The Boss Mom Podcast

Black Friday has come and gone, and I didn't do a sale this year. Why? I just didn't want to. So many of us get wrapped up in doing seasonal sales because that's what we think we 'should' be doing, but we seldom give much thought to whether or not we actually want to do them. Ladies, I don't want that for us! Our lives should be full of the things we enjoy. That being said, choosing not to follow the trends isn't always easy, especially if we're constantly seeing and hearing what everyone else is doing. How can we get better at focusing on what's important to us? In this episode, I'm introducing the idea of business meditation, so we can stop feeling pressure to follow the trends and zone in on creating the kind of lives that bring us joy. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How to use meditation in our businesses Many of us use meditation to re-center ourselves in our daily lives, but how could we apply the practice in our businesses? The key to re-evaluating what we really need to do How many opportunities are we actually losing out on by not following the trends, and what do we just think we're missing? How to approach the tasks we do need to do (but don't want to) Sometimes, there are things that have to be done, regardless of whether or not we enjoy them. Is there a way they could be handled without our direct involvement?

For most Boss Moms, taking two weeks off would put us two weeks behind. Wouldn't it be great if our businesses got better even when we're not there? The great news is, that's possible. We just have to think about our businesses from a different perspective, and shift from thinking day-to-day, to looking to what's next. That being said, that can be easier said than done. How can we think about the long-term and plan for it effectively, while staying focused on what needs to be done now? In this episode, I'm introducing 2 concepts spoken about in the Nurture to Convert society: focus milestones and increasing your levels of norm. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How to sidestep shiny object syndrome Let's face it, it's tough to stay focused when shiny objects abound. How can we stay dialed in to what needs to be done, right now? Why giving ourselves time to think is more helpful than we realize Aside from short-term focus, how can letting our ideas marinate for a while benefit our businesses? The key to increasing our levels of norm We're so used to thinking in terms of what our lives look like now, but what if we started thinking in terms of how those norms shift?

Once upon a time, not too long ago, who we let into our worlds was based on who lived nearby, but that's no longer the case, and today, we can base our relationships on who really brings us joy, no matter where they are. However, let's face it: that can be super overwhelming at times! If the world is our oyster when it comes to the people we're closest to, where do we even begin? Who should we be bringing into our lives, and is there anyone we should avoid altogether? In this episode, I'm sorting through the 5 people everyone should have in their lives (plus, the people we should keep out!). 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode What to do about friendships that don't serve us right now When is it time to move on from a relationship altogether, and when is it possible to change the existing dynamic we have with certain people in our lives? How to seek out the kinds of relationships we need What happens if we don't already have the 'right' kind of friends? How can we start building relationships with them, and where do we even begin to look in the first place? The importance of becoming the friend others need Everyone wants to be surrounded by the right people in their lives, but what can we do to ensure we're that person for the people we love?

For many of us, Pinterest is a baffling conundrum inside of an enigma, and it's hard to pin down the kind of strategies we need to implement to market our brands on the platform. Is it a search engine or a social network? Can it work for people who sell business products? Well ladies, today I'm excited to be joined by a business owner who will answer these questions and more, and share how to implement a simplistic, aligned long-term Pinterest strategy. In this episode, founder and owner of Simple Pin Media, Kate Ahl talks about how Pinterest can serve your business, and simple ways to create great content. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How to use Pinterest when you don't have a consumer-facing business Are there industries that have an easier time on Pinterest than others? The kind of content should we making for Pinterest How do we create content that aligns with what people are searching for, and get them to fall in love with what we do? How to build your "content library" on Pinterest What's Simple Pin Media's slow and steady but highly effective Pinterest strategy, and why is it so perfect for Boss Moms? Guest Bio Kate Ahl is the owner and founder of Simple Pin Media, a Pinterest management and marketing company. Through their work with over 700 Pinterest accounts, they take a data driven approach to crafting a Pinterest strategy that aims to help their clients and students find their perfect person on Pinterest. Kate teaches thousands of people about Pinterest marketing through various speaking engagements and her podcast, the Simple Pin Podcast. For more information and free resources, visit https://www.simplepinmedia.com/ and to binge on all the episodes of the Simple Pin Podcast head to https://www.simplepinmedia.com/simple-pin-podcast/.

As Boss Moms, we don't have to choose between having a meaningful business and our families. We can build what we want, grow it the way we want, and in the case of our guest, run a tech company while living on a farm! Being intentional about what we grow is super important, and when we want a particular life for ourselves, we often have to go against the grain of fast growth. In today's episode, I'm joined by the founder of AccessAlly, Nathalie Lussier. How has the lifestyle she wants for her family dictated her growth strategy? How is she helping people build thriving online communities? In this episode, Nathalie talks about how she built a very different software company, and the power of growing a business at the pace you want. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How to build a membership site people love being a part of Nathalie put a lot of thought and intention behind every aspect of AccessAlly, what are some of the features that help people build thriving online communities? Why we don't have to build a great business by way of fast growth How does Nathalie's lifestyle dictate the growth strategy of her business? How Nathalie merged her high-tech business with farm living Why do our businesses give us so much freedom to build the lives we want? Guest Bio- ​​Nathalie Lussier is an award-winning entrepreneur who has been making websites since she was 12 years old. She graduated with a degree in Software Engineering and a job offer from Wall Street, but she turned down this job to start her own business right out of college. As the founder of AccessAlly, the powerful digital course and membership solution for industry leaders, she believes that access to education can help defy stereotypes and make the world a better place, while providing a sustainable livelihood for enterprising teachers. Nathalie has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Success Magazine, Entrepreneur, Venture Beat, and Mashable. For more information visit https://accessally.com/, and subscribe to Nathalie's YouTube channel. To keep up with Nathalie's farm adventures subscribe to Waykeeper Farm and Nerdery.

From dirty diapers to imaginary friends and dating as a single mom, motherhood comes with its own unique experiences. Raising happy, healthy children is something we take seriously, but that doesn't mean we can't laugh or joke about it too. There is definitely room for humor in the craziness of motherhood, and when we do it together, it's validating, liberating and uniting. In today's episode, I'm joined by the creators of the hugely popular podcast, Band of Mothers, Shayna Ferm and Tracey Tee. In this delightful conversation, Shayna and Tracey give us a unique and hilarious take on being a woman who also happens to be a mom and share their mission to validate and support all the aspects of motherhood we don't often get to talk about. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How to have more honest conversations about motherhood There's this preconceived notion that we're not allowed to talk about the less glamorous parts of motherhood. How can we use humor to get rid of this barrier? Why comedy gives us more freedom to express our feelings What makes humor such a validating and uniting experience? The story of Band of Mothers and why it resonates with so many women How did two friends build a great business by being their authentic selves? Guest Bio- Shayna Ferm and Tracey Tee, are creators of the hugely popular, nationally touring comedy show for moms, "The Pump and Dump Show," continue their mission to support and validate motherhood through this binge-worthy, weekly variety-style podcast that's sure to make you laugh your C-Section scar open. Through fascinating interviews, live podcast recordings, original music, games, insights and mind-blowing stories from their #BandOfMothers, these two moms, and childhood friends, weave information and entertainment together into this unique and hilarious take on being a woman who also happens to be a mom. To submit your own motherhood story follow @bandofmothersofficial and visit https://www.bandofmothers.com/shareyourstory. To listen to the podcast, head to https://www.bandofmothers.com/podcast.

Trigger Warning: In this episode, we discuss sensitive mental health topics. As moms and as women, our mental health is incredibly important, and we should be having conversations about it. The problem is, many of us feel ashamed by the stigmas attached to the subject, and as a result, those conversations aren't happening. How can we banish those feelings of shame for good, so we can talk about our experiences with others and get the help we need, when we need it? How can we start giving ourselves permission to open up so we don't need to suffer in silence? In this episode, author of A Mouthful of Air and director of the film based on the novel, Amy Koppelman shares how to allow ourselves to feel true joy again. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode The key to feeling less alone Baby Blues affect approximately 80% of all mothers, so why is it that most women experiencing it feel so alone? Is there anything we can do to change that? 1 small step we can take to make a positive difference today Mental health issues affect such a big portion of women across the world that 'solving' the problem can seem impossible. What can we do to help just one person, everyday? Why we need to re-think the impact social media has on mental health We hear a lot about the dangers of social media for mental health, but could there be a benefit to the platforms? Guest Bio- Amy Koppelman is the author of three critically acclaimed novels: A Mouthful of Air, I Smile Back, and Hesitation Wounds, a 2016 Independent Publisher Book Award winner. She produced and co-adapted the film adaptation of I Smile Back, starring Sarah Silverman, who received a SAG award nomination for the role. The film premiered at the Sundance, Toronto, and Deauville film festivals. Her latest film, A Mouthful of Air, is her first undertaking as a screenwriter, director, producer, and illustrator. An outspoken advocate for women's mental health, Amy lives in New York City with her family. To connect with Amy, go to: https://www.instagram.com/amy_koppelman https://www.instagram.com/amouthfulofair And to get a copy of her book, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Mouthful-Air-Amy-Koppelman/dp/1931561303

Whether you're starting a business, growing a community or working through your entrepreneurial process, writing a book is a great way to clarify your purpose, ideas or brand. Many Boss Moms have a book in them, and even though writing a book is more accessible than ever, actually getting your ideas out of your head and onto a page can be quite daunting. We should always yearn to write something great, and that often means getting some help, even if you're a talented writer. Today I'm joined by a book writing coach who helps people create their own masterpieces! In this episode, Danielle Fetherson shares the 4-step book writing process she uses to turn a collection of ideas into page-turners. We also talk about how to intentionally design the reader's experience and why the process is so worthwhile. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How the ghostwriting process works If you're not the actual writer of your book, can you still claim it as your own? The importance of designing the reader's experience How do we make sure our books make people feel like they're having a real conversation with us? Danielle's 4-step book-writing process What are the steps involved in defining what you want to say, refining your ideas, and making sure your book accomplishes what you want? Guest Bio- Danielle Fetherson is a former college instructor turned ghostwriter turned book writing coach. She helps service-focused leaders and entrepreneurs turn their best ideas, stories and content into amazing books worth reading, even if they've been stuck for years and don't consider themselves to be amazing writers. Clients describe her four-step process for helping them finally finish their book as engaging, energizing and inspiring. When she is not helping authors make the world a better place with their messages, she is reading, dancing, or cracking jokes with her husband, their 1-year-old son or 5-year-old daughter. For more information, visit http://daniellefetherson.com/ or find her on Facebook.

Successful businesses come from the minds of people who notice what's missing in the world and create it. Julie Rice saw something that she wanted to make better in the world of makeup, and Inner Beauty Cosmetics was born! The products are a delightful clean beauty experience, from packaging to performance and especially, the natural ingredients that look and feel good without harsh chemicals and toxins. What's the story behind Inner Beauty Cosmetics, and how did Julie create a product that's warm, inviting, playful and elegant? In this episode, she shares the vision behind the business, and why she's so passionate about clean beauty. 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode Why beauty shouldn't come at the expense of wellness Clean beauty products make you look good without harming you on the inside. How does Inner Beauty Cosmetics weave this into every aspect of the products from application to taking it off at the end of the day? How to use branding to make people fall in love with our products What is the true intention of branding, and the impact it makes when we're intentional about it? How to use PR and influencer marketing to grow your customer base What are some of the strategies Julie Rice is using to increase the visibility of her brand and get the products into the hands of the right people? Guest Bio- Julie Rice is a product developer, clean beauty advocate and the founder of Inner Beauty Cosmetics. With 15 years in the cosmetics industry, Julie Rice considered herself hip to beauty ingredients. That was until a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and news of her pregnancy drove her to a new level of precaution. Soon after, Inner Beauty was born. Julie's mission: help women reclaim their health through beauty. Inner Beauty Cosmetics are clean beauty like no one's ever seen. Formulated by toxicologists and naturopathic doctors alongside a woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) for people with sensitive skin (whether due to pregnancy, autoimmune disorders, or cancer). Inner Beauty is clean beauty that upholds the standards of mainstream beauty. To find out more about Inner Beauty and buy their awesome products, visit innerbeautycosmetics.com and use the promo code BOSSMOM to get a discount on your purchase. Follow Inner Beauty on Instagram and send an email to julie@innerbeautycosmetics.com to get in touch.

Many women are sitting on an idea for a product that thousands would buy in a heartbeat. The question is: how do you take it from secret brainstorming and napkin sketches, to a product launch complete with tons of press and influencers showing it off? How do you even validate if it's a good product idea in the first place? In today's episode, I'm excited to be joined by fashion entrepreneur, product designer and business coach, Sarah Shaw. She shares her incredible story of creating a million dollar product, and how she's helping female entrepreneurs do the same. "Make a sample so you can actually see your product. You can even make it out of paper to figure out the shape and size." -Sarah Shaw 3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode Sarah's amazing story of turning her own idea into a million dollar product How did Sarah go from costume designer to launching her own successful product? The importance of creating a tangible product sample If we want to validate our product idea, what's the very first step we have to take? How to get influencers and magazines to talk about your product What tactics can we use to effectively vet influencers, and make contact so they actually respond? Guest Bio- Sarah Shaw is a fashion entrepreneur, product designer and business coach that specializes in helping other women entrepreneurs to succeed. With her 20 years of experience - and 6 companies under her belt - Sarah has built a treasure trove of secrets for launching your product line, getting your products into stores and boutiques, getting your products to A-List celebrities, and getting massive publicity in order to grow her companies quickly. For more information, visit https://sarahshawconsulting.com/ and book a call with her.