Courage & Clarity

Welcome to Episode 8! It's the second half of my conversation with Blair Staky, a successful fashion & lifestyle blog designer turned full-time blogger. 

When Blair decided she wanted to get more serious about blogging and step away from her design business, her blog was bringing in around 20% of her income.

By focusing on some simple yet intentional tweaks to her strategy, Blair's blog now provides 70% of her income.

Blair used to scramble to throw up a blog post at the last minute, and it would typically be about whatever was on her mind that day.

Today, she targets exactly what her dream readers are interested in.

And instead of just posting up pretty pictures of what she wore, she’s pairing each outfit with a story of some kind to create an *emotional connection* to the pieces. Her readers feel more engaged and interested in the content, which leads to more trust and more affiliate purchases for Blair (woohoo!)

Instagram fits into this whole “intentional, strategic content” idea as well. Blair went from basically reposting only her blog photos to coming up with a separate, interesting, behind the scenes peek into her life. 

In this episode Blair answers these questions: 

• How do I figure out what my ideal readers are actually looking for, and then use their exact words to help them find me? 
• When using keyword research to come up with blog topics, what's the sweet spot between "too obscure" and "too overdone"?
• How do I incorporate keywords into my posts?
• How can I pair imagery & copy to create a story?
• When are the best times to post on Instagram?
• How do I grow past just a few hundred followers and into the realm of thousands (and beyond)

... and LOTS more. 

If you're looking to put a little more intention into how you grow using content, this episode with Blair is a must-listen. 

I know I have fallen into the trap of looking at bloggers with huge Instagram followings and assuming they must not have to do anything to keep growing. Instead, I hope you pick up on just how plugged in Blair is with actively commenting and engaging with her audience to show them that she’s a real person. 

So let's get into it -- we're talking about using research to grow a blog & earn 65,000 Instagram followers!

SHOW NOTES:

• Google Adwords Keyword Tool
• How to Be Infinitely More Productive This Month 
• How to Add Personality to Your Work Wardrobe 
• Like to Know It
• Iconosquare 
• Blogging for Keeps 
• Blair on Instagram
• Steph on Instagram

Hello & welcome to Episode 7! We're officially halfway through Season One of this podcast -- you guys having fun yet?!

With me this week is Blair Staky, successful fashion blogger at The Fox & She and former designer specializing in blogs for other stylish lifestyle bloggers.

We’ve heard from women who had no safety net and had to make entrepreneurship work in order to make money. This week’s story is an especially interesting one because it’s the total opposite. 

This is a story about a girl who had a pretty easy, comfortable backup plan that could have easily been her entire life’s work -- and it basically dropped into her lap because it was a family business. 

It's remarkable that Blair decided to step off the "easy" path, and onto the turbulent path of starting a design business from scratch in a city where she knew exactly 1 person. 

I usually do my interviews over Skype, but since Blair lives in Chicago I had her over to my house for this chat. I hope you can tell it’s just two girls hanging out over a couple of microphones, and we get into romance as well as business.

In this story we jump RIGHT into it. I start by asking Blair to tell us about where he story begins, in Dallas.

While working for her dad, Blair started designing a few websites on the side. 

After kindling a relationship her then-boyfriend (now-husband!) Rob on a trip with friends through Europe, Blair returned home where some seriously tough questions awaited her: Should she follow Rob to Chicago (where she knew absolutely no one)? If she did move, should she get a job or really try to make her business work?

This conversation is perfect for anyone trying to work up the nerve to make a bold choice, even when the path of least resistance lay neatly in front of you. 

Blair is so relaxed and transparent in this episode. This was actually my very first interview and to be honest I was still figuring out what this show was going to be. Recording Blair and her story definitely helped me shape my vision for this show, so for that I owe Blair a big thanks for pioneering this new concept with me. 

Enjoy the story of Blair's adventure -- I'm wishing you the courage & clarity to go after what you love! 

SHOW NOTES

• The Fox & She 
• Blair on Instagram
• Steph on Instagram

This week's set of Courage & Clarity episodes features two fantastic, straight-to-the-point conversations with the brilliant Facebook Ads expert Claire Pelletreau. 

(Psst, are you new to this podcast? This show is all about helping you find the courage & the clarity to after what you love. Each guest joins me for two episodes: courage (the VISION) & clarity (the PROCESS). More on that over here in Episode 1.) 

Claire takes us back to the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey when she was working for Laura Roeder and learning the ins & outs of online marketing.

She describes this time in her career as "getting a Master's Degree with someone else's money" -- she got to play around, experiment and test things without having to absorb all the risk that comes along with it. 

Claire was learning a lot, and she was really comfortable right where she was.

In fact, Claire shares that she can envision a reality where she never left this job, quietly tamping down the big scary entrepreneurial dreams in the back of her head. 

But she did leave that job ... when the bottom totally dropped out. 

Suddenly she was faced with making a completely unexpected decision: would she seek comfort in the form of finding another steady job, or would she finally answer the call to try her hand at entrepreneurship and go out on her own? 

Claire's turning point moment, when her side business became her only business, forced her out of that safe space of earning steady paychecks and into the realm of being her own boss.

With student loans to pay and a wedding looming in the distance, she had to figure out how to get clients fast. 

Claire shares what it was like to be completely overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, and how she would have tweaked her strategy knowing what she knows now. 

Join me for this honest conversation with Claire Pelletreau. She really puts everything out there from failures to wins in the kind of natural and relatable way that reminds me of catching up over a cup of coffee.

After this chat, head on over to Episode 6: Claire's Clarity episode, "How to Spend $40 a Month on Facebook Ads that Actually Work"! 

SHOW NOTES 

• Laura Roeder 
• The Fizzle Show 
• Try Fizzle for free! 5 week free trial 
• "Hey, Nice Package!" from Rebecca Tracy 
• "Bullseye", Claire's new ebook (pay what you want until February 1)
• Claire on Twitter
• Steph on Instagram

Welcome to Episode 6! It's the second half of my conversation with Claire Pelletreau, a brilliant Facebook Ads consultant. 

I have a feeling this episode will become a fast favorite for anyone interested in experimenting with Facebook ads... and if that's you, you're going to want to grab your notebook for this one, because Claire gets specific and practical in this one. There are so many things you're going to want to try after this conversation!

Here's what Claire's throwing down for us in this episode: 

• 3 big Facebook Ad strategies entrepreneurs at any level need to know about
• How to hone in on customers who are more likely to buy your products or services 
• How to create ads that intentionally and strategically grow your email list 
• How to authentically show up in front of people who don't know you -- and win them over
• How your ads are an investment in learning tons about your customer base & their big problems
• ... and, my favorite part: how Claire would spend just $40 a month on Facebook Ads!

So whether you've played with Facebook ads or you're a total newbie, whether you're a seasoned business builder or a brand new entrepreneur with little more than an idea, there's something for you in this conversation. 

I have to admit, before this conversation I regarded Facebook Ads with total skepticism, thinking of them as money pits yielding murky results. Claire reveals that there is so much more to this strategy than hoping to make money off of ads. You'll have to listen to see what I mean!

So let's get into it -- we're talking about key Facebook ad strategies and where to spend your money for the best results!

SHOW NOTES

• Facebook pixel 
• "Bullseye", Claire's new ebook ("pay what you want" pricing until February 1)
• Claire Pelletreau on Twitter
• Steph on Instagram

Welcome to episode 4! It’s the second half of my conversation with Christina Scalera, the fantastic attorney for creatives. 

Today’s topic is such an important one because I know lots of entrepreneurs have questions on how the heck they can make sure they are running a legit business.

What I love about Christina in this episode is she really makes complex things simple, approachable and comfortable — she shares what we really need to know, and I promise it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds. :)

Christina shares the most common questions she gets from her clients, and she covers crucial topics like:

• Do I need my legal entity in place in order to get started? 
• The importance of contracts in your business (this one is huge, whether you're a service provider or you offer products!)
• Some examples of what can happen when entrepreneurs don't have contracts in place
• How to handle ending a client relationship seamlessly, without the awkwardness
• How to send contracts the easy & painless way
• What you need to know about LLCs, business bank accounts & Tax ID numbers

So whether your business is just a baby and you’re getting everything set up, OR you’re more established as an entrepreneur, there’s something for you in this conversation.

I am definitely a “wing it and figure it out later” type of person as I tend to favor action over getting stuck before getting started, but Christina really makes a strong case for making sure some basic legal building blocks are in place to protect you as the business owner AND your customers or clients. 

If you’re new to this podcast, maybe this is your first time listening, here’s the deal...

This show is all about helping you find the courage and clarity to go after what you love.

It's a little different from other shows because I’m breaking up each of my conversations with amazing female entrepreneurs into two parts.

There’s the COURAGE portion, where we get into the deep dark moments that led to success, and the CLARITY portion, where my guests shed light on some hugely important topics to help all of us with our businesses and projects. 

Now right now you’re listening to my CLARITY conversation with Christina, where we get into legal essentials for business building.

If you missed the COURAGE episode, I definitely recommend skipping back to episode 3 because Christina’s story is SO relatable and helpful, and it really sets the stage for today’s conversation.

So let’s get into it -- we’re talking legal essentials for business builders!

SHOW NOTES 

• Christina's website (where you can find her free legalize your biz ebook!)
• Honeybook
• Hellosign
• Docusign
• Signifyd
• IRS website (for tax ID)

Today's edition of Courage features the wonderful, sweet & well-spoken Christina Scalera, attorney for creative entrepreneurs. 

(Psst, are you new to this podcast? This show is all about helping you find the courage & the clarity to after what you love. Each guest joins me for two episodes: courage (the VISION) & clarity (the PROCESS). More on that over here in Episode 1.) 

Christina takes us back to her first job out of law school which was, in theory, her "dream job". After chasing goal after goal for so many years, she finally "arrived" at this destination and felt... dissatisfied. 

From daydreaming about creating jewelry, food blogging and becoming a professional Yelp reviewer, Christina knew she wanted to try her hand at entrepreneurship. Not knowing what she had to offer, she decided to become a certified yoga instructor and launch a health & wellness blog. 

Spoiler alert: she failed, miserably. 

With this initial try at business building, Christina was met with resistance at every turn. It felt hard. She tells us about how bored she felt creating "just another green smoothie recipe"... and what happened when she started sharing her expertise instead. 

What happened next is truly inspiring and refreshing. You don't want to miss this conversation -- Christina is so open about the twists & turns of her journey, and she's sharing lessons learned the hard way (so you don't have to!)

Join me for this down-to-earth chat with Christina Scalera. The way she talks about her current business reminds me of a favorite cozy sweater: comfortable, natural and a perfect fit. 

After this chat, head on over to Episode 4: Christina's Clarity episode, where she teaches us how to make sure our businesses are legit with "Legal Essentials for Business Builders"!

SHOW NOTES:

• Christina's Website 
• Creative Empire podcast 
• Rising Tide Society 
• Honeybook
• Christina's instagram
• Steph's instagram 

Get ready for the second half of my conversation with Amanda Boleyn! 

So remember, this show is all about helping you find the courage & the clarity to go after what you love.

So, this is the CLARITY portion of my interview with Amanda. 

I’m breaking each conversation up into two episodes — one called COURAGE, the part where we get into the dark moments that create amazing vision — and one called CLARITY — the part where my guests let us in on their expertise and give us a real process to apply in our own lives. 

The episode before this one was Amanda’s "courage" story, so if you happened to miss that one I highly recommend you listen to that first. This fantastic lady shared her real, raw & vulnerable moments along her path to entrepreneurship, and it really sets the stage for this juicy episode. 

Speaking of which, today Amanda is telling us about her 3 step-framework for making the transition from your day job to working on your business full time.

She calls her three steps the Lead Up, the Leap, and the Land. Amanda coaches women through this process over in the She Did it Her Way community.

Some key questions Amanda answers in this episode include:

• What should we be doing to "lead up" to this transition? How do we set ourselves up for success?
• How do you know when it's time to LEAP?
• So we quit our jobs... now what?

I have to tell you she is truly gifted in this area. In fact, she often warns people to not get too close to her or else you might quit your job :) And that's exactly what happened to me when I met Amanda!

She’s got energy and enthusiasm, and she’s sharing the practical steps to help you seize the window of opportunity when it opens for you. 

I’m pumped to share this conversation with you guys, and don't miss the end of the episode where I share my favorite takeaways.

I'm also giving you a little sneak preview of what to expect from my upcoming Courage & Clarity episodes...  

Enjoy this conversation -- I'm wishing you the courage & the clarity to go after what you love!

P.S. if you like the show, you can help me out in a major way by subscribing and leaving a quick review in iTunes. It makes a big difference and should only take a minute. Subscribe and leave a review in iTunes here »

SHOW NOTES: 

• She Did it Her Way 
• Creative Chics 
• Fizzle - Try 5 weeks for free!
• Amanda's instagram
• Steph's instagram 
• Everything you need to know about Minimum Viable Income 

Here we go ... we're kicking off the first season of this podcast!

We've been doing lots of work behind the scenes to bring you an entire collection of real, honest stories intended to help you find the courage & clarity to go after what you love.

In fact, in this first episode my favorite moment is when our guest, Amanda Boleyn, talks about the *exact moment* she knew she was going to quit her job and go out on her own -- Terrifying! But I know a lot of you are thinking about doing that very same thing... because there’s something we want to create.

More on Amanda in just a moment, but first I need to tell you why this show you’re listening to is different than other podcasts you’ve heard before.

I created this podcast to address the fact that creative, badass entrepreneurial women struggle again and again with two main elements:

1. The vision: for our lives & our projects
2. The process: what's needed to make that vision a reality. 

These are two totally different mindsets. On one hand there’s knowing what you want... And on the other hand there’s, actually doing it.

So, for each guest you’re going to hear an entire episode about her VISION, and then you’re going to hear another episode entirely devoted to the PROCESS.

This show is all about helping you find the courage & the clarity to go after what you love. 

I’ve seen too many hopeful entrepreneurs fizzle out either because they got too high on a vision and never got down to brass tacks — or they got bogged down in the process without having a real vision for themselves in the first place.

That’s why I’m breaking each conversation up into two episodes — one called COURAGE (because it takes a ton of courage to find your vision) — and one called CLARITY (because bringing a vision into the real world requires a crystal clear process).

I'm so excited to bring you 12 episodes with 6 incredible guests as my first season of this show, and I'm pumped to have you follow along with me. I have learned A TON from these ladies and I know you will too.

---

Now, our first guest — I’m so excited for you guys to meet her — Amanda Boleyn is the amazing, vibrant and fun host of the She Did it Her Way podcast. I think you guys are going to LOVE these two conversations I had with her, she really gives us a behind the scenes look at how she's built her podcast & the She Did it Her Way brand, and her energy is so authentic & real.

In this COURAGE episode, listen for when she describes the exact moment she knew she was going to leave her plush corporate job to go out on her own -- what that felt like, and how she found the COURAGE to say *yes* to complete uncertainty.

Now, if you like this one you’re definitely going to like the next episode where she shares — wait for it! — a 3-step framework for how to leave your job and pursue your business full time.

I’m creating these episodes every week, releasing a new COURAGE and a new CLARITY every & every Monday. So if you haven’t yet, subscribe in your podcast app so you get every episode as it comes out.

Now without further adieu, let's get into our very first episode with Amanda Boleyn!

P.S. if you like the show, you can help me out in a major way by subscribing and leaving a quick review in iTunes. It makes a big d