Article Summary If you're looking to grow your business, one place to focus on is your customer experience. It's likely that you're thinking of creating a new offering but instead you could amplify your experience and gain more clients. My guest today, Ernesto Mandowsky, shares how his experience in the restaurant industry has influenced his approach to customer experience and he has 5 specific tips for you. Throughout the conversation he shares these specific ideas with you that you can implement today and why they matter. You'll walk away inspired to upgrade your customer experience, impact more lives and create scalable systems all along the way. Takeaways Entrepreneurship is a journey of self-development and personal growth. Creating a connection with customers and understanding their needs is crucial for a great customer experience. Small gestures, such as welcome gifts, can make a big impact on the customer experience. Implementing effective systems and processes is key to scaling your business and ensuring smooth operations. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #238). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. 5 Ways To Upgrade Your Customer Experience 1 - Understand Who You're Working With You need to build connection and truly understand why they are looking for your solution. "When you look at a restaurant, what is one of the first things that the waitress or the server will ask you? It's going to be something like, oh, what brought you in tonight? Why are you here? What are you celebrating? Because they want to understand so they can help you in the best way." - Ernesto Mandowsky 2 - Send Welcome Gifts Showing your appreciation for the client working with you goes a long way and starts the relationship in a great place. "In a restaurant, when you're at a fine dining restaurant, you receive (the French word is) an amuse-bouche, which is a gift from the chef to warm up the taste buds. Or maybe a welcome cocktail. These are different ways that you invite the guests as soon as they're seated." - Ernesto Mandowsky 3 - Present Your Brand Proudly You want to really demonstrate the vibrancy, uniqueness of your brand in a consistent way so that it's memorable. "You know there are restaurants that have a great vibe when you walk in and then the next time you see an ad for that place you remember that feeling. It's the branding that brought you back to the experience and if it wasn't consistent you wouldn't have that feeling." - Amanda McKinney 4 - Ensure Prompt Follow Up They say "the fortune is in the follow up" and it's true. You have to have a system for keeping track of follow ups needed because otherwise you'll lose clients. "When you're at a restaurant, the server is checking in on you every 15 minutes. You might not need anything, but they're checking in. They're showing up." - Ernesto Mandowsky 5 - Demonstrate Your Values Taking the time to identify your company core values and then actually living them out is one of the best ways to ensure loyalty and referrals from clients. "If you know a restaurant has Michelin Star you expect a certain level of experience and the same can go for your company. When you say your value is flexibility, your offerings need to meet your customers where they are." - Ernesto Mandowsky Take Away Message / Action You don't always have to create something new to increase revenue in your business. Sometimes it's better to take a look at what you have and give it an upgrade. Chances are your customer experience could use a little TLC so take an honest look and then implement these tips so you can see a higher return on your conversions. Plus when you do this, you're also creating scalable systems that can help you grow in many ways. Until next time give yourself permission to upgrade your experience and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Ernesto: Ernesto Mandowsky is the CEO of CPD Advisors, where he designs systems to improve revenue, referrals, and retention. With over a decade of building systems for startups, family-owned businesses, and Fortune 500 companies, Ernesto has designed the Six Pillar (6P) System to optimize your organization. As the host of the Regenerate Your Business Podcast, Ernesto shares wisdom from leaders who continuously reinvigorate their teams while increasing impact around the world through their unique offerings. When he's not working, he enjoys reading, going to CrossFit, and baking challah. Ernesto's Links: Website: www.startingwithsystems.com Free Call: www.freesystemscall.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/ernestocpd/ Other Resources: What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "When I teach concepts like customer journey or creating contracts in your boundaries, I use metaphors from the restaurant industry because people understand it." - Ernesto Mandowsky Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary Curious what the secret sauce is to making progress towards any goal? It's sometimes a tough pill to swallow but the key is...accountability. In this episode I share the true meaning of accountability because it's not just about checking things off a to-do list. Accountability is about taking ownership of your actions (or lack of them) so you can learn from all experiences and it leads to continual progress. I share how you can implement a few simple things each week to help you hold yourself accountable and make progress towards your goal. Takeaways Accountability is the secret sauce to making progress towards any goal but that doesn't just mean crossing things off a to-do list True accountability is taking ownership of one's actions or lack thereof is crucial for accountability. Setting realistic goals and identifying intentional actions can lead to continual progress. Committing to accountability and being kind to yourself are key to building confidence and trust in yourself. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #237). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. Accountability Defined By Amanda: Accountability is taking ownership of your actions (or lack thereof) and any outcome that happens as a result. Own what you can control No buses allowed (no judgment, just facts) How Accountability Impacts Goal Progress & Achievement When you don’t own your actions, it feels like achieving your goal is out of your control = feel defeated and that leads to not taking action and not achieving your goal The Essentials To Setting A Goal That Sets You Up To Make Progress No judgement allowed here -- be realistic with your answers and you're more likely to set a goal that you are willing to push through the hard times with and actually achieve. No should goals here. Know what you truly want to achieve (intrinsic motivation) Know your capacity (time, finances, skills/knowledge, energy) Know your commitment (are you willing to say no to other things) Weekly Goal Progress Tracking Set a quarterly goal and know what you'll track Reminder: no judgement, only truth allowed so you can set yourself up for success At the beginning of each week ask yourself "what intentional actions can I realistically take to get one step closer to my goal?" At the end of the week ask yourself "did I take the actions that I set this week?" (this is where accountability comes in!) If yes, celebrate and identify anything that helped you If no, celebrate any progress and identify anything that hindered you Keep these notes and review them at the end of the quarter so you can plan for the barriers and amplifiers that you identified along the way. This will help you set more realistic goals and ensure that you're making progress every step of the way, no matter what life throws you. Take Away Message / Action Commit to taking accountability for your actions or lack thereof regardless of the outcome. By doing this you're more likely to make progress, learn and enjoy the process of achieving your goals. Until next time give yourself permission to celebrate any progress made and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon! Other Resources: What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "A plan is great but it's the actions that will get you closer to achieving your goal. Focus on progress not perfection." - Amanda McKinney Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary Does entrepreneurship feel lonely to you? If so, you're not alone in this feeling and we're talking about it this week on the podcast. Charelle Griffith shares her journey into entrepreneurship and the challenges of loneliness in the business world. From hesitating to start her business all the way to being featured on BBC, Charelle shares the details about how she's navigated loneliness as well as visibility as an entrepreneur as well. We get into all the feelings and ups and downs along the way. Charelle also shares the many approaches she tried to combat the loneliness and how you can try different things to see what works for you. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution but this conversation will give you actionable tips to support you. Takeaways Navigating Loneliness as an Entrepreneur Strategies to Combat Loneliness Overcoming the Fear of Failure The Impact of Personal Development on Business Success **This was also a podcast episode (episode #236). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. Navigating Loneliness as an Entrepreneur "The loneliness is the hardest part for me." - Charelle Griffith "I didn't combat it (loneliness) in the beginning..." - Charelle Griffith "You're also working out, do I need to change things in the business or do I need to change things outside the business?" - Charelle Griffith Ideas To Combat Loneliness In Entrepreneurship Group programs with live calls and community Find business-besties Look locally for connections Walk your dog on a daily basis Join a mastermind Tap into your hobbies and find groups related to them "You'll have to try different things. It's different for everyone. How much interaction do you need and how deep do you want the connection to be." - Charelle Griffith "Most people don't realize that you can talk to people all day but you might not actually see people all day." - Charelle Griffith "Just because something doesn't work doesn't mean it's a failure. There's a difference between something failing and you being a failure." - Charelle Griffith Visibility In Entrepreneurship "Speaking out is difficult but doing it on TV was very different." - Charelle Griffith "Lots of people reached out (in support) but I'll be honest, I had lots of weirdos too." - Charelle Griffith "Some people don't want to be honest about being lonely because people can be weird online...this can stop people from wanting to be visible online." - Charelle Griffith The one place I really struggled with being visible was LinkedIn because it included everyone I had worked with before. I was so nervous before the first time...it was absolutely sickening." - Charelle Griffith "At some point you'll have to push through it if you want to advance your business." - Charelle Griffith "I went through a phase where I said "I need to make myself sick once a week"...I needed a way to measure how I was pushing myself forward." - Charelle Griffith "Accountability is taking total ownership of your actions no matter what the outcome is." - Amanda McKinney Personal Development Helps Loneliness In Entrepreneurship "It's been 9 years since I started the book club but at first there was only 1 person in it. My one friend." - Charelle Griffith "Your business only grows as much as you do." - Charelle Griffith "The book club is for people who want to grow personally so it allows everyone to connect with like-minded people." - Charelle Griffith "It's really interesting to me that on the whole there are certain book titles that women don't read. One was the 48 Laws of Power. I remember when we read it and people struggled with it. But I told everyone (all women) 'I don't care if you're struggling, but I'm telling you that the boss that you hate, read that book so you need to, too." - Charelle Griffith "If you don't read the book, someone is using it against you. I'm not saying you have to use the tactics but you want to know them." - Charelle Griffith "We're reading completely different books but we're trying to play the same game. It doesn't work." - Charelle Griffith Take Away Message / Action Whatever you're avoiding because it feels uncomfortable, if you know it's the thing that will move your business forward, it's time to take action. Whether it's fear of loneliness and you don't want to start your business, or it's being worried about visibility and showing up online, or it's pushing through the mental barriers of learning about money because it's scary to dig into the numbers, or something completely different, it's time. Identify one action that you can take on a weekly basis and make it a priority. If you need support, find a coach. If that's not in your budget, find a partner who will hold you accountable. And if neither of those are accessible, set a metric to track and commit to tracking it weekly. Your success is worth pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Until next time, give yourself permission to be uncomfortable and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Charelle: Charelle Griffith is a Chartered Marketer, award-winning content marketer and blogger, and online business mentor. Through her business, CharelleGriffith.com, Charelle provides marketing and business growth consulting, mentoring and training to help service-based business owners to improve their marketing, accelerate their business growth and build a business they love (and that pays them properly). Outside of her business, Charelle loves to read non-fiction books. She is the founder of PropelHer's Book Club (a non-fiction online book club for ambitious women), has a book blog and co-host the book club segment of the Making Good Podcast. Charelle's Links: Website: https://www.charellegriffith.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellegriffith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellegriffith Other Resources: What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "Just because something doesn't work doesn't mean it's a failure. There's a difference between something failing and you being a failure." - Charelle Griffith Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary Entrepreneurship is hard, yet rewarding but we need to talk about the hard stuff so you know you're not alone. In this conversation, Ruthie Sterrett and I talk about the hard things we've encountered that we didn't know was coming our way as an entrepreneur. From revenue changes to emotions, we share it all and we do it while we are both experiencing hard things. Instead of waiting until we were on the other side of it, we share while we're in the messy middle so you know you're not alone. In the end the reality is that things in life and in entrepreneurship don't get easier, but you get better at handling the hard things that come your way. You've got this and we hope this conversation is something you come back to anytime you need it. Takeaways Entrepreneurship often involves taking action and embracing uncertainty, even without having all the answers. Making hard decisions, such as cutting expenses or ending coaching relationships, is necessary for the long-term success of the business. Balancing business and personal life requires effective time management and the ability to compartmentalize different aspects of life. Finding work-life integration is more effective than striving for work-life balance. Social media comparison can negatively impact mental health, so it's important to remember that everyone has their own struggles. Taking time to feel and reflect on emotions is an important part of personal growth and learning. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #235). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. Entrepreneurship Requires Taking Action Before You're Ready "I knew I was meant to do something with working moms but I didn't know anything more than that." - Ruthie Sterrett "I decided to work with a coach when I was figuring this out and one day there was a lightbulb that went off and I knew I could support people through marketing." - Ruthie Sterrett "Once I made the decision it was propelling me to where I was supposed to be." "I had a coach say this to me and I come back to it often, 'You don't have to see the entire staircase, you just need to take the next step.' Do what feels right, right now. It's not taking action that will stop you." - Ruthie Sterrett "Planning is great but it's not the plan that will get you where you want to go, it's the exercise of taking action that will." - Ruthie Sterrett The Ebbs, Flows, Flatlines & Declines In Revenue As An Entrepreneur "Sometimes it's going to feel like things are going great and other times it will feel like nothing is working." - Amanda McKinney "Sometimes your revenue is going to flatline and sometimes it's going to decline and when that happens, know that it's normal." - Ruthie Sterrett "Our human brains want the quick fix...we think "maybe it will work for me". - Ruthie Sterrett "I'm in a season when I'm not making the revenue projections I made and now I have to make hard decisions about expenses." - Ruthie Sterrett "We have to be the stewards of our business and sometimes we have to make a short term decision that's tough so we can have long term business success." - Amanda McKinney Entrepreneurs Have To Make Hard Decisions & Deal With Emotions "I had to make the decision to cut my VA and end a mentorship with a coach and both of which I value so much." - Ruthie Sterrett "I'm still grieving the decision. I want to support their businesses. I want to have that support. But as an entrepreneur I'm the holder of the risk and that means I'll have to make hard decisions sometimes." - Ruthie Sterrett "The emotional part was not what I was prepared for." - Amanda McKinney "We have to sit in the feelings, both the good and the bad, so we can actually process them...The mental capacity of being a business owner was something I didn't expect." - Ruthie Sterrett "Life doesn't stop just because you started a business, you have to learn how to compartmentalize but also process the emotions and realize you can't do it all." - Ruthie Sterrett "It's even hard to sit in the good feelings. I had a mentor tell me that every time I received money in my business that I needed to take a gratitude time out for 5 minutes and feel gratitude for it all." - Ruthie Sterrett "One of the biggest things that I've had to lean into is taking the time and the whitespace to feel the feelings and process them. I have to remind myself of this often." - Ruthie Sterrett "Reflecting on (emotions) and knowing that you're not feeling them so they go away but to actually learn from them. That's where the lessons come from, the bright spots come from." - Ruthie Sterrett "When you close your laptop for the day, close it and remind yourself that you have done enough today. This has made me a better person outside of my office and I do my best to practice this every day." - Amanda McKinney Comparison, Work/Life Balance vs Integration As An Entrepreneur "I decided that I'm not aiming for balance anymore, I'm aiming for integration." - Amanda McKinney "A lot of the comparison comes from the pressure we put on ourselves based on what we see on social media. It messes with our heads." - Ruthie Sterrett "In order for me to build the sustainable business I want, there will be times that my business has to come first so that I can put my family first the rest of the time." - Amanda McKinney "What we see on social media or even this conversation, it's a snippet of the day. We only see our own entire story." - Ruthie Sterrett "I strongly believe that we all get to have boundaries and share the parts of our story that we want to share but our responsibility when we are on the other side of the screen looking at other people's content is to understand they can do the same thing and that we are only seeing a snippet of their day." - Amanda McKinney Do Hard, Better Because It Doesn't Get Easier In Entrepreneurship "We just have to be nice to each other...a value in my business and what I want to teach my son is to work hard and be nice to people because you never know what they are going through." - Ruthie Sterrett "The Duke women's basketball coach has a speech about doing hard better. Things don't get easier but you get better at handling the hard things." - Ruthie Sterrett Take Away Message / Action As Kara Lawson, the Duke Women's Basketball coach says "make yourself someone who handles hard, well and then whatever comes at you, you're going to be great." And all along the way, remember that you're not the only one going through this hard thing. Many others are struggling with that same thing too. That doesn't take the hard away but it helps to know it's not happening because of something you're doing. There will be times when you have to take accountability for your part in the situation but the hard thing would likely happen at some point anyway. No matter what's going on, know that you can do this and all you have to do is focus on the next step. You don't have to see the entire staircase yet, just take the next step that feels right to you. And until next time give yourself permission to do hard better and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Ruthie: Ruthie Sterrett is the Founder and CEO of The Consistency Corner, a full service marketing agency that provides CMO level strategy and done-for-you implementation for service based businesses. With 15+ years of experience and wins like taking a $20M retail brand to $100M, Ruthie is uniquely qualified to help CEOs take off the marketing hat and get back to leading their company and serving their clients. She is known for her optimistic and upbeat personality paired with a solution finding growth mindset. In her spare time, Ruthie loves cheering on the Purdue Boilermakers while raising her family in sunny Florida. Ruthie's Links: Website - https://www.theconsistencycorner.com/decide Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theconsistencycorner Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "You don't have to see the entire staircase, you just need to take the next step. Do what feels right. It's not taking action that will stop you." - Ruthie Sterrett Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary In this article, Josh Haynam, co-founder of Interact, a quiz software company, shares openly about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship. Josh was on the podcast in 2020 and we talk about all that's changed at Interact including how they've built a team (with no investment), continued to focus on not just results for customers but also a culture of the team as it's grown and how "egolessness" was at the heart of it all. We talk about the iterative process of evolving a business, intrinsic motivation and the significance of cherishing the early days of business. Plus we talk about the new product interact has: InteractAI which allows you to create a quiz in under 2 minutes using the power of AI! Takeaways Focus and continuous improvement are key to success in entrepreneurship. Leaders should foster an egoless culture and guide their teams towards their goals. Iterative processes are essential for implementing new technologies and improving products. Intrinsic motivation and valuing internal growth are crucial for long-term success. Cherishing the early days of iteration and being adaptable are important for building a strong foundation. How you can build a quiz to grow your email list (and business) in under 2 minutes through the power of AI! **This was also a podcast episode (episode #234). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. "Focus on what matters and continue to get better at it day-by-day." - Josh Haynam How To Use AI To Build A Quiz To Grow Your Email List & Business InteractAI is a fantastic quiz software that saves you time and allows you to focus on the tasks you need to do, rather than overthinking quiz questions. All you to do is input your url and it will take the content on your website and create the quiz for you. Oh the power of AI and how much time it saves you! "My mind is blown! It saves so much time and saves me from overthinking all the words in the quiz. It's incredible!" - Amanda McKinney Quiz Creation Options with InteractAI: Put in your URL and get a quiz in 2 minutes Input your quiz idea and specific words you want to include and get a quiz in 2 minutes Input specific questions or results and it will create the quiz in 2 minutes "Sometimes you have an idea and sometimes you have no idea but we work with it all." - Josh Haynam How To Market/Promote Your Quiz To Grow Your Email List & Business Interact has many helpful articles and videos to support you in not only creating the quiz but also promoting it others. All blogs: https://www.tryinteract.com/blog/ Email List Building Blogs: https://www.tryinteract.com/blog/category/list-building/ Quiz Case Studies: https://www.tryinteract.com/blog/category/case-studies/ AI Prompts: https://www.tryinteract.com/blog/category/ai-prompts/ Additionally, I talked to Josh about how Interact has grown over the past several years and he had some great nuggets of wisdom to share with us! Focus Will Lead To Results "What we were able to do was to come in and focus on what we needed to get done." - Josh Haynam "We can't control what's happening in the economy but we can focus on our craft and serving our customers." - Josh Haynam "Staying focused and not getting caught up in other things has really helped our company. We just focus on getting better." - Josh Haynam "We can get really caught up in what's not working, staying focused is the key to making better progress towards your goal." - Amanda McKinney "Dialed in is a great term. Our focus has really sharpened over the years. We know that everything we're doing is leading to a positive outcome for the company and the team overall." - Josh Haynam "Everyone on the team has looked at everything they do, the part of the process they own. And removed anything that was noise." - Josh Haynam Ownership Leads To Results & Business Growth "Each person is running their own area and responsible for a specific area." - Josh Haynam "Having a broad context around what works for us, what works historically, what are the things we can rely on working. Basically, what do we know for a fact that will work and make that the baseline. Even if it doesn't scale at first...we can work the kinks out later." - Josh Haynam "Don't be afraid to iterate and make changes in the beginning of your business." - Josh Haynam "People feel confident when they do something and it makes money or they gain more customers. It's an external signal of success. But sometimes you're doing something smart behind the scenes that you won't see the results of that work for months or years in the future." - Josh Haynam "Learn to value both. You do need the things that will grow your revenue and customer base but you also need the things that make the foundations strong so you can handle the influx later." - Josh Haynam "Where are you getting your sense of confidence and self-worth? If it's only from external stimuli, and you're not building the muscle of enjoying the process of getting better at your craft, it's going to be really tough." - Josh Haynam "The intrinsic part is like the backup generator for when all the extrinsic stuff isn't showing up. It will keep you going." - Josh Haynam Get Comfortable Receiving Feedback & Iterating To Grow Your Business "The definition of being humble is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." - Josh Haynam "The egolessness of our team is what allows us to be able to do so much." - Josh Haynam "You're really good at what you do, it just means the approach didn't work. When we all believe that, it allows us to move really rapidly." - Josh Haynam "The majority of the things we've tried over the years have fallen flat but we learn and try something else. It allows us to move quickly." - Josh Haynam "Try 10 things and see what works, pick the top two and iterate on those and continue the process. That's how we figure things out." - Josh Haynam "So many people think things happen fast and it's easy to fall into that trap of thinking when we are trying to create something new but that's not how it works." - Amanda McKinney "In November of 2022 we were making quizzes for customers manually. The number of iterations on this product is easily in the 1,000's. And the team manually made 2,000+ quizzes. It was a Herculean lift for the team." - Josh Haynam "But now you can have a quiz created in 2 minutes or less." - Josh Haynam "It looks simple and polished now but simple is the hardest thing to accomplish." - Josh Haynam Take Away Message / Action "Focus on what matters and continue to get better at it day-by-day." - Josh Haynam That's it. That's what I want to leave you with today because that is what will move the needle forward in whatever you're pursuing at the moment. If you truly focus on the tasks that matter and continue to get better and better, you will see results. Period. And if the result you're after include growing your email list and your revenue, please do yourself a favor and give InteractAI a try. All you have to do is go to amandamckinney.com/interact and you can try it for free but even more, you'll get the behind the scenes info on how I'm using quizzes and have been inspired by people like Jenna Kutcher who also uses Interact! But until next time give yourself permission to focus on what matters and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Josh: Josh Haynam is the co-founder at Interact, a quiz tool used by over 7,000 of the world's top businesses. Josh co-founded interact in college with two friends 11 years ago and has grown it to over 1 billion quiz takers in total. Josh's Links: Website: https://tryinteract.com/ai Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhaynam/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryinteract/ Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "Focus on what matters and continue to get better at it day-by-day." - Josh Haynam Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary In this article, I share how the use of quizzes can help you grow your email list and business. We talk about why quizzes are more interactive, how they help you learn more about your audience and how they can help you grow your business. I share the 3 types of quizzes and then share a step-by-step process of creating a quiz in just 2 minutes using InteractAI. Takeaways Using quizzes can help grow your email list and attract new audiences. Quizzes provide valuable insights into your audience and their needs. There are different types of quizzes, including personality type quizzes, assessments, and scored quizzes. Creating a quiz using Interact AI is a quick and easy process. Quizzes can help nurture relationships with your audience and ultimately grow your business. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #233). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. Benefits Of Creating A Free Quiz In Your Business Learn About Your Audience Grows Your Email List Increases The Know, Like & Trust Factor With Your Subscribers Types Of Quizzes Personality: With each answer correlating to a different type of person, this is your most-likely-to-go-viral option! Assessment: Find out how much your audience knows about a certain topic. And build your authority by teaching them more at the same time! Scored: With more nuance than an assessment, score based quizzes are flexible and effective. Want To See Quiz Examples? Use the link below to see live quiz examples: Step-By-Step Process To Creating A Quiz In Just 2 Minutes With InteractAI I highly recommend using InteractAI to create your quiz because they make it sooooo easy and save you hours (if not days) of time! Just check out how easy these steps are, even if you have no idea what type of quiz you want to create yet... If you have no idea what quiz you want to create: Enter Your Website URL Wait for less than 2 minutes and you'll have a quiz! If you have an idea but aren't sure about the questions: Enter Your Topic Idea Enter Your Website URL Enter Results (if you know them) Wait for less than 2 minutes and you'll have a quiz! And if you're not sure about the AI part, you can absolutely use any of their templates and create your own quiz too! Take Away Message / Action What are you waiting for? Create your quiz in just 2 minutes and start the process of growing your email list and business today. Go to amandamckinney.com/interact to create your quiz for free and I've shared my learnings and pro tips too. Until next time give yourself permission to have fun as you grow your business and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon! Other Resources: Free Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "My mind was blown when I saw how quick I could create a quiz!" - Amanda McKinney Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary Matt Gerlach shares his journey of stumbling into entrepreneurship and working with entrepreneurs in the baby product industry. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned along the way, including the importance of self-care and setting boundaries. Matt emphasizes the need to trust the process and surrender to the unknown. He also highlights the significance of focusing on results and prioritizing actions that lead to success. Matt encourages entrepreneurs to avoid the trap of busyness and instead focus on what truly matters. Overall, his story serves as an inspiration for those navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Takeaways Stumbling into entrepreneurship can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. Starting a business during challenging economic times requires resilience and adaptability. Believing in your worth and setting boundaries are essential for success in entrepreneurship. Focusing on results and prioritizing actions that lead to success is more effective than being busy with non-essential tasks. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #232). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. "You are worth the abundance you're building." - Matt Gerlach "Being an entrepreneur takes a lot. A lot of strength, confidence, discernment, and much more. And when I first started, I didn't have all of that...but eventually learned." - Matt Gerlach "The lowest hanging fruit is to work on the confidence first." - Matt Gerlach Change Your Perspective, Change Your Entrepreneurship Success "People have money. There is a buyer for everything but you have to match your product or service with the buyer." - Matt Gerlach "Find the service that you love to provide and the people who want that service and focus on making it better and better and you'll have a great business." - Amanda McKinney "I spent 5 years making things harder than it needed to be." - Matt Gerlach "I've been to the hospital twice because I thought I was having a heart attack. But this led to changes in the way I worked." - Matt Gerlach "One thing that has shifted and I've seen massive changes is surrendering. You can't do it all." - Matt Gerlach "I thought the more I pushed, the more results I would have and I saw that for a while but I wasn't thinking about what it was doing to my body." - Matt Gerlach "Our clients don't want us to be suffering." - Matt Gerlach "You are worth the abundance you're building." - Matt Gerlach The Process Of Surrendering Leads To Entrepreneurship Success "It's hard in the beginning to put yourself out there and you have to accept that you're going to be bad at it for a while." - Matt Gerlach "At first it's hard to put yourself out there but then that gets easier. Then it becomes 'I'm not doing this effectively.' So it's consistent learning every day." - Matt Gerlach "But then you hit a point of surrender. You have to accept that you've done your best." - Matt Gerlach "Entrepreneurship is a forced learning platform. You're forced to grow."- Matt Gerlach "You need to be open to the pivoting and the feedback. When you are, you're going to be successful." - Matt Gerlach "What we need to focus on is knowing what actions are needed to get the result we want and many times that will mean less tasks which might make us uncomfortable." - Amanda McKinney Take Away Message / Action Ask yourself what you need to surrender in your business. Is it control of an outcome? Is it forcing a specific service that's just not working right now? It is a specific marketing channel that isn't worth your time? We all have to take action in our business but the key is to know what action will give you the results you're after and the rest needs to be surrendered. So what do you need to surrender today? I'm cheering you on because whatever it is, when you let it go, you will feel lighter. Until next time give yourself permission to surrender and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Matt: Matt Gerlach is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, author, and coach who’s overcome adversity, emerging as an expert in personal transformation and alignment. Having become a leading entrepreneurship expert, Matt’s helped three global powerhouse brands explode beyond $100M in annual revenue before founding his consulting firm that’s helped build dozens of 7- and 8-digit businesses while earning $1 million annually of his own. Matt confronted his feelings that were making him feel broken, which forced him into introspection and self-discovery, enabling him to create a life of emotional and financial abundance. He leads The Abundance Activation Mastermind, which takes entrepreneurs through his signature program to total fulfillment and extreme emotional and financial abundance. He’s finishing his first memoir, which vulnerably chronicles his healing journey over the past seven years, where he learned that childhood trauma kept him from realizing his value and going after the life he truly wanted. Now that Matt has learned to trust his feelings and follow his intuition, he’s emerged triumphant with a life of profound clarity and firmly believes that each person possesses wisdom within themselves, and he is dedicated to empowering his clients to access that wisdom and overcome the obstacles that hinder their dreams from becoming reality. Matt's Links: Website: mattgerlach.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gerlach/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iammattgerlach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammattgerlach/ Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "You are worth the abundance you're building." - Matt Gerlach Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Book Details (Drive by Daniel Pink) Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us Book Author: Daniel H. Pink Published: 2009 Main Message Of Drive by Daniel Pink Intrinsic motivation is more effective than extrinsic motivation. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #231). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. Overview Of Motivation Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation Intrinsic Motivation - when we are incentivized/motivated to complete a task simply because we find it interesting or enjoyable. Extrinsic Motivation - when we are incentivized/motivated to complete a task by an external reward. 3 components of Intrinsic Motivation = (1) Autonomy, (2) Mastery & (3) Purpose Autonomy - when you have control over the 4 T’s: (1)Task, (2)Time, (3)Technique and (4)Team, you're more motivated to complete the task and continue moving forward towards the outcome. Mastery - the deliberate practice to get better, receive fast feedback to improve/learn, and consistency to improve/learn helps your motivation to keep going, even when things aren't going the way you hoped. Purpose - when you understand the higher purpose or impact your work has, this motivates you to continue, regardless of the setbacks that may come your way on the path to the outcome. “As an entrepreneur, I’m blessed with 100% autonomy over task, time, technique and team. Here’s the thing: If I maintain that autonomy, I fail. I fail to ship. I fail to excel. I fail to focus. I inevitably end up either with no product or a product the market rejects. The art of the art is picking your limits. That’s the autonomy I most cherish. The freedom to pick my boundaries.” - Seth Godin The Carrot & Stick Method Doesn't Work Anymore The idea of rewards and punishments in exchange for work done that was created during the 1900's when it made sense but it no longer works. Self Determined Theory We have 3 psychological needs - (1) competence, (2) autonomy, and (3) relatedness.  When we have these, we are motivated, productive and happy. The Three Laws Of Mastery (1) Mastery Is A Mindset; (2) Mastery Is A Pain; (3) Mastery Is An Asymptote Mindset - this is based on Carol Dweck's research and book on fixed and growth mindsets. Fixed Mindsets are those who have an "entity theory" belief that intelligence is an entity in a finite supply that we cannot increase. However, those with a Growth Mindset subscribe to an "incremental theory" and believe that intelligence is something we can increase. Pain - this is based on Anders Ericson's research on performance which states that mastery isn't easy, often isn't fun and can even hurt. "Many characteristics once believed to reflect innate talent are actually the results of intense practice for a minimum of 10 years." Asymptote - this is a straight line that a curve approaches but never actually reaches. The thing about mastery is that you can get close to it but you'll never actually reach the destination of "mastery". The point isn't to reach it, the joy and fulfillment is in the pursuit. Quotes & Notes From Drive (Daniel Pink) Pg 8. Studies show that money helps in the short term with motivation but not in the long term. Intrinsic motivation helps in the long term. Rewards (money, etc) deliver a short term boost (like caffeine) but the effects wear off. (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 30. Intrinsic motivation is conducive to creativity, controlling extrinsic motivation is detrimental to creativity. (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 50. A study (16 in citations) said that ‘goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others (sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized tests) can sometimes have dangerous side effects.’ (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 90 - Autonomous motivation versus controller motivation. ‘Controlled motivation involves behaving with the experience of pressure and demand towards specific outcomes the comes from forces perceived to be external to the self’. (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 95. There is power in free time and several companies have embraced this idea. FedEx, Google, etc. Post-it notes were thought of during a 15% free time of someone at 3M.  (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 121. Performance goals versus learning goals. Getting an A in French class (performance) versus learning to speak French (learning). (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 124. Grit - ‘defined as perseverance and passion for long term goals’ (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 124. ‘Mastery - of sports, music, business - requires effort (difficult, painful, excruciating, all-consuming effort) over a long time (not a week or a month but a decade). (Drive, Daniel Pink) Pg 158. Anders Ericsson: deliberate practice. "A lifelong period of effort to improve performance in a specific domain. The only objective is to improve performance. Repetition matters. Seek constant, critical feedback, focus ruthlessly on where you need help and prepare for the process to be mentally and physically exhausting." (Drive, Daniel Pink) How I've Personally Applied The Learnings From Drive (Daniel Pink) Identifying Mastery Focus The idea of mastering something is a great way to stay focused as an entrepreneur. While we can never reach a mastery level, that's not the point but rather if we choose to master something, we will stay focused on that. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to niche down and that often feels daunting but if you can identify something you're willing to dedicate 10+ years to master, this is your niche. Setting Goals With both myself and my clients, when talking about goals it's great to know the numbers and aim for the shiny thing but what really matters is understanding WHY the goal is important. If the goal isn't truly important to you, it means you're focused on extrinsic motivation and when things get tough, you're more likely to give up. If you choose a goal you're intrinsically motivated to achieve, you're more likely to continue to make progress. Assessing Actions When I notice a difference between what I or someone says they want to do and what the actual actions are, this is where we have to dig in. Many times our actions are telling us what's more important to us (intrinsic motivation) and therefore, we can follow those breadcrumbs to refine the goal/outcome that we need to focus on. As entrepreneurs, we often take action and stay busy but what we really need to do is to be intentional with our actions and focus only on those that will move us forward towards the outcome we truly want. Looking at the 4 T's (task, time, technique, and team), we need to be extremely intentional or else we are wasting all of our autonomy. Take Away Message / Action Explore what you want to master. It's often talked about as defining your niche in entrepreneurship but let's flip that and ask: what do I want to master? What am I willing to spend 10,000 hours on and say no to other things too? Until next time, give yourself permission to master something and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. Other Resources: Drive by Daniel Pink Mindset by Carol Dweck Free Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "We can accomplish so much more and be so much happier if we focus on intrinsic motivation instead of extrinsic." - Amanda McKinney Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to support you as you follow through and make progress. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary In this article, Amanda McKinney and Erika Lucas discuss the topic of knowing when to shut down a business. They emphasize the importance of listening to customers and being receptive to their feedback and also checking in with yourself to ensure the business is still connected to your values. They also discuss failure, adaptability and getting support from other entrepreneurs. The combination of understanding data (revenue, product-market fit, etc.) as well as your capacity and willingness to continue are the keys to understanding if it's time to shut your business down or address burnout. Throughout this conversation they both share personal examples and highlight that all entrepreneurs have moments of doubt so you're not alone if you're feeling this way. Takeaways Listen to your customers and be receptive to their feedback. Failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey and should not be attached to personal identity. Adaptability is crucial for success in entrepreneurship. Self-evaluation is important to determine if your business is still aligned with your values and goals. Seek support and guidance from other entrepreneurs who have experienced similar challenges. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #230). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. "In entrepreneurship, we often talk about when things are rosy but we don't talk about when things aren't going well." - Erika Lucas "I think entrepreneurs feel very lonely and like they are the only ones going through that and don't talk to anybody, so then they get more isolated and instead of troubleshooting, they get more in their head." - Erika Lucas Listen To Your Customer Before Closing Your Business "Sometimes we have to be patient, keep going, or pivot and do the things we have to do to make our business solutions work by listening to the customer." - Erika Lucas "What are the customer's saying. Are you getting enough revenue to validate the idea?" - Erika Lucas If you're listening to the customer or they aren't coming to you and they aren't buying what you have, there's an issue with your business model and that needs to be adjusted. Are you brining in revenue? If yes, how much? Do you have product market fit? What are customers saying about your product/service? Is your current business model the best fit? Am I serving my client/customer in the way they deserve? How To Know If You Have Product-Market Fit In Your Business "At the early stages, I don't believe in surveys because they can be very biased. At the early stages, you have to do things that don't scale. You have to do things that feel uncomfortable but in the early stages you're in discovery mode." - Erika Lucas "We go into these conversations trying to sell our solution but we need to go into the conversation to listen." - Erika Lucas "You have to be adaptable." - Erika Lucas Understand the customers pain point and what they've tried before Don't be stuck on your solution, listen to the person who is struggling with that issue Accepting Failure As Part Of Entrepreneurship "This is what many entrepreneurs get stuck in - failure doesn't mean that you're a failure." - Erika Lucas "Failure is part of the process. It's always going to be there if you're trying to improve. So the faster you can accept that, the better of you'll be." - Erika Lucas "This doesn't mean to remove your emotions from going through the failure, you have to go all in and feel it and it will take time." - Erika Lucas "This is also where a lot of founders struggle because they think if they shut down (their business), that everyone will think they are a failure." - Erika Lucas What can I learn and apply to the next business or project? Ensure that you're not attaching your personal identity to your business performance. Listen To Yourself Before Closing Your Business "There's another component and that's burnout. When you're no longer passionate and the work you're doing isn't fulfilling and in addition to that, you're not bringing in enough revenue to care for yourself, your employees if you have them and to make things work." - Erika Lucas "Make space for yourself." - Erika Lucas "Burnout is not infinite. There are ways to mitigate it and take care of yourself." - Erika Lucas "It's important to listen to customer feedback but also check in with yourself and your values and what you want too." - Erika Lucas Do I see myself doing this in 1 - 5 years at the same pace? Am I hustling in ways I don't need to? Do I need to bring in people or systems to streamline? Am I still enjoying it? Does it still align with my values? Is it additive to my lifestyle that I want to live? It's critical to remember not to take into account what others think during this process. Take Away Message / Action If you're in a place where you're questioning closing your business, go through these questions but also get support as you do this so you don't feel alone. "Get support. Talk to other entrepreneurs who have been there before." - Erika Lucas Until next time, give yourself permission to decide what's best for you and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Erika: Erika is the Founder of StitchCrew, an organization providing capital and resources to women and minority entrepreneurs. Erika also founded VEST, an investment fund and peer network for women professionals. In this capacity she invests in women-led companies supporting women, working parents and inclusive employers. She also connects women professionals across industries, regions and career levels. Erika is a LinkedIn Top Voice on Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship and Strategy. She is on the Board of Directors of Arvest, the Diversion Hub, and the Oklahoma City County Health Department as well as a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, Familia VC and LatinxVC. Prior to StitchCrew and VEST, Erika was a Partner at a Private Equity Firm and Global Director at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Erika's Links: StitchCrew: https://www.stitchcrew.com/ VESTHer: https://www.vesther.co/ Erika's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-lucas-51207911/ Erika's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika_lucas07/ Erika's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erika_lucas7?lang=en Erika's Threads: https://www.threads.net/@erika_lucas07 Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "In entrepreneurship, we often talk about when things are rosy but we don't talk about when things aren't going well." - Erika Lucas Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary In this article, Erika Lucas shares her insights on the 5 myths and mistakes that new entrepreneurs often make. As an investor who works with startups, growth phase and mature companies, she's seen it all and boils it down into 5 things to watch out for. All entrepreneurs fall into these traps but once you know what to look out for, you can prevent staying in them. Both Amanda and Erika share personal examples of each of the mistakes to ensure you don't feel like you're the only one navigating the tough times in entrepreneurship. Takeaways Avoid falling into the trap of focusing on vanity metrics instead of metrics that really matter Spending money before making money is not a good option, you need organic growth first Remember that there will always be challenges in entrepreneurship, no matter your level of success Detach your personal identity from professional roles and find your core values and purpose. Be aware of the fear of missing out and prioritize activities that align with your goals and values. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #229). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. While many first-businesses fail, the research states that "29 percent who tried again were more likely to be successful the second time around" - Schrager (Bloomberg Businessweek) "But if you apply all that you've learned in your first business, to your second business, you're most likely to succeed." - Erika Lucas Entrepreneur Mistake #1: Focusing on vanity metrics Whether it's social media or the 40 Under 40 List, focusing on these types of metrics can take all your energy in the wrong direction. "At the end of the day revenue and cash flow is going to be Queen." - Erika Lucas "If you tell me that this piece of content went viral on social media I'm happy for you but it doesn't tell me anything about the health of your business." - Erika Lucas "The real metrics that I care about are revenue, cash flow, burn, churn, how many customers are you obtaining, how many customers are you retaining. Those are the key, core metrics that tell me how your business is performing." - Erika Lucas "In my opinion, any metric that other people can see is a vanity metric." - Amanda McKinney Entrepreneur Mistake #2: Spending money before making money It's easy to do but a mistake you want to avoid if you're in this for the long-haul and want true success. "In order to make money through ads, you have to spend a lot of money. And if you're not making money already, what's the point?" - Erika Lucas "I believe in organic growth because you learn so much during this phase. It's not scalable but it's key to the early stages of your business." - Erika Lucas "We all tend to spend on swag at the beginning but who is going to want to wear your brand before anyone knows what your brand is." - Erika Lucas Entrepreneur Mistake #3: Thinking problems will go away when... There will always be problems in our entrepreneurship journey but it's a mistake we can all fall into to think that they will go away after we hit another milestone. "We all do this, we think 'if I just solve this problem' then all my problems will go away. But the reality is that problems are part of life, they never really go away, they just evolve into other problems." - Erika Lucas "The more you feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable, the better you'll be served." - Erika Lucas "This doesn't mean 'always be hustling' culture but rather 'I'm always learning and growing'." - Erika Lucas Entrepreneur Mistake #4: Attaching your personal identity to your company Your business is something you care about tremendously but we have to be careful not to connect our self-worth to the title of entrepreneur. "It's very easy to attached the success or failure to yourself." - Erika Lucas "You're more than your title. The company is bigger than you and you're bigger than the company." - Erika Lucas "Figure out who you want to be at the core. What are your values? How do you want to be remembered? That is bigger than the company and any other title you hold. Who are you as an individual?" - Erika Lucas Whenever you experience a win or a loss, be sure to catch yourself if you're attaching yourself to the actual accomplishment. It's helpful to ask "what contributed to the win/loss" and hone in on the actions or lack of actions that led to the result versus taking it on personally. Entrepreneur Mistake #5: Fear of missing out There are lots of opportunities but please remember you don't have to be involved in everything or try and be on all the social media channels. Catch yourself if you're falling prey to the fear of missing out. "I found myself struggling. What happens when you do so many professional events is that you're too burnt out to do personal things." - Erika Lucas "Honestly, if I look at things that I did because of the fear of mission out, they really didn't add to my core key metrics." - Erika Lucas Ask yourself: am I doing this because of the fear of missing out or because it truly impacts what you're trying to accomplish in my business? Take Away Message / Action Go through the list of 5 mistakes and commit to catching yourself when you fall into one or multiple of the traps. There is likely one or two that jumped out at you more and if that's the case, make sure to really pay attention for those specifically. And remember not to be mad at yourself if you fall into the mistake but rather know we all do but by catching it, you're less likely to be impacted long term. Until next time, give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them, and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Erika: Erika is the Founder of StitchCrew, an organization providing capital and resources to women and minority entrepreneurs. Erika also founded VEST, an investment fund and peer network for women professionals. In this capacity she invests in women-led companies supporting women, working parents and inclusive employers. She also connects women professionals across industries, regions and career levels. Erika is a LinkedIn Top Voice on Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship and Strategy. She is on the Board of Directors of Arvest, the Diversion Hub, and the Oklahoma City County Health Department as well as a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, Familia VC and LatinxVC. Prior to StitchCrew and VEST, Erika was a Partner at a Private Equity Firm and Global Director at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Erika's Links: StitchCrew: https://www.stitchcrew.com/ VESTHer: https://www.vesther.co/ Erika's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-lucas-51207911/ Erika's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika_lucas07/ Erika's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erika_lucas7?lang=en Erika's Threads: https://www.threads.net/@erika_lucas07 Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "The real metrics that I care about are revenue, cash flow, burn, churn, how many customers are you obtaining, how many customers are you retaining. Those are the key, core metrics that tell me how your business is performing." - Erika Lucas Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary In this article, I share what to do when it feels like nothing is working in your business because these times are tough when you're an entrepreneur and feel alone and like you're the only one dealing with the hard times. I share my approach that helps me and my clients navigate the tough times and come out stronger on the other side. I share my step-y-step process (which includes 7 questions to ask yourself) for assessing the stressful situation and creating a focused and intentional plan to move forward. All along the way we also check in with your mental health to ensure that you're taking care of yourself as well as your business. Takeaways You are not alone in experiencing challenges in your business. Entrepreneurship is inherently hard and will always have ups and downs. Do not take setbacks personally; focus on your business rather than yourself. Assess the situation by pausing, checking in with your mental health, and identifying points of stress. Focus on what you can control and take intentional action. Find accountability and support to stay focused and navigate tough seasons. Remember the lessons learned from tough seasons for future growth. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #228). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. How To Assess The Tough Time In Your Business Stop/Pause - this feels like the worst thing to do but it's important to give yourself space to separate you from the actions you're taking and take care of yourself mentally. If you keep going, you're going to keep doing the same thing and not be able to see above the clouds to what the best option is. Check in with your mental health - my friend who happens to be a therapist, yoga and ayurveda teacher has a fantastic blog post that outlines 7 questions to check in with your mental health: Have I drank water? Have I been outside? Have I eaten? Have I had a regular bowel movement? Have I moved my body? Have I slept well & slept enough? Have I connected with someone or something I treasure? "If any of your answers are “no,” that is your focus. If there are several, I recommend picking one to focus on for a week. From there, take small actions towards turning that no into a yes." - Kendi Vrska-Weygand 7 Questions To Help You Move Forward During A Tough Time In Your Business #1: Who are 1 - 3 people I can talk to honestly about this situation? Don't just ruminate on thoughts alone, talk to someone. A therapist is great but you can also find a friend, partner or business friend to go through the questions. #2: What are your points of stress right now? Chances are there are several things piling on at once because that's how life tends to work. Since you can't fix everything at once, a list will help you get a handle on the situation and see how they are affecting each other. Specific to your business, identify the most pressing point of stress and tackle that first. #3: What can I control in this situation? Our business outcome (revenue) is reliant on other people's actions (purchasing) and we cannot control that. So what we have to do is separate ourselves from the outcome and ask ourselves what we can control in this process. Our actions - by identifying what actions will be the most helpful in this season, we can optimize our energy and time (by the way, it's not panic posting on social media!) Our outlook - it's okay to be mad about going through a tough season but we also need to make the most of it. By changing our outlook from "nothing is working" to "nothing seems to be working so what can I learn from this", we will come out on the other side even better. #4:  What is working? What has worked before in this situation? I know it feels like nothing is working but chances are something is. If you're working with clients, ask them why they keep working with you. Look back at testimonials and what people have shared with you previously. Reach out to past clients and ask them how they would describe working with you. Identify what is working and how you help people so you can talk about it and describe it better (aka: gain more clients). #5:  What's realistically possible for me to do in the next few weeks, based on what's working, so that I can ease the stress I'm feeling? While big goals are great, in these seasons sometimes we have to focus more short term. How can you "stop the bleeding" right now even if it's not in the long term plan? And remember, less is more. #6:  How can I ensure accountability and support in this hard season? In tough seasons you need someone else to hold you accountable because it's too hard to do for yourself. Create a plan where you can check in with someone on a daily or weekly basis to ensure you're staying focused on the intentional actions that will get you out of this slump. If you want this season to end, this is the quickest way out of it. >> Check out my Accountability Coaching option here #7:  What do I want to remember about this tough season? This one is really focused on supporting your future self because this season will end and things will get better but there will also be more tough seasons ahead too. What do you want to remember about this season? Write yourself notes that you can look back on the next time you're in this season. Take Away Message / Action Remember that this is a season and it will pass but it's okay to want this tough season to pass as fast as humanly possible. Do your best by asking yourself these questions to learn as much as you can through the tough seasons because it's often the time we gain more clarity and information. When things are going well, we don't take as much time to learn but when things are hard we have more incentive to dig in and figure out why things aren't working and it often leads to the biggest improvements in your business overall. Until next time give yourself permission to learn in the hard season and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. Other Resources: Free Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "Entrepreneurship is tough and it's okay to be mad or frustrated when you hit hard times but we often learn more during the tough times so always look for the lessons." - Amanda McKinney Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.

Article Summary Feeling the stress of doing it all in your business? It can be overwhelming and while it seems like doing it all yourself is the best option, it might be time to let go a little. In this episode, my right-hand-lady, Jess Gulley-Ward, and I talk about how we approached working together so I could successfully hand things off to her and gain some of my time back as the CEO of my business. This honest, casual conversation includes: What led Amanda to (finally) outsource tasks Finding the right fit for outsourcing in your business Difference between Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager How to start/test working with someone to ensure it's a good fit Setting boundaries and celebrating progress Takeaways Active listening is crucial when outsourcing tasks, as it helps identify the specific areas that need support. Starting with a project-based approach can be a great way to test the waters and find the right fit when outsourcing. Virtual assistants focus on task implementation, while online business managers provide strategic support and help with logistics. Setting boundaries and celebrating progress are important aspects of the outsourcing journey. Logistics management is crucial for businesses to ensure efficient operations and customer satisfaction. Common challenges in logistics management include inventory management, transportation, and supply chain visibility. Outsourcing logistics can provide numerous benefits, such as cost savings, expertise, and scalability. When choosing a logistics partner, consider factors like experience, technology capabilities, and customer service. **This was also a podcast episode (episode #227). If you'd like to listen to this conversation, use the link below. How To Approach Outsourcing In Your Business If you're hesitant to hand over part(s) of your business, you're in good company. It's hard to do even though it sounds lovely. The truth is, as a boot-strapping entrepreneur, you've learned how to figure things out and you can technically do everything...but should you be doing it all? Chances are, it's time to let go of the reigns a bit and hand off some of things that you don't need to be doing. But since it takes trust and time, I wanted to share my experience of how I did this and handed things over to my right-hand-lady, Jess. "You're not alone. Your feelings of overwhelm are heard, natural and understood and sometimes a quick phone call can confirm that you're in the right place and talking to someone who thinks logistically can be a great first step." - Jess Gulley-Ward Jess does a great job in this conversation of letting you know that you're not alone in these feelings and that you can take it one step at a time when it comes to getting support from a virtual assistant or an online business manager. Virtual Assistant or Online Business Manager Fortunately, there are many people who are ready to support you in your business, you just have to find the right fit for you. Here's my definitions of each and how they can best support you: Virtual Assistant: a contractor that you hire to complete tasks needed in your business. Online Business Manager: a contractor that is primarily focused on planning and strategy for your business. "Talk to someone to get clarity on where you are so busy that you can't get into your business anymore." - Jess Gulley-Ward Think About It As Support Instead of Outsourcing In Your Business Once you find someone you can trust, it's more about getting support versus handing things over. The person you work with should be someone that feels like a partner in your business rather than an outsider. "My goal is to be the backbone of your business so you can be the shining star, however you define that." - Jess Gulley-Ward "I'm the trusted logistics person that keeps the ship running in the right direction." - Jess Gulley-Ward Book a FREE Clarity Call with Jess After this 1-hour call, you'll walk away with clarity on where you can receive support in your business and a plan to make it happen. The feeling is amazing! Take Away Message / Action Book a discovery call with a Virtual Assistant or an Online Business Manager. If you're feeling the pull in all directions it's time to get support. You can start with a project and see if it's a good fit and take it from there. Until next time give yourself permission to outsource (or even just think about outsourcing) in your business and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon. About Jess: Jessica Gulley-Ward, the queen of Juggling Logistics, is a logistics wizard for service-based solopreneurs who are overwhelmed with the details in their business. Jess manages administrative “busy-ness” to allow you, a solopreneur, to get back into your business.  Even though Jess is superbly detailed that doesn’t mean she’s a stickler for seriousness!  Jess’ heart beats when she’s soaking up laughter and love from her family, her husband Kevin, her pup Lucy and their beautiful life in Vermont. Jess' Links: FREE Clarity Call with Jess: https://www.jugglinglogistics.com/amanda Jess's Website: https://www.jugglinglogistics.com/ Jess's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess_juggles_logistics Other Resources: Free Follow-Thru Workshop: https://amandamckinney.com/workshop All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book "My goal is to be the backbone of your business so you can be the shining star, however you define that." - Jess Gulley-Ward Let's Work Together! I'm on a mission to help eradicate the feeling of failure when it comes to goal achievement. If you'd like support as you pursue your business goals, let's work together. Use the link below to see my current options.