what you’re doing, but you have no idea how willing people are to help you. They are much more likely to invest in you than a total stranger because they know and trust you while those you cold contact don’t. Start networking with the people you know and then gradually expand to those you don’t know.
Another simple thing you can do to scale your business is to prequalify your potential clients. You might be worried that prequalifying people will scare them away, but the truth is that the people who run off aren’t the clients you want anyways. The clients who will be valuable to you understand why you need to ask them questions. Prequalifying is a pretty great way to weed out the people that will waste your time.
It’s amazing how much your business can grow if you start using a virtual assistant. Their services are cheap, and they do all of the mundane stuff you don’t want to do. They keep your calendar full so that you can focus on doing the things for your business that only you can do. They’re super helpful, but you need to make sure that you train them up front. They won’t know how to help you unless you show them how. Once you’ve trained them, you’ll start seeing lots of benefits. If you want to learn more about scaling your business, be sure to listen to the podcast!
Main Topics:
How to scale your business without any startup capital
Learning to prequalify your clients
Why you should use Virtual Assistants
Key Takeaways:
“You really have to get your mindset right. You really have to believe that you deserve this. You have to believe that it’s possible.”
“You have got to be willing to be selfish for a while and understand that in order to help others, you kind of have to help yourself first.”
“If you’re running a service based business, you need someone whose full-time job is keeping your calendar full.”