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This week, I’m crushing any excuses you may have about starting an online business and offering twelve success stories to show you how it can impact you and your community.The truth is, overcoming our doubts and fears and stepping into dreams of running an online business has the potential to completely change your life! As we start this new year, I wanted to make sure you aren’t letting any of those pesky excuses hold you back from living your best life. We’ll be diving into the top twelve excuses I see and offering you a story of success to prove that those fears you have are really only true in your brain. So if you’ve ever told yourself that you don’t have enough time, are worried about having a small social media following, or have no idea what to sell, then be sure to tune into this episode.Because we are going to kick those fears to the curb!Key TakeawaysDiving into those excuses (02:10)Not knowing what to sell (06:00)  Turning wax into cash  (10:00) Step into who you are (12:30) You don’t have to make homemade products (13:30) Being an introvert doesn’t have to stop you (15:00) Why you shouldn’t let your location stop you (17:05) Do you feel like you don’t have enough time? (17:50) You don’t need a big social media following (18:30) Don’t worry about being perfect (19:45) Why you don’t have to get a second job (21:00) You don’t have to sell expensive products (21:50) The products you sell impact lives (23:50) Additional Resources Check out the 5-day sprint hereConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

Catch, Cancel, and Correct. This is one of those episodes that is just going to BLOW YOUR MIND. I am so glad to have my good friend, Jill Stanton, on the show today. She recently moved to Puerto Rico, and we’ve started hiking together and let me tell you...those hikes are some of the most empowering moments of my day.I wanted to share that goodness with you all, so today, Jill is sharing her advice on what it takes to become a massively successful entrepreneur. Her input has been massively life-changing for me, and I know you guys will love her as much as I do. On one of our recent hikes, we talked about the top three things stopping people from making their first 100k in their business and how to get over those mental roadblocks. Because if there is anything I’ve learned from Jill, it’s that we can do anything. Yep, even those dreams you have tucked in the back of your mind are within the realm of possibility. You just have to dig it out and believe it. Don’t miss this episode because I promise it will be one of the best ways to start out your new year!Key TakeawaysWhat Jill Stanton is up to (08:00)The world we’re all thrown into (11:30)Why failure is amazing (15:00)Three steps to break through to that first 100k (21:10)Do you thought stack? (28:30)Money is a tool (35:25)How abundance flows into your life (41:20)Additional Resources Find Jill over at Millionaire Girls ClubConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

First of all, let me say congratulations! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to give yourself a big ol’ pat on the back. You made it through the holiday rush and served your customers. That is a significant accomplishment, and I hope you feel proud of yourself and can take some time to rest and relax as the year comes to a close. As we start to think about 2021 and all of the great things that will happen in your business, I wanted to help you start on the right foot with some great money-saving tips! This is a topic that is probably at the forefront of your mind anyway, so I came up with a list of nine different things that you may not have even considered. I just found out about some of these tricks!Grab your pen and notepad because you’re going to want to jot some of these great ideas down!Key TakeawaysThe Five Day Sprint (04:15)Why you need a credit card (06:00)Do you know about the Amazon second chance? (09:50)You don’t need to squirrel things away! (11:40)Why you shouldn’t DIY (14:45)Don’t pay for storage (20:20)Why audiobooks should be your new best friend (22:30)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

This week, I’m continuing the theme of reflecting on the past year and am sharing the marketing techniques that worked in 2020.Because of the crazy year 2020 has been, we knew that the world of e-commerce was going to look pretty different than in years past. I’m comparing sales from Cyber Monday from past years and highlighting what that means for your business going forward. I also discuss what we need to do to make the best of our marketing efforts and what it actually takes to grow your business. I’ll let you in on a secret: your email list matters! And I’m telling you exactly why!I’m also sharing some goals that I’ll be taking into the new year and what I’m looking forward to in 2021. Be sure to tune in!Key TakeawaysComparing sales from Cyber Monday to previous years (03:30)Think about the problem your product is going to solve (08:15)What to do when growing your business (12:10)Why you need a strong email list (15:00)Some goals I’m taking into the new year (18:23)Top Takeaways (23:30)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

This week, Jared and I are taking a moment to reflect on our business's highs and lows in 2020. As we continue into the holiday season and round out the rest of the year, we thought it would be great to spend some time in gratitude. We are so thankful for the lessons learned throughout the year and wanted to share them all with you!This year, we had some incredible highs, including our virtual conference and successfully selling a business this year. Some of our lows include losing our Amazon business account, which taught us the importance of making sure our businesses are diversified. Maybe this week's episode will inspire you to take a look at all the great work you've done this year. You should be so proud of yourself! I sure am. Be sure to tune in this week as we get the mental gears going for next year. See you there!Key TakeawaysReflecting on the highs and lows of 2020 (03:30)One of our all time highs (04:00)Keeping everyone engaged throughout our virtual conference (10:20)Talking about our five day sprint (17:15)Selling a business this year (22:30)One of the hardest moments of the year (29:30)A lesson learned this year (35:20)A big goal for 2021 (42:30)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

If you're anything like me, then your mind is always spinning with new and exciting business ideas. I just love entrepreneurship. It allows me to exercise my creativity while also providing for my family. Talk about a win-win situation.Well, because I'm just one human, I've learned along the way that to move onto the next exciting project, sometimes I have to let go. This week, I'm diving into all of the nitty-gritty pieces of selling a business.We're covering how to prep, how to price your business, and how you can get over the fear of being a one-hit-wonder and successfully transition into a new business venture.If you've been curious about any of the above, then be sure to tune into this week's episode!Key TakeawaysFeeling like a one-hit-wonder (04:30)What kind of business do you want(10:50)How to prep a business for sale (12:30)Where to sell your business (18:40)How to price your business to sell it (21:45)What you need to do to maximize your offer (26:05)The three things you need with every business sale (28:40)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

This week, I enjoyed chatting with Ruth, owner of the online boutique, Leina Shine. We discuss why it’s essential to stay true to yourself when building a business and make massive sales through Instagram, even with a smaller following!Ruth got into the e-commerce game five years ago, helping her sister run her business. After that business stopped its operations, she took a break from her entrepreneurial drive and went back to helping build private practices.The business bug finally got her again, and Ruth decided to dive all in with a clothing brand aimed towards other moms in her community. She quickly discovered that her business was so much more than just selling clothes--she was selling confidence!. Along the way, Ruth has uplifted so many people around her and has discovered so much about herself. Tune in to hear about all she’s learned about empowering her community through her brand and some excellent advice for new shop owners looking to break into e-commerce. Key TakeawaysHow Ruth jumped into building a business (05:45)Where she sold her first product (09:15)What inspired her to start a clothing business (12:00)The decision to only use her and her sisters as models (20:50)Her Instagram story strategy (28:12)Advice for brand new shop owners (36:20)Top takeaways from this episode (44:10)Additional Resources Check out Leina Shine here*For listeners of BIC use coupon code Shine40 for 40% anything in the entire store!Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

In this episode, I spoke to my friend Savanah Poulson about how she's been able to grow a mega-successful business in a very saturated market. Fashion & Beauty.Savannah actually teaches makeup and hair and fashion...Now, how many people do you know that attempt to try that and don't make it? How many people quit because they think it's a crowded market.I wanted to bring Savanah Polsen on today's podcast because I've watched her over the last few years explode by selling a product that feels impossible to sell in such a noisy world.Now, Savannah and I have been friends for 5-6 years, and she actually was an author on the HDS blog that I co-own before she really dug into her own brand.Today, she's sharing with you what took her from asking if she should even start her own thing to how she's getting millions of video views and growing her business to over 10,000 paying customers. Plus, she can serve that many customers 1-1, and she explains the technology she used to organize it all and get those orders coming in!Key TakeawaysHow Savanah got started making content  (07:30)How she stands out in such a saturated market (09:45)Savannah’s recommendation for finding the things we’re most comfortable with (16:00)Why mindset is one of the most important things we can work on (20:00)What she does to sell products during a tutorial (30:10)Why she chooses to not outsource her color-matching (37:15)What she does to make sure she is serving first (41:20)Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs (47:00)Additional Resources Find Savanah on Instagram and her websiteConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

Talking to Gina DeVee feels like that endorphin rush you get after a fantastic workout. She is the founder of Divine Living, a multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand and women’s empowerment company. And can I just say, after our conversation, I feel so incredibly uplifted and ready to conquer the day, and I know you will too.We talked about Gina’s background and how she began creating money from nothing all by claiming her financial future. We also discussed why your dreams MATTER and the importance of keeping them close in everything you do. Gina also shares how to go from a scarcity to an abundance mindset and even gives some great selling tips through her explanation of the masculine and feminine way of selling. You are going to want to grab a notebook for this episode because it is filled with such great gems that you’ll want to reference again and again.Stay tuned!Key TakeawaysDo you ever have any of these thoughts? (02:30)A little about Gina’s backstory (05:45)How she started creating money (10:50)Gina claiming her financial future (19:40)Why you want more (26:50)How to go from scarcity to abundance mindset (35:20)Why it’s so important to stay close to our dreams (41:50)Details about Gina’s new podcast and book (47:00)Difference between the masculine and feminine way of selling (48:15)Additional Resources Connect with Gina through her websiteListen to the Divine Living PodcastGet your copy of The Audacity to Be QueenConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

This week’s interview brought a much-needed kick to my step, and I think it will do the same for you too! As entrepreneurs, we tend to normalize doing it all. There seems to be this cultural mindset that hustling means having all the balls in the air at once. And it’s such an easy trap to fall into because we not only love our business, but we love the value we add to people’s lives. We start to believe that the more we do, the more we are helping ourselves and others. Rebecca Miller of Munchkin Lane reminded me that often the pep in our step we’re looking for is actually taking the leap and doing less.Rebecca became a student of mine and felt a bit stretched thin...not just in her business but in her home life as well. Her husband was away for medical school while she stayed home with FIVE kids between the ages of 2-7! And in COVID times where she’s now juggling mom, business owner, AND teacher.She realized that she deserved to be present in her life and for her family, so she made the difficult decision to scale back on the products she offered, thinking it would mean a pay cut. Much to her surprise, she went from random orders with no consistency to just under 2,000 paying customers per month just by selling workbooks for kids. Tune in and find out how going from selling multiple things helped her feel more in control and resulted in massive gains in her business.You will love her as much as I do. She is such a light, and it turns out we both fangirl over one book that you have to get. It has changed both of our lives forever!Key TakeawaysThe start of Rebecca’s business (05:31)Her mindset behind growing her business (07:00)The first products she sold (09:05)Why it’s important for someone else to handle customer service (14:30)A wakeup call that she needed to make changes in her business (23:30)What she’s currently selling in her business (30:00)Three pieces of advice for those looking to start their own online store (35:10)How Rebecca gained clarity on her project (39:18)Additional Resources Get a copy of  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown hereFind Rebecca on Instagram @munchkinlanellcGet your own personalized busy book hereConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

Are you ready to take a deep sigh of relief? Because this episode is such a treat. I had the opportunity to talk to Allie Casazza, blogger, author, speaker, and life minimalist. And she shared SO MUCH wisdom that I can’t wait for you all to hear.We talked about Allie’s journey into entrepreneurship, and I think so many of you will relate to her feelings surrounding it as well as what it means to declutter your life. She shares the first steps we have to take if we’re trying to minimize the distractions in our life and rewrite our life story to align with our hopes and vision for our lives. Allie also tells the story of how she woke up with 25k in her bank account (seriously! Turns out rewriting your story is truly powerful). She also offers some great advice for new business owners looking to quiet the noise and explains what she thinks is one of the biggest things holding entrepreneurs back from reaching their fullest potential. Pull out that face mask and those cucumber slices because this episode is like a massage for the soul!Key TakeawaysHow Allie got started in her business  (05:00)Life before entrepreneurship was taking a massive toll on her life (10:30)Starting to declutter by getting rid of physical items (16:20)How we all overcomplicate things in business (22:21)What Allie did to rewrite her story (29:15)Waking up with $25k in her bank account (33:00)Minimalism tips for new business owners (39:12)Confront your unworthiness (50:30)Additional Resources Get more of Allie hereListen to The Purpose Show Podcast Find her on IG @ allie_thatsmeConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

This week, I talked to Wendy Kesl, founder of Glitter Luv Creations. She has been doing amazing things in her business, just selling glitter. That’s right! No other products or services offered other than that sparkly dust you find in all of the corners and crevices of your home after you clean up the kid’s craft projects! And she’s made over six-figures doing it. Wendy so kindly shares the story behind her success, how she turned a mistake into a moneymaker, and what she does to keep things exciting for her customers. She is truly a powerhouse, and I know you will find so much value from her experience. Tune into this week’s episode for some great takeaways to use in your own business!Key TakeawaysThe time Wendy almost quit (07:30)How a mistake turned into a moneymaker (11:00)Figuring out she wanted to sell glitter (16:20)Wendy describes her subscription box (23:15)How Wendy has found her thousand dollar an hour job (31:28)The power of a single email (33:15)How she keeps things exciting for her customers (38:50)This is how you keep up with social media even if it isn’t your thing (45:00)Why you need a community for support (48:05)Additional Resources Check out Glitter Luv Creations here Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

Today’s interview has me downright giddy because it is such a dose of hope and motivation! I know the uncertainty of COVID has left so many business owners at a complete loss on how to make their next move. The sense of unpredictability has permeated almost every area of our lives, and I see how difficult it’s been for business owners. In this episode, I had the chance to talk to Anne-Michelle Frances, co-owner of Ohana Board Shop. She and her husband fulfilled one of their dreams by opening a surf and skate shop. Their business was doing very well and was a huge asset to the community, eventually leading them to open a second location in their area. When COVID hit, everything came to a complete stop. They had to abandon their brick and mortar shop and figure out what to do next. With no end date in sight and no employees left, Anne-Michelle and her husband decided to lean back on their incredibly loyal following and transition to an online business model. I love the tenacity of these business owners! Their story is such a light in what otherwise has felt like a pretty bleak time for many other entrepreneurs. Check out this week’s episode to find out exactly how they could pull off this significant change in their business and where they are now! Key TakeawaysAnne-Michelle’s entrepreneurial start with a skate and surf shop (02:28)Realizing that they would need to move the business online (06:00)How she drove customers to her online store (08:50)The best marketing tactic (12:10)How this shift introduced new dreams in their personal life (18:50)Running a business while they are traveling around the country (23:20)What Anne-Michelle has learned from this whole process (27:05)Top ten takeaways (33:20)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k ProgramCheck out Ohana Board Shop hereQuotes

Money is the one subject no one wants to talk about, yet it's on each of our minds. It's just kind of an uncomfortable topic. I think so many people feel that way because there are so many myths surrounding money. We're conditioned to believe that money is an inherent evil and not something we should want to attain. Today, I want to share with you some of those myths. Because I think it can help you start considering different thoughts about money and why you actually deserve it. Money is a good thing and can be such a great resource, and I think you should have more of it!Stay tuned for the top three money myths because I'm going to bust them so you can be on your way to earning more!Key TakeawaysWhy you need to charge fair prices (06:00)What happens when we feel like money is hard to get (10:05)We should focus on learning how to make money (15:00)How Alison even began to believe she could be a millionaire (17:15)The three myths around money (20:10)Money puts value on things (30:20)Top takeaways from today’s episode (35:50)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program 

As entrepreneurs, it can sometimes feel like we have all the cards stacked against us. Operating a business while maintaining our personal lives is no easy feat, not to mention all the unexpected curveballs that get thrown in our path.Today, I had the chance to talk to Sarah Petty. She is an author, speaker, and founder of The Joy of Marketing. She started and grew an incredibly successful photography business and now teaches other small business owners how to charge what they’re worth. It was such a great opportunity to pick her brain and learn how she grew and led such successful businesses. We talked a lot about entrepreneurial mindset tips and tricks to ensure you’re working as efficiently as possible while still having time for yourself and your family. Sarah and I discussed how to stay focused and identified the biggest distractions that keep us from working to the best of our ability and what we should do to implement good habits so that they stick!I loved all of the great insights that she had to share and think you will, too, so be sure to tune in to this week’s episode! Key TakeawaysSarah’s transition from the corporate world to starting her own business (02:50)What we’re allowing to take our focus (06:30)A key habit to pick up for productivity in your business (10:40)The importance of pen and paper for entrepreneurs (17:10)How to implement good habits so they stick (20:50)Sarah shares her love of entrepreneurship with her children (30:14)Why failure is really good (35:12)Additional Resources Get your free copy of Worth Every Penny hereConnect with Sarah Petty hereConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

When starting your business, it can be so challenging to make all of those initial decisions. Each one feels so loaded and important. I wanted to take the opportunity and give you some helpful encouragement and, hopefully, some peace of mind, too.A lot of the advice I have to offer is gleaned from the trials and errors I made in my own business. We’ll be going over questions like deciding what to sell in your e-commerce business, how much startup capital you should be investing, and how to ship products without getting swallowed up by inventory in your living room. I’m also answering a question I get asked super often about if I still sell online or if I’ve moved on completely.Be sure to tune in because this episode is filled with the AHA moments you’ve been looking for!Key TakeawaysHow to decide what to sell in your E-commerce business (05:50)Why you need to analyze trends to sell more products faster (09:05)How much you need to invest when starting your business (11:00)The reason you shouldn’t buy a lot of inventory (14:15)You don’t have to ship your products yourself (20:20)The truth about whether or not I still sell online (27:00)Additional Resources Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

In this episode, I have on Karrie Chariton-Bhurgari, who is a Pinterest strategist, to help us understand how we can leverage Pinterest to get customers to come over to our stores and make purchases and join our email lists. Karrie has helped shops, bloggers, and DIYers go from zero pins to over 7.6 million monthly views.Pinterest is a fantastic platform to get your products out there to the world without investing big bucks in advertising. It would be crazy not to use this power that Pinterest provides for free to get more eyeballs and more customers for your products.As Karrie puts it, Pinterest has grown from being a social media platform to a search engine and is headed to be more of an ecommerce platform. In March, they had an integration with Shopify to make it easy for Shopify owners to create a catalog and sell their products on the platform.Good photography is absolutely key in helping you convert your pins. Karrie advises us that Pinterest pride themselves in being an inspiring and happy place. To this end, lifestyle pictures that tell a story will help you connect with your customers and convert better.To make your products discoverable on Pinterest, you need to think through the lens of the person who wants to buy it. This will help you find the right keywords to use for your product on the pin title, description, and the text overlay on the picture. Karrie advises against using hashtags because they don’t work anymore.Listen in to this episode to learn more about these and many more Pinterest strategies that will help you get your products to the world.Key TakeawaysHow to add the Pinterest app to your Shopify store and apply to Pinterest vendor portal (06:54)Pinterest is a search engine, so use keywords; hashtags don’t work anymore (07:40)Your products on Pinterest will appear on Google search results as well (08:26)Why you need good photography and beautiful pictures to convert your pins (10:23)How to keep your Pinterest game simple (12:42)New pins are doing better than old pins (20:58)Use Tailwind to schedule your pins (22:15)Why you may need to pin other people’s pins (29:18)Pins take a while to show on people’s feed, so focus on evergreen promotions rather than flash sales (37:46)Have a purpose of every pin and the Call To Action you need potential customers to take (42:44)Additional Resourceshttps://karriemarie.com/about-me/www.pinningfoundations.comhttps://www.facebook.com/KarrieMarieVA-------Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

Bethany started writing a book ten years ago. She struggled to find a publishing agent to read her book. She sent numerous queries to agents to get them interested in her book. She sent more than 100 of these without any success. She got so frustrated and cried a lot and eventually moved on and forgot about the book.This was until January of this year when she was out on a cruise. On one of the dinner nights, she met Anissa Holmes who connected her to someone who helped her publish her book with Morgan James Publishing in just three weeks.Bethany advises people who are struggling to find a publisher for their book to look at other options. There are so many options today, including going the self-publishing route. She adds that you need to keep networking and talking about your book. You never know when you might  meet a good connection who will point you to the right direction.Key TakeawaysMake 2020 your Year (05:31)Networking can change your timeframe very quickly (09:22)Do the work to increase your luck (10:20)There are hybrid methods of publishing; you don’t have to go the traditional way (16:31)How to write a book (18:11)Step into the uncomfortable to grow (21:36)Leveraging influencers to sell a book (24:24)Your 101st try may be the life-changing yes (29:21)Take your book and turn it into an experience for your readers (26:39)Additional ResourcesBethany Lee's Website Bethany Lee's Instagram -------Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

There are many changes happening with Instagram. Just like other social media platforms, Instagram has its tips and tricks to optimize your content and grow your following, and what a better way to learn more about these than from an Instagram expert.In this episode, I dive into all the details and ask Elise all the questions that e-commerce brands have on using Instagram. We cover everything from bio, hashtags, insta stories, and Instagram TV to strategies for growing your following and everything in between.We talk about the different places that you can post on Instagram and where you are likely to be seen and grow your following. Elise drops a bomb on why comments are likes are not what the Instagram algorithm is looking for to get you more exposure.Tune in to hear what will make you hit the explore page and learn everything about Instagram.Key TakeawaysWhy you should repost and republish your content all over (04:24)Top 3 places you should be posting on Instagram (05:41)Instagram has evolved from perfect images and over-edited photos to real and raw images (10:36)More people are scrolling through stories than the feed (11:55)The three types of content you can post on Instagram (16:08)You don’t have to show your face on Instagram. You can simply be the voice of your brand (17:24)Why smaller niche hashtags are better for your content to be found (20:11)How to clean up your bio and have a strong Call to Action (25:20)Consistency rather than perfection is the key to follower growth on Instagram (40:33)Shares and saves are better for hitting the explore page than comments and likes (42:16)Additional ResourcesStory Vault Elise's Instagram -------Connect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program

Entrepreneur life comes with some challenges that will make us feel like quitting. These thoughts will cross your head so many times. But you know what, you are not a quitter. You will carry on and will be fine in the end. Understanding the reasons why you feel like quitting will help you push these thoughts away from your head when they come. These reasons are the normal challenges that entrepreneurs face. They are like bumps along the way but you’ll get over with and carry on.Listen in to these 11 reasons so that next time you feel like quitting, just know that you are not alone. Reset your expectations when faced with these challenges. You don’t have to quit; you can do this. The world needs your products.  Key TakeawaysYou expect to make a million dollars overnight and you don’t (03:19)Why school screwed us up and makes us feel like failures while we are not (06:35)You want to quit because your family needs you all the time (08:46)You are afraid to celebrate your small wins because it feels like bragging (11:57)You think everybody else will celebrate with you, they wont (13:38)You feel busy all the time (15:10)You got your first one-star review (17:17)You are not tracking your numbers: keep your books clean (19:20)Products got delayed: plan for delays, they will always happen (21:56)Price increases thus increasing your costs; Increase your prices as well (23:27)You are tired; take a break (25:51)Additional ResourcesConnect with Alison:FacebookInstagramLinkedIn>>>Join the $1-100k Program