Elicia Putnam takes 16 years of brand agency experience and brings it to the female solopreneur realm with affordable and timely websites. Her catchy of tagline of websites for less than $500 in less than 5 days is enough to catch interest in Brand Genie, a new startup making a splash with solopreneurs.

Branding is no longer the sole domain of the companies with big budgets. With Brand Genie, branding is fun, easy, and affordable. Our motto is that We Believe In Brands – and that everyone should have access to the power of a beautifully crafted brand. In particular, they should have a website that uniquely and authentically expresses who they are. By working with Brand Genie, women business owners are given wings to fly.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Elicia and I discuss the importance of “pretty” in the branding world

* She tells her origin story and she moved from a 40K minimum client investment branding agency to a small startup

* How to balance branding foundations and “pretty” ideas

* Brand Genie’s process of deciphering their client’s brand

* Why your origin story draws in the best clients for you and builds your KLT factor

* Elicia tells a story about why it’s important to ensure your brand is what YOU want

QUOTABLES:

“People make choices based on reason, but they only take action on emotion.” – @brandgeniemagicClick To Tweet

“People love stories!” – @brandgeniemagicClick To Tweet

 

MORE ON ELICIA:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* Traction: Get a grip on your business

* The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO’s Strategies for Defeating the Devil’s Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization

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Gavin Zuchlinski is the founder of Acuity Scheduling, the slickest way for businesses to automate and manage their appointments online, allowing clients to schedule themselves. Gavin is a selfprofessed tech geek and espresso maniac (a word he does not used lightly) who wholeheartedly

believes in that business should be fun.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Gavin tells how began Acuity Scheduling for his mother

* We discuss the balance of engineering and snarkiness that makes up Acuity’s interface

* How being the boss means you get to set the culture

* Gavin’s choice of copywriter started as his client: proof that being nice to customer support is lucrative!

* Why seeing customer support as human is the key to being both fun and service-oriented

* Personal ads as resumes and how Gavin’s team is super fun because of it

* How Gavin trains a remote team

QUOTABLES:

“It’s not just business as usual, we make it fun.” – @AcuitySchedulinClick To Tweet

“I love when I get to meet a client in person! It warms the cockles of my heart.” – @AcuitySchedulinClick To Tweet

“You don’t have to be hilarious but you do have show you love life.” – @AcuitySchedulinClick To Tweet

 

MORE ON Gavin:

Website | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* Middle Finger Project

* Creativity, Inc. about Pixar

* Try Acuity‘s extended trial

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Stacey Brown Randall has one focus in life. To help business owners avoid business failure. She knows – she’s been there, done that and has the t-shirt.

What Stacey learned when her first business failed – and through years of researching successful business owners – is now what is making all the difference with her current business’ success. And she is sharing all of her secrets.

Her online programs and live coaching provide a blueprint to follow to take control of your referrals, your client experience, your business and your days. As a business growth accelerator, Stacey focuses on helping solo-preneurs and small business owners make more money and find more time.

She is a three-time entrepreneur, certified productivity and time efficiency coach, has a background in sales and marketing, is an adjunct professor, and aspiring author.

Stacey received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids, an 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. She and her husband also welcomed the newest member to their family a year ago as they have the privilege of raising their 8-year-old nephew.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Stacy tells us the story of how she got started in business coaching and how she discovered the power of referrals in business.

* She discusses why she is a gatherer not a hunter when it comes to cultivating new business

* Stacy talks about the three “Platinum ReferralPrinciples” that can’t be disregarded to build your business.

* She describes her 3 Platinum Principles which is 1)Must be all about them, 2)Must be authentic to you, 3) Must keep you top of mind.

* Why you cannot confuse marketing, branding or promotion with referrals.

* She discusses why it’s so important to create touch points, experiences and moments that keep you top of mind.

* Stacy mentions that a business sustained by referrals makes more money, has more time and saves more money.

QUOTABLES:

“Referrals only come from relationships.” – @staceybrandallClick To Tweet

“If people trust you, they are willing to connect you to people they know.” – @staceybrandallClick To Tweet

MORE ON STACY:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* 4 Reasons Why You Don’t Get Referrals – Free Download

* The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

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Both the Know, Like & Trust Show podcast and Britney’s brand strategy company are exploring the theme of “Make It Pretty” this December. Britney explores the idea of what pretty means to different people and how entrepreneurs can use that in their businesses to showcase their strengths and find their own aesthetic.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

I was inspired by my own decision years ago to not let clients take the enjoyment out of December for me.

*

Whatever your version of pretty is–it’s correct.

*

Setting up boundaries is the best thing you can do for your business.

*

Connection is the best way to conquer overwhelm, especially this month.

*

What inspires me doesn’t need to inspire you; we’re allowed to be different!

QUOTABLES:

My version of pretty doesn’t have to be your version of pretty. Make it yours!Click To Tweet

Start building the connections you need for next year, now.Click To Tweet

You can let make it pretty be whatever you want it to be.Click To Tweet

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Music by Michael De La Torre. Thanks, Mikey!

Stephen Christopher is the founder of Seequs Digital Marketing, a web marketing firm designed to help business owners achieve results they never thought possible.  Before starting Seequs, Stephen started and ran several other award winning businesses.  One of which was a mortgage company from 2004 – 2008.  With the crash of the mortgage industry in 2008, he learned what its like to go from profitable to over $100,000 in debt overnight.

From this failure he learned more about business than any school or program could ever teach.  Since then he has become an avid student of personal and business development and his number one focus is helping businesses thrive. The primary platform Stephen uses to add extreme value to businesses is the online strategy and service that his agency, Seequs, provides.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

Stephen tells us why he left the corporate world and went into business for himself.

*

He talks about what company culture means to him and how it helps people become more fulfilled.

*

Stephen discusses what his “why” is and how helping people is so important to him.

*

He tells us how by changing what his company shows on social media, he has been able to produce better engagement and attracts customers that share the same mindset and values.

* Stephen talks more about social media content and timing and how knowing your audience and having the proper timing is so essential in business today.

QUOTABLES:

“Every business owners doesn’t have the same “why” as me. ” – @StephenMChrisClick To Tweet

 

MORE ON STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* John Maxwell

* The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran

* The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

* You 2 by Price Pritchett

* Business Revolution Podcast with Stephen Christopher

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Parisjat discovered a new app in May of 2015 called Periscope which allows you to do live video streaming from your phone . Little did she know that this would change her life for the better and allow her to build two brand new brands from zero social media presence . She not only helps entrepreneurs navigate through social media but also created and designed a new transformational 6 week program that includes workouts, nutrition tips and motivation for the brain and body.

At age 45, she has completely transformed her life from being a stay at home mom to a Social Media Speaker, a Crossfit Athlete and training for American Ninja Warrior. If she can do it, anyone can. But it starts with being authentic to who you are.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Parisjat explains that you really don’t need to be on all social media platforms, just pick the one or two you are good at and go for it.

* She mentions how she applies the same principles of gaining confidence with her social media clients and her workout clients.

Parisjat tells us what her inspiration was for her program “Find Your Inner Ninja” and why it’s so important in her life.

She describes how she came to “find herself” in her 40’s and why she feels that this is the best time of her life.

Parisjat shares that focusing on her end results keeps her motivated to do what she is doing now.

She tells us of her current goals to qualify for the Crossfit Games and she wants to be an American Ninja Warrior.

Parisjat talks about how she uses a workout journal to cope with frustration and disappointment in her life.

She tells us how her son’s health issues impacted  her family life and how eating whole foods has changed their health and their lives.

She describes how she overcame the resistance of buying and preparation of food and by weekly meal planning.

Parisjat tells us how important social media can be for your business and how to be your true self to shine the most.

QUOTABLES:

“No one starts off fantastic at anything.” – @parisjatumscheiClick To Tweet

“It’s going to be uncomfortable, but you just got to keep going and then you will see the success.” – @parisjatumscheiClick To Tweet

“You can’t give up too soon.” – @parisjatumscheiClick To Tweet

“You have to be your true self in social media.” – @parisjatumscheiClick To Tweet

“Now is your time to do what you want to do.” – @parisjatumschei

Dr. Sharon Livingston is founder and president of The Livingston Group for Marketing, Inc., a brand marketing research company that implements projective techniques to discover how brands and people interact. Dr. Sharon is also the author of “Get Lost Girlfriend: How I Found Myself When My Best Friend Dumped Me”, a best seller in the Grief and Loss category on Amazon.

With Dr. Sharon’s experience in NLP, hypnosis and other psychological techniques she brings a wealth of experience and data to branding. She’ll teach us how bring the brand archetypes she used with Fortune 500 companies to the average small business so they can enrich their brands.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* How Dr. Sharon took her nosy bent and turned it into a profession

* She references some of the powerful and large brands she’s worked with, including Band-Aid

* Dr. Sharon explains laddering up to the emotional benefits of a product or brand

* Explaining the reason for focus groups with a case study

* Dr. Sharon talks about treating yourself like a brand

* Why you say features and functional benefits out loud, but don’t verbally say the emotional benefits

* Using inner strengths to help grow our other areas

QUOTABLES:

“What you have to do is treat yourself like a brand.” – @sharonlivingstnClick To Tweet

“If a concept doesn’t get at least an 8 [out of 10], it’s going to fail.” – @sharonlivingstnClick To Tweet

“Rather than asking what is it, ask ‘what might it be?'” – @sharonlivingstnClick To Tweet

 

MORE ON Dr. Sharon:

Website | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* The Success Principals by Jack Canfield

* Get Lost Girlfriend

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Heather Ann Havenwood, CEO of Havenwood Worldwide, LLC and Chief Sexy Boss, is a serial entrepreneur and is regarded as a top authority on internet marketing, business strategies and marketing. Since marketing her first online business in 1999, bringing together clients and personal coaches, she has played an active role in the online marketing world since before most even had a home computer.

Heather Ann currently is the Author of…Sexy Boss: How the empowerment of women is changing the Rule Book for sex, money and success and The Game of Dating and How to Play it: A rule book for divorced men stepping back into the game. Heather Ann Havenwood is smart, sexy, savvy and now stepping out from behind the curtain to educate, enlighten and empower women entrepreneurs to grow or start an online business and live a fearless and fulfilled life.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Heather’s beginning as a “second in command” role creating a million-dollar business

* How Heather’s mindset around what a successful person looked like affected her life

* The beginning of her life as a sexy boss owning her feminine power

* Heather’s definition of a sexy boss

* We take a brief break to define a charismatic, dapper man versus a cute man

* Questioning yourself as an entrepreneur can lead to a big breakthrough

* The fixer entrepreneur and why they don’t work well in the corporate world

* How Heather put herself in the right surrounding to flourish with the power of association

* Writing her book in 90 days by taking action

* The long-lasting reach of Cinderella syndrome

* How Heather stepped into her own to actually be the brand of Sexy Boss

* The difference between a product brand and a personal brand

* Heather asks the listeners for their input on Sexy Boss Fitness

QUOTABLES:

“Women, own your power because you’re way more powerful than you think you are.” – @hhavenwoodClick To Tweet

“A sexy boss owns all areas of her life.” – @hhavenwoodClick To Tweet

“Does this feed my confusion or strengthen my clarity?” – @hhavenwoodClick To Tweet

“When you’re the voice, the face, the personal brand, you’ve got to be on target.” – @hhavenwoodClick To Tweet

 

MORE ON Heather Ann:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Using current national companies as case studies, Britney details the perils of not crafting your brand and why you are worthy of a personal brand exactly as you are today.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* Case studies on how everyone already has a personal brand and how to simply shape it.

* The dangers of not crafting your own brand

* Brand missteps in the news with Delta Airlines and Sprint

* Why overcoming bad perception is harder than initially shaping your reputation

* How to participate in shaping your brand every day

* A quick summary on the “you are enough” thought process

* Acknowledging what you bring to the table makes you a badass

* How once you become aware of your personal brand, you can’t unknow it

QUOTABLES:

Your personal brand already exists, so you may as well shape it.Click To Tweet

Visibility is your commitment to being seen in a real way.Click To Tweet

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* Social Media Simple Start Waitlist

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SPONSORED BY:

The Ignite Your Brand Quickfire Challenge

Music by Michael De La Torre. Thanks, Mikey! My photo by the talented Stark Photography.

Britney covers the basic tenets of branding for those existing solely online or looking to build their online presence.

 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

* What is necessary and what isn’t necessary for the average solopreneur

* The paradox between wanting to see authenticity in others but not offering it ourselves

* My personal story about the sober reality of the noise on social media

* Only real and honest stories will cut through the social media noise in today’s world

* Why emulation leads to comparing your current to someone else’s best

* Your combination of skills + value is your brand and defines your brandscape

* How being vulnerable allows you to work with clients that fully trust you

* Why you can’t have impact without being seen

* Impact: you’ll never know what ripples you set forth into the world unless you try

* Why gaining control of your social media time increases your visibility

* Your on-brand social media presence contributes to you being the go-to expert in your niche

QUOTABLES:

Until you are willing to put something real & honest of yourself, you’re untrustworthy.Click To Tweet

Visibility is your commitment to being seen in a real way.Click To Tweet

When you truly show yourself, you move into that courageous category others admire.Click To Tweet

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

* Social Media Simple Start Waitlist

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SPONSORED BY: