Podcast appearances and mentions of deirdre harter

Think your career's best moments are in the rearview? Think again! Join us as we dive into the transformative journeys of women who are turning decades of experience - in and out of the office - into entrepreneurial gold.Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter of Encore Empire are flipping the script on what it means to be a “seasoned professional.” Together, we explore their unique approach to coaching late-blooming entrepreneurs: transitioning from the corporate ladder to the entrepreneurial journey, shedding the employee mindset for a CEO's vision, and managing the limiting beliefs that often comes hand-in-hand with a significant pivot. Remember, it's never too late to chase what lights you up. These ladies will prove that your prime years could still be ahead, fueled by a bit of grit and a lot of passionTune in now!About Carmen and Deirdre: With over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they've spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy.They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience. Carmen and Deirdre are committed to honoring the perspective and insight women over forty bring to the table because real magic happens when we devote our time and energy not to taking care of everyone else—but to finally realize our own goals and ambitions. Links Mentioned:The Marketing Methodology Workshop: How would it feel to ditch the marketing overwhelm so you can spend your precious time growing your business? Build out your custom marketing framework and create a simple-to-follow system to achieve your business goals in three easy steps.https://encoreempire.com/upandup

Are you bringing your CEO mindset to your business? What does that look like for you? Today's show will move the needle for you, whether you are a coach or any other small business owner, and you'll learn more about wearing your chief executive officer hat correctly!Deirdre Harter and Carmen Reed-Gilkison are business strategists and the co-founders of Encore Empire, the place where women who believe that entrepreneurship is the most exhilarating and satisfying way to reach financial security and freedom translate their experiences into impact and income while making a difference in the world. In founding Encore Empire, Deirdre and Carmen bring together their backgrounds in business with the financial savvy of a CPA (Deirdre) and the insights of a Certified Online Business Manager and Whole-Person Coach (Carmen). Show Highlights:Three phases of the CEO mindset: The startup phase: In this phase, you are intentional in building the foundation of your business with systems, services, and ideal clients. You must plan, review, test, and optimize.The fix-up phase: If you are making sales, you have entered the fix-up phase in which you'll leverage your time, experience growing pains, focus on systems to optimize, get serious about data, and plan for a team. The grow-up phase: In this phase, you learn to “delete or delegate,” focus on high-value activities, scale your business, know your financial metrics, and develop courses/programs. Work ON your business, not IN your business!Progress through the three phases of the CEO mindset is not always linear!Takeaways from Deirdre: “Stewardship is key. Separate yourself emotionally from your business and understand your role and responsibilities.”Takeaways from Carmen: “Lead with curiosity. The journey of an entrepreneur is not linear.”Resources:Connect with Deirdre, Carmen, and Encore Empire: Website, LinkedIn (Deirdre), LinkedIn (Carmen), Facebook (Encore Empire), and Facebook (Empire of Unstoppable Women)**Deirdre and Carmen invite STaR Coach listeners to join their FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop. Use this special link to sign up. Work with Meg! Check out the STaR Coach Show Mentor Programs!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what's available there for you!

Have you wondered in a time where online marketing is King but it feels like you're talking to no one, or not connecting, HOW you can connect to your audience and serve? Tune in to this week's episode as we chat all about selling with emotion, why it's important to niche down in order to get broader later, and so much more about connecting emotionally with your ideal clients!Carmen Reed-Gilkison is an online business manager, a Whole Person Certified Coach with over 25 years of marketing experience, and the co-founder of Encore Empire. Carmen and her business partner, Deirdre Harter, teach their clients “the business of business” through their year-long coaching programs, working to help ambitious women scale their service-based businesses without all the guesswork. The Encore Empire programs not only focus on optimizing your online presence, sales, marketing, productivity, mindset, and systems, but they do so while teaching clients how to step into the role of CEO. Carmen understands that making sales is just the beginning and that focusing on strategy is the real key to building sustainable profitability. On Demand Methodology Workshop- 3 step process www.encoreempire.com/shine https://encoreempire.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-reed-gilkison/https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpireSupport the showKeep Shining- Shanna Star

FEATURED GUESTS: Carmen Reed-Gilkison is an Online Business Manager, a Whole Person Certified Coach with over 25+ years of marketing experience, and the co-founder of Encore Empire. Carmen specializes in mindset in entrepreneurship and marketing. Carmen and her business partner, Deirdre Harter, teach their clients the business of business through their year-long coaching programs with the goal of helping ambitious women scale their service-based businesses without all the guesswork. Just as no two people are the same, no two businesses are the same. For that reason, they don't believe in making their clients fit into cookie-cutter frameworks. They work with female B2B service providers & consultants providing holistic business coaching & mentoring where they help build the strategies, systems, and support their clients need to create more consistent revenue while getting back their time.LISTEN & LEARN:  How to Cultivate a CEO Mindset How Mindset impacts the way we Market our Practices The relevance of Values & Validation in Business Ways to Authentically Connect with your Ideal Clients in your Marketing The benefits of thinking of marketing as communication  Why you should build an Ideal Client Language Bank and use it in your copywriting The benefits of time tracking, time blocking, and adding Islands of Calm to your Schedule RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: Learn more about Carmen  and her latest offerings at: https://encoreempire.com or on Facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpire To sign up for Carmen's FREE "The Marketing Methodology Workshop"  at: https://encoreempire.com/tcp  Join Carmen's Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen Imagine 2024 being THE YEAR YOU Build the Creative Arts Practice of Your Dreams! Receive all the information and support you need to confidently grow on your journey to becoming the owner of a successful therapist owned business.   -Learn more about the 2024 Mastermind Group with Reina Lombardi here  -Schedule a 20 minute Zoom here, to see if the 2024 Mastermind Group is the right fit for YOU!!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reina-lombardi5/support

To the tune of $500 PER DAY! In this episode, Deirdre Harter, CPA, is revealing a new filing requirement for businesses that, for some reason, isn't being shared by the regulatory agency initiating it. You need to listen in to ensure you don't get dinged. Deirdre shares the following resources in this episode: Small Entity Compliance Guide provided by FinCEN US Department of the Treasury CorpNet Discover which entity is right for your business: https://encoreempire.com/entity Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In the episode 171 of IDEAS+LEADERS podcast I am speaking with Carmen and Deirde about building authentic relationships in business. With over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they've spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy. They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Certified Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience.  Special link to a free Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/il Connect with Carmen and Deirde here:  https://encoreempire.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-reed-gilkison/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-harter/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq.  __________ I'd love to connect with you! You can find me, Elena Paweta, the host of IDEAS+LEADERS podcast on: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/elena.paweta/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-paweta/

You've tried different business strategies but,  you didn't scale your business? To scale your business, you will have to streamline. My guests today will share three areas that require your attention to ensure you've laid the proper foundation for growth:1. The Power of SOPs2. Setting Up Your Financial House3. Scaling With A TeamWith over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they've spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy.They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience.Carmen and Deirdre are committed to honoring the perspective and insight women over forty bring to the table because real magic happens when we devote our time and energy not to taking care of everyone else—but to finally realize our own goals and ambitions.The Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/bopEncore Empire Website: https://encoreempire.com/Join our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/

Today I interview the founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter.We discuss:How these two women combined their different backgrounds to shift to helping women own their power in their age bracket.What a CEO mindset is, and how to shift to this way of thinkingThe 3 phases of an empowered CEO and what to focus on in each phaseHow to simplify and optimize your businessHow to use CEO time to stay focused so you can grow your business at every levelWith over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they've spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy.They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience. Carmen and Deirdre are committed to honoring the perspective and insight women in this age bracket bring to the table because real magic happens when we devote our time and energy not to taking care of everyone else—but to finally realize our own goals and ambitions. https://encoreempire.com https://encoreempire.com/mmwhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomenhttps://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpirehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/encore-empirehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-reed-gilkison/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-harter/Register for Jennifer's FREE workshop on Sept. 21st at 12:30pm PST "3 Simple Steps to Master Your Mindset so you can sign dream clients on repeat!"I hope you can join live but if not there will be a replay available.Here is the link!https://bit.ly/3MYMJoin my weekly Coffee Chat every Thursday at 12pm PST by signing up for free HERE.Join my weekly Coffee Chat every Thursday at 12pm PST by signing up for free HERE.

Are you on this entrepreneurial journey with someone else?Business owners often ask whether or not I can help them with their specific type of business. Perhaps they're a business selling a product instead of a service, or they're in a very unique niche. And while most of the small businesses I work with are solopreneurs, sometimes I see two people who've come together as business partners.Co-CEOs need support, strategies, and systems specifically designed to help them too, because a partnership can open up new communication and work challenges. That's why today I've invited Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, the co-CEOs of Encore Empire, to share their perspective on how two people can efficiently work together.In this episode of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, you'll hear how they've streamlined and upleveled how they communicate in their business. They'll discuss how they ensure they're not stepping on the other's toes or accidentally re-doing the other's work... and avoid overworking themselves in the process. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:6:06 - Where did the idea come from to form a business partnership and launch Encore Empire? Deirdre and Carmen discuss how they came together.10:07 - Deirdre and Carmen love working with midlife women looking to launch something new. Why do they focus on this specific group?16:25 - Where was Encore Empire a year ago when Deirdre and Carmen first joined The CEO Collective? They talk about the changes they've made in their business since.25:19 - Deirdre and Carmen share the biggest takeaway they've implemented (and recommend) as business partners from attending the CEO retreats and working within the Collective.30:30 - What are Deirdre and Carmen most proud of accomplishing in the last year? What's really made a difference for their business?Mentioned in Better Communication Between You and Your Business Partner With Encore Empire90-Day CEO Operating SystemEncore EmpireEncore Empire on Facebook and LinkedInEmpire of Unstoppable Women FB GroupThe Marketing Methodology WorkshopThe CEO RetreatThe CEO CollectiveRacheal on Instagram and TikTokRate and review on Apple Podcasts

With over 45 years of combined corporate experience, founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter, work with women who are ready to own the power they've spent decades building by guiding them through the process of mastering their big ideas, wrangling their doubts, and taking action with smart, actionable strategy. They're a duo of a CPA and a Certified Online Business Manager & Whole Person Coach, each with their own entrepreneurial background, who have teamed up to help other women in their age bracket cash in on their life experience.  Carmen and Deirdre are committed to honoring the perspective and insight women in this age bracket bring to the table because real magic happens when we devote our time and energy not to taking care of everyone else—but to finally realize our own goals and ambitions.  In this episode, they share what it means to think like a CEO, and create the empire that you've always desired! Episode Highlights: How to think like a CEO at every stage of your business Emotion and data explained:why each are important to your business Self-value: knowing your worth and applying it to your business Time: how to use it to your advantage You can learn more about Encore Empire here.   A note from your host, Mary: "Thank you for tuning into the Fully Alive podcast! To explore more related content, please join the Fully Alive Facebook group and subscribe to the free ConsciousPreneur magazine."    

Join host Elle Nagy and the dynamic Deirdre Harter and Carmen Reed-Gilkison from Encore Empire in Episode Five of Season Two on "The Unapologetic Woman Podcast." Explore the security mindset, self-worth, and the power of collaboration.

There is no time better than the present to consider strategic partnership to grow your business. In this episode, I interview Carmen Reed-Gilkison, Whole Person Certified Coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA, are Business Strategists and Co-Founders of Encore Empire. They support mission-oriented women over 40 who hire Encore Empire to help optimize their foundational business strategy so they can focus on positively impacting the world. They help new and established female entrepreneurs increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy. With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, we understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining our two areas of expertise we've created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses. They offer a holistic 6-month launchpad program for new entrepreneurs and 12-month next-level profits coaching program focusing on business strategy, systems to scale through the lens of finance and leadership. In this episode we chat about: Their decision to partner versus staying solo What makes their business model work Why they won't be giving up 1:1 anytime soon Why status quo just won't work for Encore Empire The launch of their new podcast Learn with Carmen and Deidre: *** Register for their upcoming Business Validation Method Workshop is starting on December 14, 2021 @ https://encoreempire.com/validate/ Connect with them: hello@encoreempire.com https://encoreempire.com https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpire The what of learning is easy. It's in the how of learning where the magic happens and people succeed. Contact Tracy Sherriff about course design and course refinement - tracy@tracysherriff.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Are you a rule follower or a rule breaker? We all lean in one direction or the other. Do you believe that your natural tendencies are part of your success formula? They are! And the good news is that there's no one "right" path to success as an entrepreneur or in life in general. Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter share their life experiences to compare and contrast the different paths their lives took that led them to become successful entrepreneurs, and they shine a light on the societal norms that tend to hold people back.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this third and final episode of our "This Before That" series, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter tackle the common tendency entrepreneurs have to jump from one thing to another, creating and doing without having a solid strategy or even a plan in place to ensure they understand whether or not they should do the new thing. The top four questions to ask yourself are: Why do you want to start something new? What is the result you believe it (the new thing) will help you achieve? Does your data support your assumptions? Do you have the time to build out the strategy to ensure its success and then implement and maintain it? Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this second episode of our this before that series, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter are discussing what you need to have in place before you consider hiring help. The purpose of this series is to give you guidance on what to focus on and when in your business. Many entrepreneurs believe that they should hire help as soon as possible, and that's simply not the case. Listen in to learn why.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

It's very common for new entrepreneurs to want a website to validate the fact that they have a business, but a website does not make a business! In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter dive into what you need to have in place before you ever consider building a website and how to go about getting yourself set up correctly.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter interview website designer extraordinaire Veronica Chordas, the designer responsible for their new amazing website. Veronica's long and winding road of life as an artist, musician, and seeker has led her back to her truest path as a brand creator. From Music. The Healing Arts. Marketing. Astrology. Graphic Design. Child Therapy. Yoga. Life Coaching. Sales. Performance. Teaching. Veronica's training in all of these areas has culminated in a fluid way to support her work on behalf of other creatives and healers. Her wayfaring lifestyle enables Veronica to work with clients from all over the world. Traveling from place to place keeps her eyes fresh and heart open. What shows up through this lens of child-like curiosity amazes even her on a daily basis. On the most visual level, it manifests beauty, wisdom and light that only art can bring. In the invisible realms, it serves to uplevel our consciousness and move us forward as a humanity. This is Veronica's passion and the highest purpose of the work she does. Are you ready for next-level branding? Veronica is sharing step one of her branding process with you. Check it out here: https://wonderlust.love/reflections-of-you-personal-branding/Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter interview personal brand photographer Terri Burke. Terri Burke is a Brand Catalyst—a unique mix of a communications advisor and growth strategist. She works with the seasoned entrepreneur who has an established business but is feeling stuck at a plateau or overwhelmed juggling all the things (even with a team for support) and needs a fresh perspective to focus on the right priorities to get to the next level. Terri started her adventure as an entrepreneur back in 2009 as a professional photographer after spending 18 years in advertising, working with the brand leadership at companies as varied as BP Amoco, Lands' End, Toys R Us, and Audi. As mentioned in the episode, Terri has a great free resource for you - “Finding the Right Brand Photographer” - you can download it here: https://offer.terriburke.com/photographer. Connect With Terri here: Website: terriburke.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/terri.p.burke LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terriburke/ The contact page on Terri's website - https://terriburke.com/contactLet's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss how critical mastering your mindset is as an entrepreneur. They share strategies that helped them succeed, the lessons they learned from failure, and cultivating a winning mindset. Topics Include: Strategies to make entrepreneurship go smoother Cultivating a winning mindset Why you shouldn't compare yourself to others Deciding that you're going to succeed Learning to enjoy the journey Knowing when to take a break Lessons learned from failure Having impact and joy in your business Following curiosities And more! Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the glass ceiling in the entrepreneurial world. They discuss how to identify your glass ceiling, get over your fears, and the importance of being clear about what you do. Topics Include: The glass ceiling in the entrepreneurial world Identifying your glass ceiling Breaking through your fear Being clear about what you do Finding your uniqueness vs. trying to be revolutionary Having a strategy to make your dream happen And more! Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

Carmen Reed-Gilkison & Deirdre Harter came together to create Encore Empire, a coaching business for women in their 40s who are looking to increase their bottom line. Through their unique marketing methodology workshops, they educate women on different strategies that will help them scale their eCommerce business to the next level. Encore Empire offers laser-focused individualized strategy sessions, so their clients can build on their already existing assets and learn how to leverage them to increase their bottom line. In this episode of the One Big Tip podcast, Carmen & Dierdre come together to share the very same tips and strategies they teach their clients in workshops so they can scale their eCommerce businesses. Encore Empire was built by two women who know what it's like to want more. They understand that women often want to chase their dreams and do what it takes to make them a reality. Encore Empire helps women turn the focus on themselves and their dreams. They created workshops to help women grow their eCommerce business and offer one-on-one support coaching to help them deal with the overwhelm. At the beginning of every venture as an entrepreneur, you are highly motivated, but what happens when burnout settles in? Carmen and Dierdre know how to readjust and push forward. They have strategies that push their clients past their limitations to actualize their dreams. Carmen and Dierdre joined forces to create Encore Empire, an agency that helps women scale their business in today's digital marketplace.  Essentially, what Carmen & Deirdre do as the heart and soul of Encore Empire, is help women reinvent themselves. They niched down to a very targeted audience when choosing who they wanted to serve. Women who spent the first half of their careers in corporate America or as caregivers now want to be their own bosses and chase their dreams. The challenge is they don't know how to avoid overwhelm and burnout due to all the available technology they have to choose from. The first thing they did to create success was develop a framework that helps simplify becoming an online entrepreneur. The first step in the framework is to know what you want to be known for and how you want to serve your audience. Carmen and Dierdre help their clients niche down on their offer. The second part of the framework used by Encore Empire to help their clients is utilizing a technique called reverse engineering. This technique requires people to start at the end of their goal and then break down how to get there into actionable, bite-size pieces. This essentially creates the roadmap to their success. The third part of the framework is to know your why. Know what motivated you to start your business, have a clear image of who you want to serve, and what is the best way to reach them. If you follow this framework, Encore Empire believes the only option is for you to reach your potential and create a successful business. Another essential part of their strategy is to have every aspect of your business lead to your one big thing.  Creating this funnel gives your company a clear direction on what needs to get done. Many of their clients struggle because they have a lot of amazing things they want to do. This is where their one-on-one coaching is most effective. In the coaching sessions, the clients are educated on creating additional income streams. But those ancillary income streams can't steer you off track from your one main idea. They need to be able to run on simple automation. That is how you create mastery in your field, boost your reputation, and help your brand stay top of mind. Using these tips, you can scale your eCommerce business. This episode:[2:05] Carmen and Dierdre walk through how they created Encore EmpireTheir why - helping women in their 40s move ahead without the overwhelmIt's importantSupport the show

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss what happens after you've invested in a coach or a coaching program. They highlight what you need to do to ensure that you get your return on investment in both time and money. Topics Include: Getting a return on investment on your time and money Preparing for your coaching calls Implementing action steps Having a season of focus The process of getting “unstuck” Personal accountability Communicating with your coach and establishing trust Mindset Being coachable And more! Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter share what sets Encore Empire apart from all of the other coaching programs out there. They discuss the application and onboarding process, what you can expect in the program, the time commitment, and pricing options. Dr. Katica Krajinovic, Monica Delius, and Jocelyn Boothby also share their client success stories and how Encore Empire has benefited them. Topics Include: Who we work with Our application and onboarding process Setting up a custom strategy Customized monthly coaching What you can expect Relationship building Collaboration and client opportunities Pricing and payment plans Encore Empire member benefits The things that you need and don't need The time commitment Client testimonials And other topics... Quotes of Impact “What we help address in our program that a lot of others don't, is that individual and customized aspect that we put together with our client to help build their foundational business strategy.” “It's really important to us that we work with you collaboratively, that you're not just thrown onto a platform to go through and learn all of this stuff and then ask questions, watch some videos, and figure it out on your own.” “One of the things that we believe every entrepreneur who is in this space, if you're serving others, is relationship building– that is a foundational pillar for everybody. It may look different, you may need to have a larger network or smaller network, but absolutely everybody needs to have this relationship building aspect put into their business.” “There are some coaches out there who are going to teach you a skill, it might be a LinkedIn coach, or it might be someone who is a sales coach, or a speaking coach. That's really teaching you one singular skill, and you can get that through either one-on-one or a program or a course, but what we're doing at Encore Business Incubator is we are building your foundational business strategy.” “Our desire for your success is as great as the desire for our own success.” “I have gained confidence that I have something of value to offer the marketplace.” Dr. Katica Krajinovic “I was kind of stalling at the same numbers…finally, I got over the hurdle…I doubled my clientele, and increased my revenue.” Monica Delius “I think that's the biggest thing, the switch in my mindset as far as what I have to offer and valuing that as it should be valued…as a result, I'm making just about 3X as much every time I sign a client as I would have before I started working with you guys.” Jocelyn BoothbyLet's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

NOTE: None of what you are going to hear in this show is to be considered legal or financial advice. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter speak with JoAnn Holmes, who is an IP and digital assets attorney and a Web 3.0 advisor. While this might sound like something only for millennials, this episode will enlighten you to the fact that this is something important for everyone to become familiar with. They discuss what Web 3.0 is and what you can do now to prepare for it. They also discuss cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, nonfungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), the metaverse, and blockchains. Topics Include: Everything you need to know about Web 3.0 The difference between Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 Cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, NFTs, DAOs, and the metaverse How women can participate in the Web 3.0 space Being compensated for value Stablecoins Smart contracts Blockchains What you can do right now to prepare for Web3 And other topics... Quotes of Impact [16:22 – 16:32] “Anytime innovation in technology is occurring, there are going to be people who stay on the sidelines. If we think back to the internet in the early 2000s, people had a lot of trepidation.” [17:47 – 18:06] “Because this whole industry is still very early, you are able to earn that higher yield because the industry is early. So just like if you had bought Amazon in its earliest days, you would have dealt with a lot of ups and downs, but over the course of time you would have been rewarded for the risks that you take.” [20:01 – 20:24] “If you are a professional service provider, there is a space for you in Web3 because the industry is still so early and it's very much in a building phase. There are great opportunities for you to bring your skillset, learn this industry, and have great value that I believe is going to have longevity for your career.” [24:03 – 24:17] “So what does that look like? That looks like a group of people coming together around a concept and saying, ‘Let's hear from one another. Let's make decisions together, let's build value together, and let's all participate in the value that we've created.'” [29:20 – 29:36] “In an internet age we have so much information coming at us, we need trusted people to help us curate that. For me, I'm helping my clients curate the law that's changing and complex to be able to suppo rt their organization's business objectives.” Connect with JoAnn Holmes: JoAnn Holmes' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannholmes/ Website: https://www.holmesatlaw.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HolmesAtLawLet's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss three steps you can take to attract your ideal client. They cover how to identify your ideal client, how to speak their language so you can connect on an emotional level, and how you can create a client language bank that will help you develop content that will solve your ideal client's problems. Topics Include: Getting clear on your ideal client avatar Identifying who is going to get the best result from your offer Using your client's language to connect on an emotional level Creating a digital resource bank Solving your ideal client's problems And other topics... Quotes of Impact [01:36 – 01:56] “Growing a successful business or offer is not about what you think will be the most useful, solve the biggest problem, or provide the most needed service. It's about offering something that serves the actual stated need or desire of the people who identify as your ideal clients.” [02:09 – 02:19] “In order to grow a successful and profitable business, you must talk to people about it in a way that's meaningful and emotionally engaging for them.” [09:06 – 09:21] “When you're not speaking your client's language, it's not going to resonate with them the same way it would if you did. In order to connect on an emotional level, you need to speak in a way that they would speak about the solution your offer provides.” [18:14 – 18:28] “They start to look to you as being the person who can solve their problem because you've already solved a problem by paying attention to what they're saying and speaking their language and they already feel like you understand them.”Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the common frustration entrepreneurs have when they are putting in the time and effort, but aren't seeing the success in their businesses that they want to see. They discuss the dangers of comparisonitis, the importance of setting realistic expectations, and why taking calculated risks is essential. Topics Include: Comparisonitis Earning the right to time freedom Setting reasonable expectations Trial and error in entrepreneurship Investing to grow your business Taking calculated risks And other topics... Quotes of Impact [02:36 – 02:53] “We get into comparisonitis. When we start doing that, we are almost always comparing apples to oranges because we have no idea what someone else's journey has been. We only see where they are right now or what they chose to share.” [03:26 – 03:34] “We all come into entrepreneurship with different skillsets, different assets, different experiences.” [08:14 – 08:24] “In order to get that time freedom, you have to put the work in ahead of time. You have to earn the right to have that freedom because it doesn't just happen immediately.” [09:16 – 09:26] “You can't create or craft the life that you want from day one, you have to put in those hours to understand. It takes mastery.” [13:10 – 13:29] “You're not a failure if you have to take on a gig or even go back to work for a while. It's absolutely not. Think of it as another income stream. And while you're in your job, pay attention to how that business runs. You can get a great education on business as an employee if you're looking for that.”Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the immense power of the stories that we tell ourselves. They discuss how the stories we tell ourselves can be for good or for evil, how we create stories that limit us, and how to reframe these stories to become the person that we want to be. Topics Include: The power of story for humans Creating and believing stories that are limiting us How to reframe stories And other topics... Quotes of Impact [03:20 – 03:48] “Stories are transformative. They have the power for them to tap into our emotions, and this can alter our perspective. And when we can alter our perspective on something or have an open mind and see something in a new way, that can lead to a change in our own actions. And if we can change our own actions, that can ultimately lead to a change in our reality.” [06:26 – 06:38] “When you expect others to forgive you… just because you've created a story in your head, and just because that's how you are, it's putting the responsibility on others for your bad habits.” [07:15 – 07:33] “When you're creating stories that limit you, and when you're actually following what those stories say and believing them, you are really greatly reducing your ability to move on and past things and reach the success on the level that you want to, in the time that you want to.” [12:58 – 13:11] “When something seems overwhelming, and you automatically tell yourself it's too hard, then you're selling yourself short, and in order to get around that you're going to reframe the story.” [17:24 – 17:29] “Just because you haven't been that person in the past, it doesn't mean that you can't become that person now.”Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter are interviewed by Kimberly Crowe at The Voices of Women Summit. They discuss how women can come into their power after age 40 and how this is often just the beginning. They also discuss the power of impact vs. making money, and the importance of creating a strategy based on your personal values. Topics Include: How women spread the wealth What women need to know about entrepreneurism Having impact Money and time The inside out approach Starting with values Recognizing your own greatness and power Having a strategy Validating the offer And other topics... Quotes of Impact [02:41 – 02:59] “We believe that as women reach the age of 40, 50, 60, they're just starting to settle into their power and we are passionate about helping mission-driven women who are making a difference through their online businesses to scale and impact and profit.” [03:47 – 04:12] “When women have money, they share wealth. Women also naturally create win-win situations. Typically, the patriarchal society teaches women to be the caregivers and it teaches men to go out and make the money. Both of those roles are fine when not taken too far, but what happens is it does a disservice to all of us.” [04:41 – 04:50] “It is so exciting to help these women bring their dream out into the world and then watch them impact so many others.” [06:42 – 06:47] “In general, women want to make an impact and men want to make money.” [08:21 – 08:32] “The money, the revenue in our business, is the oxygen of the business. You have to have that because if you don't have that, you're going to run out of air and that means you can't have any more impact.” [10:24 – 10:38] “In order to feel wealthy, in order to feel that wealth of your personal power and all of the experience that you bring to the table today, you have to tap into that. And you also have to know what your values are.” [13:27 – 13:34] “Just because you're good at something, doesn't mean that you enjoy it and does not mean that it's fun. It does not mean that you're supposed to do it for the rest of your life.” [14:59 – 15:19] “It's a lot more efficient and effective to come in and have a clear roadmap. Otherwise, it's like you're looking at a 1000 piece puzzle all laid out on the table and you're trying to put that together and maybe there are some pieces missing. You're not going to get the whole picture because you just don't have that whole strategy.” Resources: Business Validation Method Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/validate/ (Code: FREE) The Voices of Women Summit: https://voice-of-women-summit-2022.heysummit.com/?sc=eVjH6mZs&ac=Jc16GMPrLet's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

It's easy to let your emotions lead when you are considering hiring a coach or joining a program. You may want to join a program on the spur of a moment just because you received a fancy, enticing email. However, it's important to consider coaches and programs as an investment and do your due diligence before choosing one. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the five questions to ask yourself and the five to ask of a coach/program when you're considering investing in one. They discuss the three things to look for in a coach or program and also how to determine if it's right for you. Topics Include: Five questions to ask when you're considering a coach/program Courses vs. Coaches Prioritizing the next best thing What it means to be coachable Three things to look for in a coach/program How to know if it's too good to be true Determining if a coach/program is right for you And other topics... Quotes of Impact: [01:58 – 02:07] “In order to be successful in business, we believe it's important to invest in your education as an entrepreneur and as a business owner.” [05:01 – 05:29] “A program should last a minimum of three months and can last up to a year. A program is more for the bigger thing and the bigger result that you need. It's not for learning this one thing, it's really about building foundations, building systems, building in structure, and strategy.” [07:08 – 07:31] “It's important that you are able to have sustainable and consistent sales. That should be a top priority for every single business owner, so if you aren't there yet then I would say address that area first because that's much more important and that's going to provide what you need to then invest in all of the other things that you need to put together in your business.” [09:07 – 09:33] “Are you open-minded enough to accept new ideas and to try new things and to get out of your comfort zone? When you are working with a coach or even inside of a program, even if it's not a coach directly, let's say it's a group coaching, anytime you're in something that is going to teach you something new or help you implement something new, you really have to be open minded to it.” [10:31 – 10:45] “Business coaches help you get clarity. We help you define those results and to help you know what result does your business need. What is the thing you need in order to get to the next level?” [16:20 – 16:33] “Everyone has a different level of experience and expertise. As someone who is about to invest in something, you just want to make sure that you do your due diligence to find out if what they're offering matches what you need.” [23:56 – 24:04] “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. There is a difference between too good to be true and being effective.” Resources: The 10 Questions to Ask Download can be found in our free resources hub here: https://vip.encoreempire.com/resourcesLet's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

Susan Cox is a Confidence Creator and founder of Fiercly50ish, where she helps ambitious midlife women get visible with their confidence and their style. With the guidance of Carmen & Deirdre, she launched a workshop where she experienced many impactful wins. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter speak with Susan Cox about her experience in the Encore Business Incubator program. They discuss how embracing fear and leaving your comfort zone is the only way to grow. Susan shares how influential the program has been and the success that she has experienced in just a few short months of being in the program. Topics Include: Focus Embracing fear & leaving your comfort zone Launch method Workshops Body image for older women Getting new prospects Impactful wins Confidence & authenticity Getting expert help And other topics... Quotes of Impact [03:12 – 03:29] “I feel like a fish out of the water again, but that's good because you should be scared– you're going to learn something. What you guys have done in a week and a half or two weeks to help me has just been amazing.” [09:28 – 09:47] “It's amazing. It's double the expertise, it's double the fun. I love the collaboration because each of you [Carmen & Deirdre] brings a different perspective to it, and you have a unique way of figuring things out, but you come together and it's wonderful.” [12:25 – 12:39] “You were able to really craft this workshop in a way that you provide a safe space for women to be able to unburden themselves of this kind of emotional baggage that they had been carrying with them their entire lives.” [14:36 – 15:05] “Still even in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, women have body image problems. It's no different than the seventh-grade lunch table because people are mean about it…Women were not afraid to kind of get in touch with their feelings, something they haven't done in a long time. That really started the positive momentum of the workshop.” [15:53 – 16:14] “This workshop may have been a lot of work, in the beginning, to put together the strategy and put it all together, but now it's a rinse and repeat process because you run it again and again. And this is the model that Carmen and I came up with. We've been doing this for a year and a half now and we found that it's so valuable.” [19:10 – 19:39] “I still feel this way, I'm on the precipice of greatness because now that the connection that is made between your authenticity and what you have to offer, it's magic. These women know what they're doing. Anyone who is not on board, you need to get on board.” If you're looking for the same one-on-one guidance that has helped Susan make such great strides in such a short period of time, book a no-pressure call with us here: https://calendly.com/d/ck7-6m6-wmb/business-coaching-consultation-call Connect with Susan Cox! Facebook Group: Midlife Women Living Fiercely50ish! Website: https://fiercely50ish.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiercely50ish Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

As an entrepreneur, it's easy to get into the mindset that you must do all of the things all of the time. However, this way of thinking can become the biggest stumbling block on your path to success. Instead, you should focus on your one big thing. This one big thing may change throughout the seasons but maintaining your focus on one thing (rather than dozens of things) will help you master that one thing. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the impact that focusing on one thing at a time can have. They discuss how keeping things simple will allow your business to thrive, while also alleviating your stress. Determine what your one big thing will be, come up with a strategy, and prepare to see success! Topics Include: Being focused Keeping things simsple Seasons of focus One thing at a time Where your focus matters Not letting fear control you Avoidance Determining your one big thing Mastery And other topics... Quotes of Impact [01:57 – 02:12] “We see lack of focus as the biggest stumbling block to success. The more you do, the less effective you are at doing it. Focusing on one thing at a time allows you to master that thing.” [02:39 – 02:50] “Think of how simple can you make things. Sometimes we just overcomplicate things. We think if it's more complicated it's going to work better, but that is not necessarily the case.” [05:15 – 05:25] “If you look at all the things that you want to do and that you want to get accomplished, you may have ten big goals for your business. But you can't do all ten things right now.” [07:18 – 07:28] “Are you focusing on what you think people want, or what they actually want? Are you focusing on what's easy for you instead of what serves your audience?” [11:55 – 12:17] “When you get this concept, that you need to do way less, first of all, it will alleviate stress and you will get the win. It may not be the finishing of this beautiful graphic that you just created, but you're going to get the win in the results that you're going to create.” [13:47 – 14:17] “By doing one thing, you are building that and you are mastering that. You wouldn't add your guest house onto your house that you haven't even built yet. Once you build it and have optimized it, then things naturally come to you. Through bringing it out into the world, through getting feedback, through seeing how your clients are interacting with it, that tells you what your next thing should be.” [17:12 – 17:20] “Focus in and of itself is not enough. You need a strategy to know what to focus on and what fits with your business.”Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

As co-founders of the BYOB Agency, Scott and Nancy Aaron are business partners but also partners for life in marriage. Both have extensive experience as entrepreneurs and have founded numerous businesses both together and individually. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter speak with Scott and Nancy about the ins and outs of working with a partner. They discuss the importance of communication, collaboration, delegation, and knowing their strengths. Get ready to glean helpful business advice from this power couple! Topics Include: Couples who work together Knowing your strengths Setting boundaries Time blocking Communication Being Coachable Collaboration Delegation Upwork Loom Standard operating procedures Project management tools Hiring a team Voxer Recognition And other topics... Quotes of Impact [14:56 – 15:01] “You don't work this hard, and you haven't created what you've created, to have to work every single day.” [18:09 – 18:15] “If you don't have the right boundaries and you don't set the expectations of who does what and when then it can be something that's problematic.” [20:24 – 20:38] “So many couples, whether they're in business or not, if you're not talking about those little icky feelings that you're feeling, it's going to build up and it's going to do what I call that little bottle effect where the top blows off one day.” [23:03 – 23:21] “You can have joint ventures, even if that relationship is temporary or just for an event. All of the same things apply, you have to know what your strengths are, what their strengths are, and decide who is going to do what.” [30:56 – 31:22] “For everyone out there who wants to have a successful online business, or coaching practice, or anything, there is one thing that everyone needs to have. You have to have an online project management tool. That could be ClickUp, could be Trello, could be Asana, could be Monday, whatever works for you, but that is your home base to be able to scale.” Connect with Scott & Nancy! Website: https://www.thetimetogrow.com/ Scott's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottaaroncoach/ The Entrepreneur Rescue Mission: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/entrepreneur-rescue-mission/id1485670929 Networking and Marketing Made Simple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/networking-and-marketing-made-simple/id1441674842 Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

You may be a pro at planning, filling out spreadsheets, and all of the other left-brained and analytical tasks that go along with running a business. However, your business can benefit from tapping into your creative, right-brained side. Balancing both will help your business prosper in ways that you can't even imagine. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter discuss the power of dreaming big and honing in on your why. They share everything you need to know about vision boards, from why you should have one to the different types of vision boards you can create. Get ready to dream big! Topics Include: Planning vs. Visioning Creativity in Business Left Brain vs. Right Brain Quotes of Impact [02:06 – 02:20] “And over time, I learned that it's much better when you have a balance between the two different sides of your brain. Because if you're spending too much time in one, not enough time in the other, then your business can get a little bit lopsided.” [06:56 - 07:08] “You want to make sure that you're looking at exactly what you want because what we know for sure is that the universe is not going to give you what you want if you're fuzzy on it.” [08:40 - 08:45] “Take the wins when they come and really hold on to them. The vision board is another way for you to do that. It keeps you moving forward towards something bigger and better. And so it's going to get you past those humps and trust me, they're going to be there no matter how good we plan.” [15:50 - 15:56] “You're worthy of being whatever the heck you want to be, and you can get there and the vision boarding is going to help you.” [17:46 - 17:54] “Money does not buy you happiness, and that is not the reason for it. But money buys impact. Money buys time.”Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter interview Margo Lovett. Margo Lovett successfully reinvented herself from hobbyist to professional podcaster, building the podcast Her Business Her Voice Her Conversation and training center, Podcast AcademyOnline.com. Margo shares her belief that when we share our stories we empower one another. Now is the best time to start a podcast, and when you niche down and maintain consistency you're setting yourself up for success, according to Margo - and we agree! Margo is offering one-on-one services to the first two people who take her up on her offer at timestamp: 29:40. Head on over to https://www.margolovett.com to connect with Margo and bring your story out into the world.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

You've heard "Plan your work and work your plan," right? It's necessary to create a plan to achieve success. In this episode, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter walk you through their 3-step process and method of annual planning. Set yourself up for success, and listen in! Like what you're hearing? Please subscribe and leave us a review; it helps us help more women, and that's our mission.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

Carmen Reed-Gilkison, Whole Person Certified Coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA, are Business Strategists and Co-Founders of Encore Empire. They support mission-oriented women over 40 who hire Encore Empire to help optimize their foundational business strategy so they can focus on positively impacting the world. They help new and established female entrepreneurs increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy. With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, we understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining our two areas of expertise we've created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses. They offer a holistic 6-month launchpad program for new entrepreneurs and 12-month next-level profits coaching program focusing on business strategy, systems to scale through the lens of finance and leadership. In this episode we chat about: Their decision to partner versus staying solo What makes their business model work Why they won't be giving up 1:1 anytime soon Why status quo just won't work for Encore Empire The launch of their new podcast Learn with Carmen and Deidre: *** Register for their upcoming Business Validation Method Workshop is starting on December 14, 2021 @ https://encoreempire.com/validate/ Connect with them: hello@encoreempire.com https://encoreempire.com https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpire The what of learning is easy. It's in the how of learning where the magic happens and people succeed. Contact Tracy Sherriff about course design and course refinement - tracy@tracysherriff.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Carmen Reed-Gilkison, Whole Person Certified Coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA, and Business Strategist are the Co-Founders of Encore Empire. Mission-oriented women over 40 hire Encore Empire to help optimize their foundational business strategy so they can focus on positively impacting the world. We help new and established female entrepreneurs increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy. With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, we understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining our two areas of expertise we've created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses. Women relate and interact differently at this age than their younger counterparts, and definitely different than men. We believe in relationship marketing and that's where women in midlife excel. The majority of our activities take place inside our free Facebook Group: Empire of Unstoppable Midlife Women Building Profitable Businesses. You are cordially invited to join us for free weekly training, monthly networking events, twice weekly business promotion posts, and more! We offer a holistic 9-month Business Incubator program for entrepreneurs focusing on business strategy, sales and marketing, and building systems to scale through the lens of finance and leadership. Contact info: hello@encoreempire.com https://encoreempire.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpire https://www.linkedin.com/company/encore-empire Interesting in joining our year long Expert Authority Mastermind, where you will learn how to get clear on your audience, avatar, marketing strategy, launch your podcast and write your book? Book a call with us here to see if it's a good fit for you: https://scottaaron.as.me/expertauthority

Success is relative to who you are, where you are in business, and what your goals are. But there's one truth to being successful and that is that you must be committed to doing whatever it takes to get you there. Deirdre and Carmen discuss some variables of success, common limiting beliefs we encounter, and how to keep you focus on your goal while also being able to execute every step of the way. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:00:00] Success is a commitment to doing whatever it takes to achieve the result. Period. You know, we run into our clients all the time, or people out there who really want things right now! We live in a world of instant gratification and everyone thinks that, you know, if I start doing these things, I'm going to see the results right away and it really doesn't work that way. Success is a process and a journey, and I like what you talk about a lot, Deirdre, to our clients and in our Facebook group that when you do something at one certain period of time, like, let's say, the first of the month in June, well, you're not going to see the results of what you're doing that month of June until 90 days later, right? Everything takes time to build and work and give you the result of your actions. Deirdre Harter: [00:00:53] Yeah, I do and it depends on what we're talking about, while there are certain things that you could certainly see a result from quickly like you can put a post in and see if people are commenting, right? So you know, that's something that you can get the quick hit. You can get a bunch of likes, you know, a bunch of comments below. So people think that that's how everything works in business, but it depends on what area of business and what we're talking about. And I think too it's really tied to the level of results that you're looking for. You know, getting some engagement on a post, that's kind of a small result, right? It's not huge. I mean, yes, it could go viral and you could get five hundred, but in general, that doesn't happen. And then when we're talking about getting a bigger result, like signing three new clients or increasing our revenue by 50 percent, that's a bigger result. And that bigger result is going to take more time. And I think that's where people kind of they don't think of it that way. They think, OK, well, I can do some of these other things and it's and it's fast and easy, and I get a result pretty quick. So everything should be that way in business, but it really isn't. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:02:08] Yeah, I agree. And I like to think about the runway. You know, the bigger the thing that you're trying to achieve, the longer the runway for it. And that's why business is a multi-pronged approach. You know, to have a successful business means you have to focus on what's happening today and you have to future-cast where you want to be. And you know, we always work with our clients to help them do that, to help them set their goals for three years out, two years out, one year out. And then we reverse engineer it because you have to be able to break it down and know the steps to take to get to those big results. And then when you do that, you have a metric to gauge that you're actually doing it. So when we work with our clients, we're able to break those things down. Then they're able to see what steps do I take today that will help me get my result for this week? That will help me get my result for this month. That will help me get my result for this quarter. And I think that's a big key piece of it as well. Deirdre Harter: [00:03:05] It is, and it's really about learning to think in different time frames. For example, you have to be doing "the dailies," is what I like to call them. Those are the things you have to do every day. You have to check your email and you have to check to look for new messages on social media. And you have to, you know, update your budget. And you know, there's all these different things that have to be done daily or maybe even weekly. But sometimes we get so busy doing those things that we forget that we have to build in the things that we're not going to see a result from for a while. But it has to be that mix. You have to if you if you're always in the day-to-day, you're just going to spin. You're just going to spin your wheels and you're going to stay in the same place. And then if you go the other direction and you're only doing things that you're not going to see a result like, say, I'm going to build out this brand new program and I'm going to spend all my time and focus on it for the next month, well then you're missing the things that you need to happen between now and when that goes live six months from now. So it really has to be this balance of doing the things that have to get done every day on the maintenance level. Doing the things that are going to move your business toward those longer-term goals and having the strategy to know what are those things that I'm supposed to be doing to do to maintain both sides of it? Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:04:33] Yeah, and strategy is the key. That's why that's what we focus on is because it's just you just painted the perfect picture, right? Like, someone decides I'm going to create a course or a program and they get all excited because, you know, it is fun when you when you've thought of something that you think is going to really serve your audience, you want to bring it out into the world. And it's really easy to dive into all that creation and do all the things and get busy with that. And what colors and what's the branding for this thing? And what's my messaging and how am I going to get them the result? And that could take you a lot of focus time, and that's a big project. But you can't just focus on that even if it's the most fun thing that you have on your plate, you have to build in the strategy so that you're still communicating with all your clients or your the people that follow you on social media or in your group or your email list or whatever. And the best way that we found to do this is to bring them along the journey with you. Like when you're creating something brand new, you can't do it in a vacuum. You know, you've got to do it with the validation that it is exactly what those people want. And so what better way than to tell them, Hey, I'm this process of this new program that I'm creating requires me to figure out A, B and C. What do you think about this? You know, people love to give their advice, and I think that's a great way to encourage engagement and to keep you in the here and now as well as working on this thing that's going to be in the future. Deirdre Harter: [00:06:07] Mm hmm. Yeah, that's exactly right, Carmen. And when you when you understand all the bigger strategy, like, that's again, why we talk about strategy, but really, it's about understanding, where do we need to be in three years from now? And what do we need to be doing in three years? What does that look like? And then that reverse engineering process you were talking about is then figuring out, OK, how do we structure things now to where it will look like that? It won't look like that now, but we want it to look like that in three years. Some of those things I know that we've been working on in our own company here is the standard operating procedures. You know, that's one of those pieces where it's hard to do that because we know we need to focus on sales and marketing because that's the lifeblood of your business, right? You've got to have the income coming in to keep everything going. So sometimes it feels really hard to do something like an SOP, which you're like that is not urgent. It's not something we need today. However, it becomes urgent later if you're not doing it as you go. And so I know we've built that time in that even though we feel like we should be doing these other things that, you know, bring in more results faster now. We're going to thank ourselves in a year from now when we have those in place, because this whole strategy is the fact that you can you can't do all the things by yourself. You've got to have help as you grow and scale your business. Deirdre Harter: [00:07:40] So, in order to do that, you have to have these procedures in place because how are you going to have somebody come in and help you? If you don't have it all written down, they're not going to magically know - they can have all the experience in the world, but they don't know how you do it and how it needs to be done for your company. And so those are the kinds of things that a lot of people miss, and they put it off and put it off until all of a sudden they're like, I've got to get some help in here because I'm going to lose my mind. I'm not. I can't. I'm working 100 hours a week and now it's an emergency. And so then it just kind of spirals out of control and then they get the person to help and they're like, Well, I don't have time to tell you what to do, so just do this thing. So it just goes on and on and on. So that's where this whole, that's why we're talking about this is we want you to to understand how this all works together and why this balancing and looking to the future and kind of laying out that whole path of not just goals, not just goals and milestones. Well, actually goals, but you've got to put those milestones in place and then you have to make sure that the steps to get to the milestones are in place as well. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:08:53] Yeah. And one way to think about that that we like to share and teach our clients is that you look at who are you going to be? It's not just what are your goals in three years? Who do you need to be in three years to have attained that goal, right? So, you can't keep doing the same things you're doing today and be that person you envision yourself or have that business that you envision in three years. The same things will not be happening because that would mean you're not making any changes. So when we reverse engineer the impact that that has is you look at, OK, let's say you want in three years, I'm going to triple the revenue of my business and whatever that means to you, that means do you need a team? Are you going to have a business partner? Are you going to have a PR agency? I mean, whatever those pieces are in that business that you envision three years from now, you need to start putting the foundation together today for that. And I think what happens, it's really easy as solopreneurs because most of the people that we work with and a lot of the online world are solopreneurs. And so they get, you know, it doesn't, they think, Well, I'm not nearly ready for that. So why, why even pay attention to that stuff? Like it's a lot of work to run a business. I mean, there's nothing easy about it, right? There's so much to do. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:10:16] And so when they think about, well, I have to get the sales and marketing done, I need to get more clients. I need to create this thing. I need to do this, that and the other thing. SOPs are always probably the bottom of the list. But it comes into again that strategy and strategy covers not only what you're going to be doing and growing and how you're going to do that, but it covers your day-to-day like there are ways that we can help you and we help our clients put together the strategy so that you do carve out that time. So that when you're doing something, you can ensure that that SOP is being developed as you do it. Because, like Deirdre said, someone comes suddenly you hit the mother lode and you've got all these clients and people are clamoring for your time and attention in those zones of genius that only you can be in. Well, you're going to need that help. And if you haven't developed that standard operating procedure to bring someone in, then that that slows you down even more. And we've experienced this where we've brought people in before and had not had anything created for them because we thought, No problem, we'll just show them. But my gosh, that just slows you so far down and then you're really in trouble. So strategy just applies to so many different parts of the business, and success is not something that you achieve on your own. Deirdre Harter: [00:11:38] That's right. Yeah. And to get back to that, you know how we started out this conversation talking about success as a commitment to doing whatever it takes to achieve the result. And so we talked about, you know, what is the result? Like we're all pretty good with that, right? We are we all know what the brass ring looks like, where we want to go, what we want to have like we're good there. And then the whatever it takes part, let's talk about that is, you know, that's the things you have to do to get there. And it can't be Well, I don't want to do this thing like, Oh, I don't want to let's let's just say that you have a the result you want to get is that you want to have a million dollar company. But then you say, but I don't want to have employees. And I don't want to have to supervise anybody. I don't want to have to work with anybody. Well, then you're not doing whatever it takes. Because that is what it takes. So it's really about understanding. Do you really know what it's going to take to get the result that you want? Because if you're not committed to doing that, then you're not going to get the result. So that's really that's what it comes down to is knowing first, what does it take to get there? Because sometimes we just don't know. And then the other piece of it is, am I willing to do that? If that's what it takes? Am I willing? Am I committed? And how am I going to keep doing it until I get there? Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:13:09] Yeah, I love that. Commitment is the big part of it right there AND doing whatever it takes like those are the keys. So, you know, you can't say that, OK, I have learned from this expert this certain area of my business. So now I already know this certain area of my business, and I don't need to learn from anyone else, right? You can say that if you're getting the results. But if you're not getting the result, you can't go well I already did something so and it didn't work, so I'm not going to do it again. It's like, you know, the commitment to doing whatever it takes. And that means facing the fact that sometimes we make investments and the biggest education we got out of them was that it was an expensive lesson, right? Or, that you tried something two, three, and four times and it didn't work, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't try it the fifth time. We like to talk about the cycles of learning, and I think this is it's a key thing that people don't think about or realize. When they're on this extreme growth program that entrepreneurship is, and that is when you're learning something new and when you become an entrepreneur, you have your expertise. But your expertise, unless you're a business guru, isn't business, right? So your expertise is one piece of the pie and you need to learn now the other 10 pieces of the pie. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:14:37] And that means there's going to be mistakes. There's going to be, you know, twists and turns in your journey. Your journey isn't going to be a straight line. So you have to be committed to whatever it takes and you have to keep doing it. And what happens is you learn what your brain is able to take in of whatever it is. Let's say copywriting, you take a copywriting course, you practice copywriting and you get a certain level of familiarity with it and you reach a certain level of competence. Well, that doesn't mean that your whole copywriting education is over now. Because as you then put it, to use in your business and you move forward and you scale and you grow, you're going to have to be more sophisticated with copywriting. So then here comes another level. And so the cycles of learning is really up-leveling. As you learn one base element, you're able and willing to then learn the next, but you can't start from nothing and learn it all. And I think people forget about that. They think if they take this one thing, that's going to tell them what they need and they don't ever have to take another thing again. And it's just not the reality of the situation. Deirdre Harter: [00:15:44] Yeah. And there's another piece of this. It's the it's the financial part of it. And. We talk about, you know, committing to do what it takes, we'll learn what we need to learn and we'll do the work, but let's talk for a minute about the money side of it. Because success requires certain things in your business and it takes money to run a business. I mean, you can yes, you can start out, you know, bootstrapping it. But there's going to come a point where you've got to be able to pay for things and you can't just keep doing bootstrapping forever because you're limiting your own growth. It's sort of like a, you know, it's a catch twenty-two, like if you don't put money in the business, the business isn't going to grow. And if the business isn't growing, you're not going to have any money, right? So you're kind of like in a rock and a hard place. And this is where that commitment to doing whatever it takes comes in. Because sometimes the commitment is to pay for the thing you need, whether it's to get the help that you need through having an assistant or a contractor or someone to provide a service for you because it's not something you know, you keep trying to learn it over and over again, and it just isn't working. Deirdre Harter: [00:16:56] Like if you've been trying to build a website on your own and you, you keep spending all this time doing it and you're not really getting a good result out of it. It's just because it's not your area, it's not your zone of genius and you need somebody who is. I spent many years working with business owners where the reason that I they worked with me was because, you know, accounting was not their friend, you know, you know, it was just not it's not what they were good at it. It's like, and I would tell them, You go do what you do and you go make the money doing what you do and then let us take care of the reporting and the taxes and things. Because why should you spend 10 times as much time and energy trying to learn this thing when you could just go out, make money and then pay us to do it? And so that's that's kind of like that's actually kind of a mindset piece, Carmen is thinking through this strategically on I need to have certain things and I need to get the money to pay for those things and then making that commitment to, well, what are you going to do to get the money to pay for those things? Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:17:58] Yeah, I agree, Deirdre. And the thing is too when people are stuck in that and we hear this a lot, you know, I've spent so much time and money learning and investing in courses and programs before, and I will just figure out how to make the money so that then I can pay for your program. We've heard that several times. And this is backwards thinking and flawed because if you could do that, you would be doing that. And so when you are committed to doing whatever it takes, it means that you also are committed to being realistic. I mean, you are going to just be slowing yourself down if you're just trying to piece together all of these courses that you've taken to come up with the answer that is your golden ring and the the thing that's going to, you know, suddenly bring in all the money. It's just not going to happen that way. You've got to get guidance. Whether it is guidance from us or guidance from someone else. It's like you are looking at the things that you you need to invest in your gaps, right? So copyrighting is a gap - when you're a solopreneur, you I honestly believe that you should learn how to do these things. I think people should learn how to understand website design and the basics. They don't have to be the one that builds it, but they better learn so that when they have to hire someone down the road, they know what they're talking about. And also so that you're able to do something like update a sales page. Or, you know, enough about copywriting and what goes behind it to be able to communicate through writing in your social media posts or on that sales page. I can't tell you the amount of times where I was in a program where we were learning how to do something new that that involved a launch, Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:19:49] and there were people in that program who were completely dead in the water because they were relying on a contractor of theirs who did the copywriting, the sales page or the website who happened to be on vacation out of town or whatever. And that costs that person, whatever money they would have been making because they didn't know those basics. And so I think it's really important to invest in your gaps. And in the beginning, when you're a brand new entrepreneur, your gaps are plenty, right? So you do need to invest. You do need to learn. I mean, we go to school through all of our lives and there are MBA programs and there are doctors. Doctors go to school, lawyers go to school. All these people invest in their college education and their degrees so that then they're able to do their profession. And then people come into the entrepreneurial world and it's like, I'm just going to learn how to do this bootstrapping the whole way, just like you're talking about and they don't take it seriously. Like you need to invest whatever you can. And if it's not money, if you're if you are bootstrapping, then it's time, and you have to be OK with that. So we're not saying that you can't figure it out because we've figured it out, but I'm going to tell you that the five years of stumbling around in the dark and trying to put all those things that I learned in a course in several courses together to equal something I can't say they're wasted because it was a great education, but I would have gotten so much farther, so much faster with the right guidance. Deirdre Harter: [00:21:18] Yeah, so that's a great point, Carmen. So I think the key takeaway is what we wanted to bring about to have you think about going forward is that really look at and define for yourself what is success for you? What does that mean and what is the result? How do you know when you're successful? That's the result, right? What is it that indicates, Oh, now I'm a success? And we're not talking about success is a journey, you know, and it takes a long time and we're never truly off of it. And and that's not what I mean, that's true, but what we're really talking about is this idea of we hear it all the time. I want to be I want to have a successful business. So what does that mean, exactly? You know, take the time to define that for yourself, and it can be multiple things. It can be an amount of money that you're earning. It can be the impact that you're making. It could be the clients that you're serving, the products you're selling, whatever that looks like for you. And then ask yourself, do I know what it takes to achieve that result? And if the answer is No, not 100 percent, then that's where you need to focus. Focus on what is it going to take and outline that plan. You know, where do I, where do I not know what it takes or do I need to get some help? Do I need to get some guidance and helping me figure out I've done all these things and I'm not there yet? And and you know, you can't keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result, right? So take a hard, good, hard look at that. And then that third thing is, am I really committed? Am I committed to doing whatever it takes? And then that means if you fail, if you fall down, if you get tired, if it doesn't work, you're still going to get up and do it again, right? That's what commitment means. Deirdre Harter: [00:23:11] It means you are going to keep doing it. You're not going to stop. As long as you have breath in your body, you're going to keep going, you're going to keep doing the thing. And if the thing and you're never going to get it right, 100 percent of the time, none of us ever do. We get a whole lot better. Our percentage of hitting it on the nail on the head gets way better over time and with practice. But just know you're never going to get it all right and you may have to go at it again and again and again. And the one other point I wanted to bring up in this is that sometimes when things don't work or we're not getting the result, we think that we have to burn the whole thing down and just like start from scratch. But I caution you not to do that because a lot of the time all you really have to do is get the right strategy in place or fine-tune what you already have. Sometimes we're really close to success, but we have a hard time seeing it. Because if you don't have the experience of having been there, done that, you don't know that you're close and you don't know that you've almost got it right. And that's where expert guidance comes in and can help you and keep you from burning the house down when really all you have to do is make one minor adjustment, and then all of a sudden everything's going to work. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:24:31] That's right. And you know, I want to also throw this in here. Success looks different for different people, and success looks different when you're in entrepreneurship for different times, right? So someone in year one, their success might be to sell their first course. Someone in year 10 might be to triple their revenue. So when we talk about that we help our clients with future-casting and reverse engineering. We do that because we want people to always be looking forward. To be looking for who they do want to be, who do you want to become, and then you are able to build those steps in so that you know what success looks like for you for that first year and that first year's success is going to give you what you need to then do that second year's success and that second year's success is going to lead to your third year goal. But along the way, you don't just make those goals and start working it and and everything falls into place. You know, you're going to have to pivot, you're going to have to look at it, you're going to have to change. But as long as you are doing what you need to do and you're committed to doing whatever it takes, you're going to do it and just make sure that you don't compare your year one with someone's year 10 and say, Well, I saw them do this and they got this result. How come I'm not? I mean, there's that whole thing that applies as well, and the cycles of learning applies to that, you know, you're at one level, they're at another. Don't don't confuse the two.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

Episode number one is an introduction to the founders of Encore Empire, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter. We have an interesting story regarding how we met and began our company. We share some of the challenges we were experiencing that led us to becoming ripe for collaboration, and a little about our backgrounds. Deirdre Harter: [00:00:00] So Carmen and I got together a little over a year ago and we started Encore Empire, and we wanted to talk a little bit about how did we get to that place, how did we meet, and why do we do what we do? Now, my background is that of a CPA. I spent over 20 years in public accounting and about 14 years ago started a side hustle and I was selling products online. And at the time, it was simply because I needed the extra money, even though I made a good salary. My husband had a medical condition and was out of work for several months, and I realized that we just didn't have enough to make ends meet on just what I was bringing home, and that's when my entrepreneurial journey began. And from that point, I moved into helping other entrepreneurs with their businesses because I learned so many things during that period of time: How to do it all, how to take care of the family and the kids and the home, and a very demanding career, all at the same time and still build my business. So I really wanted to share all those things that I learned along the way, on top of all of the business model and strategy information that I had from working with small business owners for all those years. I wanted to do something bigger than what I was already doing, and I wasn't quite sure how to do it. And then, that's when I met Carmen. So Carmen, tell us about your journey and how you got to this point. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:01:36] Sure. I mean, our story is so great and it's so fun. And basically, we converged because we had the same goals. And what got me to the point where when I met Deirdre, I knew that this was something special and we were, you know, we decided to work together. I had a very high-powered career in corporate for 20 plus years, and I had learned a lot. I had done a lot and I was really burnt out. And I was, you know, right around when 50 hit, it was also coincidentally, the time when my daughter is old enough to move out. So she's she moves out. And suddenly it's like all those years of raising another human, you know, and doing all the things for someone else come to a halt. Plus then the burnout and it kind of equaled the midlife crisis thing that people experience. Although I like to call it a midlife awakening because I like to put a positive spin on things really. And because I also believe that it really is that. I think we have that that happen to us in our lives and it can happen in other times than midlife as well. But when you have something like that happen, it's really a wake-up call like you're being called to pay attention. So what was I feeling? I was feeling like, is this all there is? And at the same time, I was looking at what I had done and built and created and, you know, feeling like I shouldn't be saying, is this all there is I should be saying, I did it, you know, but I was burnt out and I didn't want to keep doing it. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:03:06] And so I then it took me on a journey inward and I started trying to figure out what it was that I really wanted to do, that would light me up. I knew that I wanted to have my own business because I wanted my own security. And at that time, you know, I'm fifty, fifty-one and I'm thinking, OK, I have an excellent resume, marketable skills, but if I were to go out to the job market right now, I'm competing against all the younger people. And I didn't know how I would fare. And not only that, but I also didn't want to repeat the same thing like switch jump ship from one place to another when where I was was really good. So in my mind, the only way to really rise above that or out of that was to create my own business. But I and I didn't know how. I had all these marketable skills, but how was I going to turn that into a business? So my journey was a long, winding one, and essentially I started, I started helping small businesses. I started one thing, I pivoted a little, learned a little bit more, did another thing and hit on the topic of helping women in midlife find out what their new purpose was. Because that was kind of what my journey was at the time. And I always wanted to be able to help them create a business. But I was just figuring that out on my own back then. So, fast forward a few years and I had a business and I was selling a course and it was OK. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:04:38] It was about purpose. That was fine, but I still had this nagging thing that I really want to teach people how to start their own business. But I didn't feel like I had all the expertise I needed or that I could do that on top of, I was still working at my job. I still I had my own company now and then, what am I going to try to do this whole other thing? And then, you know, then came August of 2020 when both of us attended this online summit, and that's where we met. And so it's just funny because that was it was something that was supposed to be in person, but they were doing it online because of COVID and it was a very - like I paid forty-seven dollars to go to that. And when I think of like that was the best forty-seven dollars I've ever spent because, you know, we met. And then you were really good Deirdre about like tapping me on the shoulder like, Hey, hey, let's let's keep continuing discussing things after this three-day conference or whatever. And I was all I thought, that's cool, but you are a lot more persistent than I would have been. So I'm always grateful because that led us to meeting, you know, once a month, then maybe, well, gosh, we should probably meet every two weeks, and then pretty soon it was we're meeting every week. And then before you know it, we're we're starting a venture together. Deirdre Harter: [00:05:51] Yeah. And you know, that whole thing about, you know, following up after an event like that, I followed up with several of the other women that were there as well. Because I learned a long time ago this was something that was taught to us as I moved up into higher positions in public accounting. You know, I was expected to bring in new clients. And so the main way to do that was networking and building relationships with people. Now that was done on a local scale. And I was actually one of the first in our firm to ever even consider social media, you know, and using that as a way to bring in new clients. Because we didn't have to help just local people, we could help clients everywhere. In fact, we'd have clients that were local and then they move to another state and they remained clients of ours. And so, because I was starting my own business online, I was learning all about social media marketing. And so I kind of took that and put it together with what I knew about relationship marketing. And, you know, put all that together. And it was kind of a big epiphany for the partners in my firm. They're like, Wow, we didn't know you could do that. So, I really got a lot of great experience there, and that's what really helped me and how I knew to look for the people that I resonated with and look for collaboration opportunities because I was kind of at that same point, Carmen was. You know, for a year I turned 50, and then for that whole next year, I was running my business and same kind of situation where I'm thinking, I've done it. Deirdre Harter: [00:07:29] I did what I set out to do. I have full-time freedom. I can do whatever I want because it's my business. There's no one, you know, telling me what I have to do, what I can and can't do. But it just didn't feel like enough. Like there was something more and it kept bugging me. I wasn't quite sure. So I thought, OK, well, maybe I should go into, you know what I'd always been doing, and that was advising clients on the financial side of things because I knew I was very talented at that. But even that just wasn't hitting the mark for me. And I just didn't know what that was. And so because I was just going with my natural instincts and what I knew to do, what Carmen was saying during this, this event. We got to interact through Slack, which was really interesting. It was really hitting home for me and really resonating. And so that's why I followed up and I had worked with partners in the past. Deirdre Harter: [00:08:28] I'd done joint ventures before. And they were, you know, some were successful, but none of them were long-term. Like, I knew it was a one-off thing, you know, we were going to do a project together, but then we were not resonating enough to continue on. But I just when I talked with you, Carmen, I knew that it was completely different. And you know, looking back, in hindsight, I believe it was divine intervention because it was the answer I was looking for and I but I couldn't name it, and I didn't know it at the time. But I know that's exactly what it was. And I had the whole business side and I really wanted to build a coaching and advising service that was more holistic. Because in the coaching work I was doing already, it was all business, all financial, and I could see how a lot of the problems people were having and the struggles were based on mindset issues and on their personal life. And I, I wasn't equipped to handle all that. I mean, I could give, you know, common-sense advice. And what I knew to that worked for me, but I really knew that I needed that extra piece and make it a much more holistic program, and it would be so much more powerful. And that's where you came in. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:09:44] Yeah. And I mean, the thing about it is when you know, a lot of people are like, Oh, you guys are so lucky and we feel very lucky. And we both believe divine intervention because we met in August and we launched Encore Empire in November. But what we don't often talk about and what we should, we should definitely have people understand is that we did go into it thinking that we're going to do something for six months. That was our start. Because, you know, when you we didn't know each other for very long and yes, we hit it off and resonated and things were really rolling. But at the same time, that's like a little bit unsettling because you're like, Well, gosh, do I really know her? Does she really know me? I don't know. And so then when you're going to put two people together, there's always a little bit of a concern like, am I going to end up writing her coattails? Is she going to end up riding mine? Is one of us going to be doing more than the other? I mean, how do you know; and you don't know until you start something, and that's why for anyone who is interested, we would definitely highly recommend setting an end date like we set six months. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:10:47] We're going to do this thing for six months and see what happened, and it just ended up being great. And so we kept it up. And then we formalized our company and, you know, got an LLC and did the whole nine yards. But I don't know that that's necessarily the way that it always happens. But the fact that what Deirdre said, you know, I wanted to help teach women how to start a business, and I had some experience doing that. But my I was a certified whole person coach, helping with the mindset and finding purpose. And then here comes Deidre, who has all that business thing. It was just like, perfect a perfect match, because then we are able to offer this holistic, nurturing, and guidance to our clients. And we've had some clients who really rely on Deirdre's tax knowledge and her expertise. Then we have others who we've had coaching sessions and not spoken one word of business, and they were so grateful they're almost in tears. And it's really rewarding to be able to combine both of our expertise that way and then be able to guide women to improving what they're already doing in their business. And I just I couldn't ask for anything more. I think we're both very lucky. Deirdre Harter: [00:12:02] And because of that, you know, we started thinking about that part of it too, like how fortunate we really were. And that is one of the things that's missing for most women in business. You know, everyone starts out as a solopreneur, and a lot of times they get stuck there. And they don't have a team because they're either don't know how to build a team or the income's not there. They don't have the money to do it because they're hitting a glass ceiling in their own business on the sales side. Because they have limited bandwidth and it's sort of a catch twenty-two, right? You don't have the time to make more money and you don't have more money to get the help to free up your time. And so it's a conundrum and you don't really know how to get out of that. And what we wanted to provide and what we do provide for our clients is we act like their silent business partner. So we're giving that dynamic of having experts help them in their business side by side. We're looking at everything that they're doing and we're building out the foundational business strategy that's going to allow them to scale beyond themselves or to scale up to the income level that they want to. Deirdre Harter: [00:13:14] And we're providing that guidance because what happens is you spend all your time in business doing all the things right? You hear about this way of marketing, you hear about this sales process or strategy. And so you're trying all different things and you end up diluting all your efforts because you're spread too thin in too many different areas. And by having business partners come in who have the experience, we can look at what you're doing and say, OK, let's focus here. Let's prioritize what needs to happen first, and let's build out this strategy so that you can reach your goals and you can do it in a way that feels aligned with you. Carmen talked about that inside-out approach. Everybody starts on the outside looking at what are all the things, what's the flavor of the month marketing strategy and tactic. But really, you need to start on the inside, like what are your values and what is most important to you? And let's build a business, not a job, that you absolutely love and lights you up. Because when you do that, you're in your genius zone, and when you're in your genius zone and you're loving what you're doing, everything is easier and everything moves a whole lot faster in the right direction. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:14:28] That's right. And you know, since we have started this and it's been a year and we've hit all of our goals and we're going strong and it's fabulous. A few things have come to light. First of all, I would now be able to take my corporate skills and turn them into a business. And essentially, that's what I've done right? Within our business, we deal with marketing, copywriting and all that stuff, and that's the stuff that I did in corporate, right? And so all of that comes full circle. And what we like to say is experience elevates everything. All of your experience, whether it's past corporate experience or just life experience, feeds into who you are, and that's why we go inside first and get your values nailed down so that you can look through the lens of what you're really about and create and improve what you've already got going on. So it's extremely valuable to be able to do that, and it's something that we absolutely love to do with our clients. Deirdre Harter: [00:15:27] So, our purpose on this podcast, we're launching this podcast because we've been supporting and educating women inside of our free Facebook group, the Empire of Unstoppable Women, and we wanted to expand our reach. We, our mission is to help as many women as possible to experience the financial freedom and lifestyle freedom that building their business the right way, according to their values and their priorities. It's the most amazing thing anyone can do, and it's what everyone's striving for, and we want to help stop the struggle because we can. And that's why we brought this podcast out. And that's why we are in our group every week and we provide tons of education there in the group, all of it designed to support women in the group in building their profitable online business. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:16:23] So because we have been we've had a year now of providing that kind of valuable content and training to our the members of our Facebook group and we see that it's creating AHA moments, we're changing people's lives, they're understanding, and they're being able to move forward in their own journey. We wanted to be able to bring our message out to a wider audience. And as business strategists, one of the things that we like to focus on is, you know, you've got to you've got to promote, you've got to do marketing and you've got to get visible, but you don't have to do all the things at one time. So if you look at it and our journey, we didn't start a podcast in the very beginning, right? We're adding that on because now is the right time and we do everything strategically, and that's what we help guide our members in and our clients. It's the foundational business strategy of figuring out, you know, you start with your values to figure out what it is that really resonates with you. What is this business going to be about? What are your goals? All that kind of stuff. But more importantly, what are the strategies that are right for you and what you want to do? And what you want to do, even if you are in the same industry as the next person, it's completely individual. And so we really celebrate that and help you celebrate that. And we wanted to be able to bring this out into the world in podcast form to get the message out that, yes, you are unique and yes, your business can be a wonderful, fabulous reflection of who you are. Deirdre Harter: [00:17:54] That's right, and you can be profitable at the same time. You don't have to if you're heart-centered and you want to bring an impact to the world. You can absolutely do that and feel good about the fact that you're earning money at the same time and earning the kind of money that you want to. Because the way I look at it is money and the income that you're getting in your business, that is just a metric. It tells you how much impact are you having. Because if you don't have the money, then you can't make the impact. So the greater the impact, the greater that the income is. So it's really just a way for you to measure what is that impact. And the money is a tool for you to use to build the right kind of strategies and to increase your visibility and increase the impact, and it can go on and on up to whatever point you want to reach. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:18:49] That's right. So if you'd like to take advantage of our weekly training inside of our Facebook group, please look us up on Facebook. As Deirdre mentioned, it is the Empire of Unstoppable Women and we will see you there. Deirdre Harter: [00:19:01] We believe that experience elevates everything, and every woman over 40 has a lifetime of experiences that make her powerful. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:19:12] We know without a doubt that your power is marketable and can become a true to you business that brings security, passion and purpose to your life. Deirdre Harter: [00:19:21] We remove the complication frustration and wasted time and money of trying to figure out how to start and then grow a profitable true to you business. Carmen Reed-Gilkison: [00:19:34] We started this podcast because we want to reach as many people as possible with our message. Values and validation are the keys to success. And you just need a little guidance to achieve your dreams.Let's Connect! For complete episode transcripts, head over to https://encoreempire.com/podcast Website: https://encoreempire.com Ready to find out what it would be like to get the expert guidance from Carmen & Deirdre that you need to achieve your business goals? Head over to https://vip.encoreempire.com/ebi Register for the FREE Marketing Methodology Workshop: https://encoreempire.com/mmw Business Growth Resources: https://vip.encoreempire.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empireofunstoppablewomen

Every stage of life has its challenges, especially when you're trying to find balance and happiness. But speaking from experience, midlife is tough. There are so many life changes going on and honestly, you just want to feel grounded and like you're fulfilling your life's mission. But how? It takes work, and often it takes another set of eyes and ears on your thoughts and feelings. This is just one of the things I'm talking about with this week's guests, Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter. If you're feeling like you need a bit of a shift in life or business, this is the episode for you. And we're talking about what to do in business to ensure you're on the right track. Tune in now! Mentioned in This Episode Episode 135: When Long-Term Content Planning Goes Wrong Optimize Your Online Business LIVE About Carmen Reed-Gilkison and Deirdre Harter Carmen Reed-Gilkison, whole person certified coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA and business strategist, are the Co-Founders of Encore Empire. Mission-oriented women over 40 hire Encore Empire to help optimize their foundational business strategy so they can focus on positively impacting the world. Carmen and Deirdre help new and established female entrepreneurs increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy. With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, they understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining their two areas of expertise Carmen and Deirdre have created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses. Women relate and interact differently at this age than their younger counterparts, and definitely different than men. Carmen and Dierdre believe in relationship marketing and that's where women in midlife excel.

Let's hear it from Deirdre Harter, a CPA and Business Strategy coach, and our Lifetime Founding 100 member, Carmen Reed-Gilkison on why they chose MemberVault to host their products and offers and exactly how they're using it in their business. If you're curious to learn how these power duos use MV to build and nurture relationships, then this podcast episode is made for you! Access the full transcript here: https://membervault.co/EncoreEmpire Visit their MV site here: https://encoreempire.vipmembervault.com/ You can find them at: Website: https://encoreempire.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncoreEmpire LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/encore-empire Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqRipKpH-sN0PbEbcVqmovA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you haven't started using MemberVault yet for your online business, be sure to check out our no credit card required, free plan at membervault.co And whether you're a new user or have been around for a while, be sure to come chat with our community over on FB at membervault.co/collab

Business Strategies & Knowing Your Worth Starting a new business can be an exciting yet terrifying decision to make. Our guests for this episode of SecondWind, Deirdre Harter and Carmen Reed-Gilkison, make it their goal to help alleviate the fear that comes with this new career path. Their focus is helping you build a solid foundational business strategy that is rooted in your values. We discuss how women are taught to put ourselves last, and how that presents itself in how we charge for our services. Carmen Reed-Gilkison, Whole Person Certified Coach, and Deirdre Harter, CPA, and Business Strategy Coach are the Co-Founders of Encore Empire. We help new and established female entrepreneurs over 40 increase bottom line profits in their online business consistently and holistically by leveraging their past experience, honoring their values, and becoming financially savvy. With decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, we understand all aspects of business-building in the online marketplace. By combining our two areas of expertise we've created a uniquely holistic approach to launching and growing businesses for women over 40. Women relate and interact differently at this age than their younger counterparts, and definitely different than men. We believe in relationship-marketing and that's where women over 40 excel. The majority of our activities take place inside our free Facebook Group: Empire of Unstoppable Midlife Women Building Profitable Businesses. You are cordially invited to join us for free weekly training, monthly networking events, bi-weekly business promotion posts, and more! We offer a holistic 6-month launchpad program for new entrepreneurs and 12-month next-level profits coaching program focusing on business strategy, systems to scale through the lens of finance and leadership. “The women who are drawn to us are women who are action takers. They realize that they have decades of life experience that is valuable, and they have a dream that they want to bring out to the world.” Carmen Reed-Gilkison “We tend to work a lot with heart centered entrepreneurs...We are doing this in a holistic manner.” Deirdre Harter What You'll Learn from This Episode: How Covid-19 forced business owners to make major changes with the services they provide. How adopting a feminine way of doing business can be beneficial Why their clients are often uncomfortable with discussing compensation for their work, and how they can avoid feeling this way The power your mindset has in your entrepreneurial journey When you get to midlife you begin to look at things from a different perspective and think about your legacy Being okay with your entrepreneurial journey not being linear Important things to know about building a business based on your values Featured on the Show: Website | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

Deirdre Harter, CPA, and Carmen Reed-Gilkison, certified Whole Person Coach, are co-founders of Encore Empire. They help women over forty cash-in on their life experience by empowering them to start and grow their own businesses. Their values-driven method is a breath of fresh air in the entrepreneurial space. www.encoreempire.com facebook.com/encoreempire instagram.com/encore.empire.official hello@encoreempire.com