Real People, Real Business

Today, we're breaking the mold on our usual format, and taking a minute to reflect on what being a woman means, on International Women's Day. While this day is often a bit of a Hallmark holiday, I wanted to dig in to something a bit more real, vulnerable and personal.Being a woman, and being with women, is a privilege and a joy. It can also be painful, frustrating and hard. I wrote this essay a few years ago during a retreat, and it is a personal reflection on my own journey through womanhood and how that has evolved and manifested itself throughout my life.I hope you find it poignant, entertaining, and heartfelt, and helps you reflect yourself on your own relationship to women, or to being a woman. Happy International Women's Day!Support the show

Chris Troka is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Focused-Biz, an innovative marketing company that leverages AI to help businesses create better customer experiences, increase conversion rates, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks using automation.In this episode, you'll hear how Chris identified a gap between technology and marketing and developed an AI-based solution to fill it, the collaborative approach he uses to develop his business tool, and the opportunities and considerations for using AI in your business. Chris tells us about the incredible success of his first business as a wedding DJ and falling in love with marketing, the drive behind launching a marketing agency, using AI and automation for business enhancement, and his quest to improve customer experience and administrative efficiency.Chris describes the gap he saw between marketing and technology, Focused-Biz's Comprehensive 14-in-1 business tool, the collaborative approach he's taken to developing and improving the tool, and how businesses can use the tool to enhance their processes. Chris gets candid about the challenges of becoming a business owner, why he says you need to “choose your hard” as an entrepreneur, how the shift in work culture and worker motivation impacts business strategy and the two channels that have been most successful in generating leads. Lastly, Chris shares why most businesses can benefit from using AI, the big opportunities he sees in AI, ethical considerations to be aware of in your marketing and communications, why he believes in collaboration over competition in business, and the work he's doing to create industry-specific AI solutions.Skip to Topic:3:20 - Starting an AI-based marketing agency4:59 - Taking action and avoiding analysis paralysis6:01 - How Focused-Biz's 14-in-one AI business tool works7:06 - Two ways businesses can leverage Focused-Biz's AI tool8:40 - Using open-source development and improving upon what's already out there10:58 - Creating a solution to fill the gap between technology and marketing13:08 - The challenges of becoming a business owner15:26 - Why you need to understand worker motivation as a business owner19:12 - Why most businesses can benefit from AI21:35 - The emergence of new skill sets and uses for AI technology23:49 - Ethical considerations in marketing and communication26:02 - Opportunities in AI and marketing to enhance your business28:55 - Two lead generation strategies that Focused-Biz uses to attract customers30:37 - Using a collaborative approach to development and business32:46 - The truth about competition in business34:50 - Creating industry-specific AI technology solutions37:11 - The value of niching by industryFind Chris at:Website: https://focused-biz.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/focusedbizLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focused-bizVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Ali Nichols is the co-founder of Getaway, an innovative real estate financing platform that empowers real estate entrepreneurs with creative financing solutions to build portfolios without taking on restrictive capital. In this episode, you'll hear how Ali merged her passions into founding a business, the insights she gained along the way that led her to shift business models, why she prefers working with a business partner, and what her plans are for the future to scale Getaway.Ali tells us how she combined two of her passions into entrepreneurship, the inspiration she gained from working at Uber, and the early stages of launching her business and raising capital.Ali describes how she used research and testing to develop her value proposition, the importance of honing in on the core problem you solve, and how Getaway helps its customers build real estate portfolios. Ali shares the two channels that have yielded the most growth, how Getaway uses customer research and feedback to improve its product, pivoting from offering fractional investments to assisting customers in outright property ownership, and how she realized Getaway needed to shift business models.Ali discusses the importance of building and nurturing partnerships for distribution, the difference between investment buyers and residential home buyers, and the challenges in the current real estate market.Finally, Ali talks about the symbiotic relationship she shares with her co-founder, the benefits of being in business with a partner, the importance of defining roles and responsibilities in a partnership, the unglamorous reality of entrepreneurship that isn't talked about enough, and Getaway's future plans for expansion.Don't miss Ali Nichols' reflections on her journey with Getaway and the hard-won wisdom she shares.Skip to Topic:3:31 - Going from business idea to startup4:41 - Validating your business idea through research and testing6:43 - Identifying the core problem you solve for customers9:01 - How Getaway helps customers build real estate portfolios10:37 - Shifting business models based on customer feedback12:04 - The two channels that have contributed to Getaway's growth14:05 - Knowing when it's time to shift your business model16:29 - Identifying your ideal customer17:16 - How to use partnerships to grow your business22:20 - Understanding the risks of real estate investing24:40 - Forging a successful co-founder working relationship28:21 - The unglamorous truth about being an entrepreneur 31:58 - Scaling the business to include foreign investorsFind Ali at:Website: https://www.getaway.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicnichols/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Wil Reynolds is passionate about helping people and businesses grow. He's the founder and CEO of Seer Interactive, one of the most reputable digital marketing agencies in the US, where he helps Fortune 500 companies develop SEO and digital marketing strategies.In this episode, you'll hear how Wil launched his business after discovering his philanthropic side, how he's grown Seer into a multimillion-dollar business, and the insights he has gained along the way.Wil discusses the client-centered approach that has helped him stand out and grow his business, why he looks at business like a sport, the point when he recognized he was becoming more of a liability than an asset as a CEO, and why he's passionate about fostering growth and development for his team.Wil shares the important characteristics he looks for in clients, how he differentiates his company in the market, his approach to managing the financial uncertainty of being an entrepreneur, and why you should calculate the cost of business growth.Drawing from his own experiences, Wil offers his insights about growing at your own pace, comparing your journey to that of others, balancing your business and personal life, and making conscious decisions to prioritize your personal well-being.Skip to Topic:11:38 - Using a client-centered focus to grow your business (without relying on salespeople) 14:16 - Recognizing when you're becoming a liability to your business & what to do about it16:43 - Creating a business that fosters growth and development for your team18:44 - Hiring talent that is strong in areas you are not21:55 - How to mitigate the uncertainty of entrepreneurship26:18 - Using a data-driven, honest approach to stand out in the market28:33 - Working with clients who are outcome and customer-focused31:09 - Finding your market fit to differentiate yourself33:26 - The fallacy of comparing your business to your competitors37:17 - Why you should calculate the cost of business growthFind Wil at:Website: https://www.seerinteractive.com/Wil's Blog: https://wilreynolds.medium.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/wilreynoldsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/seerinteractive/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeerInteractiveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilreynolds/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

It's our 100th episode at the Real People, Real Business Show, and we're celebrating this milestone with a very special guest. Join my conversation with my longtime business partner, colleague, and dear friend, Jame Healy. Jame is a leading economist and entrepreneur who has spent the last 28 years helping executive leaders from Fortune 1000 firms credibly articulate, align, assure, and accelerate the realization of value from modern capabilities and emerging technology such as cloud services, artificial intelligence, robotics process automation, quantum computing, and others.In this 100th episode, you will hear how Jame went from economics to entrepreneurship, his unconventional approach to running a consulting business, creating a value-centered culture in his businesses, and how prioritizing relationships has helped him grow his business…with a little bit of humor sprinkled in.Jame shares his transition into technology consulting doing integration work, his experience leading a company through the dot-com crash, and the work that brought us together and forged a lifelong business partnership and friendship.Jame describes launching his own consulting firm, breaking away from the traditional consulting model, the importance of optimizing net value for the customer, and why every team member represents value to the customer.Jame delves into cultivating a strong organizational culture, the crucial lesson he learned about the importance of cultural fit when integrating team members, his philosophy for attracting and retaining highly skilled talent, and the importance of generously acknowledging your team's contributions.Jame talks about the critical role of partnerships for business growth, finding fulfillment without rapid scaling, building a business based on work that's interesting and meaningful to you, how you can leverage your expertise as an alternative to traditional scaling, and expanding your reach by building relationships.Finally, Jame leaves us with his insight on what's real in business, the illusion of quick fixes and solutions for business success, and why it's key to build strong relationships and connections in business.Skip to Topic:4:25 - Living through the dot.com crash6:44 - Acquiring an eCommerce company11:09 - Partnering with Microsoft to become the world's largest BizTalk practice15:24 - The importance of cultural fit in an acquisition25:43 - Launching a consulting business using a net value model29:56 - Using value contribution and acknowledgment to build an expert team33:21 - The hard lesson learned when you hire people not aligned with your culture39:17 - Focusing on net value to the customer44:13 - How to decide if you should scale your business49:32 - Why building personal connections and relationships are critical for business successFind Jame at:Website: https://www.alescent.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamehealy/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Cleoniki Kesidis is a copywriter and brand storyteller who uses her love of figuring things out and communicating them simply and clearly to help businesses connect with their audiences in a meaningful way.In this episode, you'll hear how Cleoniki launched her copywriting business by combining her passions, how she uses relationships to grow her business, the importance of knowing your audience as a business owner…and much more.Cleoniki recounts her journey into her copywriting business by combining 2 of her passions, the key action she took to go full-time as a freelance writer, how she got her first clients, and how she builds relationships to grow a stronger business.Cleoniki shares her system for making connections, how she attracts clients she wants to work with, why she doesn't have a specialized niche, preventing burnout as a creative and business owner, and avoiding the pitfalls of perfectionism as a writer.Cleoniki discusses the foundational elements you should have in place before working with a copywriter, the importance of knowing your audience as a business owner, how to develop your business brand voice, and why you shouldn't be afraid to push away certain audiences.Cleoniki concludes our chat by explaining how to use your business brand voice vs. your personal voice, how she uses AI in her work, and why starting a business is possible for anyone.Skip to Topic:6:20 - Using a system to track your networking contacts14:53 - Avoiding burnout when you're a creative running a business17:28 - How to combat perfectionism as a writer21:07 - Foundational elements a business needs before hiring a copywriter24:27 - Why it's critical to know your audience as a business owner26:28 - Attracting clients you want to work with29:38 - Should your business brand voice be the same as your personal voice?32:29 - Using a strategic approach to develop your business voice35:02 - Using AI in copywriting40:03 - Why starting a business is possible for anyoneFind Cleoniki  at:Website: https://cekcopywriting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleonikikesidis/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

After discovering her love of numbers in a high school bookkeeping course, licensed CPA and QuickBooks Top 100 ProAdvisor Crystalynn Shelton launched her corporate career in accounting. With years of experience under her belt, she left the corporate world to start her own consulting business, where she helps businesses large and small take control of their finances.In this episode, you'll hear how Crystalynn discovered her unexpected affinity for accounting, how she transitioned from the corporate world into her own consulting business, and how she uncovered her true superpower that has helped her scale her business.Crytalynn describes her unexpected path into accounting, becoming a CPA leading the accounting departments for large corporations, and how becoming certified in Quickbooks opened her up to a newfound passion for teaching. Crystalynn tells us how she leveraged her brand new Quickbooks certification to land a teaching job at UCLA, how she realized teaching is her superpower, and how her work with students helped her get her first business clients.Crystalynn details how she came to write an Amazon best-selling book, how she has diversified her services in order to help more people, how she uses speaking engagements to build visibility, and the hard lesson she learned from avoiding marketing her business.Finally, Crystalynn shares her advice for outsourcing the parts of your business you need help with, tips for setting your hires up for success, the value of growing your business according to what brings you joy, and the reality of work-life balance as a business owner.Skip to Topic:4:55 - Making the leap from a corporate job to business owner7:16 - Getting clients by partnering with organizations serving the same audience8:44 - Building business credibility through teaching9:54 - Writing an Amazon bestseller12:20 - Scaling by focusing on doing one thing16:22 - Why networking and marketing your business is critical18:17 - Outsourcing business tasks when you need help19:15 - Tips for hiring and working with virtual support23:00 - Finding and hiring people who are the right fit for your business27:52 - Determining whether an agency model is right for you32:32 - The truth about work-life balance as a business ownerFind Crystalynn at:Website: https://www.crystalynnshelton.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/crystalynnshelton/FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074172338160LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalynnshelton/Download the free gifts Crystalynn mentioned in this episode - Your First Seven Days in Quickbooks Checklist: https://www.crystalynnshelton.com/first-7-days-in-qbo-opt-in Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Moira Ni Ghallachoir is an international business mentor and speaker who helps female entrepreneurs create the impact, business income, lifestyle, and freedom they truly desire by speaking from the stage.In this episode, you will learn how to use speaking to grow your business, how to get started speaking on stage, developing a signature talk, and how to find and book stages to speak on.After moving back home to her native Ireland and launching a travel business, Moira stumbled upon a rare local speaking opportunity where she experienced the power of speaking on stage after booking a number of clients from just a 30-minute talk.  Today Moira coaches other entrepreneurs to help them do the same.Moira shares how speaking can help you build rapport with your audience, how to get speaking gigs when you're first starting out, and what you should do if you're considering using speaking as part of your visibility strategy.Moira discusses what your intention should be when delivering a talk, the key areas that make good presentation topics, developing one key presentation, and how to craft a topic into a talk that people actually care about.Moira details how she helps her clients create a signature presentation, shifting from working with clients one-on-one to group coaching,  how to leverage speaking engagements to get additional talks, and using your signature presentation with multiple audiences. Finally, Moira tells us about the pivot she made in her coaching business during the pandemic, how she blends her love of travel into her coaching work today, and why she says being an entrepreneur is messy. Skip to Topic:9:10 - Using speaking to build an audience10:19 - How to get started when you're new to speaking14:17 - Using speaking from stage as part of your visibility strategy15:57 - What the goal of your talk should be17:00 - Key topic areas you can speak about20:48 - Crafting a signature presentation with a built-in offer23:46 - Moving from one-on-one to group coaching work24:34 - Leveraging your speaking experience to get additional engagements26:39 - Presenting your signature presentation with multiple audiencesFind Moira  at:Website: https://www.moira.ieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoiraNiGhallachoirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moira-ní-ghallachóirYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAwmBpbooTuus-qb5QWu7_wVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Sebastian Schaffer is the co-founder of dofollow.io, a premium link-building agency he started as a side gig and grew to 7 figures in just four years. In this episode, you'll hear how Sebastian founded a successful business after initial failures, the business lessons he's learned and incorporated into his business today, and the personal growth he's achieved as a result of being an entrepreneur.Sebastian describes the way his early experience running two failed startups has influenced how he runs his business today, what he learned from using investor funding, how he was able to bootstrap his current business from the start, and the clarity he gained by discovering what customers really want.Sebastian discusses self-awareness as the most important process for a business owner, how owning a business has been a journey of personal growth, and why he targets clients who are in value alignment with his company.Sebastian shares how dofollow.io has been able to stand out in the SEO space, the growth approach that is working for the company, staying on top of things in the dynamic SEO industry, and the unique way he has positioned dofollow.io in the market.Finally, Sebastian talks about sustaining their company culture during rapid growth, the challenges of managing a completely remote team, the business goals he's focused on for dofollow.io in the future, and the impact that running a business has on our personal growth.Skip to Topic:1:30: Painful lessons from two failed startups4:20 - Raising funding vs. bootstrapping6:12 - Bootstrapping your business when you're first starting out8:55 - Finding the right problem to solve10:12 - The importance of self-awareness for entrepreneurs13:55 - Targeting clients aligned with your values16:50 - Standing out in the SEO market21:03 - Staying up-to-date in the SEO space22:26 - Positioning your business in the market24:07 - Sustaining your company's culture as you grow28:33 - Managing a distributed workforce35:31 - Business ownership as a path to personal growthFind Sebastian  at:Website: https://dofollow.io/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianschaeffer/?originalSubdomain=deVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Tim Kachuriak is the Founder and Chief Innovation & Optimization Officer at NextAfter, a cutting-edge fundraising research lab consultancy that helps charities, nonprofits, and NGOs grow their digital fundraising.In this episode, you'll hear how Tim built a for-profit business serving nonprofit clients, how he knew he had found his calling in the nonprofit space, the similarities and differences between serving for-profit vs. nonprofit organizations, and how he's grown his business to over $25 million in revenue.After starting his own marketing agency, Tim discovered the work he was meant to do - working with nonprofits. He describes how he got introduced to the non-profit space and how his obsession with optimizing fundraising led to his current business, NextAfter. Tim explains a common misconception about the nonprofit sector, how nonprofits measure success, his approach to marketing to nonprofit clients, and how he uses his work with large organizations to benefit all nonprofits.Tim gives us insight into why consolidations in the nonprofit sector are rare, how he uses retail-level funding to help his clients scale, the difference between consumer-based marketing and nonprofit marketing, and how he uses B2B and B2C marketing tactics in nonprofit fundraising.Lastly, Tims shares the two strategies he's used to grow his business, what it means to be a disruptor in the nonprofit space, his advice for anyone thinking of starting a business serving nonprofits, what he sees as up-and-coming trends in nonprofit marketing, and what the next phase of his business is.Skip to Topic:1:16 - Making the move from for-profit to nonprofit7:34 - Leveraging your personal brand to create opportunities8:58 - The massive opportunity in the nonprofit industry9:53 - Measuring success in the nonprofit sector11:41 - Different perceptions of nonprofit vs. for-profit businesses13:25 - How to approach marketing when serving nonprofit clients16:23 - Why mergers and acquisitions are rare in the nonprofit space18:24 - Retail-level fundraising and the lifetime value of donors19:07 - Consumer-based marketing vs. nonprofit marketing20:45 - Using B2B and B2C marketing tactics in fundraising24:15 - The roles media buying and content marketing have played in growing NextAfter27:26 - Disrupting the not-for-profit space through innovation28:47 - Future trends in nonprofit advertising30:47 - Advice for starting a business in the nonprofit space32:19 - The opportunity for Adtech in the nonprofit sector35:34 - What Tim says is the reality of being a business owner37:49 - Bringing partners into your businessFind Tim  at:Website: https://www.nextafter.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkachuriak/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Are you passionate about driving positive change and disrupting the status quo? If so, this is the episode for you.Known as “America's doctor,” Dr. Laura Purdy is a board-certified family physician and thought leader in digital healthcare who is on a mission to create the change she wants to see by disrupting the healthcare industry.In this episode, you'll hear Dr. Purdy's journey from military medicine to entrepreneur and the unique path she has carved out by combining her medical background and business savvy to become a serial disruptor creating positive change in healthcare.Dr. Purdy discusses the influence of growing up in an entrepreneurial family, working as a medical officer in the Army, and her work in digital medicine that fueled her passion to drive change and start her own companies. Dr. Purdy talks about how telehealth has evolved over the years, the combination of medical and business skills that make her very unique in the market, how she finds her clients, and navigating the regulatory environment of doing business in the healthcare industry.Finally, Dr. Purdy shares the role she sees for entrepreneurs in healthcare, her approach to working with bootstrapped vs. funded businesses, following her calling to drive change, the importance of a support system as an entrepreneur, and what she says the reality is of being a business owner.Skip to Topic:2:46 - The path from military medical officer to entrepreneur7:07 - The evolution of telehealth over the years9:18 - How the pandemic impacted the adoption of telehealth11:41 - Being positioned as a unicorn by combining unique skill sets16:19 - From the grinding to get clients to running on referrals17:36 - Crafting offers around regulatory constraints in the healthcare industry20:33 - The role of entrepreneurs in healthcare23:04 - Being fearless as a serial disruptor27:38 - Approaches for working with bootstrapped businesses vs. venture-backed businesses35:04 - The reality of being a business ownerFind Dr. Purdy at:Website: https://www.drlaurapurdy.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/americasfavoritedoctorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-purdy-md/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

If you are a believer in the old adage when one door closes, another one opens, this is the conversation for you! Donna Loughlin is the founder of LMG PR, a strategic public relations firm that helps futurists and innovators move their businesses forward by bringing their unique stories to life. In this episode, you'll hear how getting laid off from a successful corporate career during a recession opened a door of opportunity for Donna that ultimately put her on the entrepreneurial path that launched her public relations agency.Donna recounts starting her career in journalism reporting business, economics, and technology news at large media organizations, moving from news reporting to public relations, and the life-changing reality check she experienced after being laid off from her executive job during a recession. Donna describes figuring out her next move after being laid off, following the signs that guided her toward her “sliding door moment” launching her PR agency, hiring her first team members from the talent-rich pool of stay-at-home moms, and balancing her business with being a mom. Donna shares how she grew her agency and differentiated it in the market, her process for creating the “narrative story engine”  for her clients, and the 3 common threads she sees among the innovators and disruptors she's worked with. Finally, Donna reveals how her definition of growth has changed over the years, why it's important to be selective as a business owner, and the big misconception people have about being a business owner that doesn't match up with reality. Skip to Topic:1:13 - Working as a news reporter for big media companies4:30 - Making the shift from news reporter to public relations5:44 - Getting laid off to landing $50K in new projects in 1 day10:19 - Discovering an untapped talent resource in stay-at-home moms12:36 - Becoming known for a niche, differentiation in the market, and global expansion16:00 - Working with innovative clients in emerging markets18:17 - Creating a “narrative story engine” for innovators23:57 - 3 Common threads in the stories of innovators30:39 - How Donna approaches growth in her agency33:55 - Being selective about opportunities as a business ownerFind Donna at:Website: https://www.lmgpr.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnal2/Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlmichaelsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforeithappenedshow/Donna's podcast Before It Happened: https://beforeithappened.com Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Ann Carden is a strategic business consultant, coach, author, and serial entrepreneur who launched and sold five successful businesses. Today she uses her marketing, sales, and business strategy expertise to help others reach higher levels of success. In this episode, you will hear about Ann's natural ability to recognize opportunities that took her from stay-at-home mom to serial entrepreneur well before the days of social media and online marketing and how she's gone on to create her own method for successful business building that she uses to coach others who want to scale their businesses.Ann tells us how she launched her first very successful business making and selling dolls after looking for a way to make a little extra money for her family,  the hard work and long hours it took to build that business to global success, selling that first business, and how she got the idea for her next business after overcoming a personal challenge.Ann reveals her natural gift for seeing opportunities, using that gift to build multiple businesses, what she says your fastest path to success in business is, and the life-changing experience she had working with a business coach that sparked her passion to become a coach herself. Ann describes how she knew it was time to exit a business, how she aligned her business to do what she most enjoys, why you shouldn't feel guilty about making money in your business, and her A to Z model for working with her coaching clients helping them level up and scale their businesses.You'll be inspired by Ann's ability to identify opportunities, her commitment to pursuing them, her openness about the hard work and mistakes along the way, and her heart for helping others achieve success.Skip to Topic:3:09 - Figuring out what the market wants5:54 - Creating a global business out of a spare bedroom8:52 - Selling a successful business9:47 - Launching a new business solving a personal struggle16:46 - Finding your fastest path to success18:58 - Staving off lower-priced competitors21:39 - Becoming a coach for business owners23:32 - Recognizing when it's time to exit a business25:28 - Doing what brings you  joy in your business31:13 - Why entrepreneurs should not feel guilty about making money Find Ann  at:Website: https://annlcarden.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/66393905766931YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/anncardenVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Ethan Song is the CEO of RareCircles, a business he launched to help creators and brands build community in the Web3 economy. He was previously the founder and CEO of Frank And Oak, the apparel brand whose mission was to make fashion more personal and sustainable for a new generation of creatives and entrepreneurs.In this episode, you'll hear how Ethan left the security of a job to pursue entrepreneurship, launching his first company Frank And Oak, and starting a new business, RareCircles, helping creators and brands build communities in the web-3 economy.Ethan describes launching his first business Frank And Oak, how they innovated by creating a new customer experience, two ways they differentiated their brand,  how they used AI to generate value-based recommendations for customers, and how he knew it was time to move on from Frank And Oak to new pursuits.  Ethan shares how the idea of community was something he had thought about for a long time, the opportunity he saw for web3 to play a role in that, and ultimately launching RareCircles to help brands use community and engagement to drive business growth. Ethan tells us why RareCircles centers around Web3, creating value as a B2B2C company, why he doesn't focus on RareCircle's competitors, how he uses data and content to serve businesses and their end users, and the key trends we should all be thinking about when it comes to the future of community platforms.Finally, Ethan reveals why entrepreneurs need to have passion behind what they do, his thoughts for entrepreneurs thinking about what's next, his advice for working in a space that is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty, why defining success is an individual exercise, and three realities about being a business owner that you don't hear out in the real world.Skip to Topic:1:45 - Taking a risk by quitting a job to launch a business3:08 - Differentiating your brand from others4:09 - Innovating by creating a new customer experience6:41 - Using AI to provide value-based recommendations for customers8:07 - The role brand plays in customer buying decisions9:39 - Launching a web3-based community and engagement platform for brands11:36 - Using Web3 to accelerate community growth13:51 - Why passion is important to succeed as an entrepreneur16:53 - Leaving a successful business to start a new one20:25 - Why Ethan doesn't focus on RareCircle's competitors21:52 - How to create value as a B2B2C company23:06 - Using data and content to serve both the business and its customers24:54 - Key considerations and future trends to think about for community platforms27:03 - How to succeed as an entrepreneur working in a high degree of uncertainty34:05 - 3 things about being a business owner that you don't hear about in the real world Find  Ethan at:Website: https://www.rarecircles.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrethansongLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansong/Follow RareCircles on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rarecirclesVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Lindy Nowak is the Founder of Up in a Day™ – a new-to-market website service that is devoted to helping small business owners, entrepreneurs, and independent operators get their website up quickly, within budget, and with minimal effort from them.In this episode, you'll learn about Lindy's journey from her corporate career as a creative director in New York, working with big-name brands like L'oreal to starting a traditional marketing agency and transitioning to the productized website design agency she runs today at Up In A Day.Lindy describes the aha moment that sparked the idea for launching a productized service around website design, the purpose, and importance of having a website for your business, and why it's better to have a professional create your business website.Lindy reveals the embarrassing mistake she made with her business website, how she used her network to build her agency team, how she developed her own training and onboarding method for her designers, and how she structured her processes and delivery to balance managing her team with providing clients with a quality service.Lindy shares how she combats scope creep and filters out clients who aren't a good fit for her agency, the trend she sees website design moving toward in the future, and what it was like for her to jump from her corporate career to entrepreneurship. Finally, Lindy tells us how being her mother's caretaker ignited her desire to become a business owner, how she's building her business to support her eventual exit, and what you can do if you feel lonely as an online business owner.Skip to Topic:1:54 - Shifting to a productized service14:04 - Recruiting talent for your agency19:12 - Structuring your process and deliverable to balance time, team, and quality23:08 - Combatting scope creep and weeding out clients who are not a good fit for your business26:58 - What Lindy says is the future of websites29:13 - Making the jump from corporate work to entrepreneur34:10 - Setting yourself up for success when launching a new business35:12 - Building a business to sell it and exit39:06 - How to combat loneliness as an online business ownerFind Lindy at:Website: https://upinaday.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upinaday/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy1/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Indus Khaitan is the founder and CEO of Quolum, an On Deck Scale company, that helps companies effectively consume software at scale. In this episode, you'll hear how Indus went from writing code to launching his own SaaS business, how he educated himself on the business side of technology, and his successes and failures along his journey to developing and launching his SaaS solution.Indus talks about the need he saw with corporate software spend tracking that led to starting his business, the corporate and market factors that created a window of opportunity for his solution, his approach to raising capital to fund his business idea, and the hurdles he had to overcome to secure funding. Indus shares what it was like to go back to the drawing board after an unsuccessful beta launch, why it's critical for founders to know their market inside and out, using his immediate network to grow the business, how your past experience can help you get a foot in the door, and the breakthrough moment that jump-started Quolum's success.Lastly, Indus tells us how his marketing strategies changed as his company grew to new levels, how he uses continuous customer feedback to expand Quolum's offerings, the two strategies he's using to raise his next round of funding in a tough market, the missing piece in SaaS he sees as an opportunity for Quolum, and the personal cost of being an entrepreneur that no one really talks about. Skip to Topic:1:07 - Launching a business after seeing an unmet need in corporate software spending9:46 - Going back to the drawing board after an unsuccessful beta launch12:21 - Using the Jobs to Be Done approach to design a successful product15:16 - Expanding your product offering based on customer feedback16:47 - Tapping into your network to raise funding19:35 - Why it's critical for founders to know their market21:38 - How B2B marketing differs during different stages of growth26:57 - Market timing in achieving product market fit28:41 - Finding opportunity from a shift in corporate processes38:38 - Making the transition from coder to entrepreneur44:22 - The reality of being an entrepreneur that one talks aboutFind Indus  at:Website: https://quolum.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaitan/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Inspired by her own childhood, Alyse Maslonik founded RedefinED Advisors, a development company that raises financial aid for non-public and private schools to give underprivileged children access to quality education and help them break the cycle of generational poverty.In this episode, you'll learn about breaking generational patterns of poverty, being clear on the energy you need to foster in your business, and how to build a successful mission-driven business. Alyse describes her inspiring personal journey, the unexpected hand-up that changed her life, and how it all led to her starting a mission-driven business helping underprivileged children get access to quality education. She describes leaving her job to go all in on her business and her biggest piece of advice for when you feel like giving up.Alyse reflects on how her previous professional experience prepared her to go into business, how she took control of her story to launch her business, creating a team that's a good fit for what you're trying to do, why it's critically important to protect the energy of your business, and the tremendous growth RedefinED Advisors has achieved since its inception.Finally, Alyse shares the types of schools that are an ideal fit for her company, how she has grown her business by adding additional revenue streams, the importance of healing in helping kids break the generational poverty cycle, navigating the cultural challenges that new school environments pose for underprivileged kids, and Alyse's advice for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs based on her real experience owning a business.Alyse embodies what it means to be a heart-centered entrepreneur, and I am sure that you will find our conversation to be one of the most inspiring you've heard, so grab a couple of tissues and tune in.Skip To Topic:1:24 - Altering someone's life by offering a hand-up4:17 - Launching a business built around a mission4:59 - Staying the course when things look bleak7:49 - Bringing equity to K-12 education15:25 - The power of your story in attracting customers18:18 - Creating multiple revenue streams by expanding client support24:27 - Why it's critical to protect the energy of your business28:00 - Saying ‘no' to clients who aren't a good fit for your business33:21 - Why healing is as important as financing in supporting underprivileged kids38:04 - Alyse's advice for business owners about what is real about running a business vs. what we see and hearFind Alyse at:Website: https://www.redefiningeducation.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/redefiningeducation/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Projjal Ghatak is the CEO and co-founder of SaaS company, OnLoop, creating a new category, Collaborative Team Development (CTD), in a legacy market with a software product that is redefining the way organizations conduct performance management for hybrid teams.In this episode, you'll hear how Projjal made the leap into entrepreneurship by tackling what he observed to be one of the most disliked processes in human resources, how he invented a new business category, developing and launching a software product, and some of the hardships that come with being a founder.Projjal describes how OnLoop works to improve the performance management process, common issues within traditional performance management,  and how OnLoop is redefining the performance assessment process to unlock the potential of workers, increasing productivity.Projjal talks about the importance of finding the right founder-investor fit when seeking capital, understanding the venture capital business model, the personal toll raising venture capital took on his mental health and how he got through it, and 3 pieces of advice he has for other founders who need to raise funding.Projjal shares his insights on launching a software product, why he initially focused on product development over revenue, the value he saw in getting his product into the hands of users early on, how to know when you're software product is ready for monetization, and how OnLoop utilizes user feedback to drive product integration.Finally, Projjal tells us the gut decision to focus on the mobile app that paid off, two key elements of his product that have driven OnLoop's growth, how his business has been able to disrupt a static market, and why founders should be more open about the mental health challenges that come with launching a business and getting the necessary support.Skip to Topic:4:34 - Redesigning the performance management process9:06 - Mission to unlock the potential of knowledge workers and increase productivity11:14 - How OnLoop measures work productivity12:12 - How OnLoop redefines the performance management process13:05 - Challenges with gauging productivity in the workplace in the era of remote work17:42 - 2 key considerations when going from a business idea to launching a software product19:25 - Navigating the harsh reality of raising venture capital21:28 - 3 pieces of advice for other founders about raising business capital26:16 - Finding the right-fit investor28:34 - Developing a software product in conjunction with your users29:01 - Creating a product advisory board29:56 - How to know when you're ready to monetize your software product34:02 - Being a disruptor in a legacy marketFind Projjal  at:Website: https://www.onloop.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnLoopInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayonloop/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onloop/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLaN140q6NZdUMcvQUQezZwVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Nicole Liloia is a small business coach and strategist who helps service providers build multiple income streams and grow their businesses by working smarter, not harder,  through her signature Bigger Business Bootcamp and Grow Your Income Mastermind. In this episode, my conversation with Nicole delves into her journey going from a 9-5 to freelance therapist to business coach, the shifts she had to make shifting from helping clients as a therapist to helping clients as a business coach, and how she uses that experience to help service providers grow their business into multiple income streams.Nicole starts off by telling us how she began working as a freelance therapist before moving into her own coaching business. She reveals what it was like to navigate the path from practitioner to entrepreneur, learning to communicate with clients in their language vs. therapist speak, and trying to get clear on who she served.Nicole describes the coaching work she does helping service providers develop multiple revenue streams, why creating visibility in your business is important, and how her mastermind group helps entrepreneurs feel supported and less isolated.Finally, Nicole discusses the importance of having an email list, how she uses her Facebook group to build her audience, and what she does to create balance for herself to avoid burnout.Skip to topic:5:18 - Applying therapeutic skills to coaching10:31 - Deciding to leave the therapy business and move into coaching11:46 - Shifts Nicole had to make to go from being a counselor to being a coach18:29 - Communicating what you do as a therapist in your client's language20:17 - Getting clear on who you serve in order to market yourself25:28 - Getting visible in your business even when it's hard26:06 - The value of connecting with other business owners to feel less isolated28:33 - How Nicole uses her email list and Facebook group to grow her audience32:40 - The importance of slowing down in your business34:18 - Strategies for creating balance in your business vs. doing all the things36:08 - The misconception about passive incomeFind Nicole  at:Website: https://nicoleliloia.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleliloia/FB: https://www.facebook.com/liloia.nicole/Download Nicole's Consistent Income Generator at https://nicoleliloia.com/cigVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Roslyn Ranse is a travel advisor, business strategist, educator, and mentor who runs a thriving travel business specializing in large international groups and corporate clients. She passionately shares her knowledge with other travel consultants, teaching them how to run and grow a successful travel business.In this episode, you'll hear how Roslyn took her sales and marketing background, her international travel experience, and her passion for travel, and launched her own travel advisory business. After a rewarding career with a hospitality company that took her all over the world to incredible destinations, Roslyn decided she wanted to be home more and started her own business as a travel advisor. She talks about how she had to get smart on the business side of travel through self-learning, her advice on how to choose what to learn and filter out what you don't need, and how she differentiates herself by capitalizing on her strengths.Roslyn discusses the emergence of niched travel businesses, three ways travel advisors can niche their businesses, and the unique opportunities available today to specialize as a travel advisor to stand out in the market.  Roslyn reveals the impact the pandemic had on travel advisors, the need she saw for support and mentoring for her peers, and how she created a community based on her philosophy of collaboration over competition, where she teaches other advisors how to grow their businesses.Lastly, Roslyn shares her strategies for managing multiple businesses, how to be intentional with your time, and how to know when to hire help in your business.Skip to Topic:5:15 - Channeling her world travel experience into her own travel business7:06 - Getting smart on business through self-learning9:48 - Using her strengths in her work with clients10:18 - Getting smart on the business side of travel17:00 - The impact of the pandemic on the travel advisory business17:44 - Promoting collaboration over competition in the travel industry20:10 - The emergence of niched travel21:41 - 3 ways to niche your travel advisory business26:13 - How to choose where to focus your professional development while filtering out the rest30:52 - How Roslyn is able to manage multiple businesses33:31 - Managing your work time to make space for other things you enjoy34:35 - How to know when it's time to hire helpFind Roslyn  at:Website: https://www.travelagentachievers.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelagentachievers/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelagentachieversVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Megan Dowd is a brand therapist, business strategist, storyteller, and certified equity-centered coach who helps business owners create a better human connection with themselves and their clients by drawing from who they are and what they stand for.In this episode, Megan shares how she translated her acting chops into business-building skills, the value in finding your internal language to make your external impact, and her approach to creating more human connection in business.Megan reveals that her theater skills were directly applicable to business, how she helped people for free before realizing she should charge, and her approach to helping clients with their messaging.  Megan describes how her business came into being, the 3 types of stories she sees many entrepreneurs using, why it's important to develop your internal language before creating your external marketing strategies, and how she helps clients create an internal guidebook so they can develop effective external strategies. Finally, Megan lets us in on the strategy she uses to attract clients, the types of clients she works with, using the scientific method to experiment with marketing strategies to see what works, and what she says is real vs. what we hear in the online business world.I think you'll enjoy Megan's spicy take on marketing and online business, so listen to our delightful conversation filled with great insights and a few laughs!Skip to Topic:3:44 - Translating theatrical skills into business10:59 - Developing your internal language to build effective external marketing11:23 - Building an internal language guidebook to get past “language canyons”16:19 - Using experimentation to test marketing strategies25:02 - Working as a certified equity-centered coach32:03 - Fiding clients through Instagram and referrals34:03 - Working with clients who want something more than blanket marketing advice36:05 - Uncovering hidden baggage we carry around language that may be holding us back38:42 - Getting spicy about what Megan thinks is real vs. what we hear in the online business worldFind Megan at:Website: https://withmegandowd.com/IG: https://instagram.com/withmegandowdVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Luis Báez is a sales enablement strategist and coach dedicated to empowering online business owners, B2B professionals, and underrepresented entrepreneurs by teaching them how to scale their revenues and impact by creating and selling high-end offers - all in addition to his full-time career. In this episode, you'll hear Luis' unexpected path to becoming an expert in sales, how a simple request for help led him to entrepreneurship, his refreshing and authentic approach to selling, and how he's building his business on his terms.  Luis takes us through his circuitous career path that landed him in sales where he built a very successful career. He describes how his side business was born out of a request for help from a friend, discovering a gap in the online business space that he shaped his side business to fill, and the mindset reframe entrepreneurs need around selling.Luis tells us his approach to teaching sales, how to be successful selling high ticket offers, why business owners should use personalized video to connect with prospects, the way he structures his client engagements, and how he manages his business on top of his full-time career.Finally, Luis shares what his ultimate goal is with being an entrepreneur, the biggest lesson he's learned from his entrepreneurial journey, what he would do differently if he were to start all over again, and the biggest difference between what we hear in the business world vs. what the reality is.You will want to capture Luis' grounded and refreshing advice for how to approach sales in your business in a way that feels good and take advantage of the tips and techniques he drops to help you connect with your prospects and grow your business.Skip to Topic:1:55 - Falling into an unexpected career in sales3:35 - How a request for help from a friend turned into a side hustle 5:15 - Finding a gap in the marketing to fill8:51 -The mindset shift you need around selling as an entrepreneur10:46 - The real purpose of a personal brand12:38 - Luis's “secret sauce” for helping entrepreneurs15:35 - The key to selling high ticket offers16:47 - Leveraging personalized video to connect with prospects18:39 - Why Luis's sales methodology is based on transparency22:23 - The different types of clients Luis helps in his business and his full-scope approach to supporting them25:44 - The importance of communication between all functions of a business26:19 - How Luis' client engagements are structured26:57 - Working a full-time job in addition to his business28:00 - Luis' ultimate goal in being an entrepreneur30:40 - What Luis sees as the difference between what's real in business vs. what we hearFind Luis at:Website: https://www.luisbaez.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baezluis/Learn how to use personalized video in your business at: https://www.luisbaez.com/videoaskVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Proov company founder, Amy Beckley, PhD, invented the first and only FDA-cleared at-home test to confirm ovulation after discovering her own infertility issues were caused by a progesterone deficiency.In this episode you will hear how Amy's business was born when she invented the original PdG test in her basement so she could help other women, like herself, who were dealing with infertility issues.Amy walks us through the steps she took to start her business beginning with her initial  research, creating a minimum viable product, raising capital using crowdfunding, and selling on Amazon.Amy reveals the surprising early adopters of her product, the marketing challenges she had to overcome to reach her intended audience, how she uses customer feedback to iterate and expand on her offerings, and how she stays motivated through the challenges of building her business.Finally, we hear Amy's advice for growing a team, how she has evolved her product to include technology, and her take on what's real in business contrasted with what we hear.I think you'll find Amy's story very inspiring on both the business and personal fronts, so join our conversation.Skip to Topic:3:29 - Creating a business by solving a common problem4:26 - Using crowdfunding to raise capital5:48 - Validating a concept with a minimum viable product14:48 - Turning scientific research into a business product18:21 -Iterating from the initial product to a broader solution based on customer needs19:50 - How the early adopters used the initial product for something completely unintended21:45 - 2 issues Amy had to overcome with her marketing23:51 - One thing that has carried Amy through the challenges of building her business27:21 - Amy's strategy to growing and  managing a team28:55 - How Amy has expanded the initial product offering and has incorporated automation Find Amy  at:Website: http://proovtest.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/proovtestIG: https://www.instagram.com/proovtest/?hl=enFB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/121476308499019/about/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/proovtest/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Asher Laub is an in-demand violin soloist whose expertise in trans-genre improvisation has led him to performances at high profile venues like Madison Square Garden, Hammerstein Hall, Lincoln Center, the Jacob Javitz Center and across four continents. In this episode, you'll hear about Asher's journey into music, how he chose the path of independent artist, the parallels between being an independent artist and entrepreneur, and how he is growing his brand. Asher has been playing the violin since the age of 2 and by age 13 had already performed with the Buffalo philharmonic. He shares how his path began very conventionally attending college and supporting himself with money earned playing music and how a health crisis shifted his focus back to music.Asher talks about his early music career, working with booking agents to get work, and his decision to become an independent artist. He discusses the challenges of wearing many hats as a musician and business-builder and his story illustrates the many parallels between being an independent artist and an entrepreneur.Asher gives us insight into the different ways independent artists monetize their businesses, how he has diversified his revenue streams, and how he has been able to build a brand that attracts and truly resonates with his fans. Finally, Asher tells us how he knew it was time to hire a team, how he approaches marketing and using data to drive his strategy, his trans-genre approach to his music, and how he prioritizes time with his family and works it around his business.Skip to topic:4:51 - The complicated shift going from musician to entrepreneur7:55 - How independent artists are monetizing their businesses as entrepreneurs10:03 - Building a brand as a musician and the value of fans as brand ambassadors15:09 - The aspect of Asher's brand that he thinks attracts fans19:46 - How Asher has diversified his income streams21:54 - How Asher works in different types of partnerships23:54 - When Asher knew he needed to hire a team27:50 - Using data and analytics to drive marketing strategy30:50 - Determining the right production frequency to keep fans engaged31:33 - Taking a trans-genre approach to music34:40 - How Asher prioritizes his family life and works his professional life around that Find Asher at:Website: https://www.asherlaub.com & https://www.fiddlersdreammusic.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/asherofficialmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asherlaubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/asherlaubmusicTwitter: https://twitter.com/asherlaubVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

As an entrepreneur, you go through the highs and lows of business ownership. If you've ever struggled with finding the motivation to keep pushing through the challenges, my conversation with Vanessa Gabriel will give you the mindset reframe that will help you persevere. Vanessa is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of Drop Delivery, the technology company that provides the only all-in-one delivery technology solution for delivery companies and retailers in the cannabis industry.In this episode, you'll hear how Vanessa's entrepreneurial journey started while she was still in college, how she recognized the large opportunity in the cannabis industry, and the philosophy that has kept her going through her business successes and failures.Vanessa's entrepreneurial streak was planted from the time she was a child growing up with a serial entrepreneur father, and she talks about launching her first business while still in college, the challenges that eventually ended that business, and the tough decision to return to work as an employee as a result.Vanessa's keen ability for recognizing gaps in the market spawned her next business developing a technology app for cannabis dispensaries, and she talks about the success of this business, the unexpected acquisition offer she received, and the decision to shift from a consumer-focused service to a delivery-focused service which led to the launch of Drop Delivery.Finally, Vanessa shares key insights on building cohesive co-founder relationships, using crowdfunding to raise business capital, and the mindset that she has maintained throughout her journey that has helped her persevere through all the rejections and failures.Skip to topic:1:58 - Starting her first business from her college dorm room at age 193:52 - Going back to square one after a business fizzles out5:54 - Recognizing an opportunity in the Vape industry and launching a new business10:25 - Navigating the complexity of differing regulations in the Cannabis industry14:09 - The mindset that kept Vanessa going after her early businesses weren't successful18:24 - An unexpected opportunity to sell her company20:37 - Her approach to building and scaling her company with a successful exit as the goal24:20 - Cultivating a synergistic working relationship with her co-founders25:47 - Making the big decision to return to entrepreneurship after a long hiatus28:04 - 2 big lessons learned from Vanessa's early business journey31:21 - Seizing on an opportunity to create a better experience for consumers32:43 - Unique difficulties of running a business that serves the cannabis industry34:27 - Why crowdfunding was a better option to raise capital than traditional fundraising36:41 - What Vanessa says is the real story behind what it's like to be an entrepreneur vs. what we hear Find Vanessa  at:Website: https://dropdelivery.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessagabriel/Drop Delivery Crowdfunding campaign: https://republic.com/drop-deliveryVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

If you've ever thought about getting outside capital to fund your business but weren't sure what your options were or what the process entails, my conversation with Lighter Capital CEO & Heads Over Heels  co-founder & chairperson, Melissa Widner, will help answer a lot of those questions.  In this episode, you'll learn about the different financing options for founders and how Melissa is contributing to the expansion of opportunities available, especially for female founders. You'll gain new insights from Melissa's years of experience, not only as an entrepreneur, but also from her work in angel investing, venture capital, and revenue-based financing. You'll also hear how she started an Australian non-profit to help women entrepreneurs get more support and access to networks and capital.Melissa walks us through how she came to work in revenue-based financing and explains what the difference is between that and venture capital. She helps us understand the pros and cons of equity-based financing compared to debt-based financing, situations where one type might be a better fit than the other for a business, and how to know when you should consider seeking outside funding for your business.Melissa delves into how Lighter Capital supports entrepreneurs, what their financing process is, what a typical financing arrangement might look like, and how revenue-based financing can be a pivotal first step before seeking venture capital. She also shares examples of the many successes her Lighter Capital clients have achieved. Finally, Melissa tells us the observation she made that inspired her to form her Australian non-profit Heads Over Heels to help female entrepreneurs, what she says is the reality of the business world compared to what we hear, and how you can apply for financing with Lighter Capital.Skip to topic:4:19 - The difference between venture-based capital and revenue-based financing business models7:27 - How revenue-based financing works9:56 - How Lighter Capital helps entrepreneurs11:55 - Recognizing an opportunity and launching a business while in college13:56 - Being acquired by a larger business 19:12 - When you should take equity over debt financing21:33 - The range of funding Lighter Capital provides its customers24:47 - How to know when you should seek revenue-based funding for your business27:28 - How to know when you should seek venture capital funding for your business28:36 - Using revenue-based financing as a starting point before going for venture capital30:56 - Starting her non-profit Heads Over Heels to support female entrepreneurs running high-growth potential companies36:03 - What Melissa says is real in the business world vs. what we hear40:41 - Where to go if you're interested in applying for funding with Lighter CapitalFind Melissa at:Website: https://www.lightercapital.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissawidner/Apply for Lighter Capital funding at: https://lightercapital.com/applyFree startup valuation calculator: https://www.lightercapital.com/valuation-calculatorVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Jeremy Gardner is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture capitalist who has found a great deal of success by diving into the ideas he's passionate about and staying at the forefront of business and industry from blockchain technology, cosmetics, and psychedelics. In this episode, Jeremy details how he's always had a natural inclination to try things out which has served him well being an entrepreneur. Yet what you'll find especially interesting about Jeremy's story is that his ventures are often on the bleeding edge, with many of his ideas being ahead of their time, and how he intentionally exits his businesses once they become mainstream. And beneath it all, is his devotion to making a positive impact with whatever he pursues.Jeremy takes us on his journey from a life-changing experience using psychedelics to becoming a cryptocurrency evangelist and dropping out of college to start the first Decentralized Finance (DeFi) application built on Ethereum. Jeremy shares what it was like to be the crypto poster child thrust into the media spotlight and how that experience actually led him to start his own skincare company. He goes on to explain how his penchant for being on the bleeding edge drove his decision to leave his work in crypto, as well as other business that followed, and coming full circle with his venture into the psychedelic industry. Jeremy is transparent with the fact that despite all his business success, his road as an entrepreneur hasn't always been easy. He offers his simple advice for pushing through the difficult times, and he reveals the importance of making a positive impact in all his endeavors. Finally, he gets right to the heart of what he thinks is the truth about being a business owner vs. what we hear.I think you'll be inspired by Jeremy's “try it and find out” approach to business and his dedication to doing good in the world.Skip to topic:3:18 - On becoming a cryptocurrency evangelist and starting the first deDefi application6:30 - What is a blockchain?7:46 - Ethereum vs. Bitcoin10:35 - The driving force behind creating Auger12:34 - Creating something brilliant ahead of its time15:42 - Being thrust into the limelight as a crypto evangelist18:55 - Turning a personal struggle into a new men's skincare business 21:28 - Shifting business focus to the psychedelics industry23:58 - Living life on the bleeding edge32:12 - The struggles Jeremy has faced throughout his entrepreneurial journey33:42 - The importance of having fun in pushing through the hard times35:52 - What Jeremy says is real in the business world vs. what we hearFind Jeremy at:Website: https://gonzogardner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonzogardner/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/disruptepreneurMadeMan Skincare: https://getmademan.com/  (use discount code Nice30 on a one-time purchase or Naughty50 on a subscription purchase)Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Josh Fuller is the founder and CEO of Matic Digital, a digital strategy and talent growth agency that he grew to over $1.5M in new business in its first year. Josh shares how he did that while also battling serious health and business challenges that would have made most entrepreneurs give up - but he pushed through and kept going. Building a business is hard work on the best of days, but when you get thrown both personal and business curve balls at the same time, it can be difficult to find the motivation to keep going under the weight of it all. In this episode, Josh Fuller takes us on his journey to founding his creative digital company, Matic Digital, expanding his services into talent growth, and the rocky road he was forced to navigate after a serious health crisis and a non-paying client converged at the same time.Josh tells us that he never had plans to start an agency and how he expanded from providing creative digital services to also growing and matching talent. His company focuses on acquiring top talent, and he describes the challenges, advantages and strategies he uses for retaining premium independent workers and the human-centered approach he takes that has been very successful.  After experiencing business success after just a few months, Josh was hit with an unexpected health crisis while also dealing with a sudden drop in revenue after a large client stopped paying their invoices. He's very candid about how he considered closing the doors on Matic Digital but details how he was able to persevere by going all in, eventually making it through to brighter days. You'll be inspired by Josh's resilience in overcoming obstacles and his gift for nurturing people and relationships that has become a superpower for growing his business. Skip to Topic:2:19 - Launching a creative agency 3:18 - The challenges of being a 1-person show starting a business4:17 - Branching out into talent growth6:09- The 3 categories of clients Matic works with 9:15 - The advantages of using top talent 11:08 - Strategy for retaining top independent talent when you're an agency13:02 - Why they employ a nearshore strategy for hiring talent 14:11 - Maturing their anchor business model by promoting the human story 17:33 - Creating a different approach to independent work 19:55 - The importance of emphasizing why you do something over what you can do 22:08 - On working with clients in a way that's collaborative and fun 28:41 - What sparked Josh to start an agency when he previously had no plans to do so29:58 - The big strength that has helped Josh build his business31:30 - Helping clients find talent that's a best fit for them34:21 - How the move to big agencies revealed the need for strengthened people skills36:53 - Getting hit with both financial and health crises at the same time43:16 - Not quitting when things were at their worst and steps Josh took to turn things around45:02 - The surprise resolution that sparked momentum for Josh and his business45:52 - The big piece of advice Josh has about going all inFind Josh  at:Website: https://www.maticdigital.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshfullercd/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Ken Babcock, along with his 2 co-founders, dropped out of Harvard Business School during the pandemic to launch their business, Tango, a SaaS company that helps users create beautiful step-by-step tutorials of any digital process without the performance art of video recordings. As a graduate student at Harvard Business School with a keen interest in what makes high performing teams tick, Ken and his friends honed in on documentation as a key challenge affecting team performance. Because documentation is something people don't like to do, given the amount of time it takes and how quickly it can become out of date, Ken's group set out to create a solution to lower the barrier to creating documentation. Today, their SaaS solution, Tango, has over 200,000 users.  In this episode, Ken tells us about the decision to drop out of Harvard to pursue his business idea, how they funded the business, their user-centric approach to growth, and the elements that have led to their success. Ken explains how Tango works to document processes and how it's being used with different clients.  Ken explains why he and his co-founders pursued funding early on and one aspect that made their business especially attractive to investors.  Next, he shares the one steadfast focus that has helped them drive the company forward and build an award-winning product, and how their innovation efforts are driven by using data to gather customer feedback.Finally, Ken discusses what it's like to work with co-founders and the culture they've established that has been key to their success. He also mentions how well TikTok has worked for Tango in attracting customers, the exciting new things they are developing, and the difference between what he learned in business school compared to what he's experienced in the real world of starting a business.Skip to Topics:1:59 - How an interest in team performance led to identifying a problem to solve6:47 - Description of the solution they developed & how it works7:44 - Different use cases for the Tango product9:50 - The biggest roadblock for people to do documentation11:49 - Making the decision to drop out of Harvard to pursue the business12:28 - How the pandemic exposed an urgent need for Tango's solution14:00 - Securing funding to start the business14:49 - The tactic that helped Tango secure funding16:03 - The key ingredient that has contributed to the company's progress17:49 - The data-driven approach they take to innovation20:46 - What it takes to establish a good working relationship with co-founders25:19 - A user and product-led approach to growth  28:22 - Using a top of funnel sales strategy29:24 - Their success using TikTok to attract customers32:56 - Tango's big mission and the cool things Tango is working on for the future 36:24 - What Ken says is different about what you learn in business school vs. what's real about running a businessFind Ken  at:Website: https://www.tango.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenbabcock/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Vinnie Potestivo is an Emmy Award-winning Media Advisor and Creator Economist who helps clients leverage their media and content to make more impact. He is the Founding Creator of I Have A Podcast®, host of its podcast, and the Editor-in-Chief of ihaveapodcast.com, a verified Google News platform for independent podcasters.If you are a podcaster or content creator, you will not want to miss this episode! Vinnie helps impact-driven clients create and distribute content that's highly shareable.In this episode, Vinnie talks about his early career in big media working at MTV and the opportunity he saw with podcasting as the next wave for storytelling and conversations. He recounts his observations while working in talent casting with celebrity MTV shows and discusses the importance of content ownership, the power he sees in storytelling and conversations, his passion for sharing valuable content, and how he uses all of that in his own business to help clients leverage small media distribution channels to create connection and impact. Vinnie shares some actionable tactics and recommendations for how podcasters can get their content out to a wider audience and get thousands of content shares using blog aggregators. He also lets us in on the benefits of getting your content on Google News and steps for how to do it. You'll also hear what Vinnie says is the future of search and why you shouldn't be comfortable with the search results you get from Google and Amazon. He goes on to explain how he works with his clients, the unique approach he takes to helping them stand out, and how he leverages their accomplishments in the media.  Finally, Vinnie explains how he uses creative marketing platforms to become more discoverable and why you should too, and why you should seek out podcast guest opportunities as a business owner, even if you don't have a podcast. You'll want to take notes on this one, so get your notepad and pen and join our conversation!Skip to Topic:1:55 - The opportunity Vinnie recognized in podcasting early on6:11 - The biggest difference he sees with developing content today vs. 25 years ago11:19 - Starting his company and working with big media organizations like MTV & Fox News13:07 - The tech skills that landed Vinnie a job at MTV13:51 - His unsuccessful attempt advocating for podcasting at MTV 14:55 - Celebrity use of media platforms as a pass-through to success 15:12 - How Bravo used the power of story-driven franchises 15:28 - Scripted vs. unscripted reality television20:53 - Steps podcasters can take today to get their content shared more widely21:21 - Vinnie's prediction for the future of search21:50 - Benefits of getting your content out on Google News 22:19 - How to use RSS to share evergreen content22:28 - Using blog aggregators to get your content shared and discovered more widely24:11 - Vinnie's unique approach to working with clients 25:08 - Why you should seek out podcast guest opportunities even if you don't have a podcast 27:40 - How you can join creative marketing platforms to get discovered even if you have a small audienceFind Vinnie  at:Website: https://VPE.TVLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinniepotestivo/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vpetvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinniepotestivo/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VPEtalentFor all the free resources Vinnie mentioned in this episode go to:Vinnie's Creator Hub: htSupport the show

Tommy Yionoulis is the founder of OpsAnalitica, a SaaS platform that helps multi-unit businesses manage and measure their daily team activities for more consistent operations. In this episode, you'll hear how Tommy went from being a “non-techie” guy working in the restaurant business and moonlighting as a standup comedian, to founding his SaaS company, OpsAnalitica. As a business owner, Tommy shares the ups and downs of bootstrapping a software startup and how he finds the motivation to keep going and not give up. You'll learn from his experience how to leverage automation to free up your time when you don't have a team; how to know when you should hire salespeople; and whether obtaining private equity funding is the right decision for your business.Finally, Tommy talks about how critical the support of his spouse has been to building a bootstrapped business, the development challenges specific to building a software  company, and the mindset that motivates him to keep driving forward through the hard times.If you've ever had times where you felt like giving up on your business, Tommy's story will inspire you to keep going, so join our conversation!Skip to topic:4:04 - How a non-technical comedian found his way into tech5:01 - Moving into business process management 5:49 - Launching OpsAnalytica13:38 - What to consider before accepting private equity funding16:38 - Overcoming a drastic, sudden drop in sales17:33 - Generating sales as a bootstrapped SaaS company20:35 - Using business automation when you don't have a team21:31 - Recognizing when to hire sales help23:51 - Finding the motivation to stay the course when you're not making money25:00 - Making sense of the difficult times26:47 - 2 things that drove Tommy to keep going and not give up29:00 - The role family support played in the decision to continue with the business30:57 - The complicated nature of software development and managing expectations35:13 - What Tommy thinks is real vs. what we see out in the business world36:50 - Developing successful tech products by solving a problemFind Tommy  at:Website: http://opsanalitica.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommyyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/opsanalitica/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/OpsAnaliticaVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Lindsay McMahon is the CEO of All Ears English and co-host of the All Ears English podcast serving professionals around the world where speaking English is key for their career success.The popularity of podcasting has exploded over the last several years, but back in 2013, ESL teacher Lindsay McMahon, recognized podcasting as an opportunity to teach English as a second language to adults in a new way. After approaching a fellow teacher and friend to start a podcast together, the All Ears English podcast was born and receives 8 million downloads per month.In this episode, Lindsay discusses using podcasting to help her clients improve their English language skills and scaling a business that is both an education and a media company.  She also covers the key elements that have helped her ensure the continued growth of her business as well as the one thing that has supported her personal growth as an entrepreneur.Lindsay takes us behind the scenes on moving to a blended revenue model to scale her business, using innovation and experimentation to come up with new offers,  and how she is using quizzes and other types of lead magnets to attract new customers to help her stay one step ahead of a crowded market.Lindsay describes the challenges of working with international customers in a global economy, how she solicits continuous feedback from her customers, and transitioning from a partnership to being the sole owner of her company. Our conversation concludes with Lindsay's advice for other entrepreneurs when it comes to hiring a team, choosing a niche, and the importance of knowing your financial numbers. In the future, Lindsay is looking forward to launching additional podcasts, building white labeling partnerships, and helping more business owners start podcasts. Lindsay's innovative approach to her business and her experience as a podcaster is sure to fill you with lots of inspiration and ideas to apply to your own business.Skip to Topic:3:29 - Scaling a business that is both a media and education company4:25 - Transitioning to a blended revenue model to grow the business6:27 - 2 things Lindsay prioritizes to ensure company growth continues8:46 - The one thing that has been instrumental in Lindsay's growth as an entrepreneur12:06 - Using quizzes and other types of offers to attract customers14:22 - Innovating and experimenting with different offers and how to decide which ones to pursue16:05 - The impact of mainstream podcasting on her business17:51 - The unique podcast format Lindsay uses to teach her audience20:31- Choosing a niche21:30 - Transitioning from a partnership to sole ownership of the business23:50 - 3 key insights about hiring, niching and finances for your business25:49 -Challenges of serving international clients in a global economy26:59 - Key elements for consistent business growth28:11 - Creating a customer feedback loop for improvement and growthFind Lindsay  at:The All Ears English Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-ears-english-podcast/id751574016Website: https://www.allearsenglish.comInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/all_ears_english/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allearsenglishTwitter:  https://twitter.com/AllEarsEnglish/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Support the show

Jen Pelka is a co-Founder and CEO with a passion for empowering women. Featuring  world-class wines made by women, Jen has used values-based branding to build her business, Une Femme Wines, into the fastest growing sparkling wine brand in the US.After finishing college, Jen began her career working for a hedge fund in New York and thought that was the start of a long-term career. However, she found herself completely taken with restaurants, chefs, and cooking, leading her to accept an internship at a Michelin-rated restaurant. This opened her up to the world of hospitality and restaurants that completely changed her career path.Jen opened her first restaurant, a champagne bar called The Riddler, with capital she raised from 100% female investors in 2 locations - New York and San Francisco. Jen infused her passion for empowering women into her restaurants by attracting top-level female chefs and sommeliers and creating a pro-female atmosphere that they eventually became known for. As a result, she was able to build an incredible community of women.Jen talks about how she originally started her current business, Une Femme Wines, as a side hustle that she and her brother decided to turn into a full-time venture. At Une Femme, Jen seized on an untapped niche that her customers were increasingly asking for - wines from female producers. That led to partnerships with female winemakers as well as giving back to female charities, all of which are aligned with Jen's big passion for empowering women to start businesses and get better access to capital. Jen opens up about the very difficult decision to close The Riddler restaurants, as a result of the pandemic, and how she uses what she learned from that experience to inform her approach running Une Femme, including prioritizing balance and self-care to help her be the best leader she can be in her business.Jen discusses landing a national partnership with a major airline that she says put Une Femme on the map and the demand she sees for value-based brands.  She goes on to discuss the biggest challenge for smaller wine brands who want to break into business and how brands like hers are helping to clear the way for small or unusual founders to get into the wine industry.Jen describes how she was able to raise capital from all female investors for her businesses as well as her more recent Series A fundraising for Une Femme. She goes on to share her goals for the future of Une Femme such as expanding internationally, new product offerings in development, finding new ways to work with a community of women, and her exciting Hall of Femme program which recognizes women who are shattering the glass ceiling.Finally, Jen reveals the difference between what we hear out in the business world compared to what's real and provides valuable insights for other entrepreneurs. Break out your favorite glass of bubbly and prepare to be inspired by Jen's passion for sparkling wine and empowering other women.Find Jen  at:Website: https://unefemmewines.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unefemmewines/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unefemmewines/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Cathy Nesbitt is a worm advocate and the founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters, an environmental business specializing in vermicomposting. Cathy helps educate people on how worms can help with waste management by turning garbage into nutrient rich “black gold” soil.Cathy likes to say she wormed her way into business the way that many would-be entrepreneurs do - she saw a problem and came up with a solution. When her home city of Toronto, Canada had a garbage strike that resulted in people lining up for hours to drop their garbage at transfer stations for export to the United States, she realized that worm composting could help.Cathy's Crawly Composters was born out of the vision that every household should have a pound of worms for composting which would positively impact waste management and the environment. However, after realizing she first needed a market, Cathy pivoted to an education business speaking to different groups teaching them about worm composting.Cathy was driven by her mission of filling a need and making an impact. She describes how her background in psychology helped her uncover the biggest objections people had to worm farming and the strategy she used to overcome them. She also explains how the shutdown during the pandemic created an opportunity to get her worm kits in front of more people and spread awareness of her worm composting solution.Finally, Cathy talks about her other passion - laughter yoga. She shares a sweet story about how she discovered it, its many benefits, and how now as a laughter yoga teacher, she gets to work with the special needs community - a group she has long loved working with - by teaching them how to use laughter yoga in their lives.Cathy's business story is unique, delightful, and a wonderful example of how one person can impact their community and beyond by solving a problem and following their purpose.Find Cathy  at:Website: http://www.cathyscomposters.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathysCrawlyCompostersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rhgn2112LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SquirmRegister for Cathy's Tuesday Laughter Club: cathysclub.comVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Andrew Wolgemuth is the co-founder and CEO of Wove, a jewelry company that is reinventing the jewelry industry by changing the way couples design and purchase engagement rings.As a US Army Ranger deployed in Afghanistan, starting a business was the last thing on Andrew's mind. But when he discovered a unique need among his fellow soldiers, his willingness to help them led him on an unexpected path to business ownership.When many of his friends serving in Afghanistan needed a way to design an engagement ring while deployed so they could make their dream of a homecoming marriage proposal a reality, Andrew knew he could help find a way his friends could design a ring while away from home without the risk of mailing the final ring to an APO address in Afghanistan.Andrew is no stranger to the jewelry business. He grew up with a front row seat watching his parents run their jewelry business from the time he was a child, but he had no plans to work in the industry himself. After consulting with his family's business, Andrew created an innovative solution by doing remote design consultations to produce replica rings for the big homecoming proposal. That was the birth of Wove, which has since expanded to help any couple who wants to design their dream ring to try on at home.Andrew talks about the early days of the business and the approach they took starting off small to test things out. He also shares how his deep understanding of the customer journey instilled a deep conviction in what they were building that helped carry him through the challenges of building a business.Wove made the decision to seek venture capital to help them scale the business and Andrew details how they came to that decision, the arduous process of seeking outside funding, and his advice for any founders who are considering VC funding vs. bootstrapping their business.Wove creates mor than just jewelry, they create an experience. Andrew explains how important it is to the company to create a high-touch customer experience during one of the most important moments in a couple's life. Andrew describes the process they take their customers through and how their commitment to the experience has resulted in a lower cost of customer acquisition, giving Wove a competitive edge over their competitors. Wove's business model has also created a whole new category for jewelry designers who want to work directly with clients, and Andrew explains how this has helped them attract top design talent from prominent jewelry companies.Finally, Andrew shares his insight on what's real in the business world vs. what we hear and his advice for anyone considering going into entrepreneurship.Support the show

Tahnee Sanders is a marketing strategist and copywriter who helps female founders of small to medium businesses communicate their value through their marketing and copywriting so they can charge what their expertise is truly worth and run enjoyable, profitable businesses.Tahnee landed a dream job in journalism right out of college climbing her way up the corporate ladder becoming the editor of a daily newspaper in Australia at just 26.. But after a series of events left her feeling burned out, she and her husband decided to take a break and go on an adventure traveling through central and south America. Not feeling quite ready to return home to Australia, Tahnee and her husband moved to Vancouver, BC where an adorable little flower shop caught Tahnee's eye every day on her way to get coffee. After deciding she wanted to work there, and with zero knowledge of floristry, Tahnee pitched the shop owner offering to manage their blog and social media for free in exchange for a job at the shop and an education in flowers. Little did Tahnee realize at the time how that little flower shop would end up changing the trajectory of her career. As a result of working there, she gained a variety of marketing skills and met a lot of small business owners which led to work in the wedding industry. But it was her eventual work with  an online learning company where she had her lightbulb moment that she should to start her own business - and that was the genesis for The Strategy Studio.As a marketing strategist and copywriter, Tahnee serves her clients with 3 core services, but ironically, copywriting wasn't something she offered initially, even though she's a journalist by trade! In addition to strategy studio sessions and done-in-a-day copywriting, Tahnee's 3rd offering is a group coaching program to help business owners take their marketing to the next level.Tahnee shares some valuable insights like why it's perfectly okay for your marketing to evolve as your business matures and how that can be an opportunity to do “soul on fire work” that ultimately brings you more joy and excitement.Tahnee goes on to talk about the impact of being a parent to 2 children has had on the way she runs her business, what success looks like for her,  and why success means something different for everyone. Finally, if you struggle with feeling pressure to market your business “in all the places,” you will love what Tahnee reveals about what she calls “ideal world marketing” vs. “real world marketing.” I think you'll come away feeling a bit lighter and inspired after listening to Tahnee's grounded and practical approach to marketing and business.Find Tahnee at:Website: https://thestrategystudio.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/thestrategytalkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrategystudio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestrategystudioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahnée-sanders-05853737/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Becca Rich is a holistic time coach & educator who works with female entrepreneurs to overcome struggles with time management that goes far beyond just using the latest productivity tool or time hack. Becca delves deeper to heal many of the limiting beliefs and habits that keep us from spending our time well and living a life that is aligned with what we most want. Becca comes from a family of entrepreneurs who emphasized the importance of hustling and experiencing other cultures through travel. Following her family's example of hard work, Becca became an engineer and began her career working with a petroleum company. After experiencing the negative consequences of overworking, Becca noticed that like her, many other people also struggled with taking care of themselves and prioritizing their own needs and self-care. After a few years at her job, Becca felt burned out and discovered cubicle life wasn't for her, so she and her husband created a plan to leave their careers and become full-time travelers. Always a natural risk-taker, Becca started her first business at the young age of 21 as a Reiki healer and yoga teacher.Becca focused on her own healing, addressing her limiting beliefs and messages about time that weren't serving her, and in 2020, she transitioned into her holistic time coaching business to help others do the same.Becca's holistic approach to time coaching is refreshing and unique compared to the advice and approaches we normally hear about. Becca works with clients to help them focus on the vision they have for their lives and how they want to spend their time, and she also certifies other coaches who want to do the same type of work. If you ever find yourself saying “I never have enough time,” this episode is for you. Becca provides a fresh perspective about where we get our thoughts about time in the first place and how we can change our relationship with time to spend it doing what's most aligned with what we want for our life.Find Becca Rich at:Website: https://www.theholistictimecoach.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theholistictimecoach/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Cathlyn Melvin is a TedX Coach & Copywriter who helps mission-driven experts design and deliver their world-changing messages through TEDx coaching and done-for-you copywriting services. If you've ever dreamt of becoming a TEDx speaker, Cathlyn provides incredible insights and tips for how to do it, so definitely listen into our conversation.After getting her degree in theater, Cathlyn worked for over a decade as an actor and director when she launched her first business as a copywriter. After delivering a TEDx talk, she found herself being sought by other aspiring TEDx speakers wanting her to help them do the same. That led her to what she does today in her business, Cat Right Creative, offering both copywriting and TedX coaching. With little information available on how to not only apply but also get accepted to become a TEDx speaker, Cathlyn is a rare and valuable resource helping business owners successfully land TEDx speaking gigs. She's been through the process and knows the ins and outs of what makes a good application and what TEDx is looking for.  Looking back, the skills that Cathlyn used as an actor are the same ones she leverages as a copywriter and TEDx coach. Her ability to put herself in someone else's shoes, take on other people's voices, and be a conduit for telling other people's stories are what have helped guide her in her business.Cathlyn shares that while becoming a TEDx speaker will likely not make you the next Brene Brown, doing so can bring you exposure and build connections that open up new opportunities.  That said, she emphasizes that to be successful getting onto the TEDx stage, it's important to understand and respect the TEDx brand and what their mission is, which is having an idea worth spreading. If you've ever wanted to be featured on the TEDx stage, Cathlyn gives some great insights and tips to help you prepare. If you want personalized coaching, Cathlyn offers not only one-on-one coaching services, but in January of 2023, she'll also be launching a group coaching program. Tune into this episode for more details!Find Cathlyn  at:Website: https://rightcatcreative.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rightcatcreative/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathlyn.rightcatcreativeGet your free TEDx planner: https://www.rightcatcreative.com/links/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

When John Cronin was in his last year of high school, he looked around at all of his options for his career, as a person with Down Syndrome, and didn't like any of them. So he decided to create his own. Together with his dad, Mark, John started up John's Crazy Socks, combining his passion for entrepreneurship and his love for crazy, wild, colourful socks, which he says “Just let me be me”. And thank goodness they do - John is at the heart of the business' brand, and his joyfulness and sincerity have been the drivers for building an huge, engaged and passionate following. From his weekly dance parties to his Friday emails, to the podcast he hosts with his dad Mark, John has made his commitment to spreading happiness the core of every decision that has been made in the business, and it shows. This absolutely delightful duo gives us a master class in values-based business, building a strong, engaging brand and remaining tightly tuned in to your customers and your audience. I'm so honoured to have had the chance to speak to Mark and John, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.Find John and Mark at:Website: www.johnscrazysocks.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnscrazysocks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnscrazysocks Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/johnscrazysocks Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Tara Reid is a multi-passionate entrepreneur and introvert who helps other introverted business owners develop sales and marketing strategies that work best for their more reserved styles. In this episode, Tara shares her long business journey from starting and selling a jewelry business to becoming an online service provider. Tara's business has grown quite a bit since her beginnings in 2007 to what she does today - offering programs to help creative entrepreneurs build a freedom-centered business and a membership where she coaches introverted entrepreneurs on how to market their businesses.Tara describes the realization that she could market her business without burning out as an introvert, how she began to attract and help other introverts with the same struggles, and the marketing techniques that worked well for her as an introvert.Tara reveals how she decided to start her membership, The Introvertpreneur Club, the different ways she supports her members, and why mindset issues and imposter syndrome are particularly challenging for introverts.Tara goes on to share how she uses attraction marketing to get clients, her focus on the value ladder to create her content and offers, and the big realization she had in her early business as a virtual assistant after suffering burnout from growing too fast.Finally, Tara talks about how she experiments with new things in her business, why she's stepped away from Instagram, the most important advice she has for other people who are building a business, and the one difference she sees between what we hear out in the business world and what is really happening.Skip to Topic:6:19 - The mindset shift that helped Tara leverage her strengths as an introvert 7:44 - How Tara made the online business world work for her as an introvert9:40 - How Tara uses her energy and how she's feeling to guide her 16:50 - Two key elements that help introverts feel empowered as business owners19:21 - The mindset obstacles Tara had to overcome as an introverted business owner 21:01 - The marketing tactics Tara found that worked best for her in getting clients as an introvert21:59 - Tara's approach to developing content that attracts clients23:22 - Mistakes Tara made in her early journey as a virtual assistant 25:41 - How Tara learned to embrace being multi-passionate and have fun in her business 31:26 - Tara's advice to entrepreneurs about creating offers37:11 - The biggest piece of advice Tara has based on what she's learned on her business journeyFind Tara  at:Website: https://thetarareid.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/introvertcoach/Tara's Free Resources: https://thetarareid.com/free-resourcesVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInSupport the show

After working as a Human Resources (HR) manager with one company, Human Resources Strategist, Candice Elliot branched out and began working with a variety of organizations bringing to bear all the expertise she had developed around HR best practices.  In this episode, you'll hear how Candice started her own business, Fortress and Flourish, offering her own brand of HR helping impact-driven leaders develop workplaces that provide a sense of community, safety, and meaningful work for their employees.Candice discusses her mission to help growing companies create HR sustainability, how she defines sustainability in human resources, her Do HR Differently  methodology she uses to guide her clients towards an HR sustainable approach, and the different ways clients can work with her. Candice shares her early business journey, how she evolved her offerings as she aligned her skills with what she wanted to bring to the world, and how she positions herself to attract clients who are the best fit for what she offers.Finally, Candice shares the transformation she brings her clients, the “horrible gift” the pandemic has been to the work world, and the direction she would like to take her business in next. Find Candice  at:Website: https://www.fortressandflourish.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortressandflourish/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceelliott/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIH8KTvtAnh58vdlQbQXvlAVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

After following his love of Spanish and majoring in Spanish communication in college, Richard Blank landed an internship with Telemundo and the Importers of Corona which prepared him for a once in a lifetime opportunity taking him from Philadelphia to Central America. In this episode, you'll hear how a friend's offer to teach English in Costa Rica launched Richard's entrepreneurial journey. By working in his friend's call center, he learned the ins and outs of the business, gaining the confidence to become an entrepreneur himself, founding his own call center company - Costa Rica's Call Center. Listen in to Richard's refreshing, positive, and relationship-centered approach to building a successful business. Learn about the fun business culture he has instilled in his company, born out of a very unique hobby that goes the extra mile in creating a positive experience for both his employees and customers.Richard reveals the complex nature of running a call center business in a foreign country, the differences between offshore centers and near shore centers, and how he combats attrition.He goes on to discuss the type of clients he gets the most joy working with, the criteria he uses to determine if a client is a good fit, how he differentiates his business from his competitors, and the old school approach he follows that has led to his business growth.Running a call center has its challenges and Richard describes how he navigates them, the impact the pandemic has had on the call center industry, what he predicts happening in his industry in the future, and the importance of human interaction in creating a positive customer experience with a company.Finally, Richard shares the 3 things that convinced him he could be an entrepreneur, the number one core value he remains committed to in his business, and the one difference between what is out there in the business world and what is real.  Find Richard  at:Website: https://costaricascallcenter.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/Richard15050746Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardblank44/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessprocessoutsourcingcallcenterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPZJ_skJXFg&t=13sLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/costaricascallcenter/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/richardblankVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Many people stumble into entrepreneurship never intending to become business owners, and Business Coach & Strategist Lianne Kim is no different. Lianne's story is one that a lot of women will relate to going from a successful corporate career to shifting her priorities after becoming a mom, which ultimately led her to starting a business.In this episode, Lianne shares how she went from 15 years working in sales, to her first foray into business selling her own product, and how reaching out to her local community of moms led her to what she does today as a Business Coach & Strategist helping women build profitable businesses at Mamas & Co.Lianne describes how she discovered she loved serving women business owners, how she started her business as a side gig outside of a full-time job, the tipping point when she decided to bet on herself and turn her side business into a full-time career, and her advice for anyone contemplating leaving steady work for full-time entrepreneurship.Lianne speaks candidly about some of the roadblocks she faced building her business, how she navigated tough conversations with her husband who was not 100% onboard with her going full-time in her business, and how an unexpected family hardship taught her the importance of building a resilient business to withstand unexpected events.Lastly, Lianne shares how she was able to grow and monetize a thriving community, her biggest piece of advice for how to grow your business faster, the lessons she learned about building a membership, the invaluable advice she has for other coaches, and the biggest myth she sees between what we hear in the business world and and what is real.Lianne dropped so many golden nuggets in this episode that you'll want to take notes so that you don't miss any of them!Find Lianne  at:Website: https://www.mamasandco.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liannekimcoach/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MamasandCo/Podcast: “The Business of Thinking Big” at https://www.liannekim.com/blogVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Like many people, Kristen Zavo climbed the corporate ladder and achieved success in her career, but even with all she had achieved, she found herself deeply unhappy at work. After switching jobs, she found more and more people asking her how she did it, so she began helping them make the same switch on the side of her corporate job. After walking the talk by taking her own advice, Kristen authored an international best-selling book, Job Joy, to help others find success and meaning in their careers. Her incredible journey led her to the work she does today in her business, Find Your Job Joy, as a holistic career coach helping high achievers who desire more impact and fulfillment at work and in life.In this episode, Kristen talks about the path she took from decades of working in a variety of corporate roles to becoming a business owner, the impact she believes the pandemic has had on work, the recent rise of entrepreneurship, and the shift employers must now make to retain talent. As a holistic career coach, Kristen describes the approach she takes with her clients, why it's important to choose the life you want before choosing a career,  creating a story to market yourself to potential job or business opportunities, and the importance of personal branding for employees and what to watch out for.Kristen details how she actually made the transition out of corporate life and into entrepreneurship, the one area she had to get good at to grow her business, what it was like to bet on herself and make “scary investments” in her business, and the one thing she's learned that she would tell her younger self.Finally, Kristen talks about what's next for her, how she's incorporating somatic work into her services, how she's growing the corporate side of her business, and what she thinks is the big lie in the online business world.Find KRISTEN  at:Website: www.findyourjobjoy.comTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findyourjobjoyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenzavo/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenjzavoTwitter: https://twitter.com/kristenzavoVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Yvonne “Yvi” Heimann is a Business Efficiency Consultant who helps digital entrepreneurs dramatically increase profits and reclaim lost time by teaching them how to implement proven processes, systems, and automation.In this episode, Yvi shares her journey from being an electrician in Germany to doing web design and business consulting in the United States, how she uses her super power - seeing structure where others see chaos - to help her clients scale their businesses, and her approach to helping clients streamline their operations so they can be more productive and enjoy what they do.Yvi describes how you can scale your business without hiring a team, what led her to using ClickUp as her project management tool of choice, and how she has evolved from being a ClickUp solution provider to guiding clients to a more encompassing solution that meets them where they are at so that they can scale.Yvi discusses her newest focus of her business which is using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help clients build interpersonal connection to create happier teams and reduce turnover, the biggest thing she thinks people get wrong about scaling their business, and how she helps clients not only systematize but future-proof their business.Yvi goes onto talk about the importance of aligning your business around your values, the Systemized Optimized Automate (SOA) framework she developed and how she uses it with her clients, the importance of systematizing and optimizing not only your processes but your people, and the differences between optimizing digital entrepreneurs vs. offline businesses.Yvi goes into how her focus on digital content creation has helped to grow her business, how she decides what content to put out, the key consideration for how often to put content out, the importance of content repurposing and tools to help you do it, and the really exciting new resource she is creating to help people create content.Finally, Yvi lets us in on the book project she is working on, what her goals are for the future, and the difference between what we hear about the online business world compared to what is real.Find Yvi at:Website: https://askyvi.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/askyviFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskYvi/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askyvi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/askyviAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/askyviVisit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show

Ellen Elizabeth is an author, sober mom to twins, recovery advocate, and infertility warrior who helps women dealing with addiction and infertility and the feelings of inadequacy that result from these conditions.In this episode, Ellen shares her courageous journey from addiction to sobriety, her battle with infertility, how those challenges inspired her to help other women struggling with those same afflictions, and how she's writing a self-help memoir to help more people. As a full-time mom to twins, Ellen discusses how she manages her schedule to balance mom time and work time. She goes into detail about the memoir she's writing, Split Ends, which delves into the mental illness she's had since she was a child, her journey through addition and infertility, and how she hopes her memoir will help end the stigma around those issues that many women face today but that people don't like talking about.Ellen talks about how sobriety has impacted the path she's on today, how she's learned the  importance of being authentic, her hopes for her book and the opportunities it will open up for her to get in front of a larger audience and serve more people, and how she would like to become a go-to source of support by teaching and coaching people through some of the darkest parts of their lives with addiction and infertility.Ellen discusses her approach for helping people struggling with staying  sober, the problem she sees with the “mommy wine culture” that's so prevalent today, the movement she sees into the “sober curious stage,” what some of the signs are that you may be drinking too much, and the 2 things that have been most helpful for her in overcoming her challenges.Finally, Ellen shares what her dreams are for the future, the things she's doing in her business now to lay the foundation for growth, the importance of resilience and pushing through fear, and the one difference she sees between what's out there in the online world vs. what is real and her 2 pieces of advice for overcoming it.Ellen's story is one of resilience and inspiration that you won't want to miss! Find Ellen at:Website: https://www.itsellenelizabeth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsellenelizabeth/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsellenelizabethTwitter: https://twitter.com/_its_ellen_Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Jaime is a brand strategist, creative director, and consultant who helps small businesses craft comprehensive big agency caliber branding with the customization and accessibility exclusive to one-on-one consulting.In this episode, we learn about what took Jaime from Los Angeles to living in Japan, how she went from design school to working in an interior architecture firm, and how she made the leap from agency work to freelancing and consulting as a designer serving international clients.Jaime works with wellness and socially conscious small businesses and explains what drew her to that niche. She describes how a cold pitch to do free work launched her business, the parallel she discovered between branding and living in a foreign country, and how she approaches growth in her business. As a branding expert, Jaime shares how she defines branding, the importance of feeling “right” in your business, the 2 frameworks she uses to help her branding clients, the difference between building a personal brand vs. a business brand, how to know when it's time to update your branding, and what she thinks is the biggest misunderstanding about branding. Finally, Jaime tells us how she finds clients, the one thing she wishes she knew before she got started in business, what she's looking forward to in the future, and what she thinks is real as a business owner. Find Jaime at:Website: https://www.studioaiuto.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimedidio/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimedidio/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Leah is a Business & Life Strategist, Serial Entrepreneur, Professional Organizer, Writer, Speaker and independent mom. She has a deep passion for redefining success and a curiosity about what it really takes to truly thrive.Leah is celebrating 30 years as an entrepreneur where she started in health, wellness, and fitness. Over that time, she ran 5 different businesses in 4 different countries, performed a variety of roles from marketing and finance to business development where she learned what it takes to thrive in both business and life. Her path led her to what she does today as a Business & Life Strategist where she helps purpose-driven female entrepreneurs learn what it takes to be the CEO and go from surviving to thriving.In this episode, Leah shares how she took her observations of what was working and not working in business and created a 7-step methodology to help business owners create freedom on their terms. Leah goes deep discussing the root of what comparisonitis really is, what to do to conquer it, how our beliefs and stories shape our relationship with money, and how to work through the stories and beliefs that aren't serving us.Lastly, Leah discusses her core beliefs and how they got her to where she is today, the point where “all the magic happens” in life that we can all get to, the powerful question she asks all her clients and herself, what she envisions for her next chapter in business and life, and the profound thought she has about what is real in the online business world. Find Leah at:Website: https://www.leahgoard.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahgoard/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahcgoard/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LeahGoard/Visit Stephanie at: https://stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Michelle is a Body Compassion and Movement Mentor who helps busy online business owners make time for self care to better manage their energy and reduce stress and burnout. In this episode. Michelle discusses how she knew from an early age that she wanted to own her own business and help people, how she first tested her entrepreneurial skills as a diabetes coach under 2 different brands, and how a near death experience changed the trajectory of her business. Michelle shares how she learned to trust her intuition, walk away from more rigid wellness practices, figure out what works best for her, and embrace activities that are fun. As a business owner, she is redefining self-care, what it means to be healthy, and helps clients realize the importance of energy management, rest, and movement to avoid burnout. Michelle also discusses what it's like running her online business while also holding a full-time job and the new services she has planned for the future. Finally, Michelle reveals the really unique way she incorporates movement into her own life, how to choose a movement activity you can stick to, the shift she is making in the way she gets clients, and one big truth she's learned about marketing in the online business world.Find Michelle at:Website: https://www.mybodymyqueen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybodymyqueen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybodymyqueenTwitter: https://twitter.com/mybodymyqueenVisit Stephanie at: https://www.stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Jackie is an expert in Human Design for business, a breathwork facilitator, subconscious transformation coach, retreat leader, copywriter, marketing consultant, and a lover of all things French! She's been in business since 2013, but after a move to a new country thrust her into the online business world, she soon found herself on a path of many pivots - and discovered that pivoting is something she loves to do.  Jackie went from being a social media consultant to what she does today - helping entrepreneurs use Human Design, breathwork, and subconscious transformation to grow their business. In this episode, we discuss how Jackie went from skeptic to human design raving fan; how motherhood impacted the direction of her business; what human design is and how it can benefit you in both life and business; how she stumbled on the benefits of breathwork through an unexpected out of body experience; and how she expanded her business to combine human design, breathwork and subconscious transformation. This episode is full of interesting tidbits and tools you can use to go deeper to discover who you truly are and how to align yourself around that. If you've ever wanted to learn more about Human Design, discover your own Human Design type, and learn more about how it can enhance your life and business, this is the episode for you.Skip to Topic: 1:15: How a move across the world propelled her into the online business world4:52: The way motherhood caused her to pivot her business6:13: Discovering this crazy thing called Human Design 6:58: The big impact Human Design had on her that led to her next business pivot10:33: How she applies Human Design to help her clients in business15:49: The element of Human Design she thinks everyone should start with 18:09: The tipping point that took her from skeptic to Human Design convert24:53: How to get your Human Design chart25:04: Overview of the different Human Design types 27:07: Where to start with understanding your Human Design33:52: The role your birth time and place play in your Human Design38:25: How she discovered breathwork and began to combine it with Human Design42:23: Incorporating Subconscious Transformation into her work44:32: The implications of Human Design for the future  49:29: The 2 things she does that attracts clients 52:18: Her biggest takeaway about what's real in the online business worldFind Jackie at:Website: Jackie johnstone.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiejohnstone/Podcast: https://www.jackiejohnstone.ca/blogResources Mentioned:Learn more about the work that Jackie does at: Jackie johnstone.ca/moreDiscover more about your own Human Design for free at: https://www.jackiejohnstone.ca/offers/f8uVVqo4/checkoutGet your Human Design chart at: Mybodygraph.com Visit Stephanie at: https://www.stephaniehayes.biz/Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Support the show

Heather is an OB/GYN, entrepreneur and a bad ass advocate for women's health. Her journey to becoming a doctor and business owner was one of unexpected turns, but her go-with-the-flow attitude and being open to wherever her journey takes her is one of the things that makes her story so fascinating. Today Heather has a successful medical practice that takes a holistic approach to supporting the health needs of women. After finding more and more patients coming to her for help with sexuality, she recognized this was an area that was missing in traditional healthcare and now specializes in it. In today's episode, we delve deeper into Heather's path to entrepreneurship and how she went from dreams of performing on Broadway to joining the military and going to medical school. Heather reveals how she made the leap from corporate medicine to her own practice, how she found a gap in the market that she could fill, and how she balances being a doctor and an entrepreneur.Finally, she shares the lesson she learned from trusting someone else to sell her vision and her hopes for how her work can impact traditional medicine and empower women to be their own health advocates…plus many more golden nuggets and laughs along the way.Skip to topic:01:52 How Heather went from aspiring broadway actress to Navy Doctor09:23 Making the leap from corporate doctor to entrepreneur09:50 Downsizing due to the pandemic11:49 Practicing a new brand of medicine13:18 Applying principles of entrepreneurship to healthcare14:09 How she launched her side business by filling a gap15:13 How to know when to take a step back and regroup after rejection17:21 Unique challenges to being both a doctor and an entrepreneur23:23 How she balances her scientific mind with her creative streak in her business30:10 The surprising challenge she's faced with finding and keeping clients36:07 How her work can impact traditional medicine 37:40 Ideas for expanding her business in the future39:19 What she learned about writing and publishing a book41:44 The big lesson she learned about letting someone else sell her vision46:10 The one truth she's discovered about the reality of being an entrepreneurFollow me on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TwitterSupport the show