Welcome to Dare to Leap, a conversation and community supporting women to create the freedom, flexibility and financial security they desire and deserve. Hosted by Kathy Goughenour, CEO & Founder of Virtual Expert(R) Training. Each week you’ll hear from thought leaders who are offering innovative solutions for the remote workforce, gather best practices from organizations recognized as best in class at leading virtual teams and engage in conversations with all stakeholders when it comes to the non traditional workforce. Plus you’ll gain insights through courageous conversations with women who have dared to make the leap to another job or even dared to go out on their own and start a business. Whether you are a woman who is mid career and feeling trapped with no options, a female entrepreneur who has successfully transitioned to a non traditional career and are looking for ways to grow, or an innovative leader of remote workers, Kathy delivers. Kathy Goughenour is an experienced and savvy business coach and trainer. She took her first leap after 18 years in corporate marketing to build a real estate marketing venture which she sold; to a business coach and trainer fulfilling her passion to empower women to build their legacy. Kathy has worked 100% virtually since 2001, and manages a non-traditional workforce of over 20 independent contractors. Kathy’s work has been featured in Forbes, International Freelancers Academy and The Huffington Post. To date she has helped hundreds of women dare to leap and daily inspires others to find their path to financial freedom. Remote work is here to stay. In addition to growing at rapid rates, data supports that remote workers are happier, more productive and healthier. Join the movement with Kathy and leading innovators in non traditional work to take your career, team or company to the next level.
virtual, dare to leap.
Listeners of Dare to Leap that love the show mention: kathy,Kim Murphy is a Certified Plant-Based Health Coach and is the founder of Simply Plant Based Kitchen. Her journey started when her father passed away due to Alzheimer's. When she learned that all chronic diseases were preventable with food, she committed herself to eat a whole food plant-based diet. Through Simply Based Kitchen, she teaches us to do the same and make this diet easy to cook and do. Tune in to today's episode to learn more about her and her kitchen! Key takeaways: Kathy got converted over to a whole food plant-based diet about a year ago with Kim's help! Kim talks more about her turning point when her father died with Alzheimer's. Going through more research, she realized that Alzheimer's is not genetic and 95% preventable. Kim also talks about her first attempt at going on this diet and why she couldn't sustain it. It's about changing your mindset of creating a lifestyle instead of a temporary diet to make it work. In 2019, Kim switched her blog to plant-based eating and started posting her food journals. It's all about behavior and habit change which is mostly the hard part. Kim wanted to help people overcome that. Kim also talks about when she first got into coaching and her course, Plant Power Weight Loss. Kathy and Kim also talk about Dr. Ornish and his new studies about Alzheimer's. With the timing of COVID-19, how does Kim feel about the pandemic in regard to her health? Our immune system's job is to protect us and it's important that we feed it with the right nutrients. What is a whole food plant-based diet? Kim explains what it's all about. Kim takes her favorite recipes and things that we make on a normal basis and changes some of the ingredients to make it whole food plant-based. Kathy also shares that she never ate vegetables before she started working with Kim. They also talk about how their taste buds and sense of smell changed throughout the process of becoming whole food plant-based. Kathy shares about a time their grandson came for a visit and her husband cooked country-fried cube steak for him. What was her reaction when they invited her to eat? Kim also shares how her family is also on this diet. What does a day eating at Kim's house look like? Tune in as she shares what they can have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kim also shares what they ordered on Mamasezz, a whole food plant-based meal delivery service! Kim finds products and businesses that are also whole food plant-based that help her save time to put together a meal. Grapes in smoothies and snacks. Kim and Kathy share more whole food plant-based ideas. Kathy also shares how her health changed as a result of working with Kim. Kathy talks about an upcoming live event! Guess what's in store? Resources: Simplyplantbasedkitchen.com Mailing List for Simply Plant Based Kitchen Kim on Instagram Kim on Facebook Mamasezz.com Misfitsmarket.com Plantstrongfoods.com Quotes: “I think it was more like a midlife awakening. You awaken to the fact that life is short and what are we here to do and I want to make the most of it.” “My immune system can handle whatever comes its way because it's its job. If we feed it the right nutrients and the right fuel, it will do its job to protect us.” “I eat normal things like whole grain pasta, Mexican dishes, and pizza. They're just tweaked to become whole food plant-based.”
Jennifer Love is a Wealth Philosopher, Money Therapist, and the CEO of The Living Wealthy Institute. She is one of Kathy's business coaches, mentors, and favorite people in the world as well! In this episode, Jennifer shares her passion for helping people through unclogging their emotions and what manifestation truly means. If you ever felt stuck and not sure how to get to the next level financially, Jennifer understands exactly what might be tripping you up. Tune in and be inspired by her stories! Key takeaways: Jennifer shares the story of when her father left when she was three years old. Growing up, she watched her mother financially disempowered. Being an achiever, she used her childhood experience to prove her self-worth. Despite achieving a lot in her thirties, Jennifer didn't feel joy and was a prisoner inside her own life. Jennifer explains how 90% of all of our financial decisions are made based on what's happening in the emotional and psychological aspects of ourselves. She shares that we can't attach to what it is that we truly desire if we are all clogged up emotionally. It's the law of subtraction before getting to the law of attraction. How does one start with the process of subtraction? When we manifest from a place of openness and surrender, what then happens? Jennifer uncovers the secret. Understanding one's own process can get you to a place of self-acceptance. Kathy also shares her own experience working with Jennifer and how she always challenges them in order for them to grow. Following a horseback riding incident in May, Jennifer shares about her surgery and how it connected with her childhood pain. Jennifer also shares her journey through rehab and the micro-intentions she set along the way to be able to walk again. The doctors were amazed at how she was able to recover quickly and walk again after only two weeks! We need to subtract everything that is blocking the pain and be with our emotions. Through subtracting can we only truly manifest the life we want. To follow more of Jennifer's story, check out her podcast, The Nature of Money. Resources: The Nature of Money Jenniferlove.com Jennifer on Instagram Jennifer on LinkedIn Quotes: “There's more to this being wealthy thing than just chasing money.” “We need to have the patience, as nature actually shows us, with ourselves, our own process and timing. We all have our own process.” “Money is like an eggplant. It just takes on whatever flavor you pair it with.”
Cori Zeuli is the Chief Implementation Officer and Chief Kajabi Strategist at Your Core Solutions, which is a powerhouse team of virtual experts that focuses on helping their clients share their expertise online. They use strategic consulting, tech, empowerment, coaching, and implementation to guide their clients through some of their toughest challenges. Kathy and Cori have been working together for six years. How did Cori begin her journey with Kajabi? Find out more in this week's episode! Key takeaways: Cori talks about how she became a virtual expert and owning her business. Cori comes from a background in corporate finance, but she always felt underappreciated. At the time she was leaving her job, one of her colleagues introduced her to Kathy and what it was like being a virtual assistant. It took Cori three years to say yes to Kathy's suggestion about Kajabi. Cori shares what finally made her say “yes”! Back in 2015, Kajabi took notice of how Cori was getting so good at what she did, how she was sharing her knowledge and helping others, that they offered her to be a Kajabi ambassador. Kathy highly recommends Kajabi and talks about the history of the company and its credibility. How does Cori stay on top of Kajabi's fast-paced improvements? Cori shares the three ways she works with her clients: Done For You, Done With You, and DIYers. From strategic blueprints that are customized for specific needs, to graphic designers and copywriters, she and her team offer a complete package! Why is it important to know Kajabi to run a business with it? Kajabi experts vs. marketing experts. What's the difference and how does that impact your business? Kathy summarizes Cori's six-year journey. It's been quite an exciting ride! Resources: Yourcoresolutions.com Cori on LinkedIn Cori on Facebook Cori on Twitter Quotes: “There is no one-size-fits-all. Everybody's journey and vision are different.” “This person might be amazing at Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or Youtube or something like that, yes they can be beneficial to your team. However, if they don't know how things work inside of Kajabi, they're not going to be able to effectively create the marketing funnel that you want.” “I see now that I am strong, driven, and caring and I want to see you succeed. And in the process, I'll succeed too. That's what's important.”
Sarah Paikai is a multi-media Spoken Word Artist, COO of an eight-figure marketing company named Master Brand, Inc., and author of the best-selling book, Passion to Action: How YOU Can Do It All. Kathy and Sarah have known each other from being in the same mastermind group where they got to work and travel together, and she's excited you'll be able to hear her wise words on marketing today! In this episode, they talk about Sarah's journey toward entrepreneurship and her spoken word art and how she uses it to challenge the status quo. Key takeaways: Sarah grew up in a Japanese-American family where she never felt that she quite fit in. Jumping into entrepreneurship, she realized this was her place to be herself. Did Sarah ever have any fear, going into entrepreneurship? Knowing what you want and really going for it, without caring about what others think, is not an overnight thing. Being born and raised in Hawaii, Sarah talks about her decision to move to the U.S. and what it was like. Sarah always loved writing and creative arts growing up. In high school, she stumbled across hip hop. Did this inspire her spoken word passion? Sarah talks about her first experience performing her spoken word piece to her business counterparts and shared how they reacted. Spoken word for her has been a form of self-expression, especially around the topics of societal justice. A good metaphor or story can help others understand your thoughts and beliefs on a deeper level. Sarah also started taking magazine-type collages on canvas that puts her spoken-word in a full audio and visual experience. Sarah talks about her piece of the Hawaiian flag upside down and what it means. Sarah explains the difference between being crazy and being a genius. What is the difference between Sarah the artist and Sarah the COO? Sarah shares about her custom-written spoken pieces and how she can build words around people's hearts and the truth. Sarah ends with sharing the piece she wrote for everyone listening to this episode! Resources: Speakyourword.com Sarah on Instagram Sarah on LinkedIn Quotes: “Entrepreneurship made me realize that I can create my own space and my own dynamic to play in, work in, and thrive in.” “Loving myself and being confident, even if I wasn't 100% accurate, that's what I had to really learn and grow inside of me.” “The more I learned over those five years, to just keep saying “yes” to me and “yes” to those leaps, the more that base between the (logical) systems and the arts started to get pulled closer together.”
Carrie Wulf is a Virtual Expert for Business Coaches, Trainers, and Speakers. She helps manage their chaotic inbox, organize their calendar, and set systems in place so that her clients have a smooth-running business. In this week's episode, Carrie shares her process, why SOPs are so important, and how she's built her business to function when she's out sick. Key takeaways: A little bit about Carrie and how she helps clients with managing their email. Do you feel a bit weird about outsourcing your email and calendar to someone else? Kathy did, also. When you work with someone for the first time, it does take some time to work with someone to get your system and process right. Kathy found herself deleting her entire calendar, and Carrie was able to restore it back to normal! Carrie has a training program out right now to help virtual assistants better manage their client's email and calendars. It's so important to set inbox rules and filters so that clients can find what they need a lot easier. What is an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and why is it important? Carrie shares some of her services and what types of clients she likes to work for. When Carrie understands how her clients work, she will add extra “time padding” for her clients so that they get certain tasks done on time. The great thing about Carrie is that she has a team of people behind her and, if she is out sick, her team can step in without any disruption to the business. Interested in getting to know Carrie and her team? Reach out and say hi! Resources: Wulfdenvirtualassistants.com Carrie on LinkedIn 5 Day in a Box Detox Quotes: “I record the call and just let my client braindump what each team member does and their needs, and from there I figure out what process we need to document for our SOPs.” “It can be a process, but we get it figured out and we start writing the SOPs. Once clients see their workflows written out, they're more on board with [why SOPs are so important].” “Carrie knows me so well that she knows what I'll be procrastinating on while she's gone. She has other people on her team slacking me.”
Kiri Mohan is an Executive Virtual Assistant and helps busy executives & entrepreneurs with their business needs. Kiri has been in this industry since she was 15 years old and has learned a thing or two on how to best service some of the highest-demanding clients. She has a unique pricing model where she doesn't charge per hour, and it has allowed her the freedom and flexibility to help her clients while keeping healthy boundaries at work. Find out more on this week's episode! Key takeaways: A little bit about Kiri and how she got her first job as an assistant at 15. Fast forward years later and Kiri needed more. She ended up finding a ton of executive assistant positions that were work-from-home! She started her own business and, well, ended up learning a lot. When she tried to open up her business, she didn't even know what an LLC was. Kiri shares some of the key mistakes she made early on in her solopreneur career and how she was slowly able to build her business up to where it is today. No one in Kiri's circle was working for themselves at the time. She really had to learn everything on her own. How has the pandemic affected Kiri's business? What are some of the benefits of working with Kiri? You need to raise your prices. You need to set higher prices. Charge what you're worth! Never compete on a low price. It will ruin you. How does Kiri structure her services and help her clients based on their needs? In business, it's important to set your expectations very clearly with your clients and hold those boundaries! Kiri argues against charging per hour. Charge on turnaround and value. How does Kiri structure her vacation days around her client work? Many people don't understand how much money you can really make as a virtual assistant. Kiri shares where the future of her business is headed. Resources: Associationofvas.com Dependableva.com Kiri Mohan Quotes: “We released an industry guide to pricing and we said the minimum was $25 an hour for a general VA because we're trying to uplift the VA industry. This is what you should be paying American VAs.” “I did a 30 for 30. I did a 30-day trial run for $30 an hour. At the end of that, we'll talk and I'd up it to $40 an hour.” “I quickly stopped charging hourly. I cannot sustain a (long hour) VA lifestyle.”
Marisha Horsman is a Holistic Health Coach and helps women transform their relationship with food, nourish their light, and fulfill their radiant potential. Kathy is so glad she worked with Marisha because she had had a poor relationship with her body and food for over 60 years. Now, the very cookies and sweets that brought her comfort completely turn her off! Find out why Marisha is so good at what she does, and how she helps bring women back into harmony with their body, on this week's episode! Key takeaways: A little bit about Marisha and how she got involved in this journey of properly nourishing her body. Marisha was living the life she always dreamed of, but inside she was falling apart and it took a health scare for her to finally stop. In the beginning, everywhere Marisha went, misery went with her. What was supposed to be a two-week stay in an Indian ashram ended up turning into a four-year stay, but Marisha knew she needed this experience after experiencing years of eating issues and body shame. Kathy shares what it's like working with Marisha. Our relationship with food reflects in every aspect of our life. Kathy felt like such a loser. She couldn't control her overeating and didn't know why! No matter what, your body is not a mistake. Marisha remembers a time where she was completely hijacked by her emotions and she couldn't figure out how to control it. Now she realizes her poor eating habits were the reason for it. Marisha shares a story of how she witnessed a bank robbery. Interested in what Marisha does? Marisha is hosting a group coaching program for women! Resources: Marishahorsman.com Marisha on Instagram Quotes: “You can't run away from your problems, you can't run away from yourself.” “We all come to a point where we've suffered enough, and we're willing now to face whatever it is; we're going in there.” “Weight loss is a side effect of you coming back into harmony with your body, your food, your eating. It just happens.”
Terra Bohlmann is a Business Strategist, Breakthrough Coach, and the Creator of The Business Map Method™. She is also an avid brooch collector! After leaving a very successful career in corporate, Terra now helps women get clear on their company vision so that they can outsource, delegate, and scale their business. In this episode, Terra shares how she had to overcome negative self-talk, how to get started, and why it's important to loop your husband/spouse into the financials of your business. Key takeaways: A little bit about Terra and why she became a breakthrough coach. Terra just wanted more freedom. She didn't want to leave her job, but she knew it was time to move on. Terra realized that she and her husband weren't on the same page when it came to her business, so she sat down and created a business map. It helped him see how everything tied in together. Although your husband/partner might not be a business partner, they're still your partner in life and it's important to have both parties on the same page of where “that money” is going. Terra noticed that during her entrepreneurial journey, she had a lot of negative self-talk. Sometimes you really just need to slow down, enjoy life, and have fun. You don't always have to be working so hard! Terra noticed that she had to push herself hard before she felt like she deserved the money she earned. Terra offers some advice on how to get started. After learning from her past, Terra now protects her self-care time no matter what the circumstances. Stress is a killer! When women in business have a roadmap, it makes it so much easier to have a virtual expert “take care” of the rest. You don't have to have them figure it all out (and fail) themselves. Terra doesn't want to feel like a scatterbrain in her business. Terra loves collecting brooches! She loves hunting for a unique piece, and she is starting a new ecommerce store centered around brooches! Brooches are also a great conversation starter at networking events! Resources: Broochapproach.com Terrabohlmann.com Terra on LinkedIn Quotes: “That was something I had to work on, the negative self-talk, and when you do that, it just continues to manifest and it shows up as stress in your body.” “I felt like I had to work really hard to deserve any money I made.” “Nobody gets an award for working seven days a week.”
Tracey Bissett is an accomplished professional with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Tracey educates and empowers individuals, notably young adults and entrepreneurs, to take control of and live their financial lives with confidence. Tracey shares some of the basics of how to get your finances in order so that you're not a struggling small business. She offers practical advice that you can get started on today! Find out more about Tracey and her wealth of knowledge, in this week's episode. Key takeaways: Tracey loves animals! She has a dog, herself, but reminds listeners to make sure they save up for it appropriately because dogs can be expensive. How did Tracey get into the financial industry? Remember, we are all at different places in our financial journey! There's no shame in that! Just take small steps forward. How does Tracey help with her clients? You have to think about your business growing and how much it'll be to pay someone to do that task for you (that you're currently doing for “free”). No matter what, this means you need to charge more! Confidence is key, but not everyone has it and it can lead them to be passed up for good job opportunities. Instead of trying to “fake it,” try to lead with facts in your abilities so that you get that job. How do you overcome a scarcity mindset? Have a gratitude practice. When you focus on the positives, you don't get so caught up on the negatives. Let's talk about cash flow. What are the best ways to manage this? Financial speak is a specific language and that's why it can be so intimidating for some. Tracey tries to simplify these concepts to make them easier for everyone. When it comes to subcontractors, what's the best structure to pay them? Resources: Bissettfinancialfitness.com Tracey on LinkedIn Quotes: “Money doesn't need to be emotional. It's not something life is tied up into. It's a tool you can use to do things.” “Start observing your reactions to anything money-related. Sit with it.” “Start making your money and your finances a regular part of your routine, just like you do with your sales and marketing.”
Colleen Kochannek helps women from the typewriter generation become successful and confident laptop entrepreneurs, helping them leverage their decades of life experience and learning to create a meaningful, revenue-generating business. In this week's episode, Colleen shares her expertise on why so many older women are finally ready to start their businesses, and why now is the time, compared to other age groups, to start. Key takeaways: Everyone loves Colleen's bright red glasses! What kinds of challenges does the “typewriter generation” have to overcome when they're working online? Colleen has noticed her generation just doesn't even try! They just think it's too much of a tech barrier and then give up. The way we approach technology is very different from how the younger folks approach it... and what's worse is, society treats us like idiots! Colleen gives a bit of tough love to her students. It's their responsibility to learn basic tech skills. How does Colleen help people overcome their limiting belief that they're “just not techy”? A lot of Colleen's clients love that she is step-by-step. She really shows them the tiniest details, one at a time. Tech moves so quickly that it's so hard to keep up with it. It's so frustrating! How do you ask better questions and help yourself when you get stuck on a tech challenge? Colleen helps her clients figure out what to accurately search for! So many people sell this “eight-figure” business dream and women over 50 are afraid of that. Colleen understands. They don't want to do crazy hours anymore. You can create a lifestyle business that brings in the amount of money that you want! Before you jump into a business, you need to define what success means to you. Many women start later in life because they had to give up their career or a certain part of themselves to care for others. Now is your time to shine. Now is your time to do what you want to do! There is no “one thing” you can do to suddenly break free. You think you don't have a niche? Think again. There's a lot of weird stuff out there. Resources: Scrappyfrontier.com Colleen on LinkedIn Quotes: “Women over the age of 55 are 40% more likely to start a successful online business than a 30-something-year-old.” “Freedom comes from discipline.” “There is no guilt or shame in wanting to do what you want to do now. You have earned that right.”
Angelic Veasman is the Founder and CEO of Lady PowerHouse Solutions, a project and event support firm that helps women in business get organized and prioritized. Angelic was in the corporate hamster wheel for a while, but she'd had enough. The pandemic forced her to reevaluate certain things in her life and take a full leap in her business, and she's so glad she made the jump! Find out more in this week's episode! Key takeaways: Angelic has been working since she was 16 years old and has had a wide range of career experiences since then! She is super passionate about what she does and is always excited to learn something new! Angelic was on a corporate hamster wheel and she'd had enough! She joined Kathy's group and wow, it was great to have such a fresh perspective! After attending Kathy's event, Angelic was in tears because she finally found her tribe. Kathy got fired at the end of 2019 and she was faced with a decision. Get a job or dive into her own business! And then, her husband lost his job too. Kathy and her family moved to Florida for a job, but it didn't work out two weeks later. They were in a tough spot and their finances were drained. With so many changes happening in Angelic's life, what has she learned the most from it all? COVID-19 and these latest transitions have really opened everyone's eyes to a new way of working. What types of people does Angelic work with and how does she help her clients? Angelic has strategic intensive offerings which help business owners understand what they really need in their business; not what they think they need. For a lot of Angelic's clients, they often don't know what they need, they just know they're overwhelmed. Kathy recommends Angelic! She has a very creative outlook and out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to how she approaches problems! Resources: Ladypowerhouse.com Angelic on LinkedIn Quotes: “Kathy was super honest and authentic about it. This isn't going to be super easy. There's a financial investment. These are the criteria. Kathy wasn't saying it was a get rich quick scheme.” “I was crying. It was basically I found my tribe. I had found this community of women that weren't cliquey. They were supportive.” “What really matters isn't what we do, it isn't what we make, it isn't what we have, it is who we are.”
Jackie Barker is the Owner and Founder of the Barefoot Design Collective, a web and graphic design firm. In this episode, you'll learn a little bit about Jackie, how she got started, and how she's different from other web development firms. Jackie provides an all-encompassing look at your website and makes sure it's optimized and running to its full efficiency, and then some! Find out more in this week's episode. Key takeaways: Jackie shares a little bit about how she got started in graphic and web design. How does Jackie provide a “website in a day”? She breaks down her service offering. Jackie shares how she makes it super easy for clients to get the knowledge and skillsets that they need to have a professional website. What does website maintenance look like with a pre-built WordPress template? People might complain about WordPress, but it is a very solid platform to be on! They are constantly updating their platform. Jackie shares how she saved her client $300 a month in maintenance fees! And, improved her site speed. If your website is down or broken, how many customers would you lose? Not many people would reach out to tell you that your website contact form is broken. What tips does Jackie have to help attract the attention of your ideal client on your website? How knowledgeable is Jackie about SEO? What is a meta description? Jackie explains how easy it is to get started working with her. Bundle your website elements together and Jackie takes care of the rest! Kathy is so glad she has people like Jackie. She can easily spend hours on a website, and not even understand what went wrong! Resources: Barefootdc.com Jackie on LinkedIn Quotes: “If you're a small business owner, $10,000 for a website that is going to constantly need to be changed and updated, that's a lot of money!” “At least go out to your site once a week just to make sure everything is updated, security plugins and backups running, that's what somebody that maintains your site should be doing.” “[With your words], it's about having a call to action. It's all about psychology and where the eyes go around the screen.”
Mark Struczewski is known as Mister Productivity. He helps his clients reduce the overwhelm and dread in their lives so that not only are they more productive, but they are also able to enjoy more of life outside of work. In this week's episode, Mark talks about how he was able to reduce his time down through building a conscious process in his business, and so much more! It all comes down to intentionality and doing the work! Key takeaways: Kathy was on Mark's show, but she almost didn't go at all! Why is Mark so passionate about what he does? So many people have the golden handcuffs on, the job is too good for them to quit, but it sucks their soul. Can you be both happy and wealthy? Mark says yes, but it takes a bit of intentionality to get you there. Mark talks a little bit about social media and his feelings around it. Mark is a huge wellness buff. His mother and grandmother have both been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and he's trying to prevent that from happening to him. What does Mark like to eat on a given day? A lot of people simply aren't taking good care of themselves. Don't let busyness get in your way of good health! Mark is so high-energy that he really can't sit still to watch movies. He wants to be doing something productive. How did Mark become known as Mister Productivity? If you don't know what your “thing” is, sometimes it takes a few tries to understand what you're best at. Mark believes most people on this planet are good people. When it comes to the news, you have to be cautious about what types of sources are being referenced. No one talks about the source anymore. How does Mark produce a show a day? Where does he find the time? Don't aim for perfection, just aim for serving your audience. If you serve from the heart, you're already halfway there! Want to be more productive? You need to have a process. Mark doesn't make more people productive, he helps reduce overwhelm. There is life outside of work!!! Resources: Markstruczewski.com Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Instagram Kathy on Mark's podcast Think Again, by Adam Grant Quotes: “Do you want to be happy or do you want to be wealthy? You can be both, but you need to choose happiness first.” “If you're not happy now, you won't be happy when.” “Most people are good people. I really truly believe that. Unfortunately, they just don't get the press.”
Teri “Tag” Gustafson grew up in a small town in Minnesota. A country girl at heart, Teri moved from the city back to her hometown to care of her mom. However, during that time, she realized she could not stock shelves for 40 hours a week while also taking care of her mother. Teri decided to take the leap and start her own graphic design and video editing business. Find out a little bit more about Teri, also known as Tag, and the work she does in this week's episode. Key takeaways: A little bit about Tag and why she started her first business. Tag has done a lot of mindset work and it really helped her appreciate herself a little more. How did Tag find out she had dyslexia? There are so many creative people who have dyslexia! Kathy's husband is also dyslexic. Tag has never been good at following the rules. Kathy understands the challenges. That's why she likes to offer different learning options in her program: Video, Audio, and Transcriptions. Tag's father disappeared suddenly. She still to this day doesn't know what happened to him. It's very difficult and traumatic for her family. Although Tag was living in the city at the time her father disappeared, she knew she had to move back to her small town to be close to her mother. Tag is the 2nd oldest out of her 4 sisters. She loves being close to family. Tag was working a nine-to-five and it was very difficult to take care of mom and work a job at the same time. After seeing Kathy's virtual expert training, Tag knew that the nine-to-five lifestyle was simply just killing her body. Tag knew she was completely capable, but she had cashed out her 401(k) in the past to pay for programs that didn't work at all. How did the nickname “Tag” come about? How does Tag help her clients? What types of people does she love to work with? Interested in working with Teri! She'd love to hear from you. Resources: Wowfactorvirtualsolutions.com Teri on LinkedIn Quotes: “I was listening to your podcast and I said, yeah, somebody needs to hear what I have to say! Maybe they're not quite there yet.” “I was working really hard and I was trying to balance mom's medical stuff. I realized I can't keep doing this.” “Stocking shelves for 40 hours a week, my body couldn't take it. My back goes out in different spots.”
Barbara Field has published pieces in newspapers and magazines, and her novel attracted the attention of Hollywood for a nanosecond. She also was an instructor, ghostwriter, and keynote speaker. After falling seriously ill and being near death's door, Barbara realized her son did not really know her. While she was recovering at home, she realized we don't know people's life stories and she wanted to help people write their memoirs to leave as a legacy. She now teaches people just how to do that. Find out more about Barbara and her journey in this week's episode! Key takeaways: How did Barbara become a writer? Don't think you can write? The smartest people Barbara knows are actually terrible spellers! Barbara talks about her work with the Afghan Women's Writing Project. Barbara learned that by writing a letter and by asking for what you want, a lot of doors open for you. People are happy to accept your help! Don't overthink it. Just leap and do it. When Barbara worked on the Afghan project and the OpEd Project, her career skyrocketed and she was asked to speak about her work from all over. Barbara's biggest leap in her career was moving back to New York City at the age of 50 and starting her memoir business. Why did Barbara start her own business? People remember stories more than they do facts. Barbara loves helping people tell their stories! Don't have a story? That's a lie! We all have stories we can share and give to the world. Your legacy can be leaving people you love with your stories. You have to get your stories down first, and then you can clean it up a little. Who does Barbara love to work with? What sometimes stops people from writing? Why is Barbara's writing class so much more fun and engaging compared to others? It's because it's guided and intentional! Resources: Writinglifestories.com Brenda on LinkedIn Awwproject.org Quotes: “I was a struggling single mom and I finally gave myself permission to do something that I wanted.” “A study at Stanford Business School said people remember stories more than facts 22 times more!” “Most people don't get their stories down first because they're intimidated by the writing process.”
Brenda Swann comes from the non-profit sector and loves what she does. She helps business owners with over $1M in revenue set up a giving back component in their business. In this week's episode, Brenda shares a little bit about her background, her expertise, her big vision, and why she loves doing this kind of work. Key takeaways: A little bit about Brenda and her nonprofit work. Did you know St. Augustine, Florida is the nation's oldest city? What made Brenda want to switch careers? She was seeking something new and was a little burned out by the inefficiency. Kathy made the same mistake Brenda did. In her first year, she recreated her job and didn't have balance. She realized this line of work is not really what she wanted to do. Brenda had to dig deep and find out what her big “why” was. Brenda wants to build a community that has a positive impact on the world. How is Brenda's business structured? If you're looking for a non-profit to give back to, Brenda is your person! She will connect you with a non-profit that you're passionate about so that you can give back! For example, if you want to give a scholarship away, how do you find the right person to receive it? Who are Brenda's ideal clients? What are some of the benefits of giving back? What kind of legacy would you like to leave? Brenda shares a bit about her grant writing work. Resources: Growingyourgoodwork.com Brenda on LinkedIn Quotes: “My big ‘why,' what I want to provide to the world, is community. I want to build a community that works to have a positive impact in the world.” “The benefits aren't just the ‘feel good,' which really is the best benefit, but clients appreciate it.” “My grant services clients get 36% ROI.”
Dan Rondeau transitioned from the pharmaceutical industry into his own business full-time in 2020. However, he had been working on his side hustle for nearly three years before finally making the leap. There were a couple of life challenges that had gotten in the way and had put his dreams on hold, but he knew that corporate life was not the place for him. Today, he shares his story, why graphic design and branding are so important to him, and what it was like getting direct encouragement from Kathy and her team throughout his entrepreneurial journey. Key takeaways: A little bit about Dan and his graphic design work. Kathy shares why she loves working with Dan. He understands her brand! Dan is so grateful for having a coach. He's grown so much as a person because of it. Dan's coaches are both part of Kathy's company! Dan left his job last year in 2020. It was a scary transition. He's so glad he's out of that corporate drama! Corporate life just isn't flexible or really all that kind to you. They really try to take as much as they can from you. The moment you say no, you get blacklisted. How did Dan work on Kathy's program while working a full-time job? The year that Dan was officially going to leave his corporate career, he and his wife lost six people in his family throughout that year. It was painful. Despite setbacks, Dan kept working with his coaches. He never gave up. In July 2020, Dan's company wanted him back in the office. That's when he decided it was time to quit officially. Dan was burned out. Not only was he working in the office. He was coming home and also working on the job. He didn't have a chance to work on his own business. They were running him to the ground. Dan understands Kathy is a bit of a last-minute kind of person. He's more than happy to adjust based on her schedule. What is Dan's work process like? Dan shares the types of clients he loves to work for. Interested in working with Dan? Reach out! Resources: Mymarketingva.com Quotes: “2018 was the year I planned on leaving my job and plans got put on hold, but getting put on hold was not relinquishing the dream.” “It's not about what you've been through. It's about who you are as a person.” “There are so many other ways you can express your feelings behind the design you're looking for.”
Kevin Chemidlin is a Podcaster and Podcast Coach. He is the host of Grow the Show, where he helps podcasters grow their podcast numbers. With over 100,000 downloads and $100,000 of revenue generated, Kevin is passionate about podcasting and helping others learn the ropes of this industry! Kevin shares a bit about his story and how to build a loyal podcast following in this week's episode. Key takeaways: A little bit about Kevin and his background. Kevin was raised to go for stability. He went into corporate because it was “the thing to do.” How did Kevin get into podcasting and grow his podcast? Kevin realized nothing was working in growing his podcast, so he decided to take a step back and study from the greats. Make sure you have something that people want to pay you money for before you leave your job. Entrepreneurship is so much more “in” than when Kathy first started. How did COVID-19 impact Kevin and his business? When you have a good mindset and perspective, you can tackle any challenge thrown at you. What results are Kevin's clients seeing from growing their podcast? Kevin shares some tips on how to grow your podcast listenership. Kevin recommends you unfollow or mute everyone on social media that you don't have a positive reaction with. Focus on growing your following for just 15 mins. a day. Kevin caps it at 60 mins. max, or else you'll get distracted and waste your time. How do you engage online in four different ways? Go where your followers are and don't promote, but participate. Leave thoughtful comments on people's posts. Don't just comment “nice.” Engage with your dream collaborators! Kevin shares how. Remember, it's all about starting a dialogue and not asking people for stuff. Do you have time for this? Yes! How long do you spend on social media? Take 15 mins. of that and do it intentionally. A confused mind says no. Make sure you have a focus on all your social media profiles. Resources: Growtheshow.com Kevin on LinkedIn Quotes: “You have to make yourself happy first before you can make everyone else happy.” “Social media is designed by people with multiple PhDs in psychology and human behavior where their whole job is to make you stay on that app.” “If you're not asking people for stuff, your dream guests and celebrities will DM with you!”
Molly Trotter-Gomez is the Founder of Dream Factor Co, where she helps coaches and consultants get clarity on their offer, messaging, and how to be more visible in a noisy world. Molly got her start as a news anchor and reporter for CBS affiliate stations in Oregon and Washington State. However, Molly made the leap to start her own business when she realized that she did not want to glorify destructive and demoralizing stories anymore. Find out more about Molly's journey in this week's episode! Key takeaways: Molly recently got married in 2020. She didn't want to wait to marry her best friend. How did Molly go from television news anchor to digital marketer and on-camera consultant? Molly shares some crazy stories she encountered as a news anchor. Molly felt stifled in her career. There were always voices in her ear telling her how she needed to represent herself. After being fired as a news anchor, Molly had enough. She fell in love with digital marketing because you can create everlasting change from anywhere in the world. How does Molly help her clients? Molly doesn't regret standing up for herself. She's okay with getting fired. What has shifted in social media since COVID-19 hit? What's working and what's not working? You can't skip the hard work. Being an entrepreneur is not easy. People are hungrier than ever for real relationships. Molly is in a leadership course and one of the exercises you need to do is write your own obituary. What do you want people to say about you? Molly shares tips on how you can stop hiding and get yourself out there! When you give value, people will pay attention to you. People will hire you! Don't let the “witness protection program” stop you from achieving your dreams and getting good work done! Get out of that program and let yourself shine. Stop thinking you can always do this on your own. You will eventually need help if you wish to scale and grow. Resources: Mollytrotter.com Molly on LinkedIn Quotes: “They fired me for wanting to inspire people. The news is depressing.” “I always encourage people to show up authentically to who you are, not to who somebody else is trying to make you be.” “Until you get your voice, don't hire it out. Until you get your brand and who you are, stop trying to hire the VA. You need to discover who you are first”
Monica M. Bijoux is the Founder and CEO of Decide to Move. She is also a licensed Psychotherapist and Business Strategist. She uses her decades of experience to help high achievers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and veterans have the financial freedom to live a life of purpose. She created a personalized strategy using a twelve-step model that focuses on transformation, transition, growth, and development. Find out more about Monica and her work in this week's episode! Key takeaways: Monica shares some of her achievements and life experiences. While working with veterans, Monica found out that a lot of them didn't know what they wanted to do after they retired. So she decided to build her own coaching business to help them. Monica helps people by taking their ideas and turning them into successful businesses. You have to set clear boundaries and intentional time if you hope to get your to-dos done for the day. Monica went through a lot of abuse during her childhood. Physical, sexual, emotional, was homeless at fifteen, and ended up pregnant at sixteen. These experiences motivated her not to let her child go through what she has been through. She always tells her daughter that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. The only person that limits her is herself and that she is wonderful for who she is. Because of how parents handle their children nowadays, Monica believes children can't handle stress and don't know how to make decisions when a crisis comes. How do you identify high achievers? High achievers are easy to work with because they are motivated and driven. However, the downside to that is they can be a bit full of themselves. You have to lay down a good foundation in order to grow. Military veterans are so humble that they don't think of their accomplishments as being that noteworthy. However, they are some of the most high-achieving individuals that Monica knows! Despite how much effort they put into whatever they do, a lot of tough moms don't think that they are high achievers. How can you help people realize that they are high achievers? Monica helps her clients in a smooth way and doesn't like to push them for things that they are uncomfortable with. Decide to Move is Monica's company where she helps people achieve their goals and find their passion inside of them. We have coping mechanisms that are no longer serving us as adults. Monica offers some strategies to help you have healthy relationships and learn how to love yourself again. Resources: Accomplishmoretogether.com Monica M. Bijoux Decidetomove.com Quotes: “No one actually wakes up and says I'm gonna be an abuser. No one wakes up and says I'm going to hurt someone. It's usually hurt people who hurt people.” “No matter how you start, it doesn't mean it's how you're gonna end.” “Be the light that they're meant to be.”
Eva Harster is a Virtual Assistant that helps eCommerce entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. Eva is a passionate shopper and understands what the consumer wants from retail. She helps businesses take their boutique stores online to get more reach. Find out more about Eva and how she helps businesses get their products online in this week's episode! Key takeaways: Eva shares how she left the corporate world to start her own business. When Eva found herself unexpectedly fired, she had to figure out really quickly what was next for her. Eva has had several pivots in her life. She really got her start in real estate, but when 2008 happened, she found herself needing a job. Eva knew she had to make something work for her, but she was her own worst enemy for six months. Eva sees so many boutique shops that have so much to offer, but they're not online! Then, COVID-19 hit, and Eva's business skyrocketed from there. Seventy-four percent of small businesses don't have a website with a “buy” button. Introducing e-commerce to small, medium businesses is the way to go. Why are ads so good and show you exactly what you're looking for? Predictions say that by 2024, worldwide retail ecommerce sales will hit 6.4 trillion. How does Eva help her clients? Eva helps small businesses promote their business online by having their own website, online store, and social media presence. Retailers don't realize the sales that they're missing out on by not having an online store. People love the comfort of shopping online and receiving their orders at their doorsteps. Kathy loves the idea of never stepping into a store again. An online store doesn't have to be expensive! Eva didn't know what WordPress was until a couple of years ago. Everyone has to start somewhere. Eva doesn't just help you with your online store, she also helps you market your products too so that you can focus more on attracting more customers! Because of COVID-19, her husband lost his job. That's when Eva really had to get creative and go all-in with her business. Eva's cat makes a quick appearance! When was the last time you took a look at the maintenance of your computer and made sure everything was up-to-date? You got into business because you are an expert in A, B, and C. Unfortunately as a business owner, you have to focus on ABCDEFG and it pulls you away from your expertise. Eva helps you take more things off of your plate! Resources: Moretimetoprofit.com Eva on LinkedIn Email Eva: info@yourhealthypc.com Quotes: “74% of small business websites don't have any kind of ecommerce. That's just a missed opportunity.” “Your biggest challenge is not gonna be getting clients, but your biggest challenge is having so many clients.” “Be the zebra! Jump through the fire. Do the [scary] thing anyway.”
Jadah Sellner is a best-selling author, business mentor, host of the Lead with Love® Podcast, and sought-after international keynote and TEDx speaker. Jadah helps founders grow their businesses to the next level without sacrificing what matters most. Jadah has seen a lot of success throughout her career, but it didn't always start that way. Her first business was a complete failure, but she never gave up. Jadah shares her dare to leap story and how she was able to prevail against all odds. Key takeaways: A little bit about Jadah and how she built her company. In 2008, during the financial crash, no one was hiring. Jadah had to become her own boss out of necessity. Jadah admits that she and her husband had no business starting a business! Unfortunately, starting a business with Jadah's husband really hurt their relationship and their marriage. There was so much financial stress happening. Jadah had to move back to California and stay with her husband's in-laws. There were 10 people living under one roof. When Jadah reached out and asked for help, that's when things changed for her, but it can be hard for women to ask for help. Be proactive in your own success! When we hit a wall and when we hit failure, we can completely give up or keep pushing through. Reach out to your network or new groups and never take no for an answer! How did Jadah get started with her green smoothie business? In 2012, Jadah grew her company's Instagram followers by 30K people! Things were really blowing up. How did Jadah keep focus while her company was growing? Jadah has a policy of “no comment” left behind. Which means she responds to everyone! It's tiring but so worth it because everyone gets seen. Education doesn't make or break you. Jadah does not have a college degree; she didn't go to school for this and was still able to come out successful. Women have a lot of added pressure to provide for their families while also balancing their health and wellness. We need to be surrounded by other visionaries that are pulling us up and keeping us grounded on what really matters. Resources: Jadahsellner.com Quotes: “Something happens where we fail or we get rejected, we go into, ‘I will never put myself in that situation again.' But for me, I just had to keep going.” “Don't take no as a rejection. It's just no for right now!” “There's extra societal pressure on us as women building meaningful businesses but also still having the energy and presence to have meaningful lives.”
Pat Taylor is the Owner of Accomplish More Together and Taylor Virtual Group. She is a Certified Virtual Expert for business owners who want to accelerate their business growth. Prior to this, she worked in corporate America for 30 years but after quitting, she has been able to build her dream business by helping others have more time to focus on what they're good at. In this week's episode, Pat shares how she helps her clients, why she loves what she does, and so much more! Key takeaways: A little bit about Pat and her expertise. She had to make the shift to her own business because her work hours were reduced and her husband had some health challenges. Pat is so happy she's working for herself now! She can take a break, go on vacation, and she and her husband have a much better quality of life together! What did Pat do for 35 years at her company? And how does she take those skills into her new virtual business? Pat shares her top five values that represent her and her business. What was Pat's lucky break in this business? The great thing about working with Pat and her team is that she comes fully trained! Pat shares her process and how she helps her clients in her business. Pat is now a coach for Kathy's team. What's that experience been like? How much is your time worth for your business? Pat offers advice on how to get started as a VA! Pat is the best boss she's ever had! When is it a good time to hire a VA? Resources: Accomplishmoretogether.com Quotes: “I'm never going to put my life, my fortune, and my future into somebody else's hands. I'm going to dare to leap!” “Working for myself has been the perfect way to end 35 years of being at somebody else's beck and call.” “If you stop learning, you start dying.”
Tamara Zantell is a Brand Strategist and Visionary. For the past 25 years, she has been lifting others into their greatness. Licensed as a Mortuary Scientist, Tamara has had to make a couple of big leaps throughout her career. She helped turn her daughter's skincare line into a multimillion-dollar international brand and in this week's episode, she shares some of the successes and learning points her family had to learn along the way. Key takeaways: How did Tamara become a mortuary scientist? Tamara's daughter, at nine, wanted to learn how to make lip balms. Tamara decided to help her and guide her through this journey. Little did Tamara know, this little idea sparked into a big thing! 10 years later, her daughter's product is now in over 700 Target stores. People build major brands just off of their authenticity. The process of starting a business is lonely, but when you're just nine or 10 years old, it's even more lonely. Tamara created Raising a Mogul to build a community full of kids who owned their own businesses. In the beginning, Tamara felt a bit too prideful for asking for help. However, she's glad she got her ego in check because it was only holding the family back. “I can figure it out on my own.” Yes, maybe, but how many mistakes will you be making along the way? No matter where you are, you will hit a certain level and you'll realize you're not sure how to get higher. If you're the COO of a company, you can't be in the weeds with everyone, or else nothing will get done. Tamara wants to build a legacy for her family. How should someone begin to create a family legacy? If you only have one day a week to create something, then be honest about that. Resources: Tamarazantell.com Zandrabeauty.com Raising a Mogul on Facebook Quotes: “People build major brands just on their authenticity and sharing their ‘behind the scenes.' What the real ‘real' is like. That's what we're missing online today.” “I knew everything. I had an ego, but I had to get it in check. It was holding us back.” “The more money we can make, the more people we can help. We're here to make an impact.”
Brian Basilico is an award-winning, internationally recognized author and speaker (and a self-professed geek). He's the founder and president of B2B Interactive Marketing Inc., a marketing consulting and production company. B2B was founded in 2001 and helps companies and nonprofits market their products and services through the effective use of online tools including websites, blogs, email, social networking, Google, S.E.O., YouTube, and more. Brian shares why he's known as the “bacon man,” what made him dare to leap, and how he was able to help his clients during the pandemic! Key takeaways: How did Brian get into bacon? When Brian found himself in the hospital, he was so thankful he had his business running on autopilot. Brian has had a very extensive career and has been his own boss for at least the last 20 years. What has helped Brian throughout his career? Brian shares how he helps his clients save money. SEO is critical for any business, but it has its caveats that you have to be aware of. Brian recognizes he's good at some things, but he needs Kathy's awareness and sharp business expertise to help him see the bigger picture. Brian has been running his caption contest for over 10 years. The other day, he posted one and got no engagement. What happened? Facebook's algorithm has gotten harder. Business does not happen over social media. What's the difference between B2C and B2B? What's the difference between the marketing and sales arms of your business? Have a B2B business that needs a bit of optimizing? Reach out to Brian! Resources: Brianbasilico.com Brian on LinkedIn It's Not About You, It's About Bacon: Relationship Marketing in a Social Media World, by Brian Basilico Quotes: “I started the year saying, don't panic, pivot. And everybody hated the word pivot by the third month.” “I wear it like a badge of honor. I make mistakes. It's okay.” “Progress, not perfection.”
Liza Baker is a full-time health coach and nonprofit consultant, self-published author, blogger, podcaster, and woefully underpaid COO of a busy family of four spread across the globe. She knows what it's like to be under-appreciated and overworked, and it's her mission to help mission-driven women regain control of their lives and feel good! In this week's episode, Liza shares how to break your bad food habits, start to love your kitchen again, and what to do when you're having insane food cravings that just won't quit! Key takeaways: Liza has had a diverse background throughout her life. She started her career teaching Chinese! Cooking at home is such a lost art! People feel like it takes so much time. It really comes down to the relationship you have with food, not the food itself. Women often fall into chronic caregiving. People need stuff done at work, and then when we come home, our little humans need help too. There is no break! Women love support roles. More so than men. Out of the 300 people Kathy has trained, she has trained five men. There's nothing wrong with being in a support role unless you're getting taken advantage of. And more often than not, women are getting taken advantage of! Kathy and her husband have switched roles in the household. It's great! It really works well in their relationship. Kathy felt like she woke up one day and was like, why am I trying to kill myself with food? Some of Liza's favorite cooking tips are “plan overs.” Don't know how to cook? Start small. Learn the basics first. Why is it we want the best stuff, but refuse to pay for good quality food? What should you do with cravings or when you really want a treat? The emotions this year have been off the charts. It makes sense why we're so stressed out and need comfort food. Are you waiting to “go back to normal”? Why? Normal didn't work for a lot of people. A good and strong habit starts in layers. What's the difference between self-care vs. soul care? It's so important to shift your energy to a more positive and optimistic one. It will completely change the way you manage stress, how you show up at work or life, and your relationship with food. How would things look if this was EASY? Resources: Simply-healthcoaching.com Liza on LinkedIn Jamesclear.com/habits The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg Quotes: “Let's talk about the food you're putting in your mouth, but let's talk about why you're putting it in there, too. It's very often your relationship with food that's the issue rather than the food itself.” “We're very used to thinking about food is food is food and somehow we've fallen into this idea; we want the best car, the best insurance policy, the best house, but our food should cost 99 cents.” “Normal didn't work for a lot of people. Normal has not worked for women, people of color. It has not worked. Let's not go back to that.”
Toni Moore, Esquire. has been helping women build wealth through entrepreneurship for more than 20 years. Trained as a lawyer, she makes sure her clients' creative works and business assets are protected. Growing up in the projects, Toni decided it was her destiny to rise above her socioeconomic class and succeed. She shares her story and the various leaps she had to make to get to where she is today. Key takeaways: A little bit about Toni and how she got started in her career. Toni grew up incredibly poor and she and her seven sisters had lived in and out of shelters. When did Toni decide to become a lawyer? When Toni went to law school, it was her first real-life experience with rich kids. Wow, what an eye-opener! No matter what, Toni was not going to go back to the projects despite her failing her classes. Toni knew that if she became a lawyer, she could help children like her and help them not suffer the way she did. Toni lights up when she is able to talk to young girls in foster care and show them what's possible with their life. Destiny has a way of teaching you that you are worthy of living your dream life. Because Toni was so passionate about what she was doing, it also meant she got emotional way too easily, which is not a good look in a male-dominated field. Toni settled too early in her career. She wasn't picky enough. And then something happened, one of Toni's sisters got shot in the stomach. Sometimes when we lose hope, we lose our way. Toni, believing she had a miscarriage, still knew she had to go to work while it was all happening. She didn't want to even tell her law firm she was pregnant! Toni had to be strong and courageous. Despite her going through health challenges, she could not stop going back to the offer to become a partner. Toni finally woke up from the prospect that she could have died. And she prayed to God, and asked him to not let her die an “almost woman.” The next thing Toni knew, she was starting over. She left her corporate career to take care of herself. Do not be the damsel in distress. Romeo ain't coming. How did Toni get into coaching? Have you lost hope? Toni has some words of wisdom for you. Give yourself permission to be the hero of your own story! Resources: Legallychic360.com Toni on LinkedIn Quotes: “When you dare to leap, sometimes you can end up in a whole pile of mess or you can make it a mess for yourself, but I got through because I had this dream.” “If someone has a dream and you're like, you don't have the time for it, that's literally destiny's whisper of letting you know more is possible.” “You deserve to live beyond your socioeconomic class or a job.”
Bonnie Marcus started her corporate career at an entry-level position and worked her way up to the top of a national company by using her savvy promotion and relational skills. Her passion is now to help other women learn to be sensitive to the culture of their organization, embrace the politics, and actively and intentionally move their careers forward with a sound strategic plan. Bonnie is the author of two books, The Politics of Promotion, and her latest book, Not Done Yet!, which she dives into on this week's episode! Key takeaways: A little bit about Bonnie and how she got started in leadership coaching. Bonnie took on a job that she was underqualified for, but you know what, say yes and then learn as you go. So many women will not apply for a job they don't think they're qualified for. Just apply! What's the worst that can happen? You not being an expert in something is actually okay! Someone's got to start somewhere. What's the difference between being “too much” vs. having executive presence? What made Bonnie want to leave corporate America? It's absolutely doable to build your business on the side while working a career. How does Bonnie help women with their careers? Do your research about the company before you accept the job offer. Do they promote women? What are your expectations in terms of support from your employer? What's the risk of asking for money? There isn't. Just do it. Practice your negotiation skills with a friend or a coach! Do you have to quit your job in order to get the respect you need, especially if you were a “lower tier” worker in the very beginning? When Kathy had her career, she didn't know how to advocate for herself. What's Bonnie's new book all about? Bonnie was SHOCKED to discover how so many women wake up worried their employer will find out their age. Ageism in the workplace is happening and women are being punished for their looks. Are you too old to get promoted? Be your badass self. Do women in the workplace have other women they can depend on? Kathy was so afraid to join a male-dominated mastermind group (they were all in their 30s), but she is so glad she did. She was embraced by different people from all walks of life that really encouraged her to succeed. It was herself putting judgments about her age onto herself, not them. Your limiting beliefs may be holding you back from playing all out. So many women think they're “too old” to start over. You're not!!! Resources: Bonniemarcusleadership.com Bonnie on LinkedIn Not Done Yet!: How Women Over 50 Regain Their Confidence and Claim Workplace Power, by Bonnie Marcus Quotes: “When doors open for you, don't say no. It is possible to learn by doing.” “Be your badass self. Connect with who you are, authentically, owning your story, what battles have you fought and won. You're here now, look at all the wisdom you've had.” “We're really making strides and women supporting each other is what's going to help us all get there.”
Ally Berthiaume is a professional writer, native Vermonter, practicing feminist, recovering middle child, wannabe superhero, and a mom who's pretty sure she's “winging it.” She holds an MFA in creative writing and is also the Lady Boss Owner of The Write Place, Right Time, her virtual boutique of copywriting and ghostwriting services. Key takeaways: How did Ally get started in her entrepreneurial journey? Ally was going through a divorce when she found Kathy. Ally was miserable in her job. There were a lot of promises made about her job, and they weren't kept. Despite how much Ally hated it, she needed to hold on to the stability of it all because her personal life was falling apart. How did Ally find Kathy? Ally has wanted to be a writer her entire life. Now was the time. When Ally started working for herself, she surpassed her salary and was surprised. Why would anyone work a regular job ever again? Ally shares some of her favorite clients to work for. You need to share your story! Ally talks about what it's like working for and writing for Kathy. How does Ally conduct her research and write in the same tone of voice as her client? You can go crazy with just re-reading your book and editing it, and editing it, and editing it. You need an outside perspective. What are some of the disadvantages of self-publishing a book? A typo is the bane of every writer's existence. Resources: Thewriteplacerighttime.com Quotes: “From 2010 to 2018, I was getting to the point where I wasn't satisfied. I was undervalued but overworked and it was just not what I was cut out for. I was meant to do more.” “I'm never going back! I'm never going to go back to working for somebody else.” “It's a superpower, I call it, hearing between the lines. Zeroing in on what it is you're saying even if you don't think you're organized in what you're trying to tell me.”
Autumn Witt Boyd graduated in the top 10% of her class from Vanderbilt University Law School before ultimately landing as a senior associate at the premier copyright litigation law firm. Autumn eventually left BigLaw behind to start the AWB Firm in 2015 so she could spend her days helping entrepreneurs build, protect, and scale their businesses the right way. Autumn drops some timeless law wisdom on this week's episode! Key takeaways: How did Autumn get her start as a lawyer? What made Autumn decide to start her own law firm? Autumn really just wanted to start out small and as an independent lawyer, but she hit a ceiling with the amount of work she could do. Autumn really wanted to build a company that was friendly towards women as they were raising children. The corporate lawyer environment is rough and “part-time job” means 40 hours a week. Minimum. Be friends with your competitors! It's actually an excellent network to be tapped into. How does Autumn do a pretty traditional business all online? What can a lawyer do for a business owner? Autumn has some fantastic templates for online business owners that you can use! And! They regularly get updated. Kathy made so many legal mistakes. Ouch! You save money by paying for a bit of legal counsel. Why should you get a trademark? And when should you consider getting a trademark? Don't have a contract? Get yourself a contract! It protects both you and the client. Don't copy someone else's privacy policy or terms and conditions. Resources: Awbfirm.com Autumn on LinkedIn Quotes: “A lot of entrepreneurs don't realize what a big risk employment law is, so we help with that.” “You will save money, save yourself, and save your business by getting that legal advice upfront.” “If you buy a template and nothing else, buy a template for your privacy policy. That is actually required by law.”
Julie Trombley is a Tech VA based out of Michigan. She helps coaches set up their systems and processes so that they can spend more time focusing on what they do best, and not be in the weeds in their business. Julie helps her clients reduce their workload, provide tech support, and increase their presence online! Find out more about what Julie does and how she made the dare to leap in this week's episode. Key takeaways: What made Julie decide to quit her job and leap into this career field? “You're not supposed to like your job!” The biggest lie we were ever told! What kind of fear did Julie experience when she started her own business? What kind of work does Julie do as a VA? Julie can help a business owner set up email sequences, landing pages, and so much more! When you invest in your business, your business grows so much faster! It pays to also have an outsider looking in to give you an eagle's eye view on what would be better. Sometimes business owners are too “in the weeds” to see new possibilities. You don't have to write the SOPs in your business! What types of people does Julie work with? You should dread having a Zoom session with your VA! Looking to work with Julie? Shoot her a message! What's it like to really be a VA? Resources: Tackleyourtodo.com Julie on LinkedIn Quotes: “I had full faith in the program and in you, Kathy, and all the coaches. I knew I could make this happen. It was scary at first, but I'm grateful for it now.” “Look what's out there and see what you have that you can put towards helping others. You can learn to take your own skills and make a business out of it.” “My clients are able to run these tech systems, they just don't have the time.”
Kelly Harris has always had traditional work in her career, but after finding Kathy, her life changed. She is now able to take on remote work, work her own schedule, and everything that she is doing for her clients is very rewarding work! Kelly shares her story and what it’s been like to go her own way, and finally make that leap. Key takeaways: Kelly shares a little bit about herself and her background. Kelly wanted to find another income because her husband had retired, and she still had a lot of work left in her! Kelly is super lucky that she has a supportive husband that helped her through all of this “online stuff.” What kind of work does Kelly like to do? Prior to becoming a VA, Kelly was working at a church as an administrative assistant. Kelly had a really hard time taking the leap out of salaried work to do her own thing. Kelly ran the numbers with one of the people from Kathy’s group and she realized it would have only been a $100 difference. It was a no-brainer after that! Kelly is so grateful for the types of clients she has been able to acquire. They are all so supportive. Kelly feels so proud she’s able to do this. What’s it like being part of Kathy’s community? Resources: Kelly on LinkedIn Email Kelly: KellyDHarris99@gmail.com Quotes: “If you want to be a VA, you don’t have to stay going in one direction, you can go in as many directions you feel like going in.” “I was working almost seven days a week and I had to go down and do all of the little odd jobs, and then it became a really bad situation.” “I don’t think I would have done this without the help of Kathy’s groups. You need that network and you need those people behind you.”
Lou Everett and Sherri McManus are a power couple running their own consulting firm. They pride themselves on transforming today’s leaders to show up better for their team and make a bigger impact in their businesses. Lou and Sherri share some of their expert knowledge that they’ve learned over the last three decades of working and serving others in this week’s episode! Key takeaways: What’s it like running a business as a married couple? Lou and Sherri found out real quick what their strengths and weaknesses were and their businesses excelled when they could take on tasks they loved doing. Lou shares his definition of what a good leader looks like. It’s okay to ask for help! So many times we feel like we have to go through it alone. A coach helps you see outside of yourself. Lou shares an example of what coaching is. What’s the difference between a mentor and a coach? Is the word “fail” too negative of a word? When you do fail, the trick is to learn from that failure, not spiral out of control and beat yourself up over it. Leaders fail because they’re afraid to ask for help and get an outside perspective on how to leverage this failure into a success. The journey to the destination is a vital character-building exercise. There is no straight line to the top. It’s a new adventure every day. Sherri shares why it’s so important not to compare yourself to others while you’re on your journey. Men, and some women too, are very guilty of not asking for help. If you can’t ask for help, you can’t grow. Feel free to reach out to Lou and Sherri! Resources: Loueverettgroup.com Quotes: “A coach pulls you out of a picture, pulls you out of the center to show you a different perspective.” “Consistent action is more important than anything.” “The process and the journey is what you got to experience. That’s what matters.”
Nancy Tilton Hand’s career has revolved around empowering her clients to craft better personal connections and lasting professional alliances. Trained as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner early in life, Nancy went on to a successful career as a contract attorney, mediator, and dispute resolution specialist. Nancy has discovered that the key to life is meaningful friendships and strong professional alliances, but how do you get there? She dishes out her secrets and her interesting life story in this week’s episode! Key takeaways: A little bit about Nancy and how she got started as an NLP Trainer and mindset coach. Nancy had a traumatic accident with her horse and she woke up 7 days later in ICU. Have a head injury? Nancy firmly believes in massages. It helped her recover greatly from her injury. Nancy has had a lot of near-death experiences in her life. Nancy decided she wanted to go to law school. Not an easy thing to do, especially after being out for so many of her classes during her brain injury. Where do people go wrong when it comes to negotiating a contract? What is Nancy’s book, Beyond Rainmaking, about? How can you become a better negotiator not just in business and in life? Examine your best relationships. What makes them good? You don’t need a reason to call somebody or touch base with somebody. What’s the difference between how introverts connect vs. extroverts? Are you afraid to do something? Create a best-case scenario list. Want to connect with Nancy and build better connections? Nancy shares who she loves to work with. Resources: Nancytiltonhand.com Nancy on LinkedIn How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, by Roger Fisher and William Ury Quotes: “Friendship isn’t something that people are taught in general. Most kids never have the opportunity to go say hello. How do you break the ice?” “True extroverts get into a flow state when they’re socializing. The shy achievers are fighting this flow state.” “When you create a safe space, that shy achiever shuts off that self-talk, that’s when they feel safe enough to be themselves.”
Joy Bufalini was only making $25K during her first five years in business. The reason? She was afraid to play bigger. She was a special needs mom and was half-living in her business and half not. When she decided to fully commit and make the impact that she wanted to, she made six figures that very next year. Her formula? She kept it simple. She focused on five critical things and didn’t let anything else overwhelm her. In this week’s episode, Joy shares her process and more on how you can stop playing small. Key takeaways: A little bit about Joy and how she got started in business. Joy went five years in her business never making more than $25K a year. One day, she made the mindset shift, and the next year, she made $100K in her business. Instead of doing every kind of marketing there was, Joy said she’d keep it simple. What was the switch Joy had in her mind that made her stop playing small? You don’t need a huge audience to make a big difference. Simplify your model. Get the foundation right before trying to scale. How did Joy get in O Magazine? In times of COVID-19, this is actually a great opportunity to uplift your lifestyle. Who are the types of clients Joy likes to work with? How do you make sales easy? Joy shares her two flagship programs and how she helps women scale to six and seven figures. If Joy had to do it all over again, what would she do differently? Sometimes we first have to learn what we don’t want to do before we can really excel in our business. Don’t play small when it comes to investing in your business. If you want to make six or seven figures, you’re going to have to make investments in your business. If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough. Resources: Joybufalini.com Joy on LinkedIn Quotes: “Internally, I wasn’t all in. I was still playing small in a lot of ways.” “You don’t have to be everything to everyone. Your core message, you want to speak to your highest converting clients.” “It’s a different mindset for each level of business. There’s no bad or wrong for where you are now.”
Anna Dearmon Kornick is a Time Management Coach who helps busy professionals and business owners master their time so that they can stop feeling overwhelmed. She is also the host of It’s About Time, a podcast about work/life balance and how to best manage your time effectively. In this week’s episode, Anna shares her tips on how you can go from being busy and overwhelmed to getting things off your to-do list and being in control of your time! Key takeaways: Everyone struggles with time. How did Anna get her start in this field? Anna lived a very interesting life as a public relations and governmental affairs representative. but that 24/7 lifestyle burned her out. We’re all bad at time management. No one has really taught us how to manage this well. It’s important to know what matters most and to design a life that fits what matters the most. Women shoulder so much of what is called emotional labor, and those costs often go hidden/not as appreciated. You almost have to treat your family like a business to have all the moving parts run smoothly. Marriage is a partnership and you have to work as a team. Household responsibilities apply to that, too. Personality tests are a great way to understand how someone works and what sort of educational materials would be helpful/relevant to them. Anna shares some tips on how to get better with your time! Write down 100 dreams that you want to have! Do you make time for something, but then move it back? Getting up earlier in the day to get stuff done isn’t always the right approach. What is time blocking? Grab yourself an accountability buddy. It’ll help you achieve your goals a lot quicker. Resources: Annadkornick.com Anna on LinkedIn 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, by Laura Vanderkam The Productivity Project: Proven Ways to Become More Awesome, by Chris Bailey Better Than Before. by Gretchen Rubin Quotes: “Time is our most precious, valuable resource and yet we don’t learn how to manage time well.” “Important people wake up at 4:30. Well, why? What is YOUR why for starting your day that early? Just because successful people do it, no, it’s not going to cut it.” “We are 43% more likely to follow through with what we said we’d do if we write that goal down. If you have an accountability partner, though, you’re 95% more likely to follow through on that goal.”
Dr. Renetta Weaver is a Master Addiction Counselor with 10 years of experience as the Clinical Director of Intensive Addictions Services with the Military. She helps educate and guide you on getting to the root of your addiction, understand the steps to recovery, and develop a comprehensive relapse prevention plan. She is most passionate about helping people overcome their addiction or bad relationship with food. Key takeaways: Renetta’s work chose her in this space. Although working in the addictions arena for the last 10 years was very rewarding, it’s time to make a transition change. Renetta is passionate about weight loss! She underwent bariatric surgery and the results have changed her life. When you struggle with food, it’s difficult because you can’t just “quit cold turkey.” Renetta helps her patients develop a better mindset when it comes to food. Renetta shares her favorite acronym — HALT and what it stands for. Renetta experienced a lot of ugly trauma in the past and the weight started appearing after that trauma. Most of Dr. Renetta’s family, including her husband, did not want her to have this bariatric surgery. Renetta shares what her experience was like with the surgery. She had to learn to build a completely new relationship with food and it was tough! What are the bariatric monologues going to be about? We do so much with food, people don’t realize how hard it can be to practice conscious restraint. Interested in working with Dr. Renetta? Why did Dr. Renetta decide to quit her job after working for the same employer for 10 years? When your comfort zone becomes uncomfortable, that’s life trying to tell you it’s time to move. Renetta is at peace with her decision to quit her job. She is looking forward to the future! The pain is not in the action. The pain is in the decision. Resources: Renettaweaver.com Quotes: “It doesn’t even matter what the addiction is. We still have to eat, but it’s about developing a different relationship with food.” “When we’re feeding, that’s not true hunger. It’s feeding the hunger of our emotions. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired? Before you pick up food, ask yourself which one you are.” “There’s nothing wrong with us. We are the essence of beauty. Whatever size, shape, color. Whatever we are.”
Kimberly Lawson is an international bestselling author, business coach, podcast host, and speaker. Kimberly started her business due to a tragic event that happened in her life and her family. She suddenly lost her cousin, but he was the catalyst that woke her up and made her realize that she was meant or something more in this world. Find out more about Kimberly and how she helps her clients in this week’s episode. Key takeaways: Kimberly shares why she started her business. When Kimberly’s cousin passed, she finally understood what her purpose in life was and how she can honor him. If Kimberly’s cousin had not passed away so suddenly, she probably wouldn’t have gone down the path of entrepreneurship. Ever felt pressured to buy something? Don’t you hate being strong-armed into purchasing something? It feels icky! Kimberly shares why she loves helping people out at the beginning of their journey. How does Kimberly motivate her clients to succeed? Kimberly makes sure she is constantly being an advocate for her clients. She is their biggest supporter! What are some of the common challenges her clients experience? Not everyone can see your vision, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. Kimberly knows once you get your business off the ground and have it actually paying you, your close circle will be your biggest supporters! When Kimberly was featured in a prominent magazine, her family members couldn’t get enough of telling others that they knew her. Resources: KimberlyLawson.net Quotes: “Heartbreak is difficult, but whatever the message that you pull out of that is going to be stronger.” “People don’t want you to sell them anything. They want you to share something with them.” “I’ve grown to accept the fact that not everybody is ready to move just because their feet work.”
Patty Block is the CEO and Owner of The Block Group, where she helps women business owners in every industry who are struggling with profit-eating, and productivity-draining issues that wear them down. Patty shares her unique process to help women get out of overwhelm and feeling stuck to thriving in their business in this week’s episode! Key takeaways: Patty shares how she got started as an entrepreneur! Patty wanted her children to be a little bit older before she decided to take on new risks in her life. Patty shares some of her strengths and how she helps her clients! Pricing is the lynchpin for everything you do. We must own our worth! Patty has a price scoping tool to help you determine how much you should be charging for your program. How do you stand out from your competitors? Why do women under-price themselves? Women question their self-worth a lot more than men do. When it comes to external forces, there is very little in the way that prevents us from succeeding. However, it’s our internal mind that stops us dead in our tracks. Patty shares the different stages all business owners go through. How does Patty find the courage to leap into new industries and careers? Most of our transitions are transformations. All the plans in the world won’t stop “life” from just happening to you. It’s about adapting to the new environment as we go. Resources: Theblockgroup.net Patty on LinkedIn PWBlock@TheBlockGroup.net Quotes: “As women, we undervalue ourselves and we consistently underprice our services.” “When women earn more, we share that wealth. We spread that good fortune and generosity, with our families, with our staff, and community.” “You can turn your roadblocks into building blocks.”
Aleasha Bahr is a sales and marketing expert and teaches her clients how to sell in a way that’s authentic to them. Long gone are the days where you have to put clients in a chokehold and force them to buy. There’s a way better way you can sell that won’t make you feel grimy about it. In this episode, Aleasha shares how you can show up for your clients in a way that feels right to you and how you can empower your clients to make the best decision for them, which is to hire you! All of this and more on today’s show! Key takeaways: You don’t have to be a bad person to be good at sales! Who is Aleasha and how did she get started? Do you think sales is a dirty word? Aleasha helps you break out of that mindset. You can learn how to sell in a way that feels good to you! You can sell people with hope as well as pain. Pain motivation is the old-school way of selling! Kathy has cried on sales calls because of “pain selling.” More people buy when they feel good, not when they feel bad. When you sell on hope, you bring joy into people’s lives. So many people feel awkward selling on a pain motivation. Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes life to someone else’s feature film. The most successful people have such hot messes behind the scenes. Most people want a solution. And you’re that person to give it to you. We feel gross when there’s a money transaction happening and you had to “sell” someone on it to get it. It doesn’t feel authentic. People don’t value things they don’t pay for. Don’t feel guilty! How can you sell in an authentic way? Improv classes are a great way to improve your sales skills! It helps you get out of your head. What is authoritative empathy all about? Empathy is the most undervalued tool in sales. Kathy has made mistakes in the past and she ended up feeling a lot of shame around that. Diffuse the shame a client might have around a business mistake they’ve made. It’s completely okay to make mistakes, and that’s why they’re coming to you, to help them get it right this time! Are you trying to use someone else’s sales process? That’s because it doesn’t fit your personality and your tonality. What happens if you don’t get sales coaching? You’ll keep undercharging for your service and will have poor boundaries with people. Resources: Aleashabahr.com Sales is Not a Dirty Word Facebook Group Aleasha on LinkedIn Quotes: “Pain selling that’s popular these days is it makes people realize they’ve made the wrong choices up until this point.” “Everybody makes mistakes, let’s not focus on it. You want to infuse hope and confidence. More people buy when they feel good than bad.” “You’re selling all the time in your regular life and the only reason that you have an issue about it is there’s a transaction of money happening.”
Jennifer Tamborski is a Digital Marketing Strategist, Facebook Ads Expert, and a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer. Before Jennifer started working with Kathy, she only took home $5 an hour in pay, and she had been working on her business for eight years by that point! Today, she is consistently hitting six-figures in her business and couldn’t be happier. In this week’s episode, Jennifer shares her journey and why it became so critical to start taking her business seriously. Key takeaways: Who is Jennifer and how did she get started in this career field? Jennifer’s rates were way too low. She had been doing this for eight years and when Kathy told her to double her rates, she almost choked! When Jennifer focused on her niche, she ended up being way happier! How did Jennifer go from VA to a digital marketer? Start where you are now and then be open to learning and growing further into your selected career path. Jennifer’s mindset has also completely changed! Are there certain clients in your roster where you just dread hearing from them? Time to end that relationship! If you don’t love what you do, it’s time to move on! How does Jennifer balance work and family? Jennifer realized she was doing everything wrong in her business. What does Jennifer’s team look like? What does a digital marketing strategist do? How has Jennifer helped Kathy over the years? She loves working with her! If you can’t have fun, what’s the point in doing it? Resources: Virtualmarketingexpert.com Jennifer on LinkedIn Quotes: “Everybody has more in them than they think they do.” “It’s never about skills. Your business is not going to grow if you just focus on skills.” “Your mindset is what expands your business.”
Heather Hubbard is a recovering attorney who overworked herself to the bone. In over 10 years as an attorney, Heather never took a day off and it was killing her spirit. Today, she helps people find their authentic selves and consciously create a life that is authentic, fulfilling, and impactful to them. She is also incredibly against the patriarchy and shares how you can take control of your own narrative and fight for what’s right, too! Key takeaways: Heather is a recovering attorney! Why did she decide to switch careers and path her own way? After Heather’s sister passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, Heather questioned everything. Heather felt so guilty saying “no” and so she said yes to everything and realized she was burning herself out. Take action, try things out, and then plan it out more strategically! When Heather left her firm, she decided to send a LinkedIn message to all of her connections. Heather didn’t know what she was doing, but she kept trekking along and making things happen! People showed up and she figured it out. That was how she got started. What gave Heather the courage to leave her job? What is Heather afraid of? Let’s talk about the patriarchy and how Heather is taking it down! Why are things the way they are? Why? Heather would always ask and it drove people crazy! How have the roles and dynamics changed over the years? How can we empower ourselves and take down the patriarchy? Lawyers sue people every day, but if you sue each other? That’s a huge no! If you’re not okay with the systems, then how are we going to contribute? Interested in joining Simple Courage? Heather shares if her platform is right for you! Do you feel like you’re not authentic or true to yourself? Everyone is courageous! It doesn’t have to be a “big act of courage.” You can do baby steps! Resources: Heatherjoyhubbard.com Heather on LinkedIn Quotes: “What I learned in college introduced me to scholars and movements and activists and this was what I had always been looking for but I was never exposed to it, and that’s when I learned about the patriarchy.” “Are we going to truly take down the patriarchy in this lifetime? Probably not, but let’s sure pull as much as we can for future generations.” “We can make a huge difference and I think it comes through being defiant, being courageous, even when it feels like it’s uncomfortable.”
LaShawanda Moore, MBA, CPC, ELI-MP is the wife of RodRick Moore, Sr. and the mother of four elementary to high-school-aged children, retired engineer, former Fortune 500 Company and direct sales leader, certified professional Energy Leadership Coach, author, consultant, founder of Elevate Success™, LLC and franchise owner of Launch Trampoline Park Richmond, VA. LaShawanda is also the author of Recover and is an advocate for Owning Your B.O.L.D. Factor™, which she explains how you can do in this week’s episode! Key takeaways: LaShawanda talks about her book, Recover! LaShawanda wrote every morning for 30 days, and her book sat there for a couple of years before she felt safe enough to publish it. It’s a very vulnerable piece of work. How is LaShawanda’s book set up? Everything that happens to us is to grow us into stronger people. How do you turn the mess you went through into a message that serves other people? For maximum effect, do the book’s exercises with somebody else. At one point in LaShawanda’s life, she wanted to commit suicide. LaShawanda received a message from God and it saved her life. There is help out there. There is life out of the depression and hole you’re in. How does LaShawanda help her clients? When you’re trying to meet other people’s expectations in business, you almost lose yourself and what your needs are. Why does LaShawanda get up every morning? What inspires her? What is the B.O.L.D. Factor™? By serving others and helping others, we serve ourselves and become more fulfilled. LaShawanda had a very fulfilling career, but at the end of the day, it was not a right fit for her life. Kathy shares why she felt so compelled to quit her nine-to-five job. How can someone tap into their own inner potential? Do you feel a bit beaten down or torn down? LaShawanda finds her restoration and her joy through sitting down with her family and being present with them. Adults need more play in our life! Resources: Lashawandamoore.com Recover: A Woman’s Journey From Failure to Restoration LaShawanda on LinkedIn Quotes: “I remember going through what I was going through, I wanted to get out of the pain quickly, but I couldn’t. Everything happens for a reason, everything happens to grow us.” “One in four adults is suffering from mental illness and many of us don’t even know it. So I’m breaking the silence.” “Your why is not about you, your why is about others. Your strengths are for others. When you’re about serving others, people follow you because they want to
Erica Graham is a Professional Virtual Design Assistant and virtually works with interior designers and K&B remodel companies. Erica shares a little bit about her expertise and how she got into this field. She also shares why you should dare to leap into being self-employed! Key takeaways: Erica shares a little bit about how she got started as a professional virtual design assistant. At first, Erica didn’t know what a virtual assistant was. Erica is glad she joined the military, but it was a serious “growing up” experience. Erica shares a bit about her experiences as a military veteran. What does Erica do as a virtual designer? Erica has seen an uptick in business because of how many people want to remodel their homes. Kathy shares a horror story where someone didn’t measure correctly and their entire materials did not fit into the new living space. Erica explains how you measure your spaces accurately. Erica is able to work with anyone within the United States. Where does Erica find her clients? A lot of people who started this journey did it because they were miserable at their job. Take the leap. You’ll be happy that you did. You have the skills! Don’t let your job beat you down or discourage you! Resources: Ericagrahamconsulting.com Erica on LinkedIn Quotes: “A lot of us who started this journey were miserable at our jobs. I happened to lose mine, but I had one foot out the door because I knew there was something more out there for me. I took the leap.” “I want to encourage the listeners to not be afraid. Don’t be afraid to try something new.” “It’s not going to kill us to take that leap.”
Brandon C. White is an entrepreneur with two successful exits under his belt. He’s worked for two venture capital firms, did marketing for a $200 billion internet company, and has been CEO of venture-backed companies. Brandon shares his entrepreneurial journey, where his inner drive comes from, why he does what he does, and so much more! Key takeaways: Brandon has so much energy and likes to take on the world with a competitive edge. His household is also filled with animals that match his fast-paced energy. Brandon shares a bit about who he is and how he found the path he is on now. Education was at the top of the list in his household, but Brandon has horrible listening skills. He tries to memorize everything instead. After trying to figure out “the next thing” in Brandon’s life, he stumbled upon the idea of creating a fishing magazine. Brandon taught himself a lot of the things to bring this magazine to life. He had a limited budget but unlimited time. Brandon needed money, so he took a job and literally worked in a closet to bootstrap his business. After seeing a news article on how Yahoo raised money for their company, Brandon thought he’d go ahead and try it too. The only thing was… he needed a business plan. Jeff Bezos sent Brandon a T-shirt for the work that he was doing. Brandon shares how he ended up selling his online magazine. How do you raise money? You work your ass off. Brandon had a home office back when it wasn’t cool. He shares a funny story about a big-time investor coming to his house… and expecting an office. Brandon has to keep creating, if he doesn’t, he gets depressed. Entrepreneurship just makes sense to Brandon. When Kathy left her nine to five, she felt like she had to quit. It was either she quit or she die. Want to find the next big thing? Take a break. You can find a million reasons to be mad. The real challenge in life is finding the good things. Brandon shares some of his favorite comedians. What’s Brandon up to now that he’s in lockdown? Brandon shares a little bit about his podcast and his business. Resources: Brandoncwhite.com Quotes: “I do not want to be the smartest guy in the room. The day I am the smartest guy in the room is the day I am scared and leaving.” “If you really want to build a company or do something that you’re passionate about, you have to believe you can do the thing you’re not sure you can do.” “You can find a million reasons to be mad. The real challenge in life is finding the good things that you have.”
Darren Saul is a Professional Photographer turned Social Media Strategist, Podcaster, and Podcast Coach. Social media is not something that’s “just nice to have” anymore and Darren shares how he helps small businesses build their brand authority online using podcasting and social media. Listen in as Darren shares some of his best growth tips and some of the common pitfalls people run into. Key takeaways: Who is Darren and what does he do? The world is a changing place and Darren needed to find a way to stand out as a photographer. Creativity is a muscle. One way to really learn something is to teach it to someone else. When you teach, you have to articulate your process and break it down into smaller steps so others can understand it too. So many people want to start a podcast, but they don’t because they think it’s too much work. What are some of the benefits of a podcast? Darren shares that people tend to struggle around the 20ish episode mark. Consistency is key to keep going. Not everyone goes to every social media channel. People have preferences, so pushing the same content in different places is okay! A big roadblock for people is that they are afraid to put themselves out there. When does it make sense to spend money on ads? How do you “start small” on a big project like this? Keep copies of everything that you do! There’s no reason why you can’t outsource something if you feel like it’s taking too much of your time. What are Darren’s thoughts on Pinterest? What are some of the things that damage your brand? The content you’re releasing — does it make sense for the “time” or the current climate? More than 70% of people get their news from social media. Getting started in social media? Darren has a checklist for you! Want to start a podcast? Darren can help you! Resources: Darren-saul-upj1.squarespace.com Quotes: “I’ve learned so much about photography and refined my own skills through teaching. It allows you to articulate your process.” “Every time you put something on social media, only a very small percentage of your audience actually sees it, so if you don’t repurpose it, you’re just wasting that exposure.” “Collaboration is key here. That’s why podcasts are so fantastic because they allow you to collaborate and tap into other people’s audiences.”
Brooke Behar is a Business Manager for Autumn Witt Boyd, a law firm that provides solutions for all stages of online businesses. Brooke shares a little bit about her online journey and how she got into this line of work. She also discusses how to create boundaries when you’re working at home. The law firm is the perfect place for someone who needs a quick checklist on what legal things are pending in the business. Find out more on this week’s episode! Key takeaways: A little bit about Brooke and how she got started as a business manager. Brooke shares a little bit about what it was like living overseas for some time. Brooke realized she didn’t need as much stuff and was able to use fewer “things.” What does Brooke miss about Hungary? When Brooke came back to the States, it was a bit of a culture shock on how “easy” everything was here! Brooke needed some more stipulation when she came back to the U.S.! Brooke loves working with her hands and taught herself to reupholster furniture. What’s the difference between full-time work and contracting work? There are just too many distractions at the office! How did Brooke create boundaries between work life and home life? Vacations are so important. That’s why it’s important to track what you’re doing so that you can hand it off to your teammate. It’s hard to not check work stuff while on vacation. What services does Autumn Witt Boyd offer? Resources: Awbfirm.com Quotes: “Sometimes I come into the office and I get half as much done because of distractions.” “Statistics show that people who work as VA or work from home, they get 3X more done than at the office.” “Autumn offers a sit-down hour-long strategy session and you just look at your business, and she asks if you have the right legal things in place.”
Joe Burns is a Speaker, Coach, and Founder of NextGen Millionaires, a platform to help people get their mindset right with money and to earn what you deserve. Joe doesn’t help his clients create budgets or do their accounting. He helps them manage their emotional side of money and to change the way they feel about money. Find out more on this week’s episode! Key takeaways: Kathy almost lost it all because of her poor money mindset. Joe was able to keep her on track and even save her marriage because of it! Joe told Kathy that she could get out of debt within six months. She didn’t believe him. Money is just only one of the things that you hide from. Tax time was a very stressful time for Kathy because she had to show her husband where she was financially in the business. How did Joe get started with money? Joe lost half his income and his wife suffered from mental health problems after she got held up at gunpoint two times. It was difficult. Making more money doesn’t always solve your problems. Most of us have “just enough” to survive and that’s it. There’s a lot of trauma attached to money. The more we talk about the uncomfortable, the more we get comfortable. When it comes to salary, we have to talk. There’s a lot of shame around money that we have to overcome. Whether we have too much of it or too little of it! How should you talk to your spouse or even family members about money? Let’s talk about the flow of money. People have a lot of money. The only difference is that the spending habits have changed when the pandemic hit. So many businesses have made more money last year than ever before. Industries have exploded. Why didn’t the stock market crash? You have a choice to choose to see opportunities or to stay in the same spot. Why do we do what we do? What influences us in taking these actions? You can make your dreams happen, but it first starts with your relationship with money. Resources: Josephmburns.com Attitudesofmoney.com Joe on LinkedIn Quotes: “If we’re going to hide from money; if we’re going to hide from these other people, who else are we hiding from? It’s usually ourselves.” “We don’t understand that a lot of the money stuff, there is a lot of trauma attached to it.” “If we look for the opportunities in situations like COVID-19 and other things, then we will find opportunities for us to grow and expand.”
Joan Sotkin was married two times and was trying to find herself when she decided to give away all of her possessions at the age of 36. People thought she was losing her mind, but she knew she needed to form new foundations in her life. Today, at nearly 80 years old, she is the author of more than five books, including Build Your Money Muscles, and helps clients find where their money hang-ups are. She is also the host of the The Prosperity Show, where she talks about money mindset. Find out more about Joan and her fascinating life story and entrepreneurial journey on this week’s episode. Key takeaways: How did Joan get started in this line of work? After having a regular meditation practice, Joan gave away everything she owned at the age of 36. Joan had been married twice and didn’t know what life was. She was trying to find herself. We create our own life stories, and it’s not magic trying to understand your decisions! At the age of 80, what is Joan’s health routine? The answer is easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. Joan shares her eating habits, why she is conscious about the types of food she eats, and everything she does to stay vibrant and healthy! As we move along in life, we get to make a lot of different decisions on who we want to be in life. Joan believes it takes us the first 50 years to find out what we’re not. Joan has found a new lease on life when it comes to her business and where she sees the future. You have a choice of how you want to feel. You really do! When you’re feeling off, take a step back and try to recognize what you’re feeling in the moment, and try to remember when you have felt that same feeling before. What would you rather be feeling when you’re feeling disappointment or sadness? Your brain is just a machine that does what it’s been told! If you have a lot of negative thinking, Joan shares how you can rewire your brain. Who do you want to be? How do you want to live your life? How do you want to feel? We all have business goals, but what about your feeling goals? If you have enough food and if you have a place to stay, you have enough. Joan shares what it’s like trying to market her business online in 2021, compared to when she got started. Most leaders feel like outsiders. That’s how they get to be leaders! You’re not part of the pack, embrace it. We have to teach others how we want to be treated. Whatever you’ve been through right now, has been a blessing, not a problem. After working on yourself for so long, when do you know that you can finally say “I’m healthy now”? How does Joan help her clients? Resources: Prosperityplace.com Joan on LinkedIn Quotes: “Fortunately, I had a very healthy ‘screw you’ attitude, and said, ‘That’s not my story.’” “Whatever you’ve got, you can learn from it.” “In order to train your brain to create new neural pathways, you have to have a feeling goal.”
David Shriner-Cahn is an Entrepreneur and Podcaster that helps high-achieving professionals build their own consulting or coaching business after a career job loss. David has been in the same boat where, after being let go from his job, wasn’t sure what to do next or where to even get started. He ran into a bunch of “beginner” problems like trying to navigate the complex world of marketing and sales, and figuring out what his pricing model was. This was a lot to take on for a recently unemployed person! Today, David shares his resources on how to make the leap and get started in your own practice. Key takeaways: David shares his story and how he started his entrepreneurial journey. What challenges did David experience for the first time when he transitioned from employee to consultant? David was clueless about pricing and how to even invoice clients! Looking to go solo? David shares his top tips on what you need to know! To hire a coach might cost you a lot of money, but what you get in return is 10X! How do you know when you have the right coach? Don’t be afraid to ask people for help! How do you get over the “they’re too expensive” piece? David shares an example of how hiring an expert can save you so much money. What are the downsides of a mentor or someone who is willing to help you “for free”? How can you best navigate the conversation of paying for someone’s time who is willing to help you? Self-improvement is a critical piece for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is a trial-and-error process. You keep adjusting your plan slowly over time. Unless you’re doing something that’s making you uncomfortable, you’re not growing. David reached a couple of plateaus in his career. He shares a couple of examples of pitfalls to avoid. It’s way more important to say no to things than to say yes to things. Who does David like to work with? It’s so rewarding to know you’ve helped somebody, especially a small business. If you’re scared to achieve your dreams, reach out to David! He’ll talk to you. David shares how he had to get over the trauma of being fired. How can you get through those feelings of “not being good enough”? It’s completely normal to have a strong emotional reaction to being fired. Sometimes taking up a hobby (no matter how small it is) can help your brain get the refresh you need. It’s really hard to put yourself out there and start “over again” when your confidence is so low. So, work on that to the best of your ability first. Kathy highly recommends David’s podcast! Resources: Smashingtheplateau.com David on LinkedIn Sba.gov Quotes: “The reason you want to hire a coach is you want to save time and save money and make more money faster.” “If you are in business for yourself as a consultant or whatever it is, if you want your business to develop and grow, you need to always be learning.” “When you’re an employee, if you’re wrong more than 10% of the time, you’re probably going to get a bad review. As an entrepreneur, if you’re right more than 10% of the time, you’re probably doing really well.”
Bryan Lewis is the Founder of Adminja, a client management platform specifically designed for Virtual Assistants. Everything a VA might need to keep track of client projects, billing, individual tasks, and more is provided in Adminja. Bryan shares a little bit about his software and how it helps VAs as well as shares his predictions for a more virtual future in this week’s episode! Key takeaways: Bryan is matching Kathy’s tiara-wearing spirit by wearing a wizard hat. How has COVID-19 impacted Bryan this year? He’s going a bit stir crazy. Bryan shares his “dare to leap” story. He had $300 in his pocket when he decided to leave his hometown and move to where the “internet action was at” in the ’90s. Has Bryan ever been fired? Kathy and Bryan share their age discrimination stories they experienced as they have gotten older. How does Adminja work? Why does Kathy love Adminja so much? Kathy is not tech-savvy at all, but she loves working in Adminja because it’s so intuitive to understand and she can quickly get the reports she needs. It has such a low-tech learning curve! Bryan has a great special for the first 25 Dare to Leap podcast listeners! Virtual is here to stay. We will see an uptick in virtual teams when things go “back to normal.” As things become more automated, will the need for VAs slowly become obsolete? What’s next for Bryan? Bryan is not a fan of the term “gig worker.” He explains why. Virtual assistant is actually quite a hard keyword to do ads for. The same goes for the acronym VA. Are you a VA? Head on over to Adminja and check it out! Kathy loves Adminja because it helps you stand out from the rest. Imagine how much time/money gets lost by you not accurately tracking your tasks? Resources: Getadminja.com Coupon code: DaretoLeap202 Bryan on LinkedIn Quotes: “The world has now seen what virtual is like, and while we’re getting a little tired of it, when we go back to normal life, we’re going to be virtual a whole lot more than we did before.” “Virtual assistant is the most impossible keyword to do ads for on Google because what comes up is Siri or Cortana.” “It’s the admin work that drives you crazy, not the client work. If the admin work is automated? You feel more comfortable taking on more clients.”