The Empower Her Podcast

Hey friends! Welcome to a new episode of the Empower Her Podcast!    This week’s episode is a solo cast sharing my goals and hope for 2023.    Quarter four was a rough one with an incredibly heavy workload and not much margin for fun and relaxation. I was encouraged by a business coach to ask myself why I couldn’t have both. It’s okay to shoot for big numbers but I can care for myself too.  Reflection and Expansion Workbook

• Walk through the dual actions of reflection and expansion with this guided workbook. This week’s episode shares my responses to some of the prompts.
• Family: My husband and I had a wild 2022 and we are committing to date afternoons. It’s easy to get fully focused on our businesses so we are consciously scheduling more time together.
• Friends: I love time with my girlfriends and I will try to make it out of the house for at least one night a month for girl’s night! I’d also like a couple coffee dates in there, just for fun, not business related.
• Business: It’s been a while since I connected 1-on-1 with a business coach. I don’t have anyone in mind yet, but I know it’s something I need. Shoot me a DM on Instagram if you’ve worked with someone awesome.

• I’m also focusing on this Empower Her community and reflecting on how I can really give value, care, and support.

• Physical Health: I have made the goal to strength train three times per week. On opposite days I will get out for a walk or use my treadmill. I feel so much better when I limit sugar and dairy, so I will keep an eye on that too.
• Mental Health: This is the year that I prioritize fun! I’m not great at relaxing so I signed up for a lettering workshop with Lovely Little Lights to make a commitment. I’m going to journal more regularly and make meditation part of my routine.
• Spiritual Health: My faith is super important to me. I am part of a mentoring program at my church and I’d like to attend a women’s bible study or something similar.
• Financial Health: This year I’m working on keeping a personal budget. I’m already learning so much with Val Marlene Creative’s Creative Income Cure course. I want to grow in leadership and will challenge myself to grow and develop my speaking skills.

Follow for More Learn more about the Empower Her community on the website or reach out on Instagram. I would love to hear how you made the Reflection and Expansion Workbook work for you. 

Welcome another episode Janene King   Reflecting personally on 2022 Wins, losses, things that were hard Dig in, get vulnerable Share at end of episode Business things… Business growth within Empower Her and within husband and I business Massive growth really exciting Thankful, grateful, blessing Collectives growth, opened in CR & DSM Hosted summit 130 women attended connections, energy, so. much. good. Learned a lot   Something on vision board: Do coaching program with Suzy Holeman (instagram link) Coaching program Forced me to look at parts of life business owner passions callings, deal with junk in life, mindset issues, limiting beliefs, negative energy Not always fun, phenomenal opportunity Opened up to bigger better July sold home, moved into rental, opportunities to pursue real estate investments Storefront in apartment in small town: Construction, rehab  Process of another building purchase New LLC working with bankers, lawyers, contractors, etc really fun really enjoyed Empowering to have knowledge, tools, really taken lead, owned it: Empowering, fun Growth in ability to lean in, lead with confidence, be confident in what I know to be true Andrea from Choose Your Journey around Money Mindset program realized how much work needed, limiting beliefs Husband: Day dates Monthly/bimonthly massages together Schedule and put on the calendar Unofficial mastermind with couple gals in community, one Friday a month   Hard things, challenging With growth, hard moments Growth expands and tests capacity Personell, demands of schedule Realized mental load To do list never end Like things done, orderly Made husband and i realize how much we need help, cannot do it on their own some people’s dream, hard to release control tension of giving up, they have tools to do the job Big relationship disappointments: Close friends bumps in the road That was hard Questioning- is it worth it? Good will come, but left with a lot of disappointment Business not all roses and butterflies “Underbelly” Can be ugly, personalities come out, we all bring stuff to the table Didn’t hit growth goals and feel some disappointment but incredible gratitude Good to stretch with goals, more to it than just hitting the goal   Felt like maintaining in final quarter of the year Big disappointment, personal level, health goals Started strong personal trainer, prioritizing health, “hell in a hand basket” after move in July Lot of just surviving happening Immense gratitude Part of community, past or current members so lucky so blessed have them here Grateful for listeners, social posts, emails, send a message, incredibly grateful Little family, husband, son God’s favor, blessing

Hey friend! Thanks for joining me for another episode of the Empower Her Co Podcast. I’m grateful that you’re here and excited to share today’s guest.   If this episode seems like a chat between friends, you’d be right. I’m grateful to have Kyla as a respected friend. I always learn so much from her whenever we get together. She’s full of knowledge and I appreciate her vulnerability in sharing today. Key Takeaways

• Kyla is from a small town in Wisconsin and studied Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. She spent years on the east coast before returning to Iowa to start a business.
• Kyla opened an event space at the start of the Pandemic and it made her reevaluate her priorities. She realized the toll it was taking on her physically and mentally. She felt like a bad mom and wife. The people she interacted with at work got to see an outgoing, bubbly personality, but it left nothing for her family.
• Kyla still loves event planning, but now focuses on health coaching. She loves to help others achieve their goals while being able to travel and spend time with family.
• Kyla works hard to lead a life she finds fulfilling and feels she is a more present family member as a result. She is committed to keeping daily habits that support her long term goals.
• Daily habits Kyla swears by include waking up before her children and using that time to focus on self improvement with reading, journaling, and meditating. She always incorporates some sort of movement into her day and avoids screens an hour before bed.
• Kyla reminds us she didn’t make changes all at once: She started waking up an hour before her family just ten minutes at a time. Big changes add up!
• Kyla has read 35 books so far this year! She recommends (and I agree) Your Best Yes by Lisa TerKeurst.
• Favorite podcasters include Mel Robbins, John Maxwell, and Doug Wood.

Connect with Kyla Kyla offers health coaching through Instagram (goodhealthwith.kylamccomas) and Facebook (kyla.mccomas).

Hi friend! Welcome to another episode of the Empower Her Co Podcast. I’m so excited to talk about today’s topic and bring you Sheila Hansen, CPA of Hansen LLC. Money is so fundamental to what we do as women in business. Honestly, it’s the whole reason we’re in business. But our mindset can get in the way of achieving our potential. Sheila is an accountant specializing in serving the creative female business owner. I know my listeners will really relate to her message. Key Takeaways

• Sheila always knew she wanted to be an accountant and worked her way up to a top role.  Motherhood made her reconsider her demanding schedule. She made the leap to her own firm in 2016
• In the last year Sheila has focused in on money mindset.
• When using a parenting coach, Sheila learned that our beliefs are formed by age 7, which means our 7-year-old selves are making decisions around money!
• When faced with a money choice, tune in to how your body feels. Notice things like tightness in the chest or burning in your stomach and reflect on when you have those feelings.
• Get curious: “What is the money story that is happening in my head that is causing that physical response?”
• Sheila advocates therapy for business owners: “Financial discussions or decisions can really be like a mirror of everything that we need to address about ourselves.”
• “We give money power in our society but that is not where power comes from. Money is a tool.”
• Sheila reflects on breaking the belief that time equals money: “What is the value in the eyes of your customer and really focusing on that conversation versus what does it cost me”
• “The things you do in a recession for your business are the basic foundations of any healthy business.”
• “If you are employed by somebody else in a recession you have not much control over what happens. If you own your own business in a recession you are in control of your future.”

Resources mentioned

• Book: It's Not Your Money: How to Live Fully from Divine Abundance by Tosha Silver
• Podcast: Life Coach School episode Recession Thoughts
• Book: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker
• Podcast: Chill and Prosper with Denise Duffield-Thomas

Connect with Sheila Find Sheila and sign up for her email list on her website or connect on Instagram.

I’m so excited to bring you today’s guest, Casey Curoe. She shares about her coaching business and the importance of exercise, especially for those of us female small business owners. We’re known for trying to do it all and can struggle to make time for ourselves.   Coming into holiday season, I know many of us have personal fitness on our list of goals. Casey is a great resource and offers some quick hitters in today’s episode. Her enthusiasm for fitness is contagious, so give it listen if that’s a habit you’d like to develop! Key Takeaways

• Casey has always been interested in health and fitness and studied kinesiology in undergrad. She coached college soccer for seven years but struggled to keep up the demanding schedule after she became a mom. 
• Casey started personal training as a side hustle but has brought it full time in the last year and a half. 
• Life is stressful enough- don’t beat yourself up with a stressful workout too! Casey recommends weight training and walking for the best full body workout. 
• Why do we struggle to exercise? Casey says women tend to always put others before themselves and struggle to find the time. That’s why she recommends adding it to the calendar and scheduling time with a personal trainer to hold you accountable.
• Ask yourself: How can I be stronger? And not: How can I lose weight?
• “We have to practice the habit to make it habitual!”
• Nutrition is much more nuanced than exercise, but Casey says one thing she can confidently say is that you probably need more protein. Women should get .7-1 grams per pound of ideal body weight. She likes Legion protein powder but admits it is one of the more expensive options on the market. For a more budget-friendly option, look for whey isolate powder.
• Why is strength training so important? It supports longevity and helps balance hormones.
• Casey offers fitness training virtually or in person from her home.

Connect with Casey Casey has a website at CaseyCuroe.com and you can follow her on Instagram at casey.curoe.

Hey friend! Welcome to another episode of the Empower Her Podcast! I’m really excited to bring you my conversation with today’s guest.   Welcome Sarah Waldbuesser, an attorney and the creator of Destination Legal.   Sarah provides legal services and templates for coaches and small business owners through her website.   Our conversation today breaks down the fear around this topic and is jam packed with resources. Key Takeaways

• Sarah started Desintation Legal seven years ago. She loves to travel and wanted a more flexible lifestyle. She is dedicated to providing tangible, affordable legal services.
• “Having your legal in place really does empower you and give you more confidence”
• You only need two things to start a business: A way to get paid and a contract.
• Templates are fine. Check Destination Legal where contract templates are hyper-specific to industry.
• Trademarks distinguish who provides services within an industry. They must be a unique name or product and have to be related to selling something.
• “If you got a cease and desist in your email tomorrow saying you have to stop and rebrand within the next three months, how would you feel?”
• Sarah has a beautiful visual for understanding the trademarking process. Download her Trademark Roadmap here.
• More legal considerations include being sure your website has a privacy policy and have a terms of service if you are selling anything online.
• Sarah advises to get an LLC after the first six months to one year of your business once you feel it is viable. It is a legal protection that separates your business and personal assets.
• Sarah recommends the book Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins and the podcasts “The Chris Harder Show” and “Earn Your Happy.”

Connect with Sarah Follow Sarah on Instagram and learn more about Destination Legal on her website.

I’m back in the interviewer’s spot after a busy late summer! It feels so good to be back to the fall season with its predictable routines.   I’m excited to introduce my guest Tenneil Register of R7 Reclaimed. We were so fortunate to have her family business provide the beautiful decor for the Empower Her Summit this August. R7 Reclaimed is a multi-faceted lifestyle brand from near Grandview, Iowa. They specialize in beautiful reclaimed home decor and are awesome hosts at The Barn. Key Takeaways

• Tenneil describes herself as the founder and creator of the “organized chaos” that is R7 Reclaimed, which started as a blog to share DIY projects. Tenneil loved her first vintage market and was hooked. Her first storefront was an “especially cute” apartment building and her current storefront is a reclaimed barn on the edge of town.
• “See whatever your circumstance in life as something that will be made beautiful”
• R7 Reclaimed is currently renovating a property in their hometown to be used for design staging and as a future AirBnB.
• As a big family, Tenneil finds value in products that are beautiful but can stand the rigor of daily life. 
• Each member of the family helps with the business in their own unique way.
• On family life with a business: “The challenges that we had then were not as defining as I thought in the moment.”
• “There are seasons of life when I have felt intense tension and then there are times when there is just enough tension to make us pay attention”
• “The areas that are hard are the ones we are growing in. Growth and pain go together.”
• Tenneil recommends Business Made Simple by Donald Miller. She’s always looking for her next good memoir to read and enjoyed Jennifer Gray’s.
• Tenneil gives us the fall trend forecast: Anything with natural texture. She says now is the time to take the outdoors in. It’s cool to forage outside to bring texture in: Grasses, cattail, etc.
• Tenneil has one weekend market left in LeClaire, Iowa on October 9. The first two weekends in November will be their top event, Christmas at the Barn.

Connect with Tenneil Find Tenneil and R7 Reclaimed on Instagram (r7reclaimed), Facebook (RegisterSeven), or their website (tenneilregister.com).

This week I’m so excited to bring you Grace and Amelia to share their real estate investing stories. Amelia and Grace host the Women Invest in Real Estate (WIIRE) community where they support female business women in their investment journeys. Key Takeaways:

• Amelia flipped her first house with her parents in 2019 and loved it. She wanted to keep going to replace her full time income with passive real estate investing.
• Grace’s boyfriend flipped his first house when they were still in college and she caught the investing bug.
• They recommend the BRRRR (Buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) method to get started. With 20% down you can purchase your first property and use the proceeds to fund your next project.
• Their portfolio includes 50 doors of long term, short term, and mid term rentals.
• They love mid-term rentals that offer the higher income of short term without the hard work of quick turnaround. These properties are great for traveling nurses, trades, and business people.
• They say to avoid analysis paralysis, “research enough to be dangerous” but then get started! You will learn more in your first project than you ever could in a book!
• If you’re not a handy person, get a property that needs only cosmetic work. Overestimate costs, especially with your first project, by as much as 20%.
• How to find properties in this crazy market? Grace and Amelia find properties through social media, Craigslist, and advertisements. Grace offers a $1000 lead to people who refer a property that leads to a sale.
• They say to keep good books. Real estate is a numbers game. It’s okay to love it, but it is important to get down to the numbers of: Is this a good investment? Yes or no.
• Both are passionate about personal finance and say to manage your own money first.
• They struggle to give quick tips or basic ideas because they learn something new every day! It is a tough industry, but very rewarding. “If It were easy, everyone would do it, and there wouldn’t be money to be made in real estate!”
• To attract good tenants they provide good properties. They train them to act how they work. For example, keeping boundaries on when to return a call.
• They recommend the Bigger Pockets podcasts and books for all things real estate and like Jenna Kutcher’s work too.
• Grace and Amelia have their own podcast too! Women Invest in Real Estate

Connect with Grace on Instagram at grace.investing and Amelia at ameliajorei The WIIRE community is on Instagram at wire.community This week I’m so excited to bring you Grace and Amelia to share their real estate investing stories. Amelia and Grace host the Women Invest in Real Estate (WIIRE) community where they support female business women in their investment journeys. Key Takeaways:

• Amelia flipped her first house with her parents in 2019 and loved it. She wanted to keep going to replace her full time income with passive real estate investing.
• Grace’s boyfriend flipped his first house when they were still in college and she caught the investing bug.
• They recommend the BRRRR (Buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) method to get started. With 20% down you can purchase your first property and use the proceeds to fund your next project.
• Their portfolio includes 50 doors of long term, short term, and mid term rentals.
• They love mid-term rentals that offer the higher income of short term without the hard work of quick turnaround. These properties are great for traveling nurses, trades, and business people.
• They say to avoid analysis paralysis, “research enough to be dangerous” but then get started! You will learn more in your first project than you ever could in a book!
• If you’re not a handy person, get a property that needs only cosmetic work. Overestimate costs, especially with your first project, by as much as 20%.
• How to find properties in this crazy market? Grace and Amelia find properties through social media, Craigslist, and advertisements. Grace offers a $1000 lead to people who refer a property that leads to a sale.
• They say to keep good books. Real estate is a numbers game. It’s okay to love it, but it is important to get down to the numbers of: Is this a good investment? Yes or no.
• Both are passionate about personal finance and say to manage your own money first.
• They struggle to give quick tips or basic ideas because they learn something new every day! It is a tough industry, but very rewarding. “If It were easy, everyone would do it, and there wouldn’t be money to be made in real estate!”
• To attract good tenants they provide good properties. They train them to act how they work. For example, keeping boundaries on when to return a call.
• They recommend the Bigger Pockets podcasts and books for all things real estate and like Jenna Kutcher’s work too.
• Grace and Amelia have their own podcast too! Women Invest in Real Estate

Connect with Grace on Instagram at grace.investing and Amelia at ameliajorei The WIIRE community is on Instagram at wire.community

Hey, listeners! This week I’m excited to bring Kaelee Rae to the podcast!  Kaelee started as a virtual assistant and now mentors others to offer their own virtual assistant services.  Kaelee is passionate about helping mothers specifically and that really shines through in our chat!  Key Takeaways

• Kaelee loved her career but felt frustrated by moving frequently for her husband’s job. When she was expecting her first baby she felt called to stay home. She did, and started her VA business when her son was six months old.
• Over the years her VA services have supported 25 businesses! She loves working with moms to start flexible remote businesses.
• On juggling it all: “There are days when I have to sit down with a journal at the end of the day and write down everything I did to make myself realize ’Oh yeah, I did get a lot done today!’”
• She manages with no childcare at all! Kaelee has to be very intentional about her work load and revisits her values and goals frequently.
• When a close friend showed an interest in virtual assisting she became an advocate for the space. Her business mentor suggested she build a business from helping others build there business, and now that is her central focus.
• For people interested in virtual assisting, Kaelee recommends investing in a course or program from the start. 
• For people interested in hiring a virtual assistant, Kaelee says to always hire culture over skill. “Don’t hire someone that isn’t a culture fit to your company and the community you are building.”
• If you fear bringing on a VA, that’s normal! “If you’re making at least $2000 a month in your business you should be able to afford a 10 hours a month VA and it’s amazing what those ten hours a month can bring back to you!” Project-based VAs are great if you are not ready for a regular investment.
• Kaelee lists the Empower Her Co podcast as one of her favorites (!) as well as Craig Groeschel’s Leadership podcast.

Connect with Kaelee Kaelee has a website (kaeleeraeco.com) and blog and loves making friends on Instagram (@kaeleeraeco).

Welcome to another episode! This week I’m so excited to welcome my new friend, Jenn Trepeck of the Salad With a Side of Fries.    Personal experience led Jenn to seek information on wellness and weight loss and she now pays it forward by sharing nutrition education on her podcast. Jenn built her business as a side hustle while working full time in hedge funds. Now, in addition to her health podcast and coaching, she coaches entrepreneurs like herself to make their side-hustle their full-time job.   Our conversation focused very little on careers, however, and had everything to do with building authentic networking relationships. Key takeaways

• Entrepreneurship was naturally in Jenn’s world as both parents were self-employed. She studied business in undergrad but found herself bored in her first job and started her side hustle.
• Jenn was introduced to the curriculum she now teaches during a personal struggle with her own weight and health.
• Jenn worked as a photoshoot producer and was introduced to working in investing through a colleague. She went on to work in nearly every administration position within a hedgefund before leaving to take her side hustle full time.
• Jenn appreciates her time building her business on the side because it built confidence and financial stability. She cautions against appearing too desperate to potential clients.
• Jenn used to attend business networking events that she calls “the business card shuffle.” She says the best approach now is to get to know someone first as a person and connect through business later.
• Recognize what makes you unique and niche down. Avoid identifying your business as seeking “anybody who…” because being too broad can actually backfire.
• Challenge yourself in conversation to see how long you can go without mentioning a person’s career. Jenn’s favorite conversation starters include “What’s on tap for this weekend?” and “What’s good and new?”
• Your networking group becomes your “army of unpaid marketing avengers” and brings much better clients than a Facebook ad.

  Connect with Jenn through her website, Salad With a Side of Fries, or through Instagram at @saladwithasideoffriespod or @jenntrepeck.   Quotes

• I did the typical thing- Interned at the big companies, went to work full time, and was bored. What’s next? I’m supposed to just keep doing this thing every day?
• Worlds collided after I had such a powerful experience with this program… This, THIS is what I’m going to do.
• Desperation is like a wall around you.
• The challenge is to have that behind the scenes and not in a conversation with a potential client.
• Networking isn’t about the person you’re talking to. It’s about the thousands of people that they know that you don’t know.
• Every person is a window to a thousand-plus people you don’t know
• Going back and forth in paragraph emails does not build a relationship.
• What makes you different than everyone else out there who does what you do?
• Wellness for real life