Climbing Together - The Small Business Experience

Shipping is complicated.  Understanding weights, box sizes, and regions is essential to make sure you are charging enough. In this episode, Madison Clark of Grief Cards, talks about the excitement of getting orders from all over the country on her launch day… and the stress of realizing that she had set up a default shipping price that was only enough to cover local shipments.   You can learn more about Madison and Grief Cards at: Website:  https://www.griefcards.co/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefcards/  To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

When you discover something isn't working in your business, the knee-jerk reaction can be to hire someone to solve the problem. But hiring a coach or expert is just like any other expense – you must determine if the revenue created from that expert will be commensurate with their cost. In this episode, Sally Meyers of Rebel Unstuck, talks about panic hiring coaches and spending far more money than she needed to.  She realized if she just stopped and took some time, she already had a lot of information and expertise – she just needed to trust herself. You can learn more about Sally Meyers and Rebel Unstuck at: Website: https://www.happyripplescoaching.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.skeltonmeyers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyripplescoaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyripplescoaching/   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Contrary to popular wisdom, your top marketing goal shouldn't be to get lots of views since you aren't an influencer. Your goal should be to get potential consumers to engage with your business. In this episode, Max Sheffield of Max Wilde Stories, talks about the excitement of having a writing piece go viral, and then the letdown of realizing it had no impact to their business because they were missing a call to action.  You can learn more about Max and Max Wilde Stories at:  Main Website: https://www.maxwildestories.com Bio Site: https://bio.site/maxwildestories YouTube: https://youtube.com/@maxwildestories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxwildestories LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-sheffield-baird/ Discover Your Inner Magic Free Video Training: https://pages.maxwildestories.com/video-training Story Alchemy Strategy Lab Waitlist: https://pages.maxwildestories.com/waitlist   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!  If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

It's impossible to make time for success if you're saying yes to everything. Learning how to say no is essential for your business and your sanity. In this episode, Rachel Blankenship of RR Mediation Services talks about the freedom she discovered by learning to say no. You can learn more about Rachel and RR Mediation Services at: Website: https://rrmskc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rrmskc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-blankenship-2715821a3/ Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/kansas-city-mo/rr-mediation-services-2   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Social media is fine, but it doesn't have nearly the sales power of an email list.    In this episode, LaToya Rozof of 79Roze, talks about moving her focus to growing her email list and how it helped her business grow.  You can learn more about LaToya and 79Roze at: Website: https://79roze.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/79roze Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/79Roze   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

The world tells us that entrepreneurs are rockstars, so it's not surprising that we feel a lot of pressure to do and know everything.  But entrepreneurs are human beings too, and we have our limitations.  In this episode, Anika Jones of Head to Toe Blessing, talks about trying to accommodate every customer that came her way and how that impacted her business. You can learn more About Anika and Head to Toe Blessing at: Website: https://www.headtotoeblessing.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headtotoeblessing/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/i3xdJAaYANY?si=YJaofEcyu2HNZZW8 To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

When you have a brick-and-mortar space, it's wise to consider all the ways that space can create revenue. In this episode, Shannon Carlton of Intentional Growth Strategies talks about having cash flow issues as the owner of a coworking space and how her ‘board of directors' helped her find ways to fully utilize her space. You can learn more about Shannon and Intentional Growth Strategies at: Website: http://igspartners.net/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Contrary to popular marketing wisdom, lots of small businesses are successful with little or no social media activity. In this episode, Holly Martinson of Patient Minds talks about her realization that social media wasn't the right strategy for her, and how she built a business around networking and strategic connections. You can learn more about Holly and Patient Minds Website: https://www.patient-minds.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patientmindsllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymartinson/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

While planning ahead is a great idea, people rarely buy something they can't benefit from soon. In this episode, Jessica Eastman Stewart of Joyfully Managed Life, talks about her Black Friday offer that asked people to buy workshops months in advance, and how little response she got for the ‘great deal' she was offering.  You can learn more about Jessica Eastman Stewart and Joyfully Managed Life at: Website: www.jessicaeastmanstewart.com/freebies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfullymanagedfamily LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaestewart/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

It's easy to assume that the costs from a past project will reflect the costs of a current project.  But sometimes that's not the case.  If you don't do your research before you bill a client, you could end up eating additional expenses that you didn't anticipate. In this episode, Jameela Adams of Jameela Adams At Your Service, talks about having to spend far more on a website build than she anticipated, and not discovering the extra cost until after she had quoted and billed the client. You can learn more about Jameela and Jameela Adams At Your Service at: Website: https://jameelaadamsatyourservice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJameelaAdamsExperience  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameelaadamsatyourservice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameelaadamsatyourservice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameela-adams-at-your-service/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/JAAtYourService To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Experts with the very best intentions may give you advice that doesn't feel right for you.  It's ok to trust your gut and go against the “common wisdom.” In this episode Audrey Mayrent of My Dancing Dragonfly, talks about being pressured to launch her business before she felt ready, and her disappoint when her website and messaging weren't right for her desired customer experience. You can learn more about Audrey and My Dancing Dragonfly at: Website: https://mydancingdragonfly.com/ Email: audrey@mydancingdragonfly.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079683517361 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mydancingdragonfly1/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-mayrent-b01290b/ Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/mydancingdragonfly/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

You're amazing, but you can't do everything.  Life + family + job + your own business = burnout! In this episode Leah Ledda of Lei's Plant Shop, talks about trying to do everything including being a full-time mom, full-time employee, and running her own business. And then she discovered how much help was out there if she just asked. You can learn more about Leah and Lei's Plant Shop at: Website: https://www.leisplantshop.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/leis_plant_shop/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/leisplantshop A big thanks to our sponsors – The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://rencenter.org To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

While hiring support for your business can be a great idea, you need to be careful about how many people you are hiring and how much money you're spending on that support. In this episode, Nadya Tatsch of Coaching by Nadya, talks about bringing on 8 different professionals in the first six months of her business and the enormous debt that quickly created. You can learn more about Nadya and Coaching by Nadya at: Website: https://www.coachingbynadya.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByNadya Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/183423182230832 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingbynadya/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/coachingbynadya/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1c7BrrgXIYSbh7-zOcD6Q To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

When your business is just starting and you're only taking a few orders, you don't need to do a lot of planning.  But when things get busy, everything changes, and you need to have a plan of attack to manage the complexity that comes with growth. In this episode, Angela Aquino of Silver Dahlia Baking, talks about saying yes to too many baking orders without a plan on how to get them all made and safely stored. You can learn more about Angela and Silver Dahlia Baking at: Website: www.SilverDahliaBaking.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverdahliabaking/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverDahliaBaking To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

When you are first starting out, it can be hard to see past the launch phase to the future needs of your business.  But change is inevitable, and you need to build flexibility into your operations. In this episode, Joanna Parzakonis of this is a book store & Bookbug, talks about building out her space with permanent fixtures that didn't allow her to adjust the layout of the store as circumstances changed. You can learn more about Joanna and this is a book store & Bookbug at: Website: https://www.bookbugkalamazoo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisabookstoreandbookbug Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbugkzoo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookbugkzoo To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!  

When your gut tells you that you won't be able to work with a certain client – listen.  Working with clients who don't align with your worldview, your idea of quality, or your work style will drain your energy and create undue stress. In this episode Erica Lovecraft of Flynn Writes, talks about working with a client who she never connected with and eventually having to refer her to another copywriter.  You can learn more about Erica and Flynn Writes at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-flynn-writes/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

For all us 40+ entrepreneurs, it might be tempting to keep doing things the same old way.  But business behaviors are constantly changing, and what we need to stay competitive isn't the same as it was 10 years ago (or even 2 years ago.) In this episode Michelle Barone of Moksha Grace Consulting, talks about her unnecessary spending on outdated business purchases, and how grateful she is for her under 30 COO who helps keep her business in the modern world.   You can learn more about Michelle and Moksha Grace Consulting at: Website: https://mokshagrace.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mokshagracecoaching/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mokshagracecoaching LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mokshagracecoaching/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

While your business is unique, people have already done many of the things you're learning to do.  Getting help from someone in your industry is a great way to leapfrog your business forward. In this episode Jubilee of Jordan Joel, talks about the impact they experienced from connecting with a fashion industry expert, and how they wish they'd done it sooner. You can learn more about Jubilee and Jordan Joel at: Website: https://www.jordanjoel.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/haus_of_jubilee Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/iamjordanjoel Email:  hausofjubilee@gmail.com A big thanks to our sponsors – The Transgender District of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

As an entrepreneur, it's easy to feel as though you chose to start your own business, so the responsibility should all be yours.  But people who care about you want to see you succeed and will give you a helping hand. In this episode, Avery Hines of the Concept Kitchen shares how he avoided asking for help, and the world of difference it made when he reached out to his community for support. You can learn more about Avery and Concept Kitchen at: Website: https://conceptkitchen.space/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conceptkitchen.space/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averyzeus/ A big thanks to our sponsors – The Transgender District of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors – The Transgender District of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/

If you don't know how much it costs to make your product, you risk undercharging and even losing money on your sales. In this episode, Claude Hizon of Pound4Pound Grilled Burgers realized that his gourmet burgers cost far more to make than he had guessed, and once he ran his numbers, he discovered his margins were much too low. You can find Claude and Pound4Pound Grilled Burgers at pop-ups in the Oakland and Berkeley, CA area.  Follow him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/pound4poundgrilledburgers/ To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

When you get too familiar with something, you can forget to double check what you're doing and mistakes can happen. In this episode, Mikaela-Giselle Brooks of Oak & Moon Candles shares how she registered and paid for an event that wasn't right for her business, and all the stress that came from that small mistake.   You can learn more about Mikaela-Giselle and Oak & Moon Candles & Care at: Website: https://www.oakandmooncandles.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakandmooncandles   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!   And a big thanks to our sponsors – The Transgender District of the San Francisco Bay Area @transgenderdistrict . If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/ .  

It may be long and tedious, but you need to read your lease carefully, and ideally have a lawyer look it over before you sign.  If it doesn't include key features that you need for your business, go back to the landlord and make sure they are documented in the lease. In this episode, Chrishella Roché of Vibez Creative Art Space shares how she was almost stuck with a lease that wouldn't allow her to operate her business, and how good legal support helped her undo her mistake. VIBEZ CREATIVE ARTS SPACE is an art space for the community to learn, explore, and enjoy art through different mediums. Since 2018 our goal has been to educate and introduce different art mediums through paint & sip experiences, workshops, and community events. Website: www.VibezCreativeArtsSpace.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VibezCreativeArtsSpace Instagram: www.Instagram.com/VibezCreativeArtsSpace To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors – BizStarts of Milwaukee, WI. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://bizstarts.com/

As new small business owners, it can be tempting to think you can do everything in your business alone. But that stifles growth, leads to burnout, and can even stop your business in its tracks. In this episode, Claire Crum of Calm Ops talks about her experience trying to do it all alone and how she learned to delegate effectively. You can connect with Claire and learn more about Calm Ops at https://clairecrum.com/meet To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

There are lots of reasons why a client may be the wrong fit.  They may be unprepared, overly demanding, condescending, flaky about meetings, or any number of issues.  And while getting their money may seem like a great thing, if they drain your energy and prevent you from doing effective work with other clients, they aren't worth your time.   In this episode, Sarah Connole of Trouvaille Creative talks about her experience with a rude client, and the red flag checklist she created to make sure she wouldn't be in the same position again.    You can find Sarah and Trouvaille Creative at: Website: https://www.trouvaillecreative.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trouvaillecreative/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trouvaillecreative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trouvaillecreative   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!  If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! 

No matter how much you plan, sometimes things will just go wrong, and you'll need to have a Plan B (or C or D). In this episode, Victoria Campbell Osborne Co-Founder of The Scented Web talks about discovering that an entire shipment of perfume bottles arrived as shattered glass and how they pivoted to make sure their product kept on selling.   You can find Victoria and The Scented Webb at: Website: www.thescentedwebb.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/thescentedwebb Blaze Virtual Summit Speaker: https://blazevirtualsummit.com   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!  If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Inevitably, there will be things you need to do for your business that make you uncomfortable.  Whether it be sales pitches, mastering bookkeeping, or putting your face on social media, you have to get past your discomfort and try new things.  In this episode, Katy Harvey of the Non-Diet Academy shares how she missed out on years of visibility because she was uncomfortable creating videos for social media.  You can find Katy Harvey and the Non-Diet Academy at: Website: katyharvey.net Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katyharvey.rd Free body image guide: nondietacademy.com/bodyimage   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

While outsourcing can be a great way to increase the capacity of your business, you need to have systems in place to make sure the work is getting done—especially the first time you work with someone. In this episode, Larissa Uredia CEO of No-Where Consultants talks about being too trusting of a contractor she hired, and the need for checks and balances to ensure that the results you're expecting are delivered. You can find Larissa and No-Where Consultants at: Website: https://no-where.net/bestof/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowhereconsultants Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nowhereconsultants   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

It's easy to look at what other entrepreneurs are doing and think – “we need to do that right now.”   But before you embark on a grand new project, it's important to assess if your business is at the right stage and has the resources to execute that project well.  If not, you might expend a huge amount of energy with little to no results. In this episode, Emily Sterk founder of Healing Towards Wellness talks about feeling the pressure to host a fundraiser in the early stages of her nonprofit.   With limited experience and a rushed deadline, they ended up with a lot of stress and less than stellar results. You can find Emily and her nonprofit Healing Toward Wellness at:   Website: https://www.healingtowardswellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingtowardswellness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healingtowardswellness   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

I'm sure you've heard that delegation is the key to business success, but delegation doesn't mean assigning tasks without instructions, coaching, and follow up.   In this episode, Frank Keck of CoreBuild Solutions talks about the expensive consequences of bringing on a new employee and letting them work for six months with very little coaching and oversight.   Connect directly with Frank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankkeck/ Connect with CoreBuild Solutions at: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corebuildsolutions1 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/corebuild-solutions/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corebuildkc/     To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us https://www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!

Unless your inner circle is full of entrepreneurs, the people you love won't understand the difficulties of launching a business.  In this episode, Shiquita Mann of Blossom Candle Co shares about the disappointment she experienced when her friends and family didn't offer much support or motivation when she first started, and how she found the right people to be her entrepreneur community.   You can find Shiquita and her business Blossom Candle Co at:  Website: https://www.blossomcandleco.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlossomCandleco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlossomCandleco   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!   And a big thanks to our sponsors – BizStarts of Milwaukee, WI. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://bizstarts.com/.

When you're passionate about your product and excited to get it out in the world, it can be tempting to just start selling and worry about the formalities later.  Unfortunately, this can get you in trouble.  In this episode, Courtney Francois of Alkies Wellness Shop shares that she learned the hard way that doing things by the book is an important part of running a business… especially if your product is food or drink.   You can find Courtney and her business Alkies Wellness at:  Website: www.Alkieswellness.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/alkieswellnessshop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alkiesmoothies   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!  If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!  And a big thanks to our sponsors – BizStarts of Milwaukee, WI. If you would like to check out their resources, visit them at https://bizstarts.com.  

For many of us, when we first start our business, we are an expert in our product or service, but not in the nuisances of actually running a business. Especially when it comes to all the legal issues that a small business owner needs to manage. This was the case for Susana Dominguez founder of Blowology. Today she runs a thriving blow dry bar in downtown San Francisco, but she almost lost the name she work so hard to build a brand around because she didn't register for a Trademark.   You can find Susana and her business Blowology at: Website: https://www.blowologydribar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blowology_drybarspa/ Or visit in person at 166 Geary St, Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94108   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!   And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

There's no shortage of social media posts, podcasts, and books telling you how successful and wealthy the author is.  “I made $30,000 last month and you can too.” “How I created a six-figure business in six months.”  Absorbing all these messages of success can make you feel less than if you aren't having the same experience.   In this episode, Kia Tattegrain of Electivate talks about overcoming the temptation to compare herself to other entrepreneurs.  She shares that comparison only leads to burnout and insecurity – neither of which will actually help you grow a successful business.   You can find Kia and her business Electivate at: Website: https://kiaharris.com/nonprofit-consulting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEY-OP8cQPmVBLkJD6_oZktW3hGUGjJE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kia-harris   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! (links our in our bio). And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Sometimes when we don't do enough research about a vendor, pop-up market, or business partner we end up in a situation that doesn't align with our personal and business values. In this episode, Car Nazzal of Thank You Ceramics talks about joining a holiday market to sell her handmade art and found herself alongside vendors selling mass produced items.  Not only did this setting misalign with her values, she also quickly realized that the market attendees were not her target market.  Luckily, she acted quickly and found another holiday market where her ‘girl gang craft community' would be in full force and ready to buy!   You can find Car and Thank You Ceramics at: https://thankyouceramics.shop/ https://ahatogether.com https://www.patreon.com/CarNazzal https://www.instagram.com/ThankYouCeramics   To hear more episodes like this find us on YouTube @climbbookclub or subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! (links our in our bio).   And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.  

Many new business owners put together a website and set up a social media account and then hope people will find them.  They often neglect the very powerful potential of their network.  When you are starting a business, you need to tell as many people as possible.  Don't let nerves about whether it will succeed hold you back.  Don't worry about someone stealing your idea… they won't.  Your network is a built-in group of people who are infinitely more likely to support you and send your referrals than any stranger who discovers your social media account.  In this episode, Maya Gutierrez of Maya Gutierrez Consulting discusses how she neglected her network when she first launched her business, hoping the adage ‘if you build it, they will come' would actually work (it didn't).  Thanks to a mentor's wise advice, she started reaching out to her network to let them know what she was doing, and then the referrals and new ideas started rolling in.    You can find Maya and her consulting company at:   mayagutierrezconsulting.com https://www.facebook.com/mayagutierrezconsulting https://www.instagram.com/mayagutierrezconsulting https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-gutierrez-14838777/   Her podcast is Fearlessly Divine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and can follow for updates https://www.instagram.com/   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! (links our in our bio). And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area @rencenter.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Going to trade shows, conferences, and other large events can be a great way to make high level connections, but only if you do some outreach in advance. If there are people you want to meet at a large event, it's essential to make connections before you arrive, and ideally set up meetings to ensure you will get a bit of their time. In this episode, jewelry designer Kate Eickelberg talks about going to her first major trade show, hoping to be discovered by the big buyers in the industry.  Instead, she quickly learned that the big buyers had already set up meetings with designers who had reached out before the show.  Rather than stopping and shopping – they walked right by her booth.     You can find Kate and her beautiful fine jewelry at:  https://www.kateeickelberg.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kateeickelberg/   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! (links our in our bio). And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area @rencenter.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.  

So many people stay in jobs they don't like or fail to pursue their dream of entrepreneurship because their brain tells them it's too risky.  But sometimes, you have to ignore your logic driven brain and follow your gut, so you can achieve your dreams.    In this episode, Alissa Redmond of South Main Book Company talks about doubting her decision to buy a book store and wondering if she had lost her mind.  But luckily, she followed her instinct that told her, beyond all reason, she could make this work.  Now she has a successful business and is an essential part of her community in Salisbury, NC.   You can find Alissa and the South Main Book Company at:   https://www.facebook.com/southmainbookcompany https://www.instagram.com/southmainbookcompany/ https://www.tiktok.com/@southmainbookcompany    To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!   

A lot of people become entrepreneurs because they want the freedom to schedule their own time.  But as Ana Boa-Ventura shared, that freedom can be a double-edged sword.  You're your own boss now, and you have to hold yourself accountable or the work won't get done. In this episode, Ana Boa-Ventura of One Insight Digital Agency talks about giving herself too much freedom when she first became an entrepreneur and not getting nearly enough accomplished for her business.  She shares how she turned things around by blocking out set work hours and holding to those no matter the temptation.    You can find Ana at: Website: www.one-insight.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anaventura   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!  And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

  When you're first starting as an entrepreneur, it's so easy to follow the pack, and base your spending decisions on what other people are doing.  But without doing your own research and preparation, your “investments” might become money wasted.     In this episode Sharon Zimmerman of Sharon Z Jewelry talks about going big on her first trade show and how the $4K she spent to attend resulted in $0 in sales.  Instead of doing her research on whether the show was the right fit for her, she jumped right in and wasn't prepared to succeed.      You can find Sharon at:   Website - https://www.sharonzjewelry.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyUQslwAvHx7Kg6oRZawr9Q LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonzjewelry/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharonzjewelry/   To hear more episodes like this, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER!   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!    And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

When you're building your business, it is so easy to ignore your health and well-being.  Cooking healthy food, exercise, and sleep all seem like luxuries rather than essentials.  But nothing can be further from the truth.  In this episode, Armando Cervantez of Stew the Llama talks about the negative impacts he experienced from letting his health slide in his first year of business, and how making the choice to go to the gym and eat healthily made a real difference for his energy, motivation, and attitude.   You can find Armando and his delicious Peruvian hotdogs at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewthellama/  Website: https://stewthellama.com/ To hear more episodes like this, find us on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts by searching for CLIMBING TOGETHER! If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.  

When your business is succeeding, it can be tempting to reinvest your money into large asset purchases like equipment or a vehicle.  But it's important to remember that those long-term assets don't get fully expensed right away, and even if you've run out of cash – you will still owe taxes on your reported profit. In this episode Lina Mills of Creative Ideas Catering talks about how she lost her first catering business because she didn't save enough to pay her taxes, and how she doubled down to understand her finances before she launched again.   You can find Lina at:   https://creativeideascateringcafe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/creativeideascatering/ https://www.facebook.com/creativeideascatering/ https://www.instagram.com/creativeideascafe/ https://www.facebook.com/creativeideascafe/   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

There's so much talk about the importance of passion, that it's easy to believe that all you need for a successful business is passion for your product.  Unfortunately, passion is only one piece of the puzzle.  In this episode, Eva Zermeño of Rustic Postres talks about loving to bake and thinking that was enough to run a business.  She quickly learned that wasn't true.  By not budgeting and understanding her input costs, she underpriced her products and wasn't making a profit.    You can find Eva at: Email: eva@rusticpostres.com Website: www.rusticpostres.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rustic.postres/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rustic.postres   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Collaborations can be great, but only if both sides are offering similar value and effort.  The wrong partnership for your business can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes. In this episode, Tandia O'Neal of Sistah Music Snax shares her experience collaborating on an event with another organization and the not so great outcome of working with someone who wasn't willing to put in the same level of effort.  You can find Tandia at: https://www.instagram.com/sistahmusicsnax/ https://twitter.com/sistahmusicsnax If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Sometimes when we first start our business, it's easy to let customers take advantage of us… giving them free or low-cost work to make sure they are happy. In this episode, Brittany Hobbs of Hobbs Home Designs talks about letting customers call her back over and over for more options to choose from, and her concern about whether she should charge for that time.  And she shares great advice about how to stick up for yourself.   You can find Brittany and her beautiful interior design at: Website:  https://www.hobbshomedesigns.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hobbshomedesigns/   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Selling your services as a package is all the rage.  And for some entrepreneurs and business models, packages are a great fit.  But for other businesses, an hourly rate is the better option. In this episode, Margot Nijsure talks about the confusion and complication that came with trying to use package deals for her elder care business, and how she turned it around by switching to the conventional hourly rate system. You can find Margot at: Website: www.montclairelderservices.com  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/margot-nijsure If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.  

While some entrepreneurs dive right in without any thought, others lean a little too far toward getting it perfect before they start selling. In this episode, Stephanie De La Cruz of De La Creamery talks about waiting to have all her ducks in a row, and the great advice she received from a business coach to get out there and start selling. You can find Stephanie and her small batch Mexican ice cream at: Website: https://delacreamery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delacreamery TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@delacreamery Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sd35   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Having a job is wildly different than being an entrepreneur. In this episode, Cherry Yates of Cherry Yates Communications talks about leaving her corporate position and the shock of having to do 'every job' as an entrepreneur. You can find Cherry at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherryjohalyates/ If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! As mentioned in the podcast, for a free copy of Allen Dib's 1-Page Marketing Plan: https://successwise.com/sm-free-book/

Just because someone wants to hire you, doesn't mean that they are the right client for you and your business. In this episode, Kristin Lobdell of KNL Co talks about her first big client and why they were not the right fit for her business. You can find Kristin at: Website: http://kristinnicolelobdell.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theintrospectiveentrepreneur  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinnicolelobdell/   If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! Follow CLIMB on Our Other Platforms Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/climbbookclub/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/climbbookclub/ Twitter | https://twitter.com/climbbookclub LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/climbbookclub You can also listen to this podcast on Apple, Audible, and Spotify - Search for Climbing Together - The Small Business Experience.

Pop culture would have you believe that a write off means it free, and many small business owners have to learn the hard way that you still pay for write offs. In this episode, Amita Basra talks her confusion regarding business expenses, and how they impacted her bottom line.   You can find Amita at: Website: www.unlockingthejoy.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCIgfrLloKaOa198vHZyhDOQ Instagram: https://instagram.com/kreemshakti TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kreemshakti If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! You can also find CLIMB on Instragram, Facebook, and Twitter @climbbookclub.  Or at Climb - The Small Business Book Club on LinkedIn. And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

"If it seems to good to be true... it probably is."  Words of wisdom we all know, but are so often tempted to ignore.   In this episode, Dara M. Wilson talks about hiring a developer on Fiverr whose prices seemed too good to be true, and the ongoing headache that decision has caused.  You can find Dara at: Gallery: https://discover.artplacer.com/galleries/makeda-made Instagram: instagram.com/makedamadeart/ If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you!  And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.

Did you launch your business and forget to pay attention to your expenses?  Was "It's a write off!" your mantra?  If so, you are not alone.   In this episode, Tatiana Dayers of Crown and Wink shares her experience launching a business without any financial training, and what that meant for her bottom line. You can find Tatiana at www.crownandwink.com or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/crownandwink.  If you'd like to join the book discussion with Climb - The Small Business Book Club, visit us www.climbbook.club. We'd love to meet you! And a big thanks to our sponsors - The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to check out their classes and resources, visit them at www.rencenter.org.