Sheroes of Small Business: Recent Episodes
Delores Garcia (Host)
Welcome to Sheroes of Small Business. This podcast is for women who are working to start or build a small business. It's for those days when you ask yourself, why am I doing this? We all need help on our small business journey, and the women on this podcast want to help. We may not always feel like sheroes, but we can be sheroes to one another, offering advice, guidance, and support as we traverse the unknown landscape of owning, starting, and building our own small businesses.
Are you a rule follower?
A trailblazer?
Or are you a little of both?
Janice Plado Dalager and Debra Ann Dotson discuss being rule followers versus trailblazers, and how we are never one or the other. We sometimes need to follow rules when working with clients, but also need to provide unique solutions to problems, thus being trailblazers.
Whether you follow the rules or blaze new trails depends on “how you want to express yourself” in your business, according to Janice.
Share your views with us on Facebook and Instagram (@sheroesofsmallbusiness).
- Sheroes of Small Business: https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
Hosts:
- Debra Ann Dotson - Author/Novelist - Harrington Palmer Series and D&K Mysteries
(DebraAnnDotson.com)
- Janice Plado Dalager - Janice Your VA, Virtual Assistance Services and Consulting
(JaniceYourVA.com)
sheroesofsmallbusiness #entrepreneurmindset #Sheroes #smallbusinesses #podcast
Do you take work with you on vacation? If you do, how to you relax and recharge?
Janice Plado Dalager and Debra Ann Dotson discuss the advantages and disadvantages of working while on vacation. Both Janice and Debra embrace the remote office culture and are considering the digital nomad lifestyle. But just because technology allows you to do your work from anywhere, that doesn't mean you should always be working.
Janice also provides insight from one of her favorite books, Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business, by Paul Jarvis. Debra is now reading the book and learning that being a success doesn't always mean making millions of dollars. It's okay for your business to stay small—and for you to leave the work behind while you take that much deserved vacation!
- Sheroes of Small Business: https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
Hosts:
- Debra Ann Dotson - Author/Novelist - Harrington Palmer Series and D&K Mysteries
(DebraAnnDotson.com)
- Janice Plado Dalager - Janice Your VA, Virtual Assistance Services and Consulting
(JaniceYourVA.com)
sheroesofsmallbusiness #entrepreneurmindset #Sheroes #smallbusinesses #podcast
The Sheroes discuss their writing processes—or rather, the lack thereof. Janice Plado Dalager (Janice Your VA) says when writing, she comes from the "school of suffering," meaning any amount of writing causes a lot of trepidation. She doesn't have any problem starting a project, but finishing an article or post is another story. Debra Ann Dotson, who writes 80,000-word novels, has difficulty putting 250 words together for a simple blog post, and would prefer if Janice wrote the description for each podcast episode.
Debra and Janice discuss the benefits of keeping up with a writing practice and some ways to get past the "fear of writing" by joining writing communities (such as NaNoWriMo) and taking part in online writing challenges (such as a 30-day blog post challenge). Janice and Debra have committed to doing a follow-up episode to report on how they have progressed with their writing efforts. Stay tuned!
- Sheroes of Small Business: https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
Hosts:
- Debra Ann Dotson - Author/Novelist - Harrington Palmer Series and D&K Mysteries
(DebraAnnDotson.com)
- Janice Plado Dalager - Janice Your VA, Virtual Assistance Services and Consulting
(JaniceYourVA.com)
sheroesofsmallbusiness #entrepreneurmindset #Sheroes #smallbusinesses #podcast
In this episode of Sheroes of Small Business, Debra Ann Dotson and Janice Plado Dalager (Janice Your VA) discuss “owning our time.” We do this by creating schedules that work for us as well as our clients.
As we work with people in different time zones, it no longer makes sense to work the standard 8 to 5. And since we are building our own businesses to have a better work-life balance, we need to create a schedule that allows us to work when we are at our peak and affords ample time off to recharge.
When you “own your time,” everyone wins. You’ll be happier, more productive, and both you and your clients will reap the benefits.
- Sheroes of Small Business: https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
- July 2022 Community Productivity Hour: http://bit.ly/cph-july2022
Hosts:
- Debra Ann Dotson - Author/Novelist - Harrington Palmer Series and D&K Mysteries
(DebraAnnDotson.com)
- Janice Plado Dalager - Janice Your VA, Virtual Assistance Services and Consulting
(JaniceYourVA.com)
sheroesofsmallbusiness #entrepreneurmindset #Sheroes #smallbusinesses #podcast
Season 4 of Sheroes of Small Business begins with an introduction to Community Productivity Hour, a monthly event hosted by Janice Plado Dalager (Janice Your VA). Learn how Janice started CPH and how it has grown from a 60-minute to a 90-minute session of goal crushing fun! Debra Ann Dotson shares her experience as a faithful attendee and how the events keep her hyper-focused on her projects. You can learn more about CPH at JaniceYourVA.com.
- Sheroes of Small Business: https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
- July 2022 Community Productivity Hour: http://bit.ly/cph-july2022
Hosts:
- Debra Ann Dotson - Author/Novelist - Harrington Palmer Series and D&K Mysteries
(DebraAnnDotson.com)
- Janice Plado Dalager - Janice Your VA, Virtual Assistance Services and Consulting
(JaniceYourVA.com)
sheroesofsmallbusiness #entrepreneurmindset #Sheroes #smallbusinesses #podcast
IT IS TIME! I CHOOSE MY CLIENTS!!
Time to take back personal power for yourself and to then infuse into your small business.
Time to give yourself permission to look at things differently, to challenge status quo.
Time to redefine the outdated business rules and limiting stories that are not serving our greater purpose today.
My dear friend and fellow Shero, NANCY LOCKHART joins us today on the Sheroes of Small Business Podcast. We share the epic honor of being #1 Best Selling authors for our collaborative book, "Invisible No More; Invincible Forever More." Today on the podcast, Nancy paints a beautiful picture of how she has woven an incredible business tapestry: 20 years of her corporate marketing genius plus powerful Law of Attraction Life Coaching. Marketing is not just deliverables like websites and logos. Nancy moves her clients into the space of distilling out the emotional heart of the women-owned business that is unique and clarifying.
This is the new way of doing business. . . This is "success beyond dollars!"
Nancy shares her definition of a SHERO. It's worth listening to.
In addition to her closing thought: "YOU ARE INFINITELY LOVED."
Please like us on FaceBook and InstaGram to join in the discussion:
@SheroesOfSmallBusiness
"INVISIBLE NO MORE; INVINCIBLE FOREVER MORE"
Inspiring stories from women who have gone from invisible to invincible!
Order your copy now (digital or print available - audio coming soon!)
www.invincibleforevermore.com
CONNECT WITH DELORES GARCIA
https://DeloresGarciaCoaching.now.site
FB @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG @FlyGirl.Nation
IN @Delores Garcia The Success Coach
CONNECT WITH NANCY LOCKHART
linkedin.com/in/nancy-lockhart-brand-strategy
https://lockhart-marketing.comSchedule a free consultation:https://calendly.com/lockhart_nancy/30min
Kids are watching us!
Today's conversation is with the "el MADRE" social enterprise founder, Belinda Knoll. Moms are her passion and her business.
The mission of elMADRE is to share resources that encourage moms to continue self-improving, building stronger families, and promoting positive relationships for our future generations. When moms feel overwhelmed they lose focus on their children, which may cause them to lose opportunities to guide them. elMADRE was built with this vision. Strong women may not ask for help - this platform provides a variety of resources to help strong, touch, and sexy moms maintain focus on the kids.
Please like us on FaceBook and InstaGram to join in the discussion: @SheroesOfSmallBusiness
CONNECT WITH DELORES GARCIA
https://DeloresGarciaCoaching.now.site
FB @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG @FlyGirl.Nation
IN @Delores Garcia The Success Coach
CONNECT WITH BELINDA KNOLL
https://elMADRE.com
Email: elMADREbk@gmail.com
IG @elMADREbk
FB @elMADREbk
'I AM SO GLAD I SAID YES!"
Beginning a new chapter of “The Sheroes of Small Business Podcast,” Delores Garcia hosts solo for the first time with Asma Yousif, The Clarity Coach, as her guest. Exciting times in Season 3 of the Sheroes Podcast!
Join these Sheroes as they discuss Asma’s work and passion as a Clarity Confidence Coach.
What is your vision? What do you want? And how will you get there? Do you have the confidence you feel you need to do it? This is where Asma’s passions guide her clients.
Imagine building a life where you jump out of bed, ready for the day in reaching for your best life, one baby step at a time.
Tune in and discover Asma’s special definition of what a SHERO is to her! How does that match your definition? What is a Shero to you?
Please like us on FaceBook and InstaGram to join in the discussion:
@SheroesOfSmallBusiness
CONNECT WITH DELORES GARCIA
https://DeloresGarciaCoaching.now.site
https://AngelsInMyBusiness.com
FB @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG @FlyGirl.Nation
IN @Delores Garcia The Success Coach
CONNECT WITH ASMA YOUSIF
Clarity Confidence Coaching
Email: asma@asmayousif.com
IG: @youglogirl10
IGTV LIVE at Monday & Friday 12noon pst “Break Time with Asma & Delores - Live a Life of Yes”
Returning back to The Sheroes of Small Business Podcast, Debra and Delores reveal what they discovered during their two-week “pause.” Courageously opening the conversation, although tentative and awkward, The Sheroes discussed how they would each like the podcast to evolve. We are excited to announce the new roles Delores and Debra will be functioning in as the podcast proceeds into Season 3.
How often do you “pause to evaluate” your business, your relationships, and your life?
Have you given yourself permission to change/evolve, to say “yes,” to say “no,” and to change your mind?
Listen to “Sheroes of Small Business Podcast” wherever you get your podcasts, including https://sheroesofsmallbusiness.buzzsprout.com/
Please like us on Facebook and Instagram to join in the discussion:
@SheroesOfSmallBusiness
CONNECT WITH DELORES GARCIA AT
https://DeloresGarciaCoaching.now.site
FB @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG @FlyGirl.Nation
IN @Delores Garcia The Success Coach
CONNECT WITH DEBRA ANN DOTSON AT
https://DebraAnnDotson.com/
FB, IG, Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
It's not Quit Week, but it is time to take a Pause and reevaluate where we are with our annual goals. Are we on track? Are adjustments necessary?
For Debra, the answers and no and yes. No, she fears she's not on track to complete this year's goals. And yes, adjustments are necessary.
Anyone else in the same boat?
Slowing down and taking a pause is an excellent thing to do when speeding towards the end of the year. Will goals set at the beginning of the year be met? Have those goals changed? How can you make the most of this year with the time remaining?
Sheroes of Small Business will be taking another hiatus (taking a pause) to evaluate their goals and make solid plans for the remainder of 2020.
Please like us on Facebook or Instagram and join the discussion.
@sheroesofsmallbusiness
___________________________________
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
What stops you from starting a new venture? Are you waiting for permission? Are you waiting for someone's approval?
Stop waiting for others to give you the thumbs up. Even if the new venture is an epic fail, you will know that you tried. You won't be left wondering, "What would have happened if I had followed my dreams?"
Better yet, the new venture may turn out to be a huge success. Or you may find that it's a good idea, but it's just not the right time. Or maybe it just needs some tweaking. Again, you won't know until you try.
Please like us on Facebook or Instagram and join the discussion.
@sheroesofsmallbusiness
___________________________________
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
In this episode, Debra and Delores continue their discussion on dealing with negative comments and feedback. They also contemplate habits, "flow state," taking the path less traveled, and claiming your identity. The conversation is full of twists and turns--much like Debra's work in progress.
NOTE: Delores mentioned having a shirt imprinted with the phrase 'Take the path less traveled.' For reference, that phrase was inspired by Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. The last stanza in that poem reads:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.Please like us on Facebook or Instagram and join the discussion.
@sheroesofsmallbusiness
___________________________________
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
Do you have trouble finding your voice or sharing your story when you KNOW you're going to get negative feedback? Does the anticipation of adversarial comments stop you from sharing your opinions, beliefs, or knowledge?
In this episode, the Sheroes share some stories of their own and how they learned (or are still learning) how to deal with all the negativity around them.
Please like us on Facebook or Instagram and join the discussion.
@sheroesofsmallbusiness
___________________________________
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
The Sheroes discuss how to cut through the noise—meaning, how to avoid the gimmicks used to get you to buy the latest and greatest program, course, or product.
We don’t want to be like many businesses that try to sell programs based on fear or FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). No one should feel pressured to buy into a program or package because the “sale ends at midnight” or “seats are filling up fast,” and “who knows when the course will be offered again.”
When it’s the gimmicks that get attention, what should you do? What’s the best way to promote yourself and your business?
The answer may be as simple as staying true to yourself and do what feels right. Again, you must find your voice and speak your truth. As Sheroes, we intend to remain raw, real, authentic, and vulnerable. We want to run our businesses based on cooperation, not competition. There’s plenty (money, clients, prestige) to go around.
We don’t have all the answers. We are often searching just like everyone else. But we do know we don’t want to add to the noise.
Follow Sheroes of Small business on Facebook and Instagram
@sheroesofsmallbusiness
Finding the right people to collaborate with can be difficult, especially for entrepreneurs. Communication and honesty are vital for finding the right partnerships.
In this episode, Debra and Delores share when collaborating has worked for them and when it hasn't. They suggest taking your time and "shop around" before committing to a collaborative effort. And there's nothing wrong with saying no to a partnership that doesn't feel right. Trust your gut, and don't be afraid to have those difficult or awkward conversations. They will save you in the end.
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
What stops you from finding your voice and sharing your story? What keeps you from speaking your mind or sharing your thoughts and opinions? Are you afraid of offending people because you have unique views? Have you ever been told that since your opinions are so different from those around you that you must be wrong and should remain silent?
Delores and Debra discuss these questions and so much more in this 4th episode of the Summer Series of Sheroes of Small Business.
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Delores Garcia has two stories featured in the upcoming release of Invisible No More - Invincible Forevermore. Click this link to pre-order your copy today: http://invincibleforevermore.com/
_______________________________________
Connect with Delores Garcia at:
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Connect with Debra Ann Dotson at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB, IG, and Twitter: @DebraAnnDotson
We often have to adjust our goals. That’s how life works. But are we changing them for the right reasons?
Debra and Delores delve into the reasons for redefining our life and business plans. Is it ever okay to give up on a goal? To call it quits?
Of course! But we need to make sure we’re quitting for the right reasons. Not because the goal is hard to attain, but because it no longer fits into our desires for the future.
If changing or quitting a goal feels like a failure, you don’t want to miss this episode.
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FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Learn more about Debra and her novels at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB and IG: @DebraAnnDotson
Episode 2 of our special "Surviving the Summer" edition of Sheroes of Small Business.
There's a lot of brain science in this one! So whether you're right-brained, left-brained, or both, you'll want to listen to this episode.
Debra shares how Delores helped her navigate a full-blown panic attack by walking her through EFT or Tapping. Delores also explains the difference between excuses and reasons as Debra struggles to finish her fifth novel. It's all about reprogramming our brains!
____________________________
Special News: Delores plans to launch an online course in the next few weeks titled "The Sure Path to Success: Six Weeks to Your Unprecedented Success." Follow Delores on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to learn more and register for the course when it's released. She's an amazing coach!
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Learn more about Debra and her novels at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB and IG: @DebraAnnDotson
Episode 1 of our special "Surviving the Summer" edition of Sheroes of Small Business.
Debra Ann Dotson and Delores Garcia discuss goal setting and deadlines, and if you miss a deadline, does it mean failure, or does it matter as long as you "keep showing up?"
Delores and Debra also talk about the benefits of journaling. Debra says she often gets a "spark" at the end of writing her morning pages that drives her to start her day and be productive. Delores finds journaling cathartic, meditative, and introspective and rarely lets a day go by without writing in her journal. Each has a different approach to journaling, but both agree the practice helps relieve stress and set intentions for the day.
Special News: Delores plans to launch an online course in the next few weeks titled "The Sure Path to Success: Six Weeks to Your Unprecedented Success." Follow Delores on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to learn more and register for the course when it's released. She's an amazing coach!
FB: @DeloresGarciaCoaching
IG: @Delores.Garcia.1216
LinkedIn: Delores Garcia "The Success Coach"
Learn more about Debra and her novels at:
https://debraanndotson.com/
FB and IG: @DebraAnnDotson
In this episode, the Sheroes discuss what they call "Quit Week." Quit Week is something nearly every business owner stumbles upon where they feel like calling it quits—when they feel like ending their company and going back to working for someone else. Sometimes giving up a business is the right thing to do. When you decide to take this route and quit (with a capital Q, as Delores calls it), you shouldn't feel shame or feel like you've failed. We've been there, and it helped us get to where we are today. But what do you do when quitting isn't an option?
The Sheroes share their thoughts on why Quit Week is essential and how they successfully navigate the desire to give up on their businesses. They also share ideas on getting their businesses back on track or going down a different path when a pivot is needed to move forward.
Articles mentioned in this episode:
"The Trough of Despair, Part 1: Acceptance" - Prof. George Howard, professor of Music Business/Management at Berklee College of Music
"The Trough of Sorrow and How to Climb Out" - Susan K Rits
In this week’s episode, the Sheroes are answering the question, “How do you know you’re doing a good job?”
We answer many questions that lead us to our main subject. Here are just a couple:
- How do you measure success?
- What can I do to avoid burnout?
You may want to take notes!
This episode is all about having strength, avoiding pressure right out of the gate, and why it’s not always about the sale. We close this episode out with the importance of finding your support system. Running a small business is a lot like starting a meditation journey—it’s all about the practice and the intention!
Welcome back, Sheroes! And welcome back, listeners! It’s Janice, and I’ll be facilitating our conversation in this episode about boundaries! Apparently, I have a lot to say about boundaries because I bring it up often—here on Sheroes of Small Business, in conversations with clients, in conversations with my team, with my family, with the store cashier (Just kidding—I don’t talk to the cashier because I’m shy!).
The subject of boundaries is a hot topic now: it comes up in women’s business groups I’m in, but not so much in business groups where there are a lot more men. I honestly don’t know if all of us at the Sheroes table agree about the level of importance of boundaries for business owners and their businesses, but that’s just one of the things we’re going to find out about in this conversation.
In this episode, Crystal Privett of Mindset Service shares how it's possible to change our thoughts, beliefs, and mindsets to achieve our goals and make the most of our lives.
Did you know that you can program yourself to think, feel, act, react, and accomplish things differently in a more positive manner? Crystal enjoys sharing how she has turned a magnitude of pain in her life into power through the ability to change her brain.
She facilitates and trains others in a Summit Transformation process, which helps find what's holding you back and clear those blocks, then builds new beliefs to help you create your best life. Her work is gratifying, and she is humbled to help people find their passion again.
Crystal works with celebrities, professional athletes, men, children, and especially women. Her passions to help women heal from sexual trauma, domestic violence, childhood abuse, toxic relationships, and the rigors of everyday life are what drive her daily. She enjoys embodying the Divine Feminine with her unique Goddess flair and encourages others to indulge in the nourishment they are craving in life.
Her company, Mindset Service, is dedicated to serving anyone open and curious to making positive changes in their mental health.
Listeners can connect with Crystal Privett on LinkedIn or Facebook. You may also request to join her Goddess Empowerment Tribe - Innovating Togetherness group.
Visit her website MindsetService.com for more details.
In this week's episode, the Sheroes discuss all things social media!
Google Ads are tracking our every move: is that a good or bad thing? Thanks to the "Social Dilemma," the 2020 documentary on Netflix, we now understand just how much advertising affects our everyday lives.
We openly admit that we are not experts on social media advertisements. Still, Chelsea, the social media expert on our panel, shares some tips and tricks that she has learned on her own social media journey. We discuss the ever-changing world of Facebook, Instagram, and of course, Google! We explore the difficulties we all experience when it comes to consistent posting, content creation, and whether having a skilled social media specialist on-contract is the right way to go.
Our advice on social media is a lot like Nike's infamous slogan…JUST DO IT!
How do we define success for our businesses? Do we reevaluate every year? Every two years? Every five years? After we have kids or transition into different phases in our lives, does our idea of success change? Should it?
Do we define success by the amount of money we are making? Or do we define it by the amount of freedom our business affords us? Or is it the pleasure we get in providing our services and products to our customers?
We need to realize our idea of success is a here-and-now measurement. It will change over time. And it should. We shouldn’t let today’s definition of success be the rule of what we are willing to try in the next year or the next five. It shouldn’t be a reason not to step out of our comfort zone and try something new.
Debra, Janice, and Delores discuss these aspects of success and more in this episode of Sheroes of Small Business.
In this episode of Sheroes of Small Business, Debra, Janice, and Delores discuss where they find inspiration for new ideas for their businesses. They discuss everything from listening to podcasts and reading blogs to taking a walk and listening to music. Inspiration can appear at the oddest times and in the strangest ways. It’s best always to be prepared and never discount any idea or thought as crazy or not worth the time. Finally, Chelsea talks about finding new ideas from social media and why it’s best to try something different instead of following the crowd.
Here are just some of the resources mentioned in this episode:
The Creative Penn podcast hosted by Joanna Penn (https://www.thecreativepenn.com/)
The Accidental Creative podcast hosted by Todd Henry (https://www.toddhenry.com/)
James Altucher – 10 Ideas a Day (https://jamesaltucher.com/blog/faq-on-how-to-become-an-idea-machine/)
Jorge Henderson Collazo – Bilateral Music (https://insighttimer.com/jorgehendersoncollazo)
In this episode, the Sheroes of Small Business discuss how they overcome old mindsets, blocks, and expectations to move forward with their businesses. Sometimes expectations can come from when we were growing up. Our families may have had expectations for our lives and may still be offering their opinions. We, ourselves, could have had expectations that we have outgrown, but subconsciously we still hold onto them. How do we get past these outdated attitudes and become the entrepreneurs we always dreamed of being? What happens when old mindsets create blocks for what we are trying to accomplish in our businesses today?
The Sheroes answer these questions and so much more. Hopefully, they will help you move past whatever is holding you back from starting or growing your small business.
What is that one tool you can’t live without?
The Sheroes of Small Business share their favorite tools for staying organized and communicating with clients. They discuss everything from video conferencing software to online spreadsheets. They also talk about the benefits of using whiteboards, journals, and calendars to keep the work flowing.
Delores loves Zoom. The ability to see her clients helps her make a deeper connection with them.
Janice also appreciates the benefits of using Zoom, but what she can’t live without is the set of tools in Google Suite.
Debra is a huge proponent of Microsoft Excel. It keeps her organized and on task.
Reminder to all Sheroes: Tools shouldn’t be so strict that you must use them as is, right out of the box. They should be something that you can configure to your particular style. Tools should help you, not hinder you, your business, or your progress. But also remember, one tool is not some magic pill that will make you super organized. You need to discover your issues then choose the software or device that will help you navigate them.
In this episode of Sheroes of Small Business, Chelsea Tana, Janice Plado Dalager, and Debra Ann Dotson discuss what 2020 and living during a pandemic taught them about themselves and their businesses. They cover everything from reading as much as possible to staying in touch with clients even when there was no work to be done. They talked about the importance of caring for themselves before trying to care for and about others, and one shero discovered there’s nothing wrong with one-ply toilet paper. It’s a fun and engaging conversation, full of things that went wrong and even more things that went right.
In this week’s episode, the Sheroes continue discussing the advantages and disadvantages of publishing prices on our websites. We discuss how specific we need to be about our services and how pricing can be affected by knowing our strengths and the amount of time it takes to do a task well. When starting or building our businesses, we must understand the value of our unique perspectives and talents. Finally, we tackle the importance of post-service conversations with our clients—the truth can set us free! All this and so much more is coming your way on Sheroes of Small Business!
Shereos, it is time to consider what services you have to offer, how you will package your offerings, and how much you will charge. We are in business to make money, but it can be a sensitive subject. Today, the Shereos of Small Business bring their industry-specific perspectives to the table to discuss different considerations surrounding price points and how to communicate your fees.
Chelsea weighs the option of posting prices (or ranges) on her website versus quoting the package price only after a consultation. This leads to Janice sharing her experiences of price testing new services with clients to determine if it is the “right” price; this means feeling good about the work you did for what you charged and the client feeling good about the work received for the price they paid. Delores closes the discussion with ways to check in with your emotional reactions about each segment of price listing. How do you feel when setting your price? How do you feel when quoting your price to a prospective client? And, finally, how do you feel after the services are rendered? Is it possible to set prices that allow you to respect yourself and your work while maintaining respect for your client and the product or service they expect? Can you set prices at a win-win rate?
Are annual business plans necessary? Are they useful? Do they help stave off procrastination? Or do they cause anxiety and even lead to a sense of failure when milestones or goals aren’t met? Do you fear they are too confining and may cause you to miss out on a great project because it doesn’t fit into the yearly plan? Delores Garcia, Janice Plado Dalager, and Debra Ann Dotson tackle these questions and a whole lot more in this episode of Sheroes of Small Business.
Janice, Delores, and Debra continue their discussion about having a strategy when you decide to outsource tasks to a virtual assistant (VA). The conversation naturally progresses into different owner mindsets when it comes to spending money in our businesses, which involve determining "investment vs. cost," as well as marketing, value, and pricing. We conclude the episode with Janice's passionate reminder that workers are not robots and how female business owners have the power to change business culture when we uphold humanity in the workplace.
In this episode of Sheroes of Small Business, Delores Garcia asks Janice Plado Dalager to explain the advantages of hiring a virtual assistant to help us with our various business tasks. You know, those necessities that we either don’t have time to do or don’t understand how to do ourselves. Janice also discusses where to find a virtual assistant and how much you can expect to pay.
In this episode of Sheroes of Small Business, our resident social media guru, Chelsea Tana, will provide us with social media basics—just enough to get us started and not feel overwhelmed with the various platforms. Chelsea also gives us her thoughts on how often we should be posting on social media, and all the Sheroes chime in about using Canva to create eye-catching graphics while staying true to our brand.
Welcome to Sheroes of Small Business.
In this episode, you will get to know the regular contributors to this podcast:
Debra Ann Dotson (host) is an author of several murder mystery novels and the owner of Red Canyon Publishing, a small publishing company dedicated to helping first-time authors write, edit, and self-publish their fiction or non-fiction books.
Janice Plado Dalager began her entrepreneurial life in 2007 when she founded a coaching practice then moved on to a virtual assistance agency/consultancy. Each business had its own intention and purposeful style with the goal being to support the client in discovering the energizing ease of working in their own natural style.
Delores Garcia is the founder of Delores Garcia Coaching, home to F.L.Y. Girl Nation. Delores is a personal coach for ambitious women who privately battle depression and anxiety, despite all of their goals and achievements. She brings Life Coaching, Personal Training, and Nutrition strategies to the coaching table for her clients while building on the foundation of subconscious programming to heal the blocks that keep her clients stuck. Heal first, then blossom into the greatness you were created for!
Chelsea Tana is our resident social media guru! She has several years' experience in digital marketing, management, and client engagement, and has proven herself to be a key asset in growing brand awareness, creating original content, and building customer relations. Chelsea is fueled by her passion for visual storytelling and considers herself a "forever student" which allows her to stay in tune with the latest digital marketing trends.