We hear about business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2B) communication. However, we should be thinking in terms of human to human. That’s the common tie, and our humanity is ultimately what speaks to us the most.

This is much of Felicia Sullivan’s goal in her career of building human brands and wielding the power of storytelling in business communications. Her brand strategy helps companies better connect with their consumers in an authentic way instead of pushing products.

This week she asserts how the power of understanding customers and how embracing our humanity - and its diversity - can not only strengthen a company, but the whole business landscape.

Topics covered in this episode:
- B2B and B2C marketing communication
- Corporate authenticity
- Purchasing with purpose
- Diversity and inclusion
- The myth of guaranteed results / MLMs

Takeaways from this episode:
- Working successfully with clients involves setting realistic expectations not only for them, but for yourself. Communicate boundaries and accessibility. Use your expertise rather than simply taking orders.
- Listen to your customers and gather their feedback - treat them as human, not as dollar signs.
- Brands that don’t connect or cultivate relationships with customers will lose them because they won’t feel heard and get the service they deserve.
- Showing up as your authentic self doesn’t mean you’re not professional - it means you allow yourself to show up as a human being. And when services are similar, people buy personality, not just competency.
- Be thoughtful about who you work with and which brands you’re supporting. Do you values align? Will they further your vision? Where you put your resources is a political act.
- The “Get rich quick like me” message inherent in many brands’ marketing is mired in privilege. Success is a confluence of luck, timing, access, opportunity and more.
- No skillset has guaranteed results embedded in them; you can only provide the tools and knowledge.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciacsullivan/
https://felsull.medium.com/
Felicia's books:
www.amazon.com/Felicia-C-Sullivan/e/B001JS30U4/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
Can We Please Quit The “Get Rich Like Me, It’s Easy” Rhetoric?
https://medium.com/falling-into-freelancing/can-we-please-quit-the-get-rich-like-me-its-easy-rhetoric-ec33928c7985

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/50

We all love the power of a good story. But did you know it’s also useful in a business setting? Since we’re all humans with emotions, we listen and understand the message better when it’s in narrative form. We also retain it better than when we’re just presented cold data and logic.

Gabrielle Dolan realized the power of storytelling and effective business communication while working in leadership in corporate Australia. Now she enjoys success as an international keynote speaker, educator, and author of Magnetic Stories: Connect with Customers and Engage Employees.

This week she explains how to implement storytelling in your business to share a vision and enhance collective understanding, all while doing good.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Creating engaging presentations
- Storytelling in business
- 5 types of stories businesses need
- Telling customer stories
- Sharing your brand story
- Connecting with employees
- Sharing your values

Takeaways from this episode:
- Weaving important information into a story is a memorable and effective technique that gives you authenticity and credibility.
- As humans we retain stories better than pure data alone. Storytelling taps into emotion, and our brains process emotion differently than logic to where it lingers in long-term storage of the brain.
- Stories create emotional connections which in turn can lead to buy-in.
- Lead with a story to engage, and you’ll keep your audience’s attention better throughout the rest of a presentation.
- Incorporate stories about your company’s creation, culture, customer service, customers, and challenges into your brand materials and presentations.
- Knowing how to communicate has the power to change the way you lead and creates a ripple effect of impact.

To connect to Gabrielle Dolan please follow:
https://gabrielledolan.com/
https://www.instagram.com/gabrielledolan.1/
To purchase Magnetic Stories:
https://gabrielledolan.com/resources/magnetic-stories/

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae:
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/49

“Out of your head and into your bank account” is the tagline of Carrie Koh’s coaching business for high-performing female entrepreneurs. After suffering a personal loss, she realized how often we silo our professional and personal lives and decided work should be fun. Her philosophy is that business shouldn’t be unnecessarily hard to be successful. She launched her business by fostering interpersonal connections and helps leaders forge the path to not only success, but the lives they want to have.

She’ll share best practices for female entrepreneurs to thrive in their pursuits and common issues she sees them facing. Of course, Carrie will also share her top tips for how she uses her career and her company as a force for good.

Topics in this episode:
-  Blending your professional and personal life
- Female entrepreneurs
- How to create authentic relationships with clients
- Conducting your business authentically
- Growth and scarcity mindset
- Creating customer connections

Takeaways from this episode:
- You don’t have to separate personal and professional life. Oftentimes our work can be more effective when we integrate the two and will attract people to your business.
- We don’t have to figure everything out on our own. That means our ego is in overdrive. However, we must know that we’re capable of getting the results we want one way or another.
- Stop viewing success in terms of gaining 10k followers or other vanity stats. It’s ultimately about creating strong connections. When you connect and engage people, you convert.
- Don’t be afraid to offer free advice or tidbits of wisdom while marketing yourself to show what you could offer a potential client.
- Show up online as a positive, possibility-focused force. Help your customers see a new future you can help them get.
- We can’t underestimate speaking to corporate customers like humans. It’s okay to lift the corporate veil.
- We’re often holding ourselves back by being who we think we need to be. Then this projection doesn’t align with our strengths and what we actually know to be true.

To connect to Carrie Koh please visit:
https://carriekoh.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekoh/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitablehappyfemaleentrepreneurs

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/48

What’s the hardest part of managing a small business? For many, like Marie Mae Founder and CEO Jillian Ryan, it’s cashflow. There are many moving parts with cashflow that can keep small business owners up at night, and it’s even more difficult when you rely on it to go the extra mile in helping others. Jillian draws from her experience to offer tips and tidbits of wisdom when it comes to getting paid and having money in the bank (even in tough times like a pandemic). She also shares how bigger companies can support smaller companies they’re partnering with.

This is the second episode in The Messy Middle series, where Jillian breaks down the good, bad, and ugly while growing a business. Through it all you’ll learn how to do good by your customers, your team, and yourself.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Managing cashflow
- How big businesses can support small businesses
- Helping small businesses in the pandemic
- Why you need a CFO
- Paying vendors / payroll
- Growing pains for businesses

Takeaways from this episode:
- Get payment upfront when you’re taking on a new customer – and weigh the pros and cons of taking on that customer at all.
- Especially during the pandemic, consider how your operations impact the smaller businesses you work with.
- Know your numbers and constantly evaluate your margins.
- If you’re part of a large company that’s working with a small business, consider how your payment schedule affects them. Small companies often don’t have the money in the bank that you do.
- Be sure to pay your vendors / partners within a reasonable time window.
- Make sure you have a cushion of cash in the bank and guardrails in your contracts.

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/47

It’s not uncommon for CEOs to have imposter syndrome. After all, many go from being an employee to the head decision-maker, steering toward uncharted territory as the captain of their business. Plus, experiencing different phases of growing their own business requires them to wear different hats. It’s even more complicated knowing there’s no step-by-step manual for success.

As CEO and Founder of Sif Industries, Jill James transforms self-funded businesses into high-profit companies through strategic operating support - particularly for those who identify as women. She helps new businesses grow into a sustainable business model and get a more stable revenue footing. This week Jill shares valuable insight about why new CEOs should feel empowered, best practices for female entrepreneurs to thrive in their first 2 years of business, and top tips for using business as a force for good.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Starting a company
- Female CEOs and entrepreneurs
- The first 2 years of business
- Imposter syndrome
- Making a profit as a new business
- Social impact
- How to run a business effectively a mom

Takeaways from this episode:
- New CEOs know their product, service, and ins and outs of running the company, and often act as a coach and a team player - yet many feel as if they’re failing.
- It’s important to remember that you’re empowered to be a CEO. No one else has the information you have, can gather inputs and put them in place with your unique vantage point. It’s an opportunity for you to do good in the world.
- Not every entrepreneur has to suffer without pay for years.
- Having a business and having a baby are similar: There’s no perfect time to embark on that journey, you just have to start (and know that you’ll learn along the way).
- Don’t be afraid to be profitable; it enables you to make good choices that change the world.
- Think about your team and how you’d want to be treated in their position, and you’ll attract people who want to treat you that way as well.

To connect to Jill James:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilldjames/
https://sifindustries.com/
https://thejilljames.com/

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/46

As more and more people get the vaccine, it feels like we’re quickly returning to life pre-COVID. But it’s important for businesses and society in general to resist reverting back to exactly how things were. Marie Mae Founder and CEO Jillian Ryan discusses her personal experiences over the past year and recounts ways life has changed – for better and for worse. And some changes have been positive! Recognizing these changes, keeping the improvements, and leading with empathy can help you be a better human in the workplace.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Life before COVID-19
- Life after lockdown
- Anxiety and Mental Health
- 9-5 mentality
- Greater work flexibility
- Being intentional with your time

Takeaways from this episode:
- Let’s be kind as we begin returning to life after COVID. Many people have experienced trauma and loss in the past year.
- Think about how to improve the workplace and not rush to return to the 9-to-5 just because it’s what you used to do.
- Thoughtfully consider changes that should stay. For instance, many team members have enjoyed having more freedom. How might they enjoy more autonomy going forward?
- Try to be intentional with your time and resources instead of filling up your calendar again.
- Continue to support small business and mentorship opportunities even as the overall economy improves.

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/45

While some say that money is the root of all evil, Abundance and Business Coach Melissa Martin says money simply magnifies a woman’s underlying energy. And if you’re open to receiving love and support, you’re more likely to put it back out into the universe. This was a hard-won truth for Melissa, whose troubled relationship with money shaped her behavior and was entwined with her sense of self. Her journey to mend her relationship with money cascaded into multiple positive impacts, and it began with untying her self-worth from her net worth.

This week Melissa shares her journey in network marketing and helping women reach a life of abundance and alignment through her empowerment company. She’ll also share the biggest issues for women entrepreneurs when it comes to their money mindset, as well as her best advice to address them - and, of course, she shares her insight on making her business a force for good in the world.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Women and money management
- Doing good with money
- Rebuilding financially and emotionally
- Unlocking your potential
- Overcoming negative mindsets
- Self-limiting beliefs
- Helping yourself to help others

Takeaways from this episode:
- Many women in business struggle with raising their rates, and much of it has to do with knowing their worth. It’s not always about the money itself, but what it represents.
- Rock bottom can be a foundation to build your new mountain. Change your mindset of loss to one of gratitude and watch how your reality changes.
- Unlocking financial potential begins with being open to receiving love and support and being able to ask for what you want.
- To address your mindset issues, begin with an awareness of your thoughts. Ask yourself where your negative thoughts come from. Then choose a new belief and find proof that supports it.
- Your beliefs create your thoughts, your thoughts create your actions, and your actions create your reality.
- When you are unapologetic about your desires and share your gifts from a place of alignment with your desires, you can serve from your highest perspective and do more good.

Resources:
Ladies Aligned's website:
https://www.ladiesaligned.com/about
Follow Melissa on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/themelissamartin
Boldly Courageous Podcast
https://themelissamartin.com/podcast/

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/44

“Overthinking isn’t a personality trait. It’s a form of fear.”

Jillian Ryan, founder and CEO of Marie Mae, unpacks this quote in the context of business leadership. She explains that to build a business, you’re not always going to know all the answers, and you’ll often need to take leaps before you’re ready. However, she encourages you to try it anyway - even without the answers - because you’ll learn valuable lessons along the way.

This week she highlights a couple of lessons from her own career where she took the plunge without overthinking it, which led to some of the most fruitful experiences of her life.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Overthinking / anxiety in leadership
- Taking risks in business
- Learning on the go
- Building confidence
- Finding comfort in uncertainty

Takeaways from this episode:
- If you avoid an opportunity out of fear, you risk missing out on the best things happening to you and enriching learning experiences.
- When you take a risk and succeed, it’s a confidence boost, or at the very least an opportunity for growth.
- You don’t have to have all the answers. Surround yourself with people who have them and seek them out together.
- You’ll be able to figure out your problems and pick up new skills along the way as you search for the information you need.
- Overthinking is a form of anxiety to work through, so find ways to take steps in overcoming it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Jon Acuff's new book:
https://acuff.me/

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/43

The last thing Lindsey Vertner remembers is listening to music on the highway. Next thing she knew, she was in a dark room staring at the moon out an unfamiliar window. A nurse would later tell her she was in a wreck where her car flipped multiple times - and that she was pronounced brain-dead at the scene and later on at the hospital. But a month later, she walked out of there on her own.

Lindsey now has an outlook on life that guides her work as an award-winning strategist, transformational speaker and 3-time Amazon number one bestselling author. Since her mindset is what helped her through, she’s devoted to teaching female entrepreneurs and leaders how to master their mindset, as well as create a first-class life full of purpose, fulfillment, and happiness. Lindsey is also the cofounder of The Unleashed Woman, a nonprofit organization that uplifts women of all backgrounds through national empowerment and networking events.

This week she discusses how to begin doing good for your business and how it starts with the 3 pillars of self, which affect everything in your lives and business. She also discusses intention and using your unique skills to reach your goals.

Topics in this episode:
- How to reach goals
- Mastering your mindset
- Self-care
- Self-discipline
- The power of affirmations
- Eliminating self-limiting beliefs

Takeaways from this episode:
- Mastering your mindset to go from victim to victor begins with casting off self-limiting beliefs and embracing self-care.
- Self-care is not selfish. If we aren’t putting ourselves first, it leads down a path of deterioration of emotional and mental health, in turn overflowing into our physical health.
- We have time for the things that we decide to make time for. If there’s a will, there’s a way.
- To practice self-discipline in work, try conducting a time audit. Learn where you most of your time is spent during the day - are you doing everything for everyone else?
- If we don't believe that we deserve all of the things that we truly desire, then we will continue to never achieve them. Our brains don't know fact from fiction until we tell it what's fact and what's fiction.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
https://theunleashedwoman.net/
http://bit.ly/takeactiondownload
www.lindseyvertner.com/products + discount code GoodOffice

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/42

We hear about how entrepreneurs start their small businesses and the big moment they “make it” – but what about the growing pains along the way? Corporate gifting company Marie Mae has tripled in size over the past year, during which its founder Jillian Ryan has had to steer a small yet growing team through supply chain issues during a pandemic. Jillian describes how they’ve navigated the challenges that accompany a growing business, and how it hit fever-pitch during the historic Texas snowstorm in February 2021. When operations hit a standstill, the Marie Mae team had to get scrappy and creative to deliver their biggest box order yet.

Though it wasn’t always glamorous, they learned some key takeaways from the experience to help any business through challenges. In this kickoff of “the messy middle” series, Jillian shows how it’s possible to do business ethically and hold on to “good office values,” even when times get tough.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Challenges in running a small business
- Expecting the unexpected
- Supply chain issues
- Scaling your business
- How to lead a team in times of uncertainty

Takeaways from this episode:
- When fluke events happen while your growing business, you can expect things to break along the way. Be sure to rebuild it to scale so it’ll work better in the future.
- Growing a business is messy. Every business owner goes through challenges on a weekly, even daily, basis.
- Be sure to evaluate what works and what doesn’t after you’ve put out your fires, and be able to put a process in place for the next time it happens.
- To successfully overcome challenges, both perseverance and the ability to laugh with your team is key. Never give up, and create an environment to keep spirits high.
- Strike a balance when communicating with your client. If you speak with them about an issue, come with a recommendation or solution.

To book a free strategy session with Jillian:
https://mariemae.com/consulting

To learn more about Marie Mae :
https://mariemae.com/

To learn more about The Good Office Podcast:
www.thegoodofficepodcast.com

For show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/41