Coalesce: The Podcast

Have you ever found yourself in a “funk” that you just can't seem to escape? Where overwhelm meets procrastination meets all sorts of bad habits? Same, girl, same. That's why, in this episode of Coalesce: The Podcast, I dig into the circumstances that tend to lead to this situation, why being overwhelmed so often leads to procrastination, and how you can “right the ship,” so to speak. Make sure to listen in!

With only a handful of weeks left before we turn that calendar over to 2022, chances are you're both reflecting and dreaming–reflecting on what you've achieved in 2021 and dreaming about what you want to chase after in the months to come. In this episode of Coalesce: The Podcast, I walk you through the basics of setting goals for your business and the importance of defining milestones so that, this time next year, you can look back and easily see what you've achieved.

On this episode of Coalesce: The Podcast, I'm focusing on the side hustlers. Yep, the ones who want to build a business on the side while also maintaining their full-time job or other responsibilities like parenting.  This episode is for my 9 to 5'ers who have it on their heart to start a side business but aren't quite sure where to begin or how to identify their reason for doing so in the first place. I discuss the pivotal first steps to building a side business, the different types of side businesses, and how to work through the decisions on determining your products or offerings. Show Notes Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

An essential portion of being a business owner is making strategic decisions. BUT we can also get really excited about a new project, jump right in, pull on our bootstraps, and get straight to work, sailing right over a major pillar to business success - STRATEGY. If you're always feeling like you are buried in to-lists but not really making any progress, you probably need some strategy. If you're trying to do all the right things as quickly as you can, but feel like your efforts are scattered and disconnected, you probably need some strategy. Flying by the seats of your pants shouldn't always be your go-to approach. In this episode of Coalesce: The Podcast, I'm breaking down the steps you can utilize to successfully inject strategy into your business. Listen in to uncover why and how you can take a more powerful, successful approach to strategy. Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

After over a year of virtual meetings and conferences, we're being “let back out into the wild” (so to speak) of the offline world. But what's expected of us while we're still in a pandemic? What should I wear? How should I introduce myself if we can't shake hands? How do I connect with new people while sporting a mask? If you haven't used your professional etiquette skills in a while, today's episode is for you. Plus, we could all use a good tune-up on navigating professional scenarios!  Today's podcast guest is a go-to source for answers to any and all questions you have about how to professionally represent yourself. Marlene Eick is a leadership coach and speaker who specializes in helping agricultural organizations maximize the potential of their established and emerging leaders.  In our conversation, we break down some of the not-so-well-practiced skills we've been deprived of lately, like dress code manners, helpful tips for introducing ourselves, and best approaches for networking with new people.    Show Notes Connect with Marlene:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marleneeick/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/liveyourstory.marleneeick/ LinkedIn - ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/marleneeick/Website - https://www.marleneeick.com/ Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

Imagine yourself on January 1st, 2022… What do you want to feel? What do you want to be thinking? What does your life look like? Are you stressed? Strapped for cash? Still horribly behind and buried in work?  Today's podcast is going to show you the easiest way to prioritize the choices and actions you need to take NOW to set yourself up for success LATER. Remember those goals you were chasing at the beginning of the year? Don't throw them away these last three months of the year!  In this episode, I'm going to break down the steps on how you can finish the year strong by analyzing, and then recommitting or adjusting your goals so that you can enter the fourth quarter with just as much energy and passion as you did at the start of the year.  Show Notes Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

Today's podcast guest is a self-proclaimed yes girl. She embraced the twists and turns life presented her and transitioned from her traditional 9 to 5 job into full-time entrepreneurship. Kiah Twisselman Burchett is a cattle rancher turned accidental life coach. Gracefully shifting from one entrepreneurial business to the next, Kiah stands on her prior experiences to now help other women find joy in creating a life they love.  In addition to Kiah's entrepreneurial story, her journey to better health has been just as pivotal in her career. Kiah's health journey has reached over 1.5 million people around the world. She's been featured in People Magazine, Women's Health, and Successful Farming, and has even made guest appearances on the Kelly Clarkson Show and Good Morning America.  If you've been struggling with how to determine your secret sauce, knowing when it's right to shift into entrepreneurship, or how to build a career that aligns with your life, today's conversation is packed with inspiring wisdom!   Show Notes https://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-33-how-to-identify-your-niche-and-launch-into-entrepreneurship-with-kiah-twisselman-burchett Connect with Kiah:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coach_kiah/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/coachkiah Website - https://www.coachkiah.com/home Podcast - Climbing with Coach Kiah https://www.coachkiah.com/podcast Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

Today we're talking implementation. What is implementation? It's doing the work. Taking action. But when it comes to actually doing the work, we all know there are challenges. We get stuck in the learning process, overthink, or just plain don't feel like we have the time.  Implementation is one of Coalesce's four foundational pillars to business success. Without implementation, we couldn't launch our latest product, see a new marketing strategy through, or use that just-downloaded software we bought to make our businesses and lives run smoother.  The opposite of implementation? Dissatisfaction, idleness, failure. In this episode, we discuss the hurdles we face when trying to implement and how to overcome those challenges. Show Notes Ep. 24: How to Turn the Dial Down on Your Inner Soundtrack of Overthinking with Addie Yoderhttps://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-24-how-to-turn-the-dial-down-on-your-inner-soundtrack-of-overthinking-with-addie-yoder Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

Are you someone who struggles with finding balance between work and life? Today's podcast guest is going to give you the answers to guaranteeing that you can switch from entrepreneur by day to mom/friend/sister at night, AND keep it that way. Leaving her full-time teaching career to farm alongside her husband, Emily Ponwith of Real Life Farm Wife is no stranger to transitioning from a steady day job to entrepreneur. Emily is a true example of curating a business that aligns with her life.  We chat about everything from how to know when it's right to step away from work, how to create hard separations between your work life and home life, the pieces you should have in place before leaving your job, and ways to overcome self doubt. Are you ready to learn how to align your work life with your personal goals and aspirations? Show Notes https://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-31-building-a-business-emily-ponwith Connect with Emily:https://www.instagram.com/reallife.farmwife/ https://www.pfbeef.com/https://minnesota.agclassroom.org/ Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

Everyone needs systems. Call them what you want. Workflows. Processes. Drumbeats. SOPs. You need them. Systems make your business (and life) easier.  If you have ZERO systems or think you have zero systems, don't freak out! Because in this episode, I'm going to teach you how to build systems as you go. And it's nothing fancy, but it will help you get out of the weeds and focus on the things that matter. So, if you're ready to learn my four-step process to creating systems for anything and everything in business and life, listen to this episode!   Show Noteshttps://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-30-running-your-business-like-a-well-oiled-machine Resources mentioned:Google Drive https://www.google.com/intl/en_in/drive/ Asana https://www.asana.com/ Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. If this is you, start with this episode! Starting a business can feel overwhelming, but when you take the leap with the right mindset and processes, you'll build a beautiful foundation for success. In this episode, I'm diving into each of the four powerful steps of business success with question prompts to uncover your goals, develop a plan, and manage the chaos of life - both personally and professionally. So, grab a notebook, get comfy, and let's talk building a business that aligns with your life! Show Noteshttps://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-29-four-pillars-to-business-success Coalesce coaching, courses and community:https://www.coalesce.network/learn  Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

I am so excited to be back behind the microphone! Taking a break was hard, but I knew I was being called to rest, NOT give up.  If you're tuning into this episode, it's safe to guess that you might have a hard time resting too.  I get it! We feel bad for taking a break because there is so much work to be done. We feel bad for being tired because we know there are other people just as tired as we are, but they seem to be dealing with it. We feel bad for wanting a moment alone because we have clients, employees and kids who count on us.  That's guilt my friends, and it goes hand-in-hand with rest. In this episode, I'm challenging you to not let guilt win. I'm also sharing why it's important to rest, what rest actually looks like, and how to add more rest into your life. Show Notes:  Episode 27: https://www.coalesce.network/podcast/ep-27-paying-attention-to-messages-from-the-universe Follow along with Coalesce:https://www.instagram.com/coalesce.network/ https://www.instagram.com/staciemccracken/ https://www.facebook.com/coalesce.network

In this episode, I'm sharing some recent experiences that have shone a spotlight on the importance of being present, being realistic about what you can handle and the power of true rest – and what I'm doing with that information. If you're someone who is feeling overwhelmed with work, parenting or life in general, make sure to tune in for some real talk from someone who's there right alongside you.

Even though life is starting to return to normal – or at least some version of it – I don't see remote working going away any time soon.  That's why, in this episode, I bring in my colleague, Amanda Sollman - someone who has been working from home since 2015… before the pandemic made it cool.  We chat about the benefits and drawbacks of working from a distance, the tools we use to collaborate, and so much more. So let's jump in and talk remote work.  Tools and resources mentioned in this episode: Slack Zoom Asana Connect with Amanda on Instagram or Twitter.

If you're anything like me, there's one part of doing business that makes your skin crawl and your procrastination tendencies come out: money. And, specifically, figuring out what to charge for the things you sell. No matter how long you're in business, most of us still get nervous sending out a proposal or giving an estimate. We worry we're charging too much, charging too little, or we're not sure if we're breaking even. Why do we second-guess ourselves when it comes to what to charge? Because there's no one right answer! So, rather than tell you what I think you should charge, in this episode I'm going to focus on four factors that affect pricing. And, by the time we're done, you'll have a list of items you can reflect on while you sort through what your products or services are worth. Pull up a seat, pop in your headphones and get comfy – because it's time to talk dollars and cents!

Overthinking is just a big form of indecision. It will freeze you up. Halt your productivity. And take you down a negative thought spiral. Even worse, we all have our own inner soundtracks of overthinking that play on repeat.  But there's hope! I'm welcoming back podcast guest Addie Yoder in this episode who is helping me identify what overthinking is and how to overcome it.  It's time to slam the brakes on overthinking and rewrite your internal soundtrack. Listen in and then connect with Addie on Instagram or through her Facebook group Book Club with Addie. Resources mentioned in this episode: Soundtracks:The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert  Coalesce: The Podcast Ep. 2: The Power of Words with Addie Yoder  Addie Yoder's podcast Grace & Growth with Addie

As we transition into the summer months, we usually have high expectations for more fun, sun and relaxing days ahead.  Well, we all know how that goes. Before you know it, those warmer, seemingly more slow days we thought we would have, get gobbled up by work functions, family commitments and just plain life.  So how do we become more intentional and realistic about our summer schedules? I'm sharing a few ways that I'm going to do summer differently this year in this podcast episode, and I think you'll find them helpful too.

One of the best ways to elevate and grow your online presence - a personal branding session.  Whether you DIY or invest in a photographer, branding sessions are a perfect way to equip you with cohesive and consistent imagery throughout all of your marketing channels.  Helping me dive into all things branding sessions is my guest Sierra Dyer of Sierra Dyer Co. She's a wedding photographer and stationery designer, and one of McCracken Co's account managers who doubles as our in-house photographer.  Tune in and be sure to let me know if this episode gave you the inspiration to do a branding session over on the Coalesce Facebook page or Instagram.  Disclaimer: You might hear baby Blair crying in the background. ;) This is motherhood.  

As entrepreneurs, we're dreamers, visionaries and go-getters. Once we have a concept in our brains, we'll jump at executing it. But wait! What are you trying to accomplish? And how? I often have to ask myself these exact questions. In other words, I have to remind myself to pump the brakes before diving into the action steps and get clear on my purpose first - aka the strategy. That's where my three-ingredient approach to running a business comes in.  In this Coalesce: The Podcast episode, I'm sharing the three must-do steps I take before kicking off a new project and walking through five reflective questions to ask yourself before starting a business.  After you listen, reflect on these questions: Why are you starting this business? What do you want to achieve - personally, professionally, and financially? What type of business will build the life you want to have?  What is your main goal in building this business? What approach will you take to achieve that goal? Did this three-ingredient approach to running a business help you? Jump over to the Coalesce Facebook page or Instagram to let me know.

Changing career paths can be scary. Your coworkers, friends, and even family members might have strong opinions about your career change choice, leaving you to feel even more doubtful. But getting unstuck is the crucial first step. You might not recognize it, but if you reflect on your current career and personal life, are you where you want to be? Or are you simply going through the motions? In this podcast episode, I chat with Whitney Kinne - a career and leadership coach whose motto is to “empower professionals to live life differently and get unstuck.” Whitney packs in so much wisdom around transitioning career paths, wearing all the hats as a business owner and mom, and bringing in your spouse as a trusted “board of directors” while also laying out some boundaries.  After you listen to this episode, be sure to download the freebie - a reflection guide developed by Whitney to help you process where you are and where you want to be.  Topics discussed in this episode: Whitney's own story on her career path change (1:11) Knowing when to make a career change (9:17) Advice for stepping away from a job others think you should be doing (13:38) Working alongside your spouse as an entrepreneur duo (23:45) Resources mentioned in this episode: EntreLeadership Podcast Annie F. Downs Podcast Full Focus Planner For Women Only & For Men Only Book Box Set You can connect with Whitney on Instagram and Facebook.

How do you embrace growth when it's really uncomfortable? Last month, I experienced so much personal and professional growth that it was kind of rough. If you've ever been in this situation before, you know how it feels to want to give up and revert back to what was normal.  In this podcast episode, I'm getting real about the recent personal and professional development areas I experienced growing pains in, and sharing a few pieces of advice for embracing growth even when it's messy.  After you listen to this podcast, and if you identify with or are even experiencing any of these same uncomfortable growth situations, head over to the Coalesce Facebook or Instagram to share.

When we start a business, it's normally as a one-woman shop – meaning we do all the things! From making the product and posting on social media, to responding to emails and handling the paperwork, we handle every single piece and part of getting things done.  But as time goes on, you may feel like you spend all your time doing administrative or back-end work instead of doing the things you actually went into business to do. If this is you, it may be time to start thinking about outsourcing some of those tasks.  To help us better understand how a virtual assistant could help your business, I chat with guest Jill Carr. Living on a ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Jill is a rancher, a mama and a virtual assistant for small business owners. In this episode, we discuss what a virtual assistant is, how they could be beneficial to your business, where to find them and how to set them up for success.  Connect with Jill on Instagram or Facebook. Resources mentioned in this conversation: Pros and cons of hiring full-time staff versus hiring a contractor Digital workshop on starting a freelance business (This is an affiliate link.) Virtual assistant job board

We all so desperately want our product to sell or people to book our services, that we often fall into the trap of jumping on the latest marketing bandwagon only to realize weeks or months later that it didn't yield any profitable results.  Hold on tight, because this podcast episode is all about breaking the rules on some trendy marketing tactics that are promoted as golden tickets to success – but really might not be a good fit for your goals, strategy or your business structure.  Listen in and let me know: Do you have some unpopular advice of your own to share? Share it in the comments here or jump over to the Coalesce Facebook page.

Under the handle Old Blue Silo, Kelly Whiteman Snipes gives her followers a front-row seat to her life in rural Indiana where she's created an online personal brand that is warm, cozy and calming. As a home decor enthusiast, graphic designer and farm wife, Kelly's online brand perfectly aligns with her real-life brand.  In this podcast episode, I'm turning to Kelly to help us understand how we can use social media to build our personal brands by embracing authenticity, determining what to post and finding community – all while setting healthy boundaries.  Tune in and connect with Kelly on Instagram or her blog.

If only we could just harness time management as a magical unicorn to fix all of our problems.  Here's the truth: We only get so much time in a day. That means time management isn't just a one-and-done type of thing – it's something we have to constantly pay attention to and adjust for based on what we've got going on in our lives.  In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite ways to be more efficient with the time we do have. These approaches aren't silver bullets to mastering time management, BUT they can help you get more high-quality work done in a short amount of time.  After you listen, and if you loved this episode, head over to my blog post, “The exact approach I take to start and end my days strong” for more tips on how to spend your time more efficiently.

Launching an online business can be an awesome opportunity whether you are looking to make a little money through a side hustle, or are wanting a full-time job that you can manage while being a stay-at-home mom.  But building a profitable online business isn't always an easy task. Not to mention the tough workload that comes with developing consistent content.  That's where Jennifer Osterholt comes in. As a farm wife and mom, she developed an online business to support her lifestyle. Plowing Through Life shares easy and delicious recipes while providing readers a chance to learn more about agriculture. Jennifer's online business has allowed her to create a business that aligns with her life and her schedule. And she's delving into some great advice on how to get started, ways to seek out income sources, and tips for creating content.  Grab a notebook and tune in!  For links to resources mentioned in this conversation, see below: Mediavine AdThrive CafeMedia Pinch of Yum / Food Blogger Pro

"What type of life do you want to have?" While that question may seem like a BIG, scary thought experiment, the reality is that the only wrong answer to this question is no answer at all.  In this podcast, I'm walking through three reflective questions to ask yourself to achieve your true business goals. Having a clear picture of the type of life you want to live is what will allow you to start reverse-engineering a business that aligns with and brings you closer to your dreams. After you listen, and if you're not already part of the Coalesce email list, sign up for great weekly inspiration and early access to new programs and announcements!

We all know that networking and relationship building is an important part of growing your business, but it can be hard and intimidating to know where to start. Not to mention that being in the midst of a worldwide pandemic makes developing connections a challenge.  So how do you successfully break the ice online? That's what I'm chatting with Jodi Oleen of Jodi Oleen Consulting about today. She's an expert in relationship building, and we're discussing ways you can get started digitally networking.  You'll want to grab a notebook before tuning into this episode! It's packed with advice I'm sure you will find helpful, with a little bit of humor too.

Have you been telling yourself, I'll book that family trip we've been-talking-about-but-never-actually-do this year? Or, this pregnancy I'm going to commit time to soak in all the newborn cuddles I can? And then, guilt and doubt creep in.  I know how scary it can be to step away from your business for a moment of rest, but it's so important. I've been trying to lose the ball-and-chain relationship I have with my work, and I want the same for you.  In this episode, I'm sharing four ways I plan for a vacation or maternity leave as an entrepreneur.

Think about your workflow in an average month. Do you feel like you're always writing blog posts or always creating social media content – never getting out of the weeds long enough to work on bigger picture projects? If so, this episode is for you. When our precious hours are taken up by the same repetitive tasks, it's really hard to get away. However, with a technique known as ‘content batching' you can streamline your tasks, be more efficient with your time and maximize your creativity. If you like this episode, make sure to jump back to Episode 5 (where I talk about creating a monthly rhythm to your planning approach) to hear more tips for being more organized and efficient.

We've all had those moments where we don't want to ask a question, because we're scared it's way too basic and we don't want people to think less of us for not knowing the answer. For me, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the areas where I find myself holding back. Sure, I know enough to be dangerous, but I'm far from an expert on the subject. But, hey – asking questions is how we learn, right? That's why I'm excited to have Kelly Stanze join me on today's episode. Kelly is an SEO specialist who has worked at the highest levels of the industry, with experience in everything from agriculture to fashion and beyond. Plus, not only is Kelly a talented consultant, she's also doing the thing many of us are trying to accomplish – she's raising a toddler, trying to be a good wife, and building a business at the same time. Check out this episode to learn more about what SEO is and how business owners can tackle the basics to make sure all that digital content we're creating actually gets seen. You can connect with Kelly on Instagram and Twitter.

When I took the leap into entrepreneurship, I dreamed of being my own boss – having the ultimate flexibility, so I could be a rockstar mom while creating a killer career. As I talk to other women who chose the same path – including some of you – they imagined the same things. That perfect scenario of having it all. But as the pieces came together, I quickly began to realize that it wasn't that easy. If you're feeling the pressure of juggling your business and your life, you'll want to tune into this episode where I walk you through some of the very first steps you can take to start shifting out of chaos and stress and toward more organization and calm.

When you're trying to run a business and be a mom and wife, there's no silver bullet that automatically makes things run perfectly – but there are ways we can make things go smoother. That's why I'm excited to have Molly Knuth, owner of Molly Knuth Media, join me for this discussion about how we best manage our time between entrepreneurship and parenting. She shares how her business journey has evolved since first becoming a stay-at-home mom and the importance of understanding expectations when choosing your priorities.

Do you ever feel like planning for an entire year is just flat-out overwhelming? Or are you in a season of life where you can barely think about tomorrow, much less what's going to happen six months from now? If so, you're not alone! On this week's episode, Stacie is sharing her process for planning on a monthly – instead of yearly – basis. This approach can be combined with annual planning, if that's your jam, but it can also push you to be more proactive than reactive (if you find yourself living solely day to day) or can help you break out of analysis paralysis if your planning efforts have stalled.

It's one thing to set goals and targets for the upcoming year, but what do those things really mean? What are we trying to create? What do we want to feel when we accomplish them? I'm just as guilty as the next person of coming up with a laundry list of items I want to achieve in the next year and focusing solely on checking off those boxes. But I also think we should be taking a step back and thinking, not just about what we can do, but rather what we can experience. To help me flesh out this idea, I've invited Crystal Blin – more commonly known as @crystalcattle on social media – onto the podcast to share how she takes a more intentional approach to annual planning. In our conversation, Crystal shares insights on the power of words (something that's been a trend on the podcast lately!) and how she uses them to guide the way she wants to feel – both in her business and beyond.

It's around this time every year that we start hearing the phrase “new year, new you” tossed about. But what if we didn't feel like we had to start over every single January? In this solocast episode, Stacie reflects on the power of “both/and” thinking, and the empowerment that comes with embracing the gray areas of life.

Host Stacie McCracken sits down with Addie Yoder, a farm wife, mom and life coach, to discuss the power of our words. The things we say to ourselves and others can have a big impact on how we feel and what we can achieve, so make sure to listen close!

Welcome to the first episode of Coalesce: The Podcast! In this first solocast, Coalesce founder and podcast host Stacie McCracken reflects how entering entrepreneurship and motherhood at the exact same time prepared her for the uncertainty we're all living in today – and what you can learn from her experience.

Welcome to Coalesce: The Podcast! Subscribe in your favorite podcast player to be the first to know when new episodes drop January 4.