When you orient your motive toward making room for difference, including people who's experiences aren't like yours, taking steps to not hurt people with your business, I think you can find both some peace and the motivation for real, lasting change. Today, I have a conversation with Alice Karolina. Alice is a brand strategist as well as the founder of the ethical move, which champions ethical marketing and sales among small business owners. Alice and I talk about how the ethical move came to be, the values that guide the work the ethical move does, and how the business is set to evolve into the future. Now, let's find out what works for Alice Karolina. The post EP 359: Operating An Ethical Business With the ethical move Founder Alice Karolina appeared first on What Works.

What Works | Small Business Podcast with Tara McMullin

EP 359: Operating An Ethical Business With the ethical move Founder Alice Karolina

My guest today is a perfect example of this. Liz Wiltsie is the founder of the Future Proof Skills Lab and the host of Sustainably Human At Work. She's a trauma-informed, abolitionist skill builder on a quest to support small business owners to create more intentional, imaginative, and connected workplaces. Liz and I talk through the values her business is built on, as well as the movements her business uses as the focal point of her work. Plus, she sheds some light on how both our needs and our values end up manifesting in different ways, as well as how that applies to the workplace. Now, let's find out what works for Liz Wiltsie. The post EP 358: Imagining New Ways To Work With Future Proof Skills Lab Founder Liz Wiltsie appeared first on What Works.

EP 358: Imagining New Ways To Work With Future Proof Skills Lab Founder Liz Wiltsie

Lately, I've been thinking about how much we take existing systems and ways of working for granted—and then find ways to operate within those conventions that make us feel like we're honoring our values. Instead of getting clear on what actually honoring our values looks like and then deciding whether we can participate in existing systems and ways of working—or whether we need to create something new. And that's where today's conversation with coach, podcaster, and writer Mara Glatzel begins. Mara is the host of Needy, the creator of Tend, and the kind of person I naturally think of when I think about operationalizing values. But what you'll hear Mara tell me first is that, a while back, she realized that the kind of life and work she wanted for her clients wasn't the kind of life and work she had structured for herself. That's easy to understand since Mara's values and the values her business is built on run counter to the values of capitalism and workism. What I'd love for you to think about as you listen to this important conversation is what you take for granted as you build your business. What assumptions do you bring with you? What shoulds and supposed-tos get in the way of fully realizing—and operationalizing—your business's values? Mara and I unpack how she did that for herself and what's come out of the process—and I think you'll find the conversation a creative jumpstart for considering how you could do things differently too. Now, let's find out What Works for Mara Glatzel. The post EP 357: Building A Business Based On What Matters With Coach Mara Glatzel appeared first on What Works.

EP 357: Building A Business Based On What Matters With Coach Mara Glatzel

Today, I have 3 more contributions to this month's discussion about systems. Each one tackles a different aspect of this idea that "systems just are." Writer Mary Beth Huwe shares a beautiful definition for systems as a whole and how that applies to the way she approaches working with her clients. Krysta Williams, an artist and systems support person for small businesses, shares how seeing businesses as systems has led her to a more holistic approach to business-building support. And Amy Kuretsky, an acupuncturist and business coach balancing two businesses, shares how she created a care system for herself as an entrepreneur to make sure she has what she needs as her businesses see massive growth. The post EP 356: Creating A System Of Care appeared first on What Works.

EP 356: Creating A System Of Care

It's easy to think 2-dimensionally about the money in your business: revenue and expenses. But 2-dimensional thinking makes it much harder to find the money to grow. If you can start to think 3-dimensionally (revenue + expenses + time), then you can expand your opportunities. Managing for cash flow gives you a way to see the interconnected components of money in your business. Plus, it's a way to powerful financial systems and live out feminist & anti-colonialist values. The post EP 355: Cash Flow Is A Feminist Issue appeared first on What Works.

EP 355: Cash Flow Is A Feminist Issue

Today, I’m talking with Coach Pony founder Christie Mims. Christie helps coaches build a real business with her program of the same name. Plus, Christie is host of the Coach Pony podcast, a show we lovingly produce at YHM. I knew I wanted to talk with Christie about her processes & systems—but when she told me about her two competing sales funnels, I had to know more. What I learned is that by honing her full sales system—and not just an individual funnel or two—she celebrates the complexity that comes with any buying process. This conversation is going to be a treat for anyone who wants the inside scoop on how sales funnels actually work. And it might also be a cautionary tale. Now, let's find out what works for Christie Mims! The post EP 354: Making Sales A System With Coach Pony Founder Christie Mims appeared first on What Works.

EP 354: Making Sales A System With Coach Pony Founder Christie Mims

When you bring a systems thinking approach to business strategy, management, sales, marketing, and even the creative process, how does that shift your decision-making and action? To kick off this month, I wanted to start with a conversation from my own team—the YellowHouse.Media team. I asked Sean McMullin and Lou Blaser to talk with me about the systems they're using to manage the podcasts we produce and how they're organizing that in Clickup. Moving to Clickup was absolutely a case of getting the beat. Sean had to pay close attention to how our podcasts hosts worked, what was different from the way hosts who are always on deadline versus hosts who work ahead approach their work, and how software was either adding or removing friction from the process. Sean and Lou talk about all of that and more. So let's find out what works for managing projects at YellowHouse.Media! The post EP 353: Dancing With Systems In Clickup With Lou Blaser & Sean McMullin from YellowHouse.Media appeared first on What Works.

EP 353: Dancing With Systems In Clickup With Lou Blaser & Sean McMullin from YellowHouse.Media

I've got four more stories of business owners leveraging their strengths for you today. And the thread that runs through each of them is how using personal strengths as a filter allowed them to make components of their businesses more natural and effective. You'll hear from Lysa Greer, Mary Knox Miller, Nayla Bahri, Mytili Jugunaathun, and Lisa Townsend on how they've leveraged their strengths. The post EP 352: Personal Strengths Make Strategy Stronger appeared first on What Works.

EP 352: Personal Strengths Make Strategy Stronger

I've never thought of myself as very good at visual art or graphic design—even though I wished I was. Then, I had a conversation with writer, developmental editor, and communications consultant Kris Windley. Kris told me all about how she'd been learning how to draw to support her writing—and that helped manage her attention & focus as she navigates ADHD. I don't think I can overstate how much this got my wheels turning. It wasn't until January that I really got to work on the project finding ways to illustrate my ideas. But once I got started, I couldn't stop! Here 8 months later and almost a year after that conversation, I feel like I have a really powerful tool in my toolkit. And that that tool leverages a strength I had only been using at half-power. This episode is a rebroadcast but, if you follow my non-podcast work, I think it will have new meaning for you now—as it does for me. And regardless, I think it's really encouraging to hear about how Kris has intentionally and methodically introduced this new skill into the way she works! Now, let's find out what works for Kris Windley. The post EP 351: Thinking Differently With Writer Kris Windley appeared first on What Works.

EP 351: Thinking Differently With Writer Kris Windley

I still struggle with belonging. I struggle with the constant fear of unfamiliar situations and people—along with the fear of plenty of familiar situations and people—something Laura James describes in her book, Odd Girl Out. But I can also see my outsider perspective as a strength—and one that I can leverage. My guest today surprised and delighted me when she started our conversation off with her own exploration of belonging—and how finding that intrinsic sense of belonging has become a real strength for her while also leveraging her outsider perspective, too. Reva Patwardhan is a coach and facilitator who guides changemakers and leaders working for social change to help them lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. This conversation had so many high points for me. We kick off with belonging, but we also talk about deep processing, narrowing the scope of her work, noticing, systems, and why slowing down is so important. Reva and I also talk about her experience through the lens of ADHD, as well as her experience as a highly sensitive person. This conversation is rich and useful, whether you're a neurodivergent business owner or not. Reva's experiences lay out a beautiful framework for better understanding yourself and your own strengths - so with that... Let's find out what works for Reva Patwardhan. The post EP 350: Slowing Down For Success With Coach Reva Patwardhan appeared first on What Works.

EP 350: Slowing Down For Success With Coach Reva Patwardhan

This month, I indulged myself a bit with our focus on the podcast. I wanted to talk to other neurodivergent business owners about how they leverage their strengths in their businesses. It’s part personal research project and part public service. The public service part is the part where, even if you’re not neurodivergent, you start to see how your own strengths can give you creative direction in how you build your business. You can filter how you build your business through what truly makes you feel effective, alive, and capable. You can adapt your business instead of always adapting yourself. I could think of no one I wanted to kick off this series with more than Brittany Berger. Brittany’s personal leadership and advocacy was some of the first that made me think, “huh.” Brittany is the founder of Work Brighter, a platform that provides resources and encouragement for neurodivergent, disabled, and chronically ill people who want to make productivity techniques work for them. Brittany and I talk about how she manages her energy, how she structures her day, and why self-disclosure has been key to finding her way, as well as—and this is crucial—why she can write about the intersection of pop culture, productivity, and content marketing like no one else. Now, let’s find out What Works for Brittany Berger! The post EP 349: Updating Your Default Settings With Work Brighter Founder Brittany Berger appeared first on What Works.

EP 349: Updating Your Default Settings With Work Brighter Founder Brittany Berger

It’s not easy when it feels like your life or business are in chaos. It’s hard to find the space to take a mental break, let alone some time away from work. My buddy Mark Butler, has been working on lessening the chaos from the last few years and so I knew he was the perfect person to round out this series on taking a break. Mark is the founder of Let’s Do The Books, as well as a CFO for 7 and 8-figure coaching businesses. He’s generous, rigorous, super fun to hang out with, and makes for great bear bait (that's a story for another time). Mark is actively working on quieting his mind, exploring how to create the best conditions for his team members to thrive, and learning when to get the heck out of the way—or else allow chaos to creep back in. We talk about all of those things—plus how his high value for family influences the direction he’s taking his work-life. Strap in. Let’s find out what works for Mark Butler. The post EP 348: Knowing When To Get Out Of The Way With Let’s Do The Books Founder Mark Butler appeared first on What Works.

EP 348: Knowing When To Get Out Of The Way With Let’s Do The Books Founder Mark Butler

What does it take to be able to carve out the time and energy to pursue big creative projects? Jessica Abel is the founder of The Autonomous Creative and the creator of The Creative Focus Workshop. She’s also a cartoonist, author, and educator. She helps all kinds of creative people juggle the work that pays with the work they dream about. Our conversation isn’t so much about taking a break from work entirely. It’s about taking a break from one kind of work to focus on the projects we so rarely make time for. Jessica and I talk about how her work has evolved over the years and how she’s able to juggle so many projects herself, as well as the patterns she’s noticed among creatives, the routines that can help us make sense of our time, and how she paces herself. Now, let’s find out what works for Jessica Abel! The post EP 347: Carving Out Space For Creative Work With The Autonomous Creative Founder Jessica Abel appeared first on What Works.

EP 347: Carving Out Space For Creative Work With The Autonomous Creative Founder Jessica Abel

Solid systems, strong client relationships, naps, and art is the perfect blend for my day. You probably have your own ideal blend for how you spend your time—whether working or otherwise. Maybe you save working on your big projects until after 10pm. Maybe you take 1 week off per quarter. Maybe you don't schedule calls on Mondays or Tuesdays. And if you don't have found the right blend for you yet, now is the perfect time to think about what it might be and start experimenting you way to it. Today, I have a conversation with one of my oldest business friends for you on exactly this subject. Jacquette Timmons is speaker, coach, and financial behaviorist who helps people make human choices with their money. I wanted to find out what taking a break and taking care of herself meant to her. And eventually the conversation got to this topic of finding the right blend—so that whether you're working, resting, exercising, eating, or exploring your other interests, you feel satisfied and fulfilled with the way you're spending your time. Now, let's find out what works for Jacquette Timmons! The post EP 346: Finding The Right Blend With Financial Behaviorist Jacquette Timmons appeared first on What Works.

EP 346: Finding The Right Blend With Financial Behaviorist Jacquette Timmons

Last week, we took our first trip of this Hot Vax Summer. And later this month, we're driving out to Montana to enjoy a month in the mountains again. We'll still be working but the business will largely be in maintenance mode. Which brings me to today's topic. When Tara and I decided I'd take over for her this month and explore the topic of taking a break, I immediately knew the first person I wanted to talk to. My friend and YHM podcaster Susan Boles. Susan is the founder of ScaleSpark and the host of Break The Ceiling. She has an eye for efficiency, systems, and automation that makes her the perfect candidate for talking about how to put a business in maintenance mode. And, Susan, like many others, was forced to wrestling with the reality of building a business made for maintenance mode when the pandemic hit and schools closed. During our conversation, you'll hear that story and why it's so important to her to have a business that runs in maintenance mode. You'll also hear how Susan can fall prey to shiny object syndrome and other distractions just like any other business owner, as well as how she's combating self-sabotage and how she balances work as a creative outlet with taking breaks. Now, let's find out what works for Susan Boles! The post EP 345: Putting Your Business In Maintenance Mode With ScaleSpark Founder Susan Boles appeared first on What Works.

EP 345: Putting Your Business In Maintenance Mode With ScaleSpark Founder Susan Boles

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What Works | Small Business Podcast with Tara McMullin

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