Start Fierce Business Podcast

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Auntee Rik is a trusted operations and systems specialist who has a knack for taking her clients businesses to the next level. Her no-nonsense, get-you-together approach is refreshing and reassuring to her clients and everyone she comes in contact with. In this episode, we discuss why systems need to be at the forefront of your branding efforts - not design as most people think. We talk about career cycles in life as well as why she’d like to have lunch with Pharell and Queen Latifah. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Brianna Zajicek of The One Year Project started her career without a degree as a teen mom, and in a matter of months went from a server to a 6 figure earning corporate technology executive. Even though she seemingly had it all, she wasn’t happy. So she set out on a mission to take everything she applied over the years to create The One Year Project. In this episode, Brianna shares the story of her entrepreneurship journey. We also talk about the importance of in-person networking for your business. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Estie Rand of Strand Consulting has been helping businesses improve on minimal budgets for over 13 years. After spending many years finding fulfillment in the non-profit industry, Estie founded Strand Consulting to bring her skills of doing more with less to small business owners. In this podcast episode, Estie talks about the three things that make up a successful business. We also discuss how to begin building your business network. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Nathan Hirsch is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded his first company out of his dorm room drop shipping products on Amazon and built it to sell over $25 million worth of product. Today, he’s Co-founder & CEO of FreeeUp, an online hiring marketplace that allows business owners fast access to a hand-picked network of top talent freelancers. In this episode, Nathan talks about how he built several multi-million dollar a year companies. As well as how FreeeUp can help entrepreneurs scale quickly. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Leslie McDaniel is a certified professional coach who helps INFJ women bring their vision to life. Her knowledge as an MBTI®-certified practitioner helps INFJ women understand their personality, celebrate their strengths, and claim their potential. Leslie serves other INFJ women through individual coaching and her weekly email, The INFJ Life. In this podcast episode, she shares business advice for INFJ women. We also talk about how to deal with introversion as a business owner. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Brain Bergford is a Peak Performance coach at Bergford Performance. He specializes in helping motivated athletic business owners gain the tools to take their businesses and their lives further. In this podcast episode, Brian shares insight on what it’s really like to be a business owner. We talk about why the grass isn’t always greener on the entrepreneur side and things you should know before jumping into a business. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Valarie R. Brooks is a nationally known real estate mogul, investor and, entrepreneur. She’s the owner of Valarie R. Brooks Real Estate, a brokerage agency. She also provides guidance to other entrepreneurs on how to dominate and become top earners through, Destination You Inc. In this episode, Valarie shares advice for those wanting to get started in the real estate business. She talks about how she got started in the business and why she’d like to have lunch with Beyoncé. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Lauree Ostrofsky is an author, speaker, and coach with her company, Simply Leap which helps A students leap into fulfilling work. Many of them are entrepreneurs and facing the fear of going out on their own as well as other fears. In this podcast episode, we discuss doing things in business even though we’re afraid to do them. We also talk about finding the right people to talk to about the scary things we’re doing so as not to have them project their fears on us. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Kirk Deis founder of The Bug Squasher is a writer on Forbes.com and Founder of the digital marketing agency Treehouse 51. The Bug Squasher is a new project management tool that streamlines communications between developers/writers/designers, project leads, and clients. In this podcast episode, he shares how an in-house tool his agency built has become a new business. He shares how he’s grown his new business through podcasts and creative marketing. As well as why he’d like to have lunch with Elon Musk. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Crystal Etienne is the founder of PantyProp, a 7 figure fashion company. Something only 3% of women-founded businesses achieve. The majority-women owned, bootstrapped company, has grown organically without any ad spend. In this podcast episode, Crystal shares how she organically used SEO to build a 7 figure business without knowing what SEO was. She talks about the importance of understanding your ideal customer and how that will help you generate the right content to drive revenue. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is an author, speaker, and board-certified internal medicine physician. Her book, Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, includes ground-breaking insight on the seven types of rest needed to optimize your productivity, increase your overall happiness and live your best life. In this podcast episode, we talk about why you’ve got to think beyond your top goal at the moment. We also discuss how comparisons can stunt our entrepreneurial growth. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Serial Entrepreneur Trevor Gaye comes from an entrepreneurial household and has been around it since the age of two. He knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur at a young age after seeing his parents in their businesses. Today he helps run his family’s transportation business, he has a production company, as well as a new logistics business. In this episode, he shares what it’s like to work in a family business, how he started a large group podcast and the importance of having a great work ethic. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Christopher Watters, founder of Watters International Realty built his business in the middle of the Great Recession and in a highly competitive market. His vision and entrepreneurial spirit took him from sleeping on his girlfriend’s (now wife’s) couch in 2010 to becoming the first team owner to EARN $1Million in net income in three years. In this episode, he shares why you need to build a business foundation around something that’s already been proven, as well as bootstrapping a business vs. raising capital. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Genecia Alluora, founder of Soul Rich Woman is a former beauty queen turned business maven and serial entrepreneur. In 2006, she represented Singapore in the Miss International pageant. This opened opportunities for her. But she saw a challenge unique to women. Women need a solid community for support, guidance, and mentorship from women who have the same goals and ambitions as ours. In this podcast episode, we discuss why you need a mentor, how to find the right mentor, and how to be a good mentee ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Natali Morris is the Co-Founder and CFO of Morris Invest. After leaving a six-figure job as a news anchor to raise a family, Natali ended up feeling powerless when it came to money. Today, Natali’s family has achieved complete financial freedom. Now her mission is to empower women to start building long-term wealth. In this episode, Natali shares how she went from no income to financial freedom. She talks about wealth building strategies and the importance of setting up your business properly. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Jenna Spencer of AssistPro is a corporate banker turned entrepreneur. Upon realizing that working in the corporate world was stopping her from creating the future she desired, she refused to compromise. Jenna seized the opportunity to create a solution by founding AssistPro. Now, Jenna gets the thrill of helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. In this episode, Jenna talks about how she created a life she loves working from home and how she’s using AssistPro to help other women. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Elizabeth Suárez is a negotiation coach, speaker, and author who empowers professionals to make big decisions. She's spent many years mentoring professionals and serving on the boards of multiple non­profit organizations. In this podcast episode, we discuss how learning to effectively negotiate can have a tremendous impact on your career and future. We talk about the power of your network, as well as how to utilize social media for networking. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Cheryl Sutherland, founder of PleaseNotes, felt restless and overwhelmed at her 9 to 5. After months spent in coaching, journaling, and reigniting her inner creativity, she launched PleaseNotes. PleaseNotes features affirmation-filled products that inspire women of color to step into their own power by building confidence, clarity, and creativity. In this episode, we talk about setting big goals and the importance they’ve played in Cheryl’s life. She also shares how her Kickstarter exceeded its goal. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Nissar Ahamed of CareerMetis is an accomplished Growth Hacker. His blog, CareerMetis, has a community-focused approach to career discussion. He’s also the host of the CareerMetis Podcast. In this podcast episode, Nissar shares the strategy he used to gain over 750 contributors to his online publication. We discuss the benefits outside contributors have on growing your audience. We also talk about why you need to show up every day for your business even if you don’t feel like it. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Cayla Craft, owner of Mommy Millionaire is a mom of 3, self-made Millionaire, and lifestyle entrepreneur. Cayla has helped thousands of women start to believe in themselves as entrepreneurs and businesswomen. In this podcast episode, Cayla shares how once she changed limiting beliefs about herself, everything changed. She talks about how network marketing played a part in her mind shift. We also talk about embracing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Aman Advani, CEO & Co-Founder of Ministry of Supply studied Industrial Engineering before pursuing a career in Operational Strategy consulting and attending MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Ministry of Supply is pioneering a new way to dress for the office, with a system of unique wear-to-work clothing. In this episode, Aman shares the process of taking a new product from concept to thriving business. We talk about the challenges of building the right team and the importance of accountability in business. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Rachel Brenke is a serial entrepreneur with many hats. She’s the Founder of Business Bites podcast, and several successful business brands including TheLawTog®, FitLegally, and BlogLegally. In today’s podcast episode, we discuss how to start your business correct legally, so you don’t build it to be taken away. We discuss the consequences of infringing trademarks even if you don’t know. We also talk about the dangers of writing your own contracts. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Serial Entrepreneur Stacey Banks-Houston of RSVP Consultants is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and business coach. Her mission is to help women push their passion beyond a mere hobby, hustle hard to build their business, and enjoy the fruits of their harvest. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of being led by emotion as business owners. We also discuss the challenge of staying relevant as well as why she’d like to have lunch with Oprah Winfrey. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Ali Boone is the owner of Hipster Investments, a business that facilitated over $18M in Real Estate Investing Sales within 5 years. Her primary specialty is teaching people how to start a business with lifestyle design. Although her business has grown significantly, she’s still location-independent. In this episode, we discuss the advantages of using self-awareness as an advantage. She shares the story of how she built her business while working full-time as well as the challenges of giving up control. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Serial entrepreneur Fred Griffin, Jr. Grew up in the small town of Eustis, FL. He never knew what he really wanted to be in life. But over time his goals and passion for individuals with disabilities became his number one focus. In this podcast episode, we talk about the importance of having passion in your business endeavors. We also discuss why your main focus in business should not be the money. As well as why he’d like to have lunch with Warren Buffet. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at startfiercebusiness.com/episode147

Jenn Scalia is the CEO of Million Dollar Mommy, a company founded to help women across the world reach their dreams and financial goals. This self-professed introvert and single mom went from rock bottom to creating a 7 figure business within 3 years. In this podcast episode, we talk about listening to what your heart says in regard to all the advice that’s out there. We also discuss the challenge of finding people to continue to help you grow as well as why Jenn would like to have lunch with Rihanna. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Courtney Blair, of Zippy Content, started her business when she was pregnant and unable to find work. Her dad wanted to be featured on podcasts to promote his business so he hired her. 3 years later, Zippy Content, a service that connects people looking for podcast interviews with podcasters was born. In this episode, Courtney shares the do’s and don’ts of leveraging podcasts for business. We discuss not waiting to be an expert to start a business and the challenges of work-life balance. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Dennis Friebe is Orlando based magician Kardenni. He first became interested in magic his freshman year of high school after being intrigued by a trick he saw. He went on to work at a magic shop and became hooked. In this episode, we talk about the power of embracing failure in order to succeed as a business owner. We talk about why expecting to fail will help you grow, as well as other entrepreneurial struggles, like staying focused. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Sonya Stattmann created a program that helps women business owners streamline their businesses and create more income, make more of an impact and achieve balance. She’s spent the last 17 years helping women use the business arena to empower themselves and impact the world. In this episode, she talks about challenges women face in the business world and how she wants to change that arena. We also discuss why having a clear business foundation is the most important thing you can do for your business. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Byron Morrison of Tailored Lifestyles is an author, mindset & lifestyle coach. His journey started as someone who was overweight, had no confidence and was depressed. His dad’s cancer made him rethink his life choices and set him down a path to take back control of his health. In this podcast episode, Byron talks about how he used setbacks as an opportunity to move forward in business. He shares why he turned down his dream job as well as the importance of taking breaks from work to gain clarity. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Ashley Conway, Vice President of Customer Experience at Cratejoy has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs launching their subscription box. Cratejoy’s platform equips entrepreneurs with the tools they need to be successful including a website builder, customer support team, subscriber management and shipping exports. In this episode, Ashley talks about what it takes to start a subscription box as well as best practices. She also shares how you could win $1,000 from Cratejoy for Small Business week 2018. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Dannielle S. Lewis of Bankable Diva Ent. started her entrepreneurial journey 13 years ago after a divorce that forced her to learn how to manage her finances. Bankable Diva Ent. specializes in empowering women to take control of their income, ideas, and hobbies, and turn those things into a bankable business. In this episode, we talk about remaining positive in business, even through the hard times. We talk about being a single mom business owner and give a quick strategy on how to start a side hustle. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

James Swanwick is an Australian-American investor, entrepreneur, speaker, former SportsCenter anchor, and podcast host. He’s the CEO of Swanwick Sleep and creator of blue-light blocking glasses Swannies. He’s also the author of The 30 Day No Alcohol Challenge and the host of The James Swanwick Show. In this episode, James shares how he got his product in the hands of celebrities such as Rihanna. He shares a roadmap to timing your product launches. We also discuss ways to transform your sleep. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Monica Kade is a speaker trainer and communication consultant. She has over 12 years’ experience in publishing, media, and entrepreneurship. Monica has had several successful online ventures, including taking Aspire from a digital magazine to print with no previous print magazine experience. In this episode, we talk about being very clear on what you want to do before you do anything else. We discuss the difficulties of adapting to being your own boss. Monica also shares why she does what she does. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

In 2011 serial entrepreneur Steven Picanza’s world crumbled within a 6-month timeframe. He had a huge decision to make - does he allow what happened to be a defining moment or does he use it as a motivational tool? He chose the latter and leveraged it as fuel to rebuild parts of his business and make better life decisions. In this episode, we talk about allowing yourself to be teachable by dropping your ego. We discuss struggles business owners face. He also shares his story of selling his agency in 2012. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Dr. Lizette is a nationally recognized expert on human psychology with over 15 years of experience deconstructing why people do what they do. She loves empowering women to build businesses that give them the freedom to live life their way. In this episode, we discuss the importance your mindset plays in being a successful business owner. Dr. Lizette shares the methods she uses to juggle several different projects. We also discuss a goal-setting method that helps you actually accomplish your goals. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Tyson E. Franklin started in business at age 12 when his venture got him in trouble with his parents. Later on he sold his business which was the highest sale for an individual podiatry practice in Australia. He currently mentors small business owners to develop marketing strategies & business systems. In this episode, Tyson shares how his business at age 12 inspired him to be successful later on. We discuss the importance of consistency. He also shares valuable business tips. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Jay Black is the CEO at Jay Black Marketing. Through her career as a virtual assistant, she’s learned a lifetime of lessons and has shared those lessons with other VAs in efforts to help them avoid the entrepreneurial landmines and accelerate the growth of their businesses. In this podcast episode, Jay talks about the steps she took to leave a full-time job for full-time entrepreneurship. We discuss how to build confidence in your business including having confidence in the pricing you set. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Mentorly was Co-founded by artist-entrepreneurs, Ashley Werhun (Were-hun), a professional dancer, and Katherine Macnaughton, Filmmaker, and Co-founder of a film company. Both are working artists with 20 years combined professional experience and complementary skill sets. In this episode, Ashley and Katherine share how they found a problem in an industry and came together to solve it with Mentorly. We discuss choosing what advice to accept from advisors as well as the importance of knowing your market. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Julie Broad of Book Launchers is an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author. Book Launchers, helps entrepreneurs and professionals build their brand and boost their business by writing, publishing, and selling a top quality book. In today’s podcast episode, Julie talks about building a business with a brand-boosting book. We discuss why she believes publishing a book is better than having a degree. We also discuss how writing a book can help you better tell your story outside of the book. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Whitney Nicely of Whitney Buys Houses started to chase her passions and fine-tune her skills in the real estate market after college. She believes everyone should control their own destiny by investing in real estate. She currently teaches people how to be successful in real estate. In this episode, Whitney gives advice on how to start investing in real estate. We talk about the importance of being obsessed with what you do, as well as how Facebook has been instrumental in her business. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Carolin Ricciardi is a serial entrepreneur and mother of 4 young children who compose a big part of her “why”. She’s co-founder and the Executive VP at e3 Spaces. She’s co-founder and educator for Fit Families. She’s also co-founder of a Mobil marketing technology company. In this episode we discuss why having a goal in mind can help you stay focused as an entrepreneur. She shares her story growing up with an entrepreneur father. We also talk about the event that happened when she was 12 that shaped her purpose. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Lyndsay Phillips of Smooth Sailing Business Growth leads a team, to support entrepreneurs who are seeking fast-paced business growth but realize that they can’t do it alone, do it all, and do it well. She's also the host of the Sailing To Success Podcast and Smooth Sailing Online Support TV. In this episode, she talks about what a sales funnel is, why you need it in your business, and how to set one up. We also discuss the differences between sales funnels and sending out email newsletters. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Thea Orozco of Introvertology wants to help the world by helping introverts help the world. Introvertology is about helping introverts overcome the fears that pop up while running a business, and how to grow their business through purposeful and confident action. In today’s episode, Thea shares how to find the social networks you should be focusing on for your business. She also talks about how she grew her Facebook page to over 12k likes, as well as why she’d like to have lunch with Seth Godin. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Hilary Jastram of J. Hill Marketing & Creative Services is the editor to Ryan Stewman as well as other high-producing entrepreneurs. She became an entrepreneur after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. And she’s hit the ground running since. In this episode, Hilary shares her story. She talks about why trusting more people is important if you want to scale your business. We also talk about why she doesn’t have a business why, and what she has instead. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Josh Haynam of Interact is an entrepreneur who loves adventure. He started the company 5 years ago, and soon after they began getting customers. He quickly fell into a cycle of constantly feeling overwhelmed serving those customers and trying to grow the company. In this podcast episode, he shares how he grew his company 300% last year. We also discuss the importance of never losing track of what you’re good at and why he’d like to have lunch with Jeff Bezos. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Francesca Ragucci is the owner of Francesca Ragucci Marketing. She knew she was an entrepreneur since she started a babysitting business in high school.   Her company is a social media branding & management business running accounts for businesses.   In this episode, we discuss how new business owners can use social media when they’re starting. We talk about how Gary Vee has helped us in our businesses. We also talk about the sacrifices you need to make to quit your job and be a full-time entrepreneur. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Camille Preston of AIM Leadership didn’t intend to be an entrepreneur. It happened as she was focused on crafting the life she wanted. In today’s podcast episode, we discuss being intentional to create the life you want. We also talk about the importance of getting “me” time as well as how to fit large projects around your busy schedule. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Aprille Reed is a business strategist and webinar funnel architect for online coaches and consultants with over 8 years of entrepreneurial experience. Her clients have been able to achieve success with business clarity, building their email list and selling high ticket packages with high ticket funnels. In today’s podcast episode, we discuss how to prepare monetarily to go full time with your business. We also discuss the benefits of niching down as well as the importance of your customer avatar. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at

Henry Keculah, Jr., is the founder and CEO of 4.0 of Growth Productivity Accountability (4.0 GPA). As an educator, he committed himself to giving his students the opportunities he had not had so that they would be better prepared for college. In this episode of The Fierce Entrepreneur Podcast, Henry shares how to build your startup with under $1,000. We discuss cost-effective PR strategies, as well as the benefits of knowing how to do everything in your business yourself before hiring anyone. ----- You’ll find links to everything we discussed in this episode at