StartUp Creative - Your go-to source for straight-up business advice: Recent Episodes
Kaylene Langford | Business Coach
Real-life and raw startup stories from the frontline of successful business.
Hosted by business coach and founder of StartUp Creative, Kaylene Langford, these episodes are packed with invaluable how-to advice, resources, recommendations and inspiration for up-and-coming startups, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Feel empowered in the knowledge that managing a business you love isn’t a pipedream but rather an opportunity waiting to come to life. It simply requires persistence, sleep deprivation and a reckless renegade spirit of possibility and positivity.
At StartUp Creative find everything you need to give you a big, bad dose of brave.
Tips, advice and examples to help you get your business, work, products and services in front of new audiences to help you grow and scale your business. Topics covered: * Figuring out who you should be pitching to * How pitching can help you grow your business and increase your reach * Tips for planning your perfect pitch * Outline of a effective pitch email and outreach
Check out our recent masterclass with Squarespace: How to get people to your website on Youtube Sign up for our upcoming masterclasses on our website Masterclass #2: How to keep poeple coming back to your website Download your copy of our pitch email template on our website www.startupcreative.com.au Follow us on social media @startupcreative
On today's episode I break down the topic of fear, how it shows up as excuses when we set out to start and scale our businesses and share my go-to tips and strategies for overcoming it so as to take action on your goals. I'll list out the 4 major fears that hold us back and give you practical tools and steps you can take to minimise the fear and inspire action. Follow us on social media @startupcreative Check out the accompanying Substack article with reflection questions and quotes Get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching Grab a copy of our Just Start: 5 part Audio Series on our website
On today's episode I'm joined by a coaching client and friend Chantel who is a photographer and recently viral content creator who is constantly working on new ways to showcase her skills and find new audiences to teach. She shares how she used Chat GTP to refine her target market and find new angles to promote her business which resulted in her going viral and setting up a very successful passive income stream in her business. Follow Chantel on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/learnwithchantel/
On today's episode I discuss how focu, time and motivation all play into each other and how you can optimise them all to increase your productivity to help you start and scale your side hustles and businesses. Grab your copy of our focus and motivation resources on our website: * Guide to time management * Just Start: 5 part motivational audio series * Morning Routine Journal and Meditation
Get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching - hello@startupcreative.com.au Follow us on Instagram @startupcreative
Reflecting on recent trends and social media changes, I share insights into how you can safeguard your business in 2025. Three key marketing strategies to reach your audience outside of social media and what to be on the lookout for the year ahead. Get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching to personalise your strategy and set yourself up for success. https://www.startupcreative.com.au/coaching
On today's episode I share 5 tips for spring/summer or end of year cleaning of your business. As the year starts to wind down, now is a good time to start to take stock of what you've achieved this year and what you can start to put in place for the new year. Check out my latest writing on our Substack channel A Year From Now Join our 2025 Business Coaching Academy Stay in touch via Instagram
Join our 1- Day Workshop in Sydney https://www.startupcreative.com.au/workshop On today's episode I discuss a personal life update and the perspective it's given me on my goals and desires since. I've been reflecting on why we don't go after our goals and what are the key factors that hold us back from investing time and resources into ourselves. Tune in to get my practical breakdown of the three + 1 bonus step we take to inspire action towards our dreams and goals. I'll also share questions to consider to help you get clear on your dreams, goals and ideas.
On today's show I reflect back on the last 10 years of StartUp Creative and take you back to where it all began. I share milestones along the way, lessons learnt and strategies that I used to get the business to where it is today. Topics: * transition from corporate to self employed * how I grew our audience from 3000-20,000 in the first 2 years * our collaboration with Gelato Messina & Uber in their early days * getting our magazine stocked in the Virgin Australia lounges * building my expert status and reputation to gain national recognition and customers * what worked and didn't work * growing the business with very little fiances * some of the most important people and contacts I met along the way that helped us grow fast
You can check out my 10 Years of StartUp Creative blog on our Subtstack page for photos that go with the stories. This episode is Part One and covers the years 2014-2017, more to come. Follow more of the StartUp Creative story on Instagram Get in touch to book in a 1:1 Business Coaching session
On today's show I reflect back on the last 10 years of StartUp Creative and take you back to where it all began. I share milestones along the way, lessons learnt and strategies that I used to get the business to where it is today. Topics: * transition from corporate to self employed * how I grew our audience from 3000-20,000 in the first 2 years * our collaboration with Gelato Messina & Uber in their early days * getting our magazine stocked in the Virgin Australia lounges * building my expert status and reputation to gain national recognition and customers * what worked and didn't work * growing the business with very little fiances * some of the most important people and contacts I met along the way that helped us grow fast
You can check out my 10 Years of StartUp Creative blog on our Subtstack page for photos that go with the stories. This episode is Part One and covers the years 2014-2017, more to come. Follow more of the StartUp Creative story on Instagram Get in touch to book in a 1:1 Business Coaching session
On today's show I teach you how you can grow your business by adding more options for your customer to buy from you and increase your chances of repeat business from existing customers. In this episode we'll cover: * reviewing your customer journey to find new opportunities * tips for conducting a business audit/health check * reviewing your customer experience and purchasing behaviour to optimise for more sales * market research and competitor analysis * tips for finding new leads * how to better convert interest to paying customers
Get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching Buy your copy of The First Aid Kit for Your Business on sale now 50% off
On today's episode I discuss recent use of AI images without permission of the subjects and how our authentic humanity can be used as an advantage in the online space. I'll also break down my top tips on how to grow your audience, the formulas and strategies that I use in my business and with my coaching clients. Topics include: * why getting to know your target market is so useful in growing your audience * getting clear on why you want to grow your audience - how to figure out your goals and objectives first * 3 ways to grow your business * sales funnels explained * marketing and content ideas to increase your business
Grab a copy of the First Aid Kit For Your Business - on sale now for 3 weeks.
In today's episode I share my top tips for effective time management, starting with the big picture and breaking it down into daily tasks. I'll also cover: * how to set goals that will improve your time management * tips for daily, weekly and monthly to-do lists * how to prioritize your work to maximise your motivation * my top 10 hacks for increased time management * how I structure my work week and tasks
Get in touch to book in a 1:1 Business Coaching session Visit our website to download our free Time Management worksheets
It's been 9 months since I last recorded a solo episode on StartUp Creative, so today I am putting my own advice to use and sharing how I've personally overcome procrastination to record this podcast for you today and in setting and actioning new goals in my business. In this episode I also discuss: * knowing your worth and pricing and how it can attract opportunities * what I think will make your business stand out from AI * what I've been up to lately personally and professionally * my fear of social media and how it hasn't mattered as much as I thought * 3 reasons why I think people don't 'just start' and take action towards their goals * how to overcome those 3 reasons and take action towards your goals * a menu list of how we can help you just start!
Get in touch for Business Coaching & Event enquiries https://www.startupcreative.com.au/
A big thank you to everyone who came out last Thursday night to our Make Your Mark event powered by Squarespace and StartUp Creative. It was such an inspiring and fun event and if you missed it, don’t worry, you can check out the video replay now live on our YouTube channel.
Thank you to our special guests Bobby Clark, Dr Chris Cheers and Sophie from Club Sup for sharing such valuable insights and tips on how they started and scaled their passions into viable businesses as well as advice on:
- How they came up with their business ideas
- The steps they took to test and launch their businesses
- Advice for building a brand that stands out in the market place
- How they create content and come up with new ways to grow their income online and offline
- Tips for pricing and charging for your product/services
- Balancing being a human and a business owner
- The importance of developing brand values, how they did it and advice for communicating their values to their audiences (keep an eye out for an awesome values exercise that Chris led us through)
Plus so much more, you can watch the replay here
While I’ve got you, enjoy this 20% off discount code from Squarespace—use code STARTUPCREATIVE for 20% off new annual plans, valid until 15th July 2024.
*Discount only applies to new annual plans (not existing plans), additional terms and conditions apply.
Thank you again to everyone who made Make Your Mark 2.0 such a memorable night, I can’t wait to see you at the next one.
In the meantime, enjoy the recording and if you’re looking to start or scale your own business, get in touch for 1:1 Business Coaching, I’d love to help.
On today’s episode I caught up with a new friend and author of ‘Work Backwards’ , Tim Duggan. Tim founded a digital company known as ‘SameSame’ then eventually paved the way for a media company Junkee which is co-founded and helped to scale to great success. Despite realising his dreams, Tim found himself burnt and ready to quit. He knew something had to change and he began a 8 year journey towards selling his company, building his freelance business and concepting this book on how to work better. I loved the booked and was very excited to talk with Tim about some of my favourite topics, designing the life of you dreams and having a healthy relationship with your work. We discuss how it got so bad that we’ll prioritise work over family and our health, tips for restructuring your work- life balance, some really inspiring statistics about how the positive impact of changing just 20% of the way you work and so much more. Tim is very generous in offering his personal experience, advice and practical steps he took along the way. “It doesn’t matter in which industry or where: too many of us are overworked, disengaged and apprehensive about the future of work. In his life-affirming new book, bestselling author and founder Tim Duggan argues that we approach work and life the wrong way around.” Follow Tim’s work www.timduggan.com.au and www.workbackwards.com
Welcome back to the StartUp Creative Podcast and the first episode for 2024. On today's episode I caught up with Odette Barry who has been a long time network/friend from the creative entrepreneur world. We got chatting on Instagram about our morning routines and thought it would make for a great conversation about how different they were and how important it is to find the right routine that works for you so as to better your chances of success. Odette and I share what personally motivates us along with some research and resources that help us create lasting habits. She also recommends this breathing app to help regulate your nervous system. Check out more of Odette's work odetteandco.com.au
On today's episode I caught up with Brooke who is one of the 6 founders of Sharesies, an online platform and app that’s aim is make investing easy and accessible to someone who haas $5 or $5 million dollars to spend. I first saw Brooke talk at Purpose Conference in October 2023 and was instantly inspired by and intrigued about the company’s mission. Not only have they broken new ground in the investing world but they’re a purpose driven business looking to support and empower all people with financial independence. Brooke shares how the platform works as well as what it took to build a business that didn’t exist, how they’ve built consumer and stakeholder trust all while staying true to their brand values.
On today's episode I share the behind the scenes of creating my new online course 'Start Your Side Hustle' my first online course 2017. If you've been thinking about a way to set up passive income for your business to help you scale and automate your current offerings, I'll teach you how to get started and share exactly how I set mine up. I'll cover: * how to come up with your course idea * setting up your course * a formula for creating your online course * marketing and sales of your course
Check out 'Start Your Side Hustle' the online course on our website now and look forward to meeting you in the class.
On today's episode we share a recent IG live chat I had with content creation pro Lucy Lumen who makes content and builds communities on Substack, Instagram and YouTube. I quiz Lucy on how she keeps up, her tips for creating across different platforms and for different audiences, we share our planning and content creation schedules or lack of and how we approach social media of late. Lucy started her YouTube channel as a creative side project when she first had her child and has managed to build her following to almost 20K subscribers on YouTube alone. She now makes content for brands and sells courses and advice for other photographers and has an abundance of amazon straight-up and relatable tips for those struggling with content creation in their own businesses and looking for ideas to get them inspired.
On today's episode I caught up with the business boss herself, FlexMami. We recently had the pleasure of Flex speaking at our Make Your Mark: How to market yourself online event in collaboration with Squarespace. Flex shared her incredible insights, wisdom and opinions about what it really takes to build an online following, how she prefers to diversify her skillsets across multiple platforms, what role her website plays in her business as well as her approach to social media. Flex gives some really good advice for those looking to start and scale their personal brands and businesses and the process she uses for deciding what to do next in her career. Her career has led her in many different directions from author, influencer, DJ, Logie nominated TV presenter and many more accolades but it all started with some good old fashioned hustle. An inspiring and entertaining chat with one of the best in the game. https://www.flexmami.com/
On today's episode I spoke to Alexis Fernadez, author and podcast host of DYFM. Alexis is a neuroscientist, mindset coach, best-selling author and host of Do You F*g Mind? - a podcast that mixes neuroscience, psychology and tough love altogether. Alexis started the podcast halfway through her masters degree in neuroscience as a way to be able to share what she was learning and as a way to connect with an audience who wanted to work on themselves. We recently met on the Make Your Mark: How to market your business online event in collaboration with Squarespace. Alexis shares so much straight up business advice about how she started her podcast while studying neuroscience and after 7 months she left her job and became a full time podcaster. She shares some of the highs and lows of starting a business from meeting her beans at the event and how she's built such a loyal following, her tips for carving out your niche in the business space and sticking to your brand values. As well as lots of insightful mindset hacks and how she keeps herself motivated and inspired. Check out her work on her website and podcast. https://www.dyfmpod.com https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/do-you-f-ing-mind/id1502954097
On today's episode I dive into a popular topic for many creative entrepreneurs; comparison. I share a personal experience I had with comparing myself to others' success and the tools I use to help me avoid a negative downward spiral of self-doubt. I share some insights into how we can use comparison as a positive on our business journey to help us realign our goals and dreams and start working towards them as well as tips for catching the negative side of comparison so as to not sabotage ourselves.
On today's podcast I caught up with a long time client, friend and fellow author Amy Lovat. You may recognise her from Secret Book Club, a business she started with her partner years ago. Amy shares her incredible journey to accomplishing a 30 year dream of becoming a published author. She shares very generously about how she took 11 years to write her first novel, the mindset and support she leant on to keep her going when she wanted to give up. We dive into the inspiration behind her debut novel 'Mistakes and Other Lovers' and her advice for creatives striving to make their dreams a reality. Grab a copy of Amy's book https://amylovat.com
Today’s guest is Daniel Flynn, co founder of Thankyou, a business I was fortunate enough to come across many years ago when they first started out as Thankyou Water. Since then Daniel and his team have built a globally recognised social enterprise on a mission to end extreme poverty. In this episode Daniel shares the journey they’ve taken to reimagine their business model many times over. From expanding into products, taking on the big supermarkets to get stocked, harnessing the power of social media and their audience to support their mission and more recently taking the company to the global stage. An insightful episode about what it really takes to build a brand that lasts, sticking to your brand values and what you set out to achieve no matter how many hurdles and temptations to divert your encounter and taking care of your mental health as a founder.
Check out Thankyou and the work their doing https://thankyou.co
In today's episode I share the story about how I landed my first book deal that led to me writing 'How to Start a Side Hustle' in 2020 and advice for people looking to pitch to publishers for those looking to get their own publishing deal. I also go through each chapter of the book and share my author notes, bonus tips to help you get started and how to use the book to get started on your idea. Tune in for a guided tour of the process I took to write the book and tips on exactly where to start on your side hustle journey. You can grab one of the last signed copies of HTSASH on my website and I'll be sure to include a personalised note with inspiration to get you in the game. https://www.startupcreative.com.au/shop-1/p/how-to-start-a-side-hustle-signed-copy
On today’s episode I caught up with the genius creative mind behind one of my favourite businesses ACID.FLWRS, Claire Muller. Claire shares her startup story that took her on a journey from Perth to London and eventually her home today Sydney Australia. She shares the lessons learnt from changing career paths, working for an innovative startup with small budgets with working for leading startup Airtasker. Her insight into finding which path to follow, facing a life changing moment that put life on hold and figuring out what to do next before. Claire started ACID.FLWRS, as a side hustle, passion project in 2020 when she was experimenting with flowers and spray paint. It went on to grow a cult-like Instagram following and led her to collaborating with brands such as VANS shoes, Casetify and producing installations for the National Gallery of Victoria. Packed with raw storytelling, startup tips and advice on how to get a creative project off the ground from her 15 years experience in styling and communication with brands around the world as well as starting and scaling ACID.FLWRS
Enjoy the show and check out Claire’s work
https://www.acidflwrs.com
https://www.clairemueller.com
This week I had the absolute pleasure of talking to the award winning designer and founder of her own studio Evi O. A well known expert in the design space who delivered a keynote presentation at Semi Permanent Sydney in 2023 as well as Creative Mornings Sydney and The Design Conference in Queensland. Evi's studio specialises in publications, brands and creative collaborations that have won her multiple awards. Evi shares an abundance of information and insights into the behind the scenes of what it takes to build a successful creative company, from finances and managing a team, attracting your ideal clients and pushing the boundaries with new and creative work. She is also a self taught artist who is represented by Saint Cloche in Sydney and Up Rise in New York. An incredibly talented, wise and humble creative with so much knowledge to share, it was truly an honour to share this conversation with Evi and I have no doubt you'll walk away with an abundance of knowledge and inspiration for your own creative endeavors.
On today's episode I caught up with Lyndal Harris from Podcast VA who truly is an expert in her field. With many years of experience in starting and scaling podcasts, the StartUp Creative show included, Lyndal holds a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to launch a successful podcast. In this episode I ask Lyndal some of the FAQ's I get about when and how to start a podcast as well as her practical tips and advice on the technical side of things. If you've been looking to start a podcast for yourself and/or your business, this episode will teach you everything you need to know to help you just start. We'll cover: * the benefits of staring a podcast * how to use a podcast as a marketing strategy for your business * ideal episode lengths and topics * technical setup * what to focus on and invest in when just starting out * how to pitch to potential guests * apps and resources you can use for quality recording experience
And so much more. Check out Podcast VA for more tips, services and resources to help you on your podcast journey.
It was an absolute joy to have James Parr, disability advocate, model and athlete on the show. James shares his incredible life story with such openness, honesty and lightheartedness that it was hard to keep then conversation to an hour. In the episode you’ll learn how James became an amputee at age 21, went from a social worker to runway model in the space of a few years and an insight into how he keeps positive and keeps creating the life of his dreams despite the multiple challenges he has faced.
A fun, inspiring and truly courageous conversation and an honour to share it here on the show. Check out Jame’s work here https://jamesparr.com.au
Hannah is the Author of her first book, Rainbow History Class- your entry into LGBTQ+ history, sharing queer and trans stories from Ancient civilisations all the way up to the internet. In this inspiring conversation Hannah and I discuss who gets to record and tell history and how diversity in gender and sexual orientation can often be excluded from the narrative. Hannah also offers tips and insights into building her social media audience and making viral videos with millions of views as well as the process behind landing her first book deal and writing.
Check out her work here
https://www.rainbowhistoryclass.com https://www.instagram.com/rainbowhistoryclass/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rainbowhistoryclass?lang=en
On today’s episode I had the pleasure of meeting Angus the co-founder of the world's first brain drink. Ārepa is a neuroscientist-backed brand based in NZ and improving brain health around the world. Angus shares insights into where this incredible business idea came from and the steps he took to bring the idea to life. An incredible start-up story that didn’t follow the conventional path but that has attracted some of the worlds leading athletes and creative minds as customers and fans. I personally love the drink and the team have offered a discount code to listeners of the show
Use THEBRAINDRINK for 10% of your first order. Find out more about the drink and where you can purchase it at
https://drinkarepa.com.au
On today's episode I caught up with Dr Marion Piper, Creativity Coach and all around legend. We discussed the role that creativity and art plays in times of uncertainty and how we as creative entrepreneurs can find ways to continually expand and grow our businesses when times are tough. Marion is an expert in the field of identifying big and small traumas in our lives and stories and offers us insights and tools as to how we can transmute the hardest challenges in our lives into art. We also discuss what differences we've noticed in our lives and businesses post covid and what we've had to put in place to manage the stress and big lifestyle changes that came with such a prolonged amount of hardship and uncertainty. Check out Marions work here https://marionpipercreative.com
In this episode I caught up with an Australian singer/songwriter and icon, white literally - Montaigne was Australia’s Eurovision contestant in 2021 and has a long list of accomplishments including a recent collaboration with David Byrne from the Talking Heads. They share their story of stumbling into the music industry, how they stay inspired to create art and tips for those looking to get started. An incredibly humble, talented and inspiring artist who is staying in their own lane whilst making art from an authentic place and taking us all on the journey with them.
Check out their work here
https://www.instagram.com/actualmontaigne/
From my IG live with content creator and artist Bianca Beers, where we discussed how to become a content creator as a career, the best motivation to get started on your content and practical tips to make it work for your business. Bianca shares incredible but relatable tips and stories on how she got started, gets clients and advice for getting yourself back in the content creation game.
Check out Biancas work here https://www.instagram.com/biancabeers/
On today’s episode I discuss lessons learnt from Rich Diviney’s book The Attributes, in particular the topic of fear. I often gets asked by coaching clients and our community about ‘how to overcome fear?’ I see it a lot in people who have an idea that they want to make a reality but who find that fear stops them from taking action. Diviney’s book shares research and insights into what exactly fear is and how moving towards it, is one of the best ways to overcome it. In this episode I share tips and tricks for how you can put this into action to ‘just start’ and explore how understanding where fear comes from and how it shows up can be the best tool to overcoming it.
Check out the book here
I've had a few coaching clients of late reach a point of needing help to finally give their side hustles their all in order to help them finally leave a job that isn't serving them anymore. I often get asked about when and how to make the leap from a full time or part time job so as to give their business idea or side hustle a solid crack. It's a tough one to give a blanket answer to but in this episode I share how I felt and what I did when I transitioned from my '9-5' to StartUp Creative and insights into how to make it work for you. Even if you've already started and you need help deciding if your next big idea/project/product or service is worth taking the risk, this episode will help you figure out the best next steps as well as some mindset hacks to overcome fear and inaction.
On today's episode I attempt to bust some of the common myths and stories that keep us from effective goal setting. Based on a research paper 'Role of Goal Orientation, Ability, Need for Achievement, and Locus of Control in the Self-Efficacy and Goal-Setting Process' I cover what are the key factors to setting goals that one goes on to accomplish. I share practical tips on how to better position yourself for success, ignite your motivation and sustain your efforts towards your goals in order to improve your chances of success.
On today's episode we chat with Su and Alex, the co-founders of a conscious beauty brand that we all love - Foile. The pair chat about their startup story and how they got into business together and their tips for starting a business as co-founders. We also discuss the importance in taking your time in the research and development stage when starting a product based business. The couple also shared the real side of running a startup from having to find solutions to their packaging when things didn't go to plan, pivoting their business during covid and moving into a new phase of scaling and marketing their business to a wider audience. A really real chat with two very passionate and inspiring founders serving us straight up advice for starting a beauty label.
On today’s episode I share 3 hacks for helping you to navigate through times of feel stuck, lost or unclear about your business vision and direction. Inspired by a lot of practices and strategies that I’ve been implementing of late about how to reignite my passion and inspiration for my business after some time off.
A practical guide with 3 clear steps to take now and revisit when the feeling arises. It’s not always going to be easy and the ebbs and flows of business can be hard to manage but when we take time out of working in our business and revisit why we started and where we’re headed we can more easily regain focus and motivation.
On today’s episode I caught up with the bubble personality, photographer and business coaching client of mine Sian Fay. Over the last 6 months or so Sian and I have been working together to redesign her personal brand and help her to scale her business in order to attract more of her ideal customers and dream work.
On completion of our time together Sian shared the many wins and successes she’s had in her business since working together and we reflected on the journey she’d been on to make her dreams and goals come to life.
In this episode Sian very generously shares the lessons she learnt, the [practical steps she took, the ways in which she mastered her mindset around money and her worth as a creative and how she was able to transform her business by backing herself.
A lot of people come to StartUp Creative for ‘how to start’ advice and we regally share the success stories of many well established entrepreneurs and businesses but in this episode we celebrate those still on the journey and the first steps they took to elevate their business skills to move out of those early stages of startup/freelancer to a sustainable and growing business.
Check out Sian’s website & work here https://sianfay.com
On today’s podcast I share insights from recent materials I’ve been reading and enjoying to creativity inspire my writing, teaching and business coaching.
Pulling on a variety of books, podcasts and lessons from the wisdom of First Nations people, the laws and lesson of nature and new commentary on time and our finite amount of it.
Books & resources I mentioned on the episode:
- Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
- Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta
- The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
- The Choice by Edith Ever
- Happy Money by Ken Honda
On today’s episode I discuss the rising fear of challenging economic times for small businesses, creative entrepreneurs and startup founders. As we learnt throughout the pandemic, there will be many unpredictable circumstances outside of our control that will inevitable challenge us as business owners and freelancers. Whilst we can not always predict or control outside events we can find hope that they are a natural part of life, business and growth and happening around the globe.
As a business owner you should be taking time out of your business to consider how you are setting yourself up to handle the changing tides that ebb and flow so as to withstand the challenges and come out the other side stronger.
During difficult times, many businesses owners will become fearful and begin to act from a place of lack, scarcity and comparison. This outlook can stifle business growth and cloud your ability to see opproetunies, new ways of doing business and growth.
In this episode I share tips on how to get yourself out of fear and lack and refocus your energy on preparing your business through diversifying your reach, value and offerings.
I also mentioned this letter from Nick Cave to the MTV music awards which showcases to me an artist that is staying true to why is started.
Also some past episodes worth revising to help you work on your business and make a solid plan:
- Power of brand values
- How to create high converting copy
- Target Market
- A step-by-step to creating the ultimate collaboration with Jess Rufus
- Money Mindset: Charging what you’re worth
- Good old fashion customer service
Check out the Pricing and Number Review chapter in our First Aid Kit
Sign up to the Level Up Masterclass
Today's guest is the founder of Ora Health, an Australian based supplements company, Gabriel Perera. Coming from a background in the health industry, Gabe took a gamble on himself knowing that he had always wanted to have a crack at starting his own company and by the age of 40 knew that it was now or never. Gabe shares his inspiring and honest account of what it took to launch a product company in the middle of a pandemic, how he stands out in the supplement marketplace, his tips for health and wellbeing and many more practical and actionable tips for making your startup successful. If you'd like to give Ora supplements a go, Gabe has kindly offered our listeners a 15% off code STARTUPCREATIVE15 which you can use at the checkout. https://orahealth.com.au
On today’s episode I share my recent experience of feeling stuck and not sure what to focus on in my business when I lacked inspiration and motivation. I share some insights into how to ride the highs and lows of business and what simple actions you can take to help you regain your momentum and get inspired to take action on your goals again.
If you’d like to check out the Halfway Reset that I mentioned on the episode to go through the full process that I taught in our recent webinar you can get the recording and step-by-step process here:
https://www.startupcreative.com.au/product/halfway-reset-workshop-guided-goal-setting-process/
Get in touch here for 1:1 Business Coaching
kaylene@startupcreative.com.au
Here you can join our Level Up Masterclass
https://www.startupcreative.com.au/product/level-up-masterclass/
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Podcast regular Jai Long returns to the show to update us on how he managed to keep his business not alone online but thriving through the pandemic & gives insights into how he knows when to pivot and what plans he puts in place. Jai is a successful business coach, photographer and all around entrepreneur who isn't afraid to say it how it is, take big risks, share his lessons and take others on the journey with him. In the episode we chat about money mindset and how to overcome fear of taking risks, bouncing back from mistakes and finding the motivation to get up everyday and work on your dreams and goals. An inspiring, practical and abundant chat packed with advice, real stories and insights into the mindset of successful entrepreneurs.
On today's episode we meet the owner of Gonzo Vino and wine company repairing the reputation of cast wine that sells delicious blends in 3L casts with incredible designs and a fun brand voice and message. Marcus was working in hospitality as a Sommelier (one of the highest achievements in the world of wine experts) and decided that he couldn't do it forever and wanted more. Since then he has been on the journey to start his own brand with an OG entrepreneurial spirit has pulled in favours, made mistakes, pivoted, hustled hard and juggled his 9-5 alongside building his side hustle. An inspiring story of someone who is truly passionate about what they do and who is willing to do whatever it takes to make his idea a success. Be sure to check it out https://www.gonzovino.com
Today’s guest we showcase the incredible talent that is Kerryn the face behind the inspiring, Melbourne cult brand Radical Yes. We discuss creating a fashion brand that is conscious and doesn’t play into the fast fashion world, how to fund your fashion startup without investment and creative ways you can do it yourself. Kerryn shares her down to earth tips and lessons on starting small and growing a loyal following that will come on the ride with you. Lots of incredible and actionable advice for someone looking to start their own fashion line and build a brand on your own personal values.
On today’s episode we caught up with author, speaker and coach Rachel Service from the Happiness Concierge to get her expert advice on presenting, pitching and creating content with confidence. A natural and vibrant speaker herself Rachel has presented a TED talk and runs courses and workshops on presenting, leadership, pitching and so much more. It was an absolute joy to have Rachel on the podcast after meeting her at the very beginning of our careers over seven years ago.
On today’s episode I chat all things creativity in the most fun and creative way with the fun, energetic and passionate creative that is Struthless aka Campbell. An online content creator who runs a studio, makes Youtube videos, runs a podcast and illustrates. A legend in the game with honest, to the point and raw advice on how to make an idea stick, the power of creating outside of the box and a living, creating example of someone who has truly turned their passion into a viable business.
https://struthless.com
Nat and her partner have built a thriving marketing company that backs sustainable brands and businesses, Compass Studio. BCorp certified themselves Nat share why it was important for her to build their business with this in mind and how their brand values are reflected across everything they do. She shares some simple yet effective insights into the world of marketing we are all navigating and where and how a brand should go about developing a marketing strategy that works for them and will help to grow and scale their business.
Recent author and curator of creative spaces and events, Madeleine More just released her first book with the a title that speaks to us all ‘I Didn’t Do The Thing Today: On letting go of productivity guilt.’ A topic that almost every creative entrepreneur and business owner I know struggles with, Madeleine share insights on how to overcome the inner critic that stifles our creativity when we think we haven’t done enough. Madeleine shares her insights into writing the book, getting a publishing deal and tips for those looking to do the same.
In today’s episode, I chat with the founder of Australia’s new favourite toothpaste brand, RoccNaturals.
Whist on materiality leave and surviving a global pandemic with her newborn baby Prue saw a need for a natural and sustainable toothpaste product that would be good for humans and the planet. In the short space of two years, Prue took the idea and not only made it a reality but has managed to scale to the business, off the back of her own funding to an Australian-wide major stockist. Rocc Naturals will officially be stocked in over 830+ Coles retail outlets around the country with an exclusive deal to expand her brand into more households looking to make the sustainable switch in their toothpaste purchases.
Prue chats openly and honestly about the fear, risks, research, and rewards of starting and running her own company and the power of creating a brand that is a true and honest reflection of her own personal values and the role that that plays.
Enjoy the episode and be sure to head to our Instagram for your chance to win a Rocc Naturals gift pack featuring the range of products they offer.
www.instagram.com/startupcreative
www.instagram.com/roccnaturals
In today’s episode, I catch up with a fellow creative, author, and good friend of mine Amie McNee @inspiredtowrite for a raw and honest conversation about the comparison. We discuss where and how it shows up in our own lives and businesses and share some tips for overcoming it when it rears its ugly head. Comparison can lead to self-doubt, inaction, and shying away from going after our dreams and goals and can often cause people to quit before they’ve even started. When we are able to catch it in the moment, silence the inner critic and find healthy ways to combat it before it takes charge we are more likely to keep moving in the direction of our dreams and goals and find ways to collaborate instead of compare.
In today’s episode, I chat for the first time ever to the very talented and inspiring creative, author, and designer Ngaio Parr who also happens to be the designer of my book - How to Start a SideHustle.
Ngaio has an incredible design career but after experiencing a number of sudden deaths in her life she was compelled to create a resource that she would have wanted to help her through the process. In this episode, we dive into the ‘Grief Companion’ Ngaio’s card deck and guide to experiencing grief and discuss where the idea came from, how she went about pitching it to a publisher, and tips for doing so, making time to work on her side project whilst running her creative design business and her tips for taking an idea and making it a reality.
Enjoy the episode and you can check out Ngaio’s work here https://www.ngaioparr.com
In today’s episode, I address one of the most common struggles I see in my business coaching clients and that I have personally had to overcome on a regular basis in my own business - how
do you ride the highs and lows of running your own business? Starting and running a business is hard work, full of uncertainty, and can change at any moment. Somedays we’re on top of the
world and things seem to be going exactly as we planned and others are filled with fear, setbacks, and overwhelm. Nature is a perfect reminder that all of life fluctuates between different seasons of abundance and loss. Both states are necessary and hold lessons for us to learn. Today I share insights as to how you can emotionally prepare for the ups and downs and preserve your energy to stay the course and keep finding ways to show up and get the job done so as to not burn out in
your business.
When life and business present us struggles, challenges, or setbacks there are two ways in which you can approach it, either with confidence and a level of self-belief that you have what it takes to solve the problem, endure the hardship and master the skills required to move through it or to feel a sense of failure, shame, and rejection.
Research shows that those who have high self-efficacy ( an individuals belief in their capacity to execute the behaviours necessary to produce a specific performance outcome) are more likely to face challenges as something to be mastered, bounce back from setbacks and rejections quicker, approach threading situations with the belief that they can control them and are more likely to zoom out and problem solve. All necessary qualities for an entrepreneur who is bound to face many highs and lows on their journey of starting and scaling their business.
In this episode, I share research about this topic and tips for increasing your self-efficacy to better equip yourself to endure the startup and small business terrain.
In today’s episode, I chat with Anita, the founder of Wordfetti for her tips and tricks on how to best tackle the ever-changing environment of social media. Instagram was once a place to connect, share and market your business direct to your audience world. As the platform continues to prioritise different styles of content, pivot the way in which they determine who sees your content and when and make unpredictable upgrades and even consequences, it’s important to be able to manage your mindset about how to approach using the platform for your business as well as find ways to make it work for you.
In this episode we dive into:
- crafting captions
- the appropriate call to actions
- tips for managing losing followers, engagement or confidence in the platform
- what to be posting in uncertain pandemic times
- when and where to best engage with your audience
Enjoy the listen and you can catch more of Anita’s work at
https://wordfettigroup.com
I’ve been following Paige aka Delta Venus for a few years now and have been in absolute awe of how beautifully and consciously her artwork and witten pieces have developed into a complete embodiment of self. Starting out in the design industry, Paige decided to follow her ‘strange pull’ that was leading her in a
direction that she was taught was most likely not going to get her any success. Shifting from a regular and scheduled routine to being led intuitively, Paige believes that you can create from a place of ease and joy and get the results you want if you can let go of your egoic expectations.
We had such a great conversation about her process in shifting to a mindstate of attracting work you love, finding your calling and having the self-belief to achieve what you want in a high performing flow state despite the messages in our society today.
As 2021 begins to wind down, I take some time to reflect and share with you my top lessons learnt from the year that’s been. Both in my business at StartUp Creative HQ but also with my Business Coaching clients from around the globe covering so many different industries and business models. We’ve all had to learn new ways of doing business, surviving the unknown and digging deep to persevere through some of the darkness and hardest conditions we’ve all been faced with. If there’s one good thing that comes out of all this chaos, it’s that we went through it together and there are some solid collective lessons that we can learn from each other to better prepare for the new year, whatever that may bring.
Enjoy my top lessons, would love to hear if you can relate or what your top lessons were from 2021.
If you’d like to binge exclusive podcast content and masterclasses over the holiday season be sure to check out our Business Coaching Academy
https://startup-creative-coaching-academy.mn.co/landing?space_id=6207311
As 2021 begins to wind down, I take some time to reflect and share with you my top lessons learnt from the year that’s been. Both in my business at StartUp Creative HQ but also with my Business Coaching clients from around the globe covering so many different industries and business models. We’ve all had to learn new ways of doing business, surviving the unknown and digging deep to persevere through some of the darkness and hardest conditions we’ve all been faced with. If there’s one good thing that comes out of all this chaos, it’s that we went through it together and there are some solid collective lessons that we can learn from each other to better prepare for the new year, whatever that may bring.
Enjoy my top lessons, would love to hear if you can relate or what your top lessons were from 2021.
If you’d like to binge exclusive podcast content and masterclasses over the holiday season be sure to check out our Business Coaching Academy
https://startup-creative-coaching-academy.mn.co/landing?space_id=6207311
Today I’m going to talk about Brand Values, a topic that my clients know I cover A LOT in our coaching sessions. Brand Values are so important, they are the core foundations of your business that help to guide your decision-making and outline what you stand for as a brand.
As the end of the year is fast approaching, I wanted to give you guys a crash course on how to audit your brand values in your business for 2022 and learn about why they’re important, along with 3 simple steps to develop and implement your values in a practical and clear-cut way.
We’ve all been there, staring at our phone trying to come up with the perfect caption on social media, or reading and re-reading that one paragraph that just doesn’t feel quite right.
We all want punchy copy and words with a strong message that resonates with our target audience, which is why I’m so happy to introduce you to the wonderful Ash Chow. She’s a launch strategist and conversion copywriter for online entrepreneurs who want to sell their digital products on repeat. I can
attest to Ash’s incredible word slingin’ ability having used her services with StartUp Creative.
Today we chat about Ash’s journey having pivoted, learnt, and grown within her own business model to creating the right copy that will set a standard of who you are and what you do in a punchy, straight to the point message.
Looking back on 2020/21 there have been many changes to the way that we do business, some by choice others as a result of ongoing restrictions.
The world will not go back to 'normal' so it is vital that we recall what we have learnt throughout the ever-changing business environment and begin to implement new ways to safeguard, protect and preserve your business for the new landscape unfolding before us.
In this episode, I suggest some ways in which we can reflect on the lessons learnt and make plans for the new year.
•what were the biggest learnt for small businesses during and post the global pandemic
•what can we expect moving forward
•how can we best prepare to face sudden changes and uncertainty moving forward
If you’d like to join our Business Coaching Academy for more trainings and resources you can do so here https://startup-creative-coaching-academy.mn.co/landing?space_id=6207311
What’s your flow state?
Are you waking up on Monday morning, crunching hours, and feeling exhausted with the amount of work you think you need to do? Or, are you putting your focus on tasks that feel right for you at that moment?
Today I wanted to discuss with you the whole idea of timing and getting into a manageable and comfortable flow state. Sometimes we can be so hard-hitting, fast-moving, and embrace a more masculine side of our energy, other times we embody the more feminine, floaty, and gentle side. In order for us to continue growing our business and ourselves, we must find the perfect mix of these two sides.
I wanted to share with you two personal stories of divine timing. Of wanting something so badly but not having it work out for you, to one day having the opportunity present itself in a way you least expected it. I want to encourage you that if you’re creating something right now and it’s not happening, tune in to yourself and see what flow you need to get into to let it come to fruition.
I’m really excited to share with you some information about the StartUp Creative membership offering which I chat a bit about at the end of this episode. Enjoy, K. x
If you’re looking for a story of resilience and holding firm to your dream, this is it. It’s an honest account of what it takes to make a dream a reality no matter what the obstacles may be.
Sheree is a friend and colleague in the female business space and the founder of One Roof, an online community platform for women with 450 members across Australia today.
Sheree shares her story from such an authentic and truly honest perspective and really puts it all out on the table for us. She’s a self-proclaimed “dive in without thinking and deal with the consequences later” type person, and she’s doing such an epic job of it.
We chat about her beginnings in the cooperative world and feeling like a total fish out of water, not knowing what her true career identity was and finding her passion in wanting to close the gender gap for women in the working world.
Once she took a deep dive into the wonderful work of startups, Sheree found herself starting co-working spaces from an Airbnb and a building about to be demolished to then raising $1 million to start her own co-working space in Melbourne. Sheree’s business was growing quickly, and I really respect her for
putting one foot in front of the other and really following the energy of her business.
At the end of this podcast, we get a few tips from Sheree on how to find the right investors for your business, pivoting when you no longer align with what you had previously set out, and managing your mental and physical wellbeing through the ups and downs of your business.
You guys know that I’m obsessed with change research and theories, and recently I came across a research article from Stanford University that does a deep dive into how people make changes in their life and stick to them. The paper theorizes the different ways we can implement change and what it really takes to set and achieve a dream or goal in our lives-self-belief.
It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your business right now. If you can have a level of self-belief that you can and will bring your new reality to life, that’s the most important thing you can take into your business today. It’ll ensure that no matter what you come up against, you will have the ability to persist and self-reflect on what needs to change and keep finding a way to move forward.
I end this episode with 3 of my own tips on self-belief and a friendly reminder that you can do this if you continue to visualise that future, cultivate it every single day and go after it.
Find the article here.
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1977-25733-001
I’m so very excited to share this podcast guest with you today, they’re an author, creative coach, consultant, and legendary content creator, Jerico. I absolutely love the content they put out and was so excited to immerse myself in their honest and raw story about tackling limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome and their hot take on ‘purpose’.
Jerico, an OG at Girlboss recalls a time when they were working their butt off, pouring every ounce of creativity into projects that weren’t their own and only at a point of physical exhaustion and illness, realised that they had to start taking themselves as seriously as they took their job.
Jerico makes some real points about designing your career around your personal values and beliefs and not being steered by your mouldings of the past.
We chat about that funny little lie we’re sold in society, that you go to work, work hard and do what needs to be done to pay the bills until you ask yourself, what is this all for? But it’s not until you truly envision what's possible doing the things you love and being paid for it, that you turn around and push yourself even further, put in those extra hours, do the study and take on the freelance work to finally make your own dream work
Burnt out. Uninspired. Resentful and Bored. Whether you’re there now or have been there in the past, we’ve all felt it.
Today I want to talk to you about zooming out and why it’s so important to work on your business and not in it and get you feeling motivated and inspired again.
We all have that ideology implanted in our heads that if we aren’t hustling, we aren’t being productive enough. But as important as it is to hustle, it’s just as important to pump the breaks, sit down, bouncearound ideas and generate creative input.
We must learn to zoom out of our analytical mind while we’re wearing the many hats within our business and step into our creative dreaming space of innovation and collaboration.
This episode provides tips on how you can input your brain with creative inspiration and resources outside of your industry, learning to be okay with your never-ending to-do list and how to tell when it’s the right time to zoom out of your business
This week I am so honoured to have the very first Queen to grace the Startup Creative soundwaves, the talented and wonderful Timberlina.
My conversation with Timberlina was so insightful and hilarious, from chatting about her first experience on stage in NYC doing the splits in the middle of a dance-off, getting wigs delivered to the work office on a construction site to using a little bit of liquid courage to email pubs and clubs in small rural towns to hireher bingo show.
We chat about how she was never really a part of the gay scene, but started to connect and learn moreabout the community once she took on the glamorous persona of Timberlina.
Her story is a beautiful example of flowing into your natural qualities and truly hustling and not letting ‘no’ get in the way of your dreams. She is breaking down barriers in small-town communities and educating people about the drag community by being inclusive, having a good laugh, and a lot of fun.
Timberlina shares some really epic business advice on how to start your creative side hustle and how you can kickstart your drag career by staying true to who you are and aligning yourself with people and companies who embody you and your brand
This episode is a little pep talk to get you out of that funk you’re in. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Did you know that 92% of people don’t achieve their new year's goals? It’s really not a surprise, because implementing change and new habits is hard and most people who set out to achieve something don’t achieve it on their first go.
You’ve probably been sitting there dreaming up these incredible plans and writing out your goals yet you struggle to push it over the line. Today I chat about the 5 steps of change and provide you with some hacks to overcome your limited beliefs and how you can continue visualising your end goal to get you to where you want to be.
Remember to keep riding the momentum of those dreams and goals that make you feel good.
I’m honoured to have a fellow Kaylene on the podcast this week to chat about her journey and the story behind the incredible start-up, WAH WAH Australia.
Kaylene is truly a woman of many talents and is the creative mind behind the niche knitwear brand that strongly reflects her passions and personal ethos. Her brand collaborates with artists, musicians, and the likes creating sustainable and high-quality knitwear made to order.
Kaylene shares her journey through Fashion School and how she gently shifted towards starting WAH WAH, chipping away and taking small steps to ensure her brand was completely in alignment with her beliefs and lifestyle.
The story of WAH WAH is an incredible start-up story and is filled with such wisdom and insight. I’m really excited to share it with you guys, enjoy!
If you’re looking for a mini motivation masterclass, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ll start by saying that it’s totally normal to struggle with motivation for your business! Just like your business ebbs and flows, so does your drive to kick those goals or knockdown daily tasks.
Today I chat about Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose and how these 3 words will guide you to check-in with yourself, re-activate your motivation and come back to a sense of purpose.
This podcast has been in the making for a long time and it's a bit of a free therapy session. Dr. Marion is a creativity coach and copywriter who is obsessed with exploring what it means to live
a truly creative life and I’m really excited to share her wisdom and experience with you today.
Dr. Marion is incredibly passionate about research and creativity, and towards the end of her academic journey she honed in on her interest towards Spiralling Up and the concept of Post Traumatic Growth.
We discuss how daily creativity engagement can assist in bolstering against life’s adversities, the 5 areas in life where Post Traumatic Growth shows up and how to activate the strategies
when you notice your stressors arise.
This episode is followed by a free downloadable workbook with journal prompts for you to delve deep into your own business glow up.
What are you feeding your brain?
Right now, we’re living in a time of turbulence and uncertainty. It feels as though everyday there’s a new opinion to digest as though we’re stuck in a circulating door of thoughts and
emotions.
This episode is a friendly reminder to check in with your energy field, what are you allowing to be omitted into your frequency and how are you shaping your reality?
During these moments where we feel as though we don’t have much control over anything, it’s important to check in with what’s real to you, and take back control of your own universe.
Declan & Jono grew up as neighbours in Byron Bay, living and breathing the surf/skate lifestyle from their early years. Their love for fashion and design had kickstarted when they began screen-printing tee’s for bands in the early days of the Byron Bay hardcore music scene. Today, Afends is known as one of Australia’s most loved clothing brands and are leading the way for the future of the sustainable fashion industry. At the beginning of 2021, they chose to make the shift to using 100% certified fibres in all of their garments and have just recently bought 100 acres NSW to begin the process of growing their own hemp, with the dream of one day manufacturing their garments locally in Australia.
Today we chat about their first conversations about their brand and developing the Afends name, their ethos, the financial process of begging and borrowing in the early years, to launching their first retail store to tie in their business with their lifestyle.
Declan & Jono live and breath their passion for sustainability, not just in their own brand but changing the stigma behind hemp based products and fibres. They’re 100% committed to choosing integrity over the easy option and are constantly learning new skills to continue showing up for their brand and loyal customers.
What it's really like to leave your 9-5 and leap into your own business? On today's episode I caught up with a good friend of mine and recent freelancer, Daisy Clementine who has just launched her own business, Relate & Meditate. Daisy shares her career journey from high school to working for herself, the real-life feelings of leaving the comfort of her job and starting her own business and shares practical tips, tricks and advice on how to transition from a job to working for herself.
One of the most important steps in starting and growing your business is deeply understanding who your target market is and what they need. In this episode I will teach you * why it is so important to understand your target market * what information you need to know * where you can find it * how it will help to inform your business decisions
As the business world becomes more and more saturated it is vital that business owners are able to refine who exactly they are wanting to sell to and figure out the best way to align themselves with their audience's values in order to effortlessly start and grow your audience. A practical business coaching session on one of the most important topics you will need to cover when starting out and revisit as you continue to grow and scale your business.
In today’s episode, I got to chat with Ellen, an incredible artist and has worked with clients like Adidas, Disney, Facebook, Instagram, Nike, and so much more. She’s so humble and generous for sharing her story with us today.
For those of you wondering, can I make money out of this? Whether being an artist or designer or anything. Ellen shares an honest story of what it took to get her into a full-time artist position with incredible clients. This is an amazing example of someone who’s gone before us and done it and gives us hope that other people can do it. Ellen will tell us what she did and how she got to where she is today. She gave lots of amazing tips but I think what stood out for me in this episode is somebody who had this dream and had a goal and went after it.
Turning passion into a viable business 4:47
Ellen’s story 6:30
Sacrificing and taking risks in order for dreams to become realities 20:00
Creating balance 22:40
Ellen’s tips on burnout and lack of inspiration 29:20
Her coaches and mentors 36:20
Building her personal brand 51:30
Today I have Amie McNee on the podcast again. We will get real about the human side of being a creative and running a business and running a business where people expect a lot from you.
Being of service to yourself and others
Creating boundaries within ourselves
Getting back into the healthy boundaries and relationships
Being your authentic self
Comparison as a roadmap and as a struggle
Give yourself grace
I’ve got to interview a practitioner that I’ve been working with and her name is Leah Simmons. She has just recently created her own healing modality/beautiful practice that I have been attending called Kaaiaa. Leah is going to tell us the story and a little bit of insight into the power of this class because it means all the people around the world will be able to access it soon. What I love about Leah’s story is the combination of all of her life experiences from being a DJ in London to going on a spiritual journey.
Leah’s a mom and recently designed this Kaaiaa practice which for me is like a game-changer, it’s a mix of the ultimate morning routine. It’s an hour-long class, it’s a mix of breath work, disintegration technique, and meditation. She has designed this beautiful practice and I love this because it’s a sign of somebody who has channeled and tuned in and found their purpose and their passion and design something that’s unique and different. It’s been amazing to see her class flourish as somebody who is designing something uniquely hers and I think as a result of that, it will always be successful because it is an extension of herself. Leah is also an inspiring and motivational person. She says some great insights into us as humans and what we’re working through as a human experience. Something that I’ve learned over the years and experience in this class is in business we often find that we have to push ourselves to this new level, we have to beat procrastination and overwhelm, and inaction. Going to a class like this, it’s this physical experience of pushing yourself to a new level.
Today we’re going to hear about Leah’s story and her journey and some incredible insights into a full integrated practice for our physical, spiritual, emotional self and how that can relate to doing good business as well.
In today’s episode, I have a brilliant chat with a brilliant business mind and her name is Steph Taylor. Steph and I worked together in a coaching capacity a few years back now. She’s been on the podcast when she was doing more social media in her business, coaching, and training.
Steph has recently pivoted her business to do launches, online courses, and teaching people how to make passive income through that business. Steph is brilliant at this, she’s a really hard worker, she has carved out her perfect business model. We share really good insights into boundaries in business. Steph has incredible insights and tips on how to say no and charge what you’re worth and stand behind what value you’re offering your clients. She shares some insights into how much to give for free, how to do an online course, I quiz her on some of the FAQs I get when people come to me and ask me in setting up passive income and she shares what it takes to get that set up in your business. She shares honest and beautiful insights into how she had to shift and change her business and what it’s like for her, the sacrifices she had to make, and what she is now offering, doing, and bringing to the world in a very successful way.
This topic I’ve been wanting to share for a while because it is something that I am passionate about in my business. I’m actually doing a talk coming up with One Roof, an online coworking membership program based in Melbourne. If you are interested in having an online community of networking and coworking and talks, you can check out One Roof and use the discount code: startupcreative and you’ll get 50% off on membership for a lifetime.
I’ll do a teaser content for you called How to 10x Your Business. Why I love this topic is because it can be relevant no matter what stage of your business you’re at.
In today’s episode, we have a familiar voice, a friend of Startup Creative, and her name is Jess. Jess runs Collabosaurus. We are always doing things together. Jess is the queen of collaboration and she’s going to give us a bit of a masterclass.
Today’s episode is about how Jess and I met, collaborations and their benefits to the business, examples of good ones, step by step execution, and some pitching tips, and how to use the Collabosaurus platform.
In today’s episode, I’m going to cover one of the most popular topics, one of the most relevant topics to business but also one of the most emotional and touchy subjects in business which is money and money mindset and charging inside your business. I’m going to cover some common myths around money and charging in your business and share with you some of the frequently asked questions that I get from coaching clients around earning more in their business.
In today’s episode I am taking you inside the mind of one of the most genius creatives that I know and her name is Kate Berry. Kate is a good friend of mine and is a legend of a person and a genius when it comes to creative ideas and executing absolute beautiful creative mind-blowing, awesome, outside of the box stuff. Kate’s going to share with you her journey and some of the projects she’s working on. Kate has done so many incredible things from magazines, motels, and others.
OK Motels
Happy new year! Welcome to 2021. It’s the time of the year where everybody starts setting their goals and contemplating their dreams and what they’re going to do this year and so I thought it’s a good time to start off our 2021 podcast series with chatting around goal setting and some mindset around it. 2020 has definitely taught us a lot, it has taught me a lot in having a direction that being okay with it not working out, it has taught me about regrets, loss, and letting go. I will give insights into how I’m doing goal setting this year which is a little bit different.
I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everybody who listens, wherever you are in the world, thank you for tuning in and sharing.
In today’s episode, I really want to dive into the whole idea of just starting. I got this question a lot which is what is your number one piece of advice for somebody looking to start their own business. For me, I always say, just start. I genuinely believe that getting in the game and just starting with something is the best thing that you can do.
In today’s episode, I am so proud and honored and humbled to be bringing you this incredible story of an amazing woman, Chantel McAlister. Chantel is a rural photographer and I’ve been lucky enough to do some coaching with her and watch her grow and expand and hustle and bring her dreams to life in the most magnificent way possible.
It is such an amazing story and I encourage you to listen to it to the very end. It is about business, chasing dreams, figuring out what works, and how to do it.
Chantel and I signed up for coaching before COVID and we started planning out a business and the workshop she was running, she was ready to scale and to grow and then COVID hit and I remember the day Chantel called me and asked for help and she will tell the story. Chantel was so generous in her honesty and her exact numbers and what she did and how she did it and it’s an absolute testimony to why she’s had this success because she's a generous, humble, and hard-working woman who has a dream and wasn’t prepared to not make it work.
Today is an exciting day because I have just finished this project and I am excited to share with you. I want to share some behind the scenes, and give a heads up as to what to expect.
I encourage people to do The First Aid Kit and go on the journey, knowing that you have the answers inside of you. It has videos, bonus resources, worksheets, advice to grow your IG account, and so much more!
In this episode, I have a very special guest and a friend of mine, Rache. Rache is a qualified hypnotherapist and rapid transformational therapist. She has some incredible insights into the brain and our wiring, beliefs, and where all they come from. We’re going to dive into my favorite topic: limiting beliefs.
I’m excited to share with you Rache and her wisdom because she speaks in such an articulate way about what’s actually happening in the brain, and how we can start to identify where we might be holding ourselves back and also break up from those beliefs and rewire them.
Today’s topic is pretty popular and something I get asked about all the time. I personally experienced this one and I thought it’s good to bust the myths and share some personal experience so that others will know that we are all struggling with it. This topic is confidence and self-belief.
Today I will talk about how to fight negative thoughts, the myths, a few of my favorite hacks, and different tips and tricks to hack your confidence and self-belief. I also share what I advise my coaching clients when there’s a bit of self-doubt.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Your Body Language TedTalk
In today’s episode, I’m going to dive into morning routines.
Over the years, I have been collecting little rituals, routines, theories, and practices that I weave into my day and into my routine, and that have been beneficial to me.
In this episode I will talk about why a morning routine is important, things I’ve done, read about, and implemented that can help you to start your day.
We have Jai Long in today's episode. It is a pleasure to have him back. The last time I had him on the podcast, his story became popular so I thought of bringing him back here.
Jai Long has lots of wisdom. He is always honest. I can't wait to share this conversation with you.
I’m so lucky to meet Sandra and sit down with her and have this conversation about her business which is the Good on You app. Sandra is one of the co-founders of this app and online platform that is dedicated to rating, reviewing, and producing articles and content on ethics and sustainability behind the fashion industry. I love so much about this conversation about how they’ve built this platform out. They started about five years ago and sold the needs and Sandra talks clearly and gives some really great advice about testing an idea, bootstrap it and fund it and the power of meeting the genuine need for consumers and what that can do for your marketing strategy.
There’s some incredible advice here from attracting Emma Watson as their brand ambassador and somebody that she now works alongside, she shares how that came about. They kick and go in the world of influencing consumers and helping them to make informed decisions. I’m really proud to share this information and to start consuming especially in the fashion world but across all aspects of my life in a more ethical and sustainable way.
If you’re a creative who struggles to believe you can make serious money from your craft, this is the episode for you. After connecting with author & creative coach, Amie McNee on Instagram, I knew I had to bring her on to chat about how you can turn your creativity into a thriving and viable business. Tune in to learn about the mindset shifts you need to make, how to start showing off your art, and how you can package your creativity into a solid offering. This episode is pretty much like a free coaching session, so be sure to hit play and take notes.
Discover:
- Visit Our Website: https://www.startupcreative.com.au/
- Follow Amie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredtowrite/
- Learn more about Amie: www.amiemcnee.com
In today’s episode, I chat to an incredible and inspiring woman, who is the founder of the Dirt Company, an Australian-made eco laundry detergent. It is incredibly well-designed and is all about reducing plastic in the laundry industry. I am a user of this brand before I was introduced to Frankie and even more in love now that I know Frankie and have heard the story behind how and why she started this company which was incredibly inspiring. Frankie has an interesting story and she started in an advertising agency and had the desire to do something for herself.
Today’s guest is Mason, the founder of Superfeast. Superfeast is premium quality tonics and herbs plus medicinal mushrooms. What I love about this conversation was how Mason shows his passion and his desire to understand and to educate and to better himself through the use of these herbs and tonics. From that, he attracted a customer-based and people who want what he has. He shares a lot of great insights into understanding his target market and being connected to them and running markets where he was having long conversations to understand their needs and build his business based on that. For me what makes a successful business is when somebody really cares about what they’re doing and how they can help people and that’s the testament to the success of Superfeast.
In today’s episode, I chat with a fellow business coach, Fiona. Fiona is the founder of My Daily Business Coach and she has just released her first book as well. Her book is called Passion, Purpose, Profit. Today’s episode is really inspiring for me because Fiona was so excited to be on the podcast to share her insights and her wisdom. I thought it was a good example of what it means when you collaborate with people who are similar to you in business rather than seeing them as competition and comparing yourself to them but rather get together, share notes, share ideas.
Today’s episode is packed with Fiona and I talking about FAQs as business coaches, the writing processes, and Fiona’s amazing experience with marketing for big businesses. She shares insights into taking her skillset from the corporate world and developing it into her own business and she clearly explains how you can do that also.
In today’s episode, I want to talk about one of my favorite topics in business and something that I think people can get so wrong but if you take some time to think about it and I am going to share some insights into why it is important and how it can be one of your most powerful marketing strategies and ways to grow your business.
Today’s episode is on customer service - the good old fashioned customer service that whether you like it or not is a very big part of your business. It is something that will either make or break you as a business. I will share some insights on why I think it is important, some research that you can do, some book recommendations, some of my pet peeves in customer service as a consumer, and do’s and don't of what I think works and tips as to how you can hone your customer service and what I think it will do for your business.
Today I feel so lucky to sit down and talk with an elder in the world of entrepreneurship in a most loving, honorable, respectful way. My guest is Mukti, the founder of Mukti Organics - a skincare range that is organic. She’s been in the business for 20+ years. It’s an absolute honor for me to sit with someone who runs a product that she started and developed herself and started a business long before digital marketing and social media and all the things that we work with now. She had to develop the concept, get it off the ground, build her database of completely different strategies to what we do nowadays.
Mukti shares some insights into nutrition, self-care, cold showers and a few other little bits and pieces that may help for getting your body in peak performing state.
In today’s episode, I chat with Joe, who is the founder of DRNKS. DRNKS is a collection of sustainable, organic, biodynamic wines from around the world that Joe and his team source from about 2,000 different suppliers. This quickly became one of my favorite businesses as a consumer. As I had my consumer experience with DRNKS, I fell in love with the business model, the customer service, the product, the branding, everything about it.
Joe shared his incredible story, the ups and the downs of coming up with an idea that was addressing the gap in the marketplace. Joe shares about what he had to do to overcome the fear of taking the gamble and the risk of jumping into this business model that he has created for himself. He also shared some insight into consumer-based marketing, using the audience to help you to market and spread the word. He shared what it takes to have good customer service even when things don’t go to plan.
One of my favorite pieces of advice that Joe gave throughout this is what it takes to build a reputable brand, becoming the go-to source. When you build your reputation enough then you don’t need to market or oversell yourself because you’re able to hold a reputation and energy that people know what they’re coming to get.
A few weeks back I did a shoutout on Instagram and asked you to write in the topics that you would like covered on the podcast. I love seeing your feedback.
Today’s episode is dedicated to Camille, a follower of ours, a digital strategist. The topic that she’s asked me to cover is marketing and what to do when you’ve got lots of different offerings and how to focus on what to market.
Sophie is the founder of Seed & Sprout, an eco-lifestyle business that aims to reduce plastic. I am a big fan of their brand, I love what they stand for: sustainability and branding. It is a powerful experience for me in changing my behavior around using plastic in my house. When I come across a brand like that - a brand that changes the way you think and educate you and inspires you to do something different, I think it’s a sign of a powerful brand. It is something I’m inspired and intrigued by. I reached out to Sophie and wanted to know more about how she’s built this business and trend of beautiful products that reduce plastic in the world and leaves this world a better place.
Sophie oozes entrepreneurship. She has an incredible start-up story. There’s so much in here, she shares lots of great book recommendations. Her determination, her sense of why she’s running her business has led her to incredible success. She shows what it takes to take a business to come up with an idea, to validate the idea, and to scale it into the absolute success that she has done with Seed & Sprout even though she has limited resources and lots of challenges along the way.
In today’s episode I have Sam Wood, the founder of 28 By Sam, an online personal training membership for 500,000 people all around the world. Sam is an incredibly passionate entrepreneur and this is his third business. He is a father of three, he’s written two books. He met his wife as The Bachelor in 2015. More recently he landed a segment on Better Homes and Gardens. Sam was an incredible man to catch up with, incredibly generous with his time and kind. We covered everything from how he started his businesses, the first one that he built which ended up franchising and selling. Sam admits and talks openly about how it didn’t make him that much money but he always wanted to be an entrepreneur. His insights being a father, juggling business especially in the time of COVID. He talks about morning routine and health and fitness and well-being hacks.
For those who have been following along on social media, you will know that I have just submitted the first draft of my first ever book called “How to start your side hustle”. It was an incredible mission to get that book off the ground and finished but I’m gonna share some insights today as to how that dream came about, what it really took, and some writing tips.
In today’s episode, I am chatting with Bianca who is the founder of Del Rainbow. Del Rainbow is a brand development and agency. Her work is to represent boutique contemporary brands and help them to build with strategic partnerships with global retailers. Bianca’s role and job are to represent, leverage, and scale these brands into bigger marketplaces.
In today’s episode how you can do that. What it takes to actually take your business beyond your initial startup phase or maybe you’ve saturated the marketplace in your country and you’re looking to grow. The cool part of this conversation is that it may not be the advice that you expect to hear and Bianca has incredible wisdom, awesome tips on how to overcome those blockages, and the barriers that may be holding you back from growing your business from taking it to the next level. I’ll leave it to Bianca to dive into this further but what you’ll find is doing this work and connecting to your deep sense of why and energy that you hold as a founder can be so vital to the wins and the losses of your business.
Today I will share a conversation with Lauren, the founder of Seriously Sorted. Lauren came to me as a client for some business coaching and really taught me about what she does with Seriously Sorted. It’s all about putting systems in place and helping to scale businesses. Lauren and I formed a beautiful friendship over the last year or so where we have really clearly identified that I can be a big dreamer, a big thinker, and visionary and I can pull ideas together and make something out of it.
Lauren is absolutely brilliant at details, systems, and structures and all the things that give me anxiety. Over the years we’ve learned to work together and support each other. I really want her to share the wisdom she’s done for my business for those of you who might be looking to get more organized, to put some systems in place. Lauren’s going to teach you exactly where to get started, why it’s important, and how to do it.
In this episode, I am chatting with Sam, one of the co-founders of BEAR. BEAR is a luxury wellness brand that specializes in essential daily vitamins, superpowers, and natural skincare. Sam and his wife started this brand a number of years ago after years of developing their idea for a product, standout in the wellness and health marketplace. The cool thing about their story is they came from different backgrounds but they use their combined skill sets to build BEAR.
https://www.bearltd.com/
In this episode, I’m gonna share some insights into peaceful protesting and making a lasting change with the movement that’s uprising and has been around for thousands of years around black lives matter and supporting the indigenous community around the world.
There’s a lot of energy, passion, sadness, and anger. People are looking for ways to make sure their voices are heard to support our communities. I will give some insights from my history of working with the indigenous community.
In this episode:
- How to be the best help
- History of the indigenous community in Australia
- Managing stress and anxiety to be a proactive help and ally
- Support and connect with the indigenous community
- Learn from them and seek to understand
- Invest in the indigenous community
- Incorporate them in the community
- Try deactivate anger and channel it into passion
- Try not to numb out the pain
- How the indigenous community is connected to the land
Today I am excited to share with you this interview, this one, in particular, is something that I’ve been wanting to do. Emica is the founder of Loco Love Chocolate and had the chat about how she built the brand, where the idea came from, and how she built it into a global sensation in what seems like effortless growth in her business. Emica is an inspiring incredible woman. Her story is so inspiring.
What I’m realizing is that a business that’s booming and thriving behind all of them is a determined, passionate entrepreneur who has a clear idea of where they wanna go, willingness to do whatever it takes to get there, and a deep sense of passion and purpose. Emica exemplifies that beautifully in a way that she talks about running her business, hiring her team, being a mom, working with her partner, everything that she does comes from a deep sense of passion, purpose and an extension of herself and everything that she lives and breathes in her personal life. I’m so inspired by her story and I hope you enjoy this interview with Emica.
Today I want to talk about a topic that is so popular and I get asked about all the time. It is something that I’ve experienced and I’ve seen in just about everybody I’ve encountered on my business journey over the last 6 years. Somebody on Instagram, a coaching client, or even successful people running global companies.
The topic is imposter syndrome. It is a killer of dreams and when I sat down to cover this topic, I’ve actually been experiencing imposter syndrome in trying to put this podcast together. I think it’s such a big topic and it’s almost really subtle and sneaky in how it shows up and operates in our lives and in our business. When we can observe and notice what it feels like and when it’s showing up in our bodies and in our lives, then we can actually start to master it so I’m gonna share some tips as to how I personally do that for myself and with my business coaching clients.
Welcome back to the podcast. I am so excited to share this episode with you. I left this interview feeling so incredibly inspired and I learned so much about business and just reminded about what makes a good business and what makes a business thrive through interviewing Laura May of Nagnata, a fashion lifestyle brand. Laura and her team won a sustainability award, designer award and so much more.
Laura’s story is so incredible, she has so much wisdom. It is such an amazing example of what happens when a brand has a passionate founder, a really core, clear brand value, brand purpose that they ooze throughout everything that they do. Laura shares some insights into legal battle fighting for her designs and her uniqueness, also what it takes to hire a great team, and innovating in a sustainable way in the fashion industry now. There’s so much to learn from Laura’s story.
I am excited to share with you today's episode with a friend of mine, a very smart entrepreneur, Dom - he is the founder of Hectors Deli. I think it is my first time to interview someone from the hospitality industry.
Dom has so much incredible wisdom to share for those of you who might be thinking to do the same. He also shares a little bit of what it's like running a hospitality business during this tough time with all the COVID-19 stuff happening. Some very incredible insights into building a brand that people love and invest in time and time again.
It is a pretty wild time on planet earth right now and in running a business, being a freelancer, a creative, and a solo entrepreneur. It's a little bit of uncertainty, chaos, unknown about what this is going to look like with the virus and impacting so much of how we do everyday life and how we do business. I've had conversations with my existing clients about lots of changes that are happening. I've definitely experienced a fear rise in me around events being canceled and contracts being postponed and it can be really easy to give way to the uncertainty, chaos, fear, and anxiety that is being fed to us from every angle right now.
There are also ways to stay calm, see opportunities and to be of service to the world - which are what we really need right now. Let me share with you some tips that I'm using that I've learned along the way of how to stay calm and focused in this chaotic time and try to reduce some of that fear that may be rising in you.
For those of you who are out there who I work with who often come to me and say "I know what I want to do but I can't do it. I'm just procrastinating, I feel completely overwhelmed about the task ahead." I thought now is the best time to share how that feels and how I'm approaching it.
Today I will be sharing a list to overcoming the overwhelm and procrastination. Pick the ones that are right for you.
If you’ve ever had a hard time figuring out who to reach out to, how to widen your network and make your brand become more visible at the same time, this episode will give you some insight into how you can do collaborations and market your business better.
Listen in to the journey of how Jess put up Collabosaurus. She shares how the idea came about, her struggles, lessons learned, dealing with investors, and getting back on your feet. Know how to maximize the help you can get and leverage the resources available. Jess also shares her top three tips for startups for this year, including on how to collaborate with different businesses and reap the benefits from it.
Have you ever wondered why some companies are more distinct than others? Today’s episode will cover exactly that. We’ll share with you how to make your business recognizable and memorable because of having clear brand values and pillars.
We’ll dive deeper into how this works, how it helps you grow your business, and capturing your target customer’s attention effectively. Discover how you can explore what you stand for and the best way to reach out through the different platforms you currently use.
What does it take to be considered an expert in your field? Listen in to get some insights on what you need to do to create that expert status. Building this side of your business can better elevate your brand and establish your credibility further.
So you’ve finally been able to get out of that 9-5 job and pursue your dream of starting your own business. That’s a great leap and an accomplishment!
It’s time to figure out how to scale your business. This episode will help you get ready with your thoughts, your action plans, reflect on your WHY’s, know what to take care of, and what not to do yourself.
Dream big and push yourself. Being out of your comfort zone can bring growth and development to you and your business. Think about how you can better your business by tenfold and how you can better meet the needs of your customers. Complete a business audit to see the whole picture. It will help you leverage your time better. Never stop to better yourself as a human being for peak performance.
Deciding to become an entrepreneur can be a big decision for anyone. Getting out of the comfort zone isn’t exactly something that anybody instantly looks forward to.
In this episode, we had an awesome chat with Jai Long, a wedding photographer, educator, and business owner. He shares with us his journey on how he was able to turn things around despite feeling underprivileged when he was younger. He took charge, overcame his obstacles and trained himself to become more driven than ever. Listen to his story, on what he did, the lessons he learned and the knowledge he sought himself.
Jai Long of JaiLong.co imparts what mindset can help in becoming successful and resilient. He also provides direction on how to take care of one’s mental health while going through the dynamic life of an entrepreneur.
"I don't care how much money you have, I don't care how much time you have or how many children you have, or how much sleep you get; if you want it, you'll get it. That's the reality." - K.L.
We often worry about managing our social media presence, increasing our follower count, figuring out the best time to post, and what content to use. Little do we know, we should be focusing on and strengthening our mailing list first before diving into marketing in other platforms.
The mailing list is your strongest suit and actually worth gold once you’ve figured out it’s potential. Listen in today’s episode and know 5 reasons why the mailing list is important. We’ll also teach you 3 steps on growing your mailing list. Soon you’ll be confident with your own voice, know the timing, and become consistent with engaging your audience.
Have you noticed how some brands are memorable, entertaining, and really stand out? It’s because of their content and how they use it to their advantage. Listen in to know more about content, how you can showcase your brand, build trust, and engage your audience effectively with it. We’ll share with you what NOT to do while trying to establish your presence.
We chatted with Steph Taylor, founder of Wildbloom – Wellness Marketing Consultancy this week. She gives a quick run on what goes on behind marketing via Instagram and the benefits your business can enjoy with this platform.
Understand the basics you need to focus on first, continue to discover more strategies and see the importance of Instagram as a means of relationship building. Steph gives great hacks for figuring out your voice, utilising visuals, determining your call to action and some inspiration for a business to consistently show up.
Do you know that limiting beliefs have been deeply sewn in your unconscious mind? If you’ve ever doubted yourself or assumed that something you desire or dream of isn’t for you, chances are, these are because of these limiting beliefs.
In this episode, I’ll teach you how to understand, overcome them, and shift your energy towards working through your goals. Even if you haven’t been conditioned to be an entrepreneur when you were younger, these steps will help you gain that mindset and create that reality you want.
"Forget the lie that life and business needs to be a combination of a draining hustle, self-sacrifice and going without. Instead, can you accept the notion that your life and business can exist from a state of ease, joy and abundance? In this episode, I share examples of successful entrepreneurs who have learnt the art of surrender. Who have aligned themselves to their purpose and taken action from a place of 100% personal and professional integrity and have experienced abundant success as a result. Learn my three top tips on how to run your business from a state of flow and witness the miraculous results that unfold when you move into that space.
"This week we caught up with Lisa Messenger, founder of Collective Hub and collective magazine. We chatted all things starting, closing and pivoting businesses. Lisa shares her journey of starting her first business in 2001, which eventually moulded into the Collective Magazine in 2013 and quickly scaled in a global sensation.
We jammed on all things running print magazines, relationships in the lime light and personal practices to help an entrepreneur get through the hardest of days. Lisa shares what it was like to meet editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour in New York City, Richard Branson on Necker Island, what it took to get ‘famous’ people on her covers and insights and lessons from her new book Risk & Reliance.
Tune in for some inspiring business hacks, honest chats on finances and businesses and what breaking down a business can do for your happiness and clarity as a entrepreneur. "
“Through mindfulness I learnt that I could be the creator of my existence and that’s how I started StartUp Creative. I stepped out of being a victim and became the creator of my life. And where the creation happens is in the silence and in the witnessing and observing of your life.” – Kaylene Langford.
Kaylene Langford began StartUp Creative after a period of depression, anxiety and worry. She realised there were things in her life that weren’t serving her, including her job, certain relationships and the absence of mindfulness. After discovering meditation and rituals she was able to turn her life around and now she is the creator of her existence and a successful entrepreneur. Following a morning routine is one of the most important things Kaylene does in order to be present each day. This week on the podcast she takes you through her morning routine so you can be inspired to create your own.
In this podcast you’ll learn how to break morning habits and create new ones; be aware and present; which specific products will help increase mindfulness; and how to engage your five senses to create space in your day. Plus, discover how setting your intention can be as simple as planning a holiday.
“You can’t be the creator of your life if you’re constantly running the same patterns over and over.” Are you ready to become the creator of your existence?
“Marketing is about showcasing your value. Are you an expert? Have you got a solution to a problem that your customer is experiencing? And why should they get that from you?” – Kaylene Langford.
This week on the podcast, Kaylene is asking the big questions to help you navigate the sometimes-confusing world of marketing. One of the biggest mistakes a business owner can make is underestimating the power of marketing. You can have an amazing idea, beautiful branding and a high quality website, but if you’re not in front of your audience they’re never going to see any of this.
Don’t know where to begin? Kaylene provides the top seven tips that will help you market and grow your business. Discover the importance of a call to action and the power of consistency. Learn how to best showcase your value, how to build trust with your audience, how to provide different levels of engagement for different types of customers, and how to take customers from being engaged to ultimately making a purchase with you. From the number of marketing touch points you should have, to how often you should present your call to action, this episode offers practical advice that you’ll be lucky to find anywhere else for free. Happy marketing!
“I love design, but it’s not what I’m put on this earth to do. I really love growing a business and fostering a team. My mission is to create an amazing workspace where people are actually really excited to come to work.” – Tess Robinson
Part two of our chat with the incredible Tess Robinson of Smack Bang Designs delves into everything you need to know about building an epic team. We’re quietly confident that Tess is one of the best bosses around, so we picked her brain on everything she does to keep her team happy, productive, inspired and keen to come to work each day.
Tess has grown Smack Bang Designs to 15 staff members in a few short years by fostering a workplace that feels like a little family. And while she is a natural-born leader she insists that both leadership and intuition (including taking educated risks for your business) are things you can refine over time. Discover how to find the right people who believe in your vision, how to identify your staff skill sets, how personality plays a role in hiring, and how to keep your staff happy by looking at long-term goals rather than short-term gain.
While Tess admits the responsibility to ensure 15 people have food on the table is massive, it’s also the most rewarding thing you can do. “[Leading a team] is not about power, but about helping people and watching them do well in their role.”
“The more that you can get comfortable with loving what you do and the more you can remind yourself that people need your service, then the more likely you are going to get paid what you’re really worth. Get comfortable with getting paid to do what you love.” – Kaylene Langford.
Pricing.
It’s a complicated topic that many creatives find difficult to tackle. Luckily, Kaylene Langford of StartUp Creative is here to provide you with tangible advice on all things pricing so you can make the money you deserve. If you’re starting a business and you don’t know where to begin, or you're several years into a business and you’re thinking about reviewing your pricing, this advice is priceless.
“Money is an important part of this world; it’s an important part of running a business.” Kaylene will take you through her top three tips on pricing, which delve much deeper than just maths and numbers; you’ll walk away with information to help you design the life of your dreams. She’ll also provide a few sneaky book suggestions towards the end of the podcast so you can take your pricing education even further. This is invaluable advice that Kaylene usually provides to her clients, so what are you waiting for?
“My ultimate key to success is fronting up day in day out, even when you feel like giving up. It’s that persistence and that consistency and that relentlessness in the pursuit of your vision, which I think takes a certain amount of grit and a certain person to roll up their sleeves and do what needs to get done.” – Tess Robinson.
Every time we do a call out for topic suggestions on the podcast, at least one person requests an interview with Tess Robinson (and it’s no wonder why). Owner of renowned design agency Smack Bang Designs, one half of StartUp Creative, and founder of several other businesses on the go, Tess Robinson knows a thing or two about success. Kaylene Langford sits down with Tess to discuss the story behind Smack Bang Designs and how she turned a freelancing gig with zero clients into a successful business with 15 staff. Tess shares her definition of success (hint: it involves chickens), her three keys to success, and her tips on avoiding burnout.
They also chat about social media’s ability to obscure the truth. “All you’re seeing is the highlight reel. It’s like the blurb on the back of the book selling the story. Inside that book are chapters and chapters of tears and hard work and ups and downs.” Grab your pen and paper – you’re going to want to take notes from this business powerhouse.
“We want to do this because this makes us happy, because we want more balance in our lives, because I want to be supporting a brand that I solely want to back… This time, I want to make everything worth my time on the Earth. And that really was a thought in my head when I handed in my resignation letter.” – Lauren Hernandez.
Crossing Threads is the brainchild of Kass and Lauren Hernandez, the first generation Australian sisters and best friends who are so close they finish each other’s sentences. The pair creates stunning woven decorative textiles for both private collectors and commercial spaces, some of which are over 1.5 metres wide. We go Live in the Field with these incredible ladies, as they transition from 9-5 jobs to running Crossing Threads full time. They share their insightful experiences with Kayelene Langford, including the dynamics of working as a sister duo, how the business started after a craft-ernoon workshop, the organic nature behind their social media growth, and convincing their immigrant parents that running a creative startup was a viable life decision. The ladies touch on the practical side of starting a business with financial and organisational tips, but they also delve into the emotional side of things, from the concept of failure, to the ups and downs associated with working for yourself.
“Taking away the financial stress will make sure we focus on the why – the glamour, the lust, the inspiration that we get from the weaving and creating –where our natural hunger and continual drive will come from.” – Kass Hernandez.
“It’s so powerful to remind yourself that often success comes right after you think you can’t go any further.” – Kaylene Langford. Whether you’re starting a business, you’re grinding in a nine to five, or you’re simply dealing with the everyday ups and downs of life, there are going to be moments that push you to your limits; moments that make you want to quit. This week, StartUp Creative founder Kaylene Langford takes you through the toughest moments she’s experienced in the lead up to the launch of issue five of StartUp Creative magazine. From breakups to buying houses to pregnancies, Kaylene and her business partner Tess have encountered it all throughout the process. Kaylene shares what she learned along the way, including the five steps that helped her focus on the end goal and ultimately bring the incredible magazine to fruition. Use Kay’s tips to navigate your way through your own battles and overcome any negative moments to reach your goals. Make sure you pick up a copy of StartUp Creative magazine for loads more business tips and life hacks like these: startupcreative.com.au/the-magazine/
This week we talk to Jemma Gawned, the founder of sacred enterprise, Anchoring the Light. Jemma hosts ceremonies and workshops all over the world with the aim to bring people back to their truth and into their limitless potential.
Kaylene and Jemma talk all things mindfulness and business, and how they apply rituals into their daily lives to not only help themselves as human beings but as business owners.
Jemma shares openly about her own personal businesses, including her failures and the lessons she’s learnt along the way. Her insight is invaluable and you’ll walk away from this podcast feeling inspired to connect with your purpose and take action in your own life.
Plus, don’t miss out on her daily cacao ritual included in the show notes!
“We’re a community of artists and like-minded people and basically we use art in all different forms to create amazing experiences that result in really meaningful conversations; conversations around fear and death. And we use that to empower people to live with less fear and ultimately live the most radical life that they can while they’re here on Earth.” – Stefan Hunt.
This week we go deep with Stefan Hunt, the founder of ‘We’re All Going to Die.’
As the name suggests, Stefan is creating a dialogue around the traditionally taboo topics of death, fear and vulnerability through his inspiring and creative business.
Kaylene and Stefan discuss how death can inspire us to live our lives to the fullest. They chat about mental health, the inspiration behind the project, and how it works as a business. Stefan also gives advice on how to deal with fear in order to start your business or project.
“You can get so caught up with the ‘what ifs?’ but why don’t you say ‘why not?’ Because at the end of the day you don’t know what is going to happen if you take that risk. All you know is that you’re going to die someday, and as morbid as that sounds, that should be enough to motivate you to go for it.”
“Coaches and mentors have already paved the way, they know how to get there, they know what success feels like and they can keep you moving in the right direction even when you have no clue what the other side of all this hard work is going to look and feel like.” – Kaylene Langford.
Are you thinking about sourcing a business coach or mentor? In this week’s podcast, Kaylene Langford discusses why ‘two heads are better than one,’ in the world of entrepreneurship.
The StartUp Creative founder and mentor advocate has worked with coaches and mentors since her time as an athlete in high school, so she knows a thing or two about finding, working with and benefiting from them.
Find out how and why Kaylene utilises mentors and the roles they play in her business and life; hear tips and tricks on how to find the right mentor for you; and discover some of Kaylene’s favourite mentors (hint: they may be closer to you than you think.)
“95% of our actions are unconscious. In order to shift into where 5% of the population live – and that is as free individuals who are actually living their heart path and being extremely abundant while doing so – what you need to do is look at what is going on in the unconscious to sabotage your life and sabotage your business.” – Chantelle Raven. This week on the Startup Creative podcast we go deep with Chantelle Raven. The academic, turned entrepreneur has a law degree, honours in philosophy, she’s written books, is a teacher and a tantric facilitator. Chantelle and Kaylene discuss how cultural conditioning has stopped us from creating a life of freedom. Chantelle shares her knowledge on creating change in one’s life, addictions, listening to your environment, the relationship between Tantra and business, authenticity, being courageous, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. If you listen to one podcast this week, make it this one. But prepare to have your mind blown.
“Do you have the freedom to live the life of your dreams; to travel when you want, to spend time with your loved ones, to know that money is coming in even if you’re not there?” – Kaylene Langford.
If the answer is no, we highly recommend you check out this week’s podcast with StartUp Creative founder, Kaylene Langford.
The successful entrepreneur has proven that you can have the life and business of your dreams by working smarter, not harder. And lucky for you, she’s sharing six oh-so helpful tips so you can do the same.
“A lot of these steps are about stopping, stepping back from being in the business, and actually taking a look at what needs to be done in order to grow.”
Find the freedom to live and work the way you want by implementing these six simple steps into your daily routine.
“I’m happy as the person I am today. I’m more humble, more loving, more present and in the moment. I see life every single day as a gift.” – Darcy Higgins.
Darcy Higgins was a young man with big dreams until a horrific accident turned his life upside down.
This week on the StartUp Creative Podcast Kaylene and Darcy (former schoolmates) chat about overcoming adversity, learning to walk and talk again, emotional pain versus physical pain, Darcy’s biggest inspiration, and the power of looking forward.
“I came back to life for a reason.”
Darcy is bound to put a smile on your face, with his candid, grounded and positive approach to life.
"There are plenty of people out there who can help you, who can give you quick answers, you can excel you. You don’t have to do all the hard yards yourself!” – Kaylene Langford.
Can you really fake it until you make it in business?
Tune in this week to learn Kaylene’s top three tips that will help you land bigger and better jobs, that perhaps you thought you weren’t ready for.
Kay also shares her personal experiences that led her to jobs she only dreamt of (or so she thought).
You’ll learn how to get people to take you more seriously, the importance of getting in the game sooner rather than later, and why mentors are game-changers in business.
“Always just try and choose the happiness. We get to kind of dictate our emotions to a certain extent. Honestly I believe it’s worth choosing happiness over dwelling on something that you know is not worth that energy and that time.” - Nicole Cooper
This week we chat with Nicole Cooper over a cider (Savannah premium to be exact) in her creative studio in Marrickville for our brand new segment Life From the Field.
Nicole is a photographer by trade, who dabbles in film-making, editing, PR and pretty much anything creative that she can get her hands on.
With a motto of ‘just say yes,’ Nicole has worked with renowned clients like Prada, Chanel, Tory Burch and Kate Bosworth in amazing locations all around the world. She’s also an ambassador for Microsoft – talk about an impressive CV.
We asked Nicole 20 of our most burning questions about her business and personal life. We delve into topics like how she spends her day, her biggest influencers, money mantras, the secret to a happy life and lessons she’s learned from the not-so-great jobs.
Get inside the mind of this young creative and be inspired to take control of her life and her career just like she did.
“I can guarantee you that if you can start your day with that foundation, then no matter what comes – what rejections, what words, what feelings arise in you – you’re going to be okay. You won’t take it personally and you know you’ll be able to handle it.”
Girl boss and founder of Startup Creative, Kaylene Langford, shares her insights into the world of rejection and provides solid advice for those of us starting our own businesses.
“You can create a life and a business that happens with ease because you’ve surrounded yourself with the right people.”
Kaylene takes us through her step-by-step process of dealing with rejection including, acceptance, reactions, minimisation, learning to say no, the importance of doing your research, and being true to yourself.
“Before you jump on your emails, or your Instagram and start being everything for everybody else, be there for you.”
This is tried and tested, actionable advice for anyone needing a boost or a reminder that rejection is just part of the process.
Ever wanted to know what it’s like to live in the incredible hustle and dynamic business scene of NYC? Download or listen to the latest episode in the StartUp Creative podcast series to hear two girl bosses discuss how and why they decided to build their own business empires.
“We have a lot going on beyond the thoughts in our head. We are much more than just blood, skin, bones and a bunch of neurotic thoughts. We’re multidimensional beings that have profound levels of intelligence that manifest in feelings and senses and intuitive hunches,” - Jiro Taylor.
"Within days of having the magazine in the lounges, I personally started getting emails and phone calls from people who [had] picked up a copy in the lounge and were offering opportunities." - K.L.
"Tuesday you show up two hours before the doors and you have a few plans as to what might happen and what might not happen, you get on the microphone and announce that you have no idea what the show is about and hope for something good." - Jay Rinsky, Little Cinema
"I don't care how much money you have, I don't care how much time you have or how many children you have, or how much sleep you get; if you want it, you'll get it. That's the reality." - K.L.
"Get your own voice. When people try too much to be too similar to so meone who is already out there, it doesn’t really work out well for them. You’re an individual, so find your voice and figure out your style" - Diego Perez
"If you're sitting there right now and perhaps you've got an idea for a business or perhaps you've been working on something on the side and you've been thinking is this the right thing for me?
I guarantee yes. Do it. Being an entrepreneur is one of the best things
you can
do." K.L.