Financial Literacy for Podcasters with Jamie Trull

in my life. And I will be forever grateful for the people who have not only helped me this year, grow and scale and do so many other really cool things, but the people that have impacted me throughout my entire journey. So today, in particular, I am so excited to share with you, a friend who I have just come to fall in love with in the last 12 months. And I've learned so much about her all the amazing things that she's done, and especially in

2020. She is the financial superhero guru that none of us knew we all needed desperately. So let's get right to it. Welcome to the profit podcast where we teach entrepreneurs how to start launch and market their podcast. I'm your host, Krystal, Proffitt, and I'm so excited that you're here. Thanks for hanging out with me today. Because if you've been trying to figure out the world of podcasting, think of this show as the time saving shortcut

you've been looking for. So let's get right to it, shall we?

came to the rescue. So I'm incredibly honored to have on the show today, Jamie troll who is a CPA, financial literacy coach, and an online course creator who helps business owners and self employed individuals take control of their business finances, so that they can make in keep more money. I am just blown away by how incredible of a year Jamie has had in the middle of a pandemic. And it's because she knows how to show up and listen to her audience and actually give them the things that they

need. And what do I mean by this? Okay, like, let's look at everything that's happened in 2020. As far as the markets go, and with the pandemic, businesses having to shut down people just having to pivot in so many different ways. Jamie has shown up and we're going to talk about that in the conversation today. But I want to really hone in on how she listened to her audience and turned around and said, How can I help them in ways that no one

else is showing up? And to me, in particular, as an online business owner, the thing that I most appreciate about Jamie is her honesty and how she approaches tough conversations, because let's be honest, like nothing about 2020 like it's just been one long, strewn out awkward conversation. That's

really what it feels like. And she's taken these big concepts of stimulus packages and things that she'll get into that I still don't even 100% know what all of the financial stuff means, like as far as the government stimulus packages and everything, but she breaks them down into a way that we can understand as business owners, so I'm not going to tease anymore the conversation. I'm so excited for you to listen to my conversation with Jamie troll.

their business finances. So whether they have a side hustle or a small business, or they're self employed, and they want to learn about managing their money, or taxes or bookkeeping, I dabble a little bit in that. So I just kind of helped them sort of have a holistic approach to understanding all about things that impact their business finances, and how to manage them better, and how to pay themselves more, because who doesn't want to do that? Yes,

that's awesome. So how long have you been in business for yourself? Because I know, you were in the corporate world for a pretty big corporation. So let's let's talk a little bit about that. Like, what was that transition? Like working in corporate to what you're doing today? Yeah, it was a little bit

of a transition. So yeah, I worked at the majority of my career was with Coca Cola enterprises, which is the Bottling Company for Coca Cola probably heard of, and, and so obviously, fortune 500 company was very different from an atmosphere. But it was one of those things, I actually really liked my job, I didn't hate corporate, I just there were times that I worked a lot, after two multibillion dollar mergers.

And one of them I was eight months pregnant with my second child, while working 90 hours a week. And I just said, You know, I gotta, I gotta find something that's going to work better for me where I can use the thing, the talents that I have, and the things that I know to help people because I always had this draw towards small business, honestly, I mean, I think I just had a heart for small business, I knew a lot of friends that were self employed, or small

business owners. And there just wasn't that same set of knowledge about finances, right? I mean, that's not most people don't start their business. They're like, Hey, I'm going to dive into learning all I can about finances. That's not usually the reason that we started. That's something that comes up later that we're like, oh, shoot, like, I have to, I

have to know this stuff. You start your business, because you're excited about something and you're passionate about it, and you want to, you know, you want to change the world, and you want to make impact, and then you're hit with all of this other stuff that comes with being a business owner. And that's what I was passionate about helping people through because a lot of times, not not just women, but a lot of times women specifically do have that feeling of like shame or fear

around their finances. And that can really drive you know, their actions toward it. And they can they can, you know, run away from that. And so I wanted to present it in a way that it was not intimidating in a way that was encouraging in a way that was empowering, that made people realize, you know what, I can't understand this. It's not so hard, actually. And this can actually really change my business and my life. If I get a handle on this.

understanding attitude. But you're also very firm in why you teach the way that you do, especially when it comes to profit and revenue. I remember, I've seen several of your lives where you're like, Guys, it's not all about the revenue, it's like you can make so much money. But at the end of the day, if your expenses are even more than you're not taking home, any profit. So where does that come from? Like, because I can't imagine, you know, that was the way that everything was done in

your corporate life. So was there a transition for you to really understand who you wanted to speak to when you first started your online business?

needed help. I started more I started doing more virtual CFO work where I would go into a small business and help them kind of gain control of their finances. And in that process, going into these businesses and you know, seeing where the pain points were, and seeing what you know, processes were missing and and you know what, what they were We're overlooking, right? And how these businesses were really running themselves. And

it wasn't financially. Um, that really got me thinking like there is there is this need here for this. And sometimes it's for not for people who can necessarily afford to have to bring on a virtual CFO like me to come my fix their business, right. So I think that's where that passion came from where I just saw it when I worked kind

of more service wise. And I just knew that there was a need, and I heard so many stories and what you said really resonates Krystal because a lot of people do teach this stuff or not even

teach this stuff. A lot of people talk about this stuff, very dryly First of all, and very condescendingly, not everyone, but I had this, so many people told me their CPA or, you know, their accountant or whatever, didn't explain this stuff to them, or would explain it in a way that, you know, they just kind of like did that nod and smile, where you're like, Okay, but I have no idea what you're talking about. And I don't feel like I can ask that

question. And so that's where it sort of what I realized that need existed and that people didn't feel like they had an outlet for it. Right. I, I felt like, I had to create that. And that's when I created my facebook group, which was sort of that safe space. Like, I wanted to create a safe space for people to come and ask whatever question and nobody's gonna judge the question asked, or how beginner level or anything like, that was the

point. The point was for you to come and ask those questions and feel like you could get answers and help from other people who are also trying to learn. So that was really the impetus behind the shift that went from service to teaching, which I never knew I would like, but it's honestly my favorite thing. Like, I absolutely love the feeling of getting to teach something, somebody, somebody something new, and empowering

them. And like just the transformation and the competence shift you see in people when you get to kind of teach them how to do things that they thought they could do, right?

business owners, right? Like you kind of talk to anybody that's a small business.

people, too, who are like, I feel like I can't ask this because I've had a business for 10 years. But you know, I have questions. And I Those are my favorite because the fact that those people are finally coming out and asking those questions, means I'm creating the space that they need, right means that I'm helping them to finally feel like they can, you know, move forward and don't have to live in that shame, right?

exploded here in a second. But how many people do you have in your Facebook group now?

soon, right? I'm just gonna do some housecleaning, I'm going to redo my website, and I'm going to do some some, you know, projects, and I literally had actually ordered all this like stuff to rearrange my house, because I'm like, that's what we're gonna do. Because that's, you know, that feels right for this quarantine timeframe. And then like, little did I know, then. So then I'm kind of sitting in this, like, you know, kind of quiet space from a work

perspective. And they start issuing all like the cares act, and all of the new stimulus stuff that was coming out. And all of a sudden, my group which had at the time, we had hit about five or 6000, I think right before this happened. And all of a sudden, the people in there kind of pivoted what they were asking, right, so nobody wanted to know about how to make more profit, because nobody was making any revenue. So that wasn't, they were all shutting their businesses down because

they had to. And there was this need for something different. And so they were just asking, like, Hey, have you seen like this new loan that's coming out? What do you know about it? And so the weekend after the cares Act came out, I sat down and read 880 pages of it. And I'm I just said, I don't I know nothing about this, but neither does anyone else I would look on the internet to see, you know, what I could find there was there was nothing useful because nobody knew what was in it. So I

sat down, I read it. And then I just started showing up live. And at the time, I did like four lives a week for a while, where I was just jumping in and trying to help and take questions and interpret what was happening because things were moving like minute by minute. So I just kind of leaned in, that's really all it was where I just said, Okay, this is the need, my ICA is need today, if I kept teaching on the same stuff I was teaching before COVID, none of this would have

happened. And in fact, I probably would have the least engaged Facebook group out there, because nobody needed that. That's not what they were looking for. So, you know, I, we were talking before this to Krystal, like, I think that the main thing there is just making sure that when you're making content, you know, especially in times of significant change, like I'm all for batching, and

all of that. But you also got to know when you got to preempt that batch work, and you got to stop those auto posts, and you got to just go with where you are, you know, being being directed, and listen to the voice of your ideal audience. And when they tell you, this is what they want, give them what they want. And all of a sudden, they will show up in droves if

you do that. And that was like the big lesson that I learned from all this is, hey, if you can just help and not everybody has the same opportunity to to do what I did. I understand that. But but I do think everybody has the opportunity to be nimble and to pivot when the needs of their ideal audience pivots. And that will bring so many more people to you. If you continue to, you know, kind of keep your your hand on the pulse, you know of what's going on in your community what they need.

opportunity. And it's almost like you came to a crossroads where you like you said I could continue with the content that I had planned, whether you had bad stuff or prepared it months in advance, or you could move forward with what people are

constantly asking you for. So I want to talk about the mindset piece behind this because I think this is really important for podcasters that are just getting started and maybe they started creating content, but then their audience is actually asking them for something else.

What does it take to show up still with confidence even like you said, like, no one else knew what the cares act was or you know, all the things like the fine print detail, and here you are, you're reading 800 pages of a document and you're like, uh, did they I remember watching you live one time and you're like, I don't even think they Know how small businesses are run? Because none of this makes sense. So how do you show up confident that you are serving your people in that time of a pivot?

ask. And so I think when you just commit, like, I'm just going to do my best, I'm going to learn what I can. But I'm also going to do my best and when you don't know, admit you don't know, right? Or, or I always would kind of caveat like, Look, this is my interpretation as it stands right now. Yeah, change tomorrow. But you know, just kind of giving grace to yourself, I think is really important when you're trying to

teach other people. Because I think sometimes we just feel like, we have to know all the things. And I think that's one of the things that even stops people from doing an online business or teaching at all is because they're like, I don't know, every in and out about the thing that I want to talk about, and therefore I shouldn't talk

about it at all. And the truth of the matter is, if you can help in any way, if you if you have something that you can help, and you know, and other people don't necessarily or you know it, you know, you have an obligation to share that with people and to help people through that. You don't have to know all the things no one expects you to know, all the things. Right?

audience. And for you, especially Jamie, I think that your superpower was just knowing which resources to trust, because I heard you several times saying, you know, people are posting articles or these things that were either, you know, just something way out of left field or something. It's

like clickbait for people. And you were like, guys, just look at this, like go to these sites go to these resources, because I'm a CPA like, you definitely have that behind you where you could say, these are my trusted resources. So how has that really played out for you like the the CPA credibility behind you and your experience? Do you think that that really helped you kind of navigate this journey and having a little bit more, I guess, expertise in all the things that were so

uncertain? I mean, it's just been a total dumpster fire watching all the financial stuff happening, but you've handled it like a champ. And you're just like, Guys, this, this is the latest thing. Go find it here.

So. So I don't lead with CPA because of that, because people think like, oh, CPA means she has memorized the entire tax code and can tell me what the answer is this. But in this process, I did. So I used to kind of lead more with financial literacy coach or profit strategist, because I identify

with both of those more. But in the midst of this, I knew and I started to see that people in this they felt more comfortable, and they felt like there was more credibility, the fact that I had the designation, mind you, none of this was taught on the exam. So it's not like that really, was anything to like, hang your head on. It was really more. Okay. I have I can I have a little bit of a background in somewhat understanding some of this, but not really, I'm not usually reading legislation.

And, you know, I for what this is saying that's not normally, you know, in my purview. So that was an interesting shift to kind of start qualifying more like, Yes, I'm a CPA, but then you do start to see more of the questions on all the things coming up when you start. Yes.

here you are in any way. You just had the confidence to show up for your people and say, Look, guys, this is the best knowledge that I have right now, in this moment, and I'm sitting here live with you, and I'm sharing that with you. And so how do you think that your audience has really responded like why are Why do you think Your group has grown so quickly, what do you think that the underlying factor is there?

people through. I think that resonated and so I saw people, I mean, a lot of people were inviting, or what would happen is usually there would be somebody would be talking about it, and maybe another group like I have, I had a whole hoard one day of pet sitters join my group. And it's because somebody was asking questions about these loans and what they could get. And like multiple people said, Oh, my gosh, you have to go over

and join this page. And, you know, get this information because she is explaining it. And she's you know, she's answering questions. And she's all over it. And I did, like I went through a period of time where I definitely over delivered, I normally don't answer every single question in my group. for about three months I did, which I will admit, took a little bit of a toll.

Personally, that was hard. And I did have to eventually kind of put up those guardrails to take a step back and say, Okay, I can't, that was fine. When we have a smaller group. Now, it's so many people, I cannot put that on my own shoulders to answer every single person personally. But at that point, I had trained so many people who had been there for a while that they knew the answer. So they would be sharing my YouTube videos or copying a response I gave to somewhere else and

responding to people. So it kind of became this community that could help each other off of like the foundation that I had laid to kind of get everybody on the same level playing field and have one place because I hate I tell you. The other reason that I started my group was because I can't stand all the misinformation that flies around the internet, it drives me crazy, and especially in the world of finances, tax deductions, like people, there's

so much hearsay out there. That, heck, if you're not that I think you should turn to Facebook for your financial advice, but a lot of people do anyway, let's be honest, they do. At least I'm gonna give them a place there where they can go and get the actual correct answers to their questions. And so that was really the guiding thing for me was like, Okay, I've got to cut through all this hearsay and misinformation and give people one place to come to find the

answer. And when they're confused, they know where they can go. And so I heard that so many times, throughout this process that people were just like, I knew, I knew, like anytime something new would come out, their first step was over in my facebook group to see what I had to say about it. And that, like, that's what I really wanted. I wanted to be that source for them. To really lean

into. Often people were like, I asked my CPA is my accounting, and they had no idea because a lot of a lot of accounts didn't want to touch this with a 10 foot pole. Because it was such a I mean, it's a full time job to keep up with. But I don't I didn't have anything else that I was doing. But I had an online business I could, I could pivot and just, you know, work with them and help answer people's questions. So it was just the

reception was crazy. People were at one point, like trying to get my Venmo to like, send me money I started getting I just got a pound cake in the mail the other day, like, it's so bizarre, because people feel like they need to give back something because I won't take money for any of this. People can find my courses, but I won't take any money for anything that I'm doing related to COVID. And so yeah, I'm just getting like random. I get random things mailed. to me.

questions. Tell me about your mindset and what that feels like to already have that content out there.

So I really and then I would just do posts that were just just, you know, the most commonly asked questions start here. And so it still, you know, when you get new people join, you'd still get some of the same questions. But like I said, we'd have other people who are chiming in and, you know, helping and directing to those resources that they found helpful. So I didn't actually even have a YouTube channel

until April. And I've got like 12,000 subscribers on YouTube at this point, which is also crazy. All just, you know, from all of all of this stuff that's been going on, because it was heavily searched, and there just wasn't enough information about it. So yeah, I just creating that and having it be something that's searchable, and not just

disappear right in time. Because I think that's what it feels like sometimes is that you make this content, you put your heart and soul in it, and then you know, then on to the next week, because we're making content, if you can have it to where you can repurpose that content, you can you can share that content later, you can make it more evergreen right in nature, then that's, that's the dream, right? Because then you know, you don't it's it's very freeing. That's how it felt to me.

want to sound like a robot. And I really do want to help people, but it was getting a little overwhelming, but still being able to lead them to one of your own resources that you know, is factual. It's true, and it will help them but literally grabbing the URL and chuck it in there to get go check this out. I just I love that you said that. Because I think that that's so great. I think that our podcasters can do that as well. And that's just such a great lesson to learn

from you. But Jamie, I want to switch gears for a second because I want to talk about some rapid fire questions that I have. And then we're gonna wrap up with some of the ways that people can connect with you and join this Facebook group that we've been talking about. Because it's so awesome. It is still hoppin you guys, like it's not like, Oh, it was really cool. You know, when everything first started, there are still questions in there all the time.

And I see it being something. I mean, it's one of my go to resources that go in there. And I'll do go the search function box, type in my question. And usually there's something in there related to it. So. But are you up for some rapid fire questions?

ideal client is. And we'll talk about a lot of important things that you need to have. But you also should have a plan for Okay, what's my budget? Do I how much money do I have that I can put in here? How quickly do I want to try and monetize this? How do I want to try to monetize this? Right? Like a specific plan? Because I think sometimes we just go into it without any real direction or plan. And then you look up six months, a year later, you're like, man, I just put a lot of work into it. But

what did I get from that? Right? And so if you don't have a plan that you can kind of benchmark against and see like, how am I doing? You know, how are things going? It can get really difficult to know if you're successful or not. Right?

an over analyzer 100%. I mean, I will I can sit and analyze a decision for, you know, as long as, as you can imagine. But I've kind of had to force myself and teach myself like, look that that doesn't serve like right, the incremental value of you sitting on a decision for a really long time is not going to serve you. And it's like just

talking to your podcast. And you know, your your listeners, Krystal like there are probably people who are in this audience who have been thought thinking about like starting a podcast, for like two years. Just Just do

it. I'll tell you because it's, it seems intimidating, but sometimes we can get like almost it's like almost, it's almost procrastinating with feeling like we have to get all of our ducks in a row, when really the best thing that you can do is just take a step, like just take a step, get closer to your objective, and you're going to be glad you did.

that podcast started. Because as I hope that the overall message that you learned today was show up for your people and deliver them what they're asking for and just be fluid, like be flexible, don't be so set in your ways that you can't pivot to the best thing that you can do to serve your audience. So Jamie, this has been so much fun. Thank you so much. So can you share with everyone the name of your Facebook group and where they can learn more about you?

ready. And most of the time I would get distracted and hop in there and just be like, Oh my gosh, thank you so much for sharing this because she takes These concepts that we all need to apply to our business. But most of us do stick our head in the sand and be like, Ah, yeah, I'll deal with that later. Or I'll look at, you know, my expenses later. And it's not that bad. We still have money in

the bank. But I love the idea that Jamie is helping online business owners flip everything on its head and really focus on the profit, the profit that you can generate with your online business, not just the revenue, but really focusing on the money that you can take home and bring home and I just, I love this conversation with her so much. So please, go follow Jamie online, go join her free Facebook group, go check out the programs that she has because

the girl knows her stuff. And she's taught me so much I cannot wait to see where this journey takes her because she's just on a rocket ship to the moon and I just love following her journey so much. So that's all we have for you today. Go check out the show notes for this episode. KrystalProffitt.com/episode 94 can see all the links that we mentioned in today's episo e, make sure you go follow Jam e and tell her like, Hey, I ound you because I listened to t e Proffitt Podcast. And it was a

esome. And you and Krystal are oth amazing. I'm just kidding You have to say that. But yo can if you want, because we'r pretty good, right? Like e're pretty funny. We try it. Y u know, we're just super silly. And we've actually had conversa ions back and forth where we're ust like, Oh my gosh, like t is is this is life. Like this is a you know, our online busin ss. It's so crazy. And we both

ove it so much. And we appreciat oh my gosh, you have no idea how much we appreciate e eryone that supports us n this journey because we c nnot do it alone. We have to s rround ourselves by other people who are focused on the same thi gs and who are willing to d the hard work because let e tell you, Jamie makes it loo easy. But man, she is a hard wo ker. And she wants you to have he financial literacy tha will help you take your busines to the next level. But okay, I ould just go on forever and

ver. I gotta wrap it up. So ag in, go check out the show not s. KrystalProffitt.com/episode19 . And if you have not already, make sure you subscribe to the how. Wherever you're liste ing, take a screenshot and tag e and Jamie, we want to kno what you thought about today's episode. Tell us what your num er one takeaway was from tod y's interview. And rememb r, keep it up. We all have to st rt somewhere