When Allison encountered the “Hustle Bro” and “Boss Babe” style of marketing, she really didn’t like it. Especially once she learned that a lot of those persuasion tactics are rooted in some pretty deep-seated shit that keeps a lot of people stuck and struggling. Rather than succumb to the shoulds and “yaasss, queen” toxic positivity, she created space to do business more authentically. Listen to find out how you can find success your way. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: What nickname are ...
Dec 22, 2021•53 min•Ep. 46
Amongst the goal-digging, hustle-and-grind entrepreneur culture, there’s some sage advice you don’t hear too often: take time to chill the F out. Karla is on a mission with her business to make rest a more common part of her life (not to mention her employees, and their clients). Now that’s a mission I can get behind! Listen now to shift your perspective to make your business work around your life. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: The plan is the thing… until it isn’t. If long term planning...
Dec 15, 2021•40 min•Ep. 45
Taking a chance and putting yourself out there is a scary experience for any business owner. When Matt approached a marketing superstar, he had a solid strategy but an even better mindset — no expectations. His continued focus on bringing value helped him pivot his videography business from working on weddings to going on cruises with his ideal clients. His story is proof you don’t need to wait for permission to go after what you want. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Mini-rant to kick thin...
Dec 08, 2021•38 min•Ep. 44
Starting a business can be scary. When Jennifer started her business ten years ago, fear reared its ugly head. Rather than let it stop her, she asked, “how can I get around this?” and learned to work WITH fear instead of running from it. Her focus on problem-solving and a dedication to the people she serves kept her outdoor business open and growing (even during COVID!). To learn how to embrace challenges and keep moving forward, you gotta listen to this one. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode...
Dec 01, 2021•46 min•Ep. 43
Before Ross left his engineering job, he had a plan and a deadline — which gave his subconscious plenty of time to let fear work its magic. Finding himself unemployable in a foreign country, Ross had no choice but to quiet the fear and make s**t happen. And he did with the simplicity and precision of a true engineer. If you want to let fear stop calling the shots in your business, this one’s for you. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: What happens if the thing you’re trying to do doesn’t work...
Nov 24, 2021•44 min•Ep. 42
Jimmy takes over? In an interesting twist, this episode kicks off with Jimmy interviewing me...on my own damn podcast?! Things just kept weirder from there. Whoopee cushions, freak flags and giant pies… who knows what will happen? Lest you think we didn’t talk about business at all, this one’s all about overcoming expectations and showing up as you are in your business. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Jimmy’s secret to booking high-end clients? It’s not WHAT he knows, and it’s not WHO he k...
Nov 17, 2021•51 min•Ep. 41
If you’ve been in the entrepreneurial space for any amount of time, you’re probably familiar with “$10k a month” and “$100k a year”. Those numbers are thrown around so often it’s easy to feel pressured to make them your own personal target. But Chima had different goals… when the Pandemic challenged how she ran her biz, Chima stayed true to her definition of success. Her persistence and dedication lead to success than goes way beyond “The 5-Figure Month” hype. If you’ve ever felt the heat to rea...
Nov 10, 2021•40 min•Ep. 40
After realizing her heart wasn’t in her fallback career and getting her self-esteem stomped by her then-dream job, Brook fled to Southeast Asia. She returned with the skills and right amount of confidence to start her freelance career. And she used them again to completely pivot her business. What can happen for your business when you learn as you go? Listen to find out. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: “Oh my God! Where do I start?” — Brook has the perfect strategy for you (hint: it’s some...
Nov 03, 2021•38 min•Ep. 39
When heartache knocks on your door, sometimes the best thing you can do is pack your bags and get the hell out of dodge. That’s what Christy and I both did. In pre-Pandemic times, Christy set off solo to Southeast Asia. When she was ready to return to the States, one principal guided her: “I can probably figure that out.” Listen now to find out what happens when you stop placing artificial limitations on yourself. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: When an opportunity comes up, are you disqua...
Oct 27, 2021•36 min•Ep. 38
If you’re a creative, you can’t be good at business and make a living. Sandi’s waving a big red BS flag on that crap. After losing her magic in the drudgery of everyday life, she rediscovered her passions and found success on her own terms – as a writer and full-time musician. Sandi’s proof that every problem is figure-outable. If she can do it, so can you. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Less than 90 seconds into the episode and we got an F bomb! Sandi doesn’t give a f*ck and she’s not ap...
Oct 20, 2021•38 min•Ep. 37
Alix taught us to be the hero of our own stories the first time they were on. This time we take a closer look at what your hero’s journey actually looks like. Turns out, it’s a lot of circles. Or as Alix likes to call it, “this horrible wreath of pain and learning and human experience.” Don’t worry — we lighten the mood with plenty of Disney (and singing). Listen to get the tools you need to make the most of your journey. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Feeling all alone in business? Spoil...
Oct 13, 2021•39 min•Ep. 36
When you’re good at a lot of things, focusing on one thing can be a challenge. Instead of asking herself “What do I do?,” Fabienne asked, “who can I help?” That mindset shift helped her set her own head trash on fire, take massive action, and move her business from best-kept secret to the pages of Forbes. If you’re looking to step out of the shadows with your business, you’ve gotta check this one out. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Fabienne used to play handball and stage homes, I used to...
Oct 06, 2021•37 min•Ep. 35
What do you do when fear stops you in your tracks? Most of us either figure it out or run – and there’s nothing wrong with that since it’s just your brain kicking into “fight or flight”. But what if instead of running away from something scary, you embraced it? I was shocked when Jon and I stumbled upon a common tactic we had for dealing with things that terrify us… by leaning in and learning everything we could. Listen to this episode for our favorite way to loosen fear’s hold on your future. C...
Sep 29, 2021•39 min•Ep. 34
As children, we’re used to our parents telling us we can’t do something — but what if it’s your government? Growing up in Communist East Germany, Dagmar was faced with the harsh likelihood she would never be a clothing designer. So she set off on a parallel path with one guiding thought — “at some point I can switch.” And she did just that! If you’ve ever felt something in your soul telling you to do a thing everyone tells you is impossible… you won’t want to miss this one! Can’t-Miss Moments Fr...
Sep 22, 2021•28 min•Ep. 33
Literally the week everything started shutting down for COVID, Darren and I were at a conference bonding over a mutual love of grilled cheese. That led to a fascinating conversation about mental health and running a business that we did our best to recreate here. In this episode, Darren and I talk about how to maintain your business’s most important asset — you. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: If your reaction to not performing at your best is “I suck! I need to buy a course and get a VA!”...
Sep 15, 2021•51 min•Ep. 32
There’s a persistent myth (that I’d really like to set on fire) that if you follow the “right steps,” you’ll find success and happiness. Screw that. Tracy followed the traditional classical musician path but after a lot of settling and compromising, realized she wasn’t happy. An old friend opened her eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship as a creative. From there, Tracy’s curiosity and an “I’ll just try that!” attitude have taken her from underpaid (and underappreciated) musician to succes...
Sep 08, 2021•45 min•Ep. 31
Sometimes taking something too far is the best way to get it right. After burning out with her editing business, Lianna went back to corporate. It didn’t take long for her to realize that was a big mistake. Here’s how she undid that decision and found the fun and balance she needed to fall back in love with her business. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Death by a thousand stiff, overly professional sounding emails: you escaped corporate hell, so why would you run your business sounding lik...
Sep 01, 2021•24 min•Ep. 30
Deepshikha is a woo-guru for the modern age. She knows how to break it down into something you can actually use, hours of seated meditation not required! Besides, who doesn’t love a spiritual guide who fires off F-bombs at will? In this episode, we not only demystify energetic practices but also entrepreneurial myths that might be holding you back (#antiinfluencer). Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: PoYAYto, poTAHto — you’re probably already speaking woo and don't even realize it. Here’s the...
Aug 25, 2021•40 min•Ep. 29
Often when I’m working with an entrepreneur, they fall into the trap of ignoring their past experience because this freelancing thing feels so new and intimidating. But that past translates way more than you think – and I think Jody’s story illustrates that perfectly. On the surface going from pilot to writer sounds like a 180-degree turn, but this episode will show you just how closely the two experiences are connected. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: What to focus on instead of “closing ...
Aug 18, 2021•43 min•Ep. 28
Don’t let the fluffy marketing fool you - the early days of entrepreneurship can be dark. Csaba followed his gut through corporate hell and nightmare clients to find success. A lot of real talk in this one. But don’t be scared, dear listener. There’s beauty in the journey (we share ‘cause we love ya). Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Put away the hair grease. You don’t have to be a used car salesman to make money. You just gotta do this (this tactic takes all the sleaze out of sales). When ...
Aug 11, 2021•48 min•Ep. 27
Entrepreneurs have a few characteristics in common - they’re curious and they think big. That’s exactly how Cindy went from unemployed to personal trainer to Amazon best seller. With a little help from Google along the way, Cindy discovered the exponential opportunity of entrepreneurship. If you’re wondering what you need to get started, this one’s for you (psst... you already have it). Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: You’re an employee OR an entrepreneur… but what if you could be both? Ci...
Aug 04, 2021•48 min•Ep. 26
If you’re a planner (who always has the plan, and the backup plan, and the backup backup plan), then this one is for you. My friend JT and I are here to break down why sometimes you’ve just gotta jump in and learn things the hard way. And yes, that sometimes means failing spectacularly. So much goodness in this one - it won’t keep you from failing but it’ll make it way less scary. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Out of context quote: "I love the misery. Tell me your stories." It’s true tha...
Jul 28, 2021•56 min•Ep. 25
Putting yourself out there is one of the scariest parts about becoming an entrepreneur. Especially when your business is built around you. This fear is no stranger to me...or to Nkiru. In this episode we sift through the head trash that kept us in the shadows and we’re throwing it all in the dumpster so you don’t have to. Note: in this episode we talk about things from the perspective of being women in business. Regardless of how you feel about the societal buzzword/shitstorm surrounding the con...
Jul 21, 2021•39 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, my buddy Mike Rinard and I take a look back at our freelancing careers. We’ve had adventures with Stormtroopers, surfing sessions, and failures - all of which have created the guidelines we use to run our businesses today. This one’s all about the right mindset to build a biz for your life, so make sure to check it out. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: How do you pick your specialty when you're first starting your business? If you’re stuck, I’ve got a two-second trick to bu...
Jul 14, 2021•41 min•Ep. 23
After her husband’s rare tumor diagnosis rocked her world, Megan needed freedom to support her family. So she busted out of her corporate cage and became an entrepreneur. We talk about how you can still have fun with your business through the anxieties of entrepreneurship. BONUS - we’ll introduce you to some musical artists who might just have your new theme song. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: "Oh, just start your side hustle. Oh, just make more money" - How this advice can help you beco...
Jul 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 22
Okay...I can’t say what I love more - Mitali’s attitude or her stories. And it's not often I find someone who can rant about shit like me. Mitali’s journey took her from library loner to failed journalist to cockring expert to eight-time book author. You’re gonna get mindset gems while laughing your ass off with this episode. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Kicking this episode off with a mini-rant! The one thing you NEED to get right to show respect. Just do the damn thing After overcomin...
Jun 30, 2021•48 min•Ep. 21
It’s funny how often parental status makes its way into business conversations. I think colleagues ask about my baby-making plans about as much as my grandma does. With family and business so deeply tied to our identities, how to you put it all into perspective? How do you find the balance? We talk about all this (and more) in today’s episode. Plus, BONUS: can you tell how many times we default to talking with our hands? Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Bullshit brownie points and sarcastic...
Jun 23, 2021•39 min•Ep. 20
I remember the first time Kev asked me to perform on stage. And let me be clear – he didn’t ask me to speak, he asked me to SING. That triggered a whole ‘nother level of freak out, but I made myself say yes and the rest is history – to this day folks in the industry talk about that first performance I did in front of my colleagues. That’s why I love that I got to talk to Kev about what it takes to put yourself out there as an entertainer. I think you’re gonna get a lot out of this one. Can’t-Mis...
Jun 16, 2021•45 min•Ep. 19
I love this episode for multiple reasons – it’s like a crash course in quitting. We start with all the reasons to leave (along with all the fears likely to keep you stuck in a dead-end job). Then we dig deep into the realities of working with clients in different capacities (including on retainer). And we end with money talk: how to confidently walk away from a project, what to do when all your business disappears during a global pandemic, and how to charge for the value you deliver (vs what you...
Jun 09, 2021•36 min•Ep. 18
Confession time: I met Raven in person for the first time when I was in Memphis earlier this year, and it was foodie love at first site. We spent a lot of time talking clients, life, and business over brunch and brews… and it got SO damn good I basically strong-armed her into coming on the show. When you listen to this one you’ll get why – she’s so insightful, she’s gonna have you looking at your business in a whole new light. Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode: Six months of ramen noodles and...
Jun 02, 2021•42 min•Ep. 17
