A question for you, listener. 

How often do you think about networking? 

The term “Networking” can feel extremely general, and the practice of going into a room full of strangers to try and make connections can seem intimidating. We know it’s good for our businesses to meet new people and build partnerships, but figuring out the right way into a networking situation can feel daunting. My guest today found a lot of success in growing her business through networking, and I love her strategic and thoughtful approach to figuring out which rooms she wants to be in, and how she can get the most impact from her limited time.

Now, I record these episodes WAYYYY before they come out, and since we recorded, Dani has actually shifted directions and no longer runs that business. However, that doesn’t change how valuable this conversation is so I wanted to be sure to bring it to you anyway! Dani Sticka is a former professional home organizer who believes in letting go of perfection and embracing a simpler life through home organization. During her own personal health journey and finding peace with less, Dani created Imperfectly Tidy to help others let go too.

Whether you consider yourself an introvert or generally pretty outgoing, there is a LOT to get out of my conversation with Dani. I know I came away from the interview with a lot of food for thought.

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/206
CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden
GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

HOOOOOOLY MOLY do I have a treat for you. Like, the biggest treat ever.

This week, I decided to share with you ALL FIVE of the private podcast episodes coming out this week in Making Good Happen.

Making Good Happen is my membership program, and every day Monday - Friday, there’s a private podcast that comes out for members to listen to.

So, here's all 5 episodes.

Want to join so you get ALL these episodes? Get the details here. 

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/205

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden

GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

Today, we’re gonna talk about something truly scary for small business owners: MARKETING. 

In this episode, I'm sharing my best advice for moving past this.  


MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/199

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden

GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

Small businesses are so powerful and make such amazing impacts on the communities around them — especially when they get the support they need. To illustrate this, I was joined by Ibrahima Souare from NYPACE, an incredible organization that mentors entrepreneurs, as well as Tamekia Flowers-Ball of Epiphany Blue, business owner/mentee who participated in NYPACE's program. 

In this episode, we discussed:

• NYPACE’s mission
• Tamekia’s  experience at NYPACE with her business, Epiphany Blue 
• How NYPACE continues supporting the small businesses that complete their program
• Qualities of the most successful small business owners and entrepreneurs 
• The ripple effects of small business entrepreneurs’ success
• Who would be a good candidate to work with NYPACE
• And more

Learn more about and connect with Ibrahima and NYPACE:

• Website: nypace.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Linkedin: Ibrahima Souare 
• Twitter: Ibrahima Souare

Learn more about and connect with Tamekia and Epiphany Blue:

• Website: epiphanyblue.com
• Linkedin: Tamekia Flowers-Ball
• Instagram: @epiphanyblue
• Facebook: Epiphany Blue 

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/203

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden

GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

Today’s episode is about a topic that is near and dear to my heart; How to create and maintain a socially conscious business.

My passion for this probably comes as no surprise, given the titles of my podcast and of my membership program, Making Good and Making Good Happen. Many if not most of this show’s listeners are, or want to be, socially conscious entrepreneurs, and it has been such a joy to witness the community forming and growing around this idea. As today’s guest said, it is so vital to surround yourself with peers and fellow business owners who “get it;” who support your business’s mission for good.   

To help us think through how to center doing good in our businesses, (hint: there are so, so many ways), Stephanie Malon-Rufi joined me for a fantastic conversation. Stephanie is the owner of Spark Good, where she consults with and coaches socially conscious entrepreneurs. She helps to distill their vision into a focused strategy and action plan, helps solve key challenges with mindset blocks, and helps them have a greater positive social impact with their business. 

It was so much fun to get to talk with someone else in the social entrepreneurship space, I learned a lot from my chat with Stephanie. No matter where your business is in its journey for good, I know you will get a lot out of this conversation.

Connect with Stephanie:

• Instagram: @smalonrufi
• Website: sparkgood.net

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/202

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden

GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

I’ve got to say, Charelle and I really enjoyed chatting about this one.

As a book about storytelling, it should come as no surprise that in addition to laying out really helpful ideas and frameworks, Stories That Stick was super well-written and fun to read. 

This book is chock full of examples, questions, and prompts to get your wheels spinning. If you are someone who feels you don’t have anything to say, or that your story isn’t worth telling, by the time you finish Stories That Stick you will have stories in spades. Even though I’m someone who has always been interested in narrative and has found a lot of success in sharing stories with my audience, reading these prompts sent little sparks of inspiration shooting through my mind. Luckily, author Kindra Hall walks you through how to sift through your newfound pile of stories and choose which to tell and how. 

Stories That Stick was a joy to read and talk through with Charelle, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/201

CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden

GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

HOLY MOLY. TWO HUNDRED EPISODES!

I started this podcast in May of 2020, needing something to be excited about in the pandemic.

I don’t think I would have EVER been able to dream up all of the things that this podcast has brought me.

In the last 3 years, we’ve done 200 episodes. We’ve reached nearly 150,000 downloads. The podcast has led to my favorite place on the internet, my membership program Making Good Happen. Interviewing guests and connecting with all of you has led me to build relationships and friendships that are some of my most treasured.

This podcast has required a lot of me – time, energy, effort – even when I sometimes didn’t feel like I had it. But its given me so much more.

And probably the most powerful thing that this podcast has given me is WISDOM! I’ve learned so, so, so much from hosting this podcast.

So, today… we’re rounding up 10 things that I’ve learned from 200 episodes of Making Good. Truly – I probably could have come up with 200, but hey – I'd rather skip to the biggest and best.

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/200
CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden
GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

Today is an important episode, because it’s about one of the most important topics we could ever cover here.

Getting stuff done.

After all, we can have all the big bright ideas in the world, but if we’re not executing on them, it doesn’t really matter. Our ideas can’t change our lives and change the world if we don’t take action to make them a reality.

But. How do we ACTUALLY get stuff done?

In today’s episode, I share some tips and strategies that I’ve picked up in my own journey with productivity. These are techniques that are really working for me lately, and I hope you find them useful too. 

MAKING GOOD SHOWNOTES:
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/199
CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://instagram.com/laurentilden
GET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):
https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts

If you’re like most listeners of this podcast, you first started your business not because you’re an experienced business person… but because you have something you love to do, or you care about, and you decided to make it your full-time gig.

And then, you find yourself in the situation we all find ourselves in as small business owners, which is that we have to sell our thing. Our product, our service, our offer. Whatever it is, it’s only a business if we’re selling it… and for most businesses, selling is an active process. We can’t just wait for sales to come in – we need to set our sales and marketing processes up so that those sales actually happen.

This is for many of us quite uncomfortable. But it doesn’t have to be, and that’s where today’s episode comes in. We’re talking all about selling – and specifically – sleaze-free selling. Selling in a way that feels good and aligned.

And I have a guest today! Her name is Megan Smyth. Megan is a sales copywriter and consultant for mission-driven entrepreneurs. Through her in-depth research process, personality-filled copy, and pull-no-punches consulting, she helps purpose-driven founders drive revenue and make a positive impact–without unethical business practices or sleazy sales tactics. 

Connect with Megan:

• Website: megansmyth.com
• Instagram: @copybymeg

Here’s something I believe with all of my heart

You have a superpower. Specifically, a marketing superpower. 

And I know that probably, we’ve never even met, but I can tell you this with 100 percent certainty. And it gets better! This superpower doesn’t cost you anything. It doesn’t require you to pick up any new skills. It’s something you have access to ALL of the time and you can activate at any time.

This superpower is something that can help you connect with your ideal customers, grow your audience, build relationships and trust, make sales, and do so many of the other amazing things that marketing can do for our small businesses.

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk all about that marketing superpower: what it is, why it’s so powerful, and I’m going to give you some concrete strategies for putting it into action.