We are joined by the sophisticatedly sassy Annie P. Ruggles, founder of The Non-Sleazy Sales Academy, who has helped hundreds of people and their endeavors through deep connections, lasting impressions, and friendlier transactions. 

For almost a decade, Annie has harnessed her Hulk-like disdain for hard-sales, tacky self-promotion, and overly competitive sleazeballs as inspiration to help people find better ways to grow their small businesses. As the founder of The Non-Sleazy Sales Academy, she's guided hundreds of people toward making deeper connections, lasting impressions, and friendlier, more lucrative transactions and conversations.

In this episode, Annie and Shauna address the “startup mindset” and the importance of being coachable while also knowing when to stick to your guns when it comes to non-negotiables for your company. Do you listen to your advisors or your clients more? And what is the difference between a small business mindset versus a startup mindset? Annie talks about the importance of scaling your business slow and steadily to avoid crashing and burning. She also tells a story of a company that was on the show Shark Tank who was put in an interesting dilemma, accept the offer on the table that they came in hoping for and compromise on what makes them special, or leave with nothing but keep what they believe is the heart and soul of their business.

Listen in as they share stories, laughs, and actionable advice on topics such as navigating feedback, when to know it’s time to pivot your company, how to scale your business without overdoing it, and how to “blow the roof off this thing!”

Connect with your host on Instagram @shauna.armitage and visit www.startuprenegades.com/become-a-renegade to join the free Renegades Community.