Show Notes

As an aspiring entrepreneur, you have goals for launching a side business but you’re making little progress. Maybe your dream of becoming a speaker, consultant or subject matter expert has you feeling frazzled at where to begin. When stress, overwhelm or perfectionistic thoughts keep you stuck and unable to make progress, frustration can be like an Achilles heel. In this mindset-reset episode, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea sat down with Internationally-trained Master Meditation Teacher, Cyndee Rae Lutz, to learn how the use of meditation and breathing techniques can quiet our inner critic and help us make progress forward.

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Sticky Brand Lab is the place for professionals who want to take their knowledge, experience or ideas on the road less traveled. 

If you enjoyed this show, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. Want to get to know us more? Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Mindset-reset strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You will...

• Learn how to reduce stress and avoid burnout.
• Understand the many different ways perfectionism undermines our confidence. 
• Discover easy techniques for handling the pressure of entrepreneurship while simultaneously boosting confidence.
• Learn tips and strategies to help you create a more peaceful mind.

Through our own entrepreneurial journey, we’ve learned just how easy it can be to get bogged down in the daily stress and challenges associated with a business.Taking a different approach requires more than an intention, it requires a change in mindset. 

(5:39.27) The main reason you need to have a ‘beginner's mindset’ when starting mindfulness, mediation or breathwork. 

(7:23.07) The top misconceptions entrepreneurs and CEOs make when it comes to cultivating a meditation and breathwork practice. 

(11:51:43) This simple trick will help you turn off the work thoughts so you can relax into sleep.

(13:24.17) Confusing productivity with activity is just one example of the ways entrepreneurs find themselves doing busywork rather than business work.

(14:31:04) How resistance and distractions work together to keep you from reaching your entrepreneurial goals.

(18:55:53) Four simple tips and techniques for bringing meditation into your daily routine.

Resources

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sticky Brand Lab Resources - stickybrandlab.com/resources  

Cyndee Rae Lutz - CyndeeRaeLutz.com  

Email for Cyndee Rae Lutz - [email protected]

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

Pod

Show Notes

Launching a side business can be exciting, challenging and at times, a little overwhelming, especially when it comes to taxes. Usually, it doesn’t take a lot of money to start a new business. To find out what hard costs, fixed costs and other tax related expenditures a solopreneur needs to know, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea sat down with Certified Public Accountant Bette Hochberger. Her approach to taxes when starting and incorporating your side business, is the subject of today’s episode.

Thanks for Listening!

Ready to start your business or grow your personal brand? Schedule a free 20 min. consultation call now. 

Sticky Brand Lab is the place for professionals who want to take their knowledge, experience or ideas on the road less traveled. 

If you enjoyed this show, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. Want to get to know us more? Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Business success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• What tax values to consider when it comes to incorporating a business.
• The different ways the federal government views business taxes depends on whether a business is an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp. 
• What the tax implications are when incorporating or not incorporating your side hustle business.
• Why the IRS actually does not recognize the LLC in any of its forms.

From payroll to paying quarterly taxes to keeping actual receipts, knowing what you don’t know about business taxes can cost you. As Nola and Lori found out, even if you don’t make any money in your first year or first few years, the IRS requires you to file taxes for your business. But, perhaps more importantly, knowing what items can save you money on your taxes is a benefit you, as a business owner, can’t afford not to know.. 

(3:57.63) The surprising value incorporating your business can have on your personal taxes. 

(7:18.88) Knowing the difference between filing your side business as an S Election versus an S Corporation, can cost or save you money on your personal taxes. 

(8:17:71) The different forms of incorporation which provide self-employment income and which ones don’t.

(8:59.88) If you just started your business and aren’t making any money, filing taxes can give you financial benefits you might not be aware of.

(15:05:21) This common mistake many entrepreneurs make in their first year of business, could cost you big money.

(18:50:99) What is the ‘pay as you go’ system the IRS uses for small side businesses and why you need to know about it.

Resources

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.

CPA Bette Hochberger
Bette Hochbeger YouTube
Bette Hochberger Facebook Tax Tip Tuesday

Many aspiring side business entrepreneurs are too fearful to pursue their innovative ideas and just as many consultants and coaches get anxious with the thought of talking about their business in a uniquely creative way. 

Yet, we are hardwired to be creative and in a competitive marketplace, creativity and imagination are needed and necessary in order for your product or service to stand out from the crowd. So, how can you position your business, course or idea in a unique way, one that captures attention and converts potential buyers? To find out, Lori Vajda and Nola Boea asked Dr. Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist, global keynote speaker, and the president of Figure8Thinking. Her approach to using creativity, curiosity and rigor in business and in life, are the subject of today’s episode.

Thanks for Listening!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Why having multiple interests doesn’t need to limit your career pursuits nor your business path.
• How being good at something, doesn’t mean it’s the career path you have to follow forever. 
• What happens to your mind and body creatively, when you truly are doing what you love.
• The one thing many, if not most, entrepreneurs get wrong about being in business for yourself.
• How prototyping (the ugly first draft of an idea) can give you insights and information to improve your side business, professional talks or a book you’re writing.

When creativity is regulated to the arts and artistic people, individuals, entrepreneurs, or even a successful plumber, minimize or ignore the process they go through to come up with a solution to a particular problem. As Nola and Lori found out, creativity is available to everyone and needed in both life and career. Tapping into creativity comes from applying both rigor (task and focus) and wonder (making time to ask big ‘what if’ questions). Implementing these successful strategies takes work, but the result is found in your ability to think differently, dare we say, entrepreneurial. 

(5:21.39) What does it mean to be a ‘hybrid’ thinker and how do you apply hybrid thinking in your life and career. 

(9:33.41) When you follow your heart in your career or business pursuits, you’ll need to be prepared to do the one thing most entrepreneurs ignore. 

(11:33:69) 5 underrated, yet valuable, lessons from having a side business/hustle that may help boost your income and career.

(15:33.52) How you know your innovative idea or approach is truly an innovation, is by being able to answer these two and necessary questions.

(21:25:11) Unleashing our curiosity, improvisation and intuition in our work, business, and life, starts when we are willing to interrupt these behaviors.

(29:28:32) Entrepreneurs fall in love with finding solutions to people’s problems. However, it’s these three ‘I’s’ that link creativity with entrepreneurship.

Resources

Want to get to know us more? Find out more about us and our services at Sticky Brand Lab

Figure8Thinking - https://www.figure8thinking.com/ 

The Creativity Leap - Book on Amazon 

Get a Free Chapter of The Creativity Leap - Download First Chapter

Wonder Rigor Tip Sheet,16 tips on how to exercise more wonder and more rigor in your life and work - https://www.figure8thinking.com/resources/ 

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

With the rise in the number of side hustles and entrepreneur startups,(the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy reports the numbers of small businesses owned equally by men and women to be 2.5 million in the U.S.), more and more couples are taking the leap of faith and going into business together. We wondered what it’s like having your significant other as your business partner? To find out, Lori Vajda and Nola Boeá asked four couples to share how they divide roles and responsibilities for running their business as well as how they make it work as business partners. Their candid answers are the subject of today’s episode.

Business success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• From four couples who shared their firsthand experience key insights and the challenges with spouse run businesses.
• How to divide the roles and responsibilities you each like and the ones you don’t, with less friction.
• The secret to jointly operating your business together successfully, may be in knowing this one thing about the two of you.
• The lines between work and personal life can easily become blurred. These couples recommend you do this to ensure a healthy business.

When you’re in business with your significant other, you need to be prepared to spend a lot of time together. As a result, it becomes imperative to ensure the lines of communication are kept open. As Lori and Nola found out from these couples, if you let the business pressures and worries leak into your personal lives, it can cause challenges in the partnership. Success comes from each spouse prioritizing open lines of communication. In this episode four couples share their helpful tips and lessons learned for running a successful business together.

(3:47.86) According to Jill Keunhnert and Glenn Wright of Lucky Fish Scuba, the key to successfully running a business together may be in having each partner follow this simple prescriptive. 

(6:24.46) How starting a business from a shared interest or hobby is a better option for creating the lifestyle you both want to lead.

(8:16:44) Nicole Jonas and Spencer Hapoienu of Insight Out of Chaos, share their two tips for running their successful business and how they ensure the challenges or concerns of the daily operations don’t leak into their marriage.

(12:57.65) Jean and Vero Doherty of Le Patio in Wilton Manors, Florida, share their key insights for running a successful restaurant.

(14:57:09) Corrie and Rhabby Domingo, managing partners of TropaZ Fitness in Houston, Texas explain how their shared values and goals make not just for a better business, but also a successful life, partnership.


Resources

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, Sticky Brand Lab, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lucky Fish Scuba in Key Largo, Florida - https://www.luckyfishscuba.com/ 

Insight out of Chaos headquartered in Miami, Florida - https://iooc.com/ 

Le Patio, located in Wilton Manors, Florida - https://www.lepatiowiltonmanors.com/ 

TropaZ Fitness in Houston, Texas - https://www.tropazfitness.com/ 

There are millions of products available on Amazon’s ecommerce marketplace. Getting your item ranked to the front so prospective buyers can see it, can be a bit of a challenge. To find out just how hard it is and what newbie side hustle sellers can do to improve their positions, Lori Vajda and Nola Boeá sat down with Amazon expert Keith O’Brien for an insider’s guide to optimizing your product listing.

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

Amazon private label seller strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• The basics of how private labeling and selling on Amazon works
• How potential customers tend to search for the products you sell
• The ways Amazon’s search engine (A9) works differently than Google search engines
• How to use search engine optimization (SEO) to improve a product’s positioning on Amazon
• The advantages of high quality pictures to sell your products

Amazon Private Labeling has been listed as a good business opportunity, precisely because it allows side hustlers to set up a passive income stream on Amazon. But don’t let the term ‘passive income’ fool you into thinking there isn’t hard work involved, as Lori and Nola quickly discovered. In this episode Keith shares a few of the helpful tips and tricks his company, Page.One, uses to drive real traffic and ultimately real sales for their Amazon clients.

(6:15.06) Understand the difference between a first party and third party seller on Amazon. It might just save you a lot of headache down the road. 

(7:00.45) Learn the 3 main types of Amazon sellers there are and which one might be the right choice for your side hustle. 

(8:16.16) This rare type of Amazon seller made $550,000 of profit last year and has only been selling for two years!  

(9:21:03) How to tell who the seller is for a particular product on Amazon and why it’s important to know.

(10:39.39) As an Amazon seller, knowing the difference between Fulfilled by Amazon and Fulfilled by merchant could save you money in shipping, leaving you more in profits. 

(14:57:09) This free and super easy way to see how competitive a product is on Amazon, before you invest money to acquire inventory.

(21:31:68) The 3 best DIY tips for newbie sellers starting out selling on Amazon.

Resources

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybrandlab.com/podcast

Amazon is ranked as the 4th largest website in the world. And for good reason, all of its traffic is there purely to shop and spend money! As a side hustle, Fulfillment By Amazon (Amazon FBA) allows individuals to sell private label products online without having to maintain an inventory. Lori Vajda and Nola Boeá had questions about what it takes to get started as an Amazon seller. The co-hosts sat down with guest Gina Fontana, so she could share her experience selling private label products on Amazon, all while managing her full-time photography business.

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

Amazon private label seller strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Whether private labeling might be a good side hustle for you
• How Gina got interested in private labeling
• The basics of how private labeling and selling on Amazon works
• What a private label product is and why it’s popular to sell
• The advantages of using Fulfillment By Amazon, or Amazon FBA

Although Gina is relatively early in her journey selling private label products on Amazon, she explains that the longer-term possibilities for growth are unlimited. As Lori and Nola quickly realized, just like with any business, there’s a certain amount of uncertainty that comes with being an Amazon private label seller because there are no guarantees of product success. However, understanding the startup costs for items such as software, registering your business, production, inventory and shipping costs for your products, label design, and Amazon fees, can help you make an informed decision as to whether or not this is a good investment for a side hustle business.

• (5:59.52) A simple way to determine if an item is worth investing in for private label selling. 
• (7:10.82) This is a great tool to help sellers see which are the popular items being sold on Amazon and what their profit margins are. 
• (7:44.44) The biggest reason for using Fulfillment by Amazon isn’t just that they keep your inventory in their warehouse. 
• (8:55:78) Where to source products and the cost saving reason for making sure the vendor is reputable.
• (11:39.91) The basic startup costs before you can even begin selling on Amazon. 
• (12:57:69) The 4 best reasons sellers should consider for not shipping items yourself.
• (19:12:63) Gina shares her ‘lessons learned’ so you can avoid these mistakes.

Resources

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybrandlab.com/podcast

You may have heard it’s important to use the Voice of the Customer (VOC) in all marketing and branding? But why and can it really make a difference in sales? Those questions and many others were at the forefront of Nola Boeá and Vajda’s mind when they sat down with their guest, Rebecca Batisto, Founder and Chief Marketing Officer on Demand, at Abask Marketing.

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

Marketing and branding strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Tips for finding the voice of your ideal customer (VOC)
• How the voc helps businesses hone their products or services into something customers truly want to buy
• Why you need to build a loyal customer base to stay relevant in the market and how using the voice of your customers helps you do it 
• The benefits of building and implementing an effective Voice of Customer.

In a study conducted by Bain and Company, 80% of companies said they’re customer-centric, but only 8% of their customers agreed. The customer voice is at the core of any successful customer experience. And when your customers’ expectations of the product or service you’re offering matches with their experience, the result is a satisfied customer, and often a loyal one at that. As Lori and Nola quickly understood many aspiring side hustlers and solopreneurs miss the mark on creating relevant content that resonates with their customers and prospects. By shifting your business focus towards a more customer-centric model, you not only demonstrate you’re listening and acting on what your customers are telling you, you also gain a competitive advantage.

• (5:22.56) Using the right words, the words your customers use builds trust and loyalty. 
• (7:50.10) It’s no longer about ‘What’s In It For Me’ (WIIFM) that customers pay attention to, it’s now MMFI. 
• (8:25.28) This is the most important word in customer messaging and too many businesses don’t use it. 
• (10:42:17) The 3 most common mistakes aspiring side hustlers make when writing their own content for their websites, social media and marketing collateral.
• (13:29.15) Try these simple tips, techniques and hacks to DIY website content that resonates with your target customer. 
• (16:46:57) The best places to ‘data mine’ your competition to get the copywriting advantage.
• (18:05:43) This simple hack will help you write website copy that is sure to connect with your target audience.

Resources

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

Bain and Company research: https://media.bain.com/bainweb/PDFs/cms/hotTopics/closingdeliverygap.pdf 

Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybran

You may have started your own side hustle business for any number of reasons; to explore entrepreneurship, to gain career experience in a new area or to market your expertise. Whatever the reason, many solopreneurs and business consultants cringe at the thought of having to “sell” their product or service. Recognizing that selling is an important and necessary part of building a business, Lori Vajda and Nola Boeá discuss sales strategies for side hustlers who don’t like selling, with special guest, CEO and Founder of Big Dream Executive Coaching, Barbara Fonti.      

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

Sales and business growth strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Tips for how to sell if you hate selling. 
• Why our negative sentiment about sales is often associated with our own unsavory sales experience with salespeople. 
• How to communicate value and enthusiasm around your offering so it doesn’t feel like ‘selling’. 
• What it means to harness the power of values and beliefs to engage your target customer.

To be a successful and profitable side hustling entrepreneur or solopreneur it’s critical to develop selling skills that work for you and help to grow your business. As Lori and Nola discovered when talking to guest Barbara Fonti, being better at sales starts with ‘being of service’ to others. In its simplest form, as a business owner, when you are as helpful as possible to your prospects and customers, sales becomes an act of service. And when you change your mindset about selling, you soon realize that you can sell more by being helpful rather than having to apply hard selling techniques.

• (4:40.30) The power of a strong ‘why’ as a sales strategy and motivation
• (6:50.84) The surprising characteristics that make for a great salesperson, and persuasive isn’t one of them. 
• (11:24.15) When it comes to understanding the value of your product or service, this is the mistake most side hustlers make. 
• (14:39:66) This simple reframe technique makes selling seem like it’s not even selling.
• (16:51.26) This all too common mistake entrepreneurs make when it comes to sales.
• (19:19:01) The number one, biggest mistake most entrepreneurs make and how to avoid it.

Resources

This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique

 Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybrandlab.com/podcast

In part one, Tara McKinney explained to Lori and Nola the challenge she was having taking her varied interests, passions and approaches to spirituality and applying them to a singular business model. Tune in to hear their innovative suggestions for helping this hybrid thinker and practitioner create, market and brand herself and her business. Listen in as Tara shares her thoughts on several messaging ideas Nola and Lori present for her consideration. Will she be able to use them to capture people's attention and get them to lean in? Hear her thoughts as they share DIY resources, checklists and step-by-step guides so she can take small steps leading to big effects to create and launch her new business, herself.

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

A positively energizing business opportunity is in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• When you focus on what you care about and align it with your ‘passion’ and ‘values’ you have the opportunity to create a business and make a bigger impact.
• How to grab your listeners attention in such a way that gets them to respond, ”I want to work with her”. 
• The DIY elements you need to build your business and personal brand
  
  

When you have so many possible directions for building a business, it can be hard to match your knowledge and experience with the one option that excites you the most. Lori and Nola present Tara with their recommendations, checklists and resources to help her develop and build a business and personal brand she’s passionate about. Their suggestions give her messaging to grab a listener’s attention as well as step-by-step workflow so she can create a business without getting overwhelmed. All resources are available for listeners and can be found on the stickybrandlab.com/resources page 

• (13:13.32) When is it OK to change your ‘elevator’ message, and what do you say instead? 
• (18:11.42) If you have zero clients you’ll love this easy to implement method for helping you build your pipeline.
• (20:36.61) When you’re starting your new business, this tip makes it simple to both test your messaging and get referrals.

Resources

This episode was supported by: Ask Muse

 Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybrandlab.com/podcast

In this episode of Ask Muse, guest Tara McKinney asks Nola Boea and Lori Vajda to help her explore business ideas that combine her passions for yoga and healthy cooking, along with her interest in ayurvedic approaches, and turn them into a profitable side hustle. What started out as a podcast club with members from around the world, soon gave Tara a platform to share her recipes, knowledge and experience with others. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and brought to light Tara’s desire to help others with her holistic approach to mind, body, and spiritual connection. The combination of positive feedback from members and her own entrepreneurial interest brought Tara to Ask Muse for help creating a business strategy, directional approach and messaging that would resonate with her like minded prospective clients.

Thanks for Listening!

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you to podcasts.

We love hearing from you! Leave or speak your message here

If you haven’t already, please connect with us on Facebook! 

Would you like to be a featured guest or have your question, comment or review mentioned? Ask Muse!

Sticky Brand Lab

A positively energizing business opportunity is in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• How to discover your core skill set and use it to start a side hustle
• Ways to identify the obstacles that might get in our way
• What is the difference between passion and interests
• How to capture and articulate what you do in a way that sparks interest for the listener
  
  

Digestion isn’t just about what you eat, it’s how you approach and interact with life in general. For Tara McKinney, that insight has guided her holistic approach to helping people from all walks of life and with all types of issues including digestive ailments. Now, she  would like to find a way to take her unique approach, varied passions and interests, and combine them into a profitable business. This is the challenge Lori and Nola hope to help Tara solve. 

(10:08.64) Does giving yourself a title limit your work or make it easier for others to identify what you do? 

(15:38.05) The power of being authentic with people and how to use it so they can be authentic in their communication. 

(17:01.29) A simple yet powerful tool for helping you identify your top profitable business ideas.

(21:46.71) Does a generalist give you more business opportunities or is being a subject matter expert the best business direction? 

Resources

This episode was supported by: Ask Muse

 Podcast Transcript – https://www.stickybrandlab.com/podcast