Stand to Serve

This week’s episode is different from past episodes on the podcast. This is the first episode recorded in front of a live audience.

For those who may not know, I quit my job last August, and in January I opened a co-working space, The Local, in my small town of 6,000 people. To foster this change, I needed quiet. I needed space. I found guidance and comfort at a very special place in the Black Hills. An 80-acre sanctuary created by an unlikely person: "a Nebraska farm kid, who happened to have some extraordinary experiences that allowed him to see a new world of love, compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness." That person is Dave Snyder.

Dave is the founder and caretaker of Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary, author of The Turkey Shack, and self-proclaimed pig farmer. In this live conversation with Dave, he shares his story in an open and vulnerable way, how he’s learned to embrace change throughout his life, and how he’s using his story to help others reflect on their own journeys. “I don’t feel my life is really about me. There’s a bigger picture playing in all of our lives.”

Whether you’re in the midst of your own change journey, or if you can look back and see the path that's led you to where you are today, you don’t want to miss this episode. Listen now!

Brit Kolo is the creator and the mastermind behind Marketing Personalities, a company whose tagline is, "you shouldn’t have to feel fake & salesy to grow your business." What's rad about Brit is that she helps give permission to ditch every preconceived notion you've ever had about selling your product and/or service, and instead base your entire marketing strategy around who you are as a human.

Brit is a deep feeler who loves deep conversation and is a believer in better. Her goal is to make this life awesome for herself and others by being the person she's meant to be: herself. “You don’t have to be anybody other than yourself and you’re not here to be anybody but yourself.”

Promoting and selling is something I've struggled with since quitting my 9-5. This conversation with Brit validates the belief that running and growing a business doesn't have to feel icky. Instead, marketing your business can serve in the best way possible. Brit shares tips on how to tap into our inner voices, how to remove the noise of the outside world, and how to have faith in your calling. This episode encourages a greater sense of purpose and is an inspiring chat you don't want to miss! Hear more from Brit in this episode!

Megan was working in a corporate job when she stumbled on an art fair and realized her creativity was not only sitting dormant, but she didn't feel creative at all. This sparked her transition from her 9-5 to pursue a photography business full-time, and since then she's pivoted again to work as a virtual assistant.  

Megan's whole marker for deciding whether she stays somewhere or if she moves on is to ask herself the question, “does this excite me?”. This idea is so well aligned with how I want Season 2 of the Stand to Serve podcast to shift. If you want to hear more about how we're shifting in Season 2, check out episode 24! 

Megan is my virtual assistant and I’m excited for you to hear how we work together and how she's defined how she wants to live her life. If you're in a season of uncertainty right now, if you're curious what a virtual assistant is, or if you want to hear a story of someone defining their life this episode is for you!

When I started this podcast last year, I set out to hear and share the story of the entrepreneurs, the individuals behind the small business. The individuals with the drive, passion and the grit to create something from nothing. I set out to hear the stories of the men and women who are standing up to serve their customers, market, and communities.

And that's exactly what happened. These conversations helped me make some scary decisions over the last several months. I needed to hear the stories of the entrepreneurs to help me work through my fear of leaving my 9-5 to jump into entrepreneurship.

Season 2 is shifting, and the podcast will focus on conversations with people who are standing up to serve in the bravest, scariest way possible: by being who they were meant to be no matter what.

I'm excited to continue on my journey of story-finding and story-telling, and am happy you're on this pursuit with me.

Kelsey’s world changed when she heard Janie, of Peak Motion Physical Therapy, speak at last year’s SDCEO conference. After hearing Janie’s story, Kelsey’s friend reached over and said, “Your time is coming.” Kelsey knew she was right, and later that day ran into an old friend whose reconnection led to the purchase of her company. Connecting with others, hearing their stories and changing perspectives is what this podcast is about, and that’s one reason this episode is so powerful.

Kelsey shares how she’s learned from every opportunity she's had along the way, and how she's used each new skill to prepare her for the jump into entrepreneurship. I can’t wait for you to hear this inspirational conversation with Kelsey!

At age 23, Alana Snyder started 605 Magazine with her husband, John, after seeing a need for content for young adults to connect in South Dakota. Ten years later, the publication has become a place for people to read about life, entertainment, fashion, food & beverage, and those who are making a difference in their communities. Alana also saw a need to share wedding vendors in the Midwest, so she created Dainty Obsessions, a bi-annual Midwest publication featured in stores like Barnes & Noble.

Alana has a gift for listening to what her readers want and creating content they want to see. She takes risks, studies trends, and starts new projects when she sees a need for them. She considers every year a chance to start fresh and is excited about what 2019 holds.

In this episode, Alana shares how she's learned to deal with others' critiques, some of this year's new trends, how she creates a fun culture in her business, and how she juggles the magazines and her own podcast, the 605 Show. Alana has a love for people and for seeking out new adventures. “What is saving my life right now are probably all the people that I meet on a daily basis because it just reminds me why I do what I do.” Listen to our conversation now!

Sarah Enos is a dreamer, history teacher turned small business owner, founder of The Vintage Lease, and co-founder of VL Homes. Sarah's gifted at creating beautiful things and believes in the power of aesthetics to help elevate your mindset. “It’s okay to create beauty because it is important.” As a wife, mom, and entrepreneur, Sarah is passionate about intentionality and seeks to live every day with purpose. “Every day we make choices, and every day we can do small things. Sometimes small things can be really big.”

Sarah's business, The Vintage Lease, specializes in event planning and design and brings big-city trends to rural South Dakota. Sarah's family business, VL Homes, offers residential remodel and design services for those in Rapid City, South Dakota and around the world. Sarah's family has set out to make an impact with VL Homes, and are in the process of building a safehouse in South Dakota to help those coming out of human trafficking. This safehouse will offer a beautiful and healing space for those coming out of a dark time in their lives. "You are worth something beautiful.”

Sarah walks us through her story, how she lives a life of intention, and how she's making an impact every day. Sarah shares how you can start making an impact now, how to combat the problems you see in your daily life, and how to move past the fear of not knowing your future and instead focus on living a meaningful life today. I can't wait for you to hear from my friend; listen to my conversation with Sarah now!

This episode is different from the others in that I don't interview another amazing guest. Instead, I decided it was time for me to share a little more of my story. I started this podcast to share stories of the makers and creators who are being brave, showing up, and serving their communities. I didn't feel that I could rightfully ask others to share the raw and hard moments in their lives if I wasn't committing to doing the same. So it's time for me to get a little uncomfortable and share what has led me to where I am today.

The last three months specifically have been transformational for me, and I've done a lot of soul work through meditation, reading books, and protecting my time and mental state. Every podcast guest I've had on the show has helped me think about life a little differently, and there have been moments in my career and personal life that were catalysts to make big changes and take big risks.

I hope this episode is encouraging to you, just as the stories of others have encouraged me to move past the uncomfortable and the scary and to show up anyway. Listen in now!

Seven years ago Heath Johnson played publicly at a pub for the first time in his life, and now he's leading a community of songwriters in South Dakota whose goal is to support each other and showcase others' talents.

Heath's vision for South Dakota Songwriters is to make the Black Hills the Nashville of the Midwest and to become a nonprofit that promotes art in the form of songwriting in the Black Hills, South Dakota and surrounding states.

He also hosts his own podcast, The Heath Bar, where he features guests with interesting stories and talents and provides listeners with conversations they might hear at a pub over their favorite beer.

In this episode, Heath shares his journey, how his past has shaped who is now, and how he's using his gifts to shine a light on local talent. Heath is authentic and focused on others, and this conversation is one you don't want to miss. “I don’t care what you’re doing, if you’re being honest with people, everyone’s attracted to that.”  Listen in now!

Dr. Rachel MK Headley and Meg Manke have a goal to positively impact 1 million lives by the end of 2019. Their mission is to change the way business is done; to help foster work environments where people feel satisfied, engaged, and heard.

Self-proclaimed "change people", Dr. Rachel and Meg use the experience they have in the corporate world to fuel change in as many companies and individuals' lives as possible. For example, Dr. Rachel and Meg saw a disconnect between organizations offering personality tests to their employees and using what's learned with these exercises to better value others within the organizations themselves. This idea became the inspiration for their book, iX Leadership, in addition to the training and certification programs they offer to help improve performance, reduce turnover, and consequently change lives.

Whether you're part of a corporation, have a small team, or are a solo-preneur, this conversation is full of helpful tips and strategies on how to create a work atmosphere that inspires change. "No matter what age you are, you want to feel valued and you want to learn and grow." I can't wait for you to hear this conversation; listen to the full episode below!