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"The way you think determines your success."

— Melissa Houston

Have you ever wondered why some entrepreneurs thrive while others falter? It’s not just about skills or strategy—it's mindset. In today's episode, we're diving into the first step of my Profit Method Framework: mindset. Why start here? Because your mindset can make or break your business. It’s the foundation on which every decision is made, whether you're just starting or ready to scale to the next level.

Whether you’re stuck in fear or just playing it safe, mindset can help you navigate through those barriers. I get it—being an entrepreneur is filled with ups and downs. You want to make an impact, but you also want financial success, and maybe you feel those two are at odds. They aren’t! You can absolutely make a lot of money while making a meaningful impact, and that’s where mindset comes into play.

Mindset isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about resilience—about understanding that fear will always be there but pushing forward anyway. I’ve often heard people say, “What if I fail?” but I encourage you to ask, “What if I succeed?” It’s a scarier question in many ways because success opens doors you might not have imagined. And yes, stepping out of your comfort zone is uncomfortable, but it’s where growth happens.

In today’s episode, we dive deep into these mindset strategies, and I share my personal journey—from battling self-doubt to creating a seven-figure business. And believe me, it didn’t happen overnight.

So, are you ready to transform your mindset and take your business to the next level? In this episode, I’ll show you how to reframe fear, visualize success, and stay present in your entrepreneurial journey.

Listen to learn:‌

• Your mindset is the foundation of your entrepreneurial success, influencing every decision whether you are just starting or scaling.
• Reframe fear as a signal for progress rather than a stop sign, recognizing that it shows you're doing something important.
• Failure is not final; instead, treat every setback as a valuable learning opportunity.

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Join our She Means Profit Facebook group

Courses:

• Cash Confident Mindset: Transform Your Mindset into a Money-Making Machine
• From Office to Entrepreneur: What You Need to Know to Build a Successful Business
• Path to Profit With Sales: Insights into Marketing and Sales
• Cash Confident Framework: Smart Money Management for Small Business Owners
• From Expert to Thought Leader: Amplify Your Influence, Elevate Your Brand, and Lead Your Industry
• Cash Catalyst: Mastering Personal Finances for Successful Business Owners

Work with me:

• Book a 90-minute Strategy Call

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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"If it’s too late to start something new, especially a business, let me reassure you: it’s never too late."

— Melissa Houston

Are you feeling stuck in your business or contemplating a big change in your career? In episode 164 of the She Means Profit podcast, I’m thrilled to introduce the new PROFIT Method Framework, a game-changer designed to guide you through every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

This month has been full of personal milestones for me—celebrating 25 years of marriage and my children’s significant life achievements. Reflecting on these moments has reminded me how important it is to embrace change and new beginnings, no matter our age or stage in life. For those of you wondering if it’s too late to start something new, especially a business, let me reassure you: it’s never too late. I started my business at 46, and I’m here to help you do the same with confidence and success.

The PROFIT Method Framework is tailored to meet you where you are, whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale. This episode dives into each step of the framework, starting with the critical mindset foundation.

Join me as we explore how this framework can transform your business and help you build the wealth and impact you deserve. Don’t forget to check the show notes for links to additional resources, courses, and free strategy calls. Let’s turn your business dreams into a thriving reality!

Listen to learn:‌

• A resilient and growth-oriented mindset allows you to overcome rejection, push through challenges, and keep moving forward.
• Build genuine relationships with your customers, and craft a compelling value proposition that resonates with your target audience.
• Master financial literacy to grow your business. Understanding cash flow, profit margins, and budgeting is key to preventing financial mismanagement.

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Join our She Means Profit Facebook group

Courses:

• Cash Confident Mindset: Transform Your Mindset into a Money-Making Machine
• From Office to Entrepreneur: What You Need to Know to Build a Successful Business
• Path to Profit With Sales: Insights into Marketing and Sales
• Cash Confident Framework: Smart Money Management for Small Business Owners
• From Expert to Thought Leader: Amplify Your Influence, Elevate Your Brand, and Lead Your Industry
• Cash Catalyst: Mastering Personal Finances for Successful Business Owners

Work with me:

• Book a 90-minute Strategy Call

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

Work with me:

• Book a 90-minute Strategy Call

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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"What if the real issue in your business isn't about money, but sales?"
— Melissa HoustonIn this episode of She Means Profit, I dive into the biggest misconception many of my clients have: they think they have a money problem, but the truth is, it’s a sales issue. After working with 90% of my clients, I’ve seen this pattern emerge time and time again. In this reintroduction episode, I’m excited to get back into helping women build profitable businesses.

I’ve been through my own challenges this past year, including battling severe anemia and depression during perimenopause. It hit me like a Mack truck, and for the first time in my life, I was forced to take a step back from my business to focus on my health. But now, I’m feeling stronger and more determined than ever to help you grow your business and build your wealth.

Only 1.9% of women-owned businesses make over a million dollars annually. That statistic has to change. Women face both systemic barriers, like access to capital, and internal struggles, such as a lack of confidence, which holds us back from pricing our services correctly or pitching our ideas with authority.

But I believe that when women succeed in business, the impact ripples through communities. This episode is all about building confidence, mastering sales, and creating a supportive community of women entrepreneurs. Let’s talk about how we can overcome these challenges and help each other thrive, both financially and personally.

Listen to learn:

• Perimenopause can deeply affect entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for support systems in business and health.
• Only 1.9% of women-owned businesses surpass $1 million in annual revenue, a statistic that must change.
• Building a financially thriving business requires more than managing money; it requires mastering sales and overcoming limiting beliefs.
• Communities of like-minded women can provide invaluable support, resources, and emotional backing for business success.
• Confidence in pricing, pitching, and selling is crucial for breaking into higher revenue brackets.

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Join our She Means Profit Facebook group

Courses:

• Cash Confident Mindset: Transform Your Mindset into a Money-Making Machine
• From Office to Entrepreneur: What You Need to Know to Build a Successful Business
• Path to Profit With Sales: Insights into Marketing and Sales
• Cash Confident Framework: Smart Money Management for Small Business Owners
• From Expert to Thought Leader: Amplify Your Influence, Elevate Your Brand, and Lead Your Industry
• Cash Catalyst: Mastering Personal Finances for Successful Business Owners

Work with me:

• Book a 90-minute Strategy Call

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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“A thought leader is defined as an individual or firm recognized as an authority in their specialized field whose expertise are sought after and often rewarded. ”

— Melissa Houston

In an ever-growing industry, what sets you apart from the crowd of thousands proclaiming they’re the best and the greatest at what they do?

The answer to this question gets harder every day. There will always be startups popping out of nowhere, small businesses that go viral, and established conglomerates that control half the industry. You might think the safest bet is to just do well and see how it goes.

But here’s something tried and true for you. This is a solution that’s been honed over time and proven effective: let yourself be the face of your business. Give the public someone to listen to, someone to root for, someone to lean on. Don’t just be the boss of your business; let yourself become a thought leader.

In this episode, we will be discussing everything there is to know about thought leadership. From what it takes to get started to establishing yourself as one, whether through traditional media appearances or creating content for Tiktok, we will explore the steps you can undertake to become a respected thought leader in your industry.

Listen to learn:

• Why there is a difference between influencers and thought leaders
• How to make informative and compelling content as a thought leader
• How an online presence cultivates your reputation
• Why it is important to go on public speaking events
• How networking is essential in building your brand
• Why appearances on traditional media is essential

Highlights:‌

• 2:59 The definition of a thought leader
• 8:33 Benefits of being a thought leader to your business
• 9:19 Good and strategic content creation
• 10:21 Means of increasing your online visibility
• 11:50 Attending talks and publishing your own articles
• 12:57 Importance of networking on events
• 14:20 Writing a book and its impact on your brand reputation
• 14:58 Hiring PR coverage and what it can do for you
• 15:30 Appearances on varied media

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"As you're starting your business, you're going to come across so many interesting and sometimes real challenges, really exciting problems to solve, areas of compliance and requirements that probably seem daunting, and I would say really seek out resources, seek out mentors.”

— Dina Segal

Contracts will always be an essential part of a business. Whether it’s a business deal with your supplier or establishing a new agreement with your client, this piece of paper plays a vital role in protecting not only your business’s best interests but also the rights of the other party.

Writing down agreements and signing them may seem simple, but contracts are significantly more complex. They leave no stone unturned, explore every point thoroughly, and allow for no exceptions—except when both parties agreed to do so.

This episode will explore the ins and outs of the beginning of every business journey: the contracts. Beyond the lengthy paragraphs and complicated words, we will learn the factors to consider in contract negotiations, stress the importance of thoroughly reading the written word before signing, and discuss ways to ensure that your contract attracts only the best and the most suitable partners for your business.

Listen to learn:‌

• How to classify workers
• How organizations can help with your resources and mentoring needs
• How to negotiate your contract well
• Why it’s important to know your business core for contract negotiations
• Why flexibility is essential in your contract
• How to avoid ambiguity in contracts
• Why attorney’s fees can’t be overlooked in business negotiations

Highlights:‌
4:28 Services Third-Party companies can do for you
7:56 Contracting people from all around the world
10:21 Organizations that help in mentoring start-up businesses
12:28 Importance of contracting
14:50 Payment terms in contracts
16:49 A Business’ Liability Issues
19:01 Proper Process of Contract Termination
22:06 Importance of reading Terms and Conditions
22:58 Creating a form for your business
23:49 Attorney's fees in Contract Provisions
24:03 Seeking Guidance and Mentors

Links:‌ ‌
Dina SegalGusto WebsiteCash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable BusinessMain websiteCash Clarity CourseApply to Work With MeMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder **Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“With the right mindset and dedication, successful debt management is within your reach.”

—Melissa Houston

Many aspire to start their own business, but a common obstacle preventing them from doing so is financial constraints. People who do not have enough funding often resort to taking out loans to build their first business.

But what’s the deal with businesses that end up sinking rather than soaring?

The culprit is often debt. Some businesses fall into the trap of having massive loans without a solid plan. Business owners tend to choose the short-term solution of gearing up, taking debts, instead of focusing on the long-term ones. Let’s be real, when those loans start piling up, it’s not just your business that is affected, but your personal life too.

Whether you’re in it for business or dealing with personal finances, taking on debt is a big responsibility. You have to ensure that you can deal with it and properly resolve it in order to avoid the chances of it overtaking your business or life.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why most businesses resort to taking up debts
• Why entrepreneurs should focus on long-term solutions for their business
• How can business owners manage their debts in business
• How the pressure of debt can affect one’s mental health
• How business owners or even individuals can avoid taking too much financial debt

Highlights:‌

03:39 Having personal debt to run the business
04:39 What too much debt can do to your business
06:22 Impact of debt on our mental health
08:17 Knowing your business numbers
11:18 Tip 1: Analyze Debt and Financial Situation
11:59 Debt Repayment Calculator Mini Course
12:28 Tip 2: Prioritize Your Debts
13:02 Tip 3: Negotiate with Creditors
13:49 Tip 4: Consider Debt Consolidation
15:20 Tip 5: Seek Professional Advice

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Unlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing Strategy
• Cash Clarity Course
• Apply to Work With Me
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“The bottom line is that tracking your sales conversion is an essential step towards driving your business profit and ensuring that your business profit continues to grow and thrive, and not just your profit, but your sales and your whole business.”

—Melissa Houston

What sets a business up for success? It should have the capacity for profitability and scale.

Making a profit in your business can be tough, especially in a challenging economy. In this episode, we emphasize that tracking sales conversions is not just about boosting profit but about fostering a holistic and thriving business.

Smart business owners take into consideration their marketing and sales performance indicators. Why? Because when you are critical about your marketing and sales, you learn what’s working and what needs to improve to achieve sustainability.

Success in business does not happen in an instant. It truly takes time and effort, no doubt about it. But here’s the secret: investing your time and effort to wholeheartedly grasp your business’s financial data and sales will provide you with the necessary foundation for your business to thrive.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why tracking sales conversions improves business profit
• Why business owners must understand the marketing and sales KPIs in their business
• Why determining the customer needs is beneficial in improving your sales
• How to reach the right people to help meet your business goals
• How tracking your sales helps improve the return on investment for your business

Highlights:‌01:12: The root cause of money problems in business
02:47: Three profit drivers in business
02:53: Path Profitability Masterclass and Unlock Your Pricing Strategies Podcast04:21: Marketing and Sales KPIs
05:40: Proper outsourcing and hiring of people for your business
06:19: Importance of tracking sales conversions to increase profit in business
07:02: Understanding your return on investment
10:12: Knowing what your customer needs
11:30: Identifying the potential for improvement
13:36: The key step in improving your business profit

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Unlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing Strategy
• Cash Clarity Course
• Apply to Work With Me
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start a business. There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start calling yourself an entrepreneur until you actually start doing it.”

— Dianne Welsh

Here’s the deal: success isn’t some kind of magic trick. It starts when you decide to go on an adventure and grab opportunities offered to you. When it comes to building a business, you turn these opportunities into action-packed episodes that coincide with the difference you want to leave.

As entrepreneurs, your top-notch priority should be making sure you’ve got all your bases covered. You want to ensure that you examine every bits and pieces that are essential in making these opportunities successful. Once you grasp these insights, you plan out your strategy and get into action mode.

Business is not a simple game where you just join and see how it goes. You go through your business, prepare a succession plan, and actually critique how the opportunity will work its way to success.

Listen to this episode to learn:‌

• Why having an entrepreneurial mindset leads to success
• Why the key to creating a successful business is having a business financial management
• How successful entrepreneurs put opportunities into action
• How an entrepreneur deals with challenges of generational wealth
• How global opportunities for entrepreneurs contribute to keeping a sustainable business

Highlights:‌

01:29: The Entrepreneurial Mindset

03:32: Qualities possessed by successful Entrepreneurs

06:02: Business Finance as key to Creating Successful Business

07:18: The Entrepreneurial Family Business book

11:11: Problems faced by Family-Based Businesses

13:32: Dealing with challenges of Generational Wealth

15:58: Awareness on Global Entrepreneurship Opportunities

Links:‌ ‌
Dianne Welshhttps://diannewelsh.wp.uncg.edu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-welsh-9755989/ The Entrepreneurial Family Business: From Survival to Success: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/entrepreneurial-family-business-survival-successCash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable BusinessMain websiteCash Clarity CourseApply to Work With MeMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder **Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Cash is queen and with the right strategies, you can manage it wisely and achieve long-term prosperity.”
—Melissa Houston

When running a business, cash flow is absolutely critical. As business owners, we are responsible for making sure that the cash moving in and out of business is managed properly.

Why is it crucial to avoid running out of cash? Cash is the lifeblood of your financial obligations. And let me tell you, it’s not just about keeping cash at hand; it’s about fueling your business’s success. When you’ve got a healthy cash flow while your business profits, that’s when you can really invest in driving your business toward success.

And as most businesses gear up with their business financial planning for 2024, take into consideration strategies that can help you manage to stay and have a positive cash flow that can earn your chance to invest more in your business.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why business owners need to have their business financial plan ready for 2024
• Why having a cash management system is essential for every business
• Why do businesses need to set up a cash reserve
• How does closely monitoring the inflow and outflow of funds impact the overall performance of a business
• How can business owners keep track of their accounts receivable
• How automating bill payment keeps business expenses under control
• How can business owners improve and gain positive cash flow in business

Highlights:‌

03:07: Gearing Up the Business Financial Planning for 2024
05:32: Business Cash Management
06:33: Profitability and Positive Cash Flow
07:17: Key Cash Management Strategies: Managing Cash Flow
08:23: Key Cash Management Strategies: Set Up a Cash Reserve
10:06: Key Cash Management Strategies: Tracking your Accounts Receivable
11:10: Key Cash Management Strategies: Automate BIll Paying
12:10: Key Cash Management Strategies: Improve Cash Flow in Business
13:35: Evaluate inventory management practices
14:42: Done in a Day Service Program

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Unlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing Strategy
• Cash Clarity Course
• Apply to Work With Me
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Every business owner has made mistakes along the way, but the secret to success is learning from each mistake.”

—Melissa Houston

What makes a business successful? It’s how you turn mistakes into opportunities to improve and grow your way to success.

Mistakes are not to be seen as weaknesses if you are a business owner. These must be seen as valuable lessons that can help you on your way to success. No successful business earned their way up without failing along the way and learning from the mistakes they made.

But just because mistakes are part of a successful business does not mean that it is right to commit them repeatedly. This episode talks about five tips on how business owners can learn from common mistakes in growing a business.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why making mistakes is absolutely normal for every business owner
• Why most business owners need to have a business financial plan
• Why tracking expenses is important in every business
• How must business owners price their products or services profitably
• How business owners should separate emotion from smart-making decisions
• How to use data to help business owners improve their business

Highlights:‌

03:51: Common mistakes by Small Business Owners
06:21: First tip - How to build a business financial plan
09:24: Second tip - How to avoid failing to track expenses in business
11:11: Third tip - How to price products or services profitably
11:27: Unlock Your Profit Potential with These Smart Pricing Strategies podcast
12:58: Fourth tip - How emotions get in the way of smart making decisions
14:47: Fifth tip - How data improves one’s business
15:45: The Cash Confident Framework course

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Unlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing Strategy
• Cash Clarity Course
• Apply to Work With Me
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“As you prepare for your sales, be sure to prepare as well for your profit. Do not let the busyness of the season be an excuse for you not to create profit in your business.”

—Melissa Houston

It’s almost the end of 2023, and you know what that means - the busiest season is just right around the corner! So, what’s in the card for businesses this time? Well, it’s about finishing this year with a bang and gearing up for a more profitable new one.

As we celebrate our third-year anniversary, our commitment remains steadfast. We are all about giving the goods - valuable insights and rock-solid guidance for our fellow business owners. Our mission? Ensure that your business welcomes more customers and ends the year on a high note. We’re also here to pump up our business owners with enthusiasm as we dive into 2024 with an opportunistic mindset!

Listen to learn:‌

• Why getting ready for the Q4 2023 matters for every business
• Why you need a solid financial foundation in business for the year-end
• Why prioritizing customer service is beneficial for your business
• How to make your business more profitable during the busiest season of the year
• How to spot your ideal holiday shoppers this busy season
• How every business owner should monitor their business progress and measure success

Highlights:

01:47: Gearing up for the busiest season of the year
02:23: SMP’s third-year anniversary giveaway
04:23: What to look and expect in your business for the Q4 of 2023
04:57: Focusing on the strong financial foundation of your business
06:14: Tip to make Q4 your most profitable year: Plan Ahead
07:19: Tip to make Q4 your most profitable year: Target Holiday Shoppers
08:31: Tip to make Q4 your most profitable year: Prioritize Customer Service
09:29: Tip to make Q4 your most profitable year: Monitor Progress and Measure Success
11:04: Tip to make Q4 your most profitable year: Stay Focused
12:26: Preparing the 2024 business plan ready
Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Main website
• Cash Clarity Course
• Apply to Work With Me
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Finances and marketing numbers are a game as well. So understanding how those numbers overlap can be a game changer.”

—Melissa Houston

2023 has not been a great year for business owners. It’s been a rough year, really, with a lot of things happening around us and the economy affecting many different sectors. Experts are debating whether we’re experiencing a recession or not, and the thing is, we’ll only know we are in recession around six to eight months into it. Even though we’re not “officially” in a recession, some businesses’ revenue and sales fall, others go bankrupt.

And so a lot of my clients go to me and ask, “Where is the money going?”

But we shouldn’t wallow in pity for the difficulty brought to us by this challenging year. Instead, we should analyze the root cause of our problem. Is it an issue brought by money management or a sales problem?

In this episode, we will talk about how sales and money management are critical parts of growing your business.

Listen to learn:‌

• What your numbers look like at the end of Q3
• 2023 is a tough year for businesses
• Why finances and marketing are a numbers game
• Why sales without profit is a red flag
• Is it a sales problem or a money management problem?
• Steps to take to explore the root cause of your problem

Highlights:‌

01:16 What your numbers look like at the end of Q3
01:46 2023 has been a tough year
03:02 Why marketing is crucial for sales
05:21 Is it sales or money management problems?
07:09 How to identify the root cause of your problems?
07:46 Tip 1: Analyze your finances
09:39 Tip 2: Assess your sales strategy
10:50 Tip 3: Identify the external factors
12:45 Tip 4: Find a balance
13:17 Tip 5: Seek professional help when you’re struggling

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Cash Confident Framework™️ Course
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“No matter what stage of business you are at, it's really knowing that sales absolutely is, can, and should be beautiful.”

—Jamie Gulino Davis

There’s always a negative connotation about sales. People have this idea that we should never listen to salespeople because they only have one agenda: they make you lose control, urging you into buying their product or service and lose control of your money. So, it has always been a daunting and overwhelming experience for business owners to close sales.

And I confess—I used to struggle with sales too. Because like a typical person, I grew up with a mindset that salespeople are ‘evil’. It took a mindset shift to finally understand that you’re not playing the bad guy if you want to have sales. Because remember: sales drive revenue. Your business’ success is driven by your sales. It’s a part we can never run away from.

So just like how our guest, sales leader, and strategist Jamie Gulino Davis puts it, we need to embrace the beauty of sales, identify it against marketing, and cross the bridge where these two intersect.

In this episode, Jamie talks us through the beauty of sales that would help us shift our money mindset. It’s not about making people lose control of their money; it’s actually offering them solutions to their problems.

Listen to this episode to learn:‌

• The difference between marketing and sales
• Jamie’s own sales framework: The LEAD framework
• Is the nurture sequence still a part of marketing?
• What typical problems in sales are
• Jamie’s ‘aha’ moment that changed her mindset and life
• How to handle clients that are analytical decision-makers

Highlights:‌

03:41 The difference between marketing and sales
04:57 Jamie's sales framework: The LEAD framework
07:55 Is the nurture sequence still part of marketing?
10:24 The problem with sales
15:32 Jamie's 'aha' moment that changed her mindset and life
16:52 How to handle clients that are analytical decision-makers
20:13 Why knowing your clients' characteristics is important

**Links:

Jamie Gulino Davis
https://jamiegulinodavis.simplero.com/page/290836
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiegulinodavis/**

Cash ConfidentMain websiteMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder **Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Raising capital can be a critical component of your success. So, with the right financial strategy, you can take your business to the next level.”

—Melissa Houston

This is why starting or expanding a business can be daunting and overwhelming. It’s hard to answer the question ‘Where do we get our funding?’

Anyone could easily get confused—scared even—when raising capital for their businesses. And the thing is, it’s such a crucial component as no business would be able to start operating without enough capital.

Fret not!

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the different options that are available to you to help you make informed decisions when raising money for your business. You don’t have to worry about securing your capital. You just have to scrutinize which one fits your business.

Listen to learn:‌

• Your funding options when raising capital for your business
• Bootstrapping and its pros and cons
• What crowdfunding is
• What angel investing means
• Bank loans as a traditional method of securing funds
• Why venture capital is a hot topic

Highlights:‌
02:03 Some life updates
05:11 Why bootstrapping is my favorite
07:04 Crowdfunding and its pros and cons
09:27 What is angel investing?
10:57 Bank loans as a traditional method of funding
12:07 Don’t make this big mistake!
12:25 Why venture capital is a hot topic

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Cash Confident Framework™️ Course
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“A common mistake that entrepreneurs make is checking their bank balance at the end of the month and assuming that what is left is their profit.”

—Melissa Houston

Heads up: your bank balance does not equate to your true profitability. Doesn’t mean that you have all those money in your bank account, you’re free to spend them all you want. No—that’s not your profit yet!

As business owners, we need to get our money management system tied up so that our profitability is optimized. And one way to do that is to keep an eye on your bank account.

My personal tip: I look at my bank account—both business and personal—every. single. day.

I’m not kidding. I’m not exaggerating either.

In this episode of She Means Profit, I discuss why I find monitoring my accounts on a daily basis an essential powerful way to manage my money and optimize my business. I also break down the reasons why you should never think what’s in your bank account is your profit.

Listen to learn:‌

• Planning your goals for 2024
• Why keeping an eye on your bank account is essential
• Cash flow vs profit
• Mistake 1: Assuming what remains in your bank balance is your profit
• Mistake 2: Not paying yourself
• Mistake 3: Unpaid debts
• Mistake 4: Overleveraging your business
• Mistake 5: Accounting methods
• Three ways to work with me

Highlights:‌

01:37 Little catch-up from the season break
02:18 Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
02:50 Cash management system
05:50 2023 Q4 planning and getting ready for 2024 planning
06:44 Checking my bank balance every day
08:37 Mistake 1: Assuming what remains in your bank account is your profit
09:00 Mistake 2: Not paying yourself
10:11 Cash flow vs profit
11:43 Unpaid debts
12:42 Overleveraging your business kills your cash flow
13:36 Accounting methods
15:37 Three ways to work with me Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“You need to have a solid understanding of what's going on in your business.”

—Melissa Houston

It’s a no-brainer that anyone who owns a business must have a solid understanding of what's going on in the business—everything, including the ins and outs and the future plans. It’s simply the bedrock of success.

And while it is a no-brainer, actually committing yourself to doing so isn’t as simple as it seems. But when you have a firm grasp on your business, it's like having a compass that guides you through a maze of potential and obstacles.

So, dear entrepreneurs and dream chasers, remember that success is built on the foundation of deep comprehension. Dare to dream big, define your vision, craft your mission, and set goals that propel you toward greatness.

With a solid understanding of what's going on within your business, the possibilities are boundless, and success becomes an inevitable destination.

Listen to learn:‌

• Managing your decisions with your finances
• Generating revenue is important
• Monitoring your numbers
• Learning approaches for your business goal

Highlights:‌

04:03 Control of your financial destination

04:56 Revenue without profit is a red flag

05:25 Have the courage to claim your financial dreams

05:40 Read your financial reports

07:42 Monitor your numbers

08:55 Cash is queen

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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"There's an interconnection between mental health and financial health."

—Joyce Marter

At first glance, it may appear that there is no correlation between mental health and financial health, but the truth is that they affect one another.

Existing mental health issues can make it difficult to manage finances effectively, just as having financial issues can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. That is why it is essential to recognize the interrelation between financial and mental health and take steps to address them.

Break the cycle and cultivate an abundance mindset. We need to look past the problems and work towards problem-solving. Open your eyes and begin to take your first step toward your highest vision.

But what does it mean to step towards your highest vision for yourself?

It simply means that you should know your worth, do the work, and prioritize self-care.By recognizing the relationship between mental and financial health, we can improve and prosper our overall quality of life and achieve greater happiness and fulfillment.

Listen to learn:‌

• The interrelationship of mental health and financial health
• How negative beliefs about money blocks prosperity
• How to recover from financial traumas
• Money mindset is rooted in early childhood experiences
• Importance of creating a high vision for planning career context
• Scarcity vs abundance mindset
• How financial issues can trigger anxiety

Highlights:‌02:49 Joyce as a Financial Therapist and Money Coach
03:30 Impact of money story and traumas to mental health
04:19 Importance of Money Mindset
14:54 The distinction of scarcity and abundance
16:19 How working collaboratively can solve problems
20:11 Establishing a high vision for personal and career growth Links:‌ ‌

Joyce Marterhttps://www.joyce-marter.com Instagram: @joyce.marter Facebook: Joyce Marter Twitter: @Joyce_Marter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycemarter/ Youtube: @joycemarterlicensedtherapi7961 Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com Cash Confident Book: https://www.amazon.com/Cash-Confident-Entrepreneurs-Creating-Profitable/dp/1637586361/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cash+confident+melissa+houston&qid=1684071072&sprefix=%2Caps%2C57&sr=8-1 Cash Confident Course --> sign up here Apply to work with me --> Apply here Mini-courses

• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

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“Finding new and innovative ways to increase the amount and frequency of sales should be one of your top priorities if you want long-term success.”

—Melissa Houston

Sales volume is essential; it is the heart of your business.

Without sales, businesses cannot drive revenue, gain profits, and eventually grow. In simple words, there is no business if you don’t have sales.

But increasing your sales volume is not easy. You need to put in effort, dedication, sweat, time, and willingness to take risks. And to become a successful business owner with a lot of sales, you need to be constantly innovating, trying new things, and adapting to changing market conditions.

In this episode, we’ll break down the key points on how you can increase your sales volume so that you can finally pay close attention to your sales volume, keep track of it, set goals for improvement, and take action to make it grow!

Listen to learn:‌

• Importance of increasing sales
• Understanding the breakeven sales point
• Making a suitable business model
• Essentials of real-time data
• Being the top on sales as a business owner
• Significance of dedicating time and effort for sales
• Tracking the numbers at all times

Highlights:‌02:25 Enter Cash Confident reviews
04:12 Monitoring sales volume
05:04 Breakeven point in sales
07:19 Making a financial plan
10:58 Monitoring progress throughout the month
11:53 Having a detailed real-time data
13:12 Tracking your numbers

Cash Confident Book Cash Confident Course --> sign up here Apply to work with me --> Apply here

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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"When running a product-based business, profitability should be top of mind."

—Melissa Houston

Creating and operating a product-based business demands a significant amount of courage and drive to bring your product to the market.

Thus, it’s a must that entrepreneurs possess a deep understanding of their intended audience, their competitors, and the industry in which they operate.

It is not easy to build a product-based business. There are several things that you should consider, and a bucket of sweat and tears will be required in order to build it successfully.

So in this episode, we will delve into how we can make our product-based business profitable and on top despite hindrances and challenges!

Keep learning, adapting, and growing your business, and you'll make significant strides towards business success.

Listen to learn about:‌

• The importance of courage in product-based businesses
• Price strategies in product-based businesses
• Effective marketing plan that is crucial for visibility and success
• Building a strong brand identity
• Essential of quality control
• When to consider investing in equipment and manufacturing
• Prioritizing the profit in your business

Highlights:‌

04:19 Product-based businesses built on a solid financial foundation
06:00 Things to consider if you have a product-based business
06:20 Setting your prices
08:19 Packaging of the product
09:50 Marketing for your product
11:19 Considering manufacturing cost
12:42 Distribution of your products
15:42 Providing excellent service
17:10 Return policy Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder
• Are You On Track For Millionaire Status Quiz

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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"The key to succeeding in business isn't just having a strong idea, but also knowing how to manage your business correctly."

—Melissa Houston

What motivated you to start your business? Each of us has unique reasons why we started to take the journey of entrepreneurship. For some, it’s their passion, while for others, it’s the desire to have another source of income.

But running a thriving business requires a good grasp and understanding of financial management.

You have to consider everything that builds your business: numbers, profit, data, operations, and marketing.

Have the courage to take the bold step towards a successful business through cultivating knowledge, vision, and dedication about finances. You can reach levels you never thought were possible—if you do the work to get there.

This episode talks about the things you need to prioritize to make your business successful.

Listen to learn about:‌

• How to manage your business correctly
• Importance of getting Cash Confident
• How to make your business more profitable
• Things to consider in business
• Making a financial plan

Highlights:‌03:27 Intro
04:03 Running and developing a successful business
05:02 Looking at your business data
08:53 Unique opportunity to construct own business model
10:35 Poor money management
10:57 Ultimate responsibility for financial future
16:32 Set financial goals
17:28 Pre-order Cash Confident

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Your brand is everything in your business that people have a touchpoint with.”—Tiffany Neuman

Your brand is your signature.

But it is not just about the colors, logos, or other visuals you provide.

Building a brand is all about creating a foundation for your business that includes your vision, voice, story, and goals. It should be like a conversation, a dialogue between you and your customers. Developing a unique brand is a step toward establishing a thriving and profitable business.

Tune in to the latest episode of She Means Profit, where our special guest, Tiffany Neuman, is going to drop some major knowledge bombs on branding!

Listen to learn:‌

• Brand is not just about logos, colors, and fonts
• Building the foundations in creating your brand
• Clarity and consistency in creating your brand legacy
• Ensuring the offers are congruent with the brand
• Ways to create a cohesive brand

Guest Bio: Tiffany Neuman is a visionary branding strategist who helps mission-driven entrepreneurs uplevel their businesses. After 15 years in the corporate world as a creative director, she left to found Your Legacy Brand to help clients across the globe increase their income, impact, and influence.

Highlights:‌00:26 Intro
01:46 Tiffany helps women step into their power by creating legacy brand
02:35 Creating a brand for your business
04:18 Brands paint a picture of who you are
07:09 What is Brand Legacy
14:36 How Tiffany expands her audiences through networking group
18:17 You should make a quantum leap

Links:‌ ‌

Tiffany Neumanhttps://yourlegacybrand.com/ Instagram:@tiffanyneumancreative Facebook: @tiffanyneumancreative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyneuman/ Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com Mini-courses

• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

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"Money serves as a tool to help you create positive things in the world and support your values."

—Melissa Houston

Contrary to the common notion, money is NOT just a number. We all know how this number in our banks and our wallets has a huge influence on our quality of life. So, it is not surprising that many of us tie our worth and happiness to the amount of money that we have. We stress about chasing it and work hard to attain it.

And while money has the power to make us feel secure, it should never be linked to how we identify and value ourselves. Our worth isn’t dependent on how much money we make.

Don’t let money have the power over you; instead, allow yourself to control your finances and embody the right money mindset. Equip yourself with financial strategies and plans that align with your values. That way, you allow yourself to be empowered by money in many positive ways.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why we should look at money as a tool
• Acknowledging your beliefs around money is important
• What financial literacy is
• Why you should diversify your investments
• Investing in financial education is a must
• How to develop positive money mindset

Highlights:‌

00:12 Intro
03:23 Cash Confident pre-order
04:04 Definition of money
09:32 The right money mindset
11:06 Develop money habits
12:04 Transforming money mindset into a positive one
18:25 Invest in yourself

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident
• Main website
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder
• Are You On Track For Millionaire Status Quiz

**Follow me on:

IG: @*melissahoustoncpa* LinkedIn: @**melissahoustoncpa

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“Create what you consume.” - Kelsey ReidlIn a competitive environment like the business industry, having the right strategies is the tool to success. While it is a fact that marketing should reflect a brand's personality and be fun, brands should focus on "self-expressed" marketing strategies as well. A good way to start creating a social media strategy for your brand is to create content that you would enjoy consuming.

By creating content that aligns with your own preferences, you're more likely to be successful with your marketing efforts. This is because you'll have a deeper understanding of your target audience and what kind of content they enjoy consuming. In this way, you can develop a more efficient and effective marketing strategy.

Whether you are an entrepreneur just starting out or a small business owner looking to revamp your marketing strategy, this episode offers practical tips and insights for building a successful marketing strategy that is aligned with your mission and values.

Tune in to learn how to create a positive, exciting, and high-energy vibe around your products, experiment with different strategies, and see real results.

Listen to learn:‌

• Identifying the mission behind a marketing strategy
• The three key elements of a marketing strategy: mission, mindset, and main ingredients
• Why energy in marketing matters and its impact on brand loyalty
• Direct response marketing drives engagement and building community
• Fostering connections with your audience through conversation and engagement

Highlights:‌01:09 Intro
03:28 Struggles of Entrepreneurs
04:04 Understanding marketing from a Venn diagram perspective
09:20 Create what you consume
14:26 Self-expressed content as the most powerful piece of marketing
17:19 Marketing is all about energy
21:44 Marketing is a two-way conversation

Links:‌ ‌

Kelsey Reidlhttps://www.kelseyreidl.com/ Instagram:@kelseyreidl Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com Mini-courses

• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:
IG @melissahoustoncpa LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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"Every risk taken has something to teach us, and with each failure comes an opportunity to grow, learn, and move forward."

—Melissa Houston

It’s scary to take risks, but it’s more daunting not to take one.

Taking risks also means taking a leap into our growth. It allows us to move beyond our comfort zones, confront our fears, and ultimately achieve our goals. In the realm of business and entrepreneurship, people are known to be risk-takers. Because the truth is, there’s more to risk and more to lose if you don’t dare jump into an opportunity.

Though we all know that risks can result in disappointments, failures, and setbacks, it is important to remember that these experiences are valuable opportunities for growth and development. It’s a better option than not taking a risk at all because choosing the latter could mean that we may never reach our full potential and achieve our eventual success.

So if you hesitate to embrace uncertainty, always remember that there could be a positive outcome and valuable lessons waiting on the other end of the line.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why taking risks is essential for entrepreneurs
• Setbacks are a normal part of a successful journey
• Failures can be an opportunity for growth
• Growth requires living outside of our comfort zones

Highlights:‌

00:11: Intro
00:56: Announcement of the expansion of She Means Profit Services
04:08: My seven-figure profitable business
04:42: Core message of She Means Profit
06:33: Taking risk as entrepreneur
10:29: Not giving up after failures
13:51: Pitch as part of the game
15:09: Setbacks on the road towards success

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Application to work 1:1 with Melissa
• Main website
• Calendar link
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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“Businesses need proper information to make informed business decisions. And key to that is the accounting information that the accounting professional should be offering to their clients.”

—Roger Knecht

In the ever-evolving business world, we are met with strict competition, different challenges and obstacles, and exciting opportunities to help us maximize our profits and scale our businesses. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It requires different approaches as what worked for you yesterday may not work for you today and in the future.

It can be difficult to survive in business without professional help - and this is especially crucial for your finances. You need someone who is multi-skilled and has vast knowledge about the industry. That’s where an accounting professional comes in.

With the guidance of a skilled accounting professional, your business can smoothly sail the storm and rough sea of finance and maximize your profits to ensure your business is sustainable in the long run. By having an accountant, you can set up your business for success and concentrate on what you do best: creating and providing high-value products and quality service to your customer.

Listen to this episode to learn:‌

• The essence of accounting information to your businesses
• How accounting correlates to your business operations
• The impact of poor cash flow management
• Types of financial information provided by accounting professionals
• Strategies and plans backed by accounting information for business success and profitability

Guest Bio: For more than 20 years Roger has personally helped thousands of accounting professionals start & build their businesses. In that time they've created programs to address each aspect of running an accounting business & he has helped author "Red to BLACK", the how-to-guide for accountants to help clients with the most common challenges faced in business - cash flow, AND "in the BLACK - 9 principles to make your business profitable".

Highlights:‌

00:29 Intro
02:45 Appreciate the numbers
03:57 Why most businesses fail in the first to fifth year
04:18 What can be done to address the cash flow situation to help you stay in business
05:20 How accountants can help business owners
08:31 Tax Preparation
15:38 Importance to have a good working relationship with your finance professional
21:25 Color Accounting

**Links:‌ ‌

Roger Knecht*https://www.uacourses.com/courses/joy-ca* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerknecht/ Melissa Houston**

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Main website
• Calendar link
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

IG: @melissahoustoncpa LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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“Money dates are so helpful, and when you get into a regular routine of having maybe weekly or monthly money dates with your business, it's going to help your business in so many ways, and mostly by increasing profit.”

—Melissa Houston

Like it or not, any business's lifeblood is money; without it, it will be hard for the enterprise to thrive.

There are many reasons why talking about money and finances is essential, yet many people, let alone business owners, still find it boring and uninteresting. Or perhaps they don’t want to go down into the trenches and talking about financial details is not worth their time.

Reviewing your financial performance and focusing on understanding the numbers can present many opportunities for growth, success, connection, and surprisingly, even fun! Having these money dates will help you make profitable decisions that will absolutely help the growth of the business in the future.

Having regular money dates with your business may seem like an extra task that you have to do on top of everything else on your list. But by exerting that extra time and effort, you can make sure your business is on track to achieve financial success.

So let's start talking about money!

Listen to learn:‌

• Money dates help keep you organized and plan for the future
• Setting budgets is a key task during money dates
• Managing your money is key to building wealth
• Evaluating expenses is a key task during money dates
• Maximizing output with minimal input is essential for increasing profit
• Knowing your numbers is crucial to creating profit in your business

Highlights:‌

00:21 Intro
00:43 Why money dates is helpful with your partner
01:47 Cash Confident pre-order bonus bundle
05:24 Benefits of having money dates with your business
06:39 Reviewing financial performance is essential
08:57 Planning your finances
10:02 Managing your money is how you build the wealth
10:45 Having regular money dates helps you to stay organized
11:39 Money dates allow you to set goals
12:57 Having regular money dates

Links:‌ ‌

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Main website
• Calendar link
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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“The biggest thing that I noticed in me after starting to work with you is just a boost in confidence. I certainly went into it having major imposter syndrome.”
— Sarah Beth Davis

As entrepreneurs, we know how valuable our financial resources are and want to make sure we put every cent of it to good use. Unfortunately, the most common mistake young businesses make is not hiring a professional to do their financial and business accounting.

And this error could cost your young business thousands of dollars because of unforeseen expenses, wrong inventory projections, high attrition due to not having a standardized salary scale, or even inadequate capitalization because of inequitable business partnerships.

My guest this week speaks most about the latter and how she was able to traverse that difficult time in her business due to a dissolved business partnership. Sarah Beth Davis runs a brick-and-mortar store selling curated children’s clothing. She witnessed firsthand how a small business can suffer from curve balls such as restructuring the organizational design early on in the business. Since working with me, she has seen financial stability, increased confidence, and overall peace of mind knowing that things are finally in place.

Sarah Beth emphasizes essential lessons from her experience:

• Being a business owner can be extremely overwhelming
• Getting thrown a curveball in your small business can be distracting and ultimately damaging
• Choosing a business partner is like choosing someone to marry
• Simulating and visualizing your business by thinking through all of the hypothetical situations and how you would handle them
• Investing in hiring professional help to straighten out the financials of your business

Highlights:‌

01:13 The joy of dressing up a baby led her to starting a business
02:46 Finding helpful financial data and information when you’re starting out is difficult
06:30 Started Wynnie’s with two partners
08:08 Things started to shift and the partnership was no longer equitable
09:55 Important parallels of business and marriage
11:04 Honeymoon and divorce stage of a business partnership
12:37 Protecting your personal assets early on
14:22 The curse of the Impostor Syndrome
15:27 Changing your financial habits
17:20 Simplifying things makes a world of difference
17:49 Working with a CPA for your business is a practical and valuable investment

Links:‌ ‌

Sarah Beth Davis
https://wynniesboutique.com/
Facebook: @wynniesboutique
Instagram: @wynniesboutique
Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com
Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30mi
Mini-courses

• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course
• https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:
IG @melissahoustoncpa
LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“It's not enough to have a good business idea. You need to have the financial structure in place.”

—Melissa Houston

When you hear the word “rich”, what emotion or feeling do you attach to it? Is it a positive notion? Are you proud, excited, and inspired to act? Or are you left feeling bothered, guilty, or even repulsed by it?

At the heart of being rich as a business owner is correcting that negative money mindset that being rich is bad. Getting rich is, first and foremost, more about financial confidence than it is about obscene luxury or vulgarity. In fact, it's a good thing to get rich because you can help others with money.

And while “rich” can mean different things to different people, this episode talks about three things you can do to build your wealth as a business owner.

Listen to learn:‌

• Why getting rich is all about financial confidence
• Why achieving financial freedom is a lot quicker through owning a business than traditional employment
• How owning a business offers you a lot of flexibility
• How to have a plan in place for financial success
• How getting rich as a business owner requires self-discipline
• Why being a successful business owner requires resiliency

Highlights:‌00:50: Intro
02:10: “Get rich” evokes a visceral reaction among most people
02:53: Correcting the negative connotation with having money and being rich
04:10: Cash Confident pre-order bonus bundle
07:37: Reinvest profit to your business to flourish and thrive
08:54: Being a business owner affords you flexibility
09:44: Cash is the lifeline of a business
10:06: Having a financial plan for success
12:18: Self-discipline is the key
13:39: Manage the money coming in and out and live within the means
of your business
14:57: Being a successful business owner requires resiliency
16:00: Building a successful business is not for the fainthearted

As a business owner, you have a tremendous opportunity to change your life by building wealth properly using available tools and resources.

Links:

• Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• Main website
• Calendar link
• Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
• Mini-course: Pay Yourself
• Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
• Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

Follow me on:

IG: @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

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“We are lending across one end of Canada to the next, on a microloan basis.”

— Wendy Curtis

Are you taking advantage of all of the resources available to you as a business owner? Based in Cobourg, Ontario, the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation, known as the NCFDC, provides financing and strategy for entrepreneurs. In this episode, I sit down with two of the NCFDC’s incredible leaders, Devon Girard and Wendy Curtis.

Devon is the Program Lead for Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs to advance economic recovery, while Wendy is the Director of CF Ontario East and is described by the Government of Canada’s Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario as “Northumberland’s Woman of Influence”!

In this conversation, we dive into the amazing initiatives and programs developed by the NCFDC to help women entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses with more ease.

Listen now to discover:‌ ‌

• The risks that women are willing — or unwilling — to take when it comes to securing funding for their businesses
• How you can use the NCFDC’s DELIA platform to access microloans
• Why you need to check out the StrikeUP Digital Conference for Women Entrepreneurs!

Guest bios: Formerly Director of Trade Marketing, Pillsbury Canada Ltd, Wendy Curtis is a recognized multi-award-winning leader in our regional innovation ecosystem. Devon Girard is an accomplished strategic communications professional with more than fifteen years of experience in government, community, and media relations.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

02:14 Meet Devon Girard & Wendy Curtis

04:05 Women, loans & risk-taking

05:14 Bias & access to capital

08:28 Applying for NCFDC loans

10:00 StrikeUP

13:17 Future of women in business

18:26 Final takeaways

‌

Links:‌ ‌

NCFDC

https://ncfdc.ca

https://ncfdc.ca/delia

https://ca.linkedin.com/company/northumberland-cfdc

https://www.facebook.com/NorthumberlandCFDC

Twitter: @NrthmbrlndCFDC

StrikeUP

https://strikeup.ca

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link 🡪 https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses 🡪 https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“There was a noticeable difference in the barriers that women were facing, being women entrepreneurs. They were different from what men were facing.”

—Chris McMartin

Get ready for an inspiring episode! My guest Chris McMartin is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to empowering women and nonbinary entrepreneurs and business owners. Chris leads the Scotiabank Women Initiative Small Business Strategy across Canada. This is a powerful program that helps women and nonbinary people overcome the many challenges that they face along their path to success when starting, sustaining, and growing a business.

Chris has gained a wealth of absolutely incredible insight through her experience helping her program’s participants access the funding, education, and support they need to achieve their business goals.

In this episode, Chris and I discuss the need for women-focused support and networking, the women-led partnerships and sponsorships that the Scotiabank Women Initiative undertakes, and the unbeatable joy of entrepreneurship. Listen now!

You’ll discover:‌

• The three pillars that The Scotiabank Women Initiative focuses on in terms of helping women entrepreneurs
• The free events, support, and resources that are available through the program
• Who is able to access to the program — and why YOU want to sign up right now!

Guest bio: Chris McMartin leads The Scotiabank Women Initiative Small Business Strategy across Canada, leading many national events and partnerships such as the Master Class Series, The IWD: She Shoots She Scores, StrikeUP Virtual Conference, and the mentorship program. Chris has a passion for people which has led her to champion equity initiatives through many diversity, equity, and inclusion roles within the bank. She currently sits as the Co-Chair for the National Allyship Council, a Stream Lead for the Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group and a participant on the Employee Pulse Committee.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

01:57 Meet Chris McMartin

03:20 Why focus on women entrepreneurs?

04:24 The 3 pillars

08:54 Program cost

10:01 Joys of entrepreneurship

11:43 Scotiabank Women Initiative events

13:56 Spreading the word

15:06 Who can access the program?

17:09 Scotiabank

19:40 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Chris McMartin

https://www.scotiabank.com/women-initiative/ca/en.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianne-mcmartin

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“It’s often difficult to stay on track and focus, especially when life throws you unexpected situations and surprises, but having that personal CFO can help alleviate some of that stress — this can be a gamechanger for your business.”

— Melissa Houston

How would it feel to have a personal CFO who could coach you through building a successful and profitable business? Who could help you pinpoint your biggest revenue opportunities and effectively plug the money leaks in your business? Who could provide you with expert mentorship and advice, based on years of experience helping other business owners grow?

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

A personal CFO can provide insight into financial and market trends, narrow in on the business strategies most suited to help you thrive, keep you accountable to your goals, and help you feel more confident and prepared as a business owner. But what does it really mean to have your own personal CFO? And does your business truly need one?

In this episode, you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about working with a part-time, fractional, or virtual CFO — but were too afraid to ask!

Tune in now and ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How fractional CFOs work with businesses and why they are great for smaller organizations
• The key benefits of having your business finances organized, monitored, and analyzed by an expert
• Special bonus: learn how to get five amazing free bonuses when pre-ordering my new book, Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business (out on May 16th, 2023)!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

03:09 Canadian winter

04:49 Cash Confident pre-order bonus bundle

08:32 Why have a personal CFO?

09:57 Plan ahead

12:30 Make better decisions

15:26 Spot potential opportunities

17:16 Uplevel your business

18:14 Recap

Links:‌ ‌

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

Looking for a fractional CFO? Book a call and let’s talk! https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“The rhetoric out there at the moment is people aren’t buying—‘if you launch something at the moment, it’s really difficult.’ It isn’t. It’s just that our audiences have grown smarter.” —Lisa Johnson

If you’re tired of trading time for money, and want to learn how to work smarter instead of harder in order to build your wealth, this is an episode for you.

My guest Lisa Johnson is a multi-seven- figure global business strategist who makes 90% of her money through passive or semi-passive income streams, while working less than 30 hours per month. Yes, you read that correctly!

In a single launch during the pandemic, she made $3 million dollars. In just ONE WEEK. (Nearly half of that in just the first hour of sales.)

Lisa is known as a Passive Income Queen, and in this episode, she and I dive into the massive effect that money mindset can have on your business, how to make new earnings work for you in order to make more, and why you should read her book, Make Money Online: Halve Your Hours, Double Your Earnings & Love Your Life.

Listen now to discover:‌

• The difference between passive and semi-passive income—and how to benefit from both
• How to adapt to shifting consumer tastes (and what modern buyers need from you!)
• How Lisa’s podcast attracted the attention of two different publishing houses and led to a book deal

Bonus: learn Lisa’s #1 tip for growing an engaged audience online!

Lisa Johnson is a UK-based is a multi-seven- figure global business strategist who helps ambitious people create passive and semi-passive income streams. She is the host of the Making Money Online with Lisa Johnson podcast and an ambassador for the anti-bullying charity Bullies Out.

Highlights:‌

00:50 Intro

01:54 Meet Lisa Johnson

02:56 “Semi-passive income”

05:34 From DIY course to live

07:15 From podcast to book

10:24 Money mindset matters

13:08 Dealing with new wealth

15:28 Self worth & making money

18:59 Shifting consumer tastes

21:16 Growing an engaged audience

23:52 Takeaway

‌Links:‌

Lisa Johnson

https://www.lisajohnson.com

https://bulliesout.com

Facebook

Instagram: @lisajohnsonstrategist

Make Money Online Book
Make Money Online Audible Book

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“The biggest thing that will separate you from the crowd in your journey to wealth-building is believing that you are WORTH IT.”

— Melissa Houston

Interviewing Suze Orman for She Means Profit is one of the top highlights of my career (right up there with publishing my first book, Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business)! As I was starting my own career, Suze was an absolute inspiration as both a female finance expert and as a role model devoted to empowering other women.

One of the top insights that came out of our incredible interview is the importance of self worth when it comes to building and growing your wealth. Believing that you deserve wealth is essential to helping you achieve it — when it comes to making money, mindset makes ALL the difference (it’s why money mindset plays such an important role in my Cash Confident framework!).

In this episode, I share some compelling research about the power of positive thinking, and dive into the importance of cultivating a problem-solving mentality and learning how to “risk forward.”

Listen now — and if you haven’t yet heard my interview with Suze Orman, do check out She Means Profit #130: The Key To Feeling Financially Successful with Suze Orman!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to heal your mindset and vanquish the demons that are holding you back from becoming wealthy
• How to train your brain to be more open to reasonable risk-taking (a key factor in financial success!)
• Why moving out of your comfort zone is going to be the needle-mover in your business— and what I did to successfully break out of my own!

Highlights:‌

00:50 My interview with Suze Orman

03:35 Mindset & building wealth

05:10 The power of positive thinking

06:01 Money mindset, risk-taking & problem-solving

08:27 Getting out of my comfort zone

09:47 Changing your mindset

13:15 Mistakes v. learning experiences

14:20 Conclusion

Links:‌

She Means Profit #130: The Key To Feeling Financially Successful with Suze Orman

Cash Confident program

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

Risk Forward: Embrace the Unknown and Unlock Your Hidden Genius by Victoria Labalme

https://www.victorialabalme.com/book-risk-forward

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30mi

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Good copy always connects before it converts.”

— Megan Smyth

Many entrepreneurs would say that making sales is the trickiest part of their business — but having the right copy on your website can help you sell your offers while you sleep!

After realizing three years into her pre-med degree that she was chasing someone else's idea of success, my guest Megan Smyth decided to start her own business, one that allowed her to make her own roles, empower other women, and (most importantly) required zero knowledge of organic chemistry. Now, she helps female coaches make more sales through personality-filled website and email copy that converts!

In this conversation, we chat about everything from money-making copy to market research to mindset shifts. Tune in to learn Megan’s top tips for improving your sales skills, the biggest copywriting mistakes that business owners make, and how effectively to create urgency in your copy. You won’t want to miss it!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How the new trend toward empathy-driven marketing will help you better connect with your ideal customers
• The low-key ways that you are already gathering powerful market research — and how to benefit from it
• The 3 questions that your copy MUST answer to drive conversations (and more sales)!

Guest bio: Megan Smyth is a sales copywriter for trailblazing female entrepreneurs. Through her in-depth research process, personality-filled copy, and pull-no-punches consulting, she helps mission-driven founders distill their vision for change into a powerful message, uniquely crafted with equal parts art and science.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

01:38 Meet Megan Smyth

02:41 Sales & women entrepreneurs

04:29 Mindset challenges

05:22 Shift in sales methods & new marketing trends

07:00 Market research

09:06 3 questions copy must answer

10:10 Creating urgency

11:27 Biggest copywriting mistake

12:32 Overcoming objections

14:08 Building a sales funnel

16:54 Sales strategy for introverts & extroverts

18:25 Takeaway & ideal client avatar

20:57 Conclusion

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Megan Smyth

https://megansmyth.com

Instagram: @copybymeg

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30mi

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Variance reports are essential for any business that wants to stay on top of their finances.”

— Melissa Houston

Having a business financial plan is essential — but you also have to monitor your results against that plan, each and every month, in order to understand how to create profit in your business.

This is the reality: if you’re NOT monitoring those results, then you are out of the loop when it comes to the financial health of your business… and you won’t be able to make the informed course corrections that will get you back on track when you begin to fall behind your goals.

A variance report is an analysis tool that allows you to compare your actual business results with your budgeted figures or standard performance levels for specific periods, such as months or quarters. Listen now to learn why completing monthly variance reports is VITAL to running your most successful and profitable business!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to create a variance report for your own business — and how to analyze the results
• A real-life example of how I use variance reports in my own business
• My #1 recommendation for accounting software that will scale alongside your business

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Intro

02:34 Business plans & forecasting

04:59 QuickBooks

06:31 What is a variance report?

07:36 Variance report example #1

10:43 Variance report example #2

11:28 Why use variance reports?

13:15 How to create a variance report

15:31 Money mindset

16:24 Conclusion

18:09 Cash Confident

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Cash Confident program

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

QuickBooks

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/global

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“When you say No out of love for yourself, that is when you start to be a truly profitable, strong, smart, and secure woman.”

— Suze Orman

My guest for this episode of She Means Profit is none other than Suze Orman! Suze is one of North America’s foremost experts on personal finance, a New York Times bestselling author, a magazine and online columnist, former contributing editor to “O” The Oprah Magazine, the host of the Suze Orman’s Women & Money podcast, and a co-founder of the employer-sponsored emergency savings solution SecureSave. For over a decade, she hosted the award-winning Suze Orman Show, where she helped people make the connection between self-worth and net worth.

Tune in to hear Suze’s amazing stories about her fascinating career — from sharing the key to life during her first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show to co-founding her latest business venture — and her deep insights regarding women, money, and mindset!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why women need to learn how to say No out of love for themselves and never undervalue what they do
• The major role that personal financial literacy plays in successful entrepreneurship
• How Suze’s SecureSave solution is a game-changer for emergency savings

Guest bio: Suze Orman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author on personal finance, with over 25 million books in circulation available in 12 languages worldwide. A magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, host of Suze Orman’s Women & Money podcast, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, Orman is undeniably America’s most recognized expert on personal finance.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

01:44 Suze Orman & The Oprah Winfrey Show

08:03 Helping others & saying No out of love

10:53 Living on an island

11:40 Luck v. hard work

13:52 Women & money mindset

18:18 Power of women

19:45 Emergency savings crisis & SecureSave

28:43 SecureSave & small business

30:22 Returning to speaking

32:57 Retirement?

35:03 Own your assets & your power

Links:‌ ‌

Suze Orman

https://www.suzeorman.com

https://www.facebook.com/suzeorman

https://www.youtube.com/suzeorman

Twitter: http://twitter.com/suzeormanshow

SecureSave

https://www.securesave.com

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“I believed that I was going to succeed right out of the gate because I had such a strong business acumen… however, I did not know a lot about being an entrepreneur.”

— Melissa Houston

When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I had a basic idea of what I wanted to do, but my vision grew clearer and more defined through working with clients. If you’ve been a long-time listener of this podcast, then you’ll know that the show has also gone through a few different iterations, from Think Like a CFO to The Business Society to She Means Profit™️.

It’s crucial to feel fully in alignment with your business, and landing on this new branding has really helped me to crystallize my goals, values, and approach — and in this episode, I’d love to properly introduce you to She Means Profit and what led to the brand’s creation!

In this solo episode, I share my business journey, my true passion and purpose in life, how I’ve worked to set myself apart in my industry, and how you can work with me to become Cash Confident!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The lessons that I’ve learned throughout my entrepreneurial successes and mistakes
• What you can expect from She Means Profit in 2023 — and how to pre-order Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
• A timely episode recommendation to help you with your financial planning for the new year

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Intro & episode recommendation

03:27 Money offers opportunity

04:30 Meet She Means Profit

05:03 Learning from my experiences

06:43 My goals

10:21 What to expect in 2023

13:29 Second book & focusing on profit

‌

Links:‌ ‌

She Means Profit #128

She Means Profit YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMTwsblmZApAJNoRG_k9JjQ

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

Programs

https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Calendar link --> https://calendly.com/shemeansprofit/30min

Mini-courses --> https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/pay-yourself

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/personal-net-worth-calculator-mini-course

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-ultimate-budget-binder-mini-course

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“You don’t want any negative money mindset issues holding you back from being the best and most profitable business owner that you can be.”

— Melissa Houston

The end of the year means holiday get-togethers, warm mugs of cider or hot chocolate, some well-earned downtime… and planning. Setting goals and clearly planning out your next power moves is absolutely essential to growing your business, no matter which stage you are in. If you’re not setting out new goals, your business will become stagnant — or even start to decline.

As I like to say, a goal without a plan is just a wish. So if you want the next year to be your best year ever, it’s time to sit down and start working out how you’re going to move forward with your business over the next 12 months.

In this episode, you’ll discover a range of different goals that you can set in your business, from marketing to customer service to employee productivity, and a simple road map to help you hit your milestones!

Listen now to learn:‌ ‌

• Why it’s so important to set goals in your business (no matter whether you set them January 1st or June 22nd!)
• Why setting a goal is only the first step — and what you must do next in order to begin turning it into reality
• 4 steps that will help you achieve your long-term vision with more ease!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

03:23 Look back at the past year(s)

04:15 Why set goals?

05:04 Plan for achieving

06:43 Look at your current situation & goals

07:33 Set realistic goals & create your plan of action

08:17 Stay accountable

09:21 Short-term v. long-term goals

11:08 Financial goals

12:39 Marketing goals

14:08 Sales goals

15:01 Customer service goals

16:13 Employee productivity goals

18:32 Need assistance?

‌

Links:‌ ‌

She Means Profit - How to Get the Mindset of a Millionaire

https://shemeansprofit.com/podcast/how-to-get-the-mindset-of-a-millionaire

She Means Profit - Misconceptions, Manifestation & Money Mindset

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/misconceptions-manifestation-money-mindset/id1533130323?i=1000574612552

She Means Profit - Why Money Mindset Really Matters For Profit And Life Goals

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/why-money-mindset-really-matters-for-profit-and-life-goals/id1533130323?i=1000569499715

5-Step Roadmap

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪

View Details

“Planning can help you avoid being blindsided by a large tax bill and can also help you take advantage of opportunities to lower the taxes that are owed.”

— Melissa Houston

Tax season. Did those words just send a chill down your spine? Did you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach? Tax season is rarely pleasant for anyone, but business owners in particular often live in fear of being surprised by a large and unexpected tax bill… especially when they don’t have the savings to cover it (yikes!).

In fact, the tax season surprise is one of the most common complaints that I hear from the entrepreneurs and business owners who reach out to work with me.

If you’re currently dreading tax season, this episode is for you — I share my top tips for avoiding massive tax bills, bust the most common tax myths currently floating around, and pull back the curtain on some of the worst tax advice you may have heard!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• What you can do to stay on the government’s good side — and reduce your chances of triggering an audit!
• How to ensure that you’re taking advantage of all of the deductions that you are entitled to
• How to plan ahead and prepare yourself (and your business) for tax season

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

01:56 Bad tax advice

07:03 Understanding tax obligations

09:35 Keep good records

10:38 Know your filing requirements

11:18 Claim your deductions

11:42 Stay up-to-date on the tax code

12:49 Plan ahead

16:34 Be mindful & proactive

18:09 Conclusion

‌

Links:‌ ‌

5-Step Roadmap

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

View Details

“Your business finances are the backbone of your business.”

— Melissa Houston

Quick question: when was the last time that you evaluated your business’s financial practices? If the answer is “I can’t remember” or “never,” then this episode is for you.

Every business should periodically review its financial practices in order to ensure that it’s operating as efficiently as possible. If your business isn’t humming along like a (profitable) well-oiled machine, it may just need a money makeover!

A money makeover can help you save money, make more profit, and feel more financially confident in your business through blocking money leaks, optimizing your pricing, creating the right revenue targets, budgeting effectively, and better managing your cash flow.

Remember: 82% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement — I want you to beat those odds, so let’s make sure that your financial practices are serving you and your business goals!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• 8 expert tips that will help you give your business a full money makeover
• A powerful tool to help you manage your credit card debt repayments with more ease
• How to pre-order my upcoming book, Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro & Cash Confident pre-orders

05:22 Time for a money makeover?

07:46 Credit card debt

09:59 Feedback, focus & goal-setting

10:40 Cut back on expenses

12:15 Set goals & hire a financial planner or coach

14:07 Make a budget

15:00 Invest in yourself & cut down spending

16:25 Start a retirement plan

17:22 Get organized

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business

https://melissahoustoncpa.com/cash-confident-book

The Debt Repayment Calculator

https://melissa-houston.thinkific.com/courses/the-debt-repayment-calculator

5-Step Roadmap

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Making a lot of money doesn’t make you a bad person… it simply means that you have goals and ambition.”

— Melissa Houston

Society tends to side-eye the idea of women building wealth. Although women are starting businesses in record numbers — and generating billions of dollars in revenue — men continue to dominate when it comes to achieving millionaire status, making up two-thirds of the seven-figure-plus club. Ambitious women entrepreneurs often worry that they’ll be seen as greedy or money-grubbing if they prioritize profits, and this can lead to undervaluing their offers or letting juicy contracts pass them by.

Repeat after me: it is okay to want to make money. It is okay to want to make LOTS of money!

Far from being selfish, millionaire women are actually far more likely to re-invest in their communities and businesses, boosting the local economy and driving major impact for those around them.

In this episode, I bust the myth that women are only in business to build community, not make money, and share why women business owners are in a unique position to achieve millionaire status!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why we need to normalize women’s wealth-building — and kick the fear of being seen as “greedy”
• 5 reasons why the world NEEDS more female millionaires (and how your business can help you hit that goal)
• The effect of gender diversity on a company’s profitability

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro & puppy update

02:47 Normalize women making money

04:48 Achieving millionaire status

07:46 Economic impact

08:36 Why we need female millionaires

11:51 Diversifying the pool

13:33 Role models & mentors

15:12 Right thing to do

‌

Links:‌ ‌

5-Step Roadmap

https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Transparency International

https://www.transparency.org

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“By closely examining your spending habits, you can ensure that you’re living within your means — and staying on track with your financial goals!”

— Melissa Houston

What’s the most subtle, quiet, and insidious threat to your personal wealth? Lifestyle creep.

Lifestyle creep (also known as creeping consumption) refers to a gradual increase in your standard of living. It doesn’t have to be as drastic as moving to a larger house or condo! Lifestyle creep can include going on shopping sprees, eating out more frequently, indulging in more expensive brands, travelling more often, and more. These “small” regular expenses add up over time, and can sabotage your long-term financial goals.

People often fall into lifestyle creep after receiving a promotion, scaling up their business, or receiving an inheritance, but just as often it is fuelled by credit. As our income and credit limits grow, it can feel easy to justify these additional expenses — but if you’re spending your money (or, worse, creating more debt) on things that aren’t investments, you’re not building your wealth.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labour, as long as you’re smart and mindful about it!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The financial and psychological effects of lifestyle creep — and how it can become a self-fuelling cycle
• Proven strategies that will help to reduce your risk of lifestyle creep
• My personal lifestyle creep story — and what I learned from it

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

01:40 Welcome Daisy!

02:47 Effects of lifestyle creep & my story

04:52 Revenue & expenses

06:35 Reinvesting v. eroding your savings

08:01 Credit card fees & spoiled retirement plans

10:07 Strategies for avoiding lifestyle creep

11:10 Monitor your spending habits

12:03 Save money automatically

12:43 Create a realistic budget

13:18 Mindfulness & money mindset

15:45 Cash reserves & downturns

Links:‌

5-STEP PROFIT ROADMAP-https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap/

She Means Profit - How to Get the Mindset of a Millionaire

She Means Profit - Misconceptions, Manifestation & Money Mindset

She Means Profit - Why Money Mindset Really Matters For Profit And Life Goals

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“When you rely on one stream of income, you are revolving your entire business around that ONE way of earning revenue.”

— Melissa Houston

If you’ve been scratching your head trying to figure out how to diversify the income streams in your business — or wondering if it’s worth the effort — then you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode!

Here’s the reality: even if your business is currently profitable, relying on a single source of income puts you in a very risky position. Income diversification not only allows you to increase your revenue, it offers you protection against market fluctuations, supply chain bottlenecks, changing customer preferences, or other unforeseen circumstances that can affect your bottom line.

The trick? Figuring out which types of income stream are the best fit for your business.

In this episode, I demystify income diversification for your business, share real-life examples of how I’ve diversified the income streams in my own business, and bust the #1 myth about passive income!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• 9 different income sources that you can use to build wealth in your business (both active and passive)
• How sponsorship can enhance the ROI you receive from your content creation
• BONUS: my top tips for getting your money to work for you in your personal finances, too!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro & holiday thoughts

03:15 Why diversify?

04:08 Diversification example

05:13 Overview of income sources

09:02 My diversified streams

12:24 Personal finance strategies

16:01 Final thoughts & the bottom line

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

Don't forget to Sign up for your FREE training so you can get $10k of revenue with your course or membership. Click here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“YOU get to define what being financially successful means to you.”

—Melissa Houston

Spoiler: this episode reveals 6 proven ways that your small business will make you wealthy (don’t worry, no get-rich-quick schemes are included)!

If you’ve been building your business without a full understanding of how your businesses finances impact the success (or failure) of your business, then you’ve been lucky so far… and that luck will run out eventually. In order to consistently make the most profitable decisions for your business, you must understand — and feel comfortable with — your finances.

Good news: you don’t need to be trained as an accountant in order to think like a CFO! In fact, honing your money management skills makes up only 20% of the work that you must do in order to create your wealth. The other 80% is healing your money mindset, and this episode offers a blend of both! You’ll learn how to embrace your own definition of financial success, how to set revenue goals optimized to complement your lifestyle goals, and how tax-saving strategies can double as wealth-enhancing tools.

Listen now and discover:‌

• Why your business is more than just an income-generator — it is also a financial asset to nurture and protect
• How to create a business that is better protected against instability in the marketplace
• Why you should NOT feel any shame or guilt when it comes to building your wealth and upgrading your lifestyle

Highlights:‌

00:51 Intro

01:36 Financial plan reminder & shout-out

02:59 Why money management skills matter

04:30 You define your own success!

05:18 Money mindset

06:33 Your business is a financial asset

08:05 Controlling your revenue & profitability

10:12 Creating multiple income streams

12:19 Selling your business

14:18 Tax-saving strategies & wealth

Links:‌

The Ultimate Creative-Podcast Production

Copy Magic Creative Agency-Show Notes

She Means Profit #107-Misconceptions, Manifestation & Money Mindset

Don’t Miss These Essential Tips When Planning Your Business Exit Strategy

How to Sell Your Business Using a Thoughtfully Planned Exit Strategy

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“The best day in my 9-5 job is still not even close to the worst day as an entrepreneur.”

— Amy Porterfield

Amy Porterfield helps women business owners around the world find professional autonomy, independence, achievement, and success that is FAR beyond what a corporate glass ceiling would traditionally allow — so you already know that I am a big fan of her mission! Through her bestselling courses and top-ranked podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy, she’s helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs turn in their two weeks notice and trade burnout for freedom, income, and impact.

During this conversation, she not only shares some fantastic tips for building your business with more ease, she also spills the juicy details about her latest project (and yes, you’ll hear it here first)!

Tune in to hear how she gained the confidence to build an amazing personal brand, her foolproof technique for avoiding social-media-fuelled professional envy, and why she gave herself grace for a $100k mistake.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Two things you should focus on first when you’re in the early stages of launching or growing your business
• Why taking action is the most important thing — even if the action is imperfect or you don’t feel “ready” yet
• The importance of building your own supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs (even if it’s just through texting!)

Guest bio: Amy Porterfield is an ex-corporate girl turned online marketing expert, and CEO of a multi-million-dollar business teaching business owners, educators, and entrepreneurs profitable action steps for building highly engaged email lists, creating online courses, and using online marketing strategies to sell with ease. Amy’s action-by-action teaching style provides aspiring business owners with the tools they need to bypass the overwhelm and build a business they love.

Highlights:‌ ‌

0:50 Intro

01:47 Meet Amy Porterfield

04:24 About the book

06:50 Taking action & making mistakes

10:41 Connecting with female entrepreneurs

11:52 Winning the comparison game

14:18 9-to-5 v. entrepreneurship

15:21 What start-ups should focus on first

18:19 Personal brand & content creation

21:50 Final takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Amy Porterfield

https://www.amyporterfield.com

https://www.facebook.com/AmyPorterfield

Twitter: @AmyPorterfield

Instagram: @amyporterfield

Two Weeks Notice

https://twoweeksnoticebook.com

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 ht

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“You need to remain diligent to remain profitable in your business.”

— Melissa Houston

Is your pricing strategy leaving money on the table? Pricing is a practical piece of your business — but it’s also highly psychological. The purpose of choosing a good pricing strategy is to maximize your profit margins, so that your business can maintain a healthy profit as you grow and as your expenses increase. Your relationship with money WILL shape your relationship with your business, so developing a healthy money mindset is a key piece of having a profitable pricing strategy.

Product- and service-based businesses have a few different considerations to keep in mind when coming up with their pricing, but it all boils down to the same thing: your pricing needs to reflect your real value, it needs to create profit for your business, and you need to believe that your offers are worth every single penny!

Hit play for my top tips for keeping your business profitable and your pricing on point!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How to price for profit as a product-based business — and what to do when the cost of manufacturing or shipping increases
• The psychology of pricing and what you need to consider as a service-based business
• The importance of differentiation and identifying your specific niche in your market

Highlights:‌

00:48 Intro

04:40 Pricing for profit

05:32 Pricing strategies

06:26 Psychology of pricing

07:27 Money mindset & competitor pricing

09:36 Product differentiation

11:19 Reducing costs

14:35 Renegotiating pricing with vendors

15:00 Recap

Links:‌

Misconceptions, Manifestation & Money Mindset

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/misconceptions-manifestation-money-mindset/id1533130323?i=1000574612552

Why Money Mindset Really Matters For Profit And Life Goals

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/why-money-mindset-really-matters-for-profit-and-life-goals/id1533130323?i=1000569499715

Rewriting Stories To Change Our Money Relationships

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rewriting-stories-to-change-our-money-relationships/id1533130323?i=1000557878090

We Need To Talk About Fear

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-need-to-talk-about-fear/id1533130323?i=1000541912894

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

Don't forget to Sign up for your FREE training so you can get $10k of revenue with your course or membership. Click here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“Investment fees, for most Canadians, really cause great damage to their ultimate retirement savings.”

— Larry Bates

Larry Bates is a name that my clients and long-time listeners know well — I recommend his book to them regularly!

Larry is an independent investor advocate, former investment banker, and author of Beat the Bank: The Canadian Guide to Simply Successful Investing.

So, it’s safe to say that Larry knows a thing or two about how the investment industry works — and how to minimize your risk and get higher returns. In fact, full disclosure: Larry’s book is what helped me feel more comfortable about starting to invest!

Larry believes that the average investor is not well-served by the investment industry.

“Most Canadians are losing, believe it or not, 50% or more of their lifetime investment returns to fees they don’t even see or understand,” Larry explains.

The investment advisors at your bank do not act in your best interest. It’s important to make informed decisions about your investments!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How sneaky investment fees seriously hinder your investment returns and retirement plans — and why so few people know about them
• How fee disclosure laws work (and don’t work) to reveal the true costs of investing
• The low-cost, alternative investment products you should consider

About Larry Bates: Larry Bates is an independent investor advocate, author, consultant and speaker. Larry enjoyed a 35 year banking career with several major financial institutions in both Canada and the U.K. He is currently an investment advisor with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. Larry is on the board of FAIR Canada and is an Ambassador of the Transparency Task Force.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:44 Introduction

01:45 Meet Larry Bates

02:55 Beat the Bank

06:01 Fee disclosure law

09:01 Importance of learning the basics

10:16 Investment firm v. ScotiaBank story

12:04 Trust deficit v. trust surplus

14:03 Index ETFs & robo-advisors

16:38 How to use the market

20:08 T-Rex Score & FAIR

22:58 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Larry Bates

https://larrybates.ca

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014692831838

Twitter: @LarryBatesBTB

Links:‌ ‌

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“Money does not make you happy, but the reality is when you do have money, it does provide a lot of opportunity. Having money does buy financial security and financial peace.”

— Melissa Houston

From “old money” to self-made millionaires, wealthy people share a few things in common when it comes to the way that they use their wealth, their money mindset, and their beliefs around finances.

From their lifestyle choices to their investment strategies, understanding how the wealthy approach spending and saving can help you begin to build your own wealth and work toward the lifestyle and financial security that you deserve!

In this episode, I reveal the top 6 money secrets that you need to know right now, and the strategic formula that will help you create wealth for yourself through your business — and protect it as it grows and works for you!

Grab your pen and your notebook, and hit play to get started!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The #1 most effective way to build wealth from nothing — and why becoming a millionaire is no longer a boy’s club
• Key investment strategies to help you grow and protect your wealth
• Why trying to keep up with the Joneses (or the Kardashians) will actually reduce your chances of being able to enjoy their lifestyle

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:48 Intro

01:34 Women & money

03:32 Business ownership

04:34 Money & emotions

06:16 Investment strategy

09:07 Reinvesting capital

10:55 Don’t look rich

11:29 Gratitude

11:53 Healthy lifestyle

12:17 Kindness

12:54 Don’t carry debt

13:25 Invest in yourself

14:06 Hidden millionaires

14:49 Your net worth

Links:‌ ‌

Your Personal Net Worth Calculator 🡪 https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/offers/UotzweeZ/checkout

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

Recurring Profit Free Training http://recurringprofit.com/automate

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

Don't forget to Sign up for your FREE training so you can get $10k of revenue with your course or membership. Click here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“When you’re investing in yourself, be sure that you’re making the right investment that will get you the specific return that you’re looking for.”

— Melissa Houston

You know that I love to talk about profit, but you can’t fully understand your profit potential without understanding your expenses. The fact is that sometimes you need to spend money to make money.

The money that you spend to build your business is an investment in your future earnings, whether you’re spending it on advertising your offers, hiring a key team member, or working with a business or financial coach. Growing and scaling your business inevitably means increasing your expenses, but the real skill lies in using it for the right things while maximizing your earning potential!

In this episode, you’ll discover the ins and outs of cost-cutting effectively in your business, including recognizing when ROI promises may be manipulative, choosing the investments that are most likely to contribute to growth, and knowing which expenses your business cannot afford to reduce.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The value of cultivating an investment mindset and considering the ROI of your business-related expenses
• In-depth examples of direct and indirect business investments and real-life small business case studies
• An update on my upcoming book and information on how to get access to pre-order bonuses and exclusive promotions!

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Intro

01:18 Happy Thanksgiving & book update

02:51 Spending to earn

05:36 Investing in yourself & your business

06:51 Case study: Diane

09:28 Growth, higher expenses & ROI

11:36 Podcasting example

12:43 Indirect investments

13:49 Case study: Skye

18:13 Understand HOW you create profit

21:53 Strategic cost-cutting

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Join the mailing list to get book updates!

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

Recurring Profit Free Training http://recurringprofit.com/automate

Are you looking to create consistent $10k + months of revenue with a course or membership? Then this FREE training is for you! Sign up here: http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“It’s one thing to want to grow your business. It’s a smarter choice to have a plan for that growth, because not all growth is considered good.”

— Melissa Houston

It’s October, and you know what that means: it’s time to close your books for Q3 and do your financial analysis. Taking a look at your business finances each quarter gives you the opportunity to reflect on what you’ve done, how you’ve performed, whether you’ve met your objectives, and what you can do to improve next quarter.

As this quarter comes to a close, you have three months left to reach your financial goals for the year — get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into your numbers, so that you can hit the ground running and make the right moves!

In this episode, you’ll learn how to ensure that you stay on track to meet your goals and grow your business more strategically, and you’ll discover powerful resources that will help you to become Cash Confident!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• What you should be doing now to prepare for your next quarter end
• What to include in your business financial plan for the next fiscal year — and when you should have it ready to go!
• Why it’s important to analyze your monthly financial reports (and how they can help you plug money leaks in your business)

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Intro

02:49 Listener shout-out

04:22 Variance analysis & check-in scheduling

06:47 Importance of business financial plans

08:00 Half-day 1:1 coaching

08:47 How to build a business financial plan

10:50 Monitoring your results

12:50 Smarter growth

13:37 Who needs a plan?

16:01 Cash Confident

17:38 Homework

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

Recurring Profit Free Training http://recurringprofit.com/automate

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“If you think you should be measuring the success of your business through revenue numbers, think again!”

— Melissa Houston

Would you rather have higher revenue or higher profit? What if I told you that many businesses with high five-figure revenues are more profitable than many businesses with six-, or even seven-figure revenues?

The key ingredient to a successful business is not revenue — it’s profit. Revenue and profit are both important, of course, but profit is the key to growth. Profit is what is left of your revenue after you’ve taken care of all of your expenses, and it’s absolutely essential to growing your business and building your wealth. If you own your business, your profit is the money that you get to keep and use as you see fit, whether that means investing in your business or in yourself.

In this episode, I share my top tips for strategically maximizing the profit in your business, and you can start putting many of these tips in place right now. Remember, profit should not be taken lightly — THAT’S where the money is!

Ready to start optimizing your profits? Just press play!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why growth can actually be risky for many businesses if they aren’t ready for it
• 3 simple things you can do to start optimizing your profits this quarter
• How financial forecasting will help you maximize your profits

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:48 Intro

02:00 Why profit optimization?

03:43 What is profit optimization?

05:23 Risks of growth

06:39 Control your costs

07:21 Increase your revenue & pricing

08:36 Combined approach

11:08 Forecasting & optimization

12:37 Financial plan

13:22 Monitor your progress

14:30 Conclusion

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call) 🡪

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Even if you’re just starting out, you really are building a financial asset in building a business.”

— Stephanie Burns

You know that you have the potential to be your niche’s next great thought leader. So, how do you claim your share of the spotlight? And what happens when your name becomes known for reasons you never expected?

My guest, Stephanie Burns travelled an unusual road to entrepreneurship — she used the money she won as a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune to launch her first business, Chic CEO! Now, she’s the founder of The Wyld Agency, an amplification and visibility agency that helps company founders become thought leaders.

During our conversation, we cover your best first steps for getting your name out there, what a million-dollar email list looks like… and why Stephanie wound up as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by three men’s rights activists! Stephanie’s incredible story is filled with some extremely valuable business lessons. You won’t want to miss it.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Where you should share your content and the type of PR you should seek out first
• Why social media is a double-edged sword when it comes to thought leadership — and how to leverage it without spending hours each day
• The #1 most expensive mistake that Stephanie made in her first business — and how you can avoid it

Guest bio: Stephanie Burns is the founder of The Wyld Agency, an amplification and visibility agency focused on building the legacy and personal brands of company founders. With a background in brand building, media buying, strategy, and entrepreneurship, Stephanie has wide experience with an eclectic portfolio of industries.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Meet Stephanie Burns

02:44 Thought leadership & social media

05:10 Public relations

07:56 Chic CEO story

16:00 Lessons learned

18:48 Advisory boards

20:57 Final thoughts

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Stephanie Burns

https://www.stephanie-burns.com

https://thewyldagency.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieburns

Twitter: @stephanieaburns

Instagram: @heystephanieburns

LegalShield

https://www.legalshield.com

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call) 🡪

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Carrying debt erodes your wealth because you have to pay to borrow money… When you do borrow money, you HAVE to have a plan to pay it back.”

— Melissa Houston

This is an episode that the credit card companies DON’T want you to hear!

Whether it’s personal or professional, debt can be an enormous source of stress… and it can also be a source of shame, fear, or guilt. Credit card debt is one of the most common types of debt. According to moneygeek.com, the average card holder in Q1 2022 is carrying $5,769 in credit card debt — and for many, that amount can be a real hardship!

Today’s episode is all about getting out of credit card debt and into financial freedom through creating and following a debt repayment plan.

From minimum payments to compound interest rates to third-party debt, I dig into the secrets and strategies that will help you to avoid and get out of debt, so that you can keep growing and protecting your wealth!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why your credit card company’s “minimum payments” are a scam — and how to keep them from eroding your wealth
• Hidden fees and interest that you may be involuntarily paying (and how to avoid them)
• What you can do to reduce your total loan cost, so that you can pay it off more quickly

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:49 Intro

01:58 What are your business questions?

03:06 Interest rates

06:22 Third-party debt

08:34 Reducing your total loan cost

10:12 Refinance your debt

11:27 Accelerate your payments

12:29 Pay off higher-interest debt

13:26 Make extra money

14:19 Stop using credit cards

15:29 Debt Repayment Mini-Course

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Debt Repayment Calculator

https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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“Cash is the lifeline of your business. You don’t want a recession to destroy you financially.”

— Melissa Houston

How many headlines have you read lately that mention the word “recession”? Analysts, politicians, and economists have been warning of an impending recession for quite some time now… but what does this REALLY mean for you and your business?

This episode covers the down-and-dirty, nitty-gritty of the coming recession: what exactly a recession IS, when it’s going to happen, what we can expect, and how it may affect your business going forward. You’ll learn how to be proactive and what you can put in place in order to minimize the recession’s negative impact on your business and your wealth.

Remember: recessions are a normal part of the business cycle and happen every ten years or so, so these lessons will last you a lifetime!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to start building up a cash reserve so that you’re ready to deal with future cash shortages
• Why now is the best time to apply for a line of credit or a business loan
• How being proactive with your business finances can actually help you combat imposter syndrome

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:50 Intro

02:26 Strain on small businesses

03:22 What is a recession?

04:44 What happens in a recession?

06:40 Be proactive about your finances

09:45 Start reserving your cash

11:41 Apply for lines of credit or loans

12:45 Trim excess expenses

13:54 Monitor your numbers

15:47 Get creative with sales

17:01 Cash Confident Course

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Link to calendar (free 30 min consult call)

Main website 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/

Offers 🡪 https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Cash Confident Course 🡪 https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/cash-confident-sales-page

What’s Your Profit Personality? (quiz) 🡪 https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/62ddb2293d71af001892a3a9

Follow me on:

IG @melissahoustoncpa

LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa

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A big key to building wealth and creating a business that’s profitable is cash confidence. Cash confidence ties into the good old money mindset and is so vital to achieving your financial dreams and goals. Are you feeling cash confident? Do you know how to take that cash confidence and use it to build profit?

It’s well known that in order to stay afloat, a business needs to bring in money a.k.a. revenue. But in order to build that wealth within and from your business, you need to focus on profit. Profit margins are a key part of your business to optimize, and optimizing them goes hand in hand with cash confidence. As you focus your energy onto what’s profitable, you are doing part of the work to become cash confident. But there’s a whole system that I recommend!

In this week’s episode, we go over the cash confidence framework in-depth, and get super specific on the five action steps to getting a good financial handle on your business. We’re all about being cash confident to build wealth and, if you’re on a profit-producing journey, you won’t want to miss this episode!

You’ll Learn:

• What cash confidence means
• Why it’s important to growing wealth
• How profit margins should play into wealth creation
• The top five steps to having a good financial handle on your business

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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What motivates you to achieve? How big are you dreaming? There is money to be made and success to be found when you give yourself not only permission to dream big, but permission to turn those big dreams into actual goals. Setting goals in business - like in any part of life! - are so important to keep you on track for success and get ahead, professionally and personally.

So many times, especially as women in business, we can feel reluctant to dream and plan too big. But that is a money mindset that we need to overcome. Not dreaming big and not setting goals only holds you and your business back. Setting goals is the first step to changing the narrative. And when those goals are actionable and also categorized by size, we can make those narrative dreams that much closer to reality. Financial goals will only help you and your business truly succeed.

In this week’s episode, we’re all about goals: Why setting financial goals for yourself and your business gets you farther ahead, how to classify those goals, the mechanics of setting SMART goals, and so much more!

You’ll Learn:

• Why it’s important to set financial goals
• How to set SMART goals
• The difference between short, medium and long-term goals
• Why you should dream big

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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All press is NOT good press, but good press can almost always translate into better profits for a business. The world of public relations can potentially sound intimidating, but studying and implementing some solid PR strategies only helps your business in the long run.

Just what is PR anyway? What does it do? PR is, essentially, exposure for your brand that feels organic. It’s entwined with other sources and thought leaders, so you and your brand are being pre-vetted. It gives you authority. It is NOT paid media - as much as some people would like to say otherwise, PR is not bribery and it’s not paid advertising. Public relations essentially exposes your business across different platforms and to different audiences though established and trusted sources, giving you now only wider recognition but authority and trust.

In this week’s episode, I discuss just why implementing a PR strategy is good for your business. What makes a strategy smart? How will your campaign affect your profits? What should you keep in mind when starting in the world of PR?

This week’s episode gets under the hood of public relations and demystifies the concept. We cover what makes a good PR campaign, how it helps your brand, the five elements you should follow when starting a strategy and so much more. Listen along to boost your public perception - and your profit.

You’ll Learn:

• What PR is and what it isn’t
• How good PR campaigns can benefit your business
• The five public relations elements to consider
• Tips & strategies to build out & implement PR campaigns

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“More money more problems” is a saying you’ve probably heard thousands of times. But there’s some truth to it! Statistics have shown that the higher your income is, the higher your debt likely is, too. A lot of psychology goes into it but, basically, when you have more money you spend more money. You chase after a certain lifestyle. And that’s not to say that a little luxury is a bad thing - you just have to understand your spending limits.

A lot of how we understand our own wealth and wealth journey is through calculating and understanding our individual net worth. From that number, we can build out budgets and caps. Bringing in a lot of money, after all, is only half the journey when it comes to building wealth. You have to manage that money smartly and keep your expenses below what you bring in.

This week’s episode gets down and dirty into money management, building wealth and the concept of personal net worth. Tune in to learn how you can take control of your road to wealth and what common financial pitfalls you can take steps to avoid. After all, no matter how big your paycheck is, no one gets rich by being in debt.

You’ll Learn:

• The secret to being wealthy
• The basis of money management and how to calculate your personal net worth
• Action steps for managing money well and tracking financials
• Why higher income often means higher debt

Links:‌

Your Personal Net Worth Calculator Mini-Course: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/offers/UotzweeZ

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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Money manifestation culture is at an all-time high, and that’s a dangerous thing. Why? Because it’s not built around an actionable mindset - it’s predatory. Simply WISHING to be rich isn’t the same thing as having a healthy relationship with money. You can’t “magically” make more money appear and it’s a harmful narrative that plays on our vulnerabilities. I especially dislike how “manifestation” can get lumped in with the money mindset - but the latter involves both belief and work.

These misconceptions can be dangerous because they’re so tantalizing, and because we have so many misleading stories telling us that we essentially just need to wish hard enough. Helping entrepreneurs achieve true success is so important to me, so this type of snake oil can be detrimental. Instead, I advocate for money mindset and money management. Yes, you have to have a belief but that’s really just Step One. In fact, it’s literally the first step in my Five-Step Cash Confident plan.

In this week’s episode, I compare and contrast the dangers of manifestation culture and the strategy of money mindset. I share my own journey with money mindset issues and how I overcame them. Because it’s not just having a mindset for money - once you get it, you need to learn how to manage it or, just as quickly as it came, it’ll be gone again.

This week’s episode dismantles lies around mindset vs. manifestation and goes over the tools to not only bring in wealth but keep it around. Listen along and be sure to download my Five-Step Cash Confident framework so you can get on the road to a successful money mindset AND management.

You’ll Learn:

• The dangers around predatory manifestation
• Truths about money mindset
• The difference between money mindset and manifestation and how to put the former into action
• Why money management is the secret to wealth

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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Being in debt can be a scary thing. It’s overwhelming, it feels out of your control and the longer it goes on, the more buried you can become. Going into business often comes with the idea that you need to take on debt in order to start. While some debt (the right loans, for example) can be a necessity, it doesn’t have to always be the case. In fact, the less debt you can take on from the beginning, the better set up you’ll be down the road.

I share my advice for new and established business owners and we cover my six best tips to bootstrap your business and get as far as you can in your business without accruing more financial obligations. From front-loading your capital to investing properly back into your business to planning your hiring accordingly and more, I get down to the details about how to avoid falling into preventable debt.

This week’s episode is designed to help you mitigate, manage and avoid as much business debt as possible. Taking on debt is incredibly common, but we want to make it as easy and actionable as possible to get out from under that weight.

You’ll Learn:

• Why repayments are important
• Misconceptions around debt
• Six ways to bootstrap your business
• Industry statistics about business debt

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

Register for The Debt Repayment Calculator mini-course: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/offers/2wm3nYH9

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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As women, we’ve had a generational disadvantage in the world for centuries. But for the past few generations, women have been breaking the holding patterns and creating more and more opportunities. It’s so important to not only create points of access to wealth, but to do so in a way that’s sustainable for ourselves and puts something good out into the world. Why do you do what you do? What kind of impact is it having? And can you scale it sustainably?

Leadership coach and business scaling expert, Eleanor Beaton, joins this episode of the podcast to discuss building and maintaining wealth as women. She shares her own personal story from childhood to business success and what kinds of good things she hopes her business efforts will contribute to in the world. From creating a business idea to building profit sustainably to giving something back to others, it’s an important journey.

In this week’s episode, Eleanor and I discuss creating opportunities for wealth, growing them out in a healthy manner, giving back to others, managing profit, redefining what it means to be “successful” and much more.

You’ll Learn:

• Building scalable, sustainable wealth
• Evaluating what it means to be “successful” and the impact for good in your business
• The dangers and limits of “hustle culture”
• Focusing on profit and managing money

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Learn more about Eleanor Beaton: https://eleanorbeaton.com/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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Great abundance doesn’t happen overnight, but it certainly doesn’t happen when you’re constantly telling yourself it’s an impossibility or questioning if you even deserve it. Do you want to have a lot of money? Do you have specific professional goals or even personal goals you want to achieve? It all begins with trusting yourself and realigning your thoughts and internal stories.

You should be assessing your financial goals, assessing your relationship with money, getting to the heart of your personal money story, flipping the switch on how you make decisions, and letting go of limiting beliefs. Once you dive deeper into your own personal story, psychology, and wants, you’ll be able to unlock great things.

In this week’s episode, I tackle the big questions at the heart of money mindset, share my favorite pointers for realigning more positive beliefs, and give actionable steps for achieving your mindset goals.

You’ll Learn:

• The five pointers for money mindset in service of profit
• How money mindset affects your business success
• Positive v. negative relationships with money
• The three concepts behind mindset

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/

5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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As we roll full steam ahead into Q3 for 2022, it’s time for a check-in. Are you reviewing your business performance from the first half of the year? How about your finances? If not, now is the perfect time to take a look and check your progress against your goals, because you’ll want to know where you stand going into today’s episode, so you can come out with a plan for maximizing your profits.

Today, we’re looking at the 5 key areas for opportunities in stretching out profit margins and maximizing our revenue. Now is the time to not only fine-tune your sales strategies for the back half of 2022, but also start planning for 2023.

In this week’s episode, I dive deeper into the five things you should focus on to increase profits, planning out for 2023, reviewing business performance and much more.

Within those five categories are chances to reevaluate and restrategize some operations in order to optimize those profit margins, all without having to simply increase your quantity of sales.

You’ll Learn:

• Preparation for the second half of 2022, plus 2023 Q1
• The importance of pricing/cost reviews and what to look at
• How reviews can help you strategize
• Five areas of focus to increase profit

Links:‌
She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/
5-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Biz: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap
Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa
and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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We all make mistakes. From personal to professional, none of us are fully infallible. But a lot of times, when one of those mistakes is a financial one, we freak out. Because it can feel like the end of the world - we’ve dug a hole that traps us in bills, in debt and more. We’ve all felt that way, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually true.

Yes, financial mistakes are rough. They set us back and stress us out. But they’re not really the end of the world. I myself have a huge financial regret that I talk about in this episode. And while it was undoubtedly a mistake, it helped me learn how to move past it and help others to do the same. We tend to be our harshest critics, after all. So those feelings of helplessness and devastation, they spring from our own inner fears. Imagine if it were a loved one who came to you and said they were constantly beating themselves up over a mistake - you wouldn’t stand for that. You’d want them to pick themselves up and move forward without harboring self-resentment - so why not the same for you?

Financial regret is a common reality but it’s a mistake like any other. It’s best to learn from your mistakes and move forward. That way forward can seem like a distant struggle, so I share just how you should approach a situation and reframe your mindset.

In this week’s episode, I share my own struggle and how I moved past it, the three components of moving on, how to look at a financial regret in a new context and much more.

You’ll Learn:

• How common financial regrets are
• How to reframe the context of a mistake
• The three keys to moving forward from a mistake
• My own struggle with financial regret

Links:‌
She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/
5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap
Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa
and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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When you’re starting a business for yourself, the legal side of your finances and profits can often feel overwhelming. How do you make sure all your bases are covered? How do you manage profit that’s protected? What about planning for taxes? Should you make an LLC or an S Corp? Luckily, there’s assistance for that!

Today we are joined by Braden Drake, who uses his lawyer background and peppy personality to mix fun with facts in finances, make taxes less taxing and bring the party to profit, and this episode is all about bringing things to the legal basics. We look layer by layer at legal protections (insurance, trademarks, intellectual property and contracts), the pipeline of cash flow management (how your money travels from business account down through to retirement), going from startup capital to business profit, passive v. active income (and where employment taxes come into play) and building out systems all in an accessible way.

We also address the common struggles and questions many new business owners have, from financial strategies to the benefits of an LLC and other legal protections. It may sound overwhelming on the outside, but this episode keeps it accessible - and, believe it or not, pretty fun!

Are you a new business that is stressing about building cash flow systems? Do you know your layers of protection when it comes to trademarks and contracts? Is prepping for taxes overwhelming you? That’s where this episode comes into play.

In this week’s episode, we take a look at employment taxes, legal jargon, layers of financial protection in the eyes of the law, navigating tax laws to get to the tax benefits and much more.

You’ll Learn:

• The benefits of establishing an LLC or S Corp
• The importance of trademark law
• How contracts can be your best friend
• Employment taxes and passive v. active income advantages

Links:‌

She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/
Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa

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Welcome to our 100th episode! For this milestone occasion, we’re not only celebrating our new official name ‘She Means Profit’, we are also hosting a celebration giveaway event! This is a free one-on-one strategy session with myself, and my top three favorite finance books! To enter, just listen, subscribe and leave a review according to the instructions in today’s episode!

Today, we’re taking a look at our biggest lessons and missions, and highlighting important episodes and points. We also revisit the main essence of what we do: What does it mean to be not just in business, but SUCCESSFUL in business? Getting into the nitty-gritty of it, successful business management comes from the skills of awareness and knowledge. It’s about really diving into your numbers and your financials, and making sure you understand them.

We also address the inherent risk that comes with being a business owner. Nothing is guaranteed, but we can take actionable steps to mitigate some risk, that’s why I’m excited to share my three top tips for preventing failure.

Where are your biggest roadblocks? What’s your current mindset like and how can it be improved? What’s your biggest risk that’s stressing you out and how can you work past it?

In this week’s episode, we take a look at the biggest inherent risks of failure and also the steps and mindset changes we can take to help prevent that failure. Join us as we examine aspects of business theory and execution in the name of entrepreneurial success!

You’ll Learn:

• The essential skills for business success
• The risks of running a business
• Three top tips for mitigating risk of business failure
• How to enter our 100th episode giveaway

Links:‌
She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/
5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap
Work with me: https://shemeansprofit.com/offers/

Want more tips and inspiration?
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa
and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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We’re often driven in business by the concept of “more, more, more,” especially when it comes to sales. Yes, we’re likely always going to be working to increase sales, too much growth too quickly can be unstable. In the end what you want to aim for are sustainable, predictable sales and sales increases.

You must be thinking, if you're not going 100% gung-ho into increasing sales, how can you still increase your profits? There are four major tips of things you can do to ensure you’re set up for revenue success.

1. Starting with the basics, make sure your bookkeeping is in order and you’re keyed in at a high level to your financial statements. You’ll need a solid financial foundation for any kind of scaling.
2. Know your numbers. Once you know your numbers, you can grow your numbers.
3. Make a plan because you can’t get anywhere without a solid business and financial plan. Put that plan into execution and monitor your progress against it. Look for variances and learn from them.
4. Stay on top of your cash flow and shore up any inefficiencies. Keep an eye on your bills and where you can trim the fat.

In this week’s episode, we go over in-depth those four tips and what they look like in practice. Tune in and take note and you should see your own profits increase in the very near future.

You’ll Learn:

• Why increasing sales isn’t always the best thing for your business
• The four areas to focus on to shore up margins
• Why those four areas are important to increase profits
• How you should implement these steps and what to look for

Links:‌
She Means Profit Blog: http://shemeansprofit.com/
5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap
Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/offers

Want more tips and inspiration?
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok @melissahoustoncpa
and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I don’t want you to be an accountant, but I do want you to understand what’s going on in your business finances so that you make profitable decisions for your business.”

— Melissa Houston

82% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement. It’s a scary statistic, and the best thing that you can do to protect yourself and your business is to track, know, and understand your numbers — and use that information to make profitable business decisions geared toward helping you reach your goals.

This is going to be my last podcast episode for a few months, as I focus on working with my clients and writing my book, so I want to leave you with some practical, actionable advice that you can implement during my hiatus.

In this episode, I share my top 5 tips to help you set up your business for success and make more profitable decisions. Press play to get the inside scoop on how to analyze your profit margins, use your monthly numbers to correct issues or capitalize on successes, and keep your cash flowing!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why your profit is directly tied to how well you understand your business finances
• How your money mindset blocks impact the way that you run your business — and the way that you interact with money generally
• Why you’re officially allowed to dream BIG (and I highly encourage you to do so!)

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro & upcoming break

04:12 Know your business numbers

05:38 Know your relationship with money

07:58 Have a financial plan

10:31 Monitor your cash flow

12:37 Enjoy the journey

13:18 Learn from your mistakes

‌

Links:‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Money seems to be that final taboo topic out there… You don’t really have to talk about dollars and cents, but you have to talk about money.”

— Cammie Doder

Does talking about money make you feel a little uncomfortable, ashamed, or confused? You’re not alone. Money can be one of the most difficult and emotional topics… but it shouldn’t be that way.

We ALL need to be better at understanding and talking about money!

Aspiriant is a wealth management firm that provides a client experience based on care, clarity, and continuity. In this episode, I speak with its Chief Client Officer Sandi Bragar and Chief Marketing Officer Cammie Doder.

These women not only empower their clients with the knowledge they need to make informed financial decisions, they also share it through their podcast, Money Tale$, which gives voice to this taboo through the telling of personal stories.

You’d better believe that I’m a listener!

Episode by episode, Sandi and Cammie fulfil their mission to help their listeners understand what’s going on — not only with their bank balances, but with their money mindsets. In this conversation, we dig deep into why it’s SO important to understand your finances, both business and personal, and how to redefine your relationship with money for the better!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How to choose the people who belong on your finance team
• Why you need to understand your money, even when working with finance professionals
• Why you should stay curious about your finances — there is always something new to learn!

About Sandi Bragar & Cammie Doder: Aspiriant is a forward-thinking wealth management firm. Chief Client Officer Sandi Bragar and Chief Marketing Officer Cammie Doder are passionate about empowering cclients by helping them navigate the murky waters of the industry and make informed decisions about their financial lives.

Highlights:‌

01:04 Intro

01:43 Meet Cammie Doder & Sandi Bragar

03:14 Client relationships with money

05:16 Talk about money

06:39 Money & shame

09:23 Redefine your relationship

10:50 Build your team

12:51 Don’t check out of your finances

15:39 Always be learning

17:31 Never Split the Difference

20:16 Takeaways

Links:‌

Sandi Bragar & Cammie Doder

https://aspiriant.com/podcasts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandi-bragar-a4465035

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cammiedoder

podcasts@aspiriant.com

Twitter: @sandibragar, @cdoder

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz

https://www.amazon.ca/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Great trademarks are just worth more. There are a number of different ways in which they will either save your business money or result in a higher valuation at the end of the day.”

— Cynthia Mason

Caution: some of your most valuable business assets may be unprotected and at risk right now.

I’m talking about your trademarks.

While many business owners pay a lot of money to develop these assets, far fewer of them actually take steps to legally safeguard them. Registering your trademarks offers a range of benefits for your business, including nationwide protection and ownership, access to legal claims, and the ability to enforce your rights online.

My guest Cynthia Mason is a Canadian lawyer and Trademark Agent who is passionate about helping businesses — from start-ups to multinationals — own and protect their brands, including guarding their trademarks from theft and misuse.

Cynthia’s firm deals exclusively in trademark protection, and she’s even developed an innovative online platform, Markably, that makes it easier than ever to register your name, logo, and tagline!

Press play now to learn how having great trademarks can contribute to your profitability — and the exact steps you need to take in order to get yourself protected.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The aspects of your business that you should protect through trademark registration — and whether you should trademark internationally
• Which databases to use when researching your trademarks — and the difference between a business name and a trademark
• The types of business names to avoid using in order to minimize the costs of battling infringements — and the types of names that can boost your revenue

About Cynthia Mason: Cynthia Mason is a Canadian lawyer and Trademark Agent who specializes in helping businesses protect their most valuable business assets — their trademarks.

Highlights:‌

01:44 Meet Cynthia Mason

03:17 Benefits of trademark registration

06:31 When you should register

09:38 Trademark registration databases

10:42 Business name v. trademark

12:19 ‘Entrepreneur v. Entrepreneur on Fire’ case

14:34 Should you register internationally?

16:29 Financial benefits of great trademarks

20:50 Exit strategy & trademarks

23:54 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌

Cynthia Mason

https://masonpc.com

https://markably.ca

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/masonpc

Twitter: @CMasonPC

Canadian Trademarks Database

https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch

USPTO Trademarks Database

https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“The thing about people being on a team is they are looking to be led. They want to be led. They actually want to be challenged. They also want to feel they have purpose.”

— Megan Huber

Of all the hats you wear in your business, do you find the ‘Leader’ hat to be the least comfortable?

For women who aren’t entering entrepreneurship with a corporate leadership background, finding themselves as the head of a team can be challenging… even if that team is just two or three people!

My guest Megan Huber transforms hustling women entrepreneurs into successful leaders and CEOs through a strategic approach based on simplicity, mastery, fundamentals, timeless business principles, and living a soul-first life.

“What tends to come to the surface — especially in women — when it comes to that leadership role is they have a lot of fears and a lot of insecurities that bubble to the surface,” Megan says. “They kind of have this fear of making other people uncomfortable, or they think they’re going to make other people uncomfortable if they hold them to a higher standard.”

This episode is designed to help you think more deeply about your own strengths and weaknesses… press play now for some amazing insights!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The top leadership skills that Megan helps women entrepreneurs develop
• Real-life examples of some of the most common issues that women business owners face — and how Megan helps her clients overcome them
• How Megan worked through the leadership challenges that manifested while she was building her own business

About Megan Huber: Megan Huber is a business and life growth strategist empowering high-performing, 6-figure service-based business owners to transition from hustling entrepreneurs to 7-figure leaders and CEOs.

Highlights:‌

01:41 Meet Megan Huber

03:28 Good leadership

06:49 Teams & autonomy

08:26 Client example: insecurity & communication

12:08 Client solution: taking action

14:28 Megan’s leadership challenges

18:00 Our common thread as entrepreneurs

22:37 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Megan Huber

https://meganjohnsonhuber.com

https://meganjohnsonhuber.com/podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-huber-88001418

info@structuredfreedom.com

Text #INSPO to (818) 483-4609

Instagram: @meganjhuber

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Most business owners think they’ll just shut down the business without considering the value that they’ve accumulated in their business. Think about all the sweat equity that you’ve put into your business. Why wouldn’t you want to sell it and make some money off it?”

— Melissa Houston

How much thought have you put into your exit strategy?

While you may love serving your customers and growing your business right now, it’s important to keep the future in mind. When you eventually retire or move onto an exciting new chapter, you’ll want to maximize the profit you make from selling your business — and optimizing your business for sale starts long before you start looking for a buyer!

Your business is a financial asset that you own, and the choices that you make today can help you optimize your return when you do decide to sell it.

In this solo episode, I’ll teach you the simple steps that you can start taking TODAY that will help you position your business to attract well-funded buyers, what potential buyers will look for in your business before they seriously consider it, and how to sell a personal brand that’s based on your name and talents.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to prepare and maintain your business finances — and why your debt ratios are so crucial
• The key risk management models that you should have in place for your business
• The specialists that you should consider working with to prepare you for your exit

One more thing…

I’ve been working toward a very big and specific goal for a while now, and I’m happy to say that I have some wonderful news to announce: I have a book deal!!

As my clients and listeners know, I’ve always been passionate about teaching business owners how to optimize the profit in their business and build wealth — and Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Running a Profitable Business will be available for purchase sometime in 2023!

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Big announcement!

03:30 Listener review spotlight

04:52 The Business Society Facebook Community

05:21 Your exit strategy

07:18 Your business finances

08:15 Debt ratios

08:54 Cash flow

09:33 Risk management models

10:58 Expert valuations

11:42 Know your numbers

13:02 Get good at telling your brand story

14:31 Negotiate until you’re uncomfortable

16:50 Good management

18:22 Customer satisfaction & retention

19:12 Selling a personal brand

20:00 Marketing & IP

21:21 Maximize your profit!

‌

Links:‌ ‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

The Business Society Facebook Community: https://facebook.com/groups/2492571604329032

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“As entrepreneurs, we are constantly pushing our own limiting beliefs, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to be visible… this can lead to a lot of stress, not just in our cognitive mind, but into our subconcious mind and into our body and into our nervous system.”

— Elisabeth Kristof

As entrepreneurs, we often deal with higher levels of stress, so having our brains work FOR us and not AGAINST us is crucial! Your brain’s job is to ensure your survival, but when it feels that you’re unsafe or stressed, it can make the problem worse by triggering headaches, insomnia, or unhealthy cravings — not exactly helpful! Often, our brains even try to “protect” us through leading us to self-sabotage.

My guest Elisabeth Kristof is a certified applied neurology practitioner who works with entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders to improve resilience, manage stress, and regulate emotions through intentional, science-based, brain training.

“Our nervous system is our operating system, and when we learn to work with it, we can change all of our life experiences, we can change our behaviours,” Elisabeth explains. “Pain, dizziness, nausea, migraine, fatigue, binge-eating, insomnia — these are all nervous system outputs and, by training our nervous system, we can create real change in those outputs.”

By training your brain to better deal with stress and stimuli, you train it to become a more valuable member of your team as you grow your business!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why it’s important for entrepreneurs to learn how to train their nervous systems
• How to combat your brain’s attempts to trick you into self-sabotaging and develop healthy new tools for emotional regulation
• Tips for dealing with stress or anxiety related to your finances

About Elisabeth Kristof: Elisabeth Kristof is an expert in using applied neurology to move people out of pain, unwanted behaviour, and stress response. She is the founder of Brain-Based Wellness, an online platform that trains the nervous system and body to resolve old patterns, improve performance, and increase well-being.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

02:04 Meet Elisabeth Kristof

03:28 Why train your nervous system?

07:18 Mechanisms behind self-sabotage

10:24 Start small & don’t be overwhelmed!

12:03 Free video series

13:35 Dealing with financial stress

19:41 Working with Elisabeth

22:45 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Elisabeth Kristof

https://brainbased-wellness.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-kristof-0859612

Instagram: @elkristof

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“If you believe that you’re a bad spouse, then you’re going to be a bad spouse. If you believe that you’re bad with money, you’re just going to happen to spend that extra amount that you have that could have gone into savings. ”

— Billy Hofacker

11 years ago, personal trainer Billy Hofacker opened his front door to find his car being repossessed. While he was doing amazing work helping other people achieve their fitness goals, he was struggling with his financial health… and was $130,000 in debt.

Within just five years, he had paid back every last penny!

Now, Billy is a black belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu AND in fitness finance.

Billy is the owner and CEO of Total Body Boot Camp and Performance Center, with two facilities operating in Long Island, New York. He also helps fitness professionals build their financial muscles through his Your Fitness Money Coach podcast and program.

Tune in to learn how Billy turned his repossession into a financial turning point, why it’s important to settle for taking “messy” actions, and his #1 piece of advice for people dealing with financial challenges.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The small, day-to-day decisions that can dramatically increase debt over time
• The big lesson that Billy learned through his debt and repayment journey — and how mindset helped him shift his behaviour
• The psychological effects of debt and simple techniques for overcoming them

About Billy Hofacker: Billy Hofacker is the owner and CEO of Total Body Boot Camp and Performance Center, a personal trainer for 20+ years, the author of Fitness Profits: A Simple Plan for Achieving Financial Freedom, and the host of the Your Fitness Money Coach Podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:03 Intro

02:04 Meet Billy Hofacker

04:46 Billy’s finance journey

08:31 The Big lesson

11:19 Small decisions that lead to debt

13:20 Psychological effects & coping techniques

17:26 Top advice

20:48 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Billy Hofacker

https://yourfitnessmoneycoach.com

https://www.facebook.com/billyhofacker

https://open.spotify.com/show/0gUKZq0q3ktn9wc4zEVswF

https://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Profits-Achieving-Financial-Freedom/dp/B098PGK2TC

Instagram: @billyhofacker

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“If you cannot demonstrate and show (not tell) the client that you’re an expert in the problem that they’re having, then they might like what you have, they might be interested in it… but they really can’t buy until they believe YOU’RE an expert.”

— Oren Klaff

In the wake of The Great Resignation, small business ownership has jumped dramatically… despite the failure rate of new businesses holding steady at 70%.

What can new entrepreneurs do to shift the odds to their favour?

Learning how to sell is absolutely essential — learning how to sell your products and services, and how to sell your business concept and potential to would-be investors. My guest Oren Klaff is one of the world's leading experts on sales, raising capital, and negotiation. As a bestselling author, Oren helps business owners throw out the old playbook on persuasion, flip the script, and learn how to pitch anything!

Press play to learn why the sales methods of the ‘80s and ‘90s are dead and gone, and how to sell successfully and ethically to the savvy customers of our modern era!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to shift your sales mindset and recognize the power you hold as a seller
• What you should be getting from a prospect BEFORE you send a proposal
• How to expertly hone your pitch beyond simply listing features and benefits

About Oren Klaff: Oren Klaff is a business expert, host of The Dealmaker Show podcast, and bestselling author of Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal and Flip the Script: Getting People to Think Your Idea is Their Idea.

Highlights:‌

01:04 Intro

02:03 Meet Oren Klaff

03:28 The Baby Turtle model

05:10 Power of the seller

07:33 Need for expertise and/or status

11:18 “Winter is coming” approach & examples

13:57 Reverse the prize

17:45 Audit example

20:36 Upgrade your proposal process

24:35 Establish your power as a small businesses

27:18 Takeaway

28:41 The trial close

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Oren Klaff

https://orenklaff.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/orenklaff

Instagram: @orenklaff

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“When you live to work, that’s where you get burned out. To reverse that, you’ve got to work to live — that’s really where the burnout recovery strategies come in.”

— Dr. Sharon Grossman

Have you ever struggled with burnout?

Statistically, two-thirds of workers will end up burning out at some point in their career — and the pandemic has created even more stress, anxiety, and mental health issues for many of us.

My guest, success coach Dr. Sharon Grossman, is a psychologist with over 20 years of experience helping her high-achieving clients go from fried and frazzled to energized and exhilarated!

“When you manage your mind, and you’re no longer stuck in those limiting beliefs and self sabotage, then you lighten your load,” Sharon explains, “because our thoughts are these heavy things that we carry around… people who are burned out aren’t just burned out, they’re experiencing overwhelm and anxiety and depression.”

Burnout can manifest in a number of different ways — but no matter which form it takes, it can have major consequences for your productivity and mental health.

Listen now to learn how to reduce your chances of experiencing burnout — and what to do if you fall victim to it.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• What causes burnout — and why high achievers are so prone to it
• 2 symptoms that will help you recognize when you are on the verge of burnout
• The different ways that burnout can manifest itself — and how to decode yours

About Dr. Sharon Grossman: Dr. Sharon Grossman is a success coach and the author of The 7E Solution to Burnout: Transforming High Achievers from Exhausted to Extraordinary. She holds a doctorate degree in Psychology, has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and 20 years of experience helping her clients take back control of their lives.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:05 Intro

01:36 Meet Dr. Sharon Grossman

02:27 Why burnout?

04:35 The 7E Solution

06:23 What is burnout & how do you recognize it?

10:17 Burnout should be a wakeup call

12:12 Warning signs & manifestations

14:21 Decoding your burnout

19:32 Deflecting burnout through activities

22:56 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Dr. Sharon Grossman

https://drsharongrossman.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharongrossman

Facebook Group:-The High Achiever's Lounge:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/449620683125184
Burnout Quiz:
http://drsharongrossman.com/

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“You should really understand how you’re setting yourself up for the future, in terms of your financial health. Any time you’re looking at your life, your career, your objectives — financial health should be one of them.”

— Zoë Barry

You may know about the birds and the bees… but what about the bulls and the bears?

While the stock market has leapt up 330% in the past 12 years, the vast majority of people have completely missed out. Many intelligent people have never purchased stocks before, because they feel intimidated by the market or just lack knowledge about how it all works.

My guest would love to change that!

Zoë Barry, founder and CEO of tech start-up Zingeroo, is an angel investor who has helped fund over 40 businesses led by women and underrepresented founders and one of the few women in the US to launch a brokerage retail trading platform.

Zoë’s expertise spans not only playing the stock market intelligently, but also working as a female entrepreneur in the fintech industry. From the challenge of building rapport and identification with male investors to exactly what happens when you sign up for a retail trading platform, this episode explores the experience of women in finance — and how to increase your wealth and success!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why women entrepreneurs have a better chance of receiving investment from male investors with daughters
• Zoë’s best advice for women seeking to launch businesses in the fintech industry
• How Zoë has created a positive work culture with a workforce that is 50% remote

About Zoë Barry: Zoë Barry is a serial entrepreneur, a mentor in residence at Techstars, and an angel investor. Currently, Zoë is the founder and CEO of Zingeroo, her second venture-backed tech startup. The company is currently operating in stealth mode and has raised $3 million to date. Zingeroo was founded in 2019 and its team is 50% female.

Highlights:‌

01:05 Intro

02:39 Meet Zoë Barry

05:07 Launching a trading platform

06:58 Women in fintech

08:45 Zoë’s mentors & investors

11:09 Biggest challenges

13:27 Brick-and-mortar v. distributed

14:18 Advice for women launching in fintech

16:00 Joining a retail trading platform

19:05 Gender breakdown

20:11 Talking about money

24:07 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Zoë Barry

https://www.zoebarryceo.com

https://zingeroo.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoebarry

Twitter: @ZoeBarryCEO

Instagram: @zoebarryceo

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Your business is your biggest financial asset, and you need to be sure that you are protecting it.”

— Melissa Houston

Is your business protected against fraud or data security risks… from the inside?

This solo episode of the Business Society Podcast is all about implementing internal controls in your business and lessening the risk that your assets and information could be misused.

If you’re wondering what internal controls are — and why having them will benefit your small- or medium-sized business — then you’ve come to the right place!

Internal controls are protective practices that you can build directly into your processes. They’re a vital part of your business, no matter whether you’re operating out of a brick-and-mortar shop or exclusively online. As you scale your business, you’ll inevitably need to grow your team — and as your team grows, so do your risks.

Internal controls help you to protect your business against financial asset threats, financial fraud (including skimming, financial statement fraud, payment tampering, and billing fraud), IT risks, data security risks, and more.

When business owners step away from the financial systems in their business, their absence increases their risk of fraud committed by their own employees. While no one likes to believe that their team is a risk, implementing internal controls lets you run your business with more confidence and security!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The top 3 primary control weaknesses that contribute to incidents of fraud
• 5 tips to help you protect your business from internal risks
• The aspects of your business that you should be monitoring regularly

Highlights:‌

01:04 Happy Valentine’s Day!

02:16 Intro

03:08 Listener shout-out

05:09 What are internal controls?

06:25 The risks you may be facing

09:53 What are internal controls?

11:12 Checks & balances

12:04 IT general controls

13:26 Review your numbers regularly

14:04 Dane Cook story

15:28 Physical controls over tangible assets

16:47 Outro

‌

Links:‌ ‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“I like to counsel people about how to build a business that they would be able to sell someday… by being saleable, that means it actually has some market value to a third party.”

— Erin Austin

If you don’t have an exit strategy for your service-based business, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode!

My guest, Erin Austin, is an experienced lawyer and the founder of the consulting firm Think Beyond IP, which provides asset-building consulting for B2B, service-based businesses.

Erin helps owners prepare for their most optimal and lucrative exit, through using her special talents to identify and protect those hidden and overlooked assets in expertise-based businesses that can be leveraged for maximum value.

Yes, a service-based business can have powerful and valuable assets — they just happen to be intellectual, rather than physical!

“We don’t think of our businesses, when we are service providers or experts, as being an asset-driven business,” Erin explains. “We think of it as being kind of a service... and I like to change the conversation, to make sure people understand you really DO have assets in your business, but the only way for them to have value is to make sure that you’re identifying them, and protecting them, and leveraging them appropriately.”

Intellectual property goes beyond just trademarks and patents. Your intellectual property can include your insights, your internal processes, and even your mailing list. Listen now to discover the hidden value in your business — so that you can maximize your exit when you’re ready to move on to your next chapter!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The assets that you may already have in your business which are ripe for leveraging
• How to protect a range of assets from internal and external threats
• What goes into selling a business that operates under your name

About Erin Austin: Erin Austin is a consultant and lawyer who combines her 25+ years of practicing law — including roles as COO and General Counsel at IP-driven companies — to help the founders of expertise-based firms build and protect saleable assets so that the business is ready to sell when the founder is ready to exit.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

02:15 Meet Erin Austin

03:41 Potential assets

06:05 Protecting assets

07:04 Trademark

10:03 Copyright

11:58 Patents & trade secrets

14:23 Sellable v. saleable

16:40 Operating under your name

20:18 Building with leverage

23:04 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Erin Austin

https://www.thinkbeyondip.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin

Twitter: @ErinAustinLaw

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“As a business owner, I encourage you to dream big.”

— Melissa Houston

Women tend to think small when it comes to business, even though they’re just as capable and able to attain wealth as their male counterparts! As a business coach and fractional CFO, I hear far too many women set revenue goals that only cover their current living expenses, rather setting goals that allow them to create their dream lives and build wealth.

There is nothing wrong with wanting more money.

Your business is your largest and most important financial asset. If you’re a female founder, you are in control of the amount of wealth that you earn and whether or not you achieve your financial goals.

I want you to dream big and I want you to earn big — and I’m here to show you how!

In this episode of the Business Society Podcast, I outline 7 steps that you can take to build a prosperous and sustainable financial future.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The financial goals that you should set for your personal life and your business — and why they’re so important
• How to boost your financial literacy skills so that you can make informed decisions in your business
• Why earning 7 figures in revenue can be less profitable than earning 5 figures

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

03:16 Rise of the female business owner

04:55 Women tend to dream small

06:23 Create your financial future

07:10 Create a vision

08:09 Check in with your mindset

10:15 Financial literacy

11:15 Create a financial plan

12:27 Profit v. revenue

13:34 Don’t give your financial power away

17:09 How I work with business owners

‌

Links:‌ ‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“In law school, they teach you how to think like a lawyer. What I do is teach my clients how to think like a CEO.”

— Judy Weber

Judy Weber has been an interior decorator, an attorney, and a C-suite executive... but she’s found the most meaning in helping female CEOs with a call to serve scale their businesses to multi-6 and 7 figures with more ease and joy.

“I’m all about simplicity in your business,” Judy says. “I don’t want you to work harder than you need to.”

Judy is a genius at showing entrepreneurs how to uplevel their mindset, step fully into their CEO role, and strategically transform their current business into a freedom-based legacy business, while remaining aligned with their values.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of growing from 6 figures to 7, how to connect with high-end clients so that you can work less, and the secret to developing a brand that stands out from the noise!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why your focus should be less on your tactics and more on the strategy behind your tactics
• What goes into a ‘sophisticated business model’ — and the benefits of running a business based on this model
• Why you don’t need to follow the latest social media trends in order to land your dream clients

About Judy Weber: Judy Weber is a business strategist, scaling expert, and founder of Judy Weber Co. She helps 6-figure female CEOs scale to multi-6 and 7 figures using the proven JOYful Scaling Method. She is a sought after keynote speaker, teaching and inspiring women across the world to pursue the impossible, knowing that God is able to make your biggest dreams a reality.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

01:58 Meet Judy Weber

03:25 Judy’s journey

07:03 Getting to 6 figures

09:20 “Where is the business going?”

10:49 Typical problems

11:53 ‘Sophisticated business model’

14:16 Finding high-end clients

15:43 No cookie-cutter branding

17:10 Standing out from the noise

19:29 JOYful Scaling Method

22:11 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Judy Weber

https://judyweber.co

https://www.facebook.com/judyweberco

https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyweberco

Instagram: @judyweberco

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“The average business has about 25% chance of surviving the first four years… but if you’re involved in litigation, your odds of surviving go down to 17%.”

— Jay Razzouk

Many entrepreneurs don’t know how to protect themselves and their businesses when it comes to the law — and this goes far beyond the question of whether to choose incorporation or LLC!

Attorney Jay Razzouk spent over a decade helping Fortune 500 companies avoid and fix billion-dollar mistakes. Now, through his ProSCALE Legal Coaching, he helps online entrepreneurs protect their assets, deal with the legalities of owning their businesses... and securely scale beyond 7 figures!

“Executives know the risk and make informed decisions, but entrepreneurs are people who are gung-ho and go for it not really knowing what they might face,” Jay explains. “When it comes to the legal space, there’s so much out there in terms of misinformation.”

From tax structures to contract law to trademarks, this episode is packed with legal information entrepreneurs NEED to know.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Small problems that scale alongside your business
• Legal complexities of hiring and selling outside your region
• The #1 lawsuit brought against businesses

About Jay Razzouk: Jay Razzouk is a California business attorney with over 10 years experience litigating across 20 states in matters involving legal compliance at Fortune 500s. He is the founder of ProSCALE Legal Coaching. Employing his SecureSCALE method, Jay helps small business owners employ legal strategies to protect their businesses as they scale beyond seven and eight figures.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:03 Intro

01:32 Meet Jay Razzouk

02:22 Entrepreneurs & legal protection

03:19 Business entities & tax structures

05:16 Legal issues that grow

06:59 Operating outside your region

09:02 Jay’s services

12:32 #1 type of lawsuit

13:22 Contracts, trademarks & IP

21:37 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Jay Razzouk

https://www.proscalelegal.com

https://www.facebook.com/jay.razzouk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayrazzouk

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“CFOs are essential to business, as they support the CEO with strategic financial planning so the CEO can create the most profitable business possible.”

— Melissa Houston

Happy New Year! In this solo episode of the Business Society Podcast, I want to talk about a new business trend that I think is especially useful for small to medium-sized business owners.

Have you heard of the “fractional C-suite”?

Hiring for a fractional C-suite position allows you to benefit from the knowledge and experience of a C-level expert... on a part-time basis and through a package tailored to your needs! This cost-effective solution is absolutely ideal for businesses that are not at the point of needing (or able to afford) a full-time C-suite executive.

From monthly variance analysis to project accounting to cash flow management, this episode lays out the key services provided by a fractional CFO — with some bonus tips for boosting your profitability!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why hiring a fractional CFO is an ingenious solution for many businesses
• What a fractional CFO will offer you that a bookkeeper and accountant will not
• How a monthly variance analysis will help you track your progress and identify areas of concern

Highlights:‌

01:06 Welcome to 2022!

02:27 The fractional C-suite

03:55 What is a fractional CFO?

04:55 How will a fractional CFO help you?

07:39 Monthly variance analysis

08:27 Key performance indicators

09:00 Cash flow management & stakeholders

10:14 Project accounting

11:20 Financial guidance & support

12:24 What to look for in a fractional CFO

15:16 Recap

‌

Links:‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Behind every powerful leader is a great therapist. And it doesn’t have to be a true therapist — maybe it’s a coach, maybe it’s a mentor. But every great leader has processed their trauma.”

— Margy Feldhuhn

This episode of the Business Society Podcast focuses on the emotional side of entrepreneurship.

Margy Feldhuhn is co-owner and CEO of Interview Connections, the first podcast booking agency. Since acquiring 50% equity in 2018, she’s helped scale the business to 7 figures — without direct marketing or advertising!

Margy credits much of her success to her therapist.

A year prior to joining Interview Connections, Margy tragically lost her father to suicide. She underwent over a year of EMDR trauma reprocessing therapy — important work that helped her to step into a leadership role. “If you are out there getting triggered with your team or with your clients, your business is going to fall apart,” she explains.

Tune in to hear Margy and I talk about the power of resilience when it comes to leadership, why every entrepreneur should have a therapist, and We Get It, Your Dad Died, her podcast about entrepreneurs and grief.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Margy transformed from her company’s first employee to its CEO in 2 years
• Why processing trauma is a crucial piece of effective leadership
• Why dealing with your emotions will help you avoid sabotaging your results

About Margy Feldhuhn: Margy Feldhuhn is the co-owner and CEO of Interview Connections, the first and leading podcast booking agency, and hosts Rock the Podcast and We Get It, Your Dad Died.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

02:00 Meet Margy Feldhuhn

04:14 Interview Connections

05:03 Trauma, resilience & leadership

09:22 Therapy & entrepreneurship

11:00 Creating meaning out of grief

13:20 Why we hide grief

14:51 Margy’s podcast guests

19:03 Listener feedback

20:09 Deal with your stuff

23:14 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

https://interviewconnections.com

https://www.facebook.com/InterviewConnectionsPage

https://open.spotify.com/show/3YtI2LDFqprjsV8kiP3Zj5

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margy-feldhuhn-832b30117

Twitter: @margyfeldhuhn

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration?

Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga

and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“It’s through reflection that we take away lessons and we can make improvements.”

— Melissa Houston

We made it. We’ve reached the end of 2021.

And what a year it has been!

This is the perfect time to look back and reflect on how far you’ve come, the decisions that you’ve made in your business, and the impact that you have created.

It’s also the perfect time to start thinking about your financial goals for the next year.

A goal without a plan is just a wish, so if you want to make big moves in the next 12 months (and earn big profit), I highly recommend that you take some time right now to map out your goals and put a plan in place to achieve them.

Remember: 82% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement!

I would love to help you get set up for success in 2022. The last episode of 2021 covers how to create a S.M.A.R.T. financial plan (yes, I explain the acronym!), what you can learn from reflecting on the last 12 months, and why monthly goals and assessments are absolutely essential for staying on track.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The importance of mapping out your financial goals for your business in 2022
• Why just having a plan isn’t enough — and the steps you need to take to achieve your goals
• How to analyze your income statements in order to gain valuable insights into your business

Highlights:‌ ‌
01:04 Time to reflect
02:25 Don’t take feedback personally
03:15 Happy holidays!
04:53 Starting the New Year on the right foot
06:04 Money management is mandatory
06:51 VIP half-day sessions & other packages
09:25 3 ways to work with me
11:19 Income statements
12:47 Create a S.M.A.R.T. financial plan
15:44 Goal v. wish
16:16 Monthly goals
19:09 Accountability
20:18 Measure progress against goals
21:26 Pay yourself & profit margins
22:52 Make informed business decisions
24:29 Recap

Links:‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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Nikki Takahashi knows what goes into creating a great brand!

Nikki is the founder and CEO of Fetching Finn, a multi-6-figure branding and design agency that gets clients noticed in person, online, and in print.

(She’s also the only designer I know who has won a Governor General’s medal for her achievements!)

If you want to connect with your customers, you need to go beyond the graphics.

“A logo and a website is kind of where people start when they’re thinking about branding. But when it comes down to it, branding is so much broader than that,” Nikki explains. “Building a brand with traction, one that gets sales and gets noticed and gets remembered, starts with messaging and not with the design piece. So, that’s been a shift in my business.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The #1 change that Nikki made to her business which wound up being absolutely pivotal
• A walkthrough of what to expect when you seek out branding services
• Whether you should have a personal brand alongside your business brand

About Nikki Takahashi: Nikki Takahashi is a digital media designer and brand strategist who has helped over 300 entrepreneurs embrace and amplify what makes them unique. She is the founder and CEO of Fetching Finn Inc., host of the Square Peg Entrepreneur podcast, and a globally recognized keynote speaker on brand design and strategy.

01:03 Intro
02:04 Meet Nikki Takahashi
03:36 What is branding?
05:25 Nikki’s clients
06:46 Branding walkthrough & basics
10:44 Social media
11:53 Messaging
13:32 Biggest challenges
16:10 Rebranding
17:25 Personal branding
18:43 Top tip

https://fetchingfinn.com
https://fetchingfinn.com/foundations
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nikkitakahashi
https://open.spotify.com/show/3ID0Jg4ONTfH2wzVlqJZQQ
Twitter: @thenikkitak
Instagram: @thenikkitak

Building a Storybrand
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/building-a-storybrand-clarify-your/9781400201839-item.html

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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Alli Webb is not only a brilliant entrepreneur with multiple businesses under her belt, she’s also a queen of reinvention.

In 2008, Alli co-founded Drybar, the budget-friendly blow-out salon that’s grown to 150+ locations. Since selling Drybar, she’s co-launched Squeeze, a franchise concept offering a better massage experience...

Okay Humans, an affordable membership that helps clients find and book in with qualified therapists in their area…

...and Becket & Quill, a jewelry line that’s high-end, not high-spend.

The goal of each? To bring the products and services that people crave within reach, through a dual focus on quality AND accessibility — an approach Alli describes as “affordable luxury.”

She and her fiance also co-founded The Impact Series, which hosts two-day retreats taught by founders and coaches.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• What she would do differently if launching Drybar today
• What she loves most about the franchise model (and what sets Squeeze apart!)
• The common challenges entrepreneurs report during The Impact Series sessions

About Alli Webb: Alli Webb co-founded Drybar in 2008, and has since co-founded new ventures including Squeeze, Okay Humans, Becket & Quill, and The Impact Series. She is the host of the Raising The Bar podcast and author of The Drybar Guide to Good Hair for All.

01:04 Intro
03:19 Meet Alli Webb
05:35 Squeeze & Becket & Quill
07:33 Franchising
08:20 The Impact Series
10:51 Common challenges
13:29 Reinvention
15:07 Drybar lessons
19:56 Business coaches
24:31 Takeaway

https://www.squeezemassage.com
https://www.squeezemassage.com/franchising
https://www.okayhumans.com
https://www.becketandquill.com
https://www.impact.takenewground.com
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-drybar-guide-to-good/9781419721069-item.html

Twitter: @AlliWebb

Instagram: @alliwebb @squeeze @okayhumans

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Passive income has to be one of the most delightful ways to make money.”

— Melissa Houston

Passive income. The holy grail. The type of revenue that everyone dreams about, right?

I’ve got to tell you, I have some strong opinions about it!

Passive income happens when you invest your money somewhere and your money starts working for you. This can mean investments in financial products or royalties… but it can also mean certain business ventures (some more promising than others!).

Course creation is the latest thing in the online business world. Everyone is talking about it and everyone seems to be interested in launching their own online course — or even academy. The “7-figure launch” is talked about as if it is commonplace and the prevailing idea is that course creation is the surefire path to consistent, impressive passive income.

Full disclosure: I even tried to launch my own course.

And I am here to tell you there is NOTHING passive about course creation!

Yes, I’m here to kill the party. But don’t worry — I’m not leaving you emptyhanded.

If you’re interested in creating income that really is a little more passive, then this is the solo episode for you!

In this episode, I not only bust the myth of the 7-figure launch, but I share some great tips for investing in financial products, rental property, the stock market, and more! Bonus: you even get a little peek inside my own portfolio!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Whether or not passive income is taxable — and how it is calculated
• Which income-producing products to consider when you’re ready to invest — and how often to review your investments
• What you need to already have in place if you want a chance at creating a successful online course

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:04 Intro

03:43 Join us on Facebook!

06:01 Passive income

07:12 Taxability

08:58 Time investment up front

10:04 Stock market part 1

13:21 Course creation

15:40 6 & 7-figure launches

17:11 Bonds & GICs

18:39 Stock market part 2

20:34 Rental property

21:57 Royalties

23:12 Affiliate marketing & fractional investing

24:22 Outro

Links:‌ ‌

The Business Society Community: For Entrepreneurs Who Want MORE Profit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2492571604329032

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“There has never been — nor will there ever be — anyone else who is you, who has your unique combination of skills and talents and experiences and passion.”

—Courtney Foster-Donahue

What makes you unique in your marketplace? And how can you leverage that uniqueness to grow your business in the digital space?

Courtney Foster-Donahue helps entrepreneurs and business owners boost their revenue, expand their offers, and scale beyond 1:1 through digital marketing and course creation!

While Courtney’s background in theatre, music, and dance may be a bit unusual in the business world, she’s leaned into her unorthodox skills and learned how to leverage them in her entrepreneurial career.

“As a choreographer, if you can teach grown men how to do ballet, you can probably help business owners learn how to use the Facebook Pixel,” Courtney says. “Because of my background, I’m naturally a good teacher, I’m naturally a good storyteller. I understand the importance of story, which is everything in marketing.”

Courtney shares some fabulous insights on how to grow and market a successful online business, as well as her own incredible story of how she started her entrepreneurial career accidentally—while bedridden!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The challenges facing online course creators right now—and why market saturation IS NOT one of them!
• How to pinpoint your unique skills and use them to create value for your customers
• Digital marketing strategies to help you grow your audience and reach your ideal clients while doing what you love!

About Courtney Foster-Donahue: Courtney is a four-time entrepreneur and business strategist. She founded and runs a multi-million dollar course company and has helped tens of thousands of business owners around the world grow their businesses through digital courses and digital marketing.

Highlights:‌

01:03 Intro

01:34 Meet Courtney Foster-Donahue

04:38 Courtney’s entrepreneurial journey

12:36 Online course challenges

14:44 Leveraging talents

19:29 Reaching potential clients

23:18 Takeaway

Links:‌

Courtney Foster-Donahue

https://courtneyfosterdonahue.com

https://www.facebook.com/courtneyfodo

Instagram: @thecourtneyshowtv

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“PR, to me, is all about relationships and making connections.”

—Amanda Berlin

Do you ever look at keynote speakers or interviewees on high-profile websites and think to yourself, “That could be me”?

We’ve all had those moments, but often we don’t pursue those opportunities because we don’t feel confident enough in our message — or just aren’t sure how to bring that particular dream to reality!

That’s where Amanda Berlin comes in!

Amanda is a PR, marketing, and business strategist who helps her clients master their story and show up strongly in places like Business Insider and Entrepreneur on Fire.

Good public relations and media presence are highly effective when it comes to raising your profile, building your network, gaining new customers, and receiving the type of exciting offers that you’ve been dreaming about.

During this conversation, Amanda and I discuss the difference between PR and media, the trouble with paid promotion, and why showing up in a big publication doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get more sales!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The 3 main pillars of PR that Amanda teaches her clients, based on her 10 years of experience working with PR agencies and entrepreneurs
• How to leverage events to increase the visibility of your brand and business
• The strengths of each type of media appearance — and how to choose the one that best suits your goals

About Amanda Berlin: Amanda Berlin helps entrepreneurs step into their presence, create a story that inspires others, and spread their message in the media. Amanda works one-on-one with clients to guide them in strategic storytelling and media relations, and hosts the Empowered Publicity podcast.

Highlights:‌

01:01 Intro

02:09 Meet Amanda Berlin

03:10 Amanda’s services

05:28 Collaboration & partnerships

08:34 Speaking & events

11:23 Don’t buy exposure

14:13 Media

16:37 Big media doesn’t = sales

17:15 Why invest in PR & media?

19:49 Promote your placements

21:34 How to reach out

24:50 Lead with value

25:38 Takeaway

Links:‌

Amanda Berlin

https://amandaberlin.com

https://linktr.ee/aberlin

Instagram: @amandagailberlin

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Before you can grow your business, you have to grow your mindset. You have to be actively working on your issues that are keeping you in a place of ‘stuck.’”

—Elaine Turso

Elaine Turso is an intuitive business consultant, creative entrepreneur, and Chief Visionary Partner for INsource It Marketing Agency. Elaine helps her clients get their businesses up and running through helping with their ideas, tech, workflows, and mindset.

Through experience, she’s learned that the mindset work is especially important!

Some clients have spent months (and thousands of dollars) preparing to launch their businesses… only to walk away at the last moment because of fear.

“If someone is trying to grow, they have to have a growth mindset otherwise they will sabotage their own success,” Elaine says. “Fear is that four-letter F word that really just stands in our way, all the time.”

In this episode, We talk about how to deal with imposter syndrome, mindset issues standing between you and your launch, and attract leads (without feeling like you’re delivering a sales pitch)!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The biggest mindset issues that Elaine has faced while growing all her businesses— why she stopped undervaluing herself
• Why you NEED to stop caring about what other people think—and start doing your own thing
• Why you should be automating everything in your business APART from relationship-building

About Elaine Turso: Elaine Turso is an intuitive business consultant and Chief Visionary Partner for INsource It Marketing Agency. She enjoys supporting other entrepreneurs with their businesses and getting sh*t done for them so they can focus on their zone of genius. She is the founder of the No Excuses Network.

Highlights:‌

01:45 Meet Elaine Turso

04:31 Fear of the shift

07:39 Tech, automation & connection

10:40 Typical client issues

14:03 Elaine’s biggest fears

19:13 Elaine’s books

20:52 Working through fears

22:56 Book & calendar stories

25:45 Takeaway

Links:‌

Elaine Turso

https://www.elaineturso.com

https://www.insourceitmarketing.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpHG2cbW0lCmXIQ6F5Lhmbw

Instagram: @insourceitmarketing

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“If I could spend my career taking that stress out of money, giving people peace of mind, if I could change a few lives... it would be worth it.”

—Shari Greco Reiches

If you’re a regular listener, you know that I believe money management is one of the most vital skills that anyone can learn... whether or not they run a business!

My guest, wealth management expert Shari Greco Reiches, agrees completely.

Shari helps her clients align their financial planning with their core values, allowing them to “maximize their return on life” — an approach you can read about in Shari’s book, Maximize Your Return on Life: Invest Your Time and Money in What You Value Most!

Shari has over 30 years of wealth management experience helping women plan for and create the lives that they truly desire. She works with newly separated women just learning how to take control of their finances, but also with successful entrepreneurs who need guidance in dealing with changes and responsibilities that their new revenue brings.

In our conversation, we dig deep into the emotional roots of money mindset issues, the generational divide when it comes to talking cash, and the true value of financial empowerment.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How early memories of money influence your current approach to your finances
• Why it’s important to align financial goals to your core values — and how Shari helps her clients discover theirs
• The common changes Shari’s clients make to honour their values

About Shari Greco Reiches: Shari is co-founder, principal, and Chief Visionary Officer of Rappaport Reiches Capital Management. She speaks on financial planning and is the author of Maximize Your Return on Life: Invest Your Time and Money in What You Value Most.

Highlights:‌

01:03 Intro

01:55 Maximizing your return

03:23 Early memories & mindset exercises

05:42 Typical client issues

07:35 Money & emotions

08:52 Opening her firm

10:15 Financial empowerment

11:28 Goals & values

16:17 Common changes

19:53 Fear of earning

22:00 Takeaway

Links:‌

Shari Greco Reiches

https://sharigrecoreiches.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-greco-reiches-51135b

Twitter: @maxreturnonlife

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

Need a Fractional CFO? Check out The Fractional CFO Agency!

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“Find someone whose message you resonate with that teaches sales.”

—Ryann Dowdy

Every entrepreneur has to dip their toes into sales at some point. But how do you learn how to effectively sell? And, better yet, how do you learn how to sell without feeling icky or intimidated?

I’ll admit, these are questions that I struggled with when first launching my business (and sometimes even today)!

My guest, Ryann Dowdy, has trained not hundreds, but thousands of people in the art of sales!

Ryann is an expert in the science of “social selling,” or leveraging social media as a primary connection tool — and no, that doesn’t just mean selling through your DMs! In this new world of online entrepreneurship, becoming a skilled social seller is one of the most important things that you can do for your business.

Ryann is the co-founder of the Daily Sales on Demand Accelerator and the Social Sellers Academy — and in this episode, she’s sharing some of her best tips!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• Which platforms you should stick to when trying to sell to your audience (and why)!
• How to reframe your relationship with sales... so that you can sell without feeling sleazy!
• The top qualities to look for when you’re hiring social sellers for your sales team

About Ryann Dowdy: Sales expert Ryann Dowdy helps 7- and 8-figure CEOs generate daily sales on-demand without more of their time by building and training high-performing sales teams. She and her business partner Kelly Roach are on a mission to free CEOs from the role of salesperson through their Social Sellers Academy.

Highlights:‌

01:04 Intro

01:55 Meet Ryann Dowdy

02:46 What is social selling?

04:05 Not just your DMs!

05:03 Social Sellers Academy

06:55 Shift your mindset regarding sales

09:59 Balance “serving” & “asking”

12:28 Top qualities in salespeople

15:04 Ryann’s journey to sales

16:58 Find the right training

19:14 Where to start?

23:08 Why you struggle with sales

25:03 Takeaway

Links:‌

Ryann Dowdy

https://dailysalesondemandforceos.com

Instagram: @socialsellersacademy

https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/ryanndowdy

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Having all this money made me fearful of losing it.”

—Julie Greenham

Business and mindfulness coach Julie Greenham made a name for herself as an advocate for introverted entrepreneurs.

But even as she empowered her clients to be comfortably visible, book their ideal clients, and make more money, the successful host of the Quiet Powerhouse Podcast struggled with the knowledge that she wasn’t quite sure how to manage her own finances.

After separating from her husband, she stepped onto the road to financial literacy — and hasn’t looked back!

Many, many of my clients have shared Julie’s experience. Very few of us grow up being taught how to save, invest, and budget. And that should never be a point of shame!

The truth is that anyone can learn how to take control of their finances and manage their money.

The hardest part is taking that first step!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why knowing your own values is so important when it comes to spending, investing, and saving
• How Julie learned how to understand her finances and take control of her money after her divorce — and why she feels more empowered than ever
• The role that emotion plays in how we feel about money — and how Julie dealt with the issues she had with pricing offers and receiving money

Julie Greenham is a leading advocate for introverted entrepreneurs, host of the Quiet Powerhouse Podcast, and founder of the Mindful Entrepreneur Membership. She helps entrepreneurs grow their business in a way that respects and prioritizes their gifted, introverted nature.

Highlights:‌

01:33 Meet Julie Greenham

03:20 Introverted entrepreneurs

04:44 How I met Julie

07:09 Financial literacy & shame

08:07 Post-divorce finances

10:07 Values & money

11:30 Preparing for the worst

13:29 Investments

15:01 Emotion & money

19:26 Business transformation

21:14 Julie’s financial future

22:09 Gender & money

23:53 “Calling the bank”

25:39 What Julie would do differently

27:37 Financial literacy & children

29:20 Takeaway

Links:‌

Julie Greenham

https://www.juliegreenham.com

https://www.facebook.com/thequietpowerhouse

Instagram: @iamjuliegreenham

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I really had to work my way back up, but I was never, ever willing to compromise.”

—Candace Cameron Bure

While you may know the name Candace Cameron from seeing her on The View or Full House (or through catching up on her new Netflix show Fuller House), you really need to know about her other work!

An accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist, Candance has a west-coast-inspired fashion line on QVC, boasting inclusive sizing ranging from 3XS to 5XL. She also serves as a board member for the non-profit organization Skip1, which addresses hunger through renovating and building kitchens in schools and orphanages in impoverished areas, as well as organizing food and water distribution.

“Full House gave me a platform and recognition that helped me, but remember that was from when I was 10 to 18 years old,” Candance says. “A lot changes after 18. Once you become an adult, you have to forge your own way.”

In this conversation, we discuss why more clothing lines need to take an inclusive approach to sizing, Candace’s thoughts on the idea of being “self-made,” and how skipping a manicure or a few lattes can help ensure food security around the world.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How Candance responded to frequent NOs while building her brand—and why she refuses to compromise on what she wants
• Why her outlook and goals shifted in her 20s—and led to her eventual entrepreneurship
• The importance of giving back to the community as an entrepreneur (and as a human being)!

Candace Cameron Bure is a former full-time co-host of ABC’s The View, currently stars in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Fuller House, and is best known for portraying DJ Tanner in Full House. She is a bestselling author and fashion designer.

Highlights:‌

01:53 Meet Candace Cameron Bure

02:35 Becoming a business owner

04:18 QVC’s Candace Cameron Bure line

06:09 Importance of inclusivity

07:20 Skip1

09:38 Why Candace gives back

12:47 Hearing & saying No

16:01 Brand values

18:07 Tips for entrepreneurs

19:55 What’s next

Links:‌

Candace Cameron Bure

https://www.candacecbure.com

https://www.qvc.com/fashion/candace-cameron-bure/_/N-lgltZ13kj9af/c.html

Instagram: @candacecbure

https://skip1.org

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“A lot of times, anxiety is very, very helpful... but you want to take action on that.”
—Gretchen Rubin

How do you successfully create the types of habits that bring positive change to your life?

How do you get a better night’s sleep when you’re feeling stressed or anxious?

How do you know when your self-soothing habits are actually healthy for you?

In this episode, these questions and many more will be answered by the world’s foremost expert on happiness!

My guest is Gretchen Rubin, the New York Times bestselling author of books such as The Happiness Project and The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too). She is the host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast and creator of Better, an app based on her Four Tendencies framework.

Gretchen’s work on happiness draws from cutting-edge science, ancient wisdom, lessons from pop culture, and her own experiences — and she shares some incredible insights during our conversation!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• Simple steps that you can take to help reduce anxiety or intrusive thoughts
• How to monitor your stress levels — even when you’re not consciously feeling it
• A tool to help you stop “breaking the chain” of taking positive actions

Highlights:‌

02:15 Meet Gretchen Rubin

03:57 Personalities & entrepreneurship

06:38 Pandemic shifts & positivity

10:13 How to deal with stress

12:56 The Upside of Stress

15:24 Anxiety tells

18:06 Are your self-soothing habits healthy?

20:38 Tips for business owners

23:58 Takeaway

Links:‌

Gretchen Rubin

https://gretchenrubin.com

https://www.facebook.com/GretchenRubin

Twitter: @gretchenrubin

Instagram: @gretchenrubin

Don’t Break the Chain https://the-happiness-project.com/collections/journals/products/dont-break-the-chain-habit-tracker
The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316675/the-upside-of-stress-by-kelly-mcgonigal
The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co
5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Smart business owners take the time to get the feedback.”

— Melissa Houston

If your fiscal year begins in January, then you’ve just exited your third quarter. In this episode, you’ll learn what your quarterly numbers can tell you... and how you can use them to gain insight into — and ultimately improve — your business!

While I definitely believe that business owners should look at their numbers every single month, your quarterly numbers are an excellent signal of the health of your business. They illustrate your strengths and weaknesses, letting you know how to tweak your financial plan going forward.

And speaking of financial plans, I’m also going to walk you through the 6 biggest benefits of creating yours!

On another note, this episode of the Business Society Podcast is a bit of a celebration — this week marks the one-year anniversary episode! Through the past year, we’ve had solo episodes, guest interviews, and one big rebrand.

I’ll be honest — I was scared to death when I first started the podcast. I had no idea what I was doing, what to expect, or whether I’d find an audience. All I knew was that I wanted to help small business owners and entrepreneurs become more financially literate, build their wealth, and create a brighter future for themselves, their teams, and their families.

And I’m thrilled that the podcast has resonated with so many of you!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The 6 practical advantages of creating a financial plan — and why you should plan for Q4 right now
• Why sales don’t actually make you a successful business (and what actually does!)
• How you can help the podcast grow bigger and better and help other business owners access great insights

Highlights:‌

01:05 Intro

02:27 One-year anniversary!

04:33 Your Q3 results

05:37 How your numbers help you

06:27 Making money is a GOOD thing

07:42 Create Q4 & 2022 plans now

08:42 Money management

09:57 Resource allocation

11:09 Performance monitoring

11:48 Decision-making

13:04 Identify problems

14:17 Understand your finances

15:55 Plan for the future

Links:‌

The Ultimate Creative: https://theultimatecreative.com

Discovery call: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/money-breakthrough-call

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and LinkedIn @melissahoustoncpa and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“My goal was always to build a business that let me have a lifestyle…. And now, I can do that, but I have a team that keeps the business running.”

— Rebecca Tracey

If you’ve ever wondered whether it makes sense to create your own online course, struggled with the idea of niching down, or been confused about how to grow sustainably, you’re going to want to listen to this episode!

The Uncaged Life founder Rebecca Tracey helps coaches and business owners find and keep clients, own their niche, and create packages that sell — all while working from home with no pants on!

Rebecca is a genius when it comes to building aligned, profitable businesses. “Anyone can make a business work. It’s not rocket science, it’s not a mystery,” Rebecca says. “But if you keep going in the same area and it’s not working, you need to figure out where the pivot needs to happen.”

In this conversation, Rebecca talks about her two-launch-a-year model, how to grow sustainably, and what you can gain from hiring a good mindset coach!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How hesitating to niche down can cost you clients, rather than get you more
• What goes into creating successful evergreen offers (and how they can shift your business model)
• Rebecca’s best tips for entrepreneurs near the start of their journey — including what type of services to offer!

About Rebecca Tracey: Rebecca Tracey is the founder of The Uncaged Life. She helps service-based business owners and coaches get clear on their brand messages, create packages that sell, and get and keep clients.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:43 Introduction

01:23 Meet Rebecca Tracey

03:08 Rebecca’s journey

06:40 The power of niching

07:27 Shifting revenue goals

09:19 The 7-figure switch

11:16 Sustainable growth

13:39 Secret to Rebecca’s success

15:35 Start-up tips

17:16 Passive income & evergreen offers

19:07 Setting realistic expectations

21:12 Myth of overnight success

22:56 Takeaway

25:21 Next launch

Links:‌

Rebecca Tracey

https://theuncagedlife.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheUncagedLife

Twitter: @rebecca_tracey

Instagram: @rebeccatracey

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Investment fees, for most Canadians, really cause great damage to their ultimate retirement savings.”

— Larry Bates

Larry Bates is a name that my clients and long-time listeners know well — I recommend his book to them regularly!

Larry is an independent investor advocate, former investment banker, and author of Beat the Bank: The Canadian Guide to Simply Successful Investing.

So, it’s safe to say that Larry knows a thing or two about how the investment industry works — and how to minimize your risk and get higher returns. In fact, full disclosure: Larry’s book is what helped me feel more comfortable about starting to invest!

Larry believes that the average investor is not well-served by the investment industry.

“Most Canadians are losing, believe it or not, 50% or more of their lifetime investment returns to fees they don’t even see or understand,” Larry explains.

The investment advisors at your bank do not act in your best interest. It’s important to make informed decisions about your investments!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How sneaky investment fees seriously hinder your investment returns and retirement plans — and why so few people know about them
• How fee disclosure laws work (and don’t work) to reveal the true costs of investing
• The low-cost, alternative investment products you should consider

About Larry Bates: Larry Bates is an independent investor advocate, author, consultant and speaker. Larry enjoyed a 35 year banking career with several major financial institutions in both Canada and the U.K. He is currently an investment advisor with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. Larry is on the board of FAIR Canada and is an Ambassador of the Transparency Task Force.

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:44 Introduction

01:45 Meet Larry Bates

02:55 Beat the Bank

06:01 Fee disclosure law

09:01 Importance of learning the basics

10:16 Investment firm v. ScotiaBank story

12:04 Trust deficit v. trust surplus

14:03 Index ETFs & robo-advisors

16:38 How to use the market

20:08 T-Rex Score & FAIR

22:58 Takeaway

Links:‌

Larry Bates

https://larrybates.ca

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014692831838

Twitter: @LarryBatesBTB

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Keep learning, keep failing, keep investing in yourself, keep trying, and just be patient.”

— Kelly Roach

I am so excited to have the opportunity to speak to the Ultimate Millionaire Maker and Unstoppable Entrepreneur herself, business strategist Kelly Roach!

Kelly is the creator of the six-figure-earning Live Launch Method, founder of The Unstoppable Entrepreneur business incubator, host of The Unstoppable Entrepreneur podcast, and a best-selling author.

“For some of us, it’s five years. For some of us, it’s 10 years. For some of us, it’s 15 years. It will happen in perfect timing for you,” Kelly explains. “And when you learn the lessons that you need in order to be able to live that dream that you’re imagining, that’s when those dreams will begin to unfold.”

Listen now to learn the importance of looking past other entrepreneurs’ highlight reels, how Kelly’s clients fared during the pandemic, and how The Unstoppable Entrepreneur helps business owners of all types scale up and smash their revenue ceilings!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The top thing that you need to look for when seeking a business mentor — and why it matters
• The hidden truths behind the 7-figure launch — and why hitting a million doesn’t always mean what you think it means
• The biggest mistake that slowed Kelly down when she was building her business

About Kelly Roach: As a Fortune 500 executive, Kelly built 17 business units and a team of 100 from the ground up. Now, Kelly transforms overworked entrepreneurs into 7-figure CEOs by teaching them how to leverage timeless business principles employed by billion-dollar corporations with the speed and agility of the most powerful online marketing strategies of today.

Highlights:

00:43 Introduction

01:59 Meet Kelly Roach

05:25 Joining the community

06:30 Behind the 7-figure launch

07:30 Kelly’s journey

08:58 5 core systems

11:18 Pandemic struggles

15:10 Kelly’s typical clients

16:48 The incubator experience

25:04 Takeaway

Links:‌

Kelly Roach

https://unstoppableentrepreneur.com

https://kellyroachcoaching.com

Twitter: @kellyroachlive

Instagram: @kellyroachofficial

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“It’s true that money cannot buy happiness. But money can buy a lot of opportunities that you might otherwise not have.”

— Melissa Houston

Happy September! This month has always felt like a fresh start to me — and I think it’s a great time to implement a more financially literate approach to running your business, setting you up for even more success.

In this solo episode, I dive into the differences between saving money and building wealth revealing some proven strategies to help you get rich (and stay rich) from absolutely nothing.

First of all, it’s okay to want to grow your wealth! And money management is one of the key methods of achieving this.

Tune in now to learn why it’s so important to have financial goals in your business, why making six figures isn’t a guaranteed sign of success, and how to reframe your money story to achieve a growth mindset!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• 7 solid steps for setting up your strong financial foundation and growing your wealth
• The most important metrics that you need to focus on in your business to ensure its financial health
• How to shift from building business wealth to building personal wealth

Highlights:‌

00:43 Introduction & upcoming challenge!

02:37 Best thing about owning a business

04:50 It’s okay to build wealth

07:05 Money management is key

09:08 Strong financial foundation

10:40 Money mindset

13:52 Money management habit

15:13 Invest for growth

16:52 Build around your goals

17:57 Multiple income streams

22:57 Increase Your Profit in 5 Days challenge

Links:‌

Increase Your Profits in 5 Days challenge: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/increase-your-bottom-line-in-5-days

How to Get Rich From Absolutely Nothing article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissahouston/2021/08/11/how-to-get-rich-from-absolutely-nothing

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Self-perception is everything. Even if you’re just staring at your own reflection in Zoom, the way that you perceive yourself helps your productivity.”

— Lauren Messiah

They say that clothes make the man, but do they also make the entrepreneur?

Your style and how you present yourself are definitely a part of your personal brand, and your customers and would-be customers definitely take notice. So, how do you dress for the success that you dream about?

Celebrity stylist Lauren Messiah helps her clients learn to shop like a stylist and choose clothing that supports their goals — this goes far beyond just dressing for the job you want!

“I’m kind of the anti-stylist… I don’t care about trends, I don’t care about someone being a size 2” Lauren explains.

The pandemic lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 have changed office dress codes and the style landscape. In this episode of The Business Society Podcast, Lauren reveals the new professional fashion standards, how to shop to fit your goals, and why dressing well even when working from home is so important.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How office dress codes have changed and relaxed since the pandemic — and what this means for your professional style
• How Lauren landed a traditional publishing deal after self-publishing her first book
• Why staying on-trend is nowhere near as important as designers and magazines would have you believe

About Lauren Messiah: Lauren Messiah is a Los Angeles-based personal stylist, style expert, educator, and digital influencer who has been featured in the New York Times, Elle, Vogue, and more. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of School of Style and author of Style Therapy: 30 Days To Your Signature Style.

Highlights:‌

01:53 Meet Lauren Messiah

02:49 Pandemic effects

04:33 The new dress code

08:40 Marketing & Personal Style University

18:46 First impressions

21:37 Style tips & types

24:36 Takeaway

Links:‌

Lauren Messiah

https://laurenmessiah.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/StylistLaurenMessiah

https://www.facebook.com/LaurenMessiah

Instagram: @laurenmessiah
Twitter: @LaurenMessiah

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

Take the Money Personality Quiz! https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/quiz

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

Confident Cash for Business: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga
Visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“How can we personalize health so that we can have more longevity and energy?”

— Tanessa Shears

As an entrepreneur, can you reprogram your body and brain to do more during your workday — while maintaining your physical and mental wellness?

As it turns out, the answer is YES!

As a health consultant and host of the Becoming Limitless podcast, Tanessa Shears uses science and bio-hacking to help entrepreneurs take control of their health while they chase their dreams, achieve their goals, and scale their businesses.

Your body can experience stress due to a number of different things, including not sleeping well, being overworked, or not getting the right nutrition. Tanessa helps her clients pinpoint their unique issues and make sustainable changes over time — making it a lot easier for them to stay on the right track!

In this episode, you’ll learn some of the health-boosting tactics that Tanessa shares with her clients — including how to get more of the vital type of sleep that Tanessa refers to as “entrepreneurial gold”!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• What “bio-hacking” actually means, why it’s such an effective tool for modern entrepreneurs, and how you can get started!
• The harmful effects that inflammation has on every part of your body — and why so many entrepreneurs accept it as “normal”
• Specific bio-hacks you can use now to reduce brain fog and get much better sleep!

About Tanessa Shears: Tanessa Shears is an experienced health consultant who specializes in helping high-achieving entrepreneurs completely overhaul their health so they can achieve massive breakthroughs in their personal and professional lives.

Highlights:‌

01:27 Meet Tanessa Shears

02:53 What is bio-hacking?

04:18 Assessment & first steps

09:00 Inflammation & its impact

11:17 Question your “normal”

13:00 Maintaining consistency

16:19 Brain fog & sleep

19:09 Bio-hacking your bedroom

24:34 Movement & plasticity

26:25 Takeaway

Links:‌

Tanessa Shears

https://www.tanessashears.com/energy

Instagram: @tanessashears

https://www.facebook.com/tanessafit

https://www.youtube.com/tanessashears

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

Take the Money Personality Quiz! https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/quiz

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

Confident Cash for Business: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga
Visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Relationship first, rapport always — everything I teach is built on this foundation.”

— The Sales Maven

Want to learn how to build rapport and be more strategic in your sales conversations? Then this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Known as The Sales Maven, sales coach Nikki Rausch is dedicated to transforming the misunderstood process of selling. Over her 25-year career, she’s perfected her no-sleaze approach, winning numerous awards and selling to many prestigious organizations (including NASA and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)!

Nikki is the author of The Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of Relationship Selling and runs the Sales Maven Society membership, which offers support and training to help business owners and entrepreneurs learn the art of authentic — and effective — sales.

She helps people create deeper connections with their prospects, pique their curiosity, and handle follow-up calls with ease. I learned a lot through interviewing her for this episode, and I’m telling you right now — you’ll want to take notes!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• Why so many of us are so afraid of selling — and the mindset shift that will help us get over it!
• The 5-step Selling Staircase that Nikki teaches to her clients (and why it’s so effective)
• A real-world, practical example of how to sell... without slime or stress!

About The Sales Maven: Sales coach Nikki Rausch is a sales strategist and coach with more than 25 years of sales experience and is master certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She teaches a no-sleaze, no-slime, and no-stress approach to building your business.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:39 Meet The Sales Maven

02:46 Sales mindset shift

04:44 Rapport & relationships

06:21 First impressions & curiosity

10:34 Discovery

13:04 Proposal & close

14:44 Follow-up & chasing

17:54 Common sales issues

24:29 Common sales objections

Links:‌

The Sales Maven

https://yoursalesmaven.com/bsp (e-book)

https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Staircase-Mastering-Art-Relationship-ebook/dp/B07SRKN7TN

https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven

Instagram: @your_sales_maven

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

Take the Money Personality Quiz! https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/quiz

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

Confident Cash for Business: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga
Visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“We started it in the farmer’s market in 2012… we’re in about 45,000 stores now in the US.”

— Daina Trout

Daina Trout turned a mission to promote gut health into a source of big wealth!

The wellness entrepreneur is a co-founder of Health-Ade, a business she started in 2012 with her husband and best friend. Originally just a tiny booth in a farmer’s market, Health-Ade is now a thriving online business that sells bubbly probiotic kombucha teas designed to unlock the power of your gut.

It’s about more than just digestion. Your gut health actually plays a role in mood, energy, immunity, blood sugar, and even sleep!

When Daina and her co-founders first started Health-Ade, they had very little experience or money — but they had a whole lot of drive and passion. How did they grow their tiny business from a humble market booth to a team of 200 people with a signature product line carried in over 45,000 stores in North America?

The first years weren’t easy — Daina and her husband were living on $7 a day. But they managed to attract investors and soon grew their fizzy empire!

Listen now to hear the inspiring story of Health-Ade!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ The biggest challenges that Daina faced when starting up Health-Ade and putting her kombucha into mass production

✔ How Daina maintained a positive mindset during the eight-year journey to profit

✔ Why Health-Ade is undergoing a post-Covid brand refresh

About Daina Trout: Daina Trout has a degree in nutrition, but she isn’t your typical nutritionist. She believes in a holistic approach to health and brings that to her popular kombucha brand, Health-Ade.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:20 Meet Daina Trout

03:05 The rise of kombucha

04:30 Daina’s nutrition background

09:31 Biggest challenges

11:01 Lean early days

15:07 Resilience & patience

18:35 Brand refresh

23:51 Kombucha description & benefits

25:46 Takeaway

Links:‌

Daina Trout

https://health-ade.com

Instagram: @dainatrout, @healthade

https://www.facebook.com/HealthAde

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I had to really convince myself to take a chance and do something different.”

— Alison Sweeney

Alison Sweeney is not only a television celebrity. She’s also a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has woven her talent for storytelling into a number of different ventures!

Alison began acting when she was just four years old, joining the cast of the soap opera Days of Our Lives when she was only 16, a role for which she won multiple awards (including an Emmy). She also served as a host for The Biggest Loser.

Alison found that the sit-and-wait aspect of acting didn’t suit her personality — she didn’t want her career to be controlled by producers and casting directors. She decided to harness her own incredible entrepreneurial spirit and start creating her own opportunities through her production company!

The road to success wasn’t quick or easy, but Alison is now the successful producer of multiple television movies and shows for Hallmark, and created and stars in her own true crime series, Chronicle Mysteries — and she’s sharing her amazing journey on this episode of the Business Society Podcast!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How Alison began & developed her working relationship with Hallmark as a producer
• The challenges & obstacles that Alison faced as she shifted to entrepreneurship — and how she overcame them
• How Alison turns every single “no” into a learning moment

About Alison Sweeney: Alison Sweeney is an award-winning actress, producer, director, content creator, TV host, and author, who constantly inspires her 1.5 million social media followers. She currently stars in and executive produces Chronicle Mysteries for Hallmark.

Highlights:‌

02:03 About Alison Sweeney

04:24 Her production company

07:48 Working with Hallmark

10:20 The Biggest Loser

11:40 The challenges

14:40 Dealing with rejection

17:01 Sweet Revenge

20:34 Takeaway

Links:‌

Alison Sweeney

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/sweet-revenge-a-hannah-swensen-mystery

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/chronicle-mysteries

Instagram: @alisweeney
Twitter: @Ali_Sweeney

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

Take the Money Personality Quiz! https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/quiz

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

Confident Cash for Business: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga
Visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“If you think the thought ‘Everything’s been done,’ then there would be no new innovation, no inventions.”

— Nicole de Larzac

I’ve always said that product-based businesses face extraordinary challenges — but when you have the right coach, building your product-based business can be a lot less stressful!

Nicole de Larzac is that coach.

Nicole’s mission is to make it easier for entrepreneurs (especially women) to launch and scale their product-based businesses, guiding them from idea to launch through her courses and coaching program.

She also happens to be a fellow Canadian podcaster, and host of The Productpreneur Podcast!

Nicole is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to building up a product-based business, from identifying viable ideas and developing prototypes to gauging market interest and finding the right manufacturers. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “I wish that such-and-such existed!,” you’ll want to tune in and learn how YOU could be the one to bring it to market!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ A step-by-step guide to the product development process

✔ The costs that may add up during the product development process — and how to figure out your pricing

✔ How to come up with a useful product idea… even when you don’t think you have any product ideas!

About Nicole de Larzac: Nicole de Larzac is a product business coach and the host of The Productpreneur Podcast. Nicole helps entrepreneurs go from product idea to launch with her online business courses and coaching programs.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:05 Meet Nicole de Larzac

02:00 Product-based business challenges

03:56 Coming up with an idea

05:59 Product development process

09:20 Cost of product development

11:19 Figuring out market demand

14:42 Nicole’s clients

15:24 Expenses, pricing & profit

19:48 Shipping costs

24:45 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌

Nicole de Larzac

https://nicoledelarzac.com

Instagram: @nicoledelarzac

The Productpreneur Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/1SPrAFVXnbIv0IVP5kqorv

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theproductpreneur

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I help entrepreneurs with the emotional side of business.”

— Amber Hawley

Did you know that around 40% of entrepreneurs have ADHD?

Amber Hawley is a licenced psychotherapist who helps entrepreneurs deal with burnout, overwhelm, perfectionism, and other mindset issues that get in the way of business success.

She’s also an entrepreneur with ADHD, which she considers both a blessing and a curse.

ADHD has traditionally carried a stigma, but it has become increasingly normalized in recent years. While people with ADHD have been stereotyped as flighty or unreliable, some aspects of it can actually be great for business! “When we’re in hyperfocus mode, we can be detail-crazy people,” Amber explains. “We can get so much done when we’re in hyperfocus, but unfortunately it often requires our interest… we have to be kind of enthusiastic about it.”

Neurodiverse entrepreneurs have a great deal to teach about overcoming challenges! Tune in for a fascinating conversation!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ How Amber has thrived as an entrepreneur with ADHD, including how her condition presents and how she manages it

✔ Amber’s top tips for weathering the adjustment phase back to post-pandemic “normal” without overwhelm

✔ How to tell the difference between burnout and exhaustion — and why it matters

About Amber Hawley: Psychotherapist Amber Hawley helps high-achieving, easily distracted entrepreneurs with mindset and strategies to stop suffering for success. She hosts The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:07 Meet Amber Hawley

02:44 The emotional side of business

04:10 Entrepreneurs, introspection & self care

07:00 Going back to “normal”

11:43 Tips for adjusting

14:00 Burnout v. exhaustion

16:29 Running a business with ADHD

20:36 Getting diagnosed with ADHD

24:30 Symptoms while medicated

30:03 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Amber Hawley

https://amberhawley.com

Instagram: @itsamberhawley

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/id1291555901

https://www.facebook.com/mybizbestie

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberhawley

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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No two financial plans are alike, and you won’t get anywhere good by comparing your plan to those of your friends, family, or neighbours. Your plan should be designed to fit your specific financial goals, needs, and circumstances — no one else’s.

Certified financial planner Kurt Mueller helps business owners and entrepreneurs make the complex simple, guiding them through the overwhelm of business tax and accounting. He advises his clients to stay aware of their financial situation, including major expenses, gaps in their insurance coverage, tax implications, and more. “Financial planning is not just about investment management or portfolio management,” Kurt says. “Don’t be fooled into thinking that making your money work just means that you go invest it in the stock market. It could mean that. It could also mean investing in real estate, it could mean investing in start-up companies, it could mean investing in oil and gas.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ The importance of choosing the right investments to provide protection against inflation

✔ New changes in American tax law & what you need to know about the current state of the market

✔ Whether now is a good time to make investments

About Kurt Mueller: Kurt Mueller is a personal financial expert and financial advisor who considers himself a “go-giver” — his passion lies in helping others plan their financial future and develop into tomorrow’s leaders.

Highlights:‌

01:12 Meet Kurt Mueller

02:46 Insurance & retirement

04:47 Unique financial plan

07:19 Keep your money working

09:03 Risk & tolerance

14:31 Money & emotion

15:58 American tax law

19:02 State of the market

22:53 Selling financial products

23:50 Takeaway

25:54 Recommendations

Links:‌

Kurt Mueller

Twitter & Instagram: @financearchitect

https://linktr.ee/financearchitect

https://flip-podcast.com

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg

https://thegogiver.com

Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend by Jonathan K. DeYoe

https://www.porchlightbooks.com/product/mindful-money-simple-practices-for-reaching-your-financial-goals-and-increasing-your-happiness-divid--jonathan-k-deyoe?variationCode=9781608684366

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

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“Never give your financial power away.”

— Melissa Houston

The discouraging statistic is that 87% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement — and probably 99% of them fail because the business ran out of cash.

Because cash is the engine that keeps every single business running.

It isn’t enough to have high revenues... or even high profits. If you’re not managing your cash properly, regularly monitoring your expenses, and recognizing and plugging money leaks in your business, then you have a high chance of winding up bankrupt.

Maybe even sooner than later.

This solo episode of the Business Society Podcast is a practical guide to managing your business finances, including keeping track of your accounts receivable, creating plans for upcoming expenses, developing your cash forecast, how to best use (and apply for) lines of credit, and how swift growth can actually harm your cash levels.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

✔ Why YOU need to understand your numbers (even when you have an accountant, bookkeeper, or even CFO)

✔ What “cash management” looks like in practical terms — and actionable tips to implement it into your business

✔ How to deal with delinquent accounts without harming the client relationship

Highlights:‌ ‌

02:24 The important of cash management

04:13 YOU need to understand your numbers

05:06 What cash management means

06:56 Dealing with late payments

10:21 Cash receivable v. cash going out

12:15 Lines of credit

13:48 Situations that affect your cash levels

14:22 Freshbooks

Links:‌ ‌

BLOG POST

Freshbooks

https://www.freshbooks.com

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“If you want to monetize [a blog], digital products are kind of where it’s at these days… the key is finding a niche category.”

— Whitney English

What if you could crack the code of getting your child to LOVE vegetables?

Dieticians Whitney English and Alex Caspero have. Whitney and Alex are the founders of Plant-Based Juniors (AKA PBJ), an online community for parents looking for evidence-based resources and advice for adopting safe, healthy, plant-based diets for their kids and during pregnancy. They’re also the authors of The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler, among other books devoted to plant-based prenatal and pediatric nutrition.

The PBJ community isn’t just for vegans — it’s for anyone looking to get more vegetables on their plates!

The market responded strongly to the launch of PBJ, which has been featured in Women’s Health, Eating Well, and The Bump. Together, Alex and Whitney have successfully grown PBJ into a thriving, profitable community — despite living in different states and time zones!

In this conversation, we discuss the popularity of plant-based products, how they monetized PBJ, and how they got a book deal.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ How they dealt with the challenge of launching PBJ while running multiple businesses

✔ The strategy they used to expand their range of digital products

✔ Whether the new wave of processed plant-based alternatives are actually healthy

About Whitney English and Alex Caspero: Whitney and Alex are dieticians, founders of the Plant-Based Juniors online community, and authors of The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler, written to help ALL parents get MORE plants on the plate — right from the start!

Highlights:‌

01:25 Meet Whitney English & Alex Caspero

03:13 Plant-based diets for kids

04:41 How PBJ started

07:14 Start-up challenge

09:27 The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler

10:14 Food outside the home

11:47 Processed plant-based foods

14:03 Monetization & digital products

21:12 Book deal

22:44 Profits & expanding offers

26:20 Takeaway

Links:

Whitney English & Alex Caspero

https://plantbasedjuniors.com

https://plantbasedjuniors.com/plant-based-baby-and-toddler

Instagram: @plantbasedjuniors

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Paint the big vision. Don’t be afraid to go bold in what you’re selling.”

— Lee Mayer

Everyone wants to have a beautiful home. But how many of us have the expertise (or money) to decorate like the pros?

Lee Mayer was an insurance executive with no design background when she moved from a tiny apartment in New York City to a multi-bedroom house in Denver.

With no idea how to furnish it, she looked into interior design services and was shocked at the pricing. Lee wanted to provide accessible, affordable online interior design services to the masses. With just $20k in seed money, Lee launched Havenly, which offers shopping and design services online — and has grown to become a market leader!

By taking an innovative digital-first approach, Havenly is perfectly positioned to serve the Millennial generation, who are entering into their home-buying years.

From figuring out who to hire (and when), dealing with professional conflict, facing growing pains, and finding funding while female, Lee lays it all out in this candid episode of The Business Society podcast.

Listen now!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

✔ How Lee dealt with the biggest challenges she faced after Havenly’s launch

✔ A detailed look at the growing pains that inevitably come with scaling up

✔ The challenges of finding VC funding as a female entrepreneur

About Lee Mayer: Lee Mayer is the founder of Havenly, an accessible online interior design service with affordable design program options. Havenly is a market share and category leader with a run rate of over $100 million.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:46 Meet Lee Mayer

03:22 Using Havenly

04:31 The Havenly story

08:40 Biggest challenges

11:10 Havenly’s growth

13:48 Pandemic impact

15:31 The future is online

16:37 Funding while female

19:53 Havenly’s funding

22:18 Lee’s advice

23:37 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Lee Mayer

https://havenly.com

Instagram: @thehavenly

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“You’ve GOT to get your product right.”

— Jenna Meek

Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek are young entrepreneurs with a mission.

The pair recognized a need for simple-to-use beauty products that enhanced natural beauty and launched their independent UK makeup brand, REFY Beauty, relying almost exclusively on social media to raise awareness and cultivate their base of devoted fans.

Their strategy worked — not only did they develop a cult following, but within a month of their launch their product line was picked up by Sephora, a global beauty retailer with over 2500 locations in 34 countries around the world!

Launching a product-based business is always a challenge, but especially in an industry like cosmetics which is so highly regulated — and competitive.

Tune in to learn how Jess and Jenna perfected their initial product, launched it into the world, and expanded their offerings… all while winning internet acclaim!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ REFY’s biggest challenges as a start-up — and how Jess and Jenna overcame them

✔ How a tiny start-up with only an idea managed to sign contracts with factories currently working with the world’s biggest makeup brands

✔ How Jenna balances the pressure of having two different brands

About Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek: At 24 and 28 years old respectively, saw a gap in the market for foolproof makeup products that enhance rather than hide your natural beauty. They brought together their unrivalled expertise in business and marketing to launch REFY Beauty and join a new wave of independent brands who owe their success to social media.

Highlights:‌

01:51 Meet Jess, Jenna & REFY

04:12 The products

05:27 Getting into Sephora

06:52 Developing & manufacturing

10:38 The launch story

12:35 Shrine & REFY

14:04 Staying grounded while successful

16:58 Balancing two brands

18:39 Biggest start-up challenges

22:15 Achieving the dream

24:55 What’s next?

Links:‌

Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek

https://refybeauty.com

https://www.sephora.com/ca/en/brand/refy-beauty

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“The universal truth about business... is that everything takes a lot longer than you think it’s going to.”

— Joanna Griffiths

Joanna Griffiths has built a business based on empowering women in all stages of life.

Joanna is the founder and CEO of Knix, an intimate apparel company with a focus on function. Knix offers a revolutionary line of leak-proof period underwear, as well as wireless bras.

When she was pregnant with her first child, she was told that investors would never invest in a company whose founder was about to go on maternity leave.

Fast forward to today: she’s not only raised substantial funding, but her brand will soon surpass $100 million in net sales. As a matter of fact, she closed around $40 million of funding just three days before giving birth to her beautiful twin girls!

“We really want to redefine what a brand can mean for our customers by tackling taboos, making sure everyone feels represented and seen, and just having a really authentic, candid, and real relationship with our community,” Joanna explains.

A pioneer in period underwear, Knix launched at a time when the market (and culture) wasn’t quite ready for their products — or their body-positive marketing. As the rest of the culture is catching up, Knix is seeing incredible growth!

Joanna joins me in this episode to talk about the power of new ideas, being on Dragon’s Den, and positioning for growth.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

✔ How Knix made the shift from wholesale to direct-to-consumer — and how that affected their rate of growth

✔ Why listening closely to your community is one of the best ways to deal with second guesses

✔ Why it’s vital to choose a partner that aligns with your values

About Joanna Griffiths: Joanna Griffiths is the founder and CEO of Knix, which offers comfortable wireless bras and super absorbent, leak-proof underwear, using patented technology, cutting-edge processes, and human-centric design.

Highlights:‌

01:47 Meet Joanna Griffiths

03:26 How Knix began

06:19 Dealing with doubt

07:41 Resiliency & negative feedback

10:02 Dragon’s Den

13:31 Funding

17:35 Ashley Graham

18:49 Growth advice

26:31 Managing finances

Links:‌

Joanna Griffiths

https://knix.com

Instagram: @knix

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/5-step-biz-finance-roadmap

Biz Basics: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/biz-basics-long-form-sales-page

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/mm-cfo-long-form-sales-page

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/moneymethodmembership

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“If you’ve had weaknesses, it’s just time to fix them up!”

— Melissa Houston.

July 1st marks the middle of the year for businesses, if your fiscal year marks the calendar year. I’d love to wish you a happy kick-off for your Q3, but I’d also like to remind you to check in on the financial performance of your business. This episode is your Q2 check-in — I outline all the steps that you can take right now to keep your business healthy and on the right track!

Too many business owners rely solely on the fact that sales are coming in to let them feel good about the way that their business is running. But just because you’re selling, doesn’t mean that your finances are in good shape! These same owners tend to ignore their numbers, only to discover an unpleasant or even shocking surprise later on.

If you’re not checking your numbers on a regular basis, then the truth is that you really do NOT know how your business is doing — and as a business owner, that should make you very nervous!

In addition to checking in with your numbers, I also recommend that you develop your financial plan if you don’t have one already (check out episode 48 of this podcast for more information) and ensure that your bookkeeping and bank reconciliations are up-to-date until June 30th.

Want the rest of your check-in list? You’ll have to listen to the episode!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

Your complete Q2 check-in list to get you ready for the rest of the fiscal year

Why you should schedule a ‘money date’ with yourself and your numbers — and how often you should do it

The expensive consequences that can affect your business when you don’t pay attention to your finances

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:44 Happy holidays!; 02:39 The Business Society; 06:18 Listener shout-outs; 08:22 Check in your numbers regularly; 09:44 What happens when you avoid it; 10:43 Your financial plan; 11:30 Performance assessment; 14:13 Pay yourself; 16:57 Financial goals for the year.

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Business Society Podcast Episode 48 - Creating A Strong And Savvy Financial Plan For Your Business https://www.buzzsprout.com/1358377/8605861

How Do I Pay Myself From My Small Business? https://melissahoustoncpa.lpages.co/how-do-i-pay-myself-from-my-small-business

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me:

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“I didn’t want to pay for anything that I didn’t believe in.”

— Massy Arias

When we’re not enjoying good health, we can’t give our businesses our best. My guest today, Massy Arias, is not only an incredible entrepreneur, but a source of inspiration and information about how to supercharge our health while we watch our bottom lines.

“I started moving and training to cope with depression, and my coping mechanism turned into my career,” Massy explains. “I come from a very unhealthy culture… we don’t speak about mental health even though it’s such an important aspect of health and wellness. Fitness was my last resort.”

Through this DIY treatment for depression came a training career, a supplement and snack line, nutrition plans, ebooks, fitness programs, a popular YouTube channel, and an upcoming app!

During my conversation with Massy, I learned a lot about nutrition, fitness, psychology, unexpected entrepreneurship, and how to build an empire. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to move around after listening — I know I was!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

How Massy built an international empire (with incredible attention to detail)

A basic, healthy meal plan that you can start today

How to safely get back into a healthy routine after a pandemic

About Massy Arias: Massy Arias is a hardcore entrepreneur both in and out of the gym. She is a celebrity fitness mogul and the CEO of Tru Supplements, a simple, complete, and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements that are safe, cutting-edge, and effective.

Highlights:‌ ‌
01:15 Meet Massy Arias;
02:36 Depression treatment to career;
04:21 Digital products;
06:22 Supplements;
09:05 When to use supplements;
12:12 Post-pandemic fitness;
16:50 Nutrition;
18:28 Exercise psychology;
19:26 Building the empire;
23:07 Challenges;
28:05 Financial lessons;
31:55 Takeaway.

‌

Links:‌

Massy Arias

https://www.massyarias.com

https://gettrusupps.com

Instagram: @massy.arias

Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson

https://www.surroundedbyidiots.com/en/books/surrounded-by-idiots

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method:

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? F

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“The art of negotiation is about so much more than dollars.”

— Jen Proctor.

Negotiation is a huge part of doing business successfully, but entrepreneurs aren’t given how-to manuals along with their business licences. Luckily, today’s guest happens to have a ton of experience — and is willing to share some great insights!

Jen Proctor launched her career working with prestigious talent agencies, learning the ins and outs of negotiating (from BOTH sides) before deciding that it was time to launch her own. In 2017, she founded Cultivated Entertainment, her full-service talent booking agency. Over the last year, the agency’s small team executed over 50 projects, including the 72nd Emmy Awards (the first major award ceremony to have a virtual format), The Drew Barrymore Show, and the Obamas’ Dear Class of 2020.

Being able to land and succeed with these huge projects takes stellar negotiating skills. Many people tend to be shortsighted in their negotiations and miss out on non-monetary benefits. “If you’re not open to at least hearing the other side, then it’s never going to work out,” Jen explains. “The way that I really approach things is almost with empathy… that, in turn, gives you a leg up and a little bit of power and a little more understanding.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

Common negotiation issues that may hold you back from getting what you need.

How & why to look beyond the cash in negotiations.

Jen’s top tips for effective negotiation.

About Jen Proctor: Jen Proctor is a new mom, an Emmy-winning producer, CEO and founder of Cultivated Entertainment, a one-of-a-kind full-service talent booking agency. Jen is a behind-the-scenes creative powerhouse, hired by big brands and companies to secure the right talent for any event or project, as a talent booker or talent producer.

Highlights:‌ ‌02:04 Meet Jen Proctor; 02:24 Cultivated Entertainment; 03:50 Service breakdown; 05:38 Common negotiation problems; 08:35 Negotiation stories; 10:11 Negotiation tips; 13:31 Relationship-building; 15:09 Emmy Awards; 18:52 Drew Barrymore; 23:10 Challenges; 00:00 Takeaway.

‌

Links:‌

Jen Proctor

https://www.cultivatedent.com

Instagram: @cultivatedent

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics - https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

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“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

— Melissa Houston

You may have noticed a few changes around the podcast lately. So, let’s talk about it.

The Think Like a CFO podcast is now the Business Society Podcast. I’ll be doing a lot of the same things — talking to incredible entrepreneurs about their businesses, discussing money management and business finances, and offering the same high quality guidance and support — but now the podcast will be part of a new brand and website I’ve created, The Business Society. On this website, you’ll find a blog and a ton of free business resources for entrepreneurs. I hope that you’ll find it helpful and that you’ll share it with other business owners looking for a way to build ease, joy, and confidence into the way they run their businesses!

In this episode, you’ll learn more about The Business Society, but you’ll also learn why your business needs a financial plan. You may have some lofty revenue goals (and I love that for you!) but if you haven’t planned out how you’re going to get there, you aren’t likely to achieve your goals. If you’re on a journey, you won’t be able to get from the starting point to the finish line without a route, right? The same thing goes for your business goals.

I’d love to help you get started on creating a strong and savvy financial plan for your business. So, hit play and let’s get started!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

What makes The Business Society especially valuable for business owners at every stage and size

How to access The Business Society’s free business resources

Why your business absolutely needs a financial plan — and your first steps to creating one

Highlights:‌ 00:44 Introduction; 03:00 Podcast value; 04:05 Listener shout-outs; 06:57 Two episodes a week!; 07:56 The Business Society; 10:34 My vision; 11:21 Why you need a financial plan; 12:09 How to make your financial plan; 13:44 Spending profit & paying yourself; 14:57 Identifying money leaks.

Links:‌ ‌

The Business Society: https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method: https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“No longer is the time where you have to be between 20 and 27 to be an entrepreneur.”

— Jen Cohen

Jen Cohen may have the most stamina and strength of any business owner I’ve talked to yet.

Jen is an eclectic entrepreneur and a top authority in the fitness and wellness space. An app she co-founded, Hot5, was sold to Weight Watchers, she’s worked as a brand strategist for top global companies, and she runs Suprema Fitness, an agency that helps fitness talent to monetize their businesses. Her podcast, Habits & Hustle, shares the stories of successful people, she founded the “Babes For Boobs” charity auction, and she also offers coaching.

Somehow, with all of this going on, she still manages to raise two beautiful children!

“I think honestly I’ve always been an entrepreneurial type,” Jen says. “I don’t love working for anybody. I’ve never been a great corporate employee… that’s part of my DNA.”

Jen is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to building successful businesses, and in this episode we talk about pandemic pivots, money management, success secrets, and hiring the right people.

You’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why entrepreneurship is no longer just for the mid-to-late-20s crowd
• How the fitness industry has survived widespread pandemic lockdowns
• Jen’s top tips for successful entrepreneurship

About Jen Cohen

Jen Cohen is a best-selling author, brand strategist, international speaker, and educator with a specific focus on building healthy habits to drive positive behavioural change. She was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness” by Greatist and is currently ranked #16 of the “Most Impactful Fitness Entrepreneurs” by Web MD. She is the host of the Habits & Hustle podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

02:05 Meet Jen Cohen

03:09 Suprema Fitness

05:29 Pandemic & fitness

09:24 Train with Ryan Lochte

11:11 Habits & Hustle

14:55 Starting older

18:14 Strengths & weaknesses

23:32 Business finances

26:59 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Jen Cohen

https://jennifercohen.com

https://www.facebook.com/therealjencohen

Instagram & Twitter: @therealjencohen

Buy Jen's Book:

Canada: https://amzn.to/3us18ii

US: https://amzn.to/3wFnGgY

Habits & Hustle podcast

https://habitshustle.com

Loch'd In Training

https://lochdintraining.com

The Business Society

https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/per

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“My whole goal in life is to have that connection with people.”

— Tara Stiles

‘Yoga Rebel’ and Strala founder Tara Stiles has inspired millions of people around the world to fall in love with yoga, meditation, and nutrition.

In this episode, she’ll inspire you to stretch your ambitions.

When Tara first got interested in yoga, she wondered why others around her weren’t, and started trying to figure out the misconceptions or fears holding them back. She began talking about yoga more as a way to feel better than as something difficult to be mastered.

Her entrepreneurial journey started with a blog, a studio, and a very early YouTube channel in 2007, back when YouTube was primarily cat videos. She drew from her dance background and offered a freer, less rigid style of yoga — with a sense of humour. As she grew, she developed partnerships, began offering teacher trainings, and eventually licensing the Strala name to other studios.

Now, she has books, an app, and a clothing line, and her instructors lead classes in 15 countries to thousands of people.

Learn how she grew an empire aligned with her values and goals!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Tara transformed her passion for yoga into a wellness business empire
• Why she doesn’t regret turning down venture capital funding — and believes in the power of slowing down
• How to get back into yoga (without feeling intimidated)

About Tara Stiles

Tara Stiles is an American model turned yoga instructor and founder of Strala Yoga in New York City. Stiles grew Strala from one studio based in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City to a studio and training business with currently over 1,000 instructors leading classes in 15 countries regularly to thousands of people weekly. Her latest wellness book is Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self Care.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:18 Meet Tara Stiles

03:50 From passion to business

06:42 Expansion & licensing

10:06 VC money

12:47 Pandemic challenges (& triumphs)

15:56 Community

17:07 Clean Mind, Clean Body

22:06 Writing process

23:51 Takeaway

‌

Links

https://www.tarastiles.com

https://stralayoga.com

Instagram: @tarastiles

Book
CAN: https://amzn.to/3utIgz6

US: https://amzn.to/3oYsJGo

The Business Society

https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

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“I really think that if you’re sharing what you love or you’re sharing something specific and focused, and you keep at it… there’s room for everybody to do something.”

— Naomi Davis

Are there still opportunities for content creators to earn a living?

Naomi Davis is an Instagram influencer, parenthood blogger, and mother of five. Her blog, LoveTaza, reaches millions around the world and she has released a collection of essays titled A Coat of Yellow Paint: Moving Through the Noise to Love the Life You Love.

She’s so influential that she was invited to the White House by Michelle Obama to discuss the Let’s Move initiative!

In this episode, we discuss the possibility of earning an income through content creation — even in a digital space that seems oversaturated.

“Sometimes people get into it thinking like ‘I just have to have all these numbers, I have to have this many eyes, I have to have this many followers or this many likes’ in order to feel like you’re actually making a difference or finding success,” Naomi explains. “I don’t believe that… you can look at an account that has 20 million followers, but what is their engagement like? What is their connection like with their community?”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to find room to create — even when you have five kids running around

• How Naomi grew her blog from obscurity to influencer status

• Naomi’s top tips for emerging content creators

About Naomi Davis

Naomi Davis is an Instagram influencer, parenthood blogger, and mother of five. She is the author of a collection of essays titled A Coat of Yellow Paint: Moving Through the Noise to Love the Life You Love.

Highlights:‌ ‌

02:06 Meet Naomi Davis

03:38 A Coat of Yellow Paint

05:17 Finding time to write

07:30 Growing the blog

10:43 Making a career of content creation

12:05 Naomi’s top tips

13:31 Where to start

15:45 Naomi’s journey

17:15 Monetization

21:06 Validation

23:14 Dealing with sexism

29:20 Playing on your strengths

30:24 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

https://lovetaza.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/LoveTazaLoveTaza

https://www.facebook.com/lovetazalovetaza

Book

Canada: https://amzn.to/2SzgjJ4

US: https://amzn.to/3fqy1ax

Instagram: @taza

Twitter: @lovetaza

The Business Society

https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

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“There are 12 mindsets that are empirically supported to both improve mental health and financial health, because there is actually an intrinsic relationship between the two.”

— Joyce Marter

Joyce Marter is a psychotherapist, entrepreneur, mental health thought leader, and author of The Financial Mindset Fix: A Mental Fitness Program for An Abundant Life. Joyce is a go-to expert on the psychology of success, and my guest on this week’s episode.

Our emotional fitness and how we feel about ourselves has a fascinating effect on our ability to build wealth. “As my clients started making progress in therapy, no matter what we were working on, whether they were presenting for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress… they started getting raises and promotions and earning more money, or starting their own businesses,” Joyce explains. “I realized it’s because our self worth is directly related to how we put ourselves out in the world, in terms of our confidence and our assertiveness, our willingness to access support, and in terms of our mindset about the life that we can create.”

In this episode, Joyce explains the psychology and mindset shifts behind building wealth!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• How our belief systems, emotions, and relationship with money influence our ability to earn it

• The common mindset issues that can hold us back — and how to shift them

• The limiting beliefs that hold back female entrepreneurs in particular

About Joyce Marter

Joyce Marter is a psychotherapist, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the upcoming book The Financial Mindset Fix: A Mental Fitness Program for An Abundant Life.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:25 Meet Joyce Marter

03:43 The Financial Mindset Fix

05:47 Accruing debt

08:25 Transcending fear

11:46 Who is the book for?

13:13 Pandemic wellness

15:50 Common mindset issues

19:10 Mindset & gender

20:52 Negotiation

25:18 Confidence

27:19 Takeaway

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Joyce Marter

https://www.joyce-marter.com

https://www.facebook.com/JoyceMarterLCPC

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycemarter

Instagram: @joyce.marter

Twitter: @joyce_marter

The Financial Mindset Fix: A Mental Fitness Program for An Abundant Life

Canada: https://amzn.to/3fOsnOA

US: https://amzn.to/34rOh4S

The Business Society - https://thebusinesssociety.co

5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Biz Basics

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/biz-finance-basics

The 20 Minute Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/the-20-minute-money-method

Confident Cash

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/confident-cash

Personal Finance Money Method

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/person-finance-money-method

Work with me

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“At 18, you can’t even buy alcohol, but you can take out $50,000 in student loan debt.”

— Tonya Rapley

While we can all agree that higher education is important, it’s crucial that we look at the financial system put in place to help students access it — and the brutal costs that are associated with it.

My guest in this week’s episode is Tonya Rapley, an award-winning speaker, educator, bestselling author, and serial entrepreneur. She co-hosts the TV series Going From Broke, where she helps young debtors go from financial struggle to becoming CEOs of their own lives. She’s also a fantastic financial advisor who runs the website My Fab Finance.

Tonya is passionate about helping people take control of their finances and find the light at the end of the tunnel of debt.

Tune in for a sobering, honest, and informative conversation about the state of student loan and medical debt in the United States, the harmful aspects of these systems, and their impact on average American citizens.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why young people NEED a show like Going From Broke in our current economic climate

• How the American student loan system works — and why the system is morally broken

• Real-life examples of hardships caused by the American health insurance system and medical or student loan debt

About Tonya Rapley

Tonya Rapley is an award-winning content creator, speaker, educator, bestselling author, and businesswoman. She is the co-host of Going From Broke, a TV series on Crackle that is in its second season and executive produced by Ashton Kutcher. On the show, she helps debtors go from financial struggle to becoming CEOs of their own lives. She is the founder of the finance website My Fab Finance.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:44 Meet Tonya Rapley & Going From Broke

05:25 The two types of clients

06:40 Show origins & participants

09:16 Student loan debt

13:33 How US student loans are set up

14:56 Payback & interest

16:47 Inability to make payments

17:37 CARES Act

19:15 Alternatives

20:39 Medical debt

23:37 Health insurance

24:29 Human impacts

26:44 Canadian situation

27:31 Steps to debt freedom

‌

Links:‌ ‌

Tonya Rapley

http://tonyarapley.com

https://myfabfinance.com

https://www.goingfrombroke.info

https://www.crackle.com/watch/5757

Instagram & Twitter: @tonya.rapley

The Money Manual: A Practical Money Guide to Help You Succeed On Your Financial Journey:

CAN:https://amzn.to/3uqFMSo

US: https://amzn.to/34pifXu

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“In that moment with that advisor, I made a decision that I wanted to be wealthy… and I’ve not looked back.”

— Jackie Porter

Jackie Porter may have found her way into finance accidentally — but she quickly realized how powerful it is to understand how money works and how to build wealth.

Now she works to empower other women to become financially literate, take control of their money, and position themselves for a comfortable retirement.

Jackie’s book, Single by Choice or Chance: A Smart Woman’s Guide to Living Longer, Better, was written to help women design life plans that help them achieve not only their financial goals, but their career, relationship, and other personal goals.

It’s a mission that Jackie takes very seriously.

"People feel very intimidated talking about their finances, especially if they don’t feel they did things right or correctly,” Jackie explains. “Maybe they’re going through a divorce and trying to recover their circumstances, or their business isn’t where they want to be... let’s just think about the future you want to create — what do you need to do to get there?”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

The differences between female millennials & boomers when it comes to money and entrepreneurship

The importance of finding your financial tribe & choosing professionals who are a good fit for your account

Questions you should ask your finance professional — and questions they should ask you

About Jackie Porter

Jackie Porter is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner, author, mentor, and speaker with 23 years of experience. She’s helped thousands of clients keep thousands of dollars in their pockets. As the ‘Financial Confidante’, her advice and strategies have appeared in top publications such as Forum, Wealth, Professional, Investment Executive, The Toronto Star, and The Globe & Mail. She shares her advice at conferences, in radio interviews, and on podcasts and television programs, and won the 2019 Wealth Professional Female Trailblazer of the Year award.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:40 Meet Jackie Porter

03:53 Women, finances & typical clients

05:42 Generational differences

06:40 Money, shame & sexism

08:00 Choose the right professional

10:10 Single by Choice or Chance

12:36 Get to know your professional

14:49 Jackie’s products & process

16:46 No savings/pension

18:59 The accidental advisor

25:30 Takeaway

Links:‌

Jackie Porter

https://askjackie.ca

https://www.facebook.com/jackieportercfp

Twitter/Instagram: @jackieportercfp

Single by Choice or Chance: A Smart Woman’s Guide to Living Longer, Better

https://amzn.to/2QYhOQy

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“We all want that freedom. And having a job sometimes kind of interferes with that.”

— Herby Fabius

Herby Fabius didn’t see himself becoming an entrepreneur when he was young, and he still doesn’t think of himself as a writer.

Yet today, Herby is an entrepreneur with two companies, three self-published books, and two side hustles under his belt.

His educational platform, billionsuccess.com, helps entrepreneurs and authors learn how to self-publish and market their own books. The site features interviews with top experts who discuss what they’re doing, what’s working for them, and what’s not working.

When Herby launched the platform, he didn’t see it as part of an entrepreneurial journey — something he now regrets.

“In the beginning, I was treating it as something I do on the side. I treated it as just a blog, right? So I never thought that it could turn into something good,” Herby says. “It goes back to the mindset, right? So, if I thought of it as a business and I ran it as a business, chances are it would have been more successful than it is right now.”

While he may have a point there, Billion Success is still a very impressive business! I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to sit down with Herby — and I think that you’re going to enjoy the discussion!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

The major role that mindset plays in entrepreneurial success

How Herby landed interviews with some of the biggest names in business

The multiple ways that writing a book can benefit your business (and income!)

About Herby Fabius

Herby Fabius is an entrepreneur and self-published author with a passion to share entrepreneurial stories that others can learn from. He believes every entrepreneur has a unique story and it’s important to capture those stories to help the next generation. With his flagship interview platform, billionsuccess.com, he aims to do just that. Over the years, Billion Success has featured some of the top entrepreneurs and authors in the world.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:40 Meet Herby Fabius

03:30 The Billion Success story

05:30 Landing the big names

06:40 The vision for Billion Success

07:50 Course offerings

08:54 Benefits of writing business book

09:45 Herby’s path to entrepreneurship

10:36 Challenges along the way

11:14 Mindset & entrepreneurship

13:20 Do you need to leave your day job?

14:57 Best part of the business

15:30 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Herby Fabius

https://herbyfabius.com

https://billionsuccess.com

https://billionhosting.com

Books:

CAN: https://amzn.to/34lWZSp

US: https://amzn.to/2TiQf5f

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Finance is essentially the lifeblood of a business.”

— Melissa Houston

What the heck are business finances… and why do they matter for my small business?

These are questions that I get all the time from people who think that business finances are only important if you run a large corporation or a billion-dollar business.

In reality, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

This episode will answer the above questions, and hopefully help to underline the importance of understanding, monitoring, recording, and analyzing your numbers on a regular basis — even if your business is just a small team… or even just you alone.

All businesses need a business financial plan.

Your business finances are the way that you manage your money in your business… and 87% of businesses fail due to money mismanagement.

Let’s make sure that your business isn’t one of them!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why you need to pay attention to your numbers outside of tax season — and how they can help you increase profit and improve your operations
• The difference between business finance and corporate finance
• Why you need to take the emotion out of dealing with money

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:17 Canada & seasons

04:26 Money management

05:31 The importance of your business finances

06:31 Where money flows & why

07:14 Profit should be fun!

08:18 Beyond tax season

09:12 Use your numbers as feedback

11:06 Who should be responsible?

13:57 Take the emotion out

15:03 Example: product-based business

16:21 Corporate finance & business structures

18:13 Case study: Jackie

20:20 Cash infusions

21:29 Systems

Links:‌ ‌

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa, Instagram @melissahoustoncpa, and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Rituals do ground us and give us a sense of safety which we all really need right now.”

— Erica Keswin

Best-selling author Erica Keswin didn’t know that COVID-19 was on the horizon when she wrote her book Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines Into Workplace.

But somehow, she managed to tap into a very timely topic for our pandemic era.

Erica’s book dives into the science and psychology behind rituals. She defines a ritual as something that we assign a certain meaning or intention, which happens with repetition (whether daily, weekly, or even yearly), and which goes beyond its practical purpose.

Rituals can help us mark a transition from being “at work” to being “at rest” in a work-from-home situation. They can help us feel a sense of connection to those participating in a ritual with us. And engaging in a ritual can give us a sense of purpose.

While many people think of rituals as things that you do alone, rituals are actually built into workplace practices in all sorts of ways, including onboarding, meetings, and the celebrations of professional milestones.

And you'd be surprised at the benefits that rituals can have for workplaces — yes, even digital ones!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

Why leaders should maintain (or invent) rituals in the pandemic area — and how they help with morale

Why some CEOs are seeing higher employee engagement during lockdown than ever before

The importance of integrating connection and company values into your business rituals

About Erica Keswin

Erica is a workplace strategist, consultant, speaker, and professional dot-connector. She is the bestselling author of Bring Your Human to Work: Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Design a Workplace That’s Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World, and Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines Into Workplace. Her work can be seen in outlets including Harvard Business Review, NY Post, Forbes, O Magazine, and Entrepreneur. She hosts the Left to Our Own Devices podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

01:30 Meet Erica Keswin

02:39 Ritual definition

04:01 The three Ps

05:37 Workplace rituals

08:04 Rituals in a pandemic

09:56 Onboarding while disconnected

12:33 Intentionality & engagement

14:48 LinkedIn InDay

18:44 Turnover costs

20:15 Boundaries

23:49 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Erica Keswin

https://ericakeswin.com

https://ericakeswin.com/podcast

Instagram: @ericakeswin

Twitter: @erica_keswin

https://www.facebook.com/EricaKeswinWorkplaceStrategist

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Erica-Keswin/e/B07C4Z1SDT%3F

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“A lot of it was just being in the right place at the right time. Back in 2009, when backyard chickens got really popular, there wasn’t a lot out there.”

— Lisa Steele

Fresh Eggs Daily started off as a simple blog about raising backyard chickens.

Author Lisa Steele had no plans to monetize it and intended to just use it as an archive.

But over the last 12 years, Lisa has grown it into a dynamic, multifaceted brand that includes a lively presence on all social media platforms, a private label product line, six books, and a television show on NBC in Maine.

Somehow, she still has the time to continue raising her happy and healthy chickens — and to appear as my guest on this episode!

Prior to building her chicken empire, Lisa worked as a corporate accountant and financial controller, so she is very familiar with the importance of understanding your numbers. This knowledge helped her to grow her business more quickly.

“I don’t think a lot of people really understand how to calculate how much money they’re making, if they’re making money. There’s a lot involved,” Lisa says. “It’s not just ‘I sell it for $25 and it cost me $10’... you know, there’s a lot more to it than that if you’re going to run a successful business.”

Tune in for a fascinating discussion about making profit, lean operations, and tips for making a splash on social media!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The first steps Lisa took to monetize her blog
• How Lisa built a global audience organically, without boosting posts or advertising
• Why Lisa got out of a licencing deal and went with a private label

About Lisa Steele

With an audience of nearly a million global followers on social media, fifth-generation chicken keeper Lisa Steele, AKA “The Queen of the Coop”, is the creative force behind Fresh Eggs Daily, the most popular destination for natural poultry keeping advice on the internet. In addition to being an "eggspert", Lisa is also a Maine Master Gardener, avid DIYer, and accomplished "coop to kitchen" cook using fresh eggs from her coop and fresh produce from her garden.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:38 Meet Lisa Steele
• 02:41 Right place, right time
• 04:28 Monetizing
• 06:14 Lisa’s accounting story
• 09:05 Organic growth
• 11:10 Social media tips
• 14:05 Social media benefits
• 15:12 Product line
• 20:36 Know your numbers
• 24:10 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Lisa Steele

https://fresheggsdaily.com

https://www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily

Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest: @fresheggsdaily

https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissahouston/2021/01/28/how-this-entrepreneur-took-her-passion-and-turned-it-into-profit/?sh=3500bc842053

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“It’s really exciting to try new things and grow this business, so I can spread the word and educate more people throughout Canada.”

— Jessica Moorhouse

Millennial money expert, blogger, podcaster, and speaker Jessica Moorhouse is a well-known name in Canadian finance, having been featured in major publications including The Huffington Post, The Globe & Mail, Market Watch, and more.

Jessica serves everyone, but the biggest part of her audience is women in the 20s to 40s. Her Millennial Money Meetup organization teaches financial literacy to young people and her More Money podcast helps listeners save more, earn more, and do more with their money!

Jessica started out without a business plan or business background, beginning with content creation via her blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. Most of her income originally came from brand partnerships — she was an influencer before it was even a thing!

When rumours of an upcoming recession started swirling around, Jessica wanted to avoid relying on advertising dollars and focused on diversifying her offerings in order to recession-proof her business.

Tune in for a great conversation about expanding your offers, modern investing, and how to get past the overwhelm of taking control of your finances.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why financial advisors at your bank aren’t as knowledgeable as you think
• How Jessica diversified her offerings to become recession- (and pandemic-) proof
• Whether digital finance platforms live up to the hype

About Jessica Moorhouse

Jessica Moorhouse is a millennial money expert, accredited financial counsellor, speaker, award-winning personal finance blogger, host of the More Money podcast, and founder of the Millennial Money Meetup. She is often featured in major publications including The Huffington Post, The Globe & Mail, Market Watch, and more.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:18 Meet Jessica Moorhouse
• 03:49 The leap of faith
• 05:00 Business structure & being an early influencer
• 06:52 Expansion & recession-proofing
• 08:53 Online courses
• 10:22 Overwhelm & intimidation
• 12:40 Free info isn’t always best
• 15:52 Common client issues
• 18:36 Societal shift & digital platforms
• 22:38 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Jessica Moorhouse

https://jessicamoorhouse.com

https://jessicamoorhouse.com/podcast

http://millennialmoneymeetup.com

Instagram: @jessicaimoorhouse

Twitter: @jessi_moorhouse

YouTube: youtube.com/c/jessicamoorhouse1

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“That’s what business is. It isn’t black and white. It is colourful — and ALL the colours, good, bad, and ugly!”

— Ellen Bennett

Many of us start our businesses after months (or even years) of preparation.

Others take a “from 0 to 60” approach.

Ellen Bennett is the founder of the Hedley & Bennett apron company, whose fans include Zooey Deschanel, Martha Stewart, David Chang, and Jessica Alba. She’s also the author of Dream First, Details Later: How to Quit Overthinking and Make It Happen.

Ellen started her apron business while working as a line cook at the age of 24. She hated the cheap aprons used in the kitchen and dreamed about better options.

When her head chef announced that he was putting in another apron order, Ellen blurted out “I have an apron company!”

She didn’t. All she had was a great idea and a newly-purchased business licence.

But she wound up landing her first order during that very conversation.

Since then, her business has grown tremendously and now outfits chefs in homes and restaurants around the world.

During her entrepreneurial journey, Ellen faced a lot of challenges, including the Covid-19 related shutdown of the restaurant industry. Tune in to learn how she kept her motivation, how she engages with her numbers, and why you should check out her amazing new book!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Ellen kept an apron business going during the pandemic shutdown of almost all restaurants
• The amazing spending habit Ellen developed in the early stages of her business — and how it helped her grow
• The biggest challenges that Ellen has faced from start-up to scale-up — and how she dealt with them

About Ellen Bennett

As a 24-year-old line cook, Ellen Bennett couldn’t stand the cheap, poorly designed aprons. When her head chef said he was ordering a new batch, she blurted out, “Chef, I have an apron company”—even though she had just a glimmer of an idea and a business license. Through hustle and a willingness to take a leap, she built that first order into the company Hedley & Bennett is today, making aprons and kitchen gear worn by chefs and home cooks everywhere.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:35 The Hedley & Bennett story
• 04:51 Dream First, Details Later
• 09:45 Big challenges
• 12:04 Motivation
• 14:04 Pandemic effect
• 17:45 Spending habit
• 20:23 Childhood & money
• 22:33 Takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

Hedley & Bennett

https://www.hedleyandbennett.com

Dream First, Details Later: How to Quit Overthinking and Make It Happen!

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607064/dream-first-details-later-by-ellen-marie-bennett

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“If we’re just talking about money right now, and it’s making you mildly uncomfortable in any way, shape, or form… that would be a little bit of a spotlight that there’s a money mindset issue afoot.”

— Amber Lilyestrom

My guest for this episode, Amber Lilyestrom, is the author of multiple books on building wealth and healing your money mindset.

“If there are certain people that you don’t want to talk about money with, if you hold back in communicating about money, if you dread the tax time of the year, if you are putting off looking at your spreadsheets and your numbers, if you don’t log into your bank account regularly, and you don’t know what’s going on there, those would be some highlights that there’s an opportunity for some growth and expansion as it relates to the money mindset,” Amber says.

And she is absolutely right.

Just as we should always be on top of what’s going on with our physical health, we should pay equally close attention to what’s happening with our financial health.

Catching problems early makes all the difference!

But many people are just as anxious about dealing with money issues as they are about dealing with health issues.

People, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, tend to associate their financial numbers with their own self worth, rather than seeing them as neutral data and feedback.

“Wifi is a tool that helps us to do our business just like money is a tool,” explains Amber. “Did you wake up this morning and worry about whether or not your wifi was going to provide you with a great connection to do your job? Were you valuing yourself based on the magnitude of your wifi?”

Let’s make 2021 the year you shift your money mindset!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why debt isn’t actually a bad thing (you read that right)
• How to accept all of yourself — mistakes and all
• Why you shouldn’t get stressed about honest tax mistakes

About Amber Lilyestrom

Amber Lilyestrom is a branding strategist, coach, author, and speaker. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Working Mother magazine, and she’s appeared on top-rated podcasts. Amber helps entrepreneurs and CEOs align their purpose with their profit, and position themselves as sought-after experts and thought leaders.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:37 Meet Amber Lilyestrom
• 03:27 Money mindset issues
• 04:33 Know your numbers
• 06:34 Money & self worth
• 08:13 Debt
• 13:59 Accept yourself
• 15:51 Money & childhood
• 18:31 Tax mistakes
• 21:15 Gratitude
• 22:00 Objections
• 26:32 Safety
• 28:27 Your dreams

Links:‌ ‌

Amber Lilyestrom

• https://www.amberlilyestrom.com
• https://www.amberlilyestrom.com/podcast
• https://www.amberlilyestrom.com/shop
• Instagram: @amberlilyestrom

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Knowing about your money is the ultimate form of self care.”

— Farnoosh Torabi

I’m so excited about my guest for this episode! Farnoosh Torabi is a leading personal finance authority and the author of three books on personal finance and mindset.

Her latest book, When She Makes More: 10 Rules for Breadwinning Women, is about the new rules for love and life, and gives top-earning women the strategies, tools, and mindset to really be empowered in the role and stop it from getting in the way of their relationships.

More women than ever find themselves in the position of being the higher earner in their relationship.

Unfortunately, social beliefs about women and money haven’t caught up to this reality.

A 2020 UBS survey of over 1800 married couples found that OVER HALF of the women still let male spouses handle all long-term financial and investment decisions, and a recent Pew study found that many still believe that the breadwinner should be a man’s role.

While we want and expect gender equality in society, there’s still a huge gap between our progressive values and our outdated social conditioning!

Listen in to discover:‌ ‌

• How and when we are conditioned to believe that women are “bad with money” — and the consequences of this belief
• How to raise children who are comfortable dealing with money
• Farnoosh’s advice for women who defer to their spouses regarding financial decisions

About Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh is a leading personal finance authority and the author of three books on personal finance and mindset. She has made multiple television appearances and written for top magazines including Glamour and Marie Claire. She is a contributing editor for O, The Oprah Magazine and creator of the award-winning So Money podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:59 Meet Farnoosh Torabi & Pays to Podcast
• 04:47 When She Makes More book
• 07:34 The she-cession
• 10:26 Superwomen & support
• 11:48 Stay-at-home parent pay
• 14:27 2020 UBS report
• 17:03 Mindset issues & consequences
• 18:49 Reality check & solutions
• 23:59 Date-onomics
• 26:40 Pride & motivation
• 28:30 Dinner table money talk
• 31:00 Advice for partnered women

Links:‌ ‌

https://farnoosh.tv

Twitter: @farnoosh

Instagram: @farnooshtorabi

So Money podcast

https://podcast.farnoosh.tv

Books

https://farnoosh.tv/books/when-she-makes-more

https://farnoosh.tv/books/other-books

2020 UBS Own Your Worth report
https://advisors.ubs.com/fwmgsarasota/mediahandler/media/323256/own-your-worth-report-2020.pdf

Date-onomics: How Dating Became a Lopsided Numbers Game by Jon Birger
https://jonbirger.com/books/date-onomics-how-dating-became-a-lopsided-numbers-game

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me
https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Check out thebusinesssociety.co for more resources for business owners.

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pint

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“Money is an emotionally charged topic, and the majority of people react to money in a very emotional way.”

— Melissa Houston

When you let negative emotions influence the way that you engage with money, it can mean disaster for your business.

Many business owners won’t look at their numbers, because they’re afraid that they’re failing or that they’re not making as much as they should be. Rather than risk validating those feelings, they ignore their numbers and try to sweep those emotions under the rug. As long as they have revenue coming in, they assume they’re okay — but revenue does not equal profit!

When you manage your finances and know your numbers, you know the cycle of cash flow in your business. You can anticipate when your revenue will increase or decrease, and be able to plan for it. Financial control feels a lot better than worry or uncertainty — and financial intelligence is the basis for growing wealth!

Many of my clients also feel shame when it comes to money because they’ve made financial mistakes in their businesses. I’d like to tell you something: every single entrepreneur has made poor financial decisions when growing their business. Every single one. It’s time to let go of yours and stop judging yourself for them.

Try approaching your mistakes from a place of gratitude, rather than shame. Look at them as opportunities for growth. What separates the winners from the losers is that the winners will learn from their mistakes and not let their mistakes define them. The losers just quit. If you’re listening to this podcast, I KNOW that you are a winner.

When it comes down to it, all entrepreneurs are just hustlers and we battle through the bad times and we keep going. As you get more successful, you’re going to have bigger goals, likely make bigger mistakes, and keep learning lessons along the way.

Mistakes aren’t moral failings. They are data you can use to improve. Taking the emotion out of your failures is going to make all the difference!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The most common emotions surrounding money and how they affect us
• Where our emotions about money come from — and why we need to learn how to let go of them
• Why generational wealth and generation poverty keep getting passed down

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:35 Listener shout-out
• 03:55 Today’s topic
• 04:34 ‌Overcome your fear of numbers
• 05:28 Forgive your money mistakes
• 06:46 Look for the lesson
• 07:41 Mistakes are inevitable
• 09:13 Take emotion out of failure
• 09:42 Take the emotion out of money
• 10:58 Where money beliefs originate
• 15:17 Most common money emotions
• 17:47 Money cycles
• 19:19 How we approach money
• 23:48 Free training

Links:‌ ‌

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“It really wasn’t the industry, it was the owner that made the difference… I patterned myself on the successful people that I saw.”

— Cody Loughlin

It’s a fact: schools fail to give students the tools they need to understand their finances.

But Cody Loughlin is on a mission to change young people’s financial trajectory through education. His Money Talkers podcast helps parents learn how to talk to their kids about money — and better understand money themselves.

The knowledge he’s teaching has been hard earned.

Cody is a serial entrepreneur who has started 14 businesses. He’s gone from the incredible high of being a millionaire with 30 employees at the age of 27... to the lows of losing it all over the course of six months and being over $500k in debt at the age of 28.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but a necessary lesson.

Cody knew that he was bad at running a business and needed a better understanding of how to deal with business finances... so he took what he saw as the logical next step.

He became a banker.

He began learning from other businesses in that role, working with as many as he possibly could in order to figure out what they were doing right. And he used that knowledge to go on to build successful businesses of his own.

“Businesses don’t have problems — people do,” Cody says. “We need to remember that, because it can ruin you.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Cody’s million-dollar failure story — and the biggest lessons he learned from it
• The business-owner game-changer that Cody learned while working as a banker
• Cody’s #1 tip for entrepreneurs in the 5-figure to low-7-figure realm

About Cody Loughlin

Cody Loughlin is a serial entrepreneur who started to learn finance at the age of 19. He was a millionaire by age 27 and bankrupt at the age of 28. He took an early retirement at age 39 to pursue his passion of teaching financial literacy, successful mindset, and entrepreneurship that the schools refuse to teach. After spending 20 years in finance and opening 14 businesses, Cody discovered the secrets to being financially free. He is the host of the Money Talkers podcast.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:40 Meet Cody Loughlin & the Money Talkers
• 04:30 Cody’s businesses
• 05:38 The leap of faith & lessons
• 06:53 Cody’s $1 million failure
• 12:13 Career shift
• 13:17 The game-changer
• 15:34 Build to weather the storm
• 18:07 Never done learning
• 19:30 F.I.R.E.
• 21:05 The numbers behind the ideas
• 22:08 Stay on top of your PnLs
• 24:44 Don’t waste time on the wrong things
• 26:23 Cody’s #1 tip

‌Links:‌ ‌

Cody Loughlin

Instagram: @codyloughlin

Twitter: @LoughlinCody

The Money Talkers podcast

https://themoneytalkers.com/optin33124205

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Almost 2000 women-owned businesses per day are starting right now.”

— Rebecca Minkoff

‘Fearless’ isn’t just the title of Rebecca Minkoff’s book — it’s her approach to life.

Rebecca moved to NYC at 18 to pursue her passion for fashion. Just a few years later, her reimagined ‘I Love NY’ t-shirt appeared on The Tonight Show and her first handbag, the Morning After Bag, started her career as a handbag designer.

Despite this initial spark, Rebecca still had trouble securing the loans she needed to grow. While she eventually did a small raise through a private equity firm, she doesn’t regret avoiding venture capital early on.

“I always tell people who are starting out, please don’t rush into raising money,” Rebecca explains. “Because you are selling a huge piece of your pie for no more control, and you’re dealing with people who want an exit in seven years. And sometimes businesses aren’t ready for an exit in seven years.”

Rebecca is not only a talented designer, she’s also the creator of the Female Founder Collective, a membership community and platform that allows female business owners to connect and share wisdom, tools, and resources.

In a landscape where female-led businesses are multiplying rapidly, it’s more important than ever for women to become comfortable talking and strategizing about their finances!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How #SmallUnites and the Female Founder Collective are helping to empower business owners
• What Rebecca had to do to survive the 2008 recession — and why it worked
• Why more women need to start talking about money the way we talk about our relationships

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:11 Meet Rebecca Minkoff
• 04:09 Raising money
• 07:01 Female Founder Collective
• 08:39 Talking about finances
• 10:56 Growth or profitability?
• 11:40 She-cession & #SmallUnites
• 14:12 Advice for new start-ups
• 15:54 The 2008 recession
• 17:42 Being Fearless
• 20:43 Near disaster
• 23:15 Takeaway

About Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff is an industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear, and apparel. Her modern bohemian designs are inspired by strong, confident, and powerful women who embody the effortless, free-spirited lifestyle. She is the author of Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.

Links:‌ ‌

Rebecca Minkoff

https://www.rebeccaminkoff.com

Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success

Canada: https://amzn.to/3fW96em

US: https://amzn.to/3fq84rG

Female Founder Collective

https://www.femalefoundercollective.com

SmallUnites

https://smallunites.org

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Your empire is yours. It is real, it is legitimate, it is meaningful, it is incredible — no matter how big or small it is, no matter if you’re doing it part-time or full-time.”

— Ali Kriegsman

As business owners, we’re building our own empires. What can we do to make the road easier for ourselves?

My guest today is Ali Kriegsman, author of How to Build a Goddamn Empire: Advice on Creating Your Brand with High-Tech Smarts, Elbow Grease, Infinite Hustle, and a Whole Lotta Heart.

Ali interviewed 30 female entrepreneurs with businesses of all sizes and stages, who candidly share their missteps and triumphs.

In the early stages, many people resist calling themselves founders or entrepreneurs — especially women. But downplaying your business keeps you from making connections that could help you scale more quickly!

“When someone is being small and shrinky and quiet about their business, it’s because they feel like it’s not far along enough yet,” Ali explains, “Little do they know that it’s only going to go further once they start talking about it.”

Once Ali started promoting her own business, she was able to develop relationships with early-stage investors and the real estate broker who helped her secure her first location!

Building your network early on is crucial. As Ali says, “You actually never know who the key to your opportunity is.” Someone who doesn’t seem important to your business now may be in a different position in two years!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Ali’s top advice for entrepreneurs working on building up their businesses
• How failures can be our greatest teachers — and the early missteps Ali values most
• Why building a solid network should be your priority — and how it’s one of the few shortcuts to success

About Ali Kriegsman

Ali Kriegsman is the co-founder and COO at Bulletin, a venture-backed B2B wholesale marketplace. She was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient and one of "The Most Creative People in Business" by Fast Company. She is the author of How to Build a Goddamn Empire: Advice on Creating Your Brand with High-Tech Smarts, Elbow Grease, Infinite Hustle, and a Whole Lotta Heart.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:06 Meet Ali Kriegsman
• 02:53 The Bulletin story
• 04:45 Learning from failure
• 07:00 How to Build a Goddamn Empire
• 08:48 Own your entrepreneurship out loud
• 11:30 Shortcut to success
• 16:10 Examples of failure
• 19:33 Ali’s advice
• 21:24 Managing finances
• 23:25 Takeaway
• 25:52 Preorder the book!

Links:‌ ‌

Ali Kriegsman

https://alikriegsman.com

https://bulletin.co

Instagram: @alikriegs

How to Build a Goddamn Empire

Canada: https://amzn.to/3fsQaER
US: https://amzn.to/3fOODIi

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“You need to have the relationship and connection piece. But without the authority, you’re not their go-to… authority plus relationship, that’s what makes you top of mind.”

— Jaclyn Mellone

Do you ever dream about becoming a respected, go-to expert in your industry?

My guest for this episode is Jaclyn Mellone, a coach who helps entrepreneurs establish reputations as thought leaders through building their authority.

The truth is that becoming a go-to person is about more than just building relationships. You need to establish a level of authority in order to be the expert, vendor, or service-provider people quickly turn to.

“The people who are getting featured in Forbes, the people who we’re seeing on TV, the people that are selling the most courses online (spoiler alert!) are not necessarily the best at what they do,” Jaclyn explains. “Just because they are seen as the authority on that topic, it’s not like there was this committee meeting where people were evaluated!”

Building authority is not about getting better — it’s about getting seen. People grow to trust experts when they see others trust them.

It’s also about proving that you’re capable of understanding the needs of your specific audience — the more targeted the niche, the easier it is to be positioned as an authority.

Building authority not only keeps you top of mind when people are looking to work with someone in your industry — it’ll also make them more willing to pay what you’re charging!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The A.R.M.O.R. framework for building authority and relationships, creating the right offer and mindset, and choosing the right opportunities
• The professional benefits you’ll enjoy once you’ve established yourself as an authority
• The mindset issues female entrepreneurs struggle with when it comes to pricing — and how to shift your beliefs

About Jaclyn Mellone

Jaclyn Mellone helps experts exponentially grow their business by becoming the Go-To Authority in their space. She is a coach, strategist, keynote speaker, mama, guac lover, and the host of the Go-To Gal podcast, a top 60 marketing podcast on iTunes.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:58 Meet Jaclyn Mellone
• 03:09 Building authority
• 05:20 It’s not about being the best
• 08:35 The A.R.M.O.R. framework
• 14:24 Non-linear, continual process
• 15:23 The benefits of authority
• 16:44 Coaching case study
• 20:13 Women’s money mindset issues
• 23:41 Earn without guilt
• 25:14 What motivates Jaclyn
• 27:15 Final takeaway
• 28:47 Work with Jaclyn

Links:‌ ‌

Jaclyn Mellone / The Go-To Gal Podcast

https://jaclynmellone.com

30 Days of Authority Building Action Plan

https://jaclynmellone.com/plan

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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When I launched this podcast 6 months ago, I was nervous about putting myself out there every week in front of an audience.

But I knew that I had the knowledge and expertise that would help other entrepreneurs become more comfortable with their numbers and access the financial information that they needed in order to build successful (and profitable) businesses.

Today’s topic is an important one. In fact, it’s a topic that affects every entrepreneur and business owner.

Tax season.

That’s right, it’s that time of year again!

It’s true that filing taxes as an entrepreneur, business owner, or corporation can be extremely intimidating, but don’t worry. I’m here to help guide you through the red tape and weeds!

The easiest way to make it through tax season without a scratch is to be prepared ahead of time.

You don’t need an elaborate accounting system as a small business, but you do need a system to monitor your progress against your financial goals and track your cash flow.

When you make business decisions without having all of the financial facts at hand, you put your business at risk.

If you don’t understand your numbers, you’re missing out on key opportunities to not only grow your business, but to fix any issues that are costing you money — as well as avoid winding up with an extra large headache or unpleasant surprise when filing your taxes!

From avoiding tax instalment shocks to properly preparing your documents to anticipating deadlines, this episode is all about reducing your tax season stress.

Just breathe — I promise you can do this!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Why you definitely need a system to track your finances, no matter which stage your business is in
• How to avoid getting caught in the tax instalment trap and owing far more than you expect
• My top To Dos for making tax season as painless and simple as possible — plus 2 Don’ts!

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:41 Listener shout-outs
• 03:01 Accountants
• 05:17 Can you DIY?
• 07:19 Data is feedback
• 08:11 When to get started
• 08:52 The language of business
• 09:43 The tax instalment trap
• 12:51 Top tips for a smooth tax season
• 19:06 Be proactive!
• 20:35 2 don’ts for tax season
• 23:00 Recap

Links:

COVID-19 Tax Info:

Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html

U.S.: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/online-tax-calendar

Business tax deductions

Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/business-expenses.html

U.S.: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/deducting-business-expenses

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahou

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If you run a product-based business, this episode is for you!

Through The Product Boss brand and podcast, Minna Khounlo-Sithep and Jacqueline Snyder help product-based entrepreneurs improve their systems, grow visibility, and make more sales!

They launched their company 3 years ago after noticing that while there were plenty of resources out there for service-based brands, a gap existed when it came to product-based businesses.

Business owners who sell physical products deal with unique obstacles.

Many are unsure of how to approach marketing, believing that high follower counts on social media automatically lead to increased sales.

The pair help their clients and listeners adjust their strategies, focusing on email lists and relationship-building rather than just collecting followers. They also help them price their products, choose which products to focus on (and which to drop), and develop systems to help them save time and scale up.

While they want their clients and listeners to have profitable businesses, mindset issues can get in the way.

“There’s a little bit of guilt sometimes when makers are making something and then they start charging for it,” Jacqueline says. “We don’t believe that they should have any guilt, because they’re putting their time towards it.”

Often, clients resist making moves to boost profitability.

“We start with looking at the numbers, because the numbers are a clear indicator of what the products are that they need to lean into,” Minna says. “When they’re not confident with numbers, they just don’t want to even be aware of them.”

Now is your chance to learn from the masters of product-based business! In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How to narrow your product range to focus only on the items that offer the best balance of profit and ease — and the amazing growth that can follow
• The 3 biggest mistakes that product-based business owners make
• When you need to focus on stabilizing, rather than scaling

About The Product Boss

Minna Khounlo-Sithep and Jacqueline Snyder are the masterminds behind The Product Boss coaching platform and podcast. They help their community of high-achieving small business owners scale through masterminds, group coaching, and courses designed for product-based business owners.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:06 Meet Minna Khounlo-Sithep & Jacqueline Snyder
• 05:07 Common obstacles
• 07:22 Profitability
• 09:39 The right product(s)
• 12:26 Case study
• 14:14 Resistance
• 17:39 Numbers are feedback
• 20:08 3 biggest business mistakes
• 23:09 The Oprah effect
• 26:10 Shop 1 in 5 pledge
• 29:12 Final takeaway

Links:‌ ‌

The Product Boss

https://www.theproductboss.com

https://linktr.ee/theproductbosspodcast

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“I really wanted to make a living doing what I loved.”

— Dr. Emily Morse

Sex educator, podcast and radio host, YouTuber, columnist, talk show guest, and best-selling author Dr. Emily Morse not only changed the way that people think and talk about sex. She’s also created her own media empire.

In the early days of podcasting when people were still trying to figure out monetization, Emily was a pioneer.

“Advertising in podcasting was still a really unknown medium. I felt like I was an influencer before there was the word ‘influencer,’ because I started talking about toys that I liked,” Emily explains. “One of the bonuses was that, while I wasn’t making money, I was getting a lot of free sex toys and products!”

When the sales for a particular toy Emily mentioned rose by 40% within a single day, the company took notice and reached out to work with her.

Emily began to build her business — and her income — through sponsorships.

Both money and sex are controversial, taboo topics that generate a lot of discomfort. In fact, many people avoid talking about either!

“If you think about money and sex, we just are so shameful and society doesn’t encourage us to have healthy conversations around it,” Emily says. “Both of those topics are shrouded in mystery and we think that it’s just not polite or it’s disrespectful to talk about it.”

Her work, like mine, is devoted to opening up space for uncomfortable topics. So strap yourself in, press play, and get ready for a fascinating conversation!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The 3 Ts that will help you have healthy and productive conversations about anything
• The driving force behind Emily’s incredible and influential career — and the struggles she faced along the way
• The most common questions about sex that Emily receives from her audience

About Dr. Emily Morse

Emily Morse has been on a mission to liberate the conversation about sex and pleasure for 15 years. Emily is the best-selling author of Hot Sex: Over 200 Things You Can Try Tonight, a MasterClass instructor on Sex and Communication, a SiriusXM radio host, and the executive producer and host of the #1 Sexuality podcast on iTunes, Sex With Emily.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:18 Meet Emily Morse
• 03:11 Podcasting pioneer
• 05:32 Early struggles
• 09:25 Taboo topics & the 3 Ts
• 11:41 Financial transparency in relationships
• 12:59 Financial education is power
• 14:55 Most common sex questions
• 17:24 Societal attitudes toward sex
• 19:19 How did her parents feel?
• 20:22 Emily’s advice for entrepreneurs
• 24:30 One final takeaway

‌Links:‌ ‌

Sex With Emily

https://sexwithemily.com

Instagram: @sexwithemily

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Back in 2012, I was trying to figure out: can I do this online internet thing?... Frankly, I thought you had to be slimy and scammy to make money online.”

— John Lee Dumas

To say that John Lee Dumas cracked the code when it comes to podcasting would be an understatement. His award-winning podcast and brand Entrepreneurs on Fire earns him a 7-figure income!

With numbers like that, it’s all the more crucial to stay on top of your finances.

Unfortunately, John says, this is something too few entrepreneurs put enough effort into.

“Entrepreneurs work SO hard. They’re such hard workers. And they’re working hard in the right areas, but they’re coming up short,” he says. “When you just don’t do the financial side of your business correctly, it’s almost like all of your work is… it’s not less meaningful, by any stretch, but it’s less profitable.”

The unhappy reality is that you can very easily earn high annual revenue... and still have an unprofitable business.

Many entrepreneurs shortchange themselves by thousands — or even tens of thousands — of dollars per year, through neglecting to recognize and fix the financial leaks draining their profitability.

Chapter 17 of John’s new book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment, spells out his powerful advice for other entrepreneurs:

Keep the money you make.

You have to love that!

Find your pre-order link for John’s book in the Links section below!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The #1 reason why entrepreneurs fail to achieve success — and how to fix it
• How John managed to cut down his work schedule to just a handful of days per month
• Why 10 common questions led John on the journey to a book launch

About John Lee Dumas

John Lee Dumas has interviewed over 3,000 incredible entrepreneurs on his award-winning Entrepreneurs On Fire podcast, including Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Barbara Corcoran. He’s the author of The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment. His website offers courses and resources for entrepreneurs.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:00 Meet John Lee Dumas
• 02:00 Sharing financial info
• 03:01 Finance skills
• 03:39 Do entrepreneurs pay enough attention?
• 04:39 More than revenue
• 05:30 Motivation & scheduling
• 08:09 Authorship journey
• 10:37 “Keep the money you make”
• 11:25 Book contributors
• 12:02 #1 reason for failure
• 13:14 Final words
• 14:52 Giveaway

Links:‌ ‌

John Lee Dumas / Entrepreneurs on Fire

https://www.eofire.com

The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment by John Lee Dumas

https://uncommonsuccessbook.com

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Accountants are there to offer strategic advice as well, because they’re strategic thinkers… they can give you feedback on pretty much anything.”

— Melissa Houston

When you’re busy trying to build your business, the last thing you need to do is get too caught up in the numbers.

While I absolutely believe that ALL business owners should know their numbers and be familiar with their balance sheets, I also believe that business owners should focus on their zones of genius and let the deeper tracking and calculations be handled by professionals.

Knowing your numbers is important, but chances are you are not a trained accountant or bookkeeper — and the skills and knowledge of these professionals can make a huge difference in helping your business run smoothly.

In this episode, I explain the specific roles of bookkeepers, accountants, and tax accountants — when you need them, what they dor, and how to best take advantage of the services they offer.

Financial professionals keep you in line as you grow your business. Having someone beside you to guide you into making informed financial decisions is priceless.

I’ve found that many of my clients are unsure about the differences between these professions, and that is totally okay! After listening to this episode, you’ll know everything you need to know in order to determine which options are right for your business — and how to hire the best fit.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• What a virtual CFO does and whether this option makes sense for your business
• The difference between regular accountants and tax accountants — and whether you need to work with both
• My best tips for finding and hiring a great tax accountant — and what you need to keep in mind

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:25 What does a bookkeeper do?
• 02:34 How often should you work with your accountant?
• 03:03 Virtual CFOs
• 04:02 Setting your budget
• 06:25 Certified Professional Accountant qualifications
• 08:12 Why use a tax accountant?
• 10:09 The benefits of using a tax accountant
• 11:45 Finding & hiring a good tax accountant
• 16:55 Benefits recap
• 19:31 Fee structures

Links:‌ ‌

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest

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“What you bring to the table in your business is exactly what you would bring to the table in your book.”

— Jenna Kalinsky

Have you ever thought about writing a book?

Entrepreneurs have been writing and publishing more books than ever, and with good reason — writing a book can cement your reputation as a respected expert.

This can have many tangible benefits. If the book is good, you’ll immediately boost your credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. This can lead to speaking opportunities, the chance to land your own column, and an enhanced ability to land more (and more influential) clients.

My guest for this episode, Jenna Kalinsky, is a published author and book editor. She helps entrepreneurs translate their most brilliant business ideas into well-organized, readable books.

Jenna believes in the amazing power of the written (and published) word.

“The minute you tell people you’ve written a book and you’re a published author, they look at you differently,” Jenna says. “It’s not easy to write a book, but when you make the time and take the effort in order to do it and do a good job of it, it’s the kind of thing that outlasts your daily work… and having a book 100% enhances everything you do.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• What will make you stand out in a marketplace full of books by other entrepreneurs
• The positives and negatives of the traditional, independent, and self-publishing options — and how to decide what will work best for you
• How to deal with the vulnerability of putting your words out into the world

About Jenna Kalinsky

Jenna Kalinsky is the founder of One Lit Place, full-service writers' centre that provides writing, coaching, and copy editing services, online writing courses, and a secure online Writers Lounge where writers meet, chat, and share ideas at any time, and from anywhere. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have been published in books and magazines.

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:35 Introducing Jenna Kalinsky
• 04:29 Entrepreneurship & authorship
• 07:03 What sets you apart?
• 09:23 Dealing with vulnerability
• 11:44 Why you need an editor
• 14:47 How to write a book in 4 months
• 18:31 Self-publishing v. traditional v. independent
• 21:43 Working with Jenna
• 23:59 What makes a good business book?
• 25:03 Jenna’s most valuable tip

Links:‌ ‌

One Lit Place

https://onelitplace.com

contact@onelitplace.com

647.812.6107

Business book planning worksheet
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v0d7t5

Business Book - 4 Months
https://onelitplace.com/write-self-development-business-book-4-months/

Business Book Weekly Program
https://onelitplace.com/product/write-business-self-development-book-4-months-weekly-program/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Most people feel a lot of shame and embarrassment around carrying debt… and instead of asking for help, they stew in that shame and embarrassment and the situation just worsens.”

— Melissa Houston

In this episode, I’m sharing a very personal story.

I’m a financial expert and a CPA, and have been for over 20 years. I write two columns on how to deal with your finances. I work with numbers every day. If anyone should have a grasp on how to maintain healthy finances, it should be me.

Yet, I wound up $100,000 in debt over the course of just 12 months.

I am here to tell you: it can happen to anyone.

And until you understand the reasons behind your spending, it will be difficult to pull yourself out of that hole.

Carrying debt holds a lot of stigma, despite the fact that so many people do. In fact, debt levels today are higher than they’ve ever been — and continue to increase!

People are afraid to talk about it, and don’t want to admit that they don’t truly understand their finances and that they need help. Of course, this only makes the problem worse.

I’m sharing my story because if it can help even one listener feel less ashamed and alone in their struggle, and help them gather the strength they need to climb out of debt, then that is worth more than anything to me.

When you’re set up for financial success, not only are you on your way to making a million bucks, but you’ll feel like a million bucks, too!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Where and when we learn our beliefs and emotional responses to money
• The reasons behind my 12-month fall into $100,000 debt — and how spending didn’t lead to real happiness
• The psychological benefits of uncovering and living your true purpose

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:22 Why I’m telling my story
• 02:21 Why do we carry so much debt?
• 03:59 How I fell into debt
• 07:41 Facing the consequences
• 10:07 Discovering the “why” — and fixing it
• 13:07 Live your true purpose
• 18:29 Money is emotionally charged
• 19:57 I understand what it’s like

Links:‌ ‌

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“A bookkeeper is the first line of a company’s finance team.”

— Melissa Houston

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: how do I find the right bookkeeper for my business?

Another common question: what exactly will having a bookkeeper DO for my business?

Many entrepreneurs make the decision to keep their books themselves, but I believe that working with a skilled bookkeeper is invaluable — particularly as you grow and scale.

Business owners often hesitate to take on the expense of hiring a bookkeeper, but the truth is that having accurate, well-kept books will SAVE you money at the end of the year.

If your books are incomplete, inaccurate, or disorganized, your tax accountant will need to spend time fixing your numbers.

Let me tell you, these corrections will cost you far more money than paying a skilled bookkeeper would!

Not only are you paying a tax accountant their expensive hourly fee to correct these errors, but it takes much longer to repair your books than it would to input your numbers accurately the first time.

Bookkeepers have the knowledge of how each transaction should be recorded and understand the generally accepted accounting principles (also known as GAAP).

Skilled bookkeepers know how to deal with industry-specific transactions. Remember, this is their zone of genius, and having them take care of the numbers allows you to focus on your own zone of genius — building up your business!

Finding a great bookkeeper is a challenge, but in this episode I share all the information you need to make the right choice for your business!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• Questions to ask yourself before you look for a bookkeeper— and questions to ask them during the hiring process
• What to keep in mind when deciding whether to hire a self-employed bookkeeper or work with a bookkeeping firm
• How to set key dates, organize timelines, and communicate expectations clearly

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:29 The cost of bookkeeper errors
• 02:49 Keep an audit trail
• 03:27 Why hire a bookkeeper?
• 05:11 Sound you DIY?
• 05:32 Hire your perfect bookkeeper
• 07:38 Key dates
• 08:13 Top hiring tips
• 09:29 The power of referrals
• 10:53 The interview process & your requirements
• 12:56 Service example
• 14:13 Communicating expectations
• 15:48 How are you protected?
• 16:27 Bookkeeper pricing
• 16:51 Final thoughts

‌

Links:‌ ‌

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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Are you a boomer in the process of selling your home? Or a family member helping an elderly parent downsize and transition into a new chapter of their life?

Then this episode is for you!

My guest Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of The Boomer's 7‑Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.

50% of Vivien’s business today is the boomer and senior market. As a highly-trained transition specialist, she understands that most of her clients are fearful of change — and aren't sure where or how to begin.

Luckily, Vivien has literally written the book on this!

Houses owned by people aged 55+ often have special needs in terms of decluttering. The family home is often overwhelmed by clutter, with basements and offices being particular hot spots. Old clothing, children’s toys, and paperwork are just a few of the things that tend to build up, and this type of clutter makes it a lot harder to impress prospective buyers.

Often, these homes could also use a refresh in terms of flooring, fixtures, or cabinets, if the owners haven’t already updated it. (This can greatly affect a home’s value and ability to sell at its asking price.)

There are three different levels of staging to choose from when preparing for viewings, and the level chosen can have a big effect on the home’s perceived value.

If you’re interested in learning more about pricing, marketing, and showing your home (as well as what fees to budget for), Vivien is sharing everything you need to know!

In this episode, we’ll also explore:

• The 3 different types of staging & how much value staging your home can potentially add to a sale
• The current state of real estate in the pandemic era — what is hot and what isn’t
• Whether spring is still the best time to list your home for sale

About Vivien Sharon

Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of the free e-book The Boomer's 7‑Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life.

Highlights:

• 00:43 Introducing Vivien Sharon
• 03:23 Downsizing when 55+
• 06:03 First steps
• 07:53 Senior real estate specialization
• 10:31 To stage or not to stage?
• 14:28 The current state of the market
• 17:01 Breaking down decluttering
• 18:33 Navigating the fear of change
• 20:44 The importance of pricing & marketing
• 23:56 Costs to expect
• 24:55 How many months of lead time needed?
• 26:04 The best time to list a home
• 27:05 Vivien’s experience
• 30:28 Vivien’s big takeaway

Links:

Vivien Sharon
https://www.viviensharon.com

The Boomer's 7‑Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom
https://www.viviensharon.com/book

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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Increasing your revenue is great, but it shouldn’t be your only goal. Not by a long shot!

Planning ahead and finding ways to reduce expenses are just as important.

My guest Eowyn Levene is a money coach and the host of the Creatives Do Money podcast. She’s found that many of her clients come to her with the idea that her coaching is all about helping them make more money.

They soon realize that business finances are about so much more than increasing revenue.

Often, they can tap into unexpected levels of financial freedom — without earning a single dollar more in revenue!

It’s so important to figure out how to manage your finances at the beginning of your business journey, because guess what? Money problems scale. Doubling your revenue won’t solve your budgeting issues. You may find that, as you grow, so do your money leaks. This means that you’ll be making far less profit than you think!

So, how do we spend less money?

Many businesses go overboard with marketing expenses, targeting too large an audience rather than honing in on their ideal targets. Remember, there are a lot of ways that you can market your business without spending a lot of money!

Start-up costs are another issue that pops up as we embark upon our entrepreneurial journey. Many entrepreneurs tend to rack up credit card debt investing in different platforms, programs, leases, coaches, subscriptions, or supplies.

Seductive marketing messages can convince us that we absolutely need the latest workshop, incubator, or technology to run our business successfully, but often these offerings lead to unnecessary debt. It’s important to really weigh the benefits when making these kinds of decisions — and planning ahead is incredibly important.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• How to figure out which start-up costs are necessary
• The most common emotional blocks when it comes to managing money
• Effective marketing techniques that don’t a lot of money

About Eowyn Levene

Eowyn Levene is a money coach at Plum Tree Money and the host of the Creatives Do Money podcast. She helps creatives, artists, and healers master their money . She is also the owner and sole practitioner at Living Link Massage Therapy, an independent studio.

Highlights:

• 00:42 Introducing Eowyn Levene
• 05:31 Financial literacy & self-employed creatives
• 09:12 It’s about more than just making more money
• 10:27 Money & emotions
• 11:16 Eowyn’s biggest client transformations
• 12:08 Money management problems scale
• 13:15 Common money mismanagement habits
• 14:47 Staying present while undergoing challenges
• 16:09 Eowyn’s biggest money lesson
• 18:34 The perils of start-up spending
• 21:00 Marketing without spend
• 22:43 Eowyn’s takeaway

Links:

Plum Tree Money / Creatives Do Money podcast

https://plumtreemoney.com

Living Link Massage Therapy

https://livinglinkmassagetherapy.com

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Financial mismanagement is probably the #1 money leak in your business.”

— Melissa Houston

I always say, money is one of the most emotional things in the world. And for an entrepreneur, one of the strongest emotions connected to money is stress.

My 4-step CFO Money Method Framework is a great way to dive into better understanding your business finances, keeping track of your cash flow, and learning how to develop an effective budget. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down each step — and they’re far less intimidating than you think!

Many entrepreneurs launch their businesses without knowing how to manage their finances. Unfortunately, financial literacy simply isn’t something that most people are taught unless they go to school for accounting or to earn their MBA.

But if you don’t know how to manage your business finances, you’ll have trouble figuring out how much profit (not revenue) you are earning. You’ll have difficulty identifying and plugging money leaks. And you’ll be less able to make needed changes in your business at the time that they’d be most effective.

Once you’ve gained financial literacy and learn how to keep your finances in order, you’ll feel a weight lift. Many of my clients have told me that they’ve started sleeping better, are better able to focus, and feel more happy and confident about their business.

Understanding your business finances allows you to set goals for your business that you may not have otherwise thought possible, discover new money-saving opportunities, and focus on boosting your profits.

“It’s never too late to plan your budget.”

— Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The 4 main reasons to understand, monitor, and manage your business finances
• The 3 most common business finance mistakes entrepreneurs make
• The 4 steps of my CFO Money Method Framework

Highlights:

• 01:19 Case study: Karen, high six-figure revenue
• 03:07 The importance of financial management
• 06:10 Common business finance mistakes
• 08:11 The CFO Money Method Framework
• 11:54 Never too late to budget
• 13:53 Cash flow and cash reserves
• 15:20 Case study: Karen’s results
• 16:29 My new free training & program registration

Links:

Register for the free training on January 19th

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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When you’re an entrepreneur, financial literacy is everything. The difference between figuring it out as you go and working from a place of knowledge and support is like night and day.

My guest for this episode, Emily Milling, knows that all too well.

Emily’s podcast production agency, The Ultimate Creative, helps entrepreneurs launch amazing, professional podcasts that support their business goals. Without her, you wouldn’t be listening to Think Like a CFO!

But Emily isn’t just my podcast producer, she’s also my client.

Emily’s entrepreneurial journey has taken her from solo entrepreneur to incorporation to partnership to running her business alone again. Along the way, she had to learn how to navigate the tricky and often confusing corporate tax system, dissolve a business partnership, and deal with surprise tax bills.

When I started working with Emily, she felt unsure about her finances and was held back by limiting beliefs about her capability. Since then, Emily has upgraded her financial literacy and learned how to organize a fluid budget that lets her tweak her promotions and offerings in real time in order to keep her revenue in line with her needs and goals.

This episode is an honest and heartfelt look at the challenges of entrepreneurship — and we touch on a number of very important financial topics along the way, including hiring the right financial professionals, how to build a flexible budget, and the importance of long-term planning.

“If you want your business to be successful, if you’re really dedicated to it and you want to make it happen, you really need to be in the trenches with your money and figuring this stuff out.”

— Emily Milling

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The unique challenges of entrepreneurship, from incorporation to taxes
• How to plan out a fluid business budget that allows you to adjust and react to what life is throwing at your business
• The huge financial consequences of choosing the wrong bookkeeper or accountant — and how to pick the right one

Highlights:

• 00:43 Introducing Emily Milling
• 03:21 The Ultimate Creative story
• 05:47 The importance of community
• 07:30 Entrepreneurship challenges
• 08:59 Navigating the tax maze
• 12:26 Building your financial skill set & budget
• 15:08 Choosing the right bookkeeper or accountant
• 19:00 Creating & following a business budget
• 23:02 Tax planning
• 25:19 Letting go of limiting beliefs
• 27:57 Financial literacy builds confidence
• 30:03 Future planning
• 31:38 Emily’s final takeaway

Links:

Work with The Ultimate Creative

https://theultimatecreative.com

Instagram: @the_ultimatecreative

Ultimate Podcast Marketing podcast

https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast

Big Chick Energy

https://bigchickenergysketch.com

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Free training sign up page

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I really believe in building those strong relationships with other women … to help each other achieve their goals. There’s enough room for everyone at the top.”

— Melissa Houston

2020 may just be the year of the female entrepreneur.

2020’s recession has hit women harder, with 55% of job losses found in sectors with largely female workforces, including travel, education, health services, and retail. Women are also being hired less during the pandemic, with hiring rates dropping from 47% to 45%.

Women learning that they need to build their own financial safety nets.

Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of bonuses — you can create your own schedule and advance your career at your own pace, rather than waiting for others to recognize your talent and promote you.

But it can also be demanding and come with its own unique challenges — many of them emotional.

The truth is that many entrepreneurs jump into business without considering their limiting beliefs, and these limiting beliefs can drastically affect the level of success that you will reach in your business.

While women in business do face a number of major challenges, including limited access to funding, balancing work and domestic demands, fear of failure, lack of support system and mentors, a lack of confidence, they’re also likely to fall victim to a number of money mindset issues.

Women are more likely to believe that they’re “charging too much” or that they are not worth their fees. They’re more likely to believe that making money should be hard. They’re more likely to self-sabotage or feel guilty about making more than their friends, family, or partners.

Business ownership doesn’t need to be this hard!

The key is recognizing the mindset issues that are affecting you, overcoming them, and letting yourself experience the success that you deserve!

“No one person can achieve success on their own. It takes the help of others. So, ask for that help.”

— Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Three money mindset issues that you must work through in order to reach your full potential as an entrepreneur
• The unique financial, logistical, and emotional challenges that female entrepreneurs face
• The top two skills to invest in when you’re starting a business (or looking to grow)

Highlights:

• 00:44 Happy New Year (let’s hope!)
• 01:56 7-figure v. 6-figure
• 03:12 The limiting thoughts holding you back
• 05:05 Support is necessary
• 06:14 Female work and recession statistics
• 10:10 Why go into business for yourself?
• 11:40 Money mindset issues
• 17:30 Major challenges women in business face
• 20:26 Never fear failure
• 22:28 Build your support system
• 25:13 Confidence!
• 28:22 The top two skills to invest in

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“They’re often linked together, pain in our body and pain in our life.”

— Janis Isaman

How you work impacts not only your business, but your health. Are you focusing on the right things?

My guest, Janis Isaman, is the founder of My Body Couture, a one-on-one private studio where she offers customized movement and nutrition coaching. Certified in both business and nutrition, Janis has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Prevention, and Women’s Health.

As an entrepreneur and solo parent, Janis has a wealth of knowledge to share about assessing risks, managing burnout, and prioritizing what really matters.

Janis’s earliest entrepreneurial lessons came from her parents, who were farmers. In addition to modelling hard work and dedication, they taught her to always lay a foundation of savings to use for years when the metaphorical (or literal) crop is hailed out. She also learned to invest in herself, and has done so through her many trainings and certifications.

And some of her most challenging lessons have come from her position as a lone parent who is also an entrepreneur.

Managing burnout is a key consideration — something that Janis has learned firsthand. Burnout is mental and physical, and can take you out of the game completely if you ignore it for too long. “It’s easier to stop for three weeks than it is to have to recover for three years,” Janis advises.

Her most fruitful lesson, and the one she’s most excited to share, is the importance of prioritization. Janis’s incredible ‘abundance audit’ exercise has helped her to pare down the things in her life that offer zero or negative value, and focus instead on maximizing emotional return.

Listen to the episode and learn how to perform your own abundance audit!

“The things that you really, really want typically have more value to you than they cost. The things that you really don’t care about often cost more than you value them.”

— Janis Isaman

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why burnout can have a serious impact on your business (and body)
• How to perform an ‘abundance audit’ on your life
• Why it is so vital to invest in yourself

Highlights:

• 00:45 Introducing Janis Isaman
• 02:58 Money, stress, and psychosomatic pain
• 05:28 Taking a leap of faith
• 08:53 What we learn in childhood
• 12:30 Always lay a foundation of savings
• 14:13 Facing challenges
• 15:52 Burnout is a business killer
• 18:32 The ‘abundance audit’
• 23:00 Your top three valuable expenses
• 27:13 The abundance calculation
• 28:49 Misperceptions of single parenthood
• 32:58 Janis’s biggest takeaways
• 35:19 Find Janis

Links:

My Body Couture

https://www.mybodycouture.com/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“Having money management skills can be — and is — empowering.”
- Melissa Houston

Are you making one of the top five major money mistakes in your business?

It can be easy to make money management missteps, as many entrepreneurs — even the most passionate or seemingly successful — often have not learned the basics of business money management. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and it’s easy to fix.

Even the most skilled and educated professional can feel like a failure if they don’t understand their numbers — after all, knowing how to expertly serve your clients is an entirely different skill set from being able to understand and manage your finances!

We all make mistakes, but they can offer us some of the best opportunities for growth.

While working with my clients, I’ve pinpointed a number of common mistakes made by business owners that can completely drain their profitability... regardless of how many sales they make.

MISTAKE #1: Not Tracking Your Revenue and Expenses

If you aren’t keeping a close eye on these numbers, then you have no idea whether your business is actually profitable. Revenue alone doesn’t tell that story — your revenue minus your expenses equals your profit. When you ignore your numbers, you put your business at risk — you need to identify problems and create solutions.

MISTAKE #2: Allowing Money Leaks

Once you’ve identified all of your expenses, look for the money leaks that are draining your business of cash without providing value or ROI. Plugging money leaks can save you hundreds, thousands, or even more per year.

Want to learn the rest of the five major money mistakes — and how to remedy them? Listen to the episode!

“When you build a confident relationship with money and you feel like you are unstoppable, like you can do anything in your business… now that is a feeling to strive for.”

- Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Five major money mistakes to avoid in your business
• The very best time to apply for financing from your bank
• Three different types of metrics that you should be tracking on a regular basis

Highlights:

• 00:43 We all make mistakes — but it’s okay
• 02:02 We can all be financial badasses
• 04:30 Your business finances are key
• 05:10 Case study: Kate
• 07:24 How do you know if you’re profitable?
• 09:27 Expense management
• 10:38 Never run out of cash!
• 12:07 Stay loan-friendly
• 13:13 Financially-uninformed decisions
• 16:26 Two courses to get you on the road to financial mastery

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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The holiday season in 2020 is a little different. Fewer parties, smaller gatherings, less extravagant gifts… but the season of giving more important than ever.

As we reflect on the true meaning of the holidays, I urge you, as a business owner, to think about charitable giving. In addition to being the right thing to do, there are a surprising number of tangible and intangible benefits that come along with supporting your community.

The act of giving benefits not only the recipient, but the giver as well — giving grants us a feeling of connectedness and the satisfaction of trying to make the world a better place (or at least one small corner). But this warm and fuzzy feeling is only the tip of the iceberg.

Charities and nonprofits often publicize donations given by businesses on their websites and in published literature, serving as incredibly good publicity. Supporting the volunteer groups and nonprofits working for good in your community will help to raise your profile and build a larger customer base, as many people (including myself) choose to support businesses that make an effort to give back.

If your profit margins are slim but you still want to support your community, volunteering at events is a great way to network with complementary businesses and community leaders, as well as meet potential customers. This is just one of the many non-monetary options that I share in this episode!

As a successful member of your community, you have the resources to help the less fortunate. And this extends beyond the holiday season. Consistent giving keeps your business at the forefront of community consciousness, continuously building goodwill and loyalty.

And there is no better time to start than now!

“Chances are, you’ve been given gifts, opportunities, and help along the way. I encourage you to pay it forward.”

— Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The tangible and intangible benefits to charitable giving (both financial and personal)
• The countless ways that you can support your community without impacting your bottom line
• Six important reasons for your business to give back often and generously

Highlights:

• 00:46 Gratitude
• 02:19 The season of giving in 2020
• 03:40 Why give back as a business?
• 06:50 Beyond writing a cheque
• 09:40 How giving benefits you
• 12:17 Six reasons to give back
• 19:10 Spread the love

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“I take care of our finances so, at that moment, it just felt like it was all on me. Like I had let my family down.” - Anik Tracy

To downsize or not to downsize?

This question may not be what Shakespeare had in mind, but it’s a question that is on the minds of many people during this current economic moment, from up-and-coming professionals to families to older retirees. And it’s a question that my guest for this episode, Anik Tracy, has recently answered for herself — to great success. Anik and her husband, Justin, recently sold their house, stripped away their debt, and moved into a smaller space with their two beautiful teenage boys. The family is now living life on their own terms, free of stressful debt.

It worked for them, but will it work for you?

Anik and her husband followed the conventional route of home ownership, moving from a townhouse to a single home to a larger property in a more affluent area (complete with necessary renovations and remodels), but discovered that this path caused them some financial difficulties. “When we were in our 30s, we thought we had all the time in the world to pay this mortgage off,” Anik explains. “But then when you get in your 40s, the amortization period no longer coincides with when you plan on retiring, so that gives you pause.”

While many people experience these exact same issues, embarrassment and shame causes them to avoid talking openly about it and getting the advice they need in order to climb out of their debt and build more satisfying and sustainable lives.

So, today, we are going to talk about it!

“You’re not alone with your debt levels.” - Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• How to recognize when your current home is no longer serving you financially
• Why pride and other people’s opinions should NOT play a role in your financial decisions and the freedom of no longer caring
• The #1 sneaky trick that banks play on you when you apply for a mortgage — and how to avoid falling for it

Highlights:

• 00:44 Introducing Anik Tracy
• 03:47 Anik’s home ownership journey and its downside
• 05:22 Financing pitfalls and frugal triumphs
• 07:17 Self-improvement book recommendations
• 08:10 The warning signs that your home may be hurting you financially
• 09:27 Is refinancing (again) the right call? Or is there another way?
• 12:46 “If you keep doing what you’re doing, where will you be in five years?”
• 13:31 Don’t let the opinions of others influence your financial decisions
• 14:48 The freedom of minimalism
• 20:24 How to choose a better mortgage
• 22:18 How it feels on the other side of downsizing
• 25:59 Anik’s #1 takeaway

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Money management is the key to building your wealth.” - Melissa Houston

What is wealth?

Wealth is an abstract concept that holds different meanings for different people.

The dictionary calls it “an abundance of valuable possessions or money.” Some people say that while rich people have money, a wealthy person’s money is sustainable. It’s also been defined as “the ability to survive a certain number of days forward.”

People have a lot of ideas about what wealth means! And while I value intangible wealth — being rich in things such as gratitude, love, friendship, happiness — I want to help you grow and nurture your monetary wealth, so that you can focus on those intangible riches without having to worry about your bank balance and budget.

Wealth is about more than just your salary or bonuses or the value of your home. It’s in how you manage your money — and how you spend it. You can’t judge a person’s level of wealth based on the number of shiny, luxury possessions they own, or even their yearly income. There are many things that will affect your ‘real’ level of wealth, including lifestyle inflation or creep, poor investments, your level of debt, your expenses, and wealth showmanship.

Millionaires like to own assets, not debt. And this podcast episode is all about getting into that millionaire mindset!

“The most surprising millionaires are the ones who don’t have a lot of flashy purchases and don’t look the part of being wealthy. Because what they’ve done is invested their money and gotten their money to work for them.” - Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• What a big salary bump really means pay period to pay period — and how quickly you can negate it without realizing
• The formula to calculate your personal total net worth — and two reasons to figure it out today
• The top pitfalls that people fall into when they start making more money and how to avoid them

Highlights:

• 01:00 What does ‘wealth’ mean?
• 03:35 We find our strength and story in hard challenges
• 04:48 Money alone doesn’t change who you are
• 06:00 You got a big raise — now what?
• 10:02 Money management determines your wealth
• 11:02 How to calculate your personal net worth
• 12:08 Why the showmanship of wealth doesn’t matter
• 14:25 Cultivate your millionaire mindset
• 16:43 Two very good reasons to know your personal net worth
• 17:00 4 motivating factors to get you started!

Links:

Debt.org
https://www.debt.org/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com

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“Quite frankly, the world of finance is like a second language. I mean, I didn’t understand anything.” - Fiona

Personal finance can be incredibly daunting, but understanding your numbers can yield amazing results. My guest for this episode is The Millennial Money Woman, also known as Fiona. She’s nurtured a passion for finance since her preteen years — while she knew that she loved the idea of money management, she didn’t quite have the grasp on it that she wanted, as financial literacy is something that we need to deliberately seek out in our society.

And seek it out she did!

After graduating with a Masters of Science in personal financial planning (as the only woman in her program), she is now the certified financial planner behind the The Millennial Money Woman website, dedicated to helping young professionals live abundant lives by making the right financial decisions now. She’s also the co-founder of a non-profit that teaches millennials financial literacy.

“Let’s be real here — money is really one of the few things that makes the world go round,” Fiona says. “If you really don’t know that much about money … there’s a problem! Because there’s so much more possibility and opportunity out there for you to make a better life!” Fiona is living proof — she bought her first house at the age of 23 and is on track to hit millionaire status in a few years. She wants her readers to achieve similar results, and I’m right there with her!

In this episode, she and I discuss the difference between earning wealth and managing it. You could have a $300,000/year income … and still be broke. As Fiona advises, “You earn wealth by retaining money, not by just earning it.” There are many ways to manage your money, and we break down a number of them through a hypothetical scenario involving a $1000 windfall. What would you do if you were handed $1000 right now? If you’re not sure, don’t worry. After this episode, you’ll have some fantastic ideas!

“If you’re not managing your money properly, you could be bringing in all the money in the world, but you could still be broke.” - Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• How to decide between saving and investing (based on your own personal situation)
• Exactly what you can do with $1000 to maximize your return
• Your primary options for investment, and the pros and cons of each — a great primer for beginners!

Highlights:

• 00:44 Introducing Fiona
• 03:35 The world of finance is male-dominated — but shouldn’t be!
• 04:51 Managing money is as important as making it
• 06:10 You must go out of your way to become financially literate
• 07:11 America v Canada: student loan debt
• 08:04 Make finance fun with The Millennial Money Woman
• 10:39 Personal finance is personal, so understand your scenario
• 11:06 What should YOU do with $1000?
• 13:04 Your savings fund rule of thumb
• 15:11 Two ways to invest
• 20:10 The joys of index funds
• 24:20 The ‘Set It & Forget It’ mindset
• 26:27 Become a millionaire on less than $10 a day
• 31:20 Fiona’s #1 takeaway

Links:

The Millennial Money Woman
https://themillennialmoneywoman.com/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website:

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“We don’t know what works — we’re in a pandemic! Everything we thought we knew, doesn’t. And everything that didn’t work, now does.”

• Sondra Diggs

As the pandemic economy trudges on, many businesses have been forced to rethink, reprioritize, and rework — but some have carved out space to thrive. My guest for this episode, Sondra Diggs, is a self-titled ‘girlfriend relationship advocate’ who has designed her business around the idea that female relationships are a powerful form of support that should be nurtured.

Sondra is the creator of Girlfriend Therapy in a Box and the CEO of Glitter Me This & Co, a service that offers incredible curated boxes designed around themes such as ‘Bad Ass BFF’, ‘Breakup’, and ‘Beginnings’, and contain items such as sangria-infused marshmallows and witty keychains. A former corporate CFO and CPA with 25 years experience, she now devotes herself to helping Gen X women nurture their supportive female friendships through the struggles of navigating middle age — and now, also the struggle of our socially distanced times!

Injecting joyfulness and personality into the mundane is one of Sondra’s specialties, and one of the biggest reasons why her business has taken off. After redefining the corporate 9-5 image with her effervescence, she’s channelled her personality into her new brand, with great success.

As she says, her approach to life boils down to “more sparkles, less anxiety,” and this is an approach which resonates with her online audience.

Sondra deeply understands the importance of social media to modern businesses — and the challenges in growing an audience. “When you get into the social media world, it’s a different world,” she says. “It just doesn’t open up like that. It takes grinding and, more importantly, it takes consistency.”

Grab a pen and a notebook, you’ll want to jot down some of Sondra’s insights and apply them to your own social strategy!

“I kept saying to myself ‘When am I the happiest?’ … you know that question, ‘If it wasn’t for money, what would you do’? For me, it was ‘What would I do if I was the happiest?”- Sondra Diggs

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The importance of true passion and enthusiasm in developing your business plan
• How the social media revolution has dramatically transformed the acts of both selling AND buying and what this means for your brand
• How to create meaningful connections with your audience — and build amazing loyalty

Highlights:

• 00:46 Introducing Sondra Diggs
• 02:42 Why she created Girlfriend Therapy in a Box
• 05:39 Know your target audience & niche
• 06:29 ‘Pivot’ is the theme of 2020!
• 07:00 Surviving the start-up
• 08:52 Adjust to grow in a Covid-19 world
• 13:05 Attitude is everything!
• 16:55 Build an empire from your passion!
• 21:11 People buy your personality now, not just your product
• 22:55 Sondra’s 2020 holiday surprises
• 27:46 Sondra’s top financial lessons for start-ups
• 31:49 Coupon code for Think Like a CFO listeners!

Links:

Glitter Me This & Cohttps://www.glittermethisco.com/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: ht

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“If you are so far from your vision, it can be very overwhelming to think of something so big.”

- Maria Tan

When you’re heading out on a journey to an unknown place, one of the most important things you can have with you is a map. That’s no less true when you’re starting a business.

So, let’s work on your cartography skills.

My guest for this episode, Maria, Tan has been described as a ‘business coach for misfits’ who empowers non-conformists across the globe to create success tailored to their lifestyles. Prior to this, she worked as a cross-cultural business and communications consultant and has coached over 1000 professionals.

Maria is an expert in helping her clients create meaningful, practical, and doable business plans that are reverse-engineered from their life goals and divided into sensible stages that take the overwhelm out of growing your business. Her focus is on building sustainability, not just sales.

A big part of this segmented planning is making challenging decisions regarding your offering — or offerings — at each stage. As Maria says, “Business is all about diversification. But in the beginning, you cannot have too many offers or else you will confuse yourself. Your energy will be split.” When should you develop your online course? Should you start with one-on-ones or group sessions? How many products can you handle selling right now?

Maria explains it all in this episode!

“You have to fall in love with what you’re offering… You might be confident with what you’re selling. But If you’re not certain of the results it’ll bring others, it will make you doubt yourself.”

- Maria Tan

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• How to create a practical and meaningful game plan for your business, based on your life goals
• What you need to consider when developing each of your offerings — and when you would be better of waiting
• Why ‘thinking big’ is so challenging for so many people — and the rewards of getting over that mindset

Highlights:

• 00:43 Introducing my guest, Maria Tan
• 02:21 Maria’s entrepreneurial journey
• 08:53 Start by selling to friends
• 09:36 Struggles, fears, and cultural impacts
• 12:01 Moving from in-person to online
• 14:21 Create sustainability, not just sales
• 15:00 Reverse-engineer your goals to come up with your big-picture business plan
• 17:55 Why aren’t we trained to think big?
• 18:52 You have your vision — what now?
• 24:28 Time to create your game plan
• 26:32 People don’t understand profit — and they should!
• 27:38 Choosing between offering a digital course or a one-on-one
• 32:01 The impact of having a real game plan for your business
• 34:11 Maria’s big takeaway

Links:

CEO Quiz

http://maria-tan.com/ceo-quiz

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“When you’re in business for yourself, if you know your numbers, you’re going to be a rock star!”

- Melissa Houston

I get it: numbers can be scary for a lot of people. While I love working with them, I can understand the reluctance to dig in. Many people fear that they aren’t “smart enough.”

I’m here to tell you: you are.

And it’s in your best interest to develop a deep understanding of your business numbers.

Knowing and understanding your numbers can be the difference between a sustainable, profitable business and a business that fails after three years. It can be the difference between successfully scaling up and spending yourself into bankruptcy. If you want to grow and scale, it’s crucial to understand and be comfortable with managing your finances. If you’re not looking to grow and don’t have the capacity to make more income than what you need, that’s okay, too — it’s still good to understand how your business is doing and be able to identify any potential issues.

I’m not asking you to handle all of the financial work yourself. Hiring a bookkeeper, an accountant, and a business coach can make a hugely positive impact on your bottom line. Working with an experienced bookkeeper will help you spend less on an accountant — it’s more expensive for your accountant to correct bad bookkeeping at year-end than it is to pay for a skilled bookkeeper!

But no bookkeeper will ever care as much about your business as you. That’s why it’s vital that business owners learn how to create, read, and understand their financial reports.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Three reasons why it is absolutely vital that you stay on top of your finances
• The different roles that bookkeepers, accountants, and business financial coaches can play in growing your business (and profits!)
• The most important things to look for and keep in mind when investing in any of the above services

“Profit is what keeps the business sustainable. If you’re operating at a 6- or 7-figure revenue level and you’re not even breaking even, that’s financial trouble.”

- Melissa Houston

Highlights:

• 01:35 Understand your numbers and you will be unstoppable
• 01:57 You’re in business to make money — so your profit margins are key
• 03:16 The things that you need to know in order to make smart decisions
• 04:10 Do not give away your financial power!
• 05:19 Bookkeepers, accountants, and business financial coaches: what’s the difference and what do you need?
• 12:02 You can increase your profits without raising your revenues
• 13:30 Be a better CEO (no matter what size your team)
• 14:20 Case Study: Claire (small business owner)

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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“There’s a real fear to charge what you’re worth.”
-Melissa Houston

How is your money mindset holding you back from reaching the success you’ve always dreamed about?

My guest for this episode is Elizabeth St. Pierre, an entrepreneur and business coach who grew her first company, a dog-walking business, to six figures in just six months. She started a blog, where she talked about running her business and offered sales and marketing advice to others. This was the start of her business coaching career — she now oversees the dog-walking business while coaching online full-time. Throughout all of this, Elizabeth has been self taught — everything from content creation to driving traffic to learning how to sell!

Elizabeth sees a lot of money mindset issues when working with her clients, particularly when it comes to women entrepreneurs. Money is just a neutral tool that you can use for good or bad, so why is it so emotionally charged? As Elizabeth says, “Growth happens when you take emotion away from the money.” The first step is recognizing where these emotions stem from — and you may need to go back further than you think to find out.

“If you go ahead and raise your prices but you don’t truly believe that you’re worth that, you’ll do other things to self sabotage.”

- Elizabeth St. Pierre

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Where and how you form your beliefs about money — and how you can flip those scripts into ideas that serve you (and your business) better
• The common money mindset issues that entrepreneurs (especially women) deal with regularly, including a reluctance to charge what your service or product is really worth
• How guilt plays into money mindset — and why it really is okay to make more than your parents or friends

Highlights:

• 00:47 Introducing our guest, business coach Elizabeth St. Pierre
• 01:39 Elizabeth’s journey to successful business coaching
• 05:48 Shift your money mindset to grow your business
• 07:15 What are your personal limiting beliefs?
• 09:00 How your childhood shapes your money mindset
• 11:00 Money is the most emotionally charged topic
• 12:49 Common money mindset issues
• 13:31 Why don’t you charge what you’re really worth?
• 15:48 The great (and bad) things that can happen when people raise their prices
• 19:21 Elizabeth’s most impactful money mindset story
• 20:55 It’s okay to make more money than your parents made
• 22:24 How to heal your money mindset — and what changes when you do
• 27:15 Entrepreneurship and vulnerability
• 28:25 Build your support network (and include other entrepreneurs)
• 31:33 Elizabeth’s big takeaway lesson for listeners

Links:

Work with Elizabeth St. Pierre

https://lizstpierre.com/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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What does it take to build a successful, sustainable business?

The answer isn’t as simple as “more sales.”

The truth is that your revenue numbers, no matter how high, do not determine how profitable and successful your business is. Your revenue is only one part of your overall financial picture — and six- or seven-figure revenues mean very little if you aren’t actively working to control your costs. Unfortunately, high revenues can be easily negated if your costs are spiralling out of control. This means that your business can be unsuccessful even when you're pulling in record-breaking sales!

Your level of profit is your bottom line and this is the #1 most important number when it comes to determining the success of your business. Profit is determined not just by your sales, but by your expenses. Plugging all money leaks and keeping a steady eye on your cash flow is just as crucial as closing more deals if you want your business to last for the long haul.

Maintaining up-to-date records and reviewing your numbers regularly makes it a lot easier to stay on top of things and make necessary changes as they arise, whether it’s cancelling a recurring charge that no longer serves your business, or remembering to invoice or follow up with a client who hasn’t yet paid.

When working with clients as a CPA, I always recommend five key ways to boost a business’s profits aside from increasing revenues. I’m excited to be able to share them with you in my latest podcast episode!

“The reality is: what makes your business successful lies in the profit.”

• Melissa Houston

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Five tips to make your business more profitable — without bringing in an additional sale!
• How to identify and plug all money leaks currently affecting your business
• Why having an organized internal accounting structure will help you save money

Highlights:

• 01:08 Why I’m not interested in your revenues — and what really gets my attention!
• 02:01 Calculating your profit
• 03:22 Case study: Rosie’s Company (6-figure influencer & coach)
• 05:54 Setting up a system to review your financial reports
• 06:24 What does your current accounting structure look like?
• 07:01 Five tips for keeping profit in your business without bringing in an additional sale
• 07:35 “82% of business failure is caused by poor cash management”
• 08:19 2 reasons to invoice your clients immediately
• 10:43 “1 in 10 invoices are paid late” — don’t be that 1!
• 11:12 What to do when a supplier changes their pricing?
• 11:51 Plug those money leaks!
• 13:58 The CFO Money Method framework

Links:

https://www.preferredcfo.com/cash-flow-reason-small-businesses-fail/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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Mike Pacchione of Mike Talks is a genius when it comes to presenting and has built up a great coaching business — then COVID-19 hit. He explains how he weathered the storm, what the shift to virtual presentations has meant for his industry and for the presenters themselves, and what he wishes he’d done differently over the past few years to be better prepared for the shutdown.

“There was one day in particular where I had $55,000 worth of business cancel, which for a one-person shop is just brutal.”

• Mike Paccione

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why you don’t have to (and shouldn’t be) be perfect when you’re speaking on stage — and what your audience really wants from you
• How not knowing your actual business numbers can lead to fear and paranoia (which may be baseless)!
• Why presenting virtually feels different than preventing in-person — and why your energy feels lower

“I’m in the business of helping people to communicate. Communications are flexible, they don’t go away.”

• Mike Paccione

Highlights:

• 00:12 Introducing our guest, Mike Pacchione of Mike Talks
• 01:50 Ahhh! Stage fright! (And how to conquer it)
• 04:33 Speaking instruction and the post-COVID-19 pivot
• 07:42 Why you need to work on email list constantly
• 10:52 Communications — pandemic-proof?
• 12:07 In-person v. virtual presentations
• 14:21 How Mike works with his virtual presentation clients
• 15:00 Mike’s approach to coaching keynote speakers
• 16:20 Are keynote presentations dead?
• 18:37 Mike’s takeaway lessons from COVID-19
• 22:51 Your money emotions and where they come from
• 25:54 How to find and work with Mike

Links:

Mike Talks: https://miketalks.co/

Story breakdown download: https://miketalks.co/ken

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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Jana Veltheim of Align Massage Therapy launched her first business at the age of 23, and now owns multiple massage therapy clinics throughout the Ottawa area. 

“I was denied a bank loan...when I asked why, I was told it was because I was young and female and could get pregnant.”

• Jana Veltheim

She shares with the Think Like a CFO Podcast how she’s faced marketing, growth, and mindset challenges over the past 20 years — and why she is thriving now (even in the time of COVID-19!)

“I knew I could cover the expenses, but I couldn’t cover them forever. There was going to have to be a choice — how deep in debt do I go for this business?”

• Jana Veltheim

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The #1 reason why new business owners tend to lack business skills
• How COVID-19 affected Jana’s business, the resources that helped her stay afloat, and how she dealt with re-opening
• The challenges of claiming business interruption insurance coverage during a pandemic

Highlights:

• 00:04  Meet our guest, Jana Veltheim of Align Massage Therapy
• 04:19  Why new business owners tend to lack business skills
• 04:49  The challenges of pre-internet marketing for small business
• 06:30  Sexism and small business
• 08:04  The biggest challenges Jana faces now
• 09:02  How COVID-19 affected Align Massage Therapy
• 12:21  Jana’s greatest challenge with COVID-19
• 14:00  Business interruption coverage during a pandemic
• 17:30  Jana’s biggest takeaway from the shutdown
• 19:28  Emergency funds
• 20:53  Does Jana feel more prepared for future setbacks?
• 22:46  Jana’s final advice for listeners

Links:

Align Massage Therapy: https://alignyourbody.com/

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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Whether you’re starting up, ramping up, or scaling up, you need to be on top of your financials. Choosing a good accountant can create money-magic, but knowing your own numbers is even more important.

“We fear things that we tend to sensationalize in our brains. We think that it’ll be scarier than what it is… taking action actually helps the fear subside.”

• Melissa Houston, CPA

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• 5 reasons why knowing your numbers (especially your cash flow) is the magical key to financial success
• Why investing in a professional accountant actually SAVES you a tonne of money year-over-year
• Why you should consider investing in a coach or mastermind group — and how to choose your ideal fit

“It’s never too late to get to know your numbers.”

• Melissa Houston, CPA

Highlights:

• 0:58  Putting yourself out there is an almost heroic move
• 4:03  Is your introversion robbing those around you of your expertise?
• 4:43  We can all be business coaches in our own way — why helping others helps you, too!
• 5:32  Invest in a new skill set (and mindset) in order to launch your online business
• 7:48  Identify your weaknesses — but don’t let them hold you back
• 8:55  The emotions of business
• 9:40  The isolation of solopreneurship and how to accept help carefully
• 10:47  The importance of mindset and how it will help you stay strong
• 11:15  Should you invest in a coach or mastermind group?
• 13:35  Yes, money talk is boring — but numbers are king
• 14:22  Know your own numbers (even if you have an accountant and bookkeeper)
• 17:03  Master your cash flow
• 19:30  When should you start learning your business numbers?
• 20:30  You’re in business to make money — make sure you have the tools
• 21:15  Build your strong financial knowledge base ASAP

Links:

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.

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It’s the launch of the Think Like a CFO Podcast, devoted to helping women entrepreneurs master their finances and launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Simple, digestible, actionable advice from an accredited CPA with over 20 years of experience. Real business owners, real talk, real solutions.

“The numbers become emotional when the common response is that people fear the numbers. They get anxiety or embarrassment that they don’t know their numbers. It doesn’t need to be that way!”

• Melissa Houston, CPA

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why 7-figure sales don’t mean a thing if the rest of your numbers don’t add up
• The three main financial reports that every entrepreneur and small business owner needs to be able to read: your balance sheet, profit & loss statement, and cash flow statement
• How developing a proper budget will turn your ‘goal’ into a ‘plan’

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

- Melissa Houston, CPA

Highlights:

• 1:13 Why should you Think Like a CFO?
• 3:08 The Think Like a CFO mission statement
• 3:54 What is a CFO and why are they important?
• 5:50 Number anxiety is real… but it’s SO worth moving past it!
• 8:10 What to expect from the Think Like a CFO podcast — and what you will learn
• 9:32 Meet Melissa Houston: CPA, entrepreneur, and money columnist
• 10:53 Why 7-figure sales won’t necessarily make you a success
• 15:00 Play on your strengths and get help with your weaknesses
• 17:30 3 main financial reports you need to assess
• 17:56 How a budget changes your ‘goal’ into a ‘plan’
• 19:58 Should you outsource the financial portion of your business?
• 20:51 Understanding cash flow and cash plan

Links:

Forbes.com column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissahouston/#6e18f3295ee8

Entrepreneur.com column: https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/melissa-houston

The 5-Step Roadmap to Biz Finance Freedom

https://melissa-houston-cpa-cga.mykajabi.com/5-step-roadmap-to-biz-finance-freedom

Work with me

https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com/work-with-me

Want more tips and inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @melissahcpa and Pinterest @melissahoustoncpacga and visit my website: https://www.melissahoustoncpa.com.