Seven Figure Consultant with Jessica Fearnley

In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Octavia Conner, the CEO of Say Yes to Profits, a virtual CFO firm.

Octavia shared her journey with me, from leaving corporate America to becoming an entrepreneur. She opened up about the challenges she faced along the way and the breakthrough moment that led her to build a successful six figure business, which quickly scaled to a seven figure business.

We delved into the topic of cash flow and why it's so important for businesses, the significance of setting profit goals, and how focusing on profit margins and making strategic decisions can make a world of difference in the success of your business.

We also touched on the often overlooked aspect of tax planning and how it can greatly impact your bottom line, as well as evaluating expenses and discovering money leaks.

Octavia's insights and experiences were truly inspiring, and I hope they resonate with you as much as they did with me!

In this episode:

• [00:00:34] Octavia shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, including the challenges and breakthroughs she experienced along the way.
• [00:05:08] The significance of cash flow in a business and how it can determine its success or failure.
• [00:06:20] The common mistake entrepreneurs make.
• [00:08:59] Focusing on the profit margin of a business rather than just the top line figures.
• [00:09:54] Strategies to stop excessive spending and retain money in the business.
• [00:13:38] The importance of building a cash reserve.
• [00:16:45] The financial impact of business growth and the importance of preparing for tax obligations.
• [00:21:21] Identifying and eliminating money leaks in the business to increase profitability.
• [00:25:31] Managing cash flow and how it can be improved.
• [00:26:19] The positive outcomes of having a well-managed cash flow, such as consistently receiving a CEO salary and being able to build a team.

Key Takeaways:

• Many businesses get caught up in the cycle of money coming in and out without focus on profit or cash flow. But without enough cash, a company can't survive. So, let's shift our focus from just revenue to setting clear profit and cash flow goals.
• See every expense as an investment that should bring a return. Ask yourself the ROI question before making any investment and consider the potential returns in terms of money, time, and expertise.
• Conduct quarterly audits to identify areas where costs can be reduced, leading to better cash flow and profitability.

Quotes:

"It's a blessing to pay taxes and to be in a position where you're required to pay taxes, but at the same time, it's so sad when all of your progress is just eaten up and then it's like, oh okay so now we're going into the new year and it feels like a surprise. … But it doesn't need to be that negative surprise if you prepare for it in advance." - Octavia Conner

"I feel the biggest mistake is that entrepreneurs will focus on their top line. There are four money lines in business - the revenue, cash flow, profit, and believe it or not, taxes. What a lot of entrepreneurs do is they only focus on bringing in more money. I need to earn six figures. I need to earn seven figures, right? I have a revenue goal. But what a lot of entrepreneurs don't have is a profit goal or a cash flow goal." - Octavia Conner

"It's really easy to be like, it's me. I'm rubbish at everything. I shouldn't have done this. And the shame that piles up on all of that... But it doesn't mean to say that we don't have a gift to share with the world. It just means that we have not understood certain key things about cash flow and how the whole business needs to work. And also when you've come out of corporate, it's okay to not understand what it takes for an entrepreneurial business to function well, because how would you know? Being in corporate is nothing like having your own business." - Jessica Fearnley

Useful Links

Say Yes to Profits - Virtual CFO Firm

Say Yes to Profits Free Profit Assessment

Octavia's Instagram @ OctaviaConnerCFO

Octavia's YouTube

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

Guest Bio

After spending over ten years in corporate America, helping to build multimillion-dollar businesses as the "go-to numbers girl," Octavia decided to ditch the 9 to 5 in 2011 and build her dream business instead. With a laptop, a busted printer, nominal savings, but full of passion, Octavia embarked on a journey of providing small businesses with advanced financial management support, strategies, and solutions. Her passion led to the birth of Say Yes To Profits.

After leaving her corporate 6-figure career, Octavia ended up completely broke, almost foreclosing on her dream home. She returned to corporate America while rebuilding her business from scratch. Within 14-months she remerged as a full-time six-figure business owner, scaling to seven figures shortly after. As of today, Octavia teaches business owners how to cross the seven-figure mark within three years or less. She is a walking success story!

Octavia has been quoted in Forbes and featured in Afro Tech and Inuit. Selected as a top 50 accountant in North America for two consecutive years and an award-winning best-selling author and professional speaker Octavia combines over 20 years of business, accounting, and financial experience.

In this week's bite-size bonus episode, Seven Figure Secrets, I'm talking about letting business be easy, simplifying your business model, and releasing the need to make it difficult out of a belief that success must come from hard work and struggle. If you love this, make sure to subscribe and check out our full Seven Figure Consultant episodes.

Quotes:

"I want you to remember your zone of genius, because every time you get a request to do something that's outside of your expertise, maybe it's 'zone of competence' rather than 'zone of genius', this is costing you."

"What if you make a ton of money and it wasn't that hard? What if it felt incredibly easy? Does that mean you deserve it less?"

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I dive into the topic of returning to work after a break.

It's so important to take time off so that we can recharge and avoid burnout, especially as high achieving, ambitious women consultants and thought leaders, but how can we smoothly transition back into work mode?

In this episode I share some key strategies to help you prepare before your vacation and how to get your brain back when you return to work, including the value of checking in with yourself and prioritizing self-care during this transition period to regain your natural energy, maximize your productivity and enjoy jumping back into your consulting business.

In This Episode:

• [02:09] The importance of taking breaks, digital detox, and setting boundaries for mental health and work-life balance.
• [04:51] Planning before and after a vacation to ease back into work and maintain productivity.
• [06:39] Checking in with your energy levels and being flexible with yourself.
• [07:30] Tips on regaining your flow and identifying activities that create natural energy after a break.
• [08:28] Setting new intentions and boundaries, acknowledging sparks of inspiration, and exploring peak fulfillment in your work.
• [11:33] Bonus Segment: Seven Figure Secrets - Advice from your future seven-figure self on letting it be easy, simplifying your business model, and releasing the need to make it hard.

Key Takeaways:

• It is always worth taking the break, even if it feels hard on your return.
• Taking breaks and setting boundaries are not signs of weakness but rather essential components of a successful and fulfilling career.
• Check in with yourself, be flexible, and most importantly, celebrate your ability to step away from work.

Quotes:

"We get into the rhythm of work, leads, sales delivery, onboarding, offboarding, and it can suddenly actually feel quite stark to jump out of the business to take a vacation. When we get back, suddenly things feel less certain. Do I really post on LinkedIn that many times a week? What will I say at that meeting? How do I jump back on the horse now that I've tumbled off? If you've taken a break this summer and you're feeling the brain fog this week, this episode is for you."

"One of the key temptations for entrepreneurs is to be always on. It's so great for us to have that digital detox, to break the patterns that we spend a lot of our weeks wrapped up in online."

"Take that vacation, have that day off, block off that week. We get so blind to the habits that we're falling into when we never break them. How many times have you come back with fresh eyes after some time out and thought, 'wait a minute, why are we even doing this?'"

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

In this Client Showcase episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, Catherine Hamilton, the visionary behind Trestle Solutions, and I discuss what it looks like to consciously break your own rules and create the business and life you truly desire. Catherine initially sought my guidance as a business coach two and a half years ago, and it has been a privilege to support her business and personal growth since then.

In this episode, we delve into the challenges impeding women from creating a business and the restrictive rules that hinder their happiness once they have established their enterprise. Catherine is a walking example of how coaching has helped her expand in life and her business, and she offers valuable counsel for women who are still employed in the corporate world but aspire to venture into entrepreneurship.

In this episode:

• [00:00] Jessica and Catherine chat about how they connected.
• [03:24] Catherine discusses how she planned for her four-week business remote session.
• [06:48] Jessica and Catherine discuss how rules promote your journey, but are they made to be broken?
• [12:58] Catherine shares rules she recognized needed to be changed.
• [19:53] What has Catherine learned about herself since starting her business?
• [24:20] Catherine gives an overview of the dashboard she uses to chart her business.
• [30:40] Catherine has advice for women still working in a corporate setting, and she encourages women to reach out for the help they need through coaching or mentoring.

Key Takeaways:

• A significant advantage of working for yourself is setting your schedule and realizing you should work hard when the situation calls for it but also permit yourself to walk away from the desk.
• Recognize in your business and life that you do not need to say yes to everyone.
• Fear of the unknown will keep a woman from starting a business. To overcome that fear, one should speak to other women who have moved from employee to business owner.

Quotes:

"When I was finished with corporate, I felt like, when I was working for myself, if I took time out for lunch or went for a coffee, I'm thinking, Ooh, I have to get back to my desk. And then I would laugh and say, well, I'm the boss. I had to learn to permit myself to lean into something like this." – Catherine Hamilton

"We've talked previously about the tendency to overlay the corporate structure onto the business that we, as women, create because we don't know any differently. So it takes a bit of "deprogramming" or unlearning what has been decades of an approach to business." – Catherine Hamilton

"When companies hyper-focus on creative, they miss the opportunity to make a new brand a catalyst for change within the organization. That's why we create a vision & strategy for implementing a new brand – to meaningfully move a company beyond, 'We've always done it this way.'" – Catherine Hamilton

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinehamiltontrestle/

Visit Catherine's website for more information: trestlesolutions.ca

Guest Bio:

Catherine Hamilton, CEO & Founder of Trestle Solutions, partners with companies to evolve their Marketing after mergers or significant growth.

Change can be messy. Catherine helps CEOs & Marketing leaders navigate marketing transformation by identifying the People, Program and Process levers that will unleash the next level of results. As a former executive with decades in growth companies, her jam is Marketing when it's anything but business as usual. #trestleup

Today on the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I am joined by Betsy Kauffman. Betsy is a globally recognized Leadership and Organizational Agility Consultant with more than 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies. Betsy helps companies solve the big problems keeping them from achieving agility, collaboration, alignment, and innovation. Tune in to learn about Betsy's entrepreneurial journey from starting her business to surviving the pandemic.

In this episode:

• [01:00] Betsy shares her background.
• [07:00] Entrepreneur life & Investing all your energy into your business.
• [11:07] Pivotal moments in Betsy's life & career.
• [17:00] Embracing change and being clear with clients about what you offer.
• [27:00] Decide what you want to focus on offering to your clients.

Key Takeaways:

• Invest all of your energy into the business and really be clear on who you are and what you offer.
• Being an entrepreneur and owning your own company will always come with some fear and uncertainty, but believing in yourself and pushing through is key to your success.
• Creating boundaries for what you can do and seeing that plan through is healthy and builds a solid relationship with clients.

Quotes:

"Anytime you venture into something new there's fear. So, you have to decide, how much do I let the fear talk to me, how much do I let it go, tamp it down and move forward." -Betsy Kauffman

"Instead of thinking about running away from your business, why don't you run towards your business?" -Jessica Fearnley

Guest Bio:

Betsy Kauffman is a globally recognized Leadership and Organizational Agility Consultant with more than 20 years of experience working in Fortune 500 companies. Her company, Cross Impact Coaching, is an Organizational Design Firm focused on working with companies to help them solve the big problems impeding them from achieving agility, collaboration, alignment, and innovation. Her TED Talk has over 1.5 million views.

Useful Links

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

Cross Impact Coaching

Cross Impact Coaching LinkedIn

I'm thrilled to have Whitney Alexandra as my guest on this Seven Figure Consultant Podcast episode. Whitney and I have been mutually beneficial clients of each other's enterprises and have benefited from our shared knowledge.

We will examine the Wealth Dynamics experience I provide to my clients. Whitney will share insights on the transformative mindset recordings she employs with her clients. As a result, you will be introduced to inspiring concepts that can propel your business toward greater success. You will love this transformative episode!

In this episode:

• [00:49] Whitney has discovered clients' failures are often directly related to mindset. Whitney and I have utilized each other's services. We did not swap services; we paid for them.
• [03:21] What Wealth Dynamics can tell you about yourself, and how it has benefited Whitney and her business.
• [09:49] How Wealth Dynamics can assist in hiring decisions and give direction to your entire team.
• [16:11] Our bodies send us signals known as the flow concept and what tasks we should spend our time on and which we should not.
• [22:19] Women can rewire their brains and consequently alter their behavior by utilizing mindset recordings. How that can be influential in developing self-confidence.
• [27:49] How the subconscious mind controls your self-confidence.
• [30:08] Instructions on signing up for Limitless Wealth and Wealth Dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

• Your subconscious can rob your self-confidence and the abilities others see in you.
• Learning your profile will make you more productive and allow you and your team to function better together.
• Only invest time in tasks within your business that you're proficient at. Then, you can either eliminate such activities or delegate them to someone else.

Quotes:

"Your subconscious mind makes 95% of the decisions, shaping your daily feelings. Then there is your conscious mind. We're getting them to play on the same team to say they have one objective." - Whitney Alexandra

"I love listening to my mindset recordings. Depending on how long I'm walking, I often listen to it four or five times in the morning while walking my dog. I come back feeling like I have exercised and done my mindset work. Now I am ready to face the day." - Jessica Fearnley

Guest Bio:

Whitney Alexandra is a performance coach for top female founders and C-suite executives ready for limitless success.

She's spent the last 20 years helping some of the world's most trusted brands and leaders transform to show up powerfully and ready to receive what they desire. Using a mix of performance coaching, mindset techniques and tailored strategy, she will unlock your next level.

Useful Links

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Find out more about Wealth Dynamics

Jessica's LinkedIn

Whitney Alexandra - Website

Breakthrough Strategy Session - Whitney Alexandra

It's not about it being easy, it's about being confident. Patty Caballero believed in herself enough to take the risk to leave the large corporate world to start her own small consulting business. Today, Patty and I talk about the impact of wealth dynamics on your role and energy. She recalls what surprised her when shifting to her own consulting business and some significant breakthrough moments in the process. You don't want to miss this episode as Patty shares some impactful pieces of advice for women looking to start their seven-figure consultant journey and answers the important question, "What does becoming your next-level self mean to you?"

In this episode:

• [01:07] Patty introduces herself and what she does.
• [02:23] The meaning of "big to small to big again".
• [12:01] Patty shares what she likes about running a consulting business and what has surprised her.
• [16:09] Patty recalls some of her memorable break-throughs.
• [18:47] Advice for women who are ready to start the journey to being a seven-figure consultant.
• [21:52] Patty explains what "becoming your next-level self" means to her.

Key Takeaways:

• When branching out on your own, it can be tempting to play it very conservatively and keep it small. Grow into roles that energize you.
• It is satisfying when you can shift from a "revenue" mindset into a "what makes my business the best?" mindset.
• If you are going to start a consulting business, you should start it around what you are best at and what you enjoy most.

Quotes:

"Remember your best self because that's who you will be as a consultant. Think about the best work you've done that you have enjoyed the most that's been the most personally-fulfilling; that should be your consulting business." -Patty Caballero

"It's not about making it look easy. It's about having confidence so it comes out naturally." -Patty Caballero

Guest Bio:

Patty Caballero is the founder of PSC Consulting, which helps growing healthcare companies find and amplify their voice. A veteran of communications, public relations, and marketing, Patty translated her decades of experience working with large companies and public sector clients to help innovators in the healthcare industry tell their stories. She works as a fractional chief communications officer, working with CEOs and Board Members to help companies craft a story and implement the plan that will help the business grow. In addition to her work with clients, Patty is an adjunct professor in Communication Studies, teaching upcoming professionals how to apply communications to advance business goals.

Useful Links:

Patty Caballero LinkedIn

Patty Caballero Consulting Website

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

This week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast is all about how to make the most of the opportunity we are presented with in the Summer months for a reset, before we jump into the Fall.

It's a chance to reflect on the changes you are ready to make in your business - and the things you are ready to leave behind. I share my experience of deciding not to play the game of 'money fear' any longer, and invite you to do the same!

I'm also addressing a question I have been asked quite a bit recently by listeners of the podcast - 'Jessica, I love this content but how do you actually work with your clients?'

In this episode:

• [00:00] Jessica discusses how to take a vacation as a Seven Figure Consultant and the decision to "Choose Abundance." She reveals that she is giving up worrying about money.
• [06:00] The external issues that lead to worry and fear versus self-trust and the positive outcomes of choosing to say no to fear and making the most of your summer.
• [12:10] Jessica describes how she works with clients.
• [16:39] Jessica explains the Limitless Coaching Program.
• [18:13] Jessica invites you to contact her to engage her services.

Key Takeaways:

It's important not to let other people's agenda for your life or business distract you from your goals.

The availability of publications and books concerning trauma, the brain, and anxiety is a positive development. These topics might have been avoided in the past, and individuals could have been stigmatized for experiencing negativity in any of these areas.

Worry is a choice. 95% of what we worry about never comes to pass.

Quotes:

"I'm not the kind of coach who uses a one size fits all approach. I've worked extensively with more than a hundred businesses over the last nine years." - Jessica Fearnley

"Never say to yourself that you can't have something. I ban my clients from using the word realistic. As women, we are way too quick to shrug our shoulders and accept less when we know we are looking for more. If you can't name your desires to yourself, how will you bring them into being? It starts with getting clarity within ourselves." - Jessica Fearnley

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

In this episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I spoke to Fabienne Raphael, who was a successful athlete and became a successful business coach. This episode is one for women who aren't at 6 figures yet. Fabienne has some great tips on taking your business to the next level, sharing analogies comparing sports to entrepreneurship that you can apply to your business. Enjoy this episode and gain insight into achieving a six-figure income and your business goals.

In this episode:

• [01:15] Fabienne shares her backstory and compares entrepreneurship to a successful sports career.
• [09:47] Explanation of anti-fragility and self-realization that I am capable, worthy, or I did it.
• [12:39] Fabienne discusses the need and value of a sports coach and how that compares to having a business coach.
• [19:56] How to avoid burn-out in business and the importance of keeping your goal in view.
• [27:33] Fabienne discusses mistakes entrepreneurs make, and she offers a free download called The Seven Crucial Mistakes that Stops Coaches and Consultants Reaching Six-figures and Beyond, available on her website.

Key Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurship is similar to the sports world in that you need to stay on top of your game, and as with a team sport, you learn to work with all types of clients when you own a business.
• As an athlete or a business professional, you must decide that you "will" do something. Don't give up.
• Coaching is valuable for athletes and business owners alike. Trust a qualified coach to show you what you may need to see in your business.

Quotes:

"A coach brings the light to your life, right? Seeing where the hidden parts are or things you can't see for yourself." - Fabienne Raphael

"You show up to practice even when it hurts, and continue because you know it's part of the journey. Entrepreneurship is the same thing. When the vision is clear in your mind, you won't always mind doing what you don't necessarily like to do, but it will move the needle closer to getting you to the goal." - Fabienne Raphael

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

Fabienne Raphael - Website

7 Critical Mistakes that Hold You Back from a 6-Figure + Business - Fabienne Raphael Coaching

Guest Bio:

Fabienne Raphael is an online business coach. She helps coaches and consultants unlock the full potential of their business with tailored strategies to fuel their journey to 6-figure success & beyond.

With a background as an elite athlete and a mentor for Team Canada, she knows what it takes to aim high and hit the mark. Recognized by Forbes, Huffington Post, Inc., ABC, (among many others), Fabienne strongly believes that everyone has the power and ability to shine in their unique way and that it needs to be spread extensively to impact others and make this world a better place.

She is also a boys' mom, an almond cake enthusiast, and an avid traveler. With a zest for simplicity, Fabienne values a life that's as fulfilling as it is rewarding.

In this Client Showcase episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, Catherine Hamilton, the visionary behind Trestle Solutions, and I discuss what it looks like to consciously break your own rules and create the business and life you truly desire. Catherine initially sought my guidance as a business coach two and a half years ago, and it has been a privilege to support her business and personal growth since then.

In this episode, we delve into the challenges impeding women from creating a business and the restrictive rules that hinder their happiness once they have established their enterprise. Catherine is a walking example of how coaching has helped her expand in life and her business, and she offers valuable counsel for women who are still employed in the corporate world but aspire to venture into entrepreneurship.

In this episode:

• [00:00] Jessica and Catherine chat about how they connected.
• [03:24] Catherine discusses how she planned for her four-week business remote session.
• [06:48] Jessica and Catherine discuss how rules promote your journey, but are they made to be broken?
• [12:58] Catherine shares rules she recognized needed to be changed.
• [19:53] What has Catherine learned about herself since starting her business?
• [24:20] Catherine gives an overview of the dashboard she uses to chart her business.
• [30:40] Catherine has advice for women still working in a corporate setting, and she encourages women to reach out for the help they need through coaching or mentoring.

Key Takeaways:

• A significant advantage of working for yourself is setting your schedule and realizing you should work hard when the situation calls for it but also permit yourself to walk away from the desk.
• Recognize in your business and life that you do not need to say yes to everyone.
• Fear of the unknown will keep a woman from starting a business. To overcome that fear, one should speak to other women who have moved from employee to business owner.

Quotes:

"When I was finished with corporate, I felt like, when I was working for myself, if I took time out for lunch or went for a coffee, I'm thinking, Ooh, I have to get back to my desk. And then I would laugh and say, well, I'm the boss. I had to learn to permit myself to lean into something like this." - Catherine Hamilton

"We've talked previously about the tendency to overlay the corporate structure onto the business that we, as women, create because we don't know any differently. So it takes a bit of "deprogramming" or unlearning what has been decades of an approach to business." - Catherine Hamilton

"When companies hyper-focus on creative, they miss the opportunity to make a new brand a catalyst for change within the organization. That's why we create a vision & strategy for implementing a new brand – to meaningfully move a company beyond, 'We've always done it this way.'" – Catherine Hamilton

Useful Links

The Six Elements of a Seven Figure Business – Free Download

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Jessica's LinkedIn

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinehamiltontrestle/

Visit Catherine's website for more information: trestlesolutions.ca

Guest Bio:

Catherine Hamilton, CEO & Founder of Trestle Solutions, partners with companies to evolve their Marketing after mergers or significant growth.

Change can be messy. Catherine helps CEOs & Marketing leaders navigate marketing transformation by identifying the People, Program and Process levers that will unleash the next level of results. As a former executive with decades in growth companies, her jam is Marketing when it's anything but business as usual. #trestleup