If you’ve been in business for any amount of time—heck, if you’ve been living for any amount of time—you’ve encountered fear. We always think of fear as a bad sign. But in truth, fear is not a sign that we’re doing something bad; it’s a sign we’re doing something bold.
So many times in life fear can hold us back from doing the thing we’re really meant to do.
Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you don’t get scared.
I was 10 years old the first time I realized I was a good runner—at the skate center of all places.
It gave me incredible confidence as a 10-year-old to discover something I was naturally good at. It was this realization that led me to join the track team in middle and high school.
Despite my natural running ability and the fact that I loved running, the strangest thing happened before every race.
I got scared.
I’m not talking about the normal “prerace butterflies.” I mean, I was terrified.
Being scared made me doubt my ability and made me want to quit.
I would beg my coach to take me out of the race, and every time he made me go to the starting line. I love that about him. He made me do it anyway.
You’d think that after running multiple events for multiple track meets over multiple years, I wouldn’t have gotten scared anymore. But I always did.
Then my coach did something that helped me change my focus and interrupt my thought pattern.
At one of the track meets, I was begging him to take me out of the race, he looked me in the eyes, exasperated, and said, “Christy, will you just tell me one thing you like about yourself?”
Confused, I answered him: “My blue eyes.”
“Great,” he said. “Focus on that. I don’t want you to think about the race, the other runners, or your time. Just focus on your blue eyes.”
Changing my focus from what I was scared about to what I was confident in was just enough to distract the fear out of me.
Related: The Fear or Wisdom Filter
Whether you choose to think about what you’re scared of or what you’re proud of, what you focus on will become magnified in your life.
Focusing on what you’re good at and what you’re proud of will encourage you to get better.
Focusing on fear causes you to stay back, give up, or play small.
I was a good runner, but fear made me doubt my training, my track record and my natural ability.
It doesn’t matter how many accomplishments you’ve earned. The fear can get so loud in your head that it makes you doubt yourself.
But here’s the good news: You get to choose what you focus on.
The thoughts you allow to enter your mind will change your entire experience.
My friend Melissa says, “Your mind is multimillion dollar real estate. Be very selective about what you allow to reside there.”
Related: Ep. 31 — Is It Fear or Wisdom?
Walking to any starting line is scary, and it makes you vulnerable.
But before you let fear steal your opportunities and rob you of your potential, ask yourself a few questions.
And then, focus on those answers instead.
It may just be enough to distract the fear right out of you and make you want to go for it.
Jessica Honegger is the founder and co-CEO of the socially conscious fashion brand, the Noonday Collection; author of the book, Imperfect Courage; and host of The Going Scared Podcast. As if that’s not impressive enough, she’s also the mom of three little ones. Jessica is passionate about encouraging others to leave their comfort zone, move forward even when you’re scared, and step into a life of impact.
The path to success doesn’t always seem clear, but when you focus on what you are confident in—instead of what you are fearful of—moving forward doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Why fuel your fear when you can focus on what you’re uniquely positioned to do with your gifts?
Jessica Honegger is incredibly successful, but she’s no stranger to feeling scared.
While researching adoption and visiting East Africa, she was presented with an opportunity to help sell beautiful goods made by local artisans. Jessica was facing mounting debt, and she saw this as an opportunity to not only help her family adopt a child, but to also help vulnerable communities prosper. Facing lots of uncertainty and fear, the Noonday Collection was born as a fair-trade accessories brand created to provide meaningful job opportunities for people around the world.
There is never a time you’ll feel you have the perfect resources, education or knowledge. You just go with your gut and go at it scared. You just do it!
In this episode, Jessica Honegger and I discuss how to “face your fears and do it scared.”
Related: When It All Just Seems Too Big
I know that we’re already in holiday craziness. Y’all, let’s be honest: Christmastime can get crazy with or without a business.
I know that I can often enter this season with high expectations for rest and relationships and, instead, be met with the harsh reality of being run ragged. If we’re not careful, we’ll have fulfilled orders, but we’ll miss out on celebrating this season with the ones we love.
With that in mind, I’ve got three steps to help you not miss out on Christmas and still run your business!
I know that Christmas is when many of you make most of your money. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a life.
You get to decide. Make a plan today to set boundaries around work hours, orders, response time, cut off dates, and pricing.
If you don’t think this through, you’ll be up at midnight on Christmas Eve rushing orders.
You get to define what it looks like. I hope you make a plan that allows you to have a thriving business over the next six weeks while also enjoying the holiday—and having a life!
And of course, one of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing directly from you. Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
1:25 How to Face Your Fears and Do It Scared
10:32 Overcoming Your Fears with Jessica Honegger
48:28 #AskChristyWright
59:42 Encouragement: Overcoming the Fear of Missing Out This Christmas Season
Get Christy's Fear or Wisdom Filter by filling out the form here!
Order the new 2019 Business Boutique Goal Planner with the code BBPLANNER at BusinessBoutique.com/Planner and receive Christy’s Setting Goals video that you can watch right now!
Our friends at Infusionsoft are giving you their free ebook, Your Strategic Game Plan! Text the word STRATEGY to 480-428-4150.
Check out our friends at Volusion. You can set up your online store and start selling your products within minutes. It’s that easy. Sign up for your FREE 14 day trial at Volusion.com/BB.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
This episode is just like having coffee with some of Business Boutique’s best friends! Get to know host of the Marketing Your Business podcast, Stu McLeran; creator of The Magic Brush and host of The Jennifer Allwood Show, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of EVEREVE, Megan Tamte; Founder & CEO of Simplified, Emily Ley; and speaker and author of Remember God, Annie F. Downs.
They’ll answer your questions, and more!
5:18 What is the best strategy for social media marketing?
7:34 How do I get social media followers to convert into sales?
12:36 How do I get people excited enough about my product to buy?
20:48 What are some of the challenges to watch for and common mistakes people make in the growth process?
24:17 How do I stop feeling guilty charging for my services, and even more importantly, help my staff feel more comfortable talking about money with clients?
This podcast was recorded during our Business Boutique 2018 VIP Lunch in Nashville, TN.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
It’s time to talk about working smarter, not harder in order to increase your productivity.
Have you ever wondered how you can be more productive? The solution may be staring you in the face and easier than you think.
Here’s an example straight from my closet.
Every morning I woke up, walked into my closet, flipped on the light, and picked out clothes. And every morning I spent a ton of time just staring at my clothes—well, squinting at my clothes. After months and months, I realized I had a problem.
My problem? My energy-saving light bulb. It took time to warm up and actually illuminate my clothes. And every morning I had to either wait for the lightbulb to heat up or squint.
You know what I finally did? I put in a normal light bulb!
Angels shone down from heaven and I could actually see my clothes when I picked them out.
It’s funny to think about, but we do this in other areas of our lives, don’t we?
We live with problems instead of actually fixing them.
We’ve all been there.
The sink has been leaking for years. And instead of fixing it, you clean up the puddle every time you use it.
We just live with the problem and take extra time every day dealing with the consequences, not the source.
You have one sad phone charger with a wire sticking out, and it’s on its last leg. Instead of getting multiple phone chargers and leaving them several places around the house, you just carry the one with you everywhere. You lose it or risk electrocution multiple times a day.
We live with the broken phone charger instead of taking the time to find a solution.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.
Our problems are not going to change until we bring solutions.
I get it. We are tired, and solving the root of the problem requires thinking and energy and time. I want to challenge you to use some time and energy to get to the root of some of the problems holding you back. If you want a different result, you have to do something differently.
If we’re going to work smarter, not harder, we’ve got to get rid of some of these problems.
Press pause on your crazy life for a second. Your brain is CONSTANLY in overdrive. It’s going 100 miles an hour all day, every day.
If we’re going to think outside our problems, we have to stop. You can’t identify the root of your problems if there’s no margin in your brain. Stop and create some space to think.
Thinking . . . what’s that like? HA!
Once you’ve stopped long enough to create space to think, you might be surprised what you can identify.
Think through your day from start to finish, and ask yourself this question: What barriers or annoyances do you deal with?
Identify areas that drive you crazy and keep you from getting things done. Things that steal your time but don’t have to. Problems that you accept but don’t have to. Annoyances you live with but don’t have to.
It could be a small thing that is a drain on your mental or physical energy.
Make a list.
Take your list and write out to the side a solution for each of the problems you live with.
Most of the “problems” in our lives have a very easy and obvious solution. We just haven’t come up with the solution, because we’ve never taken time to come up with it.
You might need to get on Amazon and order several phone chargers, get a new light bulb, set out your clothes the night before, or buy yourself a jewelry case.
There are problems you can live with and problems you don’t have to live with.
You probably have some problems that you might have to live with, but I’d be willing to bet that you also have a lot that you don’t.
Stop. Think. Solution.
Stop going 100 miles per hour.
Think about what’s holding you back.
And solution your list.
I want you to get things done. In order to get more things done, you’ve got to solve the problems stopping you from getting things done. You’re not just buying a light bulb; you’re buying time and peace of mind!
You’re making your life easier. Life is hard enough. Don’t live with problems you can solve.
April Perry is an organizational and productivity expert and founder of Learn Do Become, where she and her husband help people architect a life of excellence. She is also the host of the LearnDoBecome Radio Podcast. She is no stranger to the Business Boutique Podcast, and has even spoken at Business Boutique events.
April has helped millions of moms get organized, be productive, simplify, and get rid of the piles. Y’all, she helps people get rid of the piles in their house! April’s incredible program walks you through how to create a “command central” in your home, build structure, and live a thriving life while being able to give generously. These teachings don’t just apply to your personal life; they’re also applicable to your business.
April didn’t set out to start a business. She loved being a mom but wanted a way to be more organized and productive, and that’s where she started. Her journey wasn’t always clear and easy, but she stuck with it, made smart decisions, and has been very successful.
In this episode, April Perry and I discuss how to be more productive and work smarter, not harder.
Related: Why Planners Are More Successful
Working smarter not harder is all about effectively utilizing of your resources and opportunities. I want to challenge you to make the most of your next learning opportunity.
Whether it be a networking event, a seminar, or the Business Boutique 3-Day event, these three tips are going to help you take full advantage of the experience.
When you have open hands you position yourself to learn. You’re open to new ideas, and you’re ready to receive and grow. You put yourself in a posture of learning, gratitude, and humility.
Opening your hands also sets you up to give. Even if you’re not an expert in the space you’re entering, you may still have something valuable to contribute. With open hands, you’re available to give, not just take. You’ll be more likely to share what’s working with you and connect with others, instead of keeping it to yourself.
The marketplace is not a place of scarcity, and walking in with open hands helps you freely receive and generously give out to others.
As someone who has spoken at many events and put on several myself, I can assure you that no event you attend will ever be perfect. You get to choose what you’re going to look for when you attend event. Because here’s the deal: you’ll find what you’re looking for.
If you go in looking for negative, you will find it. The speaker will run long, they won’t cover the topic you wanted, they won’t have good snacks at the vending machine, etc.
Fortunately, the same is true about good things. If you look for the positive, you’ll find it. You’ll meet amazing people, you’ll glean incredible information, you’ll feel like you belong, etc.
Regardless of the type of event or situation, go in looking for the good. It’s on you to look for the right things.
Even if the idea of meeting a stranger scares you to death. Even if you’re an introvert. Even if you attend with your best friends.
Meet new people.
Every opportunity you will ever have in your life will come through meeting people.
If you need a little help with this, check out my podcast, “Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone.”
No man or woman is an island. When you’re in these types of environments, it’s a great opportunity to meet people who are in your exact shoes or even a little farther along.
It’s on you to choose to build relationships.
If you employ these three strategies, I know you’ll get the most of out of whatever learning opportunity comes your way!
And of course, one of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing directly from you. Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
1:25 Three Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder
13:10 How to Become More Organized and Productive with April Perry
47:44 #AskChristyWright
56:24 Challenge: Make the Most of Your Next Learning Opportunity
Get the "Get the Most Out of Your Conference Notes" worksheet by filling out the form here!
Preorder the new 2019 Business Boutique Goal Planner with the code BBPLANNER at BusinessBoutique.com/Planner and receive Christy’s Setting Goals video that you can watch right now!
Our friends at Infusionsoft are giving you 25 of their email templates for free! Text the word MIGHTY to 480-428-4150.
Check out our friends at Volusion. You can set up your online store and start selling your products within minutes. It's that easy. Sign up for your FREE 14 day trial at Volusion.com/BB.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Let’s talk about perseverance. Perseverance is a quality that will have a huge effect not only on your business, but on your whole life.
Perseverance is persistence. It’s pursuing something with passion. It’s pushing through when things are hard.
I’ll be honest: Perseverance isn’t something I personally struggle with. In fact, I’m so persistent that it’s almost a flaw. Sometimes I just don’t know when to quit!
But that’s why I can tell you that being persistent and persevering in my life has been the number one quality that’s enabled me to achieve everything that I have. Even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, and even when I have tons of obstacles, I still push through.
Steve Jobs once said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”1
Half! He believed half of what makes an entrepreneur successful is not money, not fame or a family name, not a business degree or even knowledge. It’s perseverance!
I couldn’t agree more.
And you know, there are so many success stories of women who got their million-dollar business idea right after pushing past the point of wanting to give up. People may have thought they were crazy, but they pushed through anyway.
Look at Kendra Scott, who started her first business at age 19.2 That business was called The Hat Box, but none of us know Kendra Scott as a hat designer, do we? That’s because Kendra didn’t find her successful business idea until almost a decade later. She designed her first jewelry collection with just $500 cash, and today, women all over the world (including me!) can’t get enough of her fun, girly jewelry and accessories.
Related: Ep. 40—Top Traits of Highly Successful Women
Then there’s J.K. Rowling, who wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as a broke, single mom, fresh off the heels of her mother’s death and a divorce. Her book was rejected by 12 publishers before it was finally picked up by one. She was given an advance of less than $2,000 for her work.3 Of course, we now know her as one of the wealthiest women in the world.
But maybe you don’t want to make a million dollars. Maybe you just want to pay for a trip to Disney World, or be able to quit your day job. On some days, I bet that seems like an impossible dream.
Or maybe your business is stalling and you’re thinking about scrapping the whole thing. Let me encourage you to keep going.
In this episode, I want to help you. I want to help you persevere, and together, we’ll tackle your doubts, like:
I am so excited to introduce you to one of the most talented guys I know, Dave Barnes!
Dave is a singer, a musician and a Grammy-nominated songwriter. Have you heard the song, “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton? It’s a huge country hit, and Dave wrote it. I’m a fan and friend of Dave’s—and by the way, he’s hilarious.
In this episode, Dave and I talk about:
And of course, one of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing directly from you. So this week, I’m answering your business questions about scaling, passive income and quitting your full-time job.
Don’t forget to give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
Plus, I want to have a heart-to-heart with you before I go. I have a special message that’s been on my heart that I want to share with you. It’s my hope for you that this reminder will make you come alive and bring you joy.
1:17 Perseverance in Your Business.
23:50 Slow and Steady Perseverance with Dave Barnes
50:28 #AskChristyWright
58:45 Encouragement: Do What Makes You Come Alive and Brings You Joy
Get Christy's Goal Setting Tool by filling out the form here!
Preorder the new 2019 Business Boutique Goal Planner at BusinessBoutique.com/Planner and use the code BBPLANNER to receive Christy's Setting Goals video that you can watch right now!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
One of my favorite things about business is marketing, and I’m so excited because this week we’re diving into a marketing concept known as the unique selling proposition.
It is one feature or benefit you want to highlight about your product or service.
This concept dates back to the 1940s and was used to get people to switch from one brand to another. For examples of this, just Google “1940s soap advertisements,” and you’ll see some brands touting “lovelier skin” and others promising to “stop BO!” Don’t most soaps do both? Yes, but each brand chose to highlight a different feature of its soap.
I’ve taught y’all about this before in many places, including my Business Boutique book, where I call it your unique position. It’s the angle you want to take in all of your marketing that lets your customers know why they need to buy from you.
In Reality in Advertising, author Rosser Reeves explains the purpose of your unique selling proposition so well. He says, “Each advertisement must say to each reader: ‘Buy this product, for this specific benefit.’” He also says, “The proposition must be strong enough to move the masses.”
Related: Ep. 52—Market Research: How to Know What Your Customers Want
So focus on just one feature or benefit of your product—something you want to be known for that is strong enough to move the masses—and highlight that in all your marketing, even if that thing seems obvious. In fact, in this episode, I’ll tell you how my college professor taught our class how to sell a toaster by highlighting a feature as basic as its electric cord.
But here’s another example.
FedEx has an advertising campaign right now that grabs my attention every time I see the commercial. In the ad, you see a woman standing in her art studio waiting on a delivery. In another scene, a package is hand-delivered to an elderly man sitting in a nursing home cafeteria. Then there’s a little boy peering with wonder at a FedEx box in his living room.
A voice-over asks, “What’s inside?”
Then you see the artist, the senior and the little boy light up as they open their boxes—and the answer comes: “Possibilities.”
Here FedEx reminds us that receiving a package in the mail is exciting! And if they’ve done their job right, maybe they’ve even convinced you that when you send or receive a parcel via FedEx, anything is possible.
Doesn’t UPS offer a very similar service? Yep. If you use UPS for your shipping and handling, can you send and receive the same things and have it done in the same amount of time? Probably. But FedEx hooked me with their commercial because they chose to highlight the excitement that comes with anticipating a package.
What result can you highlight about your business that will make your potential customers feel something?
In this episode, I’ll challenge you to answer these questions about your business:
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you’re missing out on sales. You’re missing sales because if you don’t answer these questions in your marketing, your customers sure won’t know the answers, either!
Now, your unique selling proposition doesn’t have to be something unique to only you—in fact, it probably won’t be. My guest this week understands that and has marketed her business brilliantly.
Megan Tamte is the co-founder and co-CEO of Evereve, a retail fashion and styling company and one of my favorite stores. Evereve’s tagline is “Dress like a mom.”
Just think about that for a minute. How many stores and boutiques and online clothing companies sell clothes for women? How many sell for moms, specifically? There are probably thousands or even millions, right?
But Megan chose to claim it.
Her marketing lets people know that her store is the store that dresses moms. And as a result, Megan has grown Evereve into a multimillion-dollar business!
In this episode, Megan and I talk about:
Megan addresses the tension so many of us feel between being present for our kids but also pursuing a business dream. I love her perspective on this:
“One of the best gifts I could give my children was not being a mom who’s lying on the couch at night watching other peoples’ dreams come true but being a mom who was alive and passionate and happy.”
Amen, sister!
Y’all know one of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing directly from you. So this week, I’m answering your business questions about money and social media.
Don’t forget to give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
I also challenge you to start every day with gratitude and to focus on your blessings. Your thoughts will direct your actions, and your actions will direct your results. Whatever you focus on increases, so focus on the positive—and expect the best for your life and your business.
1:21 How to Stand Out from Your Competition
22:00 Pursuing Your Dream and Building Your Brand with Megan Tamte
46:21 #AskChristyWright
58:36 Challenge: Start Every Day with Gratitude
Get Christy's SWOT Analysis by filling out the form here!
Sign up for the new 2019 Business Boutique Goal Planner waitlist at BusinessBoutique.com/Planner-Waitlist.
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
This week we’re going to talk about being intentional.
Y’all, it’s easier said than done. So many people just go through life without doing things on purpose.
I need to tell you about a time that I was not so intentional. When I graduated from high school, I very excitedly got out of the state of Tennessee where I had grown up and attended the University of Central Florida. I went for the great business school and the beautiful campus, but I didn’t really participate with the school side of things. Let’s just say, I loved the beach more than I did class. And my grades showed it.
I wasn’t intentional with my time or my studying, and at the end of my first semester of my sophomore year, I had a 1.4 GPA.
YIKES!
Y’all, it wasn’t that I wasn’t smart and willing to work hard—I just didn’t focus.
But here comes the good news. When I decided to transfer to the University of Tennessee—to spare my mother the out of state tuition and because I realized I wanted to return to Tennessee after college—something amazing happened! They accepted my credits but didn’t carry my GPA over from UCF.
I got a clean slate. And I ran with it!
I got really serious. I stayed late, I did extra credit, and I went the extra mile. At the end of my sophomore year, my first semester at UT, I got a 4.0. All because I was intentional.
It’s so easy to just get by. It’s so easy to let life happen and just spend our time reacting instead of acting.
I want us to do something different.
I want us to be intentional and do things on purpose.
Things will not happen for you in life; you have to make things happen.
I read this a few weeks ago on Twitter: “If you want what you used to have, you have to do what you used to do.”
What did you used to do in your marriage?
It is so easy for our marriages to become businesses. You and your spouse did not fall in love over the cable bill, or kid’s schedules, or determining who was going to pick up the dry cleaning. Before the busyness of kids and errands and all the to-do lists, you and your spouse probably just had fun together.
In my life, there are things that Matt and I used to love to do. We still do those things, because we schedule time to do them. We put it on the calendar. If you wait for those things to happen, they will never happen, because life will get in the way.
What do you and your spouse love to do together?
Those things don’t have to slip away. Life gets busy, but don’t let your marriage become an afterthought. Be intentional with your marriage and see how it changes things for you, your spouse and even your kids!
Related: Ep. 49 — How to Get Your Husband on Board With Your Business
In any area of our lives, it’s easy to be reactive instead of proactive, but this seems particularly tempting with kids.
Admittedly, I have two kids and they are fairly young, and I’m learning with many of you. But I’ve noticed that we, as moms, spend a lot of time reacting. We react to school and sport schedules. We react to what other parents are doing. We react to handling their behavior. We react to dealing with tough situations.
Trust me, I know parenting is hard. But we’re going to spend the energy regardless, so we might as well spend it on the front end, shaping our kids proactively, rather than always reacting to whatever life throws at us.
Being intentional with what you want your kids to know, feel, do and experience doesn’t have to look like holding yourself to an impossible standard of perfection. Just do things on purpose; it’s amazing how our kids will get it.
Related: Ep. 8 — How to Deal with Mom Guilt
You can’t float by in your business and wonder why you didn’t reach your goals. Success won’t happen if you don’t do things on purpose.
If you don’t start with the end in mind, you’ll cross someone else’s finish line.
In business, like all areas of your life, being intentional means setting goals. It means putting things on paper on purpose.
Decide what you want and what you need to do to get there! Start with the end in mind and then start breaking it down into small, tangible actions to get there.
Be intentional in your business and you will build a business you love.
Related: Ep. 38 — Hitting Big Goals By Winning Small
You get one body. One. That’s it.
Take care of your body by working it out, drinking water, and eating things that are nutritious and give you energy. It’s about finding balance and seeking to be healthy.
Being intentional and doing things on purpose with your body also means loving it.
Not loving it because it’s perfect and you look like a supermodel. No, it’s loving and celebrating your body for the things it does for you. For the fact that it’s already beautiful, strong and amazing!
You get a choice. You can love your body or you can constantly think about what’s wrong with it. You can treat it well or you can neglect it.
You get one body. Love it on purpose.
Related: Ep. 47 — Mom Entrepreneurs: Finding Success in Business and Motherhood
The bad news is that being intentional in all of the above areas take time—which is something I’d be willing to bet you already don’t feel like you have a lot of. But the good news is that you have more time than you think.
You can’t do everything, but you can do the most important things.
Maybe you won’t get to be a part of every club and organization or take on every project that sounds fun. But for me, if I already have an amazing marriage, rock star kids, a thriving business, and a strong body, then I’m fine to say no to some other things.
I don’t want to do everything; I just want to be awesome at a few really important things.
Stephen Covey says, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
These are my main things. Yours might be different, and that’s okay. Figure out what’s most important to you and be intentional with those things.
Related: Ep. 34 — Excuses That Steal Your Time
Dave Ramsey is a New York Times best-selling author, the host of The Dave Ramsey Show, and the CEO of Ramsey Solutions.
Over the last few decades, Dave Ramsey has been incredibly generous in sharing his story to help millions of people find hope. He helps people take control of their personal finances, change their family tree, become better leaders, build their businesses and so much more.
And, as if all that wasn’t enough, Dave is also my leader and my friend. When I think of someone who is a master at how to be intentional, Dave Ramsey is one of the first people that comes to mind.
Dave truly uses his impressively growing platform of over 15 million daily listeners to serve people. He pays attention to where people are hurting and meets them where they are. Dave is present, intentional, and firm in his beliefs, and he never stops learning.
Dave has been one of the driving forces behind the Business Boutique brand from day one, and I am so excited to have him return to the Business Boutique 3-Day Event stage this November! He will be speaking about one of the biggest pain points that business owners have: money!
In this episode, Dave Ramsey shares his wisdom on how to be intentional in your life. You’ll learn:
Related: How to Have More Time
I want to take a quick second to talk about an area of your business that you might not be approaching with intentionality: finances.
It’s so tempting to build your business by taking out debt. Here is what many people don’t see: business debt is YOUR debt.
Someone has to pay the bills at the end of the day, and that person is you, not “the business.” (You ARE the business!)
Instead of trying to accelerate your business by using debt, I want to encourage you to grow slow. Start with what you have and take your time to use your profits from the business to reinvest in the business. I’ll bet you’ll find that you don’t need half of what you think you do.
Don’t handcuff yourself to those payments. Nothing will take the joy out of your business like debt. There are so many people who have been in your shoes and have built thriving business without taking out debt.
You’ve got this!
Don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
Related: Ep. 24 — Money Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Business
1:21 Five Areas of Your Life to Be Intentional
22:10 How to Be Intentional in Your Business with Dave Ramsey
59:50 #AskChristyWright
67:19 Encouragement: Build Your Business Debt-Free
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Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy waitlist at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
It’s time to talk about building a social media strategy that works.
No matter the type or size of your business, having a strong social media strategy is important. You don’t have to be an expert to find success on social media.
I want you to think of your social media profiles like a party! And people can’t come to your party and have a great time if they don’t know about it or show up.
I’m going to break this down into seven ways for you to step up your social media strategy to attract more followers.
If your social media page is a party, think about how you signify to real-life guests where to find your party. You put out balloons and maybe a sign. You want to make it really clear: THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!
Do the same thing when you post content on your social media page: make it visual whenever possible. This will instantly set your content and posts apart. Can you add a photo or video? Is there a graphic you can create? There are tons of apps and tools to help you create visual content in less than a minute. I’ve got a list of a few of my favorites on my Social Media Cheat Sheet.
The human brain is designed to ignore anything that is familiar. It’s constantly scanning its environment and labeling, categorizing and discarding anything that isn’t necessary for survival. It’s crazy.
It’s the reason that I can say, “If at first you don’t succeed . . . “ and you instantly know how to finish that sentence. Your brain finishes it for you and moves on. But if I say, “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving probably isn’t for you,” then that stands out because it’s interesting.
Related: Ep 31: Branding the Look and Tone of Your Busines
When you add variety to your content on your social media strategy, it keeps people coming back for more because you’ve added an element of surprise and delight. It’s the same reason that I could go into T.J. Maxx twice a week but I won’t go into a department store more than twice a year. Department stores don’t have as much variety as T.J. Maxx! The variety is addicting and it draws you in again and again. Mix up the types of post you’re putting out into the world to keep your follower’s attention.
Related: Get the Most Out of Your Content
If you want to grow your impact on social media, you need to increase your engagement.
Engagement indicates how many people acted on your post—they didn’t just view it or scroll past it; they responded in some way. They liked it, shared it, retweeted it, left a comment, etc. Any of these are great things because the more people that engage with your posts, the more “successful” the platform views that post and the more likely they are to show it to even more people. When it comes to your social media strategy, pay attention to what types of your posts get people to do something.
In life and on social media, one-way conversations are not fun. That’s why you should set aside a few minutes each day to respond to comments and feedback you receive. Your customers are more likely to respond to your content (remember: engage!) when you respond to them and engage. Treat others how you want to be treated, right? So if you want more responses, be more responsive.
Related: 3 Ways to Connect With Your Tribe Using Social Media Content
If your social media followers see you four times a day for months, and then you choose to go off the grid, they’ll be confused. You have to show up when you say you’re going to and be consistent! You get to choose what your consistency is, but then stick to it! Your content should have variety, but your frequency should have consistency. Teach people what to expect from you and then follow through. Consistency is so key in building trust with your tribe.
Building a brand is easy when you are just yourself from day one. Then you don’t have to try to put on a show or be someone you’re not, which can be exhausting. Instead, you just put yourself out there—the good, bad and ugly—and let people come for who you are. When you do this, you attract the right people. Be authentic in your social media presence and watch what happens. You’ll gain not just fans, but loyal customers.
Related: Ep. 51— How to Build Trust With Your Social Media Followers
Amy Jo Martin founded Digital Royalty, where she helped corporations, celebrities and sports entities humanize their brands online through social media. Before exiting in 2016, she worked on social media strategies for clients like former Suns player Shaquille O’Neal. Y’all … Shaquille O’Neal!
Amy Jo is the author of New York Times best-seller Renegades Write the Rules, and host of the Why Not Now? podcast.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Amy Jo began working for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Working in male-centric industries, Amy Jo developed a passion for helping women thrive in business leadership. She is currently spending her time researching the relationship between technology and humanity and investing in other female entrepreneurs so they can reach their full potential.
She believes the future of technology is the future of humanity. Her motto is “humans connect with humans, not logos”.
In addition to being an expert in creating social media strategies, Amy Jo has a pretty impressive social media following herself—more than 1 million people—and was named the third most powerful woman on Twitter by Forbes.
I am thrilled that Amy Jo Martin will be a speaker at our Business Boutique 3-Day Event in Nashville this November!
In this episode, Amy Jo Martin and I talk about:
Related: 3 Ways to Connect With Your Tribe Using Social Media
You probably already know this, but as a reminder, everything you put online is permanent. (Even if you delete it.) Since being more in the “public eye,” I’ve created boundaries to be proactive in protecting myself and my family when it comes to posting online. I’ve also set boundaries for my social media posting strategy and consumption.
These are the lines I’ve drawn for myself and my social media strategy and use.
What are yours?
Figure out where your lines are. Define what you post and what you don’t. Define what time you post and when you don’t. It’s your social media and your prerogative. But it’s time to be proactive and intentional.
Related: How to Keep Up With Social Media (and Still Run Your Business)
Don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
1:25 Seven Ways to Step Up Your Social Media Strategy
18:01 How to Build a Social Media Strategy That Works with Amy Jo Martin
41:27 #AskChristyWright
49:53 Challenge: Determine Your Social Media Boundaries
Get Christy's Social Media Cheat Sheet by filling out the form here!
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy waitlist at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
This week’s podcast episode is going to help you simply your life and business. The stress of chaotic schedules and spaces keeps us from living effectively. I know for me a few practical tips can make all the difference. Our guest this week has personally helped me simplify my own life through simple, easy-to-do daily changes. One small change got me thinking beyond my personal life to business.
I can’t wait to share a few tips to simplify your business today!
In addition to a laundry mountain, I have mail mountain. It piles up high for weeks or months until I finally address it and sort it into neat stacks.
What if we had permanent stacks?
What if there were permanent places where those things go?
What if we created, like my friend April Perry calls it, a Command Center?
You probably already know the main categories of paperwork you encounter throughout the month in your business.
Just start there.
Do a little bit of work on the front end, and create spaces to sort your paperwork as it comes in! Whether it’s your email inbox, your computer desktop, or a few literal spaces, this strategy is going to help reduce stress in the long run.
When my husband Matt and I were planning our wedding and had a larger invitation list than our budget would allow, our wedding planner provided us with a challenge: cut 10%. We eliminated 10% of our list by eliminating from each category.
The same challenge can be applied to your workspace. What if you cut a percentage of what was there? Let’s say 30%. Go into your work space and choose 30% of the items taking up space to sort, store, or throw away. Junk, clutter, and the seventeen pieces of artwork from your children are overwhelming your space. It’s time to approach your workspace with an elimination mindset.
Imagine creating a workspace you actually want to work in. You’ll enjoy your work more when you've created a space that you love.
Related: How to Have More Time
When it comes to your customers, less is more. In products, design, and content, it’s important to create clarity. If it’s complicated to you, it’s even more complicated to your customers.
You want to make sure you have a clear path for your customers. A million options with a million varieties is not clear for your customers. It’s overwhelming.
Research shows the more options you give people, the less likely they are to buy. People do better with limited options.
Get rid of anything in your product offerings that wastes space, doesn’t sell, you don’t enjoy making, or has a horrible profit margin. You’ll leave more space and fewer options for your customers to actually buy what they want.
Just like with your product offerings, your website needs to be simple and clear for your customers.
My friend Donald Miller says, “People don’t buy the best products and services; they buy those they understand the quickest.” People understand the fastest when you give them a few simple words. Everything needs to have a purpose and a point—every tab, landing page, and product description. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t need to be there.
When I’m writing a talk, I challenge myself to write the “one sentence.” What’s the one thing I want people to know? Then everything I say points back to that one thing.
Your website should be just like that! Your website is a source of communication with your customers. Make it as clear as possible.
What landing page, words, or images are not the most important things you want your customer to know?
What words are confusing? What words are a distraction?
Similar to your workspace, you can approach your schedule with an elimination mindset. Set a goal and take a percentage right off the top.
It’s time to find some margin, and the best way to do that is to be honest with yourself about what you have to do, and what you just think you have to do.
You don’t have to do a lot of what you think you do. That’s how we get burnt out: doing all the things halfway. You made that to-do list. You can cut some of it.
What if you created margin to do the things you wanted to do, and then did them really well?
Related: How to Create Your Perfect Schedule
You can make these changes. You can stop perpetually running ragged. I firmly believe that you can slow down and begin to do less and do those things better.
I’m speaking to myself on all of these things. In order to do the things that matter most to me, I have to create margin.
If you have followed me at all, you know I am always encouraging you to organize and simplify, and that’s why I am thrilled to have Emily Ley as our podcast guest.
Emily Ley is the Founder and Creative Director of Simplified®, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Emily has authored two books: Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy and the national best-seller, A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living.
Emily grew her business from the ground up while remaining a debt-free company (p.s., YOU GO GIRL!)
After finding success online, Emily Ley’s brand quickly grew to be carried in retail outlets all around the world. Emily’s success didn’t come without learning curves and tough decisions to maintain her company’s values. In fact, she recently had to make the decision to cut down on wholesale to be able to better connect with the customer.
Related: Business Values: What Your Business Should Be About
I am thrilled that Emily Ley will be a speaker at our Business Boutique 3-Day Event in Nashville this November!
In this episode, Emily Ley and I talk about:
I’m going to give you some encouragement for something that I’m not always the best at.
Y’all know me. I am a mover and a shaker. Because I love what I do, there are times that I choose to work even when I don’t have to. If I’m not careful, I can become a workaholic. I can get so driven, focused, and goal-oriented that I forget why I do all this in the first place. I do this to spend time with my family, have fun, have a life, and rest.
We’re really good at setting goals in our business, aren’t we? But I think we neglect setting goals in one major area. Rest should be a goal too. Recuperation, recovery, and rejuvenation are also metrics we should also value.
How do I feel?
How are my husband and I?
When did I last spend time with my friends?
Have I had quality time with my kids today?
I don’t know where you are in this busy season. But I want to remind you that rest and recovery aren’t just things for the summer. It’s something for us to incorporate into every season of our lives.
Related: The Truth About Work-Life Balance
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2 (NIV)
I love this verse because of that word makes. God knows that sometimes I won’t lie down unless He makes me.
Don’t push the pedal to the metal so much that you lose track of the things that give you rest and rejuvenate you most.
Don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
1:30 How to Simplify Your Business
17:11 How to Simplify Your Business with Emily Ley
41:52 #AskChristyWright
46:03 Encouragement to Rest
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To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy waitlist at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
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New podcast episodes are available every other week.
If you want to go anywhere in business or life, you’re going to need to get outside your comfort zone and try something new.
In 2016, when Business Boutique was just starting, my team and I decided to try something new. We knew we wanted another format outside of our event to share the message of Business Boutique. We decided to start a podcast. And to be honest, it wasn’t my first choice. I would have much rather focused my attention and efforts on creating more video content.
There were a few things that factored into our decision to pursue an audio format over video format, but one large factor was that I was pregnant with my second son, Conley. We knew that it would be difficult to record videos and maintain a consistent production schedule through my pregnancy and my maternity leave. So we decided to try something new with this whole podcast thing.
Luckily it’s worked.
But when we first started recording the podcast, the format was hard for me.
It was recorded. It wasn’t live. There was no audience for me to interact with. It was just me. With a giant microphone in my face. Alone in a room with my podcast producer, Chris.
To put it plainly, it was outside my comfort zone.
I’m comfortable speaking to a live audience or on video. I felt limited with the audio format. I didn’t know how to translate my emotions and my facial features over an audio podcast. I was afraid that my energy and excitement wouldn’t translate. It was something I’d never done before.
Despite my hesitation, I trusted my team. And I’m so glad I did. We tried something new and we’ve seen an incredible impact.
We’ve reached over 2 million downloads and recorded 54 episodes.
We’ve heard so many stories from listeners who have taken what they’ve learned and started businesses, grown beyond their wildest dreams, and made money doing what they love. Think of all the people who have been inspired because we chose to communicate information in a way that could be listened to in the car, on a run or while doing the dishes.
It was all possible because we tried something outside my comfort zone.
What does that look like for you?
Related: Ep. 46—Use Your Gifts to Make a Difference
We think of our comfort zone as something scary. But it’s not just that. Pursing something outside your comfort zone doesn’t mean that you always have to do something scary.
It doesn’t have to always be bigger or involve more risk; it might just be something that you’ve never done before—something that you’re not comfortable with. That’s why we call it a comfort zone.
When we choose to live inside our comfort zones, we make statements about ourselves.
I’m not a writer.
I’m not business minded.
I can’t do it.
I don’t have enough time.
We put limitations and labels on ourselves and then we live within them.
But what if God doesn’t agree with your labels?
What if God wants to do something new in you—something outside your comfort zone?
What if He doesn’t have those same limitations for you?
Related: Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Starting
When you choose to step outside your comfort zone, the thing that used to scare you actually becomes a part of your comfort zone. One day you look up and think, I can’t believe I’m doing this. It all happens one baby step at a time as you learn, grow and become your new self. But it only happens outside your comfort zone.
As you become more you can do more, and as you do more you can go after more things!
In this episode I’m going to teach you:
I know that in my own life, every time I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone I’ve been equipped to take on even bigger things. Doing the thing I’m most scared to do often empowers me to take on new things, reach new heights, and achieve things I never thought possible.
The same will be true for you too. It’s time to get outside your comfort zone and try something new!
Y’all, when I say this woman is a powerhouse, I am not EVEN kidding!
Sarah Jakes Roberts is a take-charge businesswoman, writer and media personality who expertly balances career, ministry and family.
In Sarah’s 2014 memoir, Lost and Found: Finding Hope in the Detours of Life, Sarah shared her story in a completely transparent way that people can’t help but to gravitate to her.
Her father, Bishop T.D. Jakes, is a megachurch pastor, bestselling author and film producer, and her mother, Mrs. Serita Jakes, is an author, media personality and business executive. Sarah and her husband, Touré Roberts, pastor a dynamic community of artists and professionals in Hollywood, CA, while also raising their five beautiful children.
I am so excited that Sarah Jakes Roberts is speaking on “Living Out your Purpose” at our Business Boutique 3-Day Event in Nashville this November!
In this episode, Sarah Jakes Roberts and I talk about:
Related: The Fastest Way to Grow in Your Gifts
I also have a challenge for you to stop saying the word "little" when you talk about your business. Lastly, don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You might hear your question on a future episode!
1:21 How to Push Past Your Comfort Zone and Try Something New
17:11 Interview with Sarah Jakes Roberts
41:52 Challenge to Stop Saying the Word "Little"
46:03 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
Get Christy's Fear or Wisdom Filter by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy waitlist at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Today we’re talking all about how to know what your customers want.
When it comes to determining what our customers really want, we have the temptation to return to our middle school days of fortune telling. Stay with me here. Do you remember the origami cootie catchers that told us where we would live and who we would marry? Did you ever pick the pedals off flowers, “He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me!” Raise your hand if you’ve ever asked a Magic 8-Ball a question.
Y’all, we love to predict the future. We all want to know how things will turn out, and if we’re honest, we’d all love to read our customer’s minds.
Related: Communicating Clearly with Your Customers
Wouldn’t it be incredible to figure out exactly what our customers want? To determine exactly what they need? To know the words they use, so we can use those words and reach them directly?
We can.
We can know those things—what they think, how they feel, and what they need.
We can learn all that and a whole lot more. And here’s the good news: You don’t need a Magic 8-Ball to tell you.
How do you find out?
You just ask.
The simplest things are the things that are most often overlooked. Instead of doing the most logical and effective thing, we tend to just guess what our customers want. We overlook asking them what they feel, want, need, think.
We can demystify the whole thing by simply asking our customers directly.
We’re all great at asking questions, but many of us have just never thought to apply it to our business.
There’s a fancy term for asking your customers what they want: Market Research.
Related: The Two Things You Need to Know About People
There are two methods of research you can use to ask your customers what they want: quantitative research and qualitative research.
Both methods are going to help you understand your market, learn, and grow. By asking your customers the right questions, you can gain a better understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and needs surrounding your product.
A helpful hint to understand the difference between quantitative research and qualitative research is to remember the root of the word. Quantitative research is all about quantity.
Qualitative research is all about quality.
In quantitative research, you ask questions that can be quantified and produce a metric for you to measure.
You might do this through yes or no questions, multiple choice, ratings, or another method.
Quantitative research is helpful in your business to not only understand your market, but to supplement your marketing, branding and promotions.
Have you seen those commercials that say 9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste? They did a quantitative market research study to find that number.
Qualitative research can’t be quantified. This type of research takes exponentially more time to sort through results, analyze and identify themes. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid it!
Qualitative research provides open-ended, non-leading questions that will allow your customers to provide answers in their own words. That’s the reason it’s so valuable! You really can understand your customer, their motivation, their mindset, and their language.
Qualitative research can also be used in marketing in the form of marketing copy, testimonials, endorsements, and quotes. Lots of the words that we use in Business Boutique are things you’ve told us. We love to hear what sticks out to you so that we can improve, grow and get better.
I love market research! It is such a simple and direct way to get feedback from your customers.
Related: Ep 20: How to Create Engaging Content for Your Business
In this episode I’ll talk about:
It doesn’t matter how you get the information; it matters that you get the information. If you don’t know what your customers want, you can’t give it to them.
It’s not a mystery—all you have to do is ask.
Jessica Principe has become a dear friend over the last few years since we met at our Business Boutique Event in Nashville. She is the founder of the popular women’s shaving subscription club All Girls Shave Club, a wife, and the mother of two boys.
The idea for Jessica’s business came to her in the shower. She reached for her husband’s razor from his subscription service and thought, Why isn’t there something like this for women? She realized if that service was something she would use, other women probably would too. And just like that, she threw herself into market research, came to the Business Boutique Event, created her plan, and launched her business.
She has taken the chore of shaving and turned it into something where women can feel like they are pampering themselves. Knowing what her customers want—and delivering just that—has helped Jessica continue to grow and create a lucrative business.
Jessica has shared her story multiple times on the Business Boutique event stage to let other women know they can do it too! You can turn your ideas into income and create the life you always dreamed of.
In this episode, Jessica Principe and I talk about:
Related: How Jessica Turned Her Problem Into $70K!
The seasonality of our lives, our family and our business is important. Summer is winding down, and life is about to ramp up for many of us as we approach fall and all that comes with it.
Before it’s time to be all in and game on, I have a little encouragement for you: Don’t let the change of seasons surprise you. You can spend the next couple weeks enjoying your summer, but also setting yourself up for success. The time to do it is not in September when you’re in the thick of it—the time is NOW.
Here are a few ways to prepare yourself for the potentially crazy season ahead:
I know it’s hard to do. But you have a beautiful window of time, and if you use it wisely, you can arrive at the next season set up to win without all the stress.
Lastly, don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You just might hear your question on a future episode!
1:25 How to Know What Your Customers Want
15:37 Interview with Jessica Principie
37:54 Encouragement for the Fall Season
43:05 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
Get Christy's Persona Template by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
I recently read that over 50 million businesses use Facebook Pages to connect with their customers.(1)
50 million?!
These business are tapping into something powerful. They understand the value of connecting with their customers directly and using social media followers to build and expand their brand. In essence, they understand the importance of a building a tribe—a group of people who love you, are loyal to your brand, and who trust you.
Your tribe is made up of the people who buy your product when you launch a pre-sale. They are the first people to mention your name (or better yet, give someone your business card) to refer your service. Your tribe is bought into your business because they’re bought into you and what you stand for.
One of the best ways to build a tribe is to provide a place for them to connect and engage with you and your brand. Social media provides you with the space to build a relationship with your customers, make a personal impact, and ultimately make money.
This isn’t strictly a numbers game. My friend Rachel Hollis once said, “5,000 dedicated social media followers are way better than having millions and millions.” It doesn’t matter how many social media followers you have—if they don’t trust you, they aren’t going to buy from you.
People buy from those they know, like and trust. So, it’s pretty important to build trust with your tribe of social media followers.
Related : How to Sell Without Feeling Slimy
But how do we get people to trust our brand or business?
One of my favorite examples of a brand that has built trust is our company, Ramsey Solutions.
Dave Ramsey grew this business and brand over decades through personal connection. About six years ago, he realized he needed to start thinking about the future and the succession of his company. From the very beginning, it had been just him. But he realized that if he wanted to take it to the next level and scale beyond himself, he needed to make a few changes. He knew that the best brands build trust. And the best way to build trust is through people.
Brands don’t change people, people change people. He realized we needed more people who could take more messages into more markets. That’s how the Ramsey Personalities were born!
For more than 25 years, Dave Ramsey has been building trust with his tribe—one person at a time.
The same can be true for you and me. If you want to make an impact, and if you want to make money, you need to build trust.
I personally feel so connected to all of my social media followers. We may have never met, but I pride myself on the fact that I know you trust me. I have read so many comments on my social media posts and met so many people in grocery stores, airports, and book signings who say, “I feel like we’re best friends.”
Y’all, that’s important to me.
I want you to feel like you know me. That you relate with me. That I get you. (Because I do!) Business Boutique has grown as I’ve expanded the number of people in our tribe who genuinely know, like and trust me.
In this episode, I want to help you connect and engage with your social media followers in a way that builds trust.
We’re going to discuss:
Building trust with your social media followers is no different than building trust with any other person in your life. That’s why I’m going to give you five tips to help you build trust that will impact your social media followers and, ultimately, your bottom line!
Jennifer Allwood is a powerhouse business coach for creative business owners and host of The Jennifer Allwood Show Podcast.
She has an infectious enthusiasm for helping like-minded creative women build their social media followers and turn their talents and hobbies into lucrative online businesses.
Jennifer has built an incredible social media following and has a gift for creating relationships and showing up for each and every one of them.
I met Jennifer Allwood at a Business Boutique event and am thrilled that she will be a breakout speaker at our fall 3-Day Business Boutique Event!
In this episode, Jennifer Allwood and I talk about:
Related: Business Values: What Your Business Should Be About
Cathy Heller is a songwriter and host of the Don’t Keep Your Day Job Podcast where she offers tools and insights to help people find a sense of purpose and make a living doing what they love.
She made her mark in the music world by licensing her songs to film, TV and ads. Cathy also started her own licensing company where she pitches other artists.
By mixing her successful licensing career experience with her passion for helping people turn their passions into profits, Cathy created a music licensing course for artists.
In this episode, Cathy Heller and I talk about:
Related: How to Make the Most of Social Media
1:35 Building Trust with Your Tribe on Social Media
22:15 Interview with Jennifer Allwood
47:39 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
54:22 Interview with Cathy Heller
71:29 Homework
Get Christy's Social Media Cheat Sheet by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
I heard a statistic recently that absolutely shocked me: seven out of every ten Americans say they don’t like their jobs. Um, what?
I don’t know about you, but that number floored me. I mean, let’s think about it. Seventy percent of us show up day in and day out—like for at least eight hours at a time—to a job that we don’t even enjoy? That’s a whole lot of unhappy people, working a whole lot of hours, doing something they hate.
Ya’ll, I don’t get it. That makes no sense to me. None.
But maybe you’re in that place right now. Or maybe you’re wanting to make some extra money. Or maybe you just need a creative outlet.
Regardless of your motivation, I’ve got a great solution.
Have you ever considered starting a side hustle?
Related: 27 Ways to Make Extra Money from Home
What you probably don’t realize is that what you know today as Business Boutique actually started as a side hustle—while I was working a full-time job!
Let’s just say, necessity is truly the mother of invention.
When I was first pursing my passion as a coach, in order to get my coaching credential, I had to fulfill a certain number of hours, well, coaching. I wasn’t a Ramsey Personality yet. In fact, I was only speaking on a part-time basis for our company.
So I thought, why not start a little business on the side coaching others? That way, I could earn my business coach certification and earn some extra income. A win-win, right?
Fast forward a few years and that side business has now evolved into Business Boutique.
So no matter your schedule, obligations, and commitments, it’s possible to start a side hustle and also work full-time. And with enough passion and determination, I know you can do it too.
Related: How to Take Your Side Hustle Full Time
I’m going to be completely honest. Working two jobs at the same time is not easy. You will be doing a lot of juggling.
But side businesses are a great way to help you reach your goals. And finding work you’re passionate about—work that is fulfilling and challenging and exhilarating—is worth every sacrifice along the way.
Work can be fun, y’all! You can do something you love and get paid for it!
Don’t forget that.
In this episode, we’ll talk about:
Related: How to Have More Time
My guest this week is Jake Vehyl, founder of Nashville-based cookie company Jake’s Bakes!
Five years ago, Jake had a full-time job—and a big dream of starting his own business. But like many of you, he didn’t know how to do it or have a lot of money to sink into a new venture.
That’s when Jake made a very smart decision: to start small.
Instead of going into crazy debt purchasing expensive commercial grade baking equipment, he found a restaurant to lease space from during off hours. That decision not only saved a ton of cash, but it allowed Jake to work his day job and then head to the restaurant afterwards to bake until midnight.
Yes, the hours were insanely long—and his social life definitely took a backseat—but Jake is the first to tell you that all of that hard work paid off. In less than two years, Jake’s Bakes expanded from a delivery-only business to their first retail storefront.
And you won’t believe how this story ends! Even Jake didn’t see this coming.
In this episode, Jake and I will talk about:
Related: Ep. 44 How to Know If Your Business Idea Will Work
Our success story this week is Kristin Ostrander, founder of mommyincome.com!
This woman amazes me. She’s a mom of three, a wife, and a total go-getter who isn’t afraid of a challenge. And she has been through it all, y’all.
Her journey has been anything but easy.
In 2003, Kristin began selling her children’s clothing on eBay to supplement her husband’s income and as a way to buy new clothes for her growing family.
As she says, “There was always more month than there was money!”
But that slowly changed over that next five years as Kristin continued to grow her eBay business. A move to selling on Amazon in 2008 proved to be even more profitable, but then tragedy struck her family.
By 2010, Kristin and her family lost their home to foreclosure and had to start over from scratch.
Join us to find out how Kristin overcame even the most insurmountable obstacles—one step at a time—and ended up with a million-dollar Amazon business and a closer relationship with God.
And that’s just the beginning of Kristin’s story. In 2014, she launched mommyincome.com as a way to help others find success on Amazon. I can’t wait for you to get to know her better!
Lastly, don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Remember, you can send me your questions or comments by email or twitter. Or give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You just might hear your question on a future episode!
1:14 How to Grow a Side Hustle While Working Full-Time
18:11 Interview with Jake Vehyl
40:47 BB Success Story with Kristin Ostrander
49:38 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
57:40 Homework
Get Christy's 25 Ways to Protect Your Time by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Over the past three years, one of my most favorite things has been meeting women at Business Boutique events all across the country who are there for one reason: Their husbands bought them a ticket.
Y’all, let’s take a second. How amazing is that?
This crazy, wonderful, exhilarating journey of chasing their dream started because someone—an incredibly supportive husband, in this case—believed in them. That right there is a dream in and of itself. And believe me, I know. I have one of those rock star husbands too.
My husband is my confidant, my teammate, my number one fan—but even he can get overwhelmed by yet another one of my big ideas. Any dreamers out there? Y’all know exactly what I’m talking about.
But you know what I’ve discovered? Usually when that happens, it’s because I simply didn’t give him enough information or enough time to process it all. Or, let’s be honest, maybe in my excitement, I jumped all the way from A to Z and just plain scared him!
The good news is it’s possible to get even the most hesitant husband interested and on board with your business. (Really!)
The best place to start? Take a look at the way you talk to him about your business.
Here’s the deal: A big dream calls for one heck of a powerful communication strategy, whether you’re talking to your customers or your very own spouse.
If you want to get your husband on board with your business, you have to first help him understand the meaning behind your work. And I’ve got three tips to help you do just that.
In this episode, I’ll talk about the importance of:
Related: Ep. 7—How to Build Your Business and Still Have a Life at the Same Time
My guest this week is my very own husband, Matt Wright—also known as my biggest cheerleader. There’s nothing I can’t accomplish with that man by my side. I’m so proud of him, and I’m so proud he’s mine.
I am so excited for you all to get to know him a little better—and I’m excited for Matt to tell you what it’s like being married to a woman who is chasing a big business dream.
So, Matt and I have been married for six years now, and in all that time, he’s never left me speechless—until a few weeks ago.
Now, anyone who knows me or has ever listened to this podcast knows that I’m a talker. I am not what you’d call quiet. Or shy—at all. One could say that I have a lot to say, a lot of the time. Shocking, I know!
I recently asked Matt what he thinks is the best way for a woman to get her husband on board with her business. Y’all, his answer blew me away.
Without hesitation, he explained, “I think husbands should support our wives because that’s our responsibility. If you’re married, it’s your responsibility to support one another.”
What?! He totally called out men to do the right thing. And I love him for it.
I also love that he offered a completely different perspective that had never occurred to me. That’s invaluable.
But let’s be honest: Actions speak louder than words. And sometimes competing responsibilities, other commitments, kids, and everyday life just get in the way.
That’s why I wanted Matt to share his thoughts on specific ways for your spouse to become more interested—more personally invested—in your business.
In this podcast, Matt and I will talk about:
In a perfect world, every single woman chasing a dream would have a supportive husband behind her. Sadly, I know that’s not the reality for everyone. But it’s never too late for your marriage to become a real partnership.
Please believe me when I tell you that. You need to work on changing the dynamic of your relationship to create a new normal around your business.
I know you can do it. And I’m going to share four ways to help you gain your husband’s support.
If you’re as hard driving as I am, some of these may be a struggle for you. But trust me. They are worth your time and your patience.
I have another challenge for you. Have your husband listen to the rest of this episode with you. I’m going to be answering questions from husbands whose wives are pursuing their business dreams just like you.
I think it will be extremely informative and helpful for both of you.
Lastly, don’t forget that I love hearing from you! Send me your questions or comments by email or Twitter. Or give me a call on my new toll-free line at 844.944.1074. You just might hear your question on a future episode!
1:19 5 How to Include Your Husband in Your Business
7:38 Interview with Matt Wright
36:46 Encouragement to Communicate with Your Husband
42:43 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
57:12 Homework
Get Christy's 10 Ways to Take Care of You by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
I’ve been coaching business leaders for about a decade now, and over the years I’ve noticed an unfortunate theme pop up again and again. It’s something that holds people back in both business and in life:
People want something to change, but they don’t want to make a change.
You know what I’m talking about! You’ve probably been there yourself. Maybe you’ve wanted to lose weight, get out of debt, or make new friends, but you don’t want to eat healthier, spend less money, or leave your house! You want to see different results without actually doing anything differently.
Maybe this applies to your business right now. Maybe your sales have been stalled or your profits have plummeted, and you just feel stuck. Friend, this episode is for you—because I’m going to give you five ways to grow your business.
Related: Assume You Can
But—spoiler alert!—it’s going to take trying some new things. Because if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.
But not this summer.
This is going to be the summer you tried something different to get different results!
Everything you want is on the other side of your comfort zone. So if you want to grow your business, it might mean being uncomfortable and doing things that scare you. But that’s okay, because if you know that going in, you can do it anyway.
Rachel Hollis is an author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of Chic Media. She and I are kindred spirits because we are both absolutely on fire for women who want to grow their businesses.
Her new book, Girl, Wash Your Face, addresses the lies Rachel found herself believing throughout her life. You’ve probably heard some of them playing on a loop in your head, too:
“I’m not enough.”
“I’m defined by my weight.”
“I’m not a good mom.”
Wherever these lies stem from—whether it’s society, your mother-in-law, or the devil himself—Rachel realized they define so much about how we live our lives, and she’s made it her goal to confront them head on.
In this episode, Rachel Hollis and I talk about:
This is the episode with my favorite Rachels! Rachel Cruze is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. She’s also one of my best friends and I love watching her shine in her gifts—which, in her case, looks like helping women all over the country live their best life on a budget!
Related: Ep. 3—How to Stop Feeling Guilty for Making Money
In this episode, Rachel Cruze and I talk about:
Plus, I’ll answer some of the questions you asked using our brand-new Business Boutique call-in line: 844.944.1074.
1:19 5 Ways to Grow Your Business This Summer
14:55 Interview with Rachel Hollis
39:40 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
48:58 Interview with Rachel Cruze
65:24 Homework
Get Christy's Goal Setting Tool by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Today we’re celebrating mom entrepreneurs! Some call us mompreneurs, but basically, we’re talking about moms who run their own businesses.
According to a quick Google search, a mompreneur is: “a woman who sets up and runs her own business in addition to caring for her young child or children.”
Well that’s the basic, glossed-over version, isn’t it?
As moms, we’re responsible for all kinds of things—all the time. There’s grocery shopping, laundry, doctor’s appointments, laundry, after school activities, laundry . . . it’s a full-time job (and a half). And adding a business into the mix makes it feel like we’re working several full-time jobs.
As a business owner, you’re the CEO—but you’re also the bookkeeper, chief marketing officer, receptionist, saleswoman, creative director and the janitor. It’s no wonder that being both a mom and an entrepreneur can feel a tad overwhelming at times.
Back when I was a little girl with a front-row seat to watching my mom chasing her dream and running her business, they hadn’t coined a trendy catchphrase for what she was doing. And what she was doing was hard.
I remember arriving at the cake shop one dark morning at 3 a.m. to shattered glass everywhere. Mom’s shop had been broken into, and we were standing there in fear, wondering if the person who did it was still inside.
I remember getting stuck with Mom in the rain with a flat tire and getting locked out of the house without any money. All of this happened before the age of cell phones, by the way. And as a working mom myself, when I think back on all that, I don’t know how Mom did it. She didn’t have even half of the help that I have! She raised me and made a way for us—all while running a business.
So whether you’re a single mom like mine or just a tired mom, this episode is for you.
Related: How to Deal With Mom Guilt
Now, before you think I’m going to give you life hacks, methods, efficiencies, and ways to get more done, stop right there. That’s not what this episode is about. There are just two things I want you to remember when it comes to your journey in business and in motherhood:
The women who do well in both business and in life know and practice these two things. In this episode, I’ll give you very practical examples from my own life about how I live this day to day. I’ll teach you how to master these mind-sets like a boss—a mom boss! After all, God gave you your family and your business—and He doesn’t make mistakes.
You may already feel like you know my mom from all my stories about the bakery I was practically raised in, but today, it’s time for you to hear from her directly!
She’s the woman I have watched persevere with an absurd level of persistence. I’ve watched her do the right thing, even when it cost her. I’ve seen her go above and beyond for her customers time and time again. I’ve watched how she always paused and talked to homeless people—even in the middle of the night when we were downtown unloading bags of powdered sugar and flour.
In honor of Mother’s Day weekend, it’s my honor to have her as our podcast guest this week.
In this episode, Mom and I talk about:
Like I said before, being both a mom and a business owner is hard work. And as a result, we tend to put ourselves last and everyone else first. After all, our customers and kids need us! But y’all, when we don’t take some time for ourselves, we wind up busy and burned out.
Self-care is more than a pedicure once a month. You need to be someone that you like. So in this episode, I’ll also give you some things to think about when it comes to how well you’re taking care of the most important part of your business: You.
Plus, I’ll answer some of the questions you asked using our brand-new Business Boutique call-in line: 844.944.1074.
1:21 Being a Mom and Running a Business
17:23 Interview with Darlene Therber
48:16 Encouragement: Self Care
52:33 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
59:05 Homework
Get Christy's 10 Ways to Take Care of You by filling out the form here!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Ronald Reagan once famously said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I mean, have truer words ever been spoken? I don’t think so.
I love those words. I love the humility of them. I love the heart behind that sentiment. And I’d love to think that I live my life by those words every. single. day.
But guess what? I don’t.
It’s a real struggle for me. Words of affirmation are my love language. I’m just wired that way. It’s hard for me to let go of my need for recognition—even a simple thank you—when I contribute to something.
Related: Letting Go of Getting Credit
Here’s the thing: It’s really not even about getting praise. When I don’t get credit, I feel disappointed because I’m left wondering if I accomplished what I set out to do. Did I help anyone? Was I good enough? Did I make any sort of impact at all?
Well, once I take a second to get over myself, I realize the answer to that question is a resounding yes! Do you know how I know that? It’s because God calls each and every one of us to put others above ourselves. Period. And obsessing about being in the spotlight, getting a hundred “likes,” or millions of followers on social media is the exact opposite of doing that.
Y’all, each and every one of us is meant for more than that. We’re bigger than that!
In this episode, I’ll talk about:
My guest this week is Shelley Giglio, and she’s making an impact in more ways than you can possibly imagine. Y’all, she is amazing.
Shelley is the Chief Strategist, Director of Label Operations and Artist Management for sixsteprecords, cofounder of the Passion Movement, and leads The GROVE, a monthly gathering for thousands of women.
If anyone can teach us how to make an impact, Shelley can. This woman can light up a room by just walking into it, and yet, she has made it her life’s mission to elevate others above herself. Her mission is simple: to build a life that brings glory to God, because His glory is more important than her own fame. She’ll help us care less about taking credit, and more about the difference we’re making. I’m so lucky to call her my friend and I can’t wait for you to get to know her better!
In this podcast, Shelley and I will talk about:
Related: Ep. 40—Top Traits of Successful Women
Our incredible success story this week is Stacy MacDonald, owner of a jewelry line called made. She creates stunning earrings, necklaces, and bracelets using Quartz and Quartz Crystal that she—get this—hand mines (yes, she digs each one out of the earth!) from The Ouachita Mountains in her home state of Arkansas.
Although she has always considered herself to be entrepreneurial, Stacy didn’t set out to start a booming business. Instead, her jewelry line was born out of a desperate need for a creative outlet—she was hoping to remedy her nagging postpartum depression.
It wasn’t until she started successfully selling her jewelry at local craft shows and markets that she dared to start dreaming bigger. Today, even Stacy is still surprised by her own success. Not only has she crushed even her loftiest revenue goals, she is also considering growing her team!
She credits her business for something much bigger than entrepreneurial success: her business delivered her from years of depression and anxiety. Now she is on a mission to share her personal story of God’s redemption with her customers. As a result, Stacy has impacted countless lives in her own community and beyond—and she has no plans to stop.
“It’s not about the jewelry anymore,” she explains. “It’s about Kingdom-building.”
Related: Ep. 43—Balancing Faith in Business
Y’all, does it get more impactful than that? You’ll love hearing Stacy’s inspirational story of healing and hope.
Plus, I’ll be answering your questions by phone. In fact, you can give me a call, and you may hear your question on a future episode: 844.944.1074.
1:14 Making an Impact
9:45 Interview with Shelley Giglio
48:18 BB Success Story with Madison Dennis
62:07 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
70:51 Homework
Get Christy’s 7-Day Devotional by filling out the form here!
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
I’m so excited about today’s episode because, y’all, we are talking about clothes!
Okay, I’m not a fashion expert and I’m certainly not a stylist. But I will tell you, I’ve never met a pair of pumps I didn’t like—and I know that the right outfit can instantly change the way I carry myself, how confident I feel, and my overall mood.
It’s simple, really: I feel my best when I look my best. And I think you will, too.
Now I’m the first to admit: I’ve made my share of fashion mistakes. A few years ago, I was at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas speaking at a huge conference wearing my most favorite black waxed jeans and a teal blouse. I was in one of my—shall we say—“fluffier” stages. And I may or may not have had to squeeze into those jeans, but I did happen to think I looked pretty cute.
But then the photographs from my client came in. One look and all I could see were jeans that were creasing and pulling—in all the wrong places, I might add. Throw in the reflection of the bright stage lights, and it was glaringly obvious that my jeans were entirely too tight.
I told my leader right then and there, “I can do better. I will do better.” And I haven’t stepped foot on a stage since without first asking myself one question:
“Am I dressed for success today?”
You may be wondering what any of this has to do with your business. In a word? Everything.
The way you present yourself (and what you wear is a big part of that) affects your customers’ opinion of you. That opinion and first impression then influences whether they do business with you, which positively or negatively impacts your bottom line. And your bottom line, of course, determines the ultimate success or failure of your business. So dressing for success is about so much more than just clothes!
In this episode, I’ll talk about the three most common mistakes women make when it comes to clothes—and believe me, I’ve been there too. Yep, I’ve made every single one of them. But the good news is these mistakes have easy solutions. I’ll share those with you as well!
By the way, I also have a little formula I follow when it comes to putting together a super cute outfit. And don’t worry. It doesn’t require a closet full of clothes and accessories or a wardrobe loaded with the latest trends. And you definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money to pull it off.
Even better?
It works every time! It’s almost as good as having a personal stylist. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
I know that, just like me, you’ll feel the best when you look your best. And when you’re at your best, I know one thing for sure: There’s no stopping you.
Toi is an award-winning stylist, brand image specialist, and successful entrepreneur who is passionate about helping women—everyone from influencers to CEOs—present themselves favorably in business. And the stakes are pretty high.
“You are a brand. Your clothing is your packaging,” says Toi. “That packaging is one of the most visible ways to stand out from the rest.”
After 20 years in the fashion industry, Toi has styled her share of personalities and has made it her mission to do so as authentically and uniquely as possible. After all, she believes what we wear on the outside should be a reflection of who we are on the inside. But there is a right and a wrong way to achieve that.
Did you know that, on average, you have less than nine seconds to convince your customers that you are smart and kind and worthy of their business?
And did you know that the color you wear impacts someone else’s perception of you? Or that the wrong personal image could lead to lost opportunities?
That means every single style choice, from the color of our earrings to the height of the heels of our shoes, is an opportunity to cultivate trust. That may seem like a lot of pressure to place on a pair of jeans and a navy blazer, but Toi insists that if you take the time to look the part—that is, if you dress for success with intention—you will be amazed at what you can (and will) achieve.
In this podcast, Toi and I will talk about:
Plus, for the first time ever, I’ll be answering your questions by phone. That’s right! I’ve got a brand new toll-free phone number that you can call and ask me your business questions. Feel free to give me a ring, and you may hear your question on a future episode: 844.944.1074.
1:05 How to Present Yourself
16:59 Interview with Toi Sweeney
42:12 How to Prepare for Your 2018 Taxes
46:51 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
55:35 Homework
Get Christy’s Public Speaking Template by filling out the form here!
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
In Episode 12: How to Find Your Business Idea, we talked about taking a look at what you already have to come up with some business ideas. In that episode, I mentioned three things to look at specifically.
When you look for business ideas in those three areas, you’re making it so much easier on yourself to win!
For example, my first business idea came from my stuff. There was an 11-stall barn already on the property I was renting, so I used that to start a horse-boarding business.
Now, my second business came out of my strengths and skills. That was a side business doing life coaching, and it was long before I ever became a speaker for Dave Ramsey.
But now we’re going to take this a step further. If you want to start a business of any kind and you want it to work, your idea needs to be based on two things:
In this episode, I’ll walk you through examples of how to determine which of your business ideas meet this criteria.
Related: The One Thing All Businesses Must Have
My good friend Ken is an author, a speaker, and the host of The Ken Coleman Show on Sirius XM and the EntreLeadership Podcast. His passion is helping other people find their passion.
To do that, Ken helps people who feel stuck or confused in their careers by shining a light on their core qualities as a person. From there he brings clarity by weighing their passion against their talents to help them discover what they should be doing with their lives.
But Ken didn’t start out as a successful speaker and Ramsey personality. Ken says, “I left a corporate VP job at age 31 to chase a broadcasting dream that started with two listeners. One was my wife.”
Before getting his own show, he spent years working behind the scenes at Ramsey Solutions and eventually on the stage hosting Dave Ramsey’s live events. Ken has interviewed hundreds of top business leaders all over the country and helps thousands of people every week with their career and business ideas.
In this episode, Ken and I talk about:
Our success story this week comes from Madison Hardy Dennis. Madison’s business idea checks all three of our boxes: MHD Beauty is based on her skills, her strengths, and her stuff!
When she started thinking about leaving her full-time administrative position in 2014, she took stock of all the things in her life she was really good at. She discussed the list with her husband, and they thought about which skills and strengths would lend themselves to a freelance business. She kept coming back to makeup.
That first year Madison started her freelance beauty business, she was hired to do makeup for two weddings. But her business has absolutely exploded since then. Last year, her company did makeup for 133 weddings. And y’all, this is just one facet of her business!
She’ll also tell us everything she took into consideration before hiring team members and what gave her the idea to start her own cosmetics line.
Related: Want a Business Like Mine? MHD Beauty
Plus, I’ll answer your business questions!
1:17 How to Come Up with Your Business Idea
9:31 Interview with Ken Coleman
40:28 BB Success Story with Madison Dennis
56:37 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
65:25 Homework
Sign up for the Business Idea Bootcamp at BusinessBoutique.com/Bootcamp. Use the code BOOTCAMP to receive the Business Boutique audiobook for free!
To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Did you know that the beginning stages of Paul the Apostle’s ministry were greatly affected by a woman? And not just any woman: Lydia, a successful businesswoman, who many scholars believe to be his first known convert.
Specifically, she sold purple cloth—which, back then, was valuable and expensive. It was a sign of wealth, nobility and royalty. Purple cloth was purchased and worn by members of the royal family and Roman senators. So Lydia’s customers—her demographic and target market, in fact—were upper-class people. And we can assume that Lydia was successful and prosperous because she owned a home with enough rooms to host Paul and three of his friends overnight at the same time!
What I love about Lydia’s story is that it’s a biblical example of how God cares about our life as a whole, not just our spiritual life. The biblical account of her life doesn’t shy away from the fact that she was a successful businesswoman. And why would it? God cares about our business pursuits! He is the One who gave us those gifts to be used in the first place.
If it weren’t for Lydia’s business, would she have had the means and the space to house Paul and his companions overnight? Maybe not.
Later in her story, she once again offers up her home as a place for the early church to meet. Lydia didn’t operate what we would call a “Christian” or faith-based business, but her business and her lifestyle of faith was certainly helping Christians.
Related: What Happens When You Use Your Gifts
One of my favorite Bible passages speaks to not only using your gifts, but also using them as a light for others:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14–16 (NIV)
As a Christian, when you live a life of faith, you are being true to yourself. But you may have wondered how prominent your faith should be in your business.
There are two ways to approach faith in business:
Choosing which approach to take in your business is an important decision, because it will affect your:
In this episode, I’ll explain the real differences here and give lots of examples. I want you to decide which path makes the most sense for you. That way, you can reach the most people!
Alli is an author, speaker, mom of five boys (send prayers), and the executive director of Propel Women. She’s an amazing entrepreneurial coach, helping everyone from small-business owners all the way up to fortune 500 companies!
But being a successful businesswoman wasn’t always part of Alli’s story. She shares her journey of dealing with an unsettling force that so many of us deal with: anxiety. Alli remembers one day in a Target parking lot when she broke down in tears. She called a friend for help, and her friend told her, “You’re so held down by the weight of fear and worry—and you’re trying to make safety your god.”
But Alli thought that was normal. She thought anxiety was just part of modern life.
It wasn’t until the release of her first book—while simultaneously walking with her husband through a serious illness—that she was able to confront her fears head on and break free from anxiety.
Alli’s story is a very real example of how tough, terrifying and downright unpleasant it can be to put one foot in front of the other, trusting God and pursuing what you love in the face of fear. In this podcast, Alli and I talk about:
Stephanie and her husband, Isaac, own and operate Five Daughters Bakery in Nashville, Tennessee—and y’all, their donuts are like a drug. These are not your typical donuts; they are gourmet, croissant donuts . . . and they’re next-level good.
The bakery is named for Stephanie and Isaac’s five daughters, and that’s not the only element from their personal lives they incorporated into the business. While they don’t run a business that falls into the Christian sector, they are business owners of faith. Their faith influences everything about their approach to business: from the way they treat their employees and customers to what they charge for donuts (and guess what—they’re not “cheap!”).
In this episode, Stephanie and I talk about:
Plus, I’ll answer a question from one of our live Business Boutique events about operations.
How has your faith impacted your business? I’d love to hear from you in the comments for this episode!
1:15 Balancing Faith in Business
16:19 Interview with Alli Worthington
40:15 Interview with Stephanie Meek
61:57 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
66:20 Homework
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If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
There’s this idea out there that building relationships is just easy for some people. And sure, if you have a social personality and are naturally an extrovert, or if you love to talk and connect with people, then yes, maybe building relationships is easier for you. But your personality style doesn’t have to dictate your ability to build relationships! After all, everyone has a little bit of insecurity in them.
As you can probably guess, I’m a huge extrovert. But I still get a little nervous walking into a party or situation where I don’t know anyone. We all know what it’s like to feel like the new kid at school. So for those of us who have a super extroverted personality style, it doesn’t mean that we won’t ever struggle with building relationships.
And building relationships isn’t only vital in your life, but it’s also vital to your business.
Everything you will ever achieve in your life will come through people—so becoming good at building relationships is one of the most important skills you can develop. In fact, if you don’t have key relationships, you won’t get anywhere.
Related: 4 Friends You Need in Business
Even if the only person that works in your business is you, you still don’t have to go it alone. Building strong business relationships will set you up for success in these areas:
And who doesn’t need help with at least one of those things? So, in this episode, I’ll give you the five steps to making strong business connections.
Emily is a publicist, consultant, and the founder of Richett Media. She is a former TV news reporter. While in that role, she covered over 6,000 inspiring stories about entrepreneurs, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
So, she’s basically an expert on how to share the story of your business and get exposure. Sharing your story is one of the strongest ways you can build business relationships and get PR, and we’re going to learn so much from her!
In this podcast, Emily and I talk about:
I was reading a Forbes article the other day called “Best Small-Business Loans For Women in 2018,” and I was encouraged to see the latest stats on female-owned businesses. Basically, y’all are killing it.
But the article goes on to talk about all the different ways you can get small-business financing. Now, you know I’m all about y’all growing your businesses. What I don’t want you to do is believe that taking out loans is the only way to do that. In fact, taking out a loan isn’t an indicator of success or growth—it’s a risk and a loss of power.
But I am here to tell you that you can chase your dream and achieve success—and do it all debt-free! In fact, I know and have personally seen countless women who’ve done just that. Just listen to my podcast interview with Melissa Hinnant, founder of Grace & Lace, who did $800,000 in sales her first year in business without borrowing a penny. Or read my interview with Amber Jones, who started Minnie’s Travel Boutique after attending a Business Boutique event and grew the business, slow and steady, from a modest $900 to six figures. So in this episode, I’m going on a bit of Christy-rant to address this issue head-on!
Plus, I’ll answer a question from one of our live Business Boutique events.
1:05 How to Build Relationships
16:38 Interview with Emily Richett
39:42 Busting Business Loan Myths
43:14 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
50:49 Homework
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If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
"People will take away one thing, and that's if you make your point really clear."
Looking back on my earliest speaking events as part of Dave Ramsey’s speaking group, it makes me cringe to think about how I made one of the most common mistakes that all new speakers make.
I tried to say everything.
I would get onstage for a speaking event, thinking, Well, I’ve just got to tell them all the things. I need to talk about life balance, living from your values, making time for yourself, how to manage your money and get out of debt, and also how to be a good parent and achieve all your life goals and grow your business . . .
How effective do you think that strategy was? Not very, because I was trying to say five million different things! And people can’t process—let alone remember—five million things at once. People will take away one, maybe two things, if you make your point(s) really clear. But it took me several speaking engagements of not connecting with audiences to realize I needed to choose just one main thing I wanted to say.
And the same is true for your digital marketing.
Just like we talked about in episode 31 with Donald Miller, we need to be crystal clear with our audience so they know exactly what our brand is about. We need to let them know the one problem we’ll solve for them—one, not ten. (Or, like in my early stage presentations, not five million.) This same strategy applies to digital marketing—just as it does to any other kind of marketing.
"Okay, hold up!" (You might say.) You might be thinking that digital marketing sounds intimidating and complicated. You might be daunted by the term “digital marketing” if you don’t actually know what it is.
It’s easier than you think! Digital marketing is simply marketing on a digital platform. Digital marketing includes:
Okay, so now that you know what digital marketing is, let’s work on your digital marketing strategy.
In this episode, I’ll give you the four things you need to know in order to build a digital marketing strategy that works. Plus, I’ll break down other digital marketing concepts and make them easy to understand, including campaigns, funnels, lead magnets and building email lists.
Molly is a digital marketing expert and educator, and she has an amazing story about building an incredible career specifically in digital marketing. As we dive deeper into this topic of digital marketing strategies, there’s no one better to have in on the conversation than Molly!
Early in her career, her job as an intern at DigitalMarketer was to create organic social media posts. As marketing and technology advanced so did her skillset, and she learned all about paid ads on Facebook and paid search on Google. She rose up through the ranks at DigitalMarketer to eventually become a VP, and recently branched out to start her own consulting agency.
In this podcast episode, Molly and I talk about:
Plus, I’ll give you a pep talk on where you’re standing with your goals at the moment and answer your questions from our live Business Boutique events.
1:03 Digital Marketing Strategies That Work
10:44 Interview with Molly Pittman
42:37 Goals Check-In
45:51 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
54:47 Homework
Get Christy's Social Media Cheat Sheet by filling out the form here!
To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Society often paints a picture of success that looks like this: Either you’re home all the time, dedicating 100% of your time to your family, or you’re at work all the time, completely abandoning your friends, family and the rest of your life.
But as I discussed with Laura Vanderkam in Episode 34: Excuses That Steal Your Time, that’s a myth! The truth is, you can be successful in multiple areas of your life. You can be successful in your career, your relationships, your business and even your health and exercise routines—get this!—all in the same life.
It’s all about priorities.
When every waking minute is taken up for work, routine responsibilities, or taking care of others, you’ll feel the opposite of successful; you’ll feel stressed out and set back.
For example, when I start to feel overwhelmed, it’s usually because I’m not spending time on the things that I care about the most. So, I’ve made it a habit to take a look at my schedule when that happens. It’s pretty eye-opening to see what gets my time. If I’m honest, there are a lot of unworthy motivations I have that sometimes creep to the top of my priority list, such as:
Chasing those motivations, no matter how much effort I put into them, always leaves me coming up short. I spin my wheels, and I feel like a failure.
The problem with achieving success in your life (and mine!) isn’t that we aren’t doing enough, and it’s not that we’re doing too much. Often, it’s that we’re doing the wrong things. So, let’s talk about the right things!
And don’t worry, you don’t have to sacrifice—at least, not in the way you think you do.
In this episode, I’ll reveal habits, characteristics and traits that are present in the lives of highly successful women. I’ll dive into the seven things you need to prioritize to achieve success. And the great news it this: If you don’t currently have them, I promise you can learn to practice all of them starting today!
By the way, you know what’s not on the list of traits of successful women?
(You get the idea!)
Ali is the host of the highly successful Glambition podcast, and her passion is to see women succeed in business! Ali’s story of success began with recognizing what she was good at. She was a mover and a shaker working in an office of—as she puts it—“turtles!”
It didn’t take long for Ali to realize her own potential, get excited about doing things her own way, and quit her day job to pursue her own freelance business full time.
In my conversation with Ali, we’ll talk about:
Our success story this week is Abbey Ashley, founder of The Virtual Savvy. Abbey says she helps “savvy starters launch and grow their virtual assistant business to 5K months and beyond!”
Abbey took what she knew from being a virtual assistant and turned that knowledge and experience into online courses. While her first course launch was by no means successful—she only had one customer sign up—she didn’t give up there.
The next iteration of her business was in virtual assistant business coaching, and she started The Virtual Savvy in August 2016. Since then, she’s become hyper-focused and (at the time of publication) has made over $300K in sales! I’m so excited that she’s sharing her strategy for success with us.
Plus, I’ll answer some of your business questions from our Business Boutique event in November!
1:12 Top Traits of Highly Successful Women
15:29 Interview with Ali Brown
45:38 BB Success Story with Abbey Ashley
57:12 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
64:31 Homework
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To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Many of you are being held back by something you aren't even aware of: You're believing lies about yourselves and about your businesses.
See, when you believe something that isn’t true, you’re living our life based on misinformation. You’re missing out on something that could change your life, that could make you happy or even make you a better person and open up opportunities you couldn’t even imagine.
Recently a woman came up to me at a speaking event and told me she’d been hearing me for about a year on The Dave Ramsey Show. But every time she heard me, she thought, “Well, that’s nice. But it’s not for me. I could never start my own business.”
Eight months later, guess what she’s doing? She’s running her own business!
I love her story because it’s a great example of how we all believe lies we think are true. And if you don’t hear the truth, you’re going to continue to live in those lies and you’ll never be free to win. So in this episode, I’ll talk about five common lies that I see women believing about business.
My guest this week is my dear friend, best-selling author and speaker, Annie F. Downs. Annie is no stranger to anyone who’s attended a Business Boutique event, because she’s our amazing and hilarious host.
But I can’t wait for you to get to know her journey on a more personal level. In this episode, she’ll share:
Our success story this week is Melanie Gaye, owner of Pretty Smart Kids. She makes beautiful, custom nerdy skirts for girls! Melanie is actually a former engineer-turned-entrepreneur, and her business idea came about as the solution to a problem she found in the marketplace.
If your little girl is more interested in science and dinosaurs than she is polka dots and dolls, you pretty much have to shop in the little boys’ department. So, she cut back to working part time at her day job to pursue making skirts for those girls as a side-business! You’ll love hearing about the “Why” behind her business, and you’ll be encouraged by what her life looks like since pursuing something she’s truly passionate about.
Plus, I’ll answer some of your burning business questions from our Business Boutique event in November.
1:14 Five Lies You Believe About Business
20:34 Interview with Annie F. Downs
48:45 BB Success Story with Melanie Gaye
61:03 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
70:03 Homework
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To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
Let’s talk about goals for your business—but not big, huge, overwhelming goals. Instead, we’ll talk about tiny, baby, daily, micro goals. These are the smaller goals along the way that it takes to get to the finish line. In this episode, I’ll teach you how to break down your big goals into weekly and then daily goals so you can actually achieve them!
My guest this week is speaker, best-selling author, podcast host and my good friend, Chris Hogan. He’ll get real practical with us about how to eliminate excuses and chase down our results so that we can run businesses and lives that we’re proud of. And Chris and I will answer your burning business questions together!
Our success story this week is Naomi Duncan, owner of Naomi Ruth Photography. Naomi has grown her humble hobby into a business that brings her over $40K per year on the side!
1:08 Hitting Big Goals By Winning Small
12:03 Interview with Chris Hogan
41:22 BB Success Story with Naomi Duncan
52:29 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
64:11 Homework
Get Christy's Goal Setting Tool by filling out the form here!
To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.
This episode is all about recognizing and celebrating you, and the hard work you’ve put in all year long!
We’ll hear the story of Catherine Cramer's Southern Home Bakery and Kathy Lozano's Parents’ Academy. We'll also hear from the incredible women behind businesses like Howdy Honey, Old St. Augustine Gourmet Foods, and more.
Here's to another year making money doing what you love!
1:20 BB Success Story with Catherine Cramer
17:20 BB Email Success Stories
44:18 BB Success Story with Kathy Lozano
54:10 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT
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To save $5 on any Business Boutique 1-Day ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT.
Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy.
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If you have a success story you would like to share with the Business Boutique community, email me at podcast@businessboutique.com.
New podcast episodes are available every other week.