loader from loading.io

The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 75: Building A Vision-Driven Business with Cara Bedford

Mission Driven Business

Release Date: 05/14/2024

The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with entrepreneur and mobile app pioneer John Driscoll. As the co-founder and CEO of Naked Development, John and his team are rewriting the rules of mobile app development, raising the bar for innovation and creativity. John shares invaluable insights on the courage, patience, and perseverance needed to navigate the unpredictable to succeed in business. He also debunks the myth of overnight success. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses pick their fight. John believes you shouldn’t start a business unless you have a mission because having a true mission is like picking a...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps

Mission Driven Business

On this special episode, Brian dives into the all-important mid-year business review. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship or deep into running a medium-sized business, the mid-year business review is the perfect opportunity to take stock of your progress so you can stay on track toward your goals. Learn why the mid-year review is essential, what key areas to focus on, and three practical steps to conduct a thorough assessment. Episode Highlights 1. Revisit your mission, vision, and values. Your mission statement is the heartbeat of your business, articulating its...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with financial planner-turned-business coach Elizabeth Jetton, M.Ed., CFP. Elizabeth has made igniting passion a throughline of her career, evolving from the first female stockbroker in Atlanta to founding a financial planning firm and now working as a business coach and teacher. On the episode, Elizabeth gets to the heart of what makes a mission-driven business successful. She dives deep into how to identify your unique gifts and utilize them to create a business that serves your needs and makes an impact. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses reflect their owners’ golden...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 75: Building A Vision-Driven Business with Cara Bedford show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 75: Building A Vision-Driven Business with Cara Bedford

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with marketing expert Cara Bedford. As the founder and CEO of Infinite Marketing, Cara leverages the global talent economy to drive impactful campaigns for mid-to-large-sized businesses, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. On the episode, Cara shares why having a clear vision for a business can create an authentic, cohesive brand narrative. She also stresses the importance of clear communication, effective delegation, and asking the right questions. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are vision-driven businesses. When Cara thinks about mission-driven businesses, she...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 74: Using Data To Drive Diversity with Ken Janssens show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 74: Using Data To Drive Diversity with Ken Janssens

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with diversity, equity, and inclusion trailblazer Ken Janssens. During his 25-year-long career at JPMorgan Chase, Ken co-founded and chaired the company’s LGBTQ+ Executive Council, championing diversity and inclusivity at the highest levels. He’s also the former Board Chair for leading LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion non-profit Out & Equal. On the episode, Ken discusses his new venture, Windō, which aims to make corporate sustainability transparent and to connect young people with employers that share their values. He also shares his journey from activist leader to visionary...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 73: Tech, Ethics, and Empowerment with Amanda Wilson show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 73: Tech, Ethics, and Empowerment with Amanda Wilson

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with Amanda Wilson, the co-founder of #open, a dating app for ethically non-monogamous relationships. On the episode, Amanda opens up about the fear she faced pivoting from running political campaigns to launching a sex-positive tech business with her business and life partner. She also shares essential strategies and tactics for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and how she utilizes AI to fuel growth and innovation at #open. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses balance making money with benefiting society. Amanda defines a mission-driven business as one that...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 72: Crafting A Legacy Of Leadership with Amanda Bauer-Frisch show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 72: Crafting A Legacy Of Leadership with Amanda Bauer-Frisch

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with serial entrepreneur and visionary leader Amanda Bauer-Frisch. As the CEO of Small Legacies, Amanda creates a way to give thoughtful, high-quality learning tools that enhance a child’s development. She also oversees several other small, legacy-driven businesses under the Enduring Legacy brand. On the episode, Amanda opens up about how becoming a young widow and being open to the right, new opportunities shaped her entrepreneurial journey. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s purchased several existing brands and shares tips for finding and acquiring...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 71: Driving A Heart-Led Business with Brian Moak show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 71: Driving A Heart-Led Business with Brian Moak

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with Brian Moak, an entrepreneur, consultant, coach, and motivational speaker focused on service-based businesses and team engagement. As the owner and CEO of HEART Certified Auto Care, Brian used empathy to transform his family’s business into an industry-leading auto shop. He also owns one of the largest Shack Shine franchises in North America and is a partner in a digital marketing firm. On the episode, Brian Moak details his rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey, riding the lows of losing $1.5 million in one year to growing his business to earn nearly $15 million in revenue....

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 70: How To Create Powerful Mission, Vision, and Values Statements show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 70: How To Create Powerful Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

Mission Driven Business

On this special episode, Brian dives deep into the art of crafting your business’s mission, vision, and value statements. These principles are the roadmap to success, and Brian gives a blueprint for creating powerful mission, vision, and values statements that shape the foundation of a successful company. This process is a fundamental topic for any budding entrepreneur or business owner.  Episode Highlights How to write an effective mission statement The mission statement is the heart of any business, encapsulating the “why” behind your company’s existence. To be effective, a...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 69: Building A Business For Financial Independence with LaSean Smith show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 69: Building A Business For Financial Independence with LaSean Smith

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with LaSean Smith, a software developer and business creator on a mission to help businesses and business owners succeed. LaSean spent more than a decade as a software executive at Amazon and Microsoft, where he uncovered patterns to use process as a tool to win in business more often. He now uses those insights to help entrepreneurs launch and sustain bootstrapped businesses.  On the episode, LaSean digs deep into what it means to have a values-based business and why owning a business is the most predictable way to achieve financial independence. He also outlines the...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Brian chats with marketing expert Cara Bedford. As the founder and CEO of Infinite Marketing, Cara leverages the global talent economy to drive impactful campaigns for mid-to-large-sized businesses, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. On the episode, Cara shares why having a clear vision for a business can create an authentic, cohesive brand narrative. She also stresses the importance of clear communication, effective delegation, and asking the right questions.

Episode Highlights

Mission-driven businesses are vision-driven businesses.

When Cara thinks about mission-driven businesses, she can’t help but associate the word mission with the day-to-day tactics of running a business. But what inspires her is the vision that a mission-driven business works to make a reality.

“When I think about why I get out of bed everyday, vision really resonates with me,” she said. “Mission is tactical, whereas vision is the future, the dream, the destination.”

At Infinite Marketing, Cara’s vision is to create a future where work is a source of joy and growth for everyone. She aspires to run a company that moves beyond work-life balance into work-life freedom.

“From the growth of our digital nomad culture that we’re seeing in the creative class, people are seeking not just employment but a journey of self-discovery and personal growth and purpose,” she said. “I want a world where work is a source of pride and fulfillment and gratification, not simply a means to an end.”

Create a brand guide.

Cara is a big believer in the power of brand guides, which can help inform the branding decisions for a business and identify gaps in business processes. The brand guides Infinite Marketing builds for clients are living documents that span 34 to 112 pages and detail the rules and processes of going to market.

“This booklet guides all of your branding decisions,” Cara explained. “People don’t understand how impactful that is to a business.”

Don’t be afraid to hire outside help.

Entrepreneurs can often benefit from outside expertise to help increase their chances of success. For instance, when working to redesign her logo Cara learned to trust the designer’s process, which resulted in a design more beautiful than she could have imagined.

She passes on that same advice to companies thinking about hiring a marketer. Once a business reaches a certain size, hiring someone to run marketing and sales efforts will further that business growth. For instance, a new business may not need a detailed brand guide, but Cara says investing in a brand guide is imperative for businesses with revenue in the $2 million - $5 million range.

“It’s a living document that grows with you,” she said. “You add pages to it as you grow, and you build frameworks as you grow.”

Resources + Links

About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast

Brian Thompson, JD/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.