Creative Business Mindset™

This episode started out as a simple recap of the season. But somewhere between writing my voice notes and sitting down to talk to you, it turned into something else, a look back at where I started this year, where I am now and where I'm headed. And the theme that kept showing up is that this has been my season of yes. I've said yes to things I never would have before. Hormone replacement therapy, GLP-1, a whole CEO calendar overhaul, where I finally schedule myself first instead of last, becoming a mom of adults, now that my youngest turned 18.  My team and I even made a pact: if an idea doesn't bring in revenue in 60 to 90 days, it waits, or it goes away completely. And this year I threw myself my first-ever party, at 54, for my book launch and said yes to a lot of things I'd normally skip: a fashion show, a winery photoshoot, a '20s themed gala. I get into all of it in this episode and what it's taught me about choosing peace and joy over obligation. This episode covers: ✅ What becoming a mom of adults has stirred up for me emotionally ✅ Why I built a "CEO calendar" and put myself first on it ✅ My honest, non-expert take on saying yes to HRT and GLP-1 ✅ The pact I made with my team about which ideas get my energy ✅ Throwing myself my first-ever party, at 54 ✅ What a financial literacy conference taught me about the rooms we choose ✅ Learning to ask "do I want to?" instead of "should I?" ✅ Why business and life have never actually been separate  My hope is that this episode offers a little space to look back at your own season, honestly. Not the highlight reel, but the real transitions, endings, and beginnings. Whatever you're walking away from right now, there's no rush to replace it. Who were you when this season started? And more importantly, who are you becoming? 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you're navigating the realities of building a business and you're looking for a space to think, reflect and explore your next chapter, I'd love to welcome you into Business Therapy™. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this conversation gave you something to think about, the Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide offers space for further reflection around voice, visibility, growth and purpose. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself is a reflection on growth, self trust and becoming the version of yourself your next level is asking for. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

This episode is a little different for me. It's my first in-person, in-studio conversation and my guest is my good friend Pacha Badibanga, a nurse turned financial literacy expert and founder of Afya Legacy. Pacha and I met through a wealth-building event we co-hosted together and that conversation genuinely shifted the way I think about money and protection, so I knew I had to bring her on the show. Pacha's years in healthcare leadership and nursing education gave her a front-row seat to what can happen to a family's income and savings the moment illness, disability or death shows up uninvited. In this episode, we talk about the "three baskets" your money can sit in, why investing might actually work best as a later step rather than a first one in a solid financial plan, what really happens to your accounts through probate and the true cost of a funeral. Pacha also shares why she sees GoFundMe pages as a sign that a plan was never put in place to begin with. One moment that stuck with me is when Pacha talks about the "false sense of security" that can come with a 9-to-5 job and a savings account and why protecting your ability to earn income might be worth considering before diving into investing. In this episode, I ask Pacha about:  ✅ Why she calls GoFundMe "not a plan," and what usually leads a family to start one ✅ The three financial "baskets": tax now, tax later and tax advantage ✅ Why protection can be a helpful place to start before investing ✅ What can happen to your income, home and investments if illness or disability strikes ✅ Health insurance vs. income-protecting life insurance with living benefits ✅ What happens to your accounts and estate through probate court ✅ The real cost of a funeral, and why so few people plan ahead for it ✅ How life insurance can become a way to fast-track generational wealth in a family ✅ What business owners often overlook when they insure everything except themselves About Pacha Badibanga: Pacha Badibanga is the CEO and founder of Afya Legacy, a financial literacy expert and a longtime healthcare professional. She spent years in nursing leadership and education before transitioning into wealth building, drawing on what she witnessed in healthcare, families losing everything they'd built the moment a serious illness or disability entered the picture, to shape her approach to financial protection. Through Afya Legacy, Pacha works as an independent broker, helping individuals, families and business owners explore their options for income protection, life insurance with living benefits, and legacy planning, matching them with the provider and product that fits their needs. She also hosts financial literacy workshops in the Seattle area, especially for women and business owners interested in building sustainable, generational wealth. Connect with Pacha Badibanga: Website: agents.worldfinancialgroup.com/pacha-badibanga LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pacha-badibanga Instagram: www.instagram.com/pacha.badibanga Facebook: www.facebook.com/PachaBadibanga 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you're navigating growth in your business and would value a space to think more clearly, ask better questions, and move forward in a way that feels aligned, you can learn more about Business Therapy™ at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this conversation gave you something to think about, my guide offers space for further reflection on voice, visibility, growth, and purpose. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself It's a reflection on identity, voice, growth, and becoming the person your next season is asking you to be. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here.

Great work matters, but it isn't always the first thing people notice when deciding whether to work with you. In this episode of Business Therapy™, I sit down with branding strategist and creative business mentor Laurie Graham for a thoughtful conversation about branding, visibility and the way people experience your business before they ever become a client. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in luxury real estate, sales, marketing and entrepreneurship, Laurie shares how her own journey led her into the world of branding and why she's passionate about helping business owners communicate the value they already bring. Together, we explore how first impressions can begin shaping buying decisions long before a discovery call takes place, why many talented entrepreneurs find themselves competing on price, and how greater clarity around your brand can create different opportunities for growth. While we touch on visual identity, this conversation goes much deeper than logos or colour palettes. We explore the experience your business creates, the trust that's built through consistency, and how branding can become a way of expressing who you are rather than trying to become someone you're not. One of my favourite moments in this conversation is when Laurie reflects on how branding can become less about creating an image and more about helping the right people recognise the value that's already there. This episode covers: ✅ How first impressions can begin shaping buying decisions before a conversation even starts ✅ The difference between marketing your business and building a memorable brand ✅ How a stronger brand can sometimes reduce the pressure to compete on price ✅ The role consistency can play in building trust and credibility ✅ Some of the common branding challenges creative entrepreneurs experience ✅ How your online presence can become a more natural reflection of the quality of your work ✅ What it can look like to build systems and support that create more freedom in your business ✅ How branding can evolve alongside both your business and the person you're becoming About Laurie Graham: Laurie Graham is a branding strategist, business mentor and the founder of Boss Babe Creative. After building a successful career in luxury real estate, property management and business operations, she now works with creative entrepreneurs to help them build brands that reflect who they are, communicate their value and support sustainable business growth. Through branding, marketing strategy and business coaching, Laurie helps business owners create businesses that feel both authentic and intentional. Connect with  Laurie Graham: Website: www.laurielgraham.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurielgraham Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurielgraham Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurieLGraham  Youtube: www.youtube.com/@BossBabeCreative 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you're navigating growth in your business and would value a space to think more clearly, ask better questions and move forward in a way that feels aligned, you can learn more about Business Therapy™ at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this conversation gave you something to think about, the Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide offers space for further reflection around voice, visibility, growth and purpose. You can download it here. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself is a reflection on identity, voice, growth and becoming the person your next season is asking you to be. If you'd like to explore those ideas further, you can order your copy here.  you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In today's episode, I'm talking about something I think every business owner experiences at some point: the quiet season. Those moments when enquiries slow down, engagement drops, and it's easy to wonder whether any of your work is making a difference. I begin with a quote from Eddie Murphy before the Academy Awards that has stayed with me for years: "It is always wonderful to win, but if I don't win, I am still Eddie in the morning." The more I reflected on those words, the more they stayed with me. They made me wonder how often I allow business results to shape the way I see myself. Maybe you've noticed that in your own journey too. I also share a personal story about a social media post that hardly anyone engaged with. At the time, I wondered if it had missed the mark. Months later, a realtor reached out to tell me she'd never forgotten that post. That one conversation turned into years of working together and referrals that I never could have predicted. It reminded me that some of the most meaningful moments in business happen long before we realise they're unfolding. This episode covers: ✅ Why a quiet season may not mean you're moving in the wrong direction ✅ What Eddie Murphy's story reminded me about identity ✅ Why low engagement rarely tells the whole story ✅ The difference between public metrics and real impact ✅ What I've noticed happens when we tie our worth to numbers ✅ Why continuing to show up can sometimes reveal more than immediate results ever could ✅ A few questions I find myself coming back to when business feels quiet ✅ Why I've come to believe our value isn't determined by applause I also spend some time talking about the pressure many of us feel to measure success through likes, views, followers and algorithms. The truth is, people often take in far more than they respond to. Someone may read your content today, remember it months from now, recommend you to someone else, or become a client long after they first came across your work. Not every seed grows where we can see it. My hope is that this conversation offers another way of looking at those quieter seasons. Perhaps it creates a little more room to separate identity from results and to remember that timing, attention and circumstances all influence how our work is received. The applause didn't create who you are. Its absence doesn't take that away either. You're still you in the morning. ✨ Download the Creative Clarity Assessment If you'd like a little space to reflect on where you are in business, I've created a free Creative Clarity Assessment. It offers a simple way to pause, notice what may already be working, explore where you might be feeling stuck and consider what your next step could look like. Download it here: www.jokedurojaiye.me/creative-clarity-assessment 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you're navigating the realities of building a business and you're looking for a space to think, reflect and explore your next chapter, I'd love to welcome you into Business Therapy™. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this conversation gave you something to think about, the Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide offers space for further reflection around voice, visibility, growth and purpose. You can download it here. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself is a reflection on growth, self trust and becoming the version of yourself your next level is asking for. You can also explore more conversations inside the Business Therapy™ space, where business and life are approached in a way that feels aligned with who you are becoming. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

Sometimes the hardest part of building a successful life is recognising when you've outgrown it. In this episode, I sit down with leadership strategist, speaker, author and CPA Jennifer Doty for an honest conversation about identity, career transitions and what can happen when the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like it fits. Jennifer shares her journey from nearly 20 years in corporate leadership at MetLife to creating a portfolio career that brings together executive leadership, speaking, coaching and entrepreneurship. Along the way, we explore the emotions that often come with starting over, why periods of uncertainty can reveal more than we expect, and how creating space to reflect can open the door to new possibilities. Together, we talk about the stories we carry from our careers, our upbringing and society, and how those stories can quietly influence the choices we make. We also explore what it can look like to move from scarcity towards alignment, trust your own intuition and create work that reflects who you're becoming, not just who you've been. One of my favourite moments in this conversation is the reminder that transitions are not simply about finding the next job or opportunity. Sometimes they're an invitation to get curious about what truly matters and to build from there. This episode covers: ✅ Why career transitions often feel like an identity shift ✅ The value of creating space to reflect before making your next move ✅ How fear and scarcity can influence career decisions ✅ Why understanding your own non-negotiables can bring clarity ✅ The questions that can help uncover what really matters ✅ How rewriting old stories can create new opportunities ✅ What a portfolio career looks like and why it appeals to more professionals today ✅ Finding work that aligns with your values, strengths and the life you want to create About Jennifer Doty Jennifer Doty is a leadership strategist, speaker, certified public accountant (CPA) and author. After spending nearly two decades leading large teams and major organisational change inside MetLife, she now helps individuals and organisations navigate change, strengthen leadership and build careers with greater clarity and intention. Alongside her corporate leadership role, she has created a portfolio career through speaking, coaching, writing and entrepreneurship. Connect with Jennifer Doty: Website: jenniferdoty.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sierveld-doty Instagram: www.instagram.com/jsierveld Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennifer.s.doty.58 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you're navigating growth in your business and would value a space to think more clearly, ask better questions and move forward in a way that feels aligned, you can learn more about Business Therapy™at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this conversation gave you something to think about, the Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide offers space for further reflection around voice, visibility, growth and purpose. You can download it here. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself is a reflection on identity, voice, growth and becoming the person your next season is asking you to be. If you'd like to explore those ideas further, you can find the book here.  you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

The silent treatment is a form of abuse, even when it never raises its voice. In this episode, I sit down with author and empowerment coach Ama Karikari for a raw and powerful conversation about chronic silent treatment, a form of emotional abuse that many people have experienced but often struggle to name. Ama shares her personal story, from studying at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Wharton, to working as Senior Counsel at Citigroup, while navigating a 15-year marriage where silence was used as a tool of control. Together, we explore what chronic silent treatment actually is, why it activates the same regions of the brain as physical pain and how it can impact a child's nervous system and development. We also discuss the difference between chosen silence and imposed silence, what it means to reclaim your voice after years of suppression and why Ama now believes the silent treatment dynamic she experienced may have been connected to her son's neurodivergence diagnosis. One of the most important themes we unpack is the impact unresolved pain has on leadership and business. The energy you suppress at home does not stay at home. It influences how you lead, how you show up in your business and what you believe is possible for yourself. This episode covers: ✅ What chronic silent treatment is and how to recognize it ✅ Why silence can cause more psychological damage than verbal conflict ✅ The connection between home environments and childhood neurodivergence ✅ The difference between control and "loss of control" in abusive dynamics ✅ How to become a cycle breaker instead of a cycle continuer ✅ Why healing in community matters ✅ How unresolved silence affects leadership and business About  Ama Karikari Ama Karikari is the author of Silence to Soaring: Heal From Chronic Silent Treatments, Toxic Relationships and Abuse. She helps people recognise unhealthy relationship dynamics, reclaim their voice and begin the healing process. You can learn more about her work, join her free community and access her free course at AmaKarikari.com. Connect with Ama Karikari: Website: AmaKarikari.com. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amakarikariyawson Instagram: www.instagram.com/amakkarikari Youtube: www.youtube.com/@amayawson2608 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while building your business, Business Therapy™ is a space designed to help you move forward with more clarity, confidence and grounded support as you navigate growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, you can download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and more intentional conversations around voice, visibility, growth, and purpose. Click here to download.  📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself explores identity, voice, growth and becoming the version of yourself that can hold what you’re building. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In today’s episode, I’m talking about what it can look like to build your life and business from assignment, not just from a goal list. This year, I did not set major goals the way I usually would. From the outside, it may have looked like there was a perfect plan behind everything. The book, the reviews, the Barnes & Noble placement, the speaking rooms, the growing platform. But the truth is, there was no perfectly mapped-out strategy. There was readiness. There was obedience. There was a willingness to show up for what God placed in front of me and do the work. I also share a story from my home staging days, where I learned that sometimes a space does not need more. It simply needs someone to see what is already there clearly. That same lesson has shaped the way I now think about business, life, and this mid-year self-check. Because maybe you are not behind. Maybe there is already more in the room than you think. Here’s what I covered ✅ Why I did not set major goals this year ✅ What it can look like to build from assignment instead of pressure ✅ The difference between a goal review and a mid-year self-check ✅ A gentle way to notice what may already be in your hands ✅ Why feeling behind does not mean you have failed ✅ The value of reflecting on capacity, resilience, boundaries, and lessons learned ✅ Why safe is not always the same as aligned ✅ Questions you may want to sit with before planning the second half of the year I also talk about the pressure that can come up around the middle of the year. The comparison, the feeling of being behind, and that quiet voice that asks, “Who am I to think I could do this?” This episode offers a different way to look at the first half of the year. Not through panic. Not through shame. Not only through goals that were met or missed. Through inventory. What did you build? What did you survive? What did you learn? What did you release? What opened up that you did not plan for? Sometimes the next move may already be inside those answers. Maybe the question is not only, “Did I hit the goal?” Maybe the question is, “What has obedience already built?” ✨ Download the Creative Clarity Assessment I created the Creative Clarity Assessment as a free resource to help you take this kind of honest inventory. It is not a personality test or a goal-setting worksheet. It is more like a mirror you can hold up to your business and your life. Download it at www.jokedurojaiye.me/creative-clarity-assessment 💼Explore Business Therapy™ If you would like support as you navigate the realities of building a business, Business Therapy™ offers a space for reflection, strategy, and honest conversations about growth.Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here.

In today’s episode, I’m talking about the assignment you keep saying you’ll start someday. The business idea. The project. The offer. The book. The podcast. The thing that keeps returning to you, even after months or years of telling yourself you’ll get to it later. I share the story of how a major surgery and a hospital stay changed the way I think about time, readiness, and the opportunities we keep postponing. Because sometimes what looks like preparation is really waiting for a version of certainty that may never arrive. This episode is an invitation to consider what might happen if you stopped measuring your readiness by perfection and started trusting yourself with a first step instead. Here’s what I covered ✅ Why waiting to feel ready can quietly keep an idea on pause ✅ The difference between thoughtful preparation and endless preparation ✅ What I call borrowed judgment and how it can influence the decisions we make ✅ Why feedback from the wrong people can pull you away from your own voice ✅ The concept of visible pain paralysis and why it feels easier to focus on the risks of starting ✅ The invisible cost of waiting ✅ Why first versions are allowed to be imperfect ✅ How visibility creates opportunities for learning, refining and growing I also talk about the loneliness that can come from keeping everything inside your head. Sometimes ideas stay stuck because they have nowhere to go, nowhere to be tested and no opportunity to interact with the people they were created for. This episode is for the creative entrepreneur who has been carrying an idea for a while and may be wondering whether it is time to stop refining it privately and allow it to take up a little more space in the world. Maybe the next step is not having everything figured out. Maybe it is allowing yourself to begin before you do. ✨ Download the Creative Clarity Assessment This free resource helps you take an honest look at where you are in your business and life so you can identify what is working, what may be keeping you stuck and where there may be opportunities for growth. Download it at www.jokedurojaiye.me/creative-clarity-assessment 💼Explore Business Therapy™ If you would like support as you navigate the realities of building a business, Business Therapy™ offers a space for reflection, strategy and honest conversations about growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows, you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tom DuFore for a thoughtful conversation about business growth, scalability and what it might look like to build a business that can expand beyond the owner's day to day involvement.  Tom is a franchise expert, entrepreneur and founder of Big Sky Franchise Team. With more than two decades of experience helping business owners explore franchising as a growth strategy, he shares a different perspective on scaling and why creating systems that can be duplicated may open up opportunities that many entrepreneurs haven't considered.  Together, we explore what franchising actually means, how it differs from traditional expansion and some of the considerations that may be worth thinking about before taking that path. Here’s what we covered  ✅ What franchising is and how it works in practical terms ✅ The three key elements that typically form the foundation of a franchise model ✅ Why many well known franchise brands originally started as small businesses ✅ The difference between growing through expansion and growing through duplication ✅ Why franchising is often more of a long term growth strategy than a quick win  ✅ Some of the common pitfalls business owners may encounter when exploring franchising ✅ Why bringing in the right expertise can make a significant difference ✅ The role systems and processes can play in creating a scalable business  ✅ Three simple criteria that can help determine whether a business may be franchise ready  ✅ The differences between selling a business and franchising a business  ✅ How franchising can create a shift from operating a business to supporting others who operate it  ✅ Why building a business that can function without constant owner involvement can create greater flexibility Tom also shares insights from his experience working with entrepreneurs across a variety of industries and explains how franchising can create opportunities for growth while allowing business owners to leverage the systems, knowledge and expertise they have already developed. One reflection that stayed with me from this conversation is this: Growth doesn't always have to come from adding more hours, more effort or more complexity. Sometimes it can emerge from creating systems, processes and structures that allow a business to evolve beyond the owner's day to day involvement It’s a different way of thinking about expansion, one that may create opportunities for both growth and greater flexibility over time. If you've been reflecting on growth, scalability or what it might look like to create more space within your business, this conversation offers an interesting perspective on some of the possibilities available. About Tom DuFore Tom DuFore is a franchise consultant, entrepreneur and CEO of Big Sky Franchise Team. He has spent more than 20 years helping business owners evaluate, develop and grow franchise systems. Tom is also the host of the Multiply Your Success Podcast and works with entrepreneurs to simplify growth strategies and explore opportunities to expand through franchising and other distribution models. Tom also has a free guide called Nine Pitfalls to Avoid When Franchising Your Business, which you can download here if you’d like to take a deeper look: www.ninepitfalls.com  Connect with Tom DuFore: Website: bigskyfranchiseteam.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomdufore Facebook: www.facebook.com/p/Tom-DuFore Instagram: www.instagram.com/tomdufore Youtube: www.youtube.com/@bigskyfranchiseteam 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while building your business, Business Therapy™ is a space designed to help you move forward with more clarity, confidence and grounded support as you navigate growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, you can download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and more intentional conversations around voice, visibility, growth, and purpose. Click here to download.  📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself explores identity, voice, growth and becoming the version of yourself that can hold what you’re building.you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Vandepas for a thoughtful conversation on bold leadership, self-expression and what it can look like to show up more fully as yourself. Michelle brings decades of experience in leadership, publishing and coaching and together we explore the nuance behind “authenticity.” Because being yourself isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. It can be layered, evolving and sometimes uncomfortable, especially when it involves unlearning old patterns. We talk about how many of us hold ourselves back in subtle ways, not always because we lack ability, but because of fear, conditioning or simply not feeling ready yet. And what it might look like to begin shifting that, in ways that feel supportive rather than overwhelming. Here’s what we covered ✅ A more grounded perspective on what bold leadership can look like ✅ The difference between expressing yourself and reacting from emotion ✅ How self-awareness and emotional regulation can shape the way we lead ✅ The ways holding back can show up in the body, not just the mind ✅ The connection between voice, expression and overall wellbeing ✅ Why many women downplay their gifts, even when they’re capable ✅ How writing things down can create clarity and reduce fear ✅ The idea of taking small, different actions as a way to open new possibilities ✅ The role of support and accountability when things feel unclear ✅ Why rest can sometimes be part of moving forward, not a distraction from it ✅ What it can look like to honour where you are while still growing Michelle also shares parts of her personal journey, including how suppressing her voice once showed up in her physical health and how, over time, learning to express herself created shifts both internally and externally. One reflection that stayed with me from this conversation is this: Being yourself isn’t about getting it “right,” it’s about allowing space for who you are to emerge, in a way that feels honest and grounded. Because when there’s less pressure to perform, it can feel easier to move forward in a way that actually feels aligned. If you’ve been feeling a little held back, or thinking about how you show up in your life or business, this episode offers a perspective that feels both gentle and practical. About Michelle Vandepas Michelle Vandepas is a leadership coach, publisher and retreat host with over four decades of experience. She works with authors and entrepreneurs to help them step more confidently into their voice, share their stories and expand what they believe is possible for themselves. Connect with Michelle Vandepas: Website: michellevandepas.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michellevandepas Instagram: www.instagram.com/michelle.vandepas Facebook: www.facebook.com/michelle.vandepas Youtube: www.youtube.com/@michellevandepas 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while building your business, Business Therapy™ is a space designed to help you move forward with more clarity, confidence and grounded support as you navigate growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, you can download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and more intentional conversations around voice, visibility, growth, and purpose. Click here to download.  📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself explores identity, voice, growth and becoming the version of yourself that can hold what you’re building. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Tyler Osborne for a conversation that goes far beyond money. We explore what it can look like to build a life that feels whole, not just financially successful, but grounded in faith, family, health, and joy. Tyler shares his framework of the “Five Fs” - Faith, Family, Fitness, Finances and Fun, and how each one can support the others. Because often, when one area starts to feel off, it tends to show up in other parts of life too. We talk about the relationship many of us have with money, how small shifts in habits can create more clarity and what it might look like to approach finances from a place of intention rather than pressure. There’s also a thoughtful conversation around balance or creating your own version of it and how success can feel very different when it includes presence, energy and space to actually enjoy your life. Here’s what we covered ✅ The “five Fs” framework and how each area connects ✅ A different perspective on money as a tool, not the end goal ✅ How budgeting can feel more like clarity than restriction ✅ The idea of building habits that support your financial growth over time ✅ Why income alone doesn’t always reflect financial stability ✅ What it can look like to transition into entrepreneurship with more intention ✅ The role of structure and self-accountability when you’re working for yourself ✅ How creating space for fun can support your overall wellbeing ✅ The connection between stress, health, and daily habits ✅ The possibility of making small progress across different areas of life, consistently Tyler also shares parts of his personal journey, growing up in a challenging environment, how sports played a role in shifting his path, and how he found his way into financial education after noticing how deeply money impacts relationships. One of the reminders that stayed with me from this conversation is this: Being “rich” can mean more than just money, it can look like feeling whole in the areas of life that matter to you. Because when your life feels supported across different areas, your relationships, your health, your mindset, your finances, things tend to move differently. If you’ve been feeling stretched, thinking about your relationship with money, or simply wanting a more balanced way of approaching success, this episode offers a perspective that feels both practical and grounding. About Tyler Osborne Tyler Osborne is a financial expert, entrepreneur and host of the Money Master Podcast. He focuses on helping individuals and families build healthier financial habits and create more structure around their money, in a way that supports a more balanced and intentional life. Connect with Tyler Osborne: Website: moneymasternation.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-osborne Instagram: www.instagram.com/moneymaster408 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@moneymaster408 Youtube: www.youtube.com/@moneymasternation 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while building your business, Business Therapy™ is a space designed to help you move forward with more clarity, confidence and grounded support as you navigate growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, you can download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and more intentional conversations around voice, visibility, growth, and purpose. Click here to download. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself explores identity, voice, growth, and becoming the version of yourself that can hold what you’re building. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Charles Lee, founder of Ideation and author of Good Idea, Now What? for a conversation about what it really takes to move from vision to execution. So many people are walking around with ideas they can’t stop thinking about… but turning an idea into something real is a completely different journey. Charles shares what he’s learned from working with major brands, building businesses and helping people bridge the gap between inspiration and implementation. We talk about the tension between dreaming big and actually starting, the fear that comes with putting your ideas into the world and why action matters more than perfection. There’s also an honest conversation about branding, visibility, documenting your ideas and how to stop overcomplicating the beginning stages of building something meaningful. Here’s what we covered ✅ Why ideas without action stay stuck as potential ✅ The difference between proof of concept and proof of value ✅ How to know if your idea is actually solving a real problem ✅ Why documenting your vision matters more than keeping it in your head ✅ A simple approach to structuring your business ideas without overwhelm ✅ The role branding plays in building trust and visibility ✅ Why you do not need to appeal to everyone to build something successful ✅ The importance of feedback, momentum, and staying in motion ✅ How to start small while still honoring a big vision ✅ What it means to intentionally design a life, not just a business Charles also shares parts of his personal journey, from growing up in a Korean immigrant family of entrepreneurs to becoming a professor, and eventually building a company centered around execution and creative strategy. One of my favorite reminders from this conversation was this: Dream big. Start small. Keep moving. Because sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and the life we want is waiting until we feel fully ready. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, overthinking your next move, or feeling stuck between vision and execution, this episode will give you something practical and grounding to hold onto. About Charles Lee Charles Lee is the founder of Ideation, a company focused on execution, implementation, and creative strategy. He has worked with brands including Google, Toms and Toyota. Born in Korea and raised in the United States, Charles began his career as a college professor before transitioning into entrepreneurship and brand strategy. He is also the author of Good Idea, Now What? and his upcoming book, Design Your Good Life. About the book - Good Idea. Now What? Good Idea. Now What? explores how ideas can move from inspiration to action through creativity, planning and meaningful collaboration. With practical insights on overcoming setbacks, building support and communicating ideas effectively, the book offers an encouraging guide for turning concepts into something impactful and real. Connect with Charles Lee: Buy Book Here: 👉 www.amazon.in/Good-Idea-Now-What-Execution/dp/1118163990 Website: www.charlestlee.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlestlee Instagram: www.instagram.com/charlestlee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlestlee Twitter: x.com/charlestlee Youtube: www.youtube.com/@charlestlee LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlestlee   💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while building your business, Business Therapy™ is a space designed to help you move forward with more clarity, confidence, and support while navigating growth. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, you can download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and conversations around voice, visibility, growth and purpose. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself Unmute Yourself explores identity, voice, growth, and becoming the version of yourself that can hold what you’re building. you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here. 

In today’s episode, we’re marking something really special… 50 episodes, listeners in 50 countries, and a journey that almost didn’t make it past episode ten. This one is a bit more personal. It’s a reflection on what it’s taken to keep showing up, especially in the seasons where the results weren’t obvious yet. We talk about that in-between space… where you’re doing the work, staying consistent, but not seeing immediate proof that it’s working. The kind of season that can make you question things, even when something meaningful is quietly taking shape. There’s also an honest look at what building something like this can involve. The time, the energy, and the behind-the-scenes moments that don’t always get seen. Here’s what we covered ✅ What 50 episodes and 50 countries can represent beyond the numbers ✅ The idea of unseen growth and why it can feel confusing ✅ The bamboo tree analogy and slow, quiet progress ✅ What it can feel like to keep creating without immediate feedback ✅ The difference between evolving and feeling like you’re getting it wrong ✅ Some of the quieter challenges that come with building in public ✅ The real cost behind consistency ✅ A way to think about whether you’re still developing or ready to step away ✅ A glimpse into what’s coming next We also touch on how things can evolve over time. What started in one space gradually expanded into something broader, not as a correction, but as a natural deepening of the message. If you’ve been in a season where things feel quiet or unclear, this might give you something to sit with. This episode is for the creative who is still showing up… even when it’s not fully clear where it’s leading yet. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while you build, this could be a space to explore. Inside Business Therapy™, the focus is on helping you move forward with clarity, while having someone in your corner who can reflect and support what you’re creating. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Download the Free Unmute Yourself Discussion Guide If this episode resonated with you, download the free Unmute Yourself Book Club Discussion Guide for deeper reflection and meaningful conversations around voice, growth, purpose, and visibility. Click here to download. 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows, you can order here. If you’ve read Unmute Yourself and it resonated, then please leave a review here.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that can quietly shape your growth more than we realise… the room you’re in and the people around you. Because you can be doing everything “right”… working on yourself, learning, showing up… and still feel like nothing is really moving. And sometimes, it’s not about you. It can be about the environment you’re trying to grow in. This episode explores what it can look like to be in the wrong room. The kind of space where your vision isn’t fully seen, where doubt feels louder or where what you’re building doesn’t quite have anywhere to land yet. We also talk about the idea of borrowed belief. How in certain seasons, especially early on, it’s not always about having full confidence in yourself. Sometimes, it’s about being around someone who can see what you can’t yet… and letting that support carry you for a while. Here’s what we covered ✅ Why you can be doing the work and still feel stuck ✅ The question to sit with: who believes in you? ✅ How one person’s belief can shift what feels possible ✅ The idea of borrowed belief and how it grows over time ✅ How your environment can quietly influence your capacity ✅ The difference between real support and surface encouragement ✅ Why some well-meaning people can still feel limiting ✅ A gentle way to reflect on the spaces you’re currently in We also touch on how easy it is to assume you just need more motivation or strategy, when sometimes a shift in environment can change how everything feels and moves. If you’ve been feeling a bit stuck despite doing your best, this might be something to sit with. Not as pressure to change anything immediately, but as a different lens to look through. This episode is for the creative who’s growing and starting to notice that their current space might not fully support where they’re going next. You’re not behind. It might just be the room. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’d like support while you build, this could be a space to explore. Inside Business Therapy™, the focus is on helping you move forward with clarity, while having someone in your corner who can reflect and support what you’re creating. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me  📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows, you can order here.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about why selling can feel so uncomfortable for so many creatives and entrepreneurs, even when you’re more than capable. Because here’s the truth: you’ve been selling your entire life… just not for yourself. This episode explores what’s really happening when you freeze at the idea of selling your own work. It’s not about your skills, your offer, or your experience. It often comes back to what you believe about your value once you’re no longer operating under someone else’s name, title, or brand. We walk through the shift that happens when you move from employee to business owner, why everything can suddenly feel heavier, and how selling starts to feel personal in a way it didn’t before. This is about gently reconnecting to the results you already create and finding a way to talk about your work that feels natural instead of forced. Here’s what we covered ✅ Why you’ve likely been selling all along, even if it didn’t feel like it ✅ The difference between selling yourself and speaking to a solution ✅ How being inside someone else’s brand can blur your sense of ownership ✅ Why things can feel more intense when your work becomes personal ✅ The belief gap that tends to get in the way more than skill or strategy ✅ How proving yourself can feel draining, while demonstrating value can feel lighter ✅ Why people are often drawn to outcomes and transformation ✅ The identity shift from employee to business owner and what can come with it ✅ Ways to start rebuilding trust in your own value  ✅ A simple approach to selling through real conversations instead of pressure We also touch on how easy it is to focus on the visible parts of business, like logos, websites, or setting things up “properly,” and how those things can feel productive, even when the real work is happening underneath. The shift into business ownership often has less to do with structure and more to do with ownership of your own excellence. If you’ve ever felt confident in your role but unsure when it comes to putting a price on your own work, this conversation might resonate. Nothing about your skills disappeared. The environment just changed. And now, you’re learning how to hold that value in a new way. This episode is for the creative who knows they’re good at what they do but hesitates when it’s time to talk about it or charge for it. The one who can solve problems all day for others but feels a little unsure when it’s their name attached to the offer. You don’t need to become someone else to sell your work. It may simply be about reconnecting with the value that’s already been there and allowing yourself to speak to it a little more openly. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re wanting to build your business from a place of clarity rather than fear, this could be a supportive place to start. Inside Business Therapy™, the focus is on helping creative women separate the math from the drama, so decisions feel clearer, systems feel more supportive and showing up in your business feels a little more steady and self-trusting. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it really feels like to step into a new chapter, especially when you’ve already built success before. I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes story from a recent convention where I showed up to sell my book after saying yes to a last-minute opportunity. On the outside, it looked polished, the setup, the content, the presence. But behind the scenes, I was doing everything myself and getting a very real reminder that knowing the work and actually being in it are two completely different experiences. This conversation explores that moment when experience meets reality. When you realize that just because you’ve mastered one level doesn’t mean the next one comes fully built. There’s still a beginning and it can look a lot less glamorous than what people see. Here’s what we covered: ✅ Why every new chapter can feel humbling, no matter how experienced you are ✅ The difference between knowing something and actually doing it in real time ✅ What a last-minute opportunity revealed about starting over ✅ Why short-term results don’t always reflect the full value ✅ A different way to look at “separating the math from the drama” ✅ How applying old systems to a new venture can create unexpected gaps ✅ What it can look like to be a beginner again (without making it mean you’re behind) ✅ How to notice when it might be time to bring in support instead of doing everything alone We also talk about what doesn’t show up in the numbers, the connections made, the doors that start to open and the opportunities that can come from simply showing up. Sometimes what looks small in the moment can carry more weight over time than it initially seems. This episode is a gentle reminder that starting over can be part of growth. Even when you’ve done this before, a new chapter can ask something different of you. If you’re in a season where you’re building something new, feeling stretched or noticing that doing everything on your own isn’t working the same way anymore, this one might resonate. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re ready to build a business that operates from clarity instead of fear, this is where we do that work. Inside Business Therapy™, we help creative women separate the math from the drama and build businesses that grow through better decisions, stronger systems, and clear leadership. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.

In today’s episode, we’re unpacking something that quietly blocks more opportunities than we realize: the habit of making assumptions and taking things personally in business. It sounds simple on the surface, but underneath it is a deeper pattern that keeps showing up in different forms and costing you growth, visibility and money. This conversation is all about learning how to separate the math from the drama. Because more often than not, what feels like a threat is actually an opportunity in disguise and we shut it down before we even give it a chance. Through real-life examples, I break down how our instinct to protect ourselves can lead us to misread situations, assume the worst and miss out on wins that were already within reach. We talk about why this isn’t a flaw, it’s wiring and how to interrupt that pattern so you can start seeing clearly again. Here’s what we covered:  ✅ Why making assumptions and taking things personally are symptoms, not the root problem  ✅ How “someone else winning means I’m losing” keeps you stuck in scarcity  ✅ The difference between reacting emotionally vs. evaluating the actual math  ✅ Real examples of missed opportunities hiding in plain sight  ✅ Why your brain is wired for protection (and how that backfires in business)  ✅ The question that can shift your perspective instantly: “Who benefits if this works?”  ✅ How niche thinking can limit your ability to see bigger opportunities  ✅ Why your existing network is more valuable than constantly chasing new leads  ✅ The real cost of cold leads vs. nurturing people already in your world  ✅ How to tell if you’re responding to facts or a story you made up  ✅ Why recognizing opportunity is a skill you have to practice We also talk about how business doesn’t need you to constantly start over or chase something new. Most of the time, what you need is already in your hands, your network, your past clients, your existing visibility. But if you’re stuck in drama, you won’t see it. This episode is your reminder to pause before reacting, to question your assumptions and to actually look at what’s in front of you. Because when you slow down and check the math, you might realize you’re closer to a win than you thought. If opportunities have been feeling scarce lately, this is your invitation to challenge that. The math might be working in your favor… you just have to be willing to see it. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re ready to build a business that operates from clarity instead of fear, this is where we do that work. Inside Business Therapy™, we help creative women separate the math from the drama and build businesses that grow through better decisions, stronger systems, and clear leadership. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.

In today’s episode of Creative Business Mindset™, I’m talking about niche and why your niche is not enough to make real money. You’ve heard it before: the riches are in the niches. And yes, that’s true. But what’s often missing from that conversation is how you actually get there. I start with this idea: doing multiple things doesn’t mean you lack focus. More often, it means you’re still gathering data. You’re testing, learning and paying attention to what people are actually responding to, because you can’t confidently define something you haven’t experienced in real time. I share what this looked like in my own business - saying yes to everything in the beginning. Not because it was part of some polished strategy, but because I needed to learn and I needed to make money. And in that process, patterns started to show. Certain services were requested more often, brought in more money and felt more aligned. That phase can feel messy, but it’s also where your niche starts to reveal itself. Here’s what I break down in this episode: ✅ Why your niche is discovered through action, not overthinking ✅ How to use what’s selling (and what’s not) as real data ✅ The difference between the “drama” in your head and the actual math in your business ✅ Why relying on one offer can limit you long-term ✅ How to recognize when your niche is starting to click ✅ Why your niche is the beginning, not the end, of your growth At some point, things start to become clear. People keep coming to you for the same thing and you’re getting paid consistently for it. That’s your signal. If things feel a little all over the place right now, you’re not behind. You’re in the phase that actually creates clarity. And if you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: you don’t need to rush your niche. Let your work show you. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re ready to build a business that operates from clarity instead of fear, this is where we do that work. Inside Business Therapy™, we help creative women separate the math from the drama and build businesses that grow through better decisions, stronger systems and clear leadership. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.

In today’s episode of Creative Business Mindset™, I’m talking about capacity and why so many of us are saying “Yes” when we already know we’re full. Not just busy. Full. I start with a question: how many things have you committed to lately that you don’t actually have the time or energy for? The kind where you tell yourself, “I’ll figure it out.” But figuring it out isn’t the same as doing it well. I share a simple visual: an overstuffed suitcase you have to sit on just to close. It looks fine… until it opens and everything spills out. That’s what an overcommitted life feels like to the people depending on you. And this isn’t just about time management. It’s about trust, reputation and how you show up. Here’s what I break down in this episode: ✅ Why overbooking is often rooted in scarcity, not ambition ✅ The real cost of people-pleasing ✅ How saying yes to everything leads to showing up halfway everywhere ✅ Why “I’ll figure it out” isn’t a strategy ✅ How overcommitment quietly damages your reputation ✅ Why capacity is a limit, not a mindset Sometimes saying yes when you don’t have the capacity isn’t kindness, it’s misalignment. Because people are counting on what you promised. And your reputation isn’t built on how much you take on, it’s built on how well you deliver. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, this episode will shift how you think about capacity, boundaries and what it really means to show up fully. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re ready to build a business that operates from clarity instead of fear, this is where we do that work. Inside Business Therapy™, we help creative women separate the math from the drama and build businesses that grow through better decisions, stronger systems and clear leadership. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.

In today’s episode of Creative Business Mindset™, I’m talking about something that so many creative entrepreneurs quietly struggle with but rarely say out loud: why networking feels so exhausting and what you’ve been getting wrong about it. You’ve been in that room before. Maybe you’re that person. I know I was. Walking into a networking event with your elevator pitch rehearsed, business cards ready, scanning the room for the “right” people to talk to. Every conversation feels like a transaction waiting to happen and before you even get halfway through the room, you’re already drained. Here’s the truth: it’s not the room that’s exhausting you. It’s the mindset you walked in with. In this episode, I break down how we’ve been taught to approach networking like a sales event and why that approach is quietly sabotaging your ability to build real relationships, the kind that actually grow your business. Because nobody likes being sold to and yet that’s exactly the energy we walk in with. Instead, I want to offer you a different way to think about networking. Not as a strategy or a performance, but as a social skill, one you already learned long before business was ever part of your life. This is about genuine curiosity, real presence and actually getting to know people beyond what they do. Because the truth is, you don’t earn your place in a room by what you hand people. You earn it by how you make them feel. I share how shifting from a “what can I get?” mindset to a “who can I connect with?” The approach completely changed how I show up in rooms and how it can do the same for you. When you let go of the pressure to perform and focus on being present, conversations become easier, more natural and far more meaningful. Here’s what I break down in this episode: ✅ Why networking feels draining when you lead with a sales agenda ✅ The difference between transactional energy and real connection ✅ Why people can feel your intention before you speak ✅ How to approach networking like a social skill, not a performance ✅ Why one meaningful conversation is enough ✅ Why the goal is the conversation… not the business card Sometimes the shift isn’t doing more. It’s doing it differently. When you walk into a room to connect instead of to sell, everything changes. Conversations feel easier. People lean in. And business becomes a natural byproduct of real relationships. So next time you walk into a room, ask yourself: Am I here to give… or to get?  Because that answer will shape everything. 💼 Explore Business Therapy™ If you’re ready to build a business that operates from clarity instead of fear, this is where we do that work. Inside Business Therapy™, we help creative women separate the math from the drama and build businesses that grow through better decisions, stronger systems and clear leadership. Learn more at www.jokedurojaiye.me 📖 Read the book, Unmute Yourself This book is about becoming the version of you who can carry what you’ve been praying for. It’s about using your voice, owning your space, and expanding your identity as your business grows. If you’re ready to grow into the woman your next level requires, you can order here.