The Self-Employed Life

In this episode of The Self-Employed Life, I have the privilege of speaking with Marcia Dawood, author of Do Good While Doing Well, about the transformative world of angel investing. Marcia provides a comprehensive overview of what angel investing entails and explores its potential profitability for businesses. She offers insightful perspectives on how this investment approach can drive meaningful change in the world.

We delve into essential questions, including:

• What exactly is angel investing?

• Can everyday individuals participate in it?

• What motivates those who pursue this type of investing?

Join us for an engaging conversation filled with expert advice and actionable takeaways from one of the leading voices in the field.

Marcia Dawood is an early-stage investor who serves on the Securities and exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital, a member of Golden Seeds, and the chair emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a global professional society for angel investors. She is also an associate producer on the award-winning documentary Show Her the Money.

A TEDxspeaker and the host of The Angel Next Door podcast, Marcia walks the talk and holds investments in over fify early-stage companies and funds. She is committed to expanding support for diverse companies that overcome the world’s biggest problems and accelerate positive change. She is passionate about bridging the gap from early-stage inception to building thriving profitable companies.

She is a founding member and chair of the ACA’s Growing Womans’ Capital Group, which is building syndication and collaboration among US investment groups focused on women-led companies. She is also a co-author of the book You Can, You Will, which was an Amazon bestseller in thirty-nine categories in four countries. Prior to that, Marica worked in sales, marketing, and operations for Kaplan Education for over sixteen years. Marcia received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. Marcai currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, Izzy, and she feels lucky to be the stepmom to three amazing sons.

Guest Contact –

• Book - Do Good While Doing Well

• Website

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

There are several ways that the success you've worked so hard for can actually work against you. In this episode, I speak about several of the commons patterns of becoming a victim of your success and how you can counter balance the inevitable.

Contact Jeffrey – 

• Website

• Books  

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! 

Valuable resources to help you –

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life. Also, Founder of The Self-Employed Business Institute, The Exceptional Business Academy and responsible for dedicating May 4th as National Self-Employed Day on the U.S. National Calendar. Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development stra

In this episode of the self employed life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the best selling author of the book The Luxpreneur: How to Start and Build a Successful Luxury Brand, Elizabeth Solaru about how to build a luxury business. We discussed how clients in the luxury world think, brand and buyer relationships, and several key points to build a luxury brand. Elizabeth shares valuable insight on how to interact with clients, what makes a luxury brand successful, and much more.

Elizabeth Solaru is the multi award-winning founder of Elizabeth's Cake Emporium. Recognized as one of the best wedding cake companies in the world, her company creates the most opulent and beautifully handcrafted cakes. A pioneer in the wedding industry, her creations have been featured in numerous national and international blogs and publications, including Vogue, Tatler,  The Times, WedLuxe, Brides, Martha Stewart, The Telegraph, and HELLO.

Clients include British, European, and Middle Eastern royalty, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals. Elizabeth has appeared on the BBC, the Good Food Channel, BBC Radio, and Sky Living as a luxury expert. Elizabeth is an international keynote speaker and competition judge who travels the globe, and she presents on a number of topics, ranging from her own inspirational creative journey from microbiologist and headhunter to luxury cake maker, to encouraging diversity in the luxury industry.

Author of the best-selling artisan cake book Opulencia and host of the Luxury Business Podcast, Elizabeth continues to inspire and educate. Her latest book, The Luxpreneur: How to Start and Build a Successful Luxury Brand, delves into luxury entrepreneurship, offering readers a comprehensive guide to building a successful luxury brand.Elizabeth Solaru's influence extends beyond cake artistry. She is the CEO and Founder of Diversity in Luxury Awards, celebrating excellence and diversity within the luxury sector. As a business consultant, she advises luxury brands on how to innovate and thrive in a competitive market, known for her dynamic approach to business and her focus on creating authentic connections.

Recognised as one of the Masterful 100 by the prestigious Eat Love Savor,  Solaru is celebrated not only for her artistic talent but also for her business acumen. She has been a keynote speaker at prominent events at JP Morgan, The Inner Circle Experience and international business forums, where she discusses the intersection of luxury, creativity, business, and diversity.

Elizabeth Solaru’s latest venture explores the evolving landscape of the luxury market and offers insights on how brands can stay ahead in a rapidly changing world. Through her consultancy, publications, and public speaking, Solaru continues to shape the future of the luxury industry, championing innovation, diversity, and excellence.

Guest Contact –

• Book - The Luxpreneur: How to Start and Build a Successful Luxury Brand

• Website

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

In this episode of the self-employed life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the author of Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change and a third time repeating guest, Tamsen Webster. In this episode, we discuss the importance of having a change in thinking, as well as how to make change possible. Tamsen shares valuable insight on the most effective ways to maximize change. Her insights include how to bridge the gaps, how to view clients, and much more. 

Part message designer, part English-to-English translator, part magpie, Tamsen Webster helps leaders craft their case for large-scale change. In addition to her work in and for major organizations such as Harvard Medical School, Fidelity Investments, and Klaviyo, she’s a judge and mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs, a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, and has spent over 10 years as the Idea Strategist for one of only nine legacy- level TEDx events in the world. She was named to the Thinkers50 Radar in 2022 and is the author of two books, Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible and Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change. She lives in Boston with her husband, two sons, and two brindle Greyhounds, Hazel and Walnut. 

Guest Contact –

• Book - Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change

• The Compact Case - free resource to help you implement the principles of the book

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Even a business that provides great customer service isn't good enough anymore. Listen in to find out why. Also find out how you can take your customer service from great to exceptional with these three ideas. Guaranteed to make your business stand out from the rest!

Contact Jeffrey – 

• Website

• Books  

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! 

Valuable resources to help you –

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life. Also, Founder of The Self-Employed Business Institute, The Exceptional Business Academy and responsible for dedicating May 4th as National Self-Employed Day on the U.S. National Calendar. Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

In this episode of the self-employed life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Courtney McDermott, author of Give Yourself Permission about the importance of giving yourself permission. In this episode we discussed why people are looking for others to give them permission instead of trusting that they are making the right choice for themselves and their business. Cortney shares valuable information on how to live a productive life, while still allowing time for yourself.

Cortney Mcdermott is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and mind-body expert who helps the world’s leading organizations and creatives to disrupt old patterns of behavior, grow healthy businesses, and apply the physiology and psychology needed for success. Her work in the field of self-development and business strategy has been featured in Inc., Women’s Health, SUCCESS, The Huffington Post, and any other mainstream business and lifestyle media.

Cortney loves exploring and challenging the confines of human potential and is passionate about the practical application of neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum theory. She also speaks four languages and lives between Italy and the United States.

Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com. 

Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself.

Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world.

Guest Contact –

• Website

• Book - Give Yourself Permission

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Now that we're in Q4, here are some thoughts on how to wrap up the current year and get ready for next year. The key is creating momentum.

Contact Jeffrey – 

• Website

• Books  

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! 

Valuable resources to help you –

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life. Also, Founder of The Self-Employed Business Institute, The Exceptional Business Academy and responsible for dedicating May 4th as National Self-Employed Day on the U.S. National Calendar. Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

In this episode of the Self-Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the author of Leading Yourself, Elizabeth Lotardo about how you can take control of your business. We discussed key points in her book that will make your endevour more successful. Elizabeth gives exceptional advice such as controling the control, finding purpose in every day, learning the difference between passion and purpose,  and much more. 

Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and online instructor who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. Her new book, Leading Yourself, has been called a refreshingly candid playbook that helps you create a work experience worth loving, right now. With an undergraduate degree in advertising from Boston University and a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Elizabeth works with senior leaders, frontline managers, and entry-level teammates to create more purpose-driven work experiences. Her clients include Salesforce, DraftKings, Hilton, and numerous Berkshire Hathaway organizations. She is also a popular LinkedIn Learning instructor who designs workshops on topics like Leading without Formal Authority, Finding Your Purpose at Work, and Leading Yourself. Elizabeth writes for Harvard Business Review and her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and on NPR.

Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com. 

Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself.

Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world.

Guest Contact –

• Website

• Book - Leading Yourself

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

In this episode of the Self-Employed Life, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Scott Simon, author of Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Lead Your Most Courageous Life about how to live a more courageous life. We discussed why getting out of your comfort zone is important and how to get yourself to it. Scott explained the seven principles to harness fear and why they are important. 

Scott Simon is a renowned courage keynote speaker, facilitator and experience designer inspiring CEOs and their teams to cultivate courageous leadership and foster cultures of true belonging. As the founder of Scare Your Soul, Scott has guided thousands worldwide to harness fear through his transformative programs combining storytelling, positive psychology, and immersive activities. His new book, published by Hachette, is "Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Lead Your Most Courageous Life." Scott has presented to groups around the world, on TV and podcasts, given a TEDx Talk. Scott partners with forward-thinking CEOs to nurture the "courage muscle" their companies need to adapt, innovate and outperform competitors. He is a contributor to Psychology Today, has been profiled in Fast Company Magazine, and was recently invited to address staff at the United Nations Global Compact. Scott earned his BA from Skidmore College, his MA from Case Western Reserve University, and Certificates in Positive Psychology and Coaching from The Wholebeing Institute, and behavior design from the Stanford Behavior Design Lab. Scott is the proud father of two children, and when not speaking around the world, he lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com. 

Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself.

Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world.

Guest Contact –

• Website - Scare Your Soul

• Book - Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Lead Your Most Courageous Life

Contact Jeffrey –

• SelfEmployedNewsletter.com

• JeffreyShaw.com

• Books by Jeffrey Shaw

• Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!

Valuable Resources –

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Here's a twist on what it means to work with ideal clients. I've had this conversation with a couple coaching clients recently and it turned their world upside down. In a good way. Have a listen, you're likely to think about your ideal clients differently and see opportunities to grow your business.

Contact Jeffrey – 

• Website

• Books  

• Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! 

Valuable resources to help you –

• Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.

• The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!

Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life. Also, Founder of The Self-Employed Business Institute, The Exceptional Business Academy and responsible for dedicating May 4th as National Self-Employed Day on the U.S. National Calendar. Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.