The BizChix Podcast: Female Entrepreneurs | Women Small Business | Biz Chix

Are you a Nonprofit Consultant pulled between making an impact and running a profitable business? Join Natalie Eckdahl, MBA, on a podcast crafted just for you. With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit. Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward. But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life. Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way. Listen to the Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn

In this final episode of the BizChix podcast, I have exciting news to share.  While this marks the end of the BizChix podcast after 124 months and 627 episodes, I'm thrilled to announce a new venture: The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants podcast, launching today.  This new podcast is dedicated to consultants who serve nonprofit clients, a project I've been developing since November 2023.  I'm also shifting my group coaching program and mastermind to exclusively support nonprofit consultants starting in August 2024. These program changes happened more rapidly than I expected and have involved immense mindset work and mindset shifts in the last 6 weeks. In this final BizChix episode, I share about the incredible experiences I have had over the last 10+ years, how this podcast, connecting with you and working with you has changed my life. I'm especially grateful to Elizabeth Cook who has joined me more times than I can count as a co-host of the podcast and who has been an incredible coach alongside me in my programs. This new podcast (and many other ideas I have had over the years) would not come to life without Tiffanie Smith who literally burned the midnight oil to make this all happen. Thank you so much T! Of course I couldn't leave without sharing SIX business lessons that I hope will help as you continue to build your service business.

Do you compare yourself to other entrepreneurs and find that sometimes you don't measure up? I'm here to remind you that it's normal. Everyone is a bit of a mess, and that's okay.  This episode will inspire you to embrace where you're at, love your business, and take decisive action. Tune in for a dose of empathy, gratitude, and a reminder that you are more than enough. P.S. Please share with another business owner who could use this message too!

One of the most painful places to be in business is when you have lost all forward momentum.  You look at your pipeline for clients and it is empty.  This is especially challenging to navigate after you lose an important client, several proposals get rejected or it feels like everyone is

Let's diagnose whether or not you have a sales problem in your service based business.  Sales is an umbrella term for a function in your business that has many facets. Are you struggling more to get leads or to convert leads you have into clients?

The most common area new clients rank as needing

The fresh energy of Spring is blooming all around me and it has made me excited to set some very big goals for

Have you noticed that the longer you do the same type of work, the more efficient you get? That is why charging hourly or selling a package of hours starts to feel less great over time. We teach our clients to create either a monthly or a high ticket project business model based on the deliverables not based on the number of hours it takes This works especially well for consultants, marketers and financial professionals. Elizabeth joins me in this episode and we discuss the four stages of the Retainer Roadmap and how you can specialize your services and uplevel your clients. We will share common concerns as well as examples of how the Retainer Roadmap will help you scale your business to offer a package of value instead of a package of hours.   

Listen in as I coach a client from my Six Figures Lab group coaching program.  Claire Lauer is passionate about serving her clients through her company CL Content Marketing, but growth has slowed. What should she do next? Should she expand her current niche or something else? The answer we landed on surprised us both! Connect with Claire Lauer: LinkedIn Website Instagram   Hello Loyal Listener!   I work with consultants, marketers and financial professionals and would love to support you too! ​1:1 Coaching - apply if you desire a custom coaching program that meets you right where you are in your business ​Six Figures Lab Group Coaching - apply if you are averaging $3K to $10K/month in sales (next enrollments in April, July and October) ​CEOCHIX Mastermind Program - apply if you are averaging $10K to $70K/month in sales   ⭐️ Connect with me on LinkedIn

Today, I'm training on the nuances of specializing and niching in your business. It's more than just semantics; it impacts every aspect of your business, from your marketing efforts to the clients you serve. I'll walk you through real examples and share the benefits of each approach, culminating in my personal favorite - a "specialized niche" business model.    Ready to go deeper with me? There are 3 ways we can work together: ​1:1 Coaching (

Are you at CAPACITY in your business, where you can't really grow unless you start taking more off your plate, BUT the business can't afford to hire the person you think you really need? In this episode we share a workaround.  A way to start delegating small tasks in your business so you can focus on your zone of genius and increase your capacity without overwhelming your time or your bank account.

Negotiation is both an

We're popping the

Have you heard of a Golden Ticket? In the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a golden ticket is hidden inside the wrapper of five chocolate bars. Whoever finds it, can enter the chocolate factory and win a lifetime supply of chocolate. Well, I don't have a lifetime supply of chocolate to offer you, but how about a lifetime supply of CLIENTS? I believe that you already have everything you need to grow your business, right in your own network. Listen for step by step tactics on how to leverage the network you already have!   Ready to go deeper? There are 3 ways we can work together: 1:1 Coaching (

Want to get known, and fast? There are many visibility activities that are long-term strategies, but this episode is all about generating visibility for your business quickly. If people don't know about you, they can't work with you. I share more about tapping into the most underutilized visibility strategy – leveraging your personal network, and my Rapid Visibility Framework built around that. Learn how local speaking, live video, and workshops are key strategies for you to build visibility for your business and how best to tap in on the power of your personal network to make it happen. Check out my LinkedIn post for another rapid visibility strategy I share with my clients.   Ready to go deeper? There are 3 ways we can work together: 1:1 Coaching (

Join in as I share 12 strategies that can help you attract more clients to your business today. Plus, I cover the 3 most common mistakes I see when business owners try to get more clients, and what you can do to avoid them! It doesn't matter if you're a start-up looking for your first few clients or a multi-six figure business owner that wants to reach more people and continue to grow – everyone wants to uncover the secrets to getting more IDEAL clients.   Ready to go deeper? There are 3 ways we can work together: 1:1 Coaching (

Has your business hit a plateau? Do you feel overwhelmed with all the different things you could focus on to grow your business? What's the best next step? Join me as I help you uncover the main reason YOUR business is not growing and where to focus first. Together, we'll analyze four key areas in your business which comprise our BizChix Coaching Framework - strategy, operations, team, and mindset. Ready to go deeper? There are 3 ways we can work together: 1:1 Coaching (

The fresh

Holding boundaries with clients is tricky, especially if you already struggle with boundaries in your personal life. Setting boundaries early on with clients sets a clear expectation and prevents you from feeling resentment or disliking your business.  And even if you have never set boundaries, or let a few slide, it is NEVER too late to renegotiate your client relationships. Join Elizabeth Cook and me as we discuss how boundaries can help protect and preserve your client relationships. What I love about this inner work, is that when you improve how you handle boundaries in your business relationships, you get confidence to do the same in your personal relationships and vice versa! This is one area I especially love to coach clients through. Having a mentor that encourages you to hold boundaries with your clients, team and others can give you the confidence you need to move through uncomfortable situations.   There are now 3 ways we can work together: ​1:1 Coaching (

Do you know many clients you can add to your roster with your current team before you reach capacity? Maybe you need more clients to reach your income goals but you're not sure you have any more time to spend on client work. In today's episode, I go over how you can determine the amount of clients you need to reach capacity while still keeping your business sustainable and reaching your monthly income goal.   I also share my favorite tool that I use to help me stay focused on how many clients I have space for in my business.  Join me to hear how you can keep yourself laser focused on getting more clients, increase your visibility and grow your business.

Ever wondered how the flow of money differs in nonprofits compared to for-profit companies? It's essential to understand this ecosystem you are operating within. We discuss how identifying the source of funding for your consulting project matters. Also we share how the

✨ Let's dive into the nuances of positioning for nonprofit consultants. You'll gain valuable insights into positioning strategies and learn why it's crucial for nonprofit consultants to choose a specific niche. 

Have you been wondering how you can offer a high-end service that clients will pay premium prices for? Maybe you want to know how you can offer something unique that lets you charge a premium price and attracts high-end clients.   Join me in this episode as I talk about how you can shift to a service that elevates you to the realm of strategy while working within your zone of genius so that clients will pay you premium prices for a service that you excel in.  Listen in to hear how you can up-level your business and get paid high-end prices.   There are now 3 ways we can work together: ​1:1 Coaching (

Running a business where you deliver High Ticket Projects (think $20K to $200K) can create complexities that disparate from other business models. In this episode, I cover the challenges and share solutions for managing cash flow, handling scope creep, project management, and pricing in a project-based business.    There are now 3 ways we can work together: ​1:1 Coaching (

Did you know that 50% of small businesses never complete their 5th year of business? In order to build an enduring business, you need to make sure it's enjoyable, profitable and sustainable.   Today, I'm sharing the 5 biggest "mistakes" that even the smartest consultants make that can stop them from building an enduring business.  Join me in this episode to hear how you can continue to build wealth and grow a sustainable business that lasts.  ⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn.

Does having a referral based business make you feel like you don't have control when it comes to managing your leads? Have you been feeling like you need to do everything and be on every platform to advertise your business? Or maybe you feel like you need to create a better marketing strategy in order to get that steady stream of clients you need.  Relationship marketing is a great way for service based businesses to build strong connections, come from a place of service and gain consistent client leads from referrals.  This week, Elizabeth Cook, joins me to talk about relationship marketing and how you can use this strategy to get new client leads while also nurturing your current client relationships.     Join me for a special live workshop where we will analyze your business and plan for 2024 - TOGETHER >>> bizchix.com/ceoday ⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn. ✨ Learn more about working with Natalie in $ix Figures Lab and CEOCHIX.

When you look at what you have built with fresh 

Need help planning like a CEO?  Take back control of your calendar by mapping your ideal month and ideal week. Plus, learn how to theme your days and the power of time blocking.   

What would it be like to let go of control in your business and know that it would keep running smoothly and successfully?  What if you had a strong support system in your life, both at home and in your business, that you could actually take a breath and really relax?  Today, I chat with BizChix's very own Operations Leader Tiffanie Smith about simplifying your to-do list and becoming more productive. 

Trauma.  Most people have some amount of trauma.  What most people don't realize though is that you can have trauma related to and involving money.  Yes, money. That thing we use everyday to buy our food, pay our rent, the stuff that keeps our lights on. . . Depending on your relationship with it, depending on your parents relationship with it, and even their parents' relationship with it, money holds a lot of significance.  Today on the podcast, I share with you some insights around money trauma that I've learned while coaching women business owners over the years.    ⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn. Resources from this episode: Financial Therapy Association New York Times Article: How to Deal With Financial Trauma by Juli Fraga  R.E.S.E.T. Your Mindset by Natalie Eckdahl   This episode was first published at BizChix.com/595.

What would it look like for your business to go to the next level?  On today's episode, I chat with Lisa Archer, CEO of Vancouver-based LacroHR and current $ix Figures Lab member, as we map out her path to making multi-six figures. 

Congratulations! You've already found your specialty and you've settled on a niche . . . now what?  Where should you go to reach your ideal client?  How do you get seen by them?  What do you do to grow your referral network? Today, I'm delighted to share a recent coaching session with $ix Figures Lab member, Corey Daigle. Corey is the CEO of WanderWeb, an SEO and Website Design Consultancy, that recently niched down to support MedSpa businesses. 

The hardest thing to rebuild is trust.  For many clients, I am not the first coach they've had.  And more often than I'd like, I've heard other coaches and programs described as, “feeling like a waste of money,” or that the program was, “too big and you never got time with the lead coach.”    They have lost trust in the coaching community–and rightfully so.  Thankfully, not all coaches are the same.  Today, Elizabeth Cook, my co-coach in $ix Figures Lab, joins me as we talk about what to look for in a coaching program, the questions you should ask when looking at a new program, and how our $ix Figures Lab program differs from most other programs on the market.     

When it comes to social media, it can be an incredibly powerful tool or a drain on your time and your energy. So how can you make social media work for your business and avoid falling down the rabbit hole of your newsfeed?  By joining us for BizChix LinkedIn Bingo! I introduced this to our $ix Figures Lab members at the beginning of the month, and I'm delighted to share it with you today.  We've made networking on social media a fun, easy, low-risk, high-value activity with tasks that can each be completed in a matter of minutes.  If you've never played Bingo the “rules” are simple.  Complete tasks until you fill in a line (diagonally, horizontally or vertically) or reach BINGO by getting a Blackout and completing all the squares on the card.    ⭐️ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn to get your Bingo card and play along.  

As a small business owner and a coach of small business owners, I know first hand how challenging growing and scaling your business can be.  Seemingly overnight, a ton of questions pop up as your company grows in size. Questions like, “When do I need to hire? When should I hire? How much help can I afford? What do I need help with first and foremost?”  $ix Figures Lab member, Kelly McLaughlin, a fundraising consultant for nonprofits, recently reached out to me asking me something similar but wonderfully phrased. “When do you know it's a good idea to invest in your business?”  I love how she framed this idea of growth within a company as an investment, looking at it as a long term solution which will act as a stepping stone to something greater.  While I would love to say there is a one size fits all answer to this question, there is no secret formula.  It's entirely dependent on your individual circumstances, on where you are, and where you eventually want to be. And remember, the beautiful thing about being a CEO is that you have a rare opportunity to create a business that is profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable.     

You want to grow your business to multi-figures in yearly revenue. But how do you get there? And what steps do you need to take to achieve your goal?  It might seem daunting, but I've found the best way to reach your desired financial target is to start with your big picture in mind and then work backwards with a bit of reverse engineering.  By mapping out where you want your business to be and then how you want to get there, we take out the emotions, the self doubt, and the negative internal chatter – instead turning this urge to grow into a solvable puzzle, complete with actionable steps.  Today, I am joined by our $ix Figures Lab Coach, Elizabeth Cook, as we dive into the many ways to grow your company's annual revenue, first to $100,000 and then to $300,000 (or more), so you can start paying yourself a six figure salary each year.     

Don't you love hearing the others' journey to success? My client Jennifer Kok candidly shares how challenging it was to find her specialized niche as a consultant and strategist for small brick and mortar businesses, As  $ix Figures Lab member, Jennifer came into the program as a skilled entrepreneur, possessing an extensive background in corporate sales, but unsure of who she wanted to serve and what she would offer them.   She had so many things she could offer to so many different types of clients. Can you relate? Looking for strategies to make her new business an unequivocal success, Jennifer was willing to test new markets and to experiment with her services in order to find her ideal client.  On today's episode, I talk to Jennifer about what compelled her to begin her company, how she discovered her ideal client and what motivates her to continue as a small business owner.     

Imagine your business a year from now. What if you were able to work less, make more, and serve only your ideal client?   Sounds like a dream, right?  On today's episode, I am hosting an On-Air Coaching Call with $ix Figures Lab member, Debra Hope, as we find her path to her ideal client and lay the foundation to make that dream a reality.     

What happens from your client's perspective after the contract is signed? What is your onboarding process like?  What do you do to stay connected to the client, aside from presenting deliverables?  Are you working to continue your relationship with them in the future – as a renewal with a long term contract or as a potential referral partner? Often we focus on the client journey, beginning with how you first get seen by a client and ending with a signed contract and payment.  This longer view is the “The Client Lifecycle.”  It has many different stages and each stage can have a massive impact on your business.  Today I'm joined by $ix Figures Lab coach, Elizabeth Cook, as we explore the many stages of client interaction.    

My friends, what if I told you that you could eliminate the stress and hassle of creating multiple proposals for a client – decreasing your initial leg work and increasing your odds of signing the client? We've all been told to offer two or three proposal options and that presenting any more will overwhelm your potential client. The truth is between life, business, and social media, we are inundated with decisions all day long.  And this decision fatigue can leave us tired, brain-dead, or in a fog, wanting and waiting for someone else to make a choice for us.  Now – what if you could listen to your client's needs and co-create the perfect proposal, in real time – effectively eliminating the need for multiple proposals?  Today, I'm joined by our $ix Figures Lab Coach, Elizabeth Cook, as we explore the One Option Proposal – how it works and why you should consider it for your next potential client.    

Do you have past due, unpaid invoices in your business? Invoices in which the deadline for the client to pay has come and gone? As micro-business owners, not getting paid — even on just one invoice — can be a huge impediment to your business's cash flow. And it can easily create a ripple effect throughout your business, and maybe even into your personal life.  As CEO, your top priority is (and should be) cash flow.  So — what can you do to get those invoices paid?  Today I'm joined by $ix Figures Lab Coach, Elizabeth Cook, as we dive into the mindset blocks and boundaries involved in getting paid, the tactics and steps you can use to get those unpaid invoices paid, and how to prevent it from happening in the future.    

Have you ever had a friend or peer describe their business in such a clear and succinct way that you immediately knew who they should meet in your network – either as a potential client or a beneficial connection?  That, my friend, is what I like to call an, "automatic yes."  When you specialize by the type of work you do, and/or niche by defining who you serve, you become instantly referable. Which is exactly where we want to be.  Getting there sometimes isn't quite as straightforward.  It often takes a series of small experiments to narrow in on the who and the what, and that can be frightening.  On today's episode, $ix Figures Lab Coach Elizabeth Cook and I discuss the scary side of positioning and the mindset adjustments we can make to embrace experimenting – letting us flourish, both in business, and in life.    

What if you could make your business easier by implementing one strategy? I'm talking about positioning. This means specializing by the type of work you do and/or niching by who you do it for. When you position your business well, you will be able to streamline your services, and you will attract higher level clients. On today's episode, $ix Figures Lab Coach Elizabeth Cook and I will talk about how positioning can have a “waterfall impact” on your business. And you'll learn the top 3 reasons positioning is worth your time.      

Retainers provide predictable recurring revenue to your business and allow you to know what you can afford to invest in next. I LOVE the stability retainer offers create for service businesses, but retainers can also cause problems if you don't structure them correctly, so today I'm covering FIVE common mistakes for you to avoid in your retainer offer.      

Imagine if you knew how much money was going to come into your business in the next six months. A great way to create stability in your business is to create a retainer offer. Today, I'm sharing five reasons why this is a great idea, how it helps your clients, plus a few bonus tips as well.     

What if the clients that got you here might not be the clients that get you there?  If you've been thinking that it's time to uplevel your clients, then this episode is for you.     

I recently had several one-on-one calls with clients, where we discussed how critical it is to create and maintain momentum in their business. The last thing you want is to be in a vulnerable place in your business, where you lose a big client, or have several clients not renew at once, or have several proposals get declined, and have no one else in your pipeline.  I recently recorded a live training into our $ix Figures Lab group coaching program, where I share the ways I observe business owners losing momentum, and several ways to gain momentum. I decided this is something I wanted to share with all of you that are listening and who are a part of our BizChix community.