Scale Your Small Business

Today on the Scale Your Small Business Podcast, Jillian is sitting down with Annette Lennerup, a fashion designer, product developer, and teacher with more than 15 years of experience in the fashion space, with education in design from the London College of Fashion. She helps start-ups and small fashion brands learn about the industry and take their design to production.

Annette's passion for fashion started innocently, pretending to be a designer with her friend while growing up in Sweden, which didn't have much access to fashion education. Then focused on graphic design, she moved to London where she pursued her dream of working in the fashion industry.

Many challenges are specific to the fashion industry, such as getting your design to production. Even having worked in the space and having contacts, it can still be challenging to have your product come out the way you'd like. With the ocean of information out there, it can be overwhelming to get everything in gear, as it's a much larger process than anyone expects.

It starts with understanding what you're designing, who you're designing it for, what role it plays for the customer, and having a grasp of industry trends before even considering production. From there, there are patterns, fabric samples, colors and Pantones, fitting, and more than all need to be tweaked. No matter the size of the company, these are all the same steps. Often, it can take up to 8 samples to get the right style. All in all, it can take 6 months to get to production. With the impact of COVID, that can take even longer.

Trends have changed with the times too—athleisure has burst onto the market in a way that's forcing establish brands to adjust and giving opportunities to new brands to find their niche.

It's a lot to get a design to the production floor, and that's where Annette comes in. Because she's been in the space so much and has so much experience, she can provide insider strategy for her clients. But beyond that, she's an entrepreneur herself–constantly learning and breaking down how to scale a business. How to make your stock last longer than a season, marketing ideas, and other tips are at the intersection of her expertise.

The most important thing, Annette says, is to find a niche that you can thrive in and fill a gap in the industry. Speak with someone in the industry who understands the in's and out's. Do your homework before you dive in, because there can be some unique roadblocks in the fashion world.

Annette is building a 6-month program called Fashion Design Tribe, which starts at the inception of your product and moves through to production. This means you're breaking down design, sales and marketing, as well as the production process.

Check out the Facebook Group in the links below!

Key Takeaways

Some challenges and processes remain in the space you're working in, no matter the size of the business.

Getting a product from design to production can be a much larger process than many think.

Find an expert in your field to better understand the industry before you dive in.

LINKS

https://lennerup.com/

https://m.facebook.com/fashiondesigntribe

There will always be times when life comes first–and it should! Holidays, new members joining your family, vacations, or maybe just a moment to step away from your business shouldn't add more stress to your professional life. So, how can we best plan ahead to make sure everything runs smoothly in our absence? Let's dive in.

Firstly, it's important to keep your team in the loop. Everyone needs to be on the same page, whether it's an extended period of time off, the plan of action while you're gone, or even if there comes a busy time of year, the people you work with should be in the know. Create a business that's easy to work for. Have plans and avoid urgency.

Plan things out by month. Get out a calendar for the year and consider what needs to be done in that period of time. Almost everything can be scheduled ahead of time, so get it on your calendar early so it can be blocked out. Having a visual reference will help stay on track. Have a physical and digital version for everyone to access.

Ramp up your automation. Utilize things like Calendly to automate your scheduling. In addition, double-check your current automation before you go to ensure everything is operating when you leave. Be sure to give yourself and your team enough lead time to work this automation into their day-to-day so you aren't introducing a new process while you're gone.

Finally, make sure your clients are aware of your absence. Give them enough space to contact you and be available to them so nothing festers while you're away.

Key Takeaways

It's essential to keep your team in the loop. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

Create a business that's easy to work for. Have plans and avoid urgency.

Plan things out by month. Get out a calendar for the year and consider what needs to be done in that period of time.

Ramp up your automation.

At 43, today's guest committed to leaving the alcoholic version of himself in the past. By age 49, he began his personal challenge to defy the limits of what's humanly possible, transforming physically, mentally, and spiritually well into his 50s. Now, he's competing in ultra-endurance events. He recently published a book, Do it Anyway, which follows him, Scott Harlow, on his journey from a self-destructive and insecure young man to a fitness coach, actor, and athlete.

The decision to become an ultra-endurance athlete came slowly at first, starting with getting off the couch and making the choice to become healthy. While on a trip to Rome with his girlfriend, Scott came upon a book called The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. This was a lightbulb moment–he realized he was getting older and wasn't in the shape he was and wanted to be. So, just like that, he cut gluten, dairy, and sugars and began to run around the streets of Italy. When he returned with a refreshed perspective, he picked up where he left off and continued his fitness journey.

He wanted to become healthy more than I wanted to consume unhealthy drinks and foods. Quitting drinking alcohol he had to make and still makes every day. He knew if he made the decision to change, he would follow through with it. He knew that if he put his mind to it, he could certainly do it. And it's the same for anybody, he says, it starts with a decision. Paralysis through analysis is the biggest hurdle. It's about starting–you don't need motivation when you have discipline.

Everything is geared around making things easier, which can lead to building perceived mental limits. It is easy to become complacent. The growth is in stepping out of your comfort zone and crawling past that challenge. To combat this, he recommends never taking more than one day off in a row.

It starts with the mentality of "I'm going to do the things that I need to do to make my business successful." Thoughts lead to actions, which lead to endorphins and momentum.

That same mentality is what pushed Scott to train for and compete in ultra-endurance events, where he focuses on positive speaking and breath control to calm the mind and bring clarity while you're in high-pressure and high-stress situations and push you forward, especially when you don't want to.

Key Takeaways

Paralysis through analysis is the biggest hurdle. It's about starting–you don't need motivation when you have discipline.

Thoughts lead to actions, which lead to endorphins and momentum.

The growth is in stepping out of your comfort zone and crawling past that challenge.

LINKS

https://www.scottharlow.ca/

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! On today's show, we're taking a look at Health Insurance. It can be a dizzying experience with a seemingly endless pile of options that can leave you confused and unsure where to start. Let's calm that chaos.

The first thing to consider when you're scaling your business is simply offering a health insurance package to your current (and potential future) employees. There are many employees looking to switch jobs but don't because they have awesome benefits. If you're hoping to attract those employees by having that benefits package, offering a great package could do the trick.

Next, consider the level of plans of packages and the variability of the cost. Costs can vary in price range based on the size of your group, your location, or the type of business. Reaching out to a local licensed agent is the best thing that you can do. Be sure that this person is someone that is going to be able to grow with you because your business is going to grow.

Don't feel like you have to add everything to your health insurance package in the first year. You can start with a basic package and add on additional benefits as your team needs them. By expanding your package, you're scaling your business by bringing in new talent.

Talk with your employees about the package you're offering. It helps employees understand not only the cost but the decisions that you're making and what benefits you're bringing to them.

Key Takeaways

The first thing to consider when you're scaling your business is simply offering a health insurance package to your current (and potential future) employees.

Consider the level of plans of packages and the variability of the cost.

Don't feel like you have to add everything to your health insurance package in the first year.

Thanks for tuning into the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! Today's guest is Elyse Notarianni, a writer with a passion for all things digital. As the President and Founder of Townie Creative digital media marketing agency, Elyse is making her way in both the digital marketing and writing worlds. She's here today to break down how to easily break into the digital marketing space.

Elyse comes from a space of high-end journalism, writing cover stories on celebrities like Queen Latifah for print magazines to marketing summer camps for a big summer camp company and major sports teams. She's worked with Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, co-authoring a New York Times Best Seller, "Channel Kindness."

We all want to grow our business. But where do we start? Elyse reminds us to get back to basics. It's about ensuring you have everything available to people to make visiting your business and working with you as easy as possible. A clean website with information on what you do and how to contact you are the foundation. From there, it's building a brand, which isn't as complicated as some make it. Develop a social media strategy that provides value and allows people to create a community around what you do. It's not about showing off. It's not about pretty pictures. It's not about likes.

The best place to invest your money when you're looking to grow your online presence is in people. People who can do what you need and are exceptionally good at it. While it's easy to believe we can do everything ourselves, experts in their field will bring an incredible amount of value to your brand.

It's okay to have a simple social media presence. It doesn't have to be perfect! Create a calendar, put three posts on it every week. One post is an informational post about what you do, what your services are, and what sets you apart. The next is an educational post that gives value to your customer that offers them something for free. Then something entertaining!

Batch your posts so you're only spending a few hours a month creating (that time will go down as you get better at this sort of thing) and use a scheduler to get your posts out consistently. Start simple with static posts, then once you're more comfortable, dip your toes into video content.

LINKS

http://towniecreative.com/

https://www.elysenotarianni.com/

@TownieCreative

Key Takeaways

Make sure you have everything available to people to make visiting your business and working with you as easy as possible.

The best place to invest your money when you're looking to grow your online presence is in people.

Batch your posts so you're only spending a few hours a month creating (that time will go down as you get better at this sort of thing) and use a scheduler to get your posts out consistently.

Thanks for joining us on the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! With everything out there about social media, it can be very complicated to figure out which platform is the right one for you. Today, we're talking about how to choose and how many is too many. Let's dive in.

The most important thing about social media is that you don't have to be all the places all the time. Some people will tell you to get on as many channels as possible, but it's more than okay to go with the platform you're already comfortable using.

Be mindful when you're using a platform like Instagram or other scrollable social media that you aren't sucked into the eye candy. Some are useful, but a lot will just be distracting. Set limits and respect the boundaries you set for yourself.

Keep it simple. The most important thing is that you're being consistent. Don't overcomplicate your social media trying to reach millions of followers every day. Start small and speak to the people who are supporting you and enjoy your content. The priority is creating quality posts that we're proud of and meaningful to your audience.

Ensure you're carving out time to respond to people on your social media. Comments, DMs, and other interactions should all get attention. Make sure people feel heard and are able to communicate with you freely.

Make sure you're maximizing the platform you're on. Use the properly sized images, appropriate captions and tags, make sure your videos are a length that makes sense, and keep your bio easy to read and up to date.

Key Takeaways

You don't have to be all the places all the time. Choose a platform you're comfortable with and stick with it.

Keep it simple. The most important thing is that you're being consistent.

Ensure you're carving out time to respond to people on your social media.

Thanks for joining us on the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! On today's show, we're with Allyson Chavez, a prosperity transformation coach with a passion for teaching ambitious, women and men how to get out of their own way so they can easily and consistently hit their targets while feeling peace and joy as they go.

There is a difference between challenges and struggles, Allyson says. Challenges lead to progress, while struggles stall that progress. Struggle is filled with frustration, irritation, and impatience. There is no value in struggle, but challenge presents immense value and usefulness. We've been taught that you must have struggled to have deserved success. This doesn't have to be the case!

It's all about mindset. When we marry systems and structures with mindset that is a power couple. Overwhelm is just living in the future. We're meant to live in today. Use the tools that you have and do what you can do today. Focus on one thing at a time and watch as the day smooths itself out.

We have a tendency to compare ourselves to others with no regard to where that person is in their professional journey. You may not see it, but there's a good chance there's a team of people supporting the person you're comparing yourself to. A one-woman show is going to feel a lot different than someone with 30 people in the background. When you're just starting, you may not have had the experience of leading a multi-million dollar team in a corporate setting–and that's okay! You're still going to learn, skill up, and scale your business.

We often fall into the trap of perfectionism, Allyson notes, and that can make us lose sight of why we got into the business in the first place. It's okay to take something and see how far you can go with it. It doesn't have to be perfect, and you don't have to eat yourself alive if something doesn't work.

Allyson is the host of the podcast The Prosperity Approach, where she talks about the inner, mental game of business. Many people play to not lose, whereas she teaches others to play to win. On the show, she shares practical tips that you can apply to your business to grow. Money doesn't bring peace, peace brings money. So finding peace first will help you in the long run. It doesn't have to be complicated!

Allyson developed an online workshop for listeners! Head to https://prosperityapproach.com/workshop to find out how you can work with Allyson in implementing tools that are made for you.

Links

https://prosperityapproach.com/workshop

Allysonchavez.com

Key Takeaways

Making money doesn't have to be hard–you can make money your way.

Struggle and challenges are vastly different. One stalls progress, the other creates it.

Money doesn't bring peace–peace brings money.

Welcome back to the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! There are a lot of people in business who talk about mindset, many have even joined us on the show. They're all great! But, there is a lot of noise on the internet. Today, we're going to cut through it and break down how you can form your own affirmations to get your mindset where it needs to be.

First things first: an affirmation is a statement you make to yourself every single morning that propels you, your team, and your business forward. For affirmations, imagine your future self is looking back, talking to your current self.

The great thing about affirmations is that they can be whatever you want them to be. Your verbiage is up to you. They can be in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening before bed. The point is, by doing them every day they become ingrained in your mentality. Sometimes you just have to sit down and dream. What does your business look like in 10 years? Be grateful for why you do what you do, and for those things you might not have yet, but are coming.

The human brain is a powerful thing. The thoughts you have put that energy into the world. While thoughts can be the root of many anxieties, they can also be the solution. When you say things over and over again, it becomes truth to you and eventually manifests to fruition.

In the same way your affirmations are pulled from dreams, they're also a big part of your goals. If there's a big project you're working through that's causing some stress, base your affirmations on that–you WILL get it done.

It's important to remember that affirmations take work and take time to create. Make sure it's something you truly believe in. Don't allow any room for negativity in this process, because you're going to carry them with you every day, everywhere you go.

These are clear, positive statements that you should consistently offer to yourself. Whether you seek out an expert or not, make this process your own. It doesn't have to be perfect!

Thanks for tuning into the Scale Your Small Business Podcast with your host, Jillian Flodstrom! Today, we're sitting down with entrepreneurial power couple, Dr. Dallas Buchanan, and his wife, Michelle.

While they didn't start out their professional careers with entrepreneurship in mind, it was clear that the best path forward for Dr. Buchanan and his wife allowed them to make the rules and call their own shots. Michelle, who also has a background in nursing, threw Dallas a proverbial life-raft to his practice and allowed them to open their options and eventually tag-team the process of opening a practice.

Just like any business, Michelle and Dallas had to consider the market where they wanted to open their practice. They had to look at competition, the people they'd serve, and every other factor that comes with starting a new location. But, in medical training, there's no entrepreneur training and certainly no business management training. It is a daunting task—how often do you hear of a medical practice going under? But, as Michelle and Dallas both agree, eventually, you just have to take the plunge. If you have a product or service that you think that the community is going to receive well, and you're passionate about what you do, there is room to grow. You just have to accept that you're going to stumble, and you're going to make some mistakes. And in the end, you're going to come out and more positives than negatives, and you'll continue to grow from there.

Having a supportive spouse as your partner in the process is a plus, but reaching out to friends and business leaders helps smooth out the logistics of starting a business on the backend. The truth is, people, want to see you succeed.

Delegation, as we've mentioned on the show before, is crucial when running a business. For Michelle and Dr. Buchanan, hiring an accountant, an attorney, and front-end folks to handle client contact was the first place to start. You're going to find your strengths and weaknesses, whether you want to admit them or not, they say, so having support to manage all the moving parts is an essential lesson. Plus, watching the people you trust knock it out of the park is satisfying.

In the end, starting this practice was about the autonomy to do things in their style. when you don't own the ship, Dallas says, you can't choose the direction that the ship gets steered. The buck stops with you. There has got to be something you can tweak to make it your own.

Starting the practice didn't come without surprises. Learning everything that was previously not on the radar is humbling. In addition, the amount of work it takes can come as quite the jump for some. After the patients go home, there is still work on the business side to do. Working so closely with your partner has pros and cons as well. It's incredibly rewarding to watch something you built together grow, but you have to be very intentional about the boundary that separates professional from personal life.

LINKS

https://vivifyps.com/

@vivifyplasticsurgery

Key Takeaways

If you have a product or service that you think that the community is going to receive well, and you're passionate about what you do, there is room to grow.

You're going to find your strengths and weaknesses, whether you want to admit them or not

Starting your own business comes with a daunting set of challenges, but in the end, you call the shots.

Today on the Scale Your Small Business Podcast, we're diving into something we all deal with but somehow always want to ignore: our messes. That big pile of everything sitting in the corner of your room that you walk by every day is certainly daunting, but Jill is going to break down how she tackles "Monica's Closet."

First thing's first: get rid of any trash. Coffee cups, wrappers, or even old paperwork that you know you don't need to have on hand anymore. Get the easy stuff out of the way so you can dive into organizing what needs to stay.

Next, you need something to put everything in. Do your best to stay consistent with your drawers, bins, or baskets, and don't be shy when you buy them. Anything extra will definitely find a use.

Now that you have your storage in place for things, take it one thing at a time. There's a good chance this pile has been overwhelming and the idea of tackling it seems scary, but when you are able to only focus on one thing, the pile starts to melt away.

Have a designation for your bins to keep you focused. Technology, binders, and other categories of things will help you stay on top of it. Make sure to label, though, so you're able to replicate the process!

When you're making your categories of bins, do what makes sense for you. For some, one 'binder' drawer is enough. For others, they may have 10 different kinds of binders that they need to have access to.

Consider the space you're in and think about if going vertical makes sense. Stacking bins is a great way to save space. Alternatively, if you have a flexible space, wheels on a shelving unit can help make space where you need it.

Key Takeaways

Do your best to stay consistent with your drawers, bins, or baskets, and don't be shy when you buy them. Anything extra will definitely find a use.

Have a designation for your bins to keep you focused. Make sure to label, though, so you're able to replicate the process!

When you're making your categories of bins, do what makes sense for you.

Consider the space you're in and think about if going vertical makes sense.