Podcasts about client work

Episode 444: Industry News, Client Stories, and Creative RecommendationsWelcome to Episode 444! In this laid-back but insightful chat, we cover everything from the latest industry buzz to real-world client experiences and our favorite creative inspirations.Chapters:00:00 – Intro & Catch-upA relaxed opening with greetings, personal updates, and setting the tone for the show.06:21 – Industry News & TrendsOur takes on recent software updates, design world gossip, and the hype cycles everyone's talking about.17:51 – Client Work & Process ChatHonest stories about handling tough clients, pricing challenges, and tips for managing scope creep.32:16 – Creative Inspiration & RecommendationsWhat we're watching, reading, playing, plus shout-outs to artists, tools, and tutorials.45:41 – Wrap-up & Community NotesListener questions, upcoming events, thank-yous, and a warm sign-off inviting everyone to connect.We hope you enjoy this episode and come away with a few laughs, some practical tips, and plenty of creative inspiration.

You've heard the advice: once your business scales, drop the 1:1s. Focus on leverage. Build your groups. But what if that's not the whole story? In this episode, I share why I've kept private client work at the heart of my business — even as everything else has grown — and why it continues to fuel not just my revenue, but my joy, skillset, and thought leadership. If you've ever questioned whether 1:1 work is still “worth it,” or felt torn between group scalability and the intimacy of private sessions, this conversation will offer clarity, permission, and a fresh perspective. 1:1 work isn't just something to graduate from — it might be the very thing that elevates everything else you do. In this episode, you'll hear: Why 1:1 work is deeply soul-satisfying (when you have the right skills) The types of clients who truly need a private container How your 1:1 skills improve your curriculum and group facilitation The powerful role 1:1 work plays in your marketing and messaging Why private sessions can be a secret incubator for your best ideas Whether you're in love with your 1:1 work or wondering if it's time to let it go, this episode will help you reconnect to what matters most in your practice — and trust the business model that's truly aligned with your strengths. LINKS JOANNA MENTIONED: Unshaken: How to Face Rejection & Keep Going FOLLOW JOANNA   applieddepthinsitute.com   instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum   The Coaching r(E)volution Facebook Group   RATE, REVIEW, SHARE & FOLLOW (I so appreciate it!)   If you love me and the podcast, please consider rating and reviewing my show! And also sharing it with others who would love it. It makes a difference and helps us reach more people who will find the podcast valuable. Be sure to give it 5 stars and post a comment and let us know what you loved most about the episode!   Join our newsletter community and get a copy of 55 Effective Breakthrough Coaching Questions  

We want to hear from you.If you've been enjoying the show, we'd love your input. It only takes a minute to answer our listener survey, and your feedback really helps us improve the podcast: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb6AltIruAF2Ut0I3b-6XmdAeO0TNNJP_SlRGOo11syj4Uhw/formResponseIn this episode, Chris sits down with Rich Webster—designer, agency owner, and creator of How To Work Less—for a candid and hilarious conversation on carving your own path in business without becoming a parody of success. From viral tweets to quiet routines, Rich shares how he went from burned-out agency owner to calm creator—and how writing helped him escape the trap of performative entrepreneurship.They dive into building an audience without selling your soul, why going quiet is sometimes the most strategic move, and how to tell stories that actually connect—without turning your life into content.Timestamps:(01:09) – Navigating Personal and Professional Change (03:30) – Evolving from Agency to Lifestyle Business (33:58) – Choosing Sobriety and What Came After (36:23) – Hitting Reset: The Turning Point Toward Recovery (59:04) – Vulnerability as a Strength in BusinessCheck out today's guest, Rich Webster: Rich's Website: richwebster.coRich's Newsletter: worklesswednesday.comRich's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richwebz/Rich's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richwebz/Rich's Threads: https://threads.net/richwebzCheck out The Futur:Website: https://www.thefutur.com/Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shopLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishereTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishereYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishereCheck out Chris Do:Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdoLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesignInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdoTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdoThreads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdoZaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdoClubhouse:

Want to stop chasing one-off gigs and start building predictable, recurring income? John MacAdam reveals how. He built his side hustle over 15 years while working full-time as an engineer — and eventually used it to launch a successful solo business. You can follow John's lead after hearing how he: Shifted from hourly rates to value-based pricing — and tripled his income Turned a $6K one-off project into a $5K/month retainer (still active 2+ years later) Positions himself as a trusted advisor, not just a task-doer Uses simple systems to build long-term client loyalty Turned early failures — like a “your app sucks” review — into growth and momentum Do you like what you're hearing? Consider giving it a caffeinated thumbs up. We'd really appreciate it! Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things. For the full show notes head on over to the home of Side Hustle Hero. https://www.sidehustlehero.com/153 Connect with John: LinkedIn John's Book - Sustainable Self Employment: Taking The Leap Connect with Joan: Instagram Facebook About Joan Be on the show! Tell us about your side hustle success story!    

As part of Eleanor's four-part June series on maximizing consulting businesses, she's diving into a critical decision point many consultants face: knowing when to scale back 1:1 client work.    The unique challenge of consulting lies in its structure - you are simultaneously the brand, the expertise, and the bottleneck. While the low barrier to entry and high margins make consulting attractive, this same simplicity creates scaling limitations. Tune in this week to hear how Eleanor's new free e-book provides a complete framework for evaluating your readiness to cut back on one-on-one work while maintaining revenue.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://safimedia.co/WO54

"I was just feeling bad for myself… like, what's wrong? How do I figure this out? I just feel like nothing is gonna change for me. But I said yes to the work, and everything started to shift."In this inspiring and emotionally honest episode, Elshia Vasquez returns to share her story of going from self-doubt and anxiety to sustaining her business within just three months of private coaching with me.When she first reached out, Elshia was freshly out of a counseling job and struggling with self-worth, visibility fears, and the weight of unprocessed childhood wounds. But something in her said yes. Yes to diving deeper. Yes to healing. Yes to finally building what she was meant to create.What followed was a transformational private container where we addressed her inner child wounding head-on, cleared emotional patterns tied to worthlessness and procrastination, and built the tangible business foundation she had always envisioned. In just three months, she landed long-term clients, created her freebie, grew her email list—and perhaps most importantly, rewired her nervous system and confidence from the inside out.If you've ever felt frozen by fear, unsure how to move forward, or held back by invisible emotional blocks, Elshia's story will remind you: it's never too late to choose yourself, heal at the root, and watch your purpose take flight. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS(00:00) Intro(00:55) In Today's Episode... Elshia Vasquez and Her Tangible Results(05:36) The Minimorphosis Q&A and The Mothership FLASH SALE(10:04) Elshia's Inner Child Healing Journey(13:16) The Fear of Being Seen and Procrastination Issues(16:47) Bringing In Clients - Growing the Business(21:05) The Power of Breathwork and Emotional Release(28:05) Building Confidence - Removing the Worthiness Wound(32:59) Inner Child Healing: Learning How to Calm the Storm(36:11) Stepping Up the Client Work(39:14) Articulating Your Purpose(43:05) "Things Are Happening For You, Not To You"(46:38) Shifting the Perspective on Social Programming(52:57) Authentic Relationships: A Key for Self-Liberation(56:44) Connecting with Clients and Future Plans**WAYS TO ENTER MY WORLD**  When you leave a review of the podcast, send us a screenshot and we'll send you a $250 credit, you can apply to anything else in my world.The Minimorphosis Learn my Simple 5 Step Inner Child Healing Process to dissolve the one core wound that slows down your growth. Use code HEAL at checkout to purchase for only $33! You'll also receive a free Q&A call with me to learn how to apply these tools to your specific situation. This is happening May 29th.The Mothership gain access to my entire body of work. Take advantage of the FLASH SALE that ends TODAY. Get your first month at only $111 = $444 off your first payment!CONTACT ELSHIAFollow on IG soulcompass2024Grab the Free Anxiety Healing ProtocolSchedule an AppointmentCONTACT ALYSE@alyse_breathesalysebreathes.cominfo@alysebreathes.com

If you're looking for ways to increase your income as a freelance writer, you should consider opportunities for upselling. In this episode, we look at a few options for additional services and add-ons you can offer clients to earn more money and become even more valuable to your clients.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

On episode 90 of The Side Hustle Experiment Podcast  John (https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperiment/) and Drew  (https://www.instagram.com/realdrewd/) talk with Kyle (https://www.instagram.com/thrivewithmurphy/) and Eliah (https://www.instagram.com/createwithvsn/)They delve into the world of User-Generated Content (UGC) and how creators can monetize their skills. They discuss the journey of UGC creators, the transition from e-commerce to UGC, overcoming fears of being on camera, and the importance of authenticity. The conversation also covers pricing strategies, negotiation tactics, and the future of UGC in the age of AI. Listeners will gain insights into building a successful UGC career and the opportunities available in this growing field. In this conversation, Kyle Murphy and Eliah discuss the evolving landscape of content creation, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, the shift from traditional influencers to user-generated content (UGC) creators, and strategies for securing high-value brand deals.Chapters00:00 Introduction to UGC and Monetization Strategies02:53 The Journey of UGC Creators05:53 Transitioning from E-commerce to UGC09:09 Overcoming Camera Fear and Building Confidence11:54 Finding Your Niche and Authenticity in Content14:53 Understanding Pricing and Negotiation in UGC17:50 The Future of UGC and AI's Impact20:52 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of UGC33:32 The Power of Storytelling in Content Creation34:41 Navigating YouTube and Long-Form Content36:29 Maximizing Value in Video Production38:39 The Shift from Influencers to UGC Creators40:11 Securing High-Value Brand Deals42:44 Leveraging Product Collaborations for Value45:31 Bartering and Collaborating for High-Value Products48:52 Aspirations Beyond UGC: TV and Film Goals51:14 Advice for Aspiring Creators: Start with Knowledge57:43 The Importance of Over-Delivering in Client Work#amazonfba #amazonfbatips #sidehustleexperimentpodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperimentpodcast/ Listen on your favorite podcast platformYoutube: https://bit.ly/3HHklFOSpotify: https://spoti.fi/48RRKcPApple: https://apple.co/4bmaFOk Check out Drew's StuffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdrewdTwitter: https://twitter.com/DrewFBACheck out John's StuffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperiment/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SideHustleExp FREE Resources✅ AVOID Price Tanking with The Tank Test Check List https://bit.ly/44FMt6M✅ 10 Questions to Ask A Prep Center Before Hiring Them: https://bit.ly/3K3HQK4 ✅ How to Make your first $500 Reselling: https://bit.ly/3UJS47g✅ Get the Discount Calculator: https://bit.ly/4dEhaNN  ✅ The OA Tracking Spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/4bfqupO (the spreadsheet I use to run my Amazon Business)

If you're a freelance grant writer or running a service-based business, there comes a point where you hit a financial and time ceiling. To scale beyond $50,000 to $100,000 per year, outsourcing is crucial. In this episode, we explore when and how to hire grant writers to help you grow your business without burnout. Doors to the Grant Professional Mentorship close on Friday, April 4th at 11:59 pm EST. The Grant Professional Mentorship is a 12-Month Group Coaching Mastermind for Grant Professionals to Double Your Business Revenue with a Team, Systems, and Scalable Offers - without Burning Out. Join now: https://grantwritingandfunding.com/mentorship What You'll Learn in This Episode: Signs it's time to start outsourcing in your grant writing business How to hire the right grant writers and avoid common hiring mistakes The difference between subcontracting and hiring contractors How to track time and set task expectations Why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential for smooth onboarding How to determine what your business can afford to pay contractors Creating a clear job description and application process Why and how to use test projects before hiring Steps to successfully hire and onboard your first grant writing contracto Be sure to subscribe to our podcast!

THE CONFIDENCE SHIFT: 30 Tage Podcast-Challenge für mehr Power, Selbstliebe & innere Stärke

THE CONFIDENCE SHIFT: 30 Tage Podcast-Challenge für mehr Power, Selbstliebe & innere Stärke

Want to Unlock the Secrets of MINDFUL Marketing and create a powerful brand that truly resonates with your audience? Join host NaRon Tillman on Walk in Victory for an inspiring conversation with Jodi Edwards, a Neurolinguistic Programming Certified Business Coach and Brand Manager. Jodi shares her incredible journey from a challenging upbringing in Jamaica to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the United States. This episode explores the power of self-reflection, overcoming adversity, and aligning your mindset with your marketing strategies. Discover how mindfulness can help you deeply understand your customers and build authentic personal and business brands. Jodi and NaRon also discuss the importance of resilience, the value of spiritual intelligence, and maintaining authenticity throughout your professional growth.Plus, just as Jodi emphasizes aligning your mindset with your business, we believe in aligning your sleep with your lifestyle. That's why we're proud to partner with Cozy Earth, offering premium bedding and loungewear designed to enhance your well-being and promote restful sleep. Visit cozyearth.com and use our exclusive code VICTORY1 to enjoy an incredible 40% off.Key Takeaways:The importance of self-reflection and aligning mindset with marketing strategies.Overcoming adversity and building resilience in business and personal life.The role of mindfulness in understanding customer needs and creating authentic brands.The value of spiritual intelligence and authenticity in professional growth.Practical tips for building a successful brand and navigating entrepreneurial challenges.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome00:24 Purpose of the Podcast00:56 Host's Journey and Expertise03:11 The Mindful Marketer Course04:07 Understanding Customer Needs07:33 Guest Introduction: Jodi Edwards08:11 Jodi's Background and Journey12:31 Entrepreneurial Insights and Challenges19:04 Empowerment and Overcoming Obstacles27:38 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth28:41 The Power of Vulnerability29:28 Navigating Past Experiences30:07 Wisdom and Implementation30:38 Mind, Body, and Soul Connection31:13 Embracing Solitude and Self-Discovery32:16 Transformation and Ego Death33:26 Creating a New Life34:10 Understanding Branding34:30 Personal Branding and Aesthetics39:06 Client Work and Personal Growth41:50 Addressing Social Issues48:40 Final Thoughts and FarewellCall to Action:Want to be a guest on Walk In Victory? Send NaRon Tillman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/walkinvictoryBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/walk-in-victory--4078479/support.

In this episode, Christy and Will talk about whether or not you need a website copyright and share their Somewhat Useful tips for your business. Then they talk with Kate Scott about her journey from WordPress book blogger to successful Squarespace educator and template creator. Kate discusses the advantages of Squarespace over WordPress and how she transitioned from client work to selling templates and courses. You'll hear about her approach to productivity, strategies for growing a sustainable online business, and insights into hiring your first team member.Follow Kate Scott on InstagramLaunch Out LoudFollow: ⁠⁠Follow Christy on Instagram⁠⁠ Follow Will on Instagram⁠⁠ Sign up for Will's Newsletter⁠⁠ Sign up for Christy's Newsletter⁠

Chip and Gini explore how satisfaction can drive motivation, the significance of setting boundaries with clients, and the need for purpose in work.

In today's episode, I dive into the journey of Ian Grant (@vermontdogtrainer 270k), a dog trainer who transitioned from in-person coaching to launching a successful online course, all while managing life as a parent and business owner. Ian shares his formula for creating viral Instagram reels, with 17 of his videos surpassing 1 million views. He breaks down the strategies that helped him grow his audience and explains why understanding client pain points and documenting real-world moments are key to creating impactful content. We also explore how Ian built his online course, starting with a six-month beta program that evolved into his current three-month "Canines and Culture" program. He discusses the value of running launches, building community, and gathering feedback to continuously improve his offerings. Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or dog owner, this episode is packed with actionable tips for balancing life, growing a business, and creating meaningful connections through social media.

For the first time in years, I'm joined by a guest on the podcast, and it's a special one! My friend and past client, TaVona Denise, shares her incredible results from the Free Mini Service Challenge, where she booked 16 free mini service calls without using social media. In this conversation, we break down her approach to direct outreach, her messaging insights, and the surprising opportunities that emerged from this simple yet powerful strategy.What You'll Learn in This Episode:

In today's episode, I share practical strategies for staying current in the ever-changing legal landscape, even when billable hours and client demands dominate your schedule.  I discuss how to create a system for digesting critical legal updates, leveraging firm and external resources for professional development, and connecting with colleagues to maximize learning opportunities.  Whether it's identifying efficient ways to track industry news or tapping into events and partnerships to expand expertise, this episode offers actionable advice for lawyers aiming to maintain their edge in large law firms.  At a Glance: 0:00 Introduction: Why professional development is critical for lawyers at every stage 0:23 The challenge of balancing professional growth with the demands of big law 2:03 Efficient ways to audit and organize legal updates in your practice area 3:23 Using competitor resources and external publications for legal insights 4:26 Broadening your knowledge through business and industry news 5:35 Leveraging webinars and hybrid conferences to keep learning accessible 7:00 Maximizing value from bar associations and local events 7:45 Opportunities in internal firm-sponsored events and panels 8:47 Collaborating with colleagues to streamline learning and share expertise 10:19 Building relationships with senior colleagues for mentorship and mutual growth 12:12 Final thoughts on balancing professional development with client demands Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.  For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast  

Are you guilty of putting your clients first at the expense of your own marketing?   In this week's episode, I'm diving into why we often prioritize client work over growing our own businesses. You already know marketing is essential for attracting consistent clients, yet it's easy to let it fall by the wayside when you're busy serving others.   Here's what I cover in this episode: The mindset shifts needed to consistently prioritize your marketing How to balance client work without taking on too much responsibility Practical steps to break the cycle and get back to intentional growth   It's time to show up for your business like you show up for your clients. This episode will help you do just that.   Connect with me outside the podcast!  Continue the conversation in the Market Like a Boss Facebook group.  Spend 30 minutes with me and figure out exactly what it will take to double your revenue without doubling your hours. Grab a Fast Track to 100K slot now. Want to get a new client this month? Grab a copy of our 30 Days to New Clients calendar! Each day has one step you can take to sign a client (in 60 minutes or less). Download it for free.   Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER I'd greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that this podcast can reach more women!  Search for the podcast in your podcast app (Market Like a Boss) Scroll down and click 5 stars Tap “Write a Review” & enter a brief review Press send  

Nick Broekema, a former agency owner and LinkedIn content design specialist, joined me for today's episode. Nick shares his transition from agency life to creating content on LinkedIn, leading to a successful and fulfilling career. He explains the importance of consistency, discipline, and targeting the right audience through relevant content and how he leverages LinkedIn to cherry-pick his clients. He offers actionable advice on content creation, leveraging client feedback, and staying disciplined in business. Tune in now to learn from Nick's experience in building a following of over 56,000, 20 million impressions, and how he 8x his income through LinkedIn.

Check out the Taxpros Discord http://www.taxprosdiscord.com/And connect with Derek onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-foote-cpa/X/Twitter https://x.com/WTFoote

Ever wondered how toys come to life through photography?

Happy clients mean steady income, right? Naturally, you want to keep clients satisfied, but is focusing solely on immediate client work holding you back from even bigger opportunities? It may sound counterintuitive, but prioritizing short-term gains can sometimes prevent you from unlocking long-term financial success.In this episode of She Thinks Big, you'll discover six surprising reasons why constantly putting clients first might actually cost you more than you realize. Plus, I'll share four practical steps to help you shift away from a client-first mindset and make space for strategic growth that boosts your business in the long run.2:27 - The “more clients equals more money” trap and how you could be sacrificing long-term wealth for short-term revenue6:15 - How client work can blind you to the bigger money you're missing7:52 - What keeps you from scaling your business and the opportunity cost of playing small10:52 - The investment you might not be making that leads to bigger financial returns13:24 - Four ways to break free from your client-first mindsetMentioned In Why Putting Client Work First Is Costing You Big OpportunitiesShe Thinks Big by Andrea LiebrossVision to Action IntensiveBook a Call With AndreaAndrea on LinkedIn, Instagram, and FacebookAre you ready to be one of those women who already has their act together even before the ball drops? Join the Kickstart Your 2025 workshop on December 10th and set yourself up for a year of action. Ditch the overwhelm and give you a head start to make 2025 your biggest year yet. This is your time. Register at andrealiebross.com/kickstart-workshop

Warning–there's at least one swear word in today's episode and it's coming up quick. If you're listening with sensitive ears--either yours or someone else's--within earshot, this is your heads up. My guest this week is award-winning journalist and author, Paulette Perhach. Paulette has written two essays that have gone viral, including “A Story of a Fuck Off Fund,” which was included in the anthology Freshman Year of Life. Paulette is also the author of the book “Welcome to the Writer's Life,” host of a virtual writing salon that's called A Very Important Meeting, and a one-on-one writing coach. We talked about: - Her semi-famous roommate in NYC (where she moved two months ago) - Why people who are making their way outside the corporate world are her heroes - Why she's planning to quit ghostwriting and make all her money from her own writing and programs - The gift she received from a client that has her rethinking her revenue streams - Dealing with the loss that can accompany transformation - How practical jokes relate to her desire to earn more money - The series she's re-watching - The best sound in the world Connect with Paulette at pauletteperhach.com or on Instagram @paulettejperhach. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Hannah and Morgan recap how they did with their Q3 goals and chat about what's on the docket for Q4 2024! Hannah talks about the arrival of her sabbatical. Morgan talks about the beauty of consistency in client work. They finish the episode with chatting about what the sabbatical means for the Weight Inclusive Innovators podcast. See you in 2025!Be sure to subscribe, share with a friend and leave us a review to help people find our work!Sign up for our newsletter for pep talks, business round ups, resources, and things we've been loving during the week.This podcast is brought to you by Morgan and Hannah's daily consumption of coffee. You can buy us a coffee here! Follow Weight Inclusive Innovators on Instagram.Email us with questions or show topics at hello@weightinclusiveinnovators.com.Where to Find Morgan:Morgan Sinclair DesignsWeight Inclusive Business AcademyThe Eating ExpeditionWhere to Find Hannah:Values Driven GroupNourishED Colorado

In today's episode, we're talking about one of the most powerful shifts you can make in your business—moving from 1:1 client work to scalable, one-to-many offers. If you've hit a ceiling in your income and time, or you're craving more freedom and flexibility, this transition could be the game-changer you've been waiting for. We'll explore the benefits of shifting to one-to-many offers like group programs, courses, memberships, and more. Plus, we'll walk you through how to make this leap in a strategic, sustainable way, so you can stop trading time for money and start scaling your impact. JOIN THE NEXT LEVEL MASTERMIND WORK WITH CHRISTINE: FREE DOWNLOAD - Authentic Sales Scripts to Sell out your high ticket offers in Dm's and on calls. Book a Discovery Call with Christine here Join the waitlist for the Thrive Retreat here. Join the waitlist for the next round of Unstoppable Sales HERE Join the waitlist for the next round of NEXT LEVEL Mastermind HERE

This week we welcome Licensed Therapist, Transformation Coach, and international speaker, Allison Guilbault from Notes From Your Therapist on the LaidOPEN Podcast. Allison and I explore the journey she took on her unique career path from working with the FBI and Rikers Island inmates to her current role as a therapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, and sex/intimacy in New Jersey.  We discuss Allison's experiences in forensic psychology, her transition to private practice, and her passion for helping clients overcome shame and build confidence. The episode delves into the challenges of navigating significant career changes, personal relationships, and the importance of self-care and mindset work. Allison discusses her recent media presence, including an interview in Time Magazine about loneliness, and highlights the challenges and successes of working in demanding environments. Themes of self-empowerment, navigating difficult transitions, and supportive relationships are explored. Allison also introduces a simple daily practice for fostering self-compassion and positive thinking.  Join Charna and Allison as they explore the transformative power of inner work and resilience. Show Notes 00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Allison Guilbault 01:36 Allison's Recent Achievements and Podcasting Journey 02:23 Discussing Loneliness and Post-COVID Isolation 03:54 Allison's Career Shift: From Forensic Psychology to Private Practice 04:48 Navigating Burnout and Major Life Changes 06:55 The Power of Self-Trust and Resilience 15:17 Exploring Shame and Its Impact on Mental Health 18:26 Relationships, Intuition, and Personal Growth 25:45 Shifting Career Focus 25:53 Attracting High-Functioning Clients 26:16 Personal Reflections and Client Work 27:35 Fascination with Forensics 30:19 Experiences at Rikers Island 35:29 Self-Care and Boundaries 45:57 Therapy and Coaching Services 48:37 Daily Practice for Self-Compassion 51:02 Final Thoughts and Contact Information  

In episode 250 we dive into the intricate world of writing and brand voice with Haley Walden, a dynamic marketing copywriter and fantasy fiction author. Haley candidly shares her insights on embracing authenticity, navigating the balance between client and personal work, and tapping into your unique "weirdness." This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone striving to find their true voice and harness their creative essence both in business and personal projects. 3 Key Takeaways:

In episode 250 we dive into the intricate world of writing and brand voice with Haley Walden, a dynamic marketing copywriter and fantasy fiction author. Haley candidly shares her insights on embracing authenticity, navigating the balance between client and personal work, and tapping into your unique "weirdness." This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone striving to find their true voice and harness their creative essence both in business and personal projects. 3 Key Takeaways:

When you're no longer doing client work or have delegated a majority of it, what should you focus on next? Elizabeth Cook, who coaches alongside me in our programs for nonprofit consultants, joins me to discuss four key activities that founders should focus on after delegating client work. Our mission is to help you gain more time for these pivotal activities, so you can continue to grow and sustain a thriving consulting business! Need support as you grow your consulting practice? Our Impact

In this episode of the Design Break podcast, host Rocky Roark explores a game-changing approach to freelance client acquisition—the Bounty Method. He begins by addressing the common challenges freelancers face with traditional methods like cold emailing and social media marketing, emphasizing the unpredictable nature and trust issues inherent in these approaches. Rocky then introduces the Bounty Method, a strategy he recently tested with remarkable success, securing a $12k project in less than 24 hours. This method involves offering a flat cash reward—such as Rocky's $500 bounty—for successful referrals that lead to closed projects, making it a tangible and compelling incentive for his network.Rocky shares his personal journey of transitioning from percentage-based referral systems to the Bounty Method, detailing how he implemented and communicated this strategy effectively. He offers practical steps for listeners to implement the Bounty Method in their own freelance businesses, including defining an appropriate bounty amount, establishing clear communication with their network, and setting up systems for tracking referrals and prompt payouts. By fostering a supportive community and encouraging mutual benefit, Rocky illustrates how the Bounty Method not only boosts lead generation but also cultivates lasting professional relationships.  Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our newsletter! To stay connected with us and be part of our design community, follow us on Twitter @thedesignbreak. Join the conversation, access valuable content, and stay updated on industry insights. If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only motivates us but also helps others discover our show and benefit from the discussions we have.Don't forget to leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episode. Your support means the world to us as we continue to deliver valuable content to our incredible community of design professionals and freelancers.And be sure to check out these resources: The Futur Accelerator Program Hoodzpah — Freelance, and Business, and StuffRetroSupply Co. (Code: ROCKY20)

In today's episode we dive into this letter from a listener:Lately, I've been inspired to grow my non-client work and my unpaid projects into a bigger part of my business. I have a published book, a podcast, and regular events - but they're not closely related to each other!This makes it really hard to grow any one of them, let alone all of them, when my client work is what pays the bills.I end up prioritizing client work above all these other projects, and I end up with very little time to spend on growing these other projects that I'd prefer to be the focus of my future. I have a gigantic list of ideas and dreams related to these projects, but it's felt like my paying client work is "getting in the way."Do you have any ideas on how I could create the time or space to grow my lesser-paying work when my client work isn't the dream?In today's episode Sara and Jen explore how we can balance the work that pays the bills and the creative projects that truly light us up and create more space for all of the things we want to create, explore, and experience in this journey.Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here.More from SaraMore from JenLooking for a podcast editor? Our editor currently has some space for new clients. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

You may have heard this phrase before because it's used a lot when it comes to sales trainings that are soul centered and not so aggressive.    But most people don't actually know what it means. And, once you really get the meaning of it, it can be SO helpful….for making sales….for being willing to show up for sales conversations as your authentic self….for going deeper in your client sessions and groups your lead….and for overall keeping a healthy mindset and soulset about your business and about your work.   The phrase I'm talking about: “Don't Be Attached to Outcome”.   In today's episode, I break the meaning of this phrase down so that you can start transforming from the inside out to show up more fully, confidently - and with less stress! - for all aspects of your work, business…   …and even your life!   PLEASE SHARE THIS PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS! I will so appreciate it!   PLEASE GIVE US A 5-STAR RATING & REVIEW! Thank you in advance!   Join our mailing list and get a copy of 55 Effective Breakthrough Coaching Questions    Join us on July 11th for How to Co-Create Better Client Results   Join us for the next round of the Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me!   On Instagram    On The Coaching Revolution Group on Facebook  

Stephanie has a newfound interest in urban foraging for serviceberries in Chicago. Joël discusses how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT to generate creative Dungeons & Dragons character concepts and backstories, which sparks a broader conversation with Stephanie about AI's role in enhancing the creative process. Together, the hosts delve into professional growth and experience, specifically how to leverage everyday work to foster growth as a software developer. They discuss the importance of self-reflection, note-taking, and synthesizing information to enhance learning and professional development. Stephanie shares her strategies for capturing weekly learnings, while Joël talks about his experiences using tools like Obsidian's mind maps to process and synthesize new information. This leads to a broader conversation on the value of active learning and how structured reflection can turn routine work experiences into meaningful professional growth. Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) Zettelkasten (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten) Mindmaps in Mermaid.js (https://mermaid.js.org/syntax/mindmap.html) Module Docs episode (https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/417) Writing Quality Method docs blog post (https://thoughtbot.com/blog/writing-quality-method-docs) Notetaking for Developers episode (https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/357) Learning by Helping blog post (https://thoughtbot.com/blog/learning-by-helping) Transcript:  JOËL: Hello and welcome to another episode of The Bike Shed, a weekly podcast from your friends at thoughtbot about developing great software. I'm Joël Quenneville. STEPHANIE: And I'm Stephanie Minn. And together, we're here to share a bit of what we've learned along the way. JOËL: So, Stephanie, what's new in your world? STEPHANIE: So, as of today, while we record this, it's early June, and I have started foraging a little bit for what's called serviceberries, which is a type of tree/shrub that is native to North America. And I feel like it's just one of those, like, things that more people should know about because it makes these little, tiny, you know, delicious fruit that you can just pick off of the tree and have a little snack. And what's really cool about this tree is that, like I said, it's native, at least to where I'm from, and it's a pretty common, like, landscaping tree. So, it has, like, really pretty white flowers in the spring and really beautiful, like, orange kind of foliage in the fall. So, they're everywhere, like, you can, at least where I'm at in Chicago, I see them a lot just out on the sidewalks. And whenever I'm taking a walk, I can just, yeah, like, grab a little fruit and have a little snack on them. It's such a delight. They are a really cool tree. They're great for birds. Birds love to eat the berries, too. And yeah, a lot of people ask my partner, who's an arborist, like, if they're kind of thinking about doing something new with the landscaping at their house, they're like, "Oh, like, what are some things that I should plant?" And serviceberry is his recommendation. And now I'm sharing it with all of our Bike Shed listeners. If you've ever wondered about [laughs] a cool and environmentally beneficial tree [laughs] to add to your front yard, highly recommend, yeah, looking out for them, looking up what they look like, and maybe you also can enjoy some June foraging. JOËL: That's interesting because it sounds like you're foraging in an urban environment, which is typically not what I associate with the idea of foraging. STEPHANIE: Yeah, that's a great point because I live in a city. I don't know, I take what I can get [laughs]. And I forget that you can actually forage for real out in, you know, nature and where there's not raccoons and garbage [laughs]. But yeah, I think I should have prefaced by kind of sharing that this is a way if you do live in a city, to practice some urban foraging, but I'm sure that these trees are also out in the world, but yeah, have proved useful in an urban environment as well. JOËL: It's really fun that you don't have to, like, go out into the countryside to do this activity. It's a thing you can do in the environment that you live in. STEPHANIE: Yeah, that was one of the really cool things that I got into the past couple of years is seeing, even though I live in a city, there's little pieces of nature around me that I can engage with and picking fruit off of people's [inaudible 03:18] [laughs], like, not people's, but, like, parkway trees. Yeah, the serviceberry is also a pretty popular one here that's planted in the Chicago parks. So, yeah, it's just been like, I don't know, a little added delight to my days [laughs], especially, you know, just when you're least expecting it and you stumble upon it. It's very fun. JOËL: That is really fun. It's great to have a, I guess, a snack available wherever you go. STEPHANIE: Anyway, Joël, what is new in your world? JOËL: I've been intersecting two, I guess, hobbies of mine: D&D and AI. I've been playing a lot of one-shot games with friends, and that means that I need to constantly come up with new characters. And I've been exploring what AI can do to help me develop more interesting or compelling character concepts and backstories. And I've been pretty satisfied with the result. STEPHANIE: Cool. Yeah. I mean, if you're playing a lot and having to generate a lot of new ideas, it can be hard if you're, you know, just feeling a little empty [laughs] in terms of, you know, coming up with a whole character. And that reminds me of a conversation that you and I had in person, like, last month as we were talking about just how you've been, you know, experimenting with AI because you had used it to generate images for your RailsConf talk. And I think I connected it to the idea of, like, randomness [laughs] and how just injecting some of that can help spark some more, I think, creativity, or just help you think of things in a new way, especially if you're just, like, having a hard time coming up with stuff on your own. And even if you don't, like, take exactly what's kind of provided to you in a generative AI, it at least, I don't know, kind of presents you with something that you didn't see before, or yeah, it's just something to react to. JOËL: Yeah, it's a great tool for getting unstuck from that kind of writer's block or that, like, blank page feeling. And oftentimes, it'll give you a thing, and you're like, that's not really exactly what I wanted. But it sparks another idea, which is what I actually want. Or sometimes you can be like, "Hey, here's an idea I have. I'm not sure what direction to take it in. Give me a few options." And then, you see that, and you're like, "Oh, that's actually pretty interesting." One thing that I think is interesting is once I've come up with a little bit of the character concept, or maybe even, like, a backstory element...so, I'm using ChatGPT, and it has that concept of memory. And so, throughout the conversation, it keeps bringing it back. So, if I tell it, "Look, this is an element that's going to be core to the character," and then later on, I'm like, "Okay, help me brainstorm some potential character flaws for this character," it'll actually find things that connect back to my, like, core concept, or maybe an element of the backstory. And it'll give me like, you know, 5 or 10 different ideas, and some of them can be actually really good. So, I've really enjoyed doing that. It's not so much to just generate me a character so much as it is like a conversation back and forth of like, "Okay, help me come up with a vibe for it. Okay, now that I have a vibe or a backstory element or, like, a concept, help me workshop this thing. And what about that?" And if I want to say, "It's going to be this character class, what are maybe some ways I could develop it that are unusual?" and just sort of step by step kind of choose your own adventure. And it kind of walking me through the process has been really fun. STEPHANIE: Nice. Yeah, the way you're talking about it makes a lot of sense to me how asking it to help you, not necessarily do all of it, like, you know, kind of just spit out something that you're like, okay, like, that's what I'm going to use, approaching it as a tool, and yeah, that's really fun. Have you had good experiences then playing with those characters [chuckles]? JOËL: I have. I think it's also really great for sort of padding out some of the content. So, I had a character I played who was a washed-up politician. And at one point, I knew that I was going to have to make a campaign speech. And I asked ChatGPT, "Can you help me, like...here are the themes I want to hit. Give me a, like, classic, very politician-sounding speech that sounds inspiring but also says nothing at the same time." And it did a really good job of that. And you can tell it, "Oh, that's too long. That's too short. I want three sentences. I want five sentences." And that was great. So, I saved that, brought it to the table, and read out my campaign speech, and it was a hit. STEPHANIE: Amazing. That's really fun. I like that because, yeah, I don't think...I am so poor at just improvising things like that, even though, like, I want to really embody the character. So, that's cool that you found a way to help you be able to do that because that just feels like kind of what playing D&D can be about. JOËL: I've never DM'd, but I could imagine a situation where, because the DMs have to improv so much, and you know what the players do, I could imagine having a tool like that available behind the DM screen being really helpful. So, all of a sudden, someone's just like, "Oh, I went to a place," and, like, all of a sudden, you have to, like, sort of generate a village and, like, ten characters on the spot for people that you didn't expect, or an organization or something like that. I could imagine having a tool like that, especially if it's already primed with elements from your world that you've created, being something really helpful. That being said, I've never DM'd myself, so I have no idea what it actually is like to be on the other side of that screen. STEPHANIE: Cool. I mean, if you ever do try that or have a DM experience and you're like, hmm, I wonder kind of how I might be able to help me here, I bet that would be a very cool experience to share on the show. JOËL: I definitely have to report back here. Something that I've been thinking about a lot recently is the difference between sort of professional growth and experience, so the time that you put into doing work. Particularly maybe because, you know, we spend part of our week doing client work, and then we have part of the week that's dedicated to maybe more directly professional growth: our investment day. How do we grow from that, like, four days a week where we're doing client work? Because not all experience is created equal. Just because I put in the hours doesn't mean that I'm going to grow. And maybe I'm going to feel like I'm in a rut. So, how do I take those four days a week that I'm doing code and transform that into some sort of growth or expansion of my knowledge as a developer? Do you have any sort of tactics that you like to use or ways you try to be a little bit more mindful of that? STEPHANIE: Yeah, this is a fun question for me, and kind of reminds me of something we've talked a little bit about before. I can't remember if it was, like, on air or just separately, but, you know, we talk a lot about, like, different learning strategies on the show, I think, because that's just something you and I are very into. And we often, like, lean on, you know, our investment day, so our Fridays that we get to not do client work and kind of dedicate to professional development. But you and I also try to remember that, like, most people don't have that. And most people kind of are needing to maybe find ways to just grow from the day-to-day work that they do, and that is totally possible, I think. And some of the strategies that I have are, I guess, like, it is really...it can be really challenging to, like, you know, be like, okay, I spent 40 hours doing this, and like, what did I learn [chuckles]? Feeling like you have to have something to show for it or something to point to. And one thing that I've been really liking is these automated check-ins we have at the end of the week. And, you know, I suspect that this is not that uncommon for just, like, a workplace to be like, "Hey, like, how did your week go? Like, what are some ways that it was successful? Like, what are your challenges? Like, where do you need support or help?" And I think I've now started using that as both, like, space for giving an update on just, like, business-y things. Like, "Here's the status of this project," or, like, "Here's, you know, a roadblock that we faced that took some extra time," or whatever. Then also being like, oh, this is a great time to make this space for myself, especially because...I don't know about you, but whenever I have, like, performance review time and I have to write, like, a self-review, I'm just like, did I do anything in the last six months [laughs], or how have I grown in the last six months? It feels like such a big question, kind of like you were talking about that blank page syndrome a little bit. But if I have kind of just put in the 10 minutes during my Friday to be like, is there something that was kind of just for me that I can say in my check-in? I can go back and, yeah, just kind of start to see just, like, you know, pick out or just pay attention to how, like, my 40 hours is kind of serving me in growing in the ways that I want to and not just to deliver code [laughs]. JOËL: What you're describing there, that sort of weekly check-in and taking notes, reminds me of the practice of journaling. Is that something that you've ever tried to do in your, like, regular life? STEPHANIE: Oh yeah, very much so. But I'm not nearly as, like, routine about it in my personal life. But I suspect that the routine is helpful in more of a, like, workplace setting, at least for me, because I do have, like, more clear pathways of growth that I'm interested in or just, like, something that, I don't know, not that it's, like, expected of everyone, but if that is part of your goals or, like, part of your company's culture, I feel like I benefit from that structure. And yeah, I mean, I guess maybe that's kind of my way of integrating something that I already do in my personal life to an environment where, like I said, maybe there is, like, that is just part of the work and part of your career progression. JOËL: I'm curious about the frequency. You mentioned that you sort of do this once a week, sort of a check-in at the end of the week. Do you find that once a week is about the right frequency versus maybe something like daily? I know a lot of these sort of more modern note-taking systems, Roam Research, or Obsidian, or whatever, have this concept of, like, a daily note that's supposed to encourage something that's kind of like journaling. Have you ever tried something more on a daily basis, or do you feel like a week is about...or once a week is about the right cadence for you? STEPHANIE: Listen, I have, like, complicated feelings about this because I think the daily note is so aspirational for me [laughs] and just not how I work. And I have finally begrudgingly come to accept this no matter how much, like, I don't know, like, bullet journal inspirational content I consume on the internet [laughs]. I have tried and failed many a time to have more frequency in that way. But, I don't know, I think it almost just, like, sets me up for failure [laughs] because I have these expectations. And that's, like, the other thing. It's like, you can't force learning necessarily. I don't know if this is, like, a strategy, but I think there is some amount of, like, making sure that I'm in the right headspace for it and, you know, like, my environment, too, kind of is conducive to it. Like, I have, like, the time, right? If I'm trying to squeeze in, I don't know, maybe, like, in between meetings, 20 minutes to be like, what did I learn from this experience? Nothing's coming out [laughs]. That was another thing that I was kind of mulling over when he had this topic proposed is this idea of, like, mindset and environment being really important because you know when you are saying, like, not all time is created equal, and I suspect that if, you know, either you or, like, the people around you and the environment you're in is not also facilitating growth, and, like, how much can you really expect for it to be happening? JOËL: I mean, that's really interesting, right? The impact of sort of a broader company culture. And I think that definitely can act as a catalyst for growth, either to kind of propel you forward or to pull you back. I want to dig into a little bit something you were saying about being in the right headspace to capture ideas. And I think that there's sort of almost, like, two distinct phases. There's the, like, capturing data, and information, and experiences, and then, there's synthesizing it, turning information into learning. STEPHANIE: Yes. JOËL: And it sounds like you're making a distinction between those two things, specifically that synthesis step is something that has to happen separately. STEPHANIE: Ooh, I don't even...I don't know if I would necessarily say that I'm only talking about synthesis, but I do like that you kind of separated those categories because I do think that they are really important. And they kind of remind me a lot about the scientific method a little bit where, you know, you have the gathering data and, like, observations, and you have, you know, maybe some...whatever is precipitating learning that you're doing maybe differently or new. And that also takes time, I think, or intention at least, to be like, oh, do I have what I need to, like, get information about how this is going? And then, yeah, that synthesis step that I think I was talking about a little bit more. But I don't think either is just automatic. There is, I think, quite a bit of intention involved. JOËL: I think maybe the way I think about this is colored by reading some material on the Zettelkasten method of note-taking, which splits up the idea of fleeting notes and literature notes, which are sort of just, like, jotting down ideas, or things you've seen, things that you've learned, maybe a thought you had when you read a particular paragraph in a blog post, something like that. And then, the permanent notes, which are more, like, fully formed thoughts that arise out of the more fleeting ones. And so, the idea is that the fleeting ones maybe you're taking those in a notebook if you're doing it pen and paper. You could be doing it in some sort of, like, daily note, or something like that. And then, those are temporary. They were there to just capture information. Later on, you process that, and then you can throw them out if you need to. STEPHANIE: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. This has actually been a shift for me, where I used to rely a lot more on memory and perhaps, like, didn't have a great system for taking things like fleeting notes and, like, documenting kind of [inaudible 18:28] what I was saying earlier about how do I make sure that the information is recorded, you know, for me to synthesize later? And I have found a lot more success lately in that fleeting note style of operating. And thanks to Obsidian honestly, now it's so easy to be like, oh, I'm just going to open a quick new file. And I need as little friction as possible to, like, put stuff somewhere [laughs]. And, actually, I'm excited to talk a little bit more about this with you because I think you're a little bit different where you somehow find the time [laughs] and care to create your diagrams. I'm like, if I can, for some reason, even get an Obsidian file open, I'll tab to Slack. And I send myself a lot of notes in my just own personal DM space. In fact, it's actually kind of embarrassing because I use the Command+K shortcut to navigate to my own personal DMs, which you can get to by typing me, like, M-E. And sometimes I've accidentally just entered that into a channel chat [laughs], and then I have to delete it really quick later when I realize what I've done. So, yeah, like, I meant to navigate to my personal notes, and I just put in our team chat, "Me [laughs]." And, I don't know, I have no idea how that comes up [laughs], what people think is going on. But if anyone's listening to this podcast from thoughtbot and has seen that of me, that's what happened. JOËL: You may not be the only one who's done that. STEPHANIE: Thank you. Yeah [laughs], that's good to know. JOËL: I want to step back a little bit because we've been talking about, like, introspection, and synthesis, and finding moments to capture information. And I think we've sort of...there's an unspoken assumption here that a way to kind of turbocharge learning from day-to-day experience is some form of synthesis or self-reflection. Would you agree with that statement? STEPHANIE: Okay. This is another thing that I am perhaps, like, still trying to figure out, and we can figure it out together, which is separating, like, self-driven learning and, like, circumstance-driven learning. Because it's so much easier to want to reflect on something and find time to be, like, oh, like, how does this kind of help my goals or, like, what I want to be doing with my work? Versus when you are just asked to do something, and it could still be learning, right? It could still be new, and you need to go do some research or, you know, play around with a new tool. But there's less of that internal motivation or, like, kind of drive to integrate it. Like, do you have this distinction? JOËL: I've definitely noticed that when there is motivation, I get more out of every hour of work that I put in in terms of learning new things. The more interest, the more motivation, the more value I get per unit of effort I put in. STEPHANIE: Yeah. I think, for me, the other difference is, like, generative learning versus just kind of absorbing information that's already out there that someone else's...that is kind of, yeah, just absorbing rather than, like, creating something new from, like, those connections. JOËL: Ooh. STEPHANIE: Does that [chuckles] spark something for you? JOËL: The gears are turning in my head because I'm almost hearing that as, like, a passive versus active learning thing. But just sort of like, I'm going to let things happen to me, and I will come out of that with some experience, and something is going to happen. Versus an active, I am going to, like, try to move in a direction and learn from that and things like that. And I think this maybe connects back to the original question. Maybe this sort of, like, checking in at the end of the week, taking notes is a way to convert something that's a bit more of a passive experience, spending four days a week doing a project for a client, into something that's a little bit of a more active learning, where you say, "Okay, I did four weeks of this particular type of Rails work. What do I get out of it? What have I learned? What is something new that I've seen? What are some opinions I have formed, patterns I like or dislike?" STEPHANIE: Yeah, I like that distinction because, you know, a few weeks ago, we were at RailsConf. We had kind of recapped it in a previous episode. And I think we had talked about like, oh, do we, like, to sit in talks or participate in workshops? And I think that's also another example of, like, passive versus active, right? Because I 100%, like, don't have the same type of learning by just, you know, listening to a talk that I do with maybe then going to look up, like, other things this person has put out in the world, finding them to talk to them about it, like, doing something with the content, right? Otherwise, it's just like, oh yeah, I heard this talk. Maybe one day I'll remember it when the need arises [laughs]. I, like, have a pointer to it in my brain. But until then, it probably just kind of, like, sits there, and nothing's really happened with it. JOËL: I think maybe another thing that's interesting in that passive versus active distinction is that synthesis is inherently an act of creation. You are now creating new ideas of your own rather than just capturing information that is being thrown at you, either by sitting in a talk or by shipping tickets. The act of synthesizing and particularly, I think, making connections between ideas, either because something that, let's say you're in a talk, a speaker said that sparks an idea for yourself, or because you can connect something that speaker said with another idea that you already have or an idea that you've seen elsewhere. So, you're like, oh, the thing this person is saying connects to this thing I read in a book or something another speaker said in an earlier session, or something like that. All of a sudden, now you're creating these new bits of knowledge, new perspectives, maybe even new mental models. We talked about mental models last week. And so, knowledge is not just the facts that you absorb or memorize. A lot of it is building the connections between those facts. And those are things that are not always given to you. You have to create them yourself. STEPHANIE: Yeah, I am nodding my head a lot because that's resonating with, like, an experience that I'm having kind of coaching and mentoring a client developer on my team who is earlier in her career. And one thing that I've been really, like, working on with her is asking like, "Oh, like, what do you think of this?" Or like, "Have you seen this before? What are your reactions to this code, or, like this comment?" or whatever. And I get the sense that, like, not a lot of people have prompted her to, like, come up with answers for those kinds of questions. And I'm really, really hopeful that, like, that kind of will help her achieve some of the goals that she's, like, hoping for in terms of her technical growth, especially where she's felt like she's stagnated a little bit. And I think that calls back really well to what you said at the beginning of, like, you can spend years, right? Just kind of plugging away. But that's not the same as that really active growth. And, again, like, that's fine if that's where you're at or want to be at for a little while. But I suspect if anyone is kind of, like, wondering, like, where did that time go [laughs]...even for me, too, like, once someone started asking me those questions, I was like, oh, there's still so much to figure out or explore. And I think you're actually really good at doing that, asking questions of yourself. And then, another thing that I've picked up from you is you ask questions about, like, what are questions other people would have? And that's a skill that I feel like I still have yet to figure out. I'm [chuckles] curious what you think about that. JOËL: That's interesting because that kind of goes to another level. I often think of the questions other people would have from a more, like, pedagogical sense. So, I write a lot of blog posts. I write a lot of talks that I give. So, oftentimes when I'm creating that kind of material, there's a bit of an inner critic who's trying to, you know, sitting in the audience listening to myself speak, and who's going to maybe roll their eyes at certain points, or just get lost, or maybe raise their hand with a question. And that's who I try to address those things so that then when I go through it the next time, that inner critic is actually feeling engaged and paying attention. STEPHANIE: Do you find that you're able to do that because you've seen that happen enough times where you're like, oh, I can kind of predict maybe what someone might feel confused about? I'm curious, like, how you got from being, like, well, I know what I would be confused about to what would someone else be unsure or, like, want more information about. JOËL: Part of the answer there is that I'm a very harsh critic myself. STEPHANIE: [laughs] Yes. JOËL: So, I'm sitting in somebody else's talk, and there are probably parts where I'm rolling my eyes or being like, wait a minute, how did you get from this idea to this other thing? That doesn't follow. And so, I try to turn that back towards myself and use that as fuel to make my own work better. STEPHANIE: Yeah, that's cool. I like that. Even if it's just framed as, like, a missed opportunity for people to have better or more comprehensive understanding. I know that's something that you're, like, very motivated to help kind of spread more of [laughs]. Understanding and learning is just important to you and to me. So, I think that's really cool that you're able to find ways to do that. JOËL: Well, you definitely want to, I think, to keep a sort of beginner's mindset for a lot of these things, and one of the best ways to do that is to work with beginners. So, I spent a lot of time, back in the day, for example, in the Elm language chat room, just helping people answer basic questions, looking up documentation, explaining sort of basic concepts. And that, I think, helped me get a sense of like, where were newcomers to the language getting stuck? And what were the explanations of those concepts that really connected? Which I could then translate into my work. And I think that that made me a better developer and helped me build this, like, really deep understanding of the underlying concepts in a way that I wouldn't have had just writing code on my own. STEPHANIE: Wow, forum question answering hero. I have never thought to do that or felt compelled to do that. But I remember my friend was telling me, she was like, "Yeah, sometimes I just want to feel good about myself. And I remember that I know things that other people, like, are wanting to find out," and she just will answer some easy questions on Stack Overflow, you know, about, like, basic Rails stuff or something. And she is like, "Yeah, and that's doing my good deed [laughs]." And yeah, I think that it also, you know, has the same benefits that you were just saying earlier about...because you want to be helpful, you figure out how to actually be helpful, right? JOËL: There's maybe a sense as well that helping others, once more, forces you into more of an active mindset for growth in the same way that interrogating yourself does, except now it's a beginner who's interrogating you. And so, it forces you to think a little bit more about those whys or those places where people get stuck. And you've just sort of assumed it's a certain way, but now you have to, like, explain it and really get into some of the concepts. STEPHANIE: So, on the show, we've talked a lot about the fun things you share in the dev channel in our Slack workspace. But I recently discovered that someone (Was it you?) created an Obsidian MD channel for our favorite note-taking software. And in it, you shared a really cool tool that is available in Obsidian called mind maps. JOËL: Yeah, so mind maps are a type of diagram. They're effectively a tree structure, but they don't really look like that when you draw them out. You start with a sort of topic in the center, and then you just keep drawing branches off of that, going every direction. And then, maybe branches off branches and keep going as you add more content. Turns out that Mermaid.js supports mind maps as a graph type, and Obsidian embeds Mermaid diagrams. So, you can use Mermaid's little language to express a mind map. And now, all of a sudden, you have mind mapping as a tool available for you within Obsidian. STEPHANIE: And how have you been using that to kind of process and experience or maybe, like, end up with some artifacts from, like, something that you're just doing in regular day-to-day work? JOËL: So, kind of like you, I think I have the aspiration of doing some kind of, like, daily note journaling thing and turning that into bigger ideas. In practice, I do not do that. Maybe that's the thing that I will eventually incorporate into my practice, but that's not something that I'm currently doing. Instead, a thing that I've done is a little bit more like you, but it's a little bit more thematically chunked. So, for example, recently, I did several weeks of work that involved doing a lot of documentation for module-level documentation. You know, I'd invested a lot of time learning about YARD, which is Ruby's documentation system, and trying to figure out, like, what exactly are docs that are going to be helpful for people? And I wanted that to not just be a thing I did once and then I kind of, like, move on and forget it. I wanted to figure out how can I sort of grow from that experience maximally? And so, the approach I took is to say, let's take some time after I've completed that experience and actually sort of almost interrogate it, ask myself a bunch of questions about that experience, which will then turn into more broad ideas. And so, what I ended up doing is taking a mind-mapping approach. So, I start that center circle is just a circle that says, "My experience writing docs," and then I kind of ring it with a series of questions. So, what are questions that might be interesting to ask someone who just recently had experience writing documentation? And so, I come up with 4,5,6 questions that could be interesting to ask of someone who had experience. And here I'm trying to step away from myself a little bit. And then, maybe I can start answering those questions, or maybe there are sub-questions that branch off of that. And maybe there are answers, or maybe there are answers that are interesting but that then trigger follow-up questions. And so I'm almost having a conversation with myself and using the mind map as a tool to facilitate that. But the first step is putting that experience in the center and then ringing it with questions, and then kind of seeing where those lead. STEPHANIE: Cool. Yeah, I am, like, surprised that you're still following that thread because the module docs experience was quite a little bit a while ago now. We even, you know, had an episode on it that I'll link in the show notes. How do you manage, like, learning new things all the time and knowing what to, like, invest energy and attention into and what to kind of maybe, like, consider just like, oh, like, I don't know, that was just an experience that I had, and I might not get around to doing anything with it? JOËL: I don't know that I have a great system. I think sometimes when I do, especially a more prolonged chunk of time doing a thing, I find it really worthwhile to say, hey, I don't want that to sort of just be a thing that was in my memory, and then it moves out. I'd like to pull out some more maybe practical or long-term ideas from it. Part of that is capture, but some of that is also synthesis. I just spent two weeks or I just spent a month using a particular technology or doing a new kind of task. What do I have to show for it? Are there any, like, bigger ideas that I have here? Does this connect with any other technologies I've done or any other ideas or theories? Did I come up with any opinions? Did I like this technology? Did I not? Are there elements that were inspirational? And then capturing some of that eventually with the idea of...so I do a sort of Zettelkasten-style permanent note collection, the idea to create at least a few of those based off of the experience that I can then connect to other things. And maybe it eventually turns into other content. Maybe it's something I hold onto for a while. In the case of the module docs, it turned into a Bike Shed episode. It also turned into a blog post that was published this past week. And so, it does have a way of coming back. STEPHANIE: Yeah. Yeah. One thing that sparked for me was that, you know, you and I spend a lot of time thinking about, like, the practice of writing software, you know, in the work we do as consultants, too. But I find that, like, you can also apply this to the actual just your work that you are getting paid for [laughs]. This was, I think, a nascent thought in the talk that I had given. But there's something to the idea of, like, you know, if you are working in some code, especially legacy code, for a long time, and you learn so much about it, and then what do you have to show for it [chuckles], you know? I have really struggled with feeling like all of that work and learning was useful if it just, like, remains in my memory and not necessarily shared with the team or, I don't know, just, like, knowing that if I leave, especially since I am a contractor, like, just recognizing that there's value in being like, oh, I spent an hour or, like, half a day sifting through this complex legacy code just to make, like, a small change. But that small change is not the full value of all of the work that I did. And I suspect that, like, just the mind mapping stuff would be really interesting to apply to more. It's not, like, just practical work, but, like, more mundane, I don't know, like, labor [laughs], if you will. JOËL: I can think of, like, sort of two types of knowledge that you can take out of something like that. Some of it is just understanding how this legacy system works, saying, oh, well, they have this user model that's connected to this old persona table, which is kind of unused, but we sometimes rely for in this legacy case. And you've got to have this permission flag turned on and, like, all those things that you had to just discover by reading the code and exploring. And that's going to be useful to you as long as you work in that legacy codebase, as long as you work through that path. But when you move on to another project, that knowledge probably doesn't serve you a whole lot. There are things that you did throughout that journey, though, that you can probably pull out that are going to be useful to you on other projects. And that might be maybe you came up with a new way of navigating the code or a new way of, like, finding how different pieces were connected. Maybe it was a diagramming tool; maybe it was some sort of gem. Maybe it was just a, oh, a heuristic, like, when I see a model, I like to follow the associations first. And I always go for the hasmanys over the belongstos because those generally lead me in the right direction. Like, that's really interesting insight, and that's something that might serve you on a following project. You can also pull out bigger things like, are there refactoring techniques that you experimented with or that you learned on this project that you would use again elsewhere? Are there ways of maybe quarantining scary code on a legacy project that are a thing that you would want to make more consistent part of your practice? Those are all great things to pull out of, just a like, oh yeah, I did some work on a, like, old legacy part of an app. And what do I have to show for it? I think you can actually have a lot to show for it. STEPHANIE: Yeah, that's really cool. That sounds like a sure way of multiplying the learning. And I think I didn't really consider that when I was first talking about it, too. But yeah, there are, like, both of those things kind of available to you to, like, learn from. Yeah, it's like, that time is never just kind of, like, purely wasted. Oh, I don't know, sometimes it really feels like that [laughs] when you are debugging something really silly. But yeah, like, I would be interested in kind of thinking about it from both of those lenses because I think there's value in what you learn about that particular system in that moment of time, even if it might not translate to just future works or future projects. And, like, that's something that I think we would do better at kind of capturing, and also, there's so much stuff, too, kind of to that higher level growth that you were speaking to. JOËL: I think some of the distinctions we're talking about here is something that was explored in an older episode on note-taking with Amanda Beiner, where we sort of explored the difference between exploratory notes, debugging notes, idea notes, and how note-taking is not a single thing. It can serve many purposes, and they can have different lifespans. And those are all just ways to aid your thinking. But being maybe aware of the kind of thinking that you're trying to do, the kind of notes you're trying to take can help you make better use of that time. STEPHANIE: I have one last question for you before we wrap up, which is, do you find, like, the stuff we're talking about to be particularly true about software development, or it just happens to be the thing that you and I both do, and we also love to learn, and so, therefore, we are able to talk about this for, like, 50 minutes [laughs]? Are you able to make any kind of distinction there, or is it just kind of part of pedagogy in general? JOËL: I would say that that sort of active versus passive thing is a thing that's probably true, just about anything that you do. For example, I do a lot of bouldering. Just going spending a lot of time on the wall, climbing a lot; that's going to help me get better. But a classic way that people try to improve is filming themselves or having a friend film themselves, and then you can look at it, and then you evaluate, oh, that's what I did. This is where I was struggling to get the next hold. What if I try to do something different? So, building in an amount of, like, self-reflection into the loop all of a sudden catalyzes that learning and helps you grow at a rate that's much more than if you're just kind of mindlessly putting time into it. So, I would go so far as to say that self-reflection, synthesis—those are all things that are probably going to catalyze growth in most areas of your life if you're being a little bit more self-aware. But I've found that it's been particularly useful for me when it comes to trying to get better at the job that I do every week. STEPHANIE: Yeah, I think, for me, it's like, yeah, getting better at being a developer rather than being, you know, a software developer at X company. Like, not necessarily just getting better at working at that company but getting better at the skill itself. JOËL: And those two things have a way of sort of, like, folding back into themselves, right? If you're a better software developer in general, you will probably be a better developer at that company. Yes, you want domain knowledge and, like, a deep understanding of how the system works is going to make you a better developer at that company. But also, if you're able to find more generic approaches to onboard onto new things, or to debug more effectively, or to better read or understand unknown code of high complexity, those are all going to make you much better at being a developer at that company as well. And they're transferable skills, so they're all really good things to have. STEPHANIE: On that note. Shall we wrap up? JOËL: Let's wrap up. STEPHANIE: Show notes for this episode can be found at bikeshed.fm. JOËL: This show has been produced and edited by Mandy Moore. STEPHANIE: If you enjoyed listening, one really easy way to support the show is to leave us a quick rating or even a review in iTunes. It really helps other folks find the show. JOËL: If you have any feedback for this or any of our other episodes, you can reach us @_bikeshed, or you can reach me @joelquen on Twitter. STEPHANIE: Or reach both of us at hosts@bikeshed.fm via email. JOËL: Thanks so much for listening to The Bike Shed, and we'll see you next week. ALL: Byeeeeeee!!!!!! AD: Did you know thoughtbot has a referral program? If you introduce us to someone looking for a design or development partner, we will compensate you if they decide to work with us. More info on our website at: tbot.io/referral. Or you can email us at: referrals@thoughtbot.com with any questions.

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, I chat with Nate Crawford, a vibrant food photographer who turned his passion into a thriving career. Nate outlines the essence of connecting with brands, stressing the importance of a strong portfolio and personalized follow-ups. He also delves into the technicalities and emotional aspects of food photography, sharing invaluable tips on capturing images that resonate with warmth and authenticity. As you listen, I encourage you to apply Nate's lessons by experimenting with different settings on your camera, prioritizing the story behind each photo, and refining your approach to engaging with potential clients. Always remember, each shot is a step towards mastery.The Big Ideas:Embrace Persistent Selling: Consistently following up with potential clients can dramatically increase your success rate. Persistence pays off in this competitive field.Respect and Professionalism: Ensuring your interactions with brands are respectful and professional can make or break future opportunities. Your reputation precedes you.Harness the Power of Storytelling in Food Photography: Your images should tell a story, more than just showcasing a dish, they should evoke emotions and tell tales.Understand the Impact of Equipment Mastery: Learning the technical nuances of your camera elevates your ability to capture compelling images. Know your tools intimately.Photography Action PlanMaster Lighting Basics: Begin by observing the natural light during different times of the day and notice how it affects the mood and texture of your photos. Use a simple reflector (even a piece of white cardboard) to manipulate light and fill in shadows when shooting under harsh sunlight.Practice Food Photography: Set up a mini home studio with a basic backdrop (a large sheet or plain wall) and natural light from a nearby window. Style your food using simple props like utensils or raw ingredients to add authenticity and appeal to your shots.Develop a Portfolio: Start gathering your best work in a digital portfolio that can be easily shared or updated. Focus on including varied subjects and styles to show your versatility and ability to handle different photography challenges.Engage with Other Photographers: Join local or online photography groups to connect with peers. Participate in discussions, ask for feedback on your work, and attend group shoots or workshops to expand your network and skills.Embrace the Business Side: Educate yourself on basic business practices relevant to photography like drafting contracts, setting pricing strategies, and managing client relationships. Consider attending a workshop or taking an online course focused on photography as a business to ensure you're well-prepared to monetize your passion.Resources:Transform your Love for Photography into Profit for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/ Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets athttp://freephotographypresets.com/Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast! Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/ Thanks for listening & keep shooting!