Victoria Song – Making the Impossible Probable

August 11, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Victoria Song, is the author of the new book “Bending Reality: How to Make the Impossible Probable”, out on August 24th. She’s been recognized by Forbes in the TOP 30 Under 30 Women to Watch, studied economics at Yale and leadership at Harvard Business School before becoming a leadership advisor to CEOs in Silicon Valley. We had a great discussion about why our intuition is so important right now, the most common challenge for CEOs, and why both masculine and feminine qualities are valuable in the workplace.

Listen in as Victoria talks about contraction versus expansion, how to avoid what she calls The Drama Triangle, and why we should let our emotions get in the way.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I grew up in an environment where we all used success as a distraction.” – Victoria Song

Show Notes:

The Difference between Contraction and EXPANSION (& why it’s essential for Leaders to know)
How to avoid “The DRAMA Triangle”
Why it’s ok to let our EMOTIONS get in the way
Easy, SIMPLE Tips on how to experience more Expansion
How to reach peak professional PERFORMANCE
Big Girls DO and CAN Cry – she SHATTERS the glass on this decades old myth in the workplace
And much, much, more!

When we’re in contraction we tend to be motivated by very toxic feels.” – Victoria Song

Connect with Victoria Song:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Victoria Song

Anything you can’t label or put in a box feels threatening when you need to control everything around you.” – Victoria Song

Carla Green – Why Writing a Book Could Give Your Business a Big BOOST

July 28, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Carla Green is the Founder & CEO of Clarity Designworks, a publishing and book design company geared towards supporting entrepreneurs and business leader authors get published.

Carla gives some great examples of the types of books that business owners write, what steps are involved in publishing a book after the writing is complete, and the stigma of self-publishing.

Listen in to learn the ideal number of pages in a book about business, how to get started writing a book, and why you probably need an editor.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

If you don’t notice my work that means I’ve done my job well.” – Carla Green

Show Notes:

WHY you should consider writing a book if you’re in business (especially service businesses)
The difference between traditional and SELF-publishing (Carla really breaks this down)
Carla takes the GUESSWORK out of the ideal number of PAGES in a business book
The PROCESS of what happens once the writing is complete
The SINGLE Biggest reason an entrepreneur should consider writing a book
How to decide what kind of publisher you want to use
The “STIGMA” around self-publishing and why it may be costing you money(and clients) to hold on to that belief
Tons of TIPS & TRICKS to help you get started writing your book (Carla’s tips were so great, she has almost convinced me to do a SECOND Book!)
Why you need a good editor
What TYPES of books work best when it comes to business
The difference between a MEMOIR and an autobiography
THE POST-IT Note approach to writing
Carla reveals the ONE THING she has struggled with most as an entrepreneur and how she’s now “recovering”
PLUS+ she offers A Self-Publishing Timeline and Checklist for our Listeners!

Even editors need editors.” – Carla Green

Links Mentioned:

Download your copy of Carla’s Self-Publishing Timeline and Checklist

Connect with Carla Green:

I’m a recovering perfectionist.” – Carla Green

Jean Brownhill – THE Matchmaker for Home Renovations

July 14, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jean Brownhill is the Founder & CEO of Sweeten, a matchmaking service for general contractors and homeowners seeking help with their renovations. Jean got the idea for the company after her own home renovation went awry. Today, a decade later, Sweeten has expanded to ten major cities across the country. Jean opens up about the time she realized she was on to something, her best simple and sweet action steps to grow a business, and her 108 daily blessings routine.

Listen in as she explains how her Sweeten accelerator for women (S.A.W.) is promoting female contractors, how she hires, and why she hires more for attitude than aptitude these days.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

It’s helpful to remember that — not even how — that you got up the last time.” – Jean Brownhill

Show Notes:

The MOMENT she saw an opportunity (she was staring at a GAPING hole in her ceiling)
She was an “intrapreneur” long BEFORE she became an entrepreneur (it helped!)
Her Big BREAK (she had no clue & wound up in being voted “The Best of….”
Her biggest Challenge and what’s she’s learned from it
The best action steps to GROW your business
Something she’s definitely NOT a Fan of in the start-up arena
Her 108 Daily Blessings lesson she learned in Thailand
Why the “GRINDING” mentality doesn’t work
How to get up after being KNOCKED down
And so much more….

I was in the industry. How could it be this tough for me?” – Jean Brownhill

Connect with Jean Brownhill:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Sweeten

One of the things we’ve done really well is just continue to tell success stories.” – Jean Brownhill

Esther Crawford – Selling Her Squad App to Twitter

June 23, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

This week’s guest, Esther Crawford, was the CEO and Co-founder of the Squad app when it was acquired by Twitter back in 2020. I admire her transparency as she talks with me about her journey to break the cycle of poverty that she grew up in and why her curiosity has driven her forward at such an impressive speed. We discuss what it’s like to consider selling your company and what happens after your business gets acquired. She is aligned, grounded, and a deep thinker. It was a pleasure to sit down with her and explore the entrepreneurial journey with her.

Listen in as we talk about the inner journey of an entrepreneur, why launches are really important in business, and why we should never work in stealth mode.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

At every step along the way, I just followed what I was really deeply curious about.” – Esther Crawford

Show Notes:

How the inspiration to Pivot came from her Pre-Teen Daughter
It’s OK not to know everything; Their FIRST Idea FAILED
How DOUBT clouded her thoughts right before they Pivoted to their BIG IDEA
The DANGERS of Stealth Mode and WHY Launching in “PUBLIC” is better & FASTER
Why the FEEDBACK Loop is critical to an entrepreneur
What growing up in a cycle of extreme POVERTY taught her
The “Process” of selling her App to TWITTER
The STORY of her Name: This is so POWERFUL
Her BEST Advice when making the decision to take the entrepreneurial JOURNEY
And so much more!!!

The reality of building something and launching something requires that you get feedback.” – Esther Crawford

Connect with Esther Crawford:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter

I learned a lot of things on the ground and on the fly versus having had the background in school or in my family.” – Esther Crawford

Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

June 9, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Both Amber and her husband were mortgage brokers when the bottom dropped out of the real estate market. Overnight, she found herself pregnant with her fifth child and standing in line for WIC government benefits to maintain food and nutrition for her family.

Fast forward to today, Amber Duncan now owns 17 companies including a debt consolidation company, Reduce My Debts, two Gigi’s Cupcakes franchises and Shop Jackie, a high-end personal shopping experience for women, delivered right to your front door.

In this episode, Jackie explains how you can connect with a customer and why it’s the most important aspect of being successful in business. She also reveals some of her best leadership tips and shares why you should never wait for perfection.

Listen in to this episode to find out how to grow a new business, ways to increase your business’s visibility, and how Shop Jackie works.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Everything that I’ve done has been born out of failure.” – Amber Duncan

Show Notes:

How Shop Jackie was started out of Amber’s FRUSTRATION
Where the name JACKIE came from – love this story & reminds me of my Mom!
How Amber is DISRUPTING the online personal styling industry making it BOTH scalable & personal
Amber went from college dropout to owning 17 businesses
Simple strategies on how Amber went from “broke, eating Mac n’ Cheese every day” to wildly successful
Her Go-To Action Step that she takes every day to keep her ALIGNED as a wife, mother to five and entrepreneur
Her Superpower
Her ADVICE on what you need to know when you get started – PURE GOLD and it’s just ONE Word.

I don’t get stuck, I turn quickly.” – Amber Duncan

Connect with Amber Duncan:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Reduce My Debts| Shop Jackie

Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.” – Amber Duncan

Elise Rosenstock – From The Kitchen Table in Cleveland to 1M on QVC

May 26, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Today’s remarkable guest, Elise Rosenstock, started her jewelry business over 20 years ago at her kitchen table with only $300 (she confesses it was her “date night” money). Now, Elyse Ryan Jewelry is in big brand stores across the country from Saks to Bloomingdales to QVC and HSN. She’s using her successes to make a lasting impact in the lives of those around her.

Elise shares a great story about why she’s affectionately been called “The Lemonade Stand Lady” and insists she has found success in trusting that people just want access to the real you.

Listen in to today’s episode as Elise talks about the two things you need to grow, how to go from the kitchen table to a manufacturer, and why reinvention is so popular.

To snag a 15% discount on any of Elise’s fabulous jewelry, our listeners can use the code ‘MOXIE‘ at checkout on her website.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I had the sales and marketing in my blood, but I had to be able to do it in a way that people were going to believe in me and my product.” – Elise Rosenstock

Show Notes:

How she went from her kitchen table to big brands SAKS, Bloomingdales, QVC & HSN
Simple, easy tips (anyone can do it) on how she grew visibility for her jewelry line
How she raised over 1M on QVC and became known as “The Lemonade Stand Lady”
The most challenging aspect of being a business owner – CONTROL
The ONE Thing you should always pay close attention to
The KEY to staying in business for the long-term
Her ADVICE on how she gets through those really tough days
Details on her new line, “WRISTROCKS”
And much, much more…

If you have an idea, don’t expect it to happen overnight.” – Elise Rosenstock

Connect with Elise Rosenstock:

Facebook | Instagram | QVC | ElyseRyan

Surround yourself with mom-preneurs. I do that every day.” – Elise Rosenstock

Jessica Chang – Transforming Childcare in the US

May 5, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jessica Chang is on a mission to transform childcare in the U.S.

She is an entrepreneur, CEO, and Co-founder of WeeCare, the largest network of childcare providers in the US (in only 5 years!). After having her first child, she struggled with navigating the childcare options available in her area and found that she was not alone in her dissatisfaction. So she decided to do something about it.

Bringing conscientious change to an industry that so desperately needs it, WeeCare is not only making affordable and world-class daycare accessible to all families, but they are also empowering individuals, especially women, by helping them start and operate their own daycare business through their “Business in a Box” formula.

Listen in as Jessica talks about her pivot during the pandemic, how to get out of bed on difficult days, and the worst startup advice she’s ever heard.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

If I could figure out how to save one school, maybe I could figure out how to save more schools.” – Jessica Chang

Show Notes:

How Jessica created the LARGEST Network of Childcare Providers in the US (In only 5 Years!)
How she UNCOVERED the biggest challenge and SOLVED it
Jessica shares the “Business in a BOX” Formula she developed that’s transforming the industry
The “Fever Free” Initiative that helped WeeCare Pivot during the Pandemic
Her ADVICE to entrepreneurs that will surely be unpopular with INVESTORS
Her DREAM to get more Employers into the Childcare Conversation
And much, much more!

When it comes to early childcare, it’s not a one-sided problem. You’ve actually got to be able to sustain both sides.” – Jessica Chang

Connect with Jessica Chang:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | WeeCare

When I realized my own personal constraints, I actually became really interested in the early childcare space.” – Jessica Chang

Coco Meers & Marcy Vermillion – Introducing Women to the Power of CBD

April 28, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Marcy Vermillion had an unfortunate kayaking accident that, at age 32, left her unable to even walk her dog. This led her on a journey to the healing effects of CBD. Once she shared it with her good friend Coco Meers, Equilbria was born.

Coco and Marcy both sold their tech ventures realizing they were on to something for women. Now they are ready to introduce their premium, farm-fresh, full-spectrum CBD products to women across the globe. They have a unique approach; they offer something called Dosage Specialist Support to potential clients who aren’t sure where to begin or which products will best suit them.

In today’s episode, they share their biggest hurdle when building their business, the “three chains” in building a business, and their best steps to grow the brand. They also share advice that they often hear in the startup world that they disagree with, how to be comfortable knowing what you don’t know, and what should you plan for when things don’t go well.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

We’re so passionate about what cannabis and CBD can do for women and for women’s health, but it is not a one-size-fits-all.” – Coco Meers

Show Notes:

A step-by-step (think paint-by-number) explanation on WHY CBD is so healing for women
A HUGE challenge that COST them their Recurring Revenue (and how they overcame it!)
The “Three Chains” in Building a Successful Business
How Coco and Marcy went from Tech to CBD
ADVICE they hear in the start-up arena that is highly MISLEADING for Founders
How to determine what dose of CBD is right for you
WHY Daily Drops has become such a GENIUS product for Equilbria
Where they Find their Joy

CBD and women are such a perfect pair.” – Marcy Vermillion

Connect with Coco Meers and Marcy Vermillion:

Facebook | Instagram | Equilibria

At Equilibria we are owners of our own farm, so we can trace our batch and lot number all the way down to the genetics and the farmer who picked it.” – Coco Meers

Charlene Simon – The Art of Juggling Soaps, Cosmetics & Cupcakes

April 14, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

She left school at 15 and had her three children by the time she was 20.

Today Charlene Simon is the real definition of a “serial” entrepreneur. She’s the CEO & Founder of three successful brands: Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium, Fat Bottom Girl’s Cupcakes and Villainess Beauty.

It all started in San Diego in 2000 when Charlene walked into a soap shop that had real, live, breathing goats out back. She was mesmerized. She spent hours in the local library teaching herself the chemistry of soap making.

In 2009 (not a great year for the economy), she remembered her boss saying once, “You have to strike on real estate in a recession.” So she took $700 (all the money she had) and she went for it. She opened her first Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium.

It’s been a wild ride and one that continues to spiral upward for this straight-talking entrepreneur who makes all her decisions on “feelings.”

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

“The fear is fuel.” – Charlene Simon

Show Notes:

Why starting a business in a RECESSION was her BIG Break (it was the perfect time)
Why FEELINGS matter most to her when making decisions (she needs to feel the JOY)
Why CUPCAKE WARS kept calling her to be a contestant on the show – it had to do with a T-Shirt
Her Most DIFFICULT Business Moment – (two blocks down the street)
GENIUS Advice on how to handle COMPETITION
Her “BUFFET” Analogy (what are you hungry for?)
TIPS on Dealing with CRITICISM
And much, much more!

“Competition is nothing; I don’t even look at other people.” – Charlene Simon

Connect with Charlene Simon:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

“If it doesn’t bring me joy, I know not to touch it.” – Charlene Simon

Wendi Weiner – The journey From a Lucrative Career as a Lawyer to Becoming The Writing Guru

March 24, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Wendi Weiner was well established as an attorney earning a significant income but her true passion was writing. Her parents even nick-named her, “The Writing Guru.” She started a side hustle of writing even though she was putting in 50-60 hours a week as a lawyer. It turned out to be a very good decision.

Fast forward to today: Wendi has been featured in over 75 media outlets — from CNBC to CNN and The Huffington Post — as a leading authority in personal branding, social storytelling, career strategy, and the job search process. Her business, The Writing Guru, provides corporate branding services to Fortune 25 companies and she regularly gives talks on topics ranging from personal branding to resume writing, reputation management, and social networking. She believes that if we want to have our own business doing something we love, we have to change our mindset about time. We don’t work nine to five. We work whenever.

In today’s episode, Wendi shares how to balance your full-time job with your side hustle, the secret to getting media coverage, and how to become a household name.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

The personal fulfillment drives my passion, which is something that people see when they talk to me.” – Wendi Weiner

Show Notes:

How it felt to get her “Carrie Bradshaw moment”
WHY it’s good to listen to your Mom
How attending a conference led to her “LIGHT-BULB” moment
What it really takes to go from SIDE HUSTLE to a successful six-figure business
How to align your full-time job with your side hustle
The secret for getting media coverage (Wendi has been featured over 75 MEDIA Outlets!)
The most important action step for new entrepreneurs
How to become a household name in your industry
Her “Non-Negotiable” Daily Ritual
The most difficult part of entrepreneurship
How she adjusted having her hubby “come home” to work during the Pandemic (I could relate so much to her story here!)
Her best ADVICE on how to move through the really difficult days
Where she Finds her JOY

Your business and style are going to evolve over time. Don’t be afraid of it.” – Wendi Weiner

Connect with Wendi Weiner:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Writing Guru

The amount of work I generate in a day probably can’t be done by a lot of people.” – Wendi Weiner

Victoria Song – Making the Impossible Probable

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Victoria Song:

Carla Green – Why Writing a Book Could Give Your Business a Big BOOST

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Carla Green:

Jean Brownhill – THE Matchmaker for Home Renovations

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jean Brownhill:

Esther Crawford – Selling Her Squad App to Twitter

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Esther Crawford:

Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Amber Duncan:

Elise Rosenstock – From The Kitchen Table in Cleveland to 1M on QVC

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Elise Rosenstock:

Jessica Chang – Transforming Childcare in the US

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jessica Chang:

Coco Meers & Marcy Vermillion – Introducing Women to the Power of CBD

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Coco Meers and Marcy Vermillion:

Charlene Simon – The Art of Juggling Soaps, Cosmetics & Cupcakes

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Charlene Simon:

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