Podcast appearances and mentions of natalie gingrich

Behind every effective leader is a different type of leader- someone who provides support, research, creates standard operating procedures, and serves as a strong partner and guide. That special someone is known as a Director of Operations! Today we're talking about the role of a Director of Operations with Natalie Gingrich of The Ops Authority. Natalie is the premier source on all things Ops and helps women with a natural operations skill set level up their career by becoming certified Directors of Operations. She runs a highly successful Director of Operations certification program and is the host of The Ops Authority Podcast. Natalie shares her experiences and insights with Layci from the different perspective of Ops, including her own "Terrible Leader" moment. You will not want to miss this conversation! LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: https://theopsauthority.com/ https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/ https://www.transcendleadershipcollective.com/newsletter-signup We are now accepting applications for podcast guests! If you would like to apply to be a guest on Confessions of a Terrible Leader, click the link below to fill out an application: ⁠https://www.honeybook.com/widget/transcend_leadership_collective_229311/cf_id/6419f2b2ff65120f922d7c71 Confessions of a Terrible Leader is hosted by Layci Nelson and produced by Mary Skop. Music is by Leif Olsen and Mary Skop from the band "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Number of Months.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"

Natalie Gingrich, founder and CEO of The Ops Authority, joins Whiskey & Work to discuss her mission to mentor women with natural skill sets in organization and operations. Kelsey and Natalie cover their shared desire for freedom from corporate careers and a deep love for family, the importance of staying connected with people who share your values, the value of leaning on friends for advice and perspective, and so much more. Sit back, relax and grab a pen and paper for this one — you're going to want to take some notes on this one!  What we're talking about… Natalie Gingrich is an operations and organization expert who mentors female project managers that want to build a career that leverages their gifts. Kelsey and Natalie discuss the history of their friendship and business journey Explore their struggles and uncertainties as they started their businesses. How their friendship and connections have helped them overcome business challenges Discuss their broader circles of friends and the roles different people play Emphasis on the importance of staying connected with people who share your values. How community fosters belief in your plans and ideas, making them more powerful. Mention how being vulnerable and open helps in fostering genuine connections in business. Share insights on how to identify and nurture connections that have the potential to become deep and lasting. Natalie's method called “Strategic Mapping” To learn more or connect with Natalie, visit the links below!  A {free} Tool or Two!  Did someone say free? Yup that's right. Kelsey's here to help with a few free tools to help launch your business and creative ideas! Click the links to start your journey.  How To Plan Your Business The Coaches Pricing Calculator  The Coaches Workshop: A “Framework” fFor How To Be An Exceptional Coach & Create Consistent Monthly Income   Links Mentioned Natalie Gingrich's Website  Natalie Gingrich's Instagram  Kelsey Murphy's Website  Kelsey Murphy's Instagram   

Do you struggle to address issues or concerns with people you work with? Is it difficult for you to initiate conversations with others that you know are going to be challenging? Do you feel confident to voice your opinions or concerns when it comes to engaging in those hard conversations? In episode 118 of the podcast, you'll hear a conversation with our guest, Natalie Gringrich. Natalie breaks down the common mistakes many people make in communicating with their team, how to deal with conflict in the workplace, as well as how communication affects hiring, firing, and developing teams.  Plus she gives us the 2 keys she has used for being able to communicate positively through the years. For the full show notes for this episode, head to estherlittlefield.com/118 Connect With Natalie: Website Facebook Instagram Podcast Grab your free guide to define (or refine) your mission, vision, and values Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations.    She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. She developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally. Connect with Esther: If this podcast was helpful, consider leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your podcast app. Website Subscribe to my other podcast, The Christian Woman Leadership Podcast Join the FB group Connect on Facebook Connect on Instagram  

In this podcast episode, Natalie Gingrich, founder of The Ops Authority, discusses the importance of identifying one's natural skills in operations and creativity. She believes only 3% of the population possess both abilities and highlights her marketing and operations pyramid with four layers: implementation, management, strategy, and vision. Gingrich shares her journey from corporate America to starting her own businesses in operations and staffing solutions, driven by her passion for helping others find fulfilling work that comes naturally to them. The podcast emphasizes the significance of understanding and leveraging innate gifts and skills and having the right strategy and vision to achieve business success. Who's The Guest? Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skill set of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders. She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority. Episode Highlights The challenges faced when people are trying to balance both operational and creative roles in a business, and how only around 3% of the population can effectively perform in these hybrid roles. A framework for looking at both the operations and marketing sides of a business, discussing the different functions such as implementation, management, strategy, and vision. Natalie's background in corporate America, including working as the Chief of Staff for the CEO of a fortune 150 company and later transitioning to entrepreneurship, focusing on helping businesses become more sustainable and passionate in their work As a service provider, Natalie discovered that her experience with project management and operations in the corporate world allowed her to make a swift transition into entrepreneurship, helping small businesses become more efficient and sustainable Strategic view Natalie brings to businesses and how her methods have been highly appreciated by clients Her fascination with how businesses grow from a founder's vision and how it materializes over time. Developing the certification for operations in small businesses and breaking down her own work to create a structure for it The importance of understanding and defining your values, and how that can influence the success of your business and attracting the right people Using values as a differentiator in hiring practices, job descriptions, and team building. Episode Resources Connect with Raul Hernandez Ochoa https://www.linkedin.com/in/dogoodwork/ https://twitter.com/rherochoa https://dogoodwork.io/ Connect with Natalie Gingrich https://theopsauthority.com/ https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gingrich   Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here

Today, I'm talking with my guest and dear friend Natalie Gingrich of the Ops Authority all about core values. The hard truth is that you can't make the best business decisions and attract the right clients without clear, defined core values. You have to define, refine, and incorporate your core values and let them create the foundation for your business before you can do the work that is most aligned for you. In this episode, Natalie shares how she defined her core values, her experiences with making business decisions that weren't aligned with her values, and how you can make creating your core values a priority right now.  And if you're ready to dive in deep, embrace your inner CEO and move from implementer to strategist, join the waitlist for my signature program the Consulting Framework Accelerator.  Full show notes available at www.melissafroehlich.com/125 Where We Can Connect:  Join the Consulting Framework Accelerator www.melissafroehlich.com Join The UpLevel Lounge® Facebook Group  Subscribe to the Podcast Connect with Melissa on Instagram Follow Melissa on Facebook  

Hey friends! Welcome back to Just One Simple Thing. With this episode, we are starting a new series about how to take your next step. I'm not talking about taking your first step ... we covered that way back in Episodes 8 -10. I'm talking more about the next step that is going to move you to a new place in your ministry or business. It may seem like a collection of odds and ends, but most of the things we'll cover in this series are easier to implement than you think and can make a big difference. I was recently listening to a podcast from Natalie Gingrich ... The Ops Authority. Natalie was sharing some spicy takes on advice she's heard from influencers she follows. Her comments on social media were especially interesting.  She said that service providers don't need a large social media following. Instead, they need to focus on making connections.You can listen to all of her comments on the Ops Authority Podcast, episode 191.The problem is that most of us are introverts.So what's an introverted communicator to do to grow her network?1. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.Nothing worth building comes easy. In order to grow your ministry or business AND yourself, you'll have to do hard things that are uncomfortable.2. Look for common ground instead of cold calls.As an introvert trying to connect, the biggest fear is that someone will think you are bugging them. But when you start with common ground, there is a natural attraction that makes the connection intriguing instead of inconvenient.If you want to learn more about making connections that will grow your ministry or business, check out Esther Littlefield's Consistent Clients Challenge.3. Find common ground in a community.Group conversations like this happen in masterminds, at conferences, around the table at writers guild meetings. If you are taking part in any of these things, don't sleep on the networking time.Find a structured networking event, where each person gets a chance to share something specific,I promise you will walk away with a new connection.  It may seem counterintuitive for an insecure introvert with imposter syndrome to go meet with a bunch of other people. I mean, isn't that where comparison and doubt can take hold? Maybe. But it's also where you realize you aren't alone on this journey ... where other people struggle with some of the same things you do ... where you have something to offer that may help someone else. Where the seeds of connection are planted.ACTION STEPGrab a sheet of paper and write down 5 people that you want to connect with. Then list what common ground you have and what groups or events you might experience with them.Make a plan to connect with at least one of them this week. Message me on FB or IG @doanewthing and let me know how it goes!That's the first of the Next Step series ... making connections, even if you are an introvert. Join me in the next episode, where we'll talk about how to influence people to do what you want them to do. Curious? Go grab a friend and meet me back here.RESOURCESThe Ops Authority Podcast Episode 191 –I'm Taking a StandConsistent Clients Challenge++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it's worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.

Hey, hey! I'm so happy to be sharing this bonus epsidoe with you this week! I'm joining my friend, Natalie Gingrich, to talk about the magic of in-person events, and how you can use them to speed up your success in your business! If you enjoyed this episode and want to join us in person at Growth Getters Live, view the schedule and get your ticket here: https://growthgetterslive.com/SalesPage108648?am_id=julie415 

Operations in business refer to the activities and tasks that organizations use to produce goods and services that includes planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and controlling the various aspects of production, such as procurement, manufacturing, distribution and marketing.* Basically - operations are the backbone of any organization. My guest today is Natalie Gingrich, CEO of The Ops Authority. The two of us have had a lot of behind the scenes conversations and decided it was time to bring them public. In this episode, we talk about all things ops. Natalie and I talked about: Her strong views around funnels  The benefits of long term payment plans Why she ignores automation processes Tune in to hear about Natalie's transformation from Natalie 1.0 to Natalie 5.0. If you've been loving the Next Level Leap podcast, would you just stop what you're doing right now and give us a quick review? In the Library Tab under Shows, click on the podcast subscription and scroll down to Ratings & Reviews to give it a star rating. Click Write a Review, if you wish, then click Send when finished. We appreciate your review so much. Thank you! *Source: https://www.shopify.com/blog/what-are-business-operations

Welcome to The Profit Talk! In this show, we're going to help you explore strategies to help you maximize profits in your business while scaling and creating the lifestyle that you want as an entrepreneur. I am your host, Susanne Mariga! I'm a certified Mastery Level Profit First Professional. Let's dive into strategies to maximize profits in your business!  In this episode, I interview Natalie Gingrich. She is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset in operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them.  In this episode, you'll learn:  -Tips For Optimizing Operations For Maximum Profits  -4 Functional Layers of Talents  -Where Does It Go Wrong in the Ops Position  To learn more about Natalie, her podcast and the services she provides, visit her website https://theopsauthority.com/   Visit my FREE Facebook Group, The Profit First Masterclass, where I'll be sharing additional exclusive trainings to members of the community.   If you're excited about what's next for your business and upcoming episodes, please head to our itunes page and give us a review! Your support will help me to bring in other amazing expert interviews to share their best tips on how to powerfully grow in your business!  DISCLAIMER: The information contained within these videos is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute, an accountant-client relationship. While we use reasonable efforts to furnish accurate and up-to-date information, we assume no liability or responsibility for any errors, omissions, or regulatory updates in the content of this video. Any U.S. federal tax advice contained within is not intended to be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties under U.S. federal tax law. 

This episode with Natalie was so amazing. It was one of our TOP episodes for 2022. Listen in or listen again, this information never goes stale! If you haven't already established your mission, vision and values for your business, you won't want to skip this episode. Natalie Gingrich, CEO and founder of The Ops Authority, joins me to share why establishing these from the start of your business is so important and how to be sure you reflect on them both professionally and personally. Natalie spent over 15 years working at a fortune 150 company and while she loved her job, she needed time freedom and flexibility to spend more time with her family. Rather than continue on in the status quo, she took the leap and hasn't often looked back.  One of the things propelling her into entrepreneurship was her intrinsic value based around her family. Her children were moving into some pretty exciting times in their lives and she didn't want to miss it.  What came a little later for her was the mission behind her business and the vision to enact it. Natalie makes a great point that when you're just starting your business, it's important to dabble. Figure out what you like, what you don't, and how you want to make an impact in the world.  Once you've found the clients or work that truly make working in and on your business a joy, then it's time to start delving in and solidifying some of these key pieces. When done right, your mission, vision and values will act as guardrails for your business, keeping you in the lane you need to travel to reach your goals. Natalie is brilliant. Success Beyond the Lens was born through one of her masterminds and it was her pointing out my love for working with and for photographers that got me thinking about how to shift into working exclusively in this niche.  Listen in to see how you can start putting together your mission, vision and values, when you should review them, and why it's important to simply get something down. Links and Resources: Want to listen to the original episode? Here's the link! Consultation Connection Call Find Natalie: The Ops Authority The Ops Authority Podcast Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest Find Jenn: Success Beyond The Lens @successbeyondthelens Instagram @successbeyondthelenspodcast Facebook | Picbabun Grab your Boundaries Resources Editable Welcome Packet Template Pinterest Freebies

Ever wonder how other big-time businesses run or what a Director of Operations actually does? Maybe you've been thinking about scaling up for a while but don't really know where to start. After listening to this episode, you won't be able to ignore the back-end pieces that have to work together and flow smoothly in order to build a brand, grow a movement or disrupt an industry. If the Operations side of your business is a mess, putting out fires will always take priority… leaving no room for creative innovation, fun visibility, or networking with powerhouse peers (or wannabe peers).Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority. She certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. Natalie merged her 15 years of corporate leadership with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.Natalie gets into these five areas of operations:Strategy Project management HRDataFinanceIn this episode, she is also sharing how she is able to sell clients into her high ticket offer… without a phone call! It all starts before the application process.Visit her website at: https://theopsauthority.com/Natalie's Book Recommendation: The Glass CastlePitch Publicity Profit: MediaMavenAndMore.com/Pubilicity If you liked this episode, please subscribe to this podcast to hear more like it. Tell your colleagues, friends, and family… and don't forget to tap that subscribe button. For more, visit MediaMavenAndMore.com/podcast.

Wondering why turnover is still really high with new hires even when you're being smart about it? Listen to this week's episode with Natalie who shares how you're setting your new hires up for failure without realizing it and how you can make the shift to hire effectively.Natalie and I discuss how we all would love to have another version of ourselves inside of our business, but she shares that as a solopreneur you are wearing 7 different hats whilst also being extremely overworked, so you can't expect to find a hire that can fulfil all of that. And even worse planning to hire someone to work a frankenstein role will only end up with them being torn apart as your business grows. So Natalie explains how to find that perfect new hire and what that role might consist of.Plus don't miss out on Natalie sharing how to find your dream job title, match it with your skill set and secure the job by being prepared in the interview inside this weeks episode.Learn more about my guest:Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them.She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her entire professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver and her kids getting older, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance. She matched her drive, leadership, and operational skills to create her own business.In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority.Natalie's Links:Website: https://theopsauthority.com/Certification Program: https://directorofops.com/Looking for an operator? Find more information at http://thehiringauthority.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theopsauthority/The Ops Insiders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opsinsidersConnect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/If you're ready to transition from full-time Marketer to full-time Founder of your own business apply for the Rainmaker Residency: https://rainmakerresidency.com/Skip the formal recruiting process and learn how to source rainmaker applicants that are already connected to you: https://rainmakerresidency.com/rainmaker-hiring-kitDelving deep into the tough topics we often face as scaling business owners that AREN'T talked about often, sign up the The Rainmaker Report: https://rainmakerresidency.com/rainmaker-reportIf you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate if you could leave a rating and review.

This week I have a conversation with Natalie Gingrich, founder, and CEO of The Ops Authority, as she shares her transition from corporate to entrepreneurship and how she now helps others with their business.   Natalie shares how she cut the cord with corporate without a concrete plan because she was on fire to fulfill the goal of building her legacy.   We also dive into: How she made the transition from corporate to making her own money. The importance of connecting with people organically. Learning how to utilize your experience and skills to make a profit. Getting over limiting beliefs and being confident in yourself. Setting your prices based on what you need and growing from there. Taking action, because confidence creates cash. Understanding your vision. Knowing your boundaries and standing your ground. Resources mentioned: Learn more about Natalie by visiting her website! You can also connect with her on Instagram and  Facebook! Want to learn more about becoming a Tech and Automations Service Provider? Sign up for my FREE info session.  Learn how to use any platform to set up automations with The Anatomy of Automation.  Ready to quit corporate? Visit my website here.  Let's connect on Instagram or Facebook! You can also find me on YouTube & Pinterest. Learn More about Natalie: Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her entire professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver and her kids getting older, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance. She matched her drive, leadership, and operational skills to create her own business. In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders. She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority. Song Credit: Run Free by Josef Falkenskold

Listen in on this enlightening conversation with Natalie Gingrich, the creator of The Ops Authority, a director of operations certification program.  In this episode, we will explore, step-by-step, the journey of developing a certification program, from ideation to implementation. In this episode we will learn: How Natalie transitioned from doing to teaching The “scalable and saleable” aspects of certification programs The difference between selling a course and offering a certification The three critical steps to creating a certification program  As a bonus, we learn how CEOs and DOOs can work together for organizational success Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her entire professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver and her kids getting older, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance. She matched her drive, leadership, and operational skills to create her own business. In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders. She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority. We would love you to consider supporting Natalie's favorite charity: https://kinetickidstx.org/ (https://kinetickidstx.org/) Connect with Natalie: http://directorofops.com (directorofops.com) -- Director of Operations Certification Program: The next step for female project managers, human resource professionals, and operations managers who want to build a career that leverages their gifts and brings them ease. On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gingrich/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gingrich/) On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opsinsiders (https://www.facebook.com/groups/opsinsiders) Connect with Erin and find the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.hourlytoexit.com/podcast (hourlytoexit.com/podcast). Erin's LinkedIn Page:https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin/) Think Beyond IP YouTube Page:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVztXnDYnZ83oIb-EGX9IGA/videos ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVztXnDYnZ83oIb-EGX9IGA/videos) Music credit: Yes She Can by Tiny Music A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.  Today we'll go into detail about how you, the service provider, can grow into this role if that's something that lights your fire. Natalie was a VA for 4 years before transitioning into project management (OBM) and then into the DOO role for online businesses. She talks about protecting yourself from scope creep and knowing the difference between OBM and DOO so you can determine the role that suits you best.  If you think being a DOO is for you, check out her upcoming interactive infosession called Discover the DOO - save your seat here   Enjoy! Connect with Natalie: Facebook: @theopsauthority Instagram: @theopsauthority Ops Insiders Facebook group for DOOs, project managers, and service providers working their way to their visions  Ops Authority Course  Connect with Emily: Facebook Community: Emily's Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant Lab Instagram: @emilyreaganpr  Facebook: @emilyreaganpr 3 ways we can work together:  Get on the waitlist for the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School.  My signature course on digital marketing implementation will give you the confidence and teach you HOW to do the work that's in demand and highly marketable. This is the secret weapon to getting booked out Got the skills but need help getting your digital marketing services business to take off? I've got an advanced tight-knit referral and networking community that can help and I would love for you to apply here. You'll get the latest updates and trainings, networking opps and job leads from online business owners who are looking to hire digital marketing implementers and assistants. Looking for a fast way to get your foot in the door with up-to-date skills? Take my 2-hour Quickstart to Facebook Community Management workshop and learn how to help online business owners like course creators and membership site owners manage and engage their community    >>> Download my Top Ten Most Requested Digital Marketing Tasks & Services  >>> Take the Quiz to Discover your Digital Dream Job

In today's episode, Kelly chats with 20-year human resources expert and CEO of The Hiring Authority hiring agency, Natalie Gingrich.   Natalie is sharing tips for how to avoid hiring out of desparation and preventing mishires so that you can continue to drive growth in your organization.   They discuss: Creating effective systems for hiring Why hiring values-first as a small business owner will benefit your organization Shifts in internal development to prevent high turnover rates  If you want to save 30-40 hours of labor and stress that comes along with the hiring process, you can learn more aabout Natalie's agency here.    Connect with Kelly:  Follow Kelly on Instagram. Grab one of Kelly's bestselling books: Unstoppable: 9 Principles for Unlimited Success in Business and Life Conviction Marketing Bigger than You: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Building an Unstoppable Team  

If you haven't already established your mission, vision and values for your business, you won't want to skip this episode. Natalie Gingrich, CEO and founder of The Ops Authority, joins me to share why establishing these from the start of your business is so important and how to be sure you reflect on them both professionally and personally. Natalie spent over 15 years working at a fortune 150 company and while she loved her job, she needed time freedom and flexibility to spend more time with her family. Rather than continue on in the status quo, she took the leap and hasn't often looked back.  One of the things propelling her into entrepreneurship was her intrinsic value based around her family. Her children were moving into some pretty exciting times in their lives and she didn't want to miss it.  What came a little later for her was the mission behind her business and the vision to enact it. Natalie makes a great point that when you're just starting your business, it's important to dabble. Figure out what you like, what you don't, and how you want to make an impact in the world.  Once you've found the clients or work that truly make working in and on your business a joy, then it's time to start delving in and solidifying some of these key pieces. When done right, your mission, vision and values will act as guardrails for your business, keeping you in the lane you need to travel to reach your goals. Natalie is brilliant. Success Beyond the Lens was born through one of her masterminds and it was her pointing out my love for working with and for photographers that got me thinking about how to shift into working exclusively in this niche.  Listen in to see how you can start putting together your mission, vision and values, when you should review them, and why it's important to simply get something down.   In This Episode: [01:25] Welcome to the show, Natalie! [02:08] Listen as Natalie shares her journey to where she is today. [05:40] What it took to figure out where she wanted to take her business.  [09:49] She discusses what she means by picking your mission statement. [13:56] When your mission statement reflects you, it makes you more authentic. [17:44] Why a vision statement is important both in your business and personal life. [25:40] The most important thing for your business is having core values. [26:16] Natalie shares an exercise she uses to come up with her core values. [32:47] She uses mission, vision and values as guardrails to guide her business. [37:23] Her favorite business tool is Voxer. [38:05] “Yes, you can” is her favorite motto. [38:28] Natalie tells me where we would go to grab drinks in San Antonio, TX. [39:18] Connect with Natalie.   Links and Resources: Find Natalie: The Ops Authority The Ops Authority Podcast Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest Find Jenn: Success Beyond The Lens @successbeyondthelens Instagram @successbeyondthelenspodcast Facebook | Picbabun Grab your Boundaries Resources Editable Welcome Packet Template Pinterest Freebies   Consultation Connection Call

Episode #218. Are you leveraging your strengths in your business? I'm passionate about building a business based on our strengths and our guest today, Natalie Gingrich shares this mission with me. While many may nod their heads in agreement with this sentiment, I've noticed it's easy to get swept up in what is working for OTHER people and not even realize that this course and that coach have pulled you away from leveraging your OWN gifts. In this episode, Natalie takes us behind the scenes of her business to show how she was able to leverage her own strengths while creating an opportunity for other leaders with similar skills to do the same.  If you are looking for more ease and flow in your business, this episode is for you! In This Episode You'll Learn:How to optimize your business that really leans into your strengthsNatalie's mission of matching businesses with people who are aligned with their passion and valuesLeveraging your strengths more in order to scale and create more ease and flow in your businessFavorite Quotes“Every single one of us has natural skills and talents. And I'm literally on fire to help women find what those skills are and see how they can monetize them. I truly believe that when we find the skills that just come most naturally to us, it brings ease and confidence to see our own value and know how to market it. And it starts at really finding the place where you shine.”“When we're able to put the pieces together and leverage those natural gifts, that's when we can start to create projects and provide a structure that moves ideas forward.”Mentioned on the Show:How to Turn Your Business Into a Wealth-Building Asset with Erin AustinThe Secret to Scaling with Natalie GingrichMore about Natalie:Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them.She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her entire professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver and her kids getting older, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance. She matched her drive, leadership, and operational skills to create her own business.In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority.Find Natalie:WebsiteFacebookInstagram

The business model that you choose affects absolutely everything about how you do business, from what you do on a daily basis to how much money you make and how you make that money, to how much time you spend working each week.Choosing your business model is a really important decision.But too often, it isn't even a conscious decision, but just accepted as the default for whatever type of business you're building or the industry you're in.So let's change that.Let's open our eyes to the different options out there and make conscious choices about the model that's really right for our businesses, our customers, ourselves, and our personal goals.This episode is part of a series on business models. In each episode, I'm interviewing a business owner about their business model, how it works, how they make money, and what it all entrails so that you can learn about your different options and make that choice.Today I'm talking to Natalie Gingrich about her business, The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them.Natalie has merged her corporate career background with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why Natalie landed on developing a certification program rather than strictly a courseHow Natalie began marketing to her networks and why relationship marketing is still a key strategy for her todayHow her podcast functions as the top of her sales funnel, and why it works for her audienceWhere Natalie spends the most of her time and money in her business, and which sales avenues provide the best conversionLearn more about Natalie Gingrich:The Ops AuthorityFacebook: @TheOpsAuthorityThe Ops Authority PodcastLearn more about Gillian:Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!

When I think of sustainability, Natalie Gingrich is one of the first people who come to mind. Today she's turning back the hands of time and sharing what the journey looks like from her initial idea to the launch of her now 13th cohort of the Director of Operations Certification. From being a one woman show to having a full blown team, adapting the certification to meet the needs of her growing community of students, and becoming a strong voice in the online space to help educate business owners how to best utilize the skills of the many talented Directors of Operation are just a few of the numerous things she's sharing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard the term virtual assistant? Online business manager? Operations assistant? Many are surprised to learn that professionals like this exist to help you run your business with ease, virtually.    If you are in need of help in your business but you just don't know where to look, this episode of the Empowered Business podcast is for you!    Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skillset of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them.   She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance and matched her leadership and operational skills to create her own business.   Natalie has scaled dozens of online businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders.   There are four levels to a business. You have implementation, management, strategy, and vision. Listen in as Natalie tells us the difference between the types of people who can help you in each level and how hiring the right person can make a huge impact on your business. Resources Mentioned:  Follow The Ops Authority on Facebook Follow The Ops Authority on Instagram Visit The Ops Authority website Listen to the podcast   I would love to connect on Facebook or Instagram! Show notes available at www.monicafroese.com/46

If you've ever wondered if there's a way to find a better fit for your business future while also creating an incredible experience for your clients, I've got good news.    Today I am interviewing one of my rockstar students, Claire Grace. She will be talking about her journey and how her life has been impacted since joining the Director of Operations (DOO) certification program. She shares how the certification allowed her to create a next level experience for her clients while also being a better fit for her life.   For the full show notes, visit theopsauthority.com/podcast/116.   Meet Claire Claire is a Certified Director of Operations and founder of The Assistant Quarters a UK VA & OBM Agency. Claire's journey to starting her own business is typical of many others. She had her first child in 2013 and just as her daughter was about to start school, she was made redundant from her 15+ year corporate career in Banking.    That unexpected turn of events gave her the nudge (and financial buffer!) to finally launch her own business as a Virtual Assistant. The goal, to work with ambitious female founders, be more present as a mother with the flexibility of working on her terms, without the stresses of a London commute.    Since launching in 2017, Claire quickly started to grow a team and rather organically grew The Assistant Quarters into a small VA Agency. In turn, transitioning her own 1:1 client offering from that of VA to OBM/ Ops Manager by bringing together a strong and skilled team of VAs with a range of specialisms to support clients to handle day-to-day ops support and implementation. Drawing on her experience of managing remote teams and her time in Project Management and Business Management roles, she realized her real passion was sparked in her work with clients to define their business strategy, nail their business operations and build strong teams.    Whilst on maternity leave with her second child in 2020 during lockdown, Claire signed up to the DOO Program, knowing that she and her business were ready to grow even further. She currently works with a small number of clients 1:1 as their DOO and offers her popular Business Freedom Formula Strategy Sessions. The DOO Programme has renewed her confidence and energy and she has exciting plans to further grow her Agency in 2021 and beyond.  What is your background? Was with the same company for 15 years, in all different kinds of roles: project management, ops roles, and executive administration Her hour commute was becoming difficult due to having a young child Banking in the UK goes through routine restructuring, and once her job was made redundant, she took the opportunity to look into becoming a VA She hasn't looked back, and would never go back to a corporate job Was solo for about 3-4 months, then hired an accountant and an associate around month 5   What was the journey from starting out as a VA to hiring your first associate to starting the DOO program? Came across the concept of an online business manager (OBM), and felt more aligned with that skill set rather than a VA Has been in business for 4.5 years Came across the DOO program and felt aligned with that skill set and it seemed like the next logical step   What intrigued you about the DOO certification? The opportunity to uplevel her strategy sessions Using the Strategic Mapping she would be able to enhance this service Felt like a much better fit for where she wanted to head after the birth of her 2nd child   “This felt like such a much better fit for where I was heading after having my second child.” - Claire Grace   How did you integrate the Strategic Mapping™ with your new and existing clients? Initially started to talk with her current clients, and offered it to a few at a discounted rate to test the process Having the framework bolstered her confidence when she needed it Became much easier to sell confidently Went in depth with the script and the process from the beginning and kept refining it until it was her core service   How does the Strategic Mapping™ work as a product in your agency? A new client won't come on board until they have a strategic mapping session with her unless they just need basic VA services If they are ready for an OBM or DOO, then this service is positioned up front so they can be really clear on what their priorities are Her sweet spot is in team hiring and business systems operations She secures the client, delivers the strategic mapping, then highlights some of the additional services they could benefit from. They will get a proposal for DOO short term supports, or accountability assistance, or an introduction into the team if they need VA support.    “There is no better way to scope a project than going through a Strategic Mapping™.” - Natalie Gingrich   Was there anything within the HR module that has really changed the way that you show up as an agency owner? She used to manage a remote team in her corporate career Going through the HR model made her reflect on how she could improve and how she wanted her team culture to be and how she wanted to show up as a leader   What gave you the permission to say yes to this investment? When she was first introduced to the program, lockdown had taken quite a hit on her ability to work, and she had to take a leap of faith  She had faith in her connections' feedback about the program and read other testimonials and felt like this would be a good fit She wanted to be surrounded by other OBMs and VAs who were leveling up, and a business coach who specialized in operations What is next for you? Wants to design a membership or course that will help people who have gone through strategic mapping to take the next steps   Any advice for those thinking of joining the DOO certification program? Go for it! It has been the best investment she has made Have faith that coaches are there to support you, especially if you fall behind in the modules Don't just think of it as the just a program and certification, there is an entire community there to support you   “I wouldn't have the business I have now if I hadn't made this leap.” - Claire Grace Connect with Claire Instagram   Previous Episodes Mentioned Episode 113: Results Matter: Why Quality Programs Focus on the Results of Their Students Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/116.

Are you looking for long term clients? Most of us are, but how do you keep clients for the long haul? I think you are going to love this interview today, with my peer and friend Hallie Agostinelli. Our experiences are so similar, and they possibly mirror many of your experiences as well.   Hallie Agostinelli is the founder of Virtual Matters, a company serving the online business community through remote assistance. She is also the co-founder of Launch Leaders Academy where she mentors and trains other virtual assistants on how to build a solid, profitable VA business.   Prior to starting her own business, Hallie had over 30 years in the traditional workforce, including powerhouse companies Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and BNI, a global networking organization. She credits her love for extreme client care to her first job with Marriott Hotels & Resorts.   Hallie is talking about the special ingredient that makes her shine and stand out to her clients. She has expanded out of one-to-one client care and has built an educational company in which she is teaching others to do what she has done successfully.   As she has expanded, she has taken a good look at herself to figure out what makes her different. This meant that she reached out to several of her clients who provided her with referrals again and again.    They told her that she goes beyond the checklist.  As a Director of Operations (DOO), this is the key to recurring revenue and not having to spend more and more money on marketing. Today's episode will show you how to keep clients for life and how to go beyond that checklist.   Meet Hallie Halie is a dear friend and a peer in this space and I am so excited to have my community learn from her. Many of you are on the same journey, turning your service provider business into learning and opportunity, and leading the way for other people.   How Did You Get To This Place? Everywhere she worked, she had excelled and advanced faster than expected During COVID, she started as a VA with one client, as a side job Saw the opportunity to expand, and within one year she went from one part time client to a multiple six-figure business specializing in launch support Had a client tell her that she just does “more,” meaning, she goes beyond the checklist Ex: giving strategy or advice above and beyond the scope of work  She came up with a list of ways she could go above and beyond, in order to set herself apart She never finished college, and carried the embarrassment of that We think we need to have all of these qualifications to be successful, but she realized that her competence was more valuable “I am the best #2 you could ever want in an organization, and when I realized that, it didn't matter what degree I had.” - Hallie Agostinelli Soft Skills Empathy is her superpower. She feels the clients work is her work and she is invested in their outcomes and success Empathy can be learned, but there is a balance; you can't take things too personally Ownership: if someone is unhappy with you,you can vent for 1 minute… and then move on and figure out your part in the solution Angling for a better way: figuring out what systems could be done differently or better She takes the ego out of the process and is always looking for a better solution Hustle is looked at as negative, but she is not afraid of hard work There is a hustle needed to accomplish a particular level of service The little bit of extra time put in keeps clients coming back Ask yourself “What else does this need to take it to the next level?”   “A high performing Director of Operations does everything they can in the first 30 days to create 2-way communication.” - Natalie Gingrich   “It doesn't matter how long something takes, it needs to be done the right way.” - HallieAgostinelli Be a good human: remember that you are interacting with other humans  Have concern, communicate in a cooperative and supportive way, be kind Give grace and be honest; establish a great relationship in which you take the work seriously and honor each other It is evident when people are not a good fit; pay attention to red flags and realize it's okay not to enter into a relationship with just anyone Connect with Hallie Instagram  Facebook group   Episode Sponsor: As operators, one of our key roles is to keep the ship sailing for the businesses we support, and a core component of that is to document systems and processes. Our visionary CEOs that we support don't have the interest in doing this themselves, but they know it has to get done… which is where you come in.   There are lots of ways to document processes, but I want to share with you a powerful tool that I've used that I think you are going to love, called Sweet Process. It allows you to create systems and processes and then turn them into step-by-step instructions or a checklist. It also allows you to have a centralized place for anyone on your team to access your procedures and processes at any time.    The best way to know if Sweet Process works for you is to start using it! Access this for 28 days free of charge! Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at www.theopsauthority.com/podcast/101.

Are you curious about the change that certified Director of Operations have experienced in their careers before and after their certification? Today I am with Rachel Kempf, who has come through round 7 of the Director of Operations (DOO) Certification Program. I want you to learn what it is like to go through the journey and the transformation that takes place before and after the certification process.  We give a lot of content that is generalized in the different areas of operations, but everyone who comes through the program has their own journey and obstacles, and they all find their own destination a little bit differently.  Round 10 of our Director of Operations Certification Program kicks off soon, so don’t forget to check out the details!   Meet Rachel Rachel Kempf is the CEO and Founder of RK Virtual Management and a certified DOO. Rachel comes from a corporate background managing Accounting and Finance departments for small corporations. It's not that she had a love for numbers, but she is a very analytical and type A personality, and working with numbers was an outlet for that side of her personality. During the shutdown in 2020, Rachel started looking for side hustle opportunities and was searching for ways she could offer accounting services in the online space. This is when she quickly fell down the rabbit hole in the online space and discovered the DOO program. She finally found her people and found a way to take the skills she already had and make them into a valuable offer. Since joining DOO Round 7 back in November, Rachel has quit her corporate job, transitioned into her own business full time, and surpassed her corporate income almost double! She is also currently restructuring her business into an agency model so she can take on more clients and leave an even bigger impact on the businesses she works with. How did you and your business change from when you started the certification until now? She got her 1st VA client and was doing accounting work, and they were experiencing a rapid amount of growth at the time that they couldn’t handle She got the opportunity to voice her ideas about how to fill their gaps and they really valued her opinion, which contradicted her current full time job   “I knew I had the skills that were necessary to make big changes and big impact in businesses, but I did not want to spend the time to climb the corporate ladder.” - Rachel Kempf   “Sometimes it can be a long journey to actually be able to exercise the leadership that we were blessed with.” - Natalie Gingrich   How long did it take you to transition from corporate to your own business? Started business in July 2020  Decided to go all in, because she was loving the online world, as opposed to her corporate job in which she was feeling friction Made the jump and the positive changes started immediately She credits this to the DOO program and the community   When you were going through the certification, which pieces of content had the strongest impact on you? The Strategic Mapping Model™ allowed me to get the ROI within the first 3 months It also showed her how she already had the skills to be a strategic partner once she just laid out the framework  She made it her own, and created a very specific offer Any other pieces of the certification that you are leveraging? The HR module  A lot of the larger companies that she dealt with had cultural issues, and this module helped her pull pieces to identify the breakdowns Where are you now? When she first started she was doing accounting services for 1 client She signed her 2nd client less than 2 months into the DOO program, and charged 3x what she charged for her 1st client Has tailored her services around that particular clients needs because she started to see those same needs in other companies Also offers intensives to help clients get past their “stuck” points Realized she wanted to help more people, so she has decided to build an Integrator  agency She creates the plans and lays the foundation, then passes it off to an integrator to implement What would you say to someone considering the DOO?  If you feel like you are not qualified, know that you already have the skills within yourself; you might just need help uncovering them You don’t have to claim the DOO title; the program gives you a skill set that you can make your own title and succeed with it   “I will scream from the mountaintops how good this program is and how much change it’s made for me.” - Rachel Kempf   Connect with Rachel: Website If you are interested in joining or learning more about the DOO Certification Program, make sure to check it out or apply!   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/98.

In this episode, we are joined by the founder of Ops Authority, Natalie Gingrich, to discuss the concept of being adaptable in your entrepreneurial journey. Natalie shares how she was adaptable during her journey of leaving a six-figure corporate career to pursue the road of entrepreneurship. Natalie discusses the three phases of business from building, to growing, and then scaling; and how entrepreneurs need to adapt their roles at each phase. Marketing and operations are critical parts of each business and Natalie shares how must individuals have a strength in one area; thus, they need to surround themselves with people who are strong in the area they are weakest. This is not all…she discusses the four layers of business found in a successful business, plus so much more. Natalie's insights are thought provoking and will help you flex your adaptability muscle to be more successful. Natalie's Bio: Natalie Gingrich is the founder of The Ops Authority, where she certifies and mentors women who leverage their natural skill set of operations and administration. She's driven to help women earn an income with ease while doing what comes most naturally to them. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership. Her entire professional life has been built around human resources, project management, process development, and people leadership. Natalie ended her corporate career as the Chief of Staff for a Fortune 150 CEO. With legacy being her driver and her kids getting older, Natalie left corporate America in search of balance. She matched her drive, leadership, and operational skills to create her own business. In her first 3 years of business, Natalie scaled dozens of online and small businesses to 7 and 8 figures, worked alongside industry icons, and developed diverse teams. She merged her corporate career with her entrepreneurial learnings to create the Director of Operations Certification Program, the only strategic operations certification for leaders. She continuously pours into operations experts on her weekly podcast, The Ops Authority. To learn more about Natalie and Ops Authority go to http://www.directorofops.com (www.directorofops.com) Also be sure to check out her podcast “The Ops Authority” ** Ready to follow your passion to a six-figure income? Then start your business out on the right foundation by grabbing our free training on how to create and use a business plan. Entrepreneurs who take time to formulate a plan and then leverage their plan are more likely to scale faster and achieve success sooner than those who don't. Save time, save money, and propel yourself to success with our free training. To learn more, check out: https://www.startupempowered.com (https://www.startupempowered.com) HAVE A QUESTION: Email us at everdayjoe@acent101.com CHECK US OUT AT http://www.acent101.com (www.acent101.com)

Do you still have questions about the Director of Operation Certification program? Want to hear from students who have gone through the program and get their insights and experiences?   Today, some of my trusted peers, Rachel Pereyra, Ange Quinn, and Teresa Cleveland, are sharing some of the questions they get asked about the certification. They are all Certified Directors of Operations (DOO) who have come through the program at different times.    In our Facebook group, these are the ladies who are active, provide people with answers, and they want to help answer questions that you have and address the things that may be preventing you from joining the program. Questions Answered by Certified DOOs Ange Quinn joined the DOO certification program in Round 6. She had a corporate background but struggled to find where she could build an attainable business online. Find Ange at her website here. Teresa Cleveland spends so much time pouring into people who have questions about the DOO program. She came through the program in Round 2, and you can find her at The Purposeful CEO. She has worked online for the last 12 years.  Rachel Pereyra is the CEO and founder of Mastermind Business Services. She is currently in Round 7, and has had a transformative experience in the program. She feels that one of the biggest selling points of the program is the community because it has changed everything about the way she thinks about her own business, and has expanded her impact.  How can I use my corporate skills to start an online business? Ange: I speak with a lot of ladies who have a lot of skills and certifications, and they wonder how this certification will help them above project management training, PMPs or other training that they have already gone through.    This program up-levels your skill set in a variety of areas, and it also helps you grow your own business by applying these same skills. You can hone in on the specific areas you are interested in, and create a business that is suited to your strengths.   How does this program stack up against others? Teresa: This program is incredible because of what Natalie pours into it. She is so in tune with the community, and her desire for our success is unmatched. The community she has cultivated is a group of trusted peers who are brilliant and willing to share with each other.    “By attracting and vetting people in their leadership capabilities, we resist that friction of competition and start to see everybody as peers and partners.” - Natalie Gingrich   Ange: Natalie doesn’t want it to be ‘The Natalie Show’... she allows others to add their value, which allows us to grow in leadership. How can I translate my corporate expertise to online business? Teresa: I talk to people who have had terrible corporate experiences, but by working the program, women can see how they want to apply their skills. The culture of the program is so important because it allows people to see how they can still do what they love, and helps them practically apply it to their business model.   What’s the point of the application process? Teresa: The application process isn’t just a marketing ploy … I actually know people who haven’t gotten in.    Natalie: I truly want to make sure that the right people are getting in. If you are going to share your hard earned dollars with me, I want to make sure that I see your potential, and that your working with me is going to generate revenue for you. I’m super proud to say that in our Round 6 cohort, 96% of the participants have gotten a 100% return in 6 months.    Rachel: When I talk to people about the application process, I tell people that they want to be in a program that doesn’t accept everyone because you want to make sure that the program is something that is right for you. The people who are accepted are vetted and invested in this type of work.    How long until I make money? Teresa: You can make your money back if you just take what you learn in the first module and apply it. I want to pay for the program up front, so I need to get one more client. Is this a good idea? Ange: I was 3 months into the program, when I realized that while I could help the clients I was already working with, they weren’t really my ideal clients.    Rachel: The price tag was one of my struggles because I was fairly new in the online space, fresh off my transition from corporate. As I went through the program, I up-leveled some clients, lovingly let go of some clients, and found new clients that see me in a different light.    Teresa: It also helps you say no to those wrong fits instead of keeping them on, which is empowering.  What difference has the certification made? Teresa: We are bringing “the goods.”  I rarely mention the certification to clients, they just know by the way I’m showing up that there is something different. Our skill level is making a difference in the businesses we help.   Rachel: I parted ways with a client just before starting the program, and we recently reconnected. She has told me the difference she sees in my skill level and the way I am presenting myself, and she is now sending me referrals!   Ange: The structure is key. I had the knowledge from past experiences, but in a different realm.  I could see all the things I could do to help these clients but I didn’t know what steps to take first. This program gives you clarity on how to use your skills.   Is the material relevant?  Teresa: The material helps up-level your business, and I've seen so much added to the program through the iterations. After 12 years online I am still learning things here, and a lot of it has to do with the structure it provides.    “I've never once heard anyone say that they regretted doing the certification, they just wish they would have done it sooner.” - Teresa Cleveland If you like what you heard today and think this program is for you, don’t hesitate to apply!   Weekly Ops Activity What question do you have that wasn’t addressed in this episode? Ask your question in the Facebook group and Team DOO will answer! Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/episode90.

What is a hard conversation? Why do we avoid them? What are do’s and don’t’s in initiating a difficult conversation? Through Delete + Rest, an every-other-week series, we talk about mindsets we need to delete because they don’t serve us well then we reset our brains with the truth.  In this interview, Esther + I tackle a topic that is an ongoing struggle for try-hard girls: having a hard conversation.  Esther defines what a hard conversation is, shares four keys to discerning when to bring up a hard topic, and offers do’s and don’t’s as you navigate your next difficult conversation. She also gives you practical ways to initiate a hard conversation and what good can come out of a difficult dialogue. Key Quotes “If we can spend our time thinking and preparing our hearts and preparing what we want to say then we can have the hard conversation.” - Esther Littlefield “Having a hard conversation is a learning process.” - Esther Littlefield “If we’ve done our part, we have to let go of the response of the other person.” - Esther Littlefield “We can study. We can use biblical principles. And we can pray before having a hard conversation.” - Esther Littlefield “Being willing to hear the other person’s perspective is so important in having that hard conversation.” - Esther Littlefield “Part of having a hard conversation with God is processing what you’re feeling about the situation.” - Esther Littlefield “Having a hard conversation reflects the heart of Christ in the effort to have reconciliation and restoration of a relationship or situation.” - Esther Littlefield Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you! Enneagram Eight   https://www.jillemccormick.com/episode-47-real-life-grace-for-the-enneagram-eight-with-celia-miller/  Esther’s Confident Conversation mini-course   https://go.estherlittlefield.com/confident-conversations  Brene Brown  https://brenebrown.com/  Natalie Gingrich   https://www.jillemccormick.com/episode-33-real-life-grace-for-the-enneagram-two-with-natalie-gingrich/  Previous Episodes Mentioned Episode #31: Real-life grace for the Enneagram One with Esther Littlefield Episode #51: Delete + Reset: Body Image, Weight, Jean Size, and Jesus with Jami Amerine    Episode #53: Delete + Reset: Race, Racism, and Your Role in Racial Reconciliation with Dr. Lucretia Berry Episode #55: Delete + Reset: Productivity, Exhaustion, and Balancing Your Passions with Christa Hutchins Episode #5: Delete + Reset: Slowing down, releasing expectations, and creating an unhurried heart with Jennifer Dukes Lee    About Esther Littlefield Esther is a writer & host of the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast as well as the Christian Woman Business Podcast.  She is passionate about helping women embrace their gifts and lead with confidence. She also loves helping Christian business owners shine online and amplify their message. She lives in Maine with her husband Scott (a pastor), daughter KJ and their two cats, two leopard geckos, and one adorable puppy.  In her free time, you may find Esther enjoying a cup of coffee, exploring the great outdoors, or convincing her husband -- or a friend -- to take a road trip to see her favorite band, Switchfoot Here’s how to connect with  Esther Website Facebook page Facebook group Leadership podcast Business podcast Here’s how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Facebook group  Facebook page  Subscribe to Jill’s weekly “the good + the grace” email 

Have you been thinking about using your expertise to consult, and scale your business?   I am excited to share with you one of my dear friends and colleagues in the online space, Melissa Froehlich, as we discuss mindset and consulting.    Meet Melissa Melissa has a corporate background, but had to give it up to follow her husband in his military career. She started as a virtual assistant in order to have the freedom to take her career with her wherever she went. From there she grew to be an online business manager (OBM) and eventually a business growth strategist and mindset coach.    Melissa is here to share something that is brewing inside of her that she has recently navigated,  and today we are having a conversation about helping you understand what your greatest potential is in your journey as a leader for businesses.   “When we look back, we can see that this is exactly where we were supposed to be, but when we look forward, it looks very cloudy.” - Natalie Gingrich   Project Based Business Model (Consulting) Today's conversation is going to help you understand how you can navigate your next path by leveraging the skills you have, and upleveling them so that you are in the greatest alignment with where you are supposed to be.   As females, we tend to feel like we need to be implementers, because we can get stuff done. But I want more for you… I want you to get to the next level. I don’t want you to stay comfortable, I want you to move out of the implementation and into the management/strategy.  (Check out episode 70 for a refresher on the 4 different layers of operations.)  Today we are going to focus on the journey from implementation into strategy.    As I moved from implementation to strategy work, I had a lot of mindset blocks. Can you elaborate on some of the mindset issues we often have as we make that jump? We experience imposter syndrome and we aren’t able to see ourselves as CEOs or leaders because we are coming from the mindset of an employee. We are trying to figure out a new space which is overwhelming. We don’t know how to tap into our mindset issues, so we will often go to somewhere that is safe rather than take risks, largely due to scarcity mindset. We stay in the place of safety and we keep collecting skills, courses, trainings; we stay in the safety net of learning. We think we are buying confidence, but we forget that we are already coming with a lot of skills. We start asking “is there more?” but then you squash it because you don't want to rock the boat and fall into that scarcity mindset. Mindset is a skill that we need to devote to enhancing forever.   “I didn’t know how to say, I’m the CEO of my business, and I can continue to take risks because I’m going to manage them appropriately…” - Mellissa Froehlich “We think we are buying confidence but we’re not… we’re buying the ability to stay in this place that is safe in the space of learning.”- Mellissa Froehlich   What are the different ways we use project based models as operators in business? As an OBM she had a full roster, but was feeling the itch to help women grow their businesses (and make more money.) She started to look for themes and validation that she could be a strategic partner in their business as a business growth strategist.  Found that people loved having access to her to talk things through, gain clarity, and help them decide what their next steps were. When you start to notice a pattern in what people are telling you that you are good at, hold on to those things; they are your superpower. Used her Kolbe and Strengths Finder assessments to confirm her affinity for strategy Started offering a consulting model that would get results for people in a shorter duration that she could also scale  . Started doing weekly calls with clients but found that they got overwhelmed..She helped them gain so much traction and they had so many action items, that they needed more time to implement between sessions. So she had to vary the contracts according to clients' needs. She was able to leverage natural strengths the way she wanted to work with clients and came into client’s business as an expert, which finally felt in alignment.   What are you up to now, and how are you looking to serve those who want to move to the next level? She is building out an accelerator program. She gets lots of women who come to her who want “more,” which means they want to work with clients in a more strategic way. The program focuses on a model that provides quick fixes, gives laser-focused attention, provides massive results, and a way to return when they need you later. The program will help women be able to market themselves confidently in a strategic consulting manner in their business. You already have the skills, but will gain skills to build the offer behind the scenes, and mindset work.  Fits the needs of multiple business models, and will help you see yourself as the expert you are. If you want to work in a more strategic capacity and do less implementation. Have to be willing to market yourself in new ways. “When you are a consultant, you bring your knowledge, skillsets and expertise, but you are also bringing your community, and that's really valuable.” - Melissa Froehlich   Who is this for? People who love strategy and who are willing to market themselves. Those willing to commit to seeing themselves as an expert. Requires strategic leadership, independent thought, and the confidence to partner with people.   “If you are a leader, that means you are an independent thinker.” - Natalie Gingrich   Is this a program I should do as a Director of Operations (DOO)? This could be a great fit, if you are drawn to the idea of being a strategic partner As a consultant you are there to guide, and deliver the options, but you don’t make the decisions. How much do you love relationships? Do you want to love someone's business as much or more than they do? You have to be able to form relationships that are deep because that's where the transformation happens. Consider why are you drawn to this… do you want to leverage a different way of working with people?    About Melissa Melissa Froehlich is a sought-after business strategist, mentor and mindset coach who works with established female entrepreneurs ready to own the role of being the CEO of their business with a rewired mindset to help it all stick. After leaving her corporate job to follow her active-duty Air Force husband across the United States, Melissa rapidly built a booked-out, multi 6-figure coaching business teaching women to create online businesses that deliver premium results. Through her signature coaching and Mastermind programs, she mentors online service-based business owners to uplevel their services, embrace the mindset of a CEO, and stand out in a crowded marketplace by delivering an exceptional client experience. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs while adventuring in the mountains or exploring a beach somewhere in Mexico.   Weekly Ops Activity Come on over to the Facebook group and drop your questions about adding a consulting offer to your business.   Previous Episodes Mentioned Episode 70: How to Avoid Settling in Your Operations Business   Other Ways to Connect with Melissa: Website Facebook group email   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/84.

Today, we’re talking about how to set up processes and systems in your own business to allow for greater success and more profit in less time. Learn all the nitty-gritty details on operations, systems, organization, and processes to take your business to the next level.   This episode is for you if: you’re lost on how to structure the back end, behind-the-scenes part of your online business you want to become a Director of Operations you want to hire a Director of Operations you want to learn how to create a certification program   Today we’re digging into something that has been the hardest part of growing my business: building a team. Specifically, it’s figuring out the right roles for the right people at the right time for your business.   We’re breaking down the structure of a leadership team, what qualities to look for, and how to conduct an interview.   My guest today, Natalie Gingrich, has spent two decades in the operations industry. She spent much of that in corporate America as a Human Resources leader and a certified Project Manager. She left corporate and quickly began filling a gap in the small business market by teaching and mentoring 6 and 7 figure business leaders about the nuances of operations. Her gift is in simplifying complex business strategies to show CEOs how to scale through operations.     What you’ll learn in this episode:   How to create a certification you can stand behind What qualities should you look for in a great Director of Operations? How is this different from a Virtual Assistant, or Online Business Manager, or Integrator? A framework for how to know when you’re ready to hire a team What’s the best project management software or tool? How to set 30/60/90 day goals for you and your team, and how to evaluate if the costs are worth the return What interview questions to ask when hiring a leadership position   Subscribe and Review   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you liked what you heard, please leave an honest review for The Success with Soul Podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can improve and better serve you in the future. Plus, you could be featured on a future episode during our listener spotlights. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.   And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get automatic updates. My goal for this podcast is to inspire those who seek flexibility and freedom in their lives by making something happen with holistic, soulful, step-by-step strategies from me and other experts.   Links + Resources Mentioned in this Episode:   The Kolbe Test If you’re looking for an easy to use, all-in-one platform for your business needs, check out Kartra. I switched to Kartra last year and am saving $12,000 per year! Get your free 14-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee here Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman If you’re tired of struggling away at your keyboard without any real income to show for all that blogging effort, I’ve created a brand new free masterclass just for you called 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Six-Figure Blogging, go here to sign up now for this free training! Visit Natalie’s website The Ops Authority and follow her on Instagram @theopsauthority, and join her Ops Insider Facebook group here Follow me on Instagram @katekordsmeier and @rootandrevel   More Ways to Enjoy Success with Soul Download a transcript of this episode Download on Apple Podcasts Email me new episodes Don’t forget to join our free Success With Soul Facebook community for follow-up conversations about the podcast episodes and where I also often go live to answer your burning questions. Hangout with like-minded bloggers and heart-centered online business owners exchanging priceless feedback, encouragement, and other golden insights from the trenches.   EPISODE CREDITS: Produced by Danny Ozment at https://emeraldcitypro.com

In this episode, Natalie Gingrich shares her journey from corporate life to being home for her family to new online business owner to learning that if she was going to be happy & fulfilled, she was going to have to do it her way. And so can you! For complete show notes and other info, please visit https://thepurposefulceo.com/her-way Get your copy of Natalie's Business Hub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can vouch firsthand for the awesome course that today's guest created: not because I took her course myself, but because of the impact her resources have had on my team! Natalie Gingrich has an inspiring story to share about her online course journey and why she is so passionate about all things operations. We're... Read More

I can vouch firsthand for the awesome course that today's guest created: not because I took her course myself, but because of the impact her resources have had on my team! Natalie Gingrich has an inspiring story to share about her online course journey and why she is so passionate about all things operations. We're... Read More

Is setting goals a priority in your business? Are you too busy setting goals for others, and often overlook your own business plans?   We are just getting ready to start the Scope Creep Solution, a 5 day experience that will allow you to get a really good grip on your project management. Scope creep can make you second guess yourself and feel defeated… but I am here to give you a 5-day actionable plan to help you improve that. Sign up before we kick off on Nov 16, and get your amazing workbook. I look forward to seeing you there!   Today my guest is Catherine Calmes, a certified Director of Operations (DOO) who helps online business owners by providing operational planning and team leadership so that their businesses can run efficiently. She uses her background in home organizing, workplace productivity and her managerial experience to help them make the vision for their business a true reality.    She has had several different careers plus still works part time in corporate, and she uses all of those skills to make a business that suits her. Catherine enjoys helping her clients break their goals and ideas down into actionable tasks, assign the work to their team, and communicate clearly to move forward.  Meet Catherine Calmes We are here to discuss Catherine’s expertise in operations, setting goals, and what it looks like to attain those goals. We are so used to helping others set goals, and it's often hard to turn the mirror back on ourselves.   Background Certified DOO, and runs Calmes Consulting Started her first business as a home organizer Also worked a corporate job making maps for the oil and gas industry, but noticed she had a lot of planning and organizing skills that weren’t being utilized, and felt unfulfilled in that Found a part time job as an assistant to a wedding planner which led to joining a professional organizing group Attended a conference and found out about virtual home organizing, so she transitioned her business online and started organizing for people who owned businesses As she grew her knowledge in the online space, she joined coaching programs and became a tech VA, then grew into a role as an OBM Found the Director of Operations certification program Who do you work with now? Specializes in helping business coaches Knows a lot about the behind-the-scenes of coaching because of her experience with her first client Has a particular soft spot for moms who are business coaches How has your visibility journey been? Initially was not confident in this, so she hired a coach Helped her with confidence and got her to do live streams Believes we spend so much times behind the scenes as operators, but realized it is important to get information out about how people can grow their business and benefit from knowledge of operations How do you work with your clients in regards to goal setting? Have 2 main options Self Guided Metrics and Management Workshop: Includes a video, spreadsheets and worksheets which teach about Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);  how you can create KPIs, track them, and use them to grow your business. Prepare, Plan, and Profit Intensive: Works with clients to prepare mission, vision, and values, create goals, and a strategic plan.    What are common goals that we need to set in our businesses? Need to think about more than just money Dig deeper and ask “why?” Money is great, but what is the vision behind your business, and how does that relate to your goals?   Can you give a real-life example of KPIs for one of your clients? 20% growth in the number of leads each month Acquire 4 new clients into coaching program each week Increase revenue by X%   How do you come up with the specific numbers for the KPI? First start with your goal: if they want to get 20 new clients/month, you need to break it down and figure out how you will measure it Goal of 20/month divided by weeks in a month will tell you how many you need to be on track  Recommends looking at the numbers based on how often you are measuring (if measuring quarterly, look each month; if measuring monthly, look each week) Recommends creating a dashboard to track progress (there is also a tracker in the Metrics and Management workshop)   How many KPI metrics do you usually track? Depends on the size of your business, and if you’ve been tracking KPIs before If you’ve never tracked anything before, start with one People often look at vanity metrics when it comes to social media, but that doesn’t always translate to profit   What do you do when you personally meet your goals? That is when she knows she needs to set new goals; the vision for your business is always moving and changing so you need to adjust Celebrates by sharing it with here husband Usually treats herself to something; for example she just booked out one of her offerings and ordered a new desk in celebration “The emotional part of attaining a goal is so important… it’s cathartic and motivating.” --Natalie Gingrich   Operations can help people become business leaders by using business data. We can take this operational goodness and turn it into an opportunity to serve other people with our gifts. I hope you took away a lot from this episode.   Join the Scope Creep Solution: November 16-20, 2020   We are just about to open up the application period for round 7 of the Director of Operations Certification Program. I firmly believe that project management is one of those skills that every DOO needs to have and already possesses, but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t challenges in that space.     And that's what I’m going to walk you through in the Scope Creep Solution. By participating, you will get a good feel of how I teach, what type of information you will receive, and the type of community that you will get when you come into the program. It all begins with the Scope Creep Solution, and I cannot wait to see you there!   Sign up here.   Weekly Ops Activity Come over to the Ops Insiders Facebook group and share one metric that reflects your success that is not financial.    Connect with Catherine Calmes Catherine is a Certified Director of Operations who helps online business owners by providing operational planning and team leadership so their business can run efficiently. She uses her background in home organizing, workplace productivity, and managerial experience to help make the vision for your business a reality.   Catherine enjoys helping her clients break their goals and ideas down into actionable tasks, assign that work to their team, and communicate clearly to move forward.   Catherine’s goal is for you to be able to accomplish more in less time so that you can scale your business to the next level. Your business will flow with ease and you will feel confident about what your team can accomplish.   By making plans, responsibilities, and deadlines clear, teams can be empowered to deliver great results and Catherine is here to help. Website  Instagram  LinkedIn Lead to Succeed    Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/69.

Do you sometimes struggle to reconcile the money you invested in higher education or the time you spent in corporate with where you are at now?    Let’s talk about how all of those things can work together.   I'm super excited to be here today with my friend, Natalie Gingrich. Natalie is the founder and host of The Ops Authority and has been in operation for two decades, either in health care, corporate America, or as an entrepreneur. She developed the Director of Operations Certification to equip existing ops experts to transform their businesses.    Natalie is sharing what it was like to transition from health care, to corporate, to entrepreneurship, and how lessons from those earlier career paths play a role in her business today. We’re talking about priorities, mom guilt, fear of failure, and of course what it takes to be an operations professional.    If you love all things project management, Director of Operations could be the role for you! Make sure to tune in because we are covering lots of topics on today’s show!   To find out more about the Director of Ops Certification Program head to www.thefreemama.com/natalie Have you heard about Natalie's Scope Creep Solution?! This is a FREE 5-day sprint to help you defeat scope creep in your client projects and will be taking place November 16-20 so head to www.thefreemama.com/scope-creep to get signed up!   Don’t forget to join The Free Mama Movement community on Facebook and follow me on Instagram!    Show notes available at www.thefreemama.com/29

Today’s show is going to be a great one - my guest today is Natalie Gingrich! Natalie Gingrich is a specialist in online business operations and team building. Natalie is not only a personal friend, she is but we actually worked together for years building up the business now known as Flipped Lifestyle. On today’s podcast Natalie is going to teach you everything that she knows about operations and team building.  We are going to talk about those money mindset issues that are holding you back from going to the next level.  Natalie is going to teach you 7 areas if your business and team that you must understand, focus in, and strategize, if you’re going to take your membership to the next level. We’re going to talk about the one thing that every business owner must give to their team if they want to be successful.

  Today Jamie gets to talk with a queen of Ops! Natalie Gingrich from The Ops Authority chats with her all about how to successfully navigate hiring an operations team member.    Natalie spent several years in the corporate business world, working in the Human Resource and Project Management sectors before she stumbled into entrepreneurship. She wanted to be more present for her family, and took the leap to step away from the corporate world and start her own business.    The ladies cover so many things to help guide you through the operations member hiring process, including: > Why does an organization need operations and why should a founder be thinking about it from day one? > When do you know you’re ready? > How do we let go of control? > What qualities make a good operations professional?   … And so much more!    Please join us in the HQ and let us know: Are you doing any hiring? Are you hiring before the end of 2020? Do you have plans to hire in 2021? Let's brainstorm!   As always, please subscribe to the FearLess Business Podcast wherever you listen, and we are always eternally grateful for a review.   Find Natalie here: Website: theopsauthority.com IG: @theopsauthority  Facebook:@theopsauthority LinkedIn: @Natalie Gingrich Podcast: The Ops Authority Podcast anywhere you listen to your podcasts   Natalie will soon be offering a couple of amazing programs for you!   > Director of Operations Certification Program. The next round begins on November 30th! > Scope Creep Solution Running from November 16th - 20th      

Do your financials frighten you? Do you dread the end of the month when you have to look at your books?   Today we are wrapping up our Director of Operations (DOO) expert coach series with our financial DOO expert coach Jenni Davis. Jenni is more than a bookkeeper, financial coach and operator… she is a combination of high level profit strategy and operations expertise that focuses on the whole health of the business. Through profit strategy and cash flow design she comes alongside her clients with a can do attitude and takes ownership of the financial aspect of the business so they don't have to anymore. Her goal is to eradicate financial stress for her clients and plan for profits like they have never seen before. She's breaking the mold in the accounting and CFO space combining financial and operations in a way that skyrockets cash flow and plans for profit. Jenni is a profit advisor, a CFO, and an operations director all combined into one. Meet Jenni Davis Jenni joined us in round 5 of the Director of Operations certification program, which was actually rated the #1 training by our students! Once you get a better understanding, you will be less intimidated by financials.    Background CEO of JMD Business Solutions As a profit strategist and cash flow coach, she empowers service based businesses to optimize daily financials in their business so they can reclaim their profit and ultimately let them have the freedom to do what they love as a visionary in their business Works mostly with married-preneurs or partnerships Tell us about where you came from. Comes form long line of entrepreneurs Grandfather installed values of good work, and taught her systems and processes Worked in corporate retail and education, then decided to stay home with kids in 2008 Wanted to do something in additions to staying home, so she started a small bookkeeping and tax practice Realized business owners needed someone to come alongside them with services such as marketing, team management and operations Decided to redesign business so she could offer all of those services   What are your designations? How did you come across “Profit First”? Always worked as a Quickbooks advisor Met Mike Michalowicz Author of “Profit First” at a conference Quickly implemented this model in her own business Decided to get certified so she could offer this strategy to clients Was a certified OBM, the found the DOO certification program   Tell us about your team. Has a team of client managers who come in and support clients individually Additionally, she meets with clients to do high level strategy Has a VA who handles the operations for her business   Has your avatar changed over time? She really loves learning all of the new industries Foundationally, all businesses need the same thing   “It doesn’t matter the industry or business model… operations don't change. It is looking at human capital, resource management/financials, and the projects they want to do.” --Natalie Gingrich   Tell us about married-preneurs. Has been blessed to work with many couples who are in business together This model has another level to it because a relationship is intermingled with the business Works as a 3rd partner in the business to help navigate the waters   What are examples of those struggles? Strategic mapping is always where she starts because she can set the goals with each partner so every move is with purpose This helps with the personal relationship in the business A key part of the mapping is to incorporate the personal side    “When everyone has a job and knows what they are doing, it really makes the day to day operations easier.” --Jenni Davis How have you rounded out your skill set with a focus on operations in your business? Reevaluated her service offerings Knew in order to serve married-preneurs she would have to incorporate strategic mapping and profit advising DOO certification taught her how to pivot and provide what the client needed Offers high level services where she serves as a DOO in businesses, profit coaching, basic bookkeeping compliance, CFO services Had strategy piece, but had been giving it away for free; she couldn’t show up without offering it “When you are working with a client and they show you their financials, you are a partner on a whole new level.” --Natalie Gingrich   Share some key takeaways about focusing on financials in a small business. Do not be afraid of your financials; they are telling you a story about where you have been and where you are going. Do an expense audit. Ask questions: don't be afraid of your bookkeeper or accountant; they aren’t only there to manage your money, but educate you in your money. Allocate 1% of your revenue to a profit allocation account; then quarterly, you can take half of it out as a profit distribution for you as a business account.   Money tells stories, and it is important to evaluate trends to determine the next steps or pivots in a business. Look at the data points of the past to forecast the future so you can make better calculated moves, and so you won’t have to guess. Clients will be looking to you to draw out those stories that will help them make decisions, and I hope this episode has helped bring some clarity to this topic!   Website  Facebook LinkedIn   Weekly Ops Activity Set up a savings account and start contributing 1% of your monthly revenue.   Connect with Jenni Davis: Jenni Davis is founder of JMD Business Solutions. Since 2007 Jenni has been working with 6 figure businesses as a Trusted Advisor and Profit Strategist. She has worked in many different industries to clean up and maintain the financial structure of business through operational efficiencies. She has had the privilege to see success with her clients as they build wealth and increase profits.   Jenni is a self described Nerdy Numbers Girl, who teaches that Profit does not happen by accident, It is a well crafted machine that is developed over time with streamlined systems, proper finance management, and teaching business owners to find their passion and purpose while watching the profits grow.   When Jenni is not partnering with her clients, she can be found spreading time with her 3 grown children and Husband of 32 years. She also enjoys riding her bike on the beach, or cuddling up with a good cuppa tea.   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/67.

Do you have a background in HR and an interest in operations? Are you unsure how the two fit together?   Today on the podcast I am joined by Kimone Napier, one of my expert Director of Operations (DOO) coaches in the area of HR and hiring. Kimone has a corporate background and she built her business around her HR expertise.    Kimone is a hiring expert and the CEO of The Lean Process Strategist. She partners with service minded entrepreneurs to optimize their businesses using strong people leadership and strategic input. She has several years of experience working with senior leaders and entrepreneurs by providing strategy and HR support. Kimone helps entrepreneurs grow their teams with intention, reduce their overwhelm, and attract high quality candidates. Kimone’s goal is to customize a solution to help you scale your business and to become the visionary leader that you crave to be.    Meet Kimone Napier Background Started her career working in operations  & HR, in both govt space and corporate in New York City Started to want some more freedom and flexibility in her lifestyle around 2017 Jumped into the online space and found Natalie’s Director of Operations Certification Program which has provided a wealth of abundance for her and her family Currently serves CEOs in HR and operations capacity   When you left corporate for entrepreneurship, what did you think you would be doing? Initially she had a hard time envisioning how to do this type of work She wanted to leverage her skills in the online space, but lacked the structure Started by providing operations and administrative support but knew she could offer more Knew she had a refined skill set, just needed structure and a way to market herself, which is where the DOO certification piece fit   How do you make money today? Has niched down into 3 different offers: Hiring: helping CEOs and visionaries hire with intention and onboard team members in the right capacity DOO services Strategic mapping for visionary leaders to get an understanding of their business plans “When you are able to partner with somebody and bring them a solution that can forever change their personal life and their profits, that is ultimate fulfillment.” -- Natalie Gingrich   As a hiring/HR expert, can you share some key takeaways? 3 key areas when hiring: Identify your mission: why are you doing what you do in their business?  Know where your company is going: you can hire for the most immediate need, but if there are changes it is likely that the relationship with your hire is going to change. Know your core values: Your values and the values of your candidate need to align otherwise there will be a disconnect. If they don’t the relationship is not going to work.  “You want to hire with intention to find a more long term fit for your business especially as it’s growing.” -- Kimone Napier   “If you only hire for the gap you have right now, you are not serving your future self.” --Natalie Gingrich   What is your experience with hiring in regards to identifying values? Leaders don’t have the time to dive into hiring the way they need to They are pulled in too many directions, and end up focusing on marketing themselves, sales, visibility, interviews, etc. When they do decide to hire they often go about it by posting on social media, and are then inundated with DM’s which just stresses them out   The Director of Operations Certification Program follows a blueprint similar to an HR Business Partner. Can you speak to that? The DOO certification program is like a fast track to getting a skill set similar to a masters or an MBA in HR Helps propel you forward in this area because the content benefits you in the areas of HR, financials, and operations Has her masters, but values the certification because it is the fast track in terms of knowledge as applied to the HR discipline   Can you share what the DOO certification has done for you? The certification helped her find what she was looking for in terms of family, home and business Helped her align offers, strengths and goals to leverage everything she wanted to bring to the table Created an abundant lifestyle in terms of the type of clients she gets, and the type of freedom she has Given her time to relax, slow down, and enjoy life If you are looking for a transformation and you have the skill set of project management, financials or HR, I would highly recommend you to look into the DOO certification program.  Connect with Kimone Website   Weekly Ops Activity Go to one of your leaders and have them identify their core values. Then, come on over to the Facebook group, and post on the thread what their values are. I also challenge you to identify yours, so you can compare.   Links Mentioned Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/65.

Are you aware of how much value good communication creates in a professional relationship?   Today my Director of Operations (DOO) expert coach is Claire Crum, the founder and CEO of Calm Ops.  Claire and her team move social enterprise CEOs and executive directors from reactionary to relaxed, expanding their capacity to reach their next level milestones. She is a veteran of the nonprofit sector and an efficiency enthusiast. A graduate of the DOO program, she now serves as the value and worth coach in our DOO certification program, and a facilitator of the Calm Ops mastermind group. A wife and mom of 3 kids, she is dedicated to bringing sustainable business practices to those beside her on this entrepreneurial journey.   Meet Claire Crum Value and worth… what does that mean? We have been listening to DOO expert coaches, and learning from ladies who have come through the certification. We’ve heard how they have leveraged their expertise to layer on top of the good I share with them through certification.    Claire has the experience, background and demeanor and all of those come together to create a leadership style that is not abrupt or authoritative, but very clear, calm, and natural.    If you are an excellent communicator and innate leadership is in you, you are naturally going to be a strategic partner. You bring and hold space for the leaders you are serving, and that space allows them to show up as their true authentic self.  Claire’s background Claire's background is in nonprofit, filling multiple roles (executive assistant, event planner, volunteer manager, etc.) Learned a lot about working with different types people, and how volunteers need to be managed differently  Has always enjoyed leading  Stayed at home with kids for a time, then as they grew she started training in the VA space  Felt uneasy jumping in to the VA world, but learned to appreciate her skill set and has gained confidence   Describe how you get the work done in your business: Runs a VA agency DOO certification was integral in helping her understand what her role had to be in her business and how she would grow the business to suit her needs Works as a fractional DOO and provides strategic mapping services Hires team members (VA or OBM) to support where necessary How have you built a team who understands what you deliver, and how do you communicate with them? Wants to know who the person truly is, what their motivations and values are Hires people for their fit on the team, and potential for learning rather than the precise skill set  Needs people who are teachable and can communicate with a variety of people  Values honesty, follow thru, openness, good communication, vulnerability and getting to know one another as a team   “The pre-existing relationship of working together well is what allows us to go into businesses and avoid hiccups.” -- Claire Crum   How long do people stay on your team? She started the agency model last year Has had people stay with her from the beginning, and grow with her.   Under the umbrella of operations there are many areas, including financials, human resources, communications and leadership, project management… which matches you best? Definitely communications Believes that communications is arguably the most important component of all   “You can be the most excellent project planner, but if you can’t communicate those things well, you will fall flat.” -- Claire Crum   When did you realize you had an expertise in communication? When people told her she did; external validation was really valuable for her She didn’t have a corporate background, so she felt intimidated because she thought she would need that background to do this type of work Also thought she might have been looking for a unicorn client, seeking those who didn’t have the hustle mindset, or were actively trying to remedy it   “The better the communicator you are… the more value clients will have in the role they are doing and the more worth you will fill, you will be able to step into leadership in a different way.”-- Natalie Gingrich   How do you show up as an expert? Three pillars Claire cultivates in herself and her team: Know yourself: so many things will flavor your experience, and it’s important to have awareness in your own mindset. Also, you need to know how you can handle difficult conversations and how to approach them in a way you are communicating effectively.  Know your audience: besides empathy, there are other key communication pieces and often you have to read between the lines. For example, neurodiversity. A CEO and a DOO’s  brains each work differently, but it will allow you to become a team, and to push a mission forward and do something that couldn’t be done on your own. Get clear: Clear is kind, being unclear is unkind, ala Brene Brown. Delegation is an art form which will serve you well on any team you are working with.    What is “Paint Done” and how do you deal with leaders who don’t want elongated conversations? “Paint Done” is giving the most complete picture of the thing you are explaining. Think stick figure vs. Mona Lisa You have to know your audience; some will be appreciative and some won’t even need it Take their lead. What is necessary for them to know? Requires you to be an excellent facilitator of thought   How have you melded your agency as a result of coming through the DOO Certification? Didn’t think of herself as an operator because she didn’t have the corporate background piece Didn’t know exactly what she had, but was able to gain confidence in her skill set Has taken specific skills from the program and offered them as services Works with people who are more seasoned and needs a little more help than just a VA  Makes it a point to serve clients who are building their businesses in a sustainable way so both parties can be effective   What is next for you? Getting better and better at the CEO role Has done strategic mapping on herself and has a plan built out Starting The Calm Ops mastermind for accountability and coaching for women in business   Do not ever discount the act of improving your communication skills. If you take the time to refine them, it can make all the difference in your success!   Contact Claire Website   Claire Crum, is the founder and CEO of Calm Ops, where she and her team move social enterprise CEO's and ED's from reactionary to relaxed, expanding their capacity to reach next-level milestones.   A veteran of the nonprofit sector and efficiency enthusiast, Claire has a heart for highlighting and supporting the unique individual strengths of her team and the clients they serve.   She is a graduate of the Director of Operations Certification, now serving as the Value + Worth Expert Coach for the DOO community and facilitator of the Calm Ops Mastermind group. As a wife and mom of 3, she is dedicated to bringing sustainable business practices to those beside her on their entrepreneurial journey.   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/64.

What’s the future of your business? Business owners often get started by wanting to share a product or service with an audience, but then they fail to plan the future of that business. (I’m certainly guilty of this too!) But knowing where you’re going to go is essential to growing the way you want. And it will also help you in making the right hires along the way.  In this week’s episode, Natalie Gingrich of The Ops Authority is sharing how and when to get operations help inside your business, the difference that a director of operations can make for you, why you need someone to help you think through the details, and some of the tell-tale signs that your business is ready to plateau. She also shares a free resource that will be one of the most valuable tools you’ll use in your business. I know...I’ve used it too! Tune in now! About Natalie Gingrich Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. She developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram or join her free Facebook group for operations professionals and project managers! Mentioned in This Episode Content Strategy Clarity Course Step by Step to Onboard Your New Hire Get Your Biz Mission, Vision & Values on the Right Track Mission, Vision, Values

How do you feel about analyzing data? Do you zone out when someone starts talking about data driven decisions? Are you confused about where to begin?   Today my guest is Kelsy Schmidt, one of the expert coaches in my Director of Operations (DOO) certification program. She is the expert coach in the area of KPIs (key performance indicators) and all things data.    Whenever I have a new cohort in the program, I always ask them how comfortable they are when it comes to KPIs and data, and notoriously I find that people rate themselves a 3.8/5. I want to help my students feel more confident handling data because to be successful operators, they need to be able to understand how to measure results. That is the ultimate reason I brought on a coach for this specific area.   Kelsy is the founder of Innowik, whose mission is to optimize operations for CEOs and service providers of scaling lifestyle businesses. She does this so they can have more time location and financial freedom. She is a full time RV'er, and certified DOO specializing in overall operations strategy, optimizations with systems and automations and financial stability. She left corporate and ventured into online business in 2018, founded her company shortly after and has been in operation roles for over 15 years. She has also been in systems implementations, business process automation, accounting and reporting and has been a leader of several teams. She RV’s with her husband and young son, with her home base in Georgia.  Meet Kelsy Business is about numbers, metrics and key performance indicators. If that is the standard in a corporate setting, we should bring them into small businesses. It will also show your value as the operator in a business.    By bringing Kelsy on as a coach, I hope to make data more simple and less intimidating. I want to help people understand how to establish KPIs in their business or in one of their clients' businesses. Background  She comes from a corporate background: Project manager accounting position most recently, varying operational positions in accounting, managing people, digging into data Started RV'ing 3 years ago and learned what the possibilities were for online business First failure was trying to fit into an online employee role which wasn’t consistent with the lifestyle she attained to Started an online virtual accounting practice for 3 months before she found Natalies program and she started to dream about the possibilities “Corporate gave me the ability to see where my gifts were and to get paid to understand what I never wanted to do again.” - Natalie Gingrich   How did you get into the accounting world? The college she attended was known for their business school, so she started analyzing what kind of jobs would provide a good salary, job security and job outlook; landed on accounting career path Accounting clicked, and she is the kind of person who has a spreadsheet for everything Were you analytical as a child? Enjoyed math and organizing things Others saw the trait in her, she didn’t necessarily realize it Was analytical when it came to sports    “A key ingredient for operators is being analytical, and there is a difference between being analytical and being an accountant.” - Natalie Gingrich   Tell us about your business today. Innowik’s mission is to help other business owners optimize their operations so they have more time, location, and financial freedom Do this with strategic input, data analysis and systems and automation Allowed her to spend time with her family and RV Can you share some tips for our audience regarding  KPI’s? How you can be successful with KPI’s: Be aware that there is a difference between a KPI and a metric KPI: measurable values that track how well your company is achieving its key objectives. Also has influence on decision making on a company wide level (Performance)  Metrics act as a supporting role for your KPI’s, and track process (Process) KPIs take time and resources Not everything that can be measured should be measured: you have to understand the business You can reverse engineer this You should see one on one sales decrease, and the downloadable products going up Can add complimentary KPIs to that such as visibility metric such as conversion rate on the sales page for the downloadable product Example: You want to double your downloadable products revenue in the next year and scale back on one- Your KPI would be to look at sales dollars per product, and trend that out throughout the year.  Make sure your main KPIs come from your main goals, which should be tied to your vision “Tracking everything means you are focused on nothing… focus on the one thing first.” - Kelsy Schmidt   How do you share your expertise in your current DOO position? The certification helped her hone in on her offers She noticed a need in the market for the KPI skill set Also offers strategic mapping, which helps CEOs develop a master plan and from their priorities she can develop the KPIs to make sure they line up with the vision What has the certification done for you? The mentorship and community of operators: she has found her people and feels super supported She broke even in her first month after applying her new offerings The confidence: she prices more confidently and is able to turn down clients who don’t align with her values   How have you found DOO clients? Word of mouth Leads that come through after certification and in the group Was able to take an existing accounting client and elevate her role in the business   Contact Kelsy   Website - Grab our free Top 10 Automations guide LinkedIn   Kelsy Schmidt is the founder of Innowik, whose mission is to optimize operations for CEOs & service providers of scaling lifestyle businesses, so they have more time, location & financial freedom. She is also a Certified Director of Operations, specializing in overall operations strategy, optimization (systems and automations), and financial stability (financials & other KPIs). She left corporate and ventured into the online business space in 2018, and founded her company shortly thereafter. She has been in operations roles for over 15 years, gaining experiences in project management, system implementations, business process automation, accounting and reporting, and supervising teams.   From Kansas and now based out of Georgia, Kelsy is also a full-time RV’er who enjoys nature and exploring the US with her husband, three-year-old son, and pup. She sees her business as a vessel, and is passionate about helping people simplify their lives and businesses, and thus, living life more freely and purposefully. This simplification process (and lots of faith) is what led her and her family to implement their own big life changes over the last few years.   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/62.

We continue our every-other-week Enneagram series of digging deep into the Enneagram as Grace In Real Life talks with Enneagram Two Natalie Gingrich. The Enneagram allows you to peel back all the behaviors, patterns, and coping mechanisms that conceal the real you. Knowing your Enneagram type allows you to recognize why you do what you do. Then you can exchange hurtful mindsets and behaviors for God-centered truth and courage. Change starts with knowledge, which invites you to bring your wounds, hurts, and fears to the feet of Christ and ask for His help.   You can only offer grace to what and who you know. So let’s know ourselves! To learn more about Enneagram Twos, go here.  In this interview, Natalie and I break down: What it’s like to be an Enneagram Two The difference between persona and our divine design What it’s like to lead and help The shift legacy can bring to your life: what it does and doesn’t do How to stop saying, “Yes! Me! I’ll do it!” A completely new perspective on Mary and Martha And how to be a good friend to the Two in your life Key Quotes “Twos go wide and deep in relationships.” - Natalie Gingrich “When I am most healthy, I’m following a schedule that allows me to fill myself.” - Natalie Gingrich “Unabashedly own your purpose.” - Natalie Gingrich Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you! The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile The Ops Authority Podcast Episode #59: How to have a difficult conversation The Ops Authority Director of Operations Certification Jill's Your QuickStart Guide to the Enneagram Cottonwood Creek Church's Revision Conference Previous Episode Mentioned Episode #31: Real-life grace for the Enneagram One with Esther Littlefield Here’s how to connect with Natalie Website Podcast Facebook Instagram Here’s how to connect with Jill GraceInRealLifePodcast.com Instagram Facebook group Facebook page Subscribe to Jill’s weekly “the good + the grace” email

What is the best business model for your Director of Operations (DOO) business?   Today on the podcast, I have one of my expert coaches Amy Lockrin,  a business practices expert. She has many years of experience as a DOO and has gone through several business models while growing her own business.    Amy is a Business Growth Consultant and CEO of The Operations House, and implementation and integration agency. She partners with female entrepreneurs that are ready to thrive in their business and leave behind the overwhelm of "to-do's." Amy makes things happen in your business so you can go back to being creative through consulting, system set ups, and strategic planning sessions. She focuses on growth and systematic scaling to guide business owners to the next right step in their business, all while making it fun!   Amy Lockrin Amy went through the 1st iteration of the DOO Certification Program. She has been selected to be one of the expert coaches in this round of the program, in the area of business practices.   When you look at the past roles you’ve had, where do you see the different parts of operations popping up? Everywhere: for someone who is operations minded, it showed up in everything she did From her first job at Old Navy, she took such pride in organization, and breaking down goals. Worked in both corporate and non profit and realized she was different in that she loved focusing on the processes leading up to the goal. Do you consider yourself a creative? Not a stand-alone creative. She is creative in the way that she is able to bounce ideas back and forth off of creative leaders and thrives in suggesting new ideas as a result of these exchanges. When she does this solo in her own business it doesn’t work as well .   A lot of us consider ourselves the right-hand of those we support. How does this operations right-handedness play into or limit your ability to step into full leadership as a CEO in your own business? Originally it was a hindrance: when you are a right-hand person you see a lot of the things and are also in charge of a lot of the stop functions in a business; not necessarily the fun stuff, but is eye opening in terms of what needs to get done to build the type of business you want. It was a very eye opening experience because she knows so much and can apply lessons from years in corporate to her own business.   “You can look back on your life and really see how you were an operator for your entire life.” - Natalie Gingrich   At what point did you really start to zone in on operations? Probably when she started talking to Natalie as she was starting to create the DOO program. The conversation started to shine a light on what she was already doing in the back end of people's businesses . Realized what she was doing in the back end of the business was really strategic and valuable, more than just coming in to keep things clean and orderly. Learned she was meant to be able to help people grow their business in a way that works for them. Share all of the different ways you have built your business and what has been easy or difficult. Retainer based business: clients bring you on and you are a long term asset to them. You have recurring revenue and you’re invested into their success. A great place to start and gain traction, and you have the opportunity to learn and figure out what you like. Product based business: what you are doing for your service that you create for somebody.  You can scale this in a “one to many” model. Project based business: good if you have a specialty or a niche. It has a specific start and end date and a set price point where they know exactly what they are getting in the outcome. The DOO Certification Program  can help by giving you the insight to work with people, how to work in the back end of the business, and what it can do for the profitability of the business.   What parts of the certification are still present in your business? Strategic mapping: she doesn’t onboard anyone without doing it first KPI’s for each individual business Built her skillset on how to manage up. This has also been beneficial for her peer and family relationships, and she focuses on communication patterns and what she can control. Connect with Amy:  Website Facebook Group   Weekly Ops Activity Listen to the various types of business models mentioned by Amy.  I want you to come into the Facebook group and share with us which one of the paths that you are currently on.    Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/60.

Are you curious about what type of experts are involved in the Director of Operations Certification Program?  I am joined by a very special guest today… one of my expert coaches in the Director of Operations (DOO) Certification Program, Liz Watson. I am currently in the scaling phase of the DOO certification. I am bringing in experts to partner with me so I can leverage their expertise, and so that students can get more than one perspective. Every single discipline inside the DOO certification has an expert.   The people who are coming into the certification program are experts, and they get to shine their light on the area they feel the most confident in. Today I'm introducing you to our project management expert coach, Liz Watson. She will be sharing her journey through the program.   Liz Watson Liz is someone who has a strong background in corporate project management. Today she is here to share how she has been able to make the leap from corporate project management to an entrepreneur who runs her own business, utilizing the exact same skill set. About Liz’s Business Owns The Impact Trail Her intent is to serve small businesses who care about environmental sustainability She helps clients make sure they are operating well so they can truly make an impact in the world She niched into area she really cares about   Background of Corporate Experience Has a degree in International Business She graduated during a recession, so she took a front desk job in hospitality  Advanced to general manager and director of sales roles that opened her eyes to customer service and operations Got a job as a software trainer, worked as a contractor to implement a corporate wide rollout of software in a company, then stayed on as an project manager in IT Performed a variety of roles in the project management space: IT project management, program management, lead a group that established a methodology to run projects, supported leaders and mentored others   “Project management is truly an art and a science.” - Liz Watson   “The true art of project management comes into play when we are managing up; talking and mentoring to stakeholders and sponsors.” - Natalie Gingrich   When did you realize you were an operations expert? Realized it once she heard Natalie’s explanation of operations and her DOO program She looked back at her hotel management days and realized she served as on operator to run the hotel and lead the team Also recognized her operations role during project management in corporate IT as she was working the backend of the businesses  Didn’t think she had an operations background until she heard it defined, and was able to look back and make the connections   “Operations is what needs to happen to make the business run on a day to day basis.” Share a project management teaching example Everything learned from corporate can be applied to her small business and supporting her current clients Common framework to use: design, develop, test, and release Design and think through your process  Develop your process then test it out Once it is tested, release it; which means deliver it to the world, whatever that may look like  What does your business look like and how are you using project management in business today? Her business is service based and she offers the strategic mapping model Clients can choose to utilize this service on a quarterly basis She ties the mapping process back to their vision, mission and core values for their organization  Also offers DOO services to implement the strategic plan that was created Uses project management skills to run her own business as well   How have you secured your clients? Started networking after she left corporate Started sharing her expertise, and found clients Continues to build relationships    About Liz As leader on The Impact Trail Liz Watson is planning to save the world. She helps small businesses that care about environmental sustainability optimize how they operate so that they can make a bigger impact. Through strategic planning and executive-level operations management services Liz serves as a guide and accountability partner to turn goals into action steps that drive business results.   She spent 20 years in IT project management at a Fortune 500 company. When given the opportunity to leave, Liz decided to use her knowledge and experience to serve small business owners through her own business. She is certified as a Director of Operations and Project Management Professional. She is a proud mama, wine lover and is passionate about saving the planet.   Connect with Liz LinkedIn Website    Weekly Ops Activity Recall the 4-step framework that Liz spoke about: design, develop, test and release… What is the last project you tested, and what is your process for it? Let me know in the Facebook group!   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/58.

As a business grows, getting stuff done efficiently and strategically becomes just as important as your ability to drive revenue and make sales. And nobody understands this better than Natalie Gingrich, founder of The Ops Authority.

As a business grows, getting stuff done efficiently and strategically becomes just as important as your ability to drive revenue and make sales. And nobody understands this better than Natalie Gingrich, founder of The Ops Authority.

Ask Kelly is BACK!    If you’ve followed me over the years, you probably have heard one or two Ask Kelly episodes. These are some of my favorite episodes, I take your questions LIVE right on the show and give you LIVE coaching and feedback on what’s happening in your business.    In this episode, I brought on three clients who are all looking to do the same things in their business, grow their teams! We have been talking all month about leadership and how to create a cash comfortable business through a team and that is exactly what these powerhouse ladies are doing.    First, we had Natalie Gingrich, Operations and Systems Expert, who was looking for guidance on how to turn her course into a program and how to hire experts to come into her program to add more value.    Then, Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Media Monetization Mentor who brought up the question on how to have a sustainable business during rapid growth and what her next hires should be to keep up with her continuously growing business.    Finally, we have Evelyn Knight, Early Childcare Education Coach and Mentor who was asking how to structure her business and getting it ready to hire her first full-time employees.    If you want to want to get real-time, insights on your business and LIVE coaching, make sure you head over to the Tribe of Unstoppables and get in touch with Team Unstoppable! And if you liked this episode, make sure you drop a review for us on iTunes!  TRIBE OF UNSTOPPABLES: www.kellyroachcoaching.com/community INSTAGRAM  www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial  

Would you like to know how to shine online? How to grow your audience or business while also staying true to your faith and values?    In this episode, I want to introduce to you the Shine Online Framework. After looking back at the past several years of my journey, which you can hear a bit about in episode 1, I've condensed the key things I've done in order to grow both my service-based business and my personal brand into a framework.   So today, I'm going to give you an overview of this framework and why I think it will help you as well. As you listen, I want you to picture the shape of a star. On the star, there are 5 points, and there's some empty space in the middle.    We'll talk about the center of the star and then work our way through the 5 points which make up the Shine Online Framework.   The Shine Online Framework Center: Faith  Faith is at the core of everything I do as a business owner, even when my business hasn't been explicitly a “Christian” business. Point 1: Strategy It's important to identify where you want to take your business or audience and then figure out how you want to do this.   Point 2: Marketing & Visibility There are ways to market and promote your business without feeling icky. But first you have to believe that what you are sharing can truly benefit those you are trying to reach     Point 3: Tech & Tools  You don't have to spend a ton of money or time learning all the tech and tools that are out there. There are ways to choose the right tools and tech you need, and I will help you do that.     Point 4: Systems When you take time to create a system in your business, you save yourself tons of time in the long run. Invest your time into what's most important and stop wasting time on unnecessary work.     Point 5: People & Relationships Aside from faith, this is probably the biggest reason I've been able to grow my business and my audience in the ways that I have…. Because of relationships!     Resources or Links Mentioned: Episode 1 The Ops Authority Podcasty with Natalie Gingrich   Quotes:   “As Christian business owners, we can shine the light of Jesus online and point people to our heavenly father. We can do good work AND bring God glory.”   “When you take time to create a system in your business, you save yourself tons of time in the long run.”   “Building a business online is still about relationships.”    Connect with Esther: Make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss the upcoming episodes! Head over to my website to connect and get the info about the upcoming “Grow Your Audience” Masterclass on June 5th (details coming soon).   Website Christian Business Owners Shining Online Facebook Page LinkedIn

Hey friends! Are you ready to get back time in your business to work on the projects and tasks that you really love? The ones that will help you to move the needle further toward your goal?  If you’ve been busy doing all of the things then you might be wondering if now is the right time to hire in your business. That’s why I brought on Natalie Gingrich from The Ops Authority. Natalie has been in operations for two decades and now she helps online business owners with support and strategy for the operational side of their business. We get into everything you could possibly want to know about the best hiring practices. She shares how you’ll know when is the right time to hire and how you can get crystal clear on the job you’re looking to hire for. Natalie explains why this is critical and how an application is a key component in finding the right team member for the role. She and I discuss how to measure the value that team members are adding to your business. She also discusses why you’ll want to invest a good amount of time in hiring to avoid mishaps like turnover or unrealistic expectations on either side of the hiring process.  This episode is packed with so much hiring wisdom so grab a notebook, listen closely and be sure to download Natalie’s free hiring guide for the next time you’re looking to outsource in your business. ON TODAY’S EPISODE: How Natalie knew she was ready to hire her first team member within her business Pain points and indicators to be on the lookout for when deciding if it's time to hire What you should think about when deciding what to DIY and what to outsource How to get crystal clear on what the needs are in your business Why you need to create a true job description to reduce turnover How to find the right people for the job Her advice on choosing the right candidate at the right price for the job How to measure your return on investment using key results areas Natalie’s thoughts on trial periods and onboarding processes How you can use the Hiring Plan for your next hire Her plans for launching an association and what’s coming next in her business For full show notes and resources, head to bit.ly/PTPEp156 Small Wins Lead to Big Wins Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ ​​Slow sustainable growth is how strong businesses are built and we want to help you get there. ​Join Proof to Product Labs, our new community experience OPEN NOW! SUBSCRIBE To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.  WRITE A REVIEW Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies. FOLLOW PROOF TO PRODUCT Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.   SHARE Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!  ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT: Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Have you ever had the trajectory of your business change because of the influence, support, and encouragement of one single person? This is Natalie Gingrich for me -- after working with Nat on my business, I went from "freelancer" to "business owner", and her mentorship in my life has changed it for the better. In this episode, we go back and chat about Nat's life before entrepreneurship, how her core values and mission have impacted her business and her family, and how the core values we each hold dear have been what has brought us together. About Natalie: Natalie Gingrich has spent two decades in the operations industry. She spent much of that in corporate America as a Human Resources leader and a certified Project Manager. She left corporate and quickly began filling a gap in the small business market by teaching and mentoring 6 and 7 figure business leaders about the nuances of operations. Her gift is in simplifying complex business strategies to show CEOs how to scale through operations. Join The Legacy Entrepreneur community here for connection and discussion!

What does it look like to bring on a DOO into an already successful and established business? How will you, the business owner, be able to trust someone to come in and take the reins from you? How do you relinquish that control?   In this episode I talk with two powerhouses who have joined forces; Emily Williams of I Heart My Life, and her Director of Operations (DOO), Megan Hansell Henderson.   I’m excited for you to hear how this powerful combination works in their business, so you can see what is possible in your own business. Whether you are working in the CEO or the operator role, you are going to get to hear about the struggles, the benefits, and get a peek behind the curtain of this business.   Behind the Scenes of I Heart My Life with CEO Emily Williams and DOO Megan Hansell Henderson   The Business Model of I Heart My Life #1 personal and professional development platform for women who know they’re meant for something big Help women create more success & wealth with a holistic approach Help start online businesses, and create success in mindset, relationships, & health Offer courses, live programs, events, memberships, books, podcasts Megan has been supporting the business in the DOO role for the past 4 months What Emily’s Organization Looked Like 6 Months Ago Waited too long to hire to support the vision of the company Needed a lot of support and help with overall growth, establishing process, streamlining, hiring, etc. Doing everything; was starting to get resentful of the business   “Even the weakest link in your business doesn’t make or break your business… you do.” - Natalie Gingrich   How It Felt for Megan to Join Forces with Emily Balance each other out; Emily moves fast and Megan slows her down Both ready to move company to next level; was able to execute in a short period of time Correct interview process helped to identify a good match   Behind the Scenes of Hiring a DOO Emily’s Mindset Before Hiring The pain got so great; couldn’t not move forward Moved from London to US and had to rebuild company, started to resent how she was working in the company and was not happy with how she was executing Figured out what needed to happen to move closer to company vision Contacted Natalie and started to map out infrastructure of the company Had big goals and visions, just needed people in place to make it happen Fear of time it takes to train somebody   “I make decisions based on where I want to be, not from where I currently am.” - Emily Williams Megan’s Onboarding Process Started with strategic mapping Megan was able to see the big picture vision right away Could see vision for Emily as well Had live event in January, and was immersed into the company  Done more in 90 days than most people do in a year “The higher level of person you hire into your business, the easier it is to onboard them.” - Natalie Gingrich   The Benefits of the CEO/DOO Partnership: Benefits for Emily: Megan was the onboarder for herself and she was able to map it out  Strategic mapping process was incredible Allowing Megan to be herself and bring her brilliance to the table Recognizing that this is a relationship that will develop over time   Benefits for Megan: Being able to step in and help Emily map everything out  Emily empowered me to make my own decisions Emily has balance of knowing when to step in and when to step back   “As a leader we have to be coachable. Having two way coaching and open communication is critical in the success of the partnership” - Natalie Gingrich   The Challenges of the CEO/DOO Relationship As the DOO: Getting up and running and make sure you can take care of things quickly, to get results and prove your value Challenged to get to the next level   Advice for  listeners who have a hard time trusting and relinquishing control Emily’s perspective: Ask yourself if you are showing up as the next level version of you Base your decisions on where you want to be not where you are now Evaluate how you are showing up and evaluate if that is hurting or helping your company Be honest & real, allow people to give feedback, being able to ask for help Be open and willing to get curious Leave the manager role behind and step into leadership Growing a team is never going to be simple. But once you find talented people, have the trust and faith to step forward into your own leadership journey. When you step forward and pull up someone else into your business, you just might end up with a powerful combination like Emily and Megan’s.    Connect with Emily & I Heart My Life: Website Instagram       Emily Williams, Founder at I Heart My Life, is a 7-figure success coach and author. In 2010, Emily moved to London. She started writing. And in 2014, she launched her business. She made $442 the first month—and hit six figures in six months. Inside of 18 months, she hit seven figures—a meteoric rise that would be impressive for anyone, let alone a small-town girl from Ohio.   Today, she coaches women all over the world, helping them break free of their limiting beliefs so they move forward towards their goals by getting into massive action. She specializes in money mindset, success mindset and helping driven women create a life and business better than their dreams.   Megan Hansell Henderson is an Operations Maven who works with CEO's to redefine their mission and vision to bring them OUT of their business in order to get to the next level. Megan believes that by removing the CEO from the daily operations and allowing the CEO to focus on their zone of genius, it allows the CEO to get back their sanity and the company to grow. She has helped business owners maintain balance by drawing on her experiences over the past 20+ years, including 6 years in the entrepreneurial space. A graduate of Rutgers University's MBA Program, Megan has a passion for business operations, marketing strategy, non-profit management, Tang Soo Do karate, advocating for developmental disability awareness and spending time with her family. She is also a Certified Director of Operations.   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/39.

Attention Entrepreneurs: You’re not in this alone! Today I’ve brought my brand new (been with us for several months) Director of Operations, Megan Hansell Henderson, on to discuss what it means to accept help in your journey. Megan went from professional, to stay at home mom, to work at home mom because her fulfillment comes from more than traditional motherhood. FYI: there is nothing wrong with that. Despite the fact that her oldest needs an advanced level of care, she knew that she needed more to bring her a sense of fulfillment. Fast-forward to the past year. While she has her MBA she decided that she wanted to learn more about the online space. She obtained a certification in online operations and began living her dream. Now she’s decided that dream is centered on supporting her family and the I Heart My Life Movement. Here’s the thing, you don’t have to choose one over the other. Your success in business does not have to eclipse your success in family life. Listen in as Megan shares how she has found a balance between entrepreneurship and family and why this model works best for her. Here’s the thing, we as human beings will find any excuse necessary to avoid the uncomfortable. One of the BIGGEST excuses is that we don’t have the time or resources to solidify our dreams. Megan puts all of those excuses to bed. Listen in to learn why. If you can’t move beyond the excuse of time or resources… if your mindset refuses to shift… are you sure you’re ready for entrepreneurship? If you are, then this is the conversation you need to hear to move beyond those blocks!   In this Episode: [00:30] Don’t wait too long to build your team! Learn why you need a head of operations. [01:48] Learn more about Megan and why she decided to dive into entrepreneurship. [04:33] Why corporate? Why an MBA? [06:56] Who opened up Megan’s eyes to see what was possible in the online space? [08:10] Why did Megan pursue entrepreneurship while staying at home with her kids? [09:42] No matter what you choose, life has another plan for you. [12:37] How have certifications and masterminds pushed Megan’s career forward? [19:32] Why just one business? Why I Heart My Life? [21:58] Business owners, admit that you need help! [24:15] Burnout is real… you may not even realize you’re there… but it signals a need for help! [26:40] Take a look at your finances… how much are you worth? [27:49] When is someone ready for a director of operations or strategist role? [30:35] What is one way that you can create a life that is better than your dreams?   Links & Resources: Subscribe to the Podcast: I Heart My Life Show on Apple Podcasts I Heart My Life Show on Spotify   Connect with Emily: I Heart My Life Website I Heart My Life on Instagram I Heart My Life on Facebook I Heart My Life on LinkedIn Email: info@iheartmylife.com   Book a Call   Episode 75: Why Operations Matters: What Most Business Owners are Missing with Natalie Gingrich   Quotes: “Are you actually playing small with yourself? … I love helping business owners see what they can’t because sometimes you’re too close to yourself that you need somebody else to just “tell” you what’s going on.”  -  Megan Hansell Henderson ‘Your network is your net worth.... It’s so true.” Megan Hansell Henderson “Money is your coach and so get creative. If you know you want to grow this company, ask yourself are you going to be able to do it by yourself? Or are you leaving money on the table by not hiring in this moment?” - Emily Williams

Our world is experiencing something like never before with COVID-19. The fact that we are all now isolated in our homes with our loved ones brings up a lot of questions in regards to working from home and how to deal with homeschooling and being together nonstop. I’m sharing how this is already the norm for our family because my husband and I work from home already and our kids are with us. I’m letting you know what my tips are for working from home with your spouse or partner and what changes we are implementing when it comes to homeschooling our kids right now. I also think this is a great time for those of you who are new to telecommuting to look at what other career options there are for you and what kinds of courses are available to you. We are all in this together and we will get through this. What we’re talking about Communication Is Key When Working From Home With Your Spouse Adjusting Your Schedule To Telecommute AND Homeschool Researching A New Career & Courses Communication Is Key When Working From Home With Your Spouse My husband and I have been working from home together for over 5 years now. We have separate offices on separate floors of our house. Before I launched my business, we decided that I would take the role of stay-at-home mom which I continue to do and have found that communication is the key to making this situation work. We communicate about our schedules, our days, the kids, and what we need help with. If you are now telecommuting with your spouse and children at home, then you not only need to communicate on schedules, but on meals as well. Decide who will be preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner and if you will be eating as a family or not.  Adjusting Your Schedule To Telecommute AND Homeschool With social distancing and self-isolation, the biggest change for our children is the lack of playdates and with that, some of our craft and book club activities. My schedule has always included me getting up at 5am to start my day so that I can do so alone. I take a couple hours every morning, even after the kids are up to work and then we would normally do a playdate. We are replacing playdates with crafts and learning lessons from Scholastic.com and Mrs. Plemon’s websites. Our afternoons usually include some Kindle time and always outside play time which also serve as more time for me to get work done. It’s definitely a juggle, but it can be done.  Researching A New Career & Courses A lot of you will find that you enjoy telecommuting and want to continue to do so once all of this is over, so I think now is a great time for you to research new careers or businesses that you would like to launch. There are so many options out there including becoming a podcast manager or an online director of operations. I’ve also opened up times for business strategy sessions where we can explore more of what might be best for you and how you can go about it.  What are your best tips now that you’re working from home? LINKS MENTIONED Strategy Session with Michelle https://www.mysimplifiedlife.net/product/business-podcast-strategy-session/ Kelsey Murphy’s 30 Day Passion Planner https://www.kelseymurphy.com/passionplanner-download Lauren Wrighton’s Podcast Manager Jumpstart Course https://lauren-wrighton.teachable.com/?affcode=312350_1_adgjot Natalie Gingrich’s Director of Ops Certification https://theopsauthority.com/get-certified/ Scholastic.com www.scholastic.com/learnfromhome Mrs. Plemon’s Kindergarten https://mrsplemonskindergarten.com

Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. She [...] The post How Building Relationships is the Fast Track to Building a Profitable Business appeared first on Amanda Berlin -- Communication Strategy and Business Consulting.

I'm all about action. And so I can set the vision, but if I never take the steps it takes to get to that vision, then I'm living a complacent life. And that's not how we're going to live bold, confident, and courageous lives. -Natalie Gingrich   WORK WITH EMILY iheartmylifebooking.com E-mail: info@iheartmylife.com   ABOUT OUR GUEST Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America, or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. Natalie developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally.   Connect with Natalie Gingrich https://theopsauthority.com/ https://theopsauthority.com/mission   DURING THIS EPISODE Natalie Gingrich, Founder of The Ops Authority, explains why operations are crucial to a business owner. She walks us through her own journey to creating this incredible business, how she followed her heart every step of the way and got brave when it came to living the life of her dreams. For those of us who are visionaries and going to the next level, we're always in creation mode. We always have the next bright idea, and the rest of our company has to try and just keep up. We don't put processes in place. We don't look at the metrics. We don't look at the numbers. We're just so focused on the vision, and we can't wait to make it happen. If this sounds like you, you're going to want to listen to this episode. Let’s dive in!   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How to move towards being stronger and more confident in your finances Ways to get some quick wins in your operations What a Director of Operations can do for you How Natalie has scaled her company How to connect the dots in your skillset and sell it   ABOUT THE I HEART MY LIFE SHOW Tune into the I Heart My Life Show with Success Coach Emily Williams to learn how to design a life you love, manifest more success and wealth, move past fear and blocks and create joy in your life and business. Emily and her world-renowned guests will help you create a life that’s better than your dreams and give you tangible action steps to get there — quickly. She’ll cut through the fluff and share what’s worked for her and the world’s most successful people. She believes that success is an inside job — not just about another strategy. The I Heart My Life Show will help you finally heart your life, experience extraordinary success, make more money, live according to your own desires and give you permission to go after what you really want.   SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-heart-my-life-show/id1330534524 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zw6fI37FrfVjZMXlMiZZ6   CONNECT WITH EMILY https://www.iheartmylife.com/ https://www.instagram.com/iheartmylifenow/ https://www.facebook.com/iheartmylifenow https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-heart-my-life/ Email: info@iheartmylife.com   LEARN MORE ABOUT EMILY More about Emily, her company I Heart My Life and her coaching programs can be found at www.iheartmylife.com. Emily Williams is a success coach, entrepreneur, and author with a seven-figure business who, at one point, couldn’t get a job at Starbucks. After experiencing a quarter-life crisis, she moved from Ohio to London (where she knew no one!), and in 2014 launched her business, I Heart My Life. She made $442 in her first month—and then went on to hit six figures in six months before her 30th birthday. She grew it to seven figures in under 18 months. Today, she works with female entrepreneurs all over the world, helping them bust through the obstacles that hold their dreams and goals hostage so they can free themselves to live the lives they want, build their own online business, and hit their money goals. She's been featured in Money, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Forbes, and Success Magazine.

Emails are great and all, but what about when you want to do some magic with emails? I'm talking all about email automation and how they're going to rock your world, and most definitely your business. One reason I love email so much and how much email marketing can do for your business because of the way you can set up automation to make it do amazing things. So today I want to break down some of the most common email automation that you may or may not be using in your business.  **Now disclaimer as with most things, this does NOT mean you have to go set up all of this automation right now. But they are all really great ideas of things that you can use in your business eventually or the things you might want to work towards or have someone set up for you. So let's just get the wheels spinning today.** I have seven different types of automation that I'm going to walk through.    Delivery Email Automation Let's start with the obvious one here. This is the one that almost every single person listening will probably be familiar with. That's the delivery of a product or a freebie email, right?  When someone opts into something, even though someone buys something, right, this that can really cover two types of things. So when we're talking about automation for these types of emails, a lot of times these are going to be kicked off automatically based on what you have set up on the back end of your system.  This automation’s the easiest because it can literally just be one email. Basically, it's just making sure that people get whatever it is they need to get from you whether that's something they bought a download, a freebie, an email series.  One way to look at automation is its a way to keep everybody happy and thriving and nurtured in your business through email magically delivered like your robots running around. That's why I love it so much.  Because people get angry when they don't get stuff delivered. People get angry when they don't get the freebie they download it even though it's free, right?  We all feel that way like, “Oh my gosh, it's been two minutes, where's that download? I really wanted it!” And we don't want to let people down. So this is the first one at a minimum. Every single person should have this setup on all of your things. Make sure that it's automatically delivering things to your people and email. Even if it's a responder just like Hey, I'll get back to you in five minutes or two hours or I'm going to give you a call or whatever it is. People just really like to know what's happening next to make our brains feel better.   The Welcome Automation  The second type of email automation that is super important is going to be your welcome sequence.  I'm often surprised when I start working with clients to find out most of them don't have this one set up already. It seems like it should be really commonplace if you create automation in the order you need it, but that's not how we think.  We kind of like to put out fires mostly in our business especially for working on the backside.  A welcome sequence’s purpose is to initiate or introduce yourself to whoever is just joining your email list because often, people are scrolling by and they happen to click. But they may have no idea about you or who you are, you may have just appeared in their feed, or you could be running conversion ads, it could be on Pinterest, there's like it could be sent to them from somebody else, they may have no idea who you are from Adam or Eve.  You need to introduce yourself to them, help them get warmed up to your list, find out who you are and decide if they want to stay. That's really important if you haven't paid attention to our email series last couple weeks, because we want people on our list who actually want to be there and open our emails, right.  It's not the goal to collect as many people as possible on our email list. That doesn't really serve us in any way in our business unless they're active, engaged and ideal clients who would want to buy from you in the future. So it's really important to make sure that we're warming them up in a way that introduces us to them. And allows them to interact with us as well.  One question that comes up is: How long do I make a welcome sequence? I've seen people do it anywhere from two emails to 50 emails, and let me just say that 50 feels like a lot. So don't feel like that's a number you want to shoot for.  Basically, it's a handful of emails as with any other kind of writing role, write enough to convey the point and not a word more. You don't want to belabor the point but you do want to make sure you get your point across.  I believe mine is somewhere between four to six emails in my welcome sequence. My goal with a welcome sequence is to get new people introduced to you, move them along in their journey to getting to know you and help them decide what's the very next step. I think a lot of times people get really confused about how to make email sequences because they don't know what to say. To make it really simple, you just want to make sure you're taking them along the journey to make a decision about you in whatever way shape or form that is.  So for me, in order for them to get to know me really well, I want to make sure that they're get ingrained into my community and where I hang out a lot. If someone meets me through the podcast, it’s usually a pretty good lead because you've heard my voice hopefully a couple times,  and you can make a decision pretty quickly about whether she's a crazy person or a good fit. T I need people to decide immediately whether they liked me or not because I don't waste time. So I really want you to decide immediately, before we even talk or connect, like, it's like you're stalking me through the podcast, right or stalking me through my videos or in my group. And I want people to just know, know that they're for me or not, does not hurt my feelings.  If you join my list and bounce. That just means I'm not your cup of tea. That's okay.  So the welcome sequence sets the tone so they can figure out if they like you and what you are all about. The reason welcome sequences are important beyond setting the tone is to help them learn to open your emails and like you. If someone just joins your list and then the next thing they do is they get just a random email sent out to your list, it's going to feel a little bit disconnecting, and they're not going to feel the need to open the emails or remember who you are even because they haven't been introduced to warm up to you.  So on that delivery email sequence, we just talked about,  introduce the welcome sequence when you say, “Hey, here's your thing you wanted. By the way, I'm going to send you a couple of emails to let you know who in the world I am. And if I'm not for you just click unsubscribe anytime at the bottom. This teaches them Oh, something's coming to my inbox, don't freak out. I'm going to open this one from her because she seems okay.    The Segment Automation  This type of automation helps you to put your people on your list in the buckets so you can serve them better. This type of automation isn’t for everyone, but it works really well if you have multiple businesses or serve two different audiences. Knowing who is on your list helps you figure out what to send them, and protects the integrity of your list because you don't have to blast your email list all the time, you can send segmented emails to one section.    It works like this: You send an email and ask them to click a link usually, and it tags them if you have a tagging system. If I haven't mentioned it before I use Active Campaign. I love it and I cannot recommend it highly enough, I will drop a link in the show notes for that as well and tell it to every single person and try to convert you to Active Campaign that I can. But that's what I use. And I love it because it has such a robust tagging system and segmentation automation and visual automation. And I could just geek out for a really long time on their features. The Client Check-In and Client Follow Up Automations   These two automations are tied together. For my business, I have a pre-session questionnaire that includes two or three questions to help my client who is doing a strategy session with me get in the frame of mind that I need you to be so we have a really productive strategy session.    It's not very fun or easy for us to be like, “Okay, great. You paid me for this time what are we gonna talk about?” and you're like, “Ah, that's what you're gonna tell me.”   That's gonna waste a lot of your session and we don’t want to do that.    So before I walk into a strategy session, I make sure that they have these questions and can figure out how to get the most out of our time together.  On the flip side, after a session, I make sure to follow up to make sure that we covered everything they wanted to, did this bring anything to mind we need to be aware of, Is there something else you want to talk about next time... like those kinds of questions.  This helps to neatly tie a bow on sessions especially if you're a coach and consultant. I do this with one on one client work, I do this with my coaching clients in the mastermind, and I definitely do it with any strategy session.  I just want to make sure that I'm doing the best that I can to my ability to serve you and answer questions and all that good stuff, but also help you process what we talked about.  I know being on the end of coaching calls with my own coach, it's like a fire hose shooting at me, there are so many things going through my head.  I had this an epiphany this summer when I realized I can't do the work for my clients. Unfortunately, I can't run their business, I can't make them be successful. I can't make them see what I see or see how amazing they are.  They’ve gotta figure it out themselves. I can give them all the tools in the world and the manual. But if they can't put it together and their own terms and ways it makes sense for them that it's just not going to work.  So figuring out how to really empower the people you work with, to make those leaps and to make those connections and get excited and take the action is really important  You could also use these types of automation with products, following up on a purchase, following up if they met you in person, following up when you give a speech, any kind of event type thing; there are so many different ways you can use it.  These two automations could be a one-time thing, or it could be on a schedule, like every 30 days or 90 days, whatever fits your business. But those are really important to have because if you don't get feedback, and if you don't help people process how they work with you and what's going on in their life, then they don't make progress and blame you for not making progress.   Onboarding and Offboarding Clients Automation  The next important email automation that I want to talk about, again, is in the client category. In the same way, the follow-up and checking in is important, so is onboarding and off boarding.  If the welcome sequence sets the whole tone for people who are brand new to you, how you onboard clients, how you offboard clients after their experience with you, also sets the tone with how they feel and think about you and see their experience and recommend you to others.  So I have a whole system and process, shout out to Natalie Gingrich for helping me set up this in her amazing A-Team.  Thinking through this type of automation requires you to ask: what's important? How do I want people to feel every step of the way? What are the most important details I need to get so that I can help them be successful? What are the things I'm going to pepper into surprise them?  What are the touchpoints going to be so if they start to drop off, I can keep them moving forward?  So one thing I didn't talk about, not only can you do email automation that actually sends just emails, but you can also trigger them to send you emails and reminders to do things and put things on your calendar. If your mind hasn't exploded yet with all the things you could possibly do, that little taste of one is going to blow your mind. You're going to be going through Zapier forever tonight trying to figure out what in the world could you make your emails do to make your life easier.  But onboarding and off boarding is important again, because you're getting feedback and you're setting the tone. If you haven't figured it out, that’s the theme here. We're just making sure we're making our people feel really comfortable and confident in what they're doing and what you're doing.    Sales Automation   This last automation/funnel is equally important but often does not fall top of mind to people because it feels a little bit hard. A lot of times people set them up either prematurely when they don't have everything in place. And so it doesn't work out. And then they just think they suck at sales.  Other times, they just don't have enough stuff to set it up yet.  Sale automation work when you opt into a list for something and then you’re shown an offer for something small that’s related either on the thank you page or after a couple of emails. In my opinion, you have to be amazing at copy and emotions to write these well. Most people who want to set them up want passive money, but don’t know their business and audience well enough to pull off a passive sale. When done correctly though, these can work really, really well.  This topic of email automation is just scratching the surface of what’s possible with email automation in your business. Look at how you can just with just one new email automation and see how much easier it makes your business run, then try out other ones.    About Marketing Magic: The Marketing Magic podcast is where women entrepreneurs trying to do all the things come to get inspiration, business strategy, and on-air coaching on how to get their business noticed and growing. If you have a business that people need to know about in order for it to grow, you’re in the right place. This is the place to uncomplicate your marketing. Be sure to listen, subscribe, and leave a review! Join the conversation of other unapologetically successful women in her Facebook community, The #girlboss Club.

Listen in as host Meg McKeen and Natalie Gingrich, the founder of The Ops Authority, chat about career path - it's rarely a straight line.Learn about the skills that translate - even when the language we speak in insurance doesn't - and the value of, well, values...and of boundaries, too.Natalie sheds light on her own approach to taking risks, on loving both her work and her family, and the legacy she's creating.Learn How to Define (or Refine) Your Mission, Vision, & Values here.

Is the Director of Operations certification right for you? How does it differ from the OBM certification? And what kind of impact can the DOO certification have on your business? Investing in a certification is a big decision, and sometimes it helps to hear from other people who have gone through a program before committing yourself. That’s why I put together this episode: to give you a chance to hear from 2 incredible women who have gone through the DOO certification. You’ll hear from Liz Watson who comes from a corporate project management background and from Kelly Reynolds who comes from Wall Street. Their stories will give you an idea of the type of women who participate in the DOO program (always women with the natural skillset and past experience to become a Director of Operations). Plus, they will share how the certification impacted them and their advice for those considering the program. This episode is perfect for you if you’ve been considering applying for the Director of Operations certification program or if you have a team member who you might want to put through the program.    Directors of Operations: Then and Now Liz Watson Where Liz was before the certification: Liz had experience in corporate, working in IT Project Management She has also worked at a Fortune 500 company, as well as hotel management and sales Liz holds the PMP certification She was ready for a change, so she started googling what could be done in the online space using her project management skills   What drew Liz to the Director of Operations Certification: Liz wanted to be able to play a role at a higher level of an organization or small business  She was ready to up-level her skills   What were the greatest benefits of going through the program? She gained new services that she can use with the frameworks Natalie teaches, such as the Strategic Mapping™ The community of like-minded women Being able to review modules in advance but then discuss and connect on live calls   What advice does Liz have for anyone considering the certification? Even though it’s a 10 week program, it’s very doable Great fit for people who are detail oriented and love to serve others She was able to pay for the certification twice over within about a month after completing the program   “We are not always the face of the organization, but we’re the one helping that leader step up.” - Liz Watson “Just getting the certification is not going to get you leads, it’s not going to build your business on its own. You’re going to have to do those things that it takes.” - Natalie Gingrich Kelly Reynolds Where Kelly was before the certification: Was on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers Started her own business as a VA Went through the OBM Certification Was focusing on 1:1 clients but wanted to uplevel what she was doing   “The DOO certification is not a rewiring; this is an amplification and a blueprint for doing things for your specific audience.” - Natalie Gingrich   What drew Kelly to the Director of Operations Certification Kelly wanted to learn more about business strategy She knew her friend Teresa had been through the program, so she asked her about it, and this confirmed that she would be a good fit   How is the DOO Certification different from the OBM Certification? The OBM Certification is more structured for online businesses and does a lot with launching and marketing The DOO Certification has more strategy and how to deal with things like HR, team management, reviews, goal setting, etc.   How has the DOO Certification impacted Kelly’s business? Runs an agency now with some team members Was doing a lot of 1:1 work and was ready to do more strategy that didn’t require her to be constantly in the business She began offering Strategic Mapping™ right away and this is now a core service   How was the investment for Kelly? The investment was not a problem for Kelly She was able to recoup her investment without any problem   What advice does Kelly have for anyone considering the certification? It’s right for someone who wants to up-level It will help you grow as a business without killing yourself with working lots more hours If you are wanting to be a VA or implementer, then this certification may not be for you. Maybe just learn a new software or tool so that you can offer those services.   “If your high comes from the form of implementing, then stay in your zone. Don’t complicate your current structure. Continue to develop in that way.” - Natalie Gingrich   Ready to Up-Level Your Business? If you are ready to take action and up-level your business with the Director of Operations Certification, apply now here. Applications are open until Jan. 24th, and our next round begins Feb. 3, 2020.   Stay Connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.    Connect with Liz or Kelly: Liz Watson: Liz Watson is a small business operations consultant. Her goal is to help reduce the overwhelm so often felt by visionary entrepreneurs that are looking to scale. She spent 20 years in IT project management and leadership at a Fortune 500 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she decided to use her knowledge and experience to serve small business owners through her own consulting business. She is certified as a Project Management Professional and Director of Operations. She is a proud mom and is passionate about environmental sustainability. Liz’s website   Kelly Reynolds: After business school and a decade spent on Wall Street, Kelly thought there had to be more to life than a terrible commute. She started out as a virtual assistant and has quickly grown the company into the Reynolds OBM Agency. She and her team now help small businesses grow by getting organized and efficient, no commute required. She lives in New Jersey (the good part with the beaches) with her husband, son and adorable dog Opie. She loves pretty spreadsheets and people who bring red wine, especially to business meetings and play dates. Kelly’s website   Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/27.

Have you gotten started as Virtual Assistant, Social Media Manager, or Online Business Manager and learned that you you love having a leadership role in your client's business? Then today's episode is perfect for you because I am interviewing operations expert, Natalie Gingrich! If you haven't gotten started, this is still a great episode for you too because it will show you another potential path your business could take! Natalie is here to talk about niching down into operations as a freelancer in the online space. Operations is one of the highest paid, hourly, freelance roles and Natalie walks us through the pillars that make up Operations. Natalie spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company and when given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. One of my favorite things about freelancing is that the business you start out with isn't the business you end with! The opportunities in the online space are limitless and this episode will show you yet another direction you can take your business. Thanks for spending time with me today! Head over to the show notes for the links and resources mentioned in today's show! And don't forget, Overwhelmed to Overbooked will be OPEN starting on January 17. Join the list here so you don't miss a thing! Have questions? Send me an email at hello@micalaquinn.com or on Facebook or Instagram! Talk to you soon! SHOW NOTES: www.MicalaQuinn.com/episode92

Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority which helps small business owners  Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations.  In this episode we discuss how to scale your Agency by taking yourself out of the day-to-day operations of your business and truly becoming a CEO. We also discuss when to hire a director of operations and the difference between a virtual assistant, project manager, OBM and director of operations. If you want to learn more visit: http://almabradford.com/

Are you done doing and want to start leading your company? Then you have to know the not-so-fun part of a business, that is, operations and strategic business planning. In today’s episode, Biz Besties Amber Hawley and Maelisa Hall chat with The Ops Authority Natalie Gingrich. Natalie reveals the reality of an entrepreneur’s burnout and the eventuality of needing an operator to scale your business. She shares seven objectives that you need to consider and emphasizes how you should set your priorities. She goes on to talk about her Strategic Mapping ModelTM, the Biz Planning Bootcamp course, and her group program, A-Team, which allows her to support women entrepreneurs to learn the skills needed to get their operations running smoothly. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join The My Biz Bestie Community today: My Biz Bestie Facebook My Biz Bestie Instagram

Are you done doing and want to start leading your company? Then you have to know the not-so-fun part of a business, that is, operations and strategic business planning. In today's episode, Biz Besties Amber Hawley and Maelisa Hall chat with The Ops Authority Natalie Gingrich. Natalie reveals the reality of an entrepreneur's burnout and […]

If you’re the CEO of your business, what’s it like to be supported by a Director of Operations (DOO)? Exactly how can a DOO benefit your business? On the flip side, what if you love operations? What is it like to be a DOO? How can you work with a CEO?  In this episode, I talk with Redefining Mom CEO Monica Froese and her DOO Theresa Baretta. We dig into how Monica utilizes a DOO in her business and break down what Theresa does for Monica. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the CEO-DOO relationship, listen in!   How Monica Felt Before She Brought on a DOO Before Monica brought on Theresa as her DOO, she felt completely burned out. Monica had just launched a course for the fourth time during the most stressful time in her mom-life. After she launched, she totally crashed. She knew she was working harder, not smarter and didn’t know what to do next. Monica felt completely overwhelmed.   How Monica Utilizes a DOO in Her Business When Theresa came on, she: Systemized her business Helped her see the forest for the trees Navigated her through the hiring process Simplified her processes Got her out of feeling stalled After Theresa came on, Monica had her two highest revenue months. A DOO allows you to be you. They’re a safe place and someone who helps you strategically grow your business.   “When you say yes to a DOO, you say yes to being a better leader.” - Natalie Gingrich   The Impact for Theresa as a DOO Coming into Monica’s business showed Theresa the power of working with someone she can get behind because she believes in Monica’s vision and values.  She also helped Monica: Protect her time and create white space Gives her a step-by-step process to reach her vision Put her foundations in place   Monica’s Advice for CEOs Considering a DOO Lots of people stay in a perpetual state of overwhelm and burn out, but you don’t have to. “We don’t have to let ourselves get to burnout.” - Monica Froese A DOO has a 10,000-foot view of your business. Sometimes as a CEO, you know what needs to happen but aren’t sure how to do it. A DOO also anticipates the leader’s needs. Having a DOO on your team gives you someone who is a leader in her industry and has the ability to put the pieces together, not just complete tasks. “You can’t scale your time. It’s about leveraging your time and how you can multiply it through someone else.” - Theresa Baretta   How the DOO Certification Can Help You If you love operations, the DOO certification can give you: Confidence Clarity Community  When you’re ready to learn more about becoming a DOO, go here.  Connect with Monica and Theresa: Monica started Redefining Mom seven months after her first daughter was born as a way to cope with severe postpartum PTSD that she was unaware of at the time. She has a deep desire to help moms thrive at home and work. She is a strong believer that guilt has no place in motherhood and strives to empower moms to build a life that fits their own unique family value system. She has two beautiful daughters, 6 and 1 years old, and firmly believes everything she does is with the intent to give them a better life. Monica is a professional blogger and Pinterest marketing expert. She has an MBA degree in finance and marketing and spent 11 years working for a Fortune 100 company running multi-million dollar marketing campaigns with huge brands like Microsoft, HP, and Cisco. Now, she provides online marketing education to professional moms who are looking to build profitable blogs through effective sales funnels and Pinterest ads. Redefining Mom Website Redefining Mom on Facebook Theresa Baretta lives and breathes operations. As the founder of Loop Link, her company introduces creative agency owners to sanity-saving operations so they can build an agency that runs beyond them. Systems may not sound sexy, but they make the difference between constant chaos to consistent creation. Theresa and her team supports CEOs and serve as an extension of their team, helping them create a business and life that reflects their core values. Through implementing business operations and systems, Theresa and her team leverage proven systems to take busy, stressed CEOs from firefighting to fulfillment. Loop Link Website Loop Link on Facebook Stay Connected Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.  Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/20.

As you lead your team, how can you communicate positively? What are the keys to healthy communication? And how can you win others over in a genuine way so that they want to follow you?   In this episode, Holly and I talk with wife, mom, and entrepreneur Natalie Gingrich about how we can win others over and communicate positively as we lead.  Natalie breaks down the common mistakes leaders make in communicating with their team, how to deal with conflict in the workplace, as well as how communication affects hiring, firing, and developing teams. Plus she gives us the 2 keys she has used for being able to communicate positively through the years.   For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode73.   Key Points Discussed: Natalie’s Leadership Experiences How to Communicate Positively in the Workplace How Communication Affects Hiring, Firing, and Developing Teams Leaders Are Learners   Key Quotes from the Episode: "For you to be an effective communicator and a good leader, a good steward of your mission--whether that's at church, home or work--you have to understand who you are speaking to." - Natalie Gingrich   "Miscommunication happens when you don't know how somebody learns or wants to be talked to." - Natalie Gingrich   “Conflict is always a difference.” - Natalie Gingrich   “How do we fill the gap? It’s by knowing the other party; knowing where their heart is and what serves the greater good, not just yourself.” - Natalie Gingrich   “There is opportunity in every hard conversation.” - Natalie Gingrich   “We should be focusing on developing a wider array of leaders and not just looking for those high-performers that we know can get the job done, because we’re probably going to burn them out because we’re going to give them way too much to do.” - Esther Littlefield   “It’s a joint relationship; someone doesn’t fail alone, and someone doesn’t succeed alone.” - Natalie Gingrich   Episode Sponsor: Confident Leader Scripts As a Christian leader, we want to encourage you to continually work on this area of communication. No matter where we are at, there is always room for improvement. Be sure to take something you heard from this episode and put it into action.   And if you’d like to learn how to communicate more effectively, I’m creating a resource for you called Confident Leader Scripts. This will help you know how to approach hard conversations as a female leader AND give you a starting point of what to say during those hard conversations. If you are listening in real time (hearing this in Nov. 2019), this resource is coming soon, and you can get on the waitlist at ConfidentLeaderScripts.com.    Connect with Natalie Gingrich:   Website Facebook Instagram Podcast Grab your free guide to define (or refine) your mission, vision, and values   Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations.    She spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications, and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm as well as a certification. She developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally. Connect with Esther and Holly: Esther’s Website Holly’s Website Instagram Facebook Group Facebook Page   This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode73.

Ep. 116: Thinking about adding a product to your service business? In this episode, Jacqueline interviews Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365 all about her journey into becoming a Product Boss. Lisa added her product, the Sunday Basket, to her service-based business and gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the manufacturing and her learning lessons she's discovered along the way. It's a must-listen! Connect with Lisa: Lisa and Organize 365 on Instagram Organize 365 website Organize 365 Podcast Sunday Basket website   Links mentioned: Episode 22: Don't Skip Your Mission, Vision and Values with Natalie Gingrich  -- We'd love to connect with you on Instagram! Join us at @theproductboss Get into The Product Boss Facebook Group and connect with other product-based entrepreneurs. See you in there! -- Get our free download "10 Hacks to Running Your Business Like a Well-Oiled Machine"

You have a passion and gifts that you want to share with others so you decided to start your own business. Your passion comes with 1 million ideas and you’re putting in the time and energy to bring your passion to the marketplace. Then you grow. Now you feel paralyzed by too many tasks. You feel tired and pulled in so many directions. You start second-guessing being an entrepreneur -- or at least starting this business. Sound familiar? Is there a way to grow your business without burning out? In this episode, certified DOO and business owner Jen Grayeb and I talk about the difference between growing and scaling, what burnout looks like, the biggest contributors to burnout and what you can do about it. Are you ready to put the burnout behind you? Listen in!   The Difference Between Growing and Scaling There are three phases in your business: Building - Your business just launched and you are so excited. This is the honeymoon phase. Growing - You’re all about expanding your visibility and revenue in this phase. You’re adding products, sales funnels, and people. Scaling - You’re all about multiplying and protecting your profit margin. This phase prompts innovation and has you asking, “How do I replace myself?”   What Burnout Looks Like You feel overwhelmed by the pressure of the CEO role. You have 1 million things you can be doing, but you’re unsure what you should be doing or how to do it. You feel certain you should make more but aren’t sure why you’re not bringing in more revenue. You may also feel unsure where to reinvest money in your business so you’ll see a return. The Biggest Contributors to Burnout You’re spread too thin. You’re putting time and energy into areas that aren’t growing your business. You’re financially stressed. You’re failing to break down your vision, idea, or strategy into an actionable plan.  You’re not leveraging data to make decisions.   “When you’re approaching burnout, one of the most actionable things you can do today is to create a dashboard of metrics.” - Natalie Gingrich   What We Recommend When You Feel Like Quitting Get really clear on what you’re trying to accomplish, your strategy for how you’ll accomplish it, and the tasks that need to get done in order to execute your strategy.  Break your big idea down into smaller actionable projects. Break down those projects into specific tasks.  Get ideas out of your head and onto paper. Establish KPIs. Focus on building the operations side of your business through systems and processes. Hire a team so you can get back to your zone of genius.  Find accountability partners through the A-Team, a business coach or another system of support.    “We’ve seen the backend of a lot of businesses… they have all experienced what you are feeling right now. They have all experienced overwhelm and burnout.” - Jennifer Grayeb What I Did When I Felt Burnout: Created a Framework I had a severe case of overwhelm but wanted to help as many small business owners one-on-one. I suffered from “special snowflake theory,” believing that I was the only one out there who could help clients with the operational side of their business. Then I realized I wasn’t the only one! For six months, I took notes on what I did with my one-on-one clients that made them happy and their businesses effective. I created a framework that became the licensed Strategic Mapping Model. This became a course, which turned into the certified Director of Operations program over time.    How I Multiplied My Efforts: A-Team I created the A-Team so I could multiply my one-on-one efforts with clients and increase the number of people thinking strategically about the backside of their businesses. The program was created for the small business owner who is still operating the day-to-day of her business. Through this program, you’ll learn operational systems so you can step back from your business.    Jen’s Experience with the A-Team She found the program super productive and fun. Jen loved the dedicated time she had to work on the strategy of her own business. Through the monthly themes, she set goals and was held accountable for doing the work.    Join the A-Team Waitlist The doors open in November so you want to get on the waitlist now! Just head here if you’re ready to turn your burnout into productivity.   Previous Episodes Mentioned Episode 5: The Seven Pillars to Your Business Strategy with Andrea Layne Episode 11: Behind the Scenes of The Ops Authority’s Systems with Esther Littlefield Episode 12: Why $100K in Revenue is the Wrong Financial Goal for Your Business Connect with Jennifer Grayeb: Instagram Website Jennifer Grayeb is the CEO of The Nimble Co., a consulting group specializing in growth strategy for online business owners to make sure they are focused on the right things, in the right order, the right way. She recently left her senior HR strategy role at a Fortune 10 company and has been mentioned in books “Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One” by Jenny Blake (2016) and “Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation” by Dan Schawbel (2018). In addition to being named one of the Millennial 100 in 2017, she's attended events at the White House and rang the NASDAQ bell with a group of entrepreneurs while she was with the Young Entrepreneur Council. While working full time, she started a blog and with just a few hours per week, grew it to reach 2 million people per year. She ultimately sold that blog within just 2 years of starting it. In every role she's had, every company she's owned, or client she's worked with, one thing has been consistent: she delivers results without working 80 hour weeks.  Other Ways to Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram   This episode was first published at https://theopsauthority.com/podcast/13

"If these are the last days that I have with them [my children], like real rich deep days, I don't want them to think of me as the mom who's only the corporate mom. I wanted them to see a different side of me... the biggest blessing in all of it has been the way that I've been able to transform as being the leader of my children." ~ Natalie Gingrich In this episode, we go behind-the-scenes with #PowerMom Natalie Gingrich, CEO and founder of the Ops Authority, host of the Ops Authority Podcast, and mom to 2 teenagers. From thinking she was never going to leave the corporate ladder to launching her own company training and certifying Directors of Operations and working from home, Natalie takes us through what she outsources in life and business, why she enjoys spending 17-hours a week driving her kids around, the power of masterminds, and how living a legacy life is the most important "mantra" to her and her family. --- Resources & tools mentioned: the Ops Authority the Ops Authority podcast Dubsado - software that allowed her to scale Acuity - scheduling software ---- For more information, visit www.PowerMomMinute.com/ Connect with me! Stephanie's Website Power Mom Minute Website Instagram @StephanieUchima Facebook

If you feel like you’re ready to scale your business – or – you’re just really overwhelmed and looking for ease, chances are you could use better operations. In this episode, we’re joined by one of my favorite gals, operations expert Natalie Gingrich. Most corporations have a Chief Operating Officer, but small businesses don’t! The […] The post Episode 68. The Secret to Scaling with Natalie Gingrich appeared first on Jaclyn Mellone || Go-To Gal Podcast.

It’s difficult to thrive when you feel inefficient and overwhelmed. That’s where systems come in. But what does a system look like? How can it help you grow and scale your business? In this episode, we’re going behind the scenes of my business. My right-hand operations superstar Esther Littlefield shares what systems we have in place, what steps make up those systems, and how systems can fail.  If you consistently perform the same tasks over and over, it’s time to get those tasks into a system. Let’s get started in systemizing your business so you can grow your business and increase your profits.    Esther’s Role within The Ops Authority Business Esther and I have worked together for several years, and she manages and implements many things in my business. She leads Morningstar Media Services, a business that focuses on launching and maintaining podcasts. However, she started as my VA. Esther is my person and is truly an extension of me.   All About Systems What a System Is A system is a group of things that are all working together to accomplish one particular outcome. A system involves multiple people, steps, and processes to get one objective accomplished. We’re not talking about tech tools here; we’re talking about step-by-step workflows, procedures, and processes.  Why You Need Business Systems In Order to Scale Your business started with a passion, and you were likely doing everything. Over time, you may start to feel tired, and you need systems for the repeatable tasks in your business. This also allows you to start delegating some of your processes and focusing on what you do best. Systems allow you to step out of the day-to-day operations and into a leadership role, where you can pursue your vision.   Why CEOs Delay Creating Systems The big drawback is that creating systems takes extra time on the front end. You also may think, “No one can take this over. I’ll always do this thing.” So you don’t create a system. CEOs also fear outsourcing. Handing tasks over to someone else takes trust.   Behind the Scenes of The Ops Authority’s Systems Esther and I chat about the systems that we have within my business. Here are some of the things we have systems for inside The Ops Authority: Content (blog, podcast, social media, sending weekly emails) Lead generation Growing my email list Launch Plans SOPs If your business has an online presence, your business is dependent on content and marketing. Help yourself by creating a system about the way you deliver content.  One of Our Systems: Blog Posts I have a writer, Abby from Write Solutions, who writes my blog posts. She gathers information, writes the content, then attaches the written blog post to our Trello card. Esther creates + uploads. Esther’s team creates the graphics and also uploads, formats, and schedules the post in WordPress. Esther’s team schedules the social media posts. Abby writes the corresponding email about the blog post and gets that content to Esther, who distributes it to my email list. This process seems like a few short steps, but it takes up considerable time. We use Trello, which tracks the entire workflow for every blog post. The blogpost card has a checklist for every phase. We also use Voxer to ask and answer questions and to communicate changes.  Remember that we can create systems, but sometimes people run late or miss a deadline. It’s very important to have a good project manager who you know and trust who can keep the system moving.    Weaknesses in the Process If one early step falls behind, the rest of the process is at risk for missing the pre-established deadlines. People also go on vacation or get sick. One person missing out on their work can cause a breakdown in the plan. The solution? Work ahead by batching the work you do.  Next, we talk about another system that we have in place inside The Ops Authority: this podcast! Esther’s team manages this process, so she shares   Esther’s Podcast Production System This is a high-level overview of the 7-8 phases of a podcast production process. This example is for someone who wants to make podcasting their primary content marketing arm of their business.   Create audio (scheduled, prepped, recorded, edited) Write copy (show notes, blog post or summary, social media) Create graphics Upload recording to the podcast host (example: Libsyn) Upload recording to WordPress Schedule and promote social media content Follow-up with guests (if you have an interview show) Optional: If you have an interview show, you may need an admin to handle a lot of the scheduling pre-interview and to deal with the communication with the guests. Each of these phases in the system have multiple steps within them. Most of Esther’s podcasts that she manages have 60-70 items on the Trello checklist for each episode.   How to Create Your System if You Don’t Have a Team Not everyone has a team, but you can still create a system for the repeatable processes in your business. Spend time writing down what you want your systems to look like.  Also, you can grab this free podcast workflow checklist Esther created for you if you need help getting your podcast process organized.  Start with a checklist of what is involved, and then save up so you can have people support you. You can do hard things, but doing repeatable tasks prevents you from leading your business and reaching your vision. Esther reminded us that if you don’t have someone to manage a process for you, you are the manager of that process. Keep in mind that you need to set aside time to manage whatever systems you have in place.   Another System: Launch Plans I have two programs I launch: A-Team Accelerator and the Director of Operations Certification Program. Instead of re-inventing the wheel every time, Esther and I have a repeatable launch plan process.  Esther sets up a Trello board outlining what is included in each launch. Then she makes a copy of that board for future launches. After a launch, Esther and I reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Esther has the Trello boards organized by what tasks must happen four weeks out, three weeks out, etc. Are You Ready to Scale Your Business? Join the waitlist for the A-Team program, which is perfect for female entrepreneurs who are ready to work with more ease and get systems in place in their own businesses.   Key Quotes from the Episode: “When you’re ready to have a true partner in business, they will feel like family.” - Natalie Gingrich “A ‘system’ in business has multiple steps, multiple people, multiple deadlines that come together to create the final outcome.” - Natalie Gingrich “When you start to see repeatable tasks in your business, that’s the perfect time to start putting systems in place.”  - Natalie Gingrich “For any process in your business, it’s important to take the time to sit down and document the process as you would like it to take place.” - Esther Littlefield “The theme for creating a system is that it’s repeatable and you’re going to outsource pieces of it.”  - Natalie Gingrich “We can dream of a complete book of SOPs but start with the tasks you repetitively do in your business and the processes that have multiple hands in them.” - Natalie Gingrich   Weekly Ops Activity Take a content process and make an itemized system. Bonus points if you put your new system into your favorite project management tool.    Previous Episodes Mentioned Episode 7: Behind the Scenes with Boss Mom with Dana Malstaff and Amy Lockrin Episode 8: Three Productivity Hacks You Haven’t Thought Of  Episode 9: How to Find the Right Project Management Tool with Cadri Cunningham   Connect with Esther Littlefield Website Facebook Instagram   Esther Littlefield is the founder and CEO of Morningstar Media Services. At Morningstar Media, she serves business owners with their content management and marketing, specializing in podcast management. In addition, Esther is also a writer at EstherLittlefield.com and host of the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast. Never satisfied to do just ONE thing, she stays busy as a wife, mom, and entrepreneur. Esther uses her passion for details to help her clients reach their goals and shine online.  Esther combines her background as a social worker, network marketer, and blogger to help others achieve their goals in their business. As a task-oriented perfectionist, she’s able to break down all the little details to accomplish a project. Most importantly, her desire is to help others achieve their dreams, and she will work hard to help make that happen. Connect with Me: Website Private Facebook Community Facebook Page Instagram This episode was originally published on theopsauthority.com/podcast/11

My guest is Natalie Gingrich, the founder of The Ops Authority. After spending 15 years in corporate at a Fortune 150 company, she dove into entrepreneurship leveraging her project management and HR experience to assist high-level influencers in the online and small business worlds. What she discovered along the way was that there was a ton of super capable women whose skill sets were not leveraged and whose natural tendency toward leadership wasn’t acknowledged. In this conversation, Natalie and I talk about why she decided to create a certification program instead of an online course, why she takes screening candidates very seriously, and how the certification unfolds from start to finish. We also talk about some of the new opportunities she sees for growth now that the certification program is underway & successful. The post EP 238: Scaling Up With A Certification Program With The Ops Authority Founder Natalie Gingrich appeared first on What Works.

If you're an entrepreneur, you know how it is.   It's not easy running your business.   Let alone a purpose-based one.   My guest today, Natalie Gingrich is an operations specialist and owner of the Ops Authority and the Ops Authority Podcast.   Today we're talking operations - what they are, why they're important, and when you might need to bring someone in to help you out with running your business.   But we're ALSO talking about your purpose.    It's so important to evaluate your values and where you want to be versus where you are in your business a few times a year.   Today Natalie is going to tell us about the steps she recommends to evaluate where you're at in your business - and why you shouldn't worry about where anyone else is at.   What's right for someone else is NOT necessarily right for your business - and that is why you've got to figure out your purpose.   Today's episode is filled with advice and actionable tips you can get started on today to start creating the business that you've always dreamed about having.   I'd love to hear about what you're going to put into action this week - tag me on IG and let me know!   And if you loved this episode, would you consider leaving me a review?  I'll love you forever and ever - AND I'll be able to keep bringing you content that's gonna help you grow your biz!   Where to find Natalie   Website | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast   Grab Natalie's Free Business Hub Trello Board and Tutorial!   Mentioned on this podcast -   Kolbe A Test   If you haven't yet, you need to come join us in my free Facebook group, Basic Girl Podcast Insiders!  Come chat with us about this episode and get in on the free live weekly trainings!    Ready to write a killer sales page but lost on where to start?  Grab my FREE guide, 5 Tips to Write Highly Converting Sales Pages!  Wish more people would actually open your emails and read them? Grab my free guide Email Subject Lines that Will 10x Your Open Rates here!

Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. Natalie spent 15 years in corporate operations and leadership at a Fortune 150 company. When given the opportunity to leave, she put the knowledge, certifications and experience to work by creating her own consulting firm, as well as a certification. She developed the Director of Operations certification to equip existing ops experts with a flexible profession, outside of corporate but still playing a huge role in small businesses, globally. Business Building InsightsDo big things. Have the courage to take a big step forward and leap into whatever adventure is part of your dream. The first step is to determine what you want out of your business. As you grow, build and scale your business, we need to remove yourself from the day to day activities. You do this by defining and documenting the steps all aspects of your business. When you hire others to do the routine work, you regain time that can be used to focus on business development. There is no direction without a business strategy. Step out of product development and into the leadership role. Have a true definition for the why behind what you’re doing. Match your vision to your daily activities. Are you doing things each day that get you closer to your goal? Resources Mentioned FREE Business Hub Template (http://theopsauthority.com/business-hub) from The Ops Authority Contact Links Website (http://theopsauthority.com) Facebook (http://facebook.com/theopsauthority) Instagram (http://instagram.com/theopsauthority) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gingrich/) Gift Biz ResourcesJoin our (https://www facebook.com/groups/GiftBizBreeze) If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a review in Google Podcasts (http://www.giftbizunwrapped.com/GooglePodcasts) . That helps us spread the word to more makers just like you. Thanks! Sue

If you’ve ever pondered the purpose of your life, you’re not alone. It’s one of the big questions in life: What’s my purpose? Why am I here?   If you’re anything like me, you’ve asked yourself these big questions more than once.   In this episode, I’ll give you the tools you need to discover your purpose in this world.   We’ll start by defining “purpose,” what it is and what it isn’t. I’ll also give you five elements that play into your purpose: your values, passions, strengths, principles, and perspective, and then give you ways to tap into each of those elements.   By the end of the episode, you’ll have the tools you need to examine your life and discover your passion.   Stay until the end, because I’ve got a big announcement in the Make It Work Moment. You won’t want to miss it!     LINKS   Episode 19 show notes   Act on Your Business: Braving the storms of entrepreneurship and creating success through meaning, mindset, and mindfulness   Via Strength Survey   Clifton Strengths Finder   Kolbe Assessment   The Ops Authority Podcast by Natalie Gingrich   Work Your Inner Wisdom Website   WYIW Facebook Community   The Clarity Summit

Three ways a coach can help your business: 1. Accountability for actually getting things done and making forward progress 2. A questioning guide who helps you understand better where you want to be going or what you want to do 3. Mindset and Jesus - we are what we think Life coaching is forward facing - helping you become unstuck, helping you reach goals, make changes or transition.    Book a call with me to talk about the Priorities-based Productivity Intensive or coaching. Director of Operations through Natalie Gingrich

As service providers, we often spend so much time improving our clients’ businesses, that we forget to take care of our own. We get overwhelmed and are not sure where to start. We are so great at supporting others that we don’t realize we need to get support and be strategic for our businesses as well.My guest today is Natalie Gingrich, an Operations Consultant, and Certified Project Manager. She shares with us her 7 pillar process for improving our business strategy and thereby improving our bottom line. We need to get our CEO hats on so we can meet our goals and grow our businesses like we are doing for our clients. She and I talk about:How everyone needs support, no matter what level they’re at in their businessHow getting strategic in our businesses is more important than being strategic in our clients’ businessesSteps to take to be strategic in the 7 pillars in your businessHow hiring help can help you build leadership and grow your businessWhat piece of strategy you can start implementing this weekHead to thelaunchguild.com/podcast for more info See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A couple quick notes, exclusively for reading in your podcast app: I want to make sure that I'm creating the best podcast episodes for you where you're at in your business and where you want to take things, so please go to https://callwithjaime.com to book a short call where you'll get to share whatever you want with me and I'll just be taking notes. If you want to get your tech in order, I would love to do a top-to-bottom tech audit with you. Ping me wherever we are connected, and I'll send over the link. Tech audits are a great way regain control and confidence in your tech and most of the time we'll be able to save you money on monthly expenses! This conversation, with Natalie Gingrich has a Trello heavy focus because Nat is a project manager and her clients hire her to help them accomplish their projects – and Trello is a fantastic tool for project management… when setup right and adopted by all parties, as we'll get into in the episode. Nat describes herself as not doing the tech or being behind the tech, she is 100% over the tech. It's truly a great way to look at her role – she's staying in her lane and driving the projects as they need to be driven without getting into the weeds. The primary tool that Nat uses in her business is, like I said before, Trello – and she uses it not only for project management but also with her team for communication. She uses the alerts function inside Trello to see where people are communicating. The team structure and SOP is that you tag someone when you need to connect with them, and you follow cards or boards when you need to be kept apprised of the going-ons. Nat loves Trello because it's visual and beautiful. It's inviting for her to spend time in the tool. Dissecting Trello A Board: The container – can be used for one idea, one thought or one project. This is a named entity, so that you can easily find this board among all the other boards in your Trello account. Our sample board is : Podcast A Column: Another container that contains a theme of the overall board. Each column will have headings. For our sample this might be : Logistics A Card: An individual container for a single aspect or thought or requirement for the theme of the column that resides in the overall board. And each card will have the aspect that needs to be addressed. For the sample it will be things like : Podcast Name, Podcast Host, etc. Trello comes from the Kanban Method, which is a process developed by engineers at Toyota way back in the day when they were going from design to production. The Trello engineers were using sticky notes on a wall under the headings of “What do we need to do”, “What is being done” and “What is being completed.” And those smart engineers saw this as something that could be translated to the screen and help many other businesses with workflows and processes. Learn more about the KANBAN METHOD Let's get super practical… your first step with a new project is likely going to be a brainstorming session – where all the thoughts end up on sticky notes (either the real paper kind or a single column in Trello) and then we're going to try to clean it up. The first clean up step is to categorize things into LIKE…whether it's like steps or phase – remember, you get to choose how you will put this Trello board together. “I get to know how they think, how they process, how they compartmentalize things and it does overall change the function of the board.” – Natalie Gingrich Throughout the episode, Nat and I have been building a Trello board for a podcast launch… so let's get back to that. Our cards are in nice, well labelled columns. For the work to be done, we will assign a card to an individual on the team and give that card a due date. The project manager (or task assigner) can write additional notes. Within each card, team members can communicate back and forth. And, if there is an asset that is created within the constructs of this task, that file can be inserted directly onto the card – or linked out to a cloud storage repository where the file is uploaded.) Once the work on that card is done, we'll move it to another column that contains all the completed tasks. Nat suggests Completed or Done and then goes on to say or you could call that column something creative like Celebrate! We're done with this! This column shows us what has been achieved. There is also the ability to archive a card – this is particularly useful for something that turns out to not be relevant to the project. If work has been done and it's complete, it's far better to have a column that contains the completed card rather than throwing the card into the archive abyss.  Here's a Nat HACK – If she cannot see all the cards in a column on her big monitor, she'll compartmentalize a bit further so that she can! Continuing with our example… we've got the podcast launched and now we need to create our episodes – in Trello you can actually copy a card or a column from one board to another. So, we could copy our entire branding column from the pre-launch board to our active podcast production board. Nat terms this as a workflow board more than a project board, as it's something we're going to repeat episode after episode for the duration of the podcast. “Your board for getting the project started could look vastly different than the board that represents the workflow for getting subsequent content released” Within the workflow board, Natalie recommends keeping everything pertinent to that entity within the card… and she even went on to share how easily Trello can integrate with other online tools, like Dropbox. Of course, this put me on a well-loved tangent – integration between components. I call it “adding pointers between entities.” A project management tool is the perfect hub for containing these pointers because it helps you run an efficient business! Trello has the ability to work for projects and workflows in a lot of businesses and in your personal life! I asked Nat to get super concrete to help you see opportunities where Trello might be a good option.  Nat used to rely on linear functionality – to do lists, checklists and such, but the aesthetics of Trello opened her up to trying it… and she tried it first in her personal life. Once she got that board working well, she didn't have to go back and re-work it – she actually still uses that same board! The personal board consists of housework, store returns, things that needed doing, household projects, calls to make, errands and computer tasks. She also uses Trello as her planner. She looks at it each evening as she wraps up her day. Because she knows when she can schedule personal time, she then is able to move cards from their column to the today column. From there, she'll be productive in her personal work block and be able to move those cards to the complete column and make room for new today tasks! Let's extrapolate out beyond the single board. Natalie rounds out the conversation explaining that she can easily see what is assigned and actively being worked on by her team members, because of the expectation of everything having assigned team members and due dates. Want to see how Natalie gets things going in Trello for her clients, go to https://nataliegingrich.com/productiveweek/ which is a fantastic tutorial! And finally, it wouldn't be a complete Trello conversation without talking about the Trello app… Nat and I are both moms of gymnasts (and she adds complexity because her son is also an athlete). She uses the app extensively while waiting at practice, and it does everything she wants and needs, except that she cannot copy a link from one card and paste it on another. And because she is generally on her phone as she is transitioning from the work day to the mom day, that personal board gets a lot of use on her phone! Connect with Jaime Instagram: @techofbusiness Twitter: @techofbusiness Facebook: @yourbiztech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeslutzky/ Email: jaime@techofbusiness.com Connect with Natalie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliegingrichpm/ And with that… I look forward to speaking you on a "Call with Jaime" -- https://callwithjaime.com and seeing you in the tech of business community on Facebook!

A couple quick notes, exclusively for reading in your podcast app: I want to make sure that I’m creating the best podcast episodes for you where you’re at in your business and where you want to take things, so please go to https://callwithjaime.com to book a short call where you’ll get to share whatever you want with me and I’ll just be taking notes. If you want to get your tech in order, I would love to do a top-to-bottom tech audit with you. Ping me wherever we are connected, and I’ll send over the link. Tech audits are a great way regain control and confidence in your tech and most of the time we’ll be able to save you money on monthly expenses! This conversation, with Natalie Gingrich has a Trello heavy focus because Nat is a project manager and her clients hire her to help them accomplish their projects – and Trello is a fantastic tool for project management… when setup right and adopted by all parties, as we’ll get into in the episode. Nat describes herself as not doing the tech or being behind the tech, she is 100% over the tech. It’s truly a great way to look at her role – she’s staying in her lane and driving the projects as they need to be driven without getting into the weeds. The primary tool that Nat uses in her business is, like I said before, Trello – and she uses it not only for project management but also with her team for communication. She uses the alerts function inside Trello to see where people are communicating. The team structure and SOP is that you tag someone when you need to connect with them, and you follow cards or boards when you need to be kept apprised of the going-ons. Nat loves Trello because it’s visual and beautiful. It’s inviting for her to spend time in the tool. Dissecting Trello A Board: The container – can be used for one idea, one thought or one project. This is a named entity, so that you can easily find this board among all the other boards in your Trello account. Our sample board is : Podcast A Column: Another container that contains a theme of the overall board. Each column will have headings. For our sample this might be : Logistics A Card: An individual container for a single aspect or thought or requirement for the theme of the column that resides in the overall board. And each card will have the aspect that needs to be addressed. For the sample it will be things like : Podcast Name, Podcast Host, etc. Trello comes from the Kanban Method, which is a process developed by engineers at Toyota way back in the day when they were going from design to production. The Trello engineers were using sticky notes on a wall under the headings of “What do we need to do”, “What is being done” and “What is being completed.” And those smart engineers saw this as something that could be translated to the screen and help many other businesses with workflows and processes. Learn more about the KANBAN METHOD Let’s get super practical… your first step with a new project is likely going to be a brainstorming session – where all the thoughts end up on sticky notes (either the real paper kind or a single column in Trello) and then we’re going to try to clean it up. The first clean up step is to categorize things into LIKE…whether it’s like steps or phase – remember, you get to choose how you will put this Trello board together. “I get to know how they think, how they process, how they compartmentalize things and it does overall change the function of the board.” – Natalie Gingrich Throughout the episode, Nat and I have been building a Trello board for a podcast launch… so let’s get back to that. Our cards are in nice, well labelled columns. For the work to be done, we will assign a card to an individual on the team and give that card a due date. The project manager (or task assigner) can write additional notes. Within each card, team members can communicate back and forth. And, if there is an asset that is created within the constructs of this task, that file can be inserted directly onto the card – or linked out to a cloud storage repository where the file is uploaded.) Once the work on that card is done, we’ll move it to another column that contains all the completed tasks. Nat suggests Completed or Done and then goes on to say or you could call that column something creative like Celebrate! We’re done with this! This column shows us what has been achieved. There is also the ability to archive a card – this is particularly useful for something that turns out to not be relevant to the project. If work has been done and it’s complete, it’s far better to have a column that contains the completed card rather than throwing the card into the archive abyss.  Here’s a Nat HACK – If she cannot see all the cards in a column on her big monitor, she’ll compartmentalize a bit further so that she can! Continuing with our example… we’ve got the podcast launched and now we need to create our episodes – in Trello you can actually copy a card or a column from one board to another. So, we could copy our entire branding column from the pre-launch board to our active podcast production board. Nat terms this as a workflow board more than a project board, as it’s something we’re going to repeat episode after episode for the duration of the podcast. “Your board for getting the project started could look vastly different than the board that represents the workflow for getting subsequent content released” Within the workflow board, Natalie recommends keeping everything pertinent to that entity within the card… and she even went on to share how easily Trello can integrate with other online tools, like Dropbox. Of course, this put me on a well-loved tangent – integration between components. I call it “adding pointers between entities.” A project management tool is the perfect hub for containing these pointers because it helps you run an efficient business! Trello has the ability to work for projects and workflows in a lot of businesses and in your personal life! I asked Nat to get super concrete to help you see opportunities where Trello might be a good option.  Nat used to rely on linear functionality – to do lists, checklists and such, but the aesthetics of Trello opened her up to trying it… and she tried it first in her personal life. Once she got that board working well, she didn’t have to go back and re-work it – she actually still uses that same board! The personal board consists of housework, store returns, things that needed doing, household projects, calls to make, errands and computer tasks. She also uses Trello as her planner. She looks at it each evening as she wraps up her day. Because she knows when she can schedule personal time, she then is able to move cards from their column to the today column. From there, she’ll be productive in her personal work block and be able to move those cards to the complete column and make room for new today tasks! Let’s extrapolate out beyond the single board. Natalie rounds out the conversation explaining that she can easily see what is assigned and actively being worked on by her team members, because of the expectation of everything having assigned team members and due dates. Want to see how Natalie gets things going in Trello for her clients, go to https://nataliegingrich.com/productiveweek/ which is a fantastic tutorial! And finally, it wouldn’t be a complete Trello conversation without talking about the Trello app… Nat and I are both moms of gymnasts (and she adds complexity because her son is also an athlete). She uses the app extensively while waiting at practice, and it does everything she wants and needs, except that she cannot copy a link from one card and paste it on another. And because she is generally on her phone as she is transitioning from the work day to the mom day, that personal board gets a lot of use on her phone! Connect with Jaime Instagram: @techofbusiness Twitter: @techofbusiness Facebook: @yourbiztech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeslutzky/ Email: jaime@techofbusiness.com Connect with Natalie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliegingrichpm/ And with that… I look forward to speaking you on a "Call with Jaime" -- https://callwithjaime.com and seeing you in the tech of business community on Facebook!

One of the women I look up to and appreciate so much in business is joining me for this episode and I could not be more thrilled to introduce you to Natalie Gingrich. She's a wealth of knowledge surrounding systems, organization and creating a business that's mission and vision focused.  I've gotten the pleasure of working with Natalie over the past few years on the Boss Mom team and now as her A-Team Accelerator and Growth Getters Mastermind Accountability Coach. I walk away from every group call knowing more than I did before or having a better way of working a system. In this episode, Natalie and I talk about creating a business that is based on your mission, vision, and values - something that both she and I find vital to have long term success.  For Natalie's workbook on crafting your own mission, vision, and values, click here. To join in on the next round of the A-Team Accelerator (a program I highly recommend and LOVE taking part in as the Accountability Coach) click here to join the waitlist. This show's sponsor is my devotional book, Created for This, based on Proverbs 31. It covers topics that are common for business owners to encounter: comparison and identity, mentoring, anxiety, singleness, married life, the fear of the Lord, and more. You can purchase it here.

I just hired my first project manager a few months ago and it may be one of the best decisions I’ve made in my business, if not THE best decision. It all came about when I sat beside Natalie Gingrich days before the Boss Mom Retreat in San Diego in September of 2018. Natalie is an expert on everything project management - from hiring one for your business or for being one to help another business owner. In this episode, Natalie will break down the signs you’re ready for a project manager, how to find a project manager, and what to assign that project manager. If you feel overwhelmed in your business or if you are great at taking overwhelm away from busy entrepreneurs, you will love this episode. Some resources mentioned in this episode: Rocket Fuel NatalieGingrich.com Pitch. Publicity. Profit.

Natalie Gingrich shares her journey of letting go of 2 lives and 2 different personalities. She is also brutally honest about how starting the wrong business led her to start an online business where she could be true to her values and her boundaries. WHISKEY & WORK FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: www.facebook.com/groups/whiskeyandwork WHISKEY & WORK PODCAST NOTES: www.kelseymurphy.com

In this episode, Natalie Gingrich helps us break down our personal expectations on topics like multipassionate-ism and where to start when you're feeling pulled in multiple directions. As an expert project manager and seasoned operations manager, Natalie shows us why systems and operations are the backbone of every (profitable) business. She'll walk us through the necessary ability to adapt, simplify and develop successful online businesses.

Natalie Gingrich is a quintessential, Type A leader who thoroughly enjoys helping her entrepreneurial peers move their businesses into action with her love of project management. After 15 years in a Fortune 150 company, she uses her tremendous drive, education, and professional experience to serve those in a space known for creative and visionary thinkers. She combines her passion for people, with simplified processes and practical, project management to create authentic movement in business. As a mother of two- and a native of Texas- her heart is big and eager to serve. She and her team manages your people and processes so you can get back to managing your vision!

In this episode, we interview Natalie of NatalieGingrich.com. She is the Chief of Staff and project manager for entrepreneurs of all levels from start-up to expansion. Today, she goes through how to define your mission, vision and values to align your business and personal goals. Don't skip this - it's vital in your overall and every day business planning. Natalie is so great at making it approachable - you can make clearer decisions about your business when you build your foundation to grow on. You don't want to miss it! Download Natalie's free guide that goes with the training: How to Define (or Refine) Your Mission, Vision, & Values. Natalie's Facebook page - Connect with her! --   Books and Business Products We Recommend on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/theproductboss Join The Product Boss Facebook Group and connect with other product-based entrepreneurs. Follow us on instagram @theproductboss and tag us!  

In this episode, I sit down with Project Manager Natalie Gingrich whose business journey really took off when she became a Chief Of Staff in a Fortune 150 company. Natalie gives insight into the project management side of small businesses including how to prioritize your objectives that piggyback off one another, the maximum number of projects you should have going at one time no matter how big or how small, and the unrealized truth about setting hard deadlines for projects. We also discuss Natalie’s controversial theory on multitasking, the importance of scheduling project milestones, and what you could do to alleviate stress and get back in the jam of what you love doing. This was an awesome discussion with Natalie I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ The 7 Objectives That Are Important To Every Business ✔️ When Multitasking With A Purpose Might Make Sense ✔️ Why You’re Making Silly Decisions In Your Business And How To Stop ✔️ Tips For Business Owners Who Are Their Own Project Managers ✔️ So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: NatalieGingrich.com How to Define (or Refine) Your Mission, Vision, & Values! Natalie On Facebook 031 | How To Make The Holiday Season Or Any Sizeable Work Project Less Stressful And Chaotic

Let's talk hiring. How to hire? Who to hire? When to hire? Hiring can seem like a confusing and overwhelming process, but a necessary one to grow your business. Shelli breaks down the hiring process into a step-by-step guide for you to craft your own hiring strategy. She has some tips on crucial questions to ask at each stage, and the different elements that make up each component within the strategy. Feeling afraid to take the plunge and hire someone? Shelli also tackles some of the mindset issues surrounding the fear of hiring. Get Access to the Free VA Job Posting Template Connect With Shelli: Email her your comments, and suggestions for future episodes! Tools Mentioned: Kolbe Assessment Other Links Mentioned: LinkedIn Stacking Your Team (SYT) Episodes Mentioned: SYT4: How to Hire a Virtual Assistant BizChix Episodes Mentioned: 279: [High Performing Women] Stacking A Team with Shelli Warren 258: Build Your Team - How to Source, Interview and Assign Roles with Natalie Gingrich and Shelli Warren Work with Shelli: One Day Mastermind EliteChix Mastermind Strategy Session Work With Natalie: One Day Mastermind CEOCHIX Mastermind Strategy Session This episode was first published at BizChix.com/team6. Listen to our sister podcast BizChix on your app or at http://bizchix.com. Join the BixChix Community here.

In this episode, Natalie Gingrich breaks down project management in easy to use chunks, so you know where to get this whole organizing thing started. She shares what project management is all about, how you can start getting a hold of things even before ever thinking about adding on your first team member. Plus of course, we're taking a look why we need systems and how we can set them up, without being a overwhelmed hot mess.   Takeaways from today's show: A first step of getting a hold of your big and small projects is to write down every single thing that goes into it and then to turn it into a checklist. This will help you figure out how much time you'll need to get things done. Plus it will help you to get every single piece done, instead of forgetting a few steps in between, because you just too stressed out. As long as you don't have a team and a project management you are your project manager! Mapping out processes and getting a hold of every single task that needs to get done to finish a project is the first step to adding a team member that can take over specific tasks. Which means, start mapping out processes and tasks before your ready to add a team member, because when your ready to add some help your probably too overwhelmed to begin mapping out everything from scratch.     Mentioned in the Show: Natalie's site: http://nataliegingrich.com/ Natalie's Productive week plan: http://www.nataliegingrich.com/productiveweek Trello: https://trello.com/ The Sparkling Creative Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/243968072673994/ The Mini Sessions: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=12775174&appointmentType=1895716   I've been working with so many creatives that thought the next grand business strategy or a new creative product they're going to offer would bring them more of what they wanted.  More money!  More fulfillment!  More time!  More happiness! However many of them never got what they wanted.  Are you ready to dive in fully and turn your creative passion into the creative business that is not only paying your bills but also allowing you to live the lifestyle your dreaming of? Then let's talk! Schedule a mini session with me, where we'll discover the right next move for your creative adventure. Become one of us and join the sparkling creative community! Surround yourself with fellow creatives, that not only create sparkling creative pieces, but also sparkle when it comes to the financials of their creative adventures. Be part of a sparkling community and own your creative strength. We'll support you and help you live the sparkling creative life you've always dreamed about. https://www.facebook.com/groups/243968072673994/ Connect with us: Kerstin info@kerstinpressler.com, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kerstinpressler/ , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kerstinpressler I love to connect with you! If you've got a question about today's episode or want to leave me some inbox love, you can email me at  info@kerstinpressler.com Or, you can always find me hanging out in my happy place, the sparkling creative community over on Facebook. I would also LOVE it if you'd leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes!  I know it can be hard to figure out, so here are a few step-by-step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for the sparkling creative Podcast from your iPhone or iPad. 1. Launch Apple's Podcast app. 2. Tap the Search tab. 3. Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review. 4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. 5. Tap the album art for the podcast. 6. Tap the Reviews tab. 7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. 8. Enter your iTunes password to log in. 9. Tap the Stars to leave a rating. 10. Enter title text and content to leave a review. 11. Tap Send.

Want to hear about some of the behind the scenes moments from BizChix live? Hint: it's not all pretty. I'm sharing some things that no one else knows happened, the fear I experienced right before the conference and the incredible experience of seeing a community I have built over the last 3+years come to life. Dream it. Do it.  Key Takeaways: [1:01] Natalie will be giving a recap of BizChix Live! [2:50] Natalie shares how BizChix Live started off, with exclusive activities for her VIP clients. [11:02] Before BizChix Live, Natalie was planning to close her membership site down! [16:48] The main event kicked off on October 18. Natalie talks about how she modeled the conference and some of the details about the events that went on. [20:26] The night before a full day of delivering content, Natalie was feeling miserable and throwing up! She shares how she dealt with it — fear and mindset had a large part to play. [27:52] Natalie’s keynote speech was about being a CEO: “Being CEO — Transforming into the Leader Your Company Needs.” [30:44] The next item on the agenda was a talk by Natalie Gingrich on Strategic Planning for CEOs. [31:02] Natalie gives a shout out to Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom for giving her the impetus to make a conference happen for the BizChix, and inspiring the workbook for the conference! [33:40] Another element of BizChix Live was a mastermind panel with live hot seats. [35:54] The next segment of the day was focused on planning and Natalie delivered a talk entitled “Planning 2018 Like a CEO.” [37:40] The ladies got changed into comfortable clothes for the next item on the agenda — the Implementation Party. [40:55] Natalie shares some of her takeaways as an event owner and organizer. [44:44] At the Implementation Party, the ladies were so enthusiastic that they didn’t want to stop working! [46:33] Every morning, the MC and Event Historian, Edie Berg, hosted a power walk! Natalie also gives a shout out to Chrissie Wywrot and Tara Humphrey, who made it to Soul Cycle on Friday morning. [47:25] On Friday, the event started off with Key Takeaways followed by Natalie's 2nd Keynote speech “The Battle for Your Entrepreneurial Mind,” where she talked about mindsets and other related ideas. [48:30] Some of the other talks on Friday were given by Carol Cox, who spoke on the topic of increasing visibility in your business, Shelli Warren, who spoke about building an ideal team, and finally Natalie herself, delivering the closing Keynote speech “No Woman Left Behind.” [52:41] Natalie’s parents and sons made an appearance at the end of BizChix Live! Natalie talks about the closing of the event. [57:35] You can get your tickets for BizChix Live 2018 until October 30th, or again in January! [58:40] Natalie shares a story about how sometimes you can impact people without even realizing it.   Join the BizChix Community   Mentioned in this Episode:   ● BizChixMasterminds ● Presale of BizChix Live 2018 Tickets! ● Email Natalie to join the membership group The Nest ● Hotel Irvine ● Social Media Marketing World ● Natalie Gingrich ● Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom ● Amanda Harris of Magically Ever After Travel ● Edie Berg ● Shelli Warren ● Carol Cox   BizChix Episodes Mentioned: ● “280: The Chief of Staff Role with Natalie Gingrich” ● “258: Build Your Team — How to Source, Interview, and Assign Roles with Natalie Gingrich and Shelli Warren” ● “288: Time Management for High Performers: How to Map Your Ideal Month, Ideal Week, Theme Days and Time Block”

What is a chief of staff? Are you ready for this type of strategic role in your business?  Are you limiting your own growth due to lack of support? Let’s find out! I invited Natalie Gingrich, MY Chief of Staff, on air to help you determine if you are ready for this role in your biz.  Since Nat has come on board, my business has gone through tremendous growth and evolution, and I have been freed up to do what I do best – create this podcast and work with high performing women who are scaling their businesses! Key Takeaways: How does a Chief of Staff (COS) fit into the entrepreneurial world? How do you decide if you need a COS?  Human resources is the area where most small businesses struggle. Learn the difference between a project manager and COS. A CEO should ONLY be selling, creating content, or building relationships. Are you limiting your own growth due to lack of support? There are 7 objectives to Strategic Mapping for every business. Guess which one surprised me. This episode is sponsored by AWeber.  Thank you for supporting women entrepreneurs! Find out more and get an all access, 60 Day Free Trial at BizChix.com/Aweber! Connect with other Female Entrepreneurs Connect with Nat Website Facebook BizChix Episodes Mentioned 273: Meet My Biz Bestie: Lisa Woodruff and I Discuss Mindset, Upleveling and Being Gen X Women 274: Declutter and Organize Your Home and Work with Lisa Woodruff 258: Build Your Team – How to Source, Interview, and Assign Roles with Natalie Gingrich and Shelli Warren  Click to Learn More about working with Natalie. Come to Bizchix Live This episode first appeared on Bizchix.com.

How do you build a dedicated and high performing team? We discuss hiring, onboarding, training, developing, assessing, retaining and MORE! Whether you are at the 5-figure or 7-figure level, building the right team will guarantee future success. I’m thrilled to have Shelli Warren, the creator and brilliance behind SheConnex here today to share how we can find, hire and retain all-stars for our team. She also shares how to hire with the intention to build a team for the future of our business, not just to meet our immediate needs. Key Takeaways: What does “Stacking a Team” mean? First step to building your team may be a surprise: be a leader and a brand that will attract the best, high performing people. Build a team with ambition and goals, so you can help them get there. Do you know the difference between training and development with your team? Hire slow, and fire fast. What are the ways to motivate your team that don’t include money? Use “Touch Points” – face to face check-in with your team, to find out how you can help them, impact your team on a personal level, show them that you ca Want to keep your contractors more engaged? Make sure they know that they are an asset!   This episode is sponsored by AWeber.  Thank you for supporting women entrepreneurs! Find out more and get an all access, 60 Day Free Trial at BizChix.com/Aweber!   Connect with other Female Entrepreneurs   Connect with Shelli Website  Encore Career Women Facebook page  LinkedIn LinkedIn Group: The Sheconnex Group for Professional Women  BizChix Episodes Mentioned 258: Build Your Team – How to Source, Interview, and Assign Roles with Natalie Gingrich and Shelli Warren Click to Learn More about working with Natalie.   Come to BizChix Live!   This content first appeared on BizChix.com.

This episode is brought to you by The Kolada Group. Today, I’m talking about team management practices with Trello. My guest is Natalie Gingrich, who is a certified project manager. Topics: (:31) Intro – Systems Saved Me Summit (1:43) Meeting Natalie (3:05) Kan Ban Method (6:47) Point of overwhelm (9:47) Business breakdown (11:51) Trello set-up (15:05) Tips! (19:57) Advanced Trello users (22:32) Best financial investment (24:41) Worst financial investment (27:41) Finding Natalie Quotes of the Week: “By having this accountability partner and a solid project in place, [project managers] really help to make sure you’re actually implementing and putting things out there because there are a lot of things that paralyze us.”– Natalie Resources: www.nataliegingrich.comPinterest/Facebook: NatalieGingrichPM https://trello.com/   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What's the difference between a project manager and an online business manger? How does a virtual assistant fit into the mix? Where do you find team members and what should you ask them in an interview? We cover the answers to these questions and more. This episode is two mini interviews in one podcast! Natalie interviews two experts in team building, Natalie Gingrich and Shelli Warren. Natalie Gingrich owns a project management firm and she breaks down what to expect when hiring a Project Manager. She also explains the differences between project managers, online business managers, and virtual assistants. Shelli Warren of She Connex works with encore career women and today shares her secrets for hiring and building a team. Don't miss her incredible interview questions. Key Takeaways: The differences between a virtual assistant, online business manager, and project manager. How do you know when to hire a virtual assistant, online business manager, or project manager? What to expect to pay for the different roles? How to create a job description. Avoid quick emotional decisions when hiring. Take advantage of association organizations. Should you use a trial period when hiring? Use your intuition. Are you checking references? Your first hire is your most important hire. Interview Questions   What compelled you to answer my ad? What led you to this line of work? Tell me about your most favorite client to work with. Tell me about your current workload. Describe your most frustrating client right now. Connect with: Natalie Gingrich Natalie G.'s Productive Week Freebie Shelli Warren Shelli's Encore Career Women Facebook Group Episodes Mentioned: 257: Building Your Ideal Team with Amanda Bond, Russell Brunson, Stu McClaren and Shane Sams Virtual Assistant Resources: CAVA IVAA Virtual Assist USA This episode is sponsored by AWeber.  Thank you for supporting women entrepreneurs! Find out more and get an all access, 60 Day Free Trial at BizChix.com/Aweber! Want to work 1/1 with Natalie or join one of her masterminds? Click to Learn More.   This episode first appeared on BizChix.com/258.