The Road to Seven: Recent Episodes
Shelagh Cummins
Hosted by Shelagh Cummins, The Road To Seven is the diary of business strategy for women entrepreneurs - we meet you where you’re at in your business and champion you along the road to your vision. Women entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules for business strategy, leadership, success, money and impacting the world. Every. Single. Day.To learn more, visit: TheRoadToSeven.com
Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with unexpected turns, pivotal decisions, and powerful mindset shifts. In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh sits down with Cindy Chang, founder of Evolve Consulting, to talk about the role of networking, the challenges of finding the right people, and the abundant mindset that has fueled her growth.
Cindy shares the story behind building her business, the rituals that keep her grounded, and her insights on scaling through people. She also introduces her exciting new venture, Dabbl’, which is designed to support working parents in balancing work and family life.
If you’ve ever wondered how to attract the right opportunities, invest in yourself, and create a business that supports your whole life — this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why recruiting and people are the foundation of scaling a business.
- How to cultivate an abundant mindset around money and growth.
- Practical ways to approach networking with intention.
- The vision behind Cindy’s new venture, Dabbl’, supporting working parents.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Cindy Chang:
Website: https://www.evolveconsultingco.com/
Instagram: @evolve_consulting_co
Instagram: @fearlessentrepreneurs
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyichang/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business – don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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In this powerful episode of The Road to Seven Podcast, host Shelagh Cummins sits down with Sarah Bundy, the award-winning entrepreneur and co-founder of Athena Collective. Sarah shares her inspiring journey from her unexpected start in affiliate marketing to building and exiting a successful business.
She offers insights on managing burnout, the mindset shifts that fueled her personal and professional transformation, and the core values driving her new venture. If you're looking for inspiration, actionable strategies, and a story of resilience and reinvention, this episode is a must-listen.
Key Takeaways:
- Sarah's accidental entry into affiliate marketing led to building a multimillion-dollar agency.
- Value-based hiring and how the DIGG philosophy (Delight, Innovate, Grow, Give Back) shaped her leadership approach.
- Burnout was a wake-up call that led to powerful mindset and business model shifts.
- The importance of trusting your intuition and building strong support networks.
**Links
Connect with Sarah:**
Email: sarah@athenacollective.co
LinkedIn: Sarah Bundy
Athena Collective: https://athenacollective.co
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business – don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
What if your business could energize you, instead of drain you? In this episode, Shelagh explores what it really means to build a life-fuel business—one that aligns with your values, supports your lifestyle, and gives you the freedom and fulfillment you crave.
You’ll discover how to shift away from the hustle-driven model of success and build a sustainable business that supports your well-being, finances, and future. From team building to redefining what success looks like, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways for women entrepreneurs ready to grow their business without giving up their life.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What a life-fuel business is (and isn’t)
- The biggest myths about success and hustle culture
- Why sustainability is essential to long-term growth
- Time flexibility and predictable income are possible.
- You get to define what success looks like—no one else.
Chapters:
00:00 – The Essence of a Life-Fuel Business
02:38 – Building a Sustainable Business Model
05:23 – The Importance of Team and Processes
08:42 – Debunking Myths About Success
11:29 – Defining a Life-Fuel Business
14:25 – Taking Action Towards Alignment
Episode Links
To learn more about the Collective click here.
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business – don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this episode, Judy Lui joins The Road to Seven™ to share the inspiring journey of launching and scaling her therapy clinic. What began as a deep desire to provide accessible mental health support quickly grew into a thriving, inclusive practice that challenges the status quo in the therapy world.
Judy opens up about building a business that aligns with her values—centering affordability, diversity, and human connection. She shares the lessons learned from rapid expansion, how she balanced her role as a therapist with being a business owner, and her bold vision for advocacy and community-driven care.
Whether you're navigating business growth, mental health in entrepreneurship, or striving to make a bigger impact, this episode is packed with wisdom and heart.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why diversity and accessibility should be pillars in any service-based business
- What it takes to grow a business during uncertain times
- How Judy blends advocacy with entrepreneurship
- The mindset shifts needed to lead with values over hustle
Highlights
00:00 – The Journey Begins: Judy's Story
04:14 – Building a Unique Practice: Addressing Gaps in Therapy
10:49 – Navigating Growth: Expanding During Uncertain Times
16:18 – The Art and Science of Business: Balancing Growth and Mental Health
21:39 – Lessons Learned: Trusting Yourself and Future Aspirations
25:22 – Innovative Approaches: Low-Cost Therapy and Community Focus
Episode Links
Free 15 minute consultation: https://www.yourstorycounselling.com/contact
Instagram: @yourstorycounsellingservices
Low cost therapy clinic: Www.affordabletherapyyorkregion.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this practical episode, Shelagh Cummins debunks the myth that “no one buys in summer” and shows women entrepreneurs how to keep their businesses thriving—without giving up their vacation vibes.
You’ll learn how to downsize your offers, pre-schedule your marketing, and adopt a “set it and forget it” approach that keeps sales coming in while you rest. Whether you're sipping iced tea on the dock or running the kids to camp, this episode will help you maintain momentum, generate revenue, and enjoy your summer without the hustle.
Because rest and results are not mutually exclusive. ☀️
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why summer is still a season of opportunity for your business
- How to simplify your offers without sacrificing income
- Ways to create a marketing drip that runs while you relax
- What it looks like to grow your business with ease and intention
Episode Chapters
00:00 – Summer Selling Myths Debunked
02:34 – Strategies for Selling with Ease
05:41 – Creating a Sustainable Marketing Plan
08:47 – Finding Balance in Business and Rest
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this insightful and inspiring episode, Diane Shirchenko shares her journey from working as a registered nurse to becoming the managing partner of DiCAN, a leading Canadian fleet safety company. Diane opens up about building a values-driven business alongside her husband and brother, the pivotal role of relationships in her growth, and how she’s navigated the challenges of a male-dominated industry.
She brings wisdom, warmth, and honesty as she reflects on leadership, resilience, and the power of trusting your intuition—offering a refreshing take on what it really means to build a business with heart.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- Why strong relationships are the foundation of lasting business success
- The importance of human connection in a digital world
- How Diane transitioned from healthcare to entrepreneurship with clarity and care
- The role intuition and resilience play in leading through change
Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction to a Trailblazer
01:29 The Importance of Relationships in Business
04:28 Transitioning from Nursing to Fleet Safety
08:26 Building DiCAN: The Early Days
12:19 The Role of Human Interaction in Business
15:17 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry
18:38 Adapting to Technological Changes
21:33 Handling Business Ups and Downs
24:35 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations
Links
Connect with Diane:Email: info@dicaninc.com/
Website: https://www.dicaninc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dicaninc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dicaninc/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business – don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this candid and empowering episode, Vanessa Bowen opens up about her journey from being what she calls a “financial hot mess” to becoming a sought-after money mindset coach. She shares the game-changing habits that helped her reclaim her finances, the challenges she’s faced as a woman entrepreneur, and why profit—not just revenue—should be celebrated.
Vanessa offers practical financial advice, mindset tools, and a refreshing perspective on building sustainable, profitable businesses while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.
What you'll learn in this episode:
- Vanessa’s transformation from financial chaos to clarity
- The mindset traps that keep women entrepreneurs stuck
- Why focusing on profit (not just revenue) is key to sustainable success
- How budgeting and bold pivots helped her build a thriving business
Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Vanessa Bowen
00:51 – From Financial Hot Mess to Money Coach
04:05 – Key Financial Shifts and Mindset Changes
08:23 – Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
12:03 – Common Mistakes of Women Entrepreneurs
15:55 – Understanding Profit vs Revenue
18:22 – Mindset Challenges in Business
20:47 – Navigating Business Growth with Family Life
25:54 – The Power of the Pivot
27:56 – Future Vision for Mint Worthy
Links
Website: www.mintworthyco.com
IG: www.instagram.com/mintworthyco
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
On this episode of The Road to Seven, I sit down with Robyn and Monika, the powerhouse duo behind Mint Cleaning Products. What started as a local cleaning business between two moms quickly grew into a thriving eco-friendly product line now recognized across Canada—including a coveted feature in the Jilly Box and a pitch on Dragon’s Den.
In this honest and inspiring conversation, Robyn and Monika share the story of their partnership, how they scaled their operations, the power of saying “yes” before you’re ready, and why trusting your gut is vital in business. From community-building on social media to lessons learned from investors, this episode is packed with entrepreneurial wisdom and heart.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How a simple idea turned into a thriving product-based business
- Why partnership dynamics are key to sustainable growth
- How the Jilly Box and Dragon’s Den elevated their brand
- Why social media is a game-changer for community-driven businesses
- The importance of mentorship, flexibility, and making aligned decisions
Chapters:
00:00 – The Birth of Mint Cleaning Products
03:07 – Transitioning to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
05:51 – Scaling Production and the Jilly Box Opportunity
09:00 – Navigating Partnership Dynamics
11:58 – Challenges and Growth Management
19:59 – Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges Together
22:21 – The Decision to Go Wholesale
25:25 – The Journey to Dragon's Den
28:03 – The Impact of Dragon's Den
31:33 – Defining the Next Level for Growth
34:26 – Lessons Learned from the Journey
Links
http://mintcleaningproducts.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins chats with Aviva, a dynamic insurance professional whose entrepreneurial journey began in accounting and evolved into a thriving business built around supporting women in business.
Aviva shares the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the role of confidence in taking risks, and how coaching, community, and networking with other women have shaped her growth. She also unpacks the critical importance of understanding insurance in protecting your business—and why investing in women is a powerful path forward.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why confidence is a game-changer for women entrepreneurs
- How the right insurance protects your business and peace of mind
- The role of networking, coaching, and community in business growth
- Why taking action—even when it’s scary—is the key to progress
Links
Connect with Aviva:
Website:https://insuranceevolved.ca/
Blog:https://insuranceevolved.ca/blog/
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivaabraham/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aviva.abraham
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“What you assume to be true becomes the lens through which you build your business.” – Shelagh Cummins
In this episode, Shelagh Cummins dives deep into the invisible forces shaping our businesses: assumptions. These unspoken, often unconscious beliefs about money, success, and identity can silently hold women entrepreneurs back from the growth and impact they’re meant to achieve.
Shelagh explores how these assumptions form, how they influence everything from pricing to confidence, and how becoming aware of them is the first powerful step toward transformation. If you’ve ever felt stuck without knowing why, this episode will help you see your business through a new lens—and rewrite the story.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How unexamined assumptions shape your business decisions
- The impact of inherited money beliefs on your pricing and growth
- Why redefining success on your own terms is essential
- Simple mindset shifts to help you move forward with clarity and confidence
Highlights
00:00 – Unpacking Assumptions: The Invisible Scripts
06:00 – Money Matters: Challenging Financial Assumptions
11:55 – Redefining Success: Your Business, Your Way
17:57 – Awareness and Change: The Path Forward
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this powerful episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins sits down with Tracey, a driven entrepreneur whose journey spans continents—from Vietnam to founding a thriving marketing agency.
Tracey shares how tuning into her intuition helped her build a brand rooted in authenticity, balance motherhood and business, and embrace innovation with AI tools. She opens up about the pivotal role financial education and money management systems like Profit First played in helping her scale with confidence.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How listening to your intuition can lead to smarter business decisions
- The impact of Profit First and financial literacy on entrepreneurial success
- Why narrowing your niche can unlock unexpected growth
- How to stay ahead in marketing with the use of AI tools
Chapters: 00:00 – The Journey Begins: From Vietnam to Entrepreneurship
09:32 – Navigating Financial Freedom: Lessons Learned
17:30 – The Shift to Profitability: Understanding Money Management
25:33 – Trusting Intuition: The Art of Decision Making
32:00 – Balancing Motherhood and Business Growth
36:05 – Innovating with AI: The Future of Marketing
Links
Connect with Tracey:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traceynguyen.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xotraceynguyen
Website: http://bowocreative.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyhainguyen/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Entrepreneurship isn’t always smooth sailing—sometimes, it’s a full-blown emotional roller coaster. In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into the emotional side of running a business.
She shares personal experiences with setbacks, tools to help regulate emotions, and powerful mindset shifts that can guide you through the most uncertain moments. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck in the “messy middle,” this episode is a must-listen.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why things often get hardest right before a breakthrough
- How to use “stop, drop, and breathe” to manage emotional spirals
- Why choosing grace over grit protects your energy and longevity
- Why community support is non-negotiable
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this episode of The Road to Seven podcast, Shelagh Cummins sits down with Carinta, an inspiring entrepreneur who transformed personal adversity into business success. From a difficult experience with a former boss to launching her own currency exchange business, Carinta shares her journey of resilience, adaptability, and the power of networking.
She talks about shifting from traditional business models to digital currency exchange during the pandemic, the importance of building strong relationships, and how mindset plays a crucial role in growth. Plus, she reveals her vision for expansion through franchising and empowering more entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Resilience is everything. Carinta turned a tough experience into the driving force behind her business success. ✔️ Networking is a game-changer. Building relationships helped her grow in ways advertising never could. ✔️ Adapting leads to new opportunities. Shifting to digital currency exchange during the pandemic helped her business evolve. ✔️ Mindset matters. The way you think about challenges can shape your path to success.
Chapters:
00:00 – The Journey Begins: From Dreams to Reality
05:08 – Overcoming Adversity: Fueling the Fire
08:21 – Shifting Perspectives: From Fear to Empowerment
11:09 – Navigating Challenges: Lessons Learned in Business
14:03 – The Power of Relationships: Building a Network
17:09 – Investing Wisely: Strategic Decisions for Growth
24:10 – The Evolution of Advertising and Networking
26:11 – Navigating Growth and Capital Challenges
28:09 – Seizing Opportunities During Crisis
32:10 – Adapting to Digital Transformation
36:13 – Redefining Strengths in Business
37:12 – Lessons Learned Over 25 Years
38:11 – Future Aspirations and Philanthropy in Business
Links
Connect with Carinta
www.global-currency.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GlobalCurrencyServices
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/globalcurrencyservices/
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/carinta-global-currency-services-65097429
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins addresses the reality many entrepreneurs are facing right now—political turmoil, economic uncertainty, and rising costs that impact every facet of life and business.
Shelagh shares powerful mindset shifts and practical strategies to help women entrepreneurs navigate turbulent times with confidence and clarity. You’ll learn how to focus on what you can control, manage your finances wisely, lead with intention, and stay visible—all while protecting your energy and wellbeing.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed or looking for guidance to stay grounded, this episode offers the resilience tools and community support you need to not just survive—but thrive.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How to shift your mindset to focus on opportunities within challenges
- Practical ways to manage your cash flow and stay financially resilient
- Why community and visibility are your superpowers during uncertainty
- The importance of self-care and action-oriented leadership
Episode Highlights:00:00 – The Ripple Effects of Political and Economic Turmoil
06:45 – Focusing on What You Can Control
12:15 – Managing Cash Flow and Finances in Uncertain Times
18:30 – The Role of Community and Visibility in Resilience
24:40 – Action Over Inaction: Leading Yourself and Others
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
The messy middle isn't a failure—it's part of the journey. - Shelagh
The ‘messy middle’—that frustrating, uncertain stage of business where growth feels slow, challenges seem endless, and overwhelm takes over. In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into what it really takes to push through this phase. She shares how resilience, resourcefulness, and community support can help you navigate overwhelm, break free from procrastination, and take action that moves your business forward. If you’re feeling stuck, this episode will equip you with the mindset and strategies to keep going.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why the messy middle is a normal and essential part of business growth
- How to shift from overwhelm to action by prioritizing what truly matters
- The role of resourcefulness and grit in overcoming roadblocks
- Why surrounding yourself with a strong community can make all the difference
Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction: Navigating the Messy Middle
05:30 - Overcoming Overwhelm and Procrastination
12:02 - Embracing Resourcefulness and Grit
18:15 - Building Resilience Through Discomfort
25:23 - The Power of Community and Asking for Help
30:25 - Conclusion: The Path to Success
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
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"Nobody wanted to be first. But if no one steps up, nothing changes."
- Demi Knight Clark
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins sits down with Demi, CEO of Spark Building Group, to explore the intersection of STEM, construction, and women’s empowerment. Demi shares her journey from working in trades to leading a company, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
They discuss why mentorship and allyship are essential for supporting women in STEM and skilled trades, how to inspire the next generation, and the importance of representation in leadership. Demi’s insights shed light on how businesses and individuals can create more opportunities for women in the workforce—and why authenticity is key to success.
If you’re passionate about women in STEM, breaking barriers in trades, and leadership that makes an impact, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Key Takeaways
✅ Exposure leads to opportunity – When young women engage in hands-on STEM experiences, they’re more likely to pursue careers in these fields.
✅ Mentorship is a game-changer – Supporting women in male-dominated industries helps create a path for future leaders.
✅ Allyship is action, not just words – Listening, supporting, and advocating for diversity in the workforce leads to real change.
Links
TedX Speaker: What Would Happen if we Gave More Girls Blowtorches?
Instagram: GirlFridaysGarage
Demi on LinkedIn
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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I knew what my why was—impact is still at the center of everything I do. - Julie Savaria
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins sits down with Julie Savaria, founder of Masla Empathy Lab and Jedi Kids, to discuss the intersection of business and social impact. Julie shares her journey from biochemistry to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in today’s world.
She reveals how she scaled her business, the role of mindset in growth, and why hiring the right team is essential. This conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs looking to build a business that aligns with their values and creates lasting impact.
Key Takeaways:
- A strong mindset is key to scaling a business.
- Purpose-driven businesses create deeper impact and stronger connections.
- Building the right team is essential for sustainable growth.
Links
Get in touch with Julie
http://maslaempathylab.com
jedikids.ca
IG:
@maslaempathy
@jedi_kid
@julz_bindia
Julie Bindia Savaria
Masla Empathy Lab
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Scaling a business doesn’t have to mean adding more complexity—in fact, the key to sustainable growth is simplicity. In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins breaks down how overcomplicating your business can slow you down and lead to overwhelm. She shares a powerful framework for simplifying your strategy by focusing on one offer, one marketing channel, one sales process, and one method of fulfillment.
If you’re feeling stretched thin, stuck in decision fatigue, or unsure how to scale without adding more to your plate, this episode is for you. Shelagh provides clear, actionable steps to streamline your business so you can grow with more ease, efficiency, and profitability.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Simplicity fuels growth—eliminating complexity helps you scale faster and with less overwhelm.
✅ Focusing on one offer, one marketing channel, and one sales process creates clarity and boosts results.
✅ Committing to a focused strategy for 90 days drives momentum and measurable success.
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, I sit down with personal stylist Renee Lindo to discuss her journey from a thriving corporate career in the pharmaceutical industry to launching her own personal styling business. Renee shares how she found fulfillment beyond financial success, the power of personal style in building confidence, and why intentional dressing is a game-changer for women in business.
We dive into the importance of aligning personal style with your brand, embracing authenticity, and the key lessons Renee learned as a woman in a male-dominated field. Whether you're looking to elevate your professional presence or make a bold career shift, this episode is filled with valuable insights on stepping into your power with confidence.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ How personal style influences confidence and leadership
✅ The importance of intentional dressing for personal branding
✅ Key lessons for women navigating male-dominated industries
✅ Why fulfillment is about more than just financial success
✅ The power of building an audience before transitioning to entrepreneurship
Links
Connect with Renee Lindo:
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneelindo/
IG: @Reneelindo_style
Outfit formula guide-https://reneelindostyle.myflodesk.com/outfitformulas
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, I sit down with Jackie Dinsmore, a former corporate lawyer turned multi-business entrepreneur, to discuss her inspiring journey from the legal industry to launching ventures like Flapjack Kids and Caravel Law. Jackie shares candid insights about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the emotional aspects of exiting businesses, and her current work with Extra Innings Ventures, a fund dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders.
Join us as we uncover the lessons Jackie has learned along the way—from disrupting the legal industry to finding balance between family and business—and gain inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey.
What you'll learn in this episode:
- Hustle and strong market fit are the cornerstones of success.
- Pivoting and embracing failure can open doors to growth.
- A supportive network and mentorship are vital for navigating entrepreneurship.
- It's never too late to innovate, invest, or start anew.
Links
Connect with Jackie Dinsmore:
Caravellaw.com
extrainningsventures.com
FB: Jackie Durk Dinsmore
IG: JackieDinsmore
LinkedIn: Jacqueline Dinsmore
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into six common mistakes that women entrepreneurs make that can hold them back from scaling their businesses.
From refining offers to delegating tasks, charging what you’re worth, and embracing visibility, Shelagh provides actionable insights to help entrepreneurs unlock their next level of success.
She also discusses how strategic investments and focusing on your zone of genius can pave the way for sustainable growth. If you're ready to identify and overcome the roadblocks in your business, this episode is a must-listen!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why refining your offer is key to sustainable growth.
- How spending time on non-genius tasks holds you back.
- The importance of pricing in alignment with your value.
- Why waiting for perfection to be visible is a costly mistake.
- How strategic investments can transform your business.
Sound Bites:
- "The market isn’t the problem—it’s the simple mistakes we make."
- "Stop tripping over pennies and start focusing on the bigger picture."
- "Your next level of success is waiting for you to step into it."
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Common Scaling Mistakes
03:45 Mistake #1: Not Refining Your Offer
08:12 Mistake #2: Spending Time on Non-Genius Tasks
12:30 Mistake #3: Undercharging for Your Work
16:20 Mistake #4: Waiting for Perfection Before Being Visible
21:10 Mistake #5: Misaligned Value and Pricing
25:15 Mistake #6: Not Investing Strategically
This episode will empower you to step into your next level of success by recognizing and correcting the mistakes holding you back.
Success isn't just about strategies - Shelagh Cummins
In this reflective episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into the pivotal lessons she learned throughout 2024. From embracing community to prioritizing self-care, Shelagh highlights how creating space for clarity and fostering deeper connections can lead to transformative breakthroughs in business and life. Drawing on her own experiences, she inspires listeners to embrace humanity in their entrepreneurial journeys and invites them to reflect on their own lessons as they prepare for 2025.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why community is a cornerstone for growth and support.
- How creating space in your schedule can lead to clarity and breakthroughs.
- Why self-care is essential for sustainable success.
- The power of listening to your inner call and embracing transformative opportunities.
- How emphasizing human connection can create lasting impact in business.
Links
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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"Let's distribute the wealth." - Jennifer Williams
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins is joined by Jennifer Williams, founder of Firefly Insights, to discuss the transformative concept of employee ownership as a viable succession plan. With recent legislative changes in Canada supporting employee ownership trusts, Jennifer explores how this model not only enhances business performance but also addresses economic inequities.
She shares her journey from nonprofit work to becoming a passionate advocate for equitable ownership, emphasizing the impact on communities and wealth redistribution. This insightful conversation also highlights the unique challenges women face in business, the importance of self-care, and how community support fuels success.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How employee ownership can serve as a transformative succession plan.
- The benefits of wealth redistribution for businesses and communities.
- Challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in finance and leadership.
- Why self-care is essential for sustaining growth and balance.
- Insights on creating a more equitable and high-performing workplace.
This episode will inspire you to think differently about succession planning, wealth redistribution, and creating a legacy that benefits both your business and your community.
Links
Website: https://fireflyinsights.ca/
Connect with Firefly Insights on LinkedIn
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins shares the 10 C's every woman entrepreneur needs to thrive in 2025. Reflecting on the lessons of 2024, she dives into key areas such as clarity, cash flow, and confidence to help you create sustainable success. Whether it's building consistency, leveraging community, or mastering delegation, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you align your vision with your actions and take bold steps toward growth.
Whether you're refining your plans or scaling your business, this episode is packed with tools and insights to help you start the year with focus and purpose.
Listen to discover:
- Why clarity in your goals is essential for effective decision-making.
- How consistency builds trust, reliability, and long-term success.
- The importance of community for support, partnerships, and growth.
- Confidence as a driver for bold decision-making and business leadership.
- How to master cash flow to ensure your business thrives sustainably.
Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Download the worksheet here!
Visit The Road to Seven for more resources, tools, and inspiration.
Ready to take action in 2025? Join Shelagh’s community of women entrepreneurs and start building your path to sustainable success today!
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Scaling is messy, but the rewards are worth it—time freedom, flexibility, and the ability to dream big. - Laura Tolhoek
In this inspiring episode of The Road to Seven, host Shelagh Cummins sits down with Laura Tolhoek, founder of Essential HR, to explore the journey of scaling a business. Laura reveals how she built a team of passionate and skilled professionals, emphasizing the importance of letting go of tasks that don’t spark joy to focus on her strengths. She shares how scaling has brought her not only exponential growth but also flexibility and time freedom to pursue her passions and side hustles. Laura encourages entrepreneurs to embrace an abundance mindset and believe in the possibilities of scaling.
Key Takeaways
- Surround yourself with brilliant individuals who love what they do.
- Let go of responsibilities that don’t align with your strengths and focus on what lights you up.
- Scaling a business can unlock flexibility and time freedom.
- An abundance mindset is essential to believe in the potential for growth.
Highlights
- 00:00 Introduction and Concerns about Notifications
- 01:03 Congratulating Laura on Exponential Growth
- 02:20 The Shift from Growing to Scaling
- 04:23 Hiring Passionate and Skilled Team Members
- 06:20 Shifting Focus to Sales and Building Relationships
- 08:09 Letting Go of Responsibilities and Finding Joy in Sales
- 09:35 The Messy Middle of Hiring High-Caliber Employees
- 14:25 The Benefits of Scale in Providing Time Flexibility
- 20:26 Embracing the Spontaneity and Flexibility of Scaling
- 23:03 Believing in the Possibility of Scaling
Links
- Connect with Laura Tolhoek: Essential HR
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/essentialhr.ca
"Small actions create large success." - Shelagh Cummins
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins unpacks the difference between business growth and scaling, two essential stages for entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses. Shelagh emphasizes the unique challenges women face as they transition from growth to scale, diving into the mindset shifts, financial strategies, and team-building investments necessary for true scalability.
Listen in as she explores how embracing vulnerability and understanding cash flow can help leaders maintain focus on impact while managing the risks that come with expansion. If you’re looking to build a business that serves both your goals and legacy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- The Difference Between Growth and Scaling: Why recognizing the shift from growth to scale is crucial for long-term business success.
- Building a Resilient Team: How to invest in team members who bring time flexibility and strengthen your business’s foundation.
- Risk Management for Entrepreneurs: Embracing vulnerability and calculated risks can unlock the next level of growth.
- Financial Strategies for Sustainable Scaling: The importance of understanding cash flow and viewing profit as an investment in growth, especially for women entrepreneurs.
- The Power of Consistent Action: Small, intentional actions over time are the key to scaling your business impact.
Ready to deepen your understanding of scaling and take actionable steps toward sustainable growth? Tune in to this week’s episode on The Road to Seven.
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
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Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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"Get out of your office. Go out and talk to people, talk to as many people as you can. Get as much feedback as you can. That's gold." - Maria Plummer
In this inspiring episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins speaks with Maria Plummer, an oncology nurse turned entrepreneur, who created Yewtwist, a medical device aimed at transforming IV procedures by making them safer and more efficient.
Maria shares her journey from identifying a critical need in her field to developing a viable solution, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, community support, and trusting one's instincts. From ideation to product development and beyond, Maria’s journey reveals the value of perseverance, listening to customer feedback, and creating a product that addresses real challenges in healthcare.
Join us as we dive into Maria’s entrepreneurial story and learn valuable lessons on growth, resilience, and the impact of creating solutions that truly make a difference.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust Your Instincts: Believing in yourself and trusting your ideas is essential when building a business.
- Seek Customer Feedback: Listening to feedback is invaluable for developing a product that genuinely meets customer needs.
- Find Capital Options: Accessing capital can be challenging, but there are grants, loans, and accelerators available for entrepreneurs.
- Build a Strong Team: Delegating tasks and surrounding yourself with supportive people are essential for long-term growth.
- Embrace the Journey: Success doesn't happen overnight—be patient, keep learning, and stay dedicated.
Links:
- www.yewtwist.com
- LinkedIn - Yewtwist & Maria Plummer
- Yestwist on Facebook
- Yewtwist on Instagram
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives deep into the art of selling with integrity, helping entrepreneurs overcome common sales pitfalls and unlock their revenue potential.
Shelagh explores why so many entrepreneurs tend to "bury the sale"—hiding their offers and undervaluing their impact. She shares practical strategies for aligning your integrity with your business values, communicating your offer clearly, and building client trust through transparency.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on redefining the sales process, embracing your unique value, and confidently putting your offers out into the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Stop Burying the Sale: Your offers are valuable—make them clear and accessible to clients.
- Align Integrity and Value: When your values align with what you offer, clients feel it.
- Overcome Fear of Being 'Salesy': Embrace sales as part of your mission, not as a negative.
- Clarity is Essential: Your clients need to understand your offer to engage fully.
- Embrace Rejection: It’s a natural part of business and opens doors for growth.
- Consistency in Revenue: Regular, genuine sales help build business sustainability.
- Build Genuine Connections: Real engagement fosters trust and long-term client loyalty.
- Be Transparent: Clear, honest offers create trust with your audience.
- The World Needs Your Offer: Your solutions matter—don’t hold back from making them available.
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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In this episode of The Road to Seven, we welcome Staci Millard, founder of Thrive Accounting, as she takes us on her entrepreneurial journey. From navigating the intricacies of building an accounting firm to selling it, Staci shares valuable insights on thinking like an entrepreneur, pricing for scalability, and developing leadership skills to grow a successful business. She also gives us a sneak peek into her future plans—developing a software solution to simplify bookkeeping and deliver more strategic financial advice to small business owners.
Key Takeaways:
- Entrepreneurial Mindset in Accounting: Staci emphasizes the importance of thinking like an entrepreneur while working as an accountant, not just focusing on the numbers but helping businesses truly thrive.
- Delegation for Scalability: To build a scalable business and achieve time freedom, it’s critical to delegate tasks and not take everything on yourself.
- Pricing for Growth: Pricing your services properly is essential for scaling, and Staci discusses the hidden costs you need to consider when running a business.
- Leadership Skills Matter: Developing strong leadership skills is key to managing a team and fostering business growth.
- Tech Solutions for Small Businesses: Staci's next venture? A software solution that will streamline bookkeeping and provide better financial advice to help small businesses thrive.
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/staci.millard/
https://www.instagram.com/thriveaccounting/
https://www.thriveaccounting.co
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into a crucial topic for every entrepreneur: setting boundaries in your business. Shelagh explores the fine line between keeping clients happy and over-committing, revealing how people-pleasing can lead to burnout. Drawing on her personal experience and insights from coaching women entrepreneurs, she explains how setting clear boundaries isn’t just important—it’s essential for sustainable business growth.
Shelagh breaks down practical ways to set boundaries, train clients on your availability, and create processes that protect both your well-being and your business. She emphasizes that success doesn’t require sacrificing your health or personal life. Instead, it’s about building a business that works for you while still delivering great results for clients.
Key Takeaways:
- Keeping clients happy is vital, but not at the expense of your own health.
- Over-delivering can cause burnout and dissatisfaction.
- Boundaries are key to sustainable growth and success.
- Effective processes support both your business and client satisfaction.
- You don't have to be available 24/7 to run a successful business.
- Establishing boundaries allows you to serve more clients without sacrificing well-being.
- Teaching clients how you work is essential for maintaining professional relationships.
- A business should serve you, not the other way around.
Tune in to learn how you can set up healthy boundaries that lead to happier clients—and a happier, more balanced life for you!
In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh sits down with Victoria Marshman, the co-founder of Mave & Chez, to discuss her incredible journey of launching a successful slipper brand. Victoria and her business partner started in event planning, but when the pandemic hit, they pivoted to create a product designed for women. They used a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 and appeared on Dragon’s Den, where they secured a deal with two dragons.
Victoria shares valuable lessons about building a product-based business, navigating a business partnership, and the importance of community and mentorship. She also dives into the challenges of cash flow management and the significance of evolving based on customer feedback. If you’re interested in how entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, raise funds, and stay driven by impact, this episode is a must-listen.
Key Takeaways:
- Pivot with Purpose: Victoria’s inspiring shift from event planning to product development shows the power of adaptability.
- Crowdfunding Success: How Mave & Chez used Kickstarter to raise $50K and validate their product idea.
- The Power of Community: Building a strong customer base before focusing on product success.
- Business Partnerships: The importance of communication, trust, and shared vision when working with a partner.
- Mentorship & Mentorship: Why seeking advice from experienced entrepreneurs can be a game-changer for growth.
Learn more about Mave & Chez
https://maveandchez.com/
https://www.instagram.com/maveandchez/
https://victoriamarshman.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/victoria_marshman
Connect with Shelagh:
- Website: The Road to Seven
- Instagram: Shelagh Cummins
After a hiatus, Shelagh Cummins returns to The Road to Seven podcast to share why she took a break and what's driving her to return. She discusses the importance of letting go of things that are out of alignment and that are not working in your business. Shelagh also emphasizes the power of speaking and connecting with audiences and the value of thinking and inner work in business growth. She introduces the concept of momentum and how it can propel entrepreneurs to the next level. Shelagh invites listeners to share the one thing stopping them from staying in consistent action and offers support through coaching and programs.
Takeaways
- Let go of things out of alignment and not working in your business.
- Take time to think and work to gain clarity and drive business growth.
- Momentum is key to propelling your business to the next level.
- Identify the one thing stopping you from staying in consistent action and seek support to overcome it.
In this episode, Shelagh Cummins dives deep with Jen Harper, the inspiring founder of Cheekbone Beauty. Jen shares her extraordinary journey from working in the seafood industry to creating a beauty brand that stands out for its commitment to sustainability, representation, and social impact. She opens up about the personal challenges she faced, the pivotal role of education, and how community support shaped her path. This conversation is packed with insights on the influence of Indigenous culture in business, the importance of transparency in the beauty industry, and what it really takes to grow a purpose-driven brand. Jen also reveals the strategies behind Cheekbone Beauty’s growth, the challenges of investment and scaling, and her exciting vision for the brand's future.
Top Takeaways:
- Cheekbone Beauty: More than makeup – it's a movement for sustainability and social impact.
- Jen Harper’s Journey: It all started with a dream about Indigenous youth, fueling a mission to empower.
- Education as Empowerment: Why education is at the core of representation and success.
- Turning Struggles into Strength: How personal battles became a driving force for Jen's entrepreneurial journey.
- Business with Heart: Indigenous culture shapes Cheekbone's values and business ethics.
- Facing Industry Challenges: Tackling sustainability in the beauty world – one product at a time.
- Investment Insights: The reality of scaling a business and why strategic investment matters.
- The Power of Transparency: Building consumer trust through an open supply chain.
- Retail Adaptation: What it really takes to partner with retailers and meet consumer needs.
- What's Next: Cheekbone Beauty's ambitious plans for U.S. market expansion.
Learn more about Jenn Harper and Cheekbone Beauty:
www.cheekbonebeauty.com
https://www.instagram.com/cheekbonebeauty/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/cheekbonebeauty/
https://twitter.com/cheekbonebeauty
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/cheekbone-beauty
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-JpqTI-QdLv1vtCotPArQ
https://www.tiktok.com/@cheekbonebeauty
“Debt does not mean you are bad with money, that you don't know how to do business, that you are not worthy. It is not something to be ashamed of. It's not something to feel guilty about. It just is.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Today we’re talking about debt, and the first thing I want to share with you is that it doesn’t need to be a word that brings on feeling of shame or guilt - debt is a tool, and in this episode of The Road To Seven Podcast I’m going to show you how to master it.
I’m going to share with you a few examples of what bad debt is, and what can happen if you take on loans with high interest rates, and no opportunity for return on investment, or ROI. I’m also going to share examples from clients that I’ve worked with, who leveraged good debt in order to grow their businesses.
No matter what, we all take on some form of debt at some point in our business journey, what’s important to remember is that you take on debt strategically, and you find a way to release the shame and guilt around any debt that you currently have, or will have in the future.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The difference between good and bad debt
- The type of debt you may take on in order to grow your business
- Strategies to pay down debt and let go of the guilt attached to it
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:57 An invitation
04:49 Bad debt
09:18 The state of lending today
10:40 Leveraging good debt
13:09 Micro-lending
13:51 Let go of the story attached to your debt
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“Just because you have profit doesn't mean you have great cash flow, and the only way to know if you're in the clear with your cash flow is to be tracking it, seeing it, and following it.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Your cash flow is the lifeblood of your company. It ensures that your business can meet its day to day operations, and it also is a tool for you to expand and scale. However, what so many entrepreneurs believe to be true, is that your revenue is equal to your cash flow, and that does not work when unexpected expenses pop up, or you need to make a major investment in your business in order to scale.
Tune in, because I’ll be taking you through the three biggest misconceptions about cash flow that I see entrepreneurs struggling with all the time. Your revenue is not equal to your cash flow, a profitable business does not mean that you have strong cash flow, and that cash flow problems can only be solved with more sales.
We’ll also discuss your financial practices, and I’ll share my strategies for solid financial practices with you, so that you can confidently tackle any cash flow problems your business may face in the future.
Believe me when I say that on today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast you’re going to learn everything you need to know about cash flow, and how to make sure you have more than enough to keep your business running smoothly.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- My Google Sheets spreadsheet to track your cash flow
- How to plan for unexpected expenses in your business
- How to establish and maintain good financial practices
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:00 Understanding the cash flow for your company
03:52 Your revenue is not equal to your cash flow
05:46 A profitable business does not mean you have strong cash flow
07:02 Misconception: Cash flow problems can only be solved with more sales
11:10 Cash flow and emotions
13:22 Weekly time to review
Links:
Cash flow tracker: https://cummins.kartra.com/page/cashflow
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“If you're going to talk about women stepping into their purpose, you have to do it for yourself as scary as it may be.”
-Kena Paranjape
If you are facing big challenges in your business, then I’ve got someone who you need to hear from today. My guest Kena Paranjape is the founder of All You Are, an empowerment platform and community for women, who has navigated 20 years of career shifts and challenges, personal loss, and extreme personal transformation.
Kena shares deeply about her journey with self-actualization and self-trust. As a young girl, she noticed very quickly that she felt a lack in her sense of belonging, and now, she’s determined to help other women see that they are worthy of self-love and self-trust.
Kena also shares how her co-founded company BRIKA pivoted from a B2C(Business to Customer) business to B2B (Business to Business) model after enormous success with various pop up stores around the city of Toronto.
So, tune into today’s episode if you’re ready to take on all the challenges life has to give you!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The importance of introspection for personal and business growth
- Why a sense of belonging can have a huge impact on your business
- What it means to be on a journey of self-actualization
About Guest:
Kena Paranjape is the founder of All You Are, an empowerment platform and community for women. Kena is also the co-founder of recently acquired BRIKA, an innovative retail concept focused on highlighting and supporting emerging artisans and designers. Kena has 20 years of experience in retail at brands like Indigo, Joe Fresh, and Gap, as well as a high-end eco-friendly boutique concept. She was most recently the VP of Merchandising at Houseplant, Seth Rogen’s cannabis company where she was responsible for bringing to market their award-winning cannabis accessories collection.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
00:00 Meet Kena
09:30 All You Are
13:05 Intuition and guidance
15:02 How Kena taps into her inner wisdom
17:30 Cultivating a sense of belonging
19:53 Kena’s biggest business challenges
21:13 What it’s like to be acquired
23:40 What she knows now
25:55 What’s next
Links:
https://allyouare.ca
https://instagram.com/kena_allyouare
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenaparanjape/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“Are we inspiring women or are we selling products? That gave a definition to my brand, and that definition came from my heart.”
-Adedoyin Omotara
Friends, I don't need to tell you that the most powerful way to grow your business is when you lead with heart, passion, and purpose. And today, I’m chatting with my guest Adedoyin Omotara to share with you how she has done exactly this, with incredible results.
In the middle of moving from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Calgary, Canada, Adedoyin decided it was the perfect time to see whether she truly wanted to start her own beauty brand. After product testing and development, Adedoyin officially launched her beauty brand Adoniaa in 2015.
We talked about the importance of mindset, when you as an entrepreneur are on a mission to inspire others – and what it takes to keep your mindset at that next-level energy, the most important elements including coaching, and community.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- What it takes to get beauty products to market
- How to navigate the next-level mindset needed to grow a successful business
- What it means to run a business that is heart, purpose and passion-led
About Guest:
Adedoyin Omotara is a Beauty Entrepreneur, Women’s empowerment advocate, Speaker, Life Coach , Business Coach and the leader of the unmask your beauty movement. Her passion to live a fuller and more expressive life made her leave her successful Corporate Engineering career to become an Entrepreneur.
Seeking the spiritually creative fulfilment missing in her successful corporate career, She determined to resolve the concern that beauty today, far from being that poetic 'joy forever' is unfortunately a source of insecurity, shame and stress for countless women. Her inspirational teaching events promote beauty, inside and out, to an audience of women at all stages of life. She believes in investing in the dream of girls and in the strength of women.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:58 Meet Adedoyin
06:08 The growth of Adoniaa
14:22 Different platforms for Adoniaa
18:23 Getting the first product to market
23:25 The most challenging part of Adedoyin’s journey
27:18 Maintaining the next-level mindset
30:22 What she knows now
34:48 What’s next
36:10 Where to find Adedoyin and Adoniaa
Links:
https://www.adoniaa.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“Our ‘find a way’ was to find people who would be willing to walk with us as we walked with communities.”
-Somia Sadiq
If your business is on the brink of rapid growth, friend, this is an episode for you. In today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast, I have a great conversation with Somia Sadiq, an entrepreneur who founded and built Narratives Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in territorial planning and impact assessment.
We talk about everything from what your team expects from you as your business grows, to how to find support as the leader of a company that grew incredibly fast within a five year period.
Somia and I also chatted about the evolution of her leadership which I think will be especially useful for those of you who are currently experiencing rapid growth in your companies.
I know you’ll get a lot out of this episode, so pop those earbuds in and hit play!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The power of relationships for rapid business growth
- How leadership styles evolve over time
- The importance of leaning on mentors and advisors
About Guest:
Somia Sadiq is a Certified Environmental Professional (EP) and a Registered Professional Planner (RPP), specializing in Impact Assessment, Conflict Transformation, Negotiations, Peace building, and Trauma-Informed approaches.
Somia is the founder of Narratives Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in territorial planning and impact assessment, and the founder of Kahanee, a non-profit organization that leans on stories and storytelling for positive peacebuilding. Somia and her husband also just started an RV campground in Manitoba called Base Camp 59.
Somia's work is informed by a keen interest in creating space, respect and voice for multiple knowledge systems, and understanding psychosocial barriers to peace and conflict transformation, particularly dynamics of Identity, Othering, Framing, and Trauma.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:02 Meet Somia
03:22 Somia’s business journey
11:45 Experiencing rapid growth
16:22 Somia’s leadership style evolution
19:39 The challenges of remaining “people first”
23:12 Slow changes in DEI
25:40 What Somia knows now
Links:
Narratives Inc Website: www.narrativesinc.com
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somia-sadiq-0b21596a/
Base Camp 59 Website: www.basecamp59.ca
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“What have I done? What have I learned? What can I do? How can I give back? What do I have that could be useful to young women who maybe want to start their own businesses and have that kind of independence?”
- Liz Crawford
My guest Liz Crawford, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and multi-passionate is going to rock your world. A woman with more than four businesses, Liz is dedicated to the growth and ethical behaviours in the international modelling industry, and ensuring her team are all independently successful.
Liz started her first business after retiring from modelling in her early thirties. What followed was an organic growth and expansion from production agency, to model advocacy, to a modelling agency, and even into renovating an old motel into a luxury getaway in Winnipeg.
So, if you are a multi-passionate entrepreneur and you don't want to choose just one business, then today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast is one that you don’t want to miss.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Liz moved past the price increase mindset hurdle
- How Liz developed a positive team culture
- How Liz balances multiple businesses
About Guest:
With careers as a movie actress, fashion stylist, freelance journalist, and international model, Liz Crawford’s experiences have been far from what one could call ordinary. In 2007 Liz founded Swish Productions, using her knowledge and expertise in public relations and fashion to open Winnipeg’s only full service fashion marketing and public relations firm. In 2007, Liz was invited to speak in Ottawa at the House of Commons in an effort to regulate the modelling industry for model’s safety. Thus Swish Productions sister company, Swish Model Management was born, representing some of Canada’s most recognized international models.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:23 Meet Liz
05:11 Liz’s first company
11:05 The price increase hurdle
12:52 Liz’s second company
21:54 Liz’s third company
24:45 Liz’s fourth company
28:54 Liz’s team
37:34 What Liz knows now
43:27 What’s next for Liz
Links:
Swish model management: https://swishmodelmanagement.com/
Her HQ: https://www.herheadquarters.com/
The Rosè websites: https://www.therosebeachhouse.com/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“It all starts with that strategic decision that you're ready for your business to be bigger than you.”
- Shelagh Cummins
When you’re scaling your business, you’re faced with dozens, if not hundreds of new decisions every day. But the most important one is deciding what your “next level” looks like. That’s what today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast is all about.
When you start to scale, your job shifts from being the doer, to the leader, and I know how difficult this can be. In this episode I talk about how to let go of responsibilities you once had, so that you can transition them to empowered employees. And yes, that means that you no longer jump in and “fix” the work they’ve done anymore. Your job is now to lead your team to do the best that they can.
So there are two questions to get you to shift to running your business, from it running you. First, what is a strategic decision that you need to make today that's going to have the most impact on your business? And second, what is a fear that you can rewrite, overwrite, acknowledge, and move on from, in order to take action so that you can bring your business to the next level?
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What types of decisions you’ll be faced with when scaling your business
- How to empower your team to get the results your business needs
- What fear-based decision making looks like and how to avoid it
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:50 Everything is rooted in a decision
02:36 Deciding what your next level looks like
05:37 Shifting responsibility to your team
07:50 Key questions for your team
08:11 Fear driving decisions
11:11 Raising your rates
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“I was and am in a period of growth and evolution. It means I'm looking for all the options that are around me.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you ever just wanted to burn everything to the ground and start fresh? Friends, that is exactly what I did last year, and in this episode of The Road To Seven Podcast I’m going to tell you exactly what starting fresh did for me.
I gave myself the time and space to pull back from the edge of burnout, so that I could restructure my business from the inside out. That looked like cancelling programs I had been running for months (and years), resetting my offerings, and making sure that I was still financially contributing to my family.
I wanted to share all of this with you today, because I believe that if you are not happy in your business, then it’s time for your business to change and support the life and dreams that you want to have and achieve. So tune in, because I’ve got a great episode for you today!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The sunk cost fallacy of closing down a business
- What taking the leap of faith means to get to the next level in your business
- How recognizing the edge of burnout can create new opportunities
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:50 Scaling made simple
02:37 The next level in your business
03:49 Shutting down businesses
07:10 Letting go with trust
08:38 The mental space to create
11:15 True satisfaction
13:06 My rally cry
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The whole point of growth is to be uncomfortable, but you're safe.”
- Renée Warren
If you’ve ever felt like throwing in the towel on your business, this is an episode of The Road To Seven podcast you don't want to miss.
My guest Renée Warren, founder of We Wild Women, and I, have an excellent conversation about what to do when you hit burnout in your business, how to reorient yourself when it’s time to start again, and why it’s so important to have your cheerleaders by your side to help you through big business changes.
We talk about how identifying what you love to do is what helps you get to your sweet spot, without caring whether people are going to judge you for shifting your business focus. We also discuss how identifying what you love about your industry, identifying what people need, and then creating the product or service around those key elements is essential for business success.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to handle the ups and downs of every step that you have to take in your biz
- How to grow a business that you will love (and not hate)
- What a multi-passionate entrepreneur journey looks like
About Guest:
Renée Warren is an award-winning entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, author, and founder of We Wild Women, a platform that helps women-led businesses build confidence and authority, and gain industry recognition and the media exposure they deserve.
She’s also the host of the celebrated podcast, Into the Wild, a show in the top 1.5% that features curated interviews with women entrepreneurs and provides actionable advice to women who are growing their own dream businesses.
Renée firmly believes that the best advice comes from someone who has successfully done it before. Her approach to coaching comes from over 23 years of experience as an entrepreneur, in running marketing and PR agencies and in being an unapologetic risk-taker.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:06 Meet Renée
04:38 Renée’s story
10:16 Closing her PR company
12:06 Making the jump to coaching
17:16 We Wild Women
18:32 Renée’s productivity planner
22:16 Shifting back to PR
30:09 Trusting your inner voice
38:04: What’s next
Links:
Find Renée https://www.wewildwomen.com/proven-pitch-strategies
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“If you're underpricing because you're trying to get more people to buy, you are literally going to get the bargain hunters, and bargain hunters have no loyalty.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you pricing your offers to pay the bills, or for profit? Many of the entrepreneurs that I work with find it incredibly challenging to properly price their offers, and end up making financial decisions for today, that leave money on the table for tomorrow.
The reality is, not monitoring and knowing and understanding your numbers is actually impacting the growth of your company. Because you're either overspending, underspending, or you're just not making strategic decisions that are going to help you grow.
Pricing too low is one of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make, because it is expensive to run a business. So in this episode of The Road To Seven podcast, I’m going to share with you a practical, step-by-step process to price your offers properly, so that you get more profit out of your business.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What the biggest pricing mistakes entrepreneurs make are
- My pricing strategies
- How to future-proof your business through pricing
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:23 Pricing for profit
01:57 The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make
09:05 Base your pricing on future needs
11:02 Pricing is not randomly generated
12:46 Perceived value
14:57 Pricing strategy
23:56 You get to choose your business
27:55 Wrapping up
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
“You can have all these issues, these challenges, these moments, this heaviness, but you can only deal with each one, one at a time.”
-Liat Horovitz
You’ve heard both of my guests on The Road To Seven Podcast before, and they’re back for an amazing roundtable discussion on setting boundaries as a coach - it’s Liat Horovitz and Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen.
In this episode, we’re diving deeper into a conversation we had on a panel at Momfest in September of 2022 called Boundaries Are Sexy And Choices are Opportunities. And if you are a business owner of any kind, you will absolutely take away some gems from our conversation.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to set and uphold your boundaries as a coach
- What it means to intentionally choose your priorities
- How compartmentalising can help your coaching work
About Guests:
Nothando Wohlgeschaffen is a family doctor and general life coach for other women professionals. Her clients come to her for relationship, business, and career coaching. They leave with mastery level boundaries and 40 more hours a month just for themselves.
Liat Horovitz is a Results Coach and Podcast Host with a passion for helping people achieve their desired results and be the best version of themselves. Liat works closely with her clients to define their goals and dreams, and set practical and strategic plans to achieve the desired transformations.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:05 Meet Liat Horovitz and Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen (again!)
03:35 Boundaries
09:52 Persona online vs. persona in personal life
12:20 Personal and emotional boundaries as self-care
20:30 Intentionally choosing priorities
25:00 Seasonal priorities
35:28 One word of wisdom
Links:
Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen’s previous episode 172
Dr. Wohlgeschaffen’s Blog with resources
Instagram: @nothandowohlgeschaffen
Complete Guide to Boundaries for Physicians
Liat Horovitz’s previous episode 170
Liat’s website
Results Club podcast
Liat’s upcoming retreat
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:https://theroadtoseven.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.
IG:@shelaghcummins
Twitter:@shelaghcummins
“Makeup does not define you. It's merely a tool of empowerment.”
-Missy MacKintosh
Makeup has always been the centre of my guest Missy MacKintosh’s life, and from working a Mary Kay franchise with her mom to opening two storefronts with another on the way, it’s easy to see why.
Missy, like many entrepreneurs, zig zagged her way through to entrepreneurship. Beginning as a makeup artist, working her way up through top brand Makeup Forever, and then suddenly finding herself working in the travel industry, when she realized that there must be something more for her life. That’s where MisMacK, Missy’s beauty brand came in.
Throughout the pandemic, Missy started and evolved her clean beauty business from her basement to two storefronts on the west coast of Canada, and is preparing to open a third location in the fall, and if you need a dose of high energy motivation for your product business, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why makeup is an important part of creating a world where we all belong
- What it’s like to go from working in a basement, to opening storefronts
- The importance of patience as an entrepreneur
About Missy: Missy MacKintosh is an Internationally Acclaimed Makeup Artist and Fiery Entrepreneur. Recently named "Most Influential Business Leaders to Follow in Canada" by Insight Success Magazine and "Top 50 One's to Watch Keynote Speakers" in the Real Leaders Magazine, Missy founded and built Canada's most award-winning Clean Beauty Brand - MisMacK Clean Cosmetics in her small town basement of Canoe BC. She single-handily grew out of her basement and into 2 storefronts during a global pandemic.
Missy's tagline is "Makeup does not define you, it's merely a tool of empowerment". She's so excited to share her story of how she pushed through small-town barriers and became a leading force in the Clean Beauty Revolution.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
00:52 Meet Missy
07:18 Missy’s makeup line
09:06 “Clean” beauty
10:26 Pre-launch
14:44 Missy’s biggest barriers
19:19 Makeup and belonging
26: 28 Having patience as an entrepreneur
30:06 Using investments to grow
33:18 What Missy knows now
Links:
Find MisMack here: https://mismack.com/
Use code "seven10" at checkout to save 10% off your MisMacK.
@mismackcleancosmetics on all socials
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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“If I have resistance to this business growing as it wanted to, I was stifling the growth opportunities, not only for my own business, but because of all of these really beautiful relationships we have with our farmers and food producers.”
-Sheena Russell
If you are building a product-based business, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. I’m interviewing Sheena Russell, the founder of Made with Local, a company on a mission to create delicious, nourishing snacks that connect people with the planet and those who grow our food.
Sheena and I discuss how important it is to develop strategic local partnerships, and when to exit partnerships when they no longer serve your business. Sheena also takes us through what it’s like to start out at farmer’s markets, and scale into over 3000 grocery stores across North America – no small feat!
We also discuss the process of scaling and raising capital, and what that means for the growth of Made Local. So if you’re ready for some actionable steps to grow your product business, you’ll want to tune into this episode.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to go from the idea of hand making a product to having it available on the shelves of over 3000 grocery stores
- Selecting strategic partnerships that are in alignment with your values and vision
- What running a Series A funding round looks like
Sheena Russell, is the founder of Made with Local, a company on a mission to create delicious, nourishing snacks that connect people with the planet and those who grow our food. Sheena has created a line of Real Food Bars and Granola Bar Mixes that are not only nourishing and made with transparently and ethically sourced ingredients, they also create social impact through their partnership with local farmers and food producers. Starting at a humble farmer's market in Halifax in 2012, Made with Local’s foods are now available at over 3000 grocery stores across Canada.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:18 Meet Sheena
03:05 Sheena’s journey
06:52 Choosing snack bar flavours
09:11 Strategic local partnerships
12:21 From farmer’s markets to big stores
14:27 Getting into the first store
17:55 The growth of Made Local
21:08 The challenges of the business
25:31 What Sheena knows now
28:54 What’s next
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“If you haven't hired people who are going to be key decision makers and have full autonomy over some functioning within your company, then you are never going to be able to let go of the reins and have this company be bigger than you.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you feel like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel in your business? Are you giving yourself dozens of reasons why you’re not ready to make crucial hiring decisions, and finding that it backfires on you more often than not? Then this is an episode for you.
I hear entrepreneurs tell me every day that they’re burnt out, or they’re afraid that they won’t have the time freedom they truly want in their business because they’re taking on too many clients, but they won’t take courageous action and make a strategic hire, or make that phone call, or launch that program, that would alleviate all of these fears.
But the reality is, with the right help in the right places, your business can generate more revenue and time freedom for you at the same time – you just have to be willing to lead yourself into letting go of control, and allow other people to come in and help.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why you might be stuck on the hamster wheel that is your business
- The reasons why you might not be hiring to grow your business even though you know you should
- The excuses we hear most often when it comes to “letting go” of responsibility in your business
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:58 The Leadership Gap
04:53 The number one reason we don’t hire
05:58 What leading really means
07:11 Why you’re feeling so burnt out
08:01 Your ability to lead YOU
10:03 How I can help you get off the hamster wheel
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“It’s so very important to create the culture of your one team. And everyone adds value. Doesn't matter what they do for you, they add value.”
-Nicole Bourque-Bouchier
For 25 years, my guest Nicole Bourque-Bouchier has led her company to excellence through strong community and indigenous values. Starting her role at the company she co-owns with her husband David, Nicole never thought it would flourish as rapidly as it did - and she quickly developed her position from part-time helper to office manager, to CEO.
Nicole’s passion for community stems from her indigenous background, inspiring the company motto “Better Together.” Through employee recognition and appreciation events, she has built the company to over 1200 employees, by focusing on what everyone can accomplish together, as one.
Nicole is also a philanthropist, and has even established a family foundation with her husband and five children, in order to give back to her community in a meaningful way. So if you’re looking for inspiration and someone to aspire to, this is an interview you don’t want to miss!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Nicole built her role and company from the ground up and became CEO
- The importance of community and a giving focus within Bouchier
- What the combination of indigenous and feminine leadership can do to positively impact community and global industry
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is proudly a Mikisew Cree First Nation, born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and raised in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where she resides with her husband and five children. Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Influential Women by the Women's Executive Network in 2015, Nicole uses her traditional teachings, experience, and voice to advocate for Indigenous women’s economic empowerment. Nicole's career serves as an inspiration to those around her, particularly as the recipient of numerous accolades.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:05 Introducing Nicole Bourque-Bouchier
03:27 Meet Nicole
04:10 Nicole’s story
07:19 The Chief Everything Officer
09:04 Overcoming challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry
13:14 Hiring for culture fit
19:17 The importance of a giving focus
23:31 What she knows now
28:06 What’s next
Links:
Connect with Nicole
https://www.ccab.com/awards/indigenous-women-in-leadership-iwil-award/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“You are an authentic person who brings tremendous style, strength, and skill to your business.”
- Shelagh Cummins
What if I told you that more than 50% of businesses are generating revenue below the poverty line? Would you be surprised to learn that the reason behind this comes down to what I call The Seven Deadly Sins of entrepreneurship?
I see women making these seven mistakes every single day, so I want to share with you what they are and how you can overcome them, so that your business will go beyond surviving, to thriving. But make no mistake, each of these “deadly sins” requires that you take clear focused action in order to avoid committing them.
My goal is to support women entrepreneurs just like you, with financing, coaching, and training so that they can find the money and time freedom as they're building a fulfilling business on the road to, and beyond, seven figures, and in this episode I offer actionable steps that you can take to do that.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What the seven deadly sins of entrepreneurship are – and if you might be making them
- How to recognize and shift mistakes into successes
- Why entrepreneurs let fear stop them from making huge strides – and how to move past that fear
Highlights:
00:01 The stats on entrepreneur earnings
00:54 Intro
02:00 The seven deadly sins of entrepreneurship
02:14 The first sin - inauthenticity
03:05 The second sin - underpricing
04:35 The third sin - playing small
05:55 The fourth sin - focusing on the minutiae
07:53 The fifth sin - letting fear dictate decisions
10:51 The sixth sin - not trusting
12:33 The seventh sin - not continuing
14:41 Recap
16:28 How to connect with Shelagh
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“If you're afraid of the “no” because you're counting on that money, they're going to be saying no anyway. Let's figure out another way to get your money in the door.”
- Shelagh Cummins
What would you be capable of, if you weren’t afraid of the word “no”? In today’s episode, I’m sharing real stories from my coaching clients about what happened when we removed the story behind what it means to hear “no” from potential clients. Spoiler alert: great things happened.
I’m diving into the real reasons you’re afraid to hear the word “no” from potential clients, and I’m giving you actionable steps that you can take today, to move past that fear.
Listen in to learn why it might actually be a good thing when you get the “no” – and what my clients were capable of when they were handed the freedom of the two letter answer they were so afraid of.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Common fears that entrepreneurs have about hearing the word “no” and how to move past them so that you can get to the “yes”
- When hearing “no” can be more of a relief than hearing “yes”
- Releasing the story of what hearing “no” brings, so that you can step into your value as the service provider your people need
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:32 What we’re really afraid of
03:47 Following up with support
04:11 What we think when we hear “no”
07:03 Clearing out “no’s” to open up space for new leads
08:34 Stepping into your own value to get to “yes”
09:54 Hiding from the “no”
10:26 What you can do today to stop hiding
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Creating an identity for yourself outside of work or outside of home is often the work that needs to be done before we can actually create the businesses that we want.”
-Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen
When it comes to balancing career and home, most women bump up against challenges in prioritizing what’s most important to them. Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen is helping high performing women in the medical field to navigate these challenges, and at the same time is a practicing family physician serving underrepresented communities–all while preparing to become a new mother.
To say that she is an incredible inspiration is an understatement, and I think you’ll find that our conversation is full of actionable tools that will help you assess what is most important in your life, and where you want to prioritize your time.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Balancing the expectations of entrepreneurship, career, motherhood and self through intentionality
- How to make choices to prioritize what is important to you, so that you can “have it all”
- Five things that will help you prevent and/or move past burnout
Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen is a family doctor and general life coach for other women professionals. She helps women whose job it is to show up for other people also show up for themselves. Her clients come to her for relationship, business, and career coaching. They leave with mastery level boundaries and 40 more hours a month just for themselves.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:23 Meet Nothando
02:56 Nothando’s journey
06:36 Modern expectations of women
08:21 Balancing through intentionality
11:40 Making choices so our priorities align with our core values
13:50 Starting a family practice and coaching business simultaneously
17:01 Taking steps to create self-identity
19:22 Time blocking for focus
21:10 Tools to prevent burnout
29:11 The choices we make about how we spend our time
34:10 What she knows now
36:14 What’s next
Links:
Nothando’s blog with resources
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nothandowohlgeschaffen
Complete Guide to Boundaries for Physicians
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you hire up, you're able to put all of the different pieces into place so that your hires can get the results for your business. That's leadership.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Does this sound familiar? “I don't have the time to go and find someone to help me,” or, “I don't have the money to be able to pay someone to help me.” Before you hit your solopreneur limit, you need to understand what it means to shift from being a doer, to being a leader.
But here’s the thing – the right hire will actually save you more time, AND make you more money. All you have to do is give up a little bit of control.
Easier said than done, right?
Today I’m sharing with you all of the mindset shifts that I have worked through with my coaching clients to go from holding onto all of the control in your business, to hiring and trusting the right people to do what they do best, so that you have the time and space in your business to do what you do best – get results for your clients.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to shift your perspective from doing everything in your business, and see yourself as a leader
- Understanding your leadership style and communicating it with potential hires
- How to give feedback so that you can release control over different pieces of your business and get time back to do what you do best
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:50 The resistance to shift your perspective
03:26 Reasons why women say they don’t want to hire
05:48 Understanding your leadership style
07:44 Learning how to release control
09:31 Hiring up instead of hiring down
10:41 Past hires that didn’t work out
12:01 How to step into leadership
14:05 My new 3-part masterclass on leadership
Links:
Send me a DM at https://instagram.com/shelaghcummins to learn more about The Leader Masterclass.
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“I had been planning for it and fantasizing about it, and that was the moment where I was in this immersive environment where it was easy to make these decisions.”
-Liat Horovitz
Liat Horovitz is a Results Coach and host of The Results Club Podcast. She began her career journey working for a large tech company, but after having children and time to reflect over maternity leaves, she realized that it was time to make her next big move, and start her own business.
Passionate about anything related to personal development, Liat began her entrepreneurial journey as a coach just before the pandemic, in October of 2019. During long periods of isolation, she realized how powerful community is, which led her to developing a series of retreats for her clients that focus on personal growth.
In this conversation, we talk about the process of shifting identity from corporate to entrepreneur, what we did to move through the low moments of our businesses, and our surprisingly common career paths!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why it is so important to invest in yourself for business success
- The importance of reflecting on your path and journey as an entrepreneur
- Why community is a pillar of your business’ success
Liat Horovitz is a Results Coach and Podcast Host with a passion for helping people achieve their desired results and be the best version of themselves. After having climbed the corporate ladder Liat finally left her day job to pursue what brings her true joy - a combination of coaching and content creation. For both business and life in general - Liat works closely with her clients to define their goals and dreams, and set practical strategic plans to achieve the desired transformations.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:09 Meet Liat Horovitz
02:32 Liat’s journey
08:30 Our common path to entrepreneurship
10:42 Identity shifts
15:10 Investing in yourself
18:50 Growth and evolution
23:28 Finding the courage to continue beyond low moments
28:57 What she knows now
32:36 What’s next
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Liat’s website - https://www.liathorovitz.com/
Results Club podcast
My upcoming retreat
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“As your business grows, so do you. You evolve. You become a different person. You have different strengths that you didn’t know that you had.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you ever felt irritated or put off by an aspect of your business? Do you find yourself feeling frustrated or overwhelmed while working through your to-do list? When things aren’t feeling quite right, that’s a powerful clue that something in your business is out of alignment.
While you may have put time and effort into intentionally building a business that is aligned with your styles and strengths, that ideal fit won’t be permanent. As both you and your business grow and evolve, you’ll find that your needs and goals will change — and that your business will have to shift in order to meet them!
How do you keep your business aligned with both your strengths and your styles, so that you can consistently show up as the best version of you?
In this episode of the Road to Seven, I share the 4 most important aspects of your business that should be kept in alignment, how to recognize when they’re slipping out of alignment, and how to shift them back into place.
Listen now to discover:
- How to know when you’re not serving the right audience — and what to do with an unaligned client!
- How to recognize when your business model isn’t working for you (with a real-life example from my own business)
- How to craft your best-fit approach to social media — no dancing or lip-syncing required!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:28 Core values
03:50 Your clients
08:36 Business model
12:12 Social media
15:41 Is your business working for you?
Links:
The Road to Seven Mastermind
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-road-to-seven-mastermind
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The reason why I was ‘multi-passionate’ and trying all these different things… was an avoidance coping mechanism that was as a result of recognizing that I have ADHD.”
- Cher Jones
Cher Jones is a speaker, a coach, and the founder of social media training company Socially Active. She’s also a brilliant woman who has achieved great success while living with ADHD.
While ADHD has long been regarded as something that primarily affects males, there’s been a growing recognition of the different ways that it affects women and girls — leading to more diagnoses and more understanding.
In this conversation, we talk about the catalyst that helped Cher to niche down and choose her best-fit lane, the challenging intersection of entrepreneurship and neurodivergence, and why it’s never too late to reinvent, refocus, and recharge your business.
You won’t want to miss this fascinating discussion!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How ADHD has shaped Cher’s entrepreneurial journey — and how she navigates its effects
- Why certain aspects of ADHD can be seen as a superpower (and how Cher wields them in her business!)
- The strategic decisions that have allowed her to scale her business with more ease
Cher Jones is the founder of Socially Active, a corporate social media training company that specializes in personal branding for the hybrid workplace. She teaches leaders, consultants, and experts how to develop a professional digital presence that makes people want to work with them, for them and champion them.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:45 Meet Cher Jones
03:13 Cher’s journey
05:54 The A-ha! moment
07:31 ADHD effects
10:03 Finding her diagnosis
11:26 How she does things differently now
17:36 Showing up consistently
21:51 Resistance to niching
24:51 What she knows now
28:46 What’s next
Links:
Cher Jones
Website
YouTube
Instagram: @itscherjones Twitter: @itscherjones TikTok: @itscherjones
Clubhouse: @itscherjones
Personal Branding Quiz
The Referable Speaker
To work with me and make your next power move, visit here!
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Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is. Thank you!
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“You attack every day with a vim and a vigor and determination and a passion… and sometimes, it’s hard to do it alone.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you feel alone in running your business? Have you ever wanted to have a supportive community ready to champion you as you work toward your biggest, boldest dreams? The truth is that having a supportive community can be an absolute GAME-CHANGER when it comes to your business growth.
Having the right people around you can be a tipping point to achieving your goals. On the other hand, having the wrong people around you can keep you playing small, and hold you back from from taking the strategic risks that can lead to real growth.
So, how do you find the right type of community — one that understands exactly what you’re experiencing, will cheer you on as you hit your milestones, and provides the valuable feedback you need to strengthen and uplevel your strategic decision-making? And what exactly will you gain from joining one?
Let’s talk about it!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The importance of sharing the weight of some of the thousands of micro-decisions you make every day
- How to create a fruitful business partnership that will boost your audience and generate leads
- How to leverage a community for valuable data collection
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:49 Right people v. wrong people
02:49 Micro-decisions & clarity
04:32 Learning from others’ experience
05:56 Partnering with other companies
07:27 Research opportunities
08:38 Stepping into your power
12:29 Finding your community
Links:
The 6 to 7 Collective
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“To have your partner that has the exact same goals and vision as you do makes it a little easier.”
- Bernie Law
Angie Tran and Bernie Law are on a mission to eliminate the one billion plastic detergent jugs that are polluting our planet, each and every year! Their revolutionary Kind Laundry detergent strips have been awarded the Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Award from Better Homes & Gardens — and their vision for a more sustainable future is one that I can wholeheartedly get behind!
Angie and Bernie founded Kind Laundry two and a half years ago after a shared epiphany during laundry day at their home. The concept? A detergent that was fully sustainable, from the soap to the packaging. Although they launched in the middle of the pandemic, their e-commerce background helped them to quickly gain some raving fans.
During this episode of the Road to Seven, Angie and Bernie share the key insights and strategies that helped them successfully launch and build their brand. Listen now, and then join us in creating less household waste!
You’ll discover:
- How they sold out their first 3000 units (during a nightmare of pandemic logistical issues!)
- How they kept the trust and loyalty of their customers after running out of product and facing restocking delays
- Key tips for nurturing a healthy and successful professional/personal partnership
About Guests: Angie Tran and Bernard Law are the founders of Kind Laundry, which promotes zero-waste laundry through its award-winning detergent sheets — a better alternative to your traditional detergent. They wake up every morning excited by the impact they can make to our beautiful planet. Their products are sustainable, contain no harmful chemicals, and are much easier to use.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:03 Founding Kind Laundry
05:30 First business
06:33 Finding the first customers
08:23 Partnerships
14:14 Overcoming the ‘sold-out’ hurdle
16:19 Funding
17:42 Cruise vacation & team optimization
23:39 First hires
25:26 What’s next?
Links:
Angie Tran & Bernie Law
http://www.kindlaundry.com
TikTok: @kindlaundry
Instagram: @kindlaundry
What The Heck Is EOS & Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
https://ginowickman.com/books
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“There’s such guilt associated with NOT doing.”
- Shelagh Cummins
In 2022, a study conducted by Mental Health Research Canada found that over one-third of Canadians are experiencing burnout. In our busy, hectic, challenging world, burnout can mean the difference between surviving and thriving… especially for entrepreneurs.
As an entrepreneur, chances are you’re constantly wearing multiple hats and juggling multiple tasks… even if you’ve already begun to build out your team. This level of stress, over time, can have powerful physical and psychological consequences.
If you’re standing at the edge of burnout — or fully struggling with burnout right now — then you won’t want to miss this episode of the Road to Seven. I talk about all things burnout: what it really means, why it happens, and how you can get yourself out of it and back on your path to success!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The problems with working too frequently outside of your zone of genius
- The areas of your life and business where you need to shift in order to avoid hitting the wall
- The four levels of self care — and the most important aspects that we tend to ignore!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:40 Why we experience burnout
02:50 Working outside your zone of genius
04:23 Outside responsibilities
05:18 Physical health self care
08:20 Mental health self care
09:44 Emotional health self care
10:57 Spiritual health self care
11:53 7 gears in your business
13:12 Fulfilment, operations & team
14:44 Finances
16:27 Marketing & sales
17:58 Support container
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you’re not willing to let go, you’re not ready to scale. It’s as simple as that.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you currently on the journey to evolve from a solopreneur into the CEO of a sustainable and profitable business — or embarking on this journey in the near future? If you’re content with continuing to run a microbusiness as a solopreneur, that’s perfectly all right. For many people, solopreneurship fits their needs and the needs of their family. If evolving into a CEO is something that you want, then I fully support you in this journey… and would love to help you smooth the path to your biggest and boldest goals.
In this episode, I reveal what it’s like behind the scenes of the transformational journey to CEO, from identifying your juicy business goals to letting go of the ownership of key responsibilities. While this journey requires grit and determination, the rewards can be incredible.
Press play to discover the three signs that will let you know that it’s time to make the shift, and why you need to show yourself patience and grace along the way.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll learn:
- The questions that you should be asking yourself in order to develop a clearer understanding of where you are right now… and where you want to go!
- The powerful decision that you need to make in order to make running your business worthwhile
- Why it’s crucial to find a coach or a mentor that can give you the guidance that you need
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:51 It starts with clarity
04:37 Microbusinesses can be perfect
05:07 Signs it’s time to shift
07:14 2 strategic questions
08:49 Making your business worthwhile
10:52 Avoiding strict timelines
12:37 Guidance & coaching
15:44 What are you willing to let go?
18:54 Tweaking your systems & mindset
21:46 Conclusion
Links:
Scale
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/scale
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
The Road Blue Print
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Your time and energy is finite, and we need to protect it with everything that we’ve got.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you experiencing the “cash conundrum”? The cash conundrum is what I call it when you know that you need to make a strategic hire in order to take your business to the next level… but you just don’t have oodles of money available to help you take that step.
This is a common issue that affects many business owners at one point or another. So, how do you get over that hurdle and begin building out your perfect team?
In this episode, I dive into the big decisions that you need to be ready to make when you reach the fateful intersection between solopreneur and CEO, why a virtual assistant may not be the best choice for your first hire, and why you need to price your offers as a company rather than as an entrepreneur.
Listen now and you’ll discover:
- The 3 things that you will need in order to grow your business — and the mindset shift that will help you prioritize!
- The infrastructure issue that may be holding you back from seeing the revenue and profit that you deserve
- How to hire someone who will help you earn more revenue, in addition to helping to free up your time
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:43 3 things you need
02:38 Cricut story
05:12 Between solopreneur & CEO
06:42 Which role should you hire first?
07:28 Why you are probably underpricing
10:20 How to make the shift
12:59 Hiring for additional revenue
14:28 Hiring options & example
16:04 Scale program
Links:
Scale
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/scale
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“How much do we need to do in order to feel like we are enough? And why do so many of us feel like we’re not enough?”
-Rachel Simmons
Do you struggle with feeling that you’re never enough? Do you worry that your achievements never quite meet the expectations of those around you?
My guest Rachel Simmons is an expert when it comes to the pressures that women put on ourselves. She is the author of Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, which teaches girls self-compassion as an alternative to self-criticism, how to navigate toxic elements of social media, and how to manage overthinking—important skills that hold as much value for adults as they do for young women!
In this conversation, we explore the culture of effortless perfectionism that so many of us live in, the expectations that we feel compelled to live up to, and how to break free.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The invisible barriers that contribute to the gender gap in senior leadership roles — and why women often misunderstand them
- Why girls today are working a ‘second shift’ on social media and how this impacts them in other areas
- Why politicizing our realities can help to empower ourselves and the young women around us
About Guest: Rachel Simmons is a New York Times bestselling author. As a leadership development expert and coach, Rachel helps people build their resilience, amplify their voices, and own their own courage. She serves on the faculty of the Google School for Leaders, is an associate with Cultivating Leadership, and co-founded the national nonprofit Girls Leadership.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:05 Meet Rachel Simmons
05:16 Political consciousness & gender gap
08:01 Girls, anxiety & social media
09:31 “Culture of effortless perfectionism”
12:47 Sharing our realities
16:03 Tips for female executives
19:39 Self worth
24:28 Rachel’s business story
27:34 HBR story
29:06 What she knows now & what’s next
Links:
Rachel Simmons
Rachel's Book
Facebook
IG: @racheljsimmons
Celeste Barber
IG: @celestebarber
The Culture Code
To work with me and make your next power move, visit here!
Stay Connected
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I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business! Click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.”
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“Women use their money for good. We play at the intersection of philanthropy and profit.”
-Shelagh Cummins
What would happen if female-owned businesses were financed at the same rate as those owned by men? While women make up the majority of all entrepreneurs, we are only granted 16% of business loans, accessing a total of just 4% of all lending capital. This despite the fact that investing in women entrepreneurs has been shown to have amazing benefits for not only their communities, but also for the investors that chose to believe in them!
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity. This is a mission that I have been working toward in my own business through the creation of the Road to Seven Capital Access Program, which is rewriting the rules when it comes to capital access by providing microloans to women business owners.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, this episode explores the incredible global impact that is created when we invest in women entrepreneurs!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How the Capital Access Program has revamped the traditional loan application and approval process
- What it means to run a microbusiness — and why these businesses are important!
- What women do with the money they earn and how they support their hidden microcosm
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:58 About the Road to Seven
03:00 Loan processes
04:06 Microbusinesses
05:38 Mentor call story
08:08 The bootstrapping trap
09:45 Hidden microcosm
12:32 Social good
15:12 Biases about women entrepreneurs
18:11 Conclusion
Links:
International Women’s Day
https://www.internationalwomensday.com
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
Scale
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/scale
My TEDx Talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/shelagh_cummins_the_hidden_microcosm_of_women_entrepreneurs
Podcast support
https://theultimatecreative.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Sit with your bookkeeper or accountant, and look at what’s feasible for you to borrow, vs. where that investment is going to go.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Is your business loan-ready? Growing and scaling successfully requires that you make key investments into your business. Seeking a business loan can feel intimidating — but you may find that the process feels a lot more comfortable when you take some time to prepare!
For example, creating a relationship with your potential lender or lending institution beforehand will not only help you feel more confident in asking, but will help the lender feel more comfortable with the idea of giving you a loan.
In this episode, you will learn how to prepare your business for your loan application, from keeping your books in order to ensuring that your credit scores are kept separate. If getting a business loan is on your To Do List for this year, then grab a pen and a notebook, and press play!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What you should be doing in your business during the months leading up to your loan application
- How to create a basic business plan
- Online tools that you can use to keep your financials organized and generate necessary reports
Highlights:
00:53 Intro
02:02 Have your financials in order
04:59 Look at what you’ve been given
05:49 Know your credit score
07:00 Taxes & loans
08:23 Have a business plan
09:08 Personal collateral
11:07 What you can afford to borrow
13:27 Different types of loans
14:34 Interest rates
19:45 Conclusion
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/investors
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Everything that I can do to build rapport is beneficial for me, so we don’t have a miscommunication.”
- Emily Chung
When you have a limited amount of time with a customer, you must be able to share information efficiently. My guest for this episode has a secret weapon that helps her do exactly that — and she’s happy to share!
Emily Chung is a licenced Automotive Service Technician and the owner of AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop that offers a less intimidating auto repair experience, with non-judgmental and empowering service from reputable mechanics.
(You may remember Emily from a past episode, where we talked about her experiences in the male-dominated automotive industry and the power of building a values-driven business!).
In this episode, we dive into the amazing tool that Emily uses within her business to help her to communicate with her customers more effectively!
You’ll discover:
- The benefits of building rapport — and the personality profile that helps build it quickly
- How the AutoNiche is able to offer a consistent communication style adapted to each customer
- How to write copy that appeals to all members of your audience
About Guest: Emily Chung owns and operates AutoNiche, an auto repair shop in Markham. She is a licensed Automotive Service Technician and teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College while completing her Executive MBA. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario and is a proud mom of two teen boys.
Highlights:
00:53 Intro
01:42 Meet Emily Chung
04:08 Why build rapport?
07:01 DISC profile
10:58 How it works
15:41 Opposite types
16:25 Communicating through copy
17:49 Closing the deal
20:24 Why DISC?
22:24 Authenticity
24:45 Communicating with kids
26:18 High-stakes conversations
Links:
Emily Chung
https://autoniche.ca
https://www.facebook.com/AutoNiche
Twitter: @autonicheinc
Instagram: @autonicheinc
Road to Seven Podcast - Niching Down In The Auto Industry with Emily Chung
Personality Types Quadrant Sheet HERE
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
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Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
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“Your business is going to be 10x stronger when you surround yourself with amazing people.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Your customers. Your team members. Your suppliers. Your audience. Your network. As you grow and scale your business, you will always be surrounded by people whom you rely on and people who rely on you. Learning how to love on the people in your business and make them feel appreciated is an important and often underlooked part of becoming a successful business owner. People are one of the most valuable assets of your business and it’s important to know how to treat them well!
This week’s episode of the Road to Seven is all about loving on your team members, loving on your community, and loving on the main ticket to your success — YOU!
Tune in to learn how to hire team members based on what your company truly needs (rather than what you think you can afford), how to build an emotional connection with the people who are buying from you, and why you need to be patient when taking empowered action toward your bigger vision!
You’ll discover:
- Why it is SO important that you create the time and space to celebrate your own success!
- The top ways that you may be making your team feel unloved — and how to help them feel engaged, appreciated, and enthusiastic!
- The problem with choosing to tolerate anything less than you deserve when it comes to revenue, flexibility, time freedom, and following your passion
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:37 Loving on you
03:57 The problem with ‘tolerating’
05:16 My core gifts story
07:34 Stepping into empowered action
08:37 Hiring based on strategy
09:55 Loving on your team members
12:02 Loving on your community
14:18 Word-of-mouth marketing
15:38 Conclusion
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“For the majority of entrepreneurs, we aren’t running someone else’s playbook — we’re writing the playbook.”
- Miranda Lievers
Miranda Lievers spends her time exploring the exciting possibilities relating to small business and technology. She is a co-founder & COO of Thinkific, an innovative all-in-one software platform that helps thought leaders create, market, and sell online courses and memberships with ease.
In 2021, she and her team took Thinkific public, furthering the company's mission to make it simple for entrepreneurs and established businesses of any size to scale and generate revenue by teaching what they know.
In this episode, Miranda shares the challenges that she faced and the insights that she discovered while building a successful tech business, including how Thinkific has changed since going public, how the business seeks valuable feedback from their customer base, and how they are preparing for the recession.
You won’t want to miss it!
Listen now to discover:
- How Miranda began gaining real traction for Thinkific within a loud marketplace
- Why the founders chose the path to IPO and how they funded their growth
- What it means to be in the ‘Messy Middle’ of your business growth — and the benefit of embracing your doubt!
About Guest: Miranda Lievers is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur devoted to the intersection of small business and technology. As co-founder & COO of Thinkific, she's helped over 50,000 business owners grow their businesses with online courses and learning products while educating tens of millions of students around the globe. When not growing Thinkific, she's an active writer, mentor for women in business, and mom.
Highlights:
00:53 Intro
01:45 Meet Miranda Lievers
05:21 Gaining traction in the marketplace
07:17 Listening to customers
10:58 Making changes based on feedback
15:54 Going to IPO
20:19 After the IPO
22:13 The Messy Middle
25:11 Dealing with tough times
28:53 What she knows now
30:08 Recession & what’s next
Links:
Miranda Lievers
https://mirandalievers.com
https://www.thinkific.com
Instagram: @mirandalievers
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“If we can see the impact and believe in women entrepreneurs… then I think we’re going to rewrite history in a way that’s very powerful.”
- Shelagh Cummins
As you embark on your growth journey and work toward your biggest and boldest goals, being able to access the capital you need in order to invest in your business is crucial! From making a key hire to purchasing machinery to upleveling your advertising, your continued growth requires strategic investment — and getting that cash into your your hands can often feel almost impossible.
While women make up 47% of all entrepreneurs, we only receive 16% of all business loans. Why is it still so challenging for women business owners to access capital? Women often own smaller businesses, which can face insurmountable hurdles when seeking loans from banks. When you go in to meet with a Loans Officer, there is a good chance that they are not looking at your business through a lens that allows them to truly see the value, the impact, and the profit that is possible.
In this episode, I explore the pros and cons and do’s and don’ts of a range of funding options, including banks, credit cards, retirement savings, family, and microlending.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The bias that exists against smaller businesses, including micro-businesses, and how it can affect you
- My personal story of seeking a business loan from two different banks — and what you may expect
- The Road to Seven Capital Access Program and what you need to know before applying!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:13 The current capital situation
04:54 Bias against micro-businesses
06:22 Seeking bank loans
09:19 Leveraging savings & retirement plans
10:06 Friends & family
10:55 Credit cards
13:06 Microlending & Capital Access Program
17:16 Mentor program
19:46 Women’s profits
23:10 Join the Lives!
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/investors
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
“You’ve got to collect data. You’re not going to collect data in your head. You will only collect data by actually DOING.”
- Salima Valji
Do you sometimes feel that you don’t really have a voice, or that you are unheard? Then you need to meet Salima Valji! Salima is a coach, thought leader, speaker, and advocate for women of colour in the workplace. As the founder and CEO of Unleash Forward, she helps her clients claim their executive presence and speak confidently at the leadership table.
Salima has had an absolutely inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and I am so thrilled to share it in this episode!
During this conversation, we explore how to stop negative emotions like shame or fear from holding you back, how to let your niche find you (rather than the other way around), and why women tend to mute their own voices in so many situations.
You won’t want to miss it!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The path that Salima took to become a highly successful executive coach
- How she reclaimed her presence, leadership, and role after a career setback
- How she helps other women find their voices at the leadership table
About Guest: Salima Valji is the CEO and founder of Unleash Forward Inc., a purpose-driven leadership acceleration company that focuses on elevating more women and underrepresented leaders into leadership roles and the boardroom. She is an advocate for women of colour in the workplace and a sought-after speaker, coach, and thought-leader, frequently speaking on topics of advancing women of colour, leadership, and diversity.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:39 Meet Salima Valji
05:36 Trigger point, shame & reinvention
09:32 Uniqueness as strength
12:29 Finding your voice
13:20 Why women mute themselves
15:27 Business growth
17:44 Doing the inner work
20:43 Let your niche find you
27:14 What she knows now
28:16 What’s next
30:56 360 story
Links:
Salima Valji
https://unleashforward.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/salimavalji
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you are selling and you are desperate for a client, your client can smell it.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Before you spend a ton of money hiring another coach, subscribing to somebody else’s system, or implementing a whole new set of tactics in order to increase your sales, you need to listen to this episode!
I dive into the real reasons why your ideal customers may not be buying your offer at the rate that you would like — and those reasons may not be what you expect.
Listen now to learn how and why your own actions may be inadvertently keeping your sales low and preventing you from building strong relationships with your dream clients.
This episode will encourage you to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a real and unfiltered look at the way that you do business, so grab your pen and notebook and get ready for some honest food for thought.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why selling from a position of desperation can wind up stacking your customer base with people who are the wrong fit
- The difference between making a sale for today and building an ongoing relationship
- A real-life case study of exactly how to LOSE a sale — and what could be done differently
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:39 Gym story
05:59 Selling while desperate v. abundant
07:01 Making a sale for today
08:15 Selling in integrity
09:26 Don’t apologize for your prices
11:01 Worth & mindset
12:03 Recap
Links:
The Road to Seven #152 - How Will You Achieve Your 2023 Goals? My Tips May Surprise You!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Often, in the arts, you’re actually seen as a sell-out if you’re successful financially or commercially.”
-Naomi Clement
The idea of the “starving artist” is romanticized in our culture. This image of the artist who sacrifices material success and lives on passion and creativity alone is a popular one, but you don’t need to embrace the starving artist story in order to be a successful artist!
My guest, Naomi Clement, is an incredibly talented, sought-after, and bad-ass potter and creative entrepreneur who helps artists embrace their power as creators, so they can step into the career of their dreams.
While she had always been drawn to the arts, Naomi resisted becoming a professional artist for a long time, because the starving artist myth led her to believe that she would have to be poor. She worked in sales and marketing until she realized that her 9-to-5 office job was making her miserable and that pottery was her true passion.
Now, Naomi is on a mission to challenge the way that society (and artists) value the arts — and to forever debunk the myth of the starving, depressed artist!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The steps Naomi had to move through before embracing her calling as a professonal artist
- How she shifted from making pottery to selling pottery, and built up her customer base and Instagram community
- How she is rewriting the script for the artists she works with
Naomi Clement is a Canadian artist and educator who explores ideas of home and belonging through the powerful lens of functional ceramics. Naomi believes that handmade pottery enriches our lives — one moment and one mug of coffee at a time!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:49 Meet Naomi Clement
05:43 Shifting to pottery & entrepreneurship
07:00 From making to selling
10:53 Building an Instagram community
12:44 Becoming a teacher
14:42 Starving artist myth
17:35 Pricing & value
24:13 Finding your voice
25:32 Challenges
29:01 What she knows now
34:12 What’s next
Links:
Naomi Clement
https://naomiclement.com
https://www.facebook.com/NaomiClementCeramics
Instagram: @naomikclement
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When we set a goal, it’s actually a subconscious way of choosing how we want to feel.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Dreaming about your desired results is one thing. Actually following through and making them happen is another. That’s why so many people stumble or lose momentum when it comes to turning their wishes into reality — even for something as simple as a new year’s resolution! If you have some big, bold, juicy goals for your business that you’re determined to achieve this year, then this is an episode for you!
There is one often overlooked element to goal-setting that can make it much easier to remain in empowered action and on track to achieving your goals: emotion. The goals that we set are subconsciously associated with a feeling that we want to have. We set revenue goals because we want to feel successful or secure. We set fitness goals because we want to feel attractive or strong. We set financial goals because we want to feel abundant or safe.
Our desired results have an emotional component to them, and it’s important to keep that in mind when setting your goals — because this emotional side to goal-setting is the secret key to actually achieving what it is that you want!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why so many women tend to think and play small, rather than work toward the goals they TRULY want to achieve
- Why the way that we feel directly influences the results that we see — and how to choose to feel differently
- The ‘Be, Do, Have’ approach — and how to uplevel your mindset in order to experience greater success!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:01 Emotional side of goal-setting
04:10 Challenging how we feel
05:21 Be, Do, Have
08:33 Coaching 101
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“You’ve got to be standing behind your product. You cannot cut corners.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you selling for today? Or are you selling for tomorrow? When we sell for today, we are focused on short-term goals and gratification — and we aren’t thinking about the long-term ramifications and impact for our businesses.
Selling for today can take a few different forms. You could skimp out on quality in order to save some money. You could refuse a reasonable request for a refund or replacement. You could base your pricing on vanity metrics, rather than on real value. The result? You may get (and keep) the profit for a handful of sales… but you’ll miss out on the positive word-of-mouth and repeat business that would help you continue to build your revenue, client base, and reputation.
If you want a long-lasting business that will scale with more ease and serve you for years to come, then you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The difference between selling for today and selling for tomorrow — and why it’s so important
- How to sell with integrity and with confidence
- Real-life examples of what can happen when you’re too dazzled by the short-term gains to think about the long-term impact
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:11 Hockey tournament refund example
07:04 Ornament misrepresentation example
09:53 Vanity metrics
10:56 White Mercedes example
13:10 Commission breath
14:54 Sales tactics
16:31 Conclusion
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“I was a doer of many things, and I loved doing all of them — and at the same time, my messaging was a little bit jumbled.”
- Nadine Moffat
As an action-focused entrepreneur, you may not often create the space and the quiet you need to listen to your inner voice… but putting in that effort can lead to incredible benefits!
My guest Nadine Moffat has been referred to as, and resonates with, the words mystic, lightworker, channel, intuit, healer, guide, Nordic Witch, and empath. She began her awakening journey 25 years ago and has learned the value of embracing stillness and listening to her inner wisdom. As an Intuitive Coach and Energy Healer, she guides others to move into a deeper awareness and connection within themselves.
In this episode, Nadine and I explore the power of tapping into your deeper wisdom and clearing static from your inner antenna. Listen now to learn about her inspiring journey, how she put her own unique spin on coaching, and how the pandemic pushed her right out of her comfort zone (and why she is so grateful that it did!).
You’ll discover:
- How she narrowed down her niche and found clarity and alignment
- The difference between masculine and feminine energies — and how we should use both
- What reiki is and how it can help you access breakthroughs
About Guest: Nadine Moffat works internationally as an Intuitive Coach and Energy Healer, grounded in the desire to guide others inward, to connect with their best and highest selves. She continues along her own path of healing, guided in mentorship, working to embody her learnings. Overjoyed to share it all with her teen twins and a fur baby named Charlie, she spends her downtime walking by the water and connecting with nature.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
05:00 Meet Nadine Moffat
08:00 Pandemic shift & finding clarity
11:30 Inner voice, energies & surrender
17:09 Creating space for emotions
18:49 Gender roles
19:55 Reiki experience
25:30 Trusting the messages
28:17 What she knows now
32:10 What’s next
Links:
Nadine Moffat
https://becomingstill.ca
https://www.facebook.com/becomingstill
https://www.linkedin.com/in/becomingstill
Instagram: @becoming_still
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Food is such a personal and beautiful thing. The easier you can make a choice, the better.” -Jessica Kwong
Recognizing a gap in the market is one thing. Coming up with a solution is another. But taking your brilliant idea and moving it along the path from “idea” to “reality” is a step that few people actually take.
My guest Jessica Kwong not only took that journey, but she is also willing to draw a map! Jessica is the founder and CEO of Jack & Friends, a company that sells plant-based jerky with an emphasis on quality and inclusivity. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica to talk about how she took her amazing idea from the test kitchen to the store shelf.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The biggest challenge that she faced while commercializing her prototype
- Her incredible “all-inclusive” philosophy for her Jack & Friends products and what inspired it
- How she found her first buyers — and how she is using analytics to shape her rebrand!
About Guest: Jessica Kwong is the founder and CEO of Jack & Friends, a company creating plant-based jerky from jackfruit and pea protein. Jack & Friends believe in inclusivity — especially when it comes to food. They are committed to crafting products you can feel good about eating, regardless of your lifestyle or diet, so you can enjoy food without compromising on quality. Jessica used her technical background, which includes a B.S. in Food Science from Cornell University, and corporate experience to launch and lead her successful startup.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:41 Meet Jessica Kwong & jackfruit
06:34 Jessica’s background
07:57 “All-inclusive food”
09:25 Biggest advantages & challenges
11:51 Grit & focus
13:21 Hiring
14:13 Getting onto the shelf
16:44 Getting & applying feedback
19:20 Analytics & brand refresh
20:45 What she knows now
22:02 Raising capital
23:41 What’s next
Links:
Jessica Kwong
https://www.jackandfriendsjerky.com
https://www.facebook.com/jackandfriendsjerky
Instagram: @jackandfriendsjerky
TikTok: @jackandfriendsjerky
RevolutionHER Awards
To work with me and make your next power move, visit here.
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“By believing that you can make the perceived impossible possible, you’re opening up a whole new opportunity realm.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you looking for a little bit of insight into how to make your 2023 the best it can be (without having to choose a “word for the year” or journal about the past 12 months)? If so, then this episode is for you — I’m sharing three vital lessons that will help you find more success with less struggle.
Here’s a sneak peek: when you take your business results as a personal failure, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration — and, eventually, you’ll probably wind up shutting down your business! This year, I want you to take a step back and disconnect your sense of self-value from your business outcomes. Sure, your marketing may need a little tweaking, but that doesn’t reflect who you are as a person.
Want to hear more? Listen now to learn why you need to show yourself more grace during launches, why some popular ideas around goal-setting may not hit the mark, and what fear can do for us.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to stop fighting so hard to get the results that you want in your business — and what to do instead
- How you may be inadvertently limiting your accomplishments through the process of setting your goals — and how to welcome a wealth of possibilities
- Why you need to stop fearing fear (and how it can teach us the lesson of courage)
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:28 Stop fighting with your business
03:38 “Success” & self-worth
08:06 Setting attainable goals
10:06 Capital Access Program example
12:08 What’s your goal?
13:40 Nothing wrong with fear
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Let’s just try it and see if it works — and if people are into it, then we’ll keep doing more of THAT.”
- Chris Graham
Throughout his career, Chris Graham worked at one the world’s top banking law firms and one of Canada’s top Indigenous rights law firms — before leaving the legal profession to launch his own business as a speaking coach. Since then, he has taught over 8,000 people how to create better connections with their teams and clients through his TellPeople brand. As a matter of fact, he helped me get onto the TEDx stage!
Tune in to hear about how Chris handles the challenges and lows of entrepreneurship, the biggest question he asks potential clients during discovery calls, and why he is the “most retired” person I’ve had on the podcast!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why the most important thing you can do on stage is to detach from the outcome of your performace
- The importance of knowing your lane and your most powerful opportunities for creating impact
- Why you need to learn how to say No as you become more successful
About Guest: Chris Graham teaches lawyers and other professionals how to connect with their clients and teams. Since 2016, he’s trained over 8,000 people at North America’s leading law firms, large and small companies, government agencies, and charities. In 2022, he was Head of Speaker Coaching at TEDxToronto and the Storyteller-in-Residence at Manifest Climate, a global technology firm.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:11 Meet Chris Graham
05:44 “Consolidating the markup”
07:25 Getting his first client
10:51 Being persistent & discovering his value
12:33 Selling in integrity
16:40 Learning how to say no
17:38 Chris’s workshops & process
20:13 Handling challenges
21:51 Detaching from outcomes
25:01 Onboarding question
25:47 Key turning points
30:37 What he knows now
34:40 What’s next
Links:
Chris Graham
https://www.tellpeople.ca
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chris-graham-a94b97b7
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you figure out how you want to feel and begin to reverse-engineer that, that’s where the magic happens.”
-Heather Chauvin
You will not want to miss today’s powerful interview! My guest Heather Chauvin started her career as a social worker, but pivoted sharply in 2013 when she received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and experienced a significant mindset shift.
Now, Heather is a celebrated leadership coach who helps women thrive in all areas in their lives, on their own terms, hosts the Emotionally Uncomfortable podcast, where she helps her listeners conquer their fear, create the lives they want, and become the women they were born to be, and is the author of Dying To Be A Good Mother: How I Dropped the Guilt and Took Control of My Life & Parenting.
In this episode, she shares some truly valuable lessons regarding embracing discomfort, cultivating vulnerability, and better understanding our emotional selves.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How reconnecting with the feminine nature of ‘being,’ rather than ‘doing,’ will help you be more present for the people in your life
- Why it can feel so hard to take action — and what we are ACTUALLY resisting
- What can happen when you shift your focus from the end result to the journey
Heather Chauvin is a leadership coach who helps successful women courageously and authentically live, work, and parent on their own terms. She has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Real Simple Magazine, Mind Body Green, Google, and more.
Highlights:
02:58 Meet Heather Chauvin
05:31 Leaving social work & receiving diagnosis
08:27 Doing v. being
15:32 Perfectionism as a coping strategy
19:11 Resistance to feeling
23:10 It’s okay to feel uncomfortable
27:45 Dying To Be A Good Mother
30:29 Moving to the next level
36:01 What she knows now
36:54 What’s next
Links:
Heather Chauvin
https://heatherchauvin.com
https://heatherchauvin.com/book-order
https://www.facebook.com/heatherchauvincoaching
Instagram: @heatherchauvin_
The Energy Finder Quiz
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
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Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“What’s really important to us is that whatever leaves our hands with our name on it is top of the line.”
-Trisha Pitura
Get ready to be inspired! In this episode of the Road to Seven, I sit down with Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard, the founders of the online boutique and manufacturing company MINI TIPI. Through the MINI TIPI brand, Trisha and Mélanie design, make, and sell products featuring gorgeous, authentic Indigenous designs — and use their profits and platform to support artists and their community.
In this thoughtful conversation, we explore the importance of story to the pieces sold through their brand, the impact that they hope to create for their families, team, and their wider community, and the biggest challenges they’ve faced along the way.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Trisha’s hobby of sewing baby wash cloths evolved into a successful clothing and accessories brand
- The process of turning a design idea into a finished product — and how they work with their artists
- How they have successfully maintained their friendship while growing their business partnership
About Guests: MINI TIPI was founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard. It is a women-owned manufacturing company that designs, creates, and sells beautiful products that are made for everyone. They use authentic indigenous designs to celebrate and reclaim Canadian art and culture. Their exclusive designs are woven on beautiful, high-quality, eco-friendly fabric in Italy. They design, cut, and sew all their products in Gatineau, Quebec, with their amazing team.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:38 Meet Trisha Pitura & Mélanie Bernard
04:49 MINI TIPI origin
08:03 MINI TIPI evolution
10:08 Exclusivity & symbolism
13:01 From design to fabric
13:51 Funding
16:14 Biggest challenges
21:56 Mixing business & friendship
25:29 Hiring
28:55 Impact
32:02 What they know now
34:01 What’s next
Links:
MINI TIPI
www.minitipi.ca
www.linkedin.com/company/mini-tipi
www.facebook.com/minitipi
Tiktok: @minitipi.ca
Instagram: @mini.tipi
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below!
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“Women access only 4% of the lending capital that is available.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you ever tried to access a loan, a line of credit, or a credit card for your company… and been turned down? Even if you were already successful? For women entrepreneurs (myself included), this is an all-too-common experience.
It’s a sad reality that many smart, ambitious, and capable female entrepreneurs struggle to access the funding they need to grow and scale their businesses. Even as women continue to found a significant number of micro- and small businesses, women entrepreneurs remain the most overlooked and undervalued sector of the economy by banks and investors.
At the Road to Seven Capital Inc., we are working hard to rewrite the rules of business financing for women through our Capital Access Program, which will provide women entrepreneurs with access to game-changing micro-loans ranging from $5k to $50k!
This episode dives into the dysfunctional loan application and approval process that many women struggle with as they seek funding from conventional sources — and how we are working to change things.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why and how the current loan application and approval process is broken — and what that means for women entrepreneurs
- A breakdown of how our Capital Access Program works and why it offers so much more than funding
- Why women entrepreneurs are an incredible investment
Highlights:
01:02 Intro
02:07 Why micro-loans?
03:39 Conventional sources of capital
05:43 Building a business on credit cards
07:15 Line of credit, payday loans & revenue
08:55 Statistics
10:15 Loan application & approval process
11:52 Capital Access Program
14:29 Why invest in women?
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The excitement of starting a business can sometimes blind us from truly understanding the challenges that we may have ahead.”
- Andreea Vanacker
Dr. Andreea Vanacker is the founder and CEO of SPARKX5, a mental well-being technology company that helps organizations elevate their human potential and create cultures of curiosity and growth. Her work focuses on finding synergies between neuroscience, positive psychology, leadership, human resilience, and purpose. While SPARKX5 was founded just a couple of years ago, Andreea has since expanded it into an impressive North American empire!
In this conversation, Andreea shares her biggest challenges, most powerful mindset shifts, and the inspiration behind her first book and program, Successonality.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What led Andreea to become a serial entrepreneur — and how she landed her first client
- The foundational pieces that Andreea put in place BEFORE leaving her corporate position in order to better enjoy her entrepreneurial journey
- How Andreea’s psychological and neuroscience background helped her to prepare for her TED Talk
About Guest: Dr. Andreea D. Vanacker is an author of three books, an international speaker, and has been featured in over 100 Forbes and Fast Company articles on topics that inspire leaders to create human-centric organizations and individuals to thrive. She is the founder and CEO of SPARKX5 and a partner in the 5th Element, an impact consultancy firm. Andreea holds a Ph.D. in Economics, with degrees in Business and Finance, and speaks four languages.
Highlights:
01:17 Intro
02:52 Meet Dr. Andreea Vanacker
04:33 Getting her first client
07:14 Successonality
10:15 Leaving the corporate world
12:26 Start-up mode
14:05 Sales & marketing
16:35 Pricing
18:13 Kindness & gratitude
22:17 Health crisis & funding
27:42 What she knows now
29:22 What’s next
Links:
Andreea Vanacker
https://www.sparkx5.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreeadutescu
https://www.successonality.com
How to Find Joy in Adversity
https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_andreea_vanacker_how_to_find_joy_in_adversity
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business! Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below.
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“Just because there is economic turmoil all around us, it doesn’t mean we have to be affected.”
- Shelagh Cummins
If you’ve become worried about and preoccupied with what COULD happen during the recession, then this episode will help you refocus on your next power moves and set yourself up for your best-case scenario!
Cards on the table: there WILL be an economic downturn. That is a fact. In fact, the recession has already begun — you may have already noticed an effect on your own finances or on the finances of those close to you. But focusing on the things that you can’t control takes your attention away from those you CAN.
Tune in to learn the moves that you can make right now to recession-proof your business, how lessons learned during the pandemic will help you stay on track during the downturn, and why the looming recession holds a secret silver lining for entrepreneurs!
Remember — if you survived the pandemic, then you’re already strong enough to get through the recession!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why being a small business owner at this moment is actually advantageous
- Two questions that can help drive every decision you make during a time of crisis
- When you should decline offers or upgrades when it comes to new loans or lines of credit — and when you should accept
Highlights:
01:03 Intro
02:20 What is a recession?
03:30 Our advantages
04:41 Pandemic lessons
06:22 Cash flow & stockpiling
08:13 Releasing dead weight
09:49 Monitoring your accounts
11:17 Taking on new debt
14:04 Why me?
16:02 Why now?
18:26 Recap
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“If I have the right mindset, I can deal with anything… part of my growth has been to learn how I can switch from one mindset to the other quickly.”
- Emily Chung
Emily Chung has always been driven to succeed, even if her road to success has had the occasional speed-bump! Emily is a licenced Automotive Service Technician and the owner of AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop. Emily founded AutoNiche to offer her clients a friendlier and less intimidating auto repair experience, providing non-judgmental and empowering client service from reputable mechanics.
Dive into this fascinating conversation to discover Emily’s experiences as a woman in the automotive industry, the biggest lessons that she has learned along the way, and the benefit of throwing yourself a “structured pity party” (it really works)!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll learn:
- What led Emily down the road to owning an auto repair shop after earning a Psychology in Business degree and starting a career as a psychometrist
- How she has grown a business that is strongly and unapologetically shaped by her values
- Powerful reframes and mindset shifts that you can start implementing right now!
About Guest: Emily Chung owns and operates AutoNiche, an auto repair shop in Markham. She is a licensed Automotive Service Technician and teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College, while currently completing her Executive MBA. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario, has appeared on various media including Breakfast Television and Cityline, and is a proud mom of two teen boys.
Highlights:
01:02 Intro
02:59 Meet Emily Chung
06:11 Path to entrepreneurship
07:31 Gender & automotive industry
12:23 Leading with values & intention
17:47 Mindset & adaptability
21:17 Opportunities & pity parties
24:30 Making decisions
27:56 Skills are key
29:39 Perceptions
31:31 What she knows now
33:36 What’s next
Links:
Emily Chung
https://autoniche.ca
https://www.facebook.com/AutoNiche
Twitter: @autonicheinc
Instagram: @autonicheinc
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” . I'd also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Your business is not about you.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you been hiding away when you should have been showing up, speaking out, and selling your offers? If you’ve been hoping that your offers will sell themselves, then you definitely want to listen to this episode!
It’s no secret that many entrepreneurs consider sales to be their least favourite part of running their business — and often their weakest skill. “Selling” can conjure up the image of a sleazy, pushy salesman, but letting others know about the incredible transformation that your offer can provide is actually a service.
Think about it: if you see someone struggling and you know that your offer could help them thrive, then aren't you doing them a disservice by not sharing it?
You should be selling your program wherever you are, whenever you can, whether you’re on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, email, LinkedIn, or bumping elbows at a conference or networking event. Press play to discover a powerful way to reframe the act of selling — and what you must understand about the word “no”!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll learn:
- Why building your marketing around avoiding a “no” prevents you from truly serving your audience
- Why it can actually be a GOOD thing to lose newsletter subscribers through selling to your list
- A great rule-of-thumb when it comes to including your products in your content
Highlights:
01:02 Intro
03:23 Your business is bigger than YOU
04:54 Selling to your mailing list
06:09 Content creation
07:23 Spread the word everywhere
09:16 Speaker example
11:34 My program example
12:39 Recap
15:43 Feelings aren’t permanent
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“We were committed to making a great living doing what we love, as women and as proud moms… don’t underestimate us. We’re killers, even from our kitchens!”
- Erica Ehm
Ever wondered what’s it like to live nine lives? Erica Ehm is an entrepreneur, interviewer, author, playwright, awarding-winning songwriter, sought-after speaker… and an absolute trailblazer when it comes to content marketing and social media. If you’re musically-minded, you may know Erica as one of the original MuchMusic VJs and host of the Reinvention of the VJ podcast.
As the CIO of digital marketing agency Ehm & Co, she currently helps connect brands with moms, but knowing Erica, this is far from the final chapter of her entrepreneurial story!
Before Erica found success in each of the areas she’s ventured into, she first had to make her mistakes, both big and small, and learn valuable lessons in turn. In this episode, we explore the challenges that she faced along the way and how she has been able to successfully reinvent herself, time after time.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How a request from a would-be advertiser led Erica to launch an entirely new venture
- The worst business decision Erica has EVER made — and how she recovered
- When she knew that it was time to sell her business
About Guest: Erica Ehm is Chief Innovation Officer of Ehm & Co, an award-winning digital marketing agency that helps brands connect with moms, as well as Publisher of YMC.ca, a platform created for moms by moms. Her collaboration with health researchers earned her a Governor General’s Innovation Award nomination.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:35 Meet Erica Ehm
03:04 Yummy Mummy Club
07:38 Ehm & Co
08:29 Building a team & vision
12:09 Business finances & big mistake
18:41 Red flags & credentials
21:18 Feminine leadership
26:20 Business loan
28:24 Time to sell
32:28 What she knows now
34:16 What’s next
Links:
Erica Ehm
www.linkedin.com/in/ericaehm
https://www.facebook.com/EricaEhmIsHere
Twitter: @EricaEhm
Instagram: @EricaEhm
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“You have to have a price that honours the cost and the value of what it is that you’re bringing.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you been asked for a discount or been told that your fees are “too high” lately? As the pandemic drags on and our economy becomes more unstable, you may have found that people are becoming more comfortable trying to negotiate lower pricing for your offers — even if your pricing has remained consistent throughout.
Perhaps you’ve even started to wonder whether your prices ARE too high… but I’m here to tell you to stay firm. Lowering your prices simply out of guilt is the kiss of death for your business, because you cannot light yourself on fire in order to keep someone else warm. Remember: you chose your pricing for a reason. It needs to not only cover your operations, taxes, and salary, it needs to create profit!
This episode dives into the psychology and practicalities behind money, including the emotional story that you have attached to your pricing, why you MUST feel confident in your pricing, and what can happen when you create any wiggle-room in what you charge.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How your own money behaviours influence the way that others approach you and your business
- Why you need to be secure, comfortable, and confident in your pricing in order to avoid being challenged or taken advantage of
- Why you absolutely need to OWN the true value of your product — and then make sure that you always sell it with integrity!
Highlights:
01:04 Intro
01:50 YOU set the money terms
03:14 The story behind your price
04:22 Why your pricing is what it is
05:21 Feel comfortable with your pricing
06:28 Why shouldn’t you lower your fees?
08:13 Sell with integrity
11:13 Own the value of your product
14:33 It costs money to run a business
16:02 Role modelling
18:13 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Micro v. Macro Pricing Episode 87
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
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I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“There was lots of evidence that I was not going to work as a solopreneur… I wanted to be a CEO of an organization.”
- Heather Nelson
Sometimes you need to rewire a few of your deepest core beliefs if you want to scale and grow your business to its fullest and most lucrative potential. Heather Nelson, founder of boutique fundraising consultancy BridgeRaise, did just that — and has since grown her business beyond her wildest dreams.
Heather started her business in 2017 with the simple goals of being self-employed and having a travel fund. Embracing a larger vision and dramatically expanding her goals were absolutely key to developing her ability to build a business that is not only aligned with her values and zone of genius, but is also profitable.
In this conversation, we discuss Heather’s evolution from self-employed to CEO, and the mindset shifts that led her to incredible success!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Two pivotal decisions that allowed Heather to make major shifts in her business
- Why you must be able to align your integrity with the value that you bring to your clients
- The financial model that enabled Heather to begin building an amazing team
About Guest: Heather Nelson is a corporate partnership and sponsorship expert who founded and leads a boutique fundraising consultancy, BridgeRaise. Heather and her team help nonprofits raise more money from companies through a practical and strategic approach that fits organizations of all sizes. Having been around for over 5 years, BridgeRaise has
worked with hundreds of charities helping them build aligned corporate partnerships.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:04 Meet Heather Nelson
05:05 Shifting beliefs
07:57 Finding evidence
09:44 Aligning your integrity & your value
11:35 From self-employed to leader
14:27 First hire
15:59 Cashflow & hiring
18:48 Biggest challenge
22:35 “What if this doesn’t work?”
24:41 What she knows now
26:04 What’s next
Links:
Heather Nelson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather
https://www.bridgeraise.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The gratitude for what you have already and the desire to keep growing is literally what’s going to keep you going!”
- Shelagh Cummins
When it seems as though your goals are out of reach, no matter how hard you work, it’s easy to feel frustrated — and even to consider throwing in the towel and heading back to the corporate world. If that’s how you feel right now, you’ll want to tune into this episode!
If you feel as though you’re constantly falling behind when trying to reach your goals, the problem may lie in the timelines that you attach to them, rather than in your efforts.
Tune in for a frank and honest discussion about the importance of being patient when pursuing your goals, knowing when to adjust your timelines, and having the courage to make the right choice between “easy” and “fulfilling”.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- My own 14-year journey to success — and the driving force that has kept me going all this time
- Why you won’t always see the progress that you’re making at first glance (and the importance of taking the time to reflect)
- Why falling behind on your timeline should NOT mean the end of your ambitions!
Highlights:
01:07 Leaving teaching
07:43 Back to school
09:14 Privilege & motivation
11:21 14 year journey
12:45 Why I didn’t stop
15:27 Adjusting your timelines
16:38 Gratitude exercise
19:01 Just keep going!
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Figure out what you love doing so much that you don’t mind that you’re not getting paid, and then figure out how to get paid.”
-Christina Flach
When celebrity makeup artist and fashion commentator Christina Flach was unable to find a flattering lip gloss that was long-lasting and moisturizing enough, she decided to take matters into her own hands and create her own formula — even though she had ZERO prior experience with product development.
The result? Christina is now the CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup, a brand that offers clean, vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics that are made with simple, natural ingredients!
Listen now to learn about Christina’s journey through the product development process, how and why her marketing has evolved throughout the years, and how she balances her professional success as a single mother.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Christina built up her brand without Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
- Why Christina decided to bring in investors after successfully self-funding her business
- How she keeps herself on track to meet her goals while feeling positive and balanced
Christina Flach is a single mother with four kids and the creator and CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup. Christina has worked with some of the most recognizable faces, brands, and publications, and her company continues to grow. Additionally, Christina is a fashion commentator for the publication Soap Opera Digest.
Highlights:
00:53 Meet Christina Flach
01:45 Christina’s journey
05:12 Product development
06:11 Marketing with & without social media
09:04 Bringing in investors
11:46 Motherhood & entrepreneurship
13:46 Charity work & advocacy
16:31 Biggest challenges
19:11 Keeping on track
23:25 Fear, gratitude & self care
26:17 What she knows now
28:03 What’s next?
Links:
Christina Flach
http://www.christinaflach.com
https://www.prettygirlmakeup.com [Discount code: PRETTYGIRL]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-flach-1185825
Instagram: @christinaflachmakeup, @prettygirlmkup
Twitter: @prettygirlmkup
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.”
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“Being able to really make decisions in accordance with my soul and my intuition as opposed to what is ‘logical’ — that’s when I really started to see growth in my business.”
- Andrea Henry
They say two heads are better than one — but what does that mean for a professional partnership?
In this episode, I sit down with Andrea Henry and Irena Brooks, two incredible lawyers who help individuals and business owners at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey build wealth with confidence. After growing their own successful legal careers separately, Irena and Andrea teamed up to launch Henry Brooks LLP, a WOC-owned firm that pairs legal insight with business instinct. Listen now to learn about their journey to merge their firms and what they’ve learned along the way!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How they knew when they were ready to begin hiring full-time employees
- Why they decided to join forces to launch their firm and the challenges they faced
- The big hires and systems that they put in place to facilitate growth
About Guests: Andrea Henry is a Cambridge-educated lawyer with over a decade of experience. Having seen way too many entrepreneurs taking unnecessary risks and not going after killer opportunities because they didn't have the right legal advice, she started her firm, Henry Business Law and her e-commerce contract template site, TheSecureStartup.ca. Irena Brooks is an American-trained real estate lawyer who decided to return home to Toronto in 2014 to commence her Canadian legal career. She is skilled in completing real estate transactions, advocating for her clients in court, and representing them in administrative law matters.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:22 Meet Andrea Henry
05:09 Meet Irena Brooks
08:21 Challenges & tipping points
12:01 Creating a partnership
17:41 Systems & hires
21:34 Marketing
24:26 What would they do differently?
29:48 What they know now
33:22 What’s next?
Links:
Andrea Henry & Irena Brooks
https://henrybrookslaw.ca
Instagram: @andreahenry.lawyer, @brookslawpc
Curate Concierge
https://www.curateconcierge.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”. I'd also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“I think entrepreneurs just naturally grasp the idea of always having support and investing in themselves as the main asset in their business.”
- Lisa Mitchell
When it comes to the impact that we create, there’s no reason not to dream big! This episode’s guest is working toward the lofty and inspiring goal of transforming the working lives of 10 million North American professionals — and I have absolutely no doubt that she will accomplish her mission!
Green Apple Consulting founder Lisa Mitchell supports talent leaders through transformational coaching, consulting, and training that helps them realize their organizational goals and redefine their organizational culture. Lisa’s success stems from a combination of strategy, determination, and mindset work. During our conversation, Lisa drops countless golden nuggets on topics such as the self coaching practices that allow her to maintain an abundance mindset, the importance of having a biz bestie, and how to know when you’re ready for coaching.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What Lisa put in place to facilitate the flexibility and time freedom to step away from her business as needed
- Powerful questions to ask yourself when you feel overwhelmed in your business
- Why conversation and networking are still valuable arts in the age of social media and digital events
About Guest: Lisa Mitchell is the Founder of Green Apple Consulting and host of the Talent Management Truths podcast. As a talent management thought partner and results coach, Lisa helps talent leaders embed programs that drive results and elevate organizational culture.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:43 Meet Lisa Mitchell
05:07 Networking & the evolution of Lisa’s work
08:35 Biggest challenges
12:24 Enabling flexibility
15:15 Abundance mindset
20:13 The corporate world & inner work
26:15 Strategic hiring (& firing)
33:34 What she knows now
36:45 What’s next?
Links:
Lisa Mitchell
https://www.greenappleconsulting.ca
Instagram: @greenappleconsulting
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
https://the1thing.com/book
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Closed mouths don’t get fed.”
-Roxanne Francis
Sometimes, the hardest thing to do isn’t coming up with a powerful message. It’s turning up the volume and using your voice to share it with the right audience.
When you can help people, you’ve got to let people know!
Roxanne Francis is an award-winning psychotherapist, a sought-after international speaker, and the CEO of Francis Psychotherapy & Consulting Services, whose amazing success, at every turn, has stemmed from the power of stepping up and using her voice.
Tune in to hear Roxanne’s top tips for building and using your network, how she’s overcome her biggest challenges, and what she’s learned about building an outstanding team!
In this episode of the podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Roxanne found her first clients and used her voice to build up her business
- How to know whether your mental health is impacting your day-to-day life or your business — and what to do on a regular basis to safeguard it
- Why she made the shift into DEI advocacy and consulting and why her work is so incredibly vital
Roxanne Francis is an award-winning psychotherapist, registered social worker, CEO of Francis Psychotherapy & Consulting Services, and international speaker who has been helping people access tools to change their lives for over 12 years. She provides consultation to various organizations, addressing topics such as mental health in the workplace, diversity equity & inclusion, racial trauma at work, burnout, and women’s issues.
Highlights:
01:06 Intro
02:41 Meet Roxanne Francis
04:56 Mental health
10:12 Building her business
13:38 Scaling her business
16:03 Diversity in therapy
17:03 Shifting into DEI advocacy
20:53 Helping other therapists
23:12 Biggest challenges
26:44 What she knows now
28:14 What’s next?
Links:
Roxanne Francis
https://www.francispsychotherapy.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/roxannefrancis-mswrsw
https://www.facebook.com/francispsychotherapy
Twitter: @FrancisTherapy
Instagram: @francispsychotherapy
To work with me visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“It’s not about today. It’s about what our companies and our businesses can do tomorrow.”
- Shelagh Cummins
If you struggle with goals — either setting them or trying to achieve them — then this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
As a business coach, I notice that many women entrepreneurs set goals that are far too small or limited, holding them back from the incredible power moves that they’re capable of making. On the other hand, while other women may be great at setting big, bold, audacious goals, they aren’t always skilled at creating realistic timelines to match — or at separating their professional (or even personal) worth from their ability to reach those goals.
It’s important to find that “Goldilocks” sweet spot when it comes to your goals: ambitious enough to reflect your big vision for your business, aligned with your mission and purpose, paired with a timeline that is actually achievable, and intended to help you create the life you want not only today, but in the future.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why your goals should not only fuel your today, but your tomorrow as well
- Why I have shifted from a revenue goal to an “assets under management” goal
- How to pinpoint the type of goal that will actually get you to where you want to be
Highlights:
01:05 Intro
02:03 Undershooting goals
04:19 Capital Access Program
06:03 Building generational wealth & opportunities
09:04 Choose the right SMART goals
11:15 Questions to ask yourself
Links:
Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The more I focus on what I WANT, the more my business will grow.”
- Nikki Nash
Do you have a bold new vision for your business — or even for a new business entirely — but aren’t quite sure how to bring that vision into profitable reality?
As the founder of Market Your Genius, my guest Nikki Nash has not only built her own multiple-six-figure business helping entrepreneurs build and monetize in-demand personal brands, she also managed to land a book deal with her dream publisher — despite knowing nothing about the process of working with a publisher when starting that journey!
In this episode, Nikki and I get candid about the secret to effective goal-setting, whether books should be considered revenue streams or marketing tools, and the power of pairing intention with real actions, big and small!
Listen now and you’ll discover:
- The concrete steps that Nikki took to turn her lifelong dream of authorship into reality
- How to handle the difficult times when your fears or limiting beliefs shake your confidence — and get yourself back on track!
- The biggest marketing mistakes Nikki sees women entrepreneurs make — and her best advice for overcoming them
About Guest: Nikki Nash is an author, motivational speaker, and founder of Market Your Genius, a training and development company on a mission to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to share and profit from their message.
Highlights:
01:07 Intro
02:44 Meet Nikki Nash
04:24 Why she wrote her first book
06:01 From ideation to Hay House
11:11 Manifestation & power moves
14:33 Dealing with fears & limiting beliefs
17:17 Top marketing advice
19:54 Impact of authorship
22:51 What she knows now
26:10 What’s next?
Links:
Nikki Nash
https://nikkinash.co
https://www.facebook.com/NikkiNashOfficial
Instagram: @nikkinashofficial
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“It’s not stroking your ego when you give yourself a high-five for sending a really difficult email… that’s you being in gratitude and celebration for what you have accomplished.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you feel like you’re running in one place in your business, without ever hitting your goals or gaining momentum? If so, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
As entrepreneurs, we can often feel overworked and overwhelmed. But despite the enormous amounts of effort we put into building and growing our businesses each and every day, it can be hard for us to recognize the results. Why is it that we have so much trouble seeing our own progress, even as we celebrate (or envy) the success of other business owners around us?
When you don’t take the time to celebrate the wins, accomplishments, successes, or power moves that you’re making regularly, then you just become transfixed on your end goal. Not only can this focus on what you’ve not yet accomplished stop you from seeing how far you’ve actually come, it can actually make you feel like you’re falling short.
Tune in to learn how shifting your focus can help you recognize how outstanding you truly are!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why women entrepreneurs tend to overlook their own accomplishments — and how we can (and should) create the space to acknowledge our power moves!
- How to recognize and celebrate the small actions that lead to the big wins
- Why you need to become comfortable with operating your business from a place of grace and ease, rather than hustle
Highlights:
01:10 Intro
03:28 Big wins & small actions
05:00 Focusing on the void
05:55 Women & social conditioning
07:22 Hustle v. gratitude
10:05 Developing immunity to success
11:44 Celebration challenge
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“The magic really came in when I realized I can be all of me in my business, that my business is attractive and magnetic to my ideal client because I bring ME to it.”
-Molly Mandelberg
Are you contemplating taking your business in a new direction, but can’t seem to move past the fear of stepping outside your comfort zone or letting go of your existing clients?
My guest Molly Mandelberg is an expert in stepping boldly onto new paths and finding amazing success! As the founder of Wild Hearts Rise Up, Molly works with coaches, healers, and conscious leaders to help them broadcast their messages with more ease. Prior to becoming a business coach, Molly was a self-described “hippie artist,” making ends meet through odd jobs. A full-time nomad, she now runs her 6-figure business out of her self-converted sprinter van tiny-home.
In this conversation, we discuss the power of trusting in yourself, how to build a business that is more aligned and fulfilling, and the incredible impact that you can create when you have the courage to dig into your passion!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to undergo major shifts in your business with confidence, clarity, and self-compassion
- How to make it through your transitional phase when it requires letting go of existing revenue streams
- Molly’s five-section thought leadership journey framework
About Guest: Molly Mandelberg is the founder of Wild Hearts Rise Up, the creator of the Magnetic Influencer Collective, and the writer and illustrator of the Wild Hearts Rise Up Oracle Deck. She is a bestselling author and the host of both the Tactical Magic and Reveal the Game of Life podcasts.
Highlights:
01:07 Intro
03:11 Meet Molly Mandelberg
07:33 Pivoting with clarity & confidence
11:09 Importance of community & support
14:22 Mastermind group story
18:13 Letting go of revenue during a shift
21:09 Law of attraction
23:03 Molly’s books & thought leadership journey
27:19 What Molly knows now
29:27 What’s next?
Links:
Molly Mandelberg
https://www.wildheartsriseup.com
https://www.facebook.com/wildheartsriseup
Twitter: @WildOneRising
Instagram: @wild_one_rising
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below.
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“If people are busy, they help each other… I’m trying to have an environment where they can work together, help each other, and build a team amongst themselves.”
- Nancy Cerelli
When your business is your baby, it can be hard to step back and let others take the wheel as you grow. But without delegating many areas of your operations, it’s impossible to scale up and reach your biggest revenue goals.
This episode’s guest has managed to push through the “delegation guilt” and create a team and a set of processes that allowed her to successfully step back in her business — and used that free time to develop a new career and revenue stream!
Nancy Cerelli is a Real Estate Sales Representative and the founder of Elite Legal Support Services, a firm that provides lawyers and law firms with real estate law clerk services. During our conversation, we talk about Nancy’s impressive business journey, how she attracted her amazing team, and her system for building out effective processes!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Nancy has evolved her business to match the latest breakthroughs in technology
- What she put in place in order to scale up without doubling her workload — and how she dealt with delegation guilt
- What she will be shifting her focus to in the coming years
About Guest: Nancy Cerelli is a business owner, real estate law clerk, and real estate sales representative. Her business, Elite Legal Support Services Inc., offers real estate law clerk services to lawyers and law firms to assist with the due diligence, title searching, and preparation of residential and commercial real estate files.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:34 Meet Nancy Cerelli
03:56 Adapting to online
05:26 Getting the momentum going
07:04 Maintaining quality while stepping back
09:22 Attracting top talent
11:52 Delegation & processes
15:41 Getting into real estate
18:42 What she knows now
21:27 What’s next?
Links:
Nancy Cerelli
https://elitelegal.ca
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nancy-cerelli-63389663
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” . I'd also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“All of my new ventures, I put out on Instagram… If I put it out here, I’m going to do something with it. Because I’m not going to be out here lying to my people!”
-Monique Bryan
As an entrepreneur, you are constantly learning, growing, and evolving. What does this mean for your business?
Monique Bryan is a personal brand expert, coach, and serial entrepreneur with 15 years of top-level industry experience in branding, business development, and personal styling — she is a leader in using your personal brand as a visual communication power tool.
Monique not only shines online, but she has the content and know-how to back it all up. Listen now to learn how your personal evolution influences your brand evolution. In this conversation, we dig into the importance of defining your personal brand, how to adjust to big shifts, and why you need to invest in yourself.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Monique’s incredible story as a breast cancer survivor and three-time business founder
- How to know when you’re ready to move on from a challenge and evolve in a new direction
- Monique’s incredible upcoming personal branding retreat — and how she pulled it all together during a pandemic
Monique Bryan is an executive producer of personal brands who helps coaches, consultants, and thought leaders build their personal brands so they can position themselves to top-tier clients, land those dream opportunities, and start to scale their influence in their industry.
Highlights:
03:52 Meet Monique Bryan
10:11 Breast cancer diagnosis & niching down
12:57 Knowing when to move on
15:15 Investing in yourself
16:33 Lull time between ventures
18:43 Accountability & commitment
20:14 Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience
24:22 Monique’s mentors
28:36 What she knows now
30:49 What’s next?
Links:
Monique Bryan
https://www.moniquebryan.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquebryan
https://www.facebook.com/iammoniquebryan
Instagram: @moniquebryan_co
The Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience, Nov 10-13 in Miami
https://www.juicybrandondemand.com/momentum
To make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“Get yourself out of the ‘job’ mentality. Get yourself out of thinking that your business is your baby… see your business as the asset that it is.”
- Michelle Seiler Tucker
Whether or not you’re planning to sell your business in the near future, it’s important to consider your exit strategy as you grow and scale — and in this episode, you’ll hear from one of the world’s top Merger & Acquisition experts!
Michelle Seiler Tucker is the founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated and the bestselling author of Exit Rich™: The 6-P™ Method To Sell Your Business For Huge Profit. A leading expert on buying, selling, fixing, and growing businesses, she helps her clients maximize their exits so that they can thrive in their next chapters.
In this episode, Michelle shares the strategies, insights, and powerful mindset shifts that have helped her build her multimillion dollar business.
In this episode you’ll discover:
- Michelle’s #1 tip for entrepreneurs and business owners
- The challenges that Michelle has faced and what they’ve taught her
- How the law of attraction has helped her to grow and scale her business
About Guest: Michelle Seiler Tucker is the founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated. As a 20-year industry veteran, she is regarded as a leading authority on buying, selling, fixing, and growing businesses. She is an international keynote speaker, the best-selling author of Exit Rich, and the host of the Exit Rich podcast.
Highlights:
00:01 Introduction
02:24 Meet Michelle Seiler Tucker
06:25 Writing a book
09:21 The law of attraction
11:12 Biggest challenges
13:07 Where Michelle got her grit
15:17 Multimillion dollar dreams
18:15 Why do we tolerate low quality of life?
20:34 Changing habits
21:41 What she knows now
23:41 Exit Rich
Links:
Michelle Seiler Tucker
https://seilertucker.com
https://seilertuckeracademy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleseiler
https://www.facebook.com/michelletuckerinternational
Twitter: @MSeilerTucker
Instagram: @michelleseilertucker
To work with me visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments belo
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“What would I have liked 16 years ago?... Having VCs that looked like me, who actually really understood the problem that I was solving and the mission that I was on.”
- Cherry Rose Tan
What’s it like to lead the charge into new markets — even as those around you are skeptical?
My guest Cherry Rose Tan is a fifth-generation entrepreneur, award-winning educator, speaker, futurist, and innovator who disrupts every industry she enters into! As General Partner at Renew Venture Capital, Cherry Rose is a champion for women and historically excluded entrepreneurs.
In this conversation, we dive into the need for more diversity in the investment industry — and the amazing opportunities that may be missed when these perspectives are ignored. From crypto investment to founder mental health, Cherry Rose shares her incredible insights on tech, finance, futurism, and the value of broad perspectives. You won’t want to miss it!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why Cherry Rose’s cultural background helped her to recognize the potential of cryptocurrency
- What keeps her passion alive in the face of traditional investor skepticism and resistance
- Why we need to rethink the harmful stories that we tell
With over 15 years of experience in tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship, futurist Cherry Rose Tan has built a reputation as the first mover in several industries, including crypto, ed tech, and mental health. She is General Partner at Renew Venture Capital and the former CEO of #realtalk, the mental health movement for the tech industry.
Highlights:
00:01 Introduction
04:02 Meet Cherry Rose Tan
10:22 Becoming an investor in crypto
13:41 Cultural diversity in finance
16:24 Being a futurist
20:35 Why Cherry Rose trusts her instincts
24:49 The greater good
27:48 Asking for help & having better problems
34:35 Belonging
36:37 What she knows now
38:34 What’s next?
Links:
Cherry Rose Tan
https://www.cherryrosetan.com
https://www.renewvc.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cherryrosetan
https://www.facebook.com/thisischerryrose
Instagram: @thisischerryrose
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” . I'd also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. T
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“If we’re only focused on complaining or being frustrated with the results, and we’re not taking the time to go back and figure out the decisions or why we are getting these results, then you’re in a tricky place.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you inadvertently hurting your business… without even realizing it?
There will always be something in our businesses that we’d like to improve, upgrade, or completely toss aside. From revenue to lead generation to speaking opportunities, there are aspects of our businesses where we may not be performing as well as we’d like — and often, it’s the decisions that we ourselves make that are having a negative impact and holding us back from the success we deserve!
By looking at your results and metrics and reverse-engineering them, it’s possible to pinpoint the areas in your business where you may be making missteps, and to retool your decision-making process in order to create more positive impact on your bottom line going forward!
If there are aspects of your business that you’re unhappy with right now, then this is an episode that you won’t want to miss!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The questions that I ask my clients in order to help them identify the decisions that may not be serving them
- Possible reasons why your revenue isn’t as high as you would like — and how to fix it
- Why your hiring decisions may be holding your business back from scaling
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:47 Questions I ask clients
02:23 Revenue
04:47 Lead generation funnel
06:35 Leveraging social
08:53 Hiring
11:02 The moment v. the long run
12:29 Today’s exercise
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“TED is a platform that has the opportunity to not just create credibility for what it is that I’m doing, but really puts a stake in the ground for me to be able to talk about what I stand for.”
- Shelagh Cummins
What goes into producing and delivering a TED Talk? If you’ve ever wondered about the nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes secrets of participating in a TED or TEDx event as a speaker, then you will NOT want to miss out on this episode!
Adding TED or TEDx to your resume as a speaker or thought leader is an incredible way to build credibility and prestige, but becoming a TED speaker can be rather more demanding than speaking in other forums. As the Spiderman movies say, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and participating in a TED event requires a certain level of commitment, vulnerability, preparation, and the ability to push through self doubt, overcome discomfort, and embrace risk.
And let me tell you, it is truly worth it!
This episode is all about the whats, whys, hows, and whens of my experience giving my first TED Talk. You’re going to learn why a TED Talk can become your stake in the ground, the challenges I faced during prep and on the day of, and how to deal with the inevitable TED hangover!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why delivering a TED Talk has been on my vision board for at least seven years
- My TED topic and why reaching this type of audience was so important to me
- The unexpected elements of the TED process!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:35 TED hangover
02:58 Vulnerability
03:39 My TED topic
09:36 Why TED & how I got in
10:55 Approval process
11:39 Prep process
13:13 Day-of pressure
17:08 What I’m proud of
19:28 Support
Links:
Learn more about our Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“If you cannot figure out what solution your business is solving, you need to go back to the drawing board.”
- Tanya Hayles
Get ready to be inspired… and take more than a couple of notes! Tanya Hayles is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has created not one, but THREE businesses that are creating massive impact around the world!
Tanya’s thriving online global village and nonprofit, Black Moms Connection, provides financial support grants and culturally relevant resources to empower Black women. Her firm Color in White Spaces works to disrupt the diversity and inclusion world by making conversations about racism more real and relatable. And her storytelling and speaking talents have helped her to take the media world by storm!
From developing her thought leadership to narrowing down on her key pillars, this fascinating conversation digs into Tanya’s secret sauces for success — and her top tips for women looking to follow in her footsteps!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Where and how Tanya shared her voice in order to attract inquiries from so many media outlets
- How Tanya has evolved her pricing structure over time — and why outlets are so eager to pay her!
- Why you want to be The Beer Store, rather than Walmart, in terms of how you niche down
About Tanya Hayles: Tanya Hayles is an award-winning creative, authentically telling stories and creating change, building movements through the online global village of 30,000 Black Moms Connection, and making DEI work real and relatable through her firm Color In White Spaces.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:04 Meet Tanya Hayles
06:42 Pandemic pivot & pitching
09:56 Sharing her voice online
12:59 Be The Beer Store, not Walmart
15:55 Choose your lane & trust the universe
18:30 Money talk
21:40 Black Moms Connection
28:47 What she knows now
Links:
Tanya Hayles
https://www.tanyahayles.com
https://www.blackmomsconnection.com
https://www.facebook.com/blackmomsconnection
https://colorinwhitespaces.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thayles
Twitter: @tanyahayles
Instagram: @thetanyahayles, @blackmomsconnection
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When I am here to fulfil my soul’s desire, I fulfil my human desire to serve others at the highest level.”
- Libby Wildman
My guest for this episode is changing the way that women work with — and grow! — their money. Libby Wildman is a speaker, wealth advisor, life coach, and the host of the curated Liminal Escapes retreats. Over her decades of serving clients, Libby has worked to bring the ‘human’ back into the finance industry.
During our conversation, we dive deep into the emotions that drive us to make big, bold moves in our businesses, the value of hearing an interesting story, and why Libby rejects the conventional advice when it comes to identifying her own point of genius.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The link between the craving for adrenaline and the call to entrepreneurship
- How Libby has kept things fresh and juicy over the course of her career
- How the finance industry has (and hasn’t) shifted from the 1980s to post-#MeToo
About Libby Wildman: Libby Wildman has over 35 years of financial services and life planning experience. She was the founder of the highly successful wealth management firm Wildman and Associates and is now Head of Wealth Advisory at Davis Rea Ltd.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:50 Meet Libby Wildman
06:06 Adrenaline & bold moves
09:40 Finding stories
10:11 Keeping things fresh
11:57 Money, scarcity & fear
13:36 The Soul of Money
16:34 Affirmations & contributions
18:33 Women & finance
22:21 Sexism in business
24:33 What she knows now
25:13 Liminal Escapes
Links:
Libby Wildman
https://www.libbywildman.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/libbywildman
https://davisrea.com
Instagram: @libbywildman
The Soul Of Money: Reclaiming The Wealth Of Our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-soul-of-money-reclaiming/9780393353976-item.html
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“A TEDx stage is designed for you to share an idea that’s worth sharing… it is literally a stage that’s designed for you to be a thought leader.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Having a TEDx Talk under your belt is more than just a bragging right… it’s a marketing DREAM.
Delivering a TEDx Talk is a fantastic way to build up your thought leadership, position yourself as an industry leader, and create a great deal of interest in your business. TEDx Talks are accessed by billions of viewers per year, regularly shared on social media, and highly respected.
You may have already dreamed about standing in front of a TEDx audience and sharing your knowledge and expertise. In fact, you may already have the perfect presentation sitting in a folder on your desktop!
So… how do you get the opportunity to make it onto that stage?
In this episode, I share my own journey to TEDx and describe exactly how I moved “TEDx Talk” from my vision board to my CV.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How TEDx Talks work and how to locate and apply to appropriate TEDx events
- Which sorts of ideas or concepts make for compelling TEDx Talks — and how I chose mine
- The steps I took to land my first TEDx talk and the workshops I’ll be offering to help you land your own!
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:22 Why TEDx?
03:20 Understand how TEDx works
04:59 Thought leadership
05:46 My TEDx Talk topic
09:05 Filling out the application
10:15 Step-by-step process recap
10:55 TEDx workshops
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“It doesn’t matter the results. The fact that you made 20 calls today and you gave it your all IS the result… it really is so much about the activity, you watch the magic happen over time.”
- Vonny Fast
Get ready for a masterclass in selling successfully without selling out! My guest, Vonny Fast, is the #1 sales rep of 70-year-old brand Cutco and has built up a database of over 3000 clients almost entirely through referrals — and has managed to build her career in sales while remaining aligned with her values.
Past decades have given sales a bit of a sleazy or pushy reputation, but Vonny believes that the way to successful sales based on impacting people, not on chasing numbers. “Teach business owners how to grow through giving,” Vonny advises. “I really truly believe that loyalty is the #1 thing you could ever ask for and generosity is the most powerful tool to unlock that loyalty — so how can I be generous today?”
Listen now to learn how to create your own effective selling style!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The tips and insights that have helped Vonny maintain a top sales position for over a decade and counting
- How to narrow in on the empowered actions that are going to really move the needle in your business
- How to succeed in sales while staying aligned with your true values
About Vonny Fast: Vonny Fast is consistently the #1 rep in Canada, and within the top 5 sales representatives in the history of Cutco, a 70 year old company. She built her database of 3000 clients in her first 15 years of business almost 100% through referral and has continued to use those skills to build the Cutco Closing Gifts brand across Canada.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:40 Meet Vonny Fast
07:01 Sales tips
09:45 Empowered actions
13:14 Staying aligned
16:23 Abundance mindset
18:06 Make it your own
22:10 Biggest challenges
28:43 Self care
33:40 What she knows now
35:46 What’s next?
Links:
Vonny Fast
https://sharpgifts.ca
https://www.facebook.com/vonnysharpgifts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonnysharpgifts
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below.
Follow m
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“You can’t just clock in and clock out when you’re doing your business. It’s always going to be a facet of your life and in your mind.”
- Shelagh Cummins
To borrow some words from Kenny Rogers, do you know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em when it comes to your programs… or your business as a whole?
During the pandemic, many people have had the chance to sit back and take stock of their work lives… and decide whether or not what they’re doing is really working for them. While a great number have decided to leave the workforce (hence the coining of the term “The Great Resignation”), some have also decided to close down their businesses and rejoin the 9-to-5 world.
What should you keep in mind when making this decision? What goes into closing your business down? More importantly — is it possible to make changes that offer you the balance you need WITHOUT giving up on entrepreneurship? If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to shut down one of your offers (or your business as a whole), then this episode is for you!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to put your big business decisions in the proper perspective so that you can make your choice with a clear head
- How to create the freedom, flexibility, and profitability you need within your business
- How to determine whether you’re meant to be an entrepreneur after all — or if you’d ultimately be happier in the corporate world
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:28 Nothing is permanent
03:44 Making positive changes
06:11 Are you meant to be an entrepreneur?
07:26 The “BJ”
08:42 Empowered action
12:44 Breathing room
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“Start with your own small radius and perfect it…when you can succeed in selling well in your small radius, then you can duplicate it.”
- Elaine Tan Comeau
Launching just two days after the birth of her third child, Easy Daysies Ltd. founder and CEO Elaine Tan Comeau successfully scaled a unique product-based business selling an invention created at her own kitchen table.
In this episode, I speak to the school-teacher-turned-accidental-inventor whose award-winning daily magnetic planners teach children to become more cooperative and independent — and incited a bidding war between all FIVE Dragons’ Den investors.
If you’re looking to be inspired by a powerful female entrepreneur who has succeeded in the face of adversity, then just press play on this episode!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- A walkthrough of the early days of a product-based company (and how she launched with just $1400)
- How Elaine streamlined her supply chain and built a sales team so that she could scale up
- How she continued growing after a life-changing medical emergency
About Elaine Tan Comeau: A five-time nominee for the RBC Women of Influence Award, she is a sought after keynote speaker, author, and CEO and founder of Easy Daysies Ltd. Elaine has been featured in Forbes, Macleans, CBC, FOX, CTV, Canadian Business Magazine, Parents Magazine, and the Financial Post, and was awarded the 2014 Canadian Mompreneur of the Year, Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Business.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:57 Meet Elaine Tan Comeau
08:08 First $1400
09:11 Learning how to sell
13:05 Supply chain & distribution
18:25 Dragons’ Den & investors
26:22 Course, book & podcast
31:16 Stroke impact
38:31 What she knows now
41:11 What’s next?
Links:
https://www.easydaysies.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CLY64ZR
https://elaineskitchentable.com/perfectpitch-masterclass
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/elainetancomeau
Twitter: @chatwithelaine
Instagram: @elainetancomeau, @easydaysies
My appearance on Elaine’s podcast
https://elaineskitchentable.com/shelagh
To work with me visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When you look at the lows, is it because you truly believe that people aren’t buying… or is it because you are not taking the necessary or intentional action that you need to ensure people keep buying?”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you worry that the warmer weather of summer will lead to slower sales? If you’re concerned that your revenue will dip as the temperatures rise, then you’ll want to listen to this episode!
There is a pervasive myth among entrepreneurs that you shouldn’t launch an offer or set high revenue goals during the summer because too many people will be either on vacation, tuned out, or unwilling to spend any money between June and August.
Let me be clear: these aren’t facts. These are beliefs… and they can be self-fullfilling. If you choose to believe that you aren’t going to be able to sell your offers during the summer, then you may be damaging your own chances unconsciously.
Tune into this episode for tips on how to shift your mindset and find a perfect balance going into the warmer months — and you may wind up with your most profitable summer yet!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why it’s important to understand your OWN story and desires when it comes to working during the summer months
- How to develop a summer schedule that works for you, your family, and your clients
- How to upgrade your mindset and boost your chances of a profitable summer
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:03 Debunking the summer myth
03:10 Do you want to be working?
06:34 Aligning your summer path
08:01 Your workflow & your clients
10:15 Selling your summer offer
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“When we hire, we want them to be earning 3x the amount of their salary in increased revenue that they bring you.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Creating a solid foundation in your business is one of the most important things that you can do, and it’s something that you can start working on right now.
Whether you’re running a 6-figure, 7-figure, or even 5-figure business, there are a few things that you should be doing in order to ensure that your company remains strong and profitable — and that your business fits your lifestyle, rather than the other way around.
This episode of The Road to Seven is a replay of a Live that I recorded for The Road to Seven Facebook group (and if you haven’t joined yet, I highly recommend that you do!) Tune in now and get ready to take some notes, because I share 7 simple but powerful tips that will help you build a business that allows you to scale and maximize your profits with more ease and less stress!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to clearly define your role in your business — and make sure that you have the time and space to stay focused
- How to use your numbers to refine and revamp your strategies across all areas of your business
- Why you must remember WHY you’ve hired people to join your team… and let them actually work within their zones of genius
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:18 Be clear on your role
04:14 Surround yourself with the right people
05:46 Hire to make your business stronger
07:13 Remove the mental load
08:05 Build to serve your lifestyle
10:48 Show up consistently
13:01 Your numbers don’t lie
14:42 Your way is not the only way
17:12 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“It’s so easy for you to come in and price yourself at market level. It’s another thing for you to understand the transformation that you’re offering people and price accordingly.”
- Maureen Mwangi
What do businesses need to do in order to become the breakout brands that define their industry?
Maureen Mwangi’s superpower is turning raw data into incredibly successful brand growth strategies. Growing up in Kenya, Maureen’s parents were the only entrepreneurs she knew. She enjoyed their dinner table conversations about business strategies and the financial freedom that entrepreneurship afforded her family.
Today, Maureen uses the same processes that her parents used to scale their start-up into a successful brand to help other product-based businesses discover the growth secrets hiding in their data and scale to multiple 6 figures.
Maureen has helped over 50 brands unlock their true value and earn raving fans! Tune in to hear her amazing insights, her biggest challenges, and the question that she believes all entrepreneurs need to ask themselves.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The two important investments that Maureen made early on in her business
- How to know when it’s time to work on your mindset
- The number science behind your business — and how to use it!
About Maureen Mwangi: As the founder of Startward Consulting, Maureen Mwangi helps her clients scale their product brands to multimillion dollar growth with scientific precision. Maureen hosts The Product Entrepreneur podcast and helps beauty brands become retail-ready through her Big Brand Academy program.
Highlights:
00:53 Meet Maureen Mwangi
02:02 Maureen’s journey
05:17 Biggest challenges
07:11 Business mentorship & mindset coaching
08:59 When to work on your mindset
10:12 Crystallization & the ‘Why’
12:18 Maureen’s parents’ business
16:30 Number science
17:15 Product-based & microbusinesses
20:43 TAJI Foundation
23:31 What she knows now
24:16 What’s next?
Links:
Maureen Mwangi
https://www.startwardconsulting.com
https://www.facebook.com/TAJI-foundation-104098324428081/
Instagram: @maureenmwangiofficial
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“As long as you’re waiting and relying on external factors to make you feel successful, you are setting yourself up to be a sitting duck.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Despite all that you’ve accomplished in your business, do you find yourself still waiting to actually FEEL like a success? If so, this episode is for you.
Many of us tie feelings of success directly to the results that we are seeing in our businesses. But often, even hitting 7 figures in annual revenue or achieving a 6-figure launch (or any other goal, for that matter) can leave entrepreneurs still feeling as though they still haven’t quite “made it” as successful business owners.
What does it take to finally feel successful?
Here’s a hint: the answer will not come from outside. You have to do some inner work.
Listen now to learn how you can start feeling like a success TODAY… and why benchmarks are not as important as you think they are.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why achieving your vision will not change who you are at the core — and why that’s a great thing
- Why relying on milestones and benchmarks will only lead to fleeting feelings of success
- A simple exercise that you can do right now to help you tap into your success mindset
Highlights:
01:02 Intro
02:07 Don’t rely on external factors
03:24 Fleeting success
04:04 Success is a choice
04:56 What does it mean to be successful?
06:50 Success exercise
09:03 You are successful today
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“Letting go and knowing when something is done… allows fresh energy in and new opportunities to flow in.”
- Esther Vlessing
Sometimes, taking a step back is the smartest thing you can do as an entrepreneur.
Esther Vlessing is the founder and president of Canada Emergency Medical Manufacturers, a network of domestic manufacturers in the furniture, apparel, and automotive industries created to solve Canada’s personal protective equipment shortages. Esther started the company during the pandemic when she realized the urgent need for the timely manufacture and delivery of PPE at a time when international supply chains were being dramatically affected.
CEMM was not Esther’s first company. Originally a fashion manufacturing entrepreneur, Esther made the difficult decision to return to the workforce when her 6-figure company didn’t provide her with the lifestyle she wanted.
Listen now to learn why Esther’s detour from the path of entrepreneurship positioned her as the perfect person to help her country through a deadly pandemic!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How a politician’s televised announcement led Esther to begin her latest chapter
- How Esther built valuable connections with (and successfully pitched) government officials during a period of crisis
- What she does differently in her new manufacturing company — and how she keeps up with incredible demand
About Esther Vlessing: Esther Vlessing is the founder and president of Canada Emergency Medical Manufacturers, a network of domestic emergency medical manufacturers that specializes in qualming time-critical local and national catastrophes by establishing clear domestic supply chains to deliver goods to organizations in need.
Highlights:
00:53 Intro
03:16 Meet Esther Vlessing
04:30 Pitching the Ontario government
08:14 Founding CMM
9:30 Monetization
13:38 What she does differently now
15:00 First hires
19:15 Ramping up production
21:30 What Esther knows now
22:05 What’s next?
Links:
Esther Vlessing
https://www.cemm.ca
Twitter: @EstherVlessing
Instagram: @esthervlessing
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Profit is one of your most powerful entities in your company, because it is the gateway to opportunity for you.”
- Shelagh Cummins
This episode is the final piece of a three-part series exploring the three core elements every single business needs to have in order to be sustainable and profitable. No matter your industry or niche, a strong, intentional foundation based on these elements is absolutely essential if you want to scale effectively.
This episode is all about profit.
The idea of “profit” is often a challenge for women entrepreneurs. Women often deal with money mindset issues that stem from biases, misconceptions, and stereotypes regarding their ability to deal with money, whether saving, spending, or earning.
But in reality, women are just as capable of driving profit and building wealth as men are.
Profit is important, because it creates opportunities for you to not only build wealth, but to re-invest in your business in order to move the needle forward.
If you haven’t listened to the first two parts of this series, I strongly recommend that you do so — these three elements work together, and each has a role to play in helping you grow and scale with more ease!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What you absolutely MUST consider when setting your pricing
- How to hit your money management sweet spot and balance your spending and conserving
- How to uncover the new revenue possibilities around you
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:34 Three-part approach
02:40 Profit
04:18 Pricing
07:14 Money management
10:18 New revenue opportunities
13:02 Vitamin & SaaS case studies
14:45 Scale Program
Links:
Scale Program
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXw0_Bw-kIJaisyB8l21xcu6rAKpmojYD0yzGP_tzBM/edit
Planning Your POWERFUL Profit in 2022: https://www.buzzsprout.com/349118/9873601
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/theroadtosevenpodcast/how-to-build-a-saas-and-secure-funding-successfully-with-catherine-graham
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a R
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Your way is not the only way to get things done — and it’s possible that someone else’s way is going to get better results”
- Shelagh Cummins
This episode is the second of a three-part series taking an in-depth look at the three core elements of every business. If you want to scale with more ease and confidence (whether that means a team of 4 or a team of 400), building a strong, intentional foundation based on these elements is absolutely critical!
In this episode, I want to teach you how to get out of your own way in your business… and stop being the bottleneck to your success.
That’s why this week’s episode is all about processes.
We all use processes and systems in our businesses. There is always a “method to our madness” — but, often, we don’t actually consciously know what that is! This is very common for solopreneurs, who build their processes organically through the course of their work and never really have to think about them.
But if we can’t articulate our processes to ourselves, then we won’t be able to explain them to our teams.
In order to create space for you to work in your zone of genius, avoid burnout, and take the occasional week off to recharge, you need clear and effective processes in place that not only make your operations more efficient, but make it easier for your team to step in and take things off your plate.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to assemble a team that delivers the results you need — and helps you build out the processes that they use to do it
- The importance of giving up the role of Chief “Everything” Officer
- The key processes you need to have in place for your business
Highlights:
01:27 Intro
03:15 Last episode recap
03:46 Processes
05:17 Standard operating procedures
07:13 Hiring & mindset
09:16 Finances
11:43 Fulfillment
14:37 Dealflow
Links:
Burnout Vortex
https://studio5.ksl.com/beat-burnout-vortex
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you’re feeling like your business isn’t really serving you or fitting you anymore, then let’s look at what your role is, and what you want to do, and where you thrive.”
- Shelagh Cummins
This episode is the first of a three-part series that takes an in-depth look at the three essential elements of every single business. No matter your industry or niche, building a strong, intentional foundation based on these elements will help you grow and scale with more ease and confidence!
The first element: people.
The people you sell to. The people you work with. And, of course the leader of your business: you. It’s so important that each of these groups is completely in alignment with who you are, what you’re building, your values, and your vision.
Tune in to learn how to identify the people that you should be hiring for and serving in your business… and what to do when things just aren’t feeling like the right fit.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to identify when you’re falling out of alignment with your business — and the auditing process that will help you pinpoint the areas you need to rework
- What you should look for when hiring an online business manager or virtual assistant
- How to recognize when you’re selling to the wrong people (and how to clone your best-fit clients!)
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:19 Survive or thrive
05:24 People
06:41 You
09:13 Your team
11:34 Are YOU the problem with your team?
13:37 Your clients
15:55 Seeing red flags & cloning right fits
17:34 Scale program
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Be available to be flexible, and be available to be agile.”
- Megan Huber
My co-host for this episode is the one and only Megan Huber, known as the Business Acceleration Mentor (BAM!). This episode will appear on both the Road to Seven and on Megan’s podcast, Built to Last.
Like me, Megan Huber helps transform hustling women entrepreneurs into successful leaders and CEOs through her programs, masterminds, and private coaching — and she’s found great success in inspiring and empowering women to shine as leaders, increase their impact, and build more fulfilling lives.
In this conversation, we discuss overcoming our challenges, following our passions, and finding real balance… in other words, we deliver a full, honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to run our businesses: the good, the bad, and everything in between!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The two iterations through which Megan’s business evolved and how she landed in her zone of genius
- How to recognize when you’re out of alignment with your vision and the needs of your market — and 1 simple, actionable tip to get back on track!
- How to market your business based on your real impact (and not braggadocio!)
About Megan Huber: Megan Huber helps ambitious coaches and leaders grow their business to six and multiple six-figures in 12 months or less. Her methodology incorporates timeless strategic business growth principles and a relationship-based approach.
Highlights:
01:09 Intro
02:01 Meet Megan Huber
03:36 Meet Shelagh Cummins
07:18 Teaching & entrepreneurship
13:36 Shelagh’s niching down
16:50 Megan’s iterations
23:02 Addressing misalignment
25:21 From 1:1 to group
30:56 Authenticity & results
32:27 Sexy v. impactful marketing
38:27 Introversion
40:21 Family & balance
48:05 Managing finances
Links:
Megan Huber
https://meganjohnsonhuber.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-huber-88001418
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tribeoflegendswithmegan
Instagram: @meganjhuber
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Screw it up fast… because until we mess up, until we have that first iteration, we can’t make it better!”
- Ashleigh Wilson
In an industry where customers have long been considered an afterthought, Ashleigh Wilson has proved that putting people first is profitable!
Ashleigh is the founder and CEO of AuditMate, a company that offers the first and only elevator and escalator auditing and management software and operates with an ethos of respectful simplicity, proactive inclusiveness, and heart-centred courage.
From the end users of AuditMate’s pioneering software to the team that drives its innovation, humans are at the core of Ashleigh’s entrepreneurial mission.
Press play to hear her inspiring journey from non-tech entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea to the head of a company determined to become a leading agent of change for all industries!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How a first-time software developer found the funding to bring her never-before-seen concept to reality
- How AuditMate achieved 900% growth in just two years (during a pandemic!)
- The biggest challenges Ashleigh has encountered as a pioneer in her industry — and how she falls back in love with her business every day
About Ashleigh Wilson: Ashleigh Wilson is a San Francisco-based serial entrepreneur and the CEO and founder of AuditMate, which develops innovative auditing software for elevator and escalator contracts.
Highlights:
01:05 Intro
02:29 Meet Ashleigh Wilson
04:12 AuditMate’s software
05:55 How Ashleigh secured funding
09:03 Making the ask
11:33 Biggest challenges
14:00 900% growth & adapting to shifts
15:41 Maintaining motivation
17:44 Team & leadership
19:26 People first
20:13 What she wishes she knew
22:22 What’s next?
23:50 Being a woman in vertical transportation
Links:
Ashleigh Wilson
https://auditmate.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-wilson-she-her-01131285
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“We want to be on the biggest stages and biggest platforms, and have people view our stories and see them for the beauty and importance that they are.”
- Ngardy Conteh George
Forgive me if I’m a little starstruck this episode — my guests are Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George, co-founders of OYA Media Group and winners of the 2021 RBC Women of Influence Ones to Watch Award.
Alison and Ngardy founded OYA Media Group to bring an authentic perspective to media through socially relevant, life-changing stories that amplify Black experiences. Their documentary Mr. Jane & Finch, which they co-produced and Ngardy directed, premiered on CBC Docs POV in 2019 and won two Canadian Screen Awards.
“It’s hard for us to keep up with how fast we’re growing,” Ngardy says. “A lot of the time, this industry is about timing — and it is our time. I think the industry is finally ready for our stories.”
Press play for a fascinating look into a successful and uplifting creative partnership!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Alison and Ngardy first launched OYA Media Group
- How they hired the right team
- The work they put into nurturing their creative partnership
About Alison Duke & Ngardy Conteh George:
Alison and Ngardy are award-winning storytellers and co-founders of OYA Media Group. The documentary Mr. Jane & Finch, which the two produced and Ngardy directed, won two Canadian Screen Awards. Ngardy’s feature-length documentary The Flying Stars won Best Documentary at BronzeLens Film Festival in 2015. Alison just concluded Year 3 of the OYA Emerging Filmmakers program, an initiative she kick-started that supports Black youth.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:11 Meet Alison Duke & Ngardy Conteh George
05:47 Mr. Jane & Finch
07:45 Diverse storytelling
10:17 Partnership
13:43 Challenges
15:42 Shared vision & hiring
17:30 OYA Emerging Filmmakers & partnerships
22:05 What they know now
24:21 What’s next?
Links:
Alison Duke & Ngardy Conteh George
https://www.oyamediagroup.com
https://www.oyablackarts.org
https://www.facebook.com/OYA-Media-Group-657967711330357
Instagram: @oyamediagroup
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women who are revolutionizing the way we do business!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Once you’re clear on your reason why.. it makes it a lot easier to make decisions.”
- Julianna Tan
Have you ever had an idea that you just KNEW in your gut was the right move at the right time?
Julianna Tan is the co-founder of The Little Market Box, an online and in-store farmers' market that fosters the success of local producers and serves customers without the time constraints of a traditional farmers’ market.
She’s also a chocolatier who makes the most delicious organic chocolate — yum!
It was as a chocolate vendor at a market that she met Shawnda Blacklock, a beef vendor in a neighbouring booth who became Julianna’s partner and co-founder. They founded The Little Market Box as a way to better support the needs of producers who relied on the market for their livelihood.
The time between coming up with their concept and touring a location? Just one day.
While this episode may not include a recipe for Julianna’s incredible chocolate, it does dive into her bold leap of faith, the strategy behind her business model, and her approach to professional partnerships.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How The Little Market Box merged the traditional farmers’ market model with a conventional retail experience
- What Julianna has learned from building a business as part of a partnership
- How undergoing an award application process contributed to growth
Julianna Tan is the co-owner of The Little Market Box, a farmers' market and online hub for local food and small retailers serving Saskatoon. She is also co-founder of Those Girls at the Market, where she sells ethical organic raw chocolate.
Highlights:
02:36 Meet Julianna Tan
04:44 Those Girls at the Market
06:02 The Little Market Box
09:46 Strategy & business model
18:13 Award process
21:13 eComm challenges
24:16 What she knows now
26:03 What’s next
Links:
Julianna Tan
https://www.thelittlemarketbox.com
https://www.thosegirlsatthemarket.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/julianna-tan-96459170
Instagram: @thelittlemarketbox; @thosegirlsatthemarket
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d love to hear what your favour
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“Your journey, the process that it takes to get you to be the diamond that you really want… does not have your time agenda attached to it. It’s all going to depend on your ability to take strategic and continual action, and be okay doing things that may not work.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you follow dozens of superstar CEOs and influencer-entrepreneurs on Instagram or LinkedIn? Do you sign up for their programs, tune into their Lives, and join their mailing lists, hungry for the information that they share?
A diamond hunter is forever seeking that optimal, beautiful end product — the result that leaves them shining like all of the diamonds that they follow.
I want you to give up on diamond hunting… and instead give yourself the opportunity to really become the diamond you want to be!
Diamond hunters are all about information-seeking — gathering new techniques and strategies as if simply having access to that information will help them scale and optimize.
But simply spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to access information isn’t enough.
In order to truly benefit from all of those tips and tricks, you must go through the diamond formation process… known in coaching circles as the “messy middle.” This is the period during which many entrepreneurs get frustrated and just give up — but diamonds can’t form without time and energy!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The messy-middle leap of faith you MUST undertake in order to bring your shiniest, most ambitious diamond goals to reality
- How to check in and ensure that you’re still working in alignment with your values and purpose — and figure out what you need to do differently
- Why you need to separate your results from your feelings of self worth
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:35 Information seeking
02:52 How diamonds are formed
04:04 The messy middle
05:52 My own messy middle
07:03 Check-in time
09:50 Client example
11:25 Be willing to fail
13:27 Three brains
Links:
Three Brains - Thinking to Doing to Being
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l2nvTv9_Xw
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. T
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I truly believe, after doing this for almost ten years, that the right people will come into your program at the right time.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Have you been considering creating or launching your own group program? Then this episode was created for you!
Launching a group program can be so powerful for your business. Group programs are a beautiful way for you to shift from a 1:1 business delivery model to a 1:many, but they’re not without their fair share of challenges.
I want to take you behind the scenes of what it’s really like to develop and launch a group program — the good, the bad, and the tricky. From chasing the wrong metrics to finding the right timing, launching a group program successfully takes patience, resilience, and strategy!
Press play now to learn why you need to tap into what your audience is telling you, the importance of checking in on your own time and energy, and what it means to “show up for the kale.”
Let’s get started!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The 3 potential results that you need to be ready for once you’ve hit the ‘GO’ button on your launch
- Why pushing to reach vanity metrics can actually harm your chances of hitting the numbers that you want — and even damage the cohesiveness of your group
- How the pandemic burden has affected the audience for groups, programs, and subscriptions
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:50 3 potential results
05:50 Danger of chasing vanity metrics
07:52 The pandemic burden
08:58 Check your own timing
10:29 Creating space, time & energy
11:30 My own group program story
16:41 My 2022
17:25 Beyond group programs
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
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“What drove me is to help others, to have a transformative impact on their lives… For-profits and non-profits: these are just two different ways to get to the same goal.”
- Audra Renyi
When your entrepreneurial success stems from your passion, there is no limit to the change you can make in the world!
Audra Renyi runs two thriving companies, one a non-profit and the other for-profit. As the executive director of World Wide Hearing and the founder of EarAccess Inc., Audra is on a mission to increase the accessibility and affordability of hearing care in areas of great need, and create lasting, impactful change in those communities.
Audra is the first guest on the Road to Seven to have been named a Heroine of Health at the WHO World Health Assembly and have won the 2017 Governor-General’s Innovation Award!
Press play to learn how Audra brings a little business into her non-profit, and infuses her for-profit business with a social mission.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The biggest challenge Audra has faced as a disruptor in her sector
- What Audra considers when choosing new markets to move into
- The critical, under-served period during which children should be screened for hearing loss
About Audra Renyi: Audra Renyi is the executive director of World Wide Hearing and the founder of EarAccess Inc. She has worked as an investment banker on Wall Street and with Doctors Without Borders in Chad and Rwanda. She was a business consultant in microfinance in Kenya, served as the CFO of the One Acre Fund, and was a Director of Development for Canada World Youth.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:18 Meet Audra Renyi
05:28 Audra’s journey
06:48 Bringing business into non-profit
08:26 Bringing social responsibility into for-profit
11:05 Government collaborations
11:39 Microfinancing
14:05 Biggest challenges
16:16 SheEO & digital shift
17:47 Choosing markets
20:01 Balancing two companies
21:13 What she knows now
22:16 What’s next?
Links:
Audra Renyi
https://www.wwhearing.org
https://earaccess.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’dlove to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“When you get clear that profit is powerful for you — and when you allocate and can see where it goes — that is very, very often a massive driver to increasing your revenue and your business success.”
- Shelagh Cummins
If you’re a regular listener of the Road to Seven, chances are you’ve already set a revenue goal for your business this year — but do you have a solid plan for your profit?
Every smart entrepreneur knows the importance of having a revenue goal. Once you’ve settled on a number, you can calculate how many programs, products, or services you need to sell on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis to hit that goal. A strategic revenue goal should be high enough to cover your operational expenses, salary, payroll, and taxes… and leave enough for profit.
While profit is one of the most exciting parts of entrepreneurship, I see many business owners freeze up when it comes to figuring out what to do with it! Profit is POWERFUL — it can be a massive driver to increasing your revenue and your overall business success. It can raise your confidence and lead to new opportunities.
But you need to know how to allocate it.
If you want to be strategic in growing your business, you can’t just keep all of the profit for yourself. This episode reveals multiple ways to handle your profit — and get it to really start working for you and your business!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to create positive impact in your community through your profits
- What the power of profit can do for your business success and your mindset
- How one business owner turned $40,000 into $140,000 overnight
Highlights:
01:07 Intro
02:23 What profit looks like
03:59 What to do with profit
04:44 Establishing bonuses
06:11 Donating to causes
07:38 Investing in other businesses
10:21 Holding onto profit
11:41 The power of profit
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“By 2030, there is an expectation of $8.5 trillion revenue loss in global economies because of talent shortage.” -Anu Bidani
Are your kids armed with the skills they need to thrive in a future workforce?
My guest Anu Bidani is passionate about empowering the next generation through instilling a love of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
During her 20 years at Scotiabank, she worked with brilliant tech-minded interns, but realized that these sought-after skills were not the norm when it came to the younger generation — including her own children.
In 2015, she left finance and devoted herself to fixing this disconnect, founding STEM MINDS and Inno-Hive, companies with the mission to make 21st century skill-building accessible and enjoyable!
While there are initiatives supporting STEM learning in University settings, they aren’t aimed at the right group. “The problem does not lie in adulthood. It lies in childhood,” Anu says. “If you don’t expose your children at the right age with the right skills and opportunities, they will never make those choices when they’re in high school.”
With the goal of motivating her own children to embrace STEM learning, Anu went all-in — and achieved incredible success by bringing her inspirational vision to life!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The mindset that allows Anu to work through her fear and make bold, brave shifts
- The biggest challenges she faced in getting loans, securing a lease, and launching
- How she dealt with the risk of hiring staff BEFORE earning any revenue!
Anu Bidani is the founder and CEO of STEM MINDS, a social enterprise that empowers youth to develop a love of learning through STEM, and Inno-Hive, an innovative learning community.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:00 Meet Anu Bidani
03:17 Anu’s journey
07:51 Mindset & fear
09:33 First iteration
12:33 Biggest challenges
17:35 Not giving up
21:59 Hiring & investing
26:43 What she knows now
28:34 Validating ideas
30:12 What’s next?
Links:
Anu Bidani
https://www.stemminds.com
info@stemminds.com
https://www.facebook.com/stemminds
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anubidani
Twitter: @stem_minds
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear your favourite part of this episode in t
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Coaching isn’t just signing up to work with someone and then not doing any of the work. Coaching is getting the insight into yourself that you need to be able to take courageous action.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Why is it so hard to achieve the business goals you set in January?
The answer is a little complicated, but it involves two parts mindset, two parts measurement, and one part momentum!
So often, entrepreneurs start the year full of lofty goals… only to run out of steam halfway through with little to show for their efforts. I don’t want you to give up on your 2022 goals. I absolutely believe that you can achieve them — you just have to be a little strategic!
In this week’s episode of the Road to Seven, I share 5 crucial strategies and tactics that every entrepreneur needs to implement in order to successfully bring their goals to reality.
Imagine the impact on your business and your life if you were to hit every single goal that you set for this new year, from revenue to lead gen to work/life balance…
It’s all within your reach — listen now and remember to subscribe!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to gain clarity around your goals and intentions — and figure out exactly what success would look like
- What effective coaching looks like (and why even other coaches benefit from it)
- How to turn knowledge and insight into courageous action that really pushes the needle in your business
Highlights:
01:15 Intro
02:29 Believe that it’s possible
04:44 Gain clarity
06:16 Make it measurable!
07:09 Benefit from coaching
09:06 Put your knowledge into action
11:14 Be accountable
13:39 Recap
14:41 Work with the Road to Seven!
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I don’t have to micro-niche. I just have to be able to explain what I do and who it serves…. It’s the way that I work with them that is my niche.”
- Claudia Aronowitz
Personal development and relationship coach Claudia Aronowitz never aspired to be an entrepreneur.
She earned her coaching certification in order to help others, but soon found that she needed to learn how to become a business owner as well.
The journey wasn’t easy — but Claudia learned many valuable lessons along the way!
“People come out of coaching school and don’t understand that being an entrepreneur means that you have to start at the beginning with you doing all of it, and later on hopefully getting other people to do the parts that you really are not so good at,” Claudia says. “What made the biggest difference was starting to see the results that I gave.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Claudia develops aligned programming that attracts her ideal customers and fits her niche — without limiting her scope
- How she broke through her analysis paralysis and need for perfection so that she could take real action
- The #1 mindset shift that Claudia made — and how it helped her make peace with hearing “No”
About Claudia Aronowitz: Claudia Aronowitz is a personal development and relationship coach who will help you clarify your path, connect with yourself, and create harmonious relationships. Compassionate and insightful, Claudia is a straightforward communicator with the ability to clarify complex situations, and help her clients gain new perspectives and improve their communication skills to better connect with the people who matter most.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:11 Meet Claudia Aronowitz
04:25 Creating programming
06:00 Becoming an entrepreneur
07:54 Breaking through analysis paralysis
09:05 Dealing with No
11:32 Service rollercoaster
14:06 Being & stopping
15:51 Momentum calendar
16:21 Validation & inside work
18:39 What she knows now
20:34 What’s next?
Links:
Claudia Aronowitz
https://claudiaaro.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“We come up with a million and one reasons of why things are impossible… all of these reasons that literally are not rooted in fact. They’re all story that you’re using and leveraging to keep yourself safe.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Many women entrepreneurs have difficulty articulating what it is they really want — and even struggle with questions such as “What is your goal for 2022?”
And there are a multitude of reasons for this.
Some of them feel that their goals aren’t possible. Some of them feel that they’re not worthy or deserving of reaching them. Some of them don’t think that anyone would pay for their services if they raised their pricing. Some of them feel that they’re not ready to reach that next stage in their business — even though it’s what they’ve been dreaming about.
Even if these reasons aren’t rooted in fact, these stories still prevent many women from taking steps toward reaching their goals — or even saying them aloud!
Why do we tell ourselves these stories? To keep ourselves safe.
But when we internalize these stories, we chip away at the possibility mindset that helps us step out of our comfort zones and grow our businesses!
In the episode, I’m going to help you push back against these limiting stories through playing a little game of What If. No one will hear your answers but you, so there’s no pressure... and no reason not to be completely honest!
Let’s get started!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to fully step into a possibility mindset
- The two numbers that you should calculate when figuring out your pricing
- How to set bridge goals that are fully aligned with your overarching goals — AND feel achievable
Highlights:
01:08 Why is this question so challenging?
01:59 Possibility mindset
03:23 What if you could charge what you’re worth?
04:38 What if we removed the disbelief?
06:17 Bridge goals
07:08 When to play What If?
08:40 2 big questions
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“It’s not about you. It’s about the impact and ripple effect of your work on the people whose problems you solve.”
- Shelagh Cummins
If you’re planning on hitting it out of the ballpark in 2022 when it comes to reaching your revenue goals and scaling your business, then you’ll want to press play!
Because in this episode, I dig into the nitty-gritty that no one else talks about — the five things that you absolutely must do in your business in order to blow 2022 out of the water (or any other year, for that matter)!
This is the same tried-and-tested process that we use to help clients in each of our programs zero in on their goals and create strategic action plans.
Creating an intentional, informed, and strategic path to achieving your goals will remove reactivity and uncertainty from the process, keep you from falling victim to shiny-object syndrome, and ensure that you remain aligned with your purpose and values.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to clarify and solidify your goals for the next year — and then work backwards to uncover those non-negotiable projects and milestones that will help you reach them
- How to create a 12-month timeline with clear goals for each quarter that will guide you to where you want to be by the end of the year
- Why you should be scheduling “be time” on your daily calendar — even if it’s just 15 minutes at a time
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:37 Listener shout-out
02:38 Find clarity on your goals
03:51 Work backwards from the outcomes
04:54 Stay aligned with your purpose & passion
06:19 Create space to “be”
07:56 Deepen your integrity with your value
09:51 Believe in yourself
12:16 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Nothing is going to be perfect… You’re always going to be learning and adapting and growing. Just go for it and just do it!”
- Kate Pepler
Kate Pepler turned her passions for ocean sustainability, environmental education, waste reduction, and community into one eco-friendly and thriving business venture!
A Toronto native who moved to Halifax, Kate found it difficult to reduce the amount of waste in her life in her new city. This discovery combined with concern over the health of the planet inspired her to create The Tare Shop, a package-free bulk store and cafe.
Kate is so community-focused that she began building hers before The Tare Shop’s first location even opened, using the brand’s Instagram to share the construction process and gather market research from its followers. Now, The Tare Shop’s customers determine its inventory, as Kate uses their feedback to plan her purchasing!
In this conversation, we discuss Kate’s funding, first hires, biggest lessons, and how she handled the Covid shift.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Kate dealt with the overwhelm of The Tare Shop’s immediate success (while still working full-time at her former job)!
- What she learned from opening her first location — and what she did differently the second time around
- How she created buzz for The Tare Shop through speaking engagements
About Kate Pepler: Kate Pepler is the founder and owner of The Tare Shop, a package-free bulk store and coffee shop with two locations in Nova Scotia, which she established in 2018. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a BA in sustainability, environmental science, and a minor in marine biology.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:39 Meet Kate Pepler
04:26 Launching The Tare Shop
05:54 Funding
09:31 Dealing with overwhelm
11:28 First hires
13:43 Creating buzz
16:23 Opening a second shop
17:51 Covid shift
20:55 Biggest lessons
22:34 What she knows now
23:05 What’s next?
Links:
Kate Pepler
https://thetareshop.com
https://www.facebook.com/thetareshop
Twitter: @katepepler
Instagram: @thetareshop
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I realized that I didn’t want to be the only person in my business. I recognized that I wanted my company to be bigger than me.”
- Rachel DiMartino
Solopreneurship can only take you so far. So, how do you build out your unique talent into a successful and profitable agency?
Rachel DiMartino is the founder of Geek Unicorn, a women-led company that helps other female entrepreneurs create more impact and show up more professionally online.
In this episode, you’ll learn how Rachel grew her brand from a one-woman shop into a thriving agency that creates real, lasting transformations for their clients — from adopting an inclusive, equity-promoting hiring strategy to overcoming mindset issues!
I absolutely loved talking to Rachel about the strategies she used to scale her business and earn the loyalty of her audience. Tune in now for her fabulously geeky insights!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Rachel leveraged online entrepreneurs’ groups and became their go-to web consultant
- The mindset challenges that Rachel faced when moving into an agency model
- What sets Rachel’s hiring strategy apart — and why it’s so important
About Rachel DiMartino: Rachel DiMartino is the founder of Geek Unicorn, a women-led company in Canada on a mission to make other women-led businesses stand out online like a Unicorn in a field of horses by upleveling their brand, website, and online presence. When she's not creating magic for other women, you can find Rachel digging for fossils on the beach, chowing down on the best burgers for her burger blog, or snuggled up rewatching her favorite Star Trek episodes.
Highlights:
01:01 Intro
01:59 Meet Rachel DiMartino
03:53 Why Geek Unicorn?
06:03 Rachel’s journey
08:18 The first client
09:07 Leveraging groups
10:56 The first hire
12:39 Why start Geek Unicorn?
14:11 Bro culture & inequity gaps
16:22 Biggest challenges
19:26 Mindset
21:18 Laundry story
22:57 What she wishes she knew
26:16 What’s next?
Links:
Rachel DiMartino
https://geekunicorn.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geek__unicorn
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“You don’t always see the impact of those shifts right away. Sometimes it takes time for changes to start generating the results that you want them to.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Reaching $1 million in revenue is about much more than just boosting your sales. If building a seven-figure business is part of your vision, you need to be prepared to spend some time, energy, and money — as well as work on some ego and mindset issues.
This episode of The Road to Seven reveals the approach that I took to help one of my clients completely transform her company. This client was looking to increase her sales, but was already at capacity in terms of the number of customers she was able to serve.
Using a very intentional and strategic process designed to help the company scale effectively, I helped her increase her yearly revenue... from $300,000 to over $1 million!
In order to smooth your path to seven figures, you’ll need to examine three key areas of infrastructure in your business and identify potential bottlenecks and strategic improvements.
If you’d like to hear a step-by-step, real world example of how to build a $1 million business, then you’ll want to press play!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The three areas of infrastructure you need to look at when determining what your company must do in order to scale effectively
- How to highlight the points in your process where you can replace yourself with a new hire or automation
- What to consider when determining your pricing — and why you need to revisit your strategy regularly
Highlights:
01:15 Intro
02:23 Company background
03:11 Pricing for growth & bandwidth
04:46 Process for delivering results
06:19 Hire slow, fire fast
07:14 Stepping into leadership role
09:17 Create your rubric
10:32 Case study: leverage points & pricing
12:03 Case study: culture & marketing
14:04 Results
14:59 What does your business need?
16:32 Reach out!
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I’ve always been living an uncaged life. I just didn’t have the career part figured out.”
- Rebecca Tracey
Rebecca Tracey, founder of The Uncaged Life, has built a career that allows her the freedom to live her own uncaged life.
After sampling a number of short-term gigs, Rebecca trained as a nutritionist and life coach, but found that most of the work she did with her clients was around helping them create businesses and marketing strategies that were aligned with their values.
So, she made the pivot to business coach.
Now, she helps coaches and online business owners clarify their brand message and uplevel their offers, and has grown her Facebook group to over 14,000 entrepreneurs! (Yes, that is the correct number of zeros!).
In this conversation, Rebecca reveals how The Uncaged Life (and its launching process) has evolved as the business has grown!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How The Uncaged Life has evolved since its launch — and the business model that led it to thrive
- The first revenue-generating hires that Rebecca made
- The biggest sales lessons and mindset shifts that have helped her hone her selling skills
About Rebecca Tracey: Rebecca Tracey is the founder of The Uncaged Life where she works with coaches and online business owners to get clear on their brand message, create packages that sell, and help them get and keep clients (all while working from home with no pants on — living the dream!).
Highlights:
01:03 Intro
01:57 Meet Rebecca Tracey
04:39 Sunk cost fallacy & pivoting
06:08 Owning your lane
07:18 The Uncaged evolution
09:14 The Uncaged journey
12:03 Biggest challenges
13:09 Hiring
15:35 Sales lessons
16:41 IG story & follow-ups
18:34 Sell with integrity
20:42 Evolution of launching
27:22 The Uncaged Life
28:55 What she wishes she knew
30:12 What’s next?
Links:
Rebecca Tracey
https://theuncagedlife.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheUncagedLife
Twitter: @rebecca_tracey
Instagram: @rebeccatracey
https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Shoe-Dog/Phil-Knight/9781501135927
https://kendrickshope.com
https://mariahcoz.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more Road to Seven episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
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“Those entrepreneurs that are killing it year-over-year are not doing it by flying by the seat of their pants.”
- Shelagh Cummins
I’d like to address a question that I hear far too often from entrepreneurs just getting started on their Road to Seven — and even a few who are well on their way:
“Do I really need a business plan?”
The answer, of course, is yes!
An effective business plan will not only give you clarity around your company and what it is that you’re growing, but will also provide a critical path to help you reach your goals — and identify when you’re drifting off-course.
But it does bring up another question: what sort of business plan should you have?
In this episode, I walk you through the two different types of business plans that every single business owner, no matter your industry or stage of growth, needs to have in place in order to grow and scale with greater ease!
Whether or not you already have a plan, you’ll want to check out this episode to learn more about your different plan options — and how each will benefit your business and keep you moving forward with intention.
Let’s get started!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to determine the fundamentals and positioning of your initial one-page business plan
- How to transform your business plan into a pitch deck that can be used to help you secure funding from investors or banks
- Where to find guidance and resources for your annual strategic planning and plan creation
Highlights:
01:24 Intro
02:20 Business plan types
03:13 One-page business plan
04:43 The fundamentals & positioning
05:16 Solution, model & target market
08:37 Annual strategic planning
10:04 The basis of your process
11:14 Creating a pitch deck
13:29 Research & due diligence
14:13 Marketing, operations, finances & team
17:12 Risks & executive summary
18:18 Start with the one-page & reach out!
Links:
The Revenue Accelerator
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-revenue-accelerator
Annual Strategic Planning workshop
One-page business plan template
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/businessplantemplate
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more Road to Seven episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“I thought not only is this a potential business — this could change lives.”
- Connie Stacey
Have you ever come up with a new product idea… but had no idea how to transform it into reality? You’ll want to listen to this episode!
Connie Stacey is the founder and president of Growing Greener Innovations (GGI), an award-winning clean energy solutions company that designs smart batteries and energy storage solutions. She started GGI with a vision: a silent generator that created zero fumes or carbon emissions.
Not only did Connie invent a new product — she invented something that may change the world.
Through her research, Connie realized that a green battery solution could go a long way toward solving the world’s energy poverty crisis. “This could give an opportunity for people in other parts of the world to achieve better equity,” she says. “When you look at access to energy, it is perfectly correlated with economic growth.... If you want to end poverty, you must end energy poverty.”
Listen now to hear Connie’s fascinating story of how she turned an idea into a world-changing reality.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Connie took the leap from being on mat leave to becoming an inventor and founder
- The obstacles Connie faced when seeking funding and how she overcame them
- The unorthodox choice Connie made in terms of manufacturing — and how it paid off
About Connie Stacey: Connie Stacey is the founder and president of Growing Greener Innovations, Inc. She has over 20 years of experience in the IT/computer programming sectors.
Highlights:
01:04 Intro
02:53 Meet Connie Stacey
04:00 Spark of inspiration
08:24 From mat leave to founder
10:41 Creating the prototype
12:21 3 principles & approach
15:43 Mistakes entrepreneurs make
16:23 Funding & manufacturing
22:58 Awards & start-up support
28:14 Roadblocks
30:42 What she wishes she knew
34:00 What’s next?
Links:
Connie Stacey
https://grengine.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/growing-greener-innovations
Instagram: @growinggreenerinnovations
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the commen
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“There’s a very fine line for me between work and not-work… I literally just went downhill and slipped into burnout.”
- Shelagh Cummins
You’ve heard of writer’s block. But have you ever experienced a block when trying to achieve a goal in your business?
If you’ve ever tried to work toward a goal in your business, big or small, but just couldn’t seem to make it happen.... then you’ll want to listen to this episode of The Road to Seven!
If you’re experiencing a block, you may find yourself unable to move forward in your business for days, weeks, or even months. You can think of it as losing your mojo.
Blocks can pop up during times of burnout or near-burnout, when you’ve been pushing yourself too hard or not taking enough time to relax and reflect. I experienced my own burnout shortly after the pandemic hit, when I doubled my services in order to hold onto my clients and provide them with much-needed support.
But even after slowing back down, closing some programs, and making space, I found that I was still unable to step back into the mindset I needed to have in order to make moves in my business.
In other words, I still hadn’t regained my mojo.
Listen now to find out how I healed my burnout, got over my block, and wound up creating my biggest offer ever!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How the pandemic’s economic effects on my family pushed me into a level of work that was not sustainable
- How I got back in alignment with myself and my deeper needs, in order to push through my block
- Why silence is your secret weapon for reconnecting with your inner self
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:21 Momentum program
02:06 My own block story
04:50 How I gave myself space
06:07 Why I doubled my services
07:15 How slowing down helped
08:17 Slowing down even more
10:36 Power of silence & coaching
11:39 Invest energy in rest
13:52 Authenticity
14:46 What my block was
15:56 Take care of yourself
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Instagram: @shelaghc
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When it comes to your business, your cash flow is Queen.”
- Shelagh Cummins
I have a question for you: do you know how to price your goods and services so that you’re in a position to scale your company effectively?
If you said no, don’t worry. You aren’t alone! Many entrepreneurs struggle when it comes to figuring out how to best price their offers — especially during the start-up stage. But ensuring that you have adequate cash flow is absolutely crucial to being able to grow and scale your business!
A company that lacks cash flow is going to find themselves in big trouble, sooner rather than later!
If you’re seeking the recipe for entrepreneurial success, you’re going to need three major ingredients: time, energy, and money.
This episode of The Road to Seven is all about ensuring that you have plenty of that final ingredient!
Tune in to learn about variable v. fixed costs, contribution margins, sunk costs, and leverage points — what they are and what they mean for your business!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The differences between micro pricing and macro pricing — and what to keep in mind when determining your costs
- Why package creation is so vital to moving along the path to growth
- How your money mindset influences your approach to pricing
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:22 Why I love pricing
01:50 Micro v macro pricing
03:44 Package creation + money mindset
04:49 Variable v. fixed costs
06:40 Contribution margins
08:20 Sunk costs & leverage points
09:30 Working with your profits
10:48 Your minimum rate
12:28 Reach out!
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I’m kind of a go-set-ready kind of person, like let’s just do this thing and see what happens!”
- Abbey Ashley
What would happen if you let go of your self-doubt and built your business fearlessly?
We can look to Abbey Ashley as a perfect example!
Abbey started her own virtual assistant hustle in 2015 with zero business training, and doubled the salary she’d been earning from her full-time corporate job within just 30 days ...while working only 20 hours per week!
She launched The Virtual Savvy, a business that helps aspiring VAs launch and grow their own at-home business from scratch. The Virtual Savvy now earns Abbey multiple-7-figures a year, allowing her to support her family while doing work that she loves!
Abbey is brilliant when it comes to outside-the-box networking. Listen now to learn her unique strategies for building a fulfilling and successful online business! She helps aspiring small business owners launch and grow their VA businesses and experience new freedom and flexibility.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The genius tactic Abbey used to spark an amazing business relationship with her favourite influencer
- How to set pricing that takes into account all of your expenses, including payroll
- How Abbey successfully made the shift to selling online courses
Highlights:
01:11 Meet Abbey Ashley
04:57 Abbey’s background
06:25 Innovative proposal story
09:47 Finding ideal clients
12:22 Working with a team
19:18 Lead generation
23:35 Challenges
25:35 What she wishes she knew
27:58 What’s next?
Links:
Abbey Ashley
https://www.thevirtualsavvy.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheVirtualSavvy
Instagram: @thevirtualsavvy
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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*“At the root of all these issues, in my view… it’s really just a lack of capital.”
-Nathalie Molina Niño*
Women start the majority of small businesses in the United States. But they don’t have the easiest time receiving funding from investors.
Nathalie Molina Niño is a building capital investor and former tech entrepreneur who wants to bridge that gap!
“There truly are a lot of other ways that you can go when it comes to financing your company. VC is one, and it’s a viable one, but it’s a niche and it’s inappropriate for most companies,” Nathalie says. “It’s a difficult way to finance a company because you’re ultimately giving away control of your company, and you’re giving away control to a group of people who have short-term goals.”
In this conversation, we discuss the gender bias in venture capital, the alternative funding sources available, and the Road to Seven Capital Access Program, which helps microbusinesses access the funds they need to grow!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why you should consider looking beyond VC when seeking investors
- How to be prepared when you’re ready to seek funding
- How you can benefit from outside-the-box thinking like merging with your competition
About Nathalie Molina Niño: Nathalie Molina Niño is the Managing Director at Known Holdings, an investor, author, educator, and retired global tech entrepreneur. She co-founded the Builder Capitalist trade organization. She wrote Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs. She serves as advisor and partner to a number of organizations.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
04:12 Meet Nathalie Molina Niño
05:06 How she got started
09:29 Looking beyond VC investment
12:33 Investor expectation imbalance
16:56 Gender disparity in financing
19:57 Applying for funding
23:33 Biggest challenge
25:28 The Great Reset & Covid
28:40 What she wishes she knew
30:49 What’s next?
Links:
Nathalie Molina Niño
http://leapfroghacks.com
Instagram: @nathaliemolinanino
Twitter: @NathalieMolina
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments be
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“I truly believe that the engine of our economy is business owners.”
- Colleen O'Connell-Campbell
Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is used to being the only woman in the room, she understands the challenges that women entrepreneurs often face. She’s also on a mission to double the numbers of self-made millionaires in Canada, so you’ll definitely want to hear her advice for entrepreneurs on the road to seven and give her a follow!
Despite being a success in her field, Colleen still regularly experiences microaggressions. “Only about 15-16% of wealth advisors (in Canada at least) in a role like mine are women, so what does that say?” Colleen says.
This interview is full of valuable lessons on building confidence in male-dominated fields, creating an authentic presence online, and developing an effective exit strategy for your business.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Colleen builds her confidence as the only woman at the table
- The biggest mistakes business owners make when building a company they intend to eventually sell
- The importance of speaking openly about mental health issues and engaging in self care
Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is the lead of O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC-Dominion Securities. She specializes in building financial plans that optimize how entrepreneurs, self-made millionaires, and wealthy families spend, save, and share their wealth.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:50 Meet Colleen O'Connell-Campbell
09:46 Microaggressions
12:47 Cadet story
14:04 Building confidence
15:23 Mental health
18:47 “Running reflections”
21:30 Being real online
23:12 Biggest business-building mistakes
25:30 Build to sell
31:39 What’s next?
Links:
Colleen O'Connell-Campbell
http://www.colleenoconnellcampbell.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenoconnellcampbell
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/im-a-millionaire-so-now-what-colleen-RhZN7D8nfML
Twitter: @colleenherself
https://builttosell.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When somebody approaches [your] website, will they see themselves as a customer?”
- Dee Boswell-Buck
We’re doing something a little bit different today — this episode of The Road to Seven is co-hosted by Dee Boswell-Buck, digital marketing expert and host of the Strategize Your Business Online podcast! Dee helps her clients become more visible online and connect with their ideal clients strategically and confidently.
This episode is all about the benefits of creating diverse marketing within everything your business does — and shares the most effective strategies for connecting with your audience inclusively.
The visuals on your website are a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to diverse marketing. It’s important to be intentional when choosing your photos. “When somebody gets to your website and they need you, they see women who are in their twenties and thirties, and they’re very slim and they are all one race,” Dee explains. “I probably would have reached out to you a lot more quickly if I saw myself on your website.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What you gain from creating a diverse marketing experience for your audience
- Practical, actionable tips for creating diverse marketing
- The right way to plan an inclusive business conference
Dee Boswell-Buck creates digital marketing strategies and implements plans that allow business owners to connect with their target audience in the online space.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:20 Meet Dee Boswell-Buck
02:14 Why is diverse marketing important?
03:15 How do you market inclusively?
06:00 Testimonials & speakers
10:30 Board membership
13:45 Practical marketing tips
16:09 Maintain an inclusive community
17:52 Be intentional
Links:
Dee Boswell-Buck
https://www.deeboswellbuck.com
https://www.deeboswellbuck.com/podcast-strategize-your-business-online
https://www.facebook.com/DeeBoswellBuck
Instagram: @deeboswell_buck
Twitter: @deeboswellbuck
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Tha
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“This is your business, and you can have your business do whatever the heck it is that you want.”
- Shelagh Cummins
During this episode of The Road to Seven, I want you to think about a very important question — one that applies to nearly every single entrepreneur and business owner out there.
The question is this: what are you currently tolerating in your business that you aren’t willing to put up with any longer?
There is a lot to be frustrated about when it comes to running a business. But that doesn’t mean that you have to tolerate it. As women, we often don’t receive the message that we don’t have to tolerate the things that frustrate us. We’re often given the message that we just need to put up with things. But that definitely isn’t the case, especially when it comes to our businesses!
You started your business because you wanted control over your life and destiny, so why should you settle for anything less?
Say it with me: you do not have to tolerate something that just doesn’t work for you!
So, let’s figure out what is holding you back in your business — and how you can make a shift for the better.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why we tend to tolerate things that we don’t need to — even when they keep us from fully loving our businesses
- Why you shouldn’t accept a 24/7 hustle lifestyle just because you think that’s the way it’s supposed to be
- 3 questions to help you pinpoint the parts of your life and business that aren’t serving you
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
01:21 Back to school time
03:12 3 examples of tolerating
05:21 Believe that something different is possible
06:09 Make the shifts
07:00 What are you tolerating?
08:20 What are you currently not doing?
10:37 Discomfort is okay!
11:07 What should you stop doing?
12:53 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“I think there’s something to be said for doing one thing… and doing it really well.”
- Nathalie Butterfield
If you’re looking for a way to skyrocket your sales past 7 figures in your product-based business, then this is the episode for you!
My guest is Nathalie Butterfield, co-founder of the ‘feel good,’ eco-friendly, Toronto-based bag company Fluf. A former lawyer, Nathalie traded in court cases for pillowcases in 2005, when she co-founded a high-end pillow boutique, eventually shifting the focus of the business to reusable lunch bags and backpacks.
Fluf was born in a retail store, but found its footing in wholesale and e-commerce. Since its humble beginnings, Fluf has grown to become a multiple-7-figure company!
In this conversation, Nathalie shares the challenges that she faced in growing her start-up, how she finds and vets warehouses and factories, and how she perseveres when things get hard.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Nathalie and her partner used strong PR to get the word out about their niche product
- How Fluf made the leap from retail to wholesale
- Their ingenious solution for saving on international shipping and duty costs
About Nathalie Butterfield: Nathalie Butterfield is the co-founder of Fluf, creator of organic cotton, machine-washable, sustainable, 'feel good' bags. Nathalie and co-founder Terra Kushner founded Fluf in 2005, originally as a pillow boutique. While selling pillows exclusively, they also carved out a mission to make them sustainably — which led them down the path of designing and printing their own fabrics, and then creating reusable bags and lunch bags.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
02:16 Meet Nathalie Butterfield
05:36 Jumping into retail
06:49 Spreading the word
07:47 Dealing with naysayers
09:38 Big challenges
13:23 Transitioning to wholesale
15:45 Selling internationally
17:41 Finding warehouses & factories
22:03 How to keep going
27:00 What Nathalie knows now
28:21 What’s next?
Links:
Nathalie Butterfield
https://ca.fluf.ca
Instagram: @flufbags
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“The top line is absolutely important. But even more important is the bottom line in your business.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Is one of your goals this quarter or year to reach a new revenue goal? Then you’ll definitely want to press play! In this episode, I debunk some of the myths surrounding the importance of hitting that magic million in sales.
One myth is that crossing that seven-figure sales milestone is a sign that you’re running a strong, successful business. But that impressive top line doesn’t necessarily indicate a healthy bottom line!
While this podcast may be called The Road to Seven, not every business owner needs — or even wants — to hit the seven figure revenue mark. A six-figure business can absolutely be more profitable than a seven-figure business, once all costs and expenses have been calculated. In the most extreme cases, chasing the goal of seven figures can actually harm your business!
I’ll be busting this myth and more in this episode, so if you’ve got money on your mind this year, you’ll want to tune in and take some notes.
And whether your goal is to run a six-figure or a seven-figure business, the Road to Seven’s 9 Essential Profit Levers training is a vital tool to help you determine which levers you should be pulling right now! See the link below to access this free training!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The most important numbers you should use to measure your effectiveness and profitability
- How and where to allocate the profits in your company
- How to achieve healthy growth that doesn’t burn out your team, quality, or fulfillment
Highlights:
01:18 9 Essential Profit Levers
02:52 Revenue v. profit
04:56 Hidden stories behind launches
05:53 Where to put your profit
07:10 Watch your team’s capacity
08:56 Good growth & SOPs
10:25 Savings
11:37 The bigger picture
Links:
9 Essential Profit Levers
https://cummins.kartra.com/page/R27Blueprint
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“What we’re balancing here is the value of your time versus the value of being on stage.”
- Shelagh Cummins
This episode is going to answer the following question once and for all: should you charge a fee for speaking?
As an entrepreneur, learning how to weigh the value of your time against the value of being on stage is one of the most impactful things you can do.
Your goal as a business owner is to get new eyes on you and your business, establish your thought leadership, and attract new leads. And one of the quickest ways to do that is standing on a stage and delivering incredible value!
Even if you’re NOT getting paid for your time.
When you share great content with an audience at an event that makes sense for your business, this provides an opportunity to see a positive impact on your business — one that may very well outweigh what that event can pay you to be on that stage.
Many events may not have the ability to pay large sums. By bringing tremendous value to their audience and inviting them into your community, you let your nurturing and marketing do the heavy lifting for you.
I’m not saying don’t charge for speaking. I’m saying sometimes the value of the opportunity to be on a stage far outweighs what you can charge to speak. Press play to learn when to say “yes!” to unpaid opportunities!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The benefits you can reap from being on stage — even when the opportunity is unpaid
- How to leverage an audience and what NOT to do while speaking
- My unpopular opinion about when you should (and shouldn’t) charge to speak
Highlights:
01:07 Finding your balance
01:57 Benefits of speaking
03:18 How to build credibility on stage
04:31 What to charge & when not to
07:39 Audience, platform & opt-in
08:36 When does it make sense to charge?
11:03 The biggest differentiator
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“What is it about you and your business that you have set out to say ‘I want to be remembered for this’?”
- Hollie Hoadley
8 year ago, Hollie Hoadley was an Executive Assistant with a side hustle. Today, she runs Creative Solutions, a thriving six-figure marketing agency that delivers high-performing strategies that keep her clients salivating for more!
Hollie didn’t want to create a b2b or b2c business — instead, she built a business that she considers human-to-human.
“When it comes to truly niching down to a specific market, absolutely not. I’ll never do it,” Hollie says. “When you really think about it, there’s a whole bunch of humans behind your business — and there’s a whole bunch of humans you’re trying to sell to. They have a need, you happen to have the solution. All you have to do is pair it up!”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Hollie moved from EA to consultant to agency owner — and the challenges she faced along the way
- The potential danger of pigeon-holing yourself too strictly (no matter what your business coach says)
- How to deal with customers who won’t pay for services delivered by your team, rather than you
About Hollie Hoadley: Over the past 7 years, Hollie has built Creative Solutions to a six-figure marketing agency by bridging the gap between strategy and fulfillment in the world of marketing. She is a dad-joke-loving, 90s hip-hop-listening, self-proclaimed hustler with a huge heart and a work ethic to match.
Highlights:
2:03 Meet Hollie Hoadley
3:15 Hollie’s journey
6:56 Follow your gut
8:15 Pigeon-holing
11:00 Human-to-human approach
13:05 Consulting to agency
17:56 Team delivery mindshift
25:37 Business-facing marketing
27:21 What she wishes she knew
Links:
Hollie Hoadley
https://www.needcs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativesolutionsHQ
Twitter: https://twitter.com/creativesolHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativesolutionsHQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holliehoadley
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love t
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Our job, as a leader, is to empower somebody to better handle and deal with the circumstances in their life.”
- Shelagh Cummins
No great business is built by one person alone. Developing a superstar team is a vital piece of the entrepreneurial puzzle, whether you’re bringing on contractors or employees.
But unless you’re very lucky, not every member of your team will perform perfectly right out of the gate. Sometimes, this can be solved through leadership… but sometimes, you need to let go.
In this episode, you’ll learn tips and strategies for dealing with both situations.
Setting quantifiable goals and expectations is the best way to assess the performance of your team — and figure out if they provide value.
If you keep someone on your payroll just because they’re facing challenges in their life, that may make you feel good — but it won’t do your business any favours. There are ways to offer support that won’t burn through your business’s budget!
Whether you’re just starting to hire or already have your dream team, the Road to Seven’s 9 Essential Profit Levers training is a vital tool to help you determine which levers you should be pulling right now! See the link below to access this free training!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to know when to take the difficult step of ending a business relationship as a leader
- The difference between empowering an employee and enabling them — and why sometimes “goodbye and good luck” is the kinder choice
- The importance of having KPIs for each role in your business (with examples)
Highlights:
01:13 Introduction & 9 Essential Profit Levers
03:20 Low-performing team members
04:26 “Extraneous circumstances”
05:53 Empowering v. enabling
07:33 Being liked isn’t the most important thing
08:39 Quantifiable expectations
10:33 KPI/JEP examples
13:22 The bottom 20%
14:00 Handling the hard conversation
16:08 Leadership
Links:
9 Essential Profit Levers
https://cummins.kartra.com/page/R27Blueprint
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“This is YOUR business. You get to run this business the way it works for YOU.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Boundaries are not only an important part of mental wellness, but also help us from becoming stretched too thin in our professional lives. So, why do so many people have trouble maintaining their boundaries?
Why is “no” such a challenging word to say?
Many people have this mindset that we need to do certain things in order to grow their businesses. The idea of having boundaries may not even occur to them! But when we say “yes” to the things we don’t want to do, we leave less space or time for the things we DO want to do — and it robs us of our energy, passion, and enthusiasm.
Having a hard “no” doesn’t limit your ability to grow your business. It enhances it. When you recognize and honour your hard “no”, you get to choose alternatives that bring you satisfaction and joy.
If you don’t like doing Facebook Lives, maybe you love spending time in your Facebook community and building relationships that way, instead.
If you aren’t comfortable selling high-ticket items, you can work on creating incredible add-ons to your lower-ticket offers.
Remember — there isn’t one way to build a business! And by honouring your own boundaries, you’ll experience a lot more enjoyment along the way.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The importance of saying “no” to the opportunities in life that will not serve you — and how to recognize them
- How to develop workarounds that create impact for your business in a more joyful way
- Real-life examples of practical and effective workarounds that honour a hard “no”
Highlights:
01:06 Introduction
01:56 Canada’s Wonderland & Instagram Reels
04:47 What are your hard “no”s?
05:38 Bring yourself joy through workarounds
07:54 Hit list story
09:46 8-session morning story
12:01 Educate your customers
13:05 Personal hard “no”s
15:06 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Pricing and profitability are key.”
- Kizzy Parks
Kizzy Parks knows a little something about securing government contracts.
In fact, she’s landed over $50 million in government contracts — and also runs three separate consulting companies.
Through her business GovCon Winners, she teaches service-based small business owners how to secure their own government contracts, using her powerful CTC technique.
If you’ve ever considered bidding on a government contract, you’re going to want to listen to this week’s episode of The Road to Seven first!
Kizzy and I dive deep on pricing, profitability, and the psychology and preparation behind nailing the perfect pitch. Press play to get started!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The psychological reasons for incorporating your company when seeking government contracts
- What to take into account when determining your pricing — and how to approach the pitch
- How Kizzy grew from a single government contract to $50 million and 3 consulting businesses
About Kizzy Parks: Kizzy Parks started K. Parks Consulting over a decade ago, and during that time earned a Ph.D. in psychology. Today, she owns and operates multiple businesses. Through GovCon Winners she helps service-based small business owners learn how to win profitable federal government contracts using her powerful CTC technique.
Highlights:
02:19 Meet Kizzy Parks
04:18 Why get a psychology Ph.D.?
05:59 Incorporation
06:59 Pricing a government contract
08:14 The scaling phase
10:18 $4 million program pitch
13:36 Pricing & profitability
16:38 Why 3 consulting businesses?
17:18 Biggest challenges
18:49 Where to find contracts up for bid
19:50 Confidence
22:00 Key hires
24:40 Pandemic impact
25:36 Podcast & digital product
26:00 What Kizzy wishes she knew then
28:43 What’s next?
Links:
Kizzy Parks
https://www.govconwinners.com/7-mistakes-to-avoid-in-government-contracting
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzy
https://www.facebook.com/DKP2007
Twitter: @KizzyKPC
AdultFluent Podcast
https://anchor.fm/adultfluent
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“We all create our own reality. We all create the truth that we live.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Do you have a project you’ve been trying to finish lately, or a big goal you’ve been hoping to achieve… but aren’t quite able to find that momentum or spark of inspiration you need?
Then you won’t want to miss out on this episode!
Sometimes, we can find ourselves surrounded by all of the tools that we could possibly need in order to meet our own goals (training videos, a support network, all sorts of resources), but we still find ourselves held back by one thing: ourselves.
We can have the best intentions in the world, but still come up with endless reasons NOT to take the first steps to working towards our goals.
The reason can be as small and simple as not wanting to put on your workout clothes — but it can have a major impact on your progress.
Our brains can build up incredible walls with the flimsiest of bricks!
But we can also use those same brains to knock those walls down.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The psychology behind the excuses and reasons we create which keep us from achieving
- A real-life example of removing a barrier and moving forward successfully
- One of your biggest secret weapons as an entrepreneur — and how to use it
About Guest:
Highlights:
01:13 The reasons we give ourselves
01:55 Workout story example
04:41 Excuses, not truths
05:57 Removing the barrier
07:13 Reasons & the psychology behind them
09:12 You CAN handle anything
10:30 Fact, reason, or excuse?
11:53 Your #1 goal & excuse
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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“Nobody puts Layne in the corner.”
- Layne
Layne, the founder and CEO of Auctionista, is changing the game when it comes to philanthropy.
And they’re doing it with STYLE.
The day that Layne discovered auctioneering is the same day that they were told that they could never make it in the job. But Layne didn’t let that stop them!
After enrolling and graduating from auction school, Layne founded Auctionista, a live fundraising powerhouse that brings the power of philanthropy, humanity, energy, and entertainment to every event. Layne has worked at over 1000 successful events, raising millions of dollars for charities.
And every single opportunity has been through word of mouth.
Tune in for a fascinating (and entertaining) conversation about brand-building, strategic hiring practices, growing and scaling gracefully, the pandemic pivot, and resilience.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Layne made it through an uncomfortable educational experience in the midwest — and found the determination to push ahead
- How Layne built a successful brand and business perfectly aligned with their values and life’s mission, from side hustle to scale-up
- The strategic hiring process Layne uses to put together the perfect team — and the key hires that have made a huge impact
About Layne: Speaker, founder, and CEO of Auctionista, Layne ignites the power of philanthropy with their signature high-octane, live fundraising style. Layne’s performance combines philanthropy with entertainment, equaling full-on engagement as a Live Auction Performer and Emcee at every event.
Highlights:
02:58 Meet Layne
05:51 Bucking expectations
08:13 From side hustle to scale-up
09:48 Biggest challenges
11:35 Hiring practices & culture
14:05 Key hires
16:17 Pandemic effects & pivot
21:51 Resilience
25:56 What they wish they’d known
27:41 What’s next?
Links:
Layne
https://auctionista.ca
Instagram: @theauctionista
Twitter: @The_Auctionista
https://www.facebook.com/TheAuctionistaLayne
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Your entire health of your business is rooted in the numbers.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are your emotions around money hurting your business?
It’s no secret that numbers can hold incredible power over us. The number on a test, scale, or bank balance can fill us with pride or shame. But letting emotions take the wheel when dealing with numbers doesn’t lead to good decision-making — in fact, it can cloud your judgment, especially when it comes to making strategic choices for your business!
The health of your business is entirely based on its numbers. Being a successful entrepreneur means treating these numbers as data and receiving them without judgment. Your numbers are not a reflection of who you are as a business owner — they are valuable feedback that will help you pinpoint the changes you need to make in order to push your business forward!
Once you’ve made your money mindset shift, you’ll be able to use your business numbers to make strategic decisions in your business… without being held back by emotions.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
✔ The power of removing story and emotion from your key decisions
✔ How to monitor the success of your business using data — and the top 3 things to focus on
✔ Why micro-conversions are an important metric to track when it comes to perfecting your marketing
Highlights:
02:16 The Business Accelerator
03:31 Weight struggle story
05:46 Removing emotion from numbers
10:01 Data & tracking your impact
11:39 Micro-conversions
13:59 The sales process
16:44 Expenses
18:15 Action items
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
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“I don’t want to do corporate America… I needed something that was different.”
- Precious Rodgers
Have you tapped into the awesome power of Pinterest for business yet? If not, you won’t want to miss this episode!
My guest is Precious Rodgers, a Pinterest marketing expert and ad specialist who helps online entrepreneurs unlock Pinterest’s potential to get more eyes on their content and grow their audience (and email list!).
That’s right, Pinterest isn’t just for interior design and recipes! Pinterest is not just another social media platform, either — it’s a powerful search engine that rewards consistency and design and offers longer-term benefits than platforms like Instagram or Facebook. Used properly, it can be a vital part of your digital marketing strategy!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
✔ How Presh grew from being a virtual assistant to starting her own agency — and becoming a Pinterest Badass!
✔ The role that cold pitching played in helping Presh land her first clients (and her best practices)
✔ How Presh shifted from selling herself to clients to selling the impact that she has
About Precious Rodgers: Presh Rodgers is a Pinterest Marketing Expert and Ads Specialist (or Pinterest Badass for short). She helps online coaches, service providers, and content creators pimp Pinterest to get more eyes on their content, grow their email list with action takers, and overall skyrocket their visibility with and without ads.
Highlights:
02:15 Meet Precious Rodgers
04:20 Why Pinterest drew her in
05:21 Presh’s early career
07:38 Cold pitching & Presh’s first clients
09:57 Selling mindset shift
11:43 Niching down
15:05 Growing an agency & hiring
17:49 Biggest challenges
19:06 The impact of Covid-19
20:00 Investing in learning
21:58 What she would change
23:30 What’s next?
Links:
Presh Rogers
https://preshrodgers.com/assistant/links
Instagram: @preshrodgers
To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter:
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When you can make money from your messaging, the right people are going to start lining up for your offers.”
- Shelagh Cummins
In this episode, I’m going to reveal seven areas where women entrepreneurs tend to unknowingly sabotage their own businesses — and in many cases, actually rob themselves of substantial revenue!
Be warned — the content in this episode may throw you for a loop. But that’s all the more reason to dive in, as we’re going to be talking about things that you, as a business owner, absolutely need to hear.
From hashtags to schedulers, web design to messaging, I want women entrepreneurs to stop getting in their own way and start dominating their niches and standing proudly in their value.
I hope that after listening, you can take a deeper look at your business and make any small (or big!) changes you may need in order to continue your journey on the Road to Seven!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
✔ Why so many business owners try to save money in the wrong places — and how it can cost them even more in the long run
✔ The importance of having a solid plan for growth and maintaining consistency
✔ How we should be showing up for other women entrepreneurs and for our clients
Highlights:
01:46 Listener shout-out
03:24 Tripping over the pennies
07:17 Talking to clients
09:14 Articulating your offers
11:56 Relating to other entrepreneurs
17:53 Planning for growth
19:52 Recap
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
https://linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
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“I just wanted to have choices. I just wanted to be able to do the things that I wanted to do, when I wanted to do them.”
- Sandy Forster
Is it possible to move from welfare to millionaire through coaching? It absolutely is — and Sandy Forster is living proof.
While Sandy is now a respected money mindset mentor with a bestselling book under her belt, she didn’t always enjoy financial freedom — or even have a solid understanding of finance.
At one point, Sandy was $100k in debt, on welfare, and struggling to raise her children. She believed she was “destined to be poor.” With even small money decisions causing her stress, she knew something had to change.
Now, she helps other women create lives of abundance and freedom. Tune in for the inspiring story of how she built her brand from scratch!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
✔ How The Law of Attraction kick-started Sandy’s amazing (and lucrative) mindset shift
✔ How long it took Sandy to move from welfare to millionaire
✔ Why the potent combination of empowered action and energy can be SO transformative!
About Sandy Forster:
Sandy Forster is a money mindset mentor who went from welfare to millionaire, was featured in Oprah’s Aussie Secret, and loves inspiring and empowering women to break through blocks, manifest more money, and create lives they’re passionate about. Her award-winning international bestseller How to Be Wildly Wealthy Fast has been translated into over 11 languages.
Highlights:
02:02 Meet Sandy Forster
04:36 Positive thinking
06:42 Opening up to possibilities
11:28 How long did it take to be profitable?
13:00 The focus & what the universe delivered
18:25 Wildly Wealthy Women
22:37 Transformational Leadership Council
25:18 Body, mind, action
26:19 Sandy’s practices
29:13 Next steps
Links:
Sandy Forster
https://www.wildlywealthy.com
https://www.wildlywealthyfree.com
Instagram: @sandylforster
https://www.facebook.com/Sandylforster
https://www.thesecret.tv/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Science-of-Getting-Rich.pdf
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click her
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I show you the path. I never take the wheel.”
— Hadriana Leo
Personal finance coach Hadriana Leo (AKA The Money Navigator) teaches women how to be the heroes of their own financial stories!
Hadriana started as a traditional financial advisor, something she could do while at home with her daughters. She fell in love with financial service and through truly listening to her clients realized that the traditional advisory business model didn’t allow her to meet their greatest need.
“These women really needed someone to journey with them, and not just throw numbers at them,” Hadriana says. “I realized that I had some gifts that I could lend to financial services that would allow me to meet that need and fulfill my own purpose.”
Hadriana offers her clients a unique blend of financial knowledge and an ability to provide nurturing guidance and support to help her clients lead richer, more secure lives.
In this interview, Hadriana talks about how she let go of her secret Cinderella fantasy and created her own “glass slipper” she could wear while walking into her purpose.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why financial coaching for women is so important
- How Hadriana has carved out and redefined her role as a Money Navigator
- How to establish the ROI on a coaching relationship
About Hadriana Leo
As The Money Navigator, Hadriana Leo is on a mission to inspire, empower, and equip women to unapologetically embrace and create wealth. Her unique methodology combines the key principles of math and mindset to help women confidently create their path to lasting wealth and legacy on their own terms! Born in St Lucia, her energy is as warm as the sun.
Highlights:
02:25 Path to coaching
05:17 Gender dynamics
07:44 Cinderella story
10:05 Owning wealth
13:21 Helping women
18:27 Redefining her role
22:11 Value proposition
25:05 Impact & imposter syndrome
25:58 Creating a voice
28:26 Lesson & what’s next
Links:
Hadriana Leo
https://hadrianaleo.com
https://www.facebook.com/moneynavigator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadrianaleo
Instagram: @moneynavigator
https://impostorsyndrome.com/book/overview
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“You have to be in it for the right reason.”
— Ariana Jackson
Ariana Jackson has a long history of supporting the vulnerable in her community. After adopting her daughter and closing down their therapeutic foster home, Ariana co-founded an assisted living home to support a friend’s foster son who was aging out of foster care and facing homelessness.
When Ariana realized how challenging the process was, she also realized her desire to make a larger impact.
She started the Direct Care CEO Facebook group and began offering masterclasses to help direct care professionals build thriving practices and improve the lives of those in need.
Her trainings include not only how to get licenced, but how to navigate the complex Medicaid system and scale up.
“What I believe sets me apart from other coaches out there that may do the same thing is I’m building this component in for not only starting, but for the future,” Ariana explains. “The future to grow, and to scale, and to implement systems in their business.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The biggest lessons Ariana learned on her journey
- The challenges Ariana faced — and how she overcame them
- The differences between fostering and therapeutic fostering
About Ariana Jackson
Ariana Jackson is a former direct support professional by way of therapeutic foster parent. In the past, she was frustrated and overwhelmed while trying to understand how to get her business in care started. After identifying her strengths of advocacy, connection, and communication, she put the foundation in place to elevate as a direct support professional, and became CEO and co-founder of a home- and community-based agency. Now, she helps people navigate and start their own direct care businesses.
Highlights:
02:26 Meet Ariana Jackson
04:22 Fostering definitions
07:12 The support Ariana offers
08:55 Challenges
12:24 Faith & passion
16:19 Big lessons
17:35 Care & training
20:10 What’s next?
21:43 What she knows now
Links:
Ariana Jackson
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dsptoceo
https://www.mrsarianajay.com
Instagram: @mrs.arianajay
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“You’ve got to let go. You have to let people do things their way, because what you care about is the result of their work.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Are you looking to hire? Are you considering it? Or have you started to hire?
If so, you’re not going to want to miss this episode!
I’m going to dig deep into the details of what you need to know when stepping into a leadership role in your small business.
This includes how to approach the hiring and onboarding processes in order to find the right people for your business, how to assess employee performance using the three Cs (competence, capacity, and communication), how to set fair and effective performance objectives, what to do when a team member falls short — and how to understand what might have gone wrong.
As you build your team, your role in your business evolves by necessity. If you’re already well into hiring for your business, don’t worry — you’ll still find a lot of very valuable information here to help you build and nurture an incredible team.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why resistance to hiring isn’t the moneysaver you may think it is
- The #1 first step you must take in order to be an effective leader in your business
- What to do during the hiring and onboarding process in order to find your best-fit team
Highlights:
01:10 Listener shout-out
01:43 Why small business owners resist hiring
03:56 Your first step as a leader
04:56 Trust & due diligence
05:51 Setting probationary objectives
07:38 Offering a permanent contract
08:52 3 Cs & performance issues
15:29 Your evolving role
16:59 You CAN lead
Links:
The Business Accelerator is here to help you bust through your plateaus, move past your roadblocks and create that core offer that sells itself to set you up for growth, fulfillment, and success!
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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Twitter: @shelaghcummins
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Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“We kind of broke a lot of the rules.”
- Suzie Yorke
Suzie Yorke is on a mission to bring healthy fats back.
In this episode, Suzie guides us through her step-by-step journey from coming up with an initial high-fat snack bar concept to having a full line of products on the shelves — including practical, actionable tips on how to secure distribution in Canada!
An eleven-time Ironman competitor, Suzie spent years on a low-fat diet — only to hit a wall in her mid-40s. After reading Nina Teicholz’s Big Fat Surprise, she shifted to a high-fat, low-carb diet, and felt better right away.
Unable to find convenient, good-fat snacks and seeing an opportunity to help others through food, Suzie launched Love Good Fats, a company that produces high-fat, low-carb, and low-sugar products.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
How Suzie grew her company from one delicious, high-fat bar to a full product suite
The start-up struggles Suzie faced — and how she worked through them
How she decided when to get funding — and what the money did for her business
About Suzie Yorke
Suzie Yorke’s company Love Good Fats produces high-fat, low-carb, and low-sugar products, and is one of the fastest-growing bar brands in North America. Suzie has been recognized several times since launching Love Good Fats, including the 2019 Mompreneur Start Up Award, 2019 WXN Top 100 BMO Entrepreneur Award, and 2020 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Ones to Watch Award.
Highlights:
02:37 Meet Suzie Yorke
03:56 Diet epiphany
07:58 Getting the first bar on the shelves
11:46 Start-up costs & struggles
14:20 First hires
15:27 Funding & networking
18:17 Production setbacks
19:56 Early successes
24:04 Dealing with naysayers
29:53 Product line
32:15 COVID-19
35:50 Biggest lessons
37:37 What’s next?
Links:
Suzie Yorke
https://www.lovegoodfats.ca
Instagram: @lovegoodfats, @suzie.lovegoodfats
The Business Accelerator
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“What matters most to your longevity as an entrepreneur is what you do when the going gets tough.”
- Shelagh Cummins
It’s not always rainbows and unicorns when we’re building our businesses.
When the going gets tough, how you react and the choices you make can have a huge impact.
Entrepreneurs tend to love sharing the highlights of their businesses — those breakthroughs that help them tap into their ideal audience, bust through revenue plateaus, or come up with the perfect offer.
And it’s great to have that inspiration, don’t get me wrong! I love a good success story as much as the next person.
But we don’t often see the lowlights of running a business — the obstacles and setbacks that every entrepreneur deals with on their Road to Seven.
Learning how to deal with the lowlights is just as important as celebrating the highlights!
This episode is all about exploring those lowlights — especially the ones that have popped up for so many of us during the last year. You’ll learn key survival strategies for keeping up your productivity and motivation throughout lockdown.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
Simple steps you can take right now to increase mental focus & energy during lockdown
How to find joyful micro-moments & space for solitude — even when you have kids at home
The unorthodox technique I use to find clarity and insight
Highlights:
01:29 Road to Seven Business Accelerator
02:13 What about the lowlights?
03:48 The #1 thing to remember
06:04 Finding solitude
08:30 What can you control?
10:11 Energy levels
12:11 Surrendering
13:37 Micro-joys & micro-wins
16:59 My unorthodox technique
18:34 What do you do?
19:05 You are seen
Links:
The Business Accelerator — refine & strengthen your core offer!
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
https://facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I will give anyone advice on their images and what they should be doing.”
- Trina Turl
Could branding photography be the missing ingredient your business website needs?
Trina Turl specializes in capturing vibrant, stunning images that help small businesses and brands stand out from the crowd!
A former wedding photographer, Trina shifted to photography for small businesses, shooting interiors, products, and small groups. She also provides magazine-quality stock images at accessible prices through her new business, Clio & Fox.
Branding photography is a specialty Trina shifted to after joining small business communities on Facebook and realizing the value she could bring.
“Once you become part of the small business community, you kind of see what they need, and it’s not really being addressed by strictly commercial photography. It’s a nice blend of the wedding, in the way that you’re interacting with people,” Trina explains, “But there’s also a lot of planning and thinking ahead of time that goes into it, which I also really love.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What branding photography is and how it’ll help your business stand out!
- How choosing the wrong stock photos can dilute your brand
- How Trina reinvented herself with an entirely new brand and product!
About Trina Turl
Trina is an experienced photographer specializing in product, food, interior and branded content photography for small businesses. She wants the small biz community to have access to magazine-quality images that will amplify their message and get their brands noticed. Trina does this through her stock photography business Clio & Fox and her custom commissioned work through trinaphoto.com.
Highlights:
- 01:55 Meet Trina Turl
- 05:26 First gigs
- 08:00 Commercial photography
- 09:47 Branding photography
- 12:15 Clio & Fox
- 14:25 Community
- 15:28 Challenges
- 18:58 Accountability
- 21:14 Reinvention
- 24:31 Takeaway
Links:
Trina Turl
https://www.trinaphoto.com
https://clioandfox.com
Instagram: @trinaphoto, @cliofoxstock
https://www.facebook.com/clioandfox
https://anchor.fm/justpushgo
The Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
The Business Accelerator Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other li
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Today, we’re talking about increasing your sales, but our strategy to do this is not necessarily what you think it’s going to be!”
- Shelagh Cummins
Increase your revenue, and you’ll be able to invest in your business, serve more people, and make an even bigger impact. But you don’t want to increase your sales by doubling the time that you’re working or holding gimmicky flash sales where you decrease the value of your offers.
In this episode, you’re going to learn the secret to increasing your sales... without increasing your hours, creating more offers, or making more pitches!
There are a few things that contribute to your sales: your offers, your pricing, your lead generation, and your positioning.
Of all of those things, positioning is the most important.
Your lead generation is made up of things such as webinars, launches, landing pages, and ads, but the reality is that there is no point spending money on those things if your positioning hasn’t been perfected!
Your positioning determines how you and your offer are perceived in the marketplace. It’s very easy to have too many offers or not enough offers. But how you position your offer is the cornerstone of how to increase your sales... without increasing your workload.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why your positioning should always be your #1 focus
- The 3 necessary ingredients for a viable scaling framework
- How the Road to Seven’s The Success Alignment Process will help peel back the layers of your business and fine tune the 5 key aspects of increasing your sales
Highlights:
- 01:21 What will more revenue do for you?
- 01:54 Listener shout-out
- 03:01 The five words
- 03:58 Sales
- 04:18 Offers & positioning
- 05:58 Pricing
- 06:25 Lead generation
- 06:58 Positioning
- 08:12 The Success Alignment Process
- 09:16 The 3-point scaling framework
- 13:36 The Business Accelerator
- 17:11 Takeaway
Links:
The Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
The Business Accelerator Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“This group, despite all the impact they have, remain the most overlooked and undervalued sector of the economy by banks, by investors, and the general public.”
- Shelagh Cummins
Did you know that more than half of all new businesses are run by sole proprietors, with two employees or fewer?
These microbusiness operate on a smaller scale with leaner operations, and tend to use contractors, rather than employees. They’re often dismissed as “cottage industry” or cute little “side hustles.” Not everyone believes in their power. Investors generally don’t consider them and Canada’s COVID-19 support passed them by.
Even though microbusinesses are widely overlooked by banks, investors, the government, and even the general public, they play a huge role in the economy, at both local and global levels.
A huge percentage of microbusinesses are run by women entrepreneurs, and they often hire other women entrepreneurs as contractors — helping these other women grow their own microbusinesses and earn more money!
When women succeed, that success has a ripple effect on those around them.
It’s why we’re launching The Road to Seven’s Capital Access Program.
The Capital Access Program offers microloans to women entrepreneurs for a very simple reason — investing in women just makes good sense.
And I am thrilled to announce its long-awaited launch!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The four points in my business when I received capital investments — and how I used them to grow my business
- How and why I used crowdfunding to raise funds for specific projects
- How the Capital Access Program is poised to help women entrepreneurs secure the capital they need
Highlights:
- 00:17 Microbusinesses
- 02:14 Unseen entrepreneurs
- 04:14 Small but significant
- 05:19 My #1 supporter & ROI
- 07:08 The Capital Access Program & 4 capital stories
- 10:16 Crowdfunding
- 12:14 Bank story
- 15:52 COVID-19 support
- 18:17 Debt in me
- 19:21 About the Capital Access Program
Links:
The Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
The Business Accelerator Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“We offer all of our team a day every month that they can go and volunteer at their favourite cause, and we’ll pay for that.”
- Desirée Bombenon
How do you shift from a profit-driven business to a purpose-driven one? And what are the benefits?
Desirée Bombenon wanted to become a community builder — so she made a commitment to utilizing her business as a force for good.
Her company, SureCall, is a former after-hours virtual reception service that has transformed into a global business optimization company. Part of this transformation included levelling up the company culture, something Desirée achieved through developing strong company values, encouraging community involvement through PTO for volunteering, and hiring a Culture Champion.
“We have all of these engagement KPIs that we utilize,” Desirée explains. “And that Culture Champion, their role is to ensure the team understands how to utilize these platforms, how to stay engaged, how to use the volunteer hours, all of those things.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Desirée handled big challenges during SureCall’s early stages and evolution
- The key roles she hired to manage SureCall’s amazing growth
- The impacts of developing and maintaining a positive company culture
About Desirée Bombenon
Desirée Bombenon has over 30 years of business operational experience. Her recognitions include RBC Women's Entrepreneur 2020 through Women of Influence and WXN Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women 2020, among others. SureCall Contact Centres has won industry awards for service excellence, ethics, and integrity.
Highlights:
- 01:23 Meet Desirée Bombenon & SureCall
- 04:04 Audit procedures
- 06:03 Biggest challenges
- 07:40 Key hires
- 08:36 Culture champion & engagement
- 09:50 Importance of giving back
- 11:52 Purpose- v. profit-driven
- 15:01 Employee buy-in
- 17:39 Covid
- 18:24 Journey to 6+ figures
- 20:45 Lessons
Links:
Desirée Bombenon
https://surecallcc.com
Instagram: @desireebombenon
The Capital Access Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/capital-access-program
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
The Business Accelerator Program
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/the-business-accelerator-live
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review,
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
I hope you’re ready for a spicy episode today! This week’s topic is gender equity in the workplace.
My guest is Paul Harrietha, co-author of the excellent book ‘The Invisible Rules: What’s Really Holding Women Back in Business—and How to Fix It’, which is based on the personal insights of 50 senior female executives, including some high-profile Canadian business leaders.
Paul’s wife is a senior executive at a large corporation, and Paul became interested in gender equity after realizing that she and her colleagues faced unique challenges and setbacks when climbing the corporate ladder… while their less experienced male peers received promotions into senior leadership positions.
This prompted Paul to do some soul-searching and identify some of his own hidden biases.
While Paul’s expertise is on gender equity in the corporate world, there are a shocking number of parallels to gender equity in entrepreneurship.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- Why so many women leave the corporate world and choose entrepreneurship
- The 4 consistent biases that are debilitating for aspiring female leaders
- The 3 main factors that stifle women’s advancement opportunities and wage increases
About Paul HarriethaPaul Harrietha is a consultant, business owner, and senior executive specializing in leadership, change management, and member engagement. He co-authored ‘The Invisible Rules: What’s Really Holding Women Back in Business—and How to Fix It’. Paul retired from the corporate world in 2020 to focus on writing, teaching, and mentorship.
Highlights:
- 04:05 Meet Paul Harrietha
- 05:42 Why gender equity?
- 08:50 Impact & reception
- 10:19 4 damaging biases
- 14:02 The maternal wall & appearance
- 15:39 3 stifling factors
- 19:36 Access to capital
- 20:22 CAPS leadership framework
- 25:58 Spreading the message
- 28:50 Racial inequities
- 32:06 Final advice
Links:
Paul Harrietha
https://capsleadership.ca/contact
The Invisible Rules: What’s Really Holding Women Back in Business—and How to Fix It
https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Rules-Really-Holding-Business-ebook/dp/B08YFLJW96
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
Women entrepreneurs are absolutely vital to the global economy… and there are more of us than ever.
We are starting businesses at a faster rate than men.
The Road to Seven is dedicated to removing barriers to business growth for women entrepreneurs of all ages, races, sexual orientations, religions, and creeds.
Our clients have a common goal: to build a profitable business that fuels their dream lifestyle and creates financial security for themselves or their families.
But their businesses also help the wider community.
Women predominantly create service-based businesses that support other people — this includes coaching, consulting, and freelancing.
They also predominantly create smaller businesses. 97% of women entrepreneurs remain under $1 million in revenue.
These micro-businesses are often dismissed as side hustles, hobbies, or cottage industries — but they form a microcosm of women entrepreneurs making a tremendous impact on their families and communities.
But their impact doesn’t end there.
Micro-businesses, while overlooked by lenders, play a huge role in our economy!
Unfortunately, they’re also the least financed and the first hit by economic downturn.
Traditional investors avoid them because micro-businesses are too small for them to own a portion of and are unlikely to scale into multimillion-dollar companies.
But there is another way.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How we can best invest in women-led microbusinesses in order to maximize their positive impacts
- How the Capital Access Program will support women-led businesses — and what you need to know
- What investment in women entrepreneurs really means — and its trickle-down effects
Highlights:
- 02:52 The Road to Seven mission
- 03:57 Small & micro-businesses
- 06:36 Investing in microbusiness
- 08:48 The Capital Access Program
- 12:11 Investing in women
- 16:23 Sexism in business
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
- Instagram: @shelaghcummins
- Twitter: @shelaghcummins
- facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
- linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
Nita Tandon started her company for what she calls a selfish reason.
She left her career in biopharma after the birth of her child, the same year Canada issued a ban on BPA in baby bottles.
As a pharmaceutical scientist, she was well aware of the dangers posed by BPA and other chemicals, and wanted sleek, non-toxic food containers for her family.
Despite her efforts, she couldn’t find any that she loved.
“If I couldn’t find the products I wanted, I decided I was going to create them,” Nita explains. “No company was going to take me seriously, so I said ‘why don’t I just register a company name, and let me see if I can make these containers for myself?’”
The next thing she knew, she had two products under her belt.
She signed up for a booth at the Baby Time trade show shortly afterward. When another woman urged her to apply for the start-up award at the show, Nita did so, intending only to get a few more eyes on her products.
To her surprise, she won!
Since then, she’s secured financing through SheEO, developed more products, and found her way into 100 retail stores across Canada — what an incredible journey!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Nita took her containers from concept to award-winning product — and the challenges she faced
- Why women lag behind men when it comes to high-risk, high-reward business moves
- How Nita sought out access to capital — and why it may be easier than you think
About Nita Tandon
In 2009, Nita Tandon stepped away from a pharmaceutical science career to become a mom. That same year, Health Canada issued a ban on BPA in baby bottles. Unable to find attractive, non-toxic food containers that were easy to clean and store, Nita launched her DALCINI™ Stainless brand in 2015.
Highlights:
- 03:24 Meet Nita Tandon
- 06:54 Women & risk-taking
- 08:56 The DALCINI story & BPA
- 13:53 Stainless steel & Indian culture
- 16:15 From concept to physical product
- 21:28 Gender in business
- 23:00 SheEO & getting into retail stores
- 30:00 What’s next
- 31:17 Final tip
Links:
Nita Tandon
https://dalcinistainless.com
SheEO
https://sheeo.world
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I didn’t have a lot of clients, so I set aside two weeks and created a six-week course... That was my first launch. I had like 4 people…and then I had 8… then it was 20.”
— Danielle Binns
Danielle Binns has achieved the entrepreneur’s dream — a business that lands her sales while she sleeps.
As a nutritionist and picky eating expert, she helps families push through mealtime frustrations.
It’s a niche she fell into accidentally, after attempting to launch a business supporting new mothers in a more general way.
When a brief story about her daughter’s pickiness resonated with her audience, Danielle niched down into picky eating consulting, which was exactly the right move for her business.
Her first lead magnet? A list of high-calorie foods for underweight kids.
Her unusual approach of focusing on “how to eat” in addition to “what to eat” helped establish her as a leader in her field and attracted an audience eager for her expertise, which she supplies via a set of low-ticket digital products.
“I do wake up in the morning and I see sales in my inbox, every single day,” Danielle explains. “Using Facebook ads is the way that happens for me. And it ebbs and flows — sometimes my ROI is really strong, and sometimes it’s not so strong. But ultimately I’m always building my list.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Danielle’s business model evolved from one-on-one consulting to fully online
- The marketing & advertising secrets she used to build a massive global audience
- How to optimize your lead generator & sales funnel processes
About Danielle Binns
Danielle Binns is a wellness consultant, nutritionist, and expert on picky eating. She’s transformed the lives of families around the world through private coaching, online programs, and her game-changing Curious Cookie placemat.
Highlights:
- 03:50 Meet Danielle Binns
- 06:14 Picky eating
- 09:30 Business model
- 10:33 Passive revenue
- 12:12 Ads, offers & funnels
- 20:22 Top lessons
- 24:45 What’s next
Links:
Danielle Binns
- https://daniellebinns.com
- https://curiouscookiekids.com
- Instagram: @daniellebinsnutrition
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
Hailey Verity has made multiple enormously successful entrepreneurial pivots. Her secret? A knack for tapping into the needs of her community and developing solutions that resonate.
Hailey left her job as a classroom teacher after the premature birth of her son. Through speaking with parents on the playground, she discovered a need for a half-day kindergarten enrichment program in the area.
Hailey launched a kindergarten enrichment program out of her home — her first entrepreneurial venture. Her only marketing effort was an email sent to a handful of other parents in the community.
She was booked solid within just three days.
Years later, after learning that her area was transitioning to full-day kindergarten, Hailey signed with a direct sales company. Rather than using the pushy hard sell, she sold in alignment with her values — becoming a top seller!
Hailey realized that many women her age struggled to feel good about themselves and their clothes. She wanted to help them express themselves through their style and coach them through that transition — which led to her third pivot to stylist and coach.
Hailey has learned so much during this journey and she’s sharing her story in this episode of The Road to Seven!
Listen now to discover:
- How Hailey built a business that was an instant success — without a website or social media!
- The biggest challenges (and successes!) that Hailey faced throughout her multiple pivots
- The importance of setting healthy boundaries to maintain balance in your life
About Hailey Verity
Hailey Verity is a Toronto-based certified coach and personal stylist, providing women with wardrobe solutions (and coaching) that supports them as they regain their confidence, level up their style, and feel good from the inside out.
Highlights:
- 03:30 Meet Hailey Verity
- 04:24 Pivot to program
- 06:25 Making the offer
- 07:40 Selling via connections
- 08:49 Setting the price
- 10:12 Setting boundaries
- 11:15 Pivot to sales
- 14:41 Pivot to styling
- 15:46 Challenges & successes
- 19:01 Life changes
Links:
Hailey Verity
https://haileyverity.com
Instagram: @hailey_verity
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
Fitness instructor Reena Parekh runs a thriving Instagram community of South Asian moms, offering fitness classes and speaking frankly about important topics that are stigmatized in her community, such as maternal mental health, inequity, and pelvic health.
How did Reena build such a strong following?
A few years ago, Reena realized that her entire feed was full of thin, white women. She knew that fitness leadership in Toronto was very white, despite the city’s diversity.
There was a need for new faces in fitness leadership, and there was also a niche that deserved attention — new mothers. She started looking for other South Asian people in fitness and followed them on Instagram, eventually building her incredible base.
“When I realized that my feed was looking the same over and over again, I realized that I was striving to also be that ideal. I’m never going to be that ideal, and that’s okay,” Reena explains. “My whole life has been about trying to fit in and assimilate. But the more I recognize how much my culture, my heritage, my belief system, and my lived experiences differentiate me, but also there’s so much power in sharing that? That’s what really drives me forward.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- What spurred Reena’s quest to shift the story around postpartum health
- How Reena’s unapologetic self-acceptance impacted her business
- The radical power of viewing basic self care as a human right
About Reena Parekh
Reena Parekh is a fitness coach and mental health advocate serving the pre- and postpartum population. Her focus is maternal mental health and the importance of pelvic health and returning to physical activity postpartum. She encourages her clients and followers to embrace their bodies and push back against postpartum bounceback culture.
Highlights:
- 01:57 Introducing Reena Parekh
- 03:50 Reena’s journey
- 07:02 Finding your niche
- 09:24 Speaking out
- 12:27 Effect on growth
- 13:48 Shift the story
- 16:58 2020 impacts
- 18:24 Working with Reena online
- 21:07 Right to self care
- 24:50 Reena’s biggest lesson
Links:
Reena Parekh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsreenaparekh/
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments belo
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I’ve heard one too many of you call yourselves a failure because you’re not able to keep up, and many of your worlds right now are completely upside-down.”
— Shelagh Cummins
So many entrepreneurs right now are struggling to manage homeschooling, running our businesses, and keeping on top of all of our other obligations — all at once.
If you added up your To-Do List right now, chances are it exceeds the available hours in the day!
And yet so many of us are considering ourselves failures if we can’t keep up with the impossible expectations we’ve put on ourselves.
I’m here to tell you to stop!
If you’re expecting to be able to handle all of the new responsibilities that lockdown brings — along with your regular work of building and growing your business — then I urge you to start being kinder to yourself.
You will not be able to do it all the way that you want to… but you CAN take steps to make amazing progress without running yourself into the ground.
In this episode, I’ll be sharing tips and strategies on how to bring your schedule back under control, regain a healthy perspective, understand how to tweak your processes for greatest impact, and figure out where you need to give yourself permission to relax and let go.
When you shift to labelling yourself as a “failure,” you’re not serving anyone — especially not yourself. It’s time to reframe, revamp, and revitalize!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to cultivate patience, understanding, and forgiveness for yourself — and why it’s totally okay if you need to reschedule calls!
- The decision matrix that will help you determine the best possible choice you can make in any circumstance
- Why lockdown presents an amazing opportunity to revamp or create new processes in your business — and the 3 questions that will guide your way
Highlights:
- 02:39 Under lockdown?
- 04:00 Stop & breathe
- 06:16 The decision matrix
- 06:41 Creating processes
- 08:33 The 3 questions
- 09:01 Delegating tasks
- 10:33 What can you delete?
- 11:51 Brain dump & triage
- 15:36 Self-care
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghC
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
A former wildlife biologist, Carla Wainwright now helps women connect with the divine feminine.
Carla believes that the wisdom we tap into when reconnected with our bodies and the divine feminine can guide us in running our businesses, navigating our relationships, and raising our children.
“When we recognize that the body has this wisdom that we can listen to, this really then begins to radically shift how we operate in the world,” Carla explains. “Because we are able to connect to the deeper ‘felt-sense’ — that inner knowing.”
Leveraging this connection helps us as entrepreneurs, as we will operate from a place of deep inner knowing, rather than just letting our egos make guesses... and hoping for the best!
Carla herself made an unlikely decision based on this wisdom. The day after deciding to make the leap from biologist to bodyworker, she received an offer for a government job — one that just a year earlier would have been a dream job!
But Carla knew that it wasn’t what she needed to do. She turned it down and now runs a successful business that she finds extraordinarily fulfilling!
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- How Carla reclaimed her power after two traumatic events — and why this lead to a transformation
- Steps that you can take today to begin reconnecting to your divine self
- How to tell the difference between your instinct and the story you tell yourself
About Carla Wainwright
Carla runs a yoga studio in B.C. and heads a global movement called Embracing Shakti. She is a breathworker, an earth priestess, and a healer. For more than 25 years, Carla has been in service to women on the path of embodiment.
Highlights:
- 00:26 Introducing Carla Wainwright
- 03:51 Biologist to breathworker
- 06:43 The divine feminine
- 07:41 Student to teacher
- 09:03 Leveraging the divine self
- 11:18 First steps
- 13:16 Unconventional moves
- 15:13 Being wrong
- 16:40 Highlights
- 18:09 Lessons
- 19:17 Telling the story
- 20:30 Working with Carla
Links:
Carla Wainwright
https://carlawainwright.com
Embracing Shakti
https://www.embracingshaktitemple.com
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode i
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“It’s not the programs that you offer or the products that you sell… it’s about the bigger picture.”
— Shelagh Cummins
Does your brand need a refresh?
I’d known for a while that something intangible was missing in my business, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what.
I’d run my business under my own name for over ten years. And honestly, I’ve been THRILLED with its success, the revenue it’s earned, and — most of all — its impact on my clients.
But deep down, I’ve been feeling an itch to expand my business and add a new vertical — and I realized I was having trouble figuring out what that could look like within the Shelagh Cummins brand.
That’s when it hit me: my business had gotten much bigger than me.
My role in my business is as the visionary. My goal has been to become a global leader in educating, supporting, and financing women entrepreneurs.
It was during an education session for my clients that I myself learned something new!
I hosted a seminar on branding for a group of women entrepreneurs, and listening to my expert guest speaker turned out to be an eye-opening experience.
I realized that my brand was… just a little bit stale.
I had brand consistency, but I needed a new infusion of heart.
I had to make a transformation.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The intangible elements that give your brand heart
- How to visually express your brand
- Why women-led businesses tend to fall into the micro-business category
Highlights:
- 02:01 Something missing
- 03:15 Heart in branding
- 05:14 The difference
- 05:53 Core values
- 07:21 Micro-lending
- 10:10 People first
- 10:44 Always a way
- 11:28 Impact & value
- 12:16 Visual expression
- 14:04 Vision & mission
- 16:12 Should you rebrand?
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
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“My biggest challenge is probably myself... in terms of growing, I think I felt like ‘Who am I to get too much bigger?’” — Laura Bonnett
If you discovered your true, fulfilling purpose in life, would you be ready to embrace it?
My guest for this episode, Laura Bonnett, is the founder and CEO of YellowTree Grant Writing. Laura worked for the federal government for nearly 10 years and now uses that experience to make an incredible impact on the world by helping organizations access grants that help them effect change.
Shifting from academia to entrepreneurship meant letting go of structure and embracing a level of fluidity. While she was used to a requirement of absolute perfectionism in her former career, she found that entrepreneurship is more fluid and adaptable — and you’re allowed to fail and learn from it.
As she grew, she developed her own structure by putting systems in place for bookkeeping and time management, and creating a schedule that worked for her.
But what she really struggled with was believing that she deserved to have more and get bigger.
When it was time to transition from solopreneurship to agency, she felt frozen. “I had to increase my belief in myself and in my company, to trust that this growth will continue,” Laura says.
She soon realized that she didn’t just need to expand her business, but the industry itself.
“We grant writers are few and far between in Canada. But in doing this hiring process, I realized that I need to start creating the pipeline,” she explains. “Because the pipeline’s not there… I’m going to have to start teaching more, because I need to develop this industry even further.”
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover
- The #1 mistake that organizations make when it comes to grant applications
- How to become comfortable with creating and embracing a new role in your company as you scale up
- The common money mindset challenge faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners
About Laura
Laura Bonnett founded YellowTree Grant Writing Services in 2018 to help organizations find their funding. She is passionate about social justice and generally making the world a better place — on a small or large scale.
Highlights
- 00:07 Introducing Laura Bonnett
- 03:26 The journey to CEO
- 06:32 Getting the first client
- 07:16 The biggest mistake organizations make
- 08:20 Setting up systems
- 09:44 From structure to fluidity
- 15:15 Biggest challenge
- 16:34 From solopreneur to agency
- 18:20 Creating your new identity
- 20:14 Support networks
- 21:43 Company culture
- 23:16 #1 piece of advice
- 24:37 Next steps
Links
Laura Bonnett https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bonnett-phd
Yellow Tree Grant Writing Services https://yellowtreegrants.com info@yellowtreegrants.com
Twitter: @YellowTreGrants
To work with me and make your next power move, visit https://shelaghcummins.com
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
What do you have to let go of in order to create a bigger impact?
My guest Laura Beauparlant ran a custom stationery business for 12 years. She was highly successful, and her innovative wedding invitation designs had been featured in many magazines.
Laura was making good money and building a name, but she knew that she wanted to leave the wedding industry. She wanted something bigger and better. She’d been doing design work for small businesses and soon realized she was making more money from small business branding than from her wedding invitations.
She knew she needed to shift where she put her energy.
In November of 2015, she quit doing wedding design completely and within 5 or 6 months she’d launched her new company, Lab Creative, and started her Brand Camp program.
The lesson? Sometimes, you need to let go of something in order to grow.
As Laura scaled up, she realized that couldn’t move beyond a certain revenue point without hiring a team and letting go of having full control.
She needed to recognize that her role in her business is that of a visionary, and that the only way she could thrive in that role is by having a team to support her.
She also needed to heal a money mindset that caused her to feel guilty about building wealth.
Once she let go, she achieved some truly incredible results!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The power in claiming your role as a visionary in your business
- The importance of recognizing when it’s time to hire — and how to be okay with bringing on new team members
- How shifting your money mindset can free you from limiting beliefs and guilt about building wealth
“I have it in my calendar to pay myself every two weeks, just like I would pay anybody else... I’ve learned that I have to pay myself. The work I do is valuable and I deserve to get paid in my business.” — Laura Beauparlant
About Laura Beauparlant
Laura Beauparlant is author of the book Brand Chemistry, an award-winning keynote speaker, and the founder and creative director of Lab Creative, whose branding and design process offers their clients a unique blend of experience, personality, and style.
Highlights:
- 01:51 About Laura Beauparlant
- 03:46 Transitioning to a new business
- 07:49 Reflection & pivotal moments
- 11:40 The challenges of hiring
- 14:53 Key players Laura hired & why
- 18:42 The finances of hiring
- 21:32 Mindset shift
Links:
Laura Beauparlant https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-beauparlant-4304381
Lab Creative https://www.labcreative.ca
Instagram: @labcreativeinc
Brand Audit Offer https://www.labcreative.ca/brandaudit
Brand Chemistry by Laura Beauparlant https://brandchemistrybook.com
Brand Camp: https://www.labcreative.ca/virtual-brand-camp - Use code CUMMINS for $250 off!
To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://shelaghcummins.com
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepr
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“‘One day’ doesn’t have to be far away. ‘One day’ can be today.” — Shelagh Cummins
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of flexibility. Perhaps you have, too.
2020 was full of new challenges and new problems, which required new solutions and ways of thinking.
In this pandemic age, it’s important to cultivate flexibility in what you offer, how you offer, and how you show up. The truth is, we don’t know when or if things will ever go back to “normal.” It is very likely that they won’t.
We need to start living flexibly in this new reality.
Think of the fable of the oak and the reed — one bends with the wind and survives, while the oak tree falls. As an entrepreneur or business owner, the way of the reed is the route to success.
I see many store owners who are hesitant about moving online or speakers who are resisting moving to delivering speeches online.
They tell themselves that they’ll do it “one day.” And this “one day”-ism isn’t exclusive to the pandemic — it’s always been a way to avoid the things you want but are afraid to have.
“I can’t launch because it’s not perfect” or “I can’t go after that client, because I’m just not ready yet.”
Instead of putting things off until “one day”, start considering one thing you can do today to get you closer to your goals.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The importance of cultivating flexibility and adaptability in both practice and mindset
- The ‘three ugly stepsisters’ that can hinder us when it comes to growing and scaling our businesses
- Why ‘today’ is always a better answer than ‘one day’ — and how to make the decision to take action less daunting
Highlights:
- 01:13 Flexibly living in the today
- 04:03 The “one day” trap
- 05:40 Adapting to circumstances
- 07:54 Push through the fear
- 09:27 The benefits of moving quickly
- 12:39 Shift your mindset
- 14:40 What’s your new “today” goal?
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
You can also listen at:
iTunes — Google Music — Stitche
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
2020 was a very tough year for most of us. A devastating year for others. Personally and professionally, we’ve all been trying to weather the storm.
But 2020 has also presented us with a number of hidden gifts.
For many of us, the pains of 2020 are still too fresh and it’s too soon to appreciate these silver linings — and that’s okay! For those of us who are ready, I’d love to look back on the way that this challenging time has changed us for the better, revealed new strengths, and highlighted the importance of support.
We’ve tapped into new heights of RESOURCEFULNESS as we figure out how to evolve and work around brand new challenges. We will not go back to life as we knew it — so now is the time to make amazing pivots and shifts, rather than waiting for the old normal to return.
We’ve tapped into the power of COMMUNITY by reaching out to members of our own community or joining new ones. We’ve found new ways to socialize and come together online, making new connections with other women entrepreneurs and gaining new forms of support.
We’ve discovered STRENGTH that we didn’t know we had: handling higher workloads, incredible challenges, and increased demands on our time, as well as the psychological impact of living through a global emergency.
And we’re still standing.
And that isn’t even half of the list. Celebrate all 10 of 2020’s hidden gifts with me in this episode!
You’ll discover:
- How the hidden gifts of 2020 have actually helped us to grow and evolve as entrepreneurs and members of our communities
- The importance in learning how to adapt to our changing business and social landscape
- The power of recognizing and appreciating moments of micro-joy
Highlights:
- 01:43 The hidden gifts of 2020
- 03:01 Surrender
- 09:24 Resilience
- 10:42 Resourcefulness
- 12:27 Empowered action
- 14:26 Adaptability
- 15:56 Community
- 19:34 Strength
- 20:23 The power of teams
- 23:14 Micro-joy
- 26:07 Relationships
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!
You can also listen at:
iTunes — Google Music —
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“The human side of your team and business can sometimes be the hardest to manage.”
— Shelagh Cummins
Laura Tolhoek grew up in a family that owned a small business, so from an early age she was familiar with the tenacity, resilience, and hard work that go into growing a livelihood. After going to school for HR, she worked for large companies in hospitality and food service.
She desired a healthier work-life balance and requested that her role be made part-time — a request that her then-employer balked at.
She looked at different part-time opportunities, but realized that she was already doing a lot of unpaid consulting work.
So, she decided to strike out on her own.
Laura realized that many small businesses can’t afford or don’t need a full-time HR person on their payroll, but could still benefit from having someone they can turn to for HR support.
She started her own agency offering flexible and customized outsourced HR options.
It wasn’t an instant success.
When she first launched her business, it took some time to generate revenue. She dealt with negative thoughts telling her that she was a failure — but then realized that she hadn’t done any marketing!
She reached out to her contacts, who spread the word to other business owners in need of her unique services.
And within just a year, she started building a team and scaling up!
Learn all about her journey — and her top HR tips — in the latest episode of the Road to Seven podcast.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The number one thing to remember when interviewing a new hire
- Why learning to delegate is one of the most important things that you can do as a leader
- Why waiting to be ‘ready’ will never work
“You didn’t open your business to be a human rights expert. But if you can have somebody in your back pocket who can say ‘Yup, you’re on the right track’ or ‘Let’s tweak it this way,’ it makes you have more confidence and know that you’re doing the right thing.”
— Laura Tolhoek
About Laura Tolhoek
As a Certified Human Resource Leader (CHRL) and the proprietor of Essential HR, Laura Tolhoek knows that when a business faces HR problems, there is no room for ambiguity, only positive results. For the last 15 years, she has blended sound HR practices with her pragmatic approach to improve business performance.
Highlights:
- 00:55 Introducing Laura Tolhoek
- 01:47 The business growth journey
- 05:40 The HR gap for small business
- 08:43 Landing the first (and second and third) client
- 13:35 Networking in a pandemic
- 14:30 Take advantage of learning opportunities
- 18:20 Pivotal decisions that fuelled growth
- 20:26 Laura’s #1 piece of advice
Links:
Essential HR
https://www.essentialhr.ca
Instagram: @essentialhr.ca
LinkedIn: essential-hr-canada
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their bus
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“I started Green at Home by accident. It was not something that I intentionally knew; that I was going to launch my own business.”
— Emma Rohmann
When it comes to creating a life that will fulfill you, passion is everything.
Running a business focused only on making money will eventually just feel like a job — it will be hard for you to show up, let alone show up as a leader.
A business focused on money and passion? That’s the key to fulfillment.
In 2015, Green at Home founder Emma Rohmann left her corporate job to pursue her passion.
And it all started with a blog.
Emma was working on a research project to discover how to make healthier choices for herself and her family while on maternity leave with her second child. Her blog served as a record of this research and a space where she could make sense of the information she learned.
She realized that she wasn’t the only mother with these interests, and that there was a hunger out there for information about green, healthy, eco-friendly products.
So, how did she move from blog to business?
She shared her posts in Facebook moms groups, keeping track of what resonated. She did in-person workshops and networked with moms, learning their questions or struggles and addressing those topics on the blog. This organic process led to partnerships and collaborations.
She made the leap to full-time entrepreneur when she realized that she was burning the candle at both ends. As a former project manager, she found the uncertainty terrifying. But she knew she needed to take the plunge.
Now, she wishes she had done it sooner.
Emma learned a lot through her entrepreneurial journey and her search to find the intersection between passion and revenue.
Hear all about her journey in the latest episode of the Road to Seven podcast.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- What you need to learn and invest in when you’re starting your own business
- The surprising health impacts of common household products — and where to look for information on healthier choices
- How to avoid being discouraged by controversy and negativity
About Emma Rohmann
Emma Rohmann is an environmental engineer, mom of 2, and founder of Green at Home. Emma also runs the Green Product Forum free Facebook Group, and hosts the Missing Pillar of Health Podcast.
Highlights:
- 01:39 Introducing Emma Rohmann
- 04:07 Why Emma started Green at Home
- 08:35 The journey from blog to business
- 11:10 Managing the mindset shift to entrepreneurship
- 13:26 Key elements for selling online
- 15:41 Dealing with controversy
- 18:35 The ‘cord-cutting’ process
- 20:10 The Fifth Pillar of Health
- 24:00 What Emma wishes she knew earlier
Links:
Green At Home
https://greenathome.ca
Instagram: @emma_greenathome
Green Product Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenproductforum
The Missing Pillar of Health podcast
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1352206
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Follow me!
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“If you say that you want something and then you do nothing to get it, you do not want it. To me, it’s that simple.”
— Christen N. James
Christen N. James never felt like she fit into corporate life. But she loved the work that she did.
How did she create space for herself to follow her passion outside of the corporate world?
Christen worked in a corporate management role for over 10 years, helping her team confidently apply their skills, reach their full professional potential, and live balanced personal lives. The role was a great fit for her BA in psychology and certification in solution-focused therapy.
She realized that this type of work was her true path, but that the corporate environment was stifling. She willed the universe to free her from her corporate job. And it worked — her department was closed and she was happily laid off.
Christen went back to school and became a certified life coach. She knew from her previous role that she wanted to focus on transition coaching, because she got so much joy when someone on her team was moving on to a new position and loved helping them tap into what was important to them. Now, she works with young women and helps them transition into new careers or entrepreneurship.
Christen helps her clients shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, reminding them that they have the opportunity to be flexible and move on from the things that aren’t working for them — and explore what may.
She has some incredible insights to share about self-awareness, dealing with negative and limiting beliefs, and how to identify what you truly want in life.
Listen to her inspiring interview now!
In this episode of The Road to Seven, you’ll discover:
- The biggest lie that entrepreneurs tell themselves when they are setting goals
- Why millennials want and expect more out of their professional lives
- How to show up every day the way that you WANT to show up
About Christen N. James
Christen N. James (fondly known as CJ) is a Mindset & Transition Coach for young professionals going through a transition, be it starting a new business or career. Through her
Emotion into Motion Model, she highlights the benefit of navigating between personal development and professional growth by understanding how much our experiences and emotions can influence our thoughts, impact our actions and, ultimately, how we show up in our businesses or careers.
Highlights:
- 01:13 Introducing Christen N. James
- 05:47 From corporate to entrepreneur
- 08:38 How to choose a coaching field
- 10:30 CJ’s familial inspiration
- 13:23 Why millennials want more
- 15:32 Key strategies for shifting to coaching
- 17:59 Tapping into your inner strength
- 20:25 Reconnecting in the moment
- 21:54 CJ’s favourite client
- 23:10 The lies we tell ourselves
- 24:58 CJ’s top three lessons & 2021 power word
Links:
Christen N James
http://christennjames.com
Instagram: @christennjames
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/i
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Are you using gratitude the right way?
There are some major misconceptions out there about how we should experience gratitude.
Gratitude can be experienced in ways that can drive your business growth, but a lot of people approach gratitude in ways that can actually hinder growth, based on this misunderstanding.
It’s easy to compare our lives to the lives of people less fortunate and feel as though we should be grateful for what we have, and that wanting MORE would be greedy. Being too full of gratitude for the life that you have can stop you from acting on your hunger for more.
Many of us question whether wanting more is in alignment with living in gratitude for what we have.
In this way, gratitude can act as a cage instead of a path.
Please remember that wanting more isn’t greedy and that you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
We can live in gratitude AND still want more. And work toward it.
In fact, working toward more can be an act of generosity, as having more for ourselves can create a positive snowball effect for our family and the people that we work with.
Identity what MORE looks like for you, and your path will start to show itself.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
- The #1 misconception that people have about gratitude
- How to use gratitude to fuel your business… instead of letting it hold you back
- Why gratitude isn’t incompatible with wanting MORE — and the amazing snowball effect that having more will have on those around you
“Growth isn’t always more … growth can mean different things for different people. It might mean fine-tuning a system, or status quo but liberating more time, or keeping your business running at the same level but having a higher profit margin.”
— Shelagh Cummins
Highlights:
- 01:40 Are you using gratitude in the wrong way?
- 02:19 The gratitude epiphany
- 05:14 Is wanting more greedy?
- 07:11 What will ‘more’ do for you and those around you?
- 08:36 Case study: Latondra Murray
- 09:45 Your path appears when you declare your MORE
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins
Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too!
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“When you run your own business, not everything is going to be perfect … there’s going to be days when there are losses and you have to understand that, as a business person, that’s part of the risk that you take … that’s probably one of the biggest learning things — just trust the process and put your faith into it.” — Sasha Senior
Covid-19 has created an interesting era for business. While many businesses have unfortunately been forced to shutter, others have found ways to adapt to the new normal ... or even grow! Sasha Senior actually LAUNCHED her business at the start of the pandemic, and her story is both a source of inspiration and a practical guide to savvy entrepreneurship.
A skateboarder since the age of 13, Sasha had never dreamed about owning a business — until she realized that Windsor did not have a local skate shop. It was a golden opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
She researched costs and found a perfect location, opening in March of 2020 — the start of the global pandemic and economic shutdown. Yet she managed to not only stay open, but thrive.
By the time of her grand opening, people were getting orders to stay home. “We probably had less than 10 people, including staff, and it was because of those orders,” she remembers. “So, it was a little discouraging. But it was still awesome, because I still had my first sale that day.” When full lockdown began, she knew that she had to go online.
She found the transition challenging, but didn’t let that stop her. She used her Instagram and Facebook profiles to guide people to the new online offerings, offering both curbside pickup and delivery.
The community was responsive and continued to support the shop, likely because they recognized Sasha’s passion in addition to the convenience of finally having a local shop catering to their sport.
But Windsor skaters weren’t the only ones making orders.
Sasha soon found herself shipping to places like Jamaica, Mexico, and California. Through her Instagram, she managed to create an amazing international community that has translated to almost overwhelming sales.
How did Sasha achieve this incredible success — and what practices has she adopted to better handle the major changes in her life?
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Sasha leveraged her Instagram account to build an international audience hungry for her products
- Mindfulness practices to help you handle swift business growth
- The major lessons that Sasha learned through opening during a pandemic — and why she would do it again
About Sasha Senior
Sasha is carving a new path as an entrepreneur. She’s a single mother of two and works full-time with the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as owning Bliss, a skateboard shop located in Windsor, Ontario. Follow her on Instagram @bossladysk8.
Highlights:
- 02:25 Introducing Sasha Senior
- 04:45 Sasha’s lightbulb moment
- 06:32 What is your lifelong passion?
- 08:02 Launching in a pandemic
- 10:55 Timing is everything when it comes to Instagram
- 12:36 The biggest impact on Sasha’s business — and where it came from
- 14:17 Handling growth and change
- 16:07 Sasha’s biggest lessons so far
- 18:17 If you knew then what you know now, would you still open?
Links:
Bliss SK8 Shop
Join the road to seven FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/867037907397297
“Unfinished business is in every facet of our lives. There are things that we want that we just keep not getting, for whatever reason.” — Shelagh Cummins
We all set goals, all the time.
- “I am going to lose 15 lbs.”
- “I am going to start meditating twice a day.”
- “I am going to launch my course this year.”
- “I am going to start writing my book.”
Setting goals is so easy. But how often do we actually follow through?
And, more importantly, what is stopping us?
Whether or not we are able to achieve our goals and conquer our unfinished business falls on our mindset and the commitments that we’ve already made to ourselves. These conflicting commitments are based on limiting beliefs about what we are capable of, what is best for us, and whether we can handle success … or even deserve it.
Without identifying and altering these negative internal commitments, it will be very challenging to move forward and meet your goals — if not impossible.
I’ve developed a process called Unfinished Business to help you identify limiting commitments, replace them with positive ones, and make sustainable progress towards what you really want in your life and business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How your thinking shapes the actions that you take (or don’t take) in your business
- How to identify the inner stories you tell yourself that hold you back from completing your goals
- The magic that can happen when you make a new internal commitment to yourself — and how to choose a gentle, achievable commitment
“What it is that you want to achieve this year or next year is just at the end of your fingertips. But the only way to step through the fear that’s standing between you today and the outcome you want to achieve … is to be in action.” — Shelagh Cummins
Highlights:
- 02:15 The two sides of commitment
- 03:19 The Unfinished Business process
- 04:24 What projects did you have planned for 2020?
- 08:39 Identifying competing commitments
- 11:52 Commit to a realistic transition
- 14:52 Commitments over tactics, always
Links:
Unfinished Business worksheet
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://shelaghcummins.com
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“You can’t just put it out there and have a vision of it and not take action towards it. A lot of people forget or don’t know or haven’t been taught that the Law of Attraction goes hand-in-hand with the Law of Action.” — Kristine Kolzing
What would your life look like if you were swimming in abundance?
My guest for this episode, Kristine Kolzing, has built her business around helping her clients answer that question firsthand. Kristine is a transformational mindset expert, success coach, and the CEO of the Alignment Tribe, and she teaches her clients how to envision the life that would truly make them happy — and then make it HAPPEN.
“We’re told from a very young age who we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to want,” she says, “and, especially for women, we really lose sight of what it is that we want just for ourselves.”
Not only can we not always recognize the goals that would truly fulfill us, but our subconscious can actively work against us when we start to pursue them — if you have spent most of your life feeling anxious or unsure, your subconscious mind falls back onto those patterns automatically!
The solution?
A full mind-body makeover, with the aim of replacing a limiting and maladaptive mindset with one primed to unlock and experience abundance.
“You’ve got to make new mind-body connections,” Kristine explains, “because if you’ve always thought a certain way, then you’ve always felt a certain way.” By retraining your brain, you can create a new normal, one based on feeling confident and at ease.
There’s never been a better time to get started!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The 5-Step Alignment Process that helps you identify and achieve incredible outcomes
- The conditioning we undergo from an early age that prevents us from working toward our most fulfilling goals — and how to overcome it
- How to ditch mind-body connections that aren’t working for you and create new ones that will
“It’s really a matter of continuing to choose what you want and being focused on moving forward, moving in the direction of what you want. You don’t have to waste your time figuring out why it hasn’t worked until now or what went wrong … it can be helpful to have those awarenesses, but we don’t have to dwell on it.” — Kristine Kolzing
About Kristine Kolzing
Kristine is a transformational mindset expert and master success coach who guides her clients into stepping into their most powerful selves, attracting more abundance, and confidently creating a life and business they love.
Highlights:
- 02:23 Introduction to Kristine Kolzing
- 05:33 The winding road to Master Success Coaching
- 09:20 A powerful new way to think about ‘mindset’
- 13:40 The 5-Step Alignment Process
- 15:15 The barriers to taking your first steps
- 17:08 Learn the power of reframing the negatives
- 18:50 How to revamp your mind-body connections
- 21:54 Recognizing the resistance
- 22:52 The genetics of emotion
- 24:24 Exploring the superconscious
- 27:05 Taking aligned actions and power moves
- 29:11 Delegate, delete, or automate
Links:
To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://shelaghcummins.com
Connect with K
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We all have our roles, whether it’s wisdom-sharer, or marcher, or healer. I was waiting for that healer part to be called forward. - Asha Frost
Are you rooted in the path you’re meant to be walking?
This episode features an interview with a very special and powerful guest, Asha Frost, an Ojibwe healer, spiritual mentor, and businesswoman.
A sensitive and empathic child growing up, Asha soon realized that she had the ability to engage in visionary practices, receiving messages from ancestors. “The healer path was printed in my soul,” she says. “But it took me my lifetime to awaken it through experience.”
Asha facilitates powerful healing journeys for her clients, helping them to move through past judgment, trauma, ancestral disconnection, mental disorders, and enables them to discover, explore, and celebrate their true purpose and power.
This is all the more important during our current period of discovery and uprising.
Effective allyship and action requires healing, on multiple levels.
For people with good intentions who aren’t used to activism and uplifting others, it can be a challenge to know how to best support others. “It’s so important to look at all the different ways that you can show up, and honouring those things,” Asha explains. “Because what I find people do is they go into freeze, because they think that they’re not doing enough. Or because if they read that they ‘should be doing it this way,’ then they disconnect from their own truth.”
Asha’s medicine is rooting in healing, and it’s important to heal not only ourselves, but our relationships with our global sisters and brothers.
This episode is a must-listen if:
- ...you wish to support and uplift others, but aren’t sure of the right way to go about it.
- ...you feel that you are somehow holding yourself back from what you’re meant to be doing.
- ...you’re ready to make powerful positive change.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The small but powerful ways you can support BIPOC-owned small businesses right now
- How to practice energetic, open-hearted listening
- Why authenticity and honouring your truth are key aspects of fully travelling your path
This interview was undertaken as part of an initiative that I created called Listen, Learn, Take Action: How to Build an Inclusive, Equitable and Antiracist Business.
About Asha Frost
Asha is an Ojibwe healer, spiritual mentor, and entrepreneur. She has worked as a Medicine Woman for almost 2 decades and has facilitated thousands of ceremonies through individual appointments, healing circles, retreats, and workshops.
Highlights:
- 00:50 Introduction to guest Asha Frost
- 03:39 Asha’s journey to becoming a healer
- 05:06 Owning her gifts & her own health
- 06:47 How to get your message/medicine out in the world
- 07:45 Is a healing journey right for you?
- 08:40 How to Listen, Learn, Take Action right now
- 12:38 Dealing with racism as an Indigenous business woman
- 15:20 How to make your business more equitable
- 17:46 Become a global citizen and ally
- 19:47 How to embark on your healing process
Links:
- Asha Frost’s website https://ashafrost.com
- Listen, Learn, Take Action
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This episode is a little bit different. You know I like to shake things up and keep things
fresh for you. I did a training inside my Women of Action Group as a response to what I
was seeing was happening with my women. We've just come out of a crazy quarter.
The last quarter of 2020 has just been mind-blowing. I don't think anybody could have predicted that the challenges that you faced and that you've overcome would ever have
been a part of our conversation, for lack of a better word. What I noticed is that lots of
you were in fight with your business. You were fighting with it, trying to make it work,
and trying to make it fit. I can tell that that's draining you so I did a special training within my private Facebook group and gosh, I would love to have you be a part of it.
This is the kind of conversation that we have within the group and do a deep dive. I wanted to share it with you because I think it's so important for women entrepreneurs right now. If you're in fight with your business it's because something is out of alignment. I walk you through today, a four-step process to help you realign your business with your current reality. If you're in fight, you're struggling to keep up, you're having a hard time getting new clients, getting content out the door, or making any progress, then it's time for you to stop and take a little bit of space and grace to realign with what it is that's most important for you, what it is that your passions are, what it is that your geniuses are, what you're doing, and how you're spending your days so that we can realign your business with the time that you have available. I hope you enjoy this episode.
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Hello again and welcome back to the Road To Seven. It is an absolute honour to be sitting with you today. My guest today is an interview that you don't want to miss. Not only is she a powerhouse in business, but we got into the nitty-gritty of the inside work that has to happen in order to grow a successful business. Violette de Ayala is a Cuban American serial and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of FemCity and the international best-selling author of the Self-Guided Guru: Life Lessons for the Everyday Human.
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Welcome back to The Road to Seven with Shelagh Cummins. It's an absolute honor to be spending some time with you today and to be sharing a really powerful story from a woman who I just adore. What I love about my conversation today with Nadine Woods is how real it is. Tune in as we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of business growth, checking in with your mental health and so much more!
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We cannot escape having an unhappy client. Especially when you're growing, the more people you serve, the more people who are buying from you, the more customers and clients that you have, the more of the likelihood that somebody is going to be unhappy, because we're dealing with people, and people are unpredictable. People have their own agendas and some people feel a lot of power behind their computer screens. And they love nothing more than to lash out and belittle the recipient of the email forgetting that there's someone else on the other end of that email or phone call. Let's talk today a little bit about how to handle it when things start to go south with a client.
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**It has not been an easy week. It has been a highly emotional week as I stop and pause and listen, and empathize and reflect on my history, my unconscious biases, my white privilege, and how I can do better, be better, and role model better for others. I am anti-racist, but I haven't been loud enough about it. And so, today I just want to talk through the process of how I'm coming to terms with my business and where I can be doing better.
So hopefully it will inspire you to go through your own journey. It's not up to me to tell you what to do to stand in alignment with your core values and your beliefs. I am simply going to share the journey that I'm taking myself through. I hope you tune in as I get vulnerable and share my reflection as well as my commitment to doing and becoming better.**
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In today's episode of The Road to Seven, I interview Mary Engel who is also known as The Management Coach and is the co-founder and CEO of esuite.com. Mary and I sit down and we talk about how you have to fall in love with marketing in order to grow your business. She shares some amazing pivot points in her journey that has allowed her to create a scaled and highly profitable coaching company. This is an episode you don't want to miss!
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In today's episode of Road to Seven, I sit down with Kim Ades. Kim has been someone I've idolized for a long time she's been able to do what many coaches have never figured out- she has scaled a strong, sustainable and profitable coaching company.
Kim Ades is the president and founder of frame of mind coaching and journal engine software. author, speaker, entrepreneur, coach and mum of five, Kim has 15 years of experience coaching many of North America's most respected leaders, recognized as an expert in the area of thought mastery. Kim uses her unique philosophy and quirky coaching style to help her clients deal with core issues and shift their thinking in order to yield extraordinary results. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
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This week on Road to Seven's #ThriveGuide, I have an incredibly special guest. This is a woman who I have been looking up to for years now as she's been building the SheEO brand and the SheEO Empire. I love what she stands for and love how she serves and today I am so thrilled to introduce you to Vicki Saunders the founder of SheEO.
Tune in as we talk about how she's built up SheEO, how SheEO can benefit women entrepreneurs like yourself and how to pivot your business towards success during a time of crisis.
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Your market value has gone up since this pandemic has crushed our entire world, its economic and health systems. And we're facing challenges that we've never had to think about or look at before.
Today I have a very special episode of this podcast. I'm chatting with Stu McLaren who has been a mentor of mine for the last three years. He's the person I turned to, to think about how do I want to lead my company and my community in a way that not only feels good but has a massive impact and is collaborative and brings together people from around the globe. Tune in to step into action and learn about the FREE workshop he's hosting this week!
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COVID-19 has been declared a national pandemic that has many of us feeling like "business as unusual" where everything seems to. Today, we're moving from working on our mindset to shifting into action. Now is the time more than ever to share your value with others who are relying on you. Tune into this broadcast to learn how to shift, step-by-step, into action. You matter, your work is important and you're not alone. I'm here with you.
Don't forget to tune in on my Facebook Live every morning at 9:30 A.M. EDT and tomorrow for another broadcast to help you get back to doing what you do best.
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COVID-19 has been declared a national pandemic that has many of us feeling stuck. If you're feeling the effects of staying home, balancing your work and personal life, or facing anxiety about the future - tune into this broadcast where we'll discuss three things to help you get back to making those PowerMoves. You matter, your work is important and you're not alone. I'm here with you.
Don't forget to tune in on my Facebook Live every morning at 9:30 A.M. EDT and tomorrow for another broadcast to help you get back to doing what you do best.
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On this episode of Road to Seven, Sharon Vinderine and I sit down and talk about how she has created multi-million dollar companies. She's part of the elusive 2% of women entrepreneurs who have successfully built a seven-figure business. And she hasn't just done it once, my friends, she's done it more than once. Tune in as she shares some of her secrets to building a seven-figure business.
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If you've ever wondered whether it's your marketing or your sales or how you handle conversations or what you put up on Instagram that's going to be the key to your success - then you need to listen to this episode.
I interviewed the five women who just graduated from Leverage, which is my highest level program designed for women that are building seven-figure businesses. And I asked them what the key to their success was fully expecting it was a marketing strategy or sales strategy and their answers might surprise you!
So listen and tune in get your pen and paper because there is gold in this episode.
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Welcome to a brand new season of Road to Seven!
We're starting 2020 off with a VERY timely topic - procrastination and perfectionism. In fact, I actually have been procrastinating this very episode! I really wanted to get it right and so I kept pushing the deadline further and further away. Tune in to hear me get vulnerable, how to overcome procrastination, and how to deal with perfectionism in a way that works!
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From corporate to running your own business from scratch is a huge transition - especially when you’re starting out with a laptop, three clients and a lot of hustle.
In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Andrea Henry, owner of Henry Business Law about her unbelievable business growth journey over the last few years to help women protect the beautiful businesses that give them the freedom and agency they crave so they can grow with confidence.
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Welcome to the second in a series of four podcasts all about productivity. In the last episode, we talked about the secret weapon to your productive new lifestyle, which is all about getting clear. Clarity is so important when it comes to productivity because it helps drive the decisions you make on a daily basis of what actions you're going to do to help you get closer to your goal.
In this episode, we are talking about goal setting. But I just want to share the universal truths or theory about goal setting so that you can understand the process from a high level so that when you're going through the steps, you know exactly where you've been and where you need to go so that it's not such a daunting task.
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In this episode, we kick off a four series episode blitz all about productivity. Why? Because productivity is your secret weapon to a successful business. If you are living in chaos, overwhelm or stuck on that same hamster wheel doing the same thing day in and day out without achieving what it is that you want to do - you need to listen to this episode.
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This week on the Road to Seven, I'm interviewing Tracy Costa, CEO and founder of Peekaboo Beans, a Canadian children's clothing company. In this episode, we learn about all the crucial pivot points that Traci made to keep up with the changing demands on her business. Tune in to learn how to become more nimble in a changing digital landscape, transform your employees into passionate ambassadors and overcome those obstacles in your road to seven figures.
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“Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy and passion meets the world's greatest needs.”
- Unknown
In this episode, we’re chatting with Jennifer Ego from Pawsitively Pets Kids Camp and she completely embodies someone who matched a passion with a need in the world to create an incredibly successful business. Tune in as we talk a little bit about her road to seven figures and beyond, what those pivotal moments were and how she handled making really brave and bold decisions- usually before she was ready to make them. Have a listen!
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No matter where you are on your road to seven, there will always be parts of your business that you absolutely love and others that you don’t - we just need to figure out how to make it work. In this episode, we’re talking to Tamika Auwai, CEO of Orisha Creative, about her journey from being a solopreneur to building and leading a thriving agency. Tune in to learn about how you can build a self-managing agency and play within your genius.
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It’s September again - the kids have gone back to school and while many of us are readjusting back to our normal work schedules while mentally reliving our summer vacation (or lack of one if you solely worked the whole time), I’m also looking back at my summer as probably the best one ever. Why? Because for the first time ever, I had a clear divide between work and play - something that you too can achieve!
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In every business what starts off as an idea often turns into a part-time gig - which hopefully grows into a successful company. In this episode, we’re challenging the way you think about your business growth thought process with Susan Diaz, CEO and Founder of C+P Digital. Tune in to learn about Susan’s Flexibly-Committed business model and how your business can grow today!
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This may be a trigger for some, that even the bravest of entrepreneurs squirm and wiggle their feed with discomfort. In this episode, we’re talking about all about patience. Tune in to learn how you can become more patient with yourself and your business so that you can launch, grow and scale your business to seven-figures and beyond.
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With a changing work environment, new skillsets and the need to outsource are increasing in demand. You may find yourself in possession of skills and gifts that others need - so you decide to freelance part-time. At what point do we decide whether this should remain a part-time gig or transform it into a full-time career? In this episode, we speak with Tasha Booth, podcaster mentor and CEO of The Launch Guild, about her journey from creating a part-side side-hustle to evolving it into a 7-figure business.
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Sometimes, you just feel like quitting. A year and a half ago, Lydia DiFrancesco almost did. The CEO and wellness consultant at Fit + Healthy 365 was feeling overworked, exhausted and unsuccessful at achieving the goals she set for herself. Sound familiar to you too? Tune in as Lydia teaches us how to grow your business while putting yourself first.
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Summer is fast approaching - which is sure to affect your business! With the kids around, beautiful weather and vacations underway, it can be tempting to put everything on hold. In this episode, I share with you my easy five steps to set yourself up for summer success. The best part? You can still enjoy a great summer while you keep your business running. All you need to do is implement these steps today!
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Running your own business isn’t easy - but what is the biggest barrier stalling our ability to grow? Truth is, it’s you. In this episode, I help you refocus on your mindset, identify seven barriers and how to overcome each one. Tune in to understand what’s keeping you from making power moves and start taking action for better results!
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Running a business can often feel like a rollercoaster. There are ups and downs, and then there are moments where you feel overwhelmed and on the brink of motion sickness. In this episode, I help you build up your resilience so that you can weather the challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur. Tune in as I discuss five strategies that you can implement today!
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What is your company’s story? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Melissa Durrell, the president of Durrell Communications public relations agency. For nearly 20 years she worked as an award-winning journalist before founding her own start-up company. She tells her client’s amazing stories by using insider knowledge to gain local and international exposure. Today we’re talking about the role activism can play when you grow your business and how Melissa has grown from a company of one to a team of eight high-producing PR and communications experts.
Takeaways from this episode
- When you’re talking to the media you have to have a sticky story
- Create a strong story people will remember
- Make sure you’re providing solutions to people’s problems
- Every company has a story
- To find your story ask, “Why should people care about what you’re doing?”
- Hire amazing people—your revenue will jump right away when you do
- Look for people who want to be mentored and have great leadership skills
- Learn how to delegate tasks to your staff
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What happens after you reach your big, hairy, audacious goal? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Kelsey Ramsden, author of Success Hangover. Described as “the 50 million dollar women” by Forbes magazine, Kelsey is known as a master builder of ideas, companies and sky’s-the-limit futures. Twice named the Canada female entrepreneur, she has founded and scaled businesses in industries as diverse as construction and kids toys. Today we’re talking about what happens after you reach your goal and things we can do to work through the success hangover.
Takeaways from this episode
- Having an MBA doesn’t make you a business person
- It’s important to build alignment with your business and the people who work there
- The goal is not the finish line—there is no finish line in entrepreneurship
- Feedback doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. Allow feedback and input to make you better
- Go for the hard stuff, that’s where all the best stuff is
- Don’t surround yourself with critics, surround yourself with people who have your back and give you the tough feedback
- Receive feedback with care and love but also remember you have your own mind
- Don’t lose your innovation—ask yourself is there a more exciting way to work? Is there something different you can try?
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How do you create space to pursue your business goals when you have no time? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Susan Pierce Thompson, an expert in the psychology of eating and an adjunct associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. Author of Bright Line Eating, Susan is also the founder of Bright Line Eating solutions—a company dedicated to helping people achieve the health and vibrancy that accompany permanent weight loss. Today we’re taking a look at the key decisions Susan made along the way from writing her book from a place of meditation to launching and growing a seven-figure business.
Takeaways from this episode
- When you’re connected with who you want to be what you have to do and what you’re going to have is going to follow
- Getting into and staying in massive action once you know where you’re going is key
- Sometimes short-term sacrifice is what it takes to get your business to the next level when you don’t have extra time to put in
- Commit to following an expert’s system without deviation when you haven’t been through something before
- How can I develop my organization so that the company can grow and the customers can be served without me overworking?
- Trust your gut always – the answers are inside of you. You’ll hear a lot of conflicting advice and the only way to navigate this path is to stay true to yourself
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Do you have a book in you? No more procrastinating! On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Melanie Votaw, an author, ghost writer, editor and book coach. She has written 10 books under her own name and ghost written 23 non-fiction books. Melanie has developmentally edited more than 50 books that have won 32 awards and her work has appeared on New York Times Best Sellers lists. In her group coaching programs she guides aspiring authors through to the completion of their book or book proposal. Today we’re talking about how to finish your book and the pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.
Takeaways from this episode
- There’s a difference between a writer and an author
- Figuring out your book’s structure is the hardest thing for people who have never done it before
- The three main pain points with finishing a book are isolation, lack of motivation and self-doubt
- Writing a book without an outline is like trying to build a house without a foundation
- In order to focus your book’s topic, ask questions like: What do I want my readers to learn from my book? What do I want them to know?
- Your idea has to be hooky; it has to be interesting to potential readers
- If you’ve never written a book find someone to guide you—your book needs to represent you and your brand well
- Get the guidance you need to get your book out into the market so you can up-level what you’re doing
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Are you wondering how to best use your time in order to grow your business? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Rona Birenbaum from Caring for Clients. Rona has worked for over 25 years in financial services within the credit union, full-service brokerage and independent financial planning industries. Over the years she has developed a strong team of seven financial professionals offering outstanding value to their diverse clientele. Today we’re talking about the importance of charting your own course when it comes to your business.
Takeaways
- If you don’t have clients your focus needs to be on getting clients
- Don’t get distracted by things that make you feel like you’re being productive but are not actually creating growth or sustainability
- To get in front of a client is one thing—to have them see you are the person who can help them is another
- People can learn anything if their purpose is aligned, they work hard and they’re bright
- Making sound decisions quickly and efficiently and then adapting as you see those decision play out is more important than making perfect decisions
- Focus on your physical fitness, diet, and sleep because energy is key to making something meaningful happen
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Is it time to pause and align your business with what matters to you? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Rachael O’Meara, a transformational leadership and executive coach who supports others as they seek to fulfil their potential. She’s a sales executive at Google and author of Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break. Rachael says a pause is an intentional shift in behaviour that helps you lead a more meaningful and satisfying life.
Takeaways
- We often operate our business from a position of survival or burnout but our peak performance is sitting on the other side of the road
- The only way we can get into a place of peak performance is through renewal
- Five signs you know you need a pause: you used to love what you do now you loathe it, your boss tells you it’s not working out, you need a technology intervention, there is a challenge, there is an opportunity
- Not knowing what to do next in your business? It might be time to pause
- Pausing is in service to the doing
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What can I do today to serve my clients? What can I do today to serve my team? On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Shelley True, the president of TRUEdotDESIGN. Shelley and her award-winning agency provide strategic marketing, design, branding and social media for companies within the architectural, engineering, property development and construction sectors. A trail-blazer in Ottawa’s business community, Shelley took the bold step of acquiring the award-winning Ottawa-based firm Avenue Design and has successfully merged the two companies under the TRUEdotDESIGN brand, building on two decades of experience while seamlessly integrating the culture, approach, mission and values of both firms. Shelley is known as a natural connector and believes that mentorship and encouragement is the role of all business leaders.
Takeaways
- The first five years of business is the most crucial—get through that and then look at the next 10
- When you’re just starting out stay focused on your one initial target market until you’ve mastered that
- What’s changing? Incorporate that and keep bringing it to your clients
- Anything you accomplish gives you the guts to go and do something bigger
- Remain positive—keep your positive self-talk up
- Try not to look back, keep looking forward
- Buckle up and don’t forget to wear your helmet
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Work hard and love what you do and the money will come. On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Jody Steinhauer, the president and CBO—Chief Bargains Officer—of The Bargains Group. Jody has mobilized her award-winning discount wholesale and promotional products company to revolutionize the business landscape. Jody uses her network of resources and leveraged buying power to aid every company and not-for-profit agency that she touches to maximize their buying dollar.
Takeaways from this episode
- Giving back makes great business sense. It’s important and people will do business with you because of it
- Find incredible mentors and ask for help
- Filter every decision through the questions, “Is it right? and “Is there any kind of downside to my personal brand or reputation or my company’s reputation?” The deal has to pass the test
- Communication and getting back to people is key when you’re just getting started
- Be conscious of growth strategies—you can do a lot without spending money
- If you want to get anywhere keep every cent in your business. Pay yourself what you need to actually live and write off everything you can
- Don’t focus on the dollar figure; focus on what you are accomplishing. Are you making an impact? Are you making a difference?
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Partnerships in business are tricky and don’t always result in success. On today’s episode of The Road to Seven podcast I’m speaking with Julie Cole, a recovered lawyer, mom of six and co-founder of Mable’s Labels. She has helped bring the company to a worldwide market, gain media recognition and win countless entrepreneur awards. Today Julie and I talk about growing a business—which ended up being sold for millions of dollars—and how she built it in a partnership.
Takeaways from this episode
- No matter what the vision is, take it seriously and take the proper steps to get that foundation in place
- You will never work harder in your life—a start-up is hustle all the time
- If you’re thinking about starting a business with someone put a shareholder agreement together while you’re all still friends
- Before you start make sure that all the humans in your life know what it will actually look like so your support system is strong
- Keep revisiting your business plan and make sure you’re on track
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help; don’t let your ego ruin things
- Know your exit plan—are you growing it to sell your business or are you growing it to leave it as a legacy?
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