Take It Personally
Take It Personally, hosted by professional branding photographer Maddie Peschong, shares advice every Tuesday to help you grow your personal brand to stand out from the noise and thrive, even in the most saturated markets. Episodes feature business and marketing advice, branding expertise, and real stories and inspiration from creative professionals all over the world.
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Dealing with Price Comparison
03/29/2021
Dealing with Price Comparison
You finally feel good about those (higher! yay!) prices you're charging, only to find out that a "competitor" is doing what you're doing for half the price. What next? How do you handle it? Let's talk about the four things that need to happen when you find yourself in this position, and how it can actually be a very good thing for your business. Join the Facebook group for more discussion after the show! https://www.facebook.com/groups/takeitpersonally/
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Embracing the Seasons of Life and Business
01/06/2021
Embracing the Seasons of Life and Business
Well hello. It's been a while. I'm popping in today to give you an update on my hiatus-turned-super-long-hiatus, and talking about what 2020 and my third pregnancy taught me about life and business. I missed you! Join the Facebook group here and let's continue the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/takeitpersonally
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What to do When Your Business No Longer Aligns with Your Passions
05/19/2020
What to do When Your Business No Longer Aligns with Your Passions
Today on Take It Personally is guest, Chelsey Schnell! Chelsey is from Sioux Falls, married, and has 3 kids she gets to love on and 2 in heaven that she lost to miscarriage. She is an Enneagram 4, works in marketing and is also a photographer, and now runs a nonprofit she started, called Evermore Blooms. Evermore Blooms delivers flowers to moms, who have suffered a miscarriage, on their hardest days (due date, anniversary of the loss, etc.). Chelsey has a unique story as it has taken a lot of different turns over the years as she has learned more about who she is and her passions. She has come on today to share more about her journey, why it’s okay if your interests and passions change, and how to help your audience connect with your new venture. Here are some of the things I talk about with Chelsey: How Chelsey's miscarriage impacted her photography work and her mission How she got from photography to her nonprofit, Evermore Blooms More about Evermore Blooms - how it got started, how it works, and Chelsey's dreams for it How Chelsey wants to change the conversation about miscarriage Chelsey’s advice to people who are working on a business that is no longer fulfilling them Why doing what you love is so important (more important than money) What’s getting Chelsey excited Highlights: [9:05] Photography will always be a part of me, but I think God wanted more for me. It was just a catalyst to something else. [18:23] My main goal is to not leave any women uncared for, whatever that might look like. [25:40] I had the realization that I am not my work. I put a lot of ‘me’ into my work, but I am not my work. As creatives, we have to remember this. [31:57] I feel that so many people get wrapped up in “this is what I should be doing” or “these are the things that are going to make me money.” But what’s going to make your heart happy? None of that matters if at the end of your life you say “I made a lot of money, but I sure was miserable.” What an episode! This conversation with Chelsey was so life-giving for me. Chelsey’s story is so inspiring, and I know it will be to others too, as will Evermore Blooms. Connect with Chelsey @Evermorebloomsorg on Instagram and Evermore Blooms on Facebook (pink and white flower profile picture). Their website is coming soon. Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join in!
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Understanding the Enneagram with Jada Dobesh
05/05/2020
Understanding the Enneagram with Jada Dobesh
Today I get to welcome Jada Dobesh onto Take It Personally! Jada Dobesh is the owner of Selah Space, a holistic wellness cooperative. She is a Spiritual Director who uses the Enneagram as a map for her directees personal, spiritual, and mental-emotional growth. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband Witt, and daughter, Audrey and spends a great deal of her time baking bread and working in her garden. Over the past year, I have been exploring my spirituality more and have loved following Jada on social media. Jada is going to be sharing all about the enneagram specifically today, which is one of my favorite topics right now. Here are some of the things Jada and I discuss: How Jada got to where she is today and her journey to becoming a spiritual director Jada’s definition of the Enneagram How to find out your Enneagram number (and why she doesn't recommend a test!) An overview of each Enneagram number Tips for where to start to find your type Details about your soul child number and why it’s important to know that too Benefits of understanding the Enneagram and advice for using it in your personal life and/or business Enneagram book recommendations What’s getting Jada excited right now A closer look at this episode: [8:01] You are identified as one number and spend your life moving from number to number, gaining wisdom from all of the different types. [21:27] The point is not to become the best ego-type that you can be. You actually want to move all the way through all of the numbers, picking up the pieces that serve you well and that make you a better person. [34:39] It’s important as a leader to acknowledge your strength, and then find people or workers who have some of the other strengths. Thank you to Jada for joining me today and sharing about the Enneagram! The Enneagram is such a cool and unique thing to reflect on, not only in your personal life, but for your business too. If you want to connect with Jada you can find her on social media @selahspacesd. Jada's enneagram book recommendations: / Download the mentioned in the episode to take back control of your IG engagement and start having fun again! Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast.
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Pivoting Your Business During a Crisis
04/28/2020
Pivoting Your Business During a Crisis
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The 80/20 Rule for Your Content Calendar
04/21/2020
The 80/20 Rule for Your Content Calendar
CONTENT. It’s a word that strikes fear and causes paralysis. There is so. much. pressure. Will it be good enough? Deep enough? Clever enough? Funny enough? Enough enough? There’s a rule of thumb that has helped me get past that content paralysis, and it’s called the 80/20 content rule. What that means is that 80% of the time, you serve your audience, and 20% of the time, you sell to them. And if you use the 80% effectively, the 20% becomes so much easier. The 80% may seem daunting, but you have more to share than you think. Use your content to educate, inspire, entertain, or connect with your audience. Share what’s on your heart, special knowledge you have, or encourage deeper thinking. Here’s some of the things I share in today's episode regarding the 80/20 content rule: The 80% does not all have to be original stuff, straight from your brain (ps. It’s this thinking that causes the paralysis). When you are so close to something, as we all are with our own businesses, it’s harder for us to think of things that are worth sharing as it seems like common knowledge to everyone - but it’s not. Consider questions you wish your clients would ask you (and then answer that question). If you are growing your business and providing the 80% of service content, the time will come when your audience is ready to pay you so they can get more. Your 20% should be about solving the problems of your audience. Some highlights from the episode: [ 9:33] Sometimes content doesn't serve a significant purpose other than making a connection. [9:54] Just because a post is not educating, doesn't mean it's not providing some sort of value. [10:16] As uncomfortable as it makes so many people, if you've been doing the 80% the right way, the 20% should be easy. I think you will find that you can serve your clients really well through the 80/20 content rule when you share things that educate, motivate, inspire, or entertain while remembering to listen to the feedback your content generates. It’s the feedback that leads to the 20% - the opportunities for sales and possibly for services that you hadn’t even considered until you listened to your audience and learned what problems you can solve with your unique expertise. Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join in! Thank you to our Take It Personally sponsors
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When To Work For Free
04/14/2020
When To Work For Free
In this episode of Take It Personally, I’m going to share my rules for when to work for free, what to give, and how to say no. This is an important conversation, and it may be coming up more lately with all that is going on in the world (when I planned this episode, I didn’t think I would be sharing it during a global pandemic). You may be in the position right now of having more free time and the ability or capacity to share free content with your audience. Or you may be in the position where you need the money to pay your bills, and working for free isn’t really an option. One of the biggest struggles I have had as I’ve built my business is knowing when to work for free - to donate time, product, or money to the many amazing causes that often reach out to me. I was raised in a family that gives; my parents always shared their time and money with causes that were important to them. I understand and value social responsibility. But when you own your own business, you also have to balance that sense of responsibility with your bottom line. Here’s a look at the things I talk about in this episode: How knowing my mission and core values helps me know when to say yes Why you need to know your limits (time, money, etc.) so you don’t resent saying yes later Why it may feel selfish at first, but if you want to run a profitable business, you just can’t give to all of the causes and events Why you should determine what you are willing to donate, and set your priorities beforehand Why helping the organization you are working with understand the value of your donation is something you should do (many do not know how much creative services actually cost) How volunteering and donating can also be a great place for exposure and networking A few highlights from this episode: [3:54] As part of your annual plan, I suggest you determine how much time, money, and/or product you are willing to donate for the coming year. [6:47] The more profitable of a business you can run, the more you can give back, and the more you can be an asset to your community. It can be hard to say no, and it might be a learning process in figuring out what you can and actually want to give away, but when you fine tune what you want and need from your philanthropy, it's a winning proposition. You make connections and market your brand, and community organizations benefit from your generosity and commitment - win, win. Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join in! Thank you to our Take It Personally sponsors
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Staying True to Business Values in a Crisis
04/07/2020
Staying True to Business Values in a Crisis
I’m sitting down with another business owner for this episode, Jeremy Brech, to discuss what this unique, and possibly difficult, time can mean for your business or businesses in general. I know we are all hoping to make it through with our sanity, but ultimately with our business still intact. There are so many unknowns, and emotions are all over. And that’s okay. This situation is not normal or ideal, but I have found talking with other business owners or people who are experiencing the same thing to be helpful. And that’s what this conversation is today. Jeremy Brech is with DJ Jer Events and Lighting Design. He is an incredible business owner in the Sioux Falls area. He is known nationwide for his DJ skills, along with lighting and design and other business aspects. Jeremy has been in business for 24 years, and he has so much value and insight to offer. Here’s a look at some of the things I discuss with Jeremy: Why he loves Sioux Falls and believes the strong economy has helped when hardships or recessions have hit. How making good financial decisions early on in his marriage and for his business helped put him in a comfortable position to be “recession-ready” (and he highly recommends Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University). Managing your money is important, but you also need to manage your time. This “extra” time is your opportunity to work on your business, which will help put you in a better position for the future. Prioritize family time too, and support locally if possible (i.e.: take out food, purchase gift cards, etc.). Jeremy shares how he and his team are specifically helping their clients out and supporting others right now. Info on the small business stimulus. Thank your community and those still supporting you, and support them back. It’s not a marketing strategy, it’s caring for other people. A few highlights from this episode: [10:22] Look to see how you can help other people – in your market, in your industry. Be the person to help somebody out if they are in need. [17:15] It’s not so much about financial gratification, it’s more about the gratification of knowing that you can make an impact, especially in times like this. [27:21] Reach out to those businesses who have been there for you. Reach out to those clients that have allowed your business to be a business or survive. Send them a thank you, and check in to see how they are doing. Every type of hope that we can get is exactly what we need. Thank you to Jeremy for joining me today! It was a great reminder to take time to prepare your business for the future and ultimately, to do more outside of it to support each other through this time. You can connect with Jeremy on his website . Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join in! THANK YOU TO OUR TAKE IT PERSONALLY SPONSORS
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The Small Business Stimulus Package: What You Need To Know
04/03/2020
The Small Business Stimulus Package: What You Need To Know
I’m joined today by my personal accountant, Courtney, from Numbers and Such Prof. LLC. She is here today to talk all about the Small Business Stimulus Package and the different loans and grants available and what they mean for small business owners. Things are constantly changing and everyone is searching for information (this was recorded the morning of April 3rd). Courtney helps clear things up today, but ultimately, we suggest that you get in touch with your CPA and business banker to understand what action you need to take next. Here’s a look into some of the information Courtney shares: Economic Injury Disaster Loan The is a loan that you apply for through the SBA. If you can’t get funding elsewhere, consider this one. It is an up to 30-year loan (but not guaranteed that). When applying, there is $10,000 grant money you can request (again, not guaranteed that full amount). The SBA is bogged down, so just a reminder that the money may not be granted to you immediately and may take time. Apply through the . The Paycheck Protection Program The PPP is another one you can apply for to get 2.5x your average monthly payroll in a loan, which can convert to a grant if you use it for certain purposes. The loan is 2 years and has an interest rate of 1%, though it has potential to be fully forgiven. Independent contractors can’t apply until Friday, April 10. One requirement is having under 500 employees. Apply through your bank (). You have 8 weeks to spend this amount (on payroll, rent, and utilities). 75% of the forgivable amount needs to be used on payroll. Unemployment Unemployment can be collected for 10 weeks before you need to start searching for other work (check according to your state). South Dakota maxes out at $414 a week (specific requirements to determine amount) and supposedly the federal government is adding to that with an extra $600 a week, if the state chooses to adopt and implement it. If you receive a furlough notice from your employer, that may make your application easier. Other Notes Check with your lender to see if they are SBA-friendly and participating in these options. There are billions of dollars on the line, and it is anticipated to dry up. The money is first come, first serve. Apply as soon as you can. If you have a Schedule C, things can get murky. Because we don’t have typical payroll, having the loan be forgiven would look differently, and we just don’t have enough clarification at this time. You don’t need to have 2019 taxes filed to do all of this, but you will need 2019 financials either way. Other Tax Items SD sales tax deadlines are not pushed back. SD unemployment tax deadlines are not pushed back. Payroll taxes – depends if your CPA has guided you to postpone. Income tax got pushed to July 15 (instead of April 15). One final reminder: the best thing you can do is get in touch with your CPA and banker to figure out the steps you need to take next to apply. GET IN TOUCH WITH COURTNEY Thank you, Courtney for joining and sharing your knowledge. We hope this was helpful to all of you small business owners out there. If you are looking for help on this, you can connect with Courtney on her or . Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join and ask any questions you might have regarding the Small Business Stimulus Package or information in today’s episode.
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Business Tools I Can't Live Without
03/31/2020
Business Tools I Can't Live Without
Life has been hectic lately, and honestly, I have been trying to record this episode for about two weeks. We are in the middle of this global pandemic– something none of us have navigated before. I’ve been trying to keep business as usual while business cannot really be business as usual. Many of us have found ourselves working on our business versus in our business. If you have the time now, (though if you have kids at your feet–you don’t, and I get it!), working on the back end of your business is a great place to spend your time because it will make things smoother on the front end, when business returns to “normal” once again. As a small business owner, you need quality tools to keep yourself organized. As a one person shop, you deal with everything from sales to marketing to contracts to billing. If you don’t have great systems in place, important details can slip through the cracks. And let’s face it, your reputation is on the line. That’s why today I am going to share a few of my favorite tools that I use to manage my business that you may come to love as much as I do. Here’s a sneak peek at my favorite tools: Dubsado is a CRM (client relationship management) software. It provides a consistent client experience through automated workflows and emails. You can use it free for your first three clients. If you want to continue with it, you can use for 20% off your first year! Stripe is a payment processor, which allows me to take payments online. It works alongside many of the other apps and tools I use for my business. Voxer is a voice messaging app, sort of like a walkie-talkie, that allows for easy communication. Google Drive is a great place to create documents, share with members of your team, and store files. Asana is a project and task management software. You can create projects and assign the subtasks to different people with different deadlines and notes. I hope it’s been helpful for you to learn about some of my favorite tools for organization and project management. The better you can have the back-end of your business set up, the easier everything else is going forward. Cheers to an organized business life! Some of the best conversations happen after the show in my private Facebook group, Take It Personally Podcast. to join in! THANK YOU TO OUR TAKE IT PERSONALLY SPONSORS
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Why 'Balance' is a 4-Letter Word
03/10/2020
Why 'Balance' is a 4-Letter Word
Lately I have had some people reach out asking me to do an episode about balance. The timing is ironic as this past week I hardly worked more than 30 minutes a day due to having a sick kid at home. My daughter caught some kind of bug, and all she wanted to do was cuddle and nap on the couch. My flexibility allowed me to stay home with her, which I am so thankful for. But I will admit that, as a business owner, it was also challenging. I love my job, and I love to work, so it was tough having that all be put on hold. This episode comes at an interesting time for me, but it also supports how I feel about balance – and that is that balance doesn’t really exist. The more we understand that and understand that that’s just life (and that everyone else doesn’t have it together either), the better it’ll be during those times we really feel unbalanced. Though things are never totally in balance, there are some things in my life that I have setup to help support this work-life integration, or lack of balance maybe. And that’s what we are talking about today. Keep in mind these are what work for me and my family, though it may look different for you! But here are a few of those things I am sharing on today’s episode: Why I don’t believe there will ever be balance, otherwise we are constantly having to choose between our family, our work, our house, our self-care and the list goes on. Why I like the phrase work-life integration instead of work-life balance. It really is all one and the same. There will be some weeks where it’s all things all family, there will be weeks you have to be more present at work or where your personal life takes priority, etc. Childcare is a nonnegotiable for me. If my kids are home, I simply can’t get work done. Though it is a luxury, if you can afford, I totally see it as a necessary luxury. My life has also been changed through outsourcing. Again, it may not be financially realistic for everyone, but if you are just scared of starting, consider it again! Being able to free up your time is so much more incredible than holding onto the money. This past year, I have really worked to protect my calendar. Last year, I overbooked and became so burnt out. I set goals this year to have it be different, and it has allowed me to retain my sanity. A closer look into the episode: [5:10] It’s all about that integration across all the different parts of your life, as opposed to balance. [11:32] Don’t think I’m doing it all with kids at home with me, because I’m not; my kids are in childcare full-time which allows me to get work done. [25:12] I personally make sure my calendar is really light before and after big trips. No more stressing over getting all the things ready or coming back to a super full plate. I hope this episode was helpful in helping you realize that you don’t need to be striving after balance but that there are things that can support you in the “unbalance.” Come join us in the and share how you find integration in your life. THANK YOU TO OUR TAKE IT PERSONALLY SPONSORS
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3 Ways to Boost Your Instagram Engagement RIGHT NOW
03/03/2020
3 Ways to Boost Your Instagram Engagement RIGHT NOW
Oh, Instagram. We love to hate it, right? I actually love Instagram, but I hear frequently from other people who can’t stand the app anymore because it’s become so different from when we first started using it. I also tend to hear many people blaming the algorithm (i.e.: the algorithm is the reason that their engagement is down or no one is seeing their post). And today I’m here for a major dose of reality and to tell you...it’s not the algorithm’s fault. The Instagram algorithm was specifically created so that people would see engaging content that they want to connect with. And quite frankly, if you are not creating engaging content that people want to connect with, the algorithm is going to hurt you. And in my opinion, it should. If you’re not creating good content that people actually want to see, why should Instagram show your content to people? I know this can be hard to hear as we all try to put out good content, but if you are struggling with engagement on Instagram, that may just be the case. That is why in today’s episode of Take it Personally I am talking about 3 things you can do right now to boost your Instagram engagement and ultimately create it to be a place you want to be and where your audience has fun. Here’s a little recap of the episode: Ask your audience an engaging question. Yes, this sounds so obvious, but we often forget to include a reason to make your audience stick around and engage back. Help your audience realize your space is a fun place and worth engaging with. It’s as simple as this: engage back. Respond to DMs. Comment back to people’s comments. Engage with people you follow. If you want more followers, you need to be a good host to the followers you currently have. Treat your current audience like kings and queens. Focus more on saves and shares in 2020. Encourage your audience to do those things (versus simply liking your post).
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How To Ask For Someone's Time WITHOUT Using 'Can I Pick Your Brain?'
02/25/2020
How To Ask For Someone's Time WITHOUT Using 'Can I Pick Your Brain?'
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What You Should Know About Contracts for Your Business with The Legal Paige
02/18/2020
What You Should Know About Contracts for Your Business with The Legal Paige
I am so excited to have Paige, from , on Take it Personally today! Paige is the founder of The Legal Paige, a virtual law firm working with online businesses and wedding industry professionals. She is a certified Juris Doctor barred in the state of Montana and holds a double B.A. in Economics and Political Science. After working as a federal law clerk, Paige traded in the traditional law life for a virtual one and opened the doors to in 2018. She helps her clients run legal and protected businesses and counsels them on issues related to contracts, intellectual property, privacy, and business law. She has worked with Jasmine Star, Hope Taylor, Brittani and Jon Hon with Hustle & Flow, Davey & Krista, Libby Rothschild with Dietitian Boss, and dozens more. Her mission is to create an online space where the law isn’t so scary and entrepreneurs can get legally legit in no time. Law aside, Paige is a small town Montana girl who loves travel, her dog, Sugar, and a good glass of red wine. Today we are discussing the things you can do to make your business “legally legit.” Here’s a preview into what Paige and I talked about: How Paige managed to start and grow a photography business while also going to law school, and eventually start her own virtual law firm How Paige found her niche in the gap between photography and law Some of the biggest mistakes Paige sees people make in business that could have legal consequences The importance of copyrights and trademarks Who should have contracts in place in their business What should be included in a contract Why you should outsource to an attorney (from day one, not just when things go wrong)
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If I had to start my business over, here's what I'd do
02/05/2020
If I had to start my business over, here's what I'd do
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Using StrengthsFinder as Your Business Secret Weapon with Chelsea Giedd
01/28/2020
Using StrengthsFinder as Your Business Secret Weapon with Chelsea Giedd
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How To Price Your Side Hustle (And What You Might Be Doing Wrong)
01/14/2020
How To Price Your Side Hustle (And What You Might Be Doing Wrong)
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2019 in Review + Planning for 2020
12/17/2019
2019 in Review + Planning for 2020
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3 Health Tips for Busy Women with Melissa Eich
12/10/2019
3 Health Tips for Busy Women with Melissa Eich
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InstaBranding Course Sneak Peek
12/03/2019
InstaBranding Course Sneak Peek
Check out this episode for a sneak peek inside my new course, InstaBranding, on sale this week only!
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How to Care Less About What Other People Think with Carol Elizabeth
11/19/2019
How to Care Less About What Other People Think with Carol Elizabeth
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The Branding Mistake You Need to Stop Making
11/12/2019
The Branding Mistake You Need to Stop Making
Emily Wilson is a branding and self-discovery coach in Austin, TX who helps women embrace their true selves, discover their talents, build a confident brand & live a mission-driven life. She joins me on Take It Personally today to talk all about building a brand based on yourself, and the mistake you need to stop making in order to build something truly authentic to yourself.
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Why Cold Messaging is Never the Answer in Your Network Marketing Business
11/05/2019
Why Cold Messaging is Never the Answer in Your Network Marketing Business
This week’s episode is a little different because I wanted to talk about something that recently happened in my own life, and it’s also something that I know happens to others on a pretty frequent basis. If you’ve been on social media at some point in the last five years, chances are you’ve been hit with a cold message. You know what these look like: maybe a high school acquaintance starts selling essential oils and sends you a DM. Or a family member you only see every other Easter wants you to check out the makeup she’s now selling. These messages are awkward, they feel super icky, and they’re just all around a really crappy way to market our business—ANY business, no matter if you’re in an MLM or not. I want to get one thing straight before I start this episode: I don’t have a problem with MLMs, networking marketing, or whatever you want to call it. I know people who have been successful with them, and I know people who haven’t been successful with them. I actually use a TON of MLM products in my daily life. Nearly my entire makeup bag is BeautyCounter, Young Living essential oils are littered all over my house, Monat is in my shower, and I’m newly obsessed with BeachBody OnDemand because the morning meltdown workout is bomb. I don’t have a problem with the products or even the companies; but I do have a problem with the icky sales tactics that are often promoted in these companies, and that’s what I want to talk about today.
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How I Deal with Imposter Syndrome
10/29/2019
How I Deal with Imposter Syndrome
Ever heard of imposter syndrome before? If you’ve ever found yourself feeling inadequate or like you’re ‘not enough,’ you’re one of the millions of people who have dealt with this issue. It’s insanely common, and it’s a big deal! People, especially women, are living their lives absolutely terrified that they are going to be exposed as a fraud. That someone is going to come forward and call them out and let the world know they’ve just been faking it this whole time. As I’ve grown as a business woman, I’ve found that imposter syndrome doesn’t go away. Every time I get to a point where I can feel myself up-leveling in my business, it rears its ugly head, sometimes even more intense than before. My business is better than it has ever been and I still have moments where I’m terrified that the other shoe could drop. However, as my imposter syndrome has gotten more and more intense, so has my mental strength. I can feel when imposter syndrome is coming and while I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop it, I have developed the tools I need to deal with it. I firmly believe that anyone can do this, and I am hopeful that by sharing with you, you can start to take action on shifting your mindset to deal with imposter syndrome instead of letting it control you.
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Building an Online Business that Fits Your Life with Nichole Joy
10/22/2019
Building an Online Business that Fits Your Life with Nichole Joy
Nichole Joy is a digital doula. Never heard of that title before? That's probably because this girl pretty much invented it. After the birth of her second baby, Nichole discovered a passion within her for pregnancy and childbirth education, and began studying to become a doula. But with (eventually) three young children at home, being on call for the unpredictable nature of birth wasn't going to work. Instead, Nichole took to social media and began building an online community of women who were eager to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth. Now, she's creating courses for these women, AND the doulas who serve them. Nichole is the perfect example of what it can look like if you keep your head down and simply listen to what your people are asking for. She's built her business on serving, and there are so many amazing gems in this interview that you can apply to your own business.
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Are you ready to outsource? Here's how to start.
10/15/2019
Are you ready to outsource? Here's how to start.
So much of building a personal brand involves showing up and being yourself. And you can't do that if you're drowning in back-end work! This is a huge struggle for people who want to bring more of themselves into their business, but are being stretched way too thin by the day to day. But there is an answer and the answer is OUTSOURCING! I started outsourcing in my photography business a couple years ago and I'll never go back. It's been an absolute game changer to shift my focus to what I actually NEED to be doing, and getting other things, like busy work, off my plate. As solopreneurs, we are building our business babies by our lonesome, and the thought of handing any piece of that over to someone else can send you into a full-blown panic attack. But the key to scaling is in making sure that you're not just working IN your business, but ON your business. If you're ready to grow, let's talk outsourcing.
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Why I Joined a Mastermind
10/08/2019
Why I Joined a Mastermind
This year has been game-changing for my business in so many ways. Before I get into it, let me preface this episode by saying I’m about to get REAL when it comes to numbers, because I think it’s incredibly important to the story. So, if finance talk makes you uncomfortable, you may want to skip this episode. However, I would encourage you to dig into those feelings to understand WHY you maybe don’t love talking about money. I know it can feel icky on the surface, but the reality is there is power and freedom in understanding the numbers behind your business, and it can make all the difference in how you’re spending your time. Plus, money can be the source of some really big wins, and those should be celebrated! So, let’s talk all about why I joined a mastermind in 2019 and how it’s completely changed my business for the better.
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Building a Personal Brand when you Don't Fit the Mold with Cinnamon Wolfe
10/01/2019
Building a Personal Brand when you Don't Fit the Mold with Cinnamon Wolfe
I first met Cinnamon in a Facebook group actually. Cinnamon used her expertise in Squarespace to help me optimize my site at the time. Our friendship has grown over the years, and we often are in contact. I love hearing her perspective as she considers herself to be a little bit different than a lot of others in her field. And I would agree and think she is different in the best ways. When you look at a lot of creatives, especially on social media, there are certain things about them that kind of tend to be the same. Which has me thinking: Should you build a personal brand when you feel like you don’t quite fit that mold? Let’s hear what Cinnamon has to say!
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How I'm Protecting My Calendar (and Sanity!)
10/01/2019
How I'm Protecting My Calendar (and Sanity!)
Since I quit my day job, the biggest struggle that I have had with a business owner has been time management. Before I left my 8-5, I remember thinking how much time it would feel like I would have, now that I could solely focus on my business. Fast forward a year later, and we all know that is not the case. As a business owner, your mind is constantly going a mile a minute, and there are always a million things to do. And that’s before you start factoring in things like daily distractions, people wanting to grab coffee or lunch, social media time suck, and a million other things that can pop up on the daily. Today I’m sharing the three things I’ve been doing lately to protect my calendar, and therefore my sanity, as I navigate being my own boss and trying to make sure I don’t go crazy trying to do it all.
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Passive Income Through Stock Photography with Annie Otzen
10/01/2019
Passive Income Through Stock Photography with Annie Otzen
Annie Otzen is a Getty Photographer and takes stock photography for Getty Images. She has incredible talent and has had some of her images published in the coolest places because of what she is doing with stock. Annie has so many great insights into stock photography and creating passive income for your business. I just started last year with passive income, and it completely changed my business. It’s an incredible thing to do something one time and then continue to get paid for it every single month, and that is what Annie is doing with stock photography.
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