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I really didn’t feel like writing this email. In fact, I put it off for weeks. When it came time the point where I HAD to sit down in front of my computer and write, I stared at the flashing cursor for a solid 5 minutes, hoping it would hypnotize me into inspiration.   But I had a headache, and I felt the creeping dread of this week’s podcast guest, a brilliant copywriter, judging my writing, so no ideas would come.  And then I just decided to write exactly how I felt in that moment. Sitting in my favorite coffee shop, sitting on a swivel stool, drinking herbal tea, and trying my best to tune out the noise of the 8:30am crowd.  Stephen King said in his book On Writing: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”  Even after years of creative writing courses in college and working as an English Literature & Writing teacher, I still tend to have an overly mystical view on writing. That’s because somedays I have ideas that come to me in a  magical and inexplicable flash of inspiration, and other days it just feels like work. But even when it isn’t fun or easy, writing is an essential part of being an entrepreneur. It’s the very best way to communicate clearly how you see the world and your role in making it a better place.  As I mentioned earlier, my guest today is a brilliant copywriter. As a writing mentor for mompreneurs, Maggie Frank-Hsu helps her clients to write their way to better clients, speaking gigs, and the attention that they deserve.  Today we chat about: Why it’s so important to put your unique personality and voice into your writing, and why this can be so difficult sometimes How women who don’t see themselves as writers can still write compelling copy  And how to overcome “blank page anxiety” Highlights of today’s show: [04:00] Why it’s so important to put more YOU in your marketing copy  [07:40] Why it can be difficult at times to put your own unique voice in your writing [14:30] Why do some businesses insist on putting out generic copy? [17:00] How to overcome “blank page” anxiety when writing copy (Maggie has more tips on this in her free "Write When You're Rusty" guide) Links mentioned in today’s show: Maggie’s website Download Maggie's "Write When You're Rusty" guide Follow Maggie on Instagram

Would you believe me if I told you that one of my rockstar clients generated well over 20k in just one 4-day black Friday promotion? Would you believe me if I told you she did it selling handmade jewelry? How about with a brand new baby? Well, I’m here to tell you that Rachel Calhoun did just that. She leveraged the strengths of her team, drew up a detailed marketing plan, and used her genuine excitement about her offer to attract an unprecedented amount of sales.  What I love most about her story is her clarity she and her team have about who is their ideal customer and how that impacts every decision she and her team make with their marketing.  If you want to learn all the pieces that go into creating a successful live launch, this episode is for you! In today’s show Rachel & I discuss: All the pieces that went into her massive Black Friday promotion  How the mindset that Rachel and her team had going into the launch made all the difference, And how she and I worked together to write a fun and wildly successful email sequence  Highlights of today’s show: [02:35] Rachel talks about how far ahead she & her team started planning the promotion  [04:40] Rachel discusses her small team and how she delegates tasks [05:20] We talk about the difficulties of forecasting how successful a launch is going to be & how to set goals [06:30] We chat about Rachel’s process of refining/defining her ideal customer avatar and the impact that had on last year’s promotion  [09:25] Rachel lays out her instagram strategy for the promotion  [09:40] Rachel talks about the importance of genuine enthusiasm and how powerful and contagious that can be [11:00] Rachel tells us what she and her team learned from 2018’s promotion and how they made changes for 2019 [12:30] We chat about the email marketing strategy that Rachel and I collaborated on.  [16:38] Rachel tells us about the replies and responses she got from people feeling like her emails were written just to them.  [17:50] I talk about how the years of groundwork that Rachel established with her business made my copywriting job infinitely easier.  [18:50] Rachel talks about how she was able to leverage the strengths of her team to stay on track and organized.  [19:25] Rachel gives some tips for entrepreneurs who aren’t naturally organized. [20:00] Rachel walks us through her team’s process of mapping out the promotion and production on paper calendars. [22:40] Rachel tells us the numbers for how outrageously successful the promotion ended up being.  [24:20] Rachel tells us how she and her team were able to automate the promotion so they could take time off for the holidays and be present with family. [26:50] Rachel tells us what’s on the horizon for Windblown in 2020   Links mentioned in today’s show: Check out Windblown’s website Follow Windblown on Instagram Check out my website Schedule a free 15-minute call 

I was looking back at old photos on my phone, and I had a screen grab of a text conversation between me and one of my old fitness coaches.  I had been training in CrossFit and olympic weightlifting for about a year at this point and I asked my coach if I had what it takes to be a coach.  His response was: “Yes. Do it.” I signed up for a coaching training program that day, which eventually lead to opening up my own gym, starting my own podcast, and doing what I do today.  I took a screen grab of that conversation because even in the moment, I knew that it was going to change my life.  Years later, after I better got to know that coach, I discovered that “Yes. Do it” was the flippant answer he gave to literally everyone.  So in actuality his affirmation meant absolutely nothing. But it meant everything to me in that moment.  I had a dream, and all I needed was permission to pursue it.  I know that there’s at least one person listening today who has a dream to launch a business, pivot, or branch out into something new but is looking for permission.  Maybe you’re comparing yourself to the entrepreneurs you know or the ones you follow on social media, and you’re unsure if you’re organized, driven, smart, creative, skinny, or just fill-in-the-blank enough to start something big and new. That’s why I reached out to my dear friend Sasha Gray to come on the show. As a Speaker and Writer, Certified Master Life Coach and Business Coach, she has dedicated her career to empowering & equipping women to pursue their passions.  Today Sasha & I chat about:  How her business has evolved as the landscape of online marketing has shifted How she was able to adapt to the inevitable early mistakes of entrepreneurship  And why you shouldn’t feel like you have to have all the answers before starting a business  Here are the highlights of today’s show: [03:20] How Sasha embraces what might be seen as a negative personality trait [6:00] How Sasha first launched her business [13:00] We discuss the power of creating content just for fun and building an audience around it without immediately monetizing it [17:00] We discuss scenarios where perfectionism can be a liability [18:20] We chat about how to find the line between professionalism and showing your “rough edges” [23:40] Sasha gives advice to anyone who is waiting to start something new because they feel like it has to be perfect first   Subscribe & Review on iTunes   Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you!   Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Sasha’s website Join the Secret Sauce Community on Facebook  

I want you to imagine for a second that you went on a group date with someone you just met. You think it’s going well, so at the end of the date… you propose marriage. My grandfather proposed to my grandmother on their third date, and they’ve been married ever since, but for the rest of us, this could only end badly.  We all know that relationships take time to develop and if you try to rush things, you’re more often than not going to scare the person away. This is exactly how we need to look at our marketing.  Especially in the online space where you don’t as often have the benefit of one-on-one conversations, it takes time for someone to know, like, and trust you enough to make a sale. If you spring a direct offer on them too soon, you just might turn them away.  That’s the primary mistake I see people make with their email marketing. They view their emails like mini-billboards rather than like a letter sent to a friend, or to continue the metaphor, someone they’re dating. If you just met someone, sending them a daily marriage proposal probably isn’t going to convince them to marry you. In this week’s solo episode, I’ll share with you: How to find the right ratio of valuable free content vs. a sales offer in your email marketing, How to use your paid content as the anchor point for your free content, And how to repurpose your content so you’re never again staring at a blank screen not sure what to send your email list. Links mentioned in today’s show: Sign up for my 5-day challenge  Join my Facebook group

Does your business have a mission that’s bigger than making money or even doing the work that you love? Is there some evil in the world that you don’t think anyone should have to face? Maybe you don’t think that people should have to live with chronic back pain, feel insecure about the way they look, or drink bad coffee. Whatever it is that you’re passionate about, it’s essential that you remind not only yourself of that mission, but are able to communicate that mission to your employees and your customers.  My podcast guest today is so committed to keeping her business on mission, that it’s even reflected in its name: Missio. Lorin Van Zandt and her husband Kyle, owners of Missio have created a hair product business with a purpose: to restore hope and fight human trafficking.  In today’s show Lorin & I discuss: How she was able to see a need in the world and build a business around that mission The process that she and her husband went through to clarify their messaging And how to unite your staff and customers around a common cause  Highlights of today’s show: [02:00] The story behind Missio and how it began [05:47] Lorin talks about their mission and how it hasn’t changed since they founded the business [07:47] Lorin tells us the one thing they have changed about their brand message in the past few yers and why [07:55] Why your business can’t just be finding against something but it has to be for something as well [10:45] Lorin tells us how she and her team use stories to stay on mission [12:35] Lorin emphasizes the importance of 100% of her staff remaining client facing [13:20] She tells about how her team prioritizes sitting around a table and reading client stories [13:30] Lorin talks about how they use both qualitative and quantitative data to measure Missio’s impact and success [15:20] How Lorin & her husband create boundaries so that their business & mission doesn’t become all-consuming  [19:35] Lorin’s advice for anyone wanting to start their own social enterprise Links mentioned in today’s show: Join my 5-day email list building challenge Check out Missio’s website (promo code: secretsauce20) Follow Missio on instagram 

I want you to get really honest with yourself for a minute:  Does the question, “what do you want to be known for in 2020?” scare you?  Just want to make sure I’m not alone here! One of my favorite authors, Tim Keller wrote this: “to be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear.” While he was talking about marriage, I think that this quote relates so well to our fear as entrepreneurs to develop a niche audience.  To draw a line in the sand and say: “this is what I want to be know for,” is an extremely vulnerable act.  There’s no way to hide. It strips us down to the core of how we want to serve others. It can open us up to scrutiny, criticism, and it turns people away. But if you want to be an “influencer” (in the purest sense of the word) and make an impact in a crowded world, you do have to get very specific about how you serve others. In this week’s solo episode, I’ll share with you: Why defining your niche is so scary yet so essential Why positioning yourself as an “expert” can and should come from a posture of humility, And 4 questions to answer today to define what you want to be known for in 2020  Links mentioned in today’s show: Join the Secret Sauce Club on Facebook Sign up for my 5-day challenge 

Have you ever had a conversation like this on social media? A friend you haven’t heard from in a decade messages you: “Hey! How are you doing” You reply: “Hey!! Oh my gosh! It’s so good to hear from you! How are you doing? What have you been up to?” She replies: “I’m doing well! Actually I just started selling skin care products and I wanted to see if you’re interested…” Ouch.  It can cloud your vision of humanity a bit to be in the receiving end of conversations like these. You think your friend is reaching out to genuinely connect, but turns out she’s just dredging the depths of her friends list to try to up her sales quota. And honestly I’m not one to judge. I’ve made plenty of “party fouls” when it comes to sales over the course of my entrepreneurial journey. But because of these mistakes and my fear of jeopardizing relationships, I’ve found myself swinging to the opposite extreme when doing business with friends: slashing my prices and stammering through sales calls. Odds are if you own a small business, at some point you’re going to have to sell to your friends.  People need to know like and trust you to do business with you, and who knows, likes and trusts you more than your friends?  Or at least hopefully they do… To help us address this problem so common to women in particular, I turned to sales expert Renee Hribar.  Renee has been a sales professional since 1994. She has sold millions of dollars in products and services and trained thousands to sell for the first time. She specializes in helping women stop hating sales.  Today Renee and I discuss: Why “traditional” sales tactics don’t work for women  How to gracefully stop friends from “picking your brain” And whether or not you should change your tactics when selling to a close friend Here are the highlights of today’s show: [03:30] Why Renee is passionate about giving women more options through sales training  [05:20] The most common mistake Renee sees women make with sales [06:10] Why women struggle to sell to their friends  [06:58] Why “traditional” sales tactics are better suited for men and their neurological make-up than women  [07:10] Renee’s sales philosophy & why it’s such a great fit for how women are wired [08:42] What if a family or friend tries to “pick your brain” to get free resources from you without buying? What should you do? [11:45] The power of scheduling a quick 15-minute phone call  [13:00] Why we should change our mindset to view ourselves as “professionals” [14:35] Why you should always have the next phone call scheduled before you get off the phone  [15:42] Whether or not your sales scripts should change when you’re on the phone with a friend [15:58] Why sales scripts are like training wheels [16:42] How to use a customized “authority statement” to pre-frame where your questions are coming from on a sales call [18:00] Renee walks us through a example sales call that she might have with a close friend [22:10] Why you shouldn’t assume that people have done their research about you before you hop on the phone [12:55] How to gently take the reigns of a sales call when your friend wants to chit chat [25:55] Why having the right mindset is so important with sales Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Join Renee’s Facebook community  Check out Renee’s website Join the Secret Sauce Community on Facebook

A client of mine asked me the other day: “which is more important for an effective website: an aesthetic design or good copy?” As much as I wanted to answer “both,” I had to go with good copy. That’s because a beautiful website with bad copy is basically just an expensive piece of art.  I was an art history and studio art major in undergrad so I love me some art, but I have yet to see anyone frame a website and sell it at Christie’s. So until that day comes, an aesthetic website with bad copy is not going to make you any money. That’s why I’m here today to talk about the 3 essential questions your website MUST ask to turn browsers into buyers. In this week’s solo episode, I address: Why most websites don’t work How to see your website through your customers’ eyes And the single most important piece of copy on your website Links mentioned in today’s show: Follow my Facebook page  Download my free one-liner worksheet  Check out my group coaching program: The Secret Sauce Society 

I’m about to let you in on a trade secret: The most powerful tool in a copywriter’s toolkit isn’t proper grammar or clever word choices. It’s empathy: The ability to put yourself in someone else’s position and try to see the world how they see it. And I’ll confess to you guys that this is a skill that doesn’t come easy to me. I’ve had to work hard at it and I still have a long ways to go. When I first started my entrepreneurial journey I thought that everyone should make decisions like I do: quickly and decisively. If you want something, I thought, you should just do it.  Immediately.  Today.  I just had no understanding for why someone wouldn’t immediately take action if they had an opportunity laid in front of them to get what they want.  But the more I study about human behavior, the more that I realize that there are so many complex factors that can go into someone’s decision to take action. >> They may need to start on a Monday or at the beginning of the month to feel like they’re making a fresh start.  >> They may want to wait to feel like they’re getting the best deal possible.  >> They may only take action when they feel like they’re a part of a supportive community. And to serve someone at the beginning of their journey, you have to meet them where they are and speak to their unique source of motivation to take action. There are few strategies that can speak to more of these sources of motivation at the same time than hosting a challenge.  I’m in the process of putting together a challenge that I’m launching January 13th, 2020 where I’ll walk you step-by-step through how to sign up your next 500 email list subscribers. And while I was working through the strategy for my own challenge with my marketing coach, Mallory Schlabach, I realized that I needed to have her on the show to share her knowledge with my listeners. Today Mallory and I discuss: How decide if a challenge is the right fit for your business and your customers How to determine the right duration to get results but also keep people engaged And how to use a challenge to grow your email list AND gain new clients Here are the highlights of today’s show: [4:00] Why a challenge can be successful way to build a list quickly [4:31] The essential components of a successful challenge [7:30]  How you can widen the reach of your challenge outside of your current followers  [11:11] The ideal duration for a challenge [12:50] What to do if there’s a steep drop off in engagement in the challenge  [15:30] The types of businesses best suited for running a challenge [17:17] What if your challenge only attracts “quick fix” people and that’s not your ideal client? [21:00] The possible end goals for a challenge  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Join Mallory’s Facebook community  Check out Mallory’s website Listen to Mallory’s podcast Join the Secret Sauce Community on Facebook

I want you close your eyes for a second and picture for a celebrity you really don’t like.  Maybe it’s an author, an influencer, a TV or Radio personality.  Have someone in mind? Okay. Now I’m going to tell you something that may seem counterintuitive:  That person is in a position of influence not despite your strong negative feelings towards them…. but because of them. That person knows their audience knows so well that they’re able to attract those people at the exclusion of everyone else. This is a concept that women especially struggle with. We want to be liked. We don’t like being polarizing or excluding anyone. While I don’t like making sweeping generalizations about gender, science has proven that the average woman is biologically wired to be relationship (not conflict) driven.  While this tendency can be a tremendous asset in the world of business, it can also be a liability. Our desire to include not exclude can get in the way of our ability to define our ideal customer.  While this might seem basic to anyone who isn’t new to the world of entrepreneurship, it’s a concept that I find myself going back to over and over again with my clients. My success as a copywriter depends 100% on how well my client knows her audience. In order to write compelling copy, you have to have a crystal clear image of who you are trying to compel and what you’re trying to compel them to do. In today’s show I address: The most common objections to having an ideal customer avatar, or ICA How to determine the emotional journey your ICA must go through to make a buying decision And 3 exercises you can do today to define and refine your ICA Links mentioned in today’s show: Tune in to my last episode on Market Research Follow my Facebook page  Download my free one-liner worksheet  Check out my group coaching program: The Secret Sauce Society 

Have you ever noticed that a task gets harder to accomplish the more free time you have to accomplish it? This is one of those weird quirks of being human that shows just how irrational we can be. There’s even a term for it, Parkinson’s Law and it states: “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." I definitely experienced Parkinson’s Law the week of Thanksgiving. I ended up having an entirely blank calendar since so many of my clients were on vacation. I was pumped to spend the whole week working on my own business and getting ahead on content creation. But what did I end up doing? Well aside from catching up on Watchmen on HBO and finishing a 1,390 piece puzzle... absolutely nothing. That’s because even though I don’t consider myself to be a procrastinator, without any sense of urgency, it’s way too easy say: “I can do that later.” And that brings us to the power of deadlines: they force us to take action one way or another. Today I have my friend Leslie Laws back on the show. As a social media strategist, online business manager, and a recovering perfectionist, Leslie knows the power of creating deadlines and urgency for yourself and for your clients. And the best way to do this is with a structured, well-executed live launch. I know there’s a good chance with 2020 fast approaching, you’re looking to launch a new business or new product or service in the new year. And if so, today’s episode is for you! Today Leslie & I discuss: The difference between an evergreen sales funnel and a live launch, How to decide what kind of launch is best for your business, And how to create an authentic sense of urgency to encourage your ideal customer to take action. Here are the highlights of today’s show: [03:00] The benefit of a structured launch vs. just releasing something out into the world [04:33] The difference between a live launch and an evergreen funnel & why someone would want to choose one over the other [07:05] The different components of a successful launch [09:30] Strategies to continue to provide value and free content even in the midst of a launch [12:27] Some general rules of thumb for deciding how long your cart should stay open during a launch [14:54] Why urgency is so important with a successful launch & strategies you can use to create urgency in an authentic way [16:36] What if we pour months worth of effort into a launch… and then no one buys. What do we do? Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out!
 And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Follow Leslie on Instagram Check out Leslie’s website Join the Secret Sauce Community on Facebook

When I first announced to my family that I was going to open my own gym back in 2017, my grandfather asked me:  “Have you done market research to make sure this is a viable business idea?” I remember just looking at him like a deer in the headlights wondering: How much money does he think I have??  When I thought about market research, I pictured a scene straight out of Mad men: Me sitting behind a one-way mirror watching someone in a suit interview people under florescent lights around a conference table.  This misconception was costly.  Because of it, I spent years creating products and services that I thought sounded great, but that not enough people wanted to buy.  Failing to do market research cost me many thousands of dollars in overhead costs, buying totally pointless Facebook and print ads. I want to make sure that it doesn’t cost you as well! In this week’s solo episode, I talk about: How I overcame my misconceptions I had about market research My super quick and simple market research method And how to use the info you gathered in these interviews to determine what you sell & how to talk about it! Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Follow my Facebook page for my weekly live show Join my Facebook group Get my FREE one-liner download Join The Secret Sauce Society 

I have a confession to make to you: I color my hair.  Scandalous, right? My natural color is dark blonde, so my stylist usually puts in highlights or just a little bit of warmth so it doesn’t look quite so mousy.  When I was about 13, I begged my mom to let me color it. I think at that time the Olsen Twins were popular, and I wanted streaky blonde hair like theirs.  My mom warned me over and over again: once you start coloring your hair, you can’t stop. You’ll be an addict for life. But you don’t care about that sort of thing when you’re 13, so I eventually wore her down and I got highlights. Almost 15 years later, I’m still coloring my hair.  My mom, as usual, was right. As business owners we can sometimes view content marketing sort of like coloring our hair. It’s something that we do superficially to look more polished and put together & like we know what we’re doing. But then it becomes this burden or habit that we feel obligated to keep up indefinitely.  Just about every day I hear clients talking about how they feel like they should start a blog, or a podcast, or to launch into a new social media platform. But they end up never starting because (a.) they don’t really want to do it, it’s just something they feel like they “have” to do, or (b.) they’d rather not even start than be inconsistent or feel the pressure of having to show up and create new content every single week. To address this issue, I reached out to the best expert I know: Content strategist, Dr. Linda Enoh.  Linda helps ambitious female entrepreneurs wear their CEO hats and create a content marketing strategy that works for their own business and personal life. In particular, she helps her clients create, plan, and share consistent content without overwhelm or burnout so they can be visible online, stand as the go-to expert in their field, and have raving dream clients asking to work with them.  Today Linda & I discuss: 1.) Why content marketing is so powerful,  2.) The #1 easiest piece of content to repurpose,  3.) & how to map out a 90-day content calendar in a single weekend! Here are the highlights of today’s show: [5:12] Linda explains why content marketing is so powerful [9:22] Linda discusses what sort of intention and purpose you should have behind the content you release [12:22] Linda & I discuss what content you should charge for vs. what you should give away [14:30] Linda tells us the #1 easiest piece of content to repurpose  [16:18] She explains how to re-purpose content efficiently [16:30] Linda explains whether or not there should be a time delay between releasing the same content on different platforms [20:00] Linda walks us through her process for creating a 90-day content calendar  Subscribe & Review on iTunes   Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out!   And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you!   Links mentioned in this episode:   The Secret Sauce Facebook Community Linda’s website Linda’s Facebook group 

Have you ever had to write the business equivalent of a “Dear John” letter?  I definitely have.  In my first year of business I went through a rough patch where I wasn’t getting enough people in the door of my gym. I got an email from a guy who offered to help me with my sales process, and it could not have been better timing.  He promised me that he could get me me a certain amount of clients each month, and I thought this was manna from heaven, the magic bullet solution to all my problems.   So I wrote him a large check with money I didn’t really have…  and then I spent the next month doing nothing but arguing with him about how I should run my business.  What he wanted me to do made me feel slimy, and the more I pushed back, the more he tried to poke at my fears and insecurities to manipulate me into doing what he wanted. So just like any break-up, even a professional one, it was messy and ugly.  I was reflecting back on this experience a few weeks ago as I was preparing for today’s episode.  What should I have done differently? I spent some time after this professional relationship ended feeling bitter and resentful towards this guy. But with the distance of time I’ve realized that he wasn’t really at fault.  At the end of the day, I was responsible for making that decision to hire him & for not listening to my gut telling me that it wasn’t a good fit.  And the more I reflect on this, the more I realize that I can trace every bad business decision I’ve ever made back to one thing: desperation.  Any time I start feeling like I’m falling behind or that I don’t have enough resources: enough time, enough clients, enough revenue, it inevitably clouds my judgment & I make short-sighted, foolish decisions.  Every. single. time. If you run a business, it’s inevitable that you’re going to go through moments, phases, or seasons where you feel like there’s a gap between where you are and where you need to be.  But how you respond in those situations will make or break your business. At the end of today’s show, I’m going to share a brief tip of how I’m actively working to train my brain to respond differently to stress & anxiety, but before that, I have a special treat for y’all. My good friend Suzie Vinograd is back on the show! Hopefully you remember her from our last show: How to balance giving customers what they want vs. what they need. If not, you should definitely go back and listen. You can tune in here. Suzie is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Yoga instructor, and fitness coach. We were having coffee recently and we were talking all about mindset & the impact that certain core beliefs about ourselves or the world can impact the health of our bodies and our businesses. And I was so impressed with Suzie’s perspective and wisdom that I had to have her on the show to talk about this.  Today Suzie & I discuss: The difference between a scarcity and an abundance mindset, How that mindset effects your physical health, the health of your business, and the health of your community, And how to make sure that fear & desperation doesn’t lead you to make business decisions you’ll eventually regret. Here are the highlights of today’s show: [4:34] Suzie defines a scarcity vs. an abundance mindset and how that relates to nutrition & also to entrepreneurship [7:38] Suzie explains how a scarcity mindset can negatively impact a business community [9:00] Suzie talks about the necessity of defining your ideal client and how carving out a niche can help you rise above competition within an industry [12:05] We discuss why focusing on certain numbers as an external marker of success for your business can distract you from what truly matters [15:30] Suzie shares advice for anyone who is going through a phase of scarcity or desperation thinking with their business  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: The Secret Sauce Facebook Community Suzie's Website Suzie's Instagram Page Suzie & I's last episode 

Content marketing is something that almost every small business owner knows they should do… but relatively few actually do well or consistently.   The reason for this is that creating consistent, quality content can be really friggin’ difficult!    As soon as you commit to putting out weekly content, you’re hopping on this never-ending treadmill of creative output. This can be really scary, especially if you’re a perfectionist or you’re already overwhelmed by all the other tasks that are involved in running a business.   But creating consistent, quality content doesn’t have to be quite so intimidating.    There are so many tricks and strategies that can help you to save time and energy, particularly with social media.    Today’s guest, Marybeth Wells, is here to share 5 practical strategies for newbie instagrammers to create consistent quality, content.   You may remember today’s guest from our last episode together: 3 tips for creating double-tap-worthy instagram content.   If you tuned in last time you’ll know that I very openly confessed that my Instagram game was very weak. That was a strategic move for me at the time since I knew that instagram wasn’t a huge profit-driver for my business.    I will give you an update and say that my Instagram game… hasn’t improved… but I do plan to make that more of a priority in 2020, and I’ll definitely be using each and every tip that Marybeth provides in today’s episode.    Today Marybeth & I discuss: How to develop a big picture strategy for not just what you post but why and when  How to avoid feeling like you’re continuously “feeding the beast” with a regular content creation strategy  & how to never again be franticly trying to generate content the day you’re supposed to post    Here are the highlights of today’s show: [4:52] What the process looks like to batch-create A LOT of instagram content ahead of time [6:20] 2 apps Marybeth recommends for laying out your grid and scheduling content to post [7:37] How to balance the right time to post for your audience and the right time to post for YOU [10:58] How Marybeth uses block scheduling and batching to use her time efficiently [14:30] A mistake that I made early on with my content creation strategy   Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you!   Links mentioned in this episode: Marybeth’s website Marybeth’s photography instagram Marybeth’s wellness instagram Downlaod the Later app Download the Unum app Tune in here to my first episode with Marybeth

There are good odds that if you’re a small business owner, there’s some particular skill that you absolutely rock at.  Maybe you’re hesitant to own this, but I know it’s true!  Maybe you’re great at making French macarons, taking photographs, or teaching yoga classes. But that skill is the reason why you went into business. But as I’m sure you know by now, an entrepreneur has to wear SO many different hats.  And often the creativity or people skills that make you so great at creating a product or providing a service can end up being a liability when it comes to administration & organization.  If you’re a scattered visionary (I think that sounds a teensy bit nicer than a disorganized creative person), one of the best moves you can make is to hire someone who can be organized for you. But how do you make it through those first few months or even years where you can’t afford to hire anyone yet? My guest today is here to answer this very question! I’m SO excited because I have one of my bestest of friends in the entire world on the show today: Rachel Calhoun. Rachel was the very first person I met when my family moved to North Carolina when I was just 4 years old, and we’ve been friends ever since. She owns a highly successful handmade jewelry company called Windblown. And today we talk about the prank her dad pulled on my mom that led to us first becoming friends, but we'll also discuss… How someone who… isn’t… quite… the most organized person in the world built a business that routinely brings in 5-figure sales in a single weekend. How she made her first hire and the impact it made on growing her business & Rachel provides 3 practical tips for scattered visionaries to grow a profitable business without sacrificing that creativity that makes you so special!   Here are the highlights of today’s show:   [2:49] How Rachel & I first met when we were 4 years old [7:14] How Rachel first started her jewelry making business in Middle School [12:00] Rachel tells us about the initial launch of Windblown 6 years ago and how it has evolved [14:00] Rachel gives encouragement and wisdom to anyone like her who struggles with organization and administration [14:50] How Rachel got through the early years of being a solopreneur before she built her team [18:45] Rachel tells us about her first hire and the impact that has made on her business [20:00] Rachel describes her “visionary” roll and why she hired an “integrator”  [22:22] Rachel shares her top 3 criteria for hiring her team members   Subscribe & Review on iTunes   Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you!   Links mentioned in this episode: Windblown website Windblown instagram

Have you ever sat down with a potential client to ask them what they want to achieve in working with you, and you know that what they’re asking for isn’t what they really need? … Or worse, you know that it could actually harm them? I’ll never forget going to a coaching conference back when I owned my gym and having a speaker get up in front of the group and talk openly about how he gave performance enhancing drugs to his athletes. I raised my hand at the end of his talk and asked him:  “How can you say that you’re looking out for the needs of your athletes when you’re giving them training protocols and substances that are destroying their bodies?” He just shrugged and said:  “It’s up to you to decide where you draw your moral boundaries. I just decided a long time ago to give my customers what they want.” Odds are you won’t have to decide between financial success and shortening someone’s lifespan and taking away their ability to have children at any point in your career. If you own a service-based business you’ve probably had the experience of someone asking for something that you know isn’t the best thing for them. Do you just give them what you want?  Do you initially give them what they want, but try to coach a mindset shift over time so that you can convince them of what you know they need?  Or do you draw a line in integrity and say that you’re not going to work with that type of client? This is a moral dilemma that my friend & guest today, Suzie Vinograd, knows well. As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Yoga instructor, and fitness coach, Suzie has seen huge shifts in the fitness industry over years. But there are still far too many people who claim to have their clients’ best interest at heart, who also prey on their fears and insecurities.  Today Suzie and I discuss: The tension that comes from trying to operate a business with integrity when you see so many successful people in your industry who have none… & How Suzie handles clients coming to her for help when she knows that what they’re asking for won’t make them happy or healthy in the longterm. P.S. If you stay tuned until the end of the show, I’ll share with you a big mistake that I made with this concept early on when I was first starting out my business, and what I would have done differently. Here are the highlights of today’s show: [4:04] How Suzie carves out her niche in a crowded market [4:30] How Suzie defines her ideal client [7:20] How she responds when someone asks for a solution that they know isn’t good for them [12:25] The 2 reasons why initially only offering one type of service with my business was a mistake [13:33] A major mindset shift that I made in the way that I run my business that led to massive growth  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: The Secret Sauce Podcast Community Suzie's Website Suzie's Instagram Page  

For many of us, entrepreneurship is not something we dreamed about as a child.  I opened my first business when I was in middle school selling hand-knitted hats on Etsy, but it was a way to get a little bit extra pocket money for buying Lord of the Rings collectors items, not the foundations of a future empire. (Have I ever told you used to wear an elf costume to school because I was so obsessed with Lord of the Rings? Fortunately I was home schooled. But still… I was a weird kid.) I bring this up because entrepreneurship is not a neatly mapped-out career track, and for many of us, it’s not something that was modeled to us by our parents. More often than not, life intervenes in some mysterious way and we see an opportunity to create something new. But even then we often face an inner battle: do we stick with our safe job, or do we take the leap? I was having a coffee with my new friend Michelle Kline the other day, and she told me the story of how she launched her business. Pretty much the minute she finished talking, I immediately asked her to be on the show.  I resonated so much with her story, and I’m sure you will too. The path she took to now running a thriving dog walking business that’s looking to expand and possibly franchise in the coming years, is not a linear path in the slightest.  And I think that’s such a comforting thing to hear for all of us who too have kind of weird & meandering origin stories for their businesses.  Today Michelle shares with us… How someone with a degree in social work came to own a dog walking business… How she’s created and now is working to manage explosive growth with her business… & how an extremely scary and traumatic experience was the turning point for her entrepreneurial journey.  Here are the highlights of today’s show: [3:30] What led Michelle to launch a pet care business in the middle of graduate school [4:48] How her business “accidentally” took off [5:25] The two defining moments that led Michelle to take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship [8:57] How her entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by a traumatic experience in Spring of her 3rd year of graduate school [10:41] The ways that Michelle's degree in social work has informed the way she is building her business and managing employees, and how it has set a trajectory for her future to focus on combining business and social impact. [12:37] What action she is taking to avoid being pulled in too many directions as a multi-passionate entrepreneur  [15:10] How Michelle is working on herself and her limiting belief that she has to be the person solving all the problems within her business  [16:22] Why explosive growth in your business isn’t always a good thing [18:30] How she is building a system for sustainable future growth for her business Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: The Secret Sauce Podcast Community Ardmore Dog Walking Website The Ivory Hound Website

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with Instagram. While I love how visual and artistic of a platform it can be, it brings to the surface a lot of my own insecurities.  Since I don’t have the budget to have a professional photographer follow me around all day, should I even bother competing for attention with people who do? My life is so boring, how do I produce content that people want to see without seeming like I’m pretending my life is a lot cooler than it is? How do I balance being “authentic” with being “aesthetic,” two ideas that can seem mutually exclusive.  That’s why I’m so glad to have my good friend Marybeth Wells on the show. You may remember her from our very first episode back in season 1. She talked all about how she creates boundaries around how she uses social media to make sure she’s preserving her own mental health & that it isn’t preventing her from being present with the people around her. If you haven’t listened to that, you can go back and tune in HERE Today she’s back on the show to talk about how to create double-tap worthy Instagram content. Today we discuss... What it takes to have a visually appealing instagram page... How to attract and repel people (in the best possible way) with the design & content on your page... & How to balance being “authentic” with being “aesthetic” Here are the highlights of today’s show: [3:00] Marybeth talks about the role instagram has played in growing her business [4:40] Marybeth answers the question: do you have to be or hire a professional photographer or own an expensive camera to produce quality instagram content? [7:25] We discuss what it means to have a “consistent aesthetic” for your page [9:22] Marybeth gives valuable tips for choosing the look, design, and feel of you page [9:50] We discuss how to find the line between producing beautiful social media content and content that’s real and authentic  [11:50] Marybeth & I discuss how to attract your ideal customer with the content you create and the design of your page [13:25] Marybeth provides 3 fast tips for how to up your instagram game and produce high quality content  P.S. And if you want our exclusive bonus content on how to create compelling instagram stories (without it taking over your life) click here to join my private Facebook group or shoot an email to MB@marybethwells.com and Marybeth will send it straight to your inbox! Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: The Secret Sauce Podcast Community Follow Marybeth on Instagram Marybeth’s website

Have you ever felt like you’re running on empty? Just physically, emotionally, and mentally drained? Maybe you’ve felt this way at the end of a hard day, during that 2 or 3 o’clock slump or maybe you’ve felt this way for months. If you’re someone who finds their value solely in what they can contribute, ESPECIALLY when you own your own business, you can really only have one of two reactions when you’re physically, mentally, or emotionally incapable of getting work done:  (1.) You can give up. You can acknowledge that you don’t have what it takes to do big things & to have other people rely on you  OR… (2.) You can view it as a gift. While other people run at 100mph straight into total burnout, you have the gift of an excuse to slow down, create margins, and establish more sustainable patterns of work and rest.  And being forced to slow down means that you can’t rely on your own strength to get the work done.  Depending on your beliefs maybe you turn to God or you outsource your work to employees or contractors, but no matter what, its a gift to be forced to loosen the vice grip of control you have on your business & separate your ego from the outcome. And trust me, it has taken A LOT of anger and tears for this control freak to be able to say that.  And one of the biggest blessings in my life the past couple of years, and one of the reasons why I’ve gotten to the point where I can view my struggles with depression as a gift, is my friendship with today’s guest. You may remember Alyson Rorem as one of my first guests on the show back in Season 1. If you haven’t heard our show called: “How to view yourself with grace,” you can go back and tune in HERE. Today Alyson and I discuss: (1.) How being bipolar has impacted the way Alyson runs her business (2.) How she makes the most of her high energy days so she can create margins for rest (3.) & 3 practical automation strategies that YOU can use to create sustainable patterns of work and renewal.  Here are the highlights of today’s show: [4:35] Alyson shares what it’s like to run a business while being bipolar [5:32] Why Alyson has come to view being bipolar as a blessing not a curse [6:51] Alyson shares the practical strategies she uses to take advantage of her high energy days so she can rest when needed. [8:33] Alyson walks us through her daily calendar and how she batches her time and creates awareness around when she’s most productive. [9:51] We talk about useful apps for increasing productivity and scheduling social media content ahead of time. [12:20] We talk about what we’ve learned from periods of life and work when we’ve been forced to rest. P.S. As we mentioned in the show, to access Alyson’s FREE resource for saving time and energy with email templates, click here to join my private Facebook Group OR email alyson@jasperandfern.com and Alyson will send a copy directly to your inbox! Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to this show? If you’re not, I’d definitely encourage you to do that today. If you’re not, you might miss out on bonus episodes that could be exactly what you need to listen to to reach your business goals. I don’t want you to miss out! And if you’re feeling extra generous, it would be a tremendous help if you left a review on iTunes. Reviews help more people to be able to find the show & I love reading each and every one of them. Just select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what you like best about the podcast! You’re a rockstar, thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: The Secret Sauce Podcast Community Jasper & Fern’s Website Get 10% off Apphi