Messy in the Middle

i'm 29 now and I don't know how to feel about it.  Other things I don't know: how to engage on threads how to be critical without being mean how to whistle (and i'm really sensitive about it)

Get in line for the copy queue by sending me a DM on IG @haleyejohnson

how should we kick off next week? DM on IG @propegy or @haleyejohnson with your misc. marketing thoughts for us to ponder

one day we'll have an orderly intro but today is not that day   Have something you want us to chat about? DM us on IG @propegy and we'll add ya to the agenda.

Marketing can be hard and entrepreneurship can be lonely. The weekly kickoff is our little way of bringing marketers together for a casual chat about whatever the heck is going on in marketing this week.  Have something you want us to chat about? DM us on IG @propegy and we'll add ya to the agenda.

In this episode of "Messy in the Middle," I'm chatting with Alexandria Theodor, a therapist and business coach for therapists. We dive into Alexandria's journey from working at an agency to starting her own private practice and eventually becoming a business coach for other therapists looking to do the same. Join us as we discuss the challenges of private practice, ethical marketing in therapy, and the trend of therapists expanding into coaching. Alexandria shares insights on marketing strategies for private practices, the importance of ethical transparency, and the value of diversifying services. The episode also touches on Alexandria's experience hosting a professional bundle and the importance of patience in marketing.  

Listen in as I hang out with the bad boy of copywriting herself – Sarah Jane Burt. Sarah shares her unconventional entry into copywriting, her experiences in corporate roles, and her transition to entrepreneurship after being wrongfully terminated. She discusses the ups and downs of scaling her business, from expanding her team to returning to solo work due to financial and client retention challenges. Sarah also talks about her template shop, the success of her content calendar lead magnet, and her thoughts on passive income and audience building. The episode delves into the realities of marketing, the importance of genuine expertise, and the satisfaction found in creative work.  

In this episode of "Messy in the Middle," I'm joined by with Monica Burlington, a realtor and burnout coach who has overcome her own struggles with overachievement. Monica discusses her journey from seeking attention through overachieving in a chaotic household to reaching the peak of her real estate career and experiencing burnout. She reflects on the impact of her mother's death and her father's alcoholism on her drive for success. Monica also talks about the challenges of setting boundaries in the demanding real estate industry and how the COVID-19 pandemic allowed her to reset and focus on working with sellers to better manage her time. The episode explores the themes of personal growth, the importance of mental health, and the continuous process of establishing healthy boundaries.  

Today I'm joined by Morgan Spect, founder of Spect & Co Design. Morgan shares her transition from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, highlighting the instability of traditional jobs and her desire for self-reliance. She discusses her cautious approach to hiring and leadership, learning from past experiences. Morgan introduces her Six Figure Brand Society membership, a blend of design support and educational resources for entrepreneurs. She invites listeners to connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn and offers a free brand audit and training to help build a six-figure brand.

Let's hang out and catch up with Lauren from Brand Good Time! Since her last appearance, Lauren has transitioned from using contractors to hiring a full team, including a client strategy manager, content manager, and web developer. They delve into the challenges of the hiring process, the competitive job market, and the importance of internships and experience. Lauren also shares her agency's shift towards working with funded clients for greater impact and the nuances of marketing versus sales. The conversation highlights the complexities of client relationships, the importance of market research, and setting boundaries with clients to ensure active participation in their marketing efforts. Lauren emphasizes that her agency aims to make marketing enjoyable while managing the heavy logistics behind the scenes.  

Join me as I chat with Alison Meyer from Indigo Communications about the intricacies of applying for and winning awards. Alison imparts her knowledge on the strategic importance of awards for personal branding and business growth. She demystifies the process, explaining that self-nomination is common and discussing how to discern credible awards from less reputable ones. They explore the significance of aligning award pursuits with business goals and the benefits of networking through award circles. Alison also touches on the tactical aspects of award applications, such as addressing specific criteria and showcasing measurable achievements. The conversation offers listeners a deep dive into leveraging awards as part of a comprehensive PR and marketing strategy.  

Today I'm joined by Jessica Dornieden, a tech implementer and business consultant. Tune in to hear about Jess' unconventional path from childcare work to establishing her own online business. She discusses the initial challenges, such as pricing strategies and managing client expectations, while also touching on her personal experiences with ADHD and its effects on her work habits. Jess emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, valuing one's time, and being flexible in business. Additionally, she offers insights into hiring practices and promotes her services, including a free course on Notion and a paid service for quick business solutions. The episode explores the complexities of entrepreneurship and the significance of supporting team growth.

Join me this week as I chat with Jenny Jones, a business operations consultant and in-house COO. Jenny talks about her major career pivot from corporate finance to entrepreneurship and many challenges, emotions, and celebrations that came up along the way.  Listen in to learn why maintaining up-to-date systems and processes key for all business owners (especially when managing a growing team) and get insight on the signs that indicate your business is ready for operational back-up. You'll also hear stories about learning from difficult client relationships and the value of trusting one's instincts when vetting potential clients. There's a lesson here for everyone. You can connect with Jenny here.  

I wrote a blog post! And then everyone told me it was too long... ...so I turned it into a podcast episode! If you want to read along you can check out the full post (and references) here.  Want to chat about it? So do I! Send me a DM on IG @haleyejohnson

In this week's episode, Haley and Dr. Noor chat about the health insurance options available for freelancers. Learn the differences between public and private healthcare marketplaces and the qualifying events that allow for enrollment outside of the open enrollment period.  Health insurance is a complex and personal decision, but it isn't something you should have to navigate alone. Learning from (and working with!) Dr. Noor can help to simplify the process and provide tailored solutions for your individual circumstances.  Check out Dr. Noor's guide to open enrollment or book a call to get started today! Dr. Noor's Guide to Open Enrollment: FREE VIDEO TRAINING Book a Call: drnoorhealth.com/contact  Find Noor on IG @drnoorhealth

We're back with Season 4 of Messy in the Middle! Today we're joined by Brittany Hoopes, a hypnotherapist and former contestant on CBS "Big Brother".  In this episode we dive into Brittany's experience with hypnosis, her decision to leave the corporate world to start her own business, and of course, Haley gets side tracked to talk about her favorite show – Big Brother.  Tune in as Brittany shares her insights on belief and focus in achieving success, dealing with negativity, and maintaining a positive mindset when things get tough. Explore the power of hypnosis, mindset, and personal growth in the season 4 premier! Find Brittany: brittanyhoopes.com

Episode Summary: Can you believe we've already made it to the season 3 finale of Messy In The Middle?? I saved one of my favorite topics for our last chat of the season: thought leadership & Thought Leaders Collective! TLC is currently undergoing a major revamp, so you'll be among the first to hear about its amazing improvements (and to get in on the action yourself). In this episode, we cover: What IS thought leadership? What thought leadership means to you as a business owner How you can build credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader in you industry in the new and improved Thought Leaders Collective Thank you so much for joining me-until season 4! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Join the waitlist for TLC (or join us, if you're listening after July): https://thepropegy.com/tlc/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Hey hey! Welcome back to another episode of Messy In The Middle! On this week's episode, I'm chatting with content marketing and launch strategist (and soon-to-be published author), Amanda Warfield! Amanda's approach to consistent, strategic marketing that doesn't take up all of your time has gone on to help hundreds of women batch create their content and make space for being strategic with what they're creating. In this episode, we cover: Amanda's entrepreneurial journey Creating high quality content while still doing less Amanda's process in writing her book The 3 phases of the business journey What IS a funnel? Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Pre-order Amanda's book: https://amandawarfield.com/book/ Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsamandawarfield/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Remember that solo episode from a few weeks ago all about how to stay consistent with marketing when you're feeling busy? Well, if you missed the second half of that episode because you were like "wtf, this doesn't sound like Haley?," I'm back with an explanation! Little did you know, it was all part of a case study my team and I were conducting all about Chat GPT! I've even got my content manager, Angela, on the episode to back me up! In this episode, we cover: What the chat GPT case study was all about The parameters and results of the case study If we really think chat GPT is coming for our jobs...   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out the case study: https://www.haleyejohnson.com/3-11/ Blog: Why You Still Need A Copywriter In The Age of Chat GPT- https://lavenderturtle.com/?p=9708&preview=1&_ppp=e4bcbe5444   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back to another episode! This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Kitty McLeod! Kitty is a self-described blerb. She facilitates organizational culture change management as the President of the Inclusion Plus Institute, guided by data to coach organizations to maximize inclusive and creative collaboration.   In 2021, she founded Illumine Wellness (@illumine.wellness) to support others as they integrate safety and joy in their bodies through body awareness, play, and sound healing.   Kitty is also a choreographer and dance/yoga instructor (200 Hr YTT). Her style is influenced by movement forms from Hip Hop to Circus Arts, as well as her training as a Dance major at Ursinus College and her current study in Dance Movement Therapy at Rider University. In this episode, we cover: Owning your creative side and healing through movement Balancing openness and navigating business stereotypes at the same time How to embed themes of DEI into your mission Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out the Inclusion+ Institute: https://inclusionplusinstitute.com Check out Kitty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illumine.wellness/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Surprise! I've got a bonus episode of the podcast for you this week! I had the chance to chat with my amazing friend and people ops/hr queen, Kira La Forgia! In this episode, we cover: Different leadership styles (and how to find out yours with her new quiz) The upcoming launch of her new course, People On Purpose Tackling difficult conversations as a leader in business Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Follow Kira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparadigmm/  Discover Your People Leader Archetype Quiz:  https://propegy--paradigmconsulting.thrivecart.com/people-on-purpose/6466d37efb476/ Sign up for the "tackling Tough Conversations" Webinar:  https://propegy--paradigmconsulting.thrivecart.com/people-on-purpose/6466d37efb476/ Join the waitlist for People On Purpose: https://the-paradigm.com/people-on-purpose?affiliate=propegy    Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back! I'm back again with some more hot takes, because you know I love them. This one is all about business coaching. My take: You do not need a business coach to start a business! In this episode, we cover: What you can do instead or who you can hire instead of turning to a business coach How to work through the beginning stages of your business Finding a coach vs finding an expert  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back to Messy In The Middle! This week, I'm chatting with Sarah Zero, the founder of Wellstruck, a community for empathy-driven entrepreneurs who crave a nourishing home base with friends that challenge and champion each other. Beginning with intimate roundtable discussions in 2013, Sarah has inspired real, vulnerable conversation and collaborative problem-solving to combat loneliness and imposter syndrome. Sarah curates and facilitates, mastermind groups, events, and a podcast that has grown to 100+ roundtables with 500+ business owners throughout the U.S. mid-Atlantic. She has survived ovarian cancer, spoken on conference panels and podcasts, and perfected the art of moderation that inspires connection, curiosity, courage, and confidence. Sarah lives with her partner and pup in Delaware, where you'll often find her taking a pottery class, exploring the neighborhood creek, or treating herself to Little Goat on Main Street. In this episode, we cover: How Sarah encourages her members to show up for the "hell yes" and ditch the rest Leading with empathy in business and its amazing impact The importance of finding and building community  Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out Wellstruck: wellstruck.com/membership Wellstruck Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellstruck Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: This episode was super interesting to record- I'm dishing out some tips on how to stay consistent with your marketing efforts when you are super busy. With summer right around the corner, I think you'll find these tips really valuable! In this episode, we cover: 5 ways to stay consistent with marketing when you are busy There maaay be a little more in there, but you'll just have to give the whole episode a listen so you're in on the action Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Thanks for joining me for another episode of Messy In The Middle- this time with guest, Mallory Musante! Mallory, affectionately known as The Small Business CMO, is a fractional CMO and marketing strategist for small businesses and online service providers.   After working in a toxic agency environment and then walking away from the branding, web design, and social media agency she spent 5 years building, she not only realized she was completely out of alignment in her professional life and needed to take a step back to reevaluate, but she also realized that there was a massive disconnect in how small businesses approach marketing. So after a much needed break, Mallory dipped her toe back into marketing and fell back in love. From there, she decided to combine her 12+ years of marketing experience with her experience of starting 7 different businesses herself to help small businesses create sustainable and effective growth. In this episode, we cover: How Mallory handles running multiple businesses How she landed where she is currently, working as a fractional CMO How to become the architect of your own business Her view on a marketing strategy vs a marketing plan Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Mallory's Website: www.mallorymusante.com Mallory's Instagram: @mallorymusante   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: I won't work with clients unless they have a messaging guide. Hot take, I know. But it's true! This episode is all about messaging guides and why they are so important to have for your business. In this episode, we cover: What a messaging guide actually IS What I include in a messaging guide A step-by-step breakdown of each part of a messaging guide Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Resources mentioned in this episode: Messaging Guide Template: https://www.haleyejohnson.com/guide/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: This week, I had the privilege of chatting with Ashlee Sang: brand messaging strategist, consultant, collaborator, and mastermind of Ashlee Sang Consulting! The similarities between Ashlee's journey and my own journey are so strong, you won't want to miss this one! In this episode, we cover: How Ashlee landed in the consulting world The importance of leading with your values How to become "known" for your "thing" Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Ashlee's Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleesangconsulting or https://www.ashleesang.com/links A Visionary's Guide To Elevator Pitches: https://www.ashleesang.com/messy Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Thanks for joining me for episode 3! Let's get a little alphabetical. In this episode, we cover: The letter P (the 4 P's of marketing, that is) What the 4 P's are How each principle is intertwined and how you can use them in your marketing strategy Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: On this week's episode, I was joined by dynamic speaker, 2x international bestselling author, and results-focused Strategic Business Coach Leisse Wilcox! In this episode, we cover: How Leisse helps women make more money in her hybrid mastermind, The Sunshine Club How she built her first multiple six figure business while navigating cancer, a complex divorce, the fallout of emotional and financial abuse, and solo parenting three young girls The importance of our relationships with ourselves  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect!  Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Leisse's Website: https://leissewilcox.com Leisse's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leissewilcox/?hl=en   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below. Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Welcome back for season 3 of Messy in the Middle! In this episode, we cover: The principles of know, like, and trust How these principles relate to visibiity, credibility, and relationship building content What each of those types of content may look like How to find a balance of all 3 in your content   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below. Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Today's episode is all about quizzes! Quizzes are an amazing lead magnet, they're fun to take and can be easy to make- if you've got all the right tools to help you do it!   In this episode, we cover: The logistics of making your quiz, broken down step by step   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode:     Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Most of us probably had the same dream - leaving our 9-5 jobs and starting a business on our own. So, we did! And it was amazing! And then it was not so amazing. And then we started to question ourselves on whether or not we made the right choice. And then things started to get better. And so on and so forth. This is probably the blueprint of an average entrepreneurial journey and my guest today is no exception.    Kendall Cherry is the Founder & Creative Director at The Candid Collective, the authentic content and copywriting studio, helping rebellious types connect with their people and make more sales with authentic content. And today, you're in for a treat because Kendall and I touch on so many topics that are challenging for entrepreneurs - from navigating the pandemic and managing a team to the emotional burden of entrepreneurship and the lack of diversity in online businesses. So, make sure you tune in!    In today's episode, we cover: Kendall's professional background and her business at the moment Her rookie mistake and lessons that came from it How transitioning into copywriting allowed Kendall to find her zone of genius Managing a team as a creative entrepreneur Kendall's apprenticeship program and her philosophy on hiring new team members The emotional burden of being an entrepreneur  Lack of diversity in online businesses  The secret to successfully leveraging email marketing today  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/  Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/    Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork/dp/B08KYKR23H/  Sign up for Kendall's Wallflower Fridays newsletter https://candidcollective.co/wallflower-fridays For more info, visit Candid Collective website https://candidcollective.co/  WTF to send to your tiny ass email list https://candidcollective.co/one-year-of-email-ideas  Connect with Kendall on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/candidcollectiveco/    Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below. Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

As solopreneurs we're used to wearing many hats and doing many things by ourselves, but if you want to grow and scale your business there comes a point where you have to start outsourcing tasks and subsequently, building a team. And this comes with its own set of struggles. My guest today is here to talk all about the messy middle of scaling and growing your business as a solopreneur!    Kelsey Kerslake is Founder and Creative Director of Pinegate Road. She is also a mentor for online business owners. Her passion is supporting online service providers, coaches, and educators to help them lead businesses and live lives that are fulfilling and profitable. Over the last decade, she has helped hundreds of online business owners build their brands and online presences, while successfully running a sustainable 6-figure virtual design agency. Now, she's gotten to a point where work-free days with her family are her new norm!    In today's episode, we cover: How and why Kelsey started her agency Challenges of scaling your business and how to overcome them  Setting boundaries as a business owner  Coaching side of Kelsey's business and why she decided to pause her agency work  The messy middle of transitioning and pivoting a business  Future plans for Kelsey's business(es) Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/    Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Kelsey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kelseykerslake/  Connect with Kelsey on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/thealignedbusiness  Connect with Kelsey on Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/pinegateroad/  Aligned Business Academy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thealignedbiz/  For more info, visit Pinegate Road website https://pinegateroad.com/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

As business owners we want to protect our business at all times, but there are so many things to learn, do and wrap your head around when it comes to navigating the do's and don'ts of having a business. And legal protection is probably the toughest aspect to navigate, especially during your messy middle. My guest today is here to help ease your suffering and put things into perspective.    Nequosha N. Anderson is the owner of Anderson Law Firm PLLC. She is a licensed attorney based in Orlando, Florida. After practicing for the state government for a few years, she was completely over the daily grind of it all! By leveraging her 12+ years in business operations and defense litigation skills, she assists other business owners in protecting the solutions they create for other people's problems.   In today's episode, we cover: Nequosha's‘ background story and what inspired her to become a lawyer Dealing with imposter syndrome and accepting that you're worthy  How entrepreneurship can facilitate personal and professional growth Building and growing your own team and the secret to good delegating  When should you trademark your business and protection tools available for entrepreneurship  Pros and cons of DIY vs a “done for you” trademark and red/green flags to look for when hiring a trademark attorney Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/  Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Nequosha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esquire44/  Connect with Nequosha on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersonlawfl/  Connect with Nequosha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nequosha-anderson-6318b959/  For more info, visit  Anderson Law Firm website: https://andersonlawfl.com/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below. Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Can you reallllly be salesy without being sleazy? Today's episode dives deep into discussion of persuasion in sales psychology (sounds fancy, I know).   In this episode, we cover: What IS sales copy? Why do we associate it with being sleazy? What are the 6 key principles of sales psychology? How we can make use of those 6 principles in our sales copy in an ethical way Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

If you have an online business, then you know how important SEO is. SEO makes Google your friend. It makes your website more visible, which means more traffic and more opportunities to convert prospects into customers - and we all want that! So, today I bring you a true SEO expert to help you optimize your website!    Julia Bocchese is an SEO & Pinterest Strategist for Small Businesses. She helps creative businesses rank higher on Google and Pinterest to reach their ideal clients so they can get their time back and focus on their passions. In today's episode, Julia shares some of the lessons she learned from her own “messy middle” as well as small tweaks you can make today that will help your website be more visible and rank higher on Google!    In today's episode, we cover: Julia's backstory and how she started her freelance career in SEO Some of Julia's rookie mistakes and lessons she learned from them  How long it takes to see results from SEO and why you should optimize your website right now  Creating packages, pricing packages, and deciding what offers to keep and what offers to let go  Taking a maternity leave as an entrepreneur and Julia's maternity leave preparations Julia's typical work week and her plans after maternity leave Pros and cons of teaching at a university vs creating online courses  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Julia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliareneeconsulting/  Connect with Julia on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/juliareneeconsulting/_created/  Connect with Julia on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bocchese/  For more info, visit Julia's website https://juliareneeconsulting.com/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Being an entrepreneur is hard enough, but dealing with the legal side of your business can be both hard and scary! As entrepreneurs, we wear many hats and dealing with taxes, contracts, and other legal issues that come up along the way is something we may do on a daily basis. In comes our hero and my guest today - Braden Drake!    Braden graduated from law school in San Diego. He took and passed the bar exam, which makes him an official lawyer. After that, he went and got his master's degree in tax law. Soon, he started a law firm, worked 1-on-1 with 100+ creative small biz owners, and discovered that he loved teaching and empowering entrepreneurs to kick ass in business. Wanting to help more people, he began creating online, free & paid resources.   In today's episode, we cover: Braden's path to becoming an attorney and getting a Masters Degree in Tax Law  How Braden got started with the online side of entrepreneurship and his strategy to “being everywhere” online Braden's process of writing his first book and how he creates and markets his digital products and programs  Turning a signature program into a membership and how that was the answer to all of Braden's questions  The difficulties of being an entrepreneur  Being the face of your business and the issues it brings up Setting your goals and the support you need in order to get there  Should you use contract templates and how to know the difference between a good contract template and a bad contract template  The difference between signing a contract and accepting terms and conditions  Braden's podcast Unf*ck Your Biz!, his favorite guests and favorite episodes  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Braden on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bradenadamdrake/  For more info, visit Braden's website https://www.bradendrake.com/  Get Braden's Book UNF*CK YOUR BIZ  https://www.bradendrake.com/book  Unf*ck Your Biz! Podcast https://www.bradendrake.com/podcast  Braden's Besties FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/375843312994732/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

This week's episode is a quick one and we are talking all about case studies!   In this episode, we cover: Who case studies are for The role case studies play in your sales process How the heck to write a case study   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Case study link: https://the-paradigm.com/bossproject   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

By now, we all know that if you don't like the messy middle - you're probably not meant to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is hard and messy, but if you are willing to take that leap it's more than worth it. Today, I welcome Lauren Loreto, a creative marketing consultant and brand strategist with over 10 years of industry experience, to talk about the messiness of entrepreneurship.    Lauren is the Founder and CEO of Brand Good Time, a marketing consultancy on a mission to help ambitious entrepreneurs use creative marketing to get visible and grow their businesses without sacrificing their sanity to do it. Lauren is passionate about customizing sustainable marketing strategies that honor your capacity as a person, a leader, and business owner. To put it simply, your business should add to your life, not take you away from it, and Lauren is here today to share her story on how she did exactly that.    In today's episode, we cover: What Brand Good Time is all about How bombing an audition led Lauren to a path of entrepreneurship  Lauren's experience in a (toxic) corporate world and the lessons she learned How to build your own business while working a full-time job  Looking at your corporate job as a paid education  The difference between selling your book of business and selling your business  Harnessing the growth mindset  Challenges that come with scaling your business  The evolution of Lauren's marketing strategy and how it looks today  The importance of being consistent with your marketing  How to get the most from your analytics and data to make the best decisions  How to increase your traffic as a small business  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Lauren's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandgoodtime/  Lauren's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenloreto/  Brand Good Time https://brandgoodtime.com/ She's Busy AF Podcast https://brandgoodtime.com/podcast/  Lauren's Metric Tracker https://brandgoodtime.com/lucrative-lead-tracker Company Of One by Paul Jarvis https://www.amazon.com/Company-One-Staying-Small-Business/dp/1328972356  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Surprise! You get two Messy in the Middle solo episodes this week! Today, I am giving you a behind the scenes look at a website copy refresh!   In this episode, we cover: The difference between a copy refresh and a complete copy rewrite Where to begin with a copy refresh What the upcoming copy refresh will look like for Propegy & our website What changes to make in a refresh to help align your goals with the objective of your business, website, or campaign   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/     Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Welcome back for another solo episode of Messy in the Middle with me, Haley! Over at Propegy, we recently did a launch and I want to tell you alllll about it.   In this episode, we cover: Why the launch DIDN'T go as planned What we did well in preparation for the launch What we could've done better Why we'll probably never do a launch again And what the future of Propegy's programming will look like   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/     Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

In today's episode, I am joined by Stephanie Corrigan. Steph is the founder and lead creative of Steph Corrigan Design. After getting her college degree in neuroscience, she realized that it wasn't something she wanted to do for the rest of her life. So, she decided to use her knowledge of human behavior and decision making in a completely different way: building brands and websites for people who are on the cusp of something really great.   Steph is here today to share all the messy details of starting your business as a freelancer. Finding clients, creating offers, deciding on prices, making rookie mistakes and everything else that comes with being a business owner - Steph is here to share her experience and her secrets!    In today's episode, we cover: Steph's career trajectory; going from psychology to web development   Making career changes and building your business as a freelancer  Dealing with “imposter syndrome” and valuing your skills and your work  Steph's business today and how she built her core offers, including the One-Day-Website Steph's experience with pricing her offers and being comfortable with it   Transitioning from a newbie into the messy middle and dealing with rookie mistakes Red flags to look out for when it comes to working with clients  Importance and benefits of SEO and referrals  Steph's future plans for her business  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Steph's website: https://stephcorrigan.com/  Steph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephcorrigandesign/  Blogging course waitlist: https://stephcorrigan.com/blog-money-magic/ Free SEO Masterclass: https://stephcorrigan.com/seo-masterclass Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Today, my guest is Isabella Sanchez Castañeda who is a Digital Marketer and Podcast Producer for Personal Brands and Founder and CEO of Isa Media Inc. In her business, Isabella is on a mission to remind business owners that what they do and what they say really matters. Whether their goal is a 6-figure year or to just have enough extra money to take their kids to Disney, what they are building is really important and Isabella wants to be the one who helps them share it with the world.   In today's episode, Isabella shares her entrepreneurial journey together with the lessons she learned along the way. She also breaks down everything you need to know about using podcasting to scale your business and rise to the challenges of that messy middle!    In today's episode, we cover: Isabella's career path: from the corporate world to creating her own business  How she realized that podcasting was key for her as a business owner and the power of podcasts in general   Dealing with rejections, responsibilities and Isabella's biggest rookie mistake  Entering the “messy middle” of your business and accepting that it's okay if you don't know it all  How Isabella decides where to focus her energy when it comes to marketing for her business and how that differs from marketing for her clients  Why she believes that there aren't so many rules when it comes to creating content Two things that started to move the needle in her business  A round of Favorite/Least Favorite questions with Isabella Isabella's future plans for her business  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 1 of Messy in the Middle https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nTGLeyVSSHs5LvdheQ81B?si=2dc4670567bf4212 Episode 43 of Building with Issa Media Inc Podcast “I counted my chickens and they didn't hatch” https://open.spotify.com/episode/4DKVgdUlBByuLSp0vieWe1  Connect with Isabella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/isamediainc/  Listen to Isabella's podcast Building with Issa Media Inc https://open.spotify.com/show/657uZ9GXNqwiYvd0ackhWT  For more info, visit Isa Media Inc https://www.isamediainc.com/  Something Was Wrong Podcast https://somethingwaswrong.com/  The Anti-Racist Leadership Podcast  EmpowerHER Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empowerher/id1444456380  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Welcome back for another solo episode of Messy in the Middle! Today, we are talking all about LinkedIn (shocker, I know) and the 3 LinkedIn Lead Gen Styles of Archetypes! In today's episode, we cover: The 3 LinkedIn Archetypes How to decide what your lead gen style is based on who you are and the kind of business you run How each archetype uses LinkedIn to leverage their business Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/  Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/  Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 7 of Messy in the Middle  6b34e63aeadf8a1827b7ddce00b6cf81 LinkedIn Archetype Quiz thepropegy.com/quiz Thought Leaders Collective https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/tlc/ Level Up with LinkedIn Lead Gen  https://thepropegy.com/level-up-live/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below. Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-

In today's episode, I am joined by Lucy who is a personality-driven copywriter. She writes mostly for powerful women, in a variety of industries, who want to stand out online and make more sales. And the way they do that is with their copy, which is the salesperson who is working for them 24 hours a day.   Lucy started her business “My Write Hand Woman” to help strong women entrepreneurs build bold brands, create a community, and grow their businesses. She is here today to talk about the struggles of starting her business and overcoming challenges in the “middle”. From her own rookie mistakes to creating a successful business with strong values, Lucy is here today to share it all!    In today's episode, we cover: Lucy's journey from business school to copywriting and starting her own business  The challenges in your business once you get to the “middle” and how to overcome it Lucy's experience with scaling her business and rookie mistakes she made along the way  How Lucy choose her business values and how she makes sure they show up in her business  The Copy Roast: Lucy's offer to audit your copy and give you BS-free writing advice Lucy's process of auditing your copy - providing actionable suggestions and verbal edits  Balancing different offers within your business and making them all work together  A week in Lucy's business and her business model  Stressing out about pricing as a beginner and Lucy's experience with determining her prices  Breaking out of your routine and how Lucy is balancing her business with her travels   Lucy's future plans for her business   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/    Check out my website https://www.haleyejohnson.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Lucy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mywritehandwoman/  Lucy's template shop https://www.mywritehandwoman.com/template-shop-waitlist  For more info, visit Lucy's website https://www.mywritehandwoman.com/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Did you miss me?! Welcome back for season 2! In this episode, I'm giving you a quick little update about what's been going on since you heard from me last! Personally, professionally, Propegy-wise- you name it, I'm covering it.   In today's episode I cover: The projects and positions I've picked up since season 1 of the podcast What I've been discovering about my own position as an entrepreneur while navigating the digital space What's happening over at Propegy (a new program, that's what!) How I'm looking to manage my life/work balance in the coming months What's in store for season 2 of the podcast, of course!   Thank you so much for joining me- so happy to be back!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website https://haleyejohnson.com Check out the Propegy website https://thepropegy.com/ Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/     Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com   Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

In today's episode, we are throwing a curveball at you! Today, I'm interviewed by my good friend and a fan favorite guest, Kira La Forgia from Paradigm Consulting.   Today's episode marks the finale of season 1 of the Messy in the Middle Podcast, so we decided to do things differently. So, today I am the one who is answering some (really great!) questions.    We cover a whole range of topics, both business and personal. We go from playing a round of “Would You Rather” to talking about some of the biggest lessons that I've learned on my entrepreneurial journey so far!   In today's episode, we cover: A round of “Would You Rather? ” What made Haley “accidentally” start her own business 5 years ago Life changes that came with the pandemic  The best and the worst part of being in an online business community  What Haley learned from having a business coach and why she doesn't have a coach right now  A conversation that is missing from the online business space Stepping into leadership and expanding your impact  The most impactful thing that Haley learned about herself and her business in the last six months  Where Haley sees herself in the next five years  Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website https://thepropegy.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

One of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship is the human side, growing and managing your team. How do you bridge the gap between corporate HR policies and the modern needs of online entrepreneurs?   My guest today is here to answer this question for you. Kira La Forgia is a Director of Operations/HR turned small business consultant for millennial entrepreneurs. With a decade of experience in People Operations in the corporate world, Kira is no stranger to the sensitive issues involved in the human side of running a business. There's a lot to learn from hiring, onboarding, training, and managing the performance of over 500 employees for a multimillion dollar business.   The good news is, she learned it all so you don't have to.   In today's episode, we cover: The idea behind Kira's Set to Scale Membership, people operations consulting to manage and develop your growing virtual team the right way The importance of support and community for online entrepreneurs  Why your business is never too small for HR support  Kira's new management training program to help you create an environment where people want to grow and learn Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website https://thepropegy.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Kira on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theparadigmm/ To learn more, visit Paradigm https://the-paradigm.com/  Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ 

Joining me again today is Megan Baker CEO and founder of Meg K and Co, the hiring agency for socially conscious online business owners who are ready to amplify their impact. This is the second part of my interview with Meg so if you haven't listened to episode 2 yet, go back and listen because you will hear more about Meg and her personal journey in entrepreneurship.   Today's episode is all about Meg's best hiring tips and tricks for hiring for your online business. Meg helped me hire my very own first employee back in 2020 and I am so lucky to call her a friend and fellow entrepreneur.   In this episode, we cover: How Meg's hiring agency works to help online business owners The bad hiring advice that is out in the online world and what you can do instead Why hiring is NOT like dating How to set yourself up for success when you are looking to hire someone who can do multiple things Ways to hire without using your gut (spoiler: going with your gut is the wrong way to hire!) Why it's important to hire objectively Pros and cons to hiring employee (full-time or part-time) versus contractor So, what are your thoughts and experience with hiring? Reach out and let me know by sending me a DM on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Check out my website https://thepropegy.com/ Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in the episode: Connect with Meg- https://megkco.com/ Meg's Done for You Hiring Service https://megkco.com/dfy-hiring/ Meg's Hiring Readiness Checklist AND a Hiring Process Checklist Freebie https://bit.ly/megk-list   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

If you've been following me for a while or know me in real life in any capacity, then you probably know the story of how I accidentally became a LinkedIn expert.    Over the years, I learned that my love of LinkedIn was not very common among other online service providers. So, I've spent more time than I care to admit defending LinkedIn, helping my creative friends find space on this platform, and coming up with some seriously simple strategies to make LinkedIn a fun and effective place to spend time online and grow your business or your personal brand.    In today's episode, I'm sharing how you can create genuine connections and leverage your LinkedIn presence to grow your business. No bots necessary.   In today's episode, we cover: Our expectations of LinkedIn and the reality of creating a strategy for the platform With LinkedIn, slow and steady wins the race  There's no escaping spam in the digital world, but don't let that ruin LinkedIn for you LinkedIn is a place for you to make relationships and gain visibility   How you can provide value for your community on LinkedIn Nothing is perfect, so just start  Ready to start using LinkedIn but feeling overwhelmed? I'm giving my podcast listeners their first month of Thought Leaders Collective for FREE! Thought Leaders Collective (TLC) is the next big thing when it comes to LinkedIn thought leadership, content creation, and community among online service providers. Members enjoy weekly thought leadership prompts, co-working sessions, quarterly strategizing workshops and more! It's just $27/month but you can get started TODAY for FREE. Just go to http://thepropegy.com/tlc click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at checkout. I cannot wait to see you inside and on LinkedIn!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/   Check out my website https://thepropegy.com/  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/    Resources mentioned in this episode: Thought Leaders Collective https://thepropegy.com/tlc/ - click "JOIN NOW" and enter code "messy" at check out to get one FREE MONTH Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Krissy for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music. Their links (minus my dog's) are below.   Krissy https://krissymeriwether.com  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ