Are you chasing your dreams or pursuing your passion project on the side? You don’t have to take your side-hustle full-time to be a successful entrepreneur! You also don’t have to take on too much stress in order to feel accomplished.

While pursuing a side-hustle can fulfill a passion, it can also bring a lot of stress when you also have a full-time commitment to something else. Kari Roberts of Kari Roberts Coaching joins us in this episode to share how you can create a rhythm that allows for you to maintain both, without sacrificing your sanity.

Creating a Rhythm

As a professional side-hustler, it’s important that you take a look at how much time you can dedicate to your gig, while also being realistic about your goals.

Your goal doesn’t have to be to go full-time in your side hustle. It also doesn’t have to be to replace your existing income. Your business goals are up to you!

As you take time to review these things, you’ll begin to understand the impact that they have on your end-game. You can only dedicate so much of your time and energy into both before you burn out or lose sight of why you started them in the first place.

Be Intentional With Your Time

You’ve probably heard us discuss this before, but time is something we can’t create more of. Your time is valuable, so be intentional with it.

As you begin to look into how much you can dedicate to your side-hustle, you need to review how you’re spending it. When you create a plan and focus on your tasks, you can get so much more done, especially when you realize how limited it is.

You can consistently make progress on your business with limited time, it just might look a little different from other entrepreneurs.

Intentionality also comes with understanding your priorities, creating a schedule, and celebrating the wins in your business.

You can be a successful entrepreneur without being full-time, as long as you’re making smart decisions that will leave the most impact on your business!

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

2:02 – Get to know Kari

4:33 – Definition of Side Hustle

9:27 – “Balancing” a Side Hustle & Career

10:00 – Biggest Lesson

23:35 – When Circumstances Change

27:31 – Steps to Creating a Rhythm

33:09 – Actionable Advice to Becoming a Successful Side-Hustler

RESOURCES MENTIONED

karirobertscoaching.com

instagram.com/karirobertscoaching

instagram.com/karirobertsmua

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Productivity doesn’t equate to profitability. If you’re constantly doing stuff, but aren’t seeing the needle move, you’re not running a truly productive and profitable business.

In today’s episode, we’re sharing how you can overcome the pressure of being productive as a designer.

Business Growth vs. Productive Growth

As business owners, we know that client work pays the bills, but if you’re only focusing on client work, you’re not propelling your business forward.

There is a big difference in day to day productivity vs intentionally growing your business.

Take a Deeper Look at Your Business

Are you spending time on tasks that help your clients receive the deliverables or are you spending time equally with client work and your business?

Oftentimes, we believe that by doing more for our clients means we’ll magically make more money, but that’s not always the case.

I have a challenge for you: take a deeper look in your business today.

Let’s Look at the Numbers

We’re taught to believe that time equates to money.

Wrong.

Your time does not directly correlate to how much you should make.

As a designer, you could take on 10 projects at $500 each in a month = $5,000/month.

Now let’s consider the responsibility that comes with that:– client email time for 10 clients– brain power for all 10 clients– expenses and CODB

What if you took on 1 client at $5,000? Thats 9 less clients to manage with the same revenue.

Productivity is a poor measure of your profitability. Your time is your most precious resource and I want to help you take it back.

I’m hosting a free masterclass to triple your income as a designer using principals discussed in this episode.

Join the Masterclass >>

If you’re ready to stop trading your time for money and do business with intention, grab your spot in this free training.

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You probably started your business based on a desire to pursue your passion, not thinking about the money and finances that go into being an entrepreneur.

Isaiah Goodman of Becoming Financial joins us to discuss how you can resolve debt in your business and build credit. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re trying to correct past money mistakes, he’s bringing the truth to the conversation to help you understand and manage your money.

Focusing on the Process

It’s important to truly understand your financial situation before approaching or resolving your debts and credit. Isaiah’s approach highlights key components of understanding you and why you started your business. Ask yourself:

What’s important to you about money?.. what’s important about that?….what’s important about that?……and so on…

When you think about your why and dig deep into understanding it, you’ll see a direct correlation to your business.

What’s Your Personal Budget?

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to take care of your #1 employee—that’s you. Taking your personal budget into consideration shows the minimum that your business will need to make in order to stay afloat.

What’s your Business Budget?

When entrepreneurs get started in their business, they’re not thinking far beyond cash flow. It’s important to consider how much you want to profit at year end in order to be a profitable business.

When you’re not putting your profit first in your business budget, you begin to spend more money than you’re bringing in, setting you up for failure.

Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make With Money

Mistake #1: Feel the need to access large sums of cash without thinking about the tax consequences.Ex: Cashing out your 401k without considering the income tax + 10% tax penalty you’ll have to pay on it.

Mistake #2: Putting too much on their personal credit without considering the business options.

Repairing Money Mistakes

If you’re a business that has been around for a while, it’s important to seek advise from a professional. Invest in an accounting software or a tax professional who can help you manage your money and come back from your financial mistakes.

If you invested your personal money into your business, you can show that it was invested into the business and the business paid them back. It’s all in how well you’ve documented your accounting.

Finding Contentment with Money

When you’re content with how much you’re making in your business that supports your personal goals, you’re set.

Save 50% and try Honeybook for free today!

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

5:29 – Isaiah’s Process with Clients

8:50 – Mistakes entrepreneurs make with debt and credit

14:18 – How to Repair Money Mistakes

22:14 – Recurring Tasks/Workflows to Build Consistency with Finances

25:22 – Tools for Finances

32:39 – Encouragement for Profit Based Freedom

37:16 – Flex Flow Budgeting Spreadsheet

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Imposter syndrome is a common mental block that designers wrestle with, but we need to remember that this is a recipe for inconsistent work in your business. Do you oftentimes find yourself fighting with feeling like an imposter?

You are not alone in the struggle.

Imposter Syndrome Will Roadblock Your Business

While we’re telling ourselves we’re not good enough, we are telling ourselves that we have to settle for less.

This becomes a vicious cycle of listening to that tiny little voice telling us we aren’t enough, allowing those thoughts to come through and force us to carry ourselves in the industry in a way that positions ourselves without confidence. Therefore, our colleagues don’t see our worth or value.

How we see ourselves directly relates to how our peers see us. If we aren’t confident in ourselves and our work, how can we expect them to see us in a similar light.

Comfort & Trust Are Everything

That same concept of carrying yourself with confidence in the industry is also impacting your potential clients. If they don’t feel comfort or trust with you, they’ll hesitate to invest in you (big or small).

Creating Consistent & Higher Income

When you build out confidence in your work, you can begin to charge more and book fewer clients at a higher price point so you can experience freedom. Freedom in work. Freedom in life. And freedom from imposter syndrome.

Come join me in my special Masterclass where I’m sharing how to triple your income without taking on more branding clients. I’m also breaking down the three mistakes that are keeping you stuck in your business

Join the Masterclass >>

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Triple Your Income Masterclass

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IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONTENT YOU LOVE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND STRATEGY PODCAST AND LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW HERE. THE MORE REVIEWS, THE MORE I’M ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS FREE-ACTIONABLE CONTENT!

Have you considered how your personal growth could impact your business? Maybe you’re not interested in personal development or don’t see the potential benefits in your life.

In this episode of The Brand Strategy Podcast, Sophia Sunwoo discusses how mastering personal development leads to growth in your business.

Grow at Your Own Pace

While many professionals may have a different mindset in regards to personal development, Sophia encourages testing your efforts in personal development for a few weeks.

Every personal should accept and understand that they can grow and move forward in their own time and at their own pace.

Balancing Business Growth and Personal Development

As you approach growth in both your personal life and your business, you may find a struggle in balancing the two. It’s important to understand that personal development requires dedication, which in turn will lead to business growth.

The journey is different for everyone and you can move at your own pace.

Your journey can also pivot as you grow.

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

2:00 – Get to know Sophia

5:45 – How Professional & Personal Growth are Linked

9:02 – Self Awareness 

11:40 – Approaching Those Who Struggle With Personal Growth

15:58 – Balance Between Business Growth and Personal Development

20:26 – Getting Started in Your Personal Growth

26:14 – Getting Comfortable With the Discomfort

28:35 – Encouragement from Sophia

RESOURCES MENTIONED

sophiasunwoo.com

ascent-strategy.com

instagram.com/ascentwithsophia

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IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONTENT YOU LOVE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND STRATEGY PODCAST AND LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW HERE. THE MORE REVIEWS, THE MORE I’M ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS FREE-ACTIONABLE CONTENT!

As a designer, you’ve already developed your craft and skill, and are able to create masterpieces with every little time and effort, but are you appropriately pricing yourself?

Oftentimes, we mistakenly link pricing to the level of time and effort that we put in, which leads us to undervalue what we do. Katie Wussow joins us to highlight the biggest pricing mistakes you’re making as an entrepreneur.

Undervaluing Your Work

When you’re doing work you love, that you’re talented at, you tend to undervalue it. Yet the reason for this is because you’ve spent so much time developing a skill and talent. In turn, this mindset causes you to make mistakes in your pricing structure.

Your Pricing Doesn’t Drive the Sale

We’ve all experienced pricing based objections, which leads to us as entrepreneurs internalizing that feedback as a need to reduce our pricing. Lowering your price can take a few different forms in order to meet the budget of your lost clients, but 99% of the time, it’s not because you’re pricing is wrong.

The two primary reason you’re missing the sale is because your leads aren’t qualified or you’re not communicating what it is that you do.

Understand what you’re going to offer for your price.

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

1:34 – Get to Know Katie

4:01 – How Katie Helps Businesses

6:30 – Mistakes in Pricing

9:17: – Two Primary Reasons People Don’t Book 1. Your leads aren’t qualified.2. You haven’t learned how to communicate the value of what you do.

22:35 – Bypassing Mistakes and Focusing on Growth1. Change your paradigms around pricing.2. Know your ideal client.3. Know your numbers. 

31:26 – Encouragement in Pricing Adjustments

RESOURCES MENTIONED

@katiewussow

katiewussow.com

The Game Changer Podcast with Katie Wussow

Freebie: Mini Course on Pricing

Episode 132: How to Break Up with Negative Money Mindset with Caroline Van Etta’s Episode

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Are you ready to break up with the hamster wheel of hustle you’ve been running your business on? It’s time to take a deep dive into your business to see how you can begin working less and earning more!

Take Back Control

As an entrepreneur, business owner, and designer, it can sometimes feel like your business controls your life. It’s time to take back control over your time and your income.

In this episode, we’re taking a look at how you can control the number of clients you work with, the number of hours you work, and the amount of money you’re making!

Elevate Your Services

Simply put, you can make more money by working less on the same services if you’re focused on elevating your brand. Your clients are willing to pay for your work, when you show the value you bring, and do it well.

Systems and Workflows

You can take back the energy and effort that you’re investing in your business through systems and workflows. Not only will this save you time, but you’ll also deliver more consistent results to your clients, allowing you to create a cohesive service and experience.

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

00:45 – Earn More While Working Less

2:31 – Mindset Shift

3:26 – More Doesn’t Equal More

4:00 – Elevate Your Business

4:34 – The Brand Strategy School

5:24 – What Not to Do as a Designer

7:00 – Protect Your Time & Energy

8:25 – Systems & Workflows

9:30 – Work Less, Warn More 5 Day Challenge

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Brand Strategy School

Work Less, Warn More 5 Day Challenge

Episode 135: How to Leverage the Basics to Scale Your Design Business with With Grace & Gold

YOU’RE INVITED

Come join us for our Work Less, Warn More 5 Day Challenge starting Monday, August 17th! I’ll be joined by Kelly and Andra of With Grace and Gold to share some behind the scenes insight on our secrets to growing successful design businesses. We’ll be showing up live every day to teach you:

* 3 mistakes that are keeping you from consistent income in your design business.* How to leverage brand strategy to supercharge your business and fast track your growth.* The tools you need to multiple your time through strategic workflows.* Set up workflows and systems that protect your time.* How to prioritize your business growth.

Join the Work Less, Warn More 5 Day Challenge >>

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Like many entrepreneurs and business owners, the current economic climate may have impacted your business. With so many unexpected changes happening in the world, it’s important to make sure you’re pivoting your business to reflect those changes.

Have you considered what changes need to be made in your messaging? Danielle Cevallos joins us to discuss the importance of shifting your messaging during a recession. Listen in as she shares how you should approach market research, review the new problems your business can solve, and bridge the gap with your messaging.

Bridging the Gap

Have the needs of your market changed over the last few months? It’s important to approach your existing or ideal market to better understand how they need and want to be served during this time.

Far too many entrepreneurs approach messaging from their own lens rather than looking at what their market needs. Ask your market how their needs have changed, how drastically they’ve changed, and how you can better serve them.

There is so much value in connecting with your audience to better understand them. Take the time to leverage those who already love, trust, and follow you in your business journey.

Be the solution to the problem.

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

1:59 – About Danielle

9:14 – Updating Your Messaging During a Recession

12:59 – How to Understand How to Serve My Ideal Clients During this Time?

16:15 – Become an Expert

18:17 – Next Steps to Adjusting Your Messaging

22:50 – Encouragement in Our Current Economic State

RESOURCES MENTIONED

firebrandcommunicationstrategies.com

instagram.com/firebrandcom

Firebrand Radio

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IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONTENT YOU LOVE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND STRATEGY PODCAST AND LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW HERE. THE MORE REVIEWS, THE MORE I’M ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS FREE-ACTIONABLE CONTENT!

Have you taken the time to figure out what it would take to grow scale your design business? You can easily start by leveraging the basics in your business to create a solid foundation for success.

Andra Barkey and Kelly Zugay of With Grace & Gold join us to discuss the steps you can take to prepare your business for scalability. Listen in as they share how evaluating delegation, organization, and project management in your organization will enforce a solid foundation to launch from.

Making Foundational Decisions

Making foundational decisions around how you do, why you do, and what you do in your business can allow you to better determine the things you should master in your business in order to scale.

These decisions help you clarify your focus on what you believe, value, and ultimately envision for your brand, which allow you to understand what it is you need to master in your business to be successful.

This can also open your eyes to understanding what tools, systems, and workflows you need to set in your business so that you can focus on what you love.

Master what you already have going for you.

While you may be toying with the idea of adding new services that you continue to have requested, consider if you’ve really mastered the services you already offer.

Adding more to your plate is not going to allow you to scale your business, but rather burn out and cause you to provide a lower quality service to your clients. It also doesn’t necessarily mean more profit. Now, ask yourself:

“What can I master to scale my business?”

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN

8:14 – How the Basics Provide Room for Growth

12:01 – Struggling with Lack of Time

14:24 – Setting Up a Foundation for Success

27:02 – Steps for Building a Foundation

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Withgraceandgold.com

instagram.com/withgraceandgold

withgraceandgold.com/podcast

withgraceandgold.com/workshop

Free Business Housekeeping Checklist

Sign Up for My Free Masterclass to Triple Your Income as a Designer >>

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Do you have recurring payments in your business that supplement a percentage of your revenue? You could be missing out on income due to failed payments!

Casey Graham created Gravy Solutions when he found that he was loosing 6 figures a year to failed payments in his business from recurring revenue. The solution to this issue was more than just an automated email, it included follow up and conversation that most entrepreneurs just don’t have the time to do. If you’re ready to maximize your recurring revenue retention and gain back those lost customers, listen in to this episode as Casey shares how Gravy approaches this service for entrepreneurs so they can recover lost profits, while still doing what they love.

Are you ready to reclaim your time and maximize your revenue?

Let Gravy Help You

Rather than unintentionally sabotaging yourself by putting too many responsibilities on your plate, it’s important to bring in professionals who can approach your recurring revenue issues and handle them for you.

Gravy can accelerate freedom for you as an entrepreneur, see holes in your business from an outside perspective, and be the ears to hear what your customers are saying.

There are people you can delegate your tasks to so you can focus on working on the creative, marketing, and sales tasks that will grow your business.

The Gravy Concept

Gravy Solutions approaches their recurring revenue retention model with a unique approach:

You Get – Gravy gives you 10% of whatever your churn is to work with youWe Earn – The money of those we win back.You Keep – All future payments from customers.

This offering allows the entrepreneur to know exactly what they’ll earn from the partnership while Gravy approaches your customers to update their payment information and complete the transaction. Then you’ve not only earned lost revenue, but you’ve secured future revenue as well.

CATCH THE SHOW NOTE BREAKDOWN:

1:41 – Who is Casey Graham?

5:18 – Failed Payments in Business

9:19 – Where you’re wasting your time in retaining customers.

12:40 – Bonnie’s Review of Outsourcing

14:35 – Tracking Your Time and Tasks

17:22 – What Gravy does for entrepreneurs

21:48 – How Gravy Works1. You get 10% of failed payments. 2. Gravy will work within your brand.3. They only get paid for what they win back.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

gravysolutions.io – be sure to say that Bonnie sent you to receive a special offer!

facebook.com/gravysolutions

instagram.com/gravysolutions

twitter.com/gravysolutions

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