Gressa Schroeder, Owner of Gotcha Covered of Woodbury. Design and creativity have always been at the heart of Gressa’s work. She started her window treatment business after fifteen successful years as a graphic designer and small business owner. When it was time to make a change, she chose to continue her career as a creative professional with Gotcha Covered because it allowed her to work directly with customers whom she knew would appreciate her work.

Listen in as Gressa shares her three business lessons and experience in moving into a franchise business on this week’s Straight Talk for Smart Business Women podcast.

•        Learn from mistakes

•        Be in it for the long haul

•        Set goals

To reach Gressa or learn more about her company, there are several options:

[email protected]

www.gotchacovered.com/woodbury

Linked In:  Gressa Schroeder

Facebook page:  Gotcha Covered of Woodbury

Nikki’s love of numbers and love for people perfectly collided when she chose to pursue a career as a CPA. After a few years in the industry and partnering one on one with clients to help them succeed and reach their goals, Nikki knew she could continue to help clients excel in ways that they never expected.

By caring about clients on a personal level while bringing structure and solutions to issues, she has been able to help countless business owners continue to be passionate and successful at what they do. It is this extra level of care and hard work that has allowed Nikki to help her clients in multiple areas, instead of just one. This encompasses the mission of Roach Associates, which Nikki is now a partner of.

When she isn’t working with clients, Nikki is spending time camping and bike riding with her husband, son, daughter, and the family dog. She also enjoys reading and volunteering when her schedule allows.

Listen in as Nikki shares her three business lessons from her own experience and observing the work of other successful small businesses.

1. Be passionate
2. Be authentic
3. Create a "team"
4. Engage employees

To reach Nikki with questions or learn more about her practice, check out her Linked In or Facebook business pages:  Roach Associates.  

 

Allison Liddle is a John Maxwell Team certified keynote speaker, executive coach, and leadership trainer who is passionate about helping people thrive both personally and professionally. As an entrepreneur, she started her first business at age twenty-three. She then went on to found a national, award-winning financial planning firm called Prosper Wealth Management that has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and many other national media outlets. Allison is a lifelong Wisconsin resident; she currently lives in central Wisconsin with her family. Life Under Construction is her first book.

Allison shares three very insightful business lessons:

1. Choose who you serve
2. Follow your intuition and serve that first
3. Serve first to gain business

If you listen to the podcast in the first week of February, Allison will be giving away 10 free copies of her book.  Listen in to find out how.

Allison also provides a FREE workbook to accompany her book.  You can find this on her website.

For additional questions or comments, contact [email protected] 

Tracy Pleschourt, a former advertising executive, left corporate America in 2014 to pursue a lifestyle career in serving women. The rigorous, time consuming demands of corporate kept Tracy from living the life she desired and although her career was successful she felt compelled to redirect her efforts into raising a happy, healthy family, pursuing a life of personal growth, and mentoring women across the country who want to do the same.

Tracy is the founder and SHE-E-O of SheStyle. A Minneapolis based business that counsels women on the most effective and efficient ways to start their own online business. Tracy dedicates her work and efforts to ambitious women everywhere that are yearning for direction and a better way of approaching the success that they desire. Tracy instills confidence and a call to action in women who seek career advice in areas of transition, start up, and revitalization. Tracy’s message is clear: You can have a beautifully designed, successful career that supports personal passions and values without compromise and she can show you how.

Tracy's three business lessons are:

• Everything is figure-out-able
• Stay in your lane
• Understand the power of networking and ongoing learning

You can reach Tracy at www.shesyle.co or email [email protected] 

 

Tricia Wood owns Dance and Entertainment Studios in the Twin Cities, with her main location in Woodbury, Minnesota.  She teaches over 20 styles of Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Country Dancing, to singles and couples of all ages and levels.  In addition to the studios, she has also taught at several country clubs, churches, schools, community & senior centers, health & wellness programs, and galas.     Tricia and local celebrities have danced in Twin Cities competitions to raise money for charity.  She has also been recognized with awards including Woodbury’s Business of the Year.  In addition to teaching, Tricia choreographs, performs, and competes with her students too.  She has taught on cruises in Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas, for Garrison Keillor's “Prairie Home Companion,” and for “Dancers at Sea.”  (She is leaving Dec. 29 to teach on another 8-day cruise).   Tricia Wood is a divorced, single mom of two kids (her son is 8, daughter is 7).  She was married young, from age 22-30.  Now at 33, her business is as its high, as she has worked hard and learned a lot about forming long-term client relationships.    Tricia shares three business lessons:  

• Start small and then grow big
• Respond and follow up quickly
• Break the rules

You can learn more about Tricia or contact her for more information by visiting her website.  www.danceandentertainment.com 

Shawndel is the powerhouse behind Spader Group, LLC. She earned her degree in Business Management and Accounting from Rasmussen Business College and has over 19 years of experience with managing business finances. She greets each client with a smile and energetic initiative to develop a plan so they can accomplish their goals.

Listen in to her three business lessons:

• Know your numbers to use as a resource to make business decisions
• Be super clear about who you serve and how you serve them
• Delegate - it is a skill to learn

You can learn more about Shawndel at www.SpaderGroup.com or email her at [email protected]  

Mention you heard this podcast and receive 10% off your initial services.

Christina Mahady is principal and creative director of Mahady Creative Services, a one-woman creative services firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. For over 10 years, Christina has worked with local and national companies and organizations on developing new brands and expanding existing ones, with a focus on crafting a cohesive and concise visual presence for her clients. While specializing in graphic design and information graphics, Christina also provides copy writing and editing services on an individual basis. And while woman can do a lot, she can't do it all! Christina works with a tribe of fellow creatives specializing in video production, web design, digital content creation, event planning and photography, allowing her to coordinate between her clients and co-horts.

Listen in as Christina shares her business story and three business lessons:

• Hire an accountant
• Always have a plan for when business challenges arise
• Be careful in distinguishing clients and friends

You can reach Christina at www.MahadyCreative.com

LAURIE PHILLIPS, a co-founder of Museum Sage and a Master Guide and Trainer, loves helping people find answers to their life challenges through artworks and historical objects. Laurie is an artist whose art asks the question, “what’s it like to be you?” Laurie also works as a life coach for women who feel overwhelmed by their job, their health or their relationships and are yearning for joy and well-being.

Listen in as Laurie shares her business story and three business lessons:

1. Self-management
2. Form partnerships of all kinds
3. Listen to your customers and use their language

For more information about Laurie and her work, go to www.MuseumSage.com.  You can read stories of the powerful work she does at www.MuseumSage.com/stories 

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Connect to deeper knowing and bypass your head.

Museums are my happy place.

Access your own deeper knowledge and knowing.

Lesson #1:  Self-management

I can get lost in the weeds of technology and details.

Staying connected to core values and vision will keep the motivation for continuing your business.

Accept that things will take longer than expected.

Embrace mistakes.

There will always be mistakes when you are trying new things.

Lesson #2:  Form partnerships of all kinds

Ask for and receive help from experts in areas that are different than yours.

Partnerships are always so crucial.

Lesson #3:  Listen to your customers and use their language

What matters to your customers?

Stalk your audience to learn what keeps them up at night and the language they use.

Keep attune to subtleties of how people hear you.

Author of Prepare for Your Perfect Portrait Stephanie Oman has spent the past 13 years working on the portrait industry, not as a photographer, but as a portrait consultant, preparing clients for their session, and working with them on their selections.  She works with her husband, Rod Oman, who is the photographer and founder of The Imagery portrait photography studio.  The studio has been recognized nationally for its excellence in photography and being a leader in home based photography business.  As one of the largest independently owned home-based studios in Minnesota, they have spoke locally and throughout the Midwest on running your own photography business.  Stephanie focuses her training on sales and marketing.    Stephanie shares her three business lessons:  

1. Don't let perfectionism side step you.
2. Always have a goal in mind.
3. Know thyself.

You can download two chapters of her book at www.theimagery.net.  You can also find ways to contact her if you have any questions on her interview.

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Writing a book is like starting a new business.

A book is one way to market and build a wider network.

Writing a book makes it clearer on the knowledge you have.

Writing a book brings another level of respect and legitimacy.

Letting go of being perfect will help you move forward.

Build the plane as you fly.

If you seek to be perfect it will block your creativity.

Lesson #1:  Don't let perfectionism side step you.

People with great ideas get stuck because of being perfect.

Let your spirit, heart and soul move you forward.

Lesson #2:  Always have a goal in mind.

Shoot beyond the stars and you might catch the moon.

If you don't shoot for something, you get lost and it becomes easy to give up.

Your brain needs a base of what you are shooting for and why.

Goals will always change but it can't be an excuse to not lay down a goal.

You have to know your why.

Don't stay stuck on the goal or you won't grow.  

Lesson #3:  Know thyself.

Become familiar with your weaknesses to see yourself up to battle them.

Be humble.  It works on your side.

Go with the truth.  It is easier than backtracking.

Just be mindful of your weaknesses so you can be ready to take new actions.

You become less depressed and hard on yourself when you face your weaknesses.  There are options.

As the inventor and founder of MüD (pronounced Mood) Modular, Amy Lokken has over 20 years of experience in the design world. Throughout her career in the shopping center industry, Amy saw a need for businesses to learn how to showcase their products and services in everyday places.

Listen in as Amy shares her business story and three business lessons.

1. Persistance is first and foremost
2. Own your vision
3. Surround yourself with people who have your best interest in mind

You can access Amy's free resource "10 Ways To Have Sales Displays Standout" at www.mudmodular.com   Her contact information and social media connections are also on that site.

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Amy jumped in with both feet and had no clear plan.

When you jump in blindly, you don't know what to be fearful of.  You don't know what you don't know.

I decided to take my destiny into my own hands

We are given blessings every day.  

The blessings we don't realize give us the biggest lessons in our life.

We do need to look in the rearview mirror to see how far we have come and the successes achieved.

Lesson #1:  Persistance is first and foremost.

Having a vision and saying "I CAN do this.  I CHOOSE to do this."

Lesson #2:  Own your vision

Others will tell you what they think you should do and you will lose your vision.

Stay true to the roots of your vision.

Lesson #3:  Surround yourself with people who have your best interest in mind.

Surround yourself with people who give you honest feedback and have your best interest in mind.

Believe in yourself.  You have the knowledge.  No one can tell you what you are.

"I believe it is how we stumble through one journey that creates our next."

Are we stumbling gracefully?