As my team celebrates Headbands of Hope's 9th birthday, we're also celebrating the honor of being ranked in the top 1% of all Shopify stores! As I reflect on these last 9 years, there are so many experiences that led to this success in business! Listen in as I share 5 things that I believe contributed to our top 1% ranking of all Shopify stores! Plus, make sure you use the code FIRSTTIMER for 20% off at headbandsofhope.com and help us reach one million headbands donated! How our store got in the...
Apr 25, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Have you been hesitant to put yourself on video in your business? Today, Natasha Samuel of Shine with Natasha joins us to help you set aside any fears by sharing the impact video can have on connect with your audience. Listen in as she shares 3 ways you can use video on Instagram to connect, plus she's providing a few ideas to help get you started! Becoming an Instagram Strategist (3:11) Why Video is Important (5:07) Three Types of Video to Build a Connection with Your Audience: (7:19) 1. Instag...
Apr 11, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Overthinking can cause so much more stress than any of us need—let's crush those tendencies and stop overthinking. Jon Acuff joins us in this episode to share three ways you can stop overthinking in every aspect of your life. Listen in as he walks us through these steps and how he's used them in his own life. Three Ways to Stop Overthinking (1:03) 1. Retire Your Broken Soundtrack (1:19) Bright Pages (6:06). +1:30 2. Replace those thoughts with new, positive ones. (9:40) Find a broken soundtrack ...
Apr 04, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Has Women's History Month motivated you to surround yourself with and collaborate with other women entrepreneurs? I'm here for it! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing 5 ways you can collaborate with other women! From simple ideas to more complex opportunities, let's dive into how you can grow together! 5 Ways to Collaborate with Other Women 1. Swap or Trade Services (2:12) 2. Host a Giveaway Together (3:24) 3. Newsletter Swap (4:25) 4. Joint Instagram Live (5:56) 5. Creat...
Mar 28, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 31
There is so much power in connecting with and building up other women. That's why I was honored to bring Natalie Franke, co-founder of The Rising Tide Society and community leader of Honeybook, on the podcast to discuss how you can genuinely root for other women. Listen in as we discuss why she decided to open up about her journey to motherhood and connect with others who are living through the same experience. Meet Natalie (2:30) Cheering for Other while Feeling Comparative (6:10) Opening Up (1...
Mar 21, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 30
I don't know about you, but I've found myself surrounded by strong and powerful women in my life. So, in honor of Women's History Month, on today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm highlighting 10 women who have impacted my life and career. From family members, professors, and business colleagues to women I've never met and even one who's name I never got, listen in to see how knowing them has made my life and business all the better. 10 Women Who Impacted My Life & Career 1. Dr. ...
Mar 14, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Why do we feel burdened to always be connected to our phones and checking social media? We shouldn't have to. In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, Minaa B joins us to share how and why you should set digital boundaries in your life and business. Listen in as she describes the importance of understanding responsibilities in online relationships and communication when you're setting those boundaries! Setting Digital Boundaries (1:35) Determine Your Why: Why are you going on social media...
Mar 07, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Have you ever finished a book and thought, "That would have been better as an article or blog post?" I think we've all experienced that. In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four ways to help you decided if your idea should be a book or a blog post. Grab yourself a pen and paper, and let's dive into this exercise! How to Know if Your Idea Should Be a Book or a Blog Post: How long have you been thinking about it? (1:56) Does the writing flow? (3:48) Try it on for the week. ...
Feb 28, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 27
So, you have a book idea, but you have no idea where to start in order to get your book on shelves—thankfully I've already been through the process and can tell you! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four important steps to get your book on the shelves of retailers you love. Listen in as I dive into building a book proposal, getting a literary agent, securing a book publisher, and doing the work to see your book out in the real world. Four Steps to Get Your Book On Shel...
Feb 21, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Are you using clubhouse to grow as a professional speaker? With the platform becoming more and more popular, there is so much potential to gain awareness for your brand and network with others. In this episode of Business on the Brightside, Mothyna James-Brightful joins us to discuss how you can use clubhouse for your brand! Additionally, we talk about steps we can all take to create more diversity and inclusion in the speaking and event industry! First Paid & Non-Paid Speaking Gig (1:25) Pi...
Feb 14, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Have you ever had a moment in your life that you look back on and thought, "Wow, that actually happened... and I made it through." In today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing how I lost the first $10,000 I invested in my business before I ever really even started. The lessons that came from that experience didn't sink in until much later, but it also brought out more than just lessons, it taught me about risk. What was the risk of moving forward after failure? What's the risk ...
Feb 07, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Are you ready to make a change in the way you're living your life? Antonio Neves joins us as our first guest on Business on the Bright Side to discuss his book, Stop Living on Autopilot! In this episode, we talk through authenticity, knowing who you are, and surrounding yourself with quality community! If you're ready to stop living on autopilot, you need to hear this conversation with Antonio! Meet Antonio (2:25) Being Authentic (9:45) How do you introduce yourself? (15:16) Good Fear vs. Bad Fe...
Jan 31, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Are you struggling with creating and prioritizing your goals? This episode is for you! While I'm not a fan of strict goal setting, I think it's important to know what you're working towards! Listen in as I share my favorite goal setting tips so you can accomplish what you want in 2021! Grab the Goal Setting Workbook Tips for Goal Setting 1. Leave room for possibility. Release your grip. How can you hold it with an open palm 2. Write down your goals. 3. Speak it into existence. 4. Do something sm...
Jan 25, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Sometimes our own way of thinking can get in the way of us achieving our own goals. Let's make life a little easier with a simple mindset shift. In today's episode, I'm sharing 4 mindset shifts you can copy to stop getting in your own way! 4 Mindset Shifts to Make Life Easier (1:26) 1. You before anything else. (1:38) 2. Care more about the system, less about the goal. (3:02) 3. Care more about what you’re creating than what people are thinking. (5:01) 4. Train your mind to see the good in peopl...
Jan 17, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 21
You have permission to change who you are at any time. Isn't that crazy? You can determine who you are and what you want to be, along with how you approach situations. Ready to dive in? Let's figure out what your 2021 personality is with this simple quiz! 10 Questions to Decide What You Want Your 2021 Personality to Be (3:35) 1. Do you want to be a coach, player, or spectator? (3;42) 2. What people do you want to reach? (4:11) 3. How do you want to help those people? (4:34) 4. Where do you want ...
Jan 10, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Happy New Year! Is 2021 the year you're looking to grow personally and professionally, without feeling overwhelmed with the goals you have in mind? In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing 3 ways to build momentum this year! New Year’s Resolutions are a Load of Crap (1:45) Set goals and build momentum in 2021 : (2:41) Crafting a Mission Statement (2:45) Update your bio. (6:49) Setting up your Calendar for Big Picture Goals (7:58) One Liner: In 2021, I’m in competition with no ...
Jan 03, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 19
As we bring 2020 to a close, I’m sharing the details on all of the things that worked and didn’t work in my business and life amidst the pandemic. All of my businesses experienced very different moves in 2020. One business flatlined, one business quadrupled in sales, and another business started at zero. On a personal level, I was able to appreciate slowing down, creating new routines, and avoid things I didn’t enjoy. Ready to get the inside scoop on the success and failures of 2020, let’s dive ...
Dec 20, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Are you facing a big decision in your life right now? It’s hard to make decisions that will impact your life! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I’m sharing how I approach big decision making! I’m also highlighting how we used this approach for our decision to uproot our lives and live in an airstream! Considering RV Living (1:29) List Making (4:16) How I Face Big Decision Making (3:56) 1. Pretend to Go All-In (3:56) 2. Ask yourself what all you need to do to make this happen. (4:05...
Dec 13, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Do you find yourself stuck when it comes to creating shareable content? In this episode, I'm highlighting four things that you need to consider in order to strategize your content creation. Listen in as I highlight the importance of relatable and valuable content for your audience. 4 Things You Need to Think About (2:06) 1. Decide What You Want to be Known For 2. What’s the value you want to provide people? 3. Does my content fall into one of these two buckets: relatable or valuable? - Relatable...
Dec 06, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Do you ever find yourself lacking inspiration or struggling to get started on a new project? In this episode I'm sharing 3 questions to ask yourself when you're stuck! Three Questions to Ask When You’re Feeling Stuck: (4:18) 1. Is this even what I really want? (4:18) 2. Could the outcome look different from what I originally imagined? (5:15) 3. Can I change the route on how I want to get there? (5:51) One Liner: Hold your purpose tightly, hold your plans loosely, and you’ll find your way. (6:51)...
Nov 22, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Is your e-commerce brand ready for the fast-approaching holidays? In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 things you need to do to ensure your site is ready for the three big e-commerce holidays right around the corner! Holiday Habits for E-Commerce (1:36) Get your eCommerce Shop Ready for the Holidays (2:25) 1. Make sure that your website is ready to collect emails.(2:25) 2. Test your checkout process to make sure there aren’t any glitches. 3. Make sure your best selling products are on your homepage...
Nov 15, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 13
It's Chasing the Bright Side's first birthday! One year ago, I was on a press tour, sharing about how I'd poured so much into this book, and thinking about all of the potential lives this book could impact. What a year it has been! In today's episode, I'm sharing a quick teaser of chapter one! Listen in! Links jessekstrom.com/buy-the-book thebrightsideshop.com Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com ....
Nov 08, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Do you feel like 2020 is kicking your a** when it comes to your work or business? I'm here to remind you that these obstacles are all part of the process. In this episode, I'm sharing four ways to deal with tough work situations. Shit Happens (3:45) Tough Work Situations that are Bound to Happen (3:45) 1. Remove Your Ego (3:45) 2. Understand that sometimes Plan B can be better than Plan A (6:33) 3. Give yourself some grace (8:45) 4. What would your idol do? (10:54) The Recap (12:55) One Liner: F...
Nov 01, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Do you know your money story? While you may realize it, you've got one! In this episode, I'm diving into my money story, how it developed stress around money for me, and how that impacted my business. So sit back, and let's dive into your money story! Love/Hate Relationships with Money (1:32) My Money Story (1:58) Look at the numbers. What are they telling you? (4:18) Understanding at KPIs and Patterns (4:39) Separating Yourself from the Money (6:44) Don't ask: 'What's wrong with me?" Do ask: "W...
Oct 25, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Are you heading into an interview for a potential job or opportunity? Want to stand out from the other candidates, while also growing from the interview itself? I’m sharing the one question you NEED to ask during your next interview! Listen in! Interview Question: Is there any reason why I wouldn’t get this job? (2:40) Follow Up Question: Because if there are any flags or concerns, I would like to talk about it now. My Experience with Asking This Question (5:11) What This Question Tells an Inter...
Oct 11, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Do you have a story you want to share with the world, but aren't sure it's worth telling? I believe that every story has a purpose, but how you tell it will impact how it's received. In today's episode, I'm sharing four things to remember in order to properly tell your story! Monetizing Your Story (:49) Paid Speaking Engagements (:58) Publishing Books (1:02) Finding Your Story (1:30) One Single Experience Can Write Two Completely Different Stories (4:44) 4 Things to Remember about Storytelling (...
Oct 04, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Are you ready to turn your speaking gigs into more than just a hobby? Turn it into income and add professional speaker to your bio! In today's episode I'm sharing the two things that you need to start doing in order to transition from free speaker to paid speaker. How to Transition from Free Speaking to Paid Speaking (2:38) 2 Questions to Ask Yourself (3:03) Are you using your story to tell or to inspire? How are you leaving your audience better? Are you asking for money? Asking for Money (5:12)...
Sep 28, 2020•9 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Are you approaching the tasks in your business proactively or reactively? If you're treating your business like a game of pinball, where you're just doing what you can to ensure you don't lose the ball, you're being reactive. Instead, consider ways you can treat your business like a game of bowling, where you're always focused on the strategy of knocking down the pins. Listen in as I share three ways you can leave the game of pinball that you're playing in your business behind and implement the ...
Sep 20, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 5
I believe that everyone has a story to share on their experiences in life and business! With the self-help genre booming right now, I'd love to help more women authors line the shelves at Target! If you have something to say, I want to help you get it on paper and published! In this episode, I'm sharing the five things you need to think about when publishing your non-fiction book! Meeting Bob Goff (4:18) Before Publishing Chasing the Bright Side (2:48) Using Your Story to Help Others with Their ...
Sep 13, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Is your ambition fueled by positivity? I’ve come to realize that ambition comes in two forms, inspired and anxious. Not only can you feel a difference in these two types of motivation, but you can also see a difference in the end result. In this episode, I’m sharing about these two types of ambition and what each approach is fueled by. Morning Productivity (1:20) Two Types of Ambition : (4:57) Inspired ambition - Inspired ambition comes from alignment. We get this burst of energy when we feel li...
Sep 07, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
