Take The Leap

Welcome to the 40th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Finding Harmony: How to Balance Your Fire and Flow as an Entrepreneur with Asmâa Methqal," our guest shares the importance of integrating feminine energy, intuition, and intentional rest into entrepreneurship. Asmâa’s inspiring story demonstrates that success doesn’t come solely from relentless action but from aligning your business with your true self and creating practices that support long-term wellbeing. 

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• Asmâa introduces the “Queen List” – which includes three non-negotiable daily practices that foster a sense of calm, joy, and alignment. Some ideas to include are dancing in the morning, meditation, and taking a nature walk. 
• Balance your fire (action) with flow (intention) by creating rituals that honor both productivity and rest. 
• Knowing your zone of genius, what you naturally excel at, is crucial for long-term fulfillment – let that essence guide you, not societal expectations. 

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Asmâa Methqal, Transformational Leadership Alchemist & Executive Coach, Fire and Flow Academy and Founder of Maestra Business Solutions 
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Check out our free webinar → 9 Steps to Launch Your Business. Sign up at https://taketheleap-today.com/webinar/ 

Connect with Asmaa:

• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram
• On YouTube
• Check out her website
• Learn more about business growth consulting
• Explore the Fire and Flow Leaders Community
• Asmâa’s book Life Design Playbook and more resources

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

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Welcome to the 39th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "The Value of You: Why Your Time and Energy Matter More Than Hours Worked," co-hosts Ashlan Glazier-Anderson and Victoria Proppe reflect on balancing entrepreneurship and person al wellbeing, the advantages of flat-rate pricing,  strategies to improve task management, and the importance of creating systems, among other reflections from our conversation with Marina Martinez-Bateman. Listen to the episode with Marina that we reference on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Key Takeaways from the Episode: 

• Investing in rest, alignment, and health protects the real value you offer as a business owner–you are your greatest asset. 
• As a creative entrepreneur, hourly pricing just doesn’t always make sense–it may feel unfair to charge someone for brainstorming time or research, so aim to lock in flat rate pricing with your clients. 
• Check out our free webinar → 9 Steps to Launch Your Business. Sign up at https://taketheleap-today.com/webinar/ 

Host information:

• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course: 

The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
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Welcome to the 38th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Building a Tech Company That Values Creativity and Flexibility with Charles Howard," our guest provides insightful guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to balance independence, problem-solving, and sustainable growth while maintaining personal wellbeing and fostering a positive work environment. 

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• Even during downtimes or when projects are delayed, it’s essential to keep building infrastructure, developing systems, and creating materials. 
• Building a company that empowers problem solvers regardless of traditional qualifications (like education) is crucial for fostering innovation. 
• Entrepreneurs should embrace the ups and downs and understand that success comes from resilience, innovation, and adaptability. Focus on building a good culture and providing flexible, rewarding opportunities for employees. 

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Charles Howard, Founder of OpenWacca
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with Charles:

• On LinkedIn
• Visit the website 

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
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Instagram

Welcome to the 37th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "You’re Never Too Small for Systems: CRMs, Admin, and Getting It Together," co-hosts Ashlan Glazier-Anderson and Victoria Proppe reflect on how entrepreneurship is as much about how you work and grow as what you achieve, among other reflections from our conversation with Aman Thakral. Reflecting, streamlining your systems, and being intentional with your energy are just as vital as your bottom line. Listen to the episode with Aman Thakral that we reference on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Key Takeaways from the Episode: 

• In traditional 9–5 jobs, reflection often only happens during annual performance reviews (if at all), and is often tied to arbitrary goals. As entrepreneurs, you can reflect more meaningfully and regularly on how far you’ve come, what’s working, and what you want to change.
• One of Aman’s biggest insights: Accepting a “no” is just as powerful as chasing a “yes.” Identifying a “no” early saves time, energy, and mental space so you can focus on warmer, better-aligned opportunities. It’s also important to give clear no’s to others–ghosting or vague responses waste everyone’s time.
• Amman reinforced that a customer relationship management (CRM) system is vital, even for solo entrepreneurs. A good CRM helps manage data, follow up on leads, and track growth, without relying on memory or scattered notes.

Host information:

• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course: 

The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram

Welcome to the 36th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Writing That Works: Building Confidence and Clarity with Samantha Pollack" our guest shares her journey and multiple leaps and pivots from a personal trainer to a writer with a bold and honest approach deeply rooted in craft over hype. This is a must-listen episode for any entrepreneur who wants to write better, find their voice, and stop listening to bad advice. 

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• The advice she’d give her early entrepreneur self: “Don’t listen to any of these motherfuckers.” 
• The best writing is rooted in empathy, clear communication, and understanding your audience. 
• The cure for perfectionism? Keep writing. Let others see your work. Build confidence through community, critique, and interaction. 

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Samantha Pollack, Owner of Indie Copy Studio
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with Sam:

• Join the newsletter list here
• On Instagram @indiecopystudio
• On LinkedIn

Guest Bio: Samantha Pollack

Samantha Pollack is an Editor & Copywriter for service providers, authors, activists, academics, neurodivergent nerds, and other smart/cool people. She's known for her ability to see the gold nuggets in what you write—and craft a voice and a message that could only come from you. 

Sam is the creator of The Craft, a workshop-style copywriting course designed to help you speak about your work with eloquence, power, passion, and clarity.

As a copywriter, she's worked behind the scenes of some big, fancy launches in the coaching, online marketing, and course creation spaces, so she has a lot of tricks (and hot goss) up her sleeve. As an editor, Sam helps emerging authors develop their manuscripts from "almost there" to actually, really, finally DONE, whether they're sending it out to potential agents or moving forward with self-publishing.

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
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Welcome to the 35th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Building a Business at Any Age: It’s Never Too Late" co-hosts Ashlan Glazier-Anderson and Victoria Proppe reflect on how entrepreneurship is messy, personal, and always a work in progress–but with the right mindset and support, you’ll keep moving forward, among other reflections from our conversation with Vicki Semanie. Listen to the episode with Vicki Semanie that we reference on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Key Takeaways from the Episode: 

• Comparing yourself to others–especially seeming overnight success stories–is harmful. Entrepreneurial journeys are full of ups and downs. There’s no perfect path. 
• It’s not about avoiding failure but what you do with it–how you reflect, adapt, and grow. Failure is inevitable in business and offers critical lessons. 
• Reinvention isn’t failure–it’s adapting to align with your current goals and market. It’s okay (and necessary) to change your brand, messaging, or service offerings over time. 

Host information:

• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course: 

The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram

Welcome to the 35th episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Burn It Down to Build It Better: Rejecting Toxic Productivity & Decolonizing Business with Marina Martinez-Bateman" our guest shares tips for anyone feeling stuck in hustle culture, questioning how to build equity into their work, or wondering whether they can start over again. Marina proves that business can be ethical, joyful, and liberating—if we let it.

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• Value isn't in the hours worked, but in the wisdom, perception, and solutions you bring.
• You are your greatest asset. Prioritize rest, alignment, and your health to protect the true value you offer.
• Decolonize your mind. Marina urges entrepreneurs, especially those from marginalized communities, to unlearn monoculture norms and reclaim their power.

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Marina Martinez-Bateman, Founder of New Coyote Consulting
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with Marina:

• On Instagram @marinaisgo
• New Coyote on Instagram @newcoyotecomms
• On LinkedIn
• New Coyote on LinkedIn
• On Bluesky @marinaisgo 

Guest Bio: Marina Martinez-Bateman

Marina (they/them) is the founder of New Coyote Consulting, an equity and communications consulting firm in Portland, Oregon. New Coyote is born of many years’ experience applying equity and human-centered systems to communications strategy. They built it to be a new kind of company, a place that puts human beings over performative capitalist expectations that only waste time, lead to burn out, and don’t make any money for ordinary businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Marina is a serial entrepreneur and a grassroots communicator with more than 20 years’ experience motivating people to take action on behalf of political, cultural, and commercial interests. Their ongoing equity and workers’ rights practice has made them a popular speaker, trainer, and peer mentor in the industry.

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram

Welcome to the 33rd episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Follow Curiosity, Not Trends" co-hosts Ashlan Glazier-Anderson and Victoria Proppe reflect on how platforms and algorithms constantly change, so success lies in staying curious about your audience, your brand, and your mission, among other reflections from our conversation with Megan Eckman. Listen to the episode with Megan Eckman that we reference on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Key Takeaways from the Episode: 

• Trends are fleeting, but curiosity builds sustainable, long-term strategy and authentic connection with customers.
• Leaning on trends can dilute your unique voice and make your brand blend into the crowd, or become replaceable. 
• Make space for fun and joy–it improves your work, creativity, and productivity. 

Host information:

• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course: 

The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram

Welcome to the 32nd episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "Start Small, Think Big: Why CRMs Are Built for Your Bad Days with Aman Thakral" our guest shares perspectives on entrepreneurship being less about chasing perfection and more about evolving with the process, staying aligned with your values, and never being afraid to try things your way.

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• Success isn’t about money: Aman emphasizes that enjoying the journey and having impact outweigh financial gain.
• Aman believes we should be taught how to accept “no” just as much as we chase “yes.” In sales and life, identifying a “no” early allows you to move on efficiently, freeing up time and energy for better-fit opportunities.
• CRMs aren’t just for big businesses—they’re a discipline that every entrepreneur should adopt from day one.

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Aman Thakral, Business Head at Target Integration
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with Aman:

• On LinkedIn 
• On X @TargetInt
• On YouTube
• Visit the Target Integration website

Guest Bio: Aman Thakral

Aman Thakral, Business Head at Target Integration, a leading CRM and ERP consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses find and implement the right software solutions tailored to their unique needs. With over 16 years of experience, he’s partnered with some of the most renowned CRM and ERP platforms, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Monday.com, Odoo, Microsoft Dynamics, and more.

If you are a business owner or decision-maker looking for a CRM or ERP that perfectly fits your business needs, reach out to connect! Aman is happy to discuss how they can help transform your business with the right technology.

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram

Welcome to the 31st episode of Take the Leap's second season. In this episode, "It's Never Too Late to Leap: Redefining Success After Retirement with Vicki Semanie" our guest shares a powerful reminder that success in entrepreneurship is a journey, not a sprint, and that leaning into purpose, patience, and presence creates the most meaningful impact.

Some of our favorite takeaways include: 

• One of Vicki’s biggest lessons: Entrepreneurship takes time. Comparing it to an ivy plant: Year 1 it sleeps, Year 2 it creeps, Year 3 it leaps.
• Her philosophy: “You can only succeed if you fail first. It’s what you do with the failure that determines your future success.”
• Advice for new entrepreneurs: Have a financial nest egg. Be ready for unexpected pivots and delays in revenue. Focus on long-term relationships and impact, not instant results.

Guest & Host Information:

• Guest, Vicki Semanie, Master Certified Professional Coach at Seven Stones Life Coaching
• Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
• Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies

Connect with Vicki:

• On Facebook
• On LinkedIn
• Visit Seven Stones Life Coaching website

Guest Bio: Vicki Semanie

Vicki founded Seven Stones after a long career as a finance and operations professional. As a Master Certified Professional Coach, Vicki assists others in achieving life and business goals that they never thought possible. 

She built an exceptional career and meaningful life because of her ability to pragmatically achieve her goals regardless of obstacles. As a business coach, Vicki assists her clients by providing clarity on the path forward. She works with the business owners to think through what the next steps of the business should be and by helping them develop leadership, communication, and sales skills. 

Vicki recently expanded Seven Stones by providing business consulting services through strategic business partnership arrangements. Her primary client is a business owner or CEO of a company with up to 50 or so employees. With this service, she provides strategy, operations, and financial consulting services over 12 months with intensive individual and group sessions and 1:1 coaching. 

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Take the Leap
• Follow us on Instagram: @taketheleap_today
• Find Ashlan on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Find Tory on Instagram & LinkedIn 

The Course
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur. 

Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!

Want to keep in touch?

Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram