Smart Women Smart Solutions

With Joy Chudacoff, Leading Expert on Business Success and Lifestyle Design For Women

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Carla Green on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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:

Connect with Carla Green:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Clarity Designworks

I’m a recovering perfectionist.” – Carla Green

Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Amber Duncan on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Elise Rosenstock on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jessica Chang on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Coco Meers and Marcy Vermillion on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Charlene Simon on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Wendi Weiner on She's Got Moxie

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

Linda Rose – Get Acquired for Millions!

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Linda Rose on She's Got Moxie

She’s the go-to-gal when it comes to helping companies get acquired and now she’s back with a NEW book to help you simply and easily understand how to get your business ready to be acquired!

Serial entrepreneur Linda Rose joined me on the podcast to talk about her NEW book, Get Acquired for Millions: A Roadmap for Technology Service Providers to Maximize Company Value.

Linda is a big proponent of listening to your clients before anyone else and running a company to sell rather than running a company to grow. She urges other entrepreneurs to think bigger and find mentors that can help them broaden their mindset.

On today’s show, Linda shares how CEOs can get away for up to a month without hearing from their team, two things she wishes she knew before she became an entrepreneur, and the value of organization intellectual property. She explains the Banana Concept, which book has impacted her life, and where she finds her joy.

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

My joy is the bottom line.” – Linda Rose

Show Notes:

  • Why your clients are more important than anyone else – LISTEN!
  • Her solo journey on the Pacific Crest Trail and how this experience changed her entrepreneurial journey (she hiked for 500 miles ALONE!)
  • The different types of revenue and the ones you should be keeping your eye on
  • The difference between running a company to GROW and running a company to SELL
  • Details on completing four Big Acquisitions During COVID
  • The PERFECT Time to Sell your Business
  • A Step-by-Step plan for you to leave your business for a MONTH without any communication with your Team (not even a single TEXT)
  • What “single points of FAILURE” are and how to remove this obstacle in your business
  • The Banana CONCEPT – Brilliant!
  • The Metric that is more VALUABLE than SALES
  • The two things Linda Rose wishes she knew before she became an entrepreneur
  • How Linda Sets Goals – Pure GOLD!
  • The value of organization intellectual property
  • Two books that have impacted Linda’s life
  • Where Linda finds her joy
  • And much, much more

You have to stop thinking like an owner and start thinking like a buyer.” – Linda Rose

Connect with Linda Rose:

LinkedIn | Twitter | RoseBiz

It can fetch value if you identify it, package it, and give it a name.” – Linda Rose

Alli Webb & Meredith Quill – Hearts Be Still. Meet Becket & Quill Jewelry

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

She mastered the market when it comes to blowouts & massage! Now she’s back with a new jewelry line and partner in crime!

Serial entrepreneur, Alli Webb (co-founder of Drybar, co-founder of Squeeze) and Meredith Quill joined me on the show to talk about their new venture, Becket + Quill jewelry.

Alli has always looked for “affordable luxury” in business ventures and Becket + Quill fit the bill. Becket + Quill focuses on jewelry that’s “high end, not high spend.”

On today’s show, Alli talks about how she met Meredith and why she decided to get into the jewelry business. Meredith tell us about the moment she fell in love with jewelry for the first time and what it’s like to have a business partner.

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

The beauty of this business is that you can be wearing things that look very expensive, but really aren’t.” – Alli Webb

Show Notes:

  • Alli shares Why Jewelry and Why Now?
  • The #1 ingredient you MUST have to gain a sustainable, LOYAL following
  • What Alli looks for when evaluating a business opportunity
  • Details on their partnership and why opposites attract
  • The moment Meredith discovered that Jewelry was her true passion
  • Alli shares how a direct-to-consumer brand is so different from brick & mortar and the lessons she’s learning
  • How they both handle the “crawl into the fetal position, I’m never coming out” moments as a woman entrepreneur
  • Where they both Find Their Joy
  • Alli’s truth-telling on what it really takes to become a successful brand
  • And much, much more

Listening and being open to other ideas is important.” – Meredith Quill

Connect with Alli Webb & Meredith Quill:

Instagram | Becket + Quill

We have very different skillsets and we’re both very aware of that.” – Alli Webb

Jesse Draper Unplugged – Getting Real About What it Takes to Succeed With The CEO & Founder of Halogen Ventures

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jesse Draper is back for an encore! She was on the podcast back in 2018 and this time I had the pleasure of sharing her wisdom with the members of my private, online membership community, ALIGN online. It was SO good. I’m calling it, “Jesse Draper Unplugged.” She’s just raised $21M to invest in the next generation of female-founded businesses and on this episode, she takes a deep dive with us!

Jesse started her career in the entertainment industry and along the way discovered she had a “superpower” or maybe it was “x-ray vision” when it comes to knowing what it takes to be a winning idea in business. She started focusing on building an early stage venture capital fund focused on female-founded consumer technologies, which led to the creation of Halogen Ventures.

Jesse talks how she found her footing in the venture capital world, her best tips on pitching ideas to investors, the importance of insane optimism, and why you should always ask for feedback.

If you’re looking for investors or bootstrapping, this episode is for you.

You can be what you can see.” – Jesse Draper

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

For women, we are taught to give away money before we are taught to take risk with our money and that’s a problem.” – Jesse Draper

Show Notes:

  • How Jesse went from the entertainment industry to the venture capital world
  • Everyone suffers from Imposter Syndrome and why you need to just keep going
  • Her Insider “SECRETS” on pitching investors – PURE GOLD!
  • Why Jesse decided to focus on female-founders and her perspective on female-founder disruptors
  • 3 Must-Haves she looks for before giving the Green Light
  • The BIGGEST challenge for female founders (and her expert advice on how to overcome it)
  • Why asking for FEEDBACK is key
  • The Type of LEADER you have to become to succeed – BRILLIANT
  • The Essential ingredient to every business (you may be surprised!)

Bootstrap as long as you can.” – Jesse Draper

Connect with Jesse Draper:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Halogen Ventures

You can’t do anything alone.” – Jesse Draper

Strategy & Consulting

Imagine… finally discovering someone who truly cares about your success and believes in you. Someone who has the knowledge and a step-by-step approach to help you get clear, confident and focused on your vision and dream as a woman entrepreneur. Learn More

Recent Blog Posts

We’d Love to Connect!

We're here to help you get results and increase profits without burning out! Call us at 310-454-2005 or email us to learn more about how Joy's services can help you in your business.