Business Blasphemy: Success, Ambition & Other Things Women Question After 40

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Erika Tebbens and Jennifer Battle join me this week in discussing the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming spaces -- something business owners talk a lot about but struggle to truly make real.

In this episode we talk about what we should really be asking marginalized humans about how to make business spaces "safer" and more inclusive. Through this beautifully messy conversation, we reveal the power of active and intentional value-driven leadership that can revolutionize the way we all approach community building.

So if you're looking to foster meaningful diversity and inclusion with an emphasis on building relationships of mutual respect, you don't want to miss this episode.

About Erika:
Erika Tebbens (she/her) is a Growth Strategist for experienced entrepreneurs who want to become sought after experts and industry innovators.

Helping changemakers, thought-leaders, and visionaries get their culture shifting work in front of more of the right people, in truly sustainable ways, is her jam. She does this through crafting individualized visibility and messaging strategies that are highly-impactful, sales-focused, and always values aligned. 

You can find her at ErikaTebbens.com and on Instagram at @erikatebbensconsulting (https://instagram.com/erikatebbensconsulting)

About Jennifer:
Jennifer Battle is an online CEO, business strategist, and founder of the mastermind community, Success Revolution Society.

In her 20+ year professional career, she has mastered developing meaningful connections in business. Her signature framework  guides  professionals  and fempreneurs to build genuine, profitable and strategic collaborations so that they can step into the life they imagine on their vision board.

Her business savvy is amplified by her matter-of-fact and relatable style. Jennifer delivers bold truths with humor and care. 

Join the interest list for Success Revolution Society - http://jennifernagel.co/thesociety 

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

When Sarah invites her daughter along for this special episode, things take an unexpected turn. Uncovering her daughter's interests alongside her own, Sarah admits a special kinship with dragons and a love for morally ambiguous characters. The whole episode is a sneak peak into their relationship and how you can learn a lot about yourself from pop culture.

Topics hit on in this episode:

• Compartmentalization of Kids in the Workplace
• Love for Game of Thrones
• Love for Harry Potter
• Anne with an E and its important themes
• Opinion on Taylor Swift
• Normalizing Changing Opinions
• Shakespeare vs. Taylor Swift

Guest Bio:
Shifaa Khan, a 14-year-old high school student who loves engaging in deep conversations and exploring pop culture with her mom, Sarah Khan. Shifaa's diverse interests and candid opinions provide a refreshing perspective on various topics, especially on popular shows and movies that have captivated millions. With her youthful energy and knack for asking thought-provoking questions, Shifaa brings a fun and dynamic element to any conversation. Her genuine enthusiasm for discussing shared passions makes her a delightful addition to this special podcast episode.

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

From pouring my heart into creating a group program to the unexpected truth I found in my reflection, I discovered the courage to follow my heart and be true to my desires - even if it meant going against the grain of conventional wisdom. What had I unknowingly unlocked?

In this episode, I touch on:

• Embracing the philosophy of corporate rehab by addressing unhealthy "working" habits and attitudes.
• Daring to stand out by adopting unconventional strategies in your business pursuits.
• Heeding your inner voice and putting happiness at the forefront.
• Tackling challenges head-on by addressing fear and dismissing self-doubt when making important decisions.

Looking for the resources mentioned in this episode?

Check out my 6-week transformational 1:1 mentorship program, Awaken, Align, Unleash, by going here: https://getcorporaterehab.com/awakenalignunleash

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Summary:

In this episode, Becky Brunner, Value-Driven Team Culture & Connection Coach, shares her approach to leading and building strong teams. We talk about ways to engage with team members and connect as humans, the importance of creating a ripple effect of praise across the team, how creating a strong culture improves productivity and profits, and suggestions for established teams who want to improve their existing cultures.

Bullet Points:

• Why building company culture and connection should start with your onboarding process. 
• What you should do within the first few days of hiring someone.
• Why it’s important to have a variety of training materials available.
• How outlining your culture, tools, and processes contributes to team members’ success.
• Why it’s important to be specific when giving praise about a job well done.

Quote

“If your team members feel like you care about them, you appreciate them, and that the work that they do matters, they're less likely to leave and go over to Joe's company next door.”

Guest Info

Becky Brunner of Choose Happy Assisting 

Becky's Bio:

Becky Brunner is a value-driven team culture & connection coach. She works with female business owners, service providers, and coaches by creating customized communication, collaboration, and connection strategies that are proven to develop strong, positive working teams & communities. To keep productivity high, relationships strong, and happiness present in the workplace, you must establish a “community-first” attitude. Becky teaches exactly how to do that, along with simple tips on showing more appreciation and putting human connection at the forefront of every female-led business. She does all this by standing by one specific mantra we can all use… “Be a good human.”

Connect with Becky:

Website: https://choosehappyassisting.com/ (you’ll find the team subscription here, too)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choosehappyassisting/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckybrunner17

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Summary:

There's a lot of business advice out there, particularly when we first start a business, that simply isn't true. My guest, Business Growth Strategist & Mentor and fellow BS-buster, Teresa Cleveland is joining me to unpack popular business “truths” that aren’t always effective. We talk about why it’s important to trust ourselves and not this week's guru, how we can resist the pressure to conform, and what that looks like for our businesses. Because the truth is, any business strategy can work, but only when it aligns with your mission, vision, and values.

Bullet Points:

• Why people get defensive when you question their methods.
• Why we need to normalize exploring and learning from our mistakes.
• Questions to ask yourself before you invest in a program.
• Why it’s okay to walk away from programs that don’t work.
• The importance of reconnecting with why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Quote

“So, bring your own special sauce to the table…that's the thing that is going to differentiate us from one another and the way that we deliver things.”  Teresa Cleveland

Guest Info

Teresa Cleveland of Growth Strategies Café 

Teresa's Bio: 

Not only can I see the fantastic business woman you are, I can help you see her, too. I've spent the last 14 years supporting incredible, unstoppable women as they bring their vision to life by stripping away all the unnecessary baggage so they are able to carve out the business they actually dreamed of.

We'll leave all the hype at the door and map out your Next Best Steps!

Connect with Teresa:

GrowthStrategiesCafe.com

GrowthStrategiesCafe.com/podcast

GrowthStrategiesCafe.com/Facebook

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Summary:

In December, I committed to offering 47 free business consult calls to my community and oof, did I learn a LOT. In this episode, I’m sharing the three common business challenges that kept popping up and how I coached these amazing women to define their own success, be more intentional when it came to their content, and how to honor their capacity.

Bullet Points:

• Why how long you’ve been in business isn’t relative to how successful your business is.
• What it takes to create content that sounds more like you.
• How to know where to put your efforts.

Quote

“You need to understand who you are, what you offer, how it helps people get from where they are now to where they want to be and how you do it that is different from everyone else. That is the key, and that's the hardest part for a lot of us to define.”

“You have to determine what your definition of success is for you, not compared to anyone else.”

Check out the new 12-week hybrid program Awaken, Align, Unleash here: https://bit.ly/unleashyourawakening

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Summary:

You know the kind of business practices that make you go “Hmmm…?” yet everyone’s doing them, so you convince yourself it’s ok? In the online business space, unethical behavior can get normalized quickly because so many of us are just trying to figure it out as we go. There isn’t a lot of oversight or accountability. But we have a responsibility to call out craptastic behaviors and change them. That’s why Sarah asked people inside the Business Blasphemy Facebook group to share red flag business practices they constantly come across and y'all did not disappoint. In this episode, we’re diving into six of the most tired-a$$ red flag business practices that need to be retired - from overselling the value of offers to adding people to email lists without consent to the lack of transparency around how much it costs to work with you, and more – so we can all do and feel better about the way we’re doing business. 

Bullet Points:

• Why we should run when someone says they want to hire a “unicorn”.
• The toxic business rhetoric that Sarah had to let go of.
• How we can be in integrity when sharing the value/price of our offers. 
• What’s mandatory when it comes to paying your teams.
• Why consent is non-negotiable, not to mention legal.

Quote

“Because I think at some point in our business, we've done some of, if not all of these, because we just didn't know better. But that's why we're here. We are here to learn a different way of doing things.”

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

We've made it to episode 10, and your treat is hearing from the genius that Eliya Finkelstein -- marketing expert and one half of the Data Driven Rebel duo.

In this episode, Sarah and Eliya talk about so much good stuff, and get to the heart of what is right and wrong with the way marketing is done in the online business space. If you're craving a different perspective on how marketing can serve your business in a way that feels good, and cuts through all the noise that makes it feel undoable, too big, too "hard", or like there's some big secret to marketing you're missing -- this episode is for you.

Topics this week include:

• Guarantees in business
• How selling success or selling "my way or the highway" creates shame
• Models and frameworks served the right way
• FAAFO -- Fuck around and find out
• Normalizing things not happening right away
• Pain point marketing and how there's a different way that can feel better

Eliya Finkelstein is a data-driven growth consultant and community resource for innovative entrepreneurs. Eliya proves you can stand out from the competition in an ever-changing and competitive digital landscape. Unlock your growth, confidently scale your business, and secure your future with the world's oldest proven scientific method. 

Connect with Eliya:
On the web: DataDrivenRebel.com
Unfuck Your Marketing Special Podcast: DataDrivenRebel.com/podcast
On Instagram: instagram.com/datadrivenrebel/

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Let's take a break from the "teachin' and the preachin'" and have some fun!

Sarah shares 5 of the weirdest consults she's had (there's likely more than 5 but these are top of mind).

Listen in as she tells the story of 5 unique experiences she's had in her corporate career and as a consultant, and the lessons she learned from them that have helped her build a well-boundaried business today.

Oh, and in the story of the Tantrum Twins, she mentions Exxon -- she meant to say Enron. She's not THAT old.

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.

Send me a direct message!

Mindset is a squidzillion dollar industry -- and it's easy pickings for people who want a quick-start business idea. Because it's also a ridiculously unregulated industry. And there are a lot of mindset coaches doing more harm than good.

This is NOT an indictment of the industry. Mindset is REAL... AND, there are times when mindset is NOT the issue.

In this week's episode, Sarah shares her thoughts on exactly that -- how do you know when it's a mindset issue and when it's not, and what are some of the BS tactics that some of the less enlightened mindset coaches use to get you into their ecosystem?

Tune in and find out.

Here's who/what got mentioned this week!

Kristin at Podcast & Amplify - connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastandamplify/

Join the Business Blasphemy Podcast Community on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessblasphemy

Want a free consult? There are only a few seats left.
https://bit.ly/47Q1consults

Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected!

Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been.

Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose.

And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way.

The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

Business Blasphemy is hosted by TEDx speaker and leadership strategist Sarah Khan, explores success, ambition, identity, entrepreneurship, and the questions accomplished women start asking after 40.