The Road to Seven

“You don’t always see the impact of those shifts right away. Sometimes it takes time for changes to start generating the results that you want them to.”

- Shelagh Cummins

Reaching $1 million in revenue is about much more than just boosting your sales. If building a seven-figure business is part of your vision, you need to be prepared to spend some time, energy, and money — as well as work on some ego and mindset issues.

This episode of The Road to Seven reveals the approach that I took to help one of my clients completely transform her company. This client was looking to increase her sales, but was already at capacity in terms of the number of customers she was able to serve.

Using a very intentional and strategic process designed to help the company scale effectively, I helped her increase her yearly revenue... from $300,000 to over $1 million!

In order to smooth your path to seven figures, you’ll need to examine three key areas of infrastructure in your business and identify potential bottlenecks and strategic improvements.

If you’d like to hear a step-by-step, real world example of how to build a $1 million business, then you’ll want to press play!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The three areas of infrastructure you need to look at when determining what your company must do in order to scale effectively 
• How to highlight the points in your process where you can replace yourself with a new hire or automation 
• What to consider when determining your pricing — and why you need to revisit your strategy regularly 

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:15  Intro

02:23  Company background  

03:11  Pricing for growth & bandwidth

04:46  Process for delivering results

06:19  Hire slow, fire fast 

07:14  Stepping into leadership role  

09:17  Create your rubric

10:32  Case study: leverage points & pricing

12:03  Case study: culture & marketing

14:04  Results

14:59  What does your business need?

16:32  Reach out! 

Links:‌ ‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!  

Instagram: @shelaghcummins  

Twitter: @shelaghcummins  

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins  

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“I’ve always been living an uncaged life. I just didn’t have the career part figured out.”

- Rebecca Tracey

Rebecca Tracey, founder of The Uncaged Life, has built a career that allows her the freedom to live her own uncaged life. 

After sampling a number of short-term gigs, Rebecca trained as a nutritionist and life coach, but found that most of the work she did with her clients was around helping them create businesses and marketing strategies that were aligned with their values. 

So, she made the pivot to business coach.

Now, she helps coaches and online business owners clarify their brand message and uplevel their offers, and has grown her Facebook group to over 14,000 entrepreneurs! (Yes, that is the correct number of zeros!).

In this conversation, Rebecca reveals how The Uncaged Life (and its launching process) has evolved as the business has grown!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How The Uncaged Life has evolved since its launch — and the business model that led it to thrive
• The first revenue-generating hires that Rebecca made
• The biggest sales lessons and mindset shifts that have helped her hone her selling skills

About Rebecca Tracey: Rebecca Tracey is the founder of The Uncaged Life where she works with coaches and online business owners to get clear on their brand message, create packages that sell, and help them get and keep clients (all while working from home with no pants on — living the dream!).
  

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:03  Intro

01:57  Meet Rebecca Tracey

04:39  Sunk cost fallacy & pivoting

06:08  Owning your lane

07:18  The Uncaged evolution

09:14  The Uncaged journey

12:03  Biggest challenges

13:09  Hiring

15:35  Sales lessons

16:41  IG story & follow-ups

18:34  Sell with integrity

20:42  Evolution of launching

27:22  The Uncaged Life

28:55  What she wishes she knew

30:12  What’s next?

Links:‌

Rebecca Tracey

https://theuncagedlife.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheUncagedLife

Twitter: @rebecca_tracey

Instagram: @rebeccatracey

https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Shoe-Dog/Phil-Knight/9781501135927

https://kendrickshope.com

https://mariahcoz.com

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more Road to Seven episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“Those entrepreneurs that are killing it year-over-year are not doing it by flying by the seat of their pants.”

- Shelagh Cummins

I’d like to address a question that I hear far too often from entrepreneurs just getting started on their Road to Seven — and even a few who are well on their way:

“Do I *really* need a business plan?”

The answer, of course, is yes!

An effective business plan will not only give you clarity around your company and what it is that you’re growing, but will also provide a critical path to help you reach your goals — and identify when you’re drifting off-course.

But it does bring up another question: what sort of business plan should you have?

In this episode, I walk you through the two different types of business plans that every single business owner, no matter your industry or stage of growth, needs to have in place in order to grow and scale with greater ease!

Whether or not you already have a plan, you’ll want to check out this episode to learn more about your different plan options — and how each will benefit your business and keep you moving forward with intention.

Let’s get started!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How to determine the fundamentals and positioning of your initial one-page business plan
• How to transform your business plan into a pitch deck that can be used to help you secure funding from investors or banks
• Where to find guidance and resources for your annual strategic planning and plan creation

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:24  Intro

02:20  Business plan types

03:13  One-page business plan

04:43  The fundamentals & positioning

05:16  Solution, model & target market

08:37  Annual strategic planning

10:04  The basis of your process 

11:14  Creating a pitch deck

13:29  Research & due diligence

14:13  Marketing, operations, finances & team

17:12  Risks & executive summary

18:18  Start with the one-page & reach out!

Links:‌

The Revenue Accelerator

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-revenue-accelerator

Annual Strategic Planning workshop

One-page business plan template
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/businessplantemplate 

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more Road to Seven episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!  

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“I thought not only is this a potential business — this could change lives.”

- Connie Stacey

Have you ever come up with a new product idea… but had no idea how to transform it into reality? You’ll want to listen to this episode!

Connie Stacey is the founder and president of Growing Greener Innovations (GGI), an award-winning clean energy solutions company that designs smart batteries and energy storage solutions. She started GGI with a vision: a silent generator that created zero fumes or carbon emissions.

Not only did Connie invent a new product — she invented something that may change the world.

Through her research, Connie realized that a green battery solution could go a long way toward solving the world’s energy poverty crisis. “This could give an opportunity for people in other parts of the world to achieve better equity,” she says. “When you look at access to energy, it is perfectly correlated with economic growth.... If you want to end poverty, you must end energy poverty.”

Listen now to hear Connie’s fascinating story of how she turned an idea into a world-changing reality.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Connie took the leap from being on mat leave to becoming an inventor and founder
• The obstacles Connie faced when seeking funding and how she overcame them
• The unorthodox choice Connie made in terms of manufacturing — and how it paid off

About Connie Stacey: Connie Stacey is the founder and president of Growing Greener Innovations, Inc. She has over 20 years of experience in the IT/computer programming sectors.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04  Intro

02:53  Meet Connie Stacey

04:00  Spark of inspiration

08:24  From mat leave to founder

10:41  Creating the prototype

12:21  3 principles & approach

15:43  Mistakes entrepreneurs make

16:23  Funding & manufacturing

22:58  Awards & start-up support

28:14  Roadblocks

30:42  What she wishes she knew

34:00  What’s next?

Links:‌

Connie Stacey

https://grengine.com

https://ca.linkedin.com/company/growing-greener-innovations

Instagram: @growinggreenerinnovations

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

 You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!  

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins<

“There’s a very fine line for me between work and not-work… I literally just went downhill and slipped into burnout.”

- Shelagh Cummins

You’ve heard of writer’s block. But have you ever experienced a block when trying to achieve a goal in your business?

If you’ve ever tried to work toward a goal in your business, big or small, but just couldn’t seem to make it happen.... then you’ll want to listen to this episode of The Road to Seven!

If you’re experiencing a block, you may find yourself unable to move forward in your business for days, weeks, or even months. You can think of it as losing your mojo.

Blocks can pop up during times of burnout or near-burnout, when you’ve been pushing yourself too hard or not taking enough time to relax and reflect. I experienced my own burnout shortly after the pandemic hit, when I doubled my services in order to hold onto my clients and provide them with much-needed support. 

But even after slowing back down, closing some programs, and making space, I found that I was still unable to step back into the mindset I needed to have in order to make moves in my business.

In other words, I still hadn’t regained my mojo.

Listen now to find out how I healed my burnout, got over my block, and wound up creating my biggest offer ever!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How the pandemic’s economic effects on my family pushed me into a level of work that was not sustainable  
• How I got back in alignment with myself and my deeper needs, in order to push through my block 
• Why silence is your secret weapon for reconnecting with your inner self

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

01:21  Momentum program

02:06  My own block story

04:50  How I gave myself space

06:07  Why I doubled my services

07:15  How slowing down helped

08:17  Slowing down even more

10:36  Power of silence & coaching

11:39  Invest energy in rest

13:52  Authenticity

14:46  What my block was

15:56  Take care of yourself

Links:‌ ‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

   ‌

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!  

Instagram: @shelaghcummins  

Twitter: @shelaghcummins  

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins  

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“When it comes to your business, your cash flow is Queen.”

- Shelagh Cummins

I have a question for you: do you know how to price your goods and services so that you’re in a position to scale your company effectively?

If you said no, don’t worry. You aren’t alone! Many entrepreneurs struggle when it comes to figuring out how to best price their offers — especially during the start-up stage. But ensuring that you have adequate cash flow is absolutely crucial to being able to grow and scale your business!

A company that lacks cash flow is going to find themselves in big trouble, sooner rather than later!

If you’re seeking the recipe for entrepreneurial success, you’re going to need three major ingredients: time, energy, and money.

This episode of The Road to Seven is all about ensuring that you have plenty of that final ingredient!

Tune in to learn about variable v. fixed costs, contribution margins, sunk costs, and leverage points — what they are and what they mean for your business!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The differences between micro pricing and macro pricing — and what to keep in mind when determining your costs
• Why package creation is so vital to moving along the path to growth
• How your money mindset influences your approach to pricing

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

01:22  Why I love pricing

01:50  Micro v macro pricing

03:44  Package creation + money mindset

04:49  Variable v. fixed costs

06:40  Contribution margins

08:20  Sunk costs & leverage points

09:30  Working with your profits

10:48  Your minimum rate

12:28  Reach out!

 ‌

Links:‌ ‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

   ‌

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!  

Instagram: @shelaghcummins  

Twitter: @shelaghcummins  

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins  

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins  

“I’m kind of a go-set-ready kind of person, like let’s just do this thing and see what happens!”

- Abbey Ashley

What would happen if you let go of your self-doubt and built your business fearlessly?

We can look to Abbey Ashley as a perfect example!

Abbey started her own virtual assistant hustle in 2015 with zero business training, and doubled the salary she’d been earning from her full-time corporate job within just 30 days ...while working only 20 hours per week!

She launched The Virtual Savvy, a business that helps aspiring VAs launch and grow their own at-home business from scratch. The Virtual Savvy now earns Abbey multiple-7-figures a year, allowing her to support her family while doing work that she loves!

Abbey is brilliant when it comes to outside-the-box networking. Listen now to learn her unique strategies for building a fulfilling and successful online business! She helps aspiring small business owners launch and grow their VA businesses and experience new freedom and flexibility.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The genius tactic Abbey used to spark an amazing business relationship with her favourite influencer
• How to set pricing that takes into account all of your expenses, including payroll
• How Abbey successfully made the shift to selling online courses

Highlights:‌

01:11  Meet Abbey Ashley

04:57  Abbey’s background

06:25  Innovative proposal story

09:47  Finding ideal clients

12:22  Working with a team

19:18  Lead generation

23:35  Challenges

25:35  What she wishes she knew

27:58  What’s next?

Links:‌

Abbey Ashley

https://www.thevirtualsavvy.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheVirtualSavvy

Instagram: @thevirtualsavvy

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“At the root of all these issues, in my view… it’s really just a lack of capital.”

-Nathalie Molina Niño

Women start the majority of small businesses in the United States. But they don’t have the easiest time receiving funding from investors.

Nathalie Molina Niño is a building capital investor and former tech entrepreneur who wants to bridge that gap!

“There truly are a lot of other ways that you can go when it comes to financing your company. VC is one, and it’s a viable one, but it’s a niche and it’s inappropriate for most companies,” Nathalie says. “It’s a difficult way to finance a company because you’re ultimately giving away control of your company, and you’re giving away control to a group of people who have short-term goals.”

In this conversation, we discuss the gender bias in venture capital, the alternative funding sources available, and the Road to Seven Capital Access Program, which helps microbusinesses access the funds they need to grow!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• Why you should consider looking beyond VC when seeking investors
• How to be prepared when you’re ready to seek funding
• How you can benefit from outside-the-box thinking like merging with your competition

About Nathalie Molina Niño: Nathalie Molina Niño is the Managing Director at Known Holdings, an investor, author, educator, and retired global tech entrepreneur. She co-founded the Builder Capitalist trade organization. She wrote Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs. She serves as advisor and partner to a number of organizations.

Highlights:‌

00:01  Intro

04:12  Meet Nathalie Molina Niño

05:06  How she got started

09:29  Looking beyond VC investment

12:33  Investor expectation imbalance

16:56  Gender disparity in financing

19:57  Applying for funding

23:33  Biggest challenge

25:28  The Great Reset & Covid

28:40  What she wishes she knew

30:49  What’s next?

Links:‌

Nathalie Molina Niño

http://leapfroghacks.com

Instagram: @nathaliemolinanino

Twitter: @NathalieMolina

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

   ‌

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins<

“I truly believe that the engine of our economy is business owners.”

- Colleen O'Connell-Campbell

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is used to being the only woman in the room, she understands the challenges that women entrepreneurs often face. She’s also on a mission to double the numbers of self-made millionaires in Canada, so you’ll definitely want to hear her advice for entrepreneurs on the road to seven and give her a follow!

Despite being a success in her field, Colleen still regularly experiences microaggressions. “Only about 15-16% of wealth advisors (in Canada at least) in a role like mine are women, so what does that say?” Colleen says.

This interview is full of valuable lessons on building confidence in male-dominated fields, creating an authentic presence online, and developing an effective exit strategy for your business.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Colleen builds her confidence as the only woman at the table
• The biggest mistakes business owners make when building a company they intend to eventually sell
• The importance of speaking openly about mental health issues and engaging in self care 

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is the lead of O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC-Dominion Securities. She specializes in building financial plans that optimize how entrepreneurs, self-made millionaires, and wealthy families spend, save, and share their wealth.

Highlights:‌

00:01  Intro

02:50  Meet Colleen O'Connell-Campbell

09:46  Microaggressions

12:47  Cadet story

14:04  Building confidence

15:23  Mental health

18:47  “Running reflections”

21:30  Being real online

23:12  Biggest business-building mistakes

25:30  Build to sell

31:39  What’s next?

Links:‌

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell

http://www.colleenoconnellcampbell.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenoconnellcampbell

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/im-a-millionaire-so-now-what-colleen-RhZN7D8nfML

Twitter: @colleenherself

https://builttosell.com

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“When somebody approaches [your] website, will they see themselves as a customer?”

- Dee Boswell-Buck

We’re doing something a little bit different today — this episode of The Road to Seven is co-hosted by Dee Boswell-Buck, digital marketing expert and host of the Strategize Your Business Online podcast! Dee helps her clients become more visible online and connect with their ideal clients strategically and confidently.

This episode is all about the benefits of creating diverse marketing within everything your business does — and shares the most effective strategies for connecting with your audience inclusively.

The visuals on your website are a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to diverse marketing. It’s important to be intentional when choosing your photos. “When somebody gets to your website and they need you, they see women who are in their twenties and thirties, and they’re very slim and they are all one race,” Dee explains. “I probably would have reached out to you a lot more quickly if I saw myself on your website.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• What you gain from creating a diverse marketing experience for your audience
• Practical, actionable tips for creating diverse marketing
• The right way to plan an inclusive business conference

Dee Boswell-Buck creates digital marketing strategies and implements plans that allow business owners to ​connect with their target audience in the online space.

Highlights:‌

00:01  Intro

01:20  Meet Dee Boswell-Buck

02:14  Why is diverse marketing important?

03:15  How do you market inclusively?

06:00  Testimonials & speakers

10:30  Board membership

13:45  Practical marketing tips

16:09  Maintain an inclusive community

17:52  Be intentional

Links:‌ ‌

Dee Boswell-Buck

https://www.deeboswellbuck.com

https://www.deeboswellbuck.com/podcast-strategize-your-business-online

https://www.facebook.com/DeeBoswellBuck

Instagram: @deeboswell_buck

Twitter: @deeboswellbuck

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins