Scale With Heart

My decision to jump into entrepreneurship as a career has been the most valuable decision I’ve made in my career. It’s taught me to make more intentional choices and build my own path brick by brick. It can be too easy to operate on autopilot in our career paths in pursuit of “success” without actually taking stock of where we want our lives to lead. But entrepreneurship encourages us to step out of autopilot mode and become crystal clear on the value that we add to our clients’ and customers’ lives.

Entrepreneurship is hard work; that’s no joke. But let me share some of the tools and routines that have allowed me to be more intentional about my time, money, and talents. 

Here are some things I’ve learned:

• What’s best for you is also what’s best for your family and community! Entrepreneurship is an opportunity to build a better world.
• There is no RIGHT or WRONG way to spend your time and money. What you want for your career and life matters.
• Define what you want so that you can set appropriate boundaries and advocate for your YESes.
• Start budgeting and planning as though you are going to start your business -- and look at it as a hopeful exercise rather than from a scarcity mindset.
• Plans are just plans; you don’t have to commit to anything, but it is important to think about where you want to be.
• OWN your talents and gifts. Know that you are the authority on them.

Resources from this episode:

Be sure to grab my free guide on crafting your mission statement! 

Book a call with me: https://www.nicoleralston.com/work-with-me-3/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleralston_/

Marketing for new entrepreneurs can be super overwhelming. It can be so tempting to fall into “shiny object syndrome” and think that you have to be on every platform right away. But that’s not true! In this episode I’ll help you define the one thing you are trying to get out of your marketing plan. Even if you can’t afford a coach right away, you can make steps toward creating this marketing plan by asking yourself what you want your CLIENTS to get out of your marketing and content creation.

Here are some steps to take with your marketing plan:

• Think of all your followers as clients! How can you help them in each piece of content?
• Follow up with the ones who engage with your content and ask them what their needs are and what content they want to see from you.
• Always put your offer out there — it’s the most effective way for you to help your clients.
• Think about which platform suits YOUR needs the most and gives you the most joy to use everyday.
• Start conversations with people you look up to before you even start making content.
• Show who you are in an intro post so that people feel connected to you before you’ve actually spoken.
• Marketing is only one branch of your business. Make sure you still have the time and energy to work with the clients that come to you from your marketing plan.
• Make sure you are clear on your offer before you grow your following too much so you don’t have to pivot later.

Resources from this episode:

Be sure to grab my free guide on crafting your mission statement! 

Book a call with me: https://www.nicoleralston.com/work-with-me-3/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleralston_/

I know, I know! Nobody wants to talk about selling. We have this idea that once we reach a certain number of followers on social media, our business will automatically start. But here’s the big thing I’ve learned: No matter how engaged people are with your post, people aren’t always going to reach out and ask to hire you. So how can you step into the scary world of sales while still viewing what you offer as a service, and a tool to help your potential customers feel supported and empowered?

In this episode, I’ll take you through some of the steps to build a strong foundation for your client relationships.

During this episode I discuss:

• Don’t let perfectionism paralyze you from jumping into the world of sales calls.
• Treat early sales calls as a conversation -- share what you have to offer and get feedback. 
• Ask your potential customer what their desired outcomes are, and what they might need from you as the service provider. Then, determine if you have the skills to meet those results.
• Both you and your clients are allowed to say no!
• Narrow down on your offering by practicing talking about it in those early sales calls. Start small so that you have room to pivot.
• Sales calls are a great way to give validation to your offer, AND they give you more clarity around what your clients need.
• Be human. By showing up vulnerable, you invite your clients to do the same, and your conversations will become deeper and more meaningful.

Resources from this episode:

Be sure to grab my free guide on crafting your mission statement! 

Book a call with me: https://www.nicoleralston.com/work-with-me-3/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleralston_/

In this episode, I’m diving into a hard question new entrepreneurs must ask themselves: How do I know when I’m ready to start my business? In my own business, my community was ready to see me as an expert before I was even ready myself! The second you say that you have something to offer, people will start to see you as that expert. 

I’ll take you through some of the things I did at the beginning of my own business to start viewing myself as the professional others already saw me as.

During this episode I discuss:

• Start small by leaning into your current personal and professional networks. 
• Begin sharing your short-form content in an email newsletter and collect subscribers. 
• Expertise isn’t a credential that you learn -- honest energy, effort, and visibility is enough!
• You’re here to give your clients a safe space to inspire confidence, not to guarantee them success.
• Define ONE problem to help your clients solve. A simple, clear offer is all you need.
• Offer your perspective and how you handle challenges in order to build trust with your clients.
• Small actions can make a BIG difference in other people’s lives!

Resources from this episode:

• Be sure to grab my free guide on crafting your mission statement! 
• Book a call with me: https://www.nicoleralston.com/work-with-me-3/
• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleralston_/

Welcome to Season 2 of Dream Plan Action! This season I’ll be doing solocasts that take a deep dive into the transition from the 9-5 into full-time entrepreneurship, a process that requires a lot of mindset shifting and thoughtful action.

In this episode, I share insights from my own transition from teaching high school to my work as a business launch coach, as well as some of the core strategies that made that transition more effective for me.

I hope these lessons help you combat some of the limiting beliefs that may be coming up in your own business journey!

Read the full show notes here.

To claim your free Mission Statement Guide, click here.

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_

In this episode, Nadia and I discuss what can hold us back from asking for what we want in salary negotiations, and how often these blocks stem from feelings that need to be addressed in order to move forward. 

Nadia De Ala is a leadership and negotiation coach who helps women of color understand their worth and translate that into being able to confidently negotiate their salary. She works with women in tech through one on one and group coaching. She launched her latest cohort “Badass Women of Color Negotiators” in June, a 10 week live coaching program. 

Make sure to check out my website, www.nicoleralston.com to read my show notes!

Interested in starting your own business or blog? Check out my Mission Statement Guide to define your purpose and kickstart your project with the right energy!

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_

In this episode, Cristy and I discuss what authentic and effective leadership looks like, what it means to be a role model, and how she defines success for herself. 

Cristy Gonzalez is a development professional from NY who has worked in leadership development for the past ten years. She is the founder of the mentorship organization “Care to Lead”, a leadership program for young women that connects them to women of color mentors who can support them in seeing through their goals. Her identity as a big sister has led her to creating a constantly giving circle of love for the women in her community.

Make sure to check out my website, www.nicoleralston.com to read my show notes!

Interested in starting your own business or blog? Check out my Mission Statement Guide to define your purpose and kickstart your project with the right energy!

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_

In this episode, Clarissa shares her upbringing, how it affected her education and career choices, and how she has followed her instinct in making multiple pivots on her path to finding what job felt right for her.

Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey is a leadership coach, artist, most recently an author. She is passionate about people living their best life, creating possibilities, and living on their own terms. Her book, “Painting Your Path” discusses her journey through career changes, as well as the stories of twenty-one women who have shared their own life transformations and what they have learned from these transitions. 

Make sure to check out my website, www.nicoleralston.com to read my show notes!

Interested in starting your own business or blog? Check out my Mission Statement Guide to define your purpose and kickstart your project with the right energy!

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_

In this episode, Lora and I discuss her creative process, her upcoming product line, and the importance of defining what a full life looks like to you. 

Lora De Franco is the founder and owner of Free Period Press, a paper goods planning business that helps people to slow down and focus on what is most important. She recently launched a line of her products at Target and continues to expand her business through social media and blog posting. 

Make sure to check out my website, www.nicoleralston.com to read my show notes!

Interested in starting your own business or blog? Check out my Mission Statement Guide to define your purpose and kickstart your project with the right energy!

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_

In this episode, Samantha and I discuss how to implement anti-racist practices into your business. We recognize that we are always growing as people and accepting growth into our self-improvement process. 

Samantha Bove is the CEO of Zen Boss Academy, a conscious consulting company. She works to help health and wellness companies build and launch their businesses. 

Make sure to check out my website, www.nicoleralston.com to read my show notes!

Interested in starting your own business or blog? Check out my Mission Statement Guide to define your purpose and kickstart your project with the right energy!

Follow me on Instagram @nicoleralston_