Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

Why is it that so many of us default to “Yes,” even when we’re depleted and at wit’s end? My guest on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur is highlighting ways in which stressed-out moms can do a reset to refresh not only their spirits but the lives of those around them. Kelly Bermingham, founder of The Motherhood Mentorship Program, shares insights that improve quality of life with a minimum of muss and fuss – because who has time for that?

At the heart of her program is Kelly’s belief that we need to stop pretending and throw off societal expectations that are inauthentic. It’s okay – unavoidable really – if we can’t be all things to all people at all times. We can create a mold for ourselves that matches what truly matters most, if we commit to doing the work of getting honest and defining exactly what those core values are. Kelly, who has been both a mom and a career educator, is on a mission to help women on the run tune into their inner knowing. And, on the practical side, she also helps them create simple, practical life systems so they can stress less and enjoy the journey more.

A veteran of 22 years as an educator with a track record as a direct sales entrepreneur, Kelly has traversed midlife and is here to send a message back to women just starting to navigate the insane sprint that life can be when we’re juggling jobs, kids, relationships and the daily challenge to keep the domestic machine chugging along on time. She shares how she developed her online course and why the one-to-one coaching element is so fulfilling. The episode wraps with some great recommended reading and a shout-out for the importance of improving and supporting education in our communities and across the nation.

Are you a stressed mama? If so, you’re not alone. Click here to join The Motherhood and learn more about Kelly and her amazing platform!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Personal losses can serve as an invitation to reconsider – and reset – core priorities.

• Don’t wait until midlife to confront those midlife crisis questions. Start asking now!

• The Power of No: It may not come easily, but women must find ways to set boundaries.

• Just starting out? Google research is your friend. There are abundant free resources out there for aspiring entrepreneurs of all kinds.

• The online hivemind can be a rich source of support and information. Have a question about growing your business? Put it out to your social media community.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Kelly shares the path she took into a career in technical education and eventually an entrepreneurial venture in direct sales to make some extra $$.

• A series of losses within a short timeframe prompted Kelly to reconsider her life and very intentionally prioritize around the things most important to her and her family.

• Kelly grew a practice around her observation that women were under intensive – and unrealistic – pressure to do it all and be everything.

• Kelly shares some practices that help women in The Motherhood get clarity:

o Define your core values to determine what kind of life you want to live.

o Identify where your hours are going and how it aligns with your mission.

o Come up with simple systems that protect time and improve quality of life.

o Develop a self-care practice that integrates quiet moments throughout the day.

• The biggest stressors women are facing:

o Work.

o Maintaining the home.

• The single most effective thing women can do to relieve stress? Learn to set boundaries and to say no when necessary.

• About how Kelly developed her program:

o She networked and asked questions of women who had already established businesses.

o She grew her venture organically, through online research and posting on social media channels.

o Drawing from her own life, strengths and limits, Kelly developed an online course that busy women could tackle in increments.

o She added a one-to-one element to personalize her coaching.

o The process of self-reflection – and learning – was and is ongoing.

• What’s next for Kelly? Finding a way to advocate for kids by helping to improve our troubled educational system, which she had a front-row seat as a teacher.

• Recommended Reading:

o "Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be," by Rachel Hollis.

Donna Dube, founder of Productivity Plus, is one of the lucky ones who has found her “Zone of Genius” and made the most of it. The mother of two teen-agers has a thriving practice helping high-level entrepreneurs bring their goals to life. What differentiates her from other business coaches? Her passion for the metrics. Donna has never met a spreadsheet she didn’t like and looking at Google analytics makes her heart skip a beat – in a good way!

On this episode, Donna is walking us through the strategies she uses to help business leaders go beyond defining their vision to measuring for actual progress along the way to achieving success. She also introduces suggestions to get us past any hesitation or intimidation about the numbers, including tracking tools, time audit exercises and the SAP Method to Streamline, Assign or Pause projects based on their relative merits.

You’ll come away from this conversation feeling motivated to face down the data because, as Donna points out, it’s not that scary and in fact (once we remove the mental block) can be fun (not to mention hugely informative)! And don’t forget to schedule that family hour or yoga class into your day. There’s an app for that – and just about every other business function you can think of – so no more excuses. This productivity guru will motivate you to get organized and reap the rewards!

Want to check out Donna’s amazing Productivity Tracker? Click here to give it a free test drive. You can also schedule a complimentary discovery call or click here to download her free manual, "10 KPIs You Can Measure Today."

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Do you take pride in your incomparable ability to organize or mastermind a spreadsheet? It’s a valuable skill set known as project management!

• If you aren’t creating measurable goals, there’s no way to know how your business is truly doing.

• Looking at data does not have to be scary! Think of it as gathering answers to questions.

• Once you start showing positive results on your dashboard, it’s exciting! You’ll look forward to reading your own metrics!

• If you’ve got the entrepreneurial bug, go for it. But start small and make a plan!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Donna started out as a nurse working 12-hour shifts in the ICU, then pivoted to online project management after the birth of her kids.

• About finding her “Zone of Genius” in data, analysis and fostering efficiencies of all kinds!

• About Donna’s process and how she works with her clients:

o A one-on-one project-based approach.

o Articulate the high-level vision for the next six to 12 months.

o Identify which projects are top priority within that timeframe.

o Establish metrics to determine whether goals are on track.

o Set up a dashboard to monitor and analyze business outcomes.

• Data is an ally that can provide key indicators like:

o How are people getting to your website?

o What actions are they taking when they get there?

• Donna shares a fascinating anecdote about how she leveraged Google analytics to help her client figure out which of her social media channels were actually generating business conversions and how.

• About the SAP Method and how it can be applied to increase efficiencies.

• Donna shares actionable tips:

o When it comes to tracking metrics, start small. No more than a dozen at a time.

o Identify which information will be most helpful in advancing the business.

o Build a simple spreadsheet to help track indicators month over month.

o Check out tools that will help automate the tracking process.

o Free tools include: Google analytics, Google Data Studio.

• About the elusive work-life balance: Donna believes in setting clear boundaries and then sticking to them, including calendaring family time and “me” time.

• Words of wisdom for women pondering an entrepreneurial venture:

o If you’ve got the itch, go for it!

o But have a plan!

o Start small. It can begin as a side hustle.

Did you learn growing up that it’s important to have it all figured out – with no room for trial and error? That’s the corporate model and very familiar. But Adele Wang, our guest on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, asks the simple question: “Do you enjoy it?” For many, the innovative spirit of entrepreneurism feels like a far better fit. But making the move can be a challenge, especially since not knowing what comes next is part of the process. Giving ourselves permission is the first step – and not always an easy one.

Adele offers guidance and support to clients in transition, walking with them through unsettled feelings. It’s a gift she uncovered through a similar process of her own. Growing up in a conservative home that defined success by conventional measures, it took a dark passage to embolden Adele to the kind of spiritual awakening and authenticity that she believes we all deserve. She came through that crucible and found on the other side her talents as a mentor, speaker and inspiration to women who want to veer in a completely new direction. It takes bravery, a willingness to challenge the status quo – and the ability to sit with some discomfort!

You’ll learn from Adele about key things to consider when envisioning a new life pursuit as well as how to manage stress and fears associated with the inevitable risks. And most of all? Adele urges us to find ways to stay relaxed. Minds and bodies that are cramped and constrained aren’t free to flow or conjure heartfelt, creative ideas.

You can click here to learn more about Adele and her classes as they become available.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Suffering depression? Struggling in relationships or with unmet needs? Welcome to your invitation to reassess – and locate your authentic life force.

• A lot of independent business owners have gone through “the eye of the needle” and come to a spiritual awakening that freed them to pursue their truth.

• Finding out what you want to do is a big part of determining who you’re going to be.

• Figuring out your career path is a lot like dating: A process of trial and error (and luck!).

• Adele’s No. 1 Suggestion: Stop figuring it out. Start trying.

• It’s okay to be seen just trying things – however imperfect the fit or outcome!

• Try to be: More curious. Less critical!

• If you’re really wanting to transform, focus on staying relaxed so ideas can flow.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Coming from an academic and corporate home, Adele didn’t have a particularly high opinion of entrepreneurs (who were perceived as people who couldn’t get a job!).

• After 33 years in which she had done all “the right things,” Adele recognized that she was miserable and struggling to make it work only worsened matters.

• What Adele came to understand: How to live a life worth living isn’t necessarily limited to the conventional formulas (i.e. work hard = success).

• If – like many of us – you haven’t grown up around small business people or independent operators, you have to investigate. Determine for yourself what genuinely drives you and might inspire a journey.

• Things to consider when figuring out what your entrepreneurial venture might look like:

o What kind of business do you want to own?

o Do you prefer a large team or a solopreneur structure?

o How much contact do you want to have with people and what kind?

o Do you want to sell a product? A service?

o Are you more of a teacher? More of a cheerleader?

• Adele is more interested in where her clients “naturally bloom” than in crafting business plans, sales sheets or marketing collateral.

• Rather than coming up with endless rubrics and spreadsheets, just take a step and see what happens. Each effort yields valuable information to shape the next.

• There are different archetypes for serving, including:

o Teacher – information and guidance.

o Coach – solidarity and collaboration.

o Sage – bigger picture and more generalized observation.

• About the women with whom Adele typically works:

o More than half come out of corporate backgrounds, but want something more.

o She helps clients transition through uncertainty about what next.

o Her coaching embraces challenges to the status quo.

o She sits with clients in their discomfort, part of coming into something new.

• Personal growth and an identity shift are a necessary part of bridging between a corporate career and the entrepreneurial ventures we wish to undertake.

• Feeling vulnerable about stepping away from a secure corporate structure? You don’t have to perform for anyone (and probably no one is noticing anyway!).

• Individual Value-Add: Information is out there in abundance. The wisdom that coaches, mentors and guides offer is specific and very personal to each client’s situation.

About Adele:

Adele is a leading mentor for professionals struggling with stress and craving lives of more purpose, meaning, and connection. As a spiritual teacher, speaker, and energy healer, she has helped hundreds of leaders around the world reduce anxiety and attract more fulfilling careers and relationships. She is a frequent speaker on consciousness, business psychology, and personal development. As the host of the “All Things Human” podcast, Adele is the only wisdom teacher who combines the power of storytelling with mindset, embodiment and spiritual practices to help people create success at a time when there’s more change and uncertainty than ever. She has an MS in Industrial Relations and a BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her family, a puppy, and two cats.

With 1.1 million followers on TikTok, it’s an unlikely story that just 10 years ago Rachel Pedersen, our guest on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, was a single mother on food stamps without a plan. But by taking one modest side hustle at $15 dollars an hour she started down a career path that just a few years later earned her the label “Queen of Social Media.” It’s an inspiring story with a message you won’t want to miss. (Hint: Don’t hold back!)

Rachel today mentors millions of followers and online clients, offering hard-won insights and strategies for reaching target audiences. Where some might be stingy with sharing trade secrets, she believes in sharing. Why? Because that abundance always comes back around! She loves working with women who want to grow their businesses to six figures and beyond (which Rachel has done many times over) and reminds us: “We’re all just figuring stuff out as we go.”

You’ll also appreciate Rachel’s invaluable advice about how to shut out the online trolls who only serve to bring us down with a few key steps to eliminate their negativity and noise. It’s not as hard as you might think and will go a long way towards reinforcing your self-confidence – as well as sanity! Enjoy hearing about this Minnesota mother of three’s journey and the inspiration she has found in authors like Dan Sullivan, whose work can be found here.

Most exciting of all? Rachel has a brand new book that covers all the bases with great tricks and tips for driving your own niche online presence. Click here to learn more about and purchase "Unfiltered: Proven Strategies to Start and Grow Your Business by Not Following the Rules."

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Side hustles are no joke. Some turn into multi-million dollar ventures! Why not yours?

• If you’ve got an idea, dip a toe in while working your day job.

• Are your competitors your foes? They don’t have to be. An abundant mindset serves all.

• Business ownership has inevitable ups and downs. So really celebrate those ups!

• Afraid to give your secret sauce away? Sharing your resources will most likely only attract more interest and engagement from prospective clients.

• Feeling stressed? Worn down or vulnerable in any way? Skip the comments entirely.

• When it comes to our physical appearances, online mean girls (and guys) are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we have to pay attention. Stick with what fits and feels best to you!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Introducing Rachel! Her story starts with unexpectedly becoming a single mom a decade ago – not according to plan. Food stamps, welfare and training as a hair stylist followed until one day … She happened into a $15 per hour digital media side hustle.

• Seven years ago Rachel went all-in on her digital marketing business, which today has annual revenue ranging into seven figures, “which is wild!”

• Three years ago Rachel’s team turned its focus towards building its own internal digital presence and brand – which has manifested today with 1.9 million global followers.

• How the “Queen of Media” is helping other female entrepreneurs launch and boost their brands by leveraging social channels:

o An online course called Social Media United (formerly Social Media University) that caters largely to social media managers (the competition!).

o One-to-one mentoring services.

• Don’t hold back! Rachel’s research shows that the entrepreneurs who grow fastest also happen to be those who are most generous in sharing their resources and insights.

• Four reasons to share freely your intellectual capital and experience:

o #1: It showcases your depth of knowledge and expertise.

o #2: It serves people – which is pure good will.

o #3: It creates word of mouth.

o #4: Today’s freebie seekers are tomorrow’s prospective coaching clients.

• Eliminate the Negative! Rachel’s tips for minimizing online noise and trolling:

o Acknowledge that you’re human. Things can penetrate and sting.

o Remember: You don’t need to read every comment. Limit your exposure.

o Remember: Only people who live life fairly negatively are taking time out to spread toxic thoughts.

o Remember: When you’re overwhelmed or not feeling great for whatever reason, just skip the comments. You’re already sensitive and prone to feeling down.

• Rachel’s advice for boosting self-confidence? She believes it’s something built over time. There’s no one self-help book, exercise or meditation. It comes from doing each task.

• About "Unfiltered: Proven Strategies to Start and Grow Your Business by Not Following the Rules," Rachel’s account of learning lessons the hard way about things like boundaries, scope creep and other hard-to-anticipate business challenges.

About Rachel:

Known as the “Queen of Social Media,” Rachel is a Social Media Strategist and TikTok Expert who helps busy people with big dreams to build thriving business WITHOUT sacrificing their family, friends or their sanity. She teaches business owners how to grow their online presence or become social media managers for others. She specializes in combining social media tactics with sustainable, long-term strategies to build profitable businesses that actually create an impact.

Rebecca Wiener McGregor, CEO of Whole Life Happy, regularly gets goosebumps when she thinks about the work she does. She loves it that much. “There is no cell in me that doesn’t believe in the power of the mind and hypnosis because our beautiful brains are designed to heal,” says this advocate for the power of letting go. As the author of "Loving Her: 10 Loving Standards to Call Forward the Wealthy Woman Inside You" explains on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, the combination of a natural entrepreneurial spirit and lucky exposure to hypnotism 18 years ago set Rebecca up perfectly to exercise her gifts.

And when it comes to gifts, it’s our duty to embrace them, celebrate them and claim them. Do that, says Rebecca, and watch the door slam shut on Impostor Syndrome. Through her coaching Rebecca’s clients learn to shift into an abundant mindset that generates not only wealth but authentic delight. Getting there, of course, may require that we first uncover and send packing old memories and messages that do not serve. Using her hypnosis training, Rebecca helps clients release whatever traumas are keeping them stuck emotionally and physically. The best part of her work? Seeing the freedom clients experience in letting go.

Enjoy learning about the road Rebecca took after finding hypnosis (“It was like an instant passion that set a flame in me to help people!”) and helpful tips for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to minimize stress while moving towards business (and personal) success.

Want to hear more about what Rebecca has to say on a range of relatable topics? Click here to listen to her podcast, Fear is a MFer. She also offers a free download of her guidebook, "8 Money Mindset Shifts to Unlock Wealth+Abundance." Or visit this link to schedule a free discovery call.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Feeling stuck or anxious? Ask a friend to take the lead in exploring something new.

• Building a business is consuming and often stressful. But remember: You get to choose your standards, with whom and how you work. YOU are the boss!

• All work and no recognition can dull your shine. Injecting fun into your work is a must!

• If you’re holding onto something heavy, remind yourself that levity lies beyond letting go.

• Feeling stuck? Remind yourself to have faith and confidence in your gifts!

• When we’re fully in touch with our gifts, it deprives Impostor Syndrome of the oxygen it needs to thrive and bring us down.

• Writing down and celebrating our successes every single day reinforces them!

• You don’t have to quit your day job right out of the gate. Consider viewing that paycheck as an Angel Investor, funding your new venture.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Rebecca has always felt like an entrepreneur, hungry to become a business owner.

• Motivated to understand and be of help to others who faced traumas, as she had experienced in her family growing up, Rebecca studied psychology but felt it didn’t penetrate deeply enough.

• Being introduced to hypnotism was an eye-opener that presented a win-win opportunity to combine Rebecca’s interest in psychological healing with entrepreneurism.

• Finding the hypnotism training healed her own anxiety, Rebecca’s desire to help others (and build her business) was ignited.

• The two tracks around which Rebecca’s business is structured:

o One-on-one private work to release trauma, panic, rage and stuck feelings.

o Business strategy and mindset coaching, especially around money issues – the focus of her membership-based course, Extraordinary Wealth.

• It’s extremely important to Rebecca to nurture a sisterhood of women who have released limitations on their ability to create wealth and a joyful life.

• Because working in the transformation field can often be heavy, Rebecca makes a point of cultivating levity and celebrating the lightness that comes from letting go of grief, pain and self-limiting beliefs.

• When it comes to sales and advancing their businesses, Rebecca’s clients get most stuck in unconscious childhood patterns and negative messages such as:

o We’re unworthy.

o We don’t matter.

o We’re not here for our own pleasure.

o We’re not smart.

o We’re not good.

• To move past blocks, it’s important to ask:

o How much success can I actually have?

o How much success do I actually deserve?

o Can someone like me, with a history like mine, actually grow up and be successful?

o What if those around me will like me less if I’m successful?

o Am I just chasing what other people have or desire?

• Rebecca’s coaching helps clients amplify love and move through fear by:

o Constantly mirroring the importance of releasing judgment.

o Letting go of personal blocks, which inevitably show up in business as well.

o Finding ways to eradicate beliefs that move clients farther away from their vision.

• Rebecca’s hypnotherapeutic treatments are about:

o Looking at old memories and reframing them.

o Bringing acceptance into the frame.

o Neutralizing memories to break the connection between them and emotional and physical responses.

• The breakthroughs that Rebecca witnesses are constantly nourishing, exciting and rewarding. Watching clients release pain and take back their power, freedom and responsibility regularly gives her goosebumps.

• Embrace your skill set and claim full confidence. It will vanquish Impostor Syndrome!

• Celebrating wins is key to building confidence and a radiant sense of self.

• Rebecca’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:

o Let your job, if you have one, be your Angel Investor.

o You don’t have to leave your job in order to pursue something else.

o Forgoing steady income can trigger feelings of scarcity that can be very counterproductive to the bigger goal and journey.

o One of the biggest stressors people launching businesses experience: Panic about cash flow. You don’t have to set yourself up for that!

• Recommended Reading:

o "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom," by Miguel Ruiz. About unleashing our innate ability in moving forward to create heaven on earth, a space that looks the way we want it to look.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca is a hypnotist + mindset coach and creator of the Whole Life Happy Method. Rebecca helps visionary women leaders, coaches and healers to break through their limits to have, do and be more – all without sacrificing their passion or true purpose. What sets her apart is her ability to connect to her clients on a deep spiritual level to uncover and release their blocks, and step into the truth of their purpose.

Meet our Sponsor: Want to use the best income growth strategies from top entrepreneurs and CEOs, including Ellen herself?

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On this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur we’re meeting a holistic health and wellness coach whose passion for all things integrative is unmistakable. Emily Ruth relishes the opportunity she has to share with her clients the many practices she has discovered that work together to create optimal health. And it all starts with simply slowing down, taking a pause – however brief!

Emily was 15 years into her career as an imaging technician when her personal health struggles opened a window onto an approach to medical ailments that departed completely from the standard western model. She has since studied deeply – and applied within her own life – the tenets of holistic healing, which is focused on cultivating wellness, not medicating illness.

You’ll learn about some of the early pitfalls into which Emily stumbled while getting her business up and running as well as an interesting tip to keep in mind if you’re thinking about quitting your day job in favor of making an entrepreneurial leap. For Emily, who found the transition daunting out of the gate, having a coach to serve as her trusted adviser made a huge difference throughout the process. Don’t be afraid, says our guest, to reach out for help!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Even if you’ve invested in a lot of training and feel obligated to continue on a particular career path, it’s important to stay alert. Your true passion may come into view.

• Do your homework. Women’s fertility and sexual health needn’t be a mystery.

• Try slowing down. Clock what’s really going on physically and emotionally.

• When life gets intense, it’s our small daily practices that help us steady our course.

• Feeling like your business is untethered? Guidance from a steady, grounded, authentic coach can be a gamechanger.

• Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t be distracted (or derailed) by social media and other internet noise.

• It’s important to set goals, but also to be fluid with the timeline for reaching them.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Having made a considerable investment in her education, Emily spent 15 years working in medical imaging despite the fact that she wasn’t loving it.

• When she was introduced to fertility charting, Emily was immediately drawn into the world of holistic healing and, ultimately, her work as a women’s wellness coach.

• How Emily reaches out to clients:

o Through in-person and virtual networking.

o Giving online workshops as well as live at community centers, health food stores and gyms.

o Podcast guest appearances.

• What Emily’s coaching program typically looks like:

o One-on-one meetups almost every week for a full year.

o The lengthy timeline allows clients to dig into ingrained patterns and learn about important holistic tools, like fertility charting.

o Most clients reach their goals within six months, but the second half of the program serves to solidify new habits and future goals

• Who doesn’t need coaching? People who wake up daily feeling … wonderful and like they’re meeting all their personal health and wellness goals.

• Emily’s coaching focuses on helping clients discern the needs their bodies are communicating and how to track measurable results to the solutions they adopt.

• Actionable tips for entrepreneurs looking for more holistic balance:

o Take a step, even a very small one, to notice how you feel.

o Get curious about whatever does or doesn’t come up.

o Give yourself time to explore!

• Emily’s definition of self-care is all about pressing the pause button. The act of nurturing yourself is an act of love:

o Are you nourishing yourself? Drinking enough water?

o Putting yourself to bed on time?

o Integrating moments of calm into the daily drumbeat?

o Getting enough sunlight?

• Emily shares early challenges she encountered while launching her business:

o Internet pitches that overpromised client base growth. Costly and ineffective.

o Pandemic precipitated a hard stop on Emily’s imaging career and a wholesale shift of identity that wasn’t the smoothest. Finding a coach was her secret sauce!

• Advice for those contemplating a step away from their 9-to-5 job:

o Think twice. Maybe it makes sense to hang onto a salary while simultaneously planning and executing your launch.

o Give yourself patience, and grace.

o Have goals, but don’t be super-attached to the timeline for reaching them.

• Recommended Reading:

 "Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health," by Toni Weschler. A must-have for women who want to understand their bodies.

About Emily:

Emily is a holistic healing coach who helps clients design a plan to slow down, prioritize mental and physical health and learn to trust their bodies while on the way to achieving big goals! She harnesses inner resources to heal the body outside the confines of traditional medicine.

Meet our Sponsor: Want to use the best income growth strategies from top entrepreneurs and CEOs, including Ellen herself?

You can binge listen to past income reports on Cubicle to CEO today PLUS receive free access to “your first $10K month” masterclass and a bonus workbook by going to our special link, https://zen.ai/sheceo

Looking for work that doesn’t involve a cubicle? Hounds Town USA may be just the thing – a way to spend every day loving dogs and sharing that passion with others. For Jackie Bondanza, CEO of the growing franchise, it has definitely been a recipe for happiness. Originally envisioned by a founder of the NYPD canine unit, these are doggie daycares unlike any other. Their ethos is built around a deep expertise and understanding of what it takes to care for and bring out the best in man’s best friends.

Family-owned and operated, Hounds Town USA franchise owners receive training that goes above and beyond what franchisees can typically expect. “Heart is important in everything we do … It’s incredible to see all the mutual hard work move into a place of incredible satisfaction for the franchisee once they open,” says Jackie, who left her career in publishing after discovering (and marrying the founder of) her local Hounds Town USA store. She hasn’t looked back since!

The franchise, which has stores across the U.S., provides a six-day intensive, hands-on immersion followed up post-opening with onsite training that is ongoing and ensures the safety and well-being of pets and caregivers alike. “We’re moving into the space of a grown-up business, but we never want to lose the core focus, which is the solid relationship we have with our franchisees and our investment in their success,” says Jackie.

But ultimately everything at Hounds Town USA revolves around what’s best for dogs, which is also why the franchise has established a nonprofit to support local rescue shelters with hands-on help. If you’re interested in bringing superior doggie day care, boarding, grooming and spa services to your community, this may be the opportunity for you!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Hounds Town USA’s dog care is rooted in its founder’s deep expertise in canine training.

• Breeders of the Pack: Dogs at Hounds Town USA are placed in groups based on their fundamental animal need to interact and play together.

• The story of how Jackie came to become – quite literally – married to Hounds Town USA proves it: You never know what a new day might bring!

• Some of Hounds Town USA’s most successful franchisees were once entry-level

“pooper-scoopers” in the business.

• Feeling burned out on the corporate job? Working with dogs is a fantastic antidote!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• About how Hounds Town USA is the brainchild of a founding member of the New York Police Department’s canine unit looking to put his skills to use in a second career.

• Overnight boarding and daycare for dogs two decades ago, when Houndstown got started, wasn’t a thing. But it’s a concept that quickly caught on.

• Hounds Town USA offers a variety of services, including:

o Fully interactive daycare that focuses on placing dogs in playgroups.

o A curated experience based in understanding the canine pack mentality.

o Boarding.

o Grooming and spa services.

• Key Differentiator: Hounds Town USA has built its ethic around founder Michael Gould’s deep understanding of canine needs and training techniques.

• A decade ago, Jackie was a book editor and writer with a long commute when she stopped by one of Hounds Town USA’s first stores on Long Island – and was smitten, both by the business model and by the founder, whom she went on to marry!

• What the ideal Hounds Town USA franchisee looks like:

o Loves and appreciates dogs, of course.

o Has customer service chops: The ability to forge relationships with customers and be the community face of the franchise.

o Sales-oriented, extroverted people tend to thrive. It’s a referral-based business that includes event sponsorship and civic involvement.

o Some level of leadership or management experience (a lot of employees are young people who need mentoring and guidance).

• Franchise Startup Costs: Between $400,000 to $650,000 to get a store fully built out, which covers all the initial franchise, marketing and launch fees. Owners are required to have $150,000 in liquid assets and a $500,000 net worth.

• Hounds Town USA training looks like:

o More than 100 hours of modules in three or four phases.

o County headquarters oversee training on marketing, customer service and the early stages of getting the business poised to open.

o Once about 80% of initial construction is complete, franchisees attend a six-day intensive, hands-on training (live business seminars and immersion) at the franchise’s headquarters in New York.

o Once an opening day is set, a team from corporate HQ schedules a 10-day onsite visit, including three days of pre-opening training and staff support.

o Training includes a heavy emphasis on both kennel management and pet/employee safety.

o Training Phase 3 includes another visit about six or eight weeks post-opening to provide an additional day or two of support and refresher training.

o Ongoing weekly phone calls regularly address any issues that come.

• Jackie highlights Hounds Town USA’s nonprofit, which works hands-on to offer support for animal rescue efforts.

To learn more about Hounds Town USA or other franchise opportunities, click here to set up a call.

Here’s something to know about coaching: You don’t have to be the expert in all things. Lee Chaix McDonough, the founder of Coach with Clarity, sees visible relief on the faces of her clients when she shares this news. “You are the expert in building nurturing relationships. You are the expert in asking powerful questions,” she says. But you do not have to be the knower of all things, so lean into that grace!

On this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, Lee is sharing the framework she has evolved to support the people who aspire to do the supporting: Coaches. She provides an International Coaching Association certification program that deepens self-knowledge and helps coaches systematically tap into their strengths and inner resources. “You learn as you do,” says the best-selling author of "ACT On Your Business: Braving the storms of entrepreneurship and creating success through meaning, mindset, and mindfulness"

You’ll learn about Lee’s Coach with Clarity framework, which focuses both on coaching practices and craft as well as small-business elements such as marketing, sales and growing a one-to-many model. Lee explains that her certification process is “one of multiple paths to coming to be a proficient coach. It’s really important that each individual find the path that will work for them.” Perhaps the Coach with Clarity path is the one meant for you!

Click here to learn more about Lee’s best-seller, "ACT On Your Business: Braving the storms of entrepreneurship and creating success through meaning, mindset, and mindfulness."

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Training is a great way to pivot or augment a coaching practice. Even coaches need coaching!

• Interested in accreditation? Not only do coaching certificates confer a great knowledge base, they also provide a lab for us to learn about ourselves along the way.

• The job of a coach is not to tell clients what to do, but rather to provide a container for them to discover and feel supported in pursuing the path that’s right for them.

• The coach’s work is to identify and facilitate clients’ direction – not define them.

• It’s the going not the getting there: Remember that coaching is about the process.

• Prefer coaching one-on-one? That’s just fine! Scaling to bigger groups isn’t for everyone.

• Nerves happen – to coaches as well as clients. Calling it out diffuses it!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• A social worker and public health professional by training, Lee worked with a broad array of clients through years of relocations while her husband was in the Air Force. She ultimately felt called to do something other than social work, from which she’d taken a break, but didn’t know what that would look like.

• Lee’s decision to get certified as a coach grew out of watching her husband grapple with launching a dental practice – and all the small-business/entrepreneurial elements involved. She saw first-hand the need for support.

• Once her practice was launched, Lee started getting inquiries from clients who wanted to learn the ropes of coaching themselves – a training niche that she has handily filled!

• Lee launched her training and accreditation program right in the midst of pandemic, which was a chaotic time but also a moment in which people were seeking connection.

• Traits that make a good fit for Lee’s program:

o People who are curious.

o People with open minds.

o People who have the ability to hold space for others to figure out their thoughts.

• You don’t have to be the ultimate expert in all things as a coach. People are seeking help, an extension of experience and knowledge – not a steamroller.

• Lee’s advice for aspiring coaches:

o Pause to take stock of your interior landscape and core values.

o Coaching is an expression of who we are, so self-understanding is key.

o Helpers and healers (traits common among many coaches) need to be wary of basing self-worth on how well they are serving others.

• There are myriad paths to developing a coaching practice – and not all of them require scaling or moving away from one-to-one work.

• What Lee’s certification program teaches:

o Fundamental ICF coaching skills and practices.

o Specific techniques and tactics.

o The rules of the road (so you know when to break them!).

• About Lee’s podcast, a little bit of everything about what it takes to be both a successful coach and to run a sustainable business. It explores:

o The craft of coaching and how to build relationships when things get sticky.

o Business elements: marketing, sales, one-to-many programs.

o Live coaching calls.

o Expert guests speaking on various topics.

About Lee:

Lee helps clients connect with a deeper, more aligned form coaching — and to build a successful coaching business in the process. She is an ICF-certified business coach, creator of the Coach with Clarity® framework, a licensed clinical social worker, host of the Coach with Clarity podcast, and author of the #1 bestselling book, ACT on Your Business. Having helped hundreds of coaches tap into their wisdom and serve clients in truly life-changing ways, Lee offers resource that develop both the skill set and mindset to ultimately transform the lives of their clients.

No one defines resilience like Bevin Farrand, whose husband died unexpectedly just after her 40th birthday. Left with two young children to raise and a mountain of grief to navigate, this inspiring mom grew her digital consulting business while at the same time launching Take the DAMN Trip, a framework designed to help us live our best lives – not tomorrow, but today.

As a speaker and coach, Bevin is all about grounding. Entrepreneurial dreams are a starting place but, without a solid foundation, they are all too likely to stall. That’s where coaching can break down the task at hand. In the case of starting a business, it means getting really clear about both the vision and the “why” behind it. And that clarity, says Bevin, is what keeps us moving forward through even the toughest of times – something she knows plenty about.

The tips, perspectives and tools come fast and furious in this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. Bevin is sharing hard-won wisdom and down-to-earth tactics that are applicable to business, yes, but equally so to life! “None of us has the luxury of waiting,” says Bevin. So why not get started now?

Ready to Do the DAMN Thing? You can get instant access to the secrets that unlock Bevin’s powerful framework and get started with training by clicking here.

Click here to join others who are ready to Take the DAMN Trip! Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Bevin also offers a free centering meditation here.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Have you ever been fired? Maybe more than once? It could be an invitation to become your own boss!

• Take stock: Look at all the things that have been hard and all the things that have been wonderful in life. Then try applying the DAMN framework.

• Come up with a framework or methodology to differentiate and make your business more memorable.

• If our “why” is well-defined, it’s far easier to move through challenging passages.

• Get completely clear on your “what” and “why” the “how” will take care of itself!

• There’s a difference between permission and support. When we have clarity of purpose, we don’t need permission.

• We don’t have to have a fully baked plan in order to have a manifesto, but we DO have to be all-in committed to ride out the inevitable bumps and U-turns.

• Don’t look at the top of the mountain. Just look at the first tree. To get past overwhelm, just move your feet, one step after the other.

• The perfect mindset and moment will never arrive. So just get started!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Bevin had a false start with an unsuccessful entrepreneurial venture earlier in her career, but after being laid off for the third time in 2019 she put a stake in the ground, leveraging her digital marketing skills to start her own business.

• Not long after she launched her business, Collaborate.Work, Bevin’s husband died completely unexpectedly. She was suddenly the solo mom of two young children.

• Bevin’s Take the DAMN Trip movement – which is all about going for it and pursuing our dreams – grew organically out of watching her husband’s life cut short.

• Take the DAMN Trip has grown exponentially since 2020, resonating across demographics.

• The DAMN Framework includes four powerful, yet simple, mindset shifts:

o D - Decide and Declare.

o A - Attend Your Own Party.

o M - Moments not Minutes.

o N - Now is the Time!

• Bevin believes that when we shift our mindset (with help from her DAMN methodology), it’s impossible to “unsee” what needs to happen in our lives.

• Although she candidly admits that what she’s teaching isn’t completely unique, Bevin does underscore the DAMN framework that is personal and very specific to her coaching.

• Bevin helps her clients get clear on:

o The “Yes” – What are you ‘all in’ on?

o The “Why” – What fuels optimal health in all the key pillars:

 Financial

 Emotional

 Mental

 Social

 Physical

 Spiritual

• The first critical piece of Bevin’s DAMN program: Figure out a vivid, foundational manifesto.

• A big stumbling block many entrepreneurs are vulnerable to: Shiny Object Syndrome. It’s all to too easy to get distracted and lose the thread of the original vision.

• Bevin emphasizes getting grounded in reality with conscious declarations that widen confidence, clarity and momentum over time and in a layered way.

• Once you create a clear, confident frame, the need for permission becomes irrelevant. You’re not responsible for other people’s feelings or reactions.

• Bevin shares her PAD method:

o Pause: Get present.

o Acknowledge: Identify how you’re feeling.

o Do: Get into action!

• Bevin starts by asking all her clients how committed they are, which matters when it comes to inevitable stressors and bumps (which can especially unsettle new entrepreneurs).

• Tips for New Entrepreneurs:

o Step 1: Go broad before going deep. Don’t edit dreams!

o Step 2: is to get specific. What are your “why” and “how”?

o Step 3: Stick with it. Building a business or practice takes time.

o Step 4: Give yourself some grace!

• Feeling stuck? Bevin recommends getting started with 15-minute micro-actions that over time build momentum.

• What’s next for Bevin:

o Nurturing along her book project.

o Expanding and sharing the DAMN framework beyond the entrepreneurial space.

About Bevin:

As CEO and Founder of Collaborate.Work, Bevin partners with small businesses and entrepreneurs to execute launches and strategy, taking their businesses to 6- and 7-figure. She is also the visionary behind Take the DAMN Trip, a movement dedicated to the mission of fully living in the now. A Certified Advanced Transformative coach, Bevin has trained with some of the top coaches and trainers in the world, including Richard Bandler, Pransky & Associates and Paul McKenna. She also completed an exclusive apprenticeship with world-renowned coach, Michael Neill.

Hundreds of millions of Americans are overweight and at risk for life-shortening conditions like diabetes and heart disease. So one thing we know out of the gate about F45 fitness studio franchises is … there’s definitely a market need! And, as Jackie Mendes explains on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, the highly successful Australian export has a formula that sets franchise owners up for success from Day 1.

A regional sales vice president with F45, Jackie has devoted a 20-year career to fostering the most cutting-edge, creative and – most of all – fun workouts possible. The fitness industry is all about acquisition and retention, which this unique franchise model supports through a detailed step-by-step playbook and training/mentorship that extends throughout the life of the business.

Learn why you might make an ideal F45 franchisee, including what it takes to get started and why it’s a great entrepreneurial fit for people who have a heart for building community and improving quality of life. There’s nothing like pulling together as a team, which is why F45’s low-cost setup, high-profit model is so compelling and has caught fire across the world!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• F45 growth has rocketed in its first decade of business, with some 3,300 franchises launched globally.

• Because it deploys multiple joints and muscles simultaneously, the F45 exercise model is highly time-efficient.

• A rolling schedule of classes maximizes client access to facilities.

• Fitness, hospitality, healthcare and entertainment are the trifecta that motivates people to join and keep coming back to F45 studios!

• The F45 process is highly detailed and replicable, which bolsters success. It’s also a living agenda that is constantly evolving and improving based on current on-the-ground conditions and best practices.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• F45 is a studio boutique fitness concept based on functional training (the “F”) and the length of workout (45 minutes).

• Since the Australian business model emerged in 2012, year-over-year growth of franchises has been exponential and today includes 3,300 studios worldwide.

• Functional fitness focuses on movements that occur in everyday life, emphasizing foundational elements that support quality of life in athletics and daily living.

• Cross-functional training increases “bang for your buck” in terms of the amount of fitness garnered through a quick 45-minute workout.

• Customers can book classes pretty much every hour of the day.

• The two key performance indicators (KPIs) at F45 are: Acquisition and Retention.

• A Day in the Life of an F45 Franchise Owner:

o Hands-off owners tend to focus on overseeing the growth and vision of the studio rather than operations.

o Owner-operators are involved every day, maintaining a community profile through class participation and interactions, tracking and tweaking marketing and sales efforts and making cross-promotional appearances that drive business.

o Overseeing the recruitment and retention of talented staff.

o Maintaining facilities and supplies.

• F45 differentiators include:

o A heavy emphasis on community.

o Open, brightly lit, welcoming studio designs.

o Workouts that each have their own unique name, brand and personality.

o A focus on teamwork, bonding and pulling together.

• Franchise owners will ideally:

o Have a big heart for community and interacting with people.

o Have at least $100,000 in liquid financial resources (financing help available).

o Some sales or marketing experience (but these can also be taught).

o Business ownership skills (such as accounting, retail or team management).

• F45 Training and Support includes:

o An immersive two-week training in Austin based on a detailed agenda covering everything you need to know about the business.

o An intranet platform that features a step-by-step process covering:

 Site selection.

 Lease negotiations.

 Pre-construction and build-out phases.

 Pre-sales support to ensure cash-positive member commitments from Day 1.

 Post-Grand Opening mentors with deep industry experience who help owners and managers monitor KPIs and reach their goals through the entire life of the franchise.

To learn more about F45 Training or other franchise opportunities, click here to set up a call.