The Branding Outside the Box Podcast

Welcome to the season finale of Branding Outside the Box! I wanted to take season four out with a bang, so I decided to dedicate our final episode to YOU. I hosted a live Q&A session, and today, you get to hear it. We covered everything from launching podcasts to growing a readership to securing media coverage. Did you have a question that wasn’t covered? Visit http://danakaye.com/podcasts and leave a comment in the show notes!

When I surveyed the Branding Outside the Box community, I asked people, “If I could wave a magic wand and solve ONE challenge for you, what would it be?” The majority of responses related to time. More time to write, more time to get everything done, more time to sleep, workout, read, and so on. But time is not a renewable resource. You, me, and Beyonce all have the same 24 hours. But I’d argue that you don’t actually want more hours added to your day, you just want to be able to accomplish everything you want to do in any given day. If you’re listening this episode around its release date, April 17, 2020, time management and productivity may be feeling more challenging than ever. Because when everyone is quarantined at home, tips like “time blocking” and “avoiding task switching” aren’t realistic, are they? In fact, as I plan this episode, I’ve had to take several mini-breaks as my son, once again, accidentally closed out window for his virtual classroom. Most of us don’t have the luxury of uninterrupted work time. So how can we accomplish more in less time? In today’s episode, I’m identifying 5 things that may be killing your productivity and offer possible solutions.

Hiring has never been my favorite part of running a small business. Getting clear on who to hire, where to find the right person, and how to properly train that person has always been challenging to me. But for many creative small business owners, hiring an assistant or online business manager is a necessary step for growth. Enter Tasha Booth. Tasha Booth is a podcaster, mentor, and Online Business Manager for successful course creators and coaches. She is the CEO of The Launch Guild - an Online Business Management & Digital Marketing Implementation Agency which supports coaches and course creators with ongoing Operational Management, Course Launch Management, and Podcast Management. In today’s episode, she shares the common missteps people make when making their first hire, her tested 3-step hiring process, and the importance of hiring subject matter experts verses generalists. I wish I had her expertise before I made my first hire, and whether you’ve never hired anyone or hired hundreds, I’m confident you’ll come away with new insight. Resources mentioned: Loom Tyler McCall Amy Porterfield The Launch Guild Happily Hiring, 8-week live hiring course

Having a day job doesn’t make you less legitimate, but it can feel that way can’t it? If your small business or creative endeavors don’t fully support you, it’s easy to feel like you’re not a real entrepreneur. But the fact is, most full-time entrepreneurs started their businesses while still working their 9-5, and some are perfectly content keeping their day jobs as it allows them to have more financial security, even extra cash to market their side gig. Elena Ciccotelli is one of those entrepreneurs. Elena is a writer, podcaster, vlogger, pizza connoisseur and productivity enthusiast. She works for the ride-sharing company Lyft in corporate sales, while also hosting the popular podcast, Side Gig Central. She joins me today to share how she went  scaled her business up to a full-time brick and mortar before scaling back to a side gig, her insight into balancing a side gig with a 9-5, and not letting your ego get in the way of what’s right for you. So whether you’re already doing something on the side, thinking about getting started, or are curious about scaling your full-time business back down, this episode is for you. 

If you identify as a creative, you may not identify as a “numbers person.” When we fantasize about our dream careers, most of us aren’t picturing ourselves pouring over spreadsheets and charts, right? But data is more than just numbers and lines on dashboard; data tells a story. It tells us which marketing efforts are working, and which aren’t. Data helps us understand our clients and customers, and how to better serve them. Data shows us where we should focus our energy and where we shouldn’t. But where do you start? Today’s guest is marketing consultant Rita Barry, whose company helps entrepreneurs take control of their numbers so they can transform their marketing campaigns and make more money. Rita’s mission is to help women feel more confident about their numbers and analytics, and I am so grateful for the knowledge she shares in this episode.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. How many times have you heard that one? If you’re a longtime listener of the show, you know I am passionate about making meaningful connections, but you also know that I am a full-on introvert. So, how did I become a confident networker as an INFJ? Today, I’m sharing the insight and tips I’ve learned over the years to gain the confidence needed to meet new people and grow my network. Struggling to network and make meaningful connections? I'm here to help! The Master Networker is a self-guided online course that aims to take the anxiety out of the networking process and arm you with the tools you need to establish important connections. I address the different types of networking scenarios - group networking events, one-on-one networking, and social media networking - how to make the most of every opportunity. This course takes you through each step of the networking process, from preparation to follow up, transforming the names on collected business cards into meaningful contacts. My tried and true methods have helped transform our clients into influencers and power brokers, and if they can do it, you can too.  Click here to enroll!

Marketing is confidence, according to today’s guest, business strategist Lisa Princic. In this interview, she shares how overcame her lack of confidence and transitioned from life coach to business strategist, and built her business on her terms. She introduces the idea of “focused marketing” and how entrepreneurs can apply it to their business. She also shares one of her biggest mistakes – not creating a community with her clients soon enough. Resources Mentioned: http://lisaprincic.com http://lisaprincic.com/positioning-mistakes Tara McMullin Amplified Ads with Andrew Hubbard

This month is all about CONFIDENCE. As creatives, we all know what it feels like to lack confidence. Imposter syndrome creeps in and we start to make not-so-great decisions. We don’t sign clients, we don’t take a speaking gig, we’re hesitant to try a marketing technique, or call ourselves experts. When we lack confidence, we lack the potential to grow. This month, I’m chatting with business strategist Lisa Princic about how she gained the confidence needed to transition from life coach to business strategist, and how she’s helping other business owners bring more confidence to their marketing. I speak with Rita Barry, a marketing consultant who helps women business owners have more confidence in their numbers. I’m also chatting with my favorite returning guest, my wife Nicole Presperin, about gaining the confidence needed to claim your seat at the table. I’ll also share how an introvert like me became a confident in-person networker, and how you can gain more confidence through a personal brand. To ensure you never miss an episode, be sure to hit subscribe wherever you are listening to this podcast. Tune in tomorrow for my conversation with Lisa Princic and let’s make 2020 your most confident year yet!

December is publishing month on Branding Outside the Box. We’re focusing on what it takes to succeed as a full time author and the different publication paths available to authors. While this is the first time we dedicated an entire month to the topic of books and publishing, this is not the first time we’ve had guests share their wisdom about the publishing industry. So, in this episode, we’re revisiting some of our top interviews related to books, writing, and publishing. Guest include: Publishing thought leader, Jane Friedman Bestselling author and retreat leader, Jennifer Louden Blogger-turned-author, Sarah Von Bargen #Bookstagrammer and marketer, Hailey Dezort Want more guidance on bringing your book to market? I’m hosting a virtual conference! The Your Breakout Book conference is a one-day to help you successfully publish and promote your book. Click here for details!

Have you ever thought, I’d like to write a book someday? Or maybe you’ve started writing a book, you just haven’t finished yet. Maybe you participated in National Novel Writing Month and now have a clunky, unedited manuscript sitting on your computer and you’re not sure what the next steps are. Or maybe you’ve actually gone all the way and published a book, but now you’re wondering what to do next. In today’s episode, I’m taking you through the entire publishing process, from writing the book, to publishing the book, and finally, promoting the book. This episode will answer a question I am asked so, so frequently: I’ve written a book, now what? Want more guidance on bringing your book to market? I'm hosting a virtual conference! The Your Breakout Book conference is a one-day to help you successfully publish and promote your book. Click here for details!

I can think of no better person to kick off publishing month than Joanna Penn. Joanna Penn is an Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s an award-winning entrepreneur, podcaster, and YouTuber. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest. In this interview, Joanna shares how she created brands for both her thrillers and her non-fiction titles, and why she’s launching a new podcast for books and travel. She shares what she’s learned from years of podcasting, and what she’s doing differently this time around. She also shares how she monetizes through “soft marketing” and how her content marketing serves a dual purpose. Joanna shares so much amazing insight in this episode, that I’d recommend listening to this one with a pen and paper close by.  Connect with Joanna: ·        The Creative Penn ·        Books and Travel ·        J.F. Penn Thrillers Books Mentioned: ·        The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan* ·        Atomic Habits by James Clear* ·        The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer* Resources Mentioned: ·        Lore Podcast ·        Blubrry Podcast Hosting * Indicates an affiliate link. By making purchases through this unique link, you support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Today is December 1st, which means it is time to announce this month’s theme: publishing. As you may know, I’ve been working with books and authors for nearly 15 years, for a short time as a book critic, followed by over a decade as a book publicist. I’ve seen the ins and outs of what it takes to publish a book, and what it takes for that book to be successful. You may be a published author, an aspiring writer, or an entrepreneur who is curious about book publishing. Maybe you have zero desire to write or publish, but want to learn how it all works. Wherever you fit into the world of publishing, you won’t want to miss this month’s episodes. I speak with Joanna Penn, bestselling novelist and one of the foremost thought leaders in book marketing. I revisit my interviews with Jane Friedman and Jen Louden. And I spend an entire episode answering the question, “I’ve written a book, now what?” With NaNoWriMo in the rearview mirror and 2020 resolutions on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get organized around writing, publishing, and promoting your book. Hit subscribe whereever you’re listening to this podcast to ensure you never miss an episode, and I’ll be back here on Friday with Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn.

I'm doing something a little different this week. Rather than me interviewing someone about their brands, my friend Kim Wensel is interviewing me. If you don’t know Kim, you should. She’s a brand strategist, storyteller, and a phenomenal interviewer. She also hosts an annual retreat for female entrepreneurs just outside of DC that is amazing. I’m confident you’ll enjoy this interview, and if you do, I encourage you to subscribe to Pattern of Purpose and connect with Kim at http://patternofpurpose.com

Most of us began our businesses as one-person shows. We were the marketers, the account executives, the administrative assistants, and the bookkeepers. But as our businesses grow, wearing all the hats begins to feel overwhelming, and you may be feeling like you’ve maximized your bandwidth. So where do you go from here? It may be time to build a team. Whether that’s with one or two contractors or a team of full-time employees, building a team takes strategy and practice. In this episode of Branding Outside the Box, we unpack the ins and outs of building a successful team. * * * * For over 8 years, I managed the books for my business, even though I’m not a trained accountant. Fortunately, Quickbooks made it easy. I was able to seamlessly invoice, process payments, monitor cash flow, and track expenses. When tax time rolled around and so many of my contemporaries were digging through shoeboxes full of receipts, I could easily generate my tax forms and file on time. Now that I’ve hired a bookkeeper, I can delegate her as a user on our Quickbooks online account. She inputs the data, I monitor the P&L. To learn more, visit brandingoutsidethebox.com/quickbooks. Remember, when you sign up using my unique link you help support the podcast, at no cost to you.

Most of us began our businesses as one-person shows. We were the marketers, the account executives, the administrative assistants, and the bookkeepers. But as our businesses grow, wearing all the hats begins to feel overwhelming, and you may be feeling like you’ve maximized your bandwidth. So where do you go from here? It may be time to build a team. Whether that’s with one or two contractors or a team of full-time employees, building a team takes strategy and practice. In this episode of Branding Outside the Box, we unpack the ins and outs of building a successful team. * * * * For over 8 years, I managed the books for my business, even though I’m not a trained accountant. Fortunately, Quickbooks made it easy. I was able to seamlessly invoice, process payments, monitor cash flow, and track expenses. When tax time rolled around and so many of my contemporaries were digging through shoeboxes full of receipts, I could easily generate my tax forms and file on time. Now that I’ve hired a bookkeeper, I can delegate her as a user on our Quickbooks online account. She inputs the data, I monitor the P&L. To learn more, visit brandingoutsidethebox.com/quickbooks. Remember, when you sign up using my unique link you help support the podcast, at no cost to you.

This month, we’re focusing on building a team. Who to hire, when to hire, and how to find the right people. Last week, I shared the difference between coaches and consultants, and which one you may need to grow your business. This week, I’m focusing on how to cultivate an engaged and loyal team, starting from the hiring process. In my 10+ years of business, I’ve made a number of missteps when it comes to hiring. I’ve hired the wrong people, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time. And even when I had the right people on my team, I didn’t know how to effectively lead them and cultivate a team culture that made good people want to stay. I had to learn through trial and error, but thanks to people like today’s guest, Lucus Lyons, you don’t have to. Lucus has 15+ years of leadership and coaching experience, both in corporate and for entrepreneurs. In 14 years at Chase Bank, his teams consistently ranked in the top 10% nationally between Chicago, Sacramento and San Francisco. The common thread to success in every location was building great relationships with his team. Now, a freelance consultant, he’s bringing what he’s learned in his corporate gig and helping entrepreneurs like us build better teams. Whether you’re a side-hustler, solopreneur, or have already built up your team, you won’t want to miss Lucus’s unique views on interviewing, leadership, and relationship building.

This month, we’re focusing on building a team. Who to hire, when to hire, and how to find the right people. Last week, I shared the difference between coaches and consultants, and which one you may need to grow your business. This week, I’m focusing on how to cultivate an engaged and loyal team, starting from the hiring process. In my 10+ years of business, I’ve made a number of missteps when it comes to hiring. I’ve hired the wrong people, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time. And even when I had the right people on my team, I didn’t know how to effectively lead them and cultivate a team culture that made good people want to stay. I had to learn through trial and error, but thanks to people like today’s guest, Lucus Lyons, you don’t have to. Lucus has 15+ years of leadership and coaching experience, both in corporate and for entrepreneurs. In 14 years at Chase Bank, his teams consistently ranked in the top 10% nationally between Chicago, Sacramento and San Francisco. The common thread to success in every location was building great relationships with his team. Now, a freelance consultant, he’s bringing what he’s learned in his corporate gig and helping entrepreneurs like us build better teams. Whether you’re a side-hustler, solopreneur, or have already built up your team, you won’t want to miss Lucus’s unique views on interviewing, leadership, and relationship building.

If you spent anytime in the online business space, you’ve probably heard the terms Coach and Consultant. Not to mention the dozens of qualifiers in front of those titles: business coach, life coach, nutrition coach, marketing consultant, branding consultant, the list goes on. But what are the differences between these various titles? Which one do you really need for your business? What qualities should you look for in a coach or consultant? And what red flags should you watch out for? In today’s episode, I’m putting an end to all the confusion and misinformation surrounding coaches and consultants.   This episode was made possible by Zoom. Zoom is a reliable video conferencing service that supports group video calls, webinars, and more. You can start your free trial and support the podcast by clicking here.

If you spent anytime in the online business space, you’ve probably heard the terms Coach and Consultant. Not to mention the dozens of qualifiers in front of those titles: business coach, life coach, nutrition coach, marketing consultant, branding consultant, the list goes on. But what are the differences between these various titles? Which one do you really need for your business? What qualities should you look for in a coach or consultant? And what red flags should you watch out for? In today’s episode, I’m putting an end to all the confusion and misinformation surrounding coaches and consultants.   This episode was made possible by Zoom. Zoom is a reliable video conferencing service that supports group video calls, webinars, and more. You can start your free trial and support the podcast by clicking here.

What you see online and what’s actually behind the curtain are often quite different. If you’re in the online entrepreneur space, you’ve seen the Instagram posts or webinar pitches with entrepreneurs boasting their 7-figure launches, living the laptop lifestyle, and making money in their sleep. Sure, their online course could have brought in seven figures and they could have done it from a beach in Bali, but did we ever stop to think about their actual take home pay? Because those seven figures may not include the investment in the advertising, marketing and man-hours to get that message in your Instagram feed. This is what today’s guest, Christina Sjahli, does for her clients. She works with companies bringing in 7-figures, even 8-figures, to create systems that ensure they keep more of their money and that the business owner is actually paying themselves a fair salary. She hones in on positive cash flow, making sure bank accounts are in the black, not the red, at the end of each month, regardless of how much is coming in at the beginning. In today’s interview, she shares her financial knowledge so that we can all improve our business finances, and overall lives.   Resources Mentioned Christina’s website Christina’s podcast Her LinkedIn WhatWorks