The Messy Middle

Connie Chang (she/her) is the Founder and Principal of Type C Consulting, a multidisciplinary web design studio working with enterprise-sized companies that lead with value. Full disclosure—Connie is our friend outside of the workplace so we knew that our conversation was gonna be longer than normal and that we would probably dive deeper into topics. We didn't expect our conversation to go in this direction but we are so glad it did. Connie's approach to business has always been through values. Struck with grief after a personal tragedy, she chose to channel her grief into trying to make a difference with her business, becoming more aware of the types of projects she takes on and who they are serving. A large part of Type C Consulting is ensuring accessibility for websites and finding ways to make technology more available—Connie's on a personal crusade to ensure that websites are functional for every user. Find Type C Consulting online Website: https://typecconsulting.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typecconsulting Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Ben Owens (he/him) joins us today to talk about his photography business and what he does as a commercial photographer. Born in Australia, Ben already established his drive as an entrepreneur in New Zealand before relocating to Vancouver. Turning his hobby into his business, Ben captured the market on movement photography and all things fitness. Our conversation with Ben highlights how small businesses are so nuanced and one size definitely does not fit all. While we've often talked about niching down on the Messy Middle Podcast, we had a refreshing and eye-opening chat with Ben about how he chooses to forego a niche. Instead, Ben is powered by curiosity and his creative drive, which drives him to try different projects and go beyond his comfort zone. Find Ben online Website: https://www.benowensphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benowensphotography/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We have Firina Achor (she/her) with us to chat about all things PR in the health and wellness industry! Working her way up a physiotherapy studio in Vancouver, Firina pivoted to working on special projects within their organization. She realized she liked what she was doing and could cultivate that kind of work and employment by becoming self-employed. Firina created her own agency where she specializes in media relations, PR strategy, community curation and special events. Now Firina works with small boutique businesses within the health and wellness industry, helping them get the word out on any cool and exciting things they're launching. Alongside that, she also works as a model, working with companies whose values align with hers. Firina sees her role as a model as more than just a pretty face—it's about representation that allows other Black women to see a familiar face and let them know they belong. Find Firina online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firinaachorcreative LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/firina-achor-169836113 Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Cicely Blain (they/them) joins us on the pod today to discuss everything and all things consulting. Cicely is the founder and CEO of Bakau Consulting (formerly Cicely Blain Consulting), an anti-racism consulting company committed to fostering inclusion and equity in the workplace. Having worked with clients from all over the globe, Cicely has a longstanding history with the social justice world. We chatted with Cicely about how they got their start consulting and what it was like to grow Bakau into the superpower it is today. From hiring people to finding and maintaining clients from Europe and beyond, they provided incredible insight into how their business has evolved and the trajectory it will be going in the future. While the conversation mostly revolves around Cicely's work with Bakau (and within the realm of consulting), it's truly worth looking them up to see just how extensive their work is. From being Editorial Director of Ripple of Change Magazine to spearheading Strategem, a conference based around equity, inclusion and justice, Cicely doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Find Cicely online Website: https://www.cicelybelleblain.com/ Instagram: https://www.cicelybelleblain.com/ Purchase "Burning Sugar", Cicely's debut collection of poetry: https://www.arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Burning-Sugar Find Bakau Consulting online Website: https://www.bakauconsulting.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakauconsulting/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Andrea Barber (she/her) joins us today to talk about her online fitness platform, A Few Fun Moves, a collection of workouts, exercises, and lifestyle support to help you maintain a fun relationship with movement, your body, and yourself. Born out of her desire to not return to the studio to teach fitness classes, Andrea has begun carving out a community of like-minded individuals who find a balance between fitness, food and fun. Exclusively creating online content now, Andrea chatted with us about coming to terms with the fact that traditional in-person fitness was no longer what she wanted to do. She organically started to cultivate the perfect work/life balance by paying attention to what was making her feel less than stellar and how it was affecting her performance at work, which helped to jump-start her career as an entrepreneur. Now, having launched an app for A Few Fun Moves, Andrea doesn't look like she'll be returning to a studio any time soon. Find Andrea online Website: https://www.afewfunmoves.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afewfunmoves/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Crystal Kwon (she/her)founded front + centre, a boutique PR firm based in Vancouver that works with consumer brands. Coming from a solid corporate background within media, Crystal wasn't afraid to try her strengths in different avenues, including a foray into journalism. She knew that everything she was doing was building a stronger resume, which ultimately resulted in her creating her own PR firm.  As The Messy Middle's first PR person on the podcast, Crystal graciously answered all of our burning questions about what PR really means, what kind of businesses would benefit from it and how it differs from advertising. It's more than just a Samantha Jones-type character running around looking fabulous and sweet-talking on your cell phone call day, right? (Hint: yes it is much more!) Find Crystal online Website: https://www.frontandcentre.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontcentrePR Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

May Ann Villanueva (she/her) is the founder of Studio Fundamentals, a ceramics studio offering beautifully handmade objects and ceramic workshops. Starting out in a tiny 1-person studio with a padlock on the door, Studio Fundamentals has grown to a 1500 sq ft. space that offers intimate classes focused around honing technique rather than the act of creating. No stranger to proper systems (May Ann has a background in communications design), May Ann has created the right formula for her studio: equal parts heart, community and the desire to give back to society. These three facets seem to make up the core of what drives Studio Fundamentals and it's her community that is championing her marketing. Relying solely on word of mouth, May Ann pours her heart out to us about what drives her to build the business her way and why it's so much more than just making money. Find May Ann online: https://www.instagram.com/studiofundamentals/ https://www.studiofundamentals.com/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Woo! This is our one-hundredth episode! And to celebrate, we've each collected our top five moments from conversations with guests to share with you! Our fave episodes: 4. Sara McCabe | Figuring out your skillset - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-4-sara-mccabe 18. Anita Cheung | Just try things! - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-18-anita-cheung 20. Sandeep Johal | Taking the leap and finding success - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-20-sandeep-johal 28. Matt Corker | Owning your weaknesses -https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/episode-28-owning-your-weaknesses 30. Eman Salem | Compassion and vulnerability - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/episode-30-building-a-business-around-compassion-and-vulnerability 34. Angie Coates | Let's Talk About Imposter Syndrome - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-34-angie-coates-lets-talk-about-imposter-syndrome 42. Meghan Campbell | Setting Boundaries - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-42-meghan-campbell-setting-boundaries-and-advocating-for-yourself-in-work-and-in-life 48. Marisa Mae | Being patient but determined - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-48-marisa-mae-being-patient-but-determined 60. Parween Mander | Mindful money and spending habits - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-60-parween-mander-mindful-money-and-spending-habits 82. Ji-Youn Kim | Decolonizing therapy practices - https://saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod/episodes/ep-82-ji-youn-kim Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Julia Church (she/her) is the founder of Nettle's Tale, a Canadian-made swimwear and apparel line. Starting from a wildly successful Indiegogo campaign, and surpassing their goal seven times over, Nettle's Tale has now grown to include a newly opened retail location. Julia had always set out to produce thoughtfully made and designed swimsuits for all bodies, using her friends and family as both muse and model. Julia got candid with us about her trajectory into retail, showing the heart and values behind Nettle's Tale. She gave us a candid breakdown of what to factor when launching a crowdfunding campaign and where some of her money woes were that were keeping her up at night. Leading with intention in all her business decisions, Julia explains her rationale to expand beyond a swimwear line and how a storefront wasn't necessarily something that was in the works but how it came to be. “Real talk with Julia Church (Founder)”: https://nettlestale.com/blogs/news/114441541-real-talk-with-julia-church-founder Find Julia online: https://www.nettlestale.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nettlestale Nettle's Tale is located at 306 W Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Judith Kasiama (she/her) is the founder behind Colour the Trails, which organizes recreational outdoor activities for Black, Indigenous and POC and provides an access point to nature. As outdoor spaces are notoriously occupied by white folx, Judith wanted to provide an equitable channel for individuals and give everyone an opportunity to try things they might not have had access to in the past, like hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. Having an extensive background in International Relations, Judith has taken her skills of organization and research and created a growing movement in Canada and North America that gets BIPOC feeling more confident in outdoor spaces. With a focus on marketing and playing to her strengths (persistence and patience), Judith has purposefully crafted Colour The Trails as a business rather than a charity, which has helped to build the brand to what it is now. Colour the Trails offers memberships for BIPOC, giving access to multiple monthly events, as well as an ally membership for white folx to contribute to providing equity in nature. Find Judith online: https://www.colourthetrails.com https://www.instagram.com/colourthetrails https://www.instagram.com/jujumil Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Justine Sones (she/her) is a coach who works with business owners, burnt-out parents, high performers and over-functioners around stress management and self-care, specializing in setting boundaries. Having started as a massage therapist, Justine started to realize her clients needed more holistic support and required more than a massage. Eventually, her business evolved into what it is today, providing space for people to come into their own and realize that they need to take care of themselves in order to have the capacity for others. We chatted with Justine about her evolution with her business and how she transitioned into the self-care realm. She guides us through what her definition of self-care means and what it looks like (Hint: it's not about buying things). And of course, we touched on how we're all terrified of the world opening up again post-pandemic with Justine sharing some great tips on how we can all be more aware of our feelings and give ourselves some grace as we navigate the next phase of our lives and tackle the return to “normalcy”. Find Justine online: https://www.instagram.com/justinesones https://www.justinesones.com/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Vanessa Nicola (she/her) and Chara Krangle (she/her) are the co-founders behind Oat of the Ordinary, single-serve oatmeal packets that are vegan, packed with protein and only made with real ingredients. Launching in November, 2020, a global pandemic didn't stop these two from gaining a devoted following as well as selling in-stores in Canada, and even shipping to the US. Vanessa and Chara share with us their story of how Oat of the Ordinary got started and what it was like to have to launch during COVID19. They shared what the process was like to test the product and bring it to market. We also chatted about the beautiful branding on the bags and what their dynamic is like in their partnership. Find Oat of the Ordinary online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oatoftheordinary Website: www.oatoftheordinary.com Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Katie Ruddell (she/her) is the founder and owner of Kokomo, a plant-based cafe with locations in Vancouver and North Vancouver. With a background in brand strategy, Katie knew she wanted to start a business that gives back to the community she was involved in. With her own journey into her own vegan diet, Katie was inspired to start the cafe and provide nourishing vegan bowls that people would love. Now with 3 locations, Katie shares with us the long journey she had before opening up the first Kokomo and the time spent behind the scenes planning the cafe (while she was still holding down a full-time job). She shares how goal setting has really helped her to plan for the things she wants and how her community has been incredibly beneficial to the business. Gaining a business partner in 2019, Katie has crafted the life she wants for herself and is here to tell us the steps it took to get to where she is now. Find Katie online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieruddell/ Website: https://www.katieruddell.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB3lNVWicocaoH90_4mM42g Find Kokomo online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heykokomo/ Website: https://www.heykokomo.ca Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Friend of the podcast (and actual friend in real life) Diana Chung (she/her) joins us today to discuss her recent venture into entrepreneurship! Balancing a full-time corporate job with a new career coaching side hustle, Diana walks us through her definition of a coach (somewhere between a therapist and a consultant) and what the process is like to launch. Fueled by pragmatism, Diana shares her coaching style with us and breaks down her type of ideal client. With an extensive background within the corporate world, Diana has found a way to fuse that systemized culture that permeates large businesses with the people-focused lens she's learned through her years in sales to create a coaching program suitable for other high achievers like herself. Find Diana online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianachungcoachingco/?hl=en Website: https://www.dianachungcoaching.com Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

This week we're joined by long-time friend and fellow brand designer, Miranda Grigor (she/her)! We're chatting with Miranda specifically about her career as a graphic designer and how that evolved into a brand designer and strategist now leading her own collective. Miranda shares her experience working with agencies, how she landed her first job(s) out of college and what it took for her to trust herself and her community so that she could take the next step in founding her own business. As Miranda shares, she never expected to be a leader (nor did she really want to be one) but she has now found herself leading a small team and loving it. Find Miranda online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonstonecreative.co/ Website: https://www.moonstonecreative.co/

We are joined by Jordan Pickell (she/her), a clinical counsellor who focuses on trauma and relationships in her practice. Setting out to find a bit more about running a counselling business, we dove into topics like finding clients and maintaining your authentic voice on Instagram and resonating with your followers. Jordan graciously shared with us her journey on what led her to centre trauma with her clients and why the client counsellor relationship is more than what tradition says it should be. We chatted about how Jordan has to make sure that, after spending all day with clients connecting over their sessions, she finds time to fill up her own cup and how setting boundaries was the most important thing she's ever done for herself. Find Jordan Online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanpickellcounselling/ Edge of the couch: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edge-of-the-couch/id1552766864 Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We are making a few changes to the Messy Middle Podcast! Listen to the episode to find out! Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We are joined by Jacqueline Jennings (she/her)! She is a well-known business coach to fellow entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact on the world but today is here to chat with us about working in the impact investing and venture capital space! We touch on how Jacqueline found her purpose as a coach and how her extensive background in the retail industry has shaped her approach to coaching, consulting and overall practice. We also discuss how pervasive colonialism is in the workspace (and in life) and what it means to decolonize your work and the impact that has. Jacqueline also opens up about her new venture with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners and how they're making opportunities for other Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada. What Jacqueline has been loving: Nahanee Creative Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World by Tyson Yunkaporta Find Jacqueline Online: http://www.jacquelinejennings.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jacqueline.d.jennings/ https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinejennings https://www.fireweedfellowship.com/ https://www.instagram.com/fireweedfellowship/ https://www.facebook.com/fireweedfellowship Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We know working on your business often gets pushed aside for the “real” work you do with your customers and clients but we are big believers in constantly checking in everything is in tip top shape, internally! Today, we run through the types of things worth looking at annually to ensure that they are serving your business to its full extent and are aligned with your business goals. This includes whether your client experience and internal processes are in the best condition, whether your website and social media accounts are updated (without going overboard. HOT TIP: You do NOT have to treat it like you are an influencer!) and how your own personal growth can warrant changes in how you run things.

Today, we had Louisa Cohen (she/her), the General Manager of The Permanent, join us today. We chatted with her about what it's like to work with your family so closely in business and the process of restoring an old, beautiful building in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. She walked us through the ins and outs of running an event space and even disclosed the film and tv crews that have come through (*Ahem, Riverdale*)! Louisa also started “Get Happy” this past year, a natural wine bottle shop and tasting service at The Permanent. She explains how she started Get Happy by documenting her journey of finding natural wines on Instagram, and garnered a local wine-loving community. Find Louisa Online: Website: thepermanent.ca Get Happy IG: @ahappywinenight Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

87. Admin Checklist: 7 things you'll need when starting a business by Salt Design Co.

This week we're excited to be chatting with Shanique Kelly (she/her), aka @softieshan on Instagram. Shanique is a local DJ, diversity consultant, model and event organizer. Through her work she is always thinking about how to take care of her community and support those who need it most – with a focus on creating safe spaces for LGTBQ+ folks and Black women. As someone very tapped into their community and local events, we wanted to ask Shanique about how it all began, and how she created her career out of community care. Starting with how and why she became a DJ, Shanique tells her story, letting us into the behind the scenes of how her multifaceted career developed. She tells us about the early days of DJ'ing and also some of her modelling gigs, as well as some recent conversations with Lululemon that led her to becoming more involved with diversity consulting and education. What you'll hear from Shanique is that community matters and she is contagiously enthusiastic about everything she does! Find Shanique online: https://www.instagram.com/softieshan https://www.instagram.com/level_up.yvr/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Sometimes, your business gets to a point where it may need a rebrand. This is a completely normal part of running a business and might indicate that you're at the next stage of growth! While there are a various number of reasons why your business might be in need of a rebrand, the important thing to remember is that you are making this choice based on a valid reason (and not just because you're tired of looking at the purple in your logo); it's usually related to a changing strategy or target market where your current designs just aren't going to serve you much longer in the future. In this episode, we run through our top 5 reasons why you might need a lil business facelift and go through the whys, whats and hows of rebranding. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Fun fact! One of the first podcasts your pals, Lucy and Daphne, ever recorded was for Denny Dumas (he/him), who is our podcast guest today! He's a realtor in the Greater Vancouver area, the co-owner of Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate, host of 3 podcasts himself and an all-around great conversationalist. Another fun fact! This is actually the second time we recorded with Denny because we lost the audio in our original meeting (Thanks, Skype!) and he was just as insightful and high-energy as the first time. Join us as we dive into how Denny became the type of realtor he is today and how his constant curiosity has shaped how he runs his business. Denny's career has always been about knowing more than just what is in the job description and that has proven to be a huge asset for him and his team. We talk about how Garbutt + Dumas were one of the first pioneers of social media marketing in the realty world and how they're trying to make home-buying easier for everyone. Find Denny Online: https://www.garbuttdumas.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/denny.dumas/ https://dennydumas.com/ https://seahawkssocial.podbean.com/ https://www.garbuttdumas.ca/blog/podcasts/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We are back! It's 2021, and TBH everything is still kind of the same. We recorded this episode on January 13, 2021, so if you know what the past two weeks have been like in the world, it's been a bit of a sh*t show. So our focus on today's episode is just to have a conversation between us; a little catch up so that we can maybe bring a little bit of joy back into our lives (and hopefully yours) cause there's enough stuff going on every day that makes us both just want to scream into the void. We will be back with a business-oriented solo episode soon! Happy 2021! Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

This is a first for the Messy Middle! We have our FIRST EVER counsellor on the podcast today! We are joined by Ji-Youn Kim (she/her)! She is a justice-oriented counsellor with an aim to decolonize her practice and make counselling a safe(r) space for BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, immigrants & refugees, sex workers, and beyond. She helps her clients feel a little more liberated in themselves, in the community and in the world. This conversation was a (good) doozy. We chatted about Ji-Youn's progression into the counselling world and how she has been a fan of disrupting the status quo for some time now. We talk about what Collective Liberation means and how it is tied into her practice and why we should allow ourselves space to be angry. Ji-Youn walks us through her journey to decolonizing how she practices as a counsellor and why White Supremacy is still so prevalent in the psychology industry today. Resources mentioned by Ji-Youn Vicky Reynolds https://vikkireynolds.ca/ Michelle Nahanee https://www.nahaneecreative.com/ Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html Healing in Colour www.healingincolour.com Sonny Jane Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/livedexperiencecounsellor Finding The Right Therapist Guide - https://livedexperiencestudio.com/shop/findingtherighttherapist What Ji-Youn has been liking/watching/reading/listening to: Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to heal divides and restore balance by Edgar Villanueva - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/588996/decolonizing-wealth-by-edgar-villanueva/ greyandmama - https://www.instagram.com/greyandmama Ey'Van Whitney - https://www.instagram.com/evyan.whitney Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

It's that time of year! Join us for another fun episode of “End of the year review with Lucy and Daphne!” We walk through all the highs and lows of 2020 and talk about our favourite projects that we've worked on. We talk about our goals for 2021 and what we have in store for the business. This will be our last episode until Jan 7th, 2021! Check out last year's episode: Ep 31 - A Year in review with Salt Design Co.: 2019 Edition Clients we mentioned: Adya Inner Glow We The Nomads Fait Creative Content Andrew Kevin Real Estate Group Project Love Run

Renee Turner (she/her) and Zac Bligh (he/him), owners of Tell Your Friends Cafe on Bowen Island are joining us this week to share the process of opening and operating a small (350sq ft!) cafe within a tightly meshed island community. We ask them where the inspiration for the cafe and plant-based menu came from, what funding or assistance they needed to open the cafe and what it's been like joining a new (to them) community as a young family. Renee and Zac share their love for local communities and products, their investment in the community itself and social justice as a whole, and how they leant on family to help create a special spot that attracts local regulars. What Renee and Zac are listening to: Nice White Parents Cafe playlists Find the cafe online: @tellyourfriendscafe Find the cafe in-person at 400 Bowen Island Trunk Rd, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

It's December! And in business, December is usually the giving month. We dive into what it really means to give back as a business and specifically why this is important to us as well as what it means to be a value-led company. Places You Could Donate To: Girlvana: https://www.girlvanayoga.com Aboriginal Women's Centre: https://www.aboriginalmothercentre.ca/ Downtown Eastside Women's Centre: https://dewc.ca/ YouthCo: https://www.youthco.org/ Hogan's Alley Society: https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/ Black Live's Matter Vancouver: https://blacklivesmattervancouver.com Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We have a really exciting guest with us today! We are joined by Laura Arroyo (she/her), who is a graduate of the University of Maryland. She is a writer, lecturer, teacher and is also the owner of a small book and journal store, The Writing Shop. We have Laura with us to chat about her recently self-published book “Visible: A Woman's Guide to unleashing your full potential in the workplace”. Its aim is to help support millennial women of colour in the workforce. Laura joins us to talk about the process of writing her first book (in just 6-months!), why she felt the need to write this book and how she tackled imposter syndrome as a first-time author. Laura tells us more about some of the challenges she's faced as a Latina woman in the workplace and what her hope is this book can do for women of colour who want to advance their careers or start a business. Find Laura Online: www.ladylaura.co https://www.instagram.com/ladylauraco https://www.instagram.com/TheWritingShopCo Buy “Visible: A Woman's Guide to Unleashing Your Full Potential in the Workplace”: CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/Visible-Womans-Unleashing-Potential-Workforce-ebook/dp/B08KHV5Z9C US https://www.amazon.com/Visible-Womans-Unleashing-Potential-Workforce-ebook/dp/B08KHV5Z9C Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

At its heart, Salt is a strategic design studio. So, as we transition the podcast from Design Build Grow to Salt Design Co., we wanted to talk about our very favourite topic: Brand Strategy! To us, brand strategy is the reason we do what we do and is why we can feel confident creating brand identities that are both pretty and aligned with your business plans and goals. We believe that a brand strategy, at its core, can help you get clear and confident on what your business does, but beyond that, can help you make decisions with ease. In this episode, we run through why a brand strategy is important, what it involves, how it can help in making decisions and what our process includes when bringing it into the design of a brand identity. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We are joined by Jaime Bell (she/her) on our podcast today. She is the brains behind the recently launched Contracts Market, which provides legal contract templates for Canadian entrepreneurs, online coaches and creatives and is also the founder of Wild Coast Law, her solo adventure where she serves as a lawyer specifically for entrepreneurs and freelancers across BC. Jaime has recently come into her own as a small business owner so she shared her insight into what that experience has been like for her. Together, we discussed some of the common problems small businesses face when it comes to any legal aspects of their company they must deal with and when it's a good time for an entrepreneur to reach out to a lawyer. We also talk contracts and why Contract Markets is so useful for the average Canadian small business owner. Find Jaime Online: Contracts Market: Website: https://www.thecontractsmarket.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contractsmarket Wild Coast Law Website: https://www.wildcoastlaw.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildcoastlaw Personal: https://www.instagram.com/jaimekiara_ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Contracts are a necessary part of any business. But this doesn't mean they have to be complex documents full of legal jargon that sounds like it's straight out of an episode of Law & Order! We plead the case (see what we did there) for contracts that are based on protecting both parties and using language that is easy for everyone to understand. It's a short look at contracts today, but stay tuned for next week's episode where we speak with a real lawyer on what a good contract looks like for a small business and where to get them! Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today we have Gabby Villasenor (she/her) on the podcast today. Gabby is the founder of Fuelled by Feeling, an online membership program that focuses on empowering its members to move their bodies any way they want and to celebrate every good thing your body can do through movement, coaching and workshops! In this packed episode, we dove into how Gabby approaches life and shows up as her authentic self. From explaining why she created Fuelled By Feeling to walking us through her relatable and kick-ass personal life mantras, Gabby does everything her way and in her own time. Things that bring Gabby joy: kunye.co: https://www.instagram.com/kunye.co/ The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor: https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/books Find Gabby online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gvillasenor/ Fuelled by Feeling: https://www.fuelledbyfeeling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuelledbyfeeling/ Find The Messy Middle Podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We've got some exciting news for you dear listeners! You'll have to listen in on the episode to find out what it is. But to give you some insight, it's to do with us wanting to simplify our business, where that decision came from and what that specifically means for us. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

We've got Alisha Kumar (she/her) on the podcast to talk about all things social media! She is the owner and founder of The Social Project, specializing in working with small to medium-sized businesses to build social campaigns and purposeful marketing projects that yield authentic connection, real engagement + activation within online audiences. Alisha talks us through some of the do's of social media, like showing up authentically when you're in front of the camera and leading with value, as well as a few websites she loves to use to track analytics!. Resources recommended by Alisha: https://www.Ninjalitics.com https://www.plannthat.com https://www.later.com Find Alisha online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alishakumar/ Find the Social Project online: https://thesocialproject.ca https://www.instagram.com/thesocialprojectinc To book a 90-minute video-call coaching session with us, Lucy and Daphne, visit https://saltdesignco.studio/coaching. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

When you're starting a new business or are beginning to work for yourself, the number 1 marketing thing you tend to think of these days is Instagram. And it can feel NERVE WRACKING to use social media for your business and start “putting yourself out there”. This week we're sharing what we've experienced in terms of showing up on Instagram for our business(es) and what we've learned has helped. We're also sharing our thoughts on the platform as a whole and what we've observed others doing well or struggling with in hopes that it might help you if you're considering starting a business-focused Instagram account. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today we have Britt Penn (she/her), a Certified Executive Life Coach on the podcast. She is committed to helping purpose-driven humans live and work in alignment with what they value most in this world. We got deep in today's episode as Britt walks us through what it was like to quit corporate life and transition into becoming an entrepreneur. Britt opened up to us about how she combats that “guilty” feeling when she isn't working a straight 8-hour workday to how her imposter syndrome shows up as a coach (and what she does to quiet it down) to how she had to unlearn all the habits she picked up from being in a corporate environment. Find Britt online: Website: https://www.brittpenn.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittpenn Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

This week we're answering the questions we ask our guests every week! From some of our go-to questions to probe deeper to our “lightning-round” questions that we ask at the end of every episode, we're answering them all! IG accounts we love: Daphne: https://www.instagram.com/seabusmemes https://www.instagram.com/datesofyvr https://www.instagram.com/halfbakedharvest Lucy: https://www.instagram.com/jeffmindell https://www.instagram.com/studiodiy https://www.instagram.com/whalesnation https://www.instagram.com/vanaqua Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today, we are joined by Sabrina Doumet (she/her), creator of the Focus Journal, based on the popular bullet journal method. An undated daily planner designed to increase productivity and well-being, we chatted with Sabrina about the inspiration behind creating a journal and testing it with audiences as well as she uses it in her everyday life to get things done. Sabrina is also the founder and owner of L'Atelier, a coworking space in Gastown Vancouver. IG accounts Sabrina loves: The Sorry Girls: https://www.instagram.com/thesorrygirls/ Find Sabrina online: The Focus Journal: https://thefocusjournal.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusjournal.co/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinadoumet/ L'Atelier Vancouver Coworking: http://ateliervancouver.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vancityatelier/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

If you've ever worked with us, you'll know that we love our project management tools. One thing we are constantly reviewing is how streamlined our client process is. We learned early on that both of us are constantly striving to make it as easy as possible for our clients to do business with us. This meant investing in project management software was a must! So today, we want to walk through the CRMs and PM tools we have used and are currently using and talk about how it's changed the way we do business. Check out this blog post that's an in-depth look at how we manage clients using Dubsado: https://www.designbuildandgrow.com/blog/automate-with-dubsado Want to try Dubsado? Use our referral code 'designbuildgrow' or click on the link to get 20% off your first month or year: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=designbuildgrow Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Warning: if you didn't love cats before this episode, you might after it. Today, we're joined by Nathan Chan (he/him), one of the 4 owners of Catoro Cafe and its store manager, Victoria! Catoro Cafe is a cat cafe in Vancouver that focuses on animal welfare, mental wellness and climate control by means of waste management. They have a large menu of delicious bubble tea drinks which you can take into the serene “cat forest” and hang out with adorable cats that are all available for adoption to a loving home. It's probably one of the most relaxing places to unwind in Vancouver! In this episode, we chat with Nathan and Victoria about the process of opening a cat cafe in Vancouver including finding the location (and renovating it), gathering funding, launching and more! We hear about the challenges they faced as well as the amazing community support behind the cafe. Find Catoro Cafe online: Instagram: https://instagram.com/catorocafe/ Website: https://catorocafe.com/ Catoro Cafe is located in Vancouver at 666 East Broadway. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Don't let the word “boundaries” scare you. When we talk about boundaries in the workplace, we're referring to rules we put in place so that we will never get ourselves in positions we don't want to be. Don't want your clients to call you unannounced? Great! Don't pick up when they call and send a follow-up email with a calendar link! We made these small changes in our professional life and found it made a world of difference, especially with our day to day operations. One of the perks of owning a small business is the flexibility within your own workday and setting boundaries can definitely help with that! Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today, we have Dylan Archambault (he/him) from CMMN GRND joining us to share the journey of launching a new, inclusive fitness studio in Olympic Village, Vancouver! Having founded the business with his mom, it took Dylan close to 3 years to actually open the doors to the studio (no thanks to COVID-19) so it was fascinating to hear the process involved and what it means to create an inclusive space. Find Dylan online: Website: https://cmmngrnd.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmmngrndyvr Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darchambault91 Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Burning out, we've learned, is the result of not just being busy but of being resentful or unhappy with the things that are keeping you busy. In today's episode, we reflect on times that we've burnout, what we did to make long-lasting change, and how we avoid burning out now. This conversation is all part of August's theme with Design Build Grow on work-life balance so we'd love to hear your experiences with burnout over on Instagram! Join the conversation at @designbuildandgrow. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today, we have Sarah Savoy on the pod because we love her boutique shop that much. She is the owner of Much + Little, here in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver! We chatted about what it's like to open up a physical store and find inventory, and how the neighbourhood has changed since she moved in almost ten years ago! And of course, we wanted to know how she transitioned during COVID19 from an in-store retailer to online. Find Sarah Online: Website: https://www.muchandlittle.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muchlittleshop/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyhummingbird/ Much + Little is located in Vancouver at 2543 Main Street. Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

To finish of money month with Design Build Grow, we're talking about how we're currently scaling our business! Looking back at where we started and how we grew to where we are now we reflect on the strategies and tactics we've used to scale our design studio, Salt Design Co. and how we're using similar strategies to continue to scale. We also go over some small learning lessons we've had along the way and what we might have done differently. Check out our other episode centred around loan applications and business plans: Ep 7 - Loan applications and writing a business plan Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Today, we have Parween Mander join us to talk about all things money! She is an Accredited Financial Counsellor and Trauma of Money Facilitator but most importantly, she teaches millennial WOC how to break free of traditional money narratives and reclaim financial independence! She understands that growing up as first-generation comes with different standards that those whose family has had roots in Canada for years. Parween shares some great tips on what, as adults, should be doing in order to get our personal financial situations in check. She talks us through how you should know what is going in and out of your bank account each month, understanding what your spending triggers are, and how your emotional state can be tied to your spending habits. Personal finances can be an incredibly stressful topic for a lot of people but when you work with Parween, she imparts the skills to normalize talking about it and facing those stressors head-on! Financial tools and resources mentioned by Parween: Koho: https://www.koho.ca/ Wealthsimple: https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/ WealthBar: https://www.wealthbar.com/ Boomer and Echo: https://boomerandecho.com/ Half Banked: https://www.halfbanked.com/ Mo' Money Podcast with Jessica Moorhouse: https://jessicamoorhouse.com/podcast/ Find Parween Online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parween.mander Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Knowing your numbers is an important part of any business. Doesn't matter whether you're a freelancer or running a small empire with five employees working for you; sooner or later, you'll need to figure out the financials of your business. Today we run through some of the spreadsheets we use to ensure the money side of the business is taken care of! We review the big 3 we think you can start off with (Cash Flow, Sales Forecast, Monthly Budget) and do a run-through of the other spreadsheets we've included in our repertoire too (Income Report, Expense Tracker: Yearly and Monthly, Rate Calculator). Check out our other episode centred around money and business: Ep 41 - Pricing yourself and managing cashflow: https://designbuildandgrow.com/podcast-episodes/ep-41-pricing-yourself-managing-cashflow Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

Courtney Watkins is the owner of Mine & Yours, a luxury consignment store located in downtown Vancouver. In this episode, we talk with Courtney about how she entered the fashion industry and launched her own store with business partner Jigme and what the process of growing the business has been like since then. Opening in 2013 (pre Instagram!?) Courtney tells of how the store started small, built up momentum by telling everyone and anyone about the business and how they didn't pay themselves for the first 2 years. We hear how they slowly evolved their brand and messaging to be more and more high-end focused, allowing that to happen naturally over time as they built their name and reputation. We also asked Courtney how she's moved more of their inventory to their e-commerce store during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what impact that's had on their revenue and future plans. Find Courtney online: Website: https://www.mineandyours.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscourtwatkins/ Mine & Yours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mineandyoursco/ Courtney recommends: Iris Apfel: https://www.instagram.com/iris.apfel/ Dude with sign: https://www.instagram.com/dudewithsign/ Fabulous Thrift: http://www.stillfabulousthrift.com/ Pat Bo: https://www.instagram.com/patbo/ Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany

If you're thinking of starting a small business, side gig, freelance career, or ANYTHING that requires you to be making your income you are likely already overwhelmed with just the idea of it. You know you want to try it, and you have an idea… but how? Where do you start? Having started 2 of our own businesses and helping lots of our clients with their own, we have some first-hand experience with those early days and we have a list of our top 10 things to do to launch your own small business! Listen to this episode to reduce that overwhelm and get sh*t done. Read the full blog post here: https://designbuildandgrow.com/blog/first-10-to-start-new-business Find The Messy Middle podcast online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio/messymiddlepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messymiddlepod Email: messymiddlepod@saltdesignco.studio Find Salt Design Co. online Website: https://www.saltdesignco.studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltdesigncompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltDesignCompany