The Bright Balloon

Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning and chatting about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!

Join here!

Last month, we read Goals by Zig Ziglar. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!

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It seems like it happens every year, right? Some of the goals you've set for yourself at the beginning of the year kind of fade away, either because you've forgotten about them or because you've lost interest in pursuing them. Well I'm here to say that it's OK to reevaluate your goals and shift them as needed!

In this episode, I'm reviewing the 2023 goals I set for myself and sharing how they're going. These original goals included:

• to set better boundaries
• make more by working less
• recycling
• $250,000 in sales

I had set the goal of establishing boundaries because I felt like I was on the brink of burnout. Always answering emails and messages, recording interviews at all hours of different days... I knew something needed changing. And now I'm proud to say that I've fully implemented a better process for scheduling podcast interviews, thanks to (you guessed it) 17hats.

It's been so crucial to setting those boundaries and has got me thinking about how I can use the online scheduling function for my balloon business, too.

Another mini-goal within the boundaries goal was to quit my job. And thankfully I was able to accomplish this far earlier than I anticipated. In fact, looking back... I know it gave me the space to make so much progress in my other goals, too.

My next major goal was to make more by working less. Last year I felt like I worked so much, and to be honest I wasn't interested in feeling that way again. The mini-goals included here were actually pretty fun, too!

I've learned how to make money using credit card points, streamline and outsource my Grab & Go Garlands and more. And while I'm feeling good about the start of my credit card journey I'm realizing that I'm far short of my Grab & Go goal. So this episode has been the perfect reminder to get back to those action steps I laid out for myself!

Moving on to my recycling goal... another thing that had me a little burnt out last year was constant content creation for the podcast. I knew I needed to find a way to reuse and reutilize what was already available. Not only to give myself some time back, but also to better serve any newer listeners who may not have heard some of the amazing interviews of past episodes.

This recycling goal includes action steps like scheduling and sharing more on Instagram, utilizing the new blog on thebrightballoon.com website and finding a way to automate turning each podcast into more content.

Some of these have come easier than others and they're all definitely still a work in progress. In some cases, I've accepted that "done" is better than "perfect" and that has been hugely helpful.

Finally, my $250,000 goal... I think I'm going to make it! After I quit my job, something changed. I'm getting new jobs, I'm getting bigger jobs and I'm now able to put more energy into my "big pumpkins".

I love, love, LOVE the pumpkin concept by Mike Michalowicz and know that it's made a huge difference for me and my business. That's why I'm absolutely thrilled to say I'll be getting certified to teach and help implement these concepts with you, my listeners!!

My "pumpkins" keep me on track in remembering my priorities. They give me clarity and focus. And because I've done the work to identify who my ideal clients are, I can now identify one as soon as they hit my inbox.

I cannot wait for what's ahead with this certification - stay tuned!

That wraps up the progress on my goals, but I always love hearing yours, too! Let me know how things are going for you so far in 2023!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

Ep. 117 - My 2023 goals

2023 Bright Balloon Business Planner

Ep. 132 - I quit my job

Ep. 121 - Grab & Go Outsourcing

Ep. 101 - Pumpkin Planning Your Balloon Business

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I've always lived in organized chaos - are you the same?! But what I'm beginning to notice is that the organized parts of my life (like my actual balloon storage) are making the less organized parts of my life really stand out... and sometimes in a painful way. I've decided I need to find a more consistent and systematic decluttering process, not only for the physical, but for the mental and digital stuff of life, too.

And while I'm not as concerned about the appearance of the physical clutter, I am seeing ways that it's hurting my functionality. Bit by bit, I've been losing floor space to work in. And I'm seeing how it's not only annoying to not be able to find things, but it's costing me time (and therefore money) and is also becoming somewhat hazardous.

If you need some motivation to start your own decluttering process, I'll share (again) some thoughts of Denise Duffield-Thomas. She says that it's hard to attract larger jobs if deep down, you don't feel like you can actually fulfill them. And this is exactly what keeps me motivated to follow through with my decluttering.

In the episode I also share a couple of more practical tactics I'm using to help me declutter my inventory and free up shop space... things like tracking the types of bases I use most, better storing my centerpieces, etc.

Moving on to the mental and digital decluttering... this can really get out of hand if you let it! I'm so thankful that 17hats takes care of organizing all of my customer files, but some other things that I'm focused on decluttering digitally are:

• email & newsletters
• my computer desktop
• social media
• Dropbox / Google Drive
• phone apps

As you listen you'll hear how excited I get about decluttering this digital stuff, because it's cleared up that much mental energy for me. I can't recommend it enough!

Stay tuned on Instagram as I share the progress in my shop decluttering! And I hope this episode gives you that "permission" to finally get rid of some of those things you know you should have!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

Ep. 142 - Convention Experiences | Steven of FLOAT & Balloon Designers

Ep. 102 - Product Development | Lilly from The Creative Heart Studio

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In this episode I'm chatting with Steven Jones, the Executive Director of FLOAT, a convention that is very near and dear to my heart. That's why I'm so excited to announce a FLOAT registration giveaway!! Listen in to hear all of the details... the winner will be announced June 19!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

If you're not familiar with this convention, this interview is going to be a great introduction; and if you're a FLOAT veteran, tune in for some behind the scenes scoops that definitely surprised me.

I really appreciated Steven's honesty about not only running the convention but also his own balloon business, Balloon Designers in the Seattle area, for over 20 years.

We chat about things like:

• industry changes
• industry mainstays
• Balloon Town
• the development and challenges of FLOAT
• the uniqueness of FLOAT

Steven even flatters me by recalling my incredible experience of being named the 2019 FLOAT Designer of the Year. We also go on to talk about some of the unique competitions that have taken place at the convention over the years, and what new event is in place for the 2024 convention.

Truly, I think FLOAT is a special convention that you should try to go to if at all possible. Don't forget to enter for your chance at free registration / getting your registration reimbursed!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

Ep. 36 Part Two: Balloon Conventions: FLOAT

FLOAT Convention Website | Facebook Group

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Today I'm discussoing how to book big jobs, and more importantly, now to re-book them for reliable, consistant money!

Register for my in-person "Impressive Installations" class here

How to find large jobs

How to charge and consider additional expenses

How to pitch and what my proposals look like

How to secure annual bookings and the importance of following up

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Pricing Guide Menu

Color Chart

50% off your 1st year of 17hats / 17hats Bootcamp

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning and chatting about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!

Join here!

Last month, we read The Passion Economy by Adam Davidson. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!

Thanks to our sponsors!

17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

Havin' a Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Suite

BalloonCoach.com

In this episode we're checking in with three previous guests, plus I'll give an update on how things are going since quitting my full-time job nearly two months ago... some of which are great and some that I didn't really anticipate...

First up is Tinesha, who may not have realized what an impact she had on me in our first interview. She said, "everything you want is on the other side of fear" and little did she know, that day my husband and I were looking at the house we have since bought that has also allowed me to have my balloon shop!

Tinesha sends in a note to let us know how her business has changed and she's got another new motto she shares, too.

Then we hear from Alissa, who actually won her shop space not long before the first interview. She lets us know if she stayed in the space after her free year was up, plus the cool new things they're incorporating into their business.

Alissa was such a treat to interview and then I got to work with her at the Big Balloon Build, too! If you're pursuing retail space be sure to check out her unique story.

Finally, we hear again from Hayley who talked about self-employment in her previous interview. Needless to say, this interview had an incredible impact on me, too. The tips she gave absolutely sparked the thought that going full-time with balloons was possible.

She lets us know what's up with their shop, their operations and their employees.

As for me, I feel like I've settled into my new normal after quitting my full-time job. But that hasn't been without some challenges, like:

• not feeling like I have any more time in my day
• turning into a bit of a workaholic
• locking down the health insurance

But onto the happier side... I've not had an ounce of regret in my decision. In fact, as I look back I see how insecure I really was in that position and I feel like I got out at the right time. Now I get to schedule my health, podcast interviews and site visits whenever I want!

All in all, I wouldn't say it's been an easy change, but it's absolutely an awesome one.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Ep. 32 - Everything you want is on the other side of fear | An interview with Tinesha from Mbellish Events @mbellishballoons_bg

Ep. 85 - Pop-up shops | Alissa from Twee Partees @tweepartees

Ep. 74 - Self-Employment | Hayley from Pop! Balloon Bar & Party @pop.balloonbar

Ep. 132 - I quit my job

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Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

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Today I want to share with you two concepts I learned from Denise Duffield-Thomas in her book Chill and Prosper, and they address how we can get past convincing ourselves that we aren't ready for the next step.

First is procrastibranding, where we tell ourselves that we can't: buy business cards because we don't have a website yet; or advertise for the next season because we haven't decided on our sales packages. There are so many ways that we can convince ourselves not to move forward!

Instead, lean in on her second concept of placeholder marketing that will help you take some action. I actually just went through this procrastibranding - placeholder marketing situation with my Glow Retreat!

I kept feeling like the website had to be more built out, I needed more Instagram posts, I needed a better schedule, etc. but I was just too excited to announce it that I went for it anyway and was so delighted when it sold out on the first day. (Thanks again to everyone who signed up - I'm so incredibly excited to see you there!)

After I saw that happen it opened my eyes to some areas I've been procrastibranding in my balloon business, too. Things like:

• marketing the new props I get
• marketing for graduation season
• moving some things around on my website

And I'll tell you, once you start rolling with your placeholder marketing and discovering that you can succeed with it, those decision-making powers start to trickle out into the rest of your business, too! So, what do you do from here? First, know that everything is temporary. You can change it when the time comes. And your "placeholder" marketing might just do the job! Chances are, nobody will be looking that closely at your logo or your business card, etc.

Force yourself to take some action now so that you have the opportunity to improve them later. You won't make much money in your business if you're stuck in non-action.

What are some other ways we procrastinate in our businesses? Maybe you avoid putting systems like pricing guides or color charts in place, that you know will help your customers, but are afraid will box you in. That was me for so long but once I created these items I couldn't believe the difference in how much more quickly I was able to book my jobs. I'm also certain that the color chart has saved me tons of money because I don't need to chase every new color that comes on the market.

As you're listening and discover something that you've also been avoiding, I hope this episode motivates you to take action on at least one thing… today! Let me know! What are you taking action on next?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Pricing Guide Menu

Color Chart

50% off your 1st year of 17hats / 17hats Bootcamp

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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In this episode I'm sharing all the details about what it was like to host The Big Balloon Build in my hometown. If you're not familiar, it's an organization started by Stuart Davies who used to do these builds in his own community in Wales. I was actually only the third person in the United States to host one since it's become an international event!

It's just like it sounds, a big (let's be honest... huge) build, where we used over 120,000 balloons and had over 70 artists from around the world come in to make it happen. After the build is completed, it's turned over to a charity for fundraising. I'm so proud to say we raised over $110,000 and received over 2000 pounds of food donations at my build!

But it wasn't without a ton of work! If you're considering hosting, or even just going to participate, I have a few behind the scenes notes on some of the things I'm glad I prepared for and some things I wish I had prepared for. Things like:

• the length of the planning process
• partnerships you'll need to create with a venue, a sponsor and a charity
• balancing the workload with the charity
• prep time and space just before the start of the build
• my actual duties as the host during the build
• managing the chaos of food

Was it worth it? Long story short... yes, but I do think you need to prepare for what kind of outcomes are realistic, what might not be and what you, as a host, actually want to accomplish or gain from hosting.

And now that my duties with The Big Balloon Build are through, it's confirmed for me that I should finally host the retreat I've been thinking about for over a year!

I'm so, so excited to announce that registration is open for the first ever Glow Retreat, a women's retreat for balloon business owners! This all-inclusive event will take place in Lake Geneva, WI, from August 7-10, 2023, and is limited to the first 12 participants.

It's actually a balloon-free event where instead of building, we'll be focusing on implementing the strategies of my favorite book, The Pumpkin Plan. From figuring out your area of innovation, to finding your "pumpkin" clients, to creating an actual plan of what to do following the retreat... we'll be bouncing ideas off each other to strategize and set goals over good food and with gorgeous scenery.

My favorite part of any convention or event I attend is always getting to know people and creating relationships through conversation, and that is exactly what I'm hoping for for all of the retreat attendees! Full schedule of events and info can be found at the link below!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Glow Retreat

50% off your 1st year of 17hats / 17hats Bootcamp

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT... new code!)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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Rachel of How About Balloons comes on the show in this episode to talk about cold pitch emails (and interestingly enough, it was a cold pitch email that got this interview scheduled!). The timing of this conversation couldn't be better for me as I dive into full-time balloons and want to take more of an offensive approach rather than waiting to see who contacts me.

Rachel and her mom Lisa have had a lot of success with this type of marketing in their business and I'm so excited to share our conversation, and their tips, with you all!

Believe it or not, she's been able to bring her experience as a pediatric dental hygienist into her balloon business in order to communicate with people in a supportive, but fast and condensed way.

She shares with us their strategy for reaching out to local event planners and venues via Instagram and email. Not only that, she gives a few ideas for subject lines and actual email content! Then I put her on the spot and ask for some constructive feedback on a strategy I've been testing.

We also chat about things like how they've kept their growth goal front and center from the start, how they've managed their framework inventory as a newer business and what kinds of things they did to invest in their business.

I cannot wait to incorporate these ideas and suggestions from Rachel in my business and am so thankful to her for sharing. We even end the interview with such an optimistic view on our industry... I just know you're going to be inspired by this episode!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

How About Balloons on Instagram

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

17hats Bootcamp

Balloon Suite

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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The Bright Balloon on YouTube