Coffee and Converse

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Coffee and Converse is for lifestyle entrepreneurs who are over the trendy tactics and ready for successful strategies to fast track their business and lifestyle goals. Hear from successful lifestyle entrepreneurs revealing their best strategies on all things business models, metrics, and making business work for them. We’ll deep dive into future-proofing and planning, focusing on the most impactful moves and the foundational fixes that most businesses need and miss. If you’re building a business to support your life instead of living to build a business, this is the show for you. Coffee and Converse is brought to you by Diane Mayor — an openly nosey, self-proclaimed business nerd, who, after 15 years behind the scenes in banking, now helps service-based entrepreneurs build the lifestyle businesses of their dreams.

Diane Mayor


    • Oct 15, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 415 EPISODES

    5 from 26 ratings Listeners of Coffee and Converse that love the show mention: lifestyle business, diane, maintenance, hustle, building, fresh, working, love this podcast, real, learn, first, like, great.


    Ivy Insights

    The Coffee and Converse podcast is a refreshing and relatable resource for entrepreneurs in the marketing industry. As someone who works from home alone, I often wonder if others face the same challenges and experiences as me. This podcast, hosted by Diane and her guests, provides real stories of entrepreneurs facing real challenges, allowing me to feel understood and less alone in my journey. Additionally, Diane offers actionable strategies that I can implement in my own business, which is incredibly valuable.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Diane's clear and structured discussion of the customer experience. She delves into the stages that customers go through before making a purchase, emphasizing the importance of building trust and providing value. This provides a solid framework for understanding how to approach marketing and sales. Additionally, I appreciate that Diane provides free tools to help grow our businesses. She understands that success is defined differently for each person, and she tailors her advice accordingly.

    On the flip side, some listeners may find it challenging that this podcast focuses primarily on lifestyle businesses rather than high-growth ventures. While it may not resonate with those seeking rapid growth or seven-figure incomes, it offers valuable insights for individuals like myself who prioritize work-life balance and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle without excessive hustle or constant striving.

    In conclusion, The Coffee and Converse podcast is a must-listen for entrepreneurs seeking a fresh perspective on building their businesses. It goes beyond the traditional narrative of hustle culture and offers practical advice without shaming those who prioritize their well-being over constant growth. Diane's relatable approach makes this podcast an enjoyable listen while still providing valuable insights and strategies to implement in one's own business journey.



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    Latest episodes from Coffee and Converse

    Your Small Why

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 6:29 Transcription Available


    If all you want to do once you hit that big revenue goal you're chasing is shut the business down, that doesn't seem like the best use of the time, money, and energy it will take for you to get there.Takeaways: Building a sustainable business requires balancing financial success with personal fulfillment and energy. Recognizing personal motivations for starting a business is crucial for long-term perseverance. Aligning your business goals with your core values avoids friction in daily operations. Embracing change as an opportunity helps entrepreneurs adapt and innovate despite market fluctuations. Continuous learning and personal development keep entrepreneurs engaged and prevent burnout over time. Setting operational and personal growth goals alongside revenue targets ensures a fulfilling business journey.

    The Most Underutilized System In Most Small Businesses

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 6:14 Transcription Available


    In the words of Inigo Montoya, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." When you realize your CRM is a system, not a software, it becomes infinitely more valuable.Takeaways: A CRM should encompass the entire customer journey, not just email marketing. It's essential to track all connections with potential leads, regardless of source. Many businesses overlook the data their CRM can provide beyond simple email engagement. Using a simple system like Google Sheets can be more effective than complex software. Understanding customer lifetime value is crucial for refining your CRM strategy. Most existing CRM systems fail to capture the full range of customer interactions.

    Can You See The Future?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 4:19 Transcription Available


    SMART goals might be key to achieving results but they can also make you play small by limiting you to what feels attainable in a year. As you head for 2025, it's time to dream big before you set smaller goals.Takeaways: Setting a long-term vision for your business is crucial for motivating your team. Focus on expansive thinking for long-term success rather than just short-term revenue. Your vision should excite everyone in your business, not just focus on financial goals. Explore what opportunities excite you and align with your clients' needs for 2025. Ask yourself if your current goals are keeping you in your comfort zone. A compelling vision makes it easier to engage with your daily work and plans.

    Color Coded Clarity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 5:17 Transcription Available


    It's easy to get lost in the chase for your next business goal, only to reach it and wake up to find yourself feeling unfulfilled because you forgot to allow for personal growth alongside the business growth.Takeaways: It's essential to align your daily actions with your long-term vision and personal goals. Personal development should not be a neglected item on your to-do list; prioritize it. Color coding your calendar can visually reveal whether business or personal goals dominate. Reflect on your personal growth goals and evaluate how they contribute to your well-being. Work-life balance involves both time management and focus on personal development. Don't forget the reasons you started your business; they should guide your current actions.

    Impact Driven Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 4:46 Transcription Available


    We know we make an impact with our clients, but how can we make a bigger impact with our business even if we don't have the financial means right now?Takeaways: As entrepreneurs, we must consider how our core values influence our business impact. Finding a balance between financial success and making a positive impact is essential. We can create an impact without solely relying on financial contributions to causes. Our values remain consistent, allowing us to pivot our impact as we grow. Social responsibility can manifest in practices that enhance sustainability within our business. Engaging our community can amplify our efforts to make a difference in the world.

    My Unsuccessful Hiatus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 5:42 Transcription Available


    If we all became our own bosses to make our own rules and if we all know rest is essential to our performance, why is it so hard for us to escape the need to push or push through? And Q4 is this feeling on steroids!Takeaways: Taking a break can often lead to unexpected workload, as seen during my hiatus. Many self-imposed deadlines in small businesses can create unnecessary pressure to perform. It's crucial to assess the actual consequences of missing a goal by year-end. Burnout often starts subtly, revealing itself when you lose excitement for your work. Prioritizing work-life balance is essential for sustaining passion and joy in your business. Ask yourself how your current work-life balance will influence your success in 2025.

    The Scariest Point In the Customer Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 5:31 Transcription Available


    In a marketplace full of funnels, the business that thinks about what happens beyond the funnel wins the repeat business and raving fans competition.

    Is Your Business In Or Out Of Flow

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 5:15 Transcription Available


    You bank account is not an indicator of how much available cash you have in your business. Treating as such is going to have scary consqeuences down the line.Takeaways: Keep a close eye on your cash flow, especially during the high-spending Q4 season. Understand your current cash flow situation to ensure you can cover essential expenses. Plan for both personal and business expenses during the holiday season to avoid cash shortages. Assess your spending habits in Q4 to maintain liquidity for necessary investments next year. Establish a budget that accounts for both expected income and potential expenses in Q4. Create a strategy to maximize cash flow and ensure financial security for 2025.

    The Do As I Say Not As I Do Leadership Style Dilemma

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 6:03 Transcription Available


    Takeaways: Effective leadership involves empowering your team to make decisions and take risks without constant oversight. Self-assessment of your leadership style can reveal strengths and weaknesses, particularly under stress. Creating a safe environment for your team encourages experimentation and innovation, fostering resilience. Communication of the reasons behind changes is crucial for team buy-in and adaptability. Consider how your presence impacts creativity in meetings; leaders should inspire openness and safety. Model the behaviors you want to see in your team to nurture flexibility and responsiveness.

    All Or Nothing Marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 5:07 Transcription Available


    Marketing feels like an all-or-nothing kind of game for a small business. The reality it's an effectiveness game and the only way to win is to know your numbers.Takeaways: In marketing, it's crucial to focus on specific strategies rather than trying to do everything at once. Determine clear marketing goals, such as brand awareness or lead generation, to guide your efforts. Use data-driven insights from key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. Contextualize KPI data with qualitative insights from customer feedback to better interpret results. Tracking and analyzing marketing data over time helps identify trends and improvements in your strategies. Avoid comparing your business metrics to others without considering the unique context and progress of your own efforts.

    The Planning Question You Need To Ask Before You Start Q4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 4:16 Transcription Available


    Your exit strategy touches every part of your business and every decision you make. Still, so many entrepreneurs ignore it to build how they feel in the moment not realizing that their opportunities are limited by this lack of planning.Takeaways: The podcast emphasizes the importance of having a clear exit strategy for your business. It's crucial to decide on your exit plan early, as it affects your business decisions. An exit strategy is not a decision you can make quickly or on a whim. Consider whether you aim to grow your business or optimize it based on your exit plan. The episode highlights three common exit strategies: closing, selling, or transferring ownership. Evaluate how your exit strategy impacts specific goals for the upcoming business quarter.

    Do You Need More Revenue or More Profit?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 5:39


    It's a bit of a business chicken and egg - you need revenue to have profit and you need profit to be able to invest to generate more revenue. But you also need to prioritize or you'll lose out on both.

    The Next Level

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 5:23


    Much liker gamers can lose entire days to chasing the next level, business owners can waste time, money and energy chasing a level they were never ready for to begin with.

    Get Back On Track When It Feels Like All Is Lost

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 5:18


    When you feel off track in your business, you need to change course quickly and effectively before we've gone too far. But in the swirl of panic or the blahs of burnout, it can be hard to figure out how.

    When Only The Best Ideas Will Do

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 4:42


    Chasing squirrels is fine as long as you don't chase on into a dead end or a disaster. So how do you measure your success as a squirrel hunter?

    Short Cut to A Creative Break

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 5:38


    Our brains would explode if we had to deeply analyze every decision we need to make daily so we create little short cut to help us get there more quickly and with less energy. But sometimes those shortcuts are leading you up the garden path.

    Get In The Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 5:03


    Online business has become its own little bubble and it can be easy to forget there's a whole world out there that impacts us. And that can lead to some less than fun surprises you might not be prepared for.

    Your Prospects Vote For Your Pricing With Their Wallets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 4:50


    Without looking at your competitors, you have no information about your current market position to inform your pricing strategy. That's a data point that is readily available and you're wasting it

    Same Same But Different

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 5:13


    There is nothing new in the world but there can be different. Let's expand our definition of creativity in business.

    Are You Keeping As Much Money As You Can?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 5:58


    We're an industry that prides ourselves on our sales and marketing metrics but that is only half the picture. If you're not measuring your operations, all that revenue could be dripping out the door and you're left with nothing in your pocket at the end of the day.

    Sell Them What They Want

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 5:15


    Just because you have the best idea for the thing your people really need, doesn't mean they'll want it and if they don't want it they won't buy.

    Your 5-Year Evolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 5:07


    Summer is a classic time for entrepreneur brains, free of the day to day grind, to come up with a miliion new small ideas. Imagine if you used that mental capacity to come up with one really big one instead.

    Is The Problem Fixable Or Fireable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 5:23


    Being able to assess where you have a skills gap or an attitude problem is a key skill for a small business leader. As your business grows, skills gaps are to be expected but attitude problems cannot be tolerated.

    You Have To Take A Risk, Not Risk It All

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 5:35


    While Plan B might have felt like a lack of commitment when you were starting, not thinking through the risk in your established business is just irresponsible.

    Not All Tech Is Created Equal… Or For You!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 5:36


    Software, apps and tech solutions run our online business and with more coming on the market daily, the marketing hype and affiliate fee driven advices is powerful. Make sure the you are investing in what your business needs and not just keeping up with the Joneses.

    When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Stay On Track

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 5:19


    We should be pretty good at facing challenges as entreprenuers as they come with the territory. Unfortunately we're not great at being proactive about thinking through our behavior in the face of a challenge and that can lead us off course

    You Gotta Spend Money To Make Money Is Only Part Of The Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 5:33


    Being cost efficient doesn't meant you cut your costs to the bone and struggle on. It means you get better at assessing where to spend

    Invisible or Incredible - They'll Decide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 5:03


    In a marketplace packed full of other businesses selling similar services to yours, how do you stand out? Not just to stop the scroll but to win the business

    Diversify Your Offers For the Long Term

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 5:54


    Long term success means a resilient business and resilience comes from diversifying how you can make money so that if one drops the others catch it.

    Is Your Business Future Proof?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 5:39


    The only thing more certain (and immediate) that death and taxes is change. And yet we always seem to be surprised when it happens and scrambling to adapt.

    Do This First To Reach Your Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 5:37


    No matter how focused your goals are, if your implementation isn't just as focused, you'll waste time, money and energy.

    Setting Anti-Shiny-Object Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 5:11


    Even smart goals can be silly when you set to many of them. Select fewer squirrel-proof goals and focus in one them to get further faster.

    Your Numbers Will Tell You A Story If You Know How To Listen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 5:27


    Reviewing your financials should be more that than the revenue goals you set in the past. Understanding the drivers of your financials will help you make better strategic decisions for the future.

    It's A System! But does it work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 5:31


    Whether you like systems or think you hate them, you're using them day in and day out in your life and in your business so you might as well make them the most helpful systems you can.

    Unlocking Your Team's Potential

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 5:45


    A successful team is measured not only by their performance or hitting of goals and targets but in the way they did it.

    Not All Feedback Is Created Equal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 5:47


    We spend a lot of time working out how to market to people who might one day pay us. We need to spend at least as much time understanding how the people who have paid us experience those offers.

    Are Your Offers Internally and Externally Aligned

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 4:53


    It's not enough to evaluate your current offers on their profitability alone. That only show us if they work externally. We need to consider if they work internally as well.

    Create A Leadership Development Plan For Yourself

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 6:18


    If you're the same leader you were at the end of last year you might need to try something new. As your business evolves, you, its leader, need to evolve as well.

    Joy Is A Success Marker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 5:11


    If you're feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, you might need to focus more on joy in the second half of the year. It's easier than you think as you need surprisingly little joy each day to make you feel fulfilled and satisfied at work.

    Half Year Business Baseline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 5:30


    A mid-year business review is not just comparing your revenue number with half your revenue goal. Let's start with the baseline check up and go deeper from there.

    Designing For Scale

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 4:27


    Designing any new offer in your business needs to start with the end in mind to ensure that what you build can withstand the growth you're planning.

    Did You Budget For That?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 6:19


    A budget is a strategic tool that helps you manage your whole business but it doesn't need to be as complex as you think it does.

    Unreasonable Customer Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 5:58


    Surprise and delight is such a newb strategy for your customer experience or journey. If you've not added anything since then, now's the time.

    Introducing A Little Controlled Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 5:28


    When CEOs get bored they start breaking things or chasing new ideas in the name of fun. What if instead, we introduced a little controlled fun with a passion project.

    controlled when ceos
    Stress And The CEO

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 5:56


    Stress is a constant companion for the small business CEO and we can stop seeing it for what it really is - a symptom of something that challenging.

    It's Not What You Say

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 5:24


    No matter how clear and concise you are or how pretty your slide deck is or how many times you repeat yourself, you'll be wasting your breath if you don't start you communication strategy like this.

    Steamlining Your Processes Is A Path To Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 4:22


    The problem with steamlining processs is that it sounds hard and dull and the pay off is boring old efficiency and cost saving. That's because you've been only been taught part of the streamlining process.

    Build A Goldilocks Pricing Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 5:58


    In a world of value stacks, charge your worth and just raise your prices, it's little wonder that the average small business owner is terrified of making the wrong move in pricing their offers. We need fewer slogans and more strategy

    We're Failing At Work-Life Balance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 7:00


    The number one reason I hear small business owners give for starting a business is freedom or flexibility. So if it is so important, why are we so bad at it?

    Balancing Emotion and Objectivity in Business Decisions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 6:09


    When you feel torn between what you deserately want to do and what you know is the right move for your business, there are some simple check in you can use to make a strategic decision for you and the business.

    Evolution Beat Reinvention In Small Businesses

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 6:10


    Don't throw your business baby out with the bathwater because you got bored, had a fun idea or felt like burnout was creeping in.

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