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.

Dealing with Price Comparison 03/29/2021

Embracing the Seasons of Life and Business 01/06/2021

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! /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/14482118

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. /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/14285345

Pivoting Your Business During a Crisis 04/28/2020

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 /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/14070269

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 /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13972574

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 /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13886294

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. /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13839623

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 /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13768898

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 /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13473227

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). /episode/index/show/takeitpersonally/id/13392710