Bethany McDaniel – Launching a Business With Just $250 – CEO & Founder of Primally Pure

September 9, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

After struggling with acne and skin sensitivity as a teenager, my guest Bethany McDaniel, CEO & Founder of Primally Pure decided to dive deep into the power of real food & natural ingredients. In her deep research and self-education process, she uncovered the knowledge that there were a lot of toxic ingredients found in deodorant which led her on a journey to make her own. She found something that worked for her but unfortunately, her hubby wasn’t too excited to try it so she had to get busy and find another way to win him over. This is when Primally Pure, was born.

On this episode, Bethany talks about how she started her business with only $250, as well as her deodorant tube disaster of 2017 – which was a good reminder of the ebb & flow of entrepreneurial life. Bethany also talks about her best action steps, how contacting influencers helped her grow her business, and much more.

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

I’m a firm believer that you can do so much with very little.” – Bethany McDaniel

Show Notes:

How her early days as a staff WRITER got her thinking about owning her own biz
WHY she chose Deodorant as her first product (Her hubby wasn’t too excited)
How a $250 purchase got the ball ROLLING to a multi-million dollar company
The #1 ingredient to her early success (I love the SIMPLICITY of this)
How her LEADERSHIP has changed from the early days
The 2017 Deodorant Tube DISASTER that taught her an important life lesson
The Business ADVICE she hears that she absolutely does not agree with

Knowing what it is to be an entrepreneur, there are always going to be struggles and things rarely go as planned.” – Bethany McDaniel

Connect with Bethany McDaniel:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Primally Pure

It’s like this puzzle that you constantly have to tweak and figure it out all the time.” – Bethany McDaniel

Cathy Alessandra – Serial Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of YES I CAN!

July 15, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Cathy Alessandra, is the real definition of a serial entrepreneur who has started and built several successful businesses to help women and families.

Cathy started her very first business in 1995 out of a need she saw in her community. From there, she caught the entrepreneurial “bug.”

Along the way, Cathy faced some life altering moments which included her son’s struggle with substance abuse, challenges in her marriage, and personal health concerns. She overcame those challenges by using her “YES I CAN” mantra and her daily rituals. Now, she has turned her mantra into a business, and she is currently the Founder & CEO of YES I CAN coaching.

On today’s podcast, Cathy talks all about her experience coaching women, the philosophy behind YES I CAN, her best productivity tips, and much more.

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

It was all built on a need of my own and figuring that other people needed it as well.” – Cathy Alessandra

Show Notes:

Great examples on Pivoting in business
The personal tools she used to move through a health challenge, her son’s substance abuse and an unraveling marriage – all at the same time
Cathy’s SECRET to overcoming challenges
The moment she got the idea to birth YES I CAN
Which daily routines helped her achieve success
Why Strategic YES’s and Abundant No’s have become a guiding light
Cathy’s best productivity tips as an entrepreneur
The Worst advice she hears in the Start-up arena

As my business has grown, I need to think ahead of the curve and outside of the box.” – Cathy Alessandra

Connect with Cathy Alessandra:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Cathy Alessandra

Don’t worry about all the others. Be focused on who you are so that you attract people that are meant to work with you.” – Cathy Alessandra

My NEW ALIGN online Program

July 8, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

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We’re taking applications now so if you’d like to learn more & jump on board, contact Kathy@SmartWomenSolutions.com or call/text 310-266-0416.

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SmartWomenSolutions.com/align-online

Lisa Cook – Making BIG Waves in Business with Lisa Cook, Founder & CEO of kidSwim

July 8, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I met my guest Lisa Cook, on a 7am flight to LA (no makeup, no hair, no coffee) years ago and the rest they say is history.

Lisa started her business, kidSwim, the Premier Development Based Swim Education Company in Southern California, as a way to make some extra money during the summer. Armed with a flip phone, a paper calendar and a rental car, she started jumping in the pool with LA toddlers. That was 19 years ago. Since then, she, along with her instructors, have taught nearly 10,000 kids how to swim.

On today’s show, Lisa talks about her mindset behind creating her swimming empire and her children’s book, See Me Bubble, which is available on Amazon in both English & Spanish. She also shares how to push aside the ego to achieve success, advice on cash flow and much more.

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

Start delegating as soon as you can. Don’t wait until you feel like you are under a rock.” – Lisa Cook

Show Notes:

Her “Secret Sauce” on serving Influencers in Hollywood – this will probably shock you
The moment she recognized that it was time to get serious about her business
The astonishing (and positive) awareness that occurred as a result of the pandemic – she Now Feels Free
How her Biggest Challenge is something most would consider an asset
Why LEADERSHIP matters more than almost anything else in business
Advice she wished someone would have shared before she jumped in the water to teach that first lesson
Why waiting 24 hours can be PURE GOLD
The most important communication you can have with your TEAM that builds loyalty
And much, much, more

When the staff knows they are respected and supported, they are more willing to go the extra mile.” – Lisa Cook

Connect with Lisa Cook:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | kidSwim

Ego is your greatest enemy in pursuit of success in your business.” – Lisa Cook

Bibi Goldstein – CEO and Founder of Buying Time, Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business

June 17, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Bibi Goldstein, started her business 13 years ago to do personal errands for time-starved families. Her initial vision was walking your dog, picking up dry-cleaning and other tasks that busy families never seem to get to. Fast forward 13 years, Buying Time LLC has grown and morphed into something much bigger and her ideal clients today are entrepreneurs.

She quickly discovered there was a high demand for virtual support among small business owners so she jumped on board.

On today’s show, Bibi tells us all about how staying open to changes brought great success in her business. She also shares tips to maximize your cash flow, how to best engage with your support system, and much more.

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

We want it to be some place where people want to work. It is not just about the hourly amount that they’re making.” – Bibi Goldstein

Show Notes:

The One ACTION Step she took that catapulted her business to another level – this will surprise you
Why “shedding some weight” in her business was a tough but smart move
How the BEST decision she made for her business was also the HARDEST
The importance of STAYING OPEN to changes in your business
Why you must make friends with your NUMBERS
WHAT keeps her motivated as an entrepreneur after 13 years in business
The interesting change she sees coming out of the pandemic in her industry
The advice she hears in the start-up arena that makes her stomach turn

A virtual assistant can do anything that an in person assistant can do, except get you coffee.” – Bibi Goldstein

Connect with Bibi Goldstein:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Buying Time

When you hire Buying Time you are hiring eight people with eight different skill sets.” – Bibi Goldstein

Jenn Kapahi – She Was a Make-up Product Junkie Turned CEO & Co-Founder of trèStiQue

May 13, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jenn Kapahi, my guest today, has always been interested in consumer buying habits. Through her career in the makeup industry, she realized that makeup was complex, with all the different shades and colors, and women were looking for something simple – the “essentials.” This is how trèStiQue, a line of smart makeup crayons with built-in tools that fit in the palm of your hands was born.

On today’s show, Jenn talks about the concepts behind her products, her three valuable tips to achieve success in your business, ways to avoid stress and challenging times, and much more.

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

You have to let yourself have a bad day once in a while, but you cannot give up.” – Jenn Kapahi

Show Notes:

How accepting an invitation to a holiday party opened the door to her future (Jenn talks about how this was totally out of character for her)
WHY staying CURIOUS has become her greatest attribute
The “graphics” you need to pay attention to now more than ever
Why the number EIGHT is so important to her and the CORE of her makeup essentials
She takes a very DEEP DIVE into the Action steps that have propelled their brand to success
Why understanding the CUSTOMER is essential to starting a brand
How she avoids stress in challenging times
The importance of being surrounded by people that trust and understand your vision

I do think that the best entrepreneurs have a very good intuition about things.” – Jenn Kapahi

Connect with Jenn Kapahi:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | trèStiQue

If you keep going and you try, there’s a small percent chance you can still win.” – Jenn Kapahi

Dr. Heather Kunen – Co-Founder of Beam Street, the Walk-In drybar for Oral Wellness

April 29, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Dr. Heather Kunen, is a Co-Founder of Beam Street Dentistry.

Her infectious energy and can-do attitude is a breath of fresh air.

Dr. Heather Kunen started her career working as an orthodontist, but early on, she recognized that there was a market for just the top three most-requested dental services – clean teeth, white teeth, and straight teeth. Heather and her co-founders were able to create a business model that focused on offering ONLY these three services at an affordable price.

Beam Street is the first dental “studio” in New York City which makes going to the dentist easy, affordable, convenient, and quick. They took a page from the drybar and their motto is: Clean teeth. White teeth. Straight teeth. That’s it. They figured if it worked for hair, it might work for teeth too!

On today’s show, Dr. Kunen shares with us the challenges of starting a new business, why it is so important to understand what the consumers want, the actions steps she took to grow her business, her marketing tactics, and more.

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

The key is figure out who are we targeting, and then, how do we best way reach those people?” – Dr. Heather Kunen

Show Notes:

Her “lightbulb” moment that led to rapid-fire reach and quick brand awareness with their target market
She knew her target markets problem and she figured out a solution
The importance of listening to consumers
The concrete steps that lead to a greater goal
The challenges of developing a new idea
How to recognize a new business opportunity
Ways to adapt your business model in difficult circumstances

Taking small concrete steps towards an ultimate goal I think is the most effective way to get something accomplished.”- Dr. Heather Kunen

Connect with Dr. Heather Kunen:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Beam Street

It is important to find your voice, stick to your voice, and be confident in yourself.” – Dr. Heather Kunen

Stacy Blackman – Serial Entrepreneur and CEO/Founder of Stryke Club Acne-Fighting Skincare

April 1, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest Stacy Blackman, CEO and founder of Stryke Club, is truly a serial entrepreneur.

She’s been at the helm of three different (quite successful) start-up companies in three different industries – wedding, MBA consulting and now skin-care for teenage boys.

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

No one really knows the way, we are all flying a little bit blind.” – Stacy Blackman

Show Notes:

The #1 QUESTION to ask yourself before diving into your next venture
How 9/11 shaped her second start-up and what we can learn in this time of COVID-19
The one “HABIT” she had to break to keep going every day
Why we always need to be ready to PIVOT
How you can make the most of difficult situations
How to build a VIRTUAL team committed to your business vision – there’s one ESSENTIAL Ingredient

I’m very organized and I really do map out most of my day.” – Stacy Blackman

Connect with Stacy Blackman:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Stacy Blackman

Begin before you are ready.” – Stacy Blackman

Tovah Haim – How Her Childbirth Experience Led to Birthing Bodily

March 18, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I’m thrilled to have Tovah Haim, CEO & Founder of Bodily, as my guest on today’s show.

Instead of getting mad, she got busy solving a problem she experienced after giving birth to her first child. She decided to launch Bodily – a website full of important and informative content, stocked with reliable products that support a modern approach to birth recovery and breastfeeding for women.

On today’s show, Tovah talks about the first steps she took to building her business, her best tips for getting through the hardest days as a woman entrepreneur, her experience raising funds for her business, and much more.

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

There were just a succession of things that happened to me that I had no idea would happen.” – Tovah Haim

Show Notes:

The FIRST step she took BEFORE she decided to move forward – GREAT tip
The interesting thing that happened when she approached male investors about a product for women
Why it’s vital to focus on your CORE product first
How she reacted to a comment that a male investor made to her about blending motherhood & business
Tovah’s BEST TIPS for moving through the hardest days as an entrepreneur
How she delicately holds people accountable for their gender bias
The exciting new life event that is happening for Tovah

Ultimately what we want to do is shine a lot on every one of those dark corners of female physiology so that we don’t have to be ashamed of what is just a normal part of the health and aging process of our bodies.” – Tovah Haim

Connect with Tovah Haim:

Facebook | Instagram | Bodily

I wanted to create a business that really fundamentally changes this experience for women.” – Tovah Haim

How Judgment is Jeopardizing Your Business

March 11, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Today’s episode is from a recent Instagram Live that I did about judgment, specifically, SELF-judgment.

Judgment is a natural by-product of fear and these two culprits are deadly to your business. Together, they can hold you back from moving towards your goals.

On this episode, I give you tips to overcome judging yourself and how to break free from a judgmental mindset. I talk about who to spend time with, how to re-program your brain, and more.

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

By judging yourself and being worried about what other people think, you’re actually keeping your idea, your genius, your point of view, from someone who may really need it.” – Joy Chudacoff

Show Notes:

How fear unleashes judgement to run wild inside your mind
WHY withholding your creative genius could negatively affect other people who need you
The importance of having a mission that moves you beyond all fear
The #1 thing you may be waiting for BEFORE you move forward – this is a endless cycle and you need to break free – I’ll tell you how

Your mission has to be greater than the self-talk.” – Joy Chudacoff

Show Notes:

Connect with Bethany McDaniel:

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Connect with Cathy Alessandra:

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Connect with Jenn Kapahi:

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Connect with Dr. Heather Kunen:

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Connect with Stacy Blackman:

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Connect with Tovah Haim:

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