Ready to leave your 9-5 but don’t know how? Wondering what it takes to scale a creative business and make consistent income? Want to hear from the biggest creative brands on how they built their businesses? The Jenna Rainey Show is packed full of tangible and impactful tools for starting and building a thriving business. Hosted by best-selling author and creative powerhouse Jenna Rainey, this podcast is a peek into tactical strategies behind social media, pricing, negotiating, creativity and ...
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And that's a wrap on season 1 of the Jenna Rainey Show! It's been an amazing first year debuting this podcast show with just over 85 episodes and loads of amazing guests. Thanks for listening and for all the stellar reviews. Until next time, come hang out with me on Instagram @jennarainey and on the blog at https://jennarainey.com. I've got a lot o…
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What It's Really Like Being an Influencer with shutthekaleup
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Being an influencer might not be what you think! In this episode, I invited my good friend—and one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram—to be on the show. It's Jeannette Ogden from @shutthekaleup! Jeannette's account is all about nutrition, wellness, fitness, and mom-things. We talk about what it's like to work with brands, how to get colla…
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Why Having an E-mail List Saved My Business
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Strategic email marketing is one of the most engaging and cost-effective ways to build personal, profitable relationships with your customers. Let that process for a minute. Email marketing is HUGE. So why you should have an email list? What is my favorite strategy? How did it save my business? Tune in and find out. Episode show notes: https://jenn…
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This one's for all you designers out there who want to start—or grow!—a thriving stationery business. I started my business 8 years ago as a stationery designer and after 5 wonderful years of amazing clients, I decided to shift my focus and sell the company. During those 5 years I learned SO much. I had no formal training or experience so I basical…
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E-Commerce Sites: How to Write Product Descriptions
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Did you know that there is a whole lot of strategy involved in writing descriptions for your products or services so that it reaches more eyes? And it applies to a wide range of e-commerce platforms including Etsy, Shopify, SquareSpace, Creative Market...anywhere you list your products (or services in some cases!). So in this episode I want to give…
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How to Make a Living with Your Ideas with Jeffrey Madoff
38:31
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Have you thought about taking your hobby or side gig and making a living out of your creative creative? Do you have doubts, concerns, fears about taking the leap? You're not alone. I've been there and my guest on this episode has some insights and inspiration to share. Jeffrey Madoff is the founder of Madoff productions in New York City. His compan…
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Curious about how to build a brand but don't know where to start? And what's the difference between a business and a brand? These days with websites and social media, so much of our business is visual. That's why I think every business owner should treat their business as a brand (in other words, give time and attention to the visual details). In t…
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What I Wish I Knew About Owning a Business Before I Started
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16:32
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Especially as a new business owner, mistakes, bumps, obstacles...they're inevitable. It's all part of the entrepreneurship journey. In this episode, I reflect on my last 8 years of owning a business and what I would tell 23-year-old Jenna... ...the 23-year-old Jenna who's sitting at her kitchen table late at night after a long day at the cubicle, p…
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Do you set goals for your life or business? And here's an even bigger question...do you typically hit those goals? Because I know a thing or two about setting goals and not hitting them...or forgetting them...or changing my focus (thanks, ADD). But it can happen! Life happens and pivots are common—sometimes even essential. Over the years, I've lear…
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Before You Hit Publish on a Blog, Do This First
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10:23
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Do you have a blog? If you're thinking, Who the heck has a blog anymore?, then I urge you listen to this previous episode where I explain why it's so important! If you do have a blog, I want to let you in on 4 insider tips to help expand your audience. Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/publishblog/…
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The importance of an email list is something I cannot stress enough! Especially when our economy is experiencing a downturn at the moment and customers are staying in doors, how are you as a business owner staying front of mind with your clients/customers? If you're still scratching your head and asking, "Why start an email list? Email is dead!"...…
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What It's Really Like Working with Your Husband with John Rainey
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Do you work with your spouse or partner? Or are you thinking about working with your significant other on a business venture? John Rainey (my husband) will be the first to tell you that while it's not always easy, it can definitely be worthwhile. John started working full-time at Jenna Rainey HQ a year and half ago and he is the content KING. He's …
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Do you know what gets me excited and geared up for a new year? Planning out my entire year's promo calendar! Last month, my team and I sat down on a few Zoom class and laid out our entire 2021 calendar. I know it can feel daunting but doing this strategic work ahead of time can help you to give you clarity and focus while you create content through…
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A Year in Review: What Worked and What Didn't
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39:33
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Are you getting ready to plan your 2021? In Q4 of each year, I think it's a great practice to take some time to reflect on what worked and what didn't in your life and business, so you can keep those things in mind moving forward. We've got to learn from our mistakes and also keep doing whatever drives success and fulfillment! In this episode, I'm …
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3 Truths About Mental Illness and Being an Entrepreneur
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10:02
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I want to get real and personal with you today about a topic that's incredibly important to me—living with a mental illness. This year (2020) has been tough for so many people. Even without the uncertainty of the economy and the pandemic, being a business owner has its challenges. Mental illness is not a weakness and it is not anyone's fault. You a…
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There's a time to copy and then there's a definite time to not copy. Here's the difference: It is ok to copy to learn. It is NOT ok to replicate or copy someone's work to pass it off as your own and use it for marketing or commercial purposes. This is in fact why there are copyright laws and intellectual property lawyers. Here's the thing. It's rea…
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How many hashtags are you using? Are you using popular ones or niched ones? If you find hashtags confusing, you're not alone! There's so much conflicting info and research about Instagram hashtags, so get out your notebook and let's get a tangible game plan to navigate the hashtag dilemmas. In this crash course episode, I give you the best tools I'…
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What It's Really Like Working for Jenna with Kelly Martin
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58:07
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Just over a year ago, I decided it was time to hire an assistant. I wanted to grow my business and also do less of the things that weren't my specialities. That's when Kelly came into my life and now, she's my right-hand lady/operations manager/integrator. I'm super excited to introduce you to her and let you all in on what it's really like behind-…
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3 Mindset Shifts Every Creative Needs to Make
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12:50
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Mindset is a HUGE topic not only in the entrepreneurial space, but also in wellness and personal growth. And for good reason! Mindset is incredibly powerful, even more than we realize sometimes. In this episode, I give you my 3 top mindset shifts that I think are game-changers. Episode show notes: https://jennarainey.com/mindsetshifts/…
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I'm a firm believer that your morning routine can set the tone for your day—personally and professionally. So when Jennifer Cook of Minimal and Well asked me to be part of her Power Morning speaker series, I was pumped. I'm super passionate about wellness and over the last 8 years of owning my business, I've experienced how morning habits and what …
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Have you ever received an email or DM or text from a friend asking you for help on a creative project...for free? Or maybe it was in exchange for a hug or some exposure. It can be a tough situation! In this episode, I talk about what to consider when asked for free work. Because in my experience there may be a time and a place for it! In all honest…
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What I Wish I Had Known Before Licensing My Art
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17:57
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Now that I've been licensing my art for a few years and we're gearing up for our Brand Plus Brand course launch, I've been thinking about things I wish I had known before starting this journey. So for this bonus episode, we turned the tables and I'm actually the guest answering questions from my licensing agent, Julie Turkel, on her podcast. If you…
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A surface pattern design Q&A with Jocelyn Sipowicz (aka Just Jos)! Jos is lifestyle print and product designer (and alum of Brand Plus Brand—my course on licensing that I co-teach with my agent, Julie Turkel!) She has robust experience in the fashion industry (Coach, Chico's) as well as home textiles and accessories (Loloi). In her work with brands…
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How to Make More Money on Creative Market
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12:03
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Let's talk about how you can make more money on DIY licensing platforms like Creative Market. What do I mean by DIY licensing platforms? They are websites where you can simply upload your artwork and the company either puts it on products—everything from phone cases to beach towels and coffee mugs—or sells the art files to other designers. Popular …
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Creating Impact with Technology with Brandi Bernoskie
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How do you create impact with technology and still make your customer experience feel personalized? That's the question I explored in this episode with Brandi Bernoskie. Brandi is a digital strategist, website developer, and founder of Alchemy+Aim and North Star Sites—companies that help entrepreneurs and business owners elevate their online presen…
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Passive income is the dream of many artists. So let's talk about how to make that dream into reality. In this quick episode, I'm sharing with you 5 things I do to build passive income. Episode show note: https://jennarainey.com/passiveincome/
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Informative Shopping Research with Julie Turkel
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29:49
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Informative shopping research (sometimes referred to as competitive research) in the world of licensing is KEY, especially when pitching your work to partner with your dream manufacturing brand or licensing agent. Informative research helps you answer these questions and more: What's trending (even outside your industry)? What manufacturers have li…
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Pinterest Hacks that Will Make You and Your Work More Discoverable
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8:17
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Pinterest is a search engine—an amazing free tool that you can use as a creative entrepreneur to boost organic search traffic, generate new leads, and attract new customers. In other words, it helps MORE people discover you and your beautiful work! In this short episode, I'm giving you my 3 tips to help you optimize your pinning strategy. Episode s…
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The Power of Niche Marketing with Tom Ross and Mike Janda
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57:44
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Niche marketing, when done with intentionality, can transform your business. Two people that understand the ins and outs of this niche marketing approach is Tom Ross and Mike Janda. Tom is the founder and CEO at Design Cuts, the highest-rated online marketplace for designers. Design Cuts helps their community of 550,000 members save money off the b…
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Being a mom and CEO is incredibly challenging, there's no question about it. Since 2012, I've identified myself as a business owner, artist, and designer who earns a good living doing something that I love. Once I became a mom to my now 1.5 year old son, EVERYTHING changed. If you're a parent, then you know allll about those first few months of par…
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Why You Need to Stand Out to Succeed Online with Kira Hug
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46:03
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Stand out among all the noise. That's the goal, right? As the markets become more and more saturated, you want to be seen! But if you're thinking, What's the point? There are already soooo many artists out there...lemme tell you something. There's no other you in the world and you have something uniquely special to offer. Enter this week's guest—Ki…
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Time Management Strategies that WORK for You
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Time management strategies that WORK can be game-changers in your business (and in your personal life, too!). One of the most common questions I receive is, How do you have time to do everything that you do? Life is busy. We have kids, appointments, sleep, eating, cleaning...you know, juggling all the day-to-day stuff. Very quickly work can pile up…
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Simple & Effective Instagram Strategies with Jamie Dana
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47:27
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Effective Instagram strategies are hard to come by. It seems like the app is always changing! Right? Instagram polls and questions boxes... Effective niche hashtags... Quality vs quantity when it comes to followers... And the often-dreaded direct to camera Instagram stories... These are the wildly popular topics when it comes to using Instagram as …
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What to Do When Your Client Wants a Refund
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15:52
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What do you do when your client wants a refund? It's an uncomfortable situation to be in, no doubt. In my 8 years in business, I've made plenty of mistakes when I had to eat costs. But there have also been times when my clients have requested refunds and I know I was not at fault. Whether you're a service-based business or product-based, I'm giving…
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5 Reasons I Sold ZERO Semi-Custom Invitation Sets
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21:35
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A few years into my custom stationery business, I spent a LOT of time and money creating semi-custom invitation suites. And by the title of this episode, you know how many I sold. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Nil. None... Seriously. Have you ever launched a product, course, or some kind of service and made ZERO sales? I know. It stings! And this happened even…
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Navigating Trends as a Stationery Designer with Wiley Valentine
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52:48
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How do you navigate trends as a stationery designer? They seem to always be changing! Well, I’m stoked to introduce you to two of my friends in this episode—Rachelle Schwartz and Emily Owen. They are the co-owners of Wiley Valentine, a luxury custom stationery design agency where for the last 14+ years, they work with celebrity clients and top notc…
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5 Tips for Handling High Maintenance Clients
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Handling high maintenance clients is part of the the not-so-fun side of business. Let's admit it. I'm talking about those people that cross boundaries, are impossible to please, email you at 3am or call you nonstop outside business hours. Can you relate? While these scenarios tend to be rare, they do happen—whether you're a stationery designer, gra…
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The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Creating a Website with Jen Olmstead
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52:00
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A well thought-out, beautiful website design is hugely important for introducing your brand to your customers. Jen Olmstead and Jeff Shipley from Tonic Site Shop came into my life in 2019. Jen designed the stunning, colorful, bursting-with-personality ShowIt/Wordpress website you see today and I couldn't be more thrilled with it. Throughout the pro…
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Have you ever felt a lack of inspiration and motivation and just utterly burnt out? I have. More than once, too. And these feelings are especially common in the creative community with all the noise and competition. Burnout can affect more than just your work—it can impact your relationships, sleep, mood, and health. (I speak from experience.) In t…
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The Importance of Customer Loyalty and Listening to Your Audience
42:47
42:47
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Customer loyalty is the lifeline of every business. Whether you have return customers or not, building up a loyal customer base that spreads the word to their friends about you is key to growth. On this episode, Casey Graham—Co-Founder and CEO of Gravy—shares some amazing tips on this topic of customer loyalty and how to serve your audience, especi…
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The Future of Licensing AC (after COVID) with Julie Turkel
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30:14
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Is this a bad time to get into the licensing industry as a designer? What products are people buying now? These are great question and ones that I got asked a couple of weeks ago. To really explore this topic with an insider's perspective, I'm stoked to have my licensing agent Julie Turkel back on the show. Julie has been in the licensing industry …
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Is it too late to start—a new hobby, a business venture, or a creative journey? I get emails like this often: "I would love to paint like you but I'm too old now." It breaks my heart when aspiring creatives brush aside their dreams because they think the "window of opportunity" has passed. In this short and sweet episode, I address this common limi…
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You've got questions? I have answers. A couple of weeks ago, I posted on Instagram Stories wondering what you would want to know if you could ask me anything. Within the responses, there was a wide range of topics—from what the early business days were like to whether I had morning sickness while pregnant. It's a fun, chill, let's-hang-out-type epi…
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How to Elevate Your Brand Through Visual Storytelling with Nick Onken
34:11
34:11
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What is visual storytelling?! When you hear the term brand storytelling, the first thing a lot of people think about is the "About" page on your site, social media captions, and general website copy. But don't forget about the VISUALS (photographs, artwork, colors, etc) as incredibly powerful storytelling assets! Nick Onken, world-renowned photogra…
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How to Build a Profitable Business with Tracy Matthews
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43:56
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Wondering how to build a profitable business in a world with LOADS of competition? In this era of technology, competition is stiff! I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Now, more than ever, it's critical to get clear on the why behind your business, your values and brand story, and then to connect with your ideal customers...outside of social media and e…
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"Should I have a blog? Is blogging still a thing?" The short answer is absolutely YES. Your potential customers are on the internet, looking for information that you could be providing. The more blog posts you have, the more chances you have to rank higher on Google, the more traffic you have on your site, the more people will be interacting with y…
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Have you ever written a pitch email to a client or customer and wasn't quite sure what to say to make it feel genuine? Or if you haven't tried it yet, what's stopping you? Pitching your work is vital to growing your business, generating more revenue and pivoting. Whether you're hurtin' for your next client or you want to pitch to your dream brand, …
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The Effects That Stress and Posture Can Have on Your Health Dr. Bill DeMoss
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37:07
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Do you sit for much of the day? Are you looking down at a phone, laptop, etc? It's not uncommon for creatives. But why is Jenna Rainey talking about spinal health and posture? Because I know that supporting our health is fundamental for everything we do. Especially now, spending more times indoors, many people are sitting more than usual. That's wh…
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3 Tips for Beating the Feast or Famine Cycle in Your Business
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Beating the feast or famine cycle in your business is key to growth and sustainability. What is the feast or famine cycle? It's the lack of consistency in workflow that often happens with busy seasons and slow times. Have you ever landed a new job to only start to neglect your sales, marketing, bookkeeping, IT projects, and nurture content...all be…
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The Importance of Curiosity and Creativity with Brit Morin
34:26
34:26
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The importance of curiosity and creativity has never been outlined more effectively than in my interview with Brit Morin. Have you ever been curious to try and learn a new creative skill? If so, what's stopping you? I have heard SO many people tell me, "I just wish I was creative." OR "I don't have a creative bone in my body!" Well guess what? We a…
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