The T.E.A. with Albie Knows

A year ago (depending on when you’re listening to this), I became an official podcaster. I learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, spoke to a lot of people, and went on the ride of a lifetime because I took a leap of faith and invested in another one of my big crazy ideas.

Now, a year later, we are back for season 2 — 6 months later than planned but totally okay — and I am super excited to be back with new conversations, stories, and lessons to share.

With every pivot was a lesson so let’s get to em, shall we?

1. Plans Change… And That’s Okay.

2. Hustling Isn’t A Badge of Honor

3. It Really Is Okay To Walk Away From Entrepreneurship

4. Starting Over Isn’t Failure

6. People Are Always Rooting For You

7. Social Media Is (Can Be) The Great Equalizer

8. It’s Okay To Say No

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Listen to Season 1

• Read the Albie Knows blog

• Buy my new book

In the Fall of 2018 I had the crazy idea of rebranding The E-Design Experience and creating The Design Influence podcast. By the end of October, I’d secured nearly a dozen guests for the show and shortly after began batch recording the first season of solo episodes, guest conversations, and Q & A sessions. 

While I had a general idea of what I wanted for the show and had sought some counsel from more seasoned podcasters, I really and truly had no idea what I’d gotten myself into. Sound familiar? 

So what have I learned after 6 months, 21 episodes, 9 guests, and countless sleepless nights of podcasting?

Lesson #1 — podcasting is hard as hell

Lesson #2 — batching saves lives…and it save this show

Lesson #3 — things aren’t always as people make them seem

Lesson #4 — perfection is truly paralyzing

Lesson #5 — always have a back up that is familiar and reliable

Lesson #6 — the women in this industry are phenomenal

Lesson #7 — I hate the sound of my own voice but I love talking to you

Lesson #8 — consistency is personal and mental

I don’t say any of this to tell you to run out and start a podcast — because I do believe it isn’t for everyone! — but I do believe that we all have passions and dreams and big ideas that deserve to be explored. 

BET ON YOURSELF...

Start the blog. 

Buy the course.

Record the podcast. 

Write the book.

Take the trip. 

Whatever it is that’ll take your dream from dream to reality, bet on yourself and make it happen. I did. And I have a lifetime of lessons with zero regrets to show for it. 

While this may be the final episode of the season, this isn’t the end of the road for us — not even close! 

This summer The Influence Directory will be opening up with two new courses.

For more information and enrollment you can head over to www.thedesigninfluence.com/directory. There, you’ll also be able to see what else is coming plus make course suggestions! 

At the end of every guest episode, I asked them what’s been influencing them lately. Here’s my answer to that question — you. Every email, DM, request, comment, and review influences that next step in my own  designpreneur journey. 

Thank you for being my influencers. 

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Episode Resources

On The Blog: 10 Lessons I Learned Hosting A Conference

Episode 005: Creating Content & Getting Paid With Affiliate Marketing and Sponsored Content

Coming This Summer In The Influence Directory:

• Pre-Enrollment Now Open: Affiliate Marketing Decoded

• Pre-Enrollment Now Open: Unlocking Presentation Tools

If you caught the last episode then you know I hung out with fellow wife, mama, e-designer, and content creator, Heather Hess. We had a great conversation all around the other side of e-design and working with third party platforms — and trust me when I say, if you’re someone who has been considering e-design as a service or business model, this is definitely an episode you’ll want to tune into. 

In addition to how Heather secured her first clients via Etsy, we also talked about how she built a loyal community on Instagram, how she secured a position with SwatchPop as their Editorial Director, and her content creation plans for the future, which started with her batching her entire 2019 content strategy! 

I knew Heather would have to come back on the show to talk all things batching with me! If you listened to Episode 2 of the show where I talked all about single tasking and thought purging for better productivity, then you know batching is my jam! So this Q & Albie sesh is all about just that. 

This week we’re answering:

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RESOURCES

Batching Hack: Setting Up Canned Emails in Gmail

Our Favorite Systems, Apps, and More

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FIND HEATHER ONLINE: Website | Instagram | SwatchPop

As a mother to 4 young kids, she quickly realized that the design of a home greatly impacts how people function inside. Heather believes a home should reflect the personality of those inside, so she loves that her job is to help make that happen. 

E-Design, specifically, became her main passion because it provides her clients with an affordable interior design experience from the comfort of their home, while also giving her the opportunity to stay home with her kids while working. Like many of us, Heather has done freelance e-design on many 3rd party platforms but also serves her own clients through her website. 

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THIS EPISODE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INFLUENCE DIRECTORY. 

It’s no secret that I love chatting with fellow e-designers, but it’s not something I’ve ever done on the show, so today’s episode — the last guest episode of the season — is with my girl Heather Hess and we have a lot to talk about.  

Heather’s passion for design started in her own home. 

As a mother to 4 young kids, she quickly realized that the design of a home greatly impacts how people function inside. Heather believes a home should reflect the personality of those inside, so she loves that her job is to help make that happen. E-Design, specifically, became her main passion because it provides her clients with an affordable interior design experience from the comfort of their home, while also giving her the opportunity to stay home with her kids while working. 

Heather has also leveraged her talents to be the Editorial Director for SwatchPop, focusing on their social media and blog content, allowing her to create content that people crave, look forward to and feel a part of.  

In addition to talking about all things e-design — from securing your own clients to working on a platform like SwatchPop — we get into a few other fun topics like batching and blogging…aka some of our fav things about being entrepreneurs! 

Heather has created a loyal online community and thriving career, all as an e-designer by leaning into her strengths and passions. 

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The Influence Directory is an index of courses designed to help you maximize your expertise and influence. From software to strategy, tools to tactics, I have pooled my knowledge and resources to help you learn, connect, and thrive on your designpreneur journey.

Way back, while I was recording the premiere episode on blogging and whether or not your blog is working for you or against you, it hit me — yes, we’re designers, but where many of you struggle isn’t where you think you struggle. Anyone making money with an online business — not brick and mortar or in-person — has to be rocking some other facets of the online world. I’m talking everyone from the online educator to the beauty guru. What they understand is the need to show up online. Not in all the places but in the places they do best.