The Road to Seven

“How much do we need to do in order to feel like we are enough? And why do so many of us feel like we’re not enough?”

-Rachel Simmons

Do you struggle with feeling that you’re never enough? Do you worry that your achievements never quite meet the expectations of those around you?

My guest Rachel Simmons is an expert when it comes to the pressures that women put on ourselves. She is the author of Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, which teaches girls self-compassion as an alternative to self-criticism, how to navigate toxic elements of social media, and how to manage overthinking—important skills that hold as much value for adults as they do for young women!

In this conversation, we explore the culture of effortless perfectionism that so many of us live in, the expectations that we feel compelled to live up to, and how to break free.

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

• The invisible barriers that contribute to the gender gap in senior leadership roles — and why women often misunderstand them
• Why girls today are working a ‘second shift’ on social media and how this impacts them in other areas
• Why politicizing our realities can help to empower ourselves and the young women around us

About Guest: Rachel Simmons is a New York Times bestselling author. As a leadership development expert and coach, Rachel helps people build their resilience, amplify their voices, and own their own courage. She serves on the faculty of the Google School for Leaders, is an associate with Cultivating Leadership, and co-founded the national nonprofit Girls Leadership.
  

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

03:05  Meet Rachel Simmons

05:16  Political consciousness & gender gap

08:01  Girls, anxiety & social media 

09:31 “Culture of effortless perfectionism”

12:47  Sharing our realities

16:03  Tips for female executives

19:39  Self worth

24:28  Rachel’s business story

27:34  HBR story

29:06  What she knows now & what’s next

Links:‌ ‌

Rachel Simmons
Rachel's Book
Facebook

IG: @racheljsimmons 

Celeste Barber

IG: @celestebarber 

The Culture Code

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

Stay Connected

Subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

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 grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business! Click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” 

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“Women use their money for good. We play at the intersection of philanthropy and profit.”

-Shelagh Cummins

What would happen if female-owned businesses were financed at the same rate as those owned by men? While women make up the majority of all entrepreneurs, we are only granted 16% of business loans, accessing a total of just 4% of all lending capital. This despite the fact that investing in women entrepreneurs has been shown to have amazing benefits for not only their communities, but also for the investors that chose to believe in them!

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity. This is a mission that I have been working toward in my own business through the creation of the Road to Seven Capital Access Program, which is rewriting the rules when it comes to capital access by providing microloans to women business owners.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, this episode explores the incredible global impact that is created when we invest in women entrepreneurs!

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

• How the Capital Access Program has revamped the traditional loan application and approval process
• What it means to run a microbusiness — and why these businesses are important!
• What women do with the money they earn and how they support their hidden microcosm

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

01:58  About the Road to Seven

03:00  Loan processes

04:06  Microbusinesses

05:38  Mentor call story

08:08  The bootstrapping trap

09:45  Hidden microcosm

12:32  Social good

15:12  Biases about women entrepreneurs

18:11  Conclusion

Links:‌

International Women’s Day

https://www.internationalwomensday.com

Capital Access Program

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program

Scale

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/scale

My TEDx Talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/shelagh_cummins_the_hidden_microcosm_of_women_entrepreneurs

Podcast support

https://theultimatecreative.com

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

https://shelaghcummins.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!

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Twitter: @shelaghcummins

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“Sit with your bookkeeper or accountant, and look at what’s feasible for you to borrow, vs. where that investment is going to go.”

- Shelagh Cummins

Is your business loan-ready? Growing and scaling successfully requires that you make key investments into your business. Seeking a business loan can feel intimidating — but you may find that the process feels a lot more comfortable when you take some time to prepare!

For example, creating a relationship with your potential lender or lending institution beforehand will not only help you feel more confident in asking, but will help the lender feel more comfortable with the idea of giving you a loan.

In this episode, you will learn how to prepare your business for your loan application, from keeping your books in order to ensuring that your credit scores are kept separate. If getting a business loan is on your To Do List for this year, then grab a pen and a notebook, and press play!

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

• What you should be doing in your business during the months leading up to your loan application 
• How to create a basic business plan 
• Online tools that you can use to keep your financials organized and generate necessary reports  

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:53  Intro

02:02  Have your financials in order

04:59  Look at what you’ve been given

05:49  Know your credit score

07:00  Taxes & loans

08:23  Have a business plan

09:08  Personal collateral

11:07  What you can afford to borrow  

13:27  Different types of loans

14:34  Interest rates

19:45  Conclusion

Links:‌ ‌

Capital Access Program

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program 

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/investors 

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

https://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  

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“Everything that I can do to build rapport is beneficial for me, so we don’t have a miscommunication.”

- Emily Chung

When you have a limited amount of time with a customer, you must be able to share information efficiently. My guest for this episode has a secret weapon that helps her do exactly that — and she’s happy to share!

Emily Chung is a licenced Automotive Service Technician and the owner of AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop that offers a less intimidating auto repair experience, with non-judgmental and empowering service from reputable mechanics.

(You may remember Emily from a past episode, where we talked about her experiences in the male-dominated automotive industry and the power of building a values-driven business!).

In this episode, we dive into the amazing tool that Emily uses within her business to help her to communicate with her customers more effectively!

You’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The benefits of building rapport — and the personality profile that helps build it quickly
• How the AutoNiche is able to offer a consistent communication style adapted to each customer
• How to write copy that appeals to all members of your audience

About Guest: Emily Chung owns and operates AutoNiche, an auto repair shop in Markham. She is a licensed Automotive Service Technician and teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College while completing her Executive MBA. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario and is a proud mom of two teen boys.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:53  Intro

01:42  Meet Emily Chung

04:08  Why build rapport?

07:01  DISC profile

10:58  How it works

15:41  Opposite types

16:25  Communicating through copy

17:49  Closing the deal

20:24  Why DISC?

22:24  Authenticity

24:45  Communicating with kids

26:18  High-stakes conversations

Links:‌

Emily Chung

https://autoniche.ca

https://www.facebook.com/AutoNiche

Twitter: @autonicheinc

Instagram: @autonicheinc

Road to Seven Podcast - Niching Down In The Auto Industry with Emily Chung

 Personality Types Quadrant Sheet HERE

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

https://theroadtoseven.com

Stay Connected

Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

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 grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business! Click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“Your business is going to be 10x stronger when you surround yourself with amazing people.”

- Shelagh Cummins

Your customers. Your team members. Your suppliers. Your audience. Your network. As you grow and scale your business, you will always be surrounded by people whom you rely on and people who rely on you. Learning how to love on the people in your business and make them feel appreciated is an important and often underlooked part of becoming a successful business owner. People are one of the most valuable assets of your business and it’s important to know how to treat them well!

This week’s episode of the Road to Seven is all about loving on your team members, loving on your community, and loving on the main ticket to your success — YOU!

Tune in to learn how to hire team members based on what your company truly needs (rather than what you think you can afford), how to build an emotional connection with the people who are buying from you, and why you need to be patient when taking empowered action toward your bigger vision!

You’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why it is SO important that you create the time and space to celebrate your own success! 
• The top ways that you may be making your team feel unloved — and how to help them feel engaged, appreciated, and enthusiastic!
• The problem with choosing to tolerate anything less than you deserve when it comes to revenue, flexibility, time freedom, and following your passion  

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

02:37  Loving on you

03:57  The problem with ‘tolerating’

05:16  My core gifts story

07:34  Stepping into empowered action

08:37  Hiring based on strategy

09:55  Loving on your team members

12:02  Loving on your community

14:18  Word-of-mouth marketing

15:38  Conclusion

 ‌

Links:‌ ‌

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

https://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 

“For the majority of entrepreneurs, we aren’t running someone else’s playbook — we’re writing the playbook.”

- Miranda Lievers

Miranda Lievers spends her time exploring the exciting possibilities relating to small business and technology. She is a co-founder & COO of Thinkific, an innovative all-in-one software platform that helps thought leaders create, market, and sell online courses and memberships with ease.

In 2021, she and her team took Thinkific public, furthering the company's mission to make it simple for entrepreneurs and established businesses of any size to scale and generate revenue by teaching what they know.

In this episode, Miranda shares the challenges that she faced and the insights that she discovered while building a successful tech business, including how Thinkific has changed since going public, how the business seeks valuable feedback from their customer base, and how they are preparing for the recession.

You won’t want to miss it!

Listen now to discover:‌ ‌

• How Miranda began gaining real traction for Thinkific within a loud marketplace 
• Why the founders chose the path to IPO and how they funded their growth
• What it means to be in the ‘Messy Middle’ of your business growth — and the benefit of embracing your doubt!

About Guest: Miranda Lievers is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur devoted to the intersection of small business and technology. As co-founder & COO of Thinkific, she's helped over 50,000 business owners grow their businesses with online courses and learning products while educating tens of millions of students around the globe. When not growing Thinkific, she's an active writer, mentor for women in business, and mom.
  

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:53  Intro

01:45  Meet Miranda Lievers

05:21  Gaining traction in the marketplace

07:17  Listening to customers

10:58  Making changes based on feedback

15:54  Going to IPO

20:19  After the IPO

22:13  The Messy Middle

25:11  Dealing with tough times

28:53  What she knows now

30:08  Recession & what’s next

 ‌

Links:‌

Miranda Lievers

https://mirandalievers.com

https://www.thinkific.com

Instagram: @mirandalievers

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

https://theroadtoseven.com

Stay Connected 

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

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 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

“If we can see the impact and believe in women entrepreneurs… then I think we’re going to rewrite history in a way that’s very powerful.”

- Shelagh Cummins

As you embark on your growth journey and work toward your biggest and boldest goals, being able to access the capital you need in order to invest in your business is crucial! From making a key hire to purchasing machinery to upleveling your advertising, your continued growth requires strategic investment — and getting that cash into your your hands can often feel almost impossible.

While women make up 47% of all entrepreneurs, we only receive 16% of all business loans. Why is it still so challenging for women business owners to access capital? Women often own smaller businesses, which can face insurmountable hurdles when seeking loans from banks. When you go in to meet with a Loans Officer, there is a good chance that they are not looking at your business through a lens that allows them to truly see the value, the impact, and the profit that is possible.

In this episode, I explore the pros and cons and do’s and don’ts of a range of funding options, including banks, credit cards, retirement savings, family, and microlending.

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

• The bias that exists against smaller businesses, including micro-businesses, and how it can affect you 
• My personal story of seeking a business loan from two different banks — and what you may expect 
• The Road to Seven Capital Access Program and what you need to know before applying!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

03:13  The current capital situation

04:54  Bias against micro-businesses

06:22  Seeking bank loans

09:19  Leveraging savings & retirement plans

10:06  Friends & family

10:55  Credit cards

13:06  Microlending & Capital Access Program

17:16  Mentor program

19:46  Women’s profits

23:10  Join the Lives!

 ‌

Links:‌ ‌

Capital Access Program

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program 

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/investors 

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

https://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

“You’ve got to collect data. You’re not going to collect data in your head. You will only collect data by actually DOING.”

- Salima Valji

Do you sometimes feel that you don’t really have a voice, or that you are unheard? Then you need to meet Salima Valji! Salima is a coach, thought leader, speaker, and advocate for women of colour in the workplace. As the founder and CEO of Unleash Forward, she helps her clients claim their executive presence and speak confidently at the leadership table.

Salima has had an absolutely inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and I am so thrilled to share it in this episode!

During this conversation, we explore how to stop negative emotions like shame or fear from holding you back, how to let your niche find you (rather than the other way around), and why women tend to mute their own voices in so many situations.

You won’t want to miss it!

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

• The path that Salima took to become a highly successful executive coach
• How she reclaimed her presence, leadership, and role after a career setback 
• How she helps other women find their voices at the leadership table 

About Guest: Salima Valji is the CEO and founder of Unleash Forward Inc., a purpose-driven leadership acceleration company that focuses on elevating more women and underrepresented leaders into leadership roles and the boardroom. She is an advocate for women of colour in the workplace and a sought-after speaker, coach, and thought-leader, frequently speaking on topics of advancing women of colour, leadership, and diversity.
  

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

02:39  Meet Salima Valji

05:36  Trigger point, shame & reinvention

09:32  Uniqueness as strength

12:29  Finding your voice

13:20  Why women mute themselves

15:27  Business growth

17:44  Doing the inner work

20:43  Let your niche find you

27:14  What she knows now

28:16  What’s next

30:56  360 story

Links:‌ ‌

Salima Valji

https://unleashforward.com 

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/salimavalji

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

https://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 you are selling and you are desperate for a client, your client can smell it.”

- Shelagh Cummins

Before you spend a ton of money hiring another coach, subscribing to somebody else’s system, or implementing a whole new set of tactics in order to increase your sales, you need to listen to this episode!

I dive into the real reasons why your ideal customers may not be buying your offer at the rate that you would like — and those reasons may not be what you expect.

Listen now to learn how and why your own actions may be inadvertently keeping your sales low and preventing you from building strong relationships with your dream clients.

This episode will encourage you to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a real and unfiltered look at the way that you do business, so grab your pen and notebook and get ready for some honest food for thought.

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

• Why selling from a position of desperation can wind up stacking your customer base with people who are the wrong fit 
• The difference between making a sale for today and building an ongoing relationship
• A real-life case study of exactly how to LOSE a sale — and what could be done differently 

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

02:39  Gym story

05:59  Selling while desperate v. abundant

07:01  Making a sale for today

08:15  Selling in integrity

09:26  Don’t apologize for your prices

11:01  Worth & mindset

12:03  Recap

 ‌

Links:‌ ‌

The Road to Seven #152 - How Will You Achieve Your 2023 Goals? My Tips May Surprise You!

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

https://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  

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“Often, in the arts, you’re actually seen as a sell-out if you’re successful financially or commercially.”

-Naomi Clement

The idea of the “starving artist” is romanticized in our culture. This image of the artist who sacrifices material success and lives on passion and creativity alone is a popular one, but you don’t need to embrace the starving artist story in order to be a successful artist! 

My guest, Naomi Clement, is an incredibly talented, sought-after, and bad-ass potter and creative entrepreneur who helps artists embrace their power as creators, so they can step into the career of their dreams. 

While she had always been drawn to the arts, Naomi resisted becoming a professional artist for a long time, because the starving artist myth led her to believe that she would have to be poor.  She worked in sales and marketing until she realized that her 9-to-5 office job was making her miserable and that pottery was her true passion. 

Now, Naomi is on a mission to challenge the way that society (and artists) value the arts — and to forever debunk the myth of the starving, depressed artist!

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

• The steps Naomi had to move through before embracing her calling as a professonal artist
• How she shifted from making pottery to selling pottery, and built up her customer base and Instagram community
• How she is rewriting the script for the artists she works with

Naomi Clement is a Canadian artist and educator who explores ideas of home and belonging through the powerful lens of functional ceramics. Naomi believes that handmade pottery enriches our lives — one moment and one mug of coffee at a time!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

02:49  Meet Naomi Clement

05:43  Shifting to pottery & entrepreneurship

07:00  From making to selling

10:53  Building an Instagram community

12:44  Becoming a teacher

14:42  Starving artist myth

17:35  Pricing & value

24:13  Finding your voice

25:32  Challenges

29:01  What she knows now

34:12  What’s next

Links:‌

Naomi Clement

https://naomiclement.com

https://www.facebook.com/NaomiClementCeramics

Instagram: @naomikclement

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

https://theroadtoseven.com

Stay Connected

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

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 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