Relationship building is a learned skill that becomes an epic growth tool when done right.

Chances are though you’ve had some networking experiences that left a sour taste in your mouth. Sneak attack sales pitches disguised as friendly check-ins? Corporate style networking? Pass, pass.

This episode is a wake up call packed with tactics on how to build powerful relationships and social currency that ACTUALLY feel good, even if you’re an introvert like me.

Plus, I break down how to use my Adjacent Ask tactic. It’s my go-to formula for calling in aligned opportunities without any awkwardness. Tune in and steal it for yourself.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode219

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Business growth isn’t a high school line graph, rather, it goes up and down depending on the seasons.

Want to push past your current revenue? You’ve got to work with the data you got, and keep going–even when it’s messy, and far from perfect. Our ego hates that reality, especially if we’ve had success in the past.

In this episode, I’m taking you in a time machine back to the early days of my business to share everything I wish someone had told me, including where to invest my time, money, and focus. But fair warning, the dose of reality I share will body check your ego big time.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode218

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Real talk – how do you navigate pregnancy (or any big life change) while running a business? Especially one where you travel and speak? 

If you’re self-employed planning maternity leave, or if you're simply looking for strategies to strike a healthier work-life balance, this episode will enlighten, inspire and spark new ideas for you. I sat down with one of my long-term clients, successful speaker and trainer,  who ALSO  is pregnant with TWINS.  Between us we have (or are brewing) 8 kiddos and we’re sharing a candid convo on challenges and realities of juggling motherhood, pregnancy, speaking, digital courses  and all things entrepreneurship.

Even if you’re not pregnant, these insights are for anyone craving a good life beyond their business.

Episode Quick Guide:

0:00 Self-Employed Pregnancy and Maternity Leave

3:58 Navigating Business and Pregnancy

14:18 Transition to Short-Term Projects and Simplify Business Operations

20:32 Travel and Work Independently

24:58 The Challenges of Performing and Recovering

35:31 Balancing Work and Rest in Self-Employment

42:06 Simplifying Business and Avoiding Time-Wasting Activities

48:31 Shift to Digital Courses

58:29 Balancing Personal and Professional Brand

1:04:08 Using Your Voice for Marketing Success

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode217

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Ever wonder how Taylor Swift built her diehard fan base? It's not the glitzy costume changes or famous boyfriends. Taylor's audience can't get enough of her songs because album after album, her lyrics make them feel like they know her. She puts into words the same experiences they're going through too.

As business owners, you can forge those same genuine connections that turn you into an audience favorite. The secret sauce? Everyday, relatable stories. When you share these real snippets of your life, storytelling becomes your ultimate differentiator.

The good news? You don't need to be a pop star to make it work for you. Tune into this  episode to unlock the secrets of relatable storytelling that will set you apart from others in your niche.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode216

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

In the busy world of entrepreneurship, it’s often challenging to say yes to when opportunities knock. When you’re swamped with work, getting in front of new audiences can take a back seat. It’s all too easy to fall into ‘when/then’ syndrome, promising yourself that you’ll make time later.

But visibility helps consistently keep leads and clients coming in the door of your business-so your economic engine can keep chugging along. And the key to keeping it going? Your signature talk.

It’s the tool every business owner needs so you’re empowered to confidently say yes, without needing to reinvent the wheel every time you take the stage. Tune into this episode to find out how to use a signature talk to keep you in the spotlight, build your brand, and cement your status as the go-to expert in your niche, even in your busiest of times.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode215

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Be honest: Do you have a graveyard of talks you’ve delivered 1, 2 or 3 times? Do you feel like you’re creating a new talk for almost every speaking opportunity?

If you’re picturing your Canva dashboard packed with slide decks, right about now, you’re in good company.

Many of my Signature Talk Accelerator students come into the program with a bunch of talks, before honing in on a signature talk topic that’s versatile enough to be used over and over again.

Nicole Hatherly, a Global Brand Strategist & Professional Speaker, was one of these students. As an already good speaker, she struggled with the idea of how to clearly articulate her expertise into one talk.

But inside the Signature Talk Accelerator she found her ‘margarita message’<---tune in to learn my spicy take on honing in your talk focus.

In this episode you’ll hear why Nicole no longer believes a signature talk is a one-trick pony, and how in 6 months she’s gone from a rough draft to delivering it 19 times and counting for three very different types of audiences!

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode214

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Is your message catnip to your audience? 

Clarity in your message comes from taking action over and over. The more you speak, the more you learn about what creates those “aha” moments where your message clicks with your audience.  

Yet, so many business owners try to think their way through why their messaging isn’t landing. They’re caught in the perfection trap leading them to believe they don’t belong on stage until everything is figured out. The truth is they’d get a lot further faster by testing it in front of an audience. 

That’s exactly what Merritt Onsa, a dream coach, who helps Christian women step into their purpose, experienced. Fast forward to today, and Merritt just had FOUR speaking opportunities offered to her! 

Merritt dropped gems in this conversation that will hit home for any business owner wanting to improve their messaging, tune in to hear our conversation.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode213

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Imposter syndrome can strike anyone, leading to battles with self-doubt and an inner voice who notices every fumble so it hisses unhelpful things like, “you don’t know what you’re doing” or “you’re an idiot.”

After 20+years as a speaker, I know first-hand that voice never quite goes away. But, I’ve also learned there are plenty of ways to shush it. 

And that’s what Sydnea Lewis, a Signature Talk Accelerator alumni, joined me to discuss. 

Sydnea is an experienced brand and marketing strategist and college professor, yet a year ago she found herself sharing her ideas and avoiding social interactions with peers and on social media.

Yep, imposter syndrome had Sydnea in its grips, but her experience in the Signature Talk Accelerator gave her practical tactics to embrace the fear of speaking and move forward despite it.

Fair warning: As always, you’re in for a real discussion. None of us has it all together. We’re all works in progress, but the insights you’ll take away from our conversation will propel you forward on your journey to becoming a more confident speaker.

In this episode, Sydnea and I discuss:

• The imposter syndrome struggle experts face
• One mindset shift which hugely dials down your nerves
• The messy middle of getting your first talk done
• A strategy to keep your talk focused even when you go off on a tangent
• To script or not to script
• Why critiques are a crucial part of improvement, even though they feel scary
• The joy of the speaking snowball effect
• How getting comfortable with discomfort leads to growth in your personal life

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode212

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Dream of making an impact with your message?

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or have a message in your heart you know the world needs to hear, your voice is the most powerful tool in your toolbox to reach the people you want to serve. 

By sharing your ideas and experiences it’s possible to profoundly impact your audience's lives. In fact, I’ll step up onto my soapbox and say if you have the ability to help others it’s your duty to do just that. 

Often people with a desire to help people feel conflicted about muddying their mission by trying to make money, but to effectively be a catalyst for change, you’ll need to confidently sell your ideas without guilt. And having a passion for helping others doesn’t need to equal pennilessness, friends. If you want to keep sharing your gifts with the world, you’ll need to make money too. 

In this episode, you’ll hear…

• Why honoring your audience is the cornerstone of driving real change
• One shift that elevates how you serve others with your message
• The relationship between money and mission
• How competence leads to confidence on stage
• The real deal on feeling weird about your calling
• A tough love pep talk on speaking with purpose
• What it means to sell your ideas

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode211

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!

Are you an 11th hour presentation prepper? Pride yourself on your knack for ‘speaking off the cuff’ on stage? Consider yourself charismatic? 

While these qualities can help you navigate all kinds of scenarios, if you've developed a habit of preparing your talk at the last minute, then there’s a good chance your message is getting muddy.

Consequently, making it difficult for your audience to decide if they want more from you, because you’re forcing them to weed through stories, details, and ideas that aren’t necessarily relevant to them. 

But what if you decided to strategically plan how to land the plane on your next talk, so your audience felt deeply seen and heard and you felt confident you’re on the right track to hit your goals?

Well, I know what would happen, and my instinct is you do too. Your next talk would have a more tangible ROI than praise, claps, or kudos. 

Tune in and hear:

• Why winging it on stage is an ego play, not a strategic move
• What your audience wants from you every single time
• Why being prepared isn’t the same as being boring or scripted
• The reputation and revenue risk
• Whether you might be a ‘Winging it Wanda’ 
• How to start preparing for the wins you want from the stage

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode210

Send me a note

📣 WORK WITH HEATHER  → https://heathersager.com/

📧  Get the Hint of Heather NEWSLETTER → https://heathersager.com/newsletter

Connect on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermsager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode hit home, I'd be so grateful if you took a second to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find the show.  Thanks for tuning in to the Hint of Hustle podcast! See you next week!