Podcast appearances and mentions of dannie fountain

Although she had a great job, Dannie found herself $150,000 in debt and in a relationship that was no longer serving her. So one day she woke up, decided to change her priorities and get her life on track. Now Dannie works to empower others, amplify voices and create equality in the workplace. It isn't easy being an author, speaker, marketing strategist and also having a full time job at Google, but Dannie has a few tricks and tips to help create boundaries in her life and work. Follow Dannie: https://www.instagram.com/dannielynnfountain/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/uneducatedpod/message

Today Dannie and Caitlyn are talking with Amanda Gulino of A Better Monday. We believe in accessible content and that anyone who wants to learn from this content should be able to. In order to support this, we've had every episode of Season 4 transcribed. The transcriptions are available at the bottom of every episode blog post. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:Turning your unconventional passion into a thriving side-hustle.Embracing the “happy accident” or hidden opportunities to help propel your side hustle.Figuring out when it is time to pivot a side hustle and doing so gracefully.GET MORE: Website | Instagram | Linkedin FOLLOW YOUR HOSTS: D Website | D Instagram // C Website | C Instagram Get the Side Hustle Starter Kit Episode TranscriptIntro: [00:00:00] You're listening to the side hustle GAL podcast with your host Dannie Fountain and Caitlyn Allen. Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:00:21] Hello and welcome back to the side hustle gal podcast. Today's guest might be one of my favorites from the season, but I don't pick favorites. We are chatting with Amanda Gulino today who I actually met. While we were in Denver, together as two strangers coming together from across the country, um, as part of Denver startup week, we were two of the 50 ambassadors for that program. Um, and I've been stocking Amanda ever since. So this is great. And to get to talk today. So Amanda, thank you so much for coming on and tell us about your side hustle. Amanda Gulino: [00:01:02] Of course that might've been the best. Intro of all time, I've also been talking to some similar startup week. It what dannie fails to mention is that we met on the first day of Denver startup week and this kind of, it was maybe a bit overwhelming as an introvert, a bit overwhelming and yet awesome.Lunch at this great, uh, coworking space. And then. You just kept saying stuff. The whole time we were at startup week, I was like, I just need to know her. I need to connect with her more. I have to. Um, so this is a really fun way to come together. Um, okay. So a little bit about me. So, uh, my name is Amanda. I'm originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.I was born and raised there. Went to college, they went to LSU. And uh, that was really, that time in my life at college was really what unlocked a passion that I didn't know I could have and I didn't know I could do for work. And that was all about people. And, and. You know what I was thinking this morning about like why?Why am I doing all this work? Like the bit of a stressful morning and I came back to like what I'm on a mission to do and that at the end of the day, that's to make work something that's enjoyable for people and doesn't suck. Like that's really it. Why I'm doing this, because we spend so much time. So much of our waking hours working, we should be getting some enjoyment out of it.And the best part of that is when we're enjoying it, our bosses and our managers and our clients or whoever, they're going to be getting more good work out of us and everybody wins. Right? Um, so, so that's really what I'm on a mission to do. Um, I started my side hustle in. August of 2016 and it was sort of a happy accident.Um, before that time I had been floating around all sorts of ideas of like what I wanted to do. Um, I was like, I'm going to open a smoothie shop. I'm going to open a yoga studio. I mean, really, I went all over the place. I think at one point. There was a clothing store with only black and gray clothing in there, which I still might do cause that's all I wear.Um, I still might do that, but I went through a ton of ideas and ultimately I came back to my passion that I discovered in college. And so started my side hustle in 2016 kind of a funny story. I had a former coworker of mine who called me at seven in the morning and just said, Hey, do you still want to start?You're saying something on the side. And I said, yes. And she goes, I have your first client for you. And I'm still working with that client today, years later. And so that kicked off everything. I'm happy to share more, but that's really sort of the like launch into starting my side hustles. Caitlyn Allen: [00:03:45] Oh, I love that. So what made you really realize, like, and find that source of inspiration to like. Start that mission that you're, you're now easily, well, not easily. You are, no, I'm working towards. Amanda Gulino: [00:04:03] Oh, it's such a good question. I mean, the only way I know how to describe it is that this sort of like, um, insatiable, like thing that keeps bubbling up inside of me that I just really, really care about.Um, what it comes down to, you know, is we get. One life and this form on this planet. Um, and it's short, but long. And we work a lot. We have to work a lot, or maybe we don't have to work but, we have to do something to bring in income to do the things they want to do. And there should be enjoyment tied to that.And I just believe that in my core. Uh, that, that everybody deserves that. And I want that for everyone. So I think it's just the thing that doesn't go away and it keeps coming back no matter, no matter how much I, you know, my might've tried to like squash it down at times.Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:04:53] Okay. Um, what you guys aren't seeing is you're listening right here as Katelyn just pointed at me, even though she was gonna have the next question, but I'm going to ask it anyway. So, funny enough, you talked about like the happy accident. Someone called you up one day and was like, I have your client, your first client, Caitlin's business.Started exactly the same way. I fired my previous assistant, called her on a Friday on my way to like Europe or something and was like, Hey, you work for me now. Basically like, Hey, help me with my travel itinerary. Yeah. So her business started because I backed her into a corner and begged her to help me until I found a new assistant.I didn't end up finding a new assistant for like two years. So she wasthere for like two years. But like now, her business has completely spiraled into this thing of its own. And yours has too. So both of you, I'm asking this question to both of you. Um, how do you. Not be resistant to those happy accidents. And then how do you backdoor the strategy to take advantage of this like golden opportunity?Amanda Gulino: [00:06:13] Oh, that's such a good question. I mean, I think I grapple with that all the time. How to not be resistant to success is ultimately what you're saying. I mean, since this is a very candid podcast, I'm just going to share very candidly, um. In the early stages, I was not very resistant. I said yes to most opportunities really because I was super excited.I had the energy and I saw every potential client engagement as a chance to learn what do I, what am I best at Ted's position to do here? What do I say? This isn't actually in my greatest skill set. This is someone else's greatest skill set. I'm going to refer this out and what do I ultimately want to be doing?And so I said yes to. A lot, and I'm so glad that I did. And I think part of the challenge with that is not having a ton of resistance is overwhelming myself sometimes. Um, that, that certainly happens. Um, and yet, like. I just can't, part of me just can't even imagine having this have gone any other way because as a result is saying yes to a lot of different opportunities ultimately allowed me to take my side hustle full time, which I didn't believe I'd ever get to do.I just told myself that would never happen. Like, who do you think you are to be able to do this? And it, those yeses and that, um, I guess lack of resistance allowed me to do that so. Yeah. Caitlyn Allen: [00:07:38] Yeah, and I think I can relate to that and in a way, because. What happened to me was a happy accident and embracing those accidents and then making those connections, I kept saying yes to everything, girl.I learned everything from back end of WordPress to podcasting and everything related to podcasting to how to file a trademark with Joey to how to do bookkeeping. Um. And just saying yes to a lot of things makes it so much easier now where I am in my business to say no, and to say like, yes, I can do that work.Am I worth it to you to do that work? Because the answer is probably no. Um, and being strategic and how I say yes, no. And when I say yes, um. And I think the resistance now is a lot of like that coming back to yourself and saying, well, why did I say no? Like I could have just made more money if I just would have lowered my prices, or I would've said yes to doing some of that VA work.But what really, at the end of the day, what you want to do is make yourself happy and make your clients happy and. Just like you said at the beginning, if you're doing work that you know you don't really want to be doing and it's not actually serving the business owner that you're working for or it is in the short term and not the long term, then why are you doing that work when you know somebody, it will fulfill somebody else.Amanda Gulino: [00:09:20] So both hosts sign on, all of that. Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:09:24] Both of you took these happy accidents and both of you have since rebranded, completely pivoted cetera into the thing that you actually care about and want to be doing long term. So when you did that, Amanda, what was it like to. Walk away or tie up neatly, those relationships that were no longer serving where you want to be now.And because I think a lot of us have a bit of a scarcity mindset of if I let go of this client work, I will never find quiet work to replace it. So how did you trust letting go to get what you wanted? Amanda Gulino: [00:10:06] Yeah, I mean, I think I told myself. That the pivot I made was I started out doing a lot of recruiting work. That was my background, and I found a lot of success in it, and I loved it for a long time. And so I thought that's what I was going to want to do in my own business and loved it. And then I realized who I think I'm ready for something that's related to this, but not this anymore. And so that became coaching, training and facilitation and you know, team retreats and workshops and these sorts of things, which are super related, but it's a different set of work, you know.And so what ultimately happened for me is I have a lot of the same clients, but we're doing different work now. And so part of what this comes back to is in a lot of my background is in nonprofit, and fundraising is a huge part of being a nonprofit. Your sustainability relies on it. And I have a friend who is an amazing fundraiser.We used to work together and she always said, people give to people. Right? People give to people. They want to work with you and give to you because of who you are and what you represent. And so the mindset that I kept in mind as I was making this pivot where my company's values. Those did not change. My approach did not change who I am, did not change.I stay true. And if there was a natural fit with companies and individuals and this new scope of work, we continued to work together. There were a few cases where it wasn't necessary, and I referred that workout to amazing recruiters and I'm so happy that gives me so much joy to be able to do that. Man, I can totally relate on that, uh, in that capacity as well because, um.Caitlyn Allen: [00:11:48] When I moved out here to Arizona, I was working at a multimillion dollar nonprofit doing AmeriCorps Vista, which is domestic peace Corps. So right away you're told it's all about the story. It's all about the story, because that's how you can get people to give you money. It's always about a story. Um, and in my opinion, if you're an entrepreneur in your telling people a story, why.Why tell a fake story when you could just be authentic and tell how you want to work or how you want to work with a company. So that's real good. That's real good.But the other thing I wanted to ask you was what is your, what is your goal? Like what, what. What would the perfect entrepreneurial world look like for you if your goals were met? Amanda Gulino: [00:12:43] Yeah. My goal in my life, it's not separate from my work. It's been the same for years. And my ultimate goal is just to be happy. And so that is a question and that may sound like that's got a ridiculous, there's a data tied to that. There's no numbers. Um, but that, that really is my goal. And so I check in with myself a lot on a daily basis, on a weekly basis. I do, this is real cheesy coming from us. Former HR person. Um, but I do reviews of myself every year.Now. They're not like performance reviews or sort of numbers, but they're reflections. And I asked myself, how much did you enjoy this year? You know, like what work gave you the most joy? Where did you add the most value? These sorts of questions. And there's a, and I have a freebie, I think actually. If it's one of my website, I'll put it on there.Um, cause it's just something, I want everybody to be able to do these, these reviews of yourself. Um, but I ask myself that a lot and if the answer is yes, I keep going and if it's not, I pause and I figure out what is the learning here. It doesn't mean I'll bow out at something or pull out of a commitment, but I will pause and ask myself what, like, what is this teaching me right now?And like, how do I not come back to this if it's no longer serving me, um. So that, that's really ultimately my goal at that. And to be doing work that's in service of my, my mission, which is to make work better for people, make work, work better for people.Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:14:07] So I'm curious, uh. You now have to juggle multiple priorities. You have your own priorities. As a business owner, you have the priorities that your clients have essentially made top of mind because they're what's in your scope of work. You have the client's businesses, priorities, whatever those are, and then you also like want to have a personal life with priorities too.Yeah. And how do you juggle all of those? How do you prioritize them when a lot of them deserve first billing for different reasons? What's the strategy? Amanda Gulino: [00:14:43] Yeah, sometimes I do it well. Sometimes I don't. Um, that's the honest answer. So there are a couple of things that I do. Some of them are, hints, I took from you, Dannie.Um, one is, I have some really, um. I guess rigid is not the right word, but some strong commitments around how I manage my calendar and my time. So I have at least one day a week where I do no external meetings at all. I get work done. They like, yes, and it works so well for me, and I call it the day I get work done.It just, it just is what it is. Um, what also really works about that for me is one of my top personal values is freedom. And so if I've got a totally blank work day, to me that feels like I can work from 6:30 in the morning to 3:30, I can work from 6:30 to 7:30 and then go work out and come back.I get to decide. And so that really feels like it's a grounding and a freeing experience to have those sorts of calendar boundaries, if you will. Um. I also will say that I have a lot of capacity. I just kind of figured out how to work efficiently working in under-resourced nonprofits for 10 years. It's just a, it's a blessing and a curse, I will say.Um, but it, but it is definitely something that's helped me. Uh, the last thing, and this is kind of a funny story. Um, I have held on to this narrative that hasn't been serving me. This will sound familiar from a conversation we had at startup week, that why would I pay someone to do something that I can do myself.So for the last however many years I've been doing everything in my business myself, with the exception of isolated projects. And last Friday, I just had a moment where I was like, not anymore. Like if this is going to be how it feels to be a business owner, I don't want to do anymore. And I knew I had a choice in that moment.So in one day I hired. Um, my coach, someone to do my social media, um, someone to help me with scheduling. And then there's one other thing that I forgot. Oh, some support on projects where like, I just need a thought partner. You know, working alone, it can be really isolating. I loved having a team, so I brought on a couple of thought partners all on a day.And I mean, just the transformation this week has been unreal. Um. So those are, those are some of the ways, but I think the message in there is yes, these scrappy, I don't believe that you have to spend money to make money. You can start a business on just the little bit of investment, sometimes no investments, and consider when that approach no longer serves you. Before I did, I'm like a year overdue from figuring out the support structures inside of my work. Caitlyn Allen: [00:17:26] So outside of that, um, , which I have to say, I have a Workday Wednesday where like my Wednesdays, I don't book client meetings. And I'm like, you know, you cannot impede on my work day Wednesdays because Dannie was Dannie who, um.What, outside of that hiring, have you made any mistakes in business that you think others could learn from? Yeah, it's priced myself way too low to start and therefore had to take on more work and we show, you all could see it cause there's some smiles coming through. I mean, this is a really common problem, especially, uh, in the work that I do with women, most of the women I coach are, most of the people I coach identify as female.Amanda Gulino: [00:18:12] Um, and this is a very common problem, so I priced myself too low. That was a big one. Um. What else took on too much work that's very connected to pricing myself too low. And for a while I, and this is funny cause I, I used to tell my team when I would hire folks, like if you respond to emails at night and on weekends, the expectation for going forward is that you're going to respond to emails on nights and weekends and it's hard to make a change after that.Because you're putting people through a change. It feels like they're losing part of you and you're not performing up to your standard that you used to. And yet I was working. 5:00 AM 9:00 PM seven days a week, and I had to make some changes. Um, mid engagement. And luckily most, I think everybody was very gracious.Um, I think people respond when they see you practicing work life integration. Most people want that for themselves and don't have it. And so the response was actually really positive, um, to putting up some of those boundaries, but I had a lot of fear and doing it. Um. I guess the last thing, um, Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:19:21] to that point, I think pivoting is so hard and changing the way you communicate.So I now have it my email signature. I'm a little italicized thing that says, I often send emails outside of nine to five. This is not because I am online or expect or will offer an immediate response. It's because work flexibility is very important to me. And then I link to this article that talks about.What is work flexibility? Um, honestly, because I was too chicken shit to do what you did and like pivot back to not having those expectations. So this just became like my blanket excuse to email whenever I wanted.Amanda Gulino: [00:20:00] But you know what the beauty of that is? Like it's clear. Right? It's really, really clear. Like, I'm doing this, but that doesn't mean I expect this of you. The more clear we are with ourselves and with clients, I think you can make almost anything work when you're clear, honest, authentic, and direct. Yeah. Anything.Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:20:19] Um, you also had a third point before I interrupted you. We can keep going unless I stole it from you. Amanda Gulino: [00:20:28] No, you didn't feel, I mean, I have miss, Oh, I do remember what it was. So the word mistake, um, has come up a couple of times and I'm just wrapping up my coaching program I wrapped up a couple months ago, and there's this mantra that they shared in it that you cannot make a mistake.And I'll be honest, for the first several months, I was like, that's bullshit. I make mistakes all the time, and yet the more I go into it, it's, and this has really helped my mindset. Um. Their perspective. And now my perspective is that at any given moment, we are doing the best we can with what we know and the tools we have available to us at that moment.And so, because that's true, there really are no mistakes. Um, and so my, it's that mindset. If someone that can identify as a perfectionist at times has really helped me to get out of the, I don't want to make a mistake to, this is the best I can offer at this time. Right? Or this is, I am truly giving my best right now. And, and if I, if there's something that's wrong, I'm using air quotes. Um, it's not a mistake. It's just a chance for me to do better next time. Caitlyn Allen: [00:21:37] Oh my gosh, I have so much to say on that. So first off, I have a tattoo that says never a failure. Always a lesson, because it's never a mistake. I mean, yes, you can make mistakes, right?But. It's taking that mistake and learning from it, and like, that's what it should be, is a lesson. Um, but I totally agree with the, you made the best decision you could with the stuff in front of you. Um, and on teams that I worked for right now, we're hiring out a lot and. When you're a side hustler and you're getting hired onto these teams.Um, specifically VA's, I know that the A's can be put in weird situations where there aren't SLPs in place, there aren't processes in place, and the owner expects the VA to know exactly what they're talking about 24, seven and that's just simply not gonna happen. Um. So if you're a VA side hustler, I feel you feel free to DM me and talk about it.Cause that was my life for a really long time. Um, but then pulling in that, okay, well I don't want to do this anymore. The scarcity mindset of, well, if I niche, then I'm going to lose out on whatever it is. Um, how did you. Pull yourself away from the scarcity mindset and decide to actually like make the change. Like what prompted that?Amanda Gulino: [00:23:06] I'll be honest. Um, I don't know that I got out of the scarcity mindset before I made the change. I just said. It's not working the way it is. So my options are to continue the path I'm going on and know that my state is secure, that I'm not happy in what I'm doing and I'm not fulfilling my personal mission, or I make a change and then it either works or it doesn't.And I decided that. That was worth it to me to make the change and be open to the fact that, Hey, this might not work out for me, and that's okay. I will figure something out. Um, I also approached when I took my side hustle full time, that that was probably the. The single most fear I felt for a long amount of time because I was living in the Bay area, the most expensive area of the country.Losing a salary, a pretty good salary, losing benefits. I mean, I was terrified, truly. And I think ultimately what helped me was, um, knowing that I have, uh, like some money scarcity stuff I still work through. I saved up about like two months or three months of expenses. So I knew I had a little bit of a runway.I trusted myself that I'd be able to find a job if I needed to, and that amount of time if it truly bottomed out. Um, and then I approached, this was really the game changer. I approached everything like an experiment. I said, I'm giving myself 18 months, 18 months, and if this works out and I am in it, and I'm loving it at 18 months.Awesome. And if I'm not, it was an awesome experience. I'll do something else. And that totally shifted my mindset to be able to say, I have a lot of freedom here and I'm gonna just have fun with this and that. That was probably the number one thing that has contributed to the success that I've had. Caitlyn Allen: [00:24:56] Dannie and I are over here nodding because that's. Thats the money mindset is me to a teach of are you like, are you sure I can niche? Because what if like I get, I feel like this is one thing that people don't tell you when you start niching and when you start raising your prices though, is I've had three perspective clients come through. Super excited to get started with me.And I've had three nos in like a span of two days, and that can feel so like, man, what am I doing? Maybe I'm doing everything wrong. Like maybe my pricing is wrong, maybe, maybe whatever. Like all of these negative thoughts. And then you're like, but wait, because when I do get that one client who is going to pay me the rate that I need to be paid at.That that client is going to be served in ways that I don't think they've ever been served before because I'm the only one that's doing the thing that I'm doing. Um, not to say there aren't any other people like me, but they're not working with me specifically. So. Anybody out there listening. Like you get lots of nos as you niche and as you raise your prices, but it's worth it and it's so worth it to work and do the work that you want to do.Um, so I guess that's kind of wrapping it up. Um, is there anything else you'd like to share with our audience, uh, about like your business and where can we find you on all of the internet? Amanda Gulino: [00:26:35] Of course, of course. Thank you. Um, so what I do, I love variety, and yet I also love, uh, I think nourishing is really valuable.So within my niche around, uh, fulfillment and enjoyment. At work, I do three things. So I work with organizations on developing, uh, people focused cultures. That's one thing. Um, love that work. I am a coach, so I work primarily with people who identify as female on a one-to-one basis. Um, frankly, dealing with a lot of the issues we've talked about today.Money, mindset, fear, imposter syndrome, all of these sorts of things. Um, I basically in the coach that I needed like four years ago, um, so coaching and then, uh, facilitation and training and workshops, um, around. Things that I call essential workplace skills. Um, so things like feedback, healthy feedback, um, interpersonal communication.I do some career based workshops, et cetera. And in terms of where you can find me, I'm one of these. Like rare breeds of millennials, it's not super into, are all over social media. Um, that said, you can always email me. So my email is Amanda at a betterMonday.CO not com CO. Um, my website is a great place to just check out more of what I do. And then the one place I am pretty active is on LinkedIn. Um, and so my profile is just under my name, Amanda Golino. Um, my website is a better monday.co. Dannie Lynn Fountain: [00:28:07] Yay. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today. Yet again, Caitlyn and I have been talking all day is we're recording about how good season four is going to be, and this is yet another awesome episode. Um, so thank you, and we will see you on the internet. Amanda Gulino: [00:28:27] Awesome. Thank y'all so much for having me.

Today on the show Jodi talks about money. Author-entrepreneurs earn money from their books indirectly. In other words, not from book royalties but from readers who become clients. Luckily, money isn’t a primary direct goal for most author-entrepreneurs. Rather, their goals are intangibles like credibility, authority, and visibility. According to UNESCO, as of January 2019, 2.2 million books are published per year worldwide, 304,000 of which are published in the US. The book market is saturated, and it’s not Amazon’s job to help author-entrepreneurs become visible. Amazon is trending toward pay-to-play, and Amazon ads do matter if you’re looking for a cold audience. That’s typically not author-entrepreneurs, though. Any cold leads are great, of course, but do the math: Would you rather earn a $7 royalty from a book sale (and receive no information from Amazon about that buyer) or $5,000 from a new one-on-one client who was gifted your book at a conference? In Episode 10, Dannie Fountain talked about using her books in alignment with the speaking arm of her business. Books sold at events and conferences are typically provided by the author, so author-entrepreneurs keep the full proceeds rather than a portion (like royalty payouts from a traditional book publisher or from Amazon), and speakers are often given an opportunity to book mentoring sessions, consultations, and the like. The money is in the upsell! Align your book marketing strategy with your book goals, and you can’t go wrong. Listen here or on your favorite podcast player, and let me know what you think!

Today on the show Jodi interviews Dannie Lynn Fountain, author of four books: The Side Hustle Gal (2016), Big Plan for the Creative Mind (2017), The Bucketlist Babe (2017), and One Honest Woman (2018).  Dannie Lynn Fountain is a marketing strategist and whip-smart whiskey drinker currently working at Google. She has 10+ years of experience as an entrepreneur and strategist. Today, she works with creative entrepreneurs and corporations to strategize and implement marketing processes to increase their leads and sales. Her specialty is focusing on passionate storytelling, regardless of industry. Beyond strategy, Dannie is the author of four books and a regular speaker on marketing and entrepreneurship worldwide. She is also the founder of the #sidehustlegal (http://www.sidehustlegal.com/) movement. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, Bustle, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, Digiday, Girlboss, PR News, and more. Here are some highlights from the conversation: Jodi and Dannie talked about how Dannie came to write her first book in 2016. Dannie said that she could see the writing on the wall that the course/membership market was going to get saturated quickly (and that realistically she didn’t have time to manage something like a membership community), but she knew she needed something to further her business in an outward way. Since that first book in 2016, Dannie has written and published three more books. Dannie started her own publishing imprint, which is its own LLC separate from her business, because she read a scary blog post about publishing on Amazon without owning your ISBN and how it can be difficult or impossible for other retailers to  list your book or for publishers later on to work with you. (Note from a book pub professional: This is totally true!) When she bought her first ISBN for her first book, it was cheaper to buy in bulk, so she bought a pack of 10 to use when she’s ready. Four down, six to go! Dannie shared that her favorite part of the writing/publishing process is the writing. She likes that the process of writing helps her to clarify where her mind may have embellished a memory. During the writing of One Honest Woman, for example, Dannie basically had her grandmother fact-checking the book while she was writing it. Dannie’s least favorite part — and she recognizes the irony since she works as marketing strategist — is book marketing. Dannie talked about secretly printing a couple hundred copies of the book and placing them on park benches, bus stops, trains, and the like for people to find and spread the word organically. Dannie’s books serve her business in different ways. She likens her books to a membership community plus a course plus one-on-one work but in book form. Side Hustle Gal and Bucketlist Babe show her audience that a side hustle isn’t “less than” any other hustle. One Honest Woman is Dannie’s speaker circuit book. Big Plan for the Creative Mind, an anthology that she co-authored with Reina Pomeroy, gets a push from October to December each year when entrepreneurs are planning and goal-setting for the next year. Dannie shared how she uses One Honest Woman with the speaking arm of her business, as a book is often required to be considered for speaking gigs. Sometimes a book gets your foot in the door, sometimes the book can be sold at the back of the room, and sometimes the book allows a speaker the opportunity to offer one-on-one sessions at a conference or event. Dannie shared this advice for other author-entrepreneurs: Be sure that you’re passionate enough about your topic to live and breathe it for the long haul. Be sure you love to talk about it. (Dannie is currently working toward her PhD and said that’s the same advice she offers when someone asks if they should pursue a doctorate.) Dannie had a “read 52 books challenge” in 2019 and just finished with American Royals by Katharine McGee. Listen here or on your favorite podcast player, and let me know what you think! Find Dannie here: https://www.danniefountain.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dannielynnfountain/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KNJVK4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GKRBSW0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0797XNPTZ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VTWJ8ZT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

I know that a lot of our listeners have been implementing everything we're teaching, which includes speaking for free when you're getting started. I can relate to how hard it can be when you're not making as much money on the front end as you'd like. On this episode of the Creative Speaker Podcast, I've brought back my friend Danny Fountain to tell us about something that she is implementing in her own speaking business in order to make unpaid events profitable. This method was something that she came up with after dedicating herself to building her speaker credibility for years!! You guys, this one is gold! Dannie is truly giving you something special in this episode.  If you loved this episode and it motivated you to add speaking to your business, please take the time to leave me some positive feedback on iTunes. I'd also love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag us @thecreativespeakerpodcast.   Episode takeaways you don't want to miss: Sponsorships can be a great way to try and recoup your costs when you're speaking for free Check out Episode 2 of the Creative Speaker Podcast (Leveraging Sponsorships and Speaker Sprints) In order to monetize your unpaid speaking engagements, you have to put in the leg work up front Have a strategy/goal Build a landing page Mentoring sessions were an ideal way for Dannie connect with her clients outside of her presentation while recouping her travel expenses Don't say, “I'm willing to spend X on my speaking expenses this quarter”.... Say, “I'm willing to Invest X on my speaking expenses this quarter”. Every presentation you give needs to be set up so that your audience engages with you in a way that feels like they're getting value added to their business or cause The second you grab that microphone and step onto the stage, it's easy to be perceived as an untouchable magical being and you don't want that at all. You want to kick that pedestal over and get down on your audience's level and say, “I've been there, I understand, I'm here to serve you. Come to me with your problems!!”. Before advertising your mentoring sessions on a conferences group page on a social media platform, respectfully as the conference organizer.  If you do get approval, DO NOT spam the conference social media pages. Advertise once or twice and then talk about it on your Instagram stories.    For full show notes and links, visit: http://www.thepublicspeakingstrategist.com/shownotes/073

Attend Mastermind LIVE!    In this episode of Marketing Personalities, Brit Kolo interviews Dannie Fountain, who’s a side-hustling Marketing Strategist for creative entrepreneurs AND a full-time Ad Sales expert at Google. In this discussion, Brit and Dannie discuss what it’s like for Dannie to be growing a career at Google and a thriving side-hustle and how her Marketing Personality Type is helping her stay focused, growing, and living a life she loves. Links: Dannie’s Website Dannie on Instagram See Dannie Speak Live! Find your Marketing Personality Type here!

Many of you are in service-based businesses, which means so much of your time is spent, well... serving others. No surprise there. But what may come as a shock is what happens when you put better boundaries around your time, spending less energy on activities that PULL your attention in different directions, and create better habits around PUSHING your energy where it’s needed most. It’s in that push that you’ll stop feeling so overwhelmed by every single thing that lands on your plate. You’ll become more aware of what’s on your schedule, why it’s there, if it’s actually the best use of your time, and if putting your time and energy toward it will create more of the results you actually want. If you’re someone who struggles with constantly feeling behind or is easily pulled in different directions, and you’re ready to take more of the RIGHT actions that will boost your bottom line, this episode is for you!-Check out the show notes here!-When it comes to focusing on the RIGHT actions that will actually help you to generate more leads, land more clients, and have more time in your schedule, it can be really difficult to see the forest from the trees. Because in this online world, where everyone is selling you a different solution, it can be really easy to sit in a story that you need to gain more knowledge, get more certifications, change up your copy, rebrand your website, the list goes on… That’s why I think this mindset work is the single best investment you can make in your business (because unlike a social media course, this thought work will actually stand the test of time!), helping you to cultivate the mindset you need to take more of the right actions, make more of the right investments, and create a thriving life and business that feels good to YOU. If that sounds like your jam, you’re absolutely going to want to join me for my FREE Stressed to Success coaching call. Together, we’ll uncover the mindset shift that will make the biggest difference for you, so you can start taking the RIGHT actions, consistently, and start saying “no” to the things that aren’t bringing in results. Head over to amandadennelly.com/freecall to book. I only do three of these each week so get over there and book yours today! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on Worth It, we have a very special guest. Dannie Fountain is a business strategist and marketing expert who helps creative entrepreneurs grow their businesses. She’s also written four books, travels the world for speaking engagements… and works at Google. And she’s also only 25. For real. Dustin and Danielle were so honored and excited to chat with Dannie about her journey through entrepreneurship and “traditional” employment in this episode. In this episode, they talk about how she does it all and how her speaking and travel engagements helped her create a resume that caught the eyes of Google. Dannie, Dustin, and Danielle also talk about entrepreneurship through the lens of opportunity and financial security, and how corporate jobs and employers are beginning to leverage the power of entrepreneurs. Dannie also shares her views on employment and entrepreneurship, especially in regards to the idea that entrepreneurs don’t make good employees. This conversation goes into a deep discussion about what it’s like to juggle so many moving pieces, how employment and entrepreneurship can help support people’s best work, and the truth about the “not so glamorous” side of it all. It’s a great discussion with tons of insight, so make sure to check it out. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 3:25 The leaders and laggers of the Millennial generation 5:05 When Dannie Fountain’s entrepreneurial journey started 6:10 Dannie’s original career path 8:05 How a fast food job helped her pay for college 9:30 How drunken LinkedIn changed her life 10:40 Why she almost deleted an email from Google 12:45 What 2017 brought to Dannie and her business 14:00 The power of resumes and experience in getting Google’s attention 16:45 How Dannie climbed the ladder at Google 19:25 Why Dannie doesn’t really use video 21:00 Dannie’s tips for public speaking 24:30 The symbiosis between a traditional job and a side business 26:00 The financial security that comes with working for a company (and how to leverage that in your business) 29:05 Why Dannie has focused on compound interest to grow wealth 32:15 Why paying off debt is Dannie’s goal for 2019 35:40 How Dannie sees herself impacting the world now and in the future 37:05 Why Dannie dreams of teaching entrepreneurs to use their experience to make a difference in the corporate world 37:55 The four ways entrepreneurs are assets for larger corporations 43:50 The #1 thing Dannie tells people when they ask how she does it 45:00 The four motivators 48:10 Dannie’s biggest message about entrepreneurship 48:54 Whatever your reason is for doing something, that’s enough - Dannie [paraphrased] 50:05 What Dannie would ask about money and financial planning 50:28 What the 25% Rule is and why it’s important for entrepreneurs 52:18 The difference between retirement and revivement 54:30 Where you can find Dannie on the interwebs   HOW A FEW DRINKS LED TO A JOB AT GOOGLE For most people, a few drinks lead to some laughs with friends or maybe falling asleep watching Netflix. But for Danni Fountain, a few drinks leads her to LinkedIn. One night in 2017, she had a few drinks and got on LinkedIn and applied to over 300 jobs. Her business was in a slump and she was in the “famine” mindset, so she applied to everything she could find. She woke up in the morning and went about her day… and then received a message from Google. They were interested in her resume and wanted to have a phone interview. Out of the 300+ applications she put out that night, only one got back to her — and she’s worked for Google ever since. But why did Google want to work with her when nobody else reached out? Because of her resume RESUMES ARE CHANGING, AND SO ARE EMPLOYEES As Dannie points out in her discussion with Dustin and Danielle, her impressive and eclectic resume was what caught Google’s attention. She had been a jet setter, public speaker, and marketing professional for over 8 years and had owned her own business for over 2.5 years when she applied for their job posting. More than that, she showed an innate ability to self-start, problem-solve, and consider costs, clients, and all the elements that go into managing your own business. Essentially, she had all of the skills they found ideal in an employee. For many corporations, employees like Dannie are a huge asset, and their entrepreneurial heart isn’t crushed in a corporate setting — it’s given free rein. In this episode, Dannie talks about how many entrepreneurs think they’re “not made for corporate work anymore,” but she believes that’s not always the case. Work is changing from a 9-5 to something more fluid, something that allows people to work with a company and to also explore their interests and skills, as well. Entrepreneurs are scrappy, they don’t ask questions, and they’re keeping the bottom line in mind. All of that is great for traditional employers and corporations. More than that, it also gives entrepreneurs the financial security to do what’s most important in their lives. MONEY, BUSINESS & JOBS Entrepreneurs know the hustle well. They also know that sometimes, no matter how hard you hustle, there will always be feasts and famines. Those famines are very hard to navigate and it’s even harder to balance the feasts to see you through. That’s why, for many spirited entrepreneurs and side hustlers, a day job is just what they need to bankroll their interests — and to create a secure future. While not everyone works at Google, many have jobs that provide 401(k)s, health benefits, PTO, and more. That provides a level of security that makes it easier to take risks with business or to pursue other interests, and many companies are open to supporting their employees in their efforts. And for many Millennial entrepreneurs who enter the workforce with student loan or business debt, it can be great to have consistent income to help pay that down. Of course, the conversation delves even deeper into Dannie’s background, her passion for working with creative entrepreneurs, and how she does it all at such a young age. Dustin, Danielle, and Dannie also talk about business expenses, debt, and why retirement isn’t the goal for most entrepreneurs. If you’re wondering what entrepreneurship looks like for Dannie, or how her career at Google has helped her grow her own business, check out this episode. RESOURCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED Dannie Fountain’s website Dannie Fountain on Instagram (@dannielynnfountain)

Jordan interviews Brie Goumaz of Wild Goose Creatives, and Dani Forrest of Dani, Inc. Both gals have become great friends of ours and fellow SheWolves as we all work out of the same coworking space (when Brie isn't traveling in her van). We get real about the rollercoaster of being a business owner, motivation, and how we manage our own brands. Fellow pack members and co-work space office mates Dani Forrest and Brie Goumaz join us on a rainy Friday with a glass of wine in hand to discuss those days you just don't feel like working, female entrepreneurism, and being a digital nomad. In this group of somewhat grumpy lady friends, things get real quick- and we are here for it. Guest Brie Goumaz is a digital marketing strategist and founder of WildGoose Creative. Dani Forrest is a market strategist and founder of Dani, Inc. Host Jordan Lacenski is the founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Brandboss Creative, and co-founder of SheWolf Collaborative. Host: Jordan Lacenski Guest: Dani Forrest and Brie Goumaz Show Notes: “Leave the fluffy stuff at the door.”- we jump right in, feeling grumpy and getting real about working when you'd rather just… not “It's looking at the ways you're hustling and taking a step back.”- we go through self-care and what actually takes our businesses further “I'm like the girl who has her push-up bra on.”- comparing dates to taking on clients, we chat about what we give away for free and what we wait to share after the line is signed “Every chick I've talked to in business has a hard time charging their worth.”- we dive into why women are prone to charge less than their male peers who are working at a similar level Jordan, Dani, and Brie talk about their entrepreneurial journeys and out of office dreams “I think on the grumpy days that we have, like today, it's nice to think about those freedoms.”- we dive into the varying levels of being a digital nomad “There is a couch in the office…”- the answer to every grumpy mood? Naps. Links: Dani Forrest, Dani Inc.: https://www.daniforrest.com/ Brie Goumaz, Wild Goose Creatives: https://www.wildgoosecreatives.com/ She Wolf Collaborative: https://shewolfco.co/ Brandboss Creative: https://www.brandbosscreative.com/ Also Mentioned: Higgins Creative: https://www.thehigginscreative.com/ Lauren Burgess, Headwall Digital: https://www.headwalldigital.com/team Stacy Townsend: http://townsendcollective.com/ Dannie Fountain: http://www.danniefountain.com/ Apple iPhone: https://www.apple.com/iphone/ Maia Community: https://maia.community/ When, Daniel Pink: https://www.danpink.com/ Press Play Studios, Greensboro: https://www.pressplaygso.com/ Quotes: “It's all in the attitude and how we're showing up. So it might not be that one email and it might not be that one phone call, but it's each day. How you show up at your work and what you're bringing to the table. And you never know what that one thing is that is going to bring in new business.” -Dani Forrest “Whether you're trying to start a business, or you have a business and you're trying to be bigger, I always say, do one thing every day that gets you to where you want to be… Whatever it is, just one day be the person you would be if you were that. If you were them. You are them.” - Dani Forrest “It's so sext to start a business right now, and I'm such a dream crusher that I just want to tell everyone that it's really not that sexy. Like, you think it is, and then you go into the dressing room and put the swimsuit on and you realize that you've been sitting at your computer four years.”- Jordan Lacenski --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shewolfshow/support

Jordan interviews Keeley McKay who practices Law in Montana as well as running her own photography business. She is a doer, with strong left and right-brained traits, allowing her to be creative, to relate to her creative clients, and protect creative entrepreneurs from potentials that could hurt their business. Show Notes: “I would vote for you!”- Keeley shares her journey of getting into law with creatives (spoiler: she isn't running for office) “I did everything the hard way.”- we discuss the learning curve of starting a business “I've got five hundred dollars where do I spend it?”- we share the best way to invest your precious starter funds to protect yourself and your business Jordan and Keeley discuss the female tendency to give and do more for free because they want what is best for the client “Everything is for sale for the right price.”- Keeley shares on contracts and how being open to changing one isn't always a bad thing “We can do both”- Keeley talks about generationally breaking stereotypes of being a lawyer by also being a creative “You can only be on and focused for twenty minutes at a time.”- we talk balancing our introverted side with getting the job done “I think my first cell phone was, gosh, this like Nokia brick”- how technology has changed our productivity “Nope, I don't need to do makeup.”- we share about how Montanan culture refreshingly doesn't focus on the exterior image “Hey, we're gonna calmly go to the bathroom.”- Jordan and Keeley compare their uses of essential oils and their beloved bulldogs Links: Keeley McKay Photography: https://www.keeleymckayphoto.com/ Keeley McKay, Redmon Law Firm: http://www.redmonlawfirm.com/getting-to-know-keeley-mckay/ Keeley McKay Webinar: Now only available through SheWolf membership. Apply HERE. She Wolf Collaborative: https://shewolfco.co/ Brandboss Creative: https://www.brandbosscreative.com/ Also mentioned: Stacy Townsend: http://townsendcollective.com/ Honeybook: https://www.honeybook.com/ Dannie Fountain: http://www.danniefountain.com/ Google Calendar:https://www.google.com/calendar GiGi Pip Hats: https://www.gigipip.com/ Quotes: “When I was ten years old I said I'm going to be a lawyer because I want to be president of the United States and I figured being a lawyer was the way to get there… I have since decided that that is too heavy a burden to bear. There are people better suited to run the country.” -Keeley McKay “This is who I am, and I'm no better or worse because of how I look or what I'm wearing.”- Keeley McKay “I think everyone needs to like schedule at least a month to go out west. I don't know, take some time just do it and see how Montanans live. Because I feel like it changed my world.”- Jordan Lacenski --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shewolfshow/support

Notably WildEntrepreneur and Googler Dannie Fountain on coming out and learning about her heritage after growing up with white privilege.We chat with Dannie Fountain (entrepreneur and Googler) about her experiences coming out at a young age, growing up in the US with white privilege only to discover her Brazilian heritage, and how she is welcoming and learning about this heritage while accepting the responsibility white privilege holds. Hosted by Ambar Januel.no00:07:096Latinx heritage, coming out, and speaking up if you have white privilege: a chat with Dannie Fountain.fullWe chat with Dannie Fountain (entrepreneur and Googler) about her experiences coming out at a young age, growing up in the US with white privilege only to discover her Brazilian heritage, and how she is welcoming and learning about this heritage while accepting the responsibility white privilege holds.Hosted by Ambar Januel.Latinx heritage, coming out, and speaking up if you have white privilege: a chat with Dannie Fountain.

Dannie runs a 6-figure business on 9 hours a week so OBVIOUSLY I had to have her on the show so she can take us through exactly how she makes this happen every day.

Have you ever felt like some speakers just come out of nowhere and blow up the speaker circuit overnight? That is Dannie Fountain! She went from not speaking to delivering over 100 speaking presentations to 27,000 people in 45 different countries in a little over a year. She is the queen of speaker sprints and leveraging sponsorships! In this interview, Dannie shares her story and gives valuable advice when it comes to growing your platform as a speaker. Do you want to book more speaking engagements and have an incredible client experience that finally allows you to charge what you're worth? Use this link to get 50% off your first year at Honeybook thepublicspeakingstrategist.com/resources If you loved this episode and it motivated you to add speaking to your business, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag us @thecreativespeakerpodcast. Episode takeaways you don't want to miss: Speaker Sprinting means doing as much as you can in a small window of time to build momentum, gain testimonials and referrals to stack your portfolio. How to form pitch emails from the perspective of serving the organizer + conference. Mastering the art of partnership and sponsorships. Speaking is not a competitive sport. Practical steps to take on how to start a speaker sprint for yourself. For full show notes and links, visit: http://www.thepublicspeakingstrategist.com/shownotes/02

Today Dannie and Caitlyn are kicking off Season Two of The Side Hustle Gal Podcast! The Side Hustle Gal, to us, is someone who works harder than anyone else we know. They're focused not only on their business, but also a myriad of other commitments that tug at their time. They dream of seeing their inspiration become reality and they crave deep conversation. This podcast, this space, is a place for us to be authentic and real. We're ready to chat about the gritty parts of business that make us cry. We're ready to talk about how the hell we handle the day to day when life gets hard. We're ready to challenge the idea that you can't be a successful Side Hustle Gal.Dive in, dig deep, and enjoy your journey. We're here for you, babe. Dannie's Bio:Dannie Lynn Fountain is a marketing strategist and whip-smart whiskey drinker. Currently working at Google, Dannie honed her skills working in marketing for brands such as Whirlpool and H&R Block. She has a combined 9 years experience as an entrepreneur and strategist. Today, she works with entrepreneurs and corporate clients alike to brainstorm, strategize, and implement strategic marketing processes to better their business and increase their sales. Beyond strategy, Dannie is the author of four books on entrepreneurship and a regular speaker on strategy worldwide. Her work has been submitted to and recognized by Cannes Lions, the Effies, and more.Caitlyn's Bio: Caitlyn is a northern-Michigan country girl turned Arizonan desert rat. About two years ago she moved from northern Michigan to southern Arizona to start her life after college. She joined AmeriCorps VISTA, it's like domestic PeaceCorps, by taking a job on the spot. She packed up her car and moved across the country in her Chevy tracker. Anyway, long story short, Caitlyn ended her second VISTA term in August. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do after two years of public service, that's where Dannie Fountain stepped in. Dannie introduced Caitlyn into the world of online business management and virtual assisting.After taking a few clients, Caitlyn learned that she enjoys helping others. She loves being there to help in any way necessary, like those multi-purpose tools you can use for just about everything!Fun fact about Caitlyn: when she am not supporting entrepreneurs, she is usually chasing cacti and scorpions out in her back yard of the Sonoran Desert.FOLLOW YOUR HOSTS:Dannie's Website | Dannie's Instagram || Caitlyn's Website | Caitlyn's Instagram FOLLOW THE PODCAST ON ITUNES

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK: ”The side hustle thing has always been a part of my journey, but the side hustle thing gets so much flack from our community. There’s such a strong chase and a strong desire towards achieving that full-time milestone.” with Dannie Fountain LISTEN! WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE? Authenticity is bullshit. Whiskey is good straight. And sometimes turning your successful, high-profile business back into a side-hustle is the right thing to do. Those are a few of the lessons from this kickass convo with Dannie Fountain. Dannie shares her big announcement that she’s turning her biz back into a side-hustle to become a Googler. Yep. She’s going back to work for Google. And she shared her thoughts, feelings, fears, and all the things here on the podcast before announcing it to the world. So, grab a glass of whiskey or whatever you like drinking straight (water counts) and join us for this amazing convo. SUBSCRIBE + LISTEN iTunes Stitcher WHO IS DANNIE FOUNTAIN? Dannie Lynn Fountain is a marketing strategist and whip-smart whiskey drinker. Currently working at Google, Dannie honed her skills working in marketing for brands such as Whirlpool and H&R Block. She has a combined 9 years experience as an entrepreneur and strategist. Today, she works with entrepreneurs and corporate clients alike to brainstorm, strategize, and implement strategic marketing processes to better their business and increase their sales. Beyond strategy, Dannie is the author of three books on entrepreneurship and a regular speaker on strategy worldwide. Her work has been submitted to and recognized by Cannes Lions, the Effies, and more. MORE OF DANNIE www.danniefountain.com Dannie on Instagram SPONSORED BY Holl and Lane Mag As a TRFE listener you can save $3 off the print or digital version of Issue 14, The Heart. Or off the entire heart + body bundle when you snag both issue 13 and issue 14. Head over to www.hollandlanemag.com and use promo code TRFE for $3 off. Get $3 off

Seamless take three explores the social media strategy and career risks with Dannie Fountain, a self-defined "marketing expert, business strategist, author, educator, digital nomad and whip-smart whiskey drinker." In this episode, we speak with Dannie about how she turned a side hustle into a full-time job and still finds time for wanderlust. Got questions about this episode or have a story you want to share with the world? Email us at hello@burgundyfox.com.

Dannie Fountain shared with us her experience breaking through the corporate world and working with big brands despite her young age. Listen in on how she also shared her perspective about how owning your success can be a double-edged sword as an entrepreneur. The post Episode #02: Owning Your Success with Dannie Fountain appeared first on Creative Women's Co..

Today is a super special episode of SMB where Lola is joined by not only her gorgeous co-host Dannie, but also the two babes that Dannie has been creating magic with Rosemary Watson and Jana Bishop. Together they have created Styled Marketing LLC which has launched two courses: Seller Society and Style Marketing.

Dannie Fountain, an experienced marketing and PR strategist for creative entrepreneurs talks about her process writing her books, The Side Hustle Gal and The Bucketlist Babe. She also discusses sharing your story with purpose and her personal journey with writing her third upcoming book, One Honest Woman, also releasing in 2017. Dannie gives us a behind the scenes look at what it's like to be a digital nomad and graciously shares tips and strategies for getting started as an entrepreneur.

The Self Made Babe is a new kind of podcast, focusing on mentoring new entrepreneurs. Listeners will be able to glean nuggets of knowledge from live mentoring sessions where The Self Made Babe co-hosts Lola Gilbert and Dannie Fountain dive deep into the psychology and strategy of starting a business.