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Ready to break free from the ordinary?

Many Startups are working on technologies that just a few years ago didn't even exist. They weren't even possible, maybe not even a dream. Technology is evolving fast and so are the new and innovative ideas that come along with those advancements. And the question I often get from people is "How do I price something that's unknown?"

Do the same tactics and strategies apply? How can I help my customer understand the real value when they can't even conceive this as a possible solution? Truly innovative solutions push the boundaries of value and often require an innovative approach to pricing as well. It's true that this can be tricky but it can also be incredibly exciting.

That's one reason why I've invited this week's guest to join me on the show.

In This Episode:

Cristina Ruiz de Castaneda, Founder of Blue Vega started her business after working with a really great consultant during her corporate days. She now consults herself, helping innovative Startups with new technologies develop their commercial roadmaps.

She shares with us her own pricing journey. Then we dive deep into the captivating realm of strategies for pricing unique offerings. From understanding the unconventional costs to gauging the value for early adopters, Cristina sheds light on the myriad fascinating factors that come into play. 

But that's just the beginning! Cristina also shares some of the common mistakes startups make when pricing their innovations. Get ready to gain fresh perspectives, practical insights, and inspiration to navigate the intricacies of pricing your own unique offerings.

Podcast Highlights

• 00:00 Intro
• 1:49 Getting to Know Cristina
• 3:30 The Value of Working with Cristina
• 6:10 How Did She Get Started
• 8:19 Pricing At the Beginning
• 10:47 Pricing of Unusual Things
• 14:13 Common Mistakes Startups Make
• 19:27 Looking through Multiple Lens 
• 22:53 Wrapping It Up

How to reach Cristina:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluevegaconsulting/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-r-de-castaneda/

Don't go yet. If you're enjoying the show please rate and review. It helps us spread the word to more people and ultimately get more small businesses on the path to sustainable profitability and business success. Thanks for Listening.

Let’s Talk

Looking for pricing support or interested in a partnership? Start here.

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn for practical pricing insights, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes updates.

Why Pricing Feels So Hard

Curious why pricing feels so difficult? Explore the decisions behind confident pricing.

Nous poursuivons avec nos épisodes bonus du mois de mai. Ces épisodes sont les interviews complètes en version originale de notre mini-série sur les systèmes alimentaires durables.

Aujourd'hui, notre deuxième épisode présente Alles Gut! Gemüse Kebab, le premier kebab durable de Genève, avec ses cofondateurs Romain Oeggerli et Yohann Pellaux. À la tête de leur restaurant éco-responsable et socialement engagé, Romain et Yohann ont pour ambition de révolutionner la gastronomie fast-food. Dans cette discussion, ils parlent de leur parcours entrepreneurial, ils partagent leurs définitions d'une alimentation durable ainsi que leurs conseils pour que chacune et chacun d'entre nous puisse y contribuer au quotidien, et bien plus encore.

Vous trouverez des informations complémentaires sur le site web de Gemüse Kebab. Vous pouvez également suivre leurs activités sur Instagram et Facebook.

La transcription complète de cet episode ainsi que tous les épisodes de notre série sur les systèmes alimentaires durables sont disponibles sur le site web de notre podcast.

** Rejoignez notre communauté sur Patreon https://www.patreon.com/noppodcast pour soutenir Narratives of Purpose mais aussi pour DES CONTENUS ET UN ACCÈS EXCLUSIFS À NOTRE PODCAST **

Mentioned in this episode:

Narratives of Purpose is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

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As a business owner, you've probably heard the saying "You can be good, you can be fast, or you can be cheap. Pick two."

Is it really that simple? 🤔

Recently someone wrote to me that they were struggling with this concept of good, fast or cheap as they aren't fast. And they feel pressured to be so when that's not them. Yes, I often get my show ideas from the questions people ask me. So keep asking! 😄

I believe it's important to know what your strengths are and to market to those strengths. That's how you attract people who value your approach to things. Failing to do so feel so frustrating - you end up never feel good enough.

More importantly doing so allows you to work in your "wheelhouse" of expertise and focus on what you're best at. BUT that requires you to let go of the things that aren't strengths. In this case if you're not fast, then don't market that. Lean into the fact that you deliver great results even if it takes a bit more time. Or even redefine what fast is.

You have to let go first - otherwise it'll feel like you're always "swimming against the current" 🏊‍♀️ i.e. struggling.

In This Episode

We explore the popular saying in the service and freelance industry: "You can be good, you can be fast, or you can be cheap. Pick two." We dig deeper to unpack its meaning for pricing in your business. Here's the deal: all three factors—good, fast, and cheap—are relative and depend on your target customers. Their perception of what's valuable matters most and you can influence that.

We take a look at how perceptions impact the definition of good, cheap and fast. As well as how to manage if what you do doesn't fit all those requirements. In my experience, it's not about choosing between good, fast, and cheap. It's not even about always delivering all at the same time.

It is about aligning your strengths with what your target customers value. Enjoy the episode!

Podcast Highlights

• 0:00 Intro
• 2:00 An Old Adage
• 6:36 Be Honest With Yourself
• 9:11 Best Way to Help a Potential Client
• 11:00 Price Acceptance
• 11:42 Wrapping it Up

Episode Links

The Fair Price Formula: https://maven.com/the-pricing-lady/fairpriceformula

On-demand Web Class: "Getting to a Fair Price"

Don't go yet. If you're enjoying the show please rate and review. It helps us spread the word to more people and ultimately get more small businesses on the path to sustainable profitability and business success. Thanks for Listening.

Let’s Talk

Looking for pricing support or interested in a partnership? Start here.

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn for practical pricing insights, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes updates.

Why Pricing Feels So Hard

Curious why pricing feels so difficult? Explore the decisions behind confident pricing.

Wir haben Bonus Folgen diesen Monat für euch im Podcast! Diese Folgen sind vollständige Interviews in Originalsprache aus unserer kurzen Serie über nachhaltige Ernährung Systeme.

Der erste Gast ist Bastiaan Frich, der Mitbegründer von Urban Agriculture Basel (UAB). Dieses Netzwerk fördert Organisationen und Projekte in der Region Basel, die sich für einen biologischen und ganzheitlichen Lebensmittelkreislauf einsetzen. Bastiaan erzählt über die Aktivitäten von UAB, die Erfolge und Herausforderungen seit der Gründung in 2010. Er teilt seine Definition einer nachhaltigen Ernährung sowie seine Empfehlungen für den Alltag damit jede und jeder von uns beitragen kann, und vieles mehr.

Auf ihrer Website⁠ erfährt ihr mehr über UAB. Ihr könnt euch auch mit ihnen auf Instagram⁠ und Facebook⁠ verbinden.

Das komplette Transkript dieser Folge findet ihr auf unserer Podcast-Website sowie alle Folgen der kurzen Serie über nachhaltige Ernährung Systeme.

** Schaut euch unsere Mitglieder-Community unter https://www.patreon.com/noppodcast an, um EXKLUSIVE INHALTE UND ZUGANG ZU UNSEREM PODCAST zu erhalten und Narratives of Purpose zu unterstützen! **

Mentioned in this episode:

Narratives of Purpose is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

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Have you ever asked yourself, should I adjust prices for different geographies

Certainly if you’re doing business internationally you’ve most definitely asked yourself that questions.

And you’re not alone in that. Over the years many people have asked me the question. Well, to be precise they’ve asked me “How should I adjust prices?” People almost always assume that just because they’re selling to another country then have to adjust their prices, but as you’ll learn in this episode, it isn’t always necessary.

It’s also interesting, people are rarely worried about raising prices for countries with a higher willingness to pay, they are always concerned about being over priced. In fact they are making assumptions about what other people can or cannot afford. As I’ve mentioned before we do have to be careful about having our minds “in other people’s pockets”. Make sure you look at this question through a few different perspectives before making a decision.

In This Episode

I share with you what to consider so you can decide if such adjustments are needed for your business.

As you know by now in pricing there are no “one size fits all” answers – it depends. And in this case we need to first take a look at the customer to find the answers. You’ll also learn about a couple of resources you can use to help you in deciding what changes to make. And then I share tips and strategies to decide if there are better alternatives to just simply selling the same things at different prices.

With a few questions, a little research and some creative thinking you can come up with the best options for your business. Enjoy the episode!

Podcast Highlights

• 0:00 Intro
• 2:07 Should you adjust?
• 4:05 Try having different offers
• 5:51 Consider the cost to serve
• 6:52 A few things to think about
• 8:23 Try these indexes
• 12:28 Wrap Up

Episode Links

Big Mac Index: https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/big-mac-index-by-country/

Consumer Price Index: https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/cpi/

Let’s Talk

Looking for pricing support or interested in a partnership? Start here.

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn for practical pricing insights, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes updates.

Why Pricing Feels So Hard

Curious why pricing feels so difficult? Explore the decisions behind confident pricing.

Send us a text

How can you improve your relationship with money?

Great question now let's get some answers.

As you know I’ve invited two money experts, Ilana Jankowitz and Clara Creitz, onto the show recently to talk about Women & Money. In part 1 we took a look at where our money mindset comes from, how it disrupts our path to success and some of the things that women do well when it comes to money. If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, listen here.

The challenges you face with money are not always easy to identify or know where they come from. Often times making the change is difficult. It can even be emotionally painful. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t try. You keep working at it step by step, because it matters to you, your family and friends, even to your business and clients. It’s the only way to make things better and improve. We are all here to offer support.

In This Episode:

In this episode, Part 2, we shift gears to look specifically at the tips and tactics the Clara and Ilana have to share with us. For example you’ll learn about a three-step process you can try that’ll help you get on the right track. You’ll hear about the importance of understanding one’s wealth structure, retirement situation, and insurance coverage as a means to understanding where you are now and how to get to where you want to go.

I loved the part about having a “money date” with loved ones to discuss finances. And you’ll discover how ancestral background and traumas can impact your beliefs and behaviors around money. As well as how the only way through to financial freedom is by you addressing those underlying issues. All that and so much more as we wrap up this two-part series.

Podcast Highlights

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:27 Health Check or Analysis
• 5:12 Speaking About Money
• 7:10 Not Enoughness
• 12:10 The Big Thing Comes in the Mindset
• 18:47 Be Open to Learning
• 24:34 Wrapping it Up

Episode Links:

Clara Creitz | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Ilana Jankowitz | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Take the money quiz at Ilana's website.

Let’s Talk

Looking for pricing support or interested in a partnership? Start here.

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn for practical pricing insights, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes updates.

Why Pricing Feels So Hard

Curious why pricing feels so difficult? Explore the decisions behind confident pricing.

You've heard about the physical symptoms of long COVID—the exhaustion, the brain fog, the feeling like you aged 40 years overnight. But what nobody talks about is the mental sh*t storm that comes with it. Arjanna van der Plas, leadership coach and mom of two, shares her raw experience navigating long COVID while running a business, parenting young kids, and confronting the hardest thing of all: asking for help.

What You'll Learn:

1. What long COVID actually looks like day-to-day (spoiler: it's not just being tired)
2. Why "independent woman syndrome" becomes your worst enemy when you get sick
3. The mental trap of feeling like a burden—and how to break it
4. What doctors actually tell you to do (do LESS than you think you can)
5. How illness can teach you about gratitude, boundaries, and self-care

Real Talk Moments: Arjanna opens up about napping on the couch while her kids watched iPads ("doesn't feel like the best parenting, but it works"), her husband literally sending her to bed, and the identity crisis of watching her business shrink while she couldn't show up. Plus, Danna draws powerful parallels between long COVID and depression—the mental exhaustion, the internal battle between what your brain wants to do and what your body allows.

Arjanna's Wisdom: "Other people have rough lives too, and they're also busy and they're also tired—so I cannot burden them with my needs." Sound familiar? Arjanna unpacks how this thinking kept her from getting the help she desperately needed.

Connect with Arjanna van der Plas: through Women's Hub or as part of her collaboration with business partner, Nele, at Clüver and van der Plas Coaching and Consulting.

Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community Get access to our extended cut episodes and support the show by signing up as a Member of the So Frickin' Healthy Community. You can join as a free or paid Member! We appreciate you listening! Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community

Check Out Organilicious Jump on a free discovery call with Danna, and find out more about the Urban Cleanse program Book Your Free Call

This episode does not constitute medical advice, the thoughts and stories in this episode are for entertainment only. Consult your healthcare provider if you think you may have Long Covid.

As we wrap up this exciting and very unique season of Narratives of Purpose, we wanted to shine a spotlight on what made this season so special. It was unlike any other season we have hosted and we’re grateful to you listeners for joining us on this journey. 

In this episode, enjoy a snippet of unheard content as well as a summary of what has led us here today.

Show notes:

Be sure to check out our social media channels and share your experiences by connecting with us on our social handles. You find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

And don’t forget to visit our podcast website for the full episode transcript, and of course check out our Podcast Listener Survey so that we can continue to provide content and topics with you in mind.

** UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AND ACCESS TO OUR PODCAST while supporting our team’s efforts to continue producing the best quality content we possibly can! Check out our membership community at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/noppodcast⁠ and become a patron. **

Mentioned in this episode:

Narratives of Purpose is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Send us a text

Women-owned businesses are significant contributors to the economy. And the number of businesses founded by women in many countries out-pacing overall new business growth. Despite this women face significant obstacles when it comes to starting businesses. While there are many factors that contribute to this, one aspect has to do our relationship to money.

It’s no surprise that women face obstacles in accessing capital and funding. But if we go deeper than that women often have a tenuous, at best, relationship with money. Growing up many didn’t have good role models to follow, weren’t taught how to manage money and/or weren’t expected to develop that relationship. It also has a lot to do with how worthy a person feels and let’s face it in many cultures and families women are made to feel “less than”.

This has consequences in both life and business, in personal finances and indefinitely when it come to pricing in your business. In my experience pricing comes down to competence and confidence. I’ve seen how people’s mindsets about money impact their pricing behavior. That’s why I’ve brought two Money experts on to the show to have this conversation.

In This Episode:

In this episode (part 1 of 2) I’ve invited Ilana Jankowitz, Money Mindset expert back to the show and Clara Creitz, an expert in Personal Finance for Women, to help me explore the topic of Women and Money. The panel discussion format is something I’ve been wanting to bring to the show for a while. They share about their own journeys and their insights about women and money, including what we do well. As well as some of the things we struggle with and how to start breaking free of them.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in starting my own business it’s that it’s a personal journey more than anything else. Mindset around money for most of us, plays a huge role in our success.

Podcast Highlights

• 0:00 Intro
• 3:24 Getting to Know the Guests
• 6:09 The Journey of Starting Your Own Business
• 10:00 First Thoughts on Women and Money
• 12:57 Soft and Hard Skills
• 16:48 Mindset Challenges
• 23:44 Money Role Models
• 27:11 What Women Do Really Well in Money
• 32:00 Wrapping Up (Part 1)

Episode Links:

Clara Creitz | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Ilana Jankowitz | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook 

Let’s Talk

Looking for pricing support or interested in a partnership? Start here.

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect with me on LinkedIn for practical pricing insights, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes updates.

Why Pricing Feels So Hard

Curious why pricing feels so difficult? Explore the decisions behind confident pricing.

Join us for the final part of our Exploring Sustainable Food Systems episode which shines a spotlight on Networks and Community Builders.

This time we look at how our guests have found alternative ways to approach sustainability and provide solutions that reach into the wider community and their local networks.

Show notes:

In this episode, we spoke with Imani Black, the founder of ⁠Minorities In Aquaculture⁠, an organisation that promotes a more diverse and inclusive aquaculture industry. She shares how she went from being the only woman of colour at management level in her workforce to founding a network for inclusivity in the aquaculture space that has led to more opportunities and diversity within the industry through education and awareness.

Our second guest was Bastiaan Frich, a leading member of ⁠Urban Agriculture Basel⁠, a network that promotes projects in the Basel region committed to organic and holistic food cycles. Bastiaan shares how the ripple effect of small changes have the power and ability to make a huge impact in how we live and how the phrase “What if?” has maintained an element of curiosity within the organisation that has consistently encouraged them to keep trying new things..

Finally, we spoke with Romain Oeggerli and Yohann Pellaux. The co-founders of ⁠Alles Gut! Gemüse Kebab⁠, the first sustainable kebab restaurant in Geneva. Their non profit organisation has multiple approaches; Not only have they created a system that provides the community with the opportunity to easily contribute to feeding those in need, they also use local, fresh ingredients which are recognised by GRTA as having quality, proximity, traceability and fairness at the forefront of their produce.

If you have started your own journey with exploring sustainable food options, be sure to share your experiences by connecting with us on our social handles. You find us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, and ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

Be sure to ⁠visit our podcast website⁠ for the full episode transcript and the detailed ⁠list of guests featured in this series⁠.

This short series on Exploring Sustainable Food Systems is supported by Change.Preneurs, formerly known as Fructify Network.

** UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AND ACCESS TO OUR PODCAST while supporting our team’s efforts to continue producing the best quality content we possibly can! Check out our membership community at ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/noppodcast⁠⁠ and become a patron. **

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Episode timestamps

00:26 - Episode and guest introduction

03:29 - Minorities in Aquaculture's activities with Imani Black

21:21 - Urban Agriculture Basel's work⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Bastiaan Frich

34:01 - Establishing Alles Gut! Gemüse Kebab restaurant with Romain Oeggerli & Yohann Pellaux

46:15 - Recommendations from all the episode guests⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

51:07 - Episode recap

Mentioned in this episode:

Narratives of Purpose is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network